Pants cuff clip

Description

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/086,686, filed Mar. 22, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to garment clips and more particularly to pants cuff clips.

2. Background Art

Fashion styles are forever changing, and new styles of loose fitting and baggy pants result in the need for safety, while maintaining the same look and appeal that various fashions, styles, and fashion statements are directed to.

Such loose fitting and baggy pants often result in the rear portion of cuffs or hems of such pants dragging on the floor, resulting in an unsightly appearance and creating a safety hazard, and/or the front portion being unsightly. In such cases, pants cuffs often get caught under the wearer's shoes, the pants cuffs or hems wear, fray, or rip prematurely, the potential for accidents increases, and after awhile, because of worn, ripped, or frayed cuffs or hems, the original fashion statement is lost.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a certain type of present fashion style pants 10, showing bottom rear 12 of leg 14 of the pants 10 dragging on floor 15. In particular, such pants 10 often have a longer length and are baggier than other more conventional styles. In particular, extra baggy, long pants 10 have become stylish. It is common for the bottom rear 12 of the legs 14 of such pants 10 to get caught under heels 16 of a person's shoes 18, when walking or even getting up from a sitting or reclining position. In addition to causing the pants 10 to get dirty from dragging on the floor 15, it is also possible for the bottoms 12 of the legs 14 of the pants 10 to rip, as discussed above, and the pants 10 to either lose their original appeal, become even more unsafe, and have to be replaced prematurely.

There is thus a need for a pants cuff clip that allows a wearer to adjust the length of pants legs, cuffs, and hems to a desired length or height, quickly, easily, simply, and efficiently. The pants cuff clip should allow the wearer to change the length of the pants legs, cuffs, and hems whenever desired, without compromising structural integrity of the pants legs, cuffs, and hems, have a non slip surface that prevents the pants cuff clip from slipping off the pants legs, cuffs, and hems, and be capable of maintaining a selected length or lengths of the pants legs, cuffs and hems. The pants cuff clip should have spring clip bias to urge the pants cuff clip to close gently and securely about the pants legs, cuffs, and hems, hold the pants cuff clip about the pants legs, cuffs, and hems, allow easy adjustment of the pants cuff clip, and removably and releasably fit about the pants cuff.

The pants cuff clip should be aesthetically pleasing, not require cooperation with a shoe, and allow the wearer to install, use, and replace the pants cuff clip quickly, easily, simply, and efficiently, with a minimum of effort, while the wearer is either wearing the pants, not wearing pants, and with or without wearing shoes. The pants cuff clip should be attractive, durable, easy, simple, and inexpensive to manufacture, package, transport, store, and distribute.

Different fasteners for pants legs, cuffs, hems, and the like have heretofore been known. However, none of the fasteners adequately satisfies these aforementioned needs.

