SPORTS BELT

Abstract

A sports belt includes a connector strip for securing a golf glove. The belt includes a belt strip, a belt buckle at one end of the belt strip, and holes at an opposite end of the belt strip. The connector strip is cooperable with the belt strip and is configured to secure an object, such as a golf glove, to the belt strip.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/691,425, filed Aug. 21, 2012, the entire content of which is herein incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] (Not Applicable)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Golf is popular in the summer months despite many areas of the country having high heat and humidity. While playing golf, golfers typically wear a golf glove to improve grip and to prevent calluses and blisters. Golfers may take off and put on their glove several times throughout a round. For example, many golfers remove their glove when putting.

[0004] Once removed, golfers usually stuff their glove in their back pocket. Because of the heat and humidity, however, the glove may be damp from sweat and/or the humidity in the air. Stuffing a damp glove in their pocket not only prevents the glove from getting a chance to air out, but worse yet, it dampens the contents of the golfer's pocket (such as a score card) and the golfer's shorts.

[0005] To avoid this, some golfers throw their glove on the green before putting. This causes more problems, however, as it is easy to forget.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It would be desirable if there were somewhere else for golfers to secure a glove when it is removed.

[0007] Most golfers wear a belt when they play golf, and the belt is a logical place to secure the glove. Nearly all golf gloves include a securing flap that is secured with a hook and loop fastener (e.g., Velcro®). It would be desirable to incorporate structure into a belt that would be cooperable with the existing fastening components of the golf glove.

[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, a belt includes a belt strip, a belt buckle at one end of the belt strip, and holes at an opposite end of the belt strip. A connector strip is cooperable with the belt strip and is configured to secure an object to the belt strip.

[0009] In one arrangement, the connector strip includes a hook part or a loop part of a hook and loop fastener.

[0010] The belt may include two connector strips. In this context, the two connector strips may be positioned such that in use, the connector strips are positioned on opposite sides of a rear belt loop.

[0011] The belt strip may include an inner layer and an outer layer, where the outer layer includes a window, and the connector strip is secured to the inner layer adjacent the window. In an alternative arrangement, the connector strip is secured to the belt strip with an adhesive.

[0012] A color of the connector strip may substantially match a color of the belt strip. In one arrangement, the connector strip may be formed into a logo or personal design.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] These and other aspects and advantages will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a sports belt including connector strips;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a side view of the sports belt; and

[0016] FIG. 3 shows the sports belt in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] With reference to the drawings, a belt conventionally includes a belt strip 10a, a belt buckle 10b, and holes 10c cooperable with the belt buckle. The belt strip 10a according to preferred embodiments includes two connector strips 12 (such as the hook part or the loop part of a hook and loop fastener). The belt 10 may alternatively include one connector strip 12 or more than two connector strips 12. The connector strips 12 enable a golfer to remove his golf glove 14 and attach it securely and unobtrusively to the belt 10. The Velcro® from the glove 14 clings tightly to the Velcro® on the belt 10. Additionally, the glove 14 is no longer a lump in the golfer's back pocket but hanging just right or left of the golfer's lower back.

[0018] Preferably, the belt strip 10a is assembled using layered materials, such as leather. That is, the belt strip may be formed with at least an inner layer and an outer layer. The belt buckle 10b is secured to the belt strip 10a, and the holes 10c are formed. In one embodiment, a window 10d is formed in the outer layer, and the connector strips 12 can be secured to an outside surface of the inner layer adjacent the window 10d such that the connector strips are effectively embedded into the belt 10. Alternatively, the strips can be fastened via an adhesive or the like to an exterior surface of the belt 10.

[0019] The sports belt of the preferred embodiments will work like any other belt, that is, it still holds one's pants up. However, in one arrangement, the fastener strips that when put through the loops of most pants will be on either side of the rear belt loop. The Velcro® strips can be discreet in that the color of the strips can match the color of the belt or alternatively be purposely noticeable. An individual can create a personal design or a company can add a logo as the strips.

[0020] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A belt comprising: a belt strip; a belt buckle at one end of the belt strip and holes at an opposite end of the belt strip; and a connector strip cooperable with the belt strip, wherein the connector strip is configured to secure an object to the belt strip.

2. A belt according to claim 1, wherein the connector strip comprises a hook part or a loop part of a hook and loop fastener.

3. A belt according to claim 1, comprising two connector strips.

4. A belt according to claim 3, wherein the two connector strips are positioned such that in use, the connector strips are positioned on opposite sides of a rear belt loop.

5. A belt according to claim 3, wherein each of the two connector strips comprises a hook part or a loop part of a hook and loop fastener.

6. A belt according to claim 1, wherein the belt strip comprises an inner layer and an outer layer, and wherein the outer layer comprises a window, the connector strip being secured to the inner layer adjacent the window.

7. A belt according to claim 1, wherein the connector strip is secured to the belt strip with an adhesive.

8. A belt according to claim 1, wherein a color of the connector strip substantially matches a color of the belt strip.

9. A belt according to claim 1, wherein the connector strip is formed into a logo or personal design.

10. A belt comprising: a belt strip; a belt buckle at one end of the belt strip and holes at an opposite end of the belt strip; and a pair of connector strips cooperable with the belt strip, each the connector strips comprising a hook part or a loop part of a hook and loop fastener, wherein the connector strips are positioned such that in use, the connector strips are disposed on opposite sides of a rear belt loop.

11. A belt according to claim 10, wherein the belt strip comprises an inner layer and an outer layer, and wherein the outer layer comprises a pair of windows, the connector strips being secured to the inner layer adjacent the windows, respectively.

12. A belt according to claim 10, wherein the connector strips are secured to the belt strip with an adhesive.

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