Clear fastener and clear extender for use in undergarments and methods of manufacture thereof

Abstract

An extender and fastening elements for a garment and, in particular, a bra in which the parts of the extender and fastening elements are made from clear materials such as clear plastics.

1 . An extender for use with a garment having a fastening assembly with first and second fastening elements attached to first and second parts of the garment, said extender comprising a clear elongated member and a clear coupling assembly attached to the clear elongated member and adapted to couple with said first and second fastening elements of said fastening assembly.  
   
   
       2 . An extender in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said clear elongated member comprises a clear supple material and at least a part of said coupling assembly comprises a clear hard material.  
   
   
       3 . An extender in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said clear supple material is a first clear plastic material and said clear hard material is a second clear plastic material.  
   
   
       4 . An extender in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein said first clear plastic material has a hardness in a range of 60 to 70 durometer Shore A scale and said clear plastic hard material has a hardness is in a range of 100 to 120 Rockwell R scale  5 .  
   
   
       5 . An extender in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein said first clear plastic material is a polyurethane elastomer and said second clear plastic material is a polycarbonate resin.  
   
   
       6 . An extender in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein said coupling assembly comprises first and second coupling elements adapted to couple, respectively, with said first and second fastening elements of said fastening assembly.  
   
   
       7 . An extender in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein: said first and second fastening elements comprise, respectively, one or more hook elements and one or more eye elements; said first and second coupling elements comprise, respectively, one or more eye elements and one or more hook elements; said one or more hook elements of said first fastening element are arranged in one or more rows containing one or more hook elements; said one or more eye elements of said second fastening element are arranged in one or more rows containing one or more eye elements; said one or more eye elements of said first coupling element are arranged in one or more rows containing one or more eye elements; said one or more hook elements of said second coupling element are arranged in at least a first row containing one or more hook elements; said one or more rows of said one or more eye elements of said first coupling element are spaced along the length of said elongated member and said first row of said one or more hook elements of said second coupling element is arranged along the length of said extender spaced from said one or more rows of said one or more eye elements of said first coupling element; said one or more eye elements of said first coupling element are arranged to be engageable from a first surface of said extender and said one or more hook elements of said first row of one or more hook elements of said second coupling element are arranged to be engageable from one of said first surface of said extender and a second opposing surface of said extender.  
   
   
       8 . An extender in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein said first coupling element and said second coupling element are integrated with said clear elongated member.  
   
   
       9 . An extender in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said one or more eye elements of said first coupling element and said one more hook elements of said second coupling element each comprise said clear hard material.  
   
   
       10 . An extender in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said clear elongated member comprises a layer in which said one or more eye elements of said first coupling element and said one or more hook elements of said second coupling element are partially embedded.  
   
   
       11 . An extender in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said clear elongated member comprises first and second layers and said one or more eye elements of said first coupling element are partially embedded in said first layer and said first row of said one or more hook elements of said second coupling element is held between said first and second layers.  
   
   
       12 . An extender in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein: said clear elongated member is formed as a casing having first and second opposing surfaces forming said first and second surfaces, respectively, of said extender, said casing having one or more openings from said first surface; and said one or more rows of said one or more eye elements of said first coupling element and said first row of said one or more hook elements of said second coupling element are arranged in a frame situated in said casing so that said one or more eye elements of said one or more rows of said one or more eye elements of said first coupling element align with one or more of said one or more openings so as to be engageable from said first surface and so that said one or more hook elements of said first row of said one or more hook elements extend outward of an end of said casing so as to be engageable from said second surface.  
   
   
       13 . An extender in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein: said frame has first and second end rails and first and second side rails, said first end rail being formed as said first row of said one or more hook elements of said second coupling assembly; and the one or more eye elements in each of said one or more rows of said one or more eye elements of said first coupling element being interconnected and each interconnected row of eye elements being connected between said side rails of said frame.  
   
   
       14 . An extender in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said frame includes a support member extending from said second rail and connected to said interconnected rows of eye elements.  
   
   
       15 . An extender in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said one or more hook elements of said second coupling element each comprise said clear hard material.  
   
