Shorts comprising a waistband with a self-gripping strip

The present invention relates to shorts comprising a waistband with a self-gripping strip, More particularly, the invention relates to shorts, comprising:

• a rear face and a front face, the front face having a fly;
• a waistband integral with said front and rear faces, the waistband extending between first and second ends, said first and second ends being placed on either side of the fly; and
• a tab extending the first end as far as a free end and placed so as to cover the second end of the waistband, the tab having a self-gripping strip placed facing a complementary self-gripping strip integral with the second end of the waistband.

Document US 7 174 574 discloses an example of such shorts. However, shorts of this kind have the drawback of being able to be opened inopportunely, especially during sudden movements due for example to undertaking a sporting activity, especially surfing or the like.

It is an object of the present invention in particular to alleviate these drawbacks.

For this purpose, according to the invention, shorts of the kind in question are characterized in that a lace extending between two free ends connects the free end of the tab to the second end of the waistband and in that the two free ends of the lace pass through two respective holes made in the second end of the waistband so as to be able to be tied on the inside of the waistband.

This makes it possible in particular to ensure reliable, easy and rapid closure in use, occasioning no impediment to a user, especially during a sporting activity.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more of the following arrangements may optionally be furthermore employed:

• the lace also passes through a hole made in the tab;
• said hole is made in the free end of the tab;
• the free end of the tab has no self-gripping strip;
• the lace is fastened to the second end of the waistband;
• the lace is stitched to the second end of the waistband;
• the complementary self-gripping strip is placed between said two holes and the fly, said two holes being made in a part of the waistband that does not have a self-gripping strip; and
• the shorts further include a device for closing the fly.

Other aspects, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the description of several embodiments.

The invention will be better understood from the drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of shorts according to a first embodiment of the invention, in the closed state;
• Figure 2 is a detailed view in perspective showing the front part of the shorts of Figure 1, in the open state; and
• Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, the front part being seen from the inside of the shorts.

In the various figures, the same references denote identical or similar elements.

Figure 1 shows shorts, such as shorts for surfing or another sporting activity, according to one embodiment of the invention.

The shorts 1 may be produced for example from four fabric portions 10, 12, 14, 16 stitched together so as to define an interior volume A capable of accommodating the lower trunk and two legs of a user. The portions 10 and 12 form a front face of the shorts, while the fabric portions 14 and 16 form a rear face of the shorts.

The front face, between the front right and front left fabric pieces 10, 12, defines a fly 18 in its upper part.

The shorts 1 further include a closure device 18a, 18b which may be opened and closed alternately, so as to reversibly close the fly 18 of the shorts. The embodiment illustrated includes for example (Figures 2 and 3) two complementary self-gripping strips 18a, 18b fastened on either side of the fly 18 so as to constitute this removable closure. However, other embodiments may use a zip closure or even press studs or the like.

The shorts 1 further include a waistband 20 stitched to the upper edges of the fabric pieces 10 to 16. The waistband 20 extends between a left first end 20a and a right second end 20b. The ends 20a, 20b are attached in the region of the fly 18, on either side of the latter. In a variant of the present embodiment, the waistband 20 may be made from a part integral with the fabric pieces 10 to 16 constituting the legs of the shorts.

Figure 2 illustrates in more detail the waistband 20 and the fly 18 in the open position.

The waistband 20 includes a tab 22 extending the first end 20a of the waistband towards the right, as far as a free end 23. The free end 23 covers the right-hand part of the waistband 20.

The tab 22 has a proximal part (near the left-hand end 20a of the waistband), the inner face of which is provided with a first self-gripping strip 24, such as a strip of Velcro^® or the like.

This first self-gripping strip 24 is intended to be removably fixed to a complementary self-gripping strip 26 (for example a complementary strip of the Velcro^® type) which is integral with the outer face of the second end 20b of the waistband 20.

The self-gripping strips 24, 26 may be stitched or bonded to the tab 22 and to the waistband 20, respectively.

The tab 22 further includes an eyelet 28 defining an orifice in its free end 23. Passing through the eyelet 28 is a lace 29. The ends 29a, 29b of the lace also pass through two complementary eyelets 30, 32 (defining two respective orifices) also located on the second end of the waistband 20, preferably in part of the waistband not having a self-gripping strip. Said complementary self-gripping strip 26 is placed between the eyelets 30, 32 and the fly 28.

To prevent the lace 29 being lost, it may optionally be fixed in place by a stitch 34 between the eyelets 30, 32.

These two closure means, on the one hand the self-gripping strips 24, 26, and on the other hand the lace 29 through the eyelets 28, 30 and 32, ensures reliable closure of the shorts 1, which remains rapid to effect and which occasions no impediment to a user. The shorts 1 are closed by closing the closure device 18a, 18b of the fly, then by fixing the self-gripping strips 24, 26 together and, finally, tightening the lace 29 so as to align the eyelet 28 in the tab 22 with the eyelet 30 in the right-hand part of the waistband, and to knot the free ends 29a, 29b of the lace together inside the shorts.

Only a small lace part 40 (see Figure 1) is on the outside of the shorts in the closed state, so that the lace does not impede the user and does not risk becoming unknotted.