Closure System For Reversibly Connecting Items Of Athletic Wear

Abstract

A closure system for reversibly connecting interchangeable items of athletic wear includes at least one elongate connector. The connector has an anchor point attaching the connector to a first piece of athletic wear. The anchor point is located at a first end of the connector and defines a point about which a second end of the connector is angularly displaceable. At least one locking point is located on the first piece of athletic wear. The locking point is reversibly mateable with a locking point coupler located at the second end of the connector. At least one engagement point located on a second piece of athletic wear is capable of reversibly engaging a portion of the connector. When the locking point coupler is mated to the locking point, the connector and engagement point hold the first and second pieces of athletic wear towards one another.

1 . A closure system for reversibly connecting interchangeable items of athletic wear comprising:
 at least one elongate connector having an anchor point attaching the elongate connector to a first piece of athletic wear, the anchor point located at a first end of the elongate connector and defining a point about which a second end of the elongate connector is angularly displaceable;   at least one locking point located on the first piece of athletic wear, the locking point reversibly mateable with a locking point coupler located at the second end of the elongate connector;   at least one engagement point located on a second piece of athletic wear capable of reversibly engaging a portion of the elongate connector;   whereby when the locking point coupler is mated to the locking point, the elongate connector and engagement point hold the first and second pieces of athletic wear towards one another.   
     
     
         2 . The closure system for reversibly connecting interchangeable items of athletic wear of  claim 1  wherein the at least one elongate connector is a strap. 
     
     
         3 . The closure system for reversibly connecting interchangeable items of athletic wear of  claim 1  wherein the at least one elongate connector is a lace. 
     
     
         4 . The closure system for reversibly connecting interchangeable items of athletic wear of  claim 2  wherein the at least one elongate connector has an inner surface, an exterior surface, a proximal end, and a distal end, the anchor point located at the proximal end, and the locking point coupler located on the inner surface of the distal end. 
     
     
         5 . The closure system for reversibly connecting interchangeable items of athletic wear of  claim 1  wherein a locking flap is connected to the first piece of athletic wear at an attachment point adjacent the locking point, the locking flap having an interior surface and a reversibly mateable locking flap connector system, one half of the reversibly mateable locking flap connector system is disposed on the interior surface of the flap opposite the attachment point and the corresponding portion of the reversibly mateable locking flap connector system is disposed on the first piece of athletic attire. 
     
     
         6 . The closure system for reversibly connecting interchangeable items of athletic wear of  claim 1  wherein the at least one engagement point is a flexible loop disposed on the second piece of athletic wear, the loop having at least one distal end, a longitudinal length of material defining an aperture between the longitudinal length of material and the second piece of athletic wear, and whereby the elongate connector engages the engagement point after being threaded through the aperture and angularly displaced around the longitudinal length of material. 
     
     
         7 . The closure system for reversibly connecting interchangeable items of athletic wear of  claim 6  wherein the flexible loop is an adjustable length of continual lace, the continual lace disposed within the second piece of athletic wear, the flexible loop defined by a portion of the lace which exits apertures in the second piece of athletic wear at distal ends of the flexible loop. 
     
     
         8 . The closure system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one engagement point comprises a slit formed in the second piece of athletic wear, the slit defining an opening sized to receive the elongate connector, the slit having edges that border the opening sized to receive the elongate connector, and the edges of the slits having reinforced portions to ensure the elongate connector does not tear through the second piece of athletic wear. 
     
     
         9 . The closure system for reversibly connecting interchangeable items of athletic wear of  claim 8  wherein the engagement point additionally comprises at least one engagement point loop attached to the first piece of athletic wear at engagement loop anchor points, the engagement point loop sized to receive the at least one elongate connector, the at least one slit receives the engagement loop, and whereby when the elongate connector and engagement point hold the first piece of athletic wear towards the second piece of athletic wear, the engagement loop aids the process by engaging both the first piece of athletic wear via the engagement loop anchor points and by engaging the second piece of athletic wear via the reinforced slits. 
     
