Garment Support Apparatus

Abstract

A garment support apparatus for use with a garment having a waist band. The garment support apparatus has a pliable closed end, and pliable first and second extending sections attached to the closed end and spaced apart from one another. The first and second extending sections extend to distal ends that are spaced apart so as to form an open end of the garment support apparatus. The space between the first and second extending sections is sized to receive a garment waist band. The first extending section has an opening sized for receiving a belt-loop. The second extending section has a first side and an opposite, second side. Friction material is on the first and second sides of the second extending section for frictional contact with an interior portion of the waist band and for frictional contact with a shirt jersey worn by a wearer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment support apparatus for use with a garment having a waist band that has an interior side, exterior side and at least one belt-loop, the garment support apparatus comprising:
 a closed end;   first and second extending sections attached to said closed end and being spaced apart, said first and second extending sections extending to distal ends that are spaced apart from each other so as to create an open end of the garment support apparatus, said space between said first and second extending sections being sized to receive a portion of a garment waist band, said first extending section having an opening therethrough that is sized for receiving a garment belt-loop, said second extending section having a first side for contacting an interior side of a garment waist band and an opposite second side that faces a wearer's torso when the garment support apparatus is in use; and   friction material on said first and second sides of said second extending section.   
     
     
         2 . The garment support apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said opening is centrally located. 
     
     
         3 . The garment support apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said layer of friction material comprises rubber. 
     
     
         4 . A garment support apparatus for use with a garment having a waist band that has an interior side and exterior side, the garment support apparatus comprising:
 a partially closed end;   first and second extending sections attached to said partially closed end and being spaced apart, said first and second extending sections extending to distal ends that are spaced apart from each other so as to create an open end of the garment support apparatus, said space between said first and second extending sections being sized to receive a portion of a garment waist band;   said first extending section having a first end adjacent to said partially closed end and a cut-out formed in said first end, said first extending section having an opposite second end adjacent to said open end and a cut-out in said second end, wherein each cut-out is sized to a receive a portion of a garment belt-loop;   said second extending section having a first side for contacting an interior side of a garment waist band and an opposite second side for facing a wearer's torso; and   friction material on said first and second sides of said second extending section.   
     
     
         5 . The garment support apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the layer of friction material comprises rubber. 
     
     
         6 . A garment support apparatus for use with a garment having a waist band that has an interior side and exterior side, the garment support apparatus comprising:
 a partially closed end;   a generally planar section attached to and extending from said partially closed end, said generally planar extending section extending to a distal end;   a pair of belt-receiving sections that are attached to and extend from said partially closed end and spaced apart from said generally planar section, wherein said space between each belt-receiving section and said generally planar section being sized to receive a portion of a garment waist band, each belt-receiving section having an opening therethrough for allowing a belt to pass therethrough, said belt-receiving sections being spaced apart by a space that is sized to receive a garment belt-loop;   said generally planar section having a first side for contacting an interior side of a garment waist band and an opposite second side that faces a wearer's torso when the garment support apparatus is in use; and   friction material on said first and second sides of said generally planar section.   
     
     
         7 . A garment support apparatus for use with a garment having a waist band that has an interior side, exterior side and at least one belt-loop, the garment support apparatus comprising:
 a closed end;   first and second extending sections attached to said closed end and spaced apart from one another, said first and second extending sections extending to distal ends that are spaced apart from each other so as to create an open end of said garment support apparatus, said space between said first and second extending sections being sized to receive a portion of a garment waist band, said second extending section having a first side for contacting an interior side of a garment waist band and an opposite second side that faces a wearer's torso when the garment supporting apparatus is in use; and   friction material on said first and second sides of said second extending section.   
     
     
         8 . A garment support apparatus, comprising:
 a belt having an exterior side and an interior side that faces a wearer's torso when the garment support apparatus is in use;   a support device attached to said belt and positioned such that it confronts and is spaced apart from said interior side of the belt, wherein said space between said support device and said interior side of said belt is sized to receive a waist band of a garment, wherein said support device comprises a generally planar member that is fabricated from a friction material having a relatively high coefficient of friction.   
     
