Clothing system and method
A clothing system including an overtrouser and an undertrouser to be worn under the overtrouser, wherein the undertrouser is configured such that, when the system is worn, the undertrouser may be removed without removing the overtrouser.
A clothing system according to an embodiment of the invention is shown broadly in
According to a first embodiment of the invention, the undertrouser 12 includes a first leg portion 13 and a second leg portion 14. Turning now to
Turning now to
Turning now to
The above-described embodiments of the invention function as follows. A wearer (not shown) dons the undertrouser and secures the undertrouser about his or her waist region using the clips and clip receivers on the waistband portions of the undertrouser. The wearer then dons the overtrouser on top of the undertrouser. If and when it becomes desirable to remove the undertrouser, the wearer may disengage the clips from the clip receivers on the waistband portions of the undertrouser, unzip the zippers along the inseams of the undertrouser as necessary to obviate the need to remove any footwear being worn by the wearer, and grasp and pull the first and second leg portions of the undertrouser downward through corresponding leg portions of the overtrouser until both leg portions of the undertrouser are removed from the wearer. The first and second leg portions of the undertrouser may be grasped and pulled downward in this manner through utilization of the loops 31 (
The undertrouser of the above-described embodiments of the invention may be made of a wide variety of fabrics depending on the desired application. For instance, the undertrouser may be made of a thermal fabric including but not limited to any one of the breathable, wicking synthetic fabrics commonly utilized in clothing intended for engaging in outdoor sports such as hiking, skiing, fishing, hunting, biking, or running in low temperatures. Alternatively, also by way of example and not by way of limitation, the undertrouser may be made of a cut resistant and/or heat resistant fabric to provide safety in law enforcement, fire/rescue, industrial and/or military environments requiring such materials. However, potential uses of the invention are not limited to these applications, as the invention may be utilized by any individual desiring a removable undertrouser. One application for such an undertrouser is for heat retention in low temperature conditions. In this application, when the low temperature conditions subside, the undertrouser may be removed according to the above-described method without needing to first remove the overtrouser. In this manner, the need for privacy when disrobing, the associated inconvenience of finding a suitably private location for disrobing, and the likely embarrassment associated with disrobing in an insufficiently private location may all be avoided.
A fourth embodiment of the invention (not shown) includes an undertrouser comprising one or more removable fabric panels that attach to inner surfaces of an overtrouser using one or more of the fastener types discussed above. The panels may or may not be configured to engage the waist and/or hip regions of the wearer, as desired. Except as otherwise described in this paragraph, this embodiment is structured and functions in the same manner as the embodiments discussed above.
A clothing system and method is described above. Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from its scope. Furthermore, the foregoing description of embodiments of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation-the invention being defined by the claims.
Claims
1. A clothing system, comprising:
- an overtrouser;
- an undertrouser to be worn under the overtrouser; and
- wherein the undertrouser is configured such that, when the system is worn, the undertrouser may be removed without removing the overtrouser.
2. A clothing system according to claim 1, wherein the undertrouser is configured to be attached to the overtrouser.
3. A clothing system according to claim 1, wherein the undertrouser comprises:
- a first leg portion;
- a second leg portion;
- a plurality of fasteners for attaching the first leg portion to the second leg portion about a waist region of a wearer of the system.
4. A clothing system according to claim 3, wherein the first and second leg portions each include a front flap and a rear flap, the front and rear flaps configured such that, when the system is worn, a crotch region and a buttocks region of a wearer of the system are covered by the undertrouser.
5. A clothing system according to claim 1, wherein the undertrouser comprises material that provides thermal insulation to a wearer of the system.
6. A clothing system, comprising:
- a overtrouser;
- a undertrouser to be worn under the overtrouser, the undertrouser comprising a first leg portion, a second leg portion, and a plurality of fasteners for attaching the first leg portion to the second leg portion about a waist region of a wearer of the system;
- wherein the undertrouser is configured such that, when the system is worn, the undertrouser may be removed without removing the overtrouser.
7. A clothing system according to claim 6, wherein the undertrouser is configured to be attached to the overtrouser.
8. A clothing system according to claim 6, wherein the first and second leg portions each include a front flap and a rear flap, the front and rear flaps configured such that, when the system is worn, a crotch region and a buttocks region of a wearer of the system are covered by the undertrouser.
9. A clothing system according to claim 6, wherein the undertrouser comprises material that provides thermal insulation to a wearer of the system.
10. A method for removing an undertrouser without removing an overtrouser worn over the undertrouser, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing an overtrouser and an undertrouser, wherein the undertrouser is worn under the overtrouser;
- adjusting the undertrouser to be removable without removal of the overtrouser; and
- removing the undertrouser from under the overtrouser.
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the undertrouser provided in said providing step comprises first and second leg portions, and said adjusting step comprises the step of detaching the first and second leg portions of the undertrouser from one another.
12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said adjusting step further comprises the step of detaching the undertrouser from the overtrouser.
13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the overtrouser and the undertrouser provided in said providing step each comprise first and second leg portions, and said removing step comprises:
- grasping and pulling downward upon a lower portion of the first leg portion of the undertrouser until the first leg portion of the undertrouser is completely removed from under the first leg portion of the overtrouser; and
- grasping and pulling downward upon a lower portion of the second leg portion of the undertrouser until the second leg portion of the undertrouser is completely removed from under the second leg portion of the overtrouser.
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said adjusting step comprises the step of detaching the first and second leg portions of the undertrouser from one another.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said adjusting step further comprises the step of detaching the undertrouser from the overtrouser.
Type: Application
Filed: May 5, 2004
Publication Date: Nov 10, 2005
Inventor: Rebecca Tucker (Asheville, NC)
Application Number: 10/840,441