GARMENT ASSEMBLY HAVING A DETACHABLE AND CUSTOMIZABLE CANVAS THEREFOR

Abstract

There is provided a garment assembly. The garment assembly includes a garment. The garment assembly also includes a replaceable medium for displaying visual images selectively connectable to the garment. The replaceable medium for displaying visual images is a paintable canvas in one preferred embodiment. The assembly further includes detachable connectors for removably and replaceably attaching the medium to the garment.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 61/569,473 filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Dec. 12, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference and priority to which is claimed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a garment assembly. In particular, the invention relates to a garment assembly having a detachable and customizable canvas therefore.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

It is known to provide a garment with a printed first design thereon. However, the wearer in these cases may have to buy a further garment having a printed second design in order to change the wearer's look or image conveyed. It may be expensive to purchase multiple garments that vary primarily with respect to their printed designs. Also, as more garments are purchased, one must take into account closet space for storing this additional clothing. The wearer may thus have to balance the number of looks and images the wearer conveys with the wearer's purchasing power and space constraints.

To avoid the above issues, the wearer may have to alter or print over the first design. However, this may inhibit the wearer's ability to wear a garment with the first design thereafter.

Garments with printed designs are also typically mass produced and share a common design. Such garments may therefore inhibit a wearer's ability to convey a personalized and/or individualized look or image.

There is accordingly a need to provide an improved garment assembly that overcomes the above set out one or more disadvantages.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

There is provided an improved garment assembly as disclosed herein.

There is accordingly provided a garment assembly including a garment. The assembly includes a replaceable medium for displaying visual images selectively connectable to the garment. The assembly includes a detachable connectors for removably and replaceably attaching the medium to the garment.

There is also provided a customizable garment assembly kit. The kit includes a garment having a transparent, pocket-shaped shell. The kit includes a plurality of paintable canvases shaped to at least partially fit within the shell.

There is further provided a method for customizing a garment. The method includes painting a plurality of artistic indicia on a plurality of respective paintable canvases. Each canvas has a peripheral portion. The method further includes customizing the garment by selectively attaching and removing various ones of the canvases so painted onto the garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be more readily understood from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof given, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a back elevation view of a garment assembly according to a first aspect, the garment assembly comprising a garment, in this example a hooded jacket, and the garment assembly also having a canvas and a zipper for selectively connecting the canvas to the jacket;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, elevation view of the zipper for the garment assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the garment assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, elevation view of a garment assembly according to a second aspect, the garment assembly having a snap-on button assembly for connecting the canvas to the jacket;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pair of buttons from the button assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, elevation view of a garment assembly according to a third aspect, the garment assembly having a hook and loop fastener for connecting the canvas to the jacket;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, elevation view of a garment assembly according to a fourth aspect, the garment assembly having a lace and loop assembly for connecting the canvas to the jacket;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, elevation view of a garment assembly according to a fifth aspect, the garment assembly having a clip assembly for connecting the canvas to the jacket;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the jacket and a clip from the clip assembly shown in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a back elevation view of a garment assembly according to a sixth aspect, the garment assembly including a hooded jacket and a video screen assembly detachably connected thereon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings and first to FIG. 1, there is shown a garment assembly 12. The assembly includes a garment, in this example a hooded jacket 14, although the garment may comprise other types of clothing, such a shirt or sweater. The jacket is conventional and has a top 16, bottom 18 and a pair of sides 20 and 22 extending between the top and bottom. The jacket 14 has a pair of sleeves 24 and 26 that extend from its sides 20 and 22, respectively. The jacket has a hood 28 extending from its top 16.

The jacket 14 has a front 30 shown in FIG. 3, with a front pocket 32 disposed on the front. The pocket is disposed adjacent to bottom 18 in this example. As shown in FIG. 1, the jacket has a back 34 opposite the front.

As shown in FIG. 1, the jacket 14 has an aperture 36 disposed on its back 34 with a peripheral portion 38 extending about said aperture. The assembly 12 has a connector, in this example in the form of a zipper 40 extending about the peripheral portion, as best seen in FIG. 2. The connectors as herein described may be referred to as detachable connectors for removably and replaceably attaching the medium to the garment. The zipper and aperture 36 are positioned on the back 34 of the jacket 14 in this example. The zipper 40 includes a first set of spaced-apart teeth 42 connected to a first flexible strip 44, a second set of spaced-apart teeth 46 connected to a second flexible strip 48, and a zipper slider 50. Strips 44 and 48, as well as teeth 42 and 46, are disposed adjacent to each other. Strip 44 is connected to back 34 of the jacket 14. Zipper slider 50 is configured press teeth 42 and 46 together upon moving the slider up or down, from the perspective of FIG. 2, thereby selectively connecting strips 44 and 48 together. The zipper, with its parts and operation is conventional in this example and will therefore not be described in further detail.

