Garment with One Or More Personalizable Panels
A garment with one or more personalizable panels and various related embodiments are disclosed. The garment, to be worn about the lower torso and legs, comprises: a waist encircling portion, a first leg encircling portion, and a second leg encircling portion, in which the waist encircling portion may comprise both an adjustable waistband and a non-adjustable waistband portion, and a personalizable panel for displaying one or more personal communications. The disclosed embodiments feature a variety of personalizable panels constructed in a variety of ways and attached to the garment in a variety of ways. Features of the disclosure allow for the attachment of the personalizable panel in such a way as to not interfere with the operation of the adjustable waistband portion. Other features of the disclosure allow the personalizable panel to maintain its shape despite the expansion and contraction of the adjustable waistband portion. The one or more personal communications may be conveyed as text, designs, images, and in any combination thereof as needed.
This non-provisional utility application includes subject matter that is related to United States design patent application by inventor Lynn A. Bowman entitled “Garment with One or More Personalizable Panels”, which has the filing date Aug. 19, 2011, agent docket number 2011—05_C. The aforementioned design application is incorporated herein by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable.
DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIXNot Applicable.
BACKGROUNDOne only need look at such things as bumper stickers, T-shirts, web logs, and postings on social media websites to see that people enjoy expressing themselves and their personalities in ways that are visible to others. In addition, many people enjoy expressing themselves through their own personal style, whether it be through clothing choices, hair style, jewelry, or other means. The present application discloses a garment and related embodiments that have features allowing a person to display one or more personal communications for the observation and notice of others.
SUMMARYDisclosed are various embodiments of a garment with one or more personalizable panels. In a first embodiment, a garment with at least one personalizable panel to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprises: a waist encircling portion, a first leg encircling portion, and, a second leg encircling portion; the waist encircling portion having: an adjustable waist band portion abutting a non-adjustable waistband portion, the non-adjustable waistband portion being configured such that at least a first portion of said non-adjustable waistband portion is a first personalizable panel; the first personalizable panel being further configured to substantially retain its shape while the adjustable waistband portion flexes; the first personalizable panel being configured to display a first personalized communication, the first personalizable panel being located such that the first personalized communication is visible on the outside of the garment.
In another embodiment, a garment with at least one personalizable panel to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprises: a waist encircling portion having an adjustable waistband portion, a first leg encircling portion, a second leg encircling portion, and a first elongate personalizable panel attached to the first leg encircling portion; the first elongate personalizable panel further characterized as having both a first panel length and a first panel width with the first elongate personalizable panel being located such that the first panel width is substantially parallel to a portion of the waist encircling portion, the first elongate personalizable panel being further configured to substantially retain its shape while the adjustable waistband portion flexes; the first elongate personalizable panel being configured to display a first personalized communication, the first elongate personalizable panel being located such that the first personalized communication is visible on the outside of the garment.
In another embodiment, a garment with at least one personalizable panel to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprises: a waist encircling portion having an adjustable waistband portion, a first leg encircling portion, a second leg encircling portion, and, a first elongate personalizable panel having at least one panel edge; the first elongate personalizable panel being further configured such that at least a portion of at least one panel edge is attached to the first leg encircling portion, the first elongate personalizable panel having both a first panel length and a first panel width, said first elongate personalizable panel being located such that the first panel width is substantially parallel to a portion of the waist encircling portion; the first elongate personalizable panel being configured to carry a first personalized communication, and, the first elongate personalizable panel being located such that the first personalized communication is visible on the outside of the garment.
In another embodiment, a garment with at least one personalizable panel to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprises: a waist encircling portion having an adjustable waistband portion, a first leg encircling portion, a second leg encircling portion, and a first elongate personalizable panel; the garment further characterized as having a wearer proximal side which faces inward toward the wearer and a wearer distal side which faces away from the wearer; the garment further characterized in that the first elongate personalizable panel is configured such that a portion of the first elongate personalizable panel is attached to the wearer proximal side and a portion of the first elongate personalizable panel is attached to the wearer distal side; the first elongate personalizable panel further characterized in that it is folded over a portion of the waist encircling portion such that the adjustable waistband portion may operate in expansion and contraction without causing substantial expansion and contraction of the first elongate personalizable panel; the first elongate personalizable panel being configured to display a first personalized communication, and, the first elongate personalizable panel being located such that the first personalized communication is visible from the outside of the garment.
