MAGNETIC CLOSURE FASHION BELT

• US 20120180197A1
• Filed: 07/15/2011
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Colette Gartner Cosky
• Original Assignee: Colette Gartner Cosky
• Inventors: Cosky, Colette Gartner
• Application Number:
  US13/183,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20120180197A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/338
• CPC Class Codes: A41F 1/002 Magnetic fastening devices
• CPC Class Codes: A41F 9/002 Free belts

Abstract

Provided is a fashion belt including a magnetic retention feature adapted to maintain the belt in a circular, hoop-like configuration on a wearer without a dangling end portion. The strap of the belt includes a plurality of magnets embedded therein. The magnets are positioned to allow an end portion of the strap to be magnetically secured or coupled to a central portion thereof through the magnetic interaction between the magnets.

Claims

1. A belt comprising:

an elongate strap defining a first end portion, an opposed second end portion, and a central portion disposed between the first and second end portions;

a first magnetic element disposed within the strap adjacent the first end portion; and

a second magnetic element disposed within the central portion of the strap;

the first end portion of the strap being magnetically securable to the central portion of the strap via the first and second magnetic elements.

2. The belt recited in claim 1, wherein the second magnetic element includes a plurality of magnets.

3. The belt recited in claim 2, wherein the magnets are separated from each other at substantially equidistantly spaced intervals.

4. The belt recited in claim 2, wherein each magnet has a generally circular configuration.

5. The belt recited in claim 1, further comprising a buckle connected to the second end portion of the strap.

6. The belt recited in claim 5, wherein:

the strap includes a plurality of apertures formed adjacent the first end portion, the apertures being disposed in spaced relation to each other; and

the buckle includes a frame member and a stem pivotally connected to the frame member, the stem being configured to be selectively advanceable through one of the plurality of apertures.

7. The belt recited in claim 6, wherein the first end portion terminates at a distal end, the first magnetic element being disposed between the plurality of apertures and the distal end.

8. The belt recited in claim 1, wherein the second magnetic element comprises an elongate magnetic strip.

9. The belt recited in claim 8, wherein the magnetic strip has a generally quadrangular configuration.

10. The belt recited in claim 9, wherein the first magnetic element is flexible.

11. The belt recited in claim 1, wherein the second magnetic element comprises a magnetic slider moveably mounted to the strap.

12. The belt recited in claim 11, wherein the magnetic slider is slidably positionable along the length of the strap.

13. A belt comprising:

an elongate strap defining a first end portion, an opposed second end portion, and a central portion disposed between the first and second end portions;

a first magnetic element connected to the strap adjacent the first end portion; and

a second magnetic element connected to the central portion of the strap;

the first end portion of the strap being magnetically securable to the central portion of the strap via the first and second magnetic elements.

14. The belt recited in claim 13, wherein the second magnetic element includes a plurality of magnets.

15. The belt recited in claim 13, wherein the second magnetic element comprises an elongate magnetic strip.

16. The belt recited in claim 13, wherein the second magnetic element comprises a magnetic slider moveably mounted to the strap.

17. A belt configured to be worn around the midsection of a wearer, the belt comprising:

a strap defining a first end portion defining a distal end, an opposed second end portion and a central portion disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion; and

a buckle connected to the second end portion;

the first end portion being advanceable through the buckle and engeable therewith to define a closed loop about the wearer, the segment of the first end portion disposed between the buckle and the distal end being magnetically attractable to the central portion.

18. The belt recited in claim 17, further comprising:

a first magnetic element disposed within the strap adjacent the first end portion; and

a second magnetic element disposed within the central portion of the strap;

19. The belt recited in claim 18, wherein the second magnetic element comprises a plurality of magnets.

20. The belt recited in claim 18, wherein the second magnetic element comprises a magnetic slider moveably mounted to the strap.