System and method for adjusting a garment
Devices and methods for adjusting the appearance of the cut of a garment, e.g., a bikini-type swimsuit. A garment system provides a garment; a first set of adjustment devices, e.g., snaps or clips, configured to adjust the appearance of the garment; and a container that includes a second set of adjustment devices. The second set may have a different color, pattern or material from the first set and may also be configured to adjust the appearance of the garment.
The present invention relates to a system and method for adjusting a garment, e.g., swimwear, and more specifically, to using sets of interchangeable devices for adjusting a garment.
BACKGROUNDSwimwear is a very popular attire and the number of types, e.g., one-piece, two-piece, coverall, etc., that may be worn are numerous. One style that is particularly popular is the bikini. The bikini is generally characterized by a swimsuit having a first, or bottom, piece and a second, or top, piece. However, within this bikini category, there are numerous different cuts and styles that may be worn.
A woman that wears a bikini may wish to vary the type of cut of the swimsuit. There are numerous reasons why she might wish to do so. For example, a woman may wish to wear a bikini-type swimsuit with a more conservative cut when in more conservative company, e.g., at a family beach or the like. The same woman may wish to wear a bikini-type swimsuit with a more revealing or daring cut in a more private setting, e.g., a private beach or a private pool. Furthermore, swimwear preferences are influenced by geographic location and culture, as some areas of the world are generally more amenable to more daring swimwear styles than others. Of course, a woman may also choose to vary the cut of a bikini-type swimwear based solely on her own comfort level with her appearance. Other reasons that a woman that wears a bikini may wish to vary the type of cut of the swimsuit are too numerous to mention.
Normally, a bikini-type swimsuit has a particular and pre-determined cut. For example, a bikini-type swimsuit having a conventional cut for more skin coverage is designed and intended to be worn this way, and if a woman wishes to wear a bikini-type swimsuit having a different cut or style, she must purchase and wear a different bikini-type swimsuit that has the desired different cut or style. Of course, the cost of having several bikini-type swimsuits, each one having a particular one of numerous different cuts and styles, may be considerable.
In order to reduce the number of different bikini-type swimsuits that a woman must purchase if she wishes to wear different styles and cuts of bikinis, manufacturers have introduced swimsuits that have a component that enables the swimsuit to be adjusted so that it can be worn in a variety of different styles. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,240,560, entitled “Versatile Swimsuit with Accessories” is directed to a swimsuit with a plurality of loop members and hook and loop fasteners for interchangeable attachment of straps, linked chains, and other accessories in a manner which alters the style and appearance of the swimsuit. The '560 patent describes one or more closeable band wraps that can be wrapped about portions of the swimsuit top and/or bottom to achieve different swimsuit styles including a conventional style, a Brazilian cut or a thong.
While conventional swimsuits described in, e.g., the '560 patent, enable a woman to adjust the swimsuit so that it can be worn in a variety of different ways so as to give the swimsuit the appearance of having a variety of different cuts, the closeable band wraps that it uses to achieve this adjustability are impractical for this purpose. First, the closeable band wraps may be difficult to use. For example, the closeable band wraps must be wrapped repeatedly around different sections of the swimsuit in order to enable the swimsuit to obtain the appearance of having a different cut. Furthermore, because the closeable band wraps must be wrapped repeatedly around different sections of the swimsuit in order to enable the swimsuit to obtain the appearance of having a different cut, it seems evident that these closeable band wraps would likely be applied to the swimsuit before the woman puts the swimsuit on, since it would be very difficult and uncomfortable to repeatedly wrap the closeable band wraps around different sections of the swimsuit while the swimsuit is actually being worn. Having to apply the closeable band wraps to the swimsuit before the woman puts the swimsuit on is inconvenient from a time standpoint, e.g., it may take a significant amount of time to repeatedly wrap the closeable band wraps around different sections of the swimsuit while it is worn. Also, having to apply the closeable band wraps to the swimsuit before the woman puts the swimsuit on may prevent a woman from making an adjustment to the cut of the swimsuit while in public, because it would likely be difficult (at least it would be difficult with any degree of modesty) to unwrap a closeable band wrap that has been repeatedly wrapped around a section of the swimsuit and to then, in order to obtain the appearance of a different cut, repeatedly re-wrap the closeable band wraps around a different section of the swimsuit.
