ARTICLE OF CLOTHING HAVING PERSONALIZED INDICIA AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME

Abstract

An article of clothing having personalized indicia pertaining to the travel history of an individual including: an article of clothing having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface includes an area adapted to contain at least one personalized indicia; and one or more personalized indicia associated with the first area, wherein the personalized indicia correspond to locations traveled to or on by the individual, and further wherein the personalized indicia operate to change the appearance of the article of clothing relative to the same without the personalized indicia.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/321,327, filed Jan. 20, 2009, entitled “ARTICLE OF CLOTHING HAVING PERSONALIZED INDICIA AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME,” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, including all references cited therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to an article of clothing and, more particularly, to an article of clothing having a personalized indicia pertaining to the travel history of an individual and methods for producing the same.

2. Background Art

Articles of clothing having indicia are well known in the textile arts. Although articles of clothing having indicia are well known, issues relative to the personalization, progression, and/or permanency of the indicia remain largely problematic—especially when additive and/or cumulative progression of indicia based on an individual's travel history is indicated.

Articles of clothing are frequently used to display indicia in order to convey messages, such as, for example, advertisements, political slogans, special messages, and/or pictures. While sales of such articles of clothing remain high, the structure of these articles of clothing remain unchanged. Typically, the article of clothing is provided with an ironed-on patch, an embroidered image and/or text, or a silk-screened image and/or text. Though these articles of clothing are popular, the inability to add progressive indicia is often undesirable. For example, families often travel to different countries, states, cities, counties, landmarks, and/or state parks while on vacation and/or business. Frequently, an individual purchases a separate article of clothing from each location that is visited because, to the best of Applicant's knowledge, heretofore there is not a method for identifying the additive and/or cumulative progression of areas visited.

Thus, the need exists for a personalized article of clothing, and associated method for producing the same, having indicia which are customizable and/or removable such that the aesthetic appearance of the article of clothing may be personalized in accordance with, for example, the additive and/or cumulative progression of countries, states, cities, counties, landmarks, state parks, etcetera, that have been visited and/or frequented by the individual and/or group including family.

The need further exists for a personalized article of clothing having a unique alpha numeric identifier which corresponds to a data record maintained on an electronic information database. Such a data record enables an individual or third person to view information, including personal information, photos, dates, times, etcetera associated with the individual's additive and/or cumulative travel history.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent in light of the present specification, claims, and drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an article of clothing having personalized indicia pertaining to the travel history of an individual, comprising: (a) an article of clothing having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises an area adapted to contain at least one personalized indicia; and (b) at least one personalized indicia associated with the area, wherein the at least one personalized indicia corresponds to a location traveled to or on by the individual, and further wherein the at least one personalized indicia operates to change the appearance of the article of clothing relative to the same without the at least one personalized indicia.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one personalized indicia comprises at least two personalized indicia which correspond to locations traveled to or on by the individual, and further wherein the at least two personalized indicia operate to change the appearance of the article of clothing relative to the same without the at least two personalized indicia.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the personalized indicia comprise at least one of a continent, country, state, territory, province, city, county, township, village, reservation, ocean, lake, river, stream, harbor, port, wonder of the world, landmark, park, hiking trail, ski lodge, golf course, bridge, stadium, track, museum, gallery, store, restaurant, watering hole, highway, station, airport, and combinations thereof.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the personalized indicia consists of states of the United States, countries of Europe, and/or cities on the planet Earth.

In another aspect of the present invention, the personalized indicia comprises releasably attachable indicia.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the personalized article of clothing further comprises a unique alpha numeric identifier which corresponds to a data record maintained on an electronic information database.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the personalized indicia includes indicia selected from the group comprising embroidery, silk-screening, iron-on patches, fabric paint, fabric dye, and/or combinations thereof.

The present invention is also directed to a method for producing an article of clothing having personalized indicia pertaining to the travel history of an individual, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an article of clothing having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises an area which is adapted to contain at least one personalized indicia; and (b) associating at least one personalized indicia with the area which is adapted to contain the same which corresponds to a location traveled to or on by the individual and, in turn, personalizing the article of clothing for the individual.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises the step of associating additional personalized indicia beyond the at least one indicia with the area which is adapted to contain the same which corresponds to locations traveled to or on by the individual and, in turn, further personalizing the article of clothing for the individual.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the step of associating a unique alpha numeric identifier with the article of clothing which corresponds to a data record maintained on an electronic information database so that a person may observe the data record in the context of the individual who adorned the article of clothing.

