GB2383739A

GB2383739A - Glove retainer

Info

Publication number: GB2383739A
Application number: GB0200086A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Helena O'connell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-01-03
Filing date: 2002-01-03
Publication date: 2003-07-09
Also published as: GB0200086D0

Abstract

A glove retainer 1 for attaching a glove to a sleeve of a garment comprises a pair of attachment means 2, each of which is removably attachable to a glove or to the sleeve of a garment. The retainer preferably has clip attachment means; and preferably has a connecting element 3. The attachment and connector elements may be interchangeable to accommodate an alternative connector element.

Description

"A GLOVE RETAINER" THIS INVENTION relates to a glove retainer, and in particular to a glove retainer which helps to prevent gloves from being lost or dropped.

While many people find gloves useful for thermal, protective or decorative purposes, it is a common complaint that gloves are easily lost or dropped upon removal thereof. This problem is compounded by the fact that, in many instances, the wearer's hands will be cold while gloves are removed.

It is an object of the present invention to seek to alleviate this difficulty.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a method of attaching a glove to the sleeve of a garment, the method comprising the steps of : providing a glove retainer comprising a pair of attachment means, the attachment means each being removably attachable to a glove or to the sleeve of a garment; removably attaching one of the attachment means to a glove; and removably attaching the other of the attachment means to a sleeve of a garment.

Advantageously, the step of providing a pair of attachment means comprises the step of providing at least one clip.

Preferably, the step of providing a clip comprises the step of providing a pair of opposing jaws, the jaws being biased towards one another to allow the jaws to grip a glove or the sleeve of a garment.

Conveniently, the step of providing a glove retainer comprises the step of providing an elongate connecting element, which connects the pair of attachment means to one another.

Advantageously, the step of providing an elongate connecting element comprises the step of providing a flexible elongate connecting element.

Preferably, the step of providing an elongate connecting element comprises the step of providing one or more rigid connecting links.

Conveniently, the method further comprises the step of providing at least one further elongate connecting element, and wherein the step of providing a pair of attachment means comprises the step of adapting the attachment means to be interchangeably connected to one another with the elongate connecting element or the further elongate connecting element.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a glove retainer for attaching a glove to a sleeve of a garment, the device comprising a pair of attachment means, the attachment means each being removably attachable to a glove or to the sleeve of a garment.

Advantageously, at least one of the attachment means comprises a clip.

Preferably, the clip comprises a pair of opposing jaws, the jaws being biased towards one another to allow the jaws to grip a glove or the sleeve of a garment.

Conveniently, the glove retainer further comprises an elongate connecting element which connects the pair of attachment means to one another.

Advantageously, the elongate connecting element is flexible.

Preferably, the elongate connecting element comprises one or more rigid connecting links.

Conveniently, the glove retainer further comprises at least one further elongate connecting element, and the pair of attachment means are adapting to be interchangeably connected to one another with the elongate connecting element or the further elongate connecting element.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figure, which shows a glove retainer embodying the present invention.

Turning to Figure 1, a glove retainer 1 embodying the present invention comprises a pair of clips 2, connected to one another by an elongate connecting element 3.

Each of the clips 2 comprises a pair of opposable jaws 4, which are biased towards one another by means of a spring 5.

The elongate connecting element 3 is flexible, and is connected to the respective hinges 5 of the two clips 2.

In use of the glove retainer 1, one of the clips 2 is clipped to the sleeve of a garment which is worn by the user. The other of the clips 2 is clipped to a glove.

Hence, it will be understood that, if the user is not wearing the glove, the glove will be attached to the user's sleeve, and will not be lost or dropped. The glove retainer 1 may also remain in place while the user is wearing the glove.

Hence, the user may simply attach the glove to a sleeve of his or her garment, and then need not worry about losing or dropping the glove during the course of the day.