• • U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,389 (Brown) discloses a hem retainer, comprising a strip of flexible material, which has a series of first and second engagement portions. At least one of the first engagement portions is engageable with at least one of the second engagement portions to hold the strip of flexible material in a circular configuration. A method of forming a cuff on a pant leg or the like is also disclosed, the pant leg having an inside surface, an outside surface, and an opening. An operator first measures the desired length of the pant leg, turns the pant leg inside out and then turns the excess length of the leg back on the inside surface of the pant leg. The hem retainer is formed into a circular configuration, which is then inserted within the pant leg, adjacent the opening stretching the pant leg around the hem retainer, by adjusting the circumference of the hem retainer. The operator can then sew the excess pant length to the inside surface of the pants leg forming a cuff.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,475 (Smart) discloses a pant leg restraining band, which is somewhat like a removable cuff for the lower end of the pant leg. The unit ordinarily comes in pairs, and comprises a band, which may be elastic, and which defines spaced, inverted pockets, which receive plastic clips to clip onto the pant leg. The band has hook-and-loop fastener material, so that it can be wrapped around the bottom of the pant leg, and engaged on itself to peg the pants.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,511 (Garside) discloses a temporary hemming device that includes a flexible member having a first end and a second end, and a fastening device for fastening the first end to the second end through a garment, wherein the fastening device comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is attached to the first end and the second part is attached to the second end. A method for making a temporary hem includes folding an edge of a garment, placing a temporary hemming device over the folded edge, and affixing the temporary hemming device to make the temporary hem. A temporary hemming device includes a folded edge of a garment and a temporary hemming device securing the folded edge in place.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,618,862 (Bunjes) discloses a pants hem guard, for attachment to a shoe, having a frame with a U-shaped inner portion and a U-shaped outer portion, and a clip insert attached to the outer portion of the frame. The outer portion has two ends attached to a rear surface of the clip insert. A pair of horizontal members connects the inner and outer portions, so that the frame is one continuous piece. The guard is attached to the back portion of a shoe, with the clip insert remaining on the outside of the shoe just above the shoe heel. A pants hem is tucked behind the clip insert, and keeps the hem above the shoe heel.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,701,582 (Milburn) discloses a trouser leg retaining device, which is used for maintaining one's trouser legs in the proper position in relation to one's shoes, that includes an elongated elastic strap with a snap fastener device at one end and either a locking clip or an O-ring at the opposite end. The snap fastens onto one's trouser leg, while the O-ring fastens onto one's shoe. The elastic strap has an adjuster positioned on it to adjust the length of the strap.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,829,847 (O'Shea, et al.) discloses a pant cuff protector, for use with long pants, for holding a cuff of a pant leg away from the ground, which comprises a first clamping body affixed proximate a wearer's ankle, a second clamping body magnetically attractable to the first clamping body, and optionally a strap therebetween.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,594,865 (O'Mahony) discloses a retaining clip for holding paper, garments, and other objects. The retaining clip may also be attached to a portable device (or non-portable), and receive articles of clothing, clothing accessories, automobile visors, or other areas whereby it is available for receiving and retaining a device, such as retaining a pager to a belt. The retaining clip, when used with a device, can be optionally rotated. The retaining clip includes a base, a leg, and a biasing means.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 668,051 (Puffer), U.S. Pat. No. 771,021 (Lux), and U.S. Pat. No. 586,666 (Nuendorff) each disclose discloses trouser protectors. U.S. Pat. No. 898,503 (Plummer) discloses an overshoe holder and trousers supporter. U.S. Pat. No. 927,017 (Young) discloses a boot and shoe. U.S. Pat. No. 229,031 (Campbell) and U.S. Pat. No. 257,036 (McDermott) each disclose a pantaloon protectors.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 3,137,863 (Dimpfl) discloses a trouser blousing device. U.S. Pat. No. 3,328,809 (Payne, et. Al.) discloses a trouser leg length adjuster. U.S. Pat. No. 4,028,741 (Henry) discloses a plastic blousing block. U.S. Pat. No. 2,869,138 (Hankoff) discloses a trouser leg supporting device. U.S. Pat. No. 2,525,756 (Aines) discloses trouser blousing means. U.S. Pat. No. 2,480,276 (Wilkenfeld) discloses a cuff for trousers.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,591 (Leslie) discloses a firefighter's boot-to-trouser strap device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,156 (Oglesby) discloses a trouser leg retaining device. U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,213 (Grilliot, et. Al.) discloses a firefighter's boot and trouser attachment.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 3,411,160 (Le Roux, et. Al.) discloses trouser securing means. U.S. Pat. No. 383,500 (Stewart) discloses a combined pants protector and pull trap for shoes.
