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 . A tensioning device positionable about one or more clothing straps for drawing together the clothing straps, comprising:
 an elastic member positioned about one or more clothing straps defining a first end portion, a second end portion and a middle portion there between;   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.   
   
   
       2 . The tensioning device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment element defines a substantially rectangular shape with a slot defined therein. 
   
   
       3 . The tensioning device according to  claim 2 , wherein the second attachment element defines the substantially rectangular shape with the slot defined therein. 
   
   
       4 . The tensioning device according to  claim 3 , wherein the slot of the first attachment element and the slot of the second attachment element are complementary. 
   
   
       5 . The tensioning device according to  claim 4 , wherein the first and second attachment elements are complementarily engageable, and wherein the thickness of an outer surface of a first clip and an inner surface of a second clip is approximately the same as the thicknesses of the inner surface of the first clip and the outer surface of the second clip. 
   
   
       6 . The tensioning device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a loop-diameter adjustment element coupled to the elastic member. 
   
   
       7 . The tensioning device according to  claim 6 , wherein the loop-diameter adjustment element includes a slide component through which at least a portion of the elastic member extends. 
   
   
       8 . A tensioning device positionable about one or more clothing straps for drawing together the clothing straps, comprising:
 an elastic member defining a first end portion, a second end portion, and a middle portion there between;   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.   
   
   
       9 . The tensioning device according to  claim 8 , wherein the first attachment element and the second attachment element each further comprise
 a slot,   a perforation, and   an extension.   
   
   
       10 . The tensioning device according to  claim 9 , wherein a perforation of the first attachment element is complementary to an extension of the second attachment element. 
   
   
       11 . The tensioning device according to  claim 10 , wherein a perforation of the second attachment element is complementary to the extension of the first attachment element. 
   
   
       12 . The tensioning device according to  claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the first attachment element is offset and parallel to an inner surface of the first attachment element. 
   
   
       13 . The tensioning device according to  claim 12 , wherein the slot of the first attachment element and the slot of the second attachment element are complementary. 
   
   
       14 . The tensioning device according to  claim 13 , wherein the first and second attachment elements are engageable to form a snap-fit assembly having a substantially flat, rectangular shape. 
   
   
       15 . The tensioning device according to  claim 8 , wherein the first attachment element is the same shape and in complementary orientation with the second attachment element. 
   
   
       16 . The tensioning device according to  claim 15 , wherein the first attachment element and the second attachment element each further comprise a snap clip having
 a slot,   a perforation, and   an extension.   
   
   
       17 . The tensioning device according to  claim 16 , wherein
 the extension of the first snap clip fits into the perforation of the second snap clip, and   the extension of the second snap clip fits into the perforation of the first snap clip, and   each snap clip further comprises   an outer portion, and   an inner portion, whereby the outer portion has a surface offset from but parallel to the inner portion.   
   
   
       18 . A method for drawing together one or more clothing straps using a tensioning device positionable about the clothing straps comprising:
 positioning an elastic member about one or more clothing straps; and   releasably engaging a first end of the elastic member with a second end of the elastic member such that the elastic member forms a loop about the clothing straps drawing the clothing straps toward each other.   
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the elastic member further includes a loop-diameter adjustment element coupled to the elastic member. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the loop-diameter adjustment element further includes a slide component through which at least a portion of the elastic member extends.