MAGNETIC APPAREL
An apparel is comprised of at least one opening for receiving a user and a means for retaining the apparel about the user. The means for retaining the apparel about the user are separated by a gap in the at least one opening and at least two oppositely polarized magnets are proximal to and separated by the gap.
The present invention relates to apparel that utilizes magnets to be worn on a user.
BACKGROUNDApparel uses an array of items to open and close when adorning a particular wearer, including buttons, zippers, Velcro, interlocking tabs, and other mechanical fastening mechanisms.
While apparel utilizes a mechanical fastening mechanism to remain on the user's body, the addition of other mechanical fasteners to those areas not necessary for apparel retention can be cumbersome and restrictive.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a type of apparel that integrates flexibility into current fastening mechanisms to overcome the shortcomings of conventional apparel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention involves apparel with at least one opening for receiving a user, a means for retaining the apparel about a user, and at least two oppositely polarized magnets proximal to and separated by a gap in the at least one opening.
An apparel system, comprising at least one housing for adorning a user; a closure surface for retaining the housing on the user; a receiver surface for receiving the closure surface; and a magnet closure system coupled to the closure surface and the receiver surface.
The present invention also includes using magnets in the fly of a pair of jeans to provide access from and into the inside of the jeans without resort to opening and closing mechanical fastening mechanisms.
The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying, interrelated embodiments exemplified in the following figures and drawings.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures. The drawings are non-limiting examples of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention and corresponding parts in the different figures may be interchanged and interrelated to the extent such interrelationship is described or inherent from the disclosures contained herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONReferring to the illustrative embodiment of
As illustrated in
As shown in
In a preferred embodiment, closure portion 3 may be the flap of pants 15 which may possess a series of buttons in its fabric. According to this preferred embodiment, receiver portion 4 may be an equal number of button holes sized to receive buttons on portion 3 so that when received, the gap 12 in the input portion 1 of pants 15 may be substantially closed.
The part of the apparel 15 most proximal to the receiver portion may be housing 6 while the part of the apparel 15 most proximal to the closure portion 3 may be housing 5. The part of apparel 15 where the housing 6 and housing 5 may overlap is connection point 7. In an exemplary embodiment, connection point 7 is proximal to the gap 12 separating closure portion 3 and receiver portion 4. In an alternative embodiment, the gap 12 between closure portion 3 and receiver portion 4 may reside above the connection 7. In a preferred embodiment, connection point 7 may be the crotch region of a pair of jeans 15 located below the gap 12 formed between jean fly 3/4.
With reference to the illustrative embodiment of
Fastening mechanisms in either of closure areas 3a/b or receiving areas 4a/b may be coupled to apparel 15 via fabric stitching, rivets, adhesives, epoxies, lamination, chemical bonding, mechanical reception points (such as the tracks used in zippers), or any other apparel fastening mechanism coupling means known to those skilled in the art.
While closure areas 3a/b may only close apparel 15 with a complementary receiver area 4a/b, it may be that a closure area 3a may be received by a complementary receiver area 4b, such as for example, a peripheral zipper 3a being received by an embedded zipper in area 4b. Alternatively, closure portion 3 in either area 3a or 3b may be received by a combination of receiving portions 4a/b, such as, for example, a peripheral series of buttons 3a may be received by a peripheral button holes 4a while embedded zipper 3b may be received by embedded zipper 4b. Thus, numerous permutations and combinations of potential coupling mechanisms may be achieved using closure areas and faces and receiving areas and faces, 3a/b and 4a/b, respectively.
Referring to the illustrative embodiment of
In an exemplary embodiment, magnets 8/9 may be coupled to the closure areas 3a/b and receiving areas 4a/b using adhesives, stitching, rivets, or any other mechanical fastening mechanisms known to those skilled in the art and in any combination of ways as described above with relation to
Exemplary magnets 8/9 may be of any suitable size and shape to be used for closing an exemplary magnetic apparel 16. In a preferred embodiment, exemplary magnets 8/9 may be the type offered and sold by K&J Magnetics, Inc. of Pipersville, Pa. Such exemplary magnets 8/9 may be between approximately 0.5 inches to approximately 1.25 inches in diameter and be between approximately 0.025 inches and approximately 0.1 inches thick.