As seen in FIG. 1, the garment assembly 12 includes a detachable, replaceable medium for displaying visual images, in this example a planar medium in the form of a paintable canvas 52. The canvas is rectangular in this example, as is aperture 36, though it may be other shapes. For example, the canvas may alternatively be in the shape of an oval, star or a heart. The canvas 52 is configured to fit within aperture 36. The canvas has a peripheral portion 54 upon which strip 48 of the zipper is connected, as best shown in FIG. 2. Zipper 40 enables the canvas 52 to be detachably connected to the back 34 of the jacket 14. The assembly 12 may include an outer shell 56, shown in FIG. 1. The shell is made of clear plastic, for example, which connects to the peripheral portion 54 of the canvas 52 and extends over the canvas to protect the canvas. The shell 56 is water repellant and transparent in this example. The shell may be pocketed shaped for selectively receiving the canvas therein.

The canvas 52 may be sold blank and a user may create a user-customized design in the form of a painting on the canvas for example and therefore may customize jacket 14. Alternatively, the canvas may comprise original art sold to consumers purchasing or owning the rest of the garment assembly. In this example, canvas 52 includes artistic indicia, in this example in the form of a painted work 53 shown in FIG. 1. The canvas may be sold to consumers who already own the garment assembly and who want to increase the number and diversity of canvases connectable to their jacket 14. As a further alternative, art may be printed onto the canvas and mass produced. The art may include popular art, as well as holograms for example. A plurality of canvases may be packaged and sold as a kit, with the canvases, for example, forming a narrative. In yet another alternative, the canvases as herein described may be applied to a variety of different types of garment assemblies, which may include other types of jackets or other types of clothing such as shirts or sweaters, each having the ability to connect the canvas to the garment. The garment assembly 12 as described herein may thus enable a user to increase the number and variety of different images and messages that may be conveyed via the user's clothing, providing the ability to effectively expand his or her wardrobe and self-expression.

Referring to FIG. 3, the front 30 of the jacket 14 in this example also has a further zipper 58 and a further detachable, replaceable medium for displaying visual images, in this example a further canvas 60. Canvas 60 has further artistic indicia, in this example in the form of a further painted work 61. Zipper 58 detachably connects canvas 60 to the front 30 of the jacket. Alternatively, the jacket may have a canvas only on the front or the back. Zipper 58 and canvas 60 enable one to further customize his or her clothing. The zipper and canvas are substantially the same as zipper 40 and canvas 52, and therefore will not be described further.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a garment assembly 12.1 according to a second aspect. Like parts have like numbers and functions as the assembly shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 with the addition of “.1”. Garment assembly 12.1 is substantially the same as garment assembly 12 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 with the exception that its connector is in the form of a snap-on button assembly 62 for connecting canvas 52.1 to the back 34.1 of jacket 14.1. The button assembly has a first set of buttons, as shown by button 64, which extend along and are connected to strip 44.1. The button assembly 62 has a second set of buttons, as shown by button 66, which extend along and are connected to strip 48.1, in this example.

The buttons are best shown in FIG. 5. Each button, as shown by button 64, has a body 67 that is cylindrical in shape in this example. Each button also includes a pair of prongs 68 and 70 extending outwards from said body. The prongs connect to their respective strips 44.1 and 48.1. Each button 64 has a female recess 72. Each corresponding button 66 has a male protrusion 74 configured to selectively press-fit within one of said recesses 72 for connecting the buttons together. The snap-on buttons are conventional in this example and therefore will not be described further.

FIG. 6 shows a garment assembly 12.2 according to a third aspect. Like parts have like numbers and functions as the assembly shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 with the addition of “.2”. Garment assembly 12.2 is substantially the same as garment assembly 12 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 with the exception that its connector is the form of a hook and loop fastener 76 for connecting canvas 52.2 to the back 34.2 of jacket 14.2. Strip 44.2 has a plurality of hook portions, in this example hooks 78 and strip 48.2 has a plurality of loop portions, in this example loops 80. The hooks are configured to selectively latch onto the loops and the canvas 52.2 is selectively connectable to the jacket 14.2 thereby. The hook and loop fastener 76 is conventional in this example and therefore will not be described further.

