Repositionable belt loop

Abstract

The repositionable belt loop can be placed on a wide variety of garments, providing an anchor for a belt, sash or other elongated fashion article. The belt loop has an elongated body with a wide notch on its inner side to route a belt there through. On either side of the wide notch are garment engaging pads with garment engaging members. In a first embodiment, the garment engaging members include pins facing inwardly from the garment engaging pads and locking caps. In a second embodiment, the garment engaging members include a pivoting pin that is connected to one of the garment engaging pads and a clasp connected to the other garment engaging pad. The repositionable belt loop can be in a variety of shapes and can be used singly or in groups, to provide support for a belt on a garment that previously had few or no integral belt loops.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A repositionable belt loop, comprising:
 a body, the body comprising:
 a top surface; 
 a front side; 
 a back side; 
 a left end; 
 a right end; 
 a bottom; 
 a centrally located notch on the bottom of the body, the notch having a depth and a length and being configured for insertion of a belt therethrough; 
 a left garment engaging pad on the left end of the body, the left garment engaging pad having a flat bottom surface; and 
 a right garment engaging pad on the right end of the body, the right garment engaging pad having a flat bottom surface; 
   a first garment engaging member on the left garment engaging pad; and   a second garment engaging member on the right garment engaging pad; wherein   the first garment engaging member and the second garment engaging member are each configured to attach the repositionable belt loop to a garment.   
     
     
         2 . The repositionable belt loop as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first garment engaging member is a clasp attached to the left garment engaging pad; and   the second garment engaging member is a pivoting pin having a pivot and a tip that is rotatably attached at its proximate end to the right garment engaging pad by the pivot, the tip of the pivoting pin located at a distal end of the pivoting pin; and wherein:   when the tip of the pivoting pin is locked within the clasp, the pivoting pin extends substantially parallel to the body of the belt loop.   
     
     
         3 . The repositionable belt loop as recited in  claim 2 , wherein:
 the left garment engaging pad includes a first recess in its flat bottom surface, the first recess having a bottom surface;   the right garment engaging pad includes a second recess in its flat bottom surface, the second recess having a bottom surface;   the clasp is attached to the bottom surface of the first recess; and   the pivot is attached to the bottom surface of the second recess.   
     
     
         4 . The repositionable belt loop as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the clasp comprises:
 two outer stationary clasp plates, each outer stationary clasp plate having an inner surface, a top surface, a bottom surface and an elongated notch extending downwardly from their top surface, the bottom surfaces of the two outer stationary clasp plates being connected to the bottom surface of the first recess; and   a rotating clasp plate having two outer surfaces and an elongated notch, the rotating clasp plate being sandwiched between the two outer stationary clasp plates; and wherein:   in a first, open position of the rotating clasp plate, the elongated notch of the rotating clasp plate is aligned with the elongated notches of the two outer stationary clasp plates, such that the tip of the pivoting pin can enter the notches; and   in a second, closed position of the rotating clasp plate, the elongated notch of the rotating clasp plate is out of alignment with the elongated notches of the two outer stationary clasp plates, such that the tip of the pivoting pin is locked within the elongated notches.   
     
     
         5 . The repositionable belt loop as recited in  claim 4 , wherein:
 the rotating clasp plate further comprises protrusions on both of its outer surfaces;   the two outer stationary clasp plates further comprise circumferential grooves on their inner surfaces; and   the protrusions and circumferential grooves lock the rotating clasp plate between the two outer stationary clasp plates, while still allowing the rotating clasp plate to rotate relative to the outer stationary clasp plates.   
     
     
         6 . The repositionable belt loop as recited in  claim 5 , wherein:
 the pivoting pin further comprises a through hole adjacent its proximate end; and   the pivot further comprises:
 two pivot pin support plates, each pivot pin support plate having a top and a bottom surface and a through hole adjacent their top, the bottom surfaces of the two pivot pin support plates being connected to the bottom surface of the second recess; and 
 a pivot pin that extends through the through holes in the pivot pin support plates and the through hole in the pivoting pin, to thereby rotatably connect the pivoting pin to the two pivot pin support plates being connected to the bottom surface of the second recess. 
   
