Patent Publication Number: US-6668432-B2

Title: Belt guide for clothing articles

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a device for holding a belt in place. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the design of women&#39;s fashions, one approach is to consider a number of vertically stacked color panels, each panel being like a canvas upon which designs of color and fabric may be assembled. For example, an upper panel would correspond to a space where a blouse may be designed and a lower panel would correspond to a space where a skirt or pants may be designed. An accessory, such as a belt, may unite two such panels. If this is done, then it is important that the belt be held in place in a way that does not detract from the overall optical effect created in the stacked fashion panels. Wide belts can form panels alone, providing optical contrast between upper and lower panels. 
     Unfortunately, traditional belt loops, while serving well to hold a belt in place, detract from the horizontal sweep of fashion panels. An object of the invention was to devise a substantially invisible belt holder, serving to guide and retain a belt in a desired position between fashion panels yet, which is hardly seen and therefore cannot detract from optical effects between upper and lower fashion panels. 
     Another object of the invention was to provide a moveable and removable belt guide. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above object has been met with a belt guide that clips to articles of clothing, which the belt is worn over and which is hardly visible when clipped. The belt guide has a first portion, which serves as a clip or fastener to the article of clothing and a second portion, which serves to retain the belt in a desired location. The two portions are joined at upper regions, with the second portion being cantilevered outwardly, preventing the belt from moving. 
     The belt guide may include various types of fasteners to grip and release an article of clothing. The fastening portion of the belt guide may include flaps forming a slot therebetween, the flaps being inwardly biased to securely grip an article of clothing and exhibiting outward flexure to release the article of clothing. In another embodiment, a clamp is positioned to urge flaps inwardly to securely grip the article of clothing and the clamp is removed to release the grip on the article of clothing. In an alternative embodiment, flaps are hinged or pivoted to form and release a secure grip on the article of clothing. A lever may be actuated to position an array of teeth into a slot formed between flaps, and actuated to position the teeth away from the slot. In another embodiment a lever is used to actuate a movable plate into contact with a stationary plate so that the article of clothing can be gripped in between the plates. 
     The portion of the belt guide that serves to retain the belt in desired locations may comprise a flanged or looped portion extending outwardly from one of the flaps or plates of the chosen fastener. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the belt guide of the present invention being worn by a person. 
     FIG. 1B is a detailed view of an embodiment of the belt guide of FIG.  1 A. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the belt guide of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the belt guide of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the belt guide of FIG. 1 in a closed position. 
     FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the belt guide of FIG. 4A in an open position. 
     FIG. 5A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the belt guide of FIG. 1 in a closed position. 
     FIG. 5B is a perspective view the belt guide of FIG. 5A in an open position. 
     FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the belt guide of FIG. 1 in a closed position. 
     FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the belt guide of FIG. 6A in an open position. 
     FIG. 7A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the belt guide of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7B is a side view of the belt guide of FIG.  7 A. 
     FIG. 8A is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the belt guide of FIG. 1 in an open position. 
     FIG. 8B is a side view of the belt guide of FIG. 8A in a closed position. 
     FIG. 8C is a perspective view of the belt guide of FIGS. 8A and 8B. 
     FIG. 9A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the belt guide of FIG. 1 in a closed position. 
     FIG. 9B is a perspective view of the belt guide of FIG. 9 in an open position. 
     FIG. 10A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the belt guide of FIG. 1 in a closed position. 
     FIG. 10B is a perspective view of the belt guide of FIG. 10A in an open position. 
    
    
     BEST MODE OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to FIG. 1 there is seen a belt guide  10  for guiding and preventing upward movement of a belt  12  worn by a person  14 . In one embodiment the belt  12  may be positioned over belt loops (not shown) if present on a pair of pants  16  or other garment worn by the person  14 , such as a skirt, which a belt  12  may accessorize. 
     The belt guide  10  has a first portion comprising a clip or fastener  18 , which serves to clip or fasten the belt guide  10  to garment  16 , and more specifically to a portion of pants  16 . The fastener  18  may include opposed flaps  20  and  22  connected at an upper end  24  and having mutually facing sides. One of the mutually facing sides, side  26  of flap  22  is seen in FIG. 1B. A slotted opening  28  is formed between flaps  20  and  22  to receive pants  16 . The mechanisms by which fasteners having flaps receive and grip garment  16  will be described in further detail below. Other types of fasteners may be utilized in the belt guide  10 , as will also be described below. 