Still further, because the closeable band wraps are repeatedly wrapped around sections of the swimsuit, they are likely to be uneven and uncomfortable when worn, even when worn as intended. This discomfort is compounded if the woman uses the closeable band wraps to effect only a small amount of adjustment to the swimsuit. Specifically, the closeable band wraps must have a given length which enables them to effectively change the appearance of the suit from a most conservative look, e.g., a conventional American look having a lot of skin coverage, to a more daring look, e.g., a thong having very little coverage. If the woman decides to change the appearance of the swimsuit only a little, the same closeable band wrap must be wrapped many more times, e.g., because it is being wrapped around a smaller section of the swimsuit, which results in the closeable band wraps being even more bulky, uneven and uncomfortable. Thus, the system of the '560 patent does not provide adequate flexibility (or at least does not provide adequate flexibility while affording a satisfactory level of comfort or speed) in the adjustments that may be made to the swimsuit.
Thus, it is desirable to employ an improved system and method that enables a swimsuit to be easily, quickly and comfortably adjusted so as to provide the appearance of a variety of different cuts and styles.
SUMMARYThe present invention relates to a system and method for adjusting a garment, e.g., swimwear, and specifically, to using a set of interchangeable devices for adjusting the style or cut of a garment.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a garment system, comprising: a garment; a first set of adjustment devices configured to adjust the appearance of the garment; and a container for housing the adjustment devices that includes at least a second set of adjustment devices configured to adjust the appearance of the garment. The garment may be a swimsuit, and preferably, a bikini-type swimsuit, and the adjustment devices may be suited to adjust, e.g., a bottom piece of a bikini-type swimsuit.
The container may be a pouch. The pouch may be attachable to the garment via an attachment element, such as a string, strap or a chain. Optionally, a brand seal may be attached to the string, strap or chain. In an other embodiment, the second set of adjustment devices may be the same as the first set of adjustment devices. Alternatively, the second set of adjustment devices may have a different color, pattern or shape as compared to the first set of adjustment devices. Still further, the second set of adjustment devices may be made from a different material as compared to the first set of adjustment devices.
At least one of the first and the second set of adjustment devices may be made from a fabric. In this embodiment, such an adjustment device that is made from a fabric may include a securing means such as a snap comprising a first and second portion with each portion of the snap disposed on opposite ends thereof, with the snaps being alignable and closeable in response to external pressure. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the first and the second set of adjustment devices may be made from metal. In this embodiment, such an adjustment device may be a metal clip. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the first and the second set of adjustment devices may be made from plastic or glass. In the embodiment in which the adjustment device is made of plastic, such an adjustment device may be a plastic clip. Optionally, the adjustment device may be decorated with rhinestones, glitters, or any other desirable decorative elements. It is also to be noted that the number of adjustment devices which can be positioned on the garment can vary. For example, a woman can place two or more adjustment devices on each side of the front of the bottom piece of a bikini-type swimsuit to further constrict the fabric in that area or for decorative purposes.
In another embodiment, the adjustment device is a clip which can be removed from the garment and which is slidable along a portion of the garment. Such an adjustment device embraces the fabric of the garment and has an internal lumen with a width which is smaller than the width of the portion of the garment it embraces and constricts the portion of the garment along which it slides.
In the example in which the garment to be adjusted is a bottom piece of a bikini-type swimsuit, moving the adjustment devices towards the center of the front and the center of the back bottom piece may provide an appearance of a cut with less coverage, e.g., a Brazilian or thong cut. Furthermore, moving the adjustment devices away from the center of the front and the center of the back bottom piece provides an appearance of a cut with more coverage, e.g., an American cut. The adjustment devices used in connection with the garment are sized and adapted to slide along a portion of the garment without damaging the fabric in contact with the adjustment devices during the adjustment by the user. Such adjustment devices are further sized and adapted to remain in place in the selected position on the garment to be adjusted.
Additional features of the system and method of the present invention are discussed in greater detail below.
The present invention relates to a system and method for adjusting a garment, e.g., swimwear, and specifically, to using a set of interchangeable devices for adjusting the style and cut of a garment. While the present application describes in detail various embodiments of a swimsuit, and particularly a bikini-style swimsuit, it should be recognized that the present invention may also pertain to any other type of garments, such as undergarments, leisure wear, etc. Thus, it is intended that the present application be interpreted as pertaining to any such garment, and the examples set forth herein that refer to a specific type of garment, e.g., a bikini-type swimsuit, are merely exemplary and do not limit the scope of this application.
In addition, the bikini-type swimsuit 10 may also include a pouch 18. The pouch 18 may be attached to the bikini-type swimsuit 10 by a string 20 or other attachment element. In the embodiment shown, the pouch 18 is attached, at least initially, to the bikini-type swimsuit 10 by a string 20 that is attached at its opposite end to the bottom piece 14 of the bikini-type swimsuit 10. Of course, it should be recognized that, in other embodiments, the pouch 18 may be attached, at least initially, to the bikini-type swimsuit 10 by a string 20 that is attached at its opposite end to the top piece 12 of the bikini-type swimsuit 10. Additionally or alternatively, the pouch 18 may be attached, at least initially, to any other piece of a garment, or still further, may be unattached, e.g., separate from, the garment.
