GARMENT HAVING ADJUSTABLE WAISTLINE

Abstract

A lower body garment that includes a dynamic waist-resizing feature and method. A lower body garment includes a body portion adapted to be worn about a waist and a lower abdomen of a wearer, the body portion including a generally longitudinal opening extending from a waistline of the lower body garment, the generally longitudinal opening defining a first edge and second edge with the garment secured to the wearer when the edges are juxtaposed; and a garment closure assembly, coupled to the body portion near the generally longitudinal opening, including a closure fastener coupled to the first edge and two or more mating fasteners coupled to the second edge, the closure fastener repeatably engageable with and disengageable from one of the mating fasteners wherein a circumference of the waistline varies responsive to the closure fastener engaging with a particular one of the two or more mating fasteners.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to adjusting a waist circumference of a garment, and more specifically to post-manufacture resizing of a waistline of a lower body garment worn about the waist and below.

Skirts, trousers, and other items of clothing are worn on the lower part of the body from the waist downward. It is sometimes the case that such an item of clothing may fit properly at one time and at a later time the fit is less than desirable. For example a circumference of a waist of wearer may vary over time and the clothing may become too tight (or too loose) as the waistline expands (or contracts). Other measurements of the wearer, such as a hip circumference, may not change, or change less radically than the waistline. Without adjusting a circumference of the waistline, the clothing may fit poorly or cause discomfort. Sometimes the user may be unable to wear the clothing.

Conventional solutions include an elastomeric disposed in a waistline or use of a drawstring or other similar solution. These may not always offer the wearer the desired fashion look, potentially bunching around the waist.

What is needed is a lower body garment that includes a dynamic waist-resizing feature that addresses the limitations of conventional solutions.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed is a lower body garment that includes a dynamic waist-resizing feature and method. A lower body garment includes a body portion adapted to be worn about a waist and a lower abdomen of a wearer, the body portion including a generally longitudinal opening extending from a waistline of the lower body garment, the generally longitudinal opening defining a first edge and second edge with the garment secured to the wearer when the edges are juxtaposed; and a garment closure assembly, coupled to the body portion near the generally longitudinal opening, including a closure fastener coupled to the first edge and two or more mating fasteners coupled to the second edge, the closure fastener repeatably engageable with and disengageable from one of the mating fasteners wherein a circumference of the waistline varies responsive to the closure fastener engaging with a particular one of the two or more mating fasteners.

A waistline resizing method for a lower body garment worn about a waist of a wearer, the method includes (a) forming a generally longitudinal opening in a body portion of the lower body garment, the generally longitudinal opening extending from the waistline, the generally longitudinal opening defining a first edge and a second edge with the garment secured to the wearer when the edges are juxtaposed; (b) disposing a closure fastener along the first edge; and (c) disposing two or more mating fasteners along the second edge with the closure fastener repeatably engageable with and disengageable from one of the mating fasteners wherein a circumference of the waistline varies responsive to the closure fastener engaging with a particular one of the two or more mating fasteners.

The present invention provides for an enhanced versatility of a lower body garment by permitting the wearer to resize a waistline. Preferred embodiments of the present invention have minor changes to non-waist measurements while offering an ability to provide significant dynamic waistline alterations. The garments continue to have a tailored appearance as the adjustability features may be hidden from public view.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a first schematic plan view of a lower body garment showing a concealable, resizing, closure system; and

FIG. 2 is second schematic plan view of the lower body garment of FIG. 1 closed, which completely conceals the closure system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a lower body garment that includes a dynamic waist-resizing feature and method. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiment and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.

FIG. 1 is a first schematic plan view of a lower body garment 100 showing a concealable, resizing, closure system. FIG. 2 is second schematic plan view of lower body garment 100 closed, which completely conceals the closure system. Garment 100 includes a body portion 105 having a waistline 110. An opening 115 is generally longitudinal and extends from waistline 110 to define a first edge 120 and a second edge 125. A closure system includes a closure fastener 130 and two or more mating fasteners (e.g., first mating fastener 135 and second mating fastener 140). The fasteners of the closure system, disposed near first edge 120 and second edge 125, may not extend fully to a top of waistline 110.

Garment 100 may include a skirt, trousers, shorts, or other lower body garment having a waistline and extending from the waist towards the ankles and covering at least a portion of the lower abdomen. Opening 115 may be a fly-type opening, or it may be located at some other location, for example a side or rear of garment 100.

Preferably first edge 120 is formed to overlap second edge 125 so that the closure system is hidden when closure fastener 130 engages any of the mating fasteners, including first mating fastener 135 and second mating fastener 140. The fasteners may include virtually any type of fastening system, the preferred embodiment uses zippers for ease of engagement and disengagement of the closure system.

Closure fastener 130 is selectably (and repeatedly) engageable with, and disengageable from, any of the mating fasteners disposed on second edge 125. A circumference of waistline 110 varies responsive to which mating fasteners are engaged. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, when closure fastener 130 engages first mating fastener 135, waistline 110 has a larger circumference than when closure fastener 130 engages second mating fastener 140.

