Quick change apparatus and method

Abstract

A quick change undergarment includes a fabric having a pair of leg openings and a waistline opening that is worn on a person's midsection such a person's legs extend through each of the first and second leg openings respectively. The waistline opening extends around the person's waist. The undergarment includes a first fastener coupled to the fabric that extends between the first leg opening and the waistline opening, which is operable to create a separation of the fabric between the first leg opening and the waistline opening. The undergarment includes a second fastener coupled to the fabric that extends between the second leg opening and the waistline opening, which is operable to create a separation of the fabric between the second leg opening and the waistline opening. The first and second fasteners may be coupled to the fabric of the undergarment by a reinforcing material for added strength.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to copending U.S. provisional application entitled, “QUICK CHANGE APPARATUS AND METHOD,” having serial No. 60/647,003, filed Jan. 9, 2002, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The field of this invention relates to clothing, more specifically, to a quick change garment and method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Clothing, while typically designed to be comfortable and easy to wear, may sometimes not meet these objectives in certain situations. While outer-layered clothing may be worn or disrobed fairly easily, other inner layered clothing may not be so easily worn or disrobed in particular circumstances.

[0004] Certain types of clothing designed as undergarments typically require prior removal of outer layers of clothing in order to change or otherwise remove the undergarments, that is, after the undergarments have been initially put on and covered by one or more outer layered garments. Situations may arise, however, such that removing the outer layers of clothing may be undesirable due to a variety of factors.

[0005] As a non-limiting example, the cleanliness of the changing environment may deter an individual from removing one's outer layered garments in order to remove the undergarments. For example, an individual may desire to change one or more undergarments while outdoors, but the absence of a clean restroom or other suitable changing room may render access to various undergarments impracticable. As another non-limiting example, restroom facilities at certain roadside establishments are oftentimes poorly maintained, thereby creating an undesirable environment for disrobing outer layered garments to access inner layered garments, such as undergarments.

[0006] In addition, the lack of or limited privacy for changing or removing undergarments may make removing outer layered garments impractical or undesirable as well. In both the outdoors and roadside restroom facilities non-limiting examples described above, the privacy may be insufficient for disrobing outer layered and even some inner layered garments to remove, access, or even put on undergarments.

[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus and method for changing or removing undergarments quickly and in a manner that does not place outer layered garments in contact with undesirable or unclean surfaces. There is further a need for an apparatus and method that enables an individual to quickly remove an undergarment and replace it, if desired, with a similarly designed garment in situations where privacy may be limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A quick change undergarment includes a fabric having a pair of leg openings and a waistline opening that is worn on a person's midsection such a person's legs extend through each of the first and second leg openings respectively. The waistline opening extends around the person's waist. The undergarment includes a first fastener coupled to the fabric that extends between the first leg opening and the waistline opening, which is operable to create a separation of the fabric between the first leg opening and the waistline opening. The undergarment includes a second fastener coupled to the fabric that extends between the second leg opening and the waistline opening, which is operable to create a separation of the fabric between the second leg opening and the waistline opening. The first and second fasteners may be coupled to the fabric of the undergarment by a reinforcing material for added strength.

[0009] Certain objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned with the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an undergarment configured to enable an individual to remove the undergarment without disrobing.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a service pack containing a spare or an additional undergarment as shown in FIG. 1 and other personal items.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a diagram of the undergarment of FIG. 1 with the fasteners unengaged.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] FIG. 1 is a diagram of undergarment 10. Undergarment 10 is fashioned to be worn around the user's waistline. Thus, undergarment 10 appears and operates as a typical undergarment known in the art. The undergarment 10 may be constructed of any suitable fabric 12, which may include but is not limited to cotton, polyester, tycra, spandex, rayon, satin, lace, etc. In addition, undergarment 10 is not limited to any single fabric 12, as one of ordinary skill in the art would know that a combination of fabrics 12 may be implemented in undergarment 10.

[0015] Undergarment 10 is additionally configured to include one or more fasteners 16, 17 wherein the fasteners 16, 17 enable the user to open the undergarment 10 along the axis of each fastener 16, 17. More specifically, fasteners 16, 17 may be implemented to extend in a substantially vertical orientation from the waistband 18 to the leg opening 15. Even though undergarment 10 may be equipped with one or more fasteners 16, 17, in this embodiment, undergarment 10 is shown with two sets of fasteners 16, 17. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that undergarment 10 may be equipped with one or more sets of fasteners 16, 17, and the fact that the disclosed embodiment is equipped with two fasteners 16, 17 is not intended to limit the invention to this embodiment.