     A second cantilevered portion of the belt guide  10  guides the belt  12  and prevents it from moving upwardly when the fastener  18  attaches to a portion of pants  16 . In one embodiment of the belt guide  12 , the second portion is a flange portion  30  extending from an upper region  24  or top surface of flap  20 . The flange portion  30  is, in one example, made from a stiff material. 
     The fastener  18  of belt guide  10  is moved in the downward direction as indicated by the downward pointing arrowhead of arrow A to become fastened to pants  16 , such that an outside surface  32  of flap  20  remains visible and flange  30  extends away from person  14 . The belt  12  is placed over the outside surface  32 . Though the belt  12  is not guided by traditional belt loops, the belt  12  is prevented from moving upwardly past the flange portion  30 , as the flange portion  30  guides the belt below the flange portion. In one example, the flange portion  30  is cantilevered outwardly to an extent greater than the thickness of the belt  12 , preventing the belt  12  from rising. Other types of guiding portions of the belt guide  10  that may be used will be described below. The belt guide is removed, for example by pulling it upward in the direction indicated by the upward pointing arrowhead of arrow A. 
     The belt  12 , the pants  16  and another garment  34 , such as a shirt or a blouse above the belt  12 , now appear as vertically stacked color panels, each panel being like a canvas upon which designs of color and fabric may be assembled. The belt  12  is held in place in a way that does not detract from the overall optical effect created in the stacked fashion panels as only a small portion of the belt guide  10  is visible. In contrast, the use of traditional belt loops (not shown) for holding a belt in place detracts from the overall optical effect and is therefore, not as fashionable. 
     The following descriptions are various embodiments of the belt guide  10 . 
     With regard to FIG. 2 one embodiment of the belt guide of the present invention is seen. Belt guide  36  includes flexible flaps  38  and  40  having mutually facing sides connected at a top end  42  and forming a slotted opening  44  therebetween. A clamp  46  has inwardly biased plates  48  and  50  connected at a top end  52 , forming a slotted opening  54 . The clamp  46  is placed or slid over the flexible flaps  38  and  40  in the direction indicated by the downward pointing arrowhead of arrow B. The clamp  46  is moved from a position indicated by phantom clamp  46  to the position indicated by non-phantom clamp  46 , such that the flaps  38  and  40  or a portion of the flaps are received within the slotted opening  54  of clamp  46  and the top end  52  of the clamp rests upon the top end  42 . The biased plates  48  and  50  exhibit outward flexure as the flaps  38  and  40  are inserted within the slotted opening  54 . A restoring force of plates  48  and  50  causes the plates to move inwardly, securely urging the flexible flaps  38  and  40  inwardly and holding the flaps, thereby causing the flaps to grip the garment  16 . The clamp  46  may be pulled or slid off of the flaps  38  and  40  as indicated by the upward pointing arrowhead of arrow B. 
     Teeth  56  may be disposed on an inner surface  58  of the flaps  38  and  40  to assist in gripping garment  16 . Teeth in other embodiments perform the same or similar function. Outside surface  60  of plate  48  and outside surface  62  of flap  38  remain exposed so that a person may place belt  12  over one or both of them. 
     In this embodiment, a downward sloping flange portion  64  extends from the top end  52  of clamp  46 . As stated with regard to FIG. 1, the flange portion guides the belt  12  below the flange portion  64  and prevents the belt from moving upwardly past the flange portion  64  and outwardly away from the flange and person  14 . 
     With regard to FIG. 3 another embodiment of the belt guide of the present invention is seen. Belt guide  66  has a clamp  68  including tangs  70  and  72  inwardly biased, but not as wide as plates  48  and  50  described above. Tangs  70  and  72  are connected at a top end  74  and form a slot  76  therebetween to receive a portion of movable flaps  78  and  80 , such as a middle portion. Clamp  68  can be slid downward from the position indicated by phantom clamp  68  to receive the flaps  78  and  80  and upward to remove the flaps as indicated by the upward pointing arrowhead of arrow C. Flaps  78  and  80  are hinged at an upper region  82  of the flaps. Tangs  70  and  72  urge flaps  70  and  78  inwardly as described above with regard to plates  48  and  50 , to grip garment  16 . Clamp  68  has teeth  77  on an inside surface  79  of flap  78  to assist the flap in gripping garment  16 . 
