On March 1, 2000 David DeBaene was advised that the United States Patent and
Trademark Office on the patent application for Pants with Detachable Back Brace
Support had allowed fourteen claims. The patent will be issued by the end of
June 2000.
The claims accepted are 1-6, 8-14, 16 and 17 on the application Serial
#09/198,646, filed November 24, 1998. These claims are as follows:
1. Apparel with removable back brace comprising: an article of apparel (with a
first fastening apparatus affixed thereto; and) a first fastening apparatus
affixed to the article of apparel; a back support structure (with a second
fastening apparatus affixed thereto), comprising:
an outer wall,
an inner wall affixed to the outer wall, defining a channel there between,
and an inner belt passing through the channel and being covered by the
channel for a majority of its length, and having a first and second end
affixed to an elastic central portion; and
a second fastening apparatus affixed to the back support structure; wherein
the first fastening apparatus may be engaged with the second fastening
apparatus to removably affix the back support structure to the article of
apparel.
2. The apparel of claim 1, wherein the article of apparel consists of a pair
of pants which have a reinforcing means constructed to protect a wearer's
knees and add to the durability of the pair of pants.
3. The apparel of claim 1, wherein the article of apparel consists of a pair
of pants which have a reinforcing means constructed to protect a wearer's
seat and add to the durability of the pair of pants.
4. The pair of pants of claim 2 further comprising a reinforcing means
constructed to protect a wearer's seat and add to the durability of the
pair of pants.
5. The apparel of claim 4, wherein the reinforcing means constructed to
protect a wearer's knees and the reinforcing means constructed to protect a
wearer's seat comprise a padding means.
6. The apparel of claim 1, wherein the article of apparel consists of a pair
of uniform pants.
8. The apparel of claim 1 wherein the back support structure fastens about the
wearer with a cinching mechanism.
9. The apparel according to claim 1 wherein the first fastening apparatus and
the second fastening apparatus comprise one or more fasteners chosen from
the group consisting of; hook and loop type fasteners, zippers, snaps,
buttons and buttonholes, hooks and eyes, and equivalent fasteners.
10. The apparel according to claim 2 wherein the first fastening apparatus and
the second fastening apparatus comprise one or more fasteners chosen from
the group consisting of; hook and loop type fasteners, zippers, snaps,
buttons and buttonholes, hooks and eyes, and equivalent fasteners.
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11. The apparel according to claim 3 wherein the first fastening apparatus and
the second fastening apparatus comprise one or more fasteners chosen from
the group consisting of; hook and loop type fasteners, zippers, snaps,
buttons and buttonholes, hooks and eyes, and equivalent fasteners.
12. The apparel according to claim 4 wherein the first fastening apparatus and
the second fastening apparatus comprise one or more fasteners chosen from
the group consisting of; hook and loop type fasteners, zippers, snaps,
buttons and buttonholes, hooks and eyes, and equivalent fasteners.
13. The apparel according to claim 5 wherein the first fastening apparatus and
the second fastening apparatus comprise one or more fasteners chosen from
the group consisting of ; hook and loop type fasteners, zippers, snaps,
buttons and buttonholes, hooks and eyes, and equivalent fasteners.
14. The apparel according to claim 6 wherein the first fastening apparatus and
the second fastening apparatus comprise one or more fasteners chosen from
the group consisting of; hook and loop type fasteners, zippers, snaps,
buttons and buttonholes, hooks and eyes, and equivalent fasteners.
16. The apparel according to claim 8 wherein the first fastening apparatus and
the second fastening apparatus comprise one or more fasteners chosen form
the group consisting of; hook and loop type fasteners, zippers, snaps,
buttons and buttonholes, hooks and eyes, and equivalent fasteners.
17. The apparel according to claim 9 wherein the first fastening apparatus and
the second fastening apparatus comprise one or more fasteners chosen from
the group consisting of; hook and loop type fasteners, zippers, snaps,
buttons and buttonholes, hooks and eyes, and equivalent fasteners.
