WAISTBAND OR BELT OF AN ITEM OF APPAREL LOCATED INSIDE IT.

This invention relates to an apparatus being improvements in and relating to garments, and in particular, but without limitation to improved ways of supporting the waistband of lower body garments and other clothing, such as all-in-one suits.

Many people use over-garments in recreational activities (e.g. outdoor sports, such as golf, fishing and hiking), and it the workplace (e.g. protective boiler suits, coveralls and other PPE overwear).

A common problem associated with wearing over-garments is that when the wearer moves around, the over garment tends to loosen or become displaced relative to the user's clothes, which can restrict movement, become unsightly or cause annoyance. Over-garments that come loose can present a hazard, such as a tripping hazard, and so it is generally desirable to take measures to keep over-garments in place.

The problem of movement of over-garments relative to the wearer's normal clothes stems from the fact that the over-garment must necessarily be over-sized to fit over the body of the wearer, as well as over his/her clothes. This generally leads to the over-garments being baggy, to permit free movement of the wearer, and also to accommodate different types of clothing worn underneath. The baggy nature of over-garments, however, reduces the possibility of having a snug fit that might otherwise limit movement of the over-garments relative to the wearer's clothes.

It is known to provide over-garments with elasticated waistbands, which are resiliently deformable and allow for stretching/movement, whilst also having sufficient elasticity to allow the over-garment to frictionally engage the wearer's clothes underneath to hold it in position. However, it is often the case, especially with waterproof over-garments, that the over-garment is

manufactured from a smooth, slippery material, which limits the frictional engagement of the over- garment's waistband with the clothing underneath. Thus, as a wearer moves around, there can be a tendency for the over-garment to slip down and/or become displaced.

It is also known, to overcome the shortcomings of elasticated waistbands, to use mechanical connections (e.g. as described in published US patent application US2014250640), to affix over- garments to clothing underneath to hold them in position. Examples of simpler mechanical connections include: press-studs, buttons & button holes, hook-and-loop fasteners etc. which can be disposed on the wearer's clothes and a corresponding locations of the over-garment, to fix the two in position. However, such arrangements require the wearer's clothes to be especially adapted to connect to the over-garments, and this is not generally practical or economic, especially where over- garments are only worn intermittently and/or infrequently.

A further known mechanical connection is a set of braces, which clip to the waistband of the over-garment, and which comprise straps that engage the wearer's neck and/or shoulders. Braces have generally fallen out of fashion, and in any event can be fiddly to attach and may inhibit the wearer from removing a coat or sweater.

Taking the foregoing into consideration, a need therefore exists for a new and/or improved and/or alternative way to support over-garments and/or to hold them in position, in use. This invention therefore aims to provide a solution to one or more of the above problems and/or to provide an improved device for holding over-garments in position, and/ or to provide an alternative to known devices suitable for supporting over-garments.

Various aspects of the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Suitably, the over-trousers comprise waterproof or water-resistant over-trousers.

Advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to the skilled person, however, it will be appreciated that the invention addresses one or more of the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a mechanical connection on only the over-garment, rather than on the over-garment and the item of apparel located inside the over-garment. This suitably means that no special adaptations of to the item of apparel located inside the over-garment need to be made, and that the over- garment can be readily worn over almost any type or configuration of apparel located inside the over-garment.

Suitably, the main body portion comprises a flexible web (e.g. of plastics or cloth), which can be affixed to the interior surface of the over-garment. The main body portion can be affixed by any suitable means, such as by sewing, gluing, welding or any combination of the foregoing.

The engagement means, in one preferred embodiment of the invention, comprises a hook. The hook, where provided, is suitably adapted to engage an upper edge of the item of apparel located inside the over-garment. For example, the engagement means may comprise a

downwardly-open hook or a clip adapted to hook over the waistband, belt or pocket edge of the said item of apparel.

Suitably, the provision of a hook means that, when the wearer pulls-up the over-garment over the waistband or belt of an item of apparel located within the over-garment, the hook can be configured to automatically latch onto the item of apparel when the over-garment is pulled, or slips down. Such a configuration usefully avoids the need for a wearer to attach fixings manually.

Suitably, where provided, the hook or clip may comprise wide and narrow portions, in which the wide portion is adapted to guide the hook or clip into position over the upper edge of the item of apparel. This may be accomplished by providing an inclined or sloping edge, which suitably leads to the narrow portion, which can be adapted to engage (i.e. grip) a part of the item of apparel.

By providing relatively wide and relatively narrow portions, the hook for clip can positively engage the item of apparel worn underneath the over-garment. This may ensure a long-lasting and/or firm connection.

