Adjustable strap system

Abstract

Aspects herein are directed to a strap system having an adjustable stretch that is suitable for upper body garments, lower body garment, and articles such as bags, and articles of footwear. The strap system includes a pair of straps that are coupled together in a face sharing relationship by a coupling mechanism. One of the straps in the pair of straps has greater stretch properties than the other strap. A total stretch of the strap system is adjustable by moving the coupling mechanism along a length of the strap system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of apparel comprising:
 a first textile element forming a first portion of the article of apparel;   a second textile element forming a second portion of the article of apparel; and   a strap system comprising:
 a first strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first strap fixed to the first textile element of the article of apparel, wherein the first strap has a first amount of stretch; 
 a second strap having a third end and a fourth end, the fourth end of the second strap fixed to the second textile element of the article of apparel, wherein the first strap is in a face sharing relationship with the second strap, wherein the second strap has a second amount of stretch, wherein the first amount of stretch of the first strap is greater than the second amount of stretch of the second strap; and 
 a coupling mechanism securing the first strap to the second strap, wherein the coupling mechanism is slidable along a length of the first strap and the second strap, 
 wherein an amount of stretch of the strap system is dependent on a location of the coupling mechanism along the length of the first strap and the second strap. 
   
     
     
         2 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the first strap and the second strap remain in the face sharing relationship when the coupling mechanism is positioned at different locations along the length of the first strap and the second strap. 
     
     
         3 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the first strap is unfixed to the second textile element of the article of apparel, and wherein the third end of the second strap is unfixed to the first textile element of the article of apparel. 
     
     
         4 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first strap and the third end of the second strap are positioned at a first side of the coupling mechanism, and wherein the second end of the first strap and the fourth end of the second strap are positioned at a second opposite side of the coupling mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein an amount of stretch of the strap system is dependent on a location of the coupling mechanism along the length of the first strap and the second strap. 
     
     
         6 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein when the coupling mechanism is located closer to the first end of the first strap and the third end of the second strap, the strap system has a first amount of stretch, and wherein when the coupling mechanism is located closer to the second end of the first strap and the fourth end of the second strap, the strap system has a second amount of stretch that is greater than the first amount of stretch. 
     
     
         7 . The article of apparel of  claim 6 , wherein when the coupling mechanism is located closer to the first end of the first strap and the third end of the second strap, a first distance measured from the first end of the first strap to a first side of the coupling mechanism is smaller than a second distance measured from the fourth end of the second strap to a second opposite side of the coupling mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The article of apparel of  claim 7 , wherein when the coupling mechanism is located closer to the second end of the first strap and the fourth end of the second strap, a third distance measured from the fourth end of the second strap to the second opposite side of the coupling mechanism is smaller than a fourth distance measured from the first end of the first strap to the first side of the coupling mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the second strap is formed of a low-stretch or no-stretch material. 
     
     
         10 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the article of apparel is an upper body garment, a lower body garment, or an article of footwear. 
     
     
         11 . The article of apparel of  claim 10 , wherein article of apparel is the lower body garment with the strap system forming at least a portion of a waistband support system of the lower body garment. 
     
     
         12 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the article of apparel is an article of footwear. 
     
     
         13 . A method of manufacturing the article of apparel of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 affixing the first end of a first strap to the first textile element;   affixing the fourth end of the second strap to the second textile element;   positioning the first strap and the second strap such that the first strap and the second strap are in the face sharing relationship; and   securing the first strap and the second strap using the coupling mechanism such that the coupling mechanism is slidable along the length of the first strap and the second strap, wherein the first end of the first strap and the third end of the second strap are positioned at a first side of the coupling mechanism and the second end of the first strap and the fourth end of the second strap are positioned at a second opposite side of the coupling mechanism.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second end of the first strap is unfixed to the second textile element, and wherein the third end of the second strap is unfixed to the first textile element. 
     
     
         15 . An article comprising:
 a first textile element forming a first portion of the article;   a second textile element forming a second portion of the article; and   a strap system comprising:
 a first strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first strap fixed to the first textile element of the article, wherein the first strap has a first amount of stretch; 
 a second strap having a third end and a fourth end, the fourth end of the second strap fixed to the second textile element of the article, wherein the first strap is in a face sharing relationship with the second strap, wherein the second strap has a second amount of stretch, wherein the first amount of stretch of the first strap is greater than the second amount of stretch of the second strap; and 
 a coupling mechanism securing the first strap to the second strap, 
 wherein the coupling mechanism is slidable along a length of the first strap and the second strap, and 
 wherein an amount of stretch of the strap system is dependent on a location of the coupling mechanism along the length of the first strap and the second strap. 
   
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein the first strap and the second strap remain in the face sharing relationship when the coupling mechanism is positioned at different locations along the length of the first strap and the second strap. 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein the first end of the first strap and the third end of the second strap are positioned at a first side of the coupling mechanism, and wherein the second end of the first strap and the fourth end of the second strap are positioned at a second opposite side of the coupling mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein the second end of the first strap is unfixed to the second textile element of the article, and wherein the third end of the second strap is unfixed to the first textile element of the article. 
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein the article is an article of footwear, wherein the first end of the first strap is located on a lateral side and wherein the fourth end of the second strap is located on a medial side of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein the article is a lower body garment, wherein the strap system comprises at least a portion of a waistband support system of the lower body garment.