Customizable jeans garment

Abstract

A pants-type garment consisting of two completely independent and complimentary parts, which are releasably joinable but are nowhere permanently attached. The parts are joined in an area extending from the top of the front waistband to the top of the rear waistband. After joining, the parts remain separatable and, once separated, either part can be used to create a new garment using any other complimentary part. This ability to substitute like parts allows the consumer to create a garment that is unique and that can be distinguished by the coding of characteristics.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to garments, more specifically, to pants-type garments including pants, jeans, trousers, and other similar such articles of clothing.

In society, clothing in general, and pants-type articles in particular have served not only as items for covering the body, but additionally as articles of fashion, and as eye-catching elements which influence the appeal of an individual to those around her. The latter functions of pants-type garments—those beyond simply covering and protecting the body—have become increasingly important

Historically, the color coding of human clothing is predominantly, and perhaps exclusively, represented by monotonously colored items or horizontal color layers within clothing items. This manner of color coding has largely been accepted as a rule in the design of items within the fashion industry. In respect to pants-type garments, such as jeans, trousers, etc., color coding is either monotonous, such as when both leg portions are of the same color, or symmetrical, such as both leg portions possessing the same pattern. Quite obviously, such a consistent color scheme for all pants-type garments greatly reduces the diversity and variability available to meet consumer demands.

Millions of consumers, particularly those of a young age category, eagerly await fashion items that, through their color and other attributes, reflect the wearer's mood, personality, traditions, sexuality and sociality. Furthermore, there is consumer demand for items of fashion which can be easily customized in order to achieve said differentiation and thus further reflect the wearer's attributes through the attributes of her customized article of clothing. In response to the need for customization and vertical coding of color and other characteristics, the present invention is being offered.

Generally, pants-type garments are designed and sold as a unit comprising a torso section, with leg sections extending therefrom, and a crotch section. As a result, there is no possibility to customize such an article of clothing without altering the item itself through some form of sewing, painting, coloring or otherwise embellishing of the garment.

In one prior-art form, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,823,419, there is provided a trouser-like garment consisting of two permanently joined half-sections. The purpose is the creation of a garment which has increased potential for adjustment to different sizes and which can be donned and removed with increased rapidity. In another prior art form, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,595, there is provided a woman's trouser with a releasable opening extending throughout the crotch area. The purpose is to minimize the exposure of a woman's body if she must relieve herself outside the privacy of a restroom facility. In a third prior art form, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,828 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,878, there is provided an article of clothing with added crotch openings which may be concealed through a number of different methods. The purpose is to provide access to a specific body region for hygienic or toiletry reasons.

However, the prior art neither describes nor teaches a pants-type garment which is assembled from two completely separate and independent parts with an aesthetic purpose in mind. The use of two separate parts and the ability to releasably join either of these parts with a complimentary part allows for the creation of a customized pants-type garment without significant efforts in the form of creativity and then labor on behalf of the consumer. These features are characteristic of the present invention, which is described in detail hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means of customization for a pants-type garment by providing the consumer with two parts, using which such a garment may be easily and readily assembled. The said two parts are independent from each other until joined and, once joined, remain separatable. Furthermore, any part that corresponds, in a complementary manner, to the means of releasable joining is interchangeable. Once a pants-type garment is separated into its constituent two parts, each of these parts may be used to create a new pants-type garment by combining either with a complimentary part along the separation area, extending from the top of the front waistband to the top of the rear waistband. This allows for the creation of four aesthetically different pants-type garments using four parts, provided that two parts correspond to each separation side. As a result, not only is the ability to customize achieved but also an increased number of different pants-type garments can be created. Any two complimentary parts may be joined through a zipper, plurality of zippers, Velcro, buttons, snaps, hooks or any other similar fastening method.

Another object of the present invention is to facilitate vertical coding of characteristics for pants-type garments. The assembly of two parts along the means of releasable joining allows each part to possess its own set of characteristics. Since each part extends in a downward manner, the specific coding achieved is of a vertically oriented manner. Such coding of characteristics may include any of the following: color, material, texture, ornamentation, opacity, patches, fit, finish, accenting, closures, number of pockets, cut, or any other differentiating characteristic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein;

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating the two parts of the present invention prior to being releasably joined together;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view showing the two parts of the present invention after being releasably joined together;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view showing the two parts of the present invention after being releasably joined together wherein said parts possess varying characteristics, which are exemplary of vertical differentiation that may be achieved.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view illustrating the two parts of the present invention after being releasably joined together through a zipper, which is partially concealed by continuous flaps; and

