Support stay

Abstract

A support stay for an article of clothing includes an elongated body with first and second ends, first and second generally parallel outer edges and a longitudinal axis disposed midway between the outer edges, and tabs extending longitudinally from each of the first and second ends. A series of generally v-shaped notches defined by an angle no greater than 30° are formed along each of the first and second generally parallel outer edges and extend from one outer edge past the longitudinal axis towards the other outer edge. The projected surface area of the elongated body excluding the areas formed by the notches may be between 80% and 95% of a first generally rectangular projected surface area bounded by the first and second ends and the first and second outer edges of the elongated member. This support stay is less visible through fabric in which it is inserted.

1 . A support stay for an article of clothing, comprising:
 an elongated body comprising first and second ends, first and second generally parallel outer edges and a longitudinal axis disposed midway between the outer edges, wherein a series of notches are formed along each of the first and second generally parallel outer edges and extending from one outer edge past the longitudinal axis towards the other outer edge, and   tabs extending longitudinally from each of the first and second ends;   and wherein the notches are generally v-shaped defined by an angle no greater than 30°.   
     
     
         2 . The support stay of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body has a zigzag configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The support stay of  claim 1 , wherein two adjacent notches form a crest therebetween, the crest terminating at the generally parallel edge. 
     
     
         4 . The support stay of  claim 3 , wherein the crests have rounded edges for reducing a coefficient of friction between the support stay and the article of clothing. 
     
     
         5 . The support of stay of  claim 1 , wherein edges of the tabs are rounded for reducing a coefficient of friction between the tabs and the article of clothing. 
     
     
         6 . The support stay of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body and tabs are formed of a continuous piece of material. 
     
     
         7 . The support stay of  claim 6 , wherein the support stay is formed of aplastic material. 
     
     
         8 . The support stay of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the tabs is sufficiently thin for piercing by a stitching needle without cracking the plastic material. 
     
     
         9 . The support stay of  claim 7 , wherein the support stay is formed by an injection molding process. 
     
     
         10 . The support stay of  claim 1 , wherein the tabs are fixedly attached to the elongated body. 
     
     
         11 . The support stay of  claim 1 , wherein the tabs have a length of at least 0.5 inch and a maximum thickness of less than or equal to 0.1 inch. 
     
     
         12 . The support stay of  claim 11 , wherein a distal end of the tabs have a maximum thickness of less than or equal to 0.040 inch. 
     
     
         13 . The support stay of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the tabs is stitchable to the article of clothing with thread. 
     
     
         14 . The support stay of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated member is independently movable in a first direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and a second direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         15 . The support stay of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated member and tabs have a maximum thickness of less than or equal to 0.1 inch, and the tabs are tapered with a thickness continuously reducing over a length of at least 0.5 inch toward distal ends of the tabs. 
     
     
         16 . The support stay of  claim 1 , wherein an area bounded by the first and second ends and the first and second outer edges of the elongated member defines a first generally rectangular projected surface area, and wherein a projected surface area of the elongated body excluding the areas formed by the notches is between 80% and 95% of said first generally rectangular projected surface area. 
     
     
         17 . The support stay of  claim 16 , wherein a projected surface area of the elongated body excluding the areas formed by the notches is between 85% and 90% of said first generally rectangular projected surface area. 
     
     
         18 . A support stay for an article of clothing, comprising:
 an elongated body comprising first and second ends, first and second generally parallel outer edges and a longitudinal axis disposed midway between the outer edges, wherein a series of notches are formed along each of the first and second generally parallel outer edges and extending from one outer edge past the longitudinal axis towards the other outer edge and   tabs extending longitudinally from each of the first and second ends;   wherein an area bounded by the first and second ends and the first and second outer edges defines a first generally rectangular projected surface area;   wherein a projected surface area of the elongated body excluding the areas formed by the notches is between 80% and 95% of said first generally rectangular projected surface area.   
     
     
         19 . A support stay for an article of clothing, comprising:
 a generally planar elongated body comprising first and second ends, first and second generally parallel outer edges and a longitudinal axis disposed midway between the outer edges, wherein a series of notches are formed along each of the first and second generally parallel outer edges and extending from one outer edge past the longitudinal axis towards the other outer edge, and   tabs with a continuously tapering thickness extending longitudinally from each of the first and second ends, wherein at least one of the tabs is sufficiently thin over at least a portion thereof for piercing by a stitching needle.   
     
     
         20 . The support stay of  claim 19 , wherein said tabs each have a length of at least 0.5 inch over which the thickness is continuously tapering, and distal ends of the tabs have a maximum thickness of 0.040 inch.