US2021204659A1PendingUtilityA1

Apparatus and methods for securing a belt used in martial arts and other combative sports

21
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jan 3, 2020Filed: Jan 3, 2020Published: Jul 8, 2021
Est. expiryJan 3, 2040(~13.4 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:John F. Kautz
A44D 2205/00A41F 9/002A44B 18/0084A44B 18/0003
21
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

An apparatus and associated method are disclosed for releasably securing sections of fabric forming a belt around a user, and in particular a belt of the type used in martial arts and other combative activities. The apparatus has an elongate thin strip of material having a length substantially greater than a width, divided by a first section and a second section between its end, and thereby having four surface sections. The surface sections can be configured with fastening hooks or receiving loops, or be smooth, to provide fastening surfaces, receiving surfaces, and non-fastening/receiving surfaces. In use the strip of material is looped between and around layers of a belt tied with a knot such that a first fastening surface contacts and adheres to at least a portion of an opposing receiving surface to secure the strip of material in a loop around the layers of the belt in the area of the knot to prevent unraveling during an activity.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for releasably securing a belt of the type used in martial arts and other combative sports, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a thin, elongate, generally rectangular strip of material having a length and a width, first and second ends defining the length, wherein the length is substantially greater than the width, and wherein the strip is divided into a first section and a second section between the first and second ends;   (b) wherein the first section has a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the second section has a first surface and a second surface;   (c) wherein the first surface of the first section comprises a hook material to provide a first fastening surface, wherein the first surface of the second section comprises a substantially smooth surface, wherein the second surface of the first section comprises a hook material to provide a second fastening surface, and wherein the second surface of the second section comprises a loop material to provide a first receiving surface.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the strip of material is configured to be inserted between two layers of a belt having a plurality of layers when worn, and looped around all of the layers of the belt such that at least a portion of the first fastening surface of the first section contacts and adheres to at least a portion of the first receiving surface of the second section in a looped configuration that secures together the layers of the belt. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a reinforced tip at an end of the strip. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a reinforced tip at the second end of the strip. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the smooth surface comprises a soft or plush surface. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for releasably securing a belt of the type used in martial arts and other combative sports, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a thin, elongate, generally rectangular strip of material having a length and a width, first and second ends defining the length, wherein the length is substantially greater than the width, and wherein the strip is divided into a first section and a second section between the first and second ends;   (b) wherein the first section has a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the second section has a first surface and a second surface;   (c) wherein the first surface of the first section comprises a hook material to provide a first fastening surface, wherein the second surface of the second section comprises a loop material to provide a first receiving surface, wherein the second surface of the first section comprises a hook material to provide a second fastening surface, and wherein the first surface of the second section comprises a loop material to provide a second receiving surface.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the strip of material is configured to be inserted between two layers of a belt having a plurality of layers when worn, and looped around all of the layers of the belt such that at least a portion of a fastening surface of the first section contacts and adheres to at least a portion of a receiving surface of the second section in a looped configuration that secures together the layers of the belt. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a reinforced tip at an end of the strip. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a reinforced tip at the second end of the strip. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for releasably securing a belt of the type used in martial arts and other combative sports, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a thin, elongate, generally rectangular strip of material having a length and a width, first and second ends defining the length, wherein the length is substantially greater than the width, and wherein the strip is divided into a first section and a second section between the first and second ends;   (b) wherein the first section has a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the second section has a first surface and a second surface;   (c) wherein the first surface of the first section comprises a hook material to provide a first fastening surface, wherein the first surface of the second section comprises a substantially smooth surface, wherein the second surface of the first section comprises a substantially smooth surface, and wherein the second surface of the second section comprises a loop material to provide a first receiving surface.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the strip of material is configured to be inserted between two layers of a belt having a plurality of layers when worn, and looped around all of the layers of the belt such that at least a portion of the first fastening surface of the first section contacts and adheres to at least a portion of the first receiving surface of the second section in a looped configuration that secures together the layers of the belt. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a reinforced tip at an end of the strip. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a reinforced tip at the second end of the strip. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said smooth surfaces comprises a soft or plush surface. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each of said smooth surfaces comprises a soft or plush surface. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for releasably securing a belt of the type used in martial arts and other combative sports, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a thin, elongate, generally rectangular strip of material having a length and a width, first and second ends defining the length, wherein the length is substantially greater than the width, and wherein the strip is divided into a first section and a second section between the first and second ends;   (b) wherein the first section has a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the second section has a first surface and a second surface;   (c) wherein the first surface of the first section comprises a hook material to provide a first fastening surface, wherein the second surface of the first section comprises a substantially smooth surface, wherein the second surface of the second section comprises a loop material to provide a first receiving surface, and wherein the first surface of the second section comprises a loop material to provide a second receiving surface.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the strip of material is configured to be inserted between two layers of a belt having a plurality of layers when worn, and looped around all of the layers of the belt such that at least a portion of the first fastening surface of the first section contacts and adheres to at least a portion of the first receiving surface of the second section in a looped configuration that secures together the layers of the belt. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a reinforced tip at an end of the strip. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a reinforced tip at the second end of the strip. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the smooth surface comprises a soft or plush surface. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for releasably securing a belt of the type used in martial arts and other combative sports, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a thin, elongate, generally rectangular strip of material having a length and a width, first and second ends defining the length, wherein the length is substantially greater than the width, and wherein the strip is divided into a first section and a second section between the first and second ends;   (b) wherein the first section has a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the second section has a first surface and a second surface;   (c) wherein the first surface of the first section comprises a substantially smooth surface, wherein the first surface of the second section comprises a loop material to provide a first receiving surface, wherein the second surface of the first section comprises a hook material to provide a first fastening surface, and wherein the second surface of the second section comprises a loop material to provide a second receiving surface.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the strip of material is configured to be inserted between two layers of a belt having a plurality of layers when worn, and looped around all of the layers of the belt such that at least a portion of the first fastening surface of the first section contacts and adheres to at least a portion of the first receiving surface of the second section in a looped configuration that secures together the layers of the belt. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a reinforced tip at an end of the strip. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a reinforced tip at the second end of the strip. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the smooth surface comprises a soft or plush surface.

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