   
       16 . An extender in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein: said clear elongated member has first and second opposing surfaces forming a part of said first and second opposing surfaces, respectively, of said extender, said clear elongated member further having one or more openings from said first surface to said second surface forming said one or more rows of said one or more eye elements of said first coupling element and so as to be engageable from said first surface of said extender; and said second coupling element includes a further member having opposing first and second surfaces forming a further part of said first and second opposing surfaces, respectively, of said extender, said further member being attached to said clear elongated member and said one or more hook elements of said first row of said one or more hook elements of said second coupling element extend outward from said second surface of said further member so as to be engageable from said second surface.  
   
   
       17 . An extender in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein: said second surface of said clear elongated member adjacent each of said through openings has a recessed area.  
   
   
       18 . An extender in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein: said first surface of said clear elongated member adjacent each said opening has a protrusion; and each of said hook elements of said one or more hook elements of said first row of said one or more hook elements has a protrusion facing said second surface of said further member.  
   
   
       19 . An extender in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein: said further member has an opening in facing relationship to each of said hook elements of said one or more hook elements of said first row of said one or more hook elements; and said clear elongated member has one or more elongated further openings, each elongated further opening being situated between successive eye elements of successive rows of eye elements.  
   
   
       20 . An extender in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein: said further member has an end area of reduced thickness with through openings; and said clear elongated member has an end area of reduced thickness with protrusions; said end area of said elongated clear member overlapping with said end area of said further member so that said protrusions in said end area of said clear elongated member are situated in and engage the openings in said end area of said further member.  
   
   
       21 . An extender in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said garment comprises a fabric comprised of one or more of natural and synthetic fibers.  
   
   
       22 . An extender in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein said fabric comprises one or more of cotton, polyester and nylon.  
   
   
       23 . An extender in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein said garment is one of a bra and a swimsuit.  
   
   
       24 . An extender in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said garment comprises a fabric comprised one or more of natural and synthetic fibers.  
   
   
       25 . An extender in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein said fabric comprises one or more of cotton, polyester and nylon.  
   
   
       26 . An extender in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein said garment is one of a bra and a swimsuit.  
   
   
       27 . An extender for use with a garment having a fastening assembly with first and second fastening elements attached to first and second parts of the garment, said extender comprising a plastic elongated member and a plastic coupling assembly attached to the elongated plastic member and adapted to couple with said first and second fastening elements of said fastening assembly.  
   
   
       28 . An extender in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said plastic elongated member comprises a plastic supple material and at least a part of said plastic coupling assembly comprises a plastic hard material.  
   
   
       29 . An extender in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein said plastic supple material has a hardness in a range of 60 to 70 durometer Shore A scale and said plastic hard material has a hardness is in a range of 100 to 120 Rockwell R scale  5 .  
   
   
       30 . An extender in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein said plastic supple material is a polyurethane elastomer and said plastic hard material is a polycarbonate resin.  
   
   
       31 . An extender in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein: said coupling assembly comprises first and second coupling elements adapted to couple, respectively, with said first and second fastening elements of said fastening assembly; said first and second fastening elements comprise, respectively, one or more hook elements and one or more eye elements and said first and second coupling elements comprise, respectively, one or more eye elements and one or more hook elements; said one or more hook elements of said first fastening element are arranged in one or more rows containing one or more hook elements; said one or more eye elements of said second fastening element are arranged in one or more rows containing one or more eye elements; said one or more eye elements of said first coupling element are arranged in one or more rows containing one or more eye elements; and said one or more hook elements of said second coupling element are arranged in at least a first row containing one or more hook elements; said one or more rows of said one or more eye elements of said first coupling element are spaced along the length of said extender and said first row of said one or more hook elements of said second coupling element is arranged along the length of said elongated member spaced from said one or more rows of said one or more eye elements of said first coupling element; said one or more eye elements of said first coupling element are arranged to be engageable from a first surface of said extender member and said one or more hook elements of said first row of one or more hook elements of said second coupling element are arranged to be engageable from one of said first surface of said extender and a second opposing surface of said extender; and said first coupling element and said second coupling element are integrated with said plastic elongated member.  
   