By the term “at least initially,” it is noted that the pouch 18 may be permanently attached to the garment, either by the string 18 or by any other attachment means such as a string, a chain or a strap. Alternatively, the pouch 18 may be attached to the garment, either by the string 20 or by any other attachment means, at the time of sale with the intention that the pouch 18 be detached from the garment thereafter. Still further, the pouch 18 may be sold separately from the garment, e.g., as a separate accessory.
Advantageously, the pouch 18 includes a plurality of additional adjustment devices 16′ as shown in
Referring now to
In another embodiment, as shown in
Additional embodiments of the pouch 18 are also shown in
In order to use the adjustment devices 16 so as to change the appearance of the cut of the bikini-type swimsuit 10, a user first determines an appropriate location for applying the adjustment device 16 to the bikini-type swimsuit 10. As shown in
Of course, it should be recognized that the system and methods described hereinabove in connection with the bottom piece of a bikini-type swimsuit may also be employed in connection with any other garment that is suitable to be adjusted. For example, the system and methods described hereinabove in connection with the bottom piece of a bikini-type swimsuit may also be employed to adjust the top piece of a bikini-type swimsuit as shown in
The system of the present invention, in accordance with various embodiments thereof, may provide an improvement over conventional garments, e.g., bikini-type swimsuits. As an initial matter, the system of the present invention enables a woman that wears a garment, e.g., a bikini-type swimsuit, to vary the appearance of the cut of the garment, e.g., a bikini-type swimsuit, with great ease. Thus, when a woman wishes to wear a bikini-type swimsuit with a more conservative cut when in more conservative company, e.g., at a family beach or the like, the woman may move the adjustment devices, e.g., adjustment devices 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, in a first direction away from centerline 22 and towards the sides of the swimsuit so as to attain the appearance of the desired conservative, e.g., American, cut. Likewise, when the same woman wishes to wear a bikini-type swimsuit with a more daring cut in a more private setting, e.g., a private beach, the woman may move the adjustment devices, e.g., adjustment devices 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, in a second direction, towards the centerline 22 of the swimsuit so as to attain the appearance of the more daring, e.g., Brazilian or thong, cut. This adjustability may greatly reduce the number of different swimsuits that a woman may be required to purchase, or to pack for a trip, etc.
The system and methods of the present invention, as described hereinabove, enable a woman to adjust the swimsuit so that it can be worn in a variety of different ways (so as to give the swimsuit the appearance of having a variety of different cuts) with much greater ease than conventional system and methods that purport to be able to do so. For example, the closeable band wraps of conventional devices may be difficult to use because, since they must be wrapped repeatedly around different sections of the swimsuit in order to enable the swimsuit to obtain the appearance of having a different cut, they must be applied to the swimsuit before the woman puts the swimsuit on. The present invention, in contrast, may be adjusted at any time by a woman, including when the swimsuit is currently being worn, since they are only wrapped around a section of garment once and then snapped into place or otherwise closed.
This may greatly improve the practicality of the devices as compared to conventional devices. For example, while the closeable band wraps of the '560 patent are difficult and time consuming to use, e.g., a woman must repeatedly wrap the closeable band wraps around different sections of the swimsuit before the swimsuit is actually put on, the devices of the present invention are very simple to use. In conventional devices, a woman must apply the closeable band wraps to the swimsuit before the woman puts the swimsuit on, then try on the swimsuit to see if she is satisfied with the look. If she is not satisfied with the look, she must remove the swimsuit, unwrap the closeable band wraps, re-apply the closeable band wraps in a different location, and then try the swimsuit on again. She repeats this trial and error process until she is satisfied with the look of the swimsuit. Of course, if the woman is in a public place and decides that she needs to adjust the look of the swimsuit (for any of the myriad of reasons that she might decide this), she must find a private location in order to perform this trial and error process until she is again satisfied with the look of the swimsuit. Obviously, this trial and error system is highly impractical and time consuming and not at all conducive to enabling a woman to enjoy the experience of wearing the swimsuit.
In contrast, the system and methods of the present invention are very practical, and are highly conducive to enabling a woman to enjoy the experience of wearing a swimsuit. Specifically, the system and methods of the present invention enable a woman to adjust a garment, e.g., a bikini-type swimsuit, almost instantaneously. Also, because the woman can adjust the garment almost instantaneously, she may do so anywhere, e.g., in a public location (without the need to find a private location in which to perform a trial and error process of adjustment).