  • U.S. Pat. No. D516,779 (Mehren) discloses an ornamental design for a pant leg band. U.S. Pat. No. D505,635 discloses an ornamental design for a money clip.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 3,365,755 (Vastano, et. Al.) discloses a clasp for neckties and the like. U.S. Pat. No. 3,049,772 (Anderson) and U.S. Pat. No. 1,973,009 (Mix) each disclose necktie clasps.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,385 (Fields) discloses a trouser ornament, which generally includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a connector portion for connecting the upper and lower portion; the portions being arranged such that the trouser ornament is preferably placed about the fly of a pair of trousers, wherein the upper portion rests on and extends across at least a portion of the top surface of the fly, the lower portion rests on and extends across at least a portion of the bottom surface of the fly and the connector portion is preferably maintained at the edge of the fly.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 3,304,118 (Jonas) discloses an anti-glare shield attachment for sun visors and friction hinge therefor. U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,571 (Smith, et al.) discloses a plastic visor clip.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,272,691 (Henricksen, et al.) discloses a method and apparatus for holding a sleeve in a gathered position with an elongated strap having an elastic loop on one end and a fastener on the other end. The fastener is passed through the loop and then folded back against itself to hold the fastener to the loop. The sleeve holder may also have one or two labels to add decorative graphics to the device.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,199 (Wise) discloses a wallet with a removable clip, which permits the wallet to be clipped onto a wearer's waistband. With the clip removed, the wallet can be placed in the wearer's pocket, like a clipless wallet. The clip is coupled to the wallet, without the use of barbs or glue. It consists of a three-legged spring clip structure, in which a first leg is inserted into the bottom of an exterior pocket on the wallet, a second leg is spring biased against the first leg to hold the clip onto the wallet, and a third leg is spring biased against the second leg to hold the wallet onto the wearer's waistband. The third leg is made wider than the first two legs to reduce twisting of the clip within the wallet pocket.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,276 (Niernberger) discloses a combination wallet and billfold, which includes generally rectangular front and back planar wallet members joined along a bottom side and along two lateral sides. At least one of the front and back wallet members has an outside surface defining a currency face. The top side of the wallet members are unjoined to define a pocket between the wallet members, where the pocket is configured to receive credit cards and similarly-sized documents. A U-shaped clip is secured to the currency face, and is configured to secure paper currency to the currency face. The clip includes first and second generally converging leg portions connected to each other by a connecting portion urging the leg portions toward each other under compressive tension. A retaining strap has a first end joined to one of the lateral sides, while a second end extends toward the other lateral side. The wallet includes a fastening means to releasably secure the second end of the retaining strap to the lateral sides, so that the paper currency secured to the currency face by the clip is further compressed and secured against the currency face by the retaining strap.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,422 (Kaminski) discloses a combination money clip and card holder, comprising a one-piece element having a rectangular base with two inwardly-oriented L-shaped brackets formed along longitudinal edges thereof. The rectangular base also contains a stop, formed on one of the transverse edges thereof. Together with the rectangular base, the L-shaped brackets comprise a channel for receiving flexible cards, such as credit cards, whereas the stop prevents the cards from being inserted too far into the channel. The edges of the base supporting the L-shaped brackets are tapered in the direction of the stop to provide means for removably capturing the cards inserted into the channel. The holder also includes a resilient money clip formed on the opposite side of the base. The money clip is formed, so that it is biased toward the base, thus, allowing bank notes inserted between the clip and the base to be removably retained therein.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,909 (Hull, et al.) discloses a combination money clip made from clear extruded plastic, which is adapted to hold not only currency, but has a compartment to hold a document, such as a driver's license or credit card, and may also have a pouch affixed to one of its sides, to hold a spare emergency key, such as a car door or house key.
  • U.S. Pat. No. D429,068 (Kleinsmith) discloses an ornamental design for a combination card case with money clip and fabric insert.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,345 (Bell) discloses a clip-on towel, which is adapted to a waistband of a user.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a pants cuff clip that allows a wearer to adjust the length of pants legs, cuffs, and hems to a desired length or height, quickly, easily, simply, and efficiently. The pants cuff clip should allow the wearer to change the length of the pants legs, cuffs, and hems whenever desired, without compromising structural integrity of the pants legs, cuffs, and hems, have a non slip surface that prevents the pants cuff clip from slipping off the pants legs, cuffs, and hems, and be capable of maintaining a selected length or lengths of the pants legs, cuffs and hems. The pants cuff clip should have spring clip bias to urge the pants cuff clip to close gently and securely about the pants legs, cuffs, and hems, hold the pants cuff clip about the pants legs, cuffs, and hems, allow easy adjustment of the pants cuff clip, and removably and releasably fit about the pants cuff.

