Activewear Apparel For Women That Can Be Taken Apart

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a convertible activewear apparel for women. The activewear apparel includes a first waist-hip piece which extends into a skirt layer to essentially the mid-hip area starting from a waistband, two second intermediate pieces, and a front intermediate piece and a back intermediate piece (3) which can be connected to one another and to the first waist-hip piece. The activewear apparel may also include a third shorts piece which may be connected to the first waist-hip piece.

Description

The present invention relates to convertible activewear apparel for women. More specifically, the invention provides a skirt-shorts combination, i.e., a skort, that can be taken apart to be a skirt or just shorts, which makes it easier to practice sports by adapting the clothing for women to the user's needs, where it is also possible to modify the length of both the shorts and the skirt independently or when both are combined and worn.

On the market there are various activewear skirt models with built-in short pants, or shorts, particularly intended for practicing sports such as tennis or paddle tennis. However, these skirts with built-in shorts share one and the same waistband, such that the skirt cannot be worn independently of the shorts. Therefore, once the practice session ends, it is often necessary to change clothes entirely and put on a skirt or a pair of shorts, which must be brought along for that purpose, which the discomforts this entails.

The present invention solves this problem by providing a skirt-shorts combination or skort that can be taken apart to be a skirt or shorts independently, i.e., a skort that can be taken apart. To that end, the skort is made up of first waist-hip piece, which extends to essentially the mid-hip area starting from the waist, two second intermediate pieces, a front intermediate piece and a back intermediate piece, which can be connected to one another and to the first waist-hip piece in the lower part thereof, as well as a third shorts piece, where said third shorts piece can be connected to the first waist-hip piece, and where the intermediate pieces can also be connected to the waist-hip piece/shorts piece combination, where they are all connected by suitable attachment means such as zippers, Velcro®-type detachable straps, buttons, hooks and eyes, automatic closures and the like.

Therefore, connecting the waist-hip piece and the front intermediate piece and back intermediate piece allows defining a skirt. The length of said skirt will depend on the length of the intermediate pieces, where said length can be adjusted as desired by the user. On the other hand, connecting the waist-hip piece and the shorts piece allows defining shorts, the length of which, also dependent on the intermediate pieces, will be adjusted as desired by the user. Finally, attaching the intermediate piece to the waist-hip piece and shorts combination described above allows defining a skort. In turn, it is also possible to attach the intermediate pieces to also form two bags.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described below based on three embodiments thereof corresponding to a skirt, shorts and skort as explained above and in reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the independent pieces making up the skort;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of forming the skirt from the waist-hip piece and the intermediate pieces;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of forming the shorts from the waist-hip piece and shorts piece combination;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the forming the combined skirt-shorts, or skort, from the waist-hip piece, the intermediate pieces and the shorts piece;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of two bags formed from the intermediate pieces.

DESCRIPTION

As seen in FIG. 1, the waist-hip piece (1), two intermediate pieces (2, 3), a front intermediate piece (2) and a back intermediate piece (3), and a shorts piece (4) are shown.

The waist-hip piece (1) has a waistband (11) from which a skirt layer extends essentially to the mid-hip area. As shown, this skirt piece includes, in the lower area thereof, a first front attachment means (12) and corresponding second back attachment means (12′) for attaching other combinable pieces, which extend transversely along the lower semi-perimetral area of the layer, as well as other front attachment means (13) and back attachment means (13′) arranged in parallel and slightly above the attachment means (12, 12′), likewise extending transversely along the front and back perimeters of the skirt layer. The waistband (11) can optionally include belt loops (14).

The intermediate pieces (2, 3) are two rectangular pieces the larger side of which corresponds with the front semi-perimeter of the skirt layer of the waist-hip piece (1). These intermediate pieces (2, 3) include corresponding connection means on all their perimetral edges for connection by means of their smaller sides (21, 21′, 31, 31′) and their larger sides (22, 22′, 32, 32′).