   
       32 . An extender in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein said one or more eye elements of said first coupling element and said one more hook elements of said second coupling element each comprise said plastic hard material.  
   
   
       33 . An extender in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein: said plastic elongated member is formed as a casing having first and second opposing surfaces forming said first and second opposing surfaces, respectively, of said extender, said casing having one or more openings from said first surface; and said one or more rows of said one or more eye elements of said first coupling element and said first row of said one or more hook elements of said second coupling element are arranged in a frame situated in said casing so that said one or more eye elements of said one or more rows of said one or more eye elements of said first coupling element align with one or more of said one or more openings so as to be engageable from said first surface and so that said one or more hook elements of said first row of said one or more hook elements extend outward of an end of said casing so as to be engageable from said second surface; and said frame has first and second end rails and first and second side rails, said first end rail being formed as said first row of said one or more hook elements of said second coupling assembly; and the one or more eye elements in each of said one or more rows of said one or more eye elements of said first coupling element being interconnected and each interconnected row of eye elements being connected between said side rails of said frame.  
   
   
       34 . An extender in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein said one or more hook elements of second coupling element each comprise said plastic hard material.  
   
   
       35 . An extender in accordance with  claim 34 , wherein: said plastic elongated member has first and second opposing surfaces forming a part of said first and second opposing surfaces, respectively, of said extender, said plastic elongated member further having one or more openings from said first surface to said second surface forming said one or more rows of said one or more eye elements of said first coupling element and so as to be engageable from said first surface of said extender; and said second coupling element includes a further member having opposing first and second surfaces forming a further part of said first and second opposing surfaces, respectively, of said extender, said further member being attached to said plastic elongated member and said one or more hook elements of said first row of said one or more hook elements of said second coupling element extend outward from said second surface of said further member so as to be engageable from said second surface.  
   
   
       36 . An extender in accordance with  claim 35 , wherein: said second surface of said plastic elongated member adjacent each of said through openings has a recessed area.  
   
   
       37 . An extender in accordance with  claim 36 , wherein: said first surface of said plastic elongated member adjacent each said opening has a protrusion; each of said hook elements of said one or more hook elements of said first row of said one or more hook elements has a protrusion facing said second surface of said further member; said further member has an opening in facing relationship to each of said hook elements of said one or more hook elements of said first row of said one or more hook elements; and said plastic elongated member has one or more elongated further openings, each elongated further opening being situated between successive eye elements of successive rows of eye elements.  
   
   
       38 . An extender in accordance with  claim 37 , wherein: said further member has an end area of reduced thickness with through openings; and said plastic elongated member has an end area of reduced thickness with protrusions; said end area of said plastic elongated member overlapping with said end area of said further member so that said protrusions in said end area of said plastic elongated member are situated in and engage the openings in said end area of said of said further member.  
   
   
       39 . An extender in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said garment comprises a fabric comprised of one or more of natural and synthetic fibers.  
   
   
       40 . An extender in accordance with  claim 39 , wherein said fabric comprises one or more of cotton, polyester and nylon.  
   
   
       41 . An extender in accordance with  claim 40 , wherein said garment is one of a bra and a swimsuit.  
   
   
       42 . An extender in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said extender is one of clear and colored.  
   
   
       43 . A fastening assembly adapted to attach to a first part of a garment and to couple with a garment fastening element on a second part of the garment, the fastening assembly comprising a garment fastening element comprising a member which is clear and a fastener which is clear and plastic attached to the member.  
   
   
       44 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 43 , wherein said member comprises one of a supple material and a hard material and said fastener comprises one of a supple material and a hard material.  
   
   
       45 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 44 , wherein said supple material is a first plastic and said hard material is a second plastic.  
   
   
       46 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 45 , wherein said first plastic material has a hardness in the range of 60 to 70 durometer Shore A scale and said second plastic material has a hardness in the range of 100 to 120 Rockwell R scale  5 .  
   
   
       47 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 45 , wherein said first plastic material is a polyurethane elastomer and said second plastic material is a polycarbonate resin.  
   