The pants cuff clip should be aesthetically pleasing, not require cooperation with a shoe, and allow the wearer to install, use, and replace the pants cuff clip quickly, easily, simply, and efficiently, with a minimum of effort, while the wearer is either wearing the pants, not wearing pants, and with or without wearing shoes. The pants cuff clip should be attractive, durable, easy, simple, and inexpensive to manufacture, package, transport, store, and distribute.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a pants cuff clip that allows a wearer to adjust the length of pants legs, cuffs, and hems to a desired length or height, quickly, easily, simply, and efficiently. The pants cuff clip allows the wearer to change the length of the pants legs, cuffs, and hems whenever desired, without compromising structural integrity of the pants legs, cuffs, and hems, has a non slip surface that prevents the pants cuff clip from slipping off the pants legs, cuffs, and hems, and is capable of maintaining a selected length or lengths of the pants legs, cuffs and hems. The pants cuff clip has spring clip bias to urge the pants cuff clip to close gently and securely about the pants legs, cuffs, and hems, hold the pants cuff clip about the pants legs, cuffs, and hems, allows easy adjustment of the pants cuff clip, and removably and releasably fit about the pants cuff.

The pants cuff clip is aesthetically pleasing, does not require cooperation with a shoe, and allows the wearer to install, use, and replace the pants cuff clip quickly, easily, simply, and efficiently, with a minimum of effort, while the wearer is either wearing the pants, not wearing pants, and with or without wearing shoes. The pants cuff clip is attractive, durable, easy, simple, and inexpensive to manufacture, package, transport, store, and distribute.

A pants cuff clip having features of the present invention comprises: a first arm having a first proximal end, a first distal end, and a first arm portion adjacent the first distal end; a second arm having a second proximal end, a second distal end, and an elbow adjacent the second distal end, the elbow having a convex bend directed toward the first arm portion adjacent the first distal end of the first arm; an arcuate shaped tensile connecting portion, the arcuate shaped tensile connecting portion connecting the first proximal end of the first arm and the second proximal end of the second arm, the arcuate shaped tensile connecting portion biasing the convex bend of the elbow of the second arm toward the first arm portion adjacent the first distal end of the first arm one to the other; a fabric covering the first arm, the second arm, and the arcuate shaped tensile connecting portion.

A method of making a pants cuff clip having features of the present invention comprises, comprises the steps of: (a) cutting an unformed inner element of substantially planar tensile material to an inner element shape, comprising substantially parallel opposing inner element edges and arcuate shaped opposing inner element distal ends; (b) cutting a fabric to a fabric shape, comprising substantially parallel opposing fabric edges and arcuate shaped opposing fabric distal ends, the cut fabric larger than the cut inner element; (c) overlappingly adhesively fastening the cut fabric to the cut inner element; (d) forming the overlappingly adhesively fastened cut fabric and the cut inner element to the pants cuff clip, comprising: a first arm having a first proximal end, a first distal end, and a first arm portion adjacent the first distal end; a second arm having a second proximal end, a second distal end, and an elbow adjacent the second distal end, the elbow having a convex bend directed toward the first arm portion adjacent the first distal end of the first arm; an arcuate shaped tensile connecting portion, the arcuate shaped tensile connecting portion connecting the first proximal end of the first arm and the second proximal end of the second arm, the arcuate shaped tensile connecting portion biasing the convex bend of the elbow of the second arm toward the first arm portion adjacent the first distal end of the first arm one to the other; the overlappingly adhesively fastened cut fabric covering the first arm, the second arm, and the arcuate shaped tensile connecting portion.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of bottoms of legs of certain fashion style pants dragging on the floor;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of pants cuff clips, constructed in accordance with the present invention, installed at the bottom rear of the legs of the certain fashion style pants of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the pants cuff clips installed at the bottom front of the legs of the certain fashion style pants of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view of one of the pants cuff clips shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross section view of the pants cuff clip of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the pants cuff clip of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the pants cuff clip of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a breakaway perspective view of the pants cuff clip of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is another cross section view of the pants cuff clip of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an unformed inner element of the pants cuff clip of FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a fabric covering of the pants cuff clip of FIG. 4;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the fabric covering of FIG. 11 and the unformed inner element of the pants cuff clip of FIG. 10, during a stage of construction of the pants cuff clip;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the pants cuff clip of FIG. 4, during another stage of construction of the pants cuff clip;