The jaws 4 of the clips 2 may have ridges or serrations 6 at gripping ends thereof. The size and sharpness of these ridges or serrations 6, along with the biasing force provided by the spring 5, are selected to provide a sufficiently strong grip on the sleeve and glove such that the glove is unlikely to become separated from the sleeve. Preferably, the size and sharpness of the serrations 6 and the biasing force of the spring 5 are judged to provide this grip without damaging the fabric of either garment.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elongate connecting element 3 may be removed and replaced by an alternative connecting element. In this embodiment, a user may possess several connecting elements which may be interchangeably used with the clips 2 depending upon a variety of circumstances. For instance, the connecting elements may be made of different materials or have different appearances, and this will allow a user

to select an appropriate connecting element to be in harmony with the outfit that the user is wearing.

The connecting element 3 may be formed from, for example, a metal chain (for instance, made of gold or silver), leather cord, plastic materials (which may be deformable into different shapes), cloth and so on.

Alternatively, the user may wish to vary the length of the connecting element, and hence may possess a plurality of connecting elements of varying lengths.

Although in the above embodiment the connecting element 3 is described as being flexible, this may not be the case, and a connecting element formed from one or more rigid members may be used for the present invention.

Also, the clips 2 may be replaced by any suitable means for gripping a glove or the sleeve of a garment, and the present invention is not limited to the type of clip described above. A skilled person will readily envisage a number of alternative methods by which the glove retainer 1 may be removably attachable to a glove or to a sleeve.

It will be understood from the above that the present invention provides a useful and possibly aesthetically pleasing method for preventing the loss or dropping of gloves.

In the present specification"comprises"means"includes or consists of' and"comprising"means"including or consisting of'.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A method of attaching a glove to the sleeve of a garment, the method comprising the steps of : providing a glove retainer comprising a pair of attachment means, the attachment means each being removably attachable to a glove or to the sleeve of a garment; removably attaching one of the attachment means to a glove; and removably attaching the other of the attachment means to a sleeve of a garment.
2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the step of providing a pair of attachment means comprises the step of providing at least one clip.

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3. A method according to Claim 2, wherein the step of providing a clip comprises the step of providing a pair of opposing jaws, the jaws being biased towards one another to allow the jaws to grip a glove or the sleeve of a garment.
4. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the step of providing a glove retainer comprises the step of providing an elongate connecting element, which connects the pair of attachment means to one another.
5. A method according to Claim 4, wherein the step of providing an elongate connecting element comprises the step of providing a flexible elongate connecting element.

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6. A method according to Claim 4, wherein the step of providing an elongate connecting element comprises the step of providing one or more rigid connecting links.
7. A method according to any one of Claims 4 to 6, further comprising the step of providing at least one further elongate connecting element, and wherein the step of providing a pair of attachment means comprises the step of adapting the attachment means to be interchangeably connected to one another by the elongate connecting element or the further elongate connecting element.
8. A glove retainer for attaching a glove to a sleeve of a garment, the device comprising a pair of attachment means, the attachment means each being removably attachable to a glove or to the sleeve of a garment.
9. A glove retainer according to Claim 8, wherein at least one of the attachment means comprises a clip.
10. A glove retainer according to Claim 9, wherein the clip comprises a pair of opposing jaws, the jaws being biased towards one another to allow the jaws to grip a glove or the sleeve of a garment.
11. A glove retainer according to any one of Claims 8 to 10, further comprising an elongate connecting element which connects the pair of attachment means to one another.
12. A glove retainer according to Claim 11, wherein the elongate connecting element is flexible.

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13. A glove retainer according to Claim 11 or 12, wherein the elongate connecting comprises one or more rigid connecting links.
14. A glove retainer according to any one of Claims 8 to 13, further comprising at least one further elongate connecting element, wherein the pair of attachment means are adapting to be interchangeably connected to one another with the elongate connecting element or the further elongate connecting element.
15. A method substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawing.
16. A glove retainer substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawing.
17. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.