Holding device for a foundation garment

Abstract

A holding device designed to retain a portion of an undergarment in underlying relation to a predetermined portion of an outer garment such as a blouse, tank-top, etc. More specifically, the holding device of the present invention includes a base having a hollow interior defined by an elongated channel extending along the length of the base and terminating in oppositely disposed open ends. An access opening is formed at any one of a plurality of locations in the base in communicating relation with the interior channel. Both the channel and the access opening are dimensioned and configured so as to allow the predetermined portions of the undergarment and overgarment to pass through the access opening and into the channel, wherein the garment portions are retained and where the undergarment portion can not be readily seen. The holding device is particularly applicable for maintaining the support strap of various foundation garments, such as a brassier, in underlying, covered engagement with a blouse, shirt, or in certain instances directly beneath the supporting strap of a tank-top, or similar garment.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A holding device designed to maintain relative positions of predetermined portions of adjacently disposed garments, said holding device comprising: 
 a) a base having a substantially hollow interior extending along a length thereof,    b) said hollow interior comprising an elongated panel terminating in oppositely disposed open ends,    c) an access opening formed in said base in communicating relation to said channel,    d) said channel being sufficiently dimensioned to receive the predetermined portion of the garments therein, and    e) said base disposed in retaining engagement with the predetermined portions.    
     
     
         2 . A holding device as recited in  claim 1  wherein said access opening is dimensioned to allow the predetermined portions of the garments to at least independently pass therethrough into and out of said channel.  
     
     
         3 . An assembly as recited in  claim 2  wherein said access opening comprises an elongated slot disposed in separating relation to adjacent wall portions of said base along the length of said slot.  
     
     
         4 . A holding device as recited in  claim 3  wherein said slot extends along an entire length of said base and in communicating relation to said channel.  
     
     
         5 . A holding as in  claim 4  wherein said slot and said channel are substantially co-extensive along the length of said base.  
     
     
         6 . A holding device as in  claim 4  wherein said base, said slot and said channel have a substantially common longitudinal dimension.  
     
     
         7 . A holding device as in  claim 1  wherein said base comprises a first wall and a second wall oppositely disposed to one another, said channel extending between said first and second wall.  
     
     
         8 . A holding device as recited in  claim 7  wherein said access opening is formed in said first wall in separating relation to spaced apart wall segments thereof.  
     
     
         9 . A holding device as recited in  claim 8  wherein said access opening comprises an elongated slot extending along the length of said first wall and said channel and in communicating relation to said open ends.  
     
     
         10 . A holding device as in  claim 9  wherein said base comprises two side walls disposed in interconnecting relation between said first and second walls and extending along and at least partially defining opposite longitudinal sides of said channel.  
     
     
         11 . A holding device as recited in  claim 10  wherein said slot is disposed in substantially equally spaced relation between said two side walls along the length of said slot.  
     
     
         12 . A holding device as in  claim 1  wherein said base comprises a first wall and a second wall disposed in substantially opposing relation to one another and at least one side wall interconnected between said first and second walls and extending along the length thereof.  
     
     
         13 . A holding device as recited in  claim 12  wherein said access opening comprises an elongated slot disposed in opposing relation to said side walls and in separating relation to said first and second walls.  
     
     
         14 . A holding device designed to maintain a relative position of predetermined portions of adjacently disposed garments, said holding device comprising: 
 a) a base formed from a semi-rigid at least partially flexible material and including a hollow interior,    b) said hollow interior comprising an elongated channel terminating in oppositely disposed open ends,    c) an access opening comprising an elongated slot formed in said base in communicating relation to said channel along the length of said slot,    d) said channel dimensioned and configured to receive the predetermined portion of the garments therein in at least partially overlapping engagement with one another, and    e) said base disposed in surrounding retaining relation to the predetermined portions.    
     
     
         15 . A holding device as recited in  claim 14  wherein said slots is selectively disposable between a closed position and an open position upon flexing of a portion of said casing outwardly from said slot.  
     
     
         16 . A holding device as recited in  claim 15  wherein said slot is normally biased in said closed position and selectively disposed in said open position.  
     
     
         17 . A holding device as recited in  claim 16  wherein said base comprises a first wall and a second wall disposed in substantially opposing relation to one another and at least one side wall interconnected between said first and second walls and extending along the length thereof.  
     
     
         18 . An assembly as recited in  claim 17  wherein said access opening comprises an elongated slot disposed in opposing relation to said side wall and in separating relation to said first and second wall.  
     
     
         19 . A holding device as recited in  claim 18  wherein said open position is defined by at least one of said first and second walls flexed outwardly from the other thereby enlarging said slot along its length.  
     
     
         20 . A holding device as recited in  claim 15  wherein said slot is formed in said first wall in separating relation to spaced apart wall segments.  
     
     
         21 . A holding device as recited in claim  20  wherein said wall segments are normally biased into said closed position, said open position defined by at least one of said two wall segments flexed out in a direction away from the other of said two wall segments, thereby enlarging said slot along its length.