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The present invention relates generally to an apparatus useful in securing trousers, and more specifically relates to an apparatus with safety features that can be used to secure trousers and other clothing items while riding a motorcycle.
It has long been recognized that when riding certain types of motorcycles, a pair of trousers may ride up on the legs of a rider due to the wind catching the trousers. Numerous devices have been contemplated for securing the trousers while riding a motorcycle, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 40,931, 587,280, 4,115,906, 4,506,391, 5,469,637, 5,542,156, 5,974,591, and 7,032,275.
The present invention relates to one or more of the following features, elements or combinations thereof.
In one embodiment, an apparatus for holding a motorcycle rider's trouser or pant leg in place includes a strap having a first and second fastener. The fasteners permit the attachment and removal of the strap to a pant leg. The strap may have a reflector positioned thereon. The reflector may be permanent, or may be disposable and thus temporarily secured to the strap. The strap may be formed of or coated with a fire-retardant material.
FIG. 1 is an illustration of one embodiment of the apparatus disclosed herein, illustrating the apparatus in use while a motorcycle rider is riding a motorcycle; and
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus show in FIG. 1.
As can be seen from FIG. 1, strap 10 is illustrated as holding a trouser or pant leg 12 in place when a person is positioned on a motorcycle. In the illustrated example, the boot 14 of the person is shown positioned on a motorcycle peg 16.
Illustratively, strap 10 is shown with a reflector 18 positioned thereon and a buckle 20 coupled to one end, the buckle being configured to removably attach the strap to pant leg 12.
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of strap 10. As shown in FIG. 2, a second buckle 22 is positioned on a second end of strap 10. Second buckle 22 is configured to be removably secured to an opposite side of pant leg 12, such that when both buckles 20, 22 are secured, strap 10 can be held against boot 14, thereby retaining pant leg 12 in position.
Illustratively, strap 10 is comprised of an elastic material that can be stretched around boot 14, so as to provide tension on pant leg 12. However, it is contemplated that other types of materials may be used. For example, the material may simply be a plastic, cloth, or canvas material, as long as it sufficiently holds pant leg 12 in position. It is also contemplated that strap 10 could be a combination of materials, such that a portion of it is elastic but other portions are not.
Strap 10 may also be adjustable, such that the length of the strap can be shortened or lengthened. This can accommodate various sizes of persons and lengths of pants.
Illustratively, strap 10 has a reflector 18 positioned thereon, which provides a safety feature for motorcycle riders. Reflector 18 may be, for example, a flexible reflective material such as Scotchlite™, available from 3M. Reflector 18 may be stitched onto strap 10, or may even be incorporated as a portion of strap 10. In another embodiment, reflector 18 may comprise a removable light-generating source, such as a glow stick or lightstick. It is contemplated that, for example, a 1.5 inch lightstick may be used, such as the type that is available from Extreme Glow Corporation, at www.extremeglow.com. Strap 10 may then be configured to hold or retain the lightstick in a position that allows it to be visible when strap 10 is used as shown in FIG. 1. For example, strap 10 may have an outside translucent pocket that holds the lightstick. The lightstick would also be replaceable after each use. It is also contemplated that a pocket may be provided for carrying personal items, such as a breath mint, a condom, or any other type of personal item.
It is further contemplated that buckle 20 may be fashioned of a reflective material. Such a material may simply be a reflector, such as the type used on bicycles. However, buckle 20 may alternatively be painted with a light-reflective or glow paint, such as the glow paint marketed and sold by Extreme Glow Corporation, referenced above.
Of course, it should be understood that buckles 20, 22 may be fashioned from any type of fastening device, and not necessarily the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. For example, buckles 20, 22 may be clasps, buttons, snaps, Velcro®, or any other type of material (with associated mating materials on the pants) that can be used to fasten strap 10 to pant leg 12.
As a further safety feature, strap 10 may be either manufactured from or coated with a fire retardant material. For example, strap 10 may be sprayed with a “Class A” fire retardant such as FS II Fire Retardant Spray, available from National Fireproofing, Inc. at www.natfire.com. This safety feature is contemplated to prevent strap 10 from catching fire if it were to come into contact with a hot item on the motorcycle, such as the exhaust muffler.
In yet another embodiment, strap 10 may have an inside surface (i.e. close to the boot) that is coated with a non-slip material, such as rubber. The non-slip material could assist with keeping strap 10 in place during use.
In still another embodiment, strap 10 may have an outside surface that forms a tread or other type of gripping surface. This may be useful when the strap is used in combination with a tennis or gym shoe rather than with a boot, as shown in FIG. 1. In such an embodiment, strap 10 could have a rubber, plastic, or other material fastened to the outside (i.e. away from the sole of the shoe) surface so that when a rider dismounts from the motorcycle, the outside surface of strap 10 provides additional tread or grip for the rider.
In yet another embodiment, a transponder may be coupled to strap 10, such as the type of transponder that communicates with electronic tolling booths, parking garages, etc. The transponder may be coupled via Velcro, snap, or other type of fastener, or may be held by a pocket formed on strap 10.
While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have herein been described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is not intent to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiments disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
There is a plurality of advantages of the present invention arising from the various features of the disclosed method and apparatus. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the method herein disclosed may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations of a safety strap for securing trousers that incorporates one or more of the features of the present invention and falls within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.