The invention relates to a device for preventing damage to clothing, specifically damage to the end of a pant leg.

Background of the Invention

A problem in fitting pants to a wearer is properly fitting pant leg length and preventing damage to the back portion of a pant leg end. If the back portion of a pant leg is too long for a wearer, the back portion of the pant end will deteriorate because of contact with the ground, the wearer's heel or other obstacles. This results in a frayed, torn, dirty and unattractive pant leg end.

The problem is pronounced with mass-produced pants that are not tailored to the wearer's leg length.

This problem also occurs when a wearer wears shoes having different heel heights. A pant leg properly fitted to avoid ground contact when worn with high-heeled shoes will no longer avoid ground contact if the wearer wears lower-heeled shoes .

Damage to pant ends reduces the useful life of pants .

Different approaches are taken to avoid pant leg end damage .

A common approach is to have the pant leg length altered by a tailor. Taloring is time-consuming and somewhat costly. It does not afford protection to a pant end when the wearer changes shoe heel height.

Another approach is for the wearer to roll-up pant ends to avoid contact with the ground. While initially effective, rolled pant ends eventually unroll due to leg motion and become damaged. Also, many wearers find rolled pant ends unattractive.

Another approach involves permanently installing clasps, hooks, clips or other fasteners to pant ends to mechanically maintain the pant ends in a rolled configuration. While effective in restraining pant ends, this method requires a tailor to install the fasteners in place and creates the unattractive appearance of rolled- up pant ends. Additionally, there is an undesirable risk of fastener entanglement with other articles of clothing when storing, cleaning or wearing a pair of pants with fasteners installed.

Thus, there is a need for a device that prevents damage to the back of a pant leg end with the ground or other obstacles, that is inexpensive to install, allows easy and immediate adjustment of the height of the back of a pant leg end by a wearer, retains the natural appearance of a pant leg end and has minimal entanglement risk with other articles of clothing.

Summary of the Invention

The disclosed invention is a pant end lift assembly that allows the wearer to adjust the height of the back of a pant end to prevent pant damage caused through repeated contact with the ground, wearer's heel or other damaging obstructions .

The assembly has a lift member with an adjustable hinge secured to a side of the pant end allows a user to lift the back of the pant end up to a desired height to avoid contact with the ground other damaging obstructions. The hinge may be a bendable portion of the lift member.

The invention is inexpensive to install, allows easy and immediate adjustment of the height of a pant leg end by a wearer, retains the natural appearance of a pant leg end and has minimal entanglement risk with other articles of clothing.

The assembly conforms to the circumference of a tubular pant end to retain the natural appearance of the pant leg end. In preferred embodiments, the assembly is installed into a hem pocket at the pant end or is integrated into a flexible pre-form that is adhered or sewn to the pant end so that the assembly is contained within a flexible shroud, is out of sight and has a minimal entanglement risk with other articles of clothing .

The assembly allows a wearer to easily adjust the height of the back of a pant end in response to ground obstructions or a wearer's heel-height.

The assembly can be installed in a new pair of pants during fabrication or can be easily installed in an existing pair of pants. Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing sheets illustrating the invention.

Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of pants having the pant end lift assembly;

Figure 2 show a pair of conventional prior art fabric panels;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the bottom of a pair of pant ends taken along line 3 --3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a conventional prior art pant end;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5--5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the bottom of a pair of pant ends like Figure 3;

Figures 7 through 10 are side views pant ends having the pant end lift assembly;

Figure 11 is a detail view of a wire for use in the assembly;

Figure 12 is a view of a wire for use in the assembly; Figure 13 is a side view of a pant end having the adjustable pant end assembly;

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken along line 14—14 of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a side view of a pant end having the adjustable pant end assembly; Figure 16 is a sectional view taken along line 15—15 of

Figure 15;

Figures 17 and 18 are side views pant ends having the pant end lift assembly;

Figure 19 is a side view of a pant end having the adjustable pant end assembly;

Figure 20 is a detail view of a wire for use in the assembly;