The present invention is further directed to an article of clothing having personalized indicia pertaining to the travel history of an individual, comprising: (a) an article of clothing having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises at least one base indicia having an area, and at least one region defined by and having at least a second area which is less than or equal to the first area; (b) at least one personalized indicia associated with the at least one region of the outer surface of the article of clothing which substantially corresponds to the at least second area; and (c) wherein the at least one personalized indicia operates to change the appearance of at least a portion of the outer surface of the article of clothing when the at least one personalized indicia is associated with at least a portion of the outer surface of the article of clothing so as to create a personalized article of clothing.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the base indicia comprises at least one of a planet, continent, country, state, territory, province, city, county, and combinations thereof.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one region comprises a continent, country, state, territory, province, city, county, township, village, reservation, ocean, lake, river, stream, harbor, port, wonder of the world, landmark, park, hiking trail, ski lodge, golf course, bridge, stadium, track, museum, gallery, store, restaurant, watering hole, highway, station, airport, and combinations thereof.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one personalized indicia comprises a different color than at least a portion of the outer surface of the article of clothing so as to change the appearance of at least a portion of the outer surface of the article of clothing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by the accompanying figures. It will be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that details not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may be omitted. It will be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 of the drawings is a front elevation view of an article of clothing having personalized indicia in accordance with the present invention, showing states of the United States which have been traveled to by an individual;

FIG. 2 of the drawings is a front elevation view of an article of clothing having personalized indicia in accordance with the present invention, showing continents of the Earth which have been traveled to by an individual;

FIG. 3 of the drawings is a front elevation view of an article of clothing having personalized indicia in accordance with the present invention, showing countries of South America which have been traveled to by an individual;

FIG. 4 of the drawings is a front elevation view of an article of clothing having personalized indicia in accordance with the present invention, showing various island states which have been traveled to by an individual, as well as a unique alpha numeric identifier;

FIG. 5 of the drawings is a front elevation view of an article of clothing having personalized indicia in accordance with the present invention, showing the state parks of Michigan which have been traveled to by an individual;

FIG. 6 of the drawings is a front elevation view of an article of clothing having personalized indicia in accordance with the present invention, showing golf courses of the United States which have been traveled to by an individual; and

FIG. 7 of the drawings is a schematic representation of a data record maintained on an electronic information database in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail several specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings with like reference characters.

Referring now to the drawings, and to FIGS. 1-6 collectively, personalized article of clothing 10 is shown as comprising inner surface 12 and outer surface 14 having personalized indicia 16. In general, article of clothing 10 may comprise, for example, a t-shirt, tank top, long sleeve shirt, sweat shirt, pair of trousers, coat, hat, purse or the like. It will be understood that the articles of clothing may be preferably fabricated from any one of a number of materials, including, cotton, polyester, hemp, fur, leather, denim—just to name a few.

In one embodiment of the present invention, and as is best shown in FIG. 1, article of clothing 10 may comprise base indicia 18 which may include text or graphics, for example, a planet, continent, country, state, territory, province, city, county, region, etcetera. Base indicia 18 may be permanently or removably attached to or associated with article of clothing 10 by, for example, a thermally activated adhesive (e.g., iron-on indicia) disposed on base indicia 18. Preferably, base indicia 18 is placed upon article of clothing 10 and the adhesive is activated via application of heat. Although, it will be understood that base indicia 18 may also be embroidered, and/or stitched via a sewing machine or by hand onto article of clothing 10. Moreover, base indicia 18 may be silk-screened and/or absorbed into/onto article of clothing 10 using inks, paints and/or fabric dyes. In one embodiment, base indicia 18 may include outline 20 disposed on article of clothing 10. It will be understood that article of clothing 10 may or may not include base indicia 18.

Customizable and/or removable personalized indicia 16 and base indicia 18 may be fabricated from, for example, a durable material such as a textile or a plastic polymer, although any one of a number of durable materials that would be known to one having ordinary skill in the art are likewise contemplated for use in accordance with the present invention. Both customizable indicia 16 and base indicia 18 may comprise text, a reflective material, photos, images, colors or patterns of colors and the like. Furthermore, customizable indicia 16 and base indicia 18 may comprise a substantially flat or partially raised profile so as to provide texturing.

In one embodiment, base indicia 18 may also comprise a series of hooks and/or loops fabricated so as to receive a series of hooks and/or loops disposed on customizable indicia 16 so as to form a releasable connection therebetween. In another embodiment, base indicia 18 may also comprise a magnetic surface fabricated so as to receive a second magnetic surface disposed on customizable indicia 16 so as to form a releasable connection therebetween. Customizable indicia 16 allows a user to change the aesthetic appearance of article of clothing 10. It will be understood that customizable indicia 16 may be permanently connected to article of clothing 10 via the same methods as disclosed for releasably securing customizable indicia 14 to base indicia 18.