     
     
         7 . The repositionable belt loop as recited in  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first and second recesses are hemispherical in shape: and   the bottom surfaces of the two outer stationary clasp plates and the two pivot pin support plates are curved to mate with the bottom of the first and second recesses.   
     
     
         8 . The repositionable belt loop as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first garment engaging member comprises a first main pin extending perpendicular to and centrally from the flat bottom surface of the left garment engaging pad; and   the second garment engaging member comprises a second main pin extending perpendicular to and centrally from the flat bottom surface of the right garment engaging pad; and   the first main pin and the second main pin are configured to be engaged by locking caps, to thereby attach the repositionable belt loop to a garment.   
     
     
         9 . The repositionable belt loop as recited in  claim 8 , wherein
 the first garment engaging member further comprises a first anti-rotation pin extending perpendicular to and from the flat bottom surface of the left garment engaging pad, the first anti-rotation pin being offset from the first main pin;   the second garment engaging member further comprises a second anti-rotation pin extending perpendicular to and from the flat bottom surface of the right garment engaging pad, the second anti-rotation pin being offset from the second main pin; and   the first anti-rotation pin and the second anti-rotation pin are configured to be engaged by locking caps, to inhibit rotation of the locking caps.   
     
     
         10 . A repositionable belt loop, comprising:
 a body, the body comprising:
 a top surface; 
 a front side; 
 a back side; 
 a left end; 
 a right end; 
 a bottom; 
 a centrally located notch on the bottom of the body, the notch having a depth and a length and being configured for insertion of a belt therethrough; 
 a left garment engaging pad on the left end of the body, the left garment engaging pad having a flat bottom surface and a first recess in its flat bottom surface; and 
 a right garment engaging pad on the right end of the body, the right garment engaging pad having a flat bottom surface and a second recess in its flat bottom surface; 
   a clasp attached to a bottom surface of the first recess; and   a pivoting pin having a pivot and a tip that is rotatably attached at its proximate end to a bottom surface of the second recess by the pivot, the tip of the pivoting pin located at a distal end of the pivoting pin; and wherein:   when the tip of the pivoting pin is locked within the clasp, the pivoting pin extends substantially parallel to the body of the belt loop to thereby attach the repositionable belt loop to a garment.   
     
     
         11 . The repositionable belt loop as recited in  claim 10 , wherein:
 the clasp and the pivot have bottom surfaces;   the first and second recesses are hemispherical in shape: and   the bottom surfaces of the clasp and the pivot are curved to mate with the bottom of the first and second recesses.   
     
     
         12 . A repositionable belt loop, comprising:
 a body, the body comprising:
 a top surface; 
 a front side; 
 a back side; 
 a left end; 
 a right end; 
 a bottom; 
 a centrally located notch on the bottom of the body, the notch having a depth and a length and being configured for insertion of a belt therethrough; 
 a left garment engaging pad on the left end of the body, the left garment engaging pad having a flat bottom surface; 
 a right garment engaging pad on the right end of the body, the right garment engaging pad having a flat bottom surface; 
   a first main pin extending perpendicular to and centrally from the flat bottom surface of the left garment engaging pad; and   a second main pin extending perpendicular to and centrally from the flat bottom surface of the right garment engaging pad; wherein   a first anti-rotation pin extending perpendicular to and from the flat bottom surface of the left garment engaging pad, the first anti-rotation pin being offset from the first main pin; and   a second anti-rotation pin extending perpendicular to and from the flat bottom surface of the right garment engaging pad, the second anti-rotation pin being offset from the second main pin; and wherein   the first main pin, the second main pin, the first anti-rotation pin and the second anti-rotation pin are configured to be engaged by locking caps, to thereby attach the repositionable belt loop to a garment, while inhibiting rotation of the locking caps.