Removable and Interchangeable Outer Pocket Wall
A mechanism whereby pants, particularly women's denim jeans, can be customized by the user makes use of interchangeable rear outer pocket walls. The pockets differ in their embellishments on the outer pocket wall but not in the size of the outer pocket walls. Embellishments are not limited to those that can be washed with the rest of the garment, as the outer pocket walls can be removed for the washing process.
This is the non-provisional application of provisional application No. 60/744,504, filed on Apr. 9, 2006.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a way that the outer fabric layer of pockets can be made interchangeable so as to achieve different looks with the same garment, as well as making it easier to clean the garment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIt is well known that decorations and fine embellishment, such as beadwork, or intricate stitching, is common on women's clothing. It has become a popular trend nowadays for such embellishments to be used on the back pockets of women's denim jeans. Oftentimes purchasers of such jeans will buy numerous pairs of jeans in the same style, which substantially differ only in the color or design of the embellishments on the back pockets. Furthermore, denim designers are limited in the types of beads and other embellishments that they can use on the back pockets because not all are suitable for frequent washing, especially in washing machines.
Removable pockets have been previously described for the purpose of customization of a garment or bag, or for the easy replacement of a worn out pocket. They are designed so that an entire pocket (with both walls) can be removed and replaced. In cases where some designs permit the removal of only the outer wall, it is for the purpose of customizing a bag or garment but is not interchangeable with another outer pocket wall which differs only in the embellishments on it.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONWhat is needed in the art is a way by which consumers can own a single pair of pants in a particular style that has a simple mechanism for them to remove the outer pocket wall of certain pockets, and attach other outer pocket walls containing different stitching, colors or embellishments. With such a product, consumers would be able to achieve multiple looks with the same pair of pants. They could additionally purchase extra outer pocket walls for use with their pants. Furthermore, because the outer pocket walls, with their embellishments, can easily be removed; the denim designers would be able to create more intricate designs and use a wider variety of embellishments as they would not be limited by those items that can withstand frequent washing.
In some embodiments of the present invention it may be necessary to limit or completely obliterate the functionality of the pocket, in order to secure the outer wall of the pocket securely. While it is preferable to have functional back pockets, these pockets are oftentimes not utilized, and it may be perfectly acceptable to some consumers to forego the functionality of the back pockets in order to have the flexibility to alter its style dynamically. In these cases, the interchangeable pieces of removable material are not strictly outer walls of pockets, but rather the outer walls of pockets in appearance. Such arrangement and mechanism is still considered to be within the scope of this invention.
The invention is applicable to any garment, but is particularly suitable to women's denim jeans because women's denim jean design places particular emphasis on the designs and embellishments of the external aspect of the outer walls of the back pockets. With the present invention, a woman may purchase a single pair of jeans and purchase additional back pockets that are compatible with her pair of jeans, thereby achieving a variety of looks by interchanging the back pockets according to the colors and style she wishes to achieve wear on a particular day. Furthermore, before washing her jeans in a washing machine, she can easily remove the back pockets from the jeans so that intricate needlework or other embellishments will not get ruined in the washing process. After washing, she can easily reattach the back pockets.
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While the present invention has been described with respect to a particularly preferred embodiment and alternative embodiments, the invention is susceptible to implementation in further ways which are within the spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. A customizable pants system, comprising:
- pants having at least one permanently fixed inner pocket wall;
- said pants having at least one attachment mechanism that is permanently fixed to part of the perimeter of said inner pocket wall;
- a plurality of outer pocket walls that are essentially the same in shape and form, but differ in the appearance of their outer aspects; and
- said outer pocket walls having attachment mechanisms that are permanently fixed to part of the perimeters of said outer walls and that couple with the attachment mechanisms that are permanently fixed to said pants.
2. The customizable pants system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one attachment mechanism that is permanently fixed to part of the perimeter of said inner pocket wall, and the attachment mechanism that is permanently fixed to part of the perimeter of one of the said outer walls together constitute a snap fastener mechanism.
3. The customizable pants system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one attachment mechanism that is permanently fixed to part of the perimeter of said inner pocket wall, and the attachment mechanism that is permanently fixed to part of the perimeter of one of the said outer walls together constitute a “hook and loop” fastener mechanism.
4. The customizable pants system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one attachment mechanism that is permanently fixed to part of the perimeter of said inner pocket wall, and the attachment mechanism that is permanently fixed to part of the perimeter of one of the said outer walls together constitute a zipper mechanism.
5. The customizable pants system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one attachment mechanism that is permanently fixed to part of the perimeter of said inner pocket wall is a plurality of attachment mechanisms that are permanently fixed to part of the perimeter of said inner pocket wall.
6. The customizable pants system as in claim 5, wherein the types of said attachment mechanisms are all of the same type.
7. The customizable pants system as in claim 5, wherein the types of said attachment mechanisms are not all of the same type.
8. The customizable pants system as in claim 7, wherein the types of said attachment mechanisms comprise a zipper mechanism and a stud fastener mechanism.
9. Customizable pants, comprising:
- a permanently attached frame, said frame being similar in appearance to the perimeter of a standard outer pocket wall; and
- a piece of fabric which is inserted into said permanently attached frame, said piece of fabric being similar in appearance to a standard outer pocket wall.
10. A customizable pants system, comprising:
- pants with a permanently attached frame, said frame being similar in appearance to the perimeter of a standard outer pocket wall; and
- a plurality of pieces of fabric which can be inserted into said permanently attached frame, said pieces of fabric being similar in appearance to the outer aspect of a standard outer pocket wall.
11. A customizable pants system, comprising:
- pants with at least one permanently attached attachment mechanism;
- a plurality of pieces of loose fabric, said pieces of loose fabric being similar in appearance to the outer aspect of a standard outer pocket wall; and
- attachment mechanisms permanently attached to said pieces of loose fabric which can attach to the at least one attachment mechanism on said pants.
12. A customizable pants system as in claim 11, wherein said attachment mechanisms permanently attached to said pieces of loose fabric and said at least one permanently attached attachment mechanism on said pants together constitute a stud fastener mechanism.
13. A customizable pants system as in claim 11, wherein said attachment mechanisms permanently attached to said pieces of loose fabric and said at least one permanently attached attachment mechanism on said pants together constitute a “hook and loop” fastener mechanism.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 9, 2007
Publication Date: Oct 25, 2007
Inventor: Evan John Kaye
Application Number: 11/733,005