Patent Application
20140041100
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
One or more embodiments of the invention generally relate to waist bands. More particularly, one or more embodiments of the invention relate to retaining waist bands in proximity to the waist area.
The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.
The following is an example of a specific aspect in the prior art that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. By way of educational background, another aspect of the prior art generally useful to be aware of is that a waistband is a circular band found on underwear, sporting shorts, and jogging pants. It is often a band of rubber or elastic that holds up the shorts during rigorous physical activity.
Typically, boxing is a combat sport in which two people engage in a contest of strength, reflexes, and endurance by throwing punches at an opponent with the goal of a knockout with gloved hands. The rules of boxing involve the referee monitoring the waist band of the boxer's shorts to determine whether an illegal low blow has been delivered. A blow that lands beneath the waist is considered illegal and may result in disqualification.
In view of the foregoing, it is clear that these traditional techniques are not perfect and leave room for more optimal approaches.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:
Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.
Embodiments of the present invention are best understood by reference to the detailed figures and description set forth herein.
Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the Figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention, will recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variations of the invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive.
It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a reference to “a step” or “a means” is a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
From reading the present disclosure, other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features which are already known in the art, and which may be used instead of or in addition to features already described herein.
Although Claims have been formulated in this Application to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalization thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any Claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the present invention.
Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination. The Applicants hereby give notice that new Claims may be formulated to such features and/or combinations of such features during the prosecution of the present Application or of any further Application derived therefrom.
References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” “various embodiments,” etc., may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an exemplary embodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.
As is well known to those skilled in the art many careful considerations and compromises typically must be made when designing for the optimal manufacture of a commercial implementation any system, and in particular, the embodiments of the present invention. A commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the present invention may configured according to the needs of the particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skills and known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that addresses the needs of the particular application.
The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
There are various types of lower body garment support assemblies 100 that may be provided by preferred embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, the lower body garment support assembly 100 may provide an assembly for restricting the movement of a waist band for a pair of shorts during rigorous physical activity or when an elastic band or fastener in the waist band fails. The waist band may be secured to a desired area of the waist by utilizing straps that extend from the waist band and attach to an underlying undergarment, such as, without limitation, a jock strap. In this manner, the waist band may securely remain in place around the waist with minimal movement above or below the waist during rigorous physical activity. In some embodiments, the lower body garment support assembly may include a lower body garment 102. The lower body garment may include, without limitation, a pair of boxing shorts, gym shorts, martial arts pants, jogging pants, a wrestler uniform, and shorts utilized for sports. In some embodiments, the lower body garment may include a waist support portion 104 that circumscribes a waist area. The waist support portion may be efficacious for coordinating with the waist area to help support the lower body garment around the waist area. The waist support portion may also be helpful in identifying the waist area. The waist support portion may include, without limitation, a waistband for a pair of boxing shorts, an elastic waist band, and a broad waist band with a perimeter that is operable to circumscribe the waist area. Those skilled in the art, in light of the present teachings, will recognize that the waist support portion may lose elasticity and subsequently slip beneath the waist area. Also, rigorous physical activity may cause the waist support portion to fall beneath the waist area. In some embodiments, the lower body garment may further include a lower portion 106. The lower portion may include, without limitation, a pair of legs for boxing shorts, and a torso portion for encompassing a torso area.
In some embodiments, the lower body garment support assembly may include an undergarment helpful for protecting a groin area. The undergarment may include, without limitation a jock strap, an athletic supporter, a spandex pair of shorts, and a tight fitting undergarment. Those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention will recognize that due to material composition, design, and groin protection functionality, the undergarment fits snugly around the waist area. Further, the undergarment may not be as susceptible to movement and repositioning as the lower body garment. In some embodiments, the undergarment may include an undergarment waist portion 110 for additional secure attachment to the waist area. The undergarment may further include a front panel 112. The front panel may be helpful in protecting a groin area. In some embodiments, the undergarment may further include at least one undergarment strap 114. The at least one undergarment strap may extend downwardly from the front panel, and up towards the undergarment waist portion. In this manner, an additional support is provided to snugly secure the undergarment. Those skilled in the art in light of the present teachings will recognize that the undergarment forms the foundation upon which the lower body garment support assembly depends on to retain the waist support portion in proximity to the waist area.
In some embodiments, the lower body garment support assembly may include a multiplicity of support straps 116 that extend from a perimeter portion of the waist support portion. The multiplicity of support straps may include a multiplicity of upper straps 118 and a multiplicity of lower straps 120. In one embodiment, the multiplicity of support straps function to join with the undergarment waist portion. In this manner, the waist support portion and the undergarment waist portion press together. In some embodiments, this may be accomplished when each upper strap joins with each lower strap around the undergarment waist portion. In one embodiment, a fastener 122 may secure the straps together to form a tight fit between the lower body garment and the undergarment.
Those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention will recognize that the sport of boxing attempts to identify the localness of the waist support portion to regulate the boxing match, and to at least partially, determine a winner. It is also well known by those skilled in the art that the sport of boxing requires intense focus on an opponent, whereby a split second lapse of concentration to adjust any portion of the lower body garment may result in defeat. In some embodiments, the lower body garment support assembly may provide solutions and benefits for both the referee and the boxer during the boxing match, including, without limitation, maintaining the lower body garment in proper alignment to the waist area during the boxing match, preventing the waist support portion from raising or lowering from the proximity of the waist area, attaching the lower body garment directly to the undergarment, ensuring that a low-blow region utilized in the rules of boxing is fully identified and maintained, preventing unintentional blows under the waist area, and eliminating the need to adjust the lower body garment with boxing gloves during the boxing match. However in other embodiments, the lower body garment support assembly may include additional benefits, and be utilized with additional sports and fighting techniques.