Figures 21 through 26 show a variety of attachment structures for use in the assembly;

Figure 27 is a detail view of a lift member for use in the assembly;

Figure 28 is a side view of a pant end for assembly installation;

Figure 20 is a front view of a pant end for assembly installation;

Figure 30 is a back view of a pant end including the assembly;

Figure 31 is a sectional view taken along line 31—31 of

Figure 30;

Figure 32 is a view of a preform for use with the assembly;

Figure 33 is a view of an alternate preform for use with the assembly;

Figure 34 is a sectional view taken along line 34—34 of

Figure 33;

Figures 35 and 36 show the prefrom installed to a pant end. Figure 37 is a view of an alternate preform for use with the assembly;

Figure 38 is a view of a pant end including the assembly;

Figure 39 is a view of a wire for use in the assembly;

Figures 40 through 42 are views of alternate preforms for use in the assembly;

Figure 43 is a view of a pant end including the assembly;

Figure 44 is a view of an alternate lift member for use in the assembly; and

Figure 45 through 49 are views of alternate embodiment assemblies .

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figure 1 is a front view of a conventional pair of pants 10 in which adjustable pant end lift assembly 12 is installed.

Pair of pants 10 includes right and left pant legs 14, 16. Each pant leg 14, 16 is conventionally constructed from a pair of flat fabric panels 18, 20. Panels 18, 20 each have an inner side 22 and an outer side 24. Inner sides 22 are joined together by inseams 26 and outer sides 24 are joined together by outseams 28 to form a tubular shaped pant legs 14 and 16. Figure 2 shows fabric panels 18, 20 for a right pant leg 14.

Each leg 14, 16 extends downward from pants waistband 30 to a pant end 32.

Each pant end 32 has a generally circular circumference 34. Pant end 32 includes a front portion 36 at the front of the pant leg, a back portion 38 at the back of the pant leg, an inner side 40 and an outer side 42 as shown in Figure 3.

Inner side 40 is a portion of circumference 34 proximate inseam 26 and outer side 42 is a portion of circumference 34 proximate outseam 28.

Pant end 32 may include a sewn end hem 44. Pant end 32 is folded upward and sewn at hem seam 46 to form end hem 44. End hem 44 defines an interior hem pocket 48. See Figures 4 and 5.

Pant end 32 hangs freely downward so that pant leg back portion 38 hangs down and may drag on the ground or come in contact with the wearer's heel or other damaging obstructions .

Figures 1, 3 and 6 through 10 show a first embodiment adjustable pant end lift assembly 12.

Adjustable pant end assembly 12 is installed to pant leg 14, 16 proximate pant end 32.

Assembly 12 includes the lower end of the pant and an elongate lift member 50 having ends 52, 54. Lift member 50 has a hinge 56 and a lift arm 58 located between ends 52, 54.

Lift member 50 is attached to pant end 32 by attachment elements 60, 62 proximate member ends 52, 54. Attachment elements 60, 62 may include conventional stitching, fabric adhesives, engagement in a hem pocket or other attachment means known in the apparel fabrication arts and will be described in greater detail below. Assembly 12 extends around pant end circumference 34. Member end 52 is attached to pant end 32 at an inner side 40 by elements 60 and member end 54 is attached to pant end 32 at back portion 38 by element 62 as shown in Figure 3.

Alternatively, member end 52 is attached to pant end 32 at an outer side 42 and member end 54 is attached to pant end 32 at back portion 38 as shown in Figure 6.

Lift arm 58 is raised by bending hinge 56 upward to raise member end 54. As lift arm 58 is raised, pant leg back portion 38 is likewise raised upward. The weight of pant leg back portion 38 is transferred from the pant, along the member 50 and to the pant end at member 52.

Attachment element 60 non-rotatably attaches end 52 to the pant end so that the weight of the pant leg is transferred to the pant end by the attachment member. When lift arm 58 is raised by bending hinge 56 pant leg back portion 38 is held up and away from the wearer's heel or other damaging obstructions. When pant leg back portion 38 is raised, the back portion 38' becomes slack. See Figures 7 through 10.