[0016] Fasteners 16, 17 may be implemented as zippers which, as shown in FIG. 1, connect at the bottom portions 19, 20 of the fasteners 16, 17 and zip to the top of fasteners 16, 17 at points 22, 24. Although fasteners 16, 17 are described as zippers in this embodiment, the fasteners 16, 17 could also be any other fastening device typically used in the garment industry, including, without limitation, buttons, hooks, Velcro®, and any other fastening means. Similarly, fasteners 16, 17 may also connect at top portions 22, 24 and then zip or fasten to the bottom portions 19, 20.

[0017] It should also be noted that fasteners 16, 17 may be situated at other parts of undergarment 10 to facilitate ease of use by the user. In FIG. 1, fasteners 16, 17 are shown on a frontal portion of undergarment 10.

[0018] Undergarment 10 may be configured to include a set of temporary holders 25, 26, with each fastener 16, 17. The temporary holders 25, 26 may be small pieces of Velcro® or other devices attached to the lining of undergarment 10 (i.e., waistband 18) that operate to hold the separate pieces of garment 22, 24 and/or 19, 20 together while the user engages fasteners 16, 17. Temporary holders 25, 26 temporarily hold the pieces 19, 20 and/or 22, 24 together while the user couples fasteners 16, 17 to completely engage pieces 35, 36 of undergarment 10. Piece 35, in this non-limiting example, corresponds to a frontal portion of undergarment 10, while piece 36, in this non-limiting example, corresponds to a back portion of undergarment 10. As stated above, the temporary holders 25, 26, may be pieces of Velcro® attached to undergarment 10 and designed to hold the two pieces 35, 36 together while the user or wearer of the undergarment 10 engages fasteners 16, 17. However, temporary holders 25, 26, may also be configured to be buttons, hooks, or any other engaging means that join pieces 35, 36.

[0019] Fasteners 16, 17 may be attached to pieces 35, 36 of undergarment 10 by a reinforcing material 40, 41. Reinforcing material 40, 41 may provide added strength to undergarment 10 so that any tension created by fasteners 16, 17, as the user wears undergarment 10, does not tear or otherwise cause a portion of undergarment 10 to become unstable. In one embodiment, among others, the reinforcing material 40, 41 is an additional layer of the cloth or fabric used in undergarment 10 to provide a foundation for fastener 16, 17 to be attached to undergarment 1O.

[0020] The process of implementing undergarment 10 enables a user to quickly remove undergarment 10 without having to completely remove any outer layered garments. If a user elects to remove undergarment 10, the user first removes any outer layered garments to a sufficient extent so as to gain access to fasteners 16, 17. However, it is not necessary for the user to completely remove any outer layered garments. Undergarment 10 enables a user to avoid placing outer layered garments in contact with floor surfaces that may be unclean or unsuitable for contacting high quality outer layered garments that may be soiled or even ruined if placed on unclean surfaces.

[0021] Nevertheless, when the user removes the outer layered garments sufficiently to permit access to undergarment 10, the user disengages temporary holders 25, 26, if undergarment 10 is so equipped with temporary holders 25, 26. Thereafter, the user disengages fastener 16, 17 such that a separation is created between pieces 35, 36 so that garment 10 may be separated from the user's person. At this point, the user may completely remove undergarment 10 by extracting the disengaged undergarment 10 from the user's person.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a portable pack 50 containing pouches for an additional unworn undergarment 10′ and additional personal items 52, 54. In one embodiment, among others, the pack 50 may be configured to include such personal items as soap 52 and a towel 54. The user may put on unworn undergarment 10′ in reverse fashion as previously described for the removal of undergarment 10. Moreover, soap 52 and towel 54 may be used by the user to wash the user's hands and face or any other desired part of the user's person.

[0023] As previously discussed, unworn undergarment 10′ may be reinstalled on the user's person in reverse fashion as discussed for the removal of undergarment 10. More specifically, the user engages unworn undergarment 10′ such that unworn undergarment 10′ is straddled by the user's legs. Thereafter, the user may engage temporary holders 25, 26 so that the user may then engage fasteners 16, 17. Once fasteners 16, 17 are engaged, undergarment 10′ is then positioned around the user's waist. Once each fastener 16, 17 is completely fastened, the undergarment 10 again appears as a typical undergarment. Thereafter, the user returns the outer layered garments to their normal position on the user's person over newly put-on undergarment 10′.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a diagram of undergarment 10 with fasteners 16, 17 unfastened to depict the unengaged stage of undergarment 10. In FIG. 3, fasteners 16, 17 are depicted, in this non-limiting example, as zippers. Upon insertion between the legs of a wearer of undergarment 10, holders 25, 26 may be engaged to temporarily hold each respective end of waistline 18 in place while the user engages zipper heads 31, 32 of zippers 16, 17. In this embodiment, reinforcing material 40, 41 is shown sown between fabric 12 and zippers 16, 17 for added strength. Once the zippers 16, 17 are completely engaged, the undergarment 10 again resembles the form, as depicted in FIG. 1.