Suitably, the hook or clip, where provided, is manufactured from a resiliently deformable material, such as plastic, which facilitates gripping the hook/clip to the apparel worn underneath. Further, the use of plastics is particularly beneficial as they are not susceptible to rusting or other degradation, for example, when used in waterproof clothing. Thus, in preferred embodiments of the invention, the hook/clip is manufactured from any one or more of the group comprising:

polyurethane, rubber, polyvinyl, thermoset, or thin sheet metal, and the like.

In another embodiment of the invention, the engagement means comprises a loop, which can be passed, in use, around a belt, belt loop etc. of the item of apparel and secured back to the main body portion. The loop can be manufactured of any suitable material, and preferably a flexible material, such as a strip of cloth, canvas, webbing, hook and loop fastener tape, or the like. The loop is suitably detachably affixable to the main body portion, for example by way of a press-stud, button and button hole, hook-and-loop fastener or a clip.

Suitably, the position of the engagement means is adjustable. Preferably, the position of the engagement means is vertically adjustable to enable the relative height of the over-garment to be adjusted or set by a user. For example, the waistband of a pair of waterproof trousers might be preferably located above the waistband of a pair of trousers worn by a user, in which case, the engagement means will be located below the level of the waistband (or waistline, in the case of an all-in-one, coverall or boiler suit) of the over-garment to form an overlap. By adjusting the vertical position of the main body portion and/or the engagement means of the over-garment, the amount of overlap can suitably be adjusted.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the invention addresses a problem with known devices being either difficult to adjust or being un-adjustable. For example, braces, which may be adjusted, must first be removed, and then adjusted. Once they have been adjusted the wearer cannot gauge if the adjustment was adequate without re-fixing the device. Therefore, the process can be one of trial and error, and may take valuable time from the wearer. The invention aims to overcome this problem by providing greater and/or easier adjustability.

Vertical adjustment of the position of the engagement means can be accomplished in a number of ways, for example, by providing an intermediate attachment between the over-garment and the main body portion. In certain embodiments, the intermediate attachment comprises a bracket or retainer to which the main body portion is slidingly, and adjustably, affixable. Locking means is suitably provided for locking the position of the main body portion relative to the intermediate attachment, such as a cam-lock, a screw, a strip of self-adhesive tape etc.

In an embodiment of the invention, the main body portion may comprise a slider plate that is located between guide rails on inner edges of an intermediate member. The slider plate can be slidingly engageable with the guide rails to permit adjustable positioning of the engagement means without removing the garment. The slider plate can be locked relative to the intermediate attachment, for example, by way of a screw, or a cam that acts as a positioning member within a longitudinal channel: rotation of the cam being possible between a first unlocked, and a second locked position.

In yet further possible embodiments of the invention, adjustability of the position of the engagement means is obtained by providing a plurality of fixed engagement means at different positions. Thus, a user may locate the over-garment at a desired positon by selecting which of the plurality of engagement means to use to make the connection to the item of apparel underneath the over-garment.

In embodiments of the invention where the engagement means comprises a loop, vertical adjustment can be accomplished by the provision of press-studs or other engagements at different positions.

Various embodiments of the invention shall now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of over-trousers in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a detailed view of the clip shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic cross-section illustrating the waistband of the trousers of Figure 1, in use;

Figure 4 is a schematic cross-section of another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 is perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is a front view of a locking cam embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a first loop-type embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a second loop-type embodiment of the invention.

In Figure 1 of the drawings, a pair of waterproof over-trousers 10 in accordance with the invention is shown. The trousers 10 comprise leg portions 12 and a draw-string 54 and/or elasticated waistband 14. Located on an interior surface 16 of the trousers 10, there is a set of clips 30 that are described in greater detail below.

Figure 2 is a close-up view of the clip 30 of Figure 1, which comprises a generally rectangular, main body portion 32 manufactured from a strip of thin plastic whose reverse side (not visible) is adhered to the interior surface 16 of the trousers 10 using a layer of adhesive. The main body portion 32 comprises three generally U-shaped slits 34 that define the peripheral edges of three flaps 36. The reverse side (not visible) of the flaps 36 is not adhered to the interior surface 16 of the trousers 10, such that the flaps 36 are able to bend out of the plane of the main body portion 32 to form downwardly-facing hooks, as shall be described below.

Figure 3 of the drawings is a schematic cross-section of Figure 1 on Ill-Ill, showing how the over-trousers 10 can be connected to the waistband 40 of a pair of trousers 42 worn underneath the over-trousers 10.