   
       48 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 45 , wherein: said fastener comprises said second plastic material and is formed of one or more hook elements arranged in at least a first row of one or more hook elements; said first row of said one or more hook elements of said fastener is arranged at a first end area of said member and is engageable from one of first and second opposing surfaces of said member.  
   
   
       49 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 48 , wherein said one or more hook elements of said first row of one or more hook elements of said fastener have a part which faces said second surface.  
   
   
       50 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 48 , wherein said member is of reduced thickness at a second end area of said member.  
   
   
       51 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 50 , wherein said member has through openings in said second end area.  
   
   
       52 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 48 , wherein said one or more hook elements of said fastener are integrated with said member.  
   
   
       53 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 52 , wherein said member comprises a layer and said one or more hook elements of said fastener are embedded in said layer.  
   
   
       54 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 52 , wherein said member comprises said first plastic material and is formed as a casing having said first and second opposing surfaces, said first row of said one or more hook elements of said fastener are arranged in a frame situated in said casing so that said one or more hook elements of said first row of said one or more hook elements of said fastener extend outward of an end of said casing so as to be engageable from said second surface.  
   
   
       55 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 54 , wherein said frame has first and second end rails and first and second side rails, said first end rail being formed as said first row of said one or more hook elements of said fastener.  
   
   
       56 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 48 , wherein said member comprises said second plastic material; and said one or more hook elements of said first row of hook elements extend outward from said second surface of said member so as to be engageable from said second surface.  
   
   
       57 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 56 , wherein each of said hook elements of said first row of one or more hook elements has a protrusion facing said second surface; and said member has an opening in facing relationship to each of said one or more hook elements of said first row of hook elements of said fastener.  
   
   
       58 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 97 , wherein said member and fastener are colored.  
   
   
       59 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 48 , wherein said garment is comprised of a fabric comprised one or more of natural and synthetic fibers.  
   
   
       60 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 59 , wherein said fabric comprises one or more of cotton, polyester and nylon.  
   
   
       61 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 60 , wherein said garment is a one of a bra and a swimsuit.  
   
   
       62 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 45 , wherein said fastener comprises one or more eye elements arranged in one or more rows spaced along the length of said member; and said one or more eye elements of said fastener are arranged to be engageable from one of first and second opposing surfaces of said member.  
   
   
       63 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 62 , wherein said member is of reduced thickness at an end area of said member.  
   
   
       64 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 62 , wherein said member has through openings in said second end area.  
   
   
       65 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 62 , wherein said one or more eye elements of said fastener are integrated into said member.  
   
   
       66 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 65 , wherein said member comprises a layer in which said one or more eye elements of said fastener are partially embedded.  
   
   
       67 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 65 , wherein: said member comprises said first plastic material and is formed as a casing, said casing having one or more openings from said first surface; said fastener comprises said second plastic material; and said one or more rows of said one or more eye elements of said fastener are arranged in a frame situated in said casing so that said one or more eye elements align with one or more of said one or more openings so as to be engageable from said first surface of said member.  
   
   
       68 . fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 67 , wherein: said frame has first and second end rails and first and second side rails; and the one or more eye elements of each of said one or more rows of said one or more eye elements of said fastener being interconnected and each interconnected row of eye elements being connected between said side rails of said frame.  
   
   
       69 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 68 , wherein each of said end rails forms an interconnected row of eye elements.  
   
   
       70 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 69 , wherein said frame includes a support member extending from said second end rail and connected to said interconnected rows of eye elements.  
   
   
       71 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 65 , wherein: said member and said fastener each comprise said first plastic material; and said member has one or more openings from said first surface to said second surface forming said one or more rows of said one or more eye elements of said fastener and so as to be engageable from one of said first and second surfaces of said member.  
   
   
       72 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 70 , wherein: said second surface of said member adjacent each of said through openings has a recessed area.  
   
   
       73 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 72 , wherein: each said recessed area has a protrusion.  
   
   
       74 . An extender in accordance with  claim 62 , wherein said garment is comprised of a fabric comprised of one or more of natural and synthetic fibers.  
   
   
       75 . An extender in accordance with  claim 74 , wherein said fabric comprises one or more of cotton, polyester and nylon.  
   
   
       76 . An extender in accordance with  claim 75 , wherein said garment is one of a bra and a swimsuit.  
   
