Pants closure system

Abstract

Embodiments herein provide pants with an integrated pants closure system for securing the pants to a waist of a user. The closure system may provide a plurality of points of closure, such as a belt, a fly, and an internal panel closure. The closure system may provide a low-profile for a front portion and/or waistband of the pants. Additionally, the closure system may provide backup points of closure in case of failure. The belt may include a buckle with a finger that extends through a loop in the belt to close the belt. The fly may include a zipper that extends to a top edge of the waistband. The internal panel may include one or more low-profile snaps to secure the internal panel to an inside surface of the pants and/or waistband.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pants, comprising:
 a waistband having a top edge;   a fly that defines a fly opening extending down from the top edge of the waistband along a front centerline; and   a belt including:
 a belt band extending around the waistband from a first end of the belt to a second end of the belt, wherein the first end of the belt is secured to the waistband at a first side of the fly opening, and wherein the belt band forms a loop at the first end; and 
 a buckle coupled to the belt band at the second end of the belt, the buckle including a finger configured to extend into the loop in the first end of the belt to couple the second end to the first end across the front centerline. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pants of  claim 1 , wherein the fly further includes a zipper to selectively open or close the fly opening, wherein the zipper extends to the top edge of the waistband. 
     
     
         3 . The pants of  claim 2 , wherein the zipper includes:
 a zipper slider that is movable to open or close the fly opening;   a locking mechanism to maintain a position of the zipper slider at the top edge of the waistband.   
     
     
         4 . The pants of  claim 1 , wherein the finger of the buckle extends from a body of the buckle, and wherein the buckle further includes first and second slots in the body to couple the buckle to the second end of the belt. 
     
     
         5 . The pants of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the belt is secured to the waistband by stitching. 
     
     
         6 . The pants of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the belt is secured to the waistband by a releasable coupling mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The pants of  claim 1 , wherein the fly includes:
 first and second panels separated by the fly opening, wherein the second panel includes an extension portion;   a fly closing mechanism to selectively open or close the fly opening; and   an internal closure mechanism to releasably couple the extension portion of the second panel to an interior surface of the pants.   
     
     
         8 . A buckle for a belt, the buckle comprising:
 a body portion configured to be coupled to a second end of a belt band;   a finger extending from the body, the finger configured to be inserted through a loop in a first end of the belt band, opposite the second end, to couple the second end of the belt band to the first end of the belt band.   
     
     
         9 . The buckle of  claim 8 , wherein the body includes one or more slots to couple the buckle to the second end of the belt band. 
     
     
         10 . The buckle of  claim 9 , wherein the slots enable a belt length of the belt to be adjusted. 
     
     
         11 . The buckle of  claim 8 , wherein the finger has an “L” shape. 
     
     
         12 . The buckle of  claim 8 , wherein the finger includes:
 a base that extends laterally from the body of the buckle; and   a vertical portion that extends downward from the base.   
     
     
         13 . The buckle of  claim 12 , wherein the finger further includes an angled portion that extends at an angle from a lower end of the vertical portion toward the body, the angled portion configured to facilitate engagement of the finger with the loop in the first end of the belt band. 
     
     
         14 . The buckle of  claim 13 , wherein an end of the angled portion includes a nub to facilitate engagement of the finger with the loop in the first end of the belt band. 
     
     
         15 . The buckle of  claim 8 , wherein the body is contoured with a middle portion of the body being raised relative to side portions of the body.