In another embodiment, a kit for personalizing a garment with at least one personalizable panel to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprises: a garment to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprising: a waist encircling portion having an adjustable waistband portion, a first leg encircling portion, a second leg encircling portion; the garment further characterized as having a wearer proximal side which faces inward toward the wearer and a wearer distal side which faces away from the wearer; and, a first elongate personalizable panel configured such that a portion of the first elongate personalizable panel is attachable to the wearer proximal side and a portion of the first elongate personalizable panel is attachable to the wearer distal side; the first elongate personalizable panel further characterized in that it can fold over a portion of the waist encircling portion such that the adjustable waistband portion may operate in expansion and contraction without causing substantial expansion and contraction of the first elongate personalizable panel; the first elongate personalizable panel being configured to display a first personalized communication, and, the first elongate personalizable panel being attachable to the garment such that the first personalized communication is visible from the outside of the garment when the first elongate personalizable panel is attached to the garment.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
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- 2—garment with one or more personalizable panels
- 10—waist encircling portion
- 12a, 12b—first leg encircling portion, second leg encircling portion
- 14, 14a, 14b—adjustable waistband portion, first adjustable waistband portion, second adjustable waistband portion
- 16, 16a, 16b—non-adjustable waistband portion, first non-adjustable waistband portion, second non-adjustable waistband portion
- 24—front access opening
- 40—wearer proximal side
- 42—wearer distal side
- 50, 50a, 50b—personalizable panel, first personalizable panel, second personalizable panel
- 52, 52a, 52b—elongate personalizable panel, first elongate personalizable panel, second elongate personalizable panel
- 60—panel edge
- 62—panel width
- 64—panel length
- 70, 70a, 70b—personalized communication, first personalized communication, second personalized communication
The present invention is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It may be evident, however, that the present invention can be practiced without these specific details and still be within the teachings of this disclosure.
Turning now to
With continuing reference to
The garment of
In preferred embodiments, garment 2 may have one or more personalizable panels that are configured to display one or more personalized communications. First personalizable panel 50a may be constructed from a range of suitable materials, with cloth and fabric being preferred. First personalizable panel 50a need not be constructed from the same materials used in the remainder of the garment. In addition, first personalized communication 70a may be created on first personalizable panel 50a in a variety of different ways. In preferred embodiments, stitching or embroidery may be used on first personalizable panel 50a to create an easily recognizable word, phrase, or image that may have meaning to the wearer of the garment. Equally preferred modes of conveying the personalized communication are silk screening, direct-to-garment printing, ink jet printing, stamping, and other means of transferring text or images onto the personalizable panel. In preferred embodiments, first personalizable panel 50a may be constructed of multiple plies of material such that first personalized communication 70a is displayed on an outermost ply while the inward facing surface of the personalizable panel closest to the skin of the wearer may be a smooth ply with no intrusions or piercings from the displayed first personalized communication 70a. Such constructions of the personalizable panel have advantages in the comfort of the garment to the wearer. When the personalized communication is implemented by embroidery or stitching it may be preferred that the embroidery or stitching take place on an outer ply while the inner ply would be free of any artifacts of the stitching or embroidery.
While the embodiment of garment 2 in
With reference now to
Turning now to
Turning now to
The garment of
The garment of
Turning now to
The embodiment of the garment according to
The garment of
Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Section 112, Paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. Section 112, Paragraph 6.
Claims
1. A garment with at least one personalizable panel to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprising: a waist encircling portion, a first leg encircling portion, and, a second leg encircling portion; the waist encircling portion having: an adjustable waist band portion abutting a non-adjustable waistband portion, the non-adjustable waistband portion being configured such that at least a first portion of said non-adjustable waistband portion is a first personalizable panel; the first personalizable panel being further configured to substantially retain its shape while the adjustable waistband portion flexes; the first personalizable panel being configured to display a first personalized communication, the first personalizable panel being located such that the first personalized communication is visible on the outside of the garment.
2. The garment of claim 1 in which the first personalizable panel comprises an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion being configured to rest proximate to the wearer of the garment, the outer portion being configured to display the first personalized communication.
3. The garment of claim 1 further configured such that the waist encircling portion has a first adjustable waistband portion that abuts a first non-adjustable waistband and a second adjustable waistband portion that abuts a second non-adjustable waistband portion, in which the first non-adjustable waistband portion is configured to have a portion that is a first personalizable panel and in which the second non-adjustable waistband portion is configured to have a portion that is a second personalizable panel; wherein each personalizable panel is further configured to substantially retain its shape while each of the adjustable waistband portions flex; the first personalizable panel being further configured to display a first personalized communication and the second personalizable panel being further configured to display a second personalized communication, wherein the first personalizable panel is located such that the first personalized communication is visible on the outside of the garment, and wherein the second personalizable panel is located such that the second personalized communication is visible on the outside of the garment.
4. The garment of claim 1 in which the garment further comprises a front access opening, the front access opening being located between the first leg encircling portion and the second leg encircling portion, the front access opening also being located below the waist encircling portion.
5. The garment of claim 1 in which the adjustable waistband portion uses elastic material or drawstring material to provide adjustability.