Exemplary magnets 8/9 may be made of magnetic materials known to those skilled in the art, in particular, neodymium (NdFeB) or NdFeB, grade N38. While the poles of magnetization of the magnets may be axial or radial, the magnetization may be axial according to a preferred embodiment.
The pull force rating of an exemplary magnet 8/9 should be high enough to withstand pull forces encountered in the activities of the user, and may be made stronger if the use requires more rigorous movements and stresses on the apparel. In a preferred embodiment, the pull force of an exemplary magnet 8/9 may be approximately 3.00 lbs. through any overlaying fabric or other coating.
It is also preferable to have magnets 8/9 to be capable of operating at warm temperatures. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, magnets 8/9 may be operated at temperatures between about 176° F. (80° C.) and about 210° F. (98.9° C.). The residual induction or residual flux density for an exemplary magnet 8/9 may be about 12,600 Gauss and may have a maximum energy in its magnetic field of approximately 38 MGOe.
In another exemplary embodiment, magnets 8/9 may be covered by additional material such as additional metals, fabrics, plastics, or other materials to aid in its coupling to apparel 16 and to prevent against stresses incurred during washing and other uses. According to a preferred embodiment, a plastic coating may be utilized to prevent moisture about magnets 8/9. An exemplary plastic coated magnet may be the SWP-S “Small (½″ dia.) Sewing Magnet with Plastic Cover Grade N38-Nickel Plated offered by K&J Magnetics, Inc.
An exemplary magnetic apparel may preferably be washed with any materials and with at any conventional temperatures known and used in the art. In a preferred embodiment, magnetic apparel may be washed in cold water with limited amount of heating to preserve the integrity of the magnetic material. Alternatively, an exemplary magnetic apparel may be dry cleaned or otherwise handled to avoid temperatures that may compromise the magnetics.
In another exemplary embodiment according to
Alternatively, magnets 8 may not be coupled to magnetic apparel 16 within embedded surface 3c but may be substantially held in place by the coupling of embedded surface 3c to closure 3's surfaces, for example, by sewing around magnet 8 while sandwiched between surfaces 3c and 3, magnet 8 may be kept in a substantially static location. Similar or the same sort of coupling techniques and mechanisms may be applied for magnet 9 within embedded surface 4c of receiving portion 4.
As illustrated in
In a preferred embodiment, a pair of jeans 16 may have a top button 3b and top button hole 4b at the upper-most portion of the opening for jeans 16. According to this preferred embodiment, no other mechanical fasteners are used. In this preferred embodiment, below each of the button 3b and button hole 4b, may be a series of magnets 8 and 9, respectively. As such, the gap 12 in jeans 16, typically called the “fly” may only be opened and closed using magnets 8/9 rather than by using a zipper or additional buttons/button holes. In this way, jeans 16 allow a user to easily open and close gap 12 in jeans 16 without needing to mechanically decouple jeans 16 and without having to relinquish retention of jeans 16 about the user's waist.
With reference to the illustrative embodiment of
Distally below button 13 and button hole 17 may be a plurality of magnets 8 and 9 disposed within or on closure portion 3 and receiving portion 4. According to the illustrative embodiment of
An exemplary embedded magnet series embedded in the surface of near gap 12 may be illustrated by magnets 9 being embedded with receiving surface 4c. Like contour 18, contour 19 may result from the magnetic attraction of magnets in the series of magnets 8 and 9. Magnets 8 may be larger or stronger than magnets 9 and vice-versa depending on the application. When magnets 8 and 9 magnetically coupled in an exemplary closed apparel 16 configuration, as illustrated in
With reference to the illustrative embodiment of
In a preferred embodiment of manufacturing an exemplary magnetic apparel, the first step involves removal of any current closure mechanisms of an apparel, such as, for example, removal of factory supplied buttons. The second step in the preferred embodiment involves sizing a piece of fabric to fit each side of the apparel opening, such as, for example, the fly of a pair of jeans. According to this step of the preferred embodiment, the multiple pieces of fabric preferably are slightly larger than double the measurement for enough fabric to fold over and enclose the intended pair or pairs of magnets. The third step in the preferred embodiment includes sewing negative magnets down one side of the fabric. The fourth step in the preferred embodiment involves folding the fabric over the negative magnets and sewing the fabric to the bottom piece of fabric to which the negative magnets were previously sewn. The fifth step in the preferred embodiment is to repeat the first through fourth steps for each of the positive magnets. In an sixth step in the preferred embodiment, the enclosed magnet pouches may be sewn to each side of the apparel opening, for example, each side of the fly of a pair of jeans.