In turn, the shorts piece (4) consists of a waist and two legs, where the waist essentially corresponds with the length of the lower perimetral edge of the waist-hip piece (1). This shorts piece (4) includes two perimetral front and back connection means (41, 41′) in the waist thereof in correspondence with the front and back parts of the skirt layer of the waist-hip piece (1).

In the following description of the embodiments of the invention, the connection means are illustrated by means of zippers, where said attachment means are non-limiting and can be replaced with Velcro®-type detachable straps, buttons, hooks and eyes, automatic closures and the like, as well as combinations thereof.

FIG. 2 shows forming a skirt from the waist-hip piece (1) and the intermediate pieces (2, 3). In this case, the waist-hip piece (1) is attached to the front intermediate piece (2) and back intermediate piece (3) by means of connecting the zippers (13, 13′) of the waist-hip piece and the zippers of the larger sides (22, 32) of each of the intermediate pieces (2, 3). The skirt layer can be closed by closing the zippers on the smaller sides (21, 31) and (21′, 31′) of the intermediate pieces. The length of the skirt will depend on the height of the intermediate pieces, where said length can be adjusted as desired by the user, or by providing more than two intermediate pieces, for example four or six intermediate pieces, which increase the overall length of the skirt when they are connected to one another.

On the other hand, and in reference to FIG. 3, connecting the waist-hip piece (1) and the shorts piece (4) illustrates how to form shorts. In a manner similar to above, the waist-hip piece (1) is now attached to the shorts piece (4) by means of connecting the zippers (13, 13′) of the waist-hip piece (1) to the zippers (41, 41′) of the shorts piece. The length of the shorts will depend on the length of the legs, to be adjusted to the user's taste. Optionally, the length of the shorts can also be modified by providing in the lower area of the legs respective connection means, such as zippers, cooperating with corresponding connection means arranged in the upper and lower perimeters of pairs of tubular elements provided as a continuation of the legs (not shown in the drawings).

The attachment of the intermediate pieces (2, 3) to the waist-hip piece (1) and shorts (4) combination allows forming a skort, as illustrated in FIG. 4. To that end, from the embodiment described above, where the waist-hip piece (1) is connected to the shorts piece (4) by means of the zippers (41, 41′), instead of being connected to zippers (13, 13′) the shorts piece is now connected to zippers (12, 12′), and the intermediate pieces (2, 3) are attached to the waist-hip piece (1) by means of the zippers (13, 13′). Also in this case, the skirt layer is closed by closing the zippers on the smaller sides (21, 31) and (21′, 31′) of the intermediate pieces.

The fabric that can be used to make all the mentioned pieces can vary in color, type of fabric, drape, design, print, etc., so various skirt, shorts or skort models can be obtained according to the combinations of selected fabrics, colors or prints. So, for example, by defining a different print and/or color for the intermediate pieces (2, 3), exchanging these intermediate pieces allows obtaining two skirts of different colors or prints.

In turn, attaching the intermediate pieces (2, 3) to furthermore form two bags is also possible, as shown in FIG. 5. The upper part shows a rectangular bag obtained from the intermediate pieces (2, 3). To that end, the intermediate pieces (2, 3) are superimposed on one another and connected together by zipping the zippers (22, 22′) of the intermediate piece (2) with the zippers (32, 32′) of the intermediate piece (3), and likewise zipping the zippers (21, 21′) of the intermediate piece (2) with the zippers (31, 31′) of the intermediate piece (3). In this case the bag is opened by unzipping the upper zippers (22, 32) of the intermediate pieces (2, 3). A bag handle which can be attached by means of corresponding snap hooks at the ends thereof to the upper terminals of the zippers (21, 31) and (21′, 31′) can also be provided. Likewise, folding the bag thus obtained and changing the attachment of the bag handle to the terminals of the zippers (22, 32) and (22′, 32′) results in a small bag, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 5. In turn, the bag handle can be used as a belt for the embodiments of the apparel described above, for which purpose the waist-hip piece (1) has belt loops (14). Also in this case, given that the bag consists of the intermediate pieces (2, 3), a different print and/or color for the intermediate pieces (2, 3) and interchanging them allows obtaining bags of different colors or prints.

