MODIFIABLE GARMENT WITH ADHESIVE SEAM

Abstract

Garments come in different clothing styles. An apparatus is disclosed including a modifiable wearable garment. The garment includes a plurality of garment portions and an adhesive seam joining the garment portions. At least one of the garment portions can be removed and replaced with a second similar garment portion. According to one embodiment, the modifiable garment exhibits different styles based upon which garment portions are attached to the garment.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This disclosure claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/929,968, filed on Jan. 21, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to wearable garments. In particular, examples of the present disclosure are related to a modifiable garment which is designed and constructed to allow for attachment and detachment of various specially designed and constructed components for the comfort and protection of the user.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure. Accordingly, such statements are not intended to constitute an admission of prior art.

People wear clothing to protect themselves from environmental elements and to help them regulate their body temperature, among other reasons. In addition, clothing serves as an ornamental, decorative or signifying aspect of human culture, and different types of clothing can be viewed by different cultural groups as appropriate or inappropriate in various social settings.

Typically, one adds, changes or removes articles of clothing to navigate between different environmental or social settings. For example, during the winter, one typically removes one's coat after entering a heated building to avoid overheating. Similarly, one would not typically wear the same clothing to a cocktail party as one would wear to a baseball game, due to the differing levels of formality and the differing social norms and expectations of each setting.

SUMMARY

Garments come in different clothing styles. An apparatus is disclosed including a modifiable wearable garment. The garment includes a plurality of garment portions and an adhesive seam joining the garment portions. At least one of the garment portions can be removed and replaced with a second similar garment portion. According to one embodiment, the modifiable garment exhibits different styles based upon which garment portions are attached to the garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a modifiable garment employing a modification system and a set of accompanying accessory items, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates an additional exemplary embodiment of a modifiable garment employing a modification system, the system including a plurality of decorative accoutrements, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an additional exemplary embodiment of a modifiable garment employing a modification system, the system including a modifiable dress including interchangeable top and lower portions, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an additional exemplary embodiment of a modifiable garment employing a modification system, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary trench coat including interchangeable sleeve sections, upper portion, and lower portion; and

FIG. 4B illustrates the trench coat of FIG. 4A, where adhesive seams joining the sleeve sections, upper portion, and lower portion are hidden by concealing flaps; and

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating alternative exemplary adhesive seams that can be utilized in a modifiable garment, in accordance with the present disclosure.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present disclosure. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not illustrated in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one having ordinary skill in the art that the specific detail need not be employed to practice the present disclosure. In other instances, well-known materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “one example” or “an example” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, “one example” or “an example” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable combinations and/or sub-combinations in one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, it is appreciated that the figures provided herewith are for explanation purposes to persons ordinarily skilled in the art and that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure may be embodied as an apparatus or process.

People utilize clothing for many reasons, including to protect themselves against environmental elements, to present themselves in an appropriate manner for various social situations and to communicate something about themselves to others. Typically, one may have to remove, add or change articles of clothing to navigate between different environmental and social contexts in which the clothing is worn.

A modifiable garment is disclosed, wherein components of the modifiable garment are designed and constructed such that they allow for the hidden placement of fastening hardware with which a user may attach or detach certain components of the modifiable garment. This attachment system allows for the modifiable garment to be adapted for use in various environments and circumstances. For example, in higher environmental temperatures, or at a user's preference, various detachable components of the modifiable garment could be removed. In lower environmental temperatures, or at a user's preference, various detached components of the modifiable garment could be reattached to the body of the modifiable garment by means of the hidden fastening hardware.

In addition, the modifiable garment employing the modification system allows for many options for the visual appearance of the garment, which can increase the number of social and environmental settings in which the modifiable garment may be worn. The number of functional ways in which such a garment could be worn by a user depends on how many components of the modifiable garment can be detached or attached by means of the hidden fastening hardware, and how many additional attachable and detachable components can be integrated into the design of the modifiable garment.

Attachable and detachable components of such a modifiable garment can include, for example, sleeves, collars, skirts and tops.

Detachable components of the modifiable garment can themselves consist of more than one detachable piece. For example, a detachable sleeve of a modifiable garment may itself be modifiable, and such a detachable sleeve could possess a detachable cuff. In another example, a detachable foldover collar of a modifiable garment may itself be modifiable, and such a detachable foldover collar could possess a detachable portion which, when detached, creates a stand-up collar.

Such a modifiable garment employing the garment modification system may be constructed of, for example, wool, cotton, silk, sateen, nylon, twill, tweed, leather, or a blend of one or more of these and other materials. Various components, such as, for example, sleeves, collars, skirts and tops, of such a modifiable garment can be manufactured separately piece-wise of materials that may not be the same as the material of which other components or portions of such a modifiable garment employing the garment modification system are composed.

It is envisioned that a user could mix and match different components made of different materials to create new garments. For example, a modifiable jacket-type garment could consist of leather sleeve components attached by means of hidden fastening hardware to a wool blazer component. In another example, a modifiable dress-type garment could consist of a silk top or upper component attached by means of hidden fastening hardware to a wool skirt component.