FIG. 14 is a breakaway perspective view of the pants cuff clip of FIG. 4 at a final stage of construction;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a pants cuff clip, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a side view of the pants cuff clip of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a perspective of the pants cuff clip of FIG. 14 during a stage of construction of the pants cuff clip;

FIG. 18 is a front view of the pants cuff clip of FIG. 4 showing indicia imprinted on the pants cuff clip;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of a pants cuff clip, constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 20 is a cross section view of the other alternate embodiment of the pants cuff clip of FIG. 19.

DESCRIPTION

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1-20 of the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numbers.

Now, again, FIG. 1 shows a certain type of present fashion style pants 10, showing bottom rear 12 of leg 14 of the pants 10 dragging on floor 15. In particular, such pants 10 often have a longer length and are baggier than other more conventional styles. In particular, extra baggy, long pants 10 have become stylish. It is common for the bottom rear 12 of the legs 14 of such pants 10 to get caught under heels 16 of a person's shoes 18, when walking or even getting up from a sitting or reclining position. In addition to causing the pants 10 to get dirty from dragging on the floor 15, it is also possible for the bottoms 12 of the legs 14 of the pants 10 to rip, as discussed above, and the pants 10 to either lose their original appeal, become even more unsafe, and have to be replaced prematurely.

FIG. 2 shows pants cuff clip 20, constructed in accordance with the present invention, installed at the bottom rear 12 of the leg 14 of the pants 10 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the pants cuff clip 20, constructed in accordance with the present invention, installed at bottom front 22 of the leg 14 of the pants 10 of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4-9 show an embodiment of the present invention, the pants cuff clip 20. The pants cuff clip 20, comprises: a first arm 24 having a first proximal end 26, a first distal end 28, and a first arm portion 30 adjacent the first distal end 28; a second arm 32 having a second proximal end 34, a second distal end 36, and an elbow 38 adjacent the second distal end 36, the elbow 38 having a convex bend 40 directed toward the first arm portion 30 adjacent the first distal end 28 of the first arm 24; an arcuate shaped tensile connecting portion 42, the arcuate shaped tensile connecting portion 42 connecting the first proximal end 26 of the first arm 24 and the second proximal end 34 of the second arm 32, the arcuate shaped tensile connecting portion 42 biasing the convex bend 40 of the elbow 38 of the second arm 32 toward the first arm portion 30 adjacent the first distal end 28 of the first arm 24 one to the other; a fabric 44 covering the first arm 24, the second arm 32, and the arcuate shaped tensile connecting portion 42.

