Waistband for article of apparel featuring cord and embroidery tunnel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10779593-B2
Application number	US-201815915469-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2018
Priority date	Mar 13, 2015
Publication date	Sep 22, 2020
Grant date	Sep 22, 2020

Abstract

A waistband for an article of apparel comprising at least one embroidery tunnel is provided. The waistband comprises at least one cord comprising a first and second end affixed to the waistband, and an intervening portion movably coupled to the waistband with stitches that form the embroidery tunnel, the embroidery tunnel configured to distribute a tensioning force applied to the cord across at least a portion of the waistband. The embroidery tunnel forms a series of parallel courses across the waistband, with the cord able to move freely within the embroidery tunnel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of forming a waistband for an article of apparel, the method comprising:
stitching a continuous cord comprising a first end, a second end, and an intervening portion to an outer surface of a textile,
such that the stitching forms an embroidery tunnel on the outer surface of the textile that movably couples the continuous cord to the outer surface of the textile,
the embroidery tunnel formed to provide a plurality of substantially parallel courses on the outer surface of the textile, the plurality of substantially parallel courses including a first course and a second course, and
the embroidery tunnel formed to provide a plurality of turns that interconnect the plurality of substantially parallel courses, the plurality of turns including a first turn that interconnects the first course and the second course,
wherein at least a portion of the continuous cord is movable through the embroidery tunnel in a direction parallel to an axial direction of the embroidery tunnel, such that the continuous cord is movable through both the plurality of substantially parallel courses and the plurality of turns of the embroidery tunnel, and
wherein the continuous cord remains entirely within the embroidery tunnel along a length thereof that comprises at least a portion of the first course, at least a portion of the second course, and the first turn that interconnects the first course and the second course.

2. The method of forming the waistband for the article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the stitching forms a zig-zag pattern over the continuous cord that extends along an entire length of the embroidery tunnel.

3. The method of forming the waistband for the article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the textile comprises a stretchable material.

4. The method of forming the waistband for the article of apparel of claim 1 , further comprising forming a plurality of tack-down stitches at intermittent locations on the embroidery tunnel.

5. The method of forming the waistband for the article of apparel of claim 1 , further comprising folding over a top edge of the textile and securing it to the outer surface of the textile such that a folded-over portion of the textile at least partially covers at least one of the plurality of substantially parallel courses of the embroidery tunnel.

6. The method of forming the waistband for the article of apparel of claim 1 , further comprising:
attaching a first coupling comprising a first separate textile piece to a first location on the outer surface of the textile, the first location proximate to a first end of the textile;
attaching a second coupling comprising a second separate textile piece to a second location on the outer surface of the textile, the second location proximate to a second end of the textile;
forming a first-lanyard-aperture in the first coupling; and
forming a second-lanyard-aperture in the second coupling,
wherein the first coupling extends outward from the outer surface of the textile at the first location and the second coupling extends outward from the outer surface of the textile at the second location.

7. The method of forming the waistband for the article of apparel of claim 6 , wherein the embroidery tunnel is formed such that it extends onto the first coupling and the second coupling, such that the embroidery tunnel at least partially circumscribes the first-lanyard-aperture on the first coupling and at least partially circumscribes the second-lanyard-aperture on the second coupling.

8. The method of forming the waistband for the article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the continuous cord comprises a non-stretch material.

9. The method of forming the waistband for the article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the stitching covers the continuous cord by following a zig-zag pattern.

10. The method of forming the waistband for the article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein portions of the continuous cord are exposed between the stitching forming the embroidery tunnel on the outer surface of the textile.

11. A method of forming a waistband for an article of apparel, the method comprising:
stitching a first continuous cord comprising a first end, a second end, and an intervening portion to an outer surface of a textile,
such that the stitching forms a first embroidery tunnel on the outer surface of the textile that movably couples the first continuous cord to the outer surface of the textile,
the first embroidery tunnel formed to provide a plurality of substantially parallel courses on the outer surface of the textile, the plurality of substantially parallel courses of the first embroidery tunnel including a first course and a second course, and
the first embroidery tunnel formed to provide a plurality of turns that interconnect the plurality of substantially parallel courses, the plurality of turns of the first embroidery tunnel including a first turn that interconnects the first course and the second course of the first embroidery tunnel, and
wherein at least a portion of the first continuous cord is movable through the first embroidery tunnel in a direction parallel to an axial direction of the first embroidery tunnel, such that the first continuous cord is movable through both the plurality of substantially parallel courses and the plurality of turns of the first embroidery tunnel, and wherein the first continuous cord remains entirely within the first embroidery tunnel along a length thereof that comprises at least a portion of the first course, at least a portion of the second course, and the first turn of the first embroidery tunnel; and
stitching a second continuous cord comprising a first end, a second end, and an intervening portion to the outer surface of the textile,
such that the stitching forms a second embroidery tunnel on the outer surface of the textile that movably couples the second continuous cord to the outer surface of the textile,
the second embroidery tunnel formed to provide a plurality of substantially parallel courses on the outer surface of the textile, the plurality of substantially parallel courses of the second embroidery tunnel including a first course and a second course, and
the second embroidery tunnel formed to provide a plurality of turns that interconnect the plurality of substantially parallel courses, the plurality of turns of the second embroidery tunnel including a first turn that interconnects the first course and the second course of the second embroidery tunnel,
wherein at least a portion of the second continuous cord is movable through the second embroidery tunnel in a direction parallel to an axial direction of the second embroidery tunnel, such that the second continuous cord is movable through both the plurality of substantially parallel courses and the plurality of turns of the second embroidery tunnel, and wherein the second continuous cord remains entirely within the second embroidery tunnel along a length thereof that comprises at least a portion of the first course, at least a portion of the second course, and the first turn of the second embroidery tunnel.

12. The method of forming the waistband for the article of apparel of claim 11 , further comprising:
fixedly attaching the first end of the first continuous cord to a first location at a first end of the textile;
fixedly attaching the second end of the first continuous cord to a second location at the first end of the textile;
fixedly attaching the first end of the second continuous cord to a first location at a second end of the textile; and
fixedly attaching the second end of the second continuous cord to a second location at the second end of the textile.

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Assignees

• Hurley Int Llc
• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Moore Bruce Y
• Anaya Erika K

Classifications

• A41F9/02 Primary

  Expansible or adjustable belts or girdles {; Adjustable fasteners comprising a track and a slide member (A41F1/008, A41F9/002 take precedence)} · CPC title

• A41D1/06

  Trousers · CPC title

• A41F9/00 Primary

  Belts, girdles, or waistbands for trousers or skirts · CPC title

• A41F9/025 Primary

  Adjustable belts or girdles · CPC title