Claims

1. A convertible activewear apparel for women comprising a first waist-hip piece (1) which extends into a skirt layer to essentially the mid-hip area starting from a waistband (11), two second intermediate pieces (2, 3) comprising a front intermediate piece (2) and a back intermediate piece (3), which are connected to one another and to the first waist-hip piece (1) in the lower part thereof, as well as a third shorts piece (4), where said third shorts piece (4) is connected to the first waist-hip piece (1) in the lower part thereof, and where the intermediate pieces (2, 3) are connected to the waist-hip piece (1)/shorts piece (4) combination.

2. The convertible activewear apparel for women according to claim 1, wherein the first waist-hip piece (1) has, in the lower area of the skirt layer, a first front attachment means (12) and a second back attachment means (12′), which extend transversely along a lower semi-perimetral area of the layer, as well as front attachment means (13) and back attachment means (13′) arranged in parallel and slightly above the attachment means (12, 12′), likewise extending transversely along the front and back semi-perimeters of the skirt layer.

3. The convertible activewear apparel for women according to claim 2, wherein the intermediate pieces (2, 3) comprise two rectangular pieces, the larger side of which corresponds with the front semi-perimeter of the skirt layer of the waist-hip piece (1) and include corresponding connection means on all their perimetral edges for connection by means of their smaller sides (21, 21′, 31, 31′) and their larger sides (22, 22′, 32, 32′).

4. The convertible activewear apparel for women according to claim 3, wherein the shorts piece (4), comprises a waist and two legs, where the waist essentially corresponds with the length of the lower perimetral edge of the waist-hip piece (1), includes two connection means comprising a front perimetral connection means (41) and a back perimetral connection means (41′) in the waist thereof in correspondence with the front and back parts of the skirt layer of the waist-hip piece (1).

5. The convertible activewear apparel for women according to claim 4, wherein the connection means and the attachment means are selected from the group consisting of zippers, Velcro®-type detachable straps, buttons, hooks and eyes and automatic closures.

6. The convertible activewear apparel for women according to claim 5, wherein the connection means and attachment means are zippers.

7. The convertible activewear apparel for women according to claim 6, wherein the activewear apparel is a skirt made by attaching the waist-hip piece (1) to the front intermediate piece (2) and back intermediate piece (3) by means of connecting the zippers (13, 13′) of the waist-hip piece and the zippers of the larger sides (22, 32) of each of the intermediate pieces (2, 3), the skirt layer being closed by the zippers of the smaller sides (21, 31) and (21′, 31′) of the intermediate pieces.

8. The convertible activewear apparel for women according to claim 7, wherein the length of the skirt depends on the height of the intermediate pieces (2, 3), or in that it includes more than two intermediate pieces (2, 3) which increase the overall length of the skirt when they are connected to one another.

9. The convertible activewear apparel for women according to claim 6, wherein the activewear apparel is a pair of shorts formed by attaching the waist-hip piece (1) and the shorts piece (4) by means of connecting the zippers (13, 13′) of the waist-hip piece (1) to the zippers (41, 41′) of the shorts piece.

10. The convertible activewear apparel for women according to claim 9, wherein the length of the shorts depends on the length of the legs, or can be modified by providing in the lower area of the legs, a respective connection means cooperating with a corresponding connection means arranged in the upper and lower perimeters of pairs of tubular elements provided as a continuation of the legs.

11. The convertible activewear apparel for women according to claim 6, wherein the activewear apparel it is a skort made by attaching the waist-hip piece (1) and the shorts piece (4) by means of connecting the zippers (12, 12′) of the waist-hip piece (1) to the zippers (41, 41′) of the shorts piece (4) and the intermediate pieces (2, 3) are attached to the waist-hip piece (1) by means of the zippers (13, 13′), the skirt layer being closed by the zippers of the smaller sides (21, 31) and (21′, 31′) of the intermediate pieces.