Attachment element 60 firmly attaches assembly 12 to pant end 32 so that the assembly does not rotate relative to pant end front portion 36 and pant end side portions 40 and 42 when lift arm 58 is raised. This assures that lift member 50 retains its position relative to pant end 32 when lift arm 58 is raised so that pant leg back is held above the pant end front and side portions and the weight of the lifted pant back is transferred to the pant end.

As illustrated in Figures 7 through 10, hinge 56 may be located at different locations along the length of lift member 50. Figures 8 and 10 show hinge 56 at attachment element 60.

In a preferred embodiment elongate lift member 50 is made of a length of bendable wire 64 or a length of bendable material which may be bendable plastic . Hinge 56 in member 50 between ends 52, 54.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a hinge 56 bent sharply so that lift arm 58 rigidity extends from the hinge to attachment element 62. Elongate lift member 50 may be comprised entirely of a wire 64 or may be made up of rigid elements joined at a pivot hinge.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a hinge 56 bent gradually along the length of a wire lift member 50 so that hinge 56 is co-extensive with lift arm 58.

Other known hinges in the art may be used including adjustable hinges having a number of latched positions and continuously adjustable friction hinges.

Wire 64 may be a metal wire made of brass, copper stainless steel, annealed steel, aluminum, galvanized iron or other metal or other bendable material . Preferably, wire 64 is formed from a corrosion resistant metal, or includes a treatment or coating to protect the metal from corrosion. Wire 64 may be electrical wire having a plastic, rubber, silicone or other insulating coating. Wire 64 may be very thin, having a diameter as small as 0.32 millimeters (28 gage) or be much thicker, having a diameter up to 1.3 millimeters (16 gage) or more, depending on the weight of fabric in pants 10 that the wire must support. Wire 64 may be made of a malleable non-metal material. Wire 64 may have a number of twisted strands.

To prevent damage or puncture through pant fabrics, the ends of wire 64 may be capped with a cap 66 made of plastic, rubber, silicone or like material. See Figure 11. Cap 66 may be formed from a quantity of glue or epoxy applied to the wire ends and allowed to harden. Alternatively, the wire ends may blunted though use of a file, grinder, sander or like tool. Alternatively, the wire ends may be bent back onto themselves to form a bent loop 68 as shown in Figure 12.

Lift member 50 is attached to pant end 32 by attachment elements 60, 62. Different attachment elements are contemplated for the invention.

Attachment elements 60, 62 may include a single fastening element extending along the length of the lift member or separate fastening means located at separate points along the length of the lift member.

Figures 13 and 14 show lift member 50 installed into a hem pocket 48. Lift member 50 is held in place by a tight interference fit between hem pocket sidewalls 70 and 72 and the lift member. If desired, the restriction stitching 74 is placed proximate each end of the lift member to prevent undesired motion of the member about the hem pocket . Figures 15 and 16 show lift member 50 installed into a secondary hem pocket 76. Secondary hem pocket 76 is formed by sewing secondary hem seam 78 into hem pocket 48. Lift member 50 is held in place by a tight interference fit between hem pocket sidewalls 70 and 72 and the lift member. Restriction stitching 74 may be placed proximate each end of the lift member to prevent undesired motion of the member about the hem secondary pocket .

If desired, restriction stitching 74 may be replaced with a quantity of adhesive or another fastener to prevent undesired motion of a lift member about hem pockets .

Alternatively, lift member 50 may be secured within a hem pocket by sewing a member end 52 into hem seam 46, creating an interference fit between the hem seam and the wire. See Figure 17.

Alternatively, member end 52 may be extended upward proximate an outseam or sideseam flap 80 and additionally secured to the flap by stitches or other fasteners 82 as shown in Figure 18. Flap 80 may be formed as part of a known five-thread overlock or four-thread overlock stitch seam.

Other fastening means may be used to secure lift member 50 to a pant end.