In the preferred embodiment, the mating fasteners are linear and non-parallel and diverge from one another as they approach waistline 110. The paths of the fasteners are referred to as mating paths and determine how body portion 105 is resized when the closure system is closed and secures body portion 105 to the wearer. The preferred diverging paths disclosed herein provide for minimal changes to a hip circumference measurement while providing for a greatest variation in the circumference of waistline 110. In the preferred embodiment, a difference of about one inch between adjacent mating paths, at waistline 110, is used. However, other implementations may prefer a larger or smaller change, and may prefer mating paths that are different from the disclosed linear paths. For example, by diverging the mating paths away from the waistline, it is possible to maintain a waist circumference about constant while varying lower abdomen/hip circumference.

In operation, a wearer steps into garment 110 and pulls it up near her/his waist. The wearer chooses which mating fastener to engage with closing fastener 130 and closes opening 115 to provide the desired waistline circumference, while hiding the unengaged mating fastener(s) and securing it to his/her body. At some other time, the wearer may choose to engage a different mating fastener with closing fastener 130 when securing garment 130 to her/his body, and thereby change the waistline circumference.

The preceding describes a preferred lower body garment that includes a dynamic waist-resizing feature and method. Manufacturers, based upon their individual decision-making, will offer one or more sizes of these systems, with differing numbers of mating fasteners, different fasteners in different locations spaced differently with different mating paths, to meet the needs of its customers and clients, all of which are included within the scope of the present invention.

In the description herein, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of components and/or methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that an embodiment of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other apparatus, systems, assemblies, methods, components, materials, parts, and/or the like. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not specifically shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of embodiments of the present invention.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “a specific embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention and not necessarily in all embodiments. Thus, respective appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, or “in a specific embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics of any specific embodiment of the present invention may be combined in any suitable manner with one or more other embodiments. It is to be understood that other variations and modifications of the embodiments of the present invention described and illustrated herein are possible in light of the teachings herein and are to be considered as part of the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted in the drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more separated or integrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certain cases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application.

Additionally, any signal arrows in the drawings/Figures should be considered only as exemplary, and not limiting, unless otherwise specifically noted. Furthermore, the term “or” as used herein is generally intended to mean “and/or” unless otherwise indicated. Combinations of components or steps will also be considered as being noted, where terminology is foreseen as rendering the ability to separate or combine is unclear.

As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, “a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed herein. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes only, various equivalent modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate. As indicated, these modifications may be made to the present invention in light of the foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention and are to be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Thus, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of embodiments of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth. Therefore, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the essential scope and spirit of the present invention. It is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular terms used in following claims and/or to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include any and all embodiments and equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims. Thus, the scope of the invention is to be determined solely by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A lower body garment, comprising:

a body portion adapted to worn about a waist and a lower abdomen of a wearer, said body portion including a generally longitudinal opening extending from a waistline of the lower body garment, said generally longitudinal opening defining a first edge and second edge with said garment secured to the wearer when said edges are juxtaposed; and

a garment closure assembly, coupled to said body portion near said generally longitudinal opening, including a closure fastener coupled to said first edge and two or more mating fasteners coupled to said second edge, said closure fastener repeatably engageable with and disengageable from one of said mating fasteners wherein a circumference of said waistline varies responsive to said closure fastener engaging with a particular one of said two or more mating fasteners.

2. The lower body garment of claim 1 wherein said fasteners include mating zippers.

3. The lower body garment of claim 1 wherein said mating fasteners define a plurality of non-parallel mating paths with respect to one another along said second edge.

4. The lower body garment of claim 3 wherein said plurality of non-parallel mating paths diverge from one another as said mating paths approach said waistline.

5. The lower body garment of claim 1 wherein said first edge overlies said second edge concealing said opening and said mating fasteners when said closure fastener engages any of said mating fasteners.

6. The lower body garment of claim 5 wherein said mating fasteners define a plurality of non-parallel mating paths with respect to one another along said second edge.

7. The lower body garment of claim 6 wherein said plurality of non-parallel mating paths diverge from one another as said mating paths approach said waistline.

8. The lower body garment of claim 7 wherein said fasteners include mating zippers.

9. A waistline resizing method for a lower body garment worn about a waist of a wearer, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a generally longitudinal opening in a body portion of the lower body garment, said generally longitudinal opening extending from the waistline, said generally longitudinal opening defining a first edge and a second edge with said garment secured to the wearer when said edges are juxtaposed;

(b) disposing a closure fastener along said first edge; and

(c) disposing two or more mating fasteners along said second edge with said closure fastener repeatably engageable with and disengageable from one of said mating fasteners wherein a circumference of the waistline varies responsive to said closure fastener engaging with a particular one of said two or more mating fasteners.

10. The waistline resizing method of claim 9 wherein said fasteners include mating zippers.

11. The waistline resizing method of claim 9 wherein said mating fasteners define a plurality of non-parallel mating paths with respect to one another along said second edge.

12. The waistline resizing method of claim 11 wherein said plurality of non-parallel mating paths diverge from one another as said mating paths approach said waistline.

13. The waistline resizing method of claim 9 wherein said first edge overlies said second edge concealing said opening and said mating fasteners when said closure fastener engages any of said mating fasteners.

14. The waistline resizing method of claim 13 wherein said mating fasteners define a plurality of non-parallel mating paths with respect to one another along said second edge.

15. The waistline resizing method of claim 14 wherein said plurality of non-parallel mating paths diverge from one another as said mating paths approach said waistline.

16. The waistline resizing method of claim 15 wherein said fasteners include mating zippers.