   
       77 . An extender in accordance with  claim 43 , wherein said garment is comprised of a fabric comprised of one or more of natural and synthetic fibers.  
   
   
       78 . An extender in accordance with  claim 77 , wherein said fabric comprises one or more of cotton, polyester and nylon.  
   
   
       79 . A fastening assembly in accordance with  claim 78 , wherein said garment is one of a bra and a swimsuit.  
   
   
       80 . A bra comprising: first and second bra straps; and a fastening assembly including a first fastening element connected to an end of said first bra strap and a second fastening element connected to an end of said second bra strap, said first fastening element comprising a first member which is clear and a first fastener which is clear connected to said first member, and said second fastening element comprising a second member which is one or mere of clear and plastic and a second fastener which is one or more of clear and plastic connected to said second member.  
   
   
       81 . A bra in accordance with  claim 80 , wherein said first and second members each comprise one of a supple material and a hard material said first and second fasteners each comprise one of a supple material and a hard material.  
   
   
       82 . A bra in accordance with  claim 81 , wherein said supple material is a first plastic material and said hard material is a second plastic material.  
   
   
       83 . A bra in accordance with  claim 82 , wherein said clear plastic is a polyurethane elastomer and said second plastic is a polycarbonate resin.  
   
   
       84 . A bra in accordance with  claim 81 , wherein said first fastener comprises one or more hook elements arranged in one or more rows and said second fastener comprises one or more eye elements arranged in one or more rows.  
   
   
       85 . A bra in accordance with  claim 84 , wherein said hook elements comprise said second plastic material and said eye elements comprise one of said first plastic material and said second plastic material.  
   
   
       86 . A bra in accordance with  claim 84 , wherein said first member has a first end area of reduced thickness connected to the end of said first bra strap and said second member has a second end area of reduced thickness connected to the end of said second bra strap.  
   
   
       87 . A bra in accordance with  claim 80 , wherein said first and second bra straps comprise a fabric comprised of one or more of natural and synthetic fibers.  
   
   
       88 . A bra in accordance with  claim 87 , wherein said fabric comprises one or more of cotton, polyester and nylon.  
   
   
       89 . A method of making the extender of  claim 12 , comprising: 
 providing said first and second plastic materials;    and supplying said plastic materials to one or more molds and applying heat and pressure to form said extender.    
   
   
       90 . A method of making the extender of  claim 16 , comprising: 
 providing said first and second plastic materials;    and supplying said plastic materials to one or more molds and applying heat and pressure to form said extender.    
   
   
       91 . A method of making the extender of  claim 33 , comprising: 
 providing said first and second plastic materials;    and supplying said plastic materials to one or more molds and applying heat and pressure to form said extender.    
   
   
       92 . A method of making the extender of  claim 35 , comprising: 
 providing said first and second plastic materials;    and supplying said plastic materials to one or more molds and applying heat and pressure to form said extender.    
   
   
       93 . A method of making the fastening assembly of  claim 54 , comprising: 
 providing said first and second plastic materials;    and supplying said plastic materials to one or more molds and applying heat and pressure to form said fastening assembly.    
   
   
       94 . A method of making the fastening assembly of  claim 56 , comprising: 
 providing said second plastic material;    and supplying said plastic material to one or more molds and applying heat and pressure to form said fastening assembly.    
   
   
       95 . A method of making the fastening assembly of  claim 67 , comprising: 
 providing said first and second plastic materials;    and supplying said plastic materials to one or more molds and applying heat and pressure to form said fastening assembly.    
   
   
       96 . A method of making the fastening assembly of  claim 71 , comprising: 
 providing said first plastic material;    and supplying said plastic material to one or more molds and applying heat and pressure to form said fastening assembly.    
   
   
       97 . A fastening assembly adapted to attach to a first part of a garment and to couple with a first garment fastening element on a second part of the garment, the first garment fastening element having a first member and a first fastener attached to the first member, the fastening assembly comprising a garment fastening element comprising a member which is one or more of clear and plastic and a fastener which is one or more of clear and plastic attached to the member, the fastener being of a different hardness than the first fastener.