Exemplary magnetic apparel 16 may be used in any type of apparel, but may preferably be incorporated into apparel that may be worn by users who require ease of access through or ease of removal of said apparel, such as young children, infirm or disabled individuals, and/or elders. In an exemplary embodiment, magnetic apparel 16 may be used for coats for young children and elderly individuals. For other users with limited degrees of movement, such as those who are bed ridden, hospitalized or in need of quick access to a part of the body, for example, during an operation, an exemplary magnetic apparel 16 may be especially suitable to clothe or unclothe the user without disruption.
While the devices, methods, and systems may be described by way of example embodiments, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the scope and spirit of the system and method in their broader aspects. These disclosures should be understood to involve interrelationships between the various structures, materials, and embodiments, and it is understood that such interrelationships are not limited to the particulars disclosed.
Claims
1. An apparel, comprising:
- at least one opening for receiving a user;
- a means for retaining the apparel about a user, wherein the means for retaining are separated by a gap in the at least one opening; and
- at least two oppositely polarized magnets proximal to and separated by the gap.
2. The apparel of claim 1, further comprising at least two openings.
3. The apparel of claim 2, wherein the apparel is a pair of jeans.
4. The apparel of claim 3, wherein the means for retaining is a button and complementary button hole.
5. The apparel of claim 4, wherein the button and button hole are more proximal to the opening than the at least two oppositely polarized magnets.
6. The apparel of claim 1, wherein the at least two oppositely polarized magnets are substantially circular.
7. The apparel of claim 1, wherein the at least two oppositely polarized magnets are substantially elongated and flat.
8. The apparel of claim 1, wherein the at least two oppositely polarized magnets further comprise at least two series of oppositely polarized magnets.
9. The apparel of claim 8, wherein the at least two series of oppositely polarized magnets are substantially circular.
10. The apparel of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two oppositely polarized magnets is embedded in the apparel.
11. The apparel of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two oppositely polarized magnets is coupled on an outer surface of the apparel.
12. An apparel system, comprising:
- at least one housing for adorning a user;
- a closure surface for retaining the housing on the user;
- a receiver surface for receiving the closure surface; and
- a magnet closure system coupled to the closure surface and the receiver surface.
13. The apparel system of claim 12, wherein the at least one housing is one of a shirt sleeve or a pant leg.
14. The apparel system of claim 13, wherein the at least one housing is a pair of pants.
15. The apparel system of claim 14, wherein the magnet closure system comprises at least two oppositely polarized magnets separated from one another.
16. The apparel system of claim 15, wherein the at least two oppositely polarized magnets are divided between the closure surface and the receiver surface.
17. The apparel system of claim 16, wherein the at least two oppositely polarized magnets are a series of magnets.
18. The apparel system of claim 12, wherein the closure surface and receiver make up the fly of the apparel.
19. The apparel system of claim 18, wherein the magnet closure system comprises at least two oppositely polarized magnets separated from one another by the fly.
20. The apparel system of claim 19, wherein the closure surface and the receiver have mechanical closing means above the magnet closure system.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 14, 2013
Publication Date: Sep 18, 2014
Inventor: James Donald Federlin (Wantagh, NY)
Application Number: 13/827,246