6. A garment with at least one personalizable panel to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprising: a waist encircling portion having an adjustable waistband portion, a first leg encircling portion, a second leg encircling portion, and a first elongate personalizable panel attached to the first leg encircling portion; the first elongate personalizable panel further characterized as having both a first panel length and a first panel width with the first elongate personalizable panel being located such that the first panel width is substantially parallel to a portion of the waist encircling portion, the first elongate personalizable panel being further configured to substantially retain its shape while the adjustable waistband portion flexes; the first elongate personalizable panel being configured to display a first personalized communication, the first elongate personalizable panel being located such that the first personalized communication is visible on the outside of the garment.
7. The garment of claim 6 further comprising: a second elongate personalizable panel attached to the second leg encircling portion, the second elongate personalizable panel further characterized as having both a second panel length and a second panel width with the second elongate personalizable panel being located such that the second panel width is substantially parallel to a portion of the waist encircling portion, the second elongate personalizable panel being further configured to substantially retain its shape and position while the adjustable waistband portion flexes; the second elongate personalizable panel being configured to display a second personalized communication, and, the second elongate personalizable panel being located such that the second personalized communication is visible on the outside of the garment.
8. The garment of claim 6 further characterized in that the second panel length is larger than the second panel width.
9. The garment of claim 6 in which the garment further comprises a front access opening, the front access opening being located between the first leg encircling portion and the second leg encircling portion, the front access opening also being located below the waist encircling portion.
10. The garment of claim 6 in which the adjustable waistband portion uses elastic material or drawstring material to provide adjustability.
11. A garment with at least one personalizable panel to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprising: a waist encircling portion having an adjustable waistband portion, a first leg encircling portion, a second leg encircling portion, and, a first elongate personalizable panel having at least one panel edge; the first elongate personalizable panel being further configured such that at least a portion of at least one panel edge is attached to the first leg encircling portion, the first elongate personalizable panel having both a first panel length and a first panel width, said first elongate personalizable panel being located such that the first panel width is substantially parallel to a portion of the waist encircling portion; the first elongate personalizable panel being configured to carry a first personalized communication, and, the first elongate personalizable panel being located such that the first personalized communication is visible on the outside of the garment.
12. The garment of claim 11 in which the first personalizable panel is configured such that the first panel length is larger than the first panel width.
13. The garment of claim 11 in which the garment further comprises a front access opening, the front access opening being located between the first leg encircling portion and the second leg encircling portion, the front access opening also being located below the waist encircling portion.
14. The garment of claim 11 in which the adjustable waistband portion uses elastic material or drawstring material to provide adjustability.
15. A garment with at least one personalizable panel to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprising: a waist encircling portion having an adjustable waistband portion, a first leg encircling portion, a second leg encircling portion, and a first elongate personalizable panel; the garment further characterized as having a wearer proximal side which faces inward toward the wearer and a wearer distal side which faces away from the wearer; the garment further characterized in that the first elongate personalizable panel is configured such that a portion of the first elongate personalizable panel is attached to the wearer proximal side and a portion of the first elongate personalizable panel is attached to the wearer distal side; the first elongate personalizable panel further characterized in that it is folded over a portion of the waist encircling portion such that the adjustable waistband portion may operate in expansion and contraction without causing substantial expansion and contraction of the first elongate personalizable panel; the first elongate personalizable panel being configured to display a first personalized communication, and, the first elongate personalizable panel being located such that the first personalized communication is visible from the outside of the garment.
16. The garment of claim 15 in which the garment further comprises a front access opening, the front access opening being located between the first leg encircling portion and the second leg encircling portion, the front access opening also being located below the waist encircling portion.
17. The garment of claim 15 in which the adjustable waistband portion uses elastic material or drawstring material to provide adjustability.
18. A kit for personalizing a garment with at least one personalizable panel to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprising:
- A. a garment to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprising: a waist encircling portion having an adjustable waistband portion, a first leg encircling portion, a second leg encircling portion; the garment further characterized as having a wearer proximal side which faces inward toward the wearer and a wearer distal side which faces away from the wearer;
- B. a first elongate personalizable panel configured such that a portion of the first elongate personalizable panel is attachable to the wearer proximal side and a portion of the first elongate personalizable panel is attachable to the wearer distal side; the first elongate personalizable panel further characterized in that it can fold over a portion of the waist encircling portion such that the adjustable waistband portion may operate in expansion and contraction without causing substantial expansion and contraction of the first elongate personalizable panel; the first elongate personalizable panel being configured to display a first personalized communication, and, the first elongate personalizable panel being attachable to the garment such that the first personalized communication is visible from the outside of the garment when the first elongate personalizable panel is attached to the garment.
19. The garment of claim 18 in which the garment further comprises a front access opening, the front access opening being located between the first leg encircling portion and the second leg encircling portion, the front access opening also being located below the waist encircling portion.
20. The garment of claim 18 in which the adjustable waistband portion uses elastic material or drawstring material to provide adjustability.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 19, 2011
Publication Date: Feb 21, 2013
Inventor: Lynn A. Bowman (Buford, GA)
Application Number: 13/213,623
International Classification: A41D 1/06 (20060101); A41D 27/08 (20060101);