Interchangeable hemline for the hem of a garment

Abstract

An interchangeable hemline for changing the style of the hem of a garment includes a decorative strip, a durable strip, a first fastener, and a second fastener. The garment can be a pant, skirt, sleeve, collar, short, or the like. The decorative strip has the durable strip and first fastener attached to one side of the decorative strip. The second fastener is attached to the exterior of the garment just above the hem. The first fastener can be mated with the second fastener to hold the decorative strip to the outside of the garment. Once attached, the first and second fasteners along with the durable strip are no longer visible. The durable strip forms a pull tab at one end of the decorative strip. The pull tab facilitates removal of the decorative strip from the hem of the garment.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/553,198, filed Mar. 15, 2004.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates to an interchangeable and removable attachment for use on the hemline of any garment, such as a pant, skirt, sleeve, collar, or short.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Various fashion styles have featured decorated hemlines. The decorated hemlines range from simple fabrics to fancy beaded designs permanently attached to the hem of the garments. While consumers may enjoy the look of the garment, they are presented several challenges. Cleaning a garment that has a decorative hemline offers one challenge to consumers. If the decorative hemline is not elaborate, the hemline can be washed with the garment. If the decorative hemline is beaded or has other delicate or intricate decoration, however, the garment must be dry-cleaned. Often, the decorative hemline can be damaged in the dry-cleaning process. Once damaged, the garment is often not repairable and hence not wearable. In addition, many decorative accessories, such as those made with feathers or beads, could prevent conventional cleaning of the garment. Versatility of the garment offers another challenge for the consumer. Consumers are very limited with their styling options when purchasing a garment with a decorative hemline. Purchasing several pair of decorative hemline garments can become cost prohibitive.

The present invention of the interchangeable decorative hemline addresses one or more of these challenges.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An interchangeable hemline for a hem of a garment includes a decorative strip, a durable strip, a first fastener, and a second fastener. The decorative strip has an inside surface and has a length for substantially fitting around the hem of the garment. The durable strip is attached or sewn to the inside surface of the decorative strip. The durable strip forms a pull-tab that extends beyond one end of the decorative strip. The first fastener is attached or sewn to the durable strip, and the second fastener is attached or sewn to the garment adjacent the hem. The first fastener mates with the second fastener to substantially hold the decorative strip to the hem of the garment. The pull-tab facilitates removal of the decorative strip from the garment and bears most of the pulling action when the first and second fasteners are unmated.

The first fastener is preferably a first strip of a VELCRO fastener, and the second fastener is preferably a second, corresponding strip of the VELCRO fastener. The first strip of the VELCRO fastener sewn to the durable strip is preferably narrower than the durable strip and is sewn preferably sewn adjacent an upper edge of the durable strip. In addition, the first strip of the VELCRO fastener is preferably narrower than the second strip of the VELCRO fastener sewn to the garment. In one embodiment, the durable strip is a strip of twill tape, and the pull-tab can be formed from an approximately half inch loop formed at one end of the twill tape. In another embodiment, the durable strip is a length of ribbon, and the pull tabs can be formed from free ends of the ribbon that extend beyond both ends of the decorative strip and that tie together.

The decorative strip decorates the hem of the garment by removably attaching to the hem of the garment with the first and second fasteners. The durable strip reinforces the decorative strip and the first fastener, and the pull-tab formed at one end of the durable strip facilitates removal of the decorative strip from the hem of the garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a garment having an interchangeable hemline attached on the hem.

FIG. 2A shows one side of the interchangeable hemline.

FIG. 2B shows another side of the interchangeable hemline having a durable strip and first fastener.

FIG. 3 shows the garment having a second fastener of the interchangeable hemline attached to the hem of the garment.

FIG. 4A-4B shows various stages of attaching or removing the interchangeable hemline to the hem of the garment.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of an interchangeable hemline attached on the hem of a garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a garment P is shown having an interchangeable hemline 10. In the present example, the garment P is a pair of pants having an interchangeable hemline 10 attached on the hems of each pant leg. In general, however, the interchangeable hemline 10 can be used on pants, skirts, shorts, dresses, or the like. In addition, the interchangeable hemline 10 can be used on the hems, sleeves, collars, or the like of the garments. For example, the interchangeable hemline 10 can be used on hems of pants as shown, on the lower hems or sleeves of jackets and shirts, or on the lower hems of skirts or dresses.

The interchangeable hemline 10 for the hem of the garment P includes a decorative strip 20 having first and second ends 22 and 24. The strip 20 attaches around the hem of the garment P so that the ends 22 and 24 meet together. The decorative strip 20 is generally a strip of decorative material. In one embodiment, the interchangeable hemline 10 can be made out of the same material as the garment, although this is not strictly necessary. The interchangeable hemline 10 can also have a decorative border attached to an upper edge of the decorative strip 20. In the present embodiment, the interchangeable hemline 10 of FIGS. 2A-B is made of a different decorative material. In addition, beads are attached to a lower edge of the decorative strip 20 and are intended to dangle from the interchangeable hemline 10 once attached to a garment. Therefore, the styling of the garment can easily be changed, updated, or lengthened using the interchangeable hemline 10.