FIG. 7 shows a garment assembly 12.3 according to a fourth aspect. Like parts have like numbers and functions as the assembly shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 with the addition of “.3”. Garment assembly 12.3 is substantially the same as garment assembly 12 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 with the exception that its connector is the form of a lace and loop assembly 82 for connecting canvas 52.3 to the back 34.3 of jacket 14.3. The garment assembly 12.3 has a first set of spaced-apart apertures, as shown by aperture 84, extending along peripheral portion 38.3 of the jacket 14.3. The garment assembly has a second set of spaced-apart apertures, as shown by aperture 86, extending along peripheral portion 54.3 of the canvas 52.3. Assembly 82 includes a lace 88 that is criss-cross connected alternately through respective ones of said apertures 84 and 86 for selectively connecting canvas 52.3 to the jacket 14.3. The lace and loop assembly 82 is conventional in this example and therefore will not be described further.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a garment assembly 12.4 according to a fifth aspect. Like parts have like numbers and functions as the assembly shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 with the addition of “.4”. Garment assembly 12.4 is substantially the same as garment assembly 12 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 with the exception that its connector is the form of a clip assembly 90 for connecting canvas 52.4 to the back 34.4 of jacket 14.4. The clip assembly 90 has a plurality of spaced-apart gripping members, in this example clips, as shown by clip 92. The clips are made of thin wire in this example. Clips 92 extend along peripheral portion 38.4 of the jacket 14.4. As seen in FIG. 9, each of the clips 92 is v-shaped in this example.

Each clip has a first portion 94 connected to and, in this example, embedded within the jacket 14.4 via the back 34.4 of the jacket. Each of the clips has a second portion 96 and a bend 98. Portions 94 and 96 are connectable together at bend 98. Portions 96 have open positions shown in FIG. 9. In this position the peripheral portion 54.4 of the canvas, shown in FIG. 8, may be disposed between portions 94 and 96. The clips also have closed positions in which portions 94 and 96 are positioned adjacent to each other. The clips are spring-biased towards their closed positions. Once the canvas is positioned between the portions of the assembly 90, portions 96 are biased and/or pressed downwards so as to abut the canvas 54.4 as seen in FIG. 8. The clips so biased and/or pressed together selectively hold and frictionally engage canvas 52.4. The plurality of spaced-apart clips 92, are aligned along the peripheral portion 38.4 of the jacket so as to fit the canvas therebetween.

FIG. 10 shows a garment assembly 12.5 according to a sixth aspect. Like parts have like numbers and functions as the assembly shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 with the addition of “.5”. Garment assembly 12.5 is substantially the same as garment assembly 12 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 with the following exceptions. Instead of a canvas, the replaceable medium for displaying visual images of the assembly 12.5 is in the form of a video screen assembly 100 detachably connected to the back 34.5 of the jacket 12.5, in this example. The video screen assembly includes a thin, flat video screen 102 having a translucent, soft gel screen 104. The video screen 102 may be used to digitally display expression, including art in digital form. The thin, flat video screen, with its various parts and functionings, is conventional in this example and will therefore not be described in detail.

The video screen assembly 100 has a battery 106 configured to provide power to the video screen. Video screen 102 electrically connects to the battery via a cable 108. The jacket 14.5 includes a pocket 110, in this example, connected to the back 34.5 of the jacket and disposed adjacent to bottom 18.5. The pocket is shaped to retain the battery 106. The pocket 110 has an opening 112 through which the battery 106 passes for storing the battery within the pocket.

The pocket is not strictly required. For example, alternatively, battery 106 and cable 108 may be sewn into the jacket 14.5 such that the cable and battery are hidden from view.

It will be appreciated that yet further variations are possible within the scope of the invention described herein. For example, instead of canvas, the detachable replaceable medium for displaying visual images may be in the form of a sheet of paper.

Also, instead of an aperture 36, there may be a rectangular area, for example, comprising the fabric on the back 34 of the jacket 14, with the zipper 40 surrounding said area and the canvas overlaying said area. It will also be understood by someone skilled in the art that many of the details provided above are by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is to be determined with reference to at least the following claims.

Claims

1. A garment assembly comprising:

a garment;

a replaceable medium for displaying visual images, the replaceable medium being selectively connectable to said garment; and

detachable connectors for removably and replaceably attaching the medium to the garment.

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the replaceable medium for displaying visual images is a canvas.

3. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the detachable connectors include a zipper connecting in part to the garment and connecting in part to replaceable medium, the zipper extending around a peripheral portion of the replaceable medium.

4. The assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the garment has an aperture, the replaceable medium for displaying visual images being shaped to at least partially fit within and extend across the aperture of the garment.

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assembly further includes an outer shell that extends across and over top of the replaceable medium for displaying visual images, the outer shell being water repellant and at least partially transparent and connecting to the peripheral portion of the replaceable medium for displaying visual images.