     
         9 . The garment support apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein said support device further comprises at least one arm that is attached to said generally planar member. 
     
     
         10 . The garment support apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein said arm is attached to said belt. 
     
     
         11 . The garment support apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein said generally planar member that confronts and is spaced part from said interior side of said belt. 
     
     
         12 . The garment support apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said generally planar member has a first side that faces said interior side of said belt and a second, opposite side that faces a wearer's torso when said garment support apparatus is in use. 
     
     
         13 . A garment support apparatus for use with a garment having a waist band that has an interior side and exterior side, the garment support apparatus comprising:
 a loop section having a first end and an opposite second end, the loop section defining an opening therethrough that is sized for receiving a belt;   a garment contact member movably attached to the first end of the loop section, the garment contact member comprising a first side for contacting an interior side of a garment waist band and an opposite second side that faces a wearer's torso when the garment support apparatus is in use, the garment contact member further comprising friction material on the first and second sides of the garment contact member.   
     
     
         14 . The garment support apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the friction material comprises rubber. 
     
     
         15 . The garment support apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the garment contact member is generally planar in shape. 
     
     
         16 . The garment support apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the loop section comprises a first section and a second section, wherein the first section is across from the garment contact member. 
     
     
         17 . The garment support apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the first section is generally linear in geometry. 
     
     
         18 . The garment support apparatus according to  claim 13  further comprising a stiffening member attached to the first section to maintain the shape of the loop section. 
     
     
         19 . The garment support apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the garment contact member is pivotally attached to the first end of the loop section. 
     
     
         20 . A garment support apparatus for use with a garment that has an interior side and exterior side, the garment support apparatus comprising:
 a loop section having a first end, an opposite second end, a first section attached to the first and second ends, and a second section attached to the first and second ends and located across from the first section, the loop section defining an opening therethrough that is sized for receiving a belt;   a support member comprising a first end that is movably attached to the first end of the loop section, the support member further comprising an opposite, second distal end, wherein the support the support member is spaced apart from the second section of the loop section, the support member having an interior side that faces the second section of the loop section and an exterior side that faces a wearer's torso when the garment support apparatus is in use; and   a garment contact member attached to the opposite, second distal end of the support member, the garment contact member comprising a first side for contacting an interior side of a garment at or in proximity to the waist of the garment and an opposite second side that faces a wearer's torso when the garment support apparatus is in use, the garment contact member further comprising friction material on the first and second sides of the garment contact member.   
     
     
         21 . The garment support member according to  claim 20  wherein the support member has a degree of resiliency that allows the garment contact member to be folded over the interior side of the support member so that the garment contact member can be positioned in the space between the second section of the loop section. 
     
     
         22 . The garment support apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein the friction material comprises rubber. 
     
     
         23 . The garment support apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein the support member is generally planar in shape. 
     
     
         24 . The garment support apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein the garment contact member is generally planar in shape. 
     
     
         25 . A garment support apparatus for use with a garment having a waist band that has an interior side and exterior side, the garment support apparatus comprising:
 a support member having a first end, an opposite second end, a first side and a second side, the support member having a first loop member attached to the first end of the support member and a second loop member attached to the second end of the support member, each loop defining an opening therethrough that is sized for receiving a belt, wherein each loop member is oriented so that a belt is substantially parallel to the support member and confronts the first side of the support member when the belt is disposed within both the first and second loop members; and   a garment contact member movably attached to the support member, the garment contact member comprising a first side for contacting an interior side of a garment waist band and an opposite second that faces a wearer's torso when the garment support apparatus is in use, the garment contact member being movable between a first position wherein the first side of the garment contact member confronts the second side of the support member and a second position wherein the garment contact member is generally perpendicular to the support member, the garment contact member further comprising friction material on the first and second sides of the garment contact member.   
     
     
         26 . The garment support apparatus according to  claim 25  wherein the garment contact member is pivotally attached to the second side of the support member. 
     
     
         27 . The garment support apparatus according to  claim 25  wherein the friction material comprises rubber. 
     
     
         28 . The garment support apparatus according to  claim 25  wherein the support member is made fabricated from a material chosen from the group comprising leather, fabric, rubber and plastic.