A pull-tab 32, which will be described in more detail below, is accessible from the adjoining ends 22 and 24. The pull-tab 32 is used to remove the decorative strip 20 from the garment P. With the decorative strip 20 removed, the garment can easily be laundered. The decorative strip 20 is simply removed prior to each washing or dry-cleaning. The garment P can then be cleaned properly, and the decorative strip will not be damaged. Secondly, because the decorative strip 20 is removable and interchangeable, consumers can create a whole new look to the garment P by applying other removable decorative strips 20. In this way, a garment can be provided with a different aesthetic look by applying a different decorative strip 20.

Referring to FIGS. 2A-B, front and back sides of the interchangeable hemline 10 are shown. As noted above, the interchangeable hemline 10 includes the decorative strip 20 having first and second ends 22 and 24. In FIG. 2A, a front side or outside surface 21 of the hemline 10 is shown. This side 21 is visible when the interchangeable hemline 10 is attached to the garment. The pull tab 32 extends from one end 22 of the decorative strip 20. The pull tab 32 facilitates removal of the interchangeable hemline 10 from the garment. Hence, the durable strip 30 that forms the pull tab 32 bears most of the impact of the pulling action when removing the interchangeable hemline 10 from the garment.

In FIG. 2B, the back side or inside surface 23 of the interchangeable hemline 10 is shown. This side 21 is typically not visible when the hemline 10 is attached to the garment P. As seen in FIG. 2B, the interchangeable hemline 10 also includes a durable strip 30 and a first fastener 40. The durable strip 30 is narrower than the decorative strip 20 and is approximately the length of the first fastener 50, which fits around the circumference of the hem H as shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the durable strip 20 is attached to the inside surface 23 of the decorative strip 20 near the top edge of the strip 20. Preferably, the durable strip 30 is sewn to the decorative strip 20, although other techniques, such as gluing or heat bonding, can be used. Preferably, the durable strip 30 is a strip of twill tape or other strong material for reinforcing the decorative strip 10 and the first fastener 40.

The durable strip 30 forms the pull tab 32 that extends beyond one end 22 of the decorative strip 20. The pull tab 32 can be formed from an approximately half inch loop of the durable strip 20. The end 33 of the loop for the pull tab 32 can be either sewn or glued in place. The first fastener 40 is attached to the durable strip 30 near the “top” edge of the strip 30. Preferably, the first fastener 40 is a first strip of a VELCRO fastener. In addition, the first fastener 40 is preferably sewn both to the durable strip 30 and to the decorative strip 20, although other techniques can be used.

Referring to FIG. 3, the garment P is shown without the decorative strip attached. The interchangeable hemline (10) also includes a second fastener 50 attached to the garment P adjacent the hem H. Preferably, the second fastener 50 is sewn directly onto the hem H of the garment P, although other techniques can be used. The second fastener 50 is intended to mate with the first fastener 40 shown in FIG. 2B. Therefore, the second fastener is preferable a second, corresponding strip of VELCRO capable of mating with the first fastener 40.

Referring to FIGS. 4A-4B, the interchangeable hemline 10 is shown in various stages of attaching to the hem H of the garment P. To attach the decorative strip 20 to the garment P, the first fastener 40 is mated with the second fastener 50 to substantially hold the decorative strip 20 to the hem H of the garment P. For example, one end 22 of the decorative strip 20 is first attached to the hem H of the garment P. On some garments P, it may be preferred to align the end 22 of the strip 20 with the seam S of the garment P. In this way, the decorative strip 20 may not overly stiffen the hem that it is attached to and may keep the hem H somewhat flexible at the seam S. For example, it may be preferred on pants that the ends 22 and 24 of the decorative strip 20 be aligned with the outside seam S of the pant leg, which can prevent the closure from rubbing against the other pant leg as the wearer walks and potentially coming unfastened.

With one end 22 attached to the hem H, the fasteners 40 and 50 are mated together around the hem H of the garment P as successively shown in FIGS. 4A-4B, until the other end 24 of the decorative strip 20 meets the first end 22 at the seam S of the garment P. Removal the decorative strip 20 is the reverse of FIGS. 4A-4B. Removal begins with holding the garment P, then pulling the pull tab, and separating the first and second fasteners 40 and 50 around the hem H.

As best shown in FIG. 4A, the first fastener or strip of VELCRO 40 sewn to the durable strip 30 is narrower than the second fastener or strip of VELCRO 50 sewn to the hem H of the garment P. Although the first and second fasteners 40 and 50 have been shown as the two mating portions of a VELCRO fastener, it will be apparent that other devices, such as buttons, hooks and eyes, snaps, or the like can also be used.

Preferably, the second fastener 50 is the portion of VELCRO having a mesh, and the first fastener 40 is the portion of VELCRO having a plurality of stiff hooks intended to engage the mesh of the second fastener 50. The second fastener 50 must be securely attached to the garment P because this fastener 50 is intended to be washed with the garment P. Using the mesh portion of the VELCRO fastener for the second fastener 50 on the hem H of the garment P may prevent other garments from sticking to the second fastener 50 when laundering the garment P with other clothing.

