Garment fastener

Abstract

A bendably pliant fastener may be removably associated with a minor portion of a garment to be fastened. The fastener has an elongated, bendable body. The body has a first end along a longitudinal axis and an opposite second end. A first portion of the body engages a self-engaging minor portion of the garment when the faster is in a first position, and the garment is self-engaged in a desired configuration when the fastener is in a second position. The body may also have a self-engaging second portion wherein the fastener body is positionable between a disengaged position wherein the garment is unfastened, a self-engaged position wherein the garment is in a desired configuration, and the fastener is removable from the garment.

1 . A garment fastener comprising: 
 an elongated, bendable body having a first end along a longitudinal axis of the body and a second end opposite the first end;    the body comprising a first portion to engage a self-engaging minor portion of a garment when the body is in a first position; and    the garment is self-engaged to maintain the garment in a desired configuration when the body is in a second position.    
   
   
       2 . The fastener of  claim 1  wherein the fastener is removably connected to the garment.  
   
   
       3 . The fastener of  claim 1  wherein the body further comprises at least one projection along the longitudinal axis to removably engage the garment.  
   
   
       4 . The fastener of  claim 1  wherein the body further comprises a plurality of projections along the longitudinal axis to removably engage the garment.  
   
   
       5 . The fastener of  claim 3  wherein each projection defines a rib extending across the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       6 . The fastener of  claim 1  wherein the body further comprises an outer coating.  
   
   
       7 . The fastener of  claim 6  wherein the coating is non-metallic.  
   
   
       8 . The fastener of  claim 6  wherein the body comprises a metallic core surrounded by the coating.  
   
   
       9 . The fastener of  claim 8  wherein the metallic core defines an elongated mesh.  
   
   
       10 . The fastener of  claim 1  wherein the first end of the fastener is shaped for directional insertion into a pocket or a sleeve and the pocket or the sleeve is dimensioned for secure engagement with the fastener.  
   
   
       11 . The fastener of  claim 2  wherein the first end of the fastener is shaped for directional insertion into a pocket or a sleeve and the pocket or the sleeve is dimensioned for secure engagement with the fastener.  
   
   
       12 . The fastener of  claim 3  wherein the first end of the fastener is shaped for directional insertion into a pocket or a sleeve and the pocket or the sleeve is dimensioned for secure engagement with the fastener.  
   
   
       13 . The fastener of  claim 4  wherein the first end of the fastener is shaped for directional insertion into a pocket or a sleeve and the pocket or the sleeve is dimensioned for secure engagement with the fastener.  
   
   
       14 . The fastener of  claim 5  wherein the first end of the fastener is shaped for directional insertion into a pocket or a sleeve and the pocket or the sleeve is dimensioned for secure engagement with the fastener.  
   
   
       15 . The fastener of  claim 6  wherein the first end of the fastener is shaped for directional insertion into a pocket or a sleeve and the pocket or the sleeve is dimensioned for secure engagement with the fastener.  
   
   
       16 . The fastener of  claim 7  wherein the first end of the fastener is shaped for directional insertion into a pocket or a sleeve and the pocket or the sleeve is dimensioned for secure engagement with the fastener.  
   
   
       17 . The fastener of  claim 8  wherein the first end of the fastener is shaped for directional insertion into a pocket or a sleeve and the pocket or the sleeve is dimensioned for secure engagement with the fastener.  
   
   
       18 . The fastener of  claim 9  wherein the first end of the fastener is shaped for directional insertion into a pocket or a sleeve and the pocket or the sleeve is dimensioned for secure engagement with the fastener.  
   
   
       19 . A garment comprising a fastener, the fastener comprising: 
 an elongated, bendable body having a first end along a longitudinal axis of the body and a second end opposite the first end;    the body comprising a first portion to engage a self-engaging minor portion of the garment when the body is in a first position; and    the garment is self-engaged to maintain the garment in a desired configuration when the body is in a second position.    
   
   
       20 . The garment of  claim 19  wherein the fastener is removably connected to the garment.  
   
   
       21 . A fastener comprising: 
 an elongated, bendably pliant body having a first end along a longitudinal axis of the body and a second end opposite the first end;    the body comprising a first portion and a self-engaging second portion; and    the body being positionable between a disengaged position wherein a garment is unfastened, a self-engaged position wherein the first portion and the second portion of the body are self-engaged to maintain the garment in a desired configuration, and    the body being removable from the garment.    
   
   
       22 . The fastener of  claim 21  wherein the body further comprises at least one projection along the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       23 . The fastener of  claim 22  wherein the body further comprises a plurality of projections along the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       24 . The fastener of  claim 22  wherein each projection defines a rib extending across the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       25 . The fastener of  claim 21  wherein the body further comprises an outer coating.  
   
   
       26 . The fastener of  claim 25  wherein the coating is non-metallic.  
   
   
       27 . The fastener of  claim 26  wherein the body comprises a metallic core surrounded by the coating.  
   
   
       28 . The fastener of  claim 27  wherein the metallic core defines an elongated mesh.  
   
   
       29 . The fastener of  claim 21  wherein the first end of the fastener is shaped for directional insertion into a pocket or a sleeve and the pocket or the sleeve is dimensioned for secure engagement with the fastener.  
   
   
       30 . The fastener of  claim 22  wherein the first end of the fastener is shaped for directional insertion into a pocket or a sleeve and the pocket or the sleeve is dimensioned for secure engagement with the fastener.  
   
   
       31 . The fastener of  claim 23  wherein the first end of the fastener is shaped for directional insertion into a pocket or a sleeve and the pocket or the sleeve is dimensioned for secure engagement with the fastener.  
   
   
       32 . The fastener of  claim 24  wherein the first end of the fastener is shaped for directional insertion into a pocket or a sleeve and the pocket or the sleeve is dimensioned for secure engagement with the fastener.  
   
   
       33 . The fastener of  claim 25  wherein the first end of the fastener is shaped for directional insertion into a pocket or a sleeve and the pocket or the sleeve is dimensioned for secure engagement with the fastener.  
   
   
       34 . The fastener of  claim 26  wherein the first end of the fastener is shaped for directional insertion into a pocket or a sleeve and the pocket or the sleeve is dimensioned for secure engagement with the fastener.  
   
   
       35 . The fastener of  claim 27  wherein the first end of the fastener is shaped for directional insertion into a pocket or a sleeve and the pocket or the sleeve is dimensioned for secure engagement with the fastener.  
   
   
       36 . The fastener of  claim 28  wherein the first end of the fastener is shaped for directional insertion into a pocket or a sleeve and the pocket or the sleeve is dimensioned for secure engagement with the fastener.  
   
   
       37 . A garment comprising a fastener, the fastener comprising: 
 an elongated, bendably pliant body having a first end along a longitudinal axis of the body and a second end opposite the first end;    the body comprising a first portion and a self-engaging second portion; and    the body being positionable between a disengaged position wherein the garment is unfastened, a self-engaged position wherein the first portion and the second portion of the body are self-engaged to maintain the garment in a desired configuration, and the body being removable from the garment.