Further, it is envisioned that a user could use various components of such a modifiable garment system to create visual versatility. A user could interchange various types of detachable garment components for functionality or for decorative, ornamental or communicative purposes. For example, a top component of a modifiable dress-type garment could be designed and constructed to receive attachable sleeves attached by hidden fastening hardware. Such attachable sleeve components could be cap sleeve, short sleeve, elbow-length sleeve, bracelet-length sleeve, long sleeve or another type or design of sleeve. In another example, a top component of a modifiable dress-type garment could be constructed to receive an attachable skirt component attached by hidden fastening hardware. Such an attachable skirt component could be constructed in various different shapes and lengths, and contains various different decorative or other elements. A number of garment portions are disclosed herein as upper portions, lower portions, sleeve sections. collar sections, etc. All possible interchangeable pieces of a modifiable garment are intended to be treated as a garment portion in accordance with the disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a modifiable garment employing a modification system and a set of accompanying accessory items. A blouse 100 is illustrated including an interchangeable set of sleeve sections 120, 130, and 140. Each of sleeve sections 120, 130, and 140 include adhesive seam portion 110 configured to attach to mating adhesive seam portion 112 located upon blouse 100. One of the adhesive seam portions 110 and mating adhesive seam portion 112 together form an adhesive seam affixing one of the sleeve sections to blouse 100 to form an assembled modifiable garment. An additional sleeve section matching the selected sleeve section would similarly be assembled to the other side of blouse 100.

Any number of decorative patterns or alternative fashion choices could be supported by a modifiable garment. Sleeve sections with three different colors could be supplied to accompany blouse 100. Alternative fashion choices could be embodied in each of the sleeve sections. Different lengths, cuts, fabric materials, or surface textures could be embodied in the sleeves. One could subscribe to an updating fashion service, and new sleeve sections or new blouses could be supplied yearly or seasonally, such that the wearer could constantly have a modifiable garment with the latest trending fashions.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, each of sleeve sections 120, 130, and 140 are illustrated including a corresponding accessory embodied as a matching handbag 122, 132, and 142, respectively. The sleeve sections and handbags can be sold as a set pair. In another embodiment, the sleeve sections could be sold to correspond to a popular handbag sold separately. Other matching accessories could include jewelry, hats, hairbands, pet carriers, shoes, skirts, or any other known accessory item. In one embodiment, the sleeves can display the name or trademark of the handbag which it is configured to match.

FIG. 2 illustrates an additional exemplary embodiment of a modifiable garment employing a modification system, the system including a plurality of decorative accoutrements. Modifiable garment 200 includes blouse 210 and interchangeable decorative accoutrement sections 220 and 230, either of which can be selectable attached to blouse 210. Blouse 210 includes adhesive seam portion 212, and each of accoutrement sections 220 and 230 include adhesive seam portions 214, such that portion 212 and one of the portions 214 can be selectably joined to attach the respective accoutrement section to blouse 210. While one blouse and several accoutrement sections are illustrated, one can appreciate that a plurality of blouses can be supplied with a single accoutrement section or with a plurality of accoutrement sections. In one exemplary embodiment, blouse 210 can have been sold in a first year with accoutrement section 220, and the wearer could acquire an updated accoutrement section 230 in a subsequent year to match updated fashion trends. Accoutrement sections 220 and 230 are illustrated as lapel sections, although accoutrement sections can include any of a number of decorative clothing structures including but not limited to collars, ruffles, pockets, cuffs, waistline sections, lace decorations, or any other clothing feature known in the art.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an additional exemplary embodiment of a modifiable garment employing a modification system, the system including a modifiable dress including interchangeable top and lower portions. FIG. 3A illustrates modifiable dress 300. Modifiable dress 300 is illustrated including upper portion 310 and lower portion 320. Upper portion 310 and lower portion 320 are interchangeable with other upper portions and lower portions, such that modifiable dress 300 may include any of a number of colors and fashions for the various possible top and lower portions. In this way, a wearer may have a favorite upper portion that she likes to wear with different lower portions, depending upon the occasion, or vice versa. Modifiable dress 300 is illustrated with adhesive seam portion 332 joining upper portion 310 and lower portion 320 around a waist line of dress 300. Additionally, access adhesive seam portions 334 and 336 permit a wearer to dress or remove the upper portion 310 and lower portion 320, respectively.