Still further, unlike closeable band wraps, which are repeatedly wrapped around sections of the swimsuit and cause them to be bulky, uneven and uncomfortable when worn (especially when they are used to effect only a small amount of adjustment to the swimsuit, since doing so requires that it be wrapped many times around a smaller section of the garment), the adjustment devices 16 of the present invention are small and typically used in locations that are less likely to cause discomfort than conventional closeable band wraps. Because of this, the system and methods of the present invention improve the flexibility in the adjustments that may be made to the swimsuit while still affording a high degree of comfort to a user.
Still further, because the present invention provides, according to various embodiments thereof, a pouch that includes various different adjustment devices 16, the system and methods of the present invention also greatly improves the ability of a woman to change the appearance and style of the garment. For example, if the additional adjustment devices 16 that are provided in the pouch 18 are the same as the adjustment devices 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d that are initially disposed on the bottom piece 14 of the bikini-type swimsuit 10 but have a different color or pattern as compared thereto, a woman may change the colors or pattern of the swimsuit by using different colored or patterned adjustment devices 16. Still further, if these additional adjustment devices 16 are of a different type as compared to the adjustment devices 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d that are initially disposed on the bottom piece 14 of the bikini-type swimsuit 10 (for example, if the adjustment devices 16a, 16b that are initially disposed on the bottom piece 14 of the bikini-type swimsuit 10 are of a first, e.g., wrap-and-snap, type, while the additional adjustment devices 16 that are provided in the pouch 18 may be of a different, e.g., a metal clip, type), a woman may also change the look of the adjustment devices 16, such as from fabric to metal or vice versa, while at the same time changing the appearance of the cut of the bikini-type swimsuit 10. This additional flexibility in changing the appearance of the swimsuit still further greatly reduces the number of swimsuits that a woman is required to purchase (or pack for a trip). Of course, and as set forth above, the pouch 18 and/or the additional adjustment devices 16 may be sold with a swimsuit or may be sold separately as an accessory, enabling a woman still further flexibility in deciding how to change the swimsuit's appearance.
Thus, the several aforementioned objects and advantages of the present invention are most effectively attained. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous modifications of the exemplary embodiment described hereinabove may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Although various exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described and disclosed in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby.
Claims
1. A garment system, comprising:
- a garment;
- a first set of adjustment devices configured to adjust the appearance of the garment; and
- a container for housing the first set of adjustment devices, the container including at least a second set of adjustment devices configured to adjust the appearance of the garment.
2. The garment system of claim 1, wherein the garment is a swimsuit.
3. The garment system of claim 2, wherein the swimsuit is a bikini-type swimsuit having a top piece and a bottom piece.
4. The garment system of claim 1, wherein the garment is a bottom piece of a bikini-type swimsuit.
5. The garment system of claim 1, wherein the container is a pouch.
6. The garment system of claim 5, wherein the pouch is selectively attachable and detachable from the garment via an attachment element.
7. The garment system of claim 6, wherein the attachment element is selected from the group consisting of a string, a chain, and a strap.
8. The garment system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment devices of the first set of adjustment devices and of the at least second set of adjustment devices are interchangeable.
9. The garment system of claim 1, wherein the at least second set of adjustment devices is the same as the first set of adjustment devices.
10. The garment system of claim 1, wherein the at least second set of adjustment devices has a color, pattern or shape different from the first set of adjustment devices.
11. The garment system of claim 9, wherein the at least second set of adjustment devices is made from a material different from the first set of adjustment devices.
12. The garment system of claim 11, wherein at least one set of the first set and the at least second set of adjustment devices is comprised of a fabric.
13. The garment system of claim 12, wherein each of the adjustment devices of at least one set of the first set and the at least second set of adjustment devices comprise a first end and a second end, the adjustment devices comprised of fabric and a securing means on opposite ends thereof.
14. The garment system of claim 11, wherein at least one set of the first set and the at least second set of adjustment devices is comprised of metal.
15. The garment system of claim 14, wherein the at least one set of the first set and the at least second set of adjustment devices comprise metal clips.
16. The garment system of claim 4, wherein moving the adjustment devices towards a first direction of the bottom piece provides an appearance of a cut with more skin coverage.
17. The garment system of claim 4, wherein moving the adjustment devices towards a second direction of the bottom piece provides an appearance of a cut with less skin coverage.
18. The garment system of claim 11, wherein at least one set of the first set and the at least second set of adjustment devices is comprised of plastic.
19. The garment system of claim 18, wherein the at least one set of the first set and the at least second set of adjustment devices comprise plastic clips.
20. The garment system of claim 13, wherein the securing means is a snap.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 10, 2007
Publication Date: Apr 16, 2009
Inventor: Lisa Lozano (Southampton, NY)
Application Number: 11/974,014
International Classification: A41D 7/00 (20060101); A41F 3/00 (20060101);