System for accessorizing casual apparel
Decorative accessories for clothing items are removably supported thereon by hook-and-loop type fasteners. Cuffs are removably secured to the distal ends of legs of pants, cuffs are removably secured to the distal ends of sleeves of tops, and collars are removably secured to neck openings of tops by the hook-and-loop type fasteners. Patches, which may be associated with nations or sports teams attending sports events, with characters and attractions at theme parks, etc. are removably attached to garments utilizing hook-and-loop type fasteners. Collectibles; pictures and other indicia identified with entertainers and other personalities; tickets, licenses and other items subject to inspect by authorities are removably displayed on garments utilizing hook-and-loop type fasteners.
This application claims priority of prior provisional Application Ser. No. 60/371,797 filed Apr. 11, 2002, currently pending, and of prior provisional Application Ser. No. 60/408,330 filed Sep. 5, 2002.
TECHNICAL FIELDThis invention relates generally to the accessorizing of apparel items including trousers, shirts, and the like, and more particularly to a system for removably attaching accessories to jeans, tops, and other items of casual apparel. The invention further relates to removably displaying photographs and other indicia identified with persons and other subject matters on apparel items.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTrousers manufactured from denim and other materials and commonly referred to as blue jeans or simply jeans are worn throughout the world for work, play, and casual living. Although jeans intended to be worn by adults are seldom provided with decorative accessories, children's jeans are often provided with decorative cuffs, pockets, etc. which are made from materials differing in texture and color from the fabric of the jeans themselves. Similarly, tops manufactured for use by children are often provided with decorative accessories such as cuffs, collars, pockets, and/or various types of patches.
Heretofore decorative accessories for casual apparel including jeans, tops, and similar garments have been permanently attached. This practice necessitates the purchase of multiple garments in order to suit the needs of various activities and occasions.
The present invention comprises a system for accessorizing casual clothing which overcomes the foregoing and other problems. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, cuffs, pocket patches, and other accessories are removably secured to jeans and other trousers. Similarly, cuffs, patches, and collars are removably secured to tops such as t-shirts, polo shirts, sweaters, jackets, other outer wear, and the like. More particularly, accessary items for trousers and tops are removably secured using hook-and-loop type fasteners.
As is well known, pins representative of the participating nations or teams are collected and exchanged among visitors to the Olympics® and other sporting events. Similarly, attendees at theme parks such as Disney World® collect and exchange pins representative of various cartoon characters, rides and other attractions, etc. The present invention further contemplates the replacement of such pins with patches which are identified with nations or teams participating in sporting events, characters and attractions at theme parks, etc. The patches are removably secured to wearing apparel utilizing hook-and-loop type fasteners.
Baseball cards and cards associated with other sporting activities, photographs and other items distributed on behalf of entertainers and other personalities at concerts and other venues, and similar items are often referred to as collectibles. The present invention further contemplates the removable display of such collectibles on clothing items. The collectible display apparatus can also be used to display tickets, licenses, and other items that are subject to inspection by designated authorities.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSA more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, wherein:
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The top 20 is provided with cuffs 22 which are removably secured to the ends of the sleeves 24 of the top 20. The cuffs 22 are typically fabricated from a fabric which differs in color, texture, and/or pattern from that of the top 20. As is illustrated in
The top 20 is also provided with a removable collar 32 which normally extends around a neck opening 34 at the upper end of the top 20. The opening 34 has a first component 36 of a hook-and-loop type fastener extending around the exterior thereof, while the opposite component 38 of the hook-and-loop type fastener extends around the interior of the collar 32.
Referring to
The jeans 10 of
An important feature of the invention comprises coordination of the accessorizing of the jeans or other trousers 10 of
Referring to
The size and shape of the component 52 of the hook-and-loop type fastener is preferably closely matched to the size and shape of the patch utilized in conjunction therewith. In such manner accidental or mischievous disengagement of the patch from the component 52 and the garment 50 is prevented.
Referring to
Regardless of the contents of a particular collection 58, the display technique illustrated in
As will be understood, the present invention contemplates providing each component 56 of each collection 58 with a component of a hook-and-loop fastener which is opposite from but otherwise compatible with the component 52 that is secured to the garment 50 as shown in
A selected component 56 from a particular collection 58 is positioned between the back layer 64 and the transparent front layer 62 of the display apparatus 60 prior to or after the connection of the display apparatus 60 to the garment 50 utilizing the hook-and-loop fastener components which are secured to the display apparatus 60 and to the garment 50, respectively. The previously selected component 56 of the collection 58 may be replaced with a different component either by providing multiple display apparatus 60 each containing a particular component 56, or by simply removing one of the components 56 and by replacing it with a different component 56 comprising the collection 58.
The display apparatus 60 is also adapted for the display of items which must be available for inspection by appropriate authorities. For example, the display apparatus 60 may be utilized to receive and display tickets for sporting events, musical events, and the like. The display apparatus 60 may be utilized to receive and display airline tickets and/or boarding passes. Another advantageous use of the display apparatus 60 is the display of hunting licenses, fishing licenses and similar items indicating the right or permission to engage in particular activities.
Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Claims
1-17. Canceled.
18. A system for removably securing accessories to items of wearing apparel comprising:
- an item of wearing apparel having a first component of a hook-and-loop type fastener secured thereto; and
- a decorative accessory for the item of wearing apparel having the opposite component of the hook-and-loop type fastener secured thereto whereby the decorative accessory is removably secured to the item of wearing apparel;
- wherein the item of wearing apparel comprises trousers having legs with the first component of the hook-and-loop fastener being secured to interior surfaces of the legs, and wherein the decorative accessory for the item of wearing apparel comprises cuffs having the second component of the hook-and-loop fastener secured to exterior surfaces thereof whereby the cuffs are removably secured to the lower ends of the legs of the trousers.
19. A system for removably securing decorative cuffs to the distal ends of trouser legs comprising:
- trousers including two legs each having a distal end and an interior surface;
- two first components of a hook-and-loop fastener each secured to the interior surface of one of the trouser legs;
- a pair of decorative cuffs each having an exterior surface;
- two second components of the hook-and-loop fastener each secured to the exterior surface of one of the decorative cuffs;
- whereby the hook-and-loop fasteners secure the decorative cuffs to the distal ends of the trouser legs.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 8, 2004
Publication Date: Feb 17, 2005
Inventor: Stephen Liddell (Plano, TX)
Application Number: 10/936,624