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view showing the two parts of the present invention after being releasably joined together through a zipper, which is partially concealed by continuous flaps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now in detail to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, two parts 21 and 22 of a pants-type garment 20 are shown. Part 21 is comprised of a leg portion 10, extending downward from the torso segment 18, and a crotch portion 6. Part 22 is comprised of a leg portion 12, extending downward from the torso segment 19, and a crotch portion 8. The torso segment 18 is topped by a waistband, specifically its front portion 3 and rear portion 2. Similarly, the torso segment 19 is topped by a waistband, specifically its front portion 5 and rear portion 4. Part 21 and part 22 can be releasably joined through various means and in this embodiment zipper halves 14 and zipper 16 are used. One of these zipper halves, in this case zipper half 14, is equipped with a zipper pull 27. Zipper half 14 begins at the top of the waistband's front portion 3 and ends at the top of the waistband's rear portion 2. Zipper half 14 is equipped with a retaining box 28 of standard construction. Zipper half 16 begins at the top of the waistband's front portion 5 and ends at the top of the waistband's rear portion 4. Zipper half 16 is equipped with an insert pin 29. Retaining box 28 and insert pin 29 are interjoinable and act to secure zipper half 14 and zipper half 16 together at the initial point of joining. In this embodiment, button 24 and buttonhole 23 are used to further secure the waistband beyond the means already provided for by zipper halves 14 and 16. Slanted pocket 25 is provided for torso portion 18 while horizontal pocket 26 is provided for torso portion 19 with the purpose of illustrating one of many differentiating characteristics that can exist between part 21 and part 22.

FIG. 2 illustrates a wearable pants-type garment 30 which has been assembled from parts 21 and 22 and is comprised of torso sections 18 and 19, leg portions 10 and 12, and crotch section 7. Crotch section 7 has been made from the union of crotch section 6 of part 21 and crotch section 8 of part 22 indicated in FIG. 1. Zipper halves 14 and 16, once joined, provide a secure connection between parts 21 and 22 thus creating a wearable garment 30. Although the wearable nature of this garment assures that it functions as a unit, it may be easily, readily, and fully separated into its constituent parts 21 and 22 by releasing the link between zipper halves 14 and 16 using zipper pull 27.

FIG. 3 shows the ability to differentiate parts 21 and 22, as exemplified in this case by varying patterns 33 and 34 and varying pocket styles 25 and 26, thus facilitating vertical coding of characteristics and the ability for the consumer to customize the garment. The consumer can select parts 21 and 22 separately from a variety of patterns, colors, materials, textures, and number of pockets available to each part independently.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, continuous flap 31 of part 21 and continuous flap 32 of part 22 are used to partially conceal joined zipper halves 14 and 16. A further embodiment of the present invention not shown here is zipper halves 14 and 16 fully concealed by extending both flaps 31 and 32 or either of said flaps.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it is obvious that a number of changes, additions, and omissions may be made in the disclosed pants-type garment without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. For example, a means of securing parts 21 and 22 other than zipper halves 14 and 16 may be used or a method of differentiating these parts other than varied pockets 25 and 26 or patterns 33 and 34 may be used. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims shall cover any modifications and applications that will not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A pants-type garment, such as pants, jeans and trousers, comprising:

two completely separate and complementary parts;

each of said two parts comprising a leg portion, a crotch portion, a torso portion, and a waistband;

said waistband connected to top of said torso portion of respective part;

said two parts being independent until releasably joined;

means of releasably joining said two parts together to form a wearable garment;

each of said two parts, corresponding in a complementary manner to the said means of releasable joining, being interchangeable among plurality of other such parts; and

said parts being releasably joinable along an area, which extends from the top of the front waistband to the top of the rear waistband.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said means of releasably joining said two parts is comprised of fully separatable zipper halves stitched to complementary parts of the garment.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said means of releasably joining said two parts is comprised of a plurality of zipper halves stitched to complementary parts of the garment.

4. The invention of claim 1, wherein said parts are different from each other in terms of color, material, texture, ornamentation, opacity, fit, finish, accenting, closures, style of pockets, number of pockets, cut, or any other differentiating characteristic.

5. The invention of claim 1, wherein said parts are similar to each other in terms of color, material, texture, ornamentation, opacity, fit, finish, accenting, closures, style of pockets, number of pockets, or cut.

6. The invention of claim 1, wherein said means of releasably joining said two parts is comprised of Velcro-type fasteners attached to complementary parts of the garment.

7. The invention of claim 1, wherein said means of releasably joining said two parts is comprised of buttons attached to complementary parts of the garment.

8. The invention of claim 1, wherein said means of releasably joining said two parts is comprised of a combination of zipper halves and buttons.

9. The invention of claim 1, wherein said means of releasably joining said two parts may be partially or fully concealed under continuous flaps.

10. The invention of claim 1, wherein, if a waistband is not present, said parts are releasably joinable along an area which extends from the top of the front torso portion to the top of the rear torso portion.

11. The invention of claim 1, wherein either of said parts may be acquired by the consumer independently and may be releasably joined to a complimentary part thus forming a customized garment.

12. The invention of claim 1, wherein said parts feature an additional means of releasable joining positioned along the seam of the outer side of each said part.

13. The business method espoused by the invention of claim 1, wherein a garment's constituent parts are offered to the consumer separately, thereby allowing her to assemble a customized garment through releasably joining potentially different and necessarily independent parts, each of which is interchangeable among such like parts, thereby creating an article of clothing characterized by coding of characteristics.