Patent Publication Number: US-6904648-B2

Title: Strap assembly for lingerie and brassieres

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   Our present invention relates to a strap and slide assembly for lingerie and brassieres and, more particularly, to a flat assembly for such garments which has reduced slip and greater protection of the slide from separation of the strap therefrom. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   It is known to provide a slide and strap assembly wherein a garment such as a brassiere or another undergarment having adjustability of the shoulder straps, has its strap bonded to one side of a central bar of a slide such that another portion of the strap passes through the slots of the slide and the opposite side of that central bar. 
   The strap may loop through a ring which is bonded to one part of the garment and the end of the portion of the strip which slips through the slide may be anchored to another portion of the garment, e.g. the back thereof. 
   While a strip and slide assembly of this type is comparatively flat, the region at which an end of the strap is attached to the slide may rub against the body and become frayed or peel away. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a strap and slide assembly for brassieres and lingerie whereby the drawbacks of earlier systems are avoided. 
   Another object of this invention is to provide an improved strap and slide assembly with less danger of slippage than earlier devices and wherein the tendency of the end of the strip to peel away from the slide is reduced. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   These objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are attained, in accordance with the invention in a strap and slide assembly for a garment which comprises: 
   a slide comprising a flat frame-shaped slide body having mutually parallel upper and lower bars, a central bar parallel to and located between the upper and lower bars and a pair of lateral limbs connected to the upper and lower bars and to the central bar at opposite ends thereof, the body being formed with an upper slot between the central bar and the upper bar and a lower slot between the central bar and the lower bar, the central bar having a flat surface lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the body on one side of the body; and 
   a strap engaged in the slide and having an end lying against and welded to the surface, a first stretch or portion of the strap running from the end to a loop of the strap, and a second stretch or portion of the strap passing from the loop around the lower bar along an opposite side of the body from the one side, then through the lower slot around the central bar on the one side over the end, then through the upper slot and around the upper bar on the opposite side of the body, whereby an effective length of the strap is adjustable by sliding the slide along the second stretch portion. 
   According to the invention the surface of the central bar to which the strip end is welded or bonded is provided with roughening formations facilitating welding of that end to the surface. So that orientation of the slide is important during the welding operation, both of the opposite surfaces of the slide can be provided with such formations. 
   The body of the slide can be formed in one piece of a synthetic resin while the strap is a woven strap of filaments of the same synthetic resin, thereby maximizing the bond strength between the end of the strap and the body of the slide. A preferred synthetic resin is of polyamide (nylon). The central bar can be flat on the opposite side thereof provided with the roughening formation. 
   It has been found to be advantageous to recess those surfaces inwardly from planes of outer faces of the upper and lower bars of the slider. 
   The advantage of the system of the invention is that the strap which slips through the slider and with respect to which the slider is movable, protects the bonded end of the strap from peeling away from the surface of the central bar to which it is sealed. Furthermore, because the strap which is threaded through the slider rides against the end of the strap bonded to the central bar, the friction between the moving slider and the strap portion on which it rides is increased and thus the tendency to slip is reduced. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view through a strap and slide assembly in accordance with the prior art; 
       FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  of a strap and slide assembly in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an elevational view of the slide without the strap; and 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view through the slide taken along the line IV—IV of FIG.  3 . 
   

   SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION 
   From  FIG. 1  it will be apparent that in the prior art, a free end  10  of a strap  11  was bonded to a flat portion  12  of a central bar  13  of a slide  14  which had upper and lower bars at  15  and  16  as well as side limbs connecting those bars and a lower slot  17  and an upper slot  18  through which another pass  19  of the strap  11  was threaded. 
   In particular, the strap  11  had a loop  20  which extended through a ring  21  connected to the front of a brassiere or item of lingerie, the loop passing into the portion  19  of the strap which passed inwardly through the slot  17  from the same side of the slot as the end  10  was bonded thereto. The strap then passed around the central bar  13  at  22  and through the slot  18 , over the shoulder of the wearer to the back of the garment. The strap and slider tended frequently to slip along the side of the bar  13  opposite that at which the end  10  was secured thereto. 
   As can be seen from  FIG. 2 , with the invention, however, the end  110  of a strap  111  is bonded to a flat side  112  of a slider  114  and passes into the loop  120  through a ring  121  from which the strap portion  119  passes through the slot  117  above the lower limb or bar  116  and then around the central bar  113  in contact with the end  110 . The strap then passes through the slot  118  below the upper bar  115  over the shoulder of the wearer and to the back of the garment. 
   The slide  114  has, in addition to the central bar  113  and the upper bar  115  and lower bar  116 , side limbs  130  and  131  delimiting the slots  117  and  118 . The flat side  112  is roughened at  122  to facilitate bonding of the end  110  thereto. The injection-molded slide and the woven strap are both composed of nylon. 
   As can be seen from  FIG. 2 , similar roughenings to that at  122  may be provided at  123  on the opposite side of the central bar  113 . The surfaces  122  and  123  are set inwardly from the planes  124  and  125  of the outer faces of the upper and lower bars  115 ,  116 . The engagement between the strap portion  119  and the bonded end  110  limits slippage of the slide on the strap and the fact that the strap  119  overlies the end  110  limits peeling thereof from the slide. The surface roughening  122  ensures a good connection between the end and the central bar  113  in the welding process.