Lift member 50 may be sewed to pant end 32 through use of bar tack or like stitches 84 to create an interference fit between the hem seam stitches and the member. See Figure 19. In embodiments in which lift member 50 includes a wire 64 having an insulating coating 86, the coating may be extended beyond the wire to allow stitching 88 to be sewn through the coating or stitched over the coating to secure the member to a pant end. See Figure 20.

In embodiments in which lift member 50 includes a wire 64 having a bent loop 68 at one wire end, lift member may be fastened to pant end 32 by a variety of attachment structures as shown in Figures 21 through 26. Figures 21 through 23 show different flap structures 90 sewn to a pant end and having one or more apertures 92 for engaging bent loop 68. Figure 24 shows a metal loop structure 94 sewn to pant end 32 for the same purpose. Figures 25 and 26 show apertures 96 placed in pant end 32 that engage bent loop 68 to hold lift member 50 in place. Figure 25 shows use of a sewn buttonhole-shaped aperture 96. Figure 26 shows use of a round aperture 96. The round aperture may be sewn, or include a metal or plastic grommet . Apertures 96 may extend through flaps 80 that are part of a conventional open or busted seam.

Figure 27 shows an alternate member end 98 to fasten lift member 50 to pant end 32. Member end 98 includes a string 100 affixed to the member by tying, wrapping, binding, adhesion, or other means. String 100 is stitched to pant end 32 to secure member 50 in place.

Figures 28 through 31 show an alternate method for fastening lift member 50 to a pant. The pant is made up of back and front fabric panels 102 and 104. Back panel 102 is longer than front panel 104 so that back panel end flap 106 extends downward beyond front panel end 108 as shown in Figures 28 and 29. A lift member 50 is placed onto the back panel end flap as shown in Figure 29. Back panel end flap 106 is then folded up and around member 50 to form a piping 108 made up of back panel end flap 106. Piping 108 is held in place by stitching 110 or another fastener and holds piping 108 in place at the pant end.

Member 50 may be fastened to a piece of flexible tape 112. Tape 112 is made of fabric or a like flexible material. Tape 112 is then sewn, adhered or otherwise attached to a pant end 32. Possible adhesives for attaching the tape to a pant end could include rubber cement, household or stick glue, spray fabric adhesives, fabric glue or other known adhesives capable of adhering fabric. Alternatively, tape 112 may be fastened to a pant end by known sewing methods or any of the attachment means described above .

The tape 112 may be fusible interfacing. If desired, the fusible interfacing may be Pellon® brand interfacing. Tape 112 may include an adhesive 114 on one side of the tape. Adhesive 114 may be a heat-activated adhesive .

A pant end lift assembly preform 116 is made for sewing or adhesion to a pant end 32. Preform 116 is made by adhering a lift member 50 to adhesive 114 on one side of tape 112 as shown in Figure 32. Adhesive 114 may then be used to attach preform 116 to a pant end.

Figures 35 and 36 show installation of a preform 116 into hem pockets 48 and 70 respectively. Alternatively, a preform 118 may be assembled by sandwiching a member 50 between two like pieces of tape 112 so that adhesive 114 on each tape faces each other. See Figures 33 and 34. Preform 118 may be sewed, adhered, installed into a hem pocket or otherwise attached to a pant end 32.

An alternate preform 120 may be may be assembled by embedding a lift member 50 into a quantity of heat- activated adhesive 122. Preform 120 is installed to a pant end 32 by heat-pressing onto a pant end to form a completed assembly. Preform 120 can be mounted onto patches, interfacing, cloth or like flexible backings for installation at a pant end. See Figure 37.

A further alternative preform may have a lift member encased in a thin strip of paper, plastic or like flexible material similar to a "twist-tie" type fastener.

The assembly may be installed to a pant by securing a lift member 50 between a overlay patch 124 and pant end 32. Patch 124 may be a conventional flexible patch made of fabric or a like flexible material. Patch 124 may be applied to the interior or exterior of the pant end by sewing, adhesive or other means. See Figure 38.