Referring now to FIG. 1, and by way of non-limiting example, article of clothing 10 preferably includes base indicia 18 comprising a map outlining the United States of America and further outlining individual States. Customizable indicia 16 includes indicia having the size and shape of the individual States outlined on the map. Furthermore, customizable indicia 16 may comprise a color so as to distinguish customizable indicia 16 from article of clothing 10 and/or base indicia 18. Customizable indicia 16, comprising individual states, may be placed upon the corresponding areas of the map. For example, removable indicia 16A is shown removed from article of clothing 10. Removable indicia 16A is shown as corresponding to the State of Colorado and may preferably be placed upon base indicia 18 in location X. Customizable indicia 16 may be utilized to display the States to which the user has traveled. Connections, as discussed above, for example, magnets and/or hook and loop fasteners preferably operate to releasably secure customizable indicia 14 with article of clothing 10 and/or base indicia 16.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, an article of clothing having personalized indicia which pertains to the desired travel history or travel history of an individual is disclosed which comprises article of clothing 10 having inner surface 12 and outer surface 14, wherein the outer surface comprises an area adapted to contain at least one personalized indicia (e.g., the front, back, and/or sleeves) and one or more personalized indicia 16 associated with the area, wherein the at least one personalized indicia (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etcetera) corresponds to a desired location or location traveled to or on by the individual, and further wherein the at least one personalized indicia operates to change the appearance of the article of clothing relative to the same without the at least one personalized indicia.

In accordance with the present invention one or more personalized indicia 16 may be the same or different and comprise at least one of a continent, country, state, territory, province, city, county, township, village, reservation, ocean, lake, river, stream, harbor, port, wonder of the world, landmark, park, hiking trail, ski lodge, golf course, bridge, stadium, track, museum, gallery, store, restaurant, watering hole, highway, station, airport, and combinations thereof. It will be further understood that personalized indicia 16 may comprise the same or different color of another piece of personalized indicia associated with article of clothing 10. For example, personalized indicia 16 may consist of states of the United States, countries of Europe, and/or cities on the planet Earth—just to name a few.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 7, article of clothing 10 may also comprise unique alpha numeric identifier 22 (i.e., a model number, a serial number, etcetera) (e.g., 1, 02, 003, 1234, AB1234, etcetera) which corresponds to data record 24 maintained on an electronic information database. It will be understood that the data record may include information 26, such as personal information (e.g., name, address, age, sex, phone number, email address, marital status, educational background, employment background, etcetera), pictures, photos, and/or information associated with the individual wearing the shirt—preferably pertaining to the travel history of the individual as identified on article of clothing 10. It is also contemplated that such an identifier be associated with, for example, myspace, facebook, and/or other informational social networking interfaces and associated databases.

As is best shown in FIGS. 1-7 collectively, the present invention is also directed to a method for producing an article of clothing having personalized indicia pertaining to the travel history of an individual, which comprises the steps of: providing article of clothing 10 having inner surface 12, and outer surface 14, wherein the outer surface comprises an area which is adapted to contain at least one personalized indicia and; associating at least one personalized indicia 16 with the area which is adapted to contain the same which corresponds to a location traveled to or on by the individual and, in turn, personalizing article of clothing 10 for the individual. The method may also include the step of associating additional personalized indicia beyond the at least one indicia with the area which is adapted to contain the same which corresponds to locations traveled to or on by the individual and, in turn, further personalizing the article of clothing for the individual. The method may also comprise the step of associating unique alpha numeric identifier 22 with article of clothing 10 which corresponds to a data record maintained on an electronic information database so that a person may observe the data record in the context of the individual who adorned the article of clothing.

By way of additional example, the present invention is directed to article of clothing having personalized indicia pertaining to the travel history of an individual comprising: article of clothing 10 having inner surface 12 and outer surface 14, wherein the outer surface comprises at least one base indicia 18 having a first area (e.g., the United States), and at least one region defined by and having at least a second area (e.g., a state of the United States) which is less than or equal to the first area; at least one personalized indicia 16 associated with the at least one region of the outer surface of the article of clothing which substantially corresponds to the at least second area; and wherein the at least one personalized indicia operates to change the appearance of at least a portion of the outer surface of the article of clothing when the at least one personalized indicia is associated with at least a portion of the outer surface of the article of clothing so as to create a personalized article of clothing.