FIGS. 10-14 show the pants cuff clip 20 during different stages of steps of a process for manufacturing the pants cuff clip 20, as described herein. The steps of the process for manufacturing the pants cuff clip 20 are as follows:

• • An unformed inner element 50 of tensile material is stamped or cut to size. The unformed inner element 50 is of substantially planar material, although other suitable shaped material may be used. The unformed inner element 50, which has been cut to size, is shown in FIG. 10, and has substantially parallel opposing edges 52, and arcuate shaped opposing distal ends 54 after having been cut to size.
  • A fabric 56 is cut to size, as shown in FIG. 11, and has substantially parallel opposing edges 58 and arcuate shaped opposing distal ends 60, after having been cut to size. The fabric 56 is larger than the unformed inner element 50. A suitable adhesive is placed on the unformed inner element 50 and optionally on the fabric 56.
  • The adhesively coated unformed inner element 50 is placed on the fabric 56, as shown in FIG. 12.
  • The fabric 56 is overturned onto and pressed onto the adhesively coated unformed inner element 50, fastening the fabric 56 and the unformed inner element 50 one to the other, and covering the unformed inner element 50 with the fabric 56, as shown in FIG. 13. Substantially centrally disposed seam 62 and fabric pleats 64 remain after the fabric 56 is adhesively fastened to the unformed inner element 50.
  • The unformed inner element 50 having the fabric 56 fastened thereto and covering the unformed inner element 50 is formed to shape, having the first arm 24, the second arm 32, the arcuate shaped tensile connecting portion 42 connecting the first arm 24 and the second arm 32 one to the other, and the second arm 32 having the elbow 38 adjacent the second distal end 36, as shown in FIG. 14, and as previously discussed and shown in FIGS. 4-9.

The pants cuff clip 20 may be of metal, such as tensile steel, steel, aluminum, brass, copper, metal having or treated to have tensile properties, or other suitable metal, plastics, thermoplastics, thermosetting polymers, or other suitable plastic, thermoplastics, and/or thermosetting polymers having tensile properties and/or memory properties, rubber, wood, wood treated to have tensile properties, materials having hysteresis properties, or other suitable material or combination thereof.

The fabric 44 and/or the fabric 56 may be of cloth, cotton, denim, or other suitable fabric or material.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show an alternate embodiment of a pants cuff clip 70, which is substantially the same as the pants cuff clip 20, except that the pants cuff clip 70 has a plurality of stones 72 adhesively fastened to the pants cuff clip 70.

FIG. 17 shows the pants cuff clip 70 during a step of a process of adhesively fastening the plurality of stones 72 to the pants cuff clip 70, with certain ones 74 of the plurality of stones 72 already having been fastened to fabric covering 76 of the pants cuff clip 70, and other ones 78 of the plurality of stones 72, as the other ones 78 of the plurality of stones 72 stones are being placed onto the fabric covering 76 of the pants cuff clip 70.

The plurality of stones 72 may be decorative stones, rhinestones, gem stones, other suitable stones, or combination thereof.

A suitable adhesive is placed onto the backs of the plurality of stones 72, prior to fastening the plurality of stones 72 onto the fabric covering 76 of the pants cuff clip 70. The adhesively backed plurality of stones 72 are then pressed onto the fabric covering 76 of the pants cuff clip 72, resulting in the pants cuff clip 70, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.

FIG. 17 shows an alternate embodiment of a pants cuff clip 80, which is substantially the same as the pants cuff clip 20, except that the pants cuff clip 80 has indicia 82 or other suitable design or insignia imprinted onto fabric covering 84 of the pants cuff clip 80.

FIGS. 19 and 20 show an alternate embodiment of a pants cuff clip 120, which is substantially the same as the pants cuff clip 20, except that the pants cuff clip 120 has edge binding 142. The pants cuff clip 120 may hereinafter also be referred to as the aesthetically pleasing fastener 120.