     Flange portion  84  extends from an upper end of flap  78  and prevents the belt  12  from moving upwardly past the flange. Lip  83  may be included, extending from the flange and preventing the belt  12  from moving outwardly away from the flange and person  14 . Belt  12  rests on an outer surface of flap  78 , which is not seen. Finger tab  86 , indented within flap  80 , assists the user in removing the clamp  68  from flaps  78  and  80 . 
     With regard to belt guide  87  seen in FIG. 4, moveable flaps  88  and  90  are seen hinged at an upper region  92 . Flaps  88  and  90  are biased inwardly with spring  94  and can be pulled apart as indicated by arrows D and E forming a slot  96  where garment  16  may be received. Flange portion  97  extends outwardly from flap  88  and prevents the belt  12  from moving upwardly past the flange. Lip  91  may be included, extending from flange  97  and preventing belt  12  from moving outwardly away from the flange and person  14 . Teeth  98  may be positioned on an inner surface  100  of flap  88 . A lower region  99  of flap  90  may be cantilevered outwardly to assist in movement of the flaps  88  and  90 . 
     With regard to FIG. 5, it is seen that flaps  102  and  104  are connected through a pin  106  in belt guide  101 . Pin  106  is disposed through an upper end region  108  of flap  104 . Flap  102  is pivotally attached to pin  106 . As flap  102  pivots about pin  106 , it can be pulled out as indicated by arrow F in FIG. 5A to form slot  110  seen in FIG. 5B to release garment  16 . As flap  102  is pushed inwardly, as indicated by arrow G in FIG. 5B, slot  110  is narrowed or closed as seen in FIG. 5A to grip garment  16 . Finger tab  112 , an indentation on flap  102 , may assist the user in pushing or pulling the flap  102 . Teeth  114  on inside surface  116  of flap  104  may assist in gripping the garment  16 . Flange portion  118  extends from an upper region of flap  104  and prevents the belt  12  from moving upwardly past the flange. Lip  103  may be included, extending from flange  118  and preventing belt  12  from moving outwardly away from the flange and person  14 . 
     With regard to FIG. 6 it is seen that belt guide  115  features a lever  119  that is actuated to position an array of teeth, for example a wheel of teeth  132 , within a slot  124  formed in between flaps  118  and  120  connected at an upper region  122  to grip garment  16 , or to an out of slot position to release the garment  16 . The lever  119  is connected to the wheel of teeth  132  through a pin  126  disposed through a lower end portion  128  of flap  120 . The pin  126  pivotally connects lever  119  to flap  120 . Lever  119  is moveable between a contact and a non-contact position with respect to an outer surface  130  of flap  120 . When the lever  119  is moved into the contact position, as seen in FIG. 6A, an inner surface of the lever  119  makes contact with the surface  130  and the wheel of teeth  132  are rotated outwardly toward slot  124  and are positioned to grip garment  16 . In the non-contact position the lever  119 , as shown in FIG. 6B, is pulled away from surface  130  in the direction of arrow H and the wheel of teeth are pulled inwardly to an out of slot position to release the grip on garment  16 . Finger tabs  134  positioned on a top surface  136  of the belt guide or a side surface  138  of lever  119  assist the user in gripping the belt guide and in pulling or pushing the lever  119 . A flange portion  140  extends from an end of the top surface  136  and prevents the belt  12  from moving upwardly past the flange. Lip  117  may be included, extending from flange  140  and preventing belt  12  from moving outwardly away from the flange and person  14 . 
     With regard to FIG. 7, belt guide  141  is seen featuring flexible flaps  142  and  144  forming a slotted opening  146  therebetween. The flaps are biased inwardly and are pulled apart to insert garment  16  within the slotted opening  146 . The flaps  142  and  144  are dimensioned to exhibit outward flexure when pulled apart. A restoring force of the biased flaps  142  and  144  maintains a secure grip to garment  16 , inserted within the slot  146 . Teeth  148  are positioned directly on an inner surface  150  of flap  142  or on an insert  154  positioned on the inner surface  150 . Flange portion  152  extends outwardly from flap  142  and prevents the belt  12  from moving upwardly past th flange. Lip  149  may be included, extending from flange  152  and preventing belt  12  from moving outwardly away from the flange and person  14 . 