The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the invention and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An article of clothing having personalized indicia pertaining to the travel history of an individual, comprising:

an article of clothing having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises an area adapted to contain at least one personalized indicia; and

at least one personalized indicia associated with the area, wherein the at least one personalized indicia corresponds to a location traveled to or on by the individual, and further wherein the at least one personalized indicia operates to change the appearance of the article of clothing relative to the same without the at least one personalized indicia.

2. The personalized article of clothing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one personalized indicia comprises at least two personalized indicia which correspond to locations traveled to or on by the individual, and further wherein the at least two personalized indicia operate to change the appearance of the article of clothing relative to the same without the at least two personalized indicia.

3. The personalized article of clothing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one personalized indicia is the same or different and comprise at least one of a continent, country, state, territory, province, city, county, township, village, reservation, ocean, lake, river, stream, harbor, port, wonder of the world, landmark, park, hiking trail, ski lodge, golf course, bridge, stadium, track, museum, gallery, store, restaurant, watering hole, highway, station, airport, and combinations thereof.

4. The personalized article of clothing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one personalized indicia consists of states of the United States.

5. The personalized article of clothing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one personalized indicia consists of countries of Europe.

6. The personalized article of clothing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one personalized indicia consists of cities on the planet Earth.

7. The personalized article of clothing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one personalized indicia comprises releasably attachable indicia.

8. The personalized article of clothing according to claim 1, further comprising a unique alpha numeric identifier which corresponds to a data record maintained on an electronic information database.

9. The personalized article of clothing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one personalized indicia includes indicia selected from the group comprising embroidery, silk-screening, iron-on patches, fabric paint, fabric dye, and combinations thereof.

10. A method for producing an article of clothing having personalized indicia pertaining to the travel history of an individual, comprising the steps of:

providing an article of clothing having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises an area which is adapted to contain at least one personalized indicia; and

associating at least one personalized indicia with the area which is adapted to contain the same which corresponds to a location traveled to or on by the individual and, in turn, personalizing the article of clothing for the individual.

11. The method according to claim 10, comprising the step of associating additional personalized indicia beyond the at least one indicia with the area which is adapted to contain the same which corresponds to locations traveled to or on by the individual and, in turn, further personalizing the article of clothing for the individual.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of associating a unique alpha numeric identifier with the article of clothing which corresponds to a data record maintained on an electronic information database so that a person may observe the data record in the context of the individual who adorned the article of clothing.

13. An article of clothing having personalized indicia pertaining to the travel history of an individual, comprising:

an article of clothing having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises at least one base indicia having a first area, and at least one region defined by and having at least a second area which is less than or equal to the first area;

at least one personalized indicia associated with the at least one region of the outer surface of the article of clothing which substantially corresponds to the at least second area; and

wherein the at least one personalized indicia operates to change the appearance of at least a portion of the outer surface of the article of clothing when the at least one personalized indicia is associated with at least a portion of the outer surface of the article of clothing so as to create a personalized article of clothing.

14. The personalized article of clothing according to claim 13, wherein the base indicia comprises at least one of a planet, continent, country, state, territory, province, city, county, and combinations thereof.

15. The personalized article of clothing according to claim 13, wherein the at least one region comprises a continent, country, state, territory, province, city, county, township, village, reservation, ocean, lake, river, stream, harbor, port, wonder of the world, landmark, park, hiking trail, ski lodge, golf course, bridge, stadium, track, museum, gallery, store, restaurant, watering hole, highway, station, airport, and combinations thereof.

16. The personalized article of clothing according to claim 13, wherein the at least one personalized indicia comprises releasably attachable indicia.

17. The personalized article of clothing according to claim 13, further comprising a unique alpha numeric identifier which corresponds to a data record maintained on an electronic information database.

18. The personalized article of clothing according to claim 13, wherein the at least one personalized indicia includes indicia selected from the group comprising embroidery, silk-screening, iron-on patches, fabric paint, fabric dye, and combinations thereof.

19. The personalized article of clothing according to claim 13, wherein the at least one personalized indicia comprises a different color than at least a portion of the outer surface of the article of clothing so as to change the appearance of at least a portion of the outer surface of the article of clothing.

20. An article of clothing having personalized indicia, comprising:

an article of clothing having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises an area adapted to contain at least one personalized indicia; and

at least one personalized indicia associated with the area, wherein the at least one personalized indicia corresponds to a location, and further wherein the at least one personalized indicia operates to change the appearance of the article of clothing relative to the same without the at least one personalized indicia.