6. The assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the garment includes a front, a back opposite the front, and a further aperture and wherein the assembly includes a further replaceable medium for displaying visual images and a further detachable connectors for removably and replaceably attaching the further medium to the garment, a first one of the apertures of the garment being located on the front of the garment, a second one of the apertures of the garment being located on the back of the garment, and the replaceable mediums being shaped to selectively connect to the front and back of the garments.

7. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the replaceable medium for displaying visual images is a canvas and wherein the detachable connectors include a plurality of snap-on buttons connected to the garment and the canvas, respectively, the buttons selectively connecting the canvas onto the garment.

8. The assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the garment has a peripheral portion extending around the aperture of the garment, the replaceable medium for displaying visual images has a peripheral portion, the peripheral portion of the replaceable medium for displaying visual images aligning with the peripheral portion of the garment when the replaceable medium for displaying visual images extends over of the aperture of the garment, and wherein the assembly further includes the snap-on buttons connect to the peripheral portion of the garment and the peripheral portion of the replaceable medium for displaying visual images, respectively, the buttons selectively connecting the replaceable medium for displaying visual images onto the garment.

9. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detachable connectors include a hook and loop fastener, hook portions of the hook and loop fastener connecting to a first one of the garment and the replaceable medium for displaying visual images and loop portions of the hook and loop fastener connecting a second one of the garment and the replaceable medium for displaying visual images, the hook and loop fastener selectively connecting the replaceable medium for displaying visual images onto the garment.

10. The assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the garment has a peripheral portion extending around the aperture of the garment, the replaceable medium for displaying visual images has a peripheral portion, the peripheral portion of the replaceable medium for displaying visual images aligning with the peripheral portion of the garment when the replaceable medium for displaying visual images extends over of the aperture of the garment, the hook portions of the hook and loop fastener connecting to the peripheral portion of a first one of the garment and the replaceable medium for displaying visual images and the loop portions of the hook and loop fastener connecting to the peripheral portion of a second one of the garment and the replaceable medium for displaying visual images, the hook and loop fastener selectively connecting the replaceable medium for displaying visual images onto the garment.

11. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the garment has a peripheral portion extending around the aperture of the garment, the replaceable medium for displaying visual images has a peripheral portion, the peripheral portion of the replaceable medium for displaying visual images aligning with the peripheral portion of the garment when the replaceable medium for displaying visual images extends over of the aperture of the garment, the peripheral portions of the garment and the replaceable medium for displaying visual images each having a plurality of spaced-apart apertures extending therethrough, and wherein the detachable connectors include lace that selectively weaves through and between the apertures of the respective ones of the peripheral portions of the garment and the replaceable medium for displaying visual images.

12. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detachable connectors include a plurality of spaced-apart, spring-biased gripping members.

13. The assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the garment has a peripheral portion extending around the aperture of the garment, the replaceable medium for displaying visual images has a peripheral portion, the peripheral portion of the replaceable medium for displaying visual images aligning with the peripheral portion of the garment when the replaceable medium for displaying visual images extends over of the aperture of the garment and wherein each of the gripping members has a first portion connected to the peripheral portion of a first one of the garment and the replaceable medium for displaying visual images and a second portion connected to its respective first portion at one end, the second portions of the gripping members being spring-biased towards the first portions of the gripping members, the peripheral portion of a second one of the garment and the replaceable medium for displaying visual images being selectively positionable between the first and second portions of the gripping members.

14. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the replaceable medium for displaying visual images is a video screen.

15. The assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the assembly further includes a battery electrically connecting to the video screen, the battery powering the video screen, and the garment further including a pocket shaped to receive the battery.

16. A customizable garment assembly kit comprising:

a garment having a pocket-shaped transparent shell; and

a plurality of paintable canvases shaped to at least partially fit within the shells.

17. The assembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein further including detachable connectors for removably and replaceably attaching respective ones of the canvases to the garment, each of the canvases has printed thereon a respective one of a plurality of artistic indicia, the garment being customizable thereby.

18. The assembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein at least one of the canvases is paintable for painting a user-customized design thereon.

19. A method for customizing a garment comprising:

painting a plurality of artistic indicia on a plurality of respective paintable canvases, each canvas having a peripheral portion;

customizing the garment by selectively attaching and removing various ones of the canvases so painted onto the garment.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, further including:

connecting flexible strips to each of the peripheral portions of the canvases and connecting a corresponding flexible strip to the garment, each flexible strip having a plurality of spaced-apart teeth that are connectable together via a zipper slider; and

selectively attaching and removing respective ones of the canvas so painted to the garment by actuating the zipper slider and meshing the teeth of the flexible strips together.