US2153068A - Effective length adjusting means for apparel elements - Google Patents

Description

USTING MEANS FOR APPAREL ELEMENTS T. R. ARDEN April 4, 1939.

EFFECTIVE LENGTH ADJ Filed April 14, 1938 n l l WH Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EFFECTIVE LENGTH ADJUSTING MEANS FOR APPAREL ELEMENTS New York Application April 14, 1938, Serial No. 202,083

4 Claims. 01. 2-2s9) This invention relates to apparel, and has particular reference to the provision of apparel with means whereby the effective length of elements such as sleeves, waist bands and the like may be varied.

Generally speaking, the object of the invention is to embody in a sleeve, waist band or the like, a simple,.practical, easily operable means to adjust the efiective length thereof and to maintain the adjustment.

A special object of the invention is to provide an effective length adjusting means for apparel elements such as mentioned which means is effective to obtain various different definite and indicated effective length adjustments of the apparel elements.

Another special object of the invention is to provide an adjustment means for the purpose stated which is substantially invisible and which does not detract from the appearance of the apparel element in which it is embodied.

Another special object of the invention is to provide an adjustment means for the purpose stated which may readily and easily be embodied in apparel elements at small cost and which is thoroughly reliable and efficient in the performance of its function.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will become more fully apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel combination and arrangement of features as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the different views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the embodiment of the invention in a shirt sleeve.

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation of the construction illustrated in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 33 of Fi 2; and

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Fi 2.

While the invention is illustrated in the drawing as embodied in a shirt sleeve, it will'be understood that this is merely for convenience and for the purpose of illustrating one utility of the invention, and that the shirt sleeve, designated as I0, is representative of any other apparel element the effective length of which it is desired should be variable or adjustable.

In accordance with the invention, the sleeve or equivalent apparel element ID has formed therein at a suitable point a pair of slits II, II which extend transversely relative to said element and are suitably spaced apart longitudinally thereof. Also in accordance with the invention, one element I2 of a snap fastener is secured in any suitable manner to the element l0 at the outer side thereof between and in line with the slits I l, I I; a tape I3 is provided at spaced points therealong with snap fastener elements I4 for cooperation with the snap fastener element 12; said tape is threaded through the slits II, II so that its end portions are disposed at the inner side of the element Ill and a medial portion thereof overlies the outer face of said element between said slits, and at least one end of said tape is fastened to the element [0 at a point suitably spaced longitudinally of said element l0 from the snap fastener element l2 as indicated at 15. The other end of the tape may be free or may be fastened with respect to the element I0 and, if fastened, it may be fastened to said element ill at any suitable point. Preferably, it is fastened and preferably, too, for the sake of simplicity and convenience, it is fastened by the same means which fastens the snap fastener element [2. Moreover, the length of the tape preferably is greater than the length of the element Ill between the end fastenings of said tape by an amount such that the portion of the tape adjacent to its second mentioned end always affords a loop I6 for finger engagement to facilitate adjustment of the effective length of the element Ill.

Obviously, by drawing the tape l3 through the slits H, H to cause the first mentioned end portion of the tape to approach the snap fastener element I2, the portion of the element l0 between the first mentioned end portion of the tape and said snap fastener element l2 will become pleated or gathered and foreshortened, thereby reducing the effective length of said element l0, and by engaging any selected snap fastener element I4 with the nap fastener element l2, a desired foreshortens or reduced effective length adjustment of the element may be maintained. In this connection it is preferred that the snap fastener elements M be spaced apart definite distances along the tape l3 and that said snap fastener elements be provided with suitable means to indicate the different effective lengths of the element II] which are obtained by engagement of the different snap fastener elements M with the snap fastener element 12. Thus, the obtaining of different definite effective length adjustments of the element H) is facilitated.

Preferably a strip 1 l is sewed to the element 10 at the inner side thereof to provide, in conjunction with said element I ii, a pocket to contain the tape l3, but, as is apparent, the strip I? is not essential and may be eliminated, if desired.

When the means comprising the invention is applied to a shirt sleeve, said means preferably is applied at the outside of the sleeve where it is not affected by raising or lowering of the arm and where there is little or no likelihood of the sleeve being placed in sufiicient tension to cause separation of the snap fastener elements l2, l4.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, the device may readily and easily be embodied in apparel elements at small cost and is neat, easy to operate, substantially invisible, does not detract from the appearance of the apparel element and, obviously, will eiiiciently perform its intended function.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparel element having a pair of slits extending transversely thereof, a separable fastener element secured to said apparel element at the outer side thereof between said slits, a flexible element extending through said slits and having its end portions disposed inwardly of said apparel element and its intermediate portion overlying the apparel element between said slits, one end of said flexible element being fastened to the apparel element at a point spaced longitudinally along the apparel element from said separable fastener element, and a series of separable fastener element carried by said flexible element and spaced therealong for selective cooperation with said first mentioned separable fastener element.

2. An apparel element as set forth in claim 1 including a common securing means for the first mentioned separable fastener element and the other end of the flexible element.

3. An apparel element as set forth in claim 1 in which the other end of the flexible element is fastened with respect to the apparel element and in which the flexible element is longer than the length of the apparel element between the fastened ends of said flexible element by an amount such that a portion of the flexible element always is available as a loop for finger engagement to facilitate gathering of the material of the apparel element along said flexible element.

4. An apparel element as set forth in claim 1 in which a strip is fastened to the apparel element at the inner side thereof and in cooperation with said apparel element provides a pocket containing a major portion of the flexible element.

THOMAS R. ARDEN.

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