     
         10 . The closure system for reversibly connecting interchangeable items of athletic wear of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of engagement points are located on the first piece of athletic wear, and additionally a plurality of engagement points are located on the second piece of athletic wear, whereby the at least one elongate connector threads through the plurality of engagement points in a zigzag pattern before the locking point coupler engages the at least one locking point. 
     
     
         11 . A closure system for reversibly connecting interchangeable items of athletic wear comprising:
 at least one elongate connector attached to a first piece of athletic wear at an anchor point, the elongate connector having an inner surface and exterior surface, proximal and distal ends, a locking point coupler located at the distal end of the elongate connector, and the anchor point located at the proximal end of the elongate connector, the anchor point defining a first axis about which the elongate connector is angularly displaceable;   at least one locking point attached to the first piece of athletic wear, the locking point reversibly mateable to the locking point coupler;   at least one engagement point defining a generally longitudinal strip attached to the second piece of athletic wear at distal ends, the longitudinal strip and second piece of athletic wear defining an aperture sized to receive the elongate connector, the longitudinal strip further defining a second axis about which the elongate connector is angularly displaceable;   at least one locking flap attached to the first piece of athletic wear at an attachment point, the locking flap having an interior surface;   at least one set of corresponding reversibly mateable locking flap fasteners, one of the locking flap fasteners located on the interior surface of the locking flap opposite the locking flap fastener attachment point, the other locking flap fastener located on the first piece of athletic wear adjacent the locking point;   whereby when the elongate connector is inserted through the aperture of the engagement point, angularly displaced around the axis defined by the longitudinal strip, and the locking point and locking point coupler are mated, the elongate connector and engagement point hold the first and second pieces of athletic wear towards one another, and the interior surface of the locking flap securely holds the locking point coupler against the locking point.   
     
     
         12 . The closure system for reversibly connecting interchangeable items of athletic wear of  claim 11  wherein the elongate connector is a strap of thin flexible material 
     
     
         13 . The closure system for reversibly connecting interchangeable items of athletic wear of  claim 12  wherein the locking point and locking point coupler are corresponding reversibly mateable portions of a hook and loop connection. 
     
     
         14 . The closure system for reversibly connecting interchangeable items of athletic wear of  claim 12  wherein the locking point and locking point coupler are corresponding reversibly mateable portions of a snap fastener connection. 
     
     
         15 . The closure system for reversibly connecting interchangeable items of athletic wear of  claim 12  wherein the locking point and locking point coupler are oppositely charged magnets. 
     
     
         16 . The closure system for reversibly connecting interchangeable items of athletic wear of  claim 12  wherein the locking point and locking point coupler are eye and hook fasteners. 
     
     
         17 . The closure system for reversibly connecting interchangeable items of athletic wear of  claim 12  wherein the locking point and locking point coupler are corresponding portions of a zippered connection. 
     
     
         18 . The closure system for reversibly connecting interchangeable items of athletic wear of  claim 12  wherein the locking point and locking point coupler are corresponding portions of a latch and track connector system. 
     
     
         19 . The closure system for reversibly connecting interchangeable items of athletic wear of  claim 11  wherein the elongate connector is a loop of flexible material and the locking point is a toggle. 
     
     
         20 . A kit for reversibly connecting items of athletic wear comprising:
 a plurality of interchangeable athletic shorts having different characteristics selected from the group of color, size, and patterns, each short having:
 at least one elongate connector having an anchor point attaching the elongate connector to the interchangeable shorts, the anchor point located at a first end of the elongate connector and defining an axis about which the elongate connector is angularly displaceable, and 
 at least one locking point located on each of the interchangeable shorts, the locking point reversibly mateable with a locking point coupler located at a second end of the elongate connector; 
   a plurality of interchangeable athletic shirts having different characteristics selected from the group of color, size, and patterns, where each shirt has at least one engagement point capable of reversibly engaging a portion of the elongate connector on the interchangeable shorts; and   when the locking point coupler is mated to the locking point, the elongate connector and engagement point hold the interchangeable shorts and shirt towards one another.