     With reference to FIG. 8, another embodiment of the present invention is seen. Belt guide  153  features a lever  156  actuating a movable plate  158  for engagement with and disengagement from a stationary plate  160 . The plates  158  and  160  have mutually facing opposed sides, one of which, side  162  is seen in FIG.  8 C. The plate  158  is connected to the stationary plate  160  through a bracket portion  168  connected to a lower portion of stationary plate  160 . A slotted opening  164  is formed in between plates  158  and  160 . Within the bracket portion  168  is a pivot  166  about which movable plate  158  and lever  156  pivot. Movable plate  158  is connected for engagement with the stationary plate  160  as seen in FIG. 8B for closing the slotted opening  164  and gripping garment  16  therebetween, or for disengagement with the stationary plate  160  as seen in FIGS. 8A and 8C to release garment  16 . 
     When the lever  156  is actuated, it urges movable plate  158  towards stationary plate  160  such that the movable plate engages the stationary plate to securely grip garment  16  therebetween. When the lever is pulled away from the moveable plate  158 , moveable plate  158  is disengaged from stationary plate  160  and garment  16  is released. Serrated edges  170  on plates  158  and  160  assist in providing a secure grip to garment  16 . The lever  156  and plates  158  and  160 , may be as wide or narrow as desired. 
     A second portion of the belt guide features a loop portion  172  extending away from an upper region of the stationary plate  160 . The loop portion  172 , as the flange portions described above, guides the belt  12  such that it does not move past the loop portion  172 . The loop portion  172  is for example, a ring as seen in FIG.  8 . In one example the loop portion is substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of stationary plate  160 . The loop portion  172  may include a lip  167  extending from the loop and preventing the belt  12  from moving outwardly away from the loop and person  14 . The loon portion is, for example, metallic. 
     In one embodiment, the belt guide  153  includes a suspender clip having a clip portion known in the art but a loop portion  172  that is bent such that it prevents the garment  16  from moving upwards. 
     With regard to FIG. 9, belt guide  169  includes opposed flaps  174  and  176  with mutually facing sides  178  and  180 . Side  180  includes a flat surface supporting a bump  184  and side  178  includes a flat surface with a recess  186  therein. The recess  186  is in alignment with and has a shape corresponding to the bump  184 . The recess  186  is slightly larger in width than the bump  188 . 
     The flaps  174  and  176  are pivotally connected at one end through a pin  182  and are moveable to a closed position (seen in FIG. 9A) to permit the bump  184  to depress garment  16  within the recess  186  to securely grip garment  16  and to an open position (seen in FIG. 9B) to remove the bump  184  from the recess  186  to release the garment. A curved flange portion  188  outwardly extends from flap  174  and prevents upward and outward movement of the belt  12 . 
     With reference to FIG. 10, belt guide  171  includes opposed flaps  190  and  192  with mutually facing sides  194  and  196 . Side  194  includes a flat surface supporting an array of upper teeth projections  198  and side  196  includes a flat surface with an array of lower teeth projections  200  therein. Between teeth projections  198  is gap  202  and between teeth projections  200  is gap  204 . Gap  202  is in alignment with and has a shape corresponding to a tooth projection  198  and gap  204  is in alignment with and has a shape corresponding to a tooth projection  200 . The gaps  202  and  204  are slightly wider than the corresponding teeth projections  198  and  200 . 
     The flaps  190  and  192  are pivotally connected at one end through a pin  206  and are moveable to a closed position (seen in FIG. 10A) to permit meshing engagement between the lower teeth projections  200  and the upper teeth projections  198  and an open position FIG. 10B to permit disengagement of the upper and lower teeth projections. Garment  16  is placed between the teeth projections  198  and  200  and, upon meshing engagement, is gripped by the teeth. Upon disengagement or non-meshing engagement of the teeth the garment  16  is released from the grip. A curved flange portion  208  outwardly extends from flap  190  and prevents upward and outward movement of the belt  12 . 
     The various embodiments of the belt guide of the present invention may include flaps of the same length or size or of varying length or size. Teeth may be present on one or both surfaces of the flap embodiment. The belt guides of the present invention are made, for example, from injection molded plastic, however, other materials may be used.