12. The convertible activewear apparel for women according to claim 3, wherein the activewear apparel is a rectangular bag made up of the intermediate pieces (2, 3) superimposed on one another and connected together through the connection means (22, 22′) of the intermediate piece (2) with the connection means (32, 32′) of the intermediate piece (3), and through the connection means (21, 21′) of the intermediate piece (2) with the connection means (31, 31′) of the intermediate piece (3), with an opening defined by disconnecting the connection means (22, 32) of the intermediate pieces (2, 3), where a handle which can be attached by means of corresponding snap hooks at the ends thereof to upper terminals of the connection means (21, 31) and (21′, 31′) is provided.

13. The convertible activewear apparel for women according to claim 3, wherein the convertible activewear apparel is a bag made up of the intermediate pieces (2, 3) superimposed on one another and connected together through the connection means (22, 22′) of the intermediate piece (2) with the connection means (32, 32′) of the intermediate piece (3), and through the connection means (21, 21′) of the intermediate piece (2) with the connection means (31, 31′) of the intermediate piece (3) and by folding, where a handle which can be attached by means of corresponding snap hooks at the ends thereof to terminals of the connection means (22, 32) and (22′, 32′) is provided.

14. The convertible activewear apparel for women according to claim 3, wherein the activewear apparel is a skirt made by attaching the waist-hip piece (1) to the front intermediate piece (2) and back intermediate piece (3) by means of connecting the attachment means (13, 13′) of the waist-hip piece and the connection means of the larger sides (22, 32) of each of the intermediate pieces (2, 3), the skirt layer being closed by the connection means of the smaller sides (21, 31) and (21′, 31′) of the intermediate pieces.

15. The convertible activewear apparel for women according to claim 14, wherein the length of the skirt depends on the height of the intermediate pieces (2, 3), or in that it includes more than two intermediate pieces (2, 3) which increase the overall length of the skirt when they are connected to one another.

16. The convertible activewear apparel for women according to claim 4, wherein the activewear apparel is a pair of shorts formed by attaching the waist-hip piece (1) and the shorts piece (4) by means of connecting the attachment means (13, 13′) of the waist-hip piece (1) to the connection means (41, 41′) of the shorts piece.

17. The convertible activewear apparel for women according to claim 16, wherein the length of the shorts depends on the length of the legs, or can be modified by providing in the lower area of the legs, a respective connection means cooperating with a corresponding connection means arranged in the upper and lower perimeters of pairs of tubular elements provided as a continuation of the legs.

18. The convertible activewear apparel for women according to claim 4, wherein the activewear apparel it is a skort made by attaching the waist-hip piece (1) and the shorts piece (4) by means of connecting the attachment means (12, 12′) of the waist-hip piece (1) to the connection means (41, 41′) of the shorts piece (4) and the intermediate pieces (2, 3) are attached to the waist-hip piece (1) by the attachment means (13, 13′), the skirt layer being closed by the connection means of the smaller sides (21, 31) and (21′, 31′) of the intermediate pieces.

19. The convertible activewear apparel for women according to claim 6, wherein the activewear apparel is a rectangular bag made up of the intermediate pieces (2, 3) superimposed on one another and connected together through the zippers (22, 22′) of the intermediate piece (2) with the zippers (32, 32′) of the intermediate piece (3), and through the zippers (21, 21′) of the intermediate piece (2) with the zippers (31, 31′) of the intermediate piece (3), with an opening defined by unzipping the upper zippers (22, 32) of the intermediate pieces (2, 3), where a handle which can be attached by means of corresponding snap hooks at the ends thereof to upper terminals of the zippers (21, 31) and (21′, 31′) is provided.

20. The convertible activewear apparel for women according to claim 6, wherein the convertible activewear apparel is a bag made up of the intermediate pieces (2, 3) superimposed on one another and connected together through the zippers (22, 22′) of the intermediate piece (2) with the zippers (32, 32′) of the intermediate piece (3), and through the zippers (21, 21′) of the intermediate piece (2) with the zippers (31, 31′) of the intermediate piece (3) and by folding, where a handle which can be attached by means of corresponding snap hooks at the ends thereof to terminals of the zippers (22, 32) and (22′, 32′) is provided.