In some embodiments, the lower body garment may include a waist support portion that circumscribes a waist area. The waist support portion may be efficacious for coordinating with the waist area to help support the lower body garment around the waist area. The waist support portion may also be helpful in identifying the approximate waist area. The waist support portion may include, without limitation, a waistband of a pair of boxing shorts, an elastic waist band, and a broad waist band with a perimeter that is operable to circumscribe the waist area. Those skilled in the art, in light of the present teachings, will recognize that the waist support portion may lose elasticity and traverse beneath the waist area. Also, rigorous activity may also cause the waist support portion to fall beneath the waist area. In some embodiments, the lower body garment may further include a lower portion. The lower portion may include, without limitation, a pair of legs for boxing shorts, and a torso portion for encompassing a torso area.
Those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention will recognize that due to material composition, design, and groin protection functionality, the undergarment fits snugly around the waist area. The undergarment may not be as susceptible to movement and repositioning as the lower body garment. In some embodiments, the undergarment may include an undergarment waist portion for additional secure attachment to the waist area. The undergarment may further include a front panel. The front panel may be helpful in protecting a groin area. In some embodiments, the undergarment may further include at least one undergarment strap. The at least one undergarment strap may extend downwardly from the front panel, and up towards the undergarment waist portion. In this manner, an additional support is provided to snugly secure the undergarment. Those skilled in the art in light of the present teachings will recognize that the undergarment forms the foundation upon which the lower body garment support assembly depends on to retain the waist support portion in proximity to the waist area.
In some embodiments, the multiplicity of support straps may include a multiplicity of upper straps and a multiplicity of lower straps. The multiplicity of upper straps may include four straps. Similarly, the multiplicity of lower straps may include four straps, forming eight straps that are permanently attached to the interior side of the waist support portion and join together around the undergarment. However, in other embodiments, more or less support straps may be utilized. In one embodiment, the multiplicity of support straps may attach to an inside hem of the waist support portion by durable sewing. However, in yet another embodiment, the multiplicity of support straps may attach to an exterior perimeter of the waist support portion by an adhesive. The multiplicity of support straps may be sufficiently sized and dimensioned to extend from the waist support portion and wrap around the undergarment waist portion. However, in one alternative embodiment, the multiplicity of support straps may pass through at least one aperture in the undergarment waist portion to attach. In some embodiments, the multiplicity of support straps may measure approximately 5″×2″. However, other embodiments may include longer, shorter, narrower, and broader support straps. There may also be approximately a 3″ gap between each upper strap and each lower strap. However, the gap may be varied to adjust for different widths of the waist support portion and the undergarment waist portion. In one alternative embodiment, the multiplicity of support straps may be adjustable.
In one embodiment, the multiplicity of support straps function to join with the undergarment waist portion. In this manner, the waist support portion and the undergarment waist portion press together. In some embodiments, this may be accomplished when each upper strap joins with each lower strap around the undergarment waist portion. In one embodiment, the multiplicity of support straps may include hook-and-loop facings. The endpoints of each strap may be joined by contact of the hook-and-loop facings, and may be retained inside the lower body garment and the waist support portion. In some embodiments, each upper strap may include a tab of hook material from hook-and-loop material on a planar surface. The hook material may position on the planar surface, yet the hook material may not engage with the undergarment because the upper strap wraps around a top edge portion of the undergarment. The lower strap may include a tab of loop material from hook-and-loop material on the planar surface. The loop material may position on the planar surface and engage with the hook material of the upper strap. In one embodiment, a fastener may secure the straps together to form a tight fit between the lower body garment and the undergarment. In one alternative embodiment, the fastener may include a magnet. However, other fasteners may include, without limitation, buttons, snaps, adhesives, and zippers.
All the features or embodiment components disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying abstract and drawings, unless expressly stated otherwise, may be replaced by alternative features or components serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose as known by those skilled in the art to achieve the same, equivalent, suitable, or similar results by such alternative feature(s) or component(s) providing a similar function by virtue of their having known suitable properties for the intended purpose. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent, or suitable, or similar features known or knowable to those skilled in the art without requiring undue experimentation.
Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention, other equivalent or alternative methods of implementing an assembly that secures a waist band in proximity to the waist area during physical activity according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Various aspects of the invention have been described above by way of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. The particular implementation of the assembly that secures a waist band in proximity to the waist area during physical activity may vary depending upon the particular context or application. By way of example, and not limitation, the assembly that secures a waist band in proximity to the waist area during physical activity described in the foregoing were principally directed to boxing shorts waist band implementations; however, similar techniques may instead be applied to keep pants up for people who recently lost weight, which implementations of the present invention are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention. The invention is thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims. It is to be further understood that not all of the disclosed embodiments in the foregoing specification will necessarily satisfy or achieve each of the objects, advantages, or improvements described in the foregoing specification.
Claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered and/or lettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding. Any such numbering and lettering in itself is not intended to indicate the ordering of elements and or steps.