Referring to FIG. 5, another embodiment of an interchangeable hemline 10 is shown attached on the hem of a garment. The present embodiment of the interchangeable hemline 10 is essentially similar to other embodiments disclosed herein except that the present embodiment uses a ribbon 60 (rather than twill tape) as the durable strip attached to the decorative strip 20. The ribbon 60 is attached to the decorative strip 20 in a similar fashion as the twill tape disclosed above. In addition, the fastener (not shown) is similarly attached to the ribbon in a similar fashion as disclosed above.

The length of the ribbon is greater than that of the decorative strip 20 so that free ends 62 and 64 of the ribbon 60 form pull tabs extending beyond both ends 22, 24 of the decorative strip 20. Acting as pull tabs, the free ends 62 and 64 facilitate removal of the interchangeable hemline 10 from the garment. Hence, the ribbon 60 bears most of the impact of the pulling action when removing the interchangeable hemline 10 from the garment. In addition, the free ends 62 and 64 tie together when the interchangeable hemline 10 is attached to the garment. For example, the free ends 62 and 64 can be tied into a bow for decoration and for keeping the interchangeable hemline 10 attached to the garment.

Modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts such as readily occur to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An interchangeable hemline for a hem of a garment, comprising:

a decorative strip having an inside surface and having a length for substantially fitting around the hem of the garment;

a durable strip attached to the inside surface of the decorative strip and forming at least one pull tab that extends beyond one end of the decorative strip;

a first fastener attached to the durable strip;

a second fastener attached to the garment adjacent the hem,

wherein the first fastener mates with the second fastener to substantially hold the decorative strip to the hem of the garment, and

wherein the pull tab facilitates removal of the decorative strip from the garment.

2. The interchangeable hemline of claim 1, wherein the first fastener comprises a first strip of a VELCRO fastener sewn to the durable strip.

3. The interchangeable hemline of claim 2, wherein the second fastener comprises a second strip of the VELCRO fastener sewn to the garment.

4. The interchangeable hemline of claim 3, wherein the first strip of the VELCRO fastener sewn to the durable strip is narrower than the durable strip

5. The interchangeable hemline of claim 4, wherein the first strip of the VELCRO fastener is sewn adjacent an upper edge of the durable strip.

6. The interchangeable hemline of claim 4, wherein the first strip of the VELCRO fastener is narrower than the second strip of the VELCRO fastener sewn to the garment.

7. The interchangeable hemline of claim 1, wherein the garment is a pant, a skirt, a short, or a jacket.

8. The interchangeable hemline of claim 1, wherein the durable strip comprises a strip of twill tape.

9. The interchangeable hemline of claim 8, wherein the pull-tab is formed from a looped end of the strip of twill tape.

10. The interchangeable hemline of claim 1, wherein the durable strip comprises a strip of ribbon having a length greater than that of the decorative strip such that the ribbon has first and second free ends extending beyond ends of the decorative strip and forming pull tabs.

11. The interchangeable hemline of claim 8, wherein the first and second ends of the ribbon are capable of tying together when the decorative strip is attached to the hem.

12. A garment having at least one hem, comprising:

a decorative strip having an inside surface and having a length for substantially fitting around the hem of the garment;

a durable strip attached to the inside surface of the decorative strip and forming at least one pull tab that extends beyond one end of the decorative strip;

a first fastener attached to the durable strip;

a second fastener attached to the garment adjacent the hem,

wherein the first fastener mates with the second fastener to substantially hold the decorative strip to the hem of the garment, and

wherein the pull tab facilitates removal of the decorative strip from the garment.

13. The interchangeable hemline of claim 12, wherein:

the first fastener comprises a first strip of a VELCRO fastener sewn to the durable strip, and

the second fastener comprises a second strip of the VELCRO fastener sewn to the garment.

14. The interchangeable hemline of claim 13, wherein:

the first strip is narrower than the durable strip,

the first strip is narrower than the second strip sewn to the garment, and

the first strip is sewn adjacent an upper edge of the durable strip.

15. The interchangeable hemline of claim 12, wherein the garment is a pant, a skirt, a short, or a jacket.

16. The interchangeable hemline of claim 12, wherein the durable strip comprises a strip of twill tape.

17. The interchangeable hemline of claim 16, wherein the pull tab is formed from a looped end of the strip of twill tape.

18. The interchangeable hemline of claim 12, wherein the durable strip comprises a strip of ribbon having a length greater than that of the decorative strip such that the ribbon has first and second free ends extending beyond ends of the decorative strip and forming pull tabs.

19. The interchangeable hemline of claim 18, wherein the first and second ends of the ribbon are capable of tying together when the decorative strip is attached to the hem.

20. An interchangeable hemline for a hem of a garment, comprising:

means for decorating the hem of the garment;

first means for removably attaching the decorating means to the garment, the first means attached to the decorating means,

second means for removably attaching the decorating means to the garment, the second means attached to the garment and mating with the first means;

means for reinforcing the decorating means and the first attaching means, the reinforcing means including means for facilitating removal of the decorating means from the hem of the garment.