Tensioning device for clothing straps

Abstract

A clothing strap tensioning device has an elastic member having a geometry generally defined by middle, left end, and right end portions, and bounded by upper, lower, left and right edges, and includes mechanical snaps or other releasable attachment mechanisms integrated into the left end and right end portions for enabling releasable attachment of the end portions to each other to form the elastic member into a loop. The tensioning device is looped around a pair of spaced vertical straps of a brassiere, such that the straps are drawn toward each other medially to prevent the straps from slipping down the shoulders of a wearer and to impart an upward lift to the wearer's breasts. The geometry of the elastic member also prevents twisting of the straps.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . A tensioning device positionable about one or more clothing straps, comprising: 
 an elastic member defining a first end portion, a second end portion, and a middle portion therebetween;    a first attachment element coupled to the first end of the elastic member, and    a second attachment element coupled to the second end of the elastic member, wherein the first attachment element is releasably engageable with the second attachment element such that the elastic member forms a loop.    
   
   
       23 . The tensioning device according to  claim 22 , wherein the first attachment element defines a substantially rectangular shape with a slot defined therein.  
   
   
       24 . The tensioning device according to  claim 23 , wherein the second attachment element defines a substantially rectangular shape with a slot defined therein.  
   
   
       25 . The tensioning device according to  claim 24 , wherein the slot of the first attachment element and the slot of the second attachment element are complementary.  
   
   
       26 . The tensioning device according to  claim 25 , wherein the first and second attachment elements are engageable to form a snap-fit assembly having a substantially flat, rectangular shape.  
   
   
       27 . The tensioning device according to  claim 22 , further comprising a loop-diameter adjustment element coupled to the elastic member.  
   
   
       28 . The tensioning device according to  claim 27 , wherein the loop-diameter adjustment element includes a slide component through which at least a portion of the elastic member extends.  
   
   
       29 . The tensioning device according to  claim 22 , wherein the first end portion and second end portion extend upward from the middle portion of the elastic member.  
   
   
       30 . The tensioning device according to  claim 22 , wherein the elastic member defines an upper edge, and wherein at least a portion of the upper edge is substantially non-parallel to another portion of the upper edge.  
   
   
       31 . The tensioning device according to  claim 30 , wherein the elastic member defines a lower edge, and wherein at least a portion of the lower edge is substantially non-parallel to another portion of the lower edge.  
   
   
       32 . The tensioning device according to  claim 30 , wherein the first attachment element defines a substantially rectangular shape with a slot defined therein.  
   
   
       33 . The tensioning device according to  claim 32 , wherein the second attachment element defines a substantially rectangular shape with a slot defined therein.  
   
   
       34 . The tensioning device according to  claim 33 , wherein the slot of the first attachment element and the slot of the second attachment element are complementary.  
   
   
       35 . The tensioning device according to  claim 34 , wherein the first and second attachment elements are engageable to form a snap-fit assembly having a substantially flat, rectangular shape.  
   
   
       36 . The tensioning device according to  claim 22 , wherein the elastic member defines a substantially symmetrical shape for imparting substantially equal tension to the one or more clothing straps.  
   
   
       37 . The tensioning device according to  claim 22 , wherein the elastic member defines a first transverse width and a second transverse width, the first transverse width being greater than the second transverse width.  
   
   
       38 . The tensioning device according to  claim 22 , wherein the first end portion, second end portion, and middle portion are positionable in a substantially coplanar relationship such that a first edge of the middle portion is located between a first edge of the first end portion and a second edge of the middle portion.