[0025] It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.

Claims

1. A quick change undergarment, comprising:

a fabric fashioned with a pair of leg openings and a waistline opening, wherein the fabric is worn around the midsection of a person such the person's left leg extends through a first leg opening and the person's right leg extends through the second leg opening, wherein the waistline opening extends around the person's waist;

a first fastener coupled to the fabric and extending between the first leg opening and the waistline opening, wherein the first fastener operates to create a separation of the fabric between the first leg opening and the waistline opening; and

a second fastener coupled to the fabric and extending between the second leg opening and the waistline opening, wherein the second fastener operates to create a separation of the fabric between the second leg opening and the waistline opening.

2. The quick change undergarment of claim 1, wherein the separation of the fabric between the first and second leg openings and the waistline enables the quick change undergarment to be removed from the person.

3. The quick change undergarment of claim 1, wherein the first and second fasteners are zippers.

4. The quick change undergarment of claim 1, wherein the first and second fasteners are buttons.

5. The quick change undergarment of claim 1, wherein the first and second fasteners are snaps.

6. The quick change undergarment of claim 1, wherein the first and second fasteners are velcro.

7. The quick change undergarment of claim 1, further comprising:

reinforcing material coupled to each of the first and second fasteners and the fabric, wherein the reinforcing material provides additional strength to the undergarment for actuation of the first and second fasteners.

8. The quick change undergarment of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more holders coupled to the fabric to secure the fabric in position while the first fastener is engaged to close the opening extending between the first leg opening and the waistline opening.

9. The quick change undergarment of claim 8, further comprising:

one or more holders coupled to the fabric to secure the fabric in position while the second fastener is engaged to close the opening extending between the second leg opening and the waistline opening.

10. A quick change undergarment system, comprising:

an undergarment, comprising

a fabric fashioned with a pair of leg openings and a waistline opening, wherein the fabric is worn on a person's midsection such the person's left leg extends through a first leg opening and the person's right leg extends through the second leg opening, wherein the waistline opening,extends around the person's waist;

a first fastener coupled to the fabric and extending between the first leg opening and the waistline opening, wherein the first fastener operates to create a separation of the fabric between the first leg opening and the waistline opening;

a second fastener coupled to the fabric and extending between the second leg opening and the waistline opening, wherein the second fastener operates to create a separation of the fabric between the second leg opening and the waistline opening; and

a bag with one or more pouches, at least one of said pouches configured to contain the undergarment.

11. The quick change undergarment system of claim 10, wherein one or more of the pouches of the bag contains soap.

12. The quick change undergarment system of claim 10, wherein one or more of the pouches of the bag contains a towel.

13. A method for replacing a quick change fabric undergarment on a person, the undergarment having a waistline opening and two leg opening and configured to be worn at the midsection of a person, comprising the steps of:

removing one or more outer layers of clothing to the extent to permit access to the undergarment;

unfastening each of a first and second fasteners, the first fastener configured to extend in an orientation between a first leg opening and the waistline opening and the second fastener configured to extend in an orientation between a second leg opening and the waistline opening so that the unfastening of the first and second fasteners creates a separation of the fabric on each side of each first and second fasteners, wherein once the first and second fasteners are completely unfastened the undergarment is separated from the waistline of the person and straddled between the legs of the person;

extracting the undergarment straddled by the person;

inserting a second undergarment between the legs of the person so that the second undergarment is straddled by the person; and

fastening of the first and second fasteners on the second undergarment so that the second undergarment covers the midsection of the person with no separation of the fabric of the second undergarment between each of the first and second fasteners on the second undergarment.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

engaging one or more holders to secure the fabric in a position to engage the first and second fasteners on the second undergarment.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the second undergarment is contained in a pouched bag prior to being inserted between the legs of the person.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second fasteners are zippers.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second fasteners are snaps.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second fasteners are buttons.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second fasteners are velcro.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second fasteners are each implemented as a hook and loop assembly.