In use, a user puts on the over-trousers 10 and pulls-up the waistband 14 so that it overlaps the waistband 40 of the trousers 42. The upper edge 18 of the over-trousers' waistband 14 is thus higher than the upper edge 46 of the trousers' 40 waistband 46. The elastic (not shown) or drawstring 54 of the over-trousers 10 serves to draw-in the over-trousers' waistband 54 to form a snug fit around the waist (not shown) of the user. Then, when the user moves around, or when the over-trousers 10 are pulled downwardly, one of the flaps 36 of the clip 30 catches on the upper edge 46 of the trousers' waistband 46 thereby inhibiting or preventing further downward movement of the over-trousers 10, relative to the trousers 42 underneath. The configuration of the flaps 36 is such that this engagement may occur automatically, or it may require the user to flex the clips 30 slightly to get this to happen. Because the clip 30 has three flaps 36 at different positions, it is possible for the user to adjust the overlap 50, 52 of the over-trousers 10 relative to the trousers 42, by selecting which of the three available flaps 36 engage the waistband 46 of the trousers 42. This enables the user to configure the over-trousers such that the crotch 56 aligns with that of the trousers 42, or any other desired position.

A variation of the clip 30 is shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, in which the clip 30 is manufactured from a plastics moulding comprising a main body portion 32 and three, vertically spaced apart hooks 60. The hooks 60 are integrally moulded with the main body 32 and are manufactured from a durable, resilient plastic. Each of the hooks 60 comprises a laterally-extending portion 62 that extends perpendicularly from the main body portion 32 for a distance and which then turns downwardly through ninety degrees to form a dependent limb portion 64. The dependent limb portion 64 is spaced apart from the main body portion 32 to form a gap 66 that can accommodate the waistband 40 or belt (not shown) of a pair of trousers 42 worn underneath.

Attaching any of the hooks 60 to the trousers 42 is facilitated by the provision, on the dependent limb portion 64, of an inclined lead-in 68, which serves to guide the upper edge 46 of the trousers' 42 waistband 40 into the gap 66. The inclined lead-in portion 68 also forms a constriction 69 where the gap 66 is of a reduced width, and this serves to cause the resilient dependent limb portion 64 to positively engage, or grip the waistband 40 (or belt) of the trousers 42. Of course, any of the hooks 60 can be used, as previously described, to adjust the overlap 50, 52 of the over- trousers 10 relative to the trousers 42 worn underneath.

In the foregoing embodiments of the invention, the overlap 50, 52 has been described as being incremental, whereas in certain situations, a user may require infinitesimal adjustment. This can be accomplished in a number of ways, as shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings.

In Figure 5 of the drawings, the hook portion 70 is integrally formed with a slider plate 74, which is slidingly receivable in a vertically oriented channel 78 of an intermediate member 72. The intermediate member 72 can be affixed to the interior 16 of the over-trousers 10 using an adhesive layer, welding, or in the illustrated embodiment, by a line of stitching 76.

Because the sider plate 74 can move 82 within the channel 78, the amount of overlap 50, 52 can be adjusted in infinitesimal increments. The slider plate 74 can be locked relative to the intermediate member 72 by a locking screw 80, in certain embodiments.

In a variant of the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the locking screw 80 can be replaced by a cam lock mechanism (as shown in Figure 6) in which the slider plate 74 is provide with a cam 84 that is rotatable, for example using a coin inserted into a coin slot 88 of the cam 84. The channel 78 of the intermediate member 72, in this embodiment, comprises undulating side edges 86. Thus, the cam 84 can be rotated between an unlocked positon (as shown in the right of Figure 6), whereby its lateral width can pass between the undulating side edges 86 of the channel 78 thus allowing the slider plate 74 to slide up and down 82 within the channel 78 to set the overlap 50, 52; or a second position in which the lateral width of the cam 84 (as shown in the left of Figure 6) is wider than the narrowest dimension of the undulating side edges 86 of the channel 78, thus locking the slider plate 74, and hence the hook portion 70, in position.

Finally, a loop-type embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings in which the hooks/clips previously described have been replaced by a flap of fabric or webbing 94 that can be passed around a belt or through a belt loop (not shown) of a pair of trousers 42, under clothing etc..

In Figure 7, the free end of the tab 94 can be detachably secured to the main body 91 of the connector 90 by a press-stud 93, and the amount of overlap 50, 52 can be adjusted by passing an upper part of the tab 94 behind any one of three cross-bars 96. The press-stud could, of course, be replaced by any suitable detachable connector, such as hook-and-loop fasteners or the tab and main body portion could be manufactured from complimentary lengths of hook-and-loop tape. As described previously, the main body 91 of the connector 90 can be affixed to the interior of the over-trousers 10 by stitching, gluing, etc. In Figure 8, a yet further possible embodiment of the invention comprises, instead of the cross-bars 96 of Figure 7, a set of vertically spaced apart buttons, or press studs 98. The press-studs, buttons etc. could, of course, be replaced by any suitable detachable connector, such as hook-and- loop fasteners or the tab and main body portion could be manufactured from complimentary lengths of hook-and-loop tape. By connecting or disconnecting the press-studs 98, hook-and-loop tape, etc. the height of upper edge 99 of the free part of the tab can be adjusted 50, 52.