As stated above, elongate lift member 50 may include a length of wire 64. Alternate embodiments of the invention are contemplated wherein wire 64 is a braided wire made up of multiple smaller individual wire strands. The multiple wire strands are equal or smaller in diameter than a wire 64 described above. The wire strands may be very small, having individual diameters less than 0.32 millimeters (28 gage).

Figure 39 shows a braided wire 126 made up of two strands 128 of flexible wire twisted together into a helical shape. Strands 128 may be made of any of the materials disclosed for wire 64. Braided wire 126 may be similar or identical to the braided wire used in a conventional pipe cleaner.

Figures 40 and 41 show alternate preforms 130 for installing an adjustable pant end assembly of the present invention onto a pant end. Preforms 130 include use of multiple individual wire strands 132 mounted onto a length of fabric tape 112. Wire strands 132 are mounted to the fabric tape in parallel orientation by adhesive or other means as disclosed herein. If desired, wire strands 132 may be woven though tape 112 as shown in Figure 41.

Alternatively, assembly 12 may include individual wire strands 132 that are mounted directly to a pant end by any of the means disclosed herein.

Figure 42 shows an alternate preform 134 for installing an adjustable pant end assembly of the present invention onto a pant end. Preform 134 is made up of wire mesh screening 136 mounted onto a length of tape 112. Screening 136 may be used to replace wire 64 used in any of the herein disclosed embodiments.

Alternatively, assembly 12 may include screening 136 that is mounted directly to a pant end by any of the means disclosed herein. Screening 136 may be made of the same material as wire 64.

Member 50 may include a wire 138 which replaces the conventional thread used for stitching used to create a hem seam 46. See Figure 43. Wire 138 may be made of the same material as wire 64. While Figure 43 shows a use of a single wire 138, embodiments are contemplated including a two or more wires 138. Different gages of wire 138 may be used with different pant fabric weights as appropriate .

Figure 44 shows a lift member 140 including a flexible wire portion 142, a hinge 144 and a lift arm 146 joined to hinge 144. Lift arm 146 is made of a different material from wire portion 142.

In any of the invention embodiments disclosed herein, wire 64 may be replaced by a ribbon or thin plate made of a metal or non-metal identical to wire 64.

Alternate embodiment lift assemblies will now be described.

Figure 45 shows a second embodiment adjustable pant end lift assembly 148. Assembly 148 includes two elongate lift members 150. Each lift member 150 has a hinge 152 like hinge 56 and a lift arm 154, like lift arm 58 as previously described. Each lift member 150 extends from an attachment element 156 proximate a pant end side 40 or 42 to an attachment element 158 at pant end back portion 38. Assembly 148 functions like assembly 12 to allow a wearer to use either a single lift member 150 or both lift members 150 to raise pant end back portion 38.

Figure 46 shows a third embodiment adjustable pant end lift assembly 160. Assembly 160 includes a single elongate lift member 162 extending from an attachment element 164 attached proximate pant end side 40 to an attachment element 164 attached proximate a pant end side 42. Hinges 166 are located proximate attachment elements 164 and lift arm 168 is located between hinges 166. Lift arm 168 is jointed to pant end 32 by an attachment element 170 located at pant end back portion 38.

When lift arm 168 is raised to raise pant end back portion 38, both hinges 166 support the weight of pant end portion 38.

Figure 47 shows a fourth embodiment adjustable pant end lift assembly 172. Assembly 172 includes a single elongate lift member 174 extending entirely around the circumference 34 of pant end 32. Attachment elements 176 attach member 174 to pant end sides 40 and 42. Hinges 178 are proximate attachment elements 176. Lift arm 180 is located between hinges 178 and is joined to pant end back portion 38 by attachment element 182.

Figure 48 shows a fifth embodiment adjustable pant end lift assembly 184 including a lift member 140 attached to pant end 32.

Figure 49 shows a sixth embodiment adjustable pant end lift assembly 186 including a lift member 188. Lift member 188 is similar to lift member 140 and has two flexible wire portions 142 located to either side of lift arm 146.