1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to garments having closing means around open ends thereof, more particularly to closing means for an open end of a jersey sleeve.
2. Background Art
Various types of closing means for garment open ends are known. For example, it has been known to provide a circular elastic strip inside the hem of a garment open end (e.g. jersey sleeve, pant leg, waist band of pants or of a sweater, etc), such as to retain the end against the body of the user. However, such an approach does not allow for adjustment of the tension of the end around the body of the user.
It has also been known to provide a strip of material extending freely from an outer wall of a sleeve end and having a hook and loop fastener detachably connectable to another hook and loop fastener defined in the outer wall of the sleeve. Such a strip usually partially closes the sleeve by creating an inward fold in the border of the sleeve, which can be uncomfortable to the wearer.
It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide an improved closing means for open ends of a garment, which allows for a selective adjustment of the tension around the open end.
It is also an aim of the present invention to provide an improved closing means for a tubular portion of a garment, which allows for a selective adjustment of the tension around a perimeter thereof.
Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a garment comprising a first substantially tubular portion configured to cover at least one of an upper and a lower torso of a wearer, at least one pair of second tubular portions in communication with the first tubular portion and configured for surrounding corresponding limbs of the wearer, and at least one of the first and second tubular portions having an open end including closing means, the closing means comprising a strip having a first end connected to the tubular portion proximate the open end and a second free end, the strip being slidably retained to the tubular portion around the open end and defining a closing direction from the first end to the second end along a perimeter of the open end, the second end including first retaining means, the closing means also comprising second retaining means on the tubular portion proximate the open end and defining at least one closing point where the first retaining means is detachably connectable thereto, a distance between the closing point and the first end of the strip measured around the open end along the closing direction being greater than a distance between the first end of the strip and the first retaining means, such that upon engagement of the first and second retaining means at the closing point, the strip contracts the open end to an at least partially closed position.
Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a garment comprising at least one tubular portions configured for surrounding a limb of a wearer, and closing means comprising a strip having a first end connected to the tubular portion around a perimeter thereof and a second free end, the strip being slidably retained to the tubular portion around the perimeter and defining a closing direction from the first end to the second end along the perimeter, the second end including first retaining means, the closing means also comprising second retaining means on an outer surface of the tubular portion proximate the perimeter and defining at least one closing point where the first retaining means is detachably connectable thereto, a distance between the closing point and the first end of the strip measured around the perimeter along the closing direction being greater than a distance between the first end of the strip and the first retaining means, such that upon engagement of the first and second retaining means at the closing point, the strip contracts the tubular portion around the perimeter to an at least partially closed position.
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a particular embodiment of the present invention and in which:
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Since the strip 32 is slidably retained to the sleeve 18 around the open end 20 within the annular enclosure 26 formed by the hem 24, the crumpling of the border produced by the contraction of the open end 20 may be equally distributed along the length of the strip 32 remaining within the annular enclosure 26, which provides for a more comfortable fit around a user's arm. The hook and loop type fasteners advantageously allow for a wide variety of different such closing points (examples being given at 48a, b, c in
Alternately, the retaining means can be, for example, one or more hooks extending from the second end 40 of the strip 32 and one or more corresponding loops extending from the outer wall 30, or vice versa; one or more snap piece attached to the second end 40 of the strip 32 and one or more complementary snap piece attached to the outer wall 30; one or more button attached to the second end 40 of the strip 32 and one or more corresponding button hole defined in the outer wall 30, or vice versa; etc. As in the shown embodiment, the distance on the sleeve 18 between the closing point(s) 48 of the two retaining means 42, 46 and the first end 34 of the strip 32 measured along the closing direction C is greater than the distance between the first end 34 of the strip 32 and the first retaining means 42, in order that upon engagement of the retaining means 42, 46 at the closing point(s) 48, the strip 32 contracts the open end 20 of the sleeve 18, thus reducing the size of the open end 20 and as such partially closing it.
Alternately, it is possible to slidably attach the strip 32 around the open end 20 of the sleeve 18 using a different configuration than having the strip 32 extending within the annular enclosure 26 of the hem 24. For example, the strip can pass through a plurality of loops extending from the outer surface 44 of the outer wall 30. Other configurations are also possible.
It is also possible to provide similar closing means 22 in other portions of the jersey 10 in addition to or instead of, for example along the bottom open end 52 (see
In an alternate embodiment, closing means 122 similar to the closing means 22 may be used around a perimeter of a tubular portion 118 of a garment in other parts than around an open end thereof, for example in the sleeve of a jersey intermediate the shoulder and the wrist, on the pant leg intermediate the hip and the ankle, or in one or more points along a length of a sock. This is illustrated by
The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary. Those skilled in the art will therefore appreciate that the foregoing description is illustrative only, and that various alternate configurations and modifications can be devised without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternate configurations, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.