It will be appreciated that the invention addresses some of the shortcomings of the prior art and/or provides a useful alternative to braces or complementary fittings on under- and overgarments. This invention is not restricted to the details (in particular the shapes, sizes, materials etc. whether explicit or implied) of the foregoing embodiments, which are merely exemplary.

The following statements are not the claims, but relate to various embodiments of the invention:

Statement 1. An apparatus suitable for supporting an over-garment comprising a main body

portion affixable, in use, to an interior surface of the over-garment and engagement means adapted, in use, to form a mechanical connection to an item of apparel located inside the over-garment.

Statement 2. An over-garment comprising apparatus suitable for detachably affixing the overgarment to an item of apparel located inside the over-garment, the apparatus comprising a main body portion affixable, in use, to an interior surface of the overgarment and engagement means adapted, in use, to form the detachable connection to the item of apparel located inside the over-garment.

Statement 3. The over-garment of statement 2, wherein the over-garment comprises a pair of over-trousers comprising apparatus suitable for detachably affixing the over-over trousers to the waistband or belt of a pair of trousers located inside the overgarment, the apparatus comprising a main body portion affixable, in use, to an interior surface of the over-trousers and engagement means adapted, in use, to form the detachable connection to the trousers and the over-trousers.

Statement 4. The over-garment of statement 3, wherein the over-trousers comprise waterproof or water-resistant over-trousers.

Statement 5. The apparatus or over-garment of any preceding statement, wherein the main body portion comprises a flexible web, which can be affixed to the interior surface of the over-garment.

Statement 6. The apparatus or over-garment of any preceding statement, wherein the

engagement means comprises a hook.

Statement 7. The apparatus or over-garment of statement 6, wherein the hook is adapted to engage an upper edge of the item of apparel located inside the over-garment. Statement 8. The apparatus or over-garment of statement 7, wherein the engagement means comprises a downwardly-open hook or a clip adapted to hook over the waistband, belt or pocket edge of the said item of apparel.

Statement 9. The apparatus or over-garment of statement 7 or statement 8, wherein the hook comprises wide and narrow portions, a guiding edge adapted to guide the waistband, belt or pocket edge of the said item of apparel and the narrow portion being adapted to grip a part of the item of apparel.

Statement 10. The apparatus or over-garment of any of statements 7 to 9, wherein the hook is manufactured from a resiliently deformable material.

Statement 11. The apparatus or over-garment of any of statements 1 to 6, wherein the

engagement means comprises a loop adapted in use, to be passed around a belt of the item of apparel and wherein the loop comprises a free end that is releasably securable to the main body portion. Statement 12. The apparatus or over-garment of statement 11, wherein the loop is manufactured of a flexible material from the group comprising: hook-and-loop tape; cloth;

webbing; and canvas.

Statement 13. The apparatus or over-garment of any preceding statement, wherein the position of the engagement means relative to the main body portion is adjustable.

Statement 14. The apparatus or over-garment of any preceding statement, wherein the position of the engagement means relative to the main body portion is vertically adjustable. Statement 15. The apparatus or over-garment of statement 13 or statement 14, wherein the

apparatus comprises an intermediate attachment between the over-garment and the main body portion.

Statement 16. The apparatus or over-garment of statement 15, wherein the intermediate

attachment comprises a channel, and wherein the attachment means is operatively connectable to a slider plate, which is slidingly receivable in the channel.

Statement 17. The apparatus or over-garment of statement 16, wherein the slider plate is

releasably lockable to the intermediate attachment by any one or more of the group comprising: a cam lock; a locking screw; and a strip of self-adhesive tape.

Statement 18. The apparatus or over-garment of statement 13 or statement 14, comprising a plurality of fixed engagement means at different positions relative to the main body portion.

Statement 19. The apparatus or over-garment of statement 13 or statement 14, wherein the main body portion comprises a generally rectangular, main body portion manufactured from a strip of thin plastic, main body portion comprising a plurality of generally U- shaped slits that define the peripheral edges of a respective set of spaced apart flaps, wherein the flaps are free to bend out of the plane of the main body portion to form downwardly-facing hooks. Statement 20. The apparatus or over-garment of statement 13 or statement 14, wherein the engagement means comprises a loop and a plurality of cross-bars behind a selected one or more of which the loop can be passed to adjust the position of the loop relative to the main body portion.

Statement 21. The apparatus or over-garment of statement 13 or statement 14, wherein the engagement means comprises a loop and a plurality of connectors for connecting the loop to the main body portion at different positions.

Statement 22. An apparatus or over-garment substantially as hereinbefore described, with

reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.