FIG. 3B illustrates one exemplary structure for adhesive seam portions 332, 334, and 336 to be formed upon modifiable dress 300. Exemplary zipper devices are illustrated as the attachment mechanisms for the adhesive seam portions. By having all three zipper devices of adhesive seam portions 332, 334, and 336 join at a common point on the dress, the visibility of the zippers and associated terminal end hardware can be limited to a particular spot on the dress. While the zipper devices of adhesive seam portions 332, 334, and 336 are illustrated as visible in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the zippers can be easily hidden from view by flaps, a belt, ruffles, or other methods or structures known in the art. In one embodiment, decorative attachments, such as elaborate buttons and embroidered button holes, can be used to permit the adhesive seam to be presented in plain sight without being hidden.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an additional exemplary embodiment of a modifiable garment employing a modification system. FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary trench coat including interchangeable sleeve sections, upper portion, and lower portion. Trench coat 400 is illustrated including upper portion 410, two sleeve sections 412 and 414, and a lower portion 416. Sleeve sections 412 and 414 include adhesive seam portions 422 which attach to mating adhesive seam portions 420 upon upper portion 410. Similarly, lower portion 416 includes adhesive seam portion 426 which attaches to mating adhesive seam portion 424 upon upper portion 410. FIG. 4B illustrates the trench coat of FIG. 4A, where adhesive seams joining the sleeve sections, upper portion, and lower portion are hidden by concealing flaps. Trench coat 400 is illustrated including upper portion 410, two sleeve sections 412 and 414, and a lower portion 416. Seam portions 420, 422, 424, and 426, illustrated in FIG. 4A, are not visible in FIG. 4B. Collar portion 405 is illustrates as unitary with upper portion 410, although collar portion 405 could similarly be selectably attached to upper portion 410 with a similar adhesive seam.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating alternative exemplary adhesive seams that can be utilized in a modifiable garment. Blouse 500 is illustrated with an adhesive seam portion 510. Various exemplary attachment mechanisms 520, 522, 524, 526, and 528 are illustrated for alternative use along adhesive seam portion 510, with a mating attachment mechanism located along a corresponding adhesive seam portion of an attaching sleeve section. Attachment mechanism 520 is illustrated as a local fastening device, for example, including a button, a metal snap feature, or a plastic snap feature. Attachment mechanism 522 is illustrated as an exemplary hook and loop (i.e. Velcro®) fastener. Attachment mechanism 524 is illustrated as an exemplary magnetic feature fastener. Attachment mechanism 526 is illustrated as an exemplary hook and eye attachment device.

Attachment mechanism 528 is illustrated as an exemplary zipper device. A common zipper device known in the art can be used with mechanism 528. In another embodiment, an “invisible zipper” device known in the art can be used with mechanism 528. Such an invisible zipper configurations are disclosed in application EU 20080877251 and alternatively in EP 1,074,196 A1 and EP 1,074,196 B1 which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The attachment mechanisms provided are meant as non-limiting examples of attachment mechanisms that can be used with the modifiable garments and the corresponding adhesive seams disclosed herein. These examples are provided for illustration, but a number of alternative attachment mechanisms are additionally or alternatively envisioned, and the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular examples provided herein.

According to one embodiment of the disclosure, an apparatus including a modifiable wearable garment is provided. The garment includes a plurality of interchangeable garment portions including at least one duplicate set of garment portions, the duplicate set fitted to a same area of the garment and each of the garment portions of the duplicate set having a different clothing style. The garment further includes an adhesive seam joining the garment portions. The garment portions of the duplicate set can each be removed and replaced with another garment portion of the duplicate set.

The disclosure has described certain preferred embodiments and modifications of those embodiments. Further modifications and alterations may occur to others upon reading and understanding the specification. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a modifiable wearable garment, the garment comprising: wherein at least one of the garment portions can be removed and replaced with a second similar garment portion.

a plurality of garment portions; and

an adhesive seam joining the garment portions;

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the garment portions comprises a sleeve portion that can be removed and replaced with a second sleeve portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the sleeve portions corresponds to a matching accessory item.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the matching accessory item comprises a handbag.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the matching accessory item comprises one of a piece of jewelry, a hat, a hair-band, a pet carrier, a pair of shoes, and a skirt.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the garment portions comprises an accoutrement section that can be removed and replaced with a second accoutrement portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the modifiable garment comprises a modifiable dress.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the plurality of garment portions comprise an upper portion and a lower portion; and wherein the adhesive seam is located around a waistline of the dress.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the adhesive seam comprises a zipper device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: wherein the hardware terminal ends of the zipper devices of the adhesive seam around the waistline and the two access adhesive seams are located at a single point on the back of the dress.

an access adhesive seam on the back of the upper portion; and

an access adhesive seam on the back of the lower portion;

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the modifiable garment comprises a trench coat.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the trench coat comprises an interchangeable upper portion, an interchangeable lower portion, and interchangeable sleeve sections.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adhesive seam comprises an invisible zipper.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adhesive seam comprises an attachment mechanism selected from a button, a metallic snap, a plastic snap, Velcro®, magnetic sections, hook and eye devices, and a zipper device.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adhesive seam is located between a sleeve section and a blouse portion of the modifiable garment.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adhesive seam is located between an upper portion and a lower portion of the modifiable garment.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adhesive seam is located between a blouse portion and an accoutrement section of the modifiable garment.

18. An apparatus comprising a modifiable wearable garment, the garment comprising: wherein the garment portions of the duplicate set can each be removed and replaced with another garment portion of the duplicate set.

a plurality of interchangeable garment portions including at least one duplicate set of garment portions, the duplicate set fitted to a same area of the garment and each of the garment portions of the duplicate set having a different clothing style; and

an adhesive seam joining the garment portions;