The aesthetically pleasing fastener 120 comprises a clip 126 and a covering 128. The covering 128 covers the clip 126. The clip 126 is for receiving hem 122 of the of legs 14 of the pants 10 and for allowing the desired height of the hem 122 of the legs 14 of the pants 10 to be maintained and repeatedly changed without compromising the structural integrity of the of the legs 14 of the pants 10 or having to cooperate with a shoe, so as to allow the aesthetically pleasing fastener 120 to be used without a need for a shoe, while the covering 128 of the aesthetically pleasing fastener 120 makes the aesthetically pleasing fastener 120 appealing and aesthetically pleasing.

The clip 126 is preferably made from metal or plastic, but is not limited to that, is substantially U-shaped and one-piece and has interior surfaces 125, exterior surfaces 127, edges 129, and a pair of arms 130, which may hereinafter also be referred to as legs 130, the pair of legs 130 with a common end 132 and a pair of free ends 134, respectively. The pair of legs 130 of the clip 126 overlie each other and are joined to each other at the common end 132 thereof. The common end 132 of the pair of legs 130 of the clip 126 has slight resiliency. The pair of free ends 134 of the pair of legs 130 of the clip 126, respectively, are rounded for safety and for not puncturing the covering 128.

The common end 132 of the pair of legs 130 of the clip 126 spaces the pair of legs 130 of the clip 126 slightly apart from each other for allowing the hem 122 of each of the legs 14 of the pants 10 to be replaceably positioned between the pair of legs 130 of the clip 126, while the pair of legs 130 of the clip 126 allow the desired height of the hem 122 of the legs 14 of the pants 10 to be maintained and repeatedly changed, without compromising the structural integrity of the legs 14 of the pants 10 or having to cooperate with a shoe, so as to allow the aesthetically pleasing fastener 120 to be used without the need for a shoe, by virtue of the pair of legs 130 of the clip 26 compressing against the hem 122 of the leg 14 of the pants 10, as a result of the slight resiliency of the common end 132 of the pair of legs 130 of the clip 126.

One of the legs 130 of the clip 126 is for abutting exterior 133 of the leg 14 of the pants 10, while the other leg 130 of the clip 126 is for abutting the hem 122 of the leg 14 of the pants 10 interior to the leg 14 of the pants 10, and is narrow and substantially flat. The other leg 130 of the clip 126 is narrow and extends from the common end 132 of the pair of legs 130 of the clip 126 inwardly towards the one leg 130 of the clip 126 for abutting the exterior 133 of the leg 14 of the pants 10, then transitions therefrom at a transition point 136 thereof, outwardly away from the one leg 130 of the clip 126 for abutting the exterior 133 of the leg 14 of the pants 10, to the free end 134 thereof.

The transition point 136 of the other leg 130 of the clip 126 is arcuate for not compromising the structural Integrity of the leg 14 of the pants 10, since the transition point 136 of the other leg 130 of the clip 126 is for abutting the hem 122 of the leg 14 of the pants 10. The common end 132 of the pair of legs 130 of the clip 126 is arcuate for allowing only the transition point 136 of the other leg 130 of the clip 126 to abut the hem 122 of the leg 14 of the pants 10. The covering 128 overlyingly covers all surfaces of the clip 126 in their entireties, i.e., the interior surfaces 125 of the clip 126, the exterior surfaces 127 of the clip 126, and the edges 129 of the clip 126, preferably by stitches or glue, but is not limited to that, for aesthetics and for preventing the clip 126 from damaging the leg 14 of the pants 10. The covering 128 is preferably made of a fabric, but is not limited to that, and preferably matches that of the legs 14 of the pants 10 or may alternatively be a different color or colors for decorative purposes, depending on preference of the intended user.

The covering 128 includes an inner portion 138, an outer portion 140, and edging/binding 142. The inner portion 138 of the covering 128 overlyingly covers the interior surfaces 125 of the clip 126; the outer portion 140 of the covering 128 overlyingly covers the exterior surfaces 127 of the clip 126; and the edging/binding 142 of the covering 128 overlyingly covers the edges 129 of the clip 126 and connects the inner portion 138 of the covering 128 to the outer portion 140 of the covering 128.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.