GARMENT COMPRISING A DETACHABLE AND EXCHANGEABLE FASHION STRIP
A garment incorporates a detachable garment strip. The garment has a first series of releasable fasteners attached to a garment part, and a second series of releasable fasteners attached to the garment part and spaced apart from the first series of releasable fasteners. The detachable garment strip is designed to overlie the garment part between the first and second series of releasable fasteners. The garment strip has first and second strip edges, a third series of releasable fasteners attached along the first strip edge, and a fourth series of releasable fasteners attached along the second strip edge.
The present disclosure relates broadly and generally to a garment comprising one or more detachable and exchangeable garment strips. The garment strips may be entirely decorative for added fashion, and may offer added layers and thickness in certain parts of the garments to promoted increased durability and wear-resistance.
SUMMARY OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTSVarious exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described below. Use of the term “exemplary” means illustrative or by way of example only, and any reference herein to “the invention” is not intended to restrict or limit the invention to exact features or steps of any one or more of the exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present specification. References to “exemplary embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “various embodiments,” and the like, may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an exemplary embodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.
It is also noted that terms like “preferably”, “commonly”, and “typically” are not utilized herein to limit the scope of the claimed invention or to imply that certain features are critical, essential, or even important to the structure or function of the claimed invention. Rather, these terms are merely intended to highlight alternative or additional features that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the present invention.
According to one exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure comprises a garment incorporating a detachable garment (e.g., fashion) strip. The garment comprises a first series of protruding zipper teeth attached to a garment part, and a second series of protruding zipper teeth attached to the garment part and spaced apart from the first series of zipper teeth. The detachable garment strip is designed to overlie the garment part between the first and second series of zipper teeth. The garment strip has first and second strip edges, a third series of protruding zipper teeth attached along the first strip edge, and a fourth series of protruding zipper teeth attached along the second strip edge. A first zipper slider is adapted for selectively meshing together and separating the first and third series of zipper teeth, thereby selectively attaching and detaching the first strip edge of the garment strip to and from the garment part. A second zipper slider is adapted for selectively meshing together and separating the second and fourth series of zipper teeth, thereby selectively attaching and detaching the second strip edge of the garment strip to and from the garment part.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the first series of zipper teeth comprises opposite lead and tail ends, an insertion pin located at the lead end, and a slider stop located at the tail end.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the second series of zipper teeth comprises opposite lead and tail ends, an insertion pin located at the lead end, and a slider stop located at the tail end.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the first and second series of zipper teeth are reversely arranged such that the insertion pin of the first series of zipper teeth is substantially aligned with the slider stop of the second series of zipper teeth, and the insertion pin of the second series of zipper teeth is substantially aligned with the slider stop of the first series of zipper teeth.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the first series of zipper teeth is located along one edge of an elongated fabric tape, and wherein an opposite edge of the fabric tape is attached to the garment part.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the garment part comprises a narrow uncut fold, and wherein the edge of the fabric tape opposite the first series of zipper teeth is sewn and concealed between the narrow fold of the garment part.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the second series of zipper teeth is located along one edge of an elongated fabric tape, and wherein an opposite edge of the fabric tape is attached to the garment part.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the garment part comprises a narrow uncut fold, and wherein the edge of the fabric tape opposite the second series of zipper teeth is sewn and concealed between the narrow fold of the garment part.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the first zipper slider is attached to the garment strip for sliding movement along the third series of zipper teeth.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the second zipper slider is attached to the garment strip for sliding movement along the fourth series of zipper teeth.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the first and second zipper sliders comprise respective pull tabs.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the garment part may comprise a pant's leg or an arm sleeve.
In another exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure comprises a garment incorporating a detachable garment (e.g., fashion) strip. The garment comprises a first series of releasable fasteners attached to a garment part, and a second series of releasable fasteners attached to the garment part and spaced apart from the first series of releasable fasteners. The detachable garment strip is designed to overlie the garment part between the first and second series of releasable fasteners. The garment strip has first and second strip edges, a third series of releasable fasteners attached along the first strip edge, and a fourth series of releasable fasteners attached along the second strip edge. The first strip edge of the garment strip is selectively attached and detached to and from the garment part by selectively mating and releasing the first and third series of releasable fasteners, and the second strip edge of the garment strip is selectively attached and detached to and from the garment part by selectively mating and releasing the second and fourth series of releasable fasteners.
The term “releasable fasteners” is broadly defined herein to mean fastener or fastener element capable of bring together and releasably joining two otherwise separate parts. In the exemplary claimed embodiment, the first and third series of releasable fasteners and the second and fourth series of releasable fasteners comprise respective complementary male and female fastener elements. Examples of complementary fastener elements comprise hook and loop fasteners, snaps, press studs, buttons, and the like.
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:
The present invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. Like numbers used herein refer to like elements throughout. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be operative, enabling, and complete. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention, which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof. Moreover, many embodiments, such as adaptations, variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosed by the embodiments described herein and fall within the scope of the present invention.
Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Unless otherwise expressly defined herein, such terms are intended to be given their broad ordinary and customary meaning not inconsistent with that applicable in the relevant industry and without restriction to any specific embodiment hereinafter described. As used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. Where only one item is intended, the term “one”, “single”, or similar language is used. When used herein to join a list of items, the term “or” denotes at least one of the items, but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list.
For exemplary methods or processes of the invention, the sequence and/or arrangement of steps described herein are illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, it should be understood that, although steps of various processes or methods may be shown and described as being in a sequence or temporal arrangement, the steps of any such processes or methods are not limited to being carried out in any particular sequence or arrangement, absent an indication otherwise. Indeed, the steps in such processes or methods generally may be carried out in various different sequences and arrangements while still falling within the scope of the present invention.
Additionally, any references to advantages, benefits, unexpected results, or operability of the present invention are not intended as an affirmation that the invention has been previously reduced to practice or that any testing has been performed. Likewise, unless stated otherwise, use of verbs in the past tense (present perfect or preterit) is not intended to indicate or imply that the invention has been previously reduced to practice or that any testing has been performed.
Referring now specifically to the drawings, a garment according to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated in
As best shown in
Referring to
Referring again to
The detachable fashion strip 11 is designed to overlie the garment leg 15 between the first and second series of zipper teeth 12, 14. The fashion strip 11 has first and second strip edges (or tape edges) 31, 32, a first series of protruding zipper teeth 33 attached along the first strip edge 31, and a second series of protruding zipper teeth 34 attached along the second strip edge 32. A first hand-operated slider is 35 carried on the first series of protruding zipper teeth 33, and defines an internal generally Y-shaped channel designed for selectively meshing together and separating complementary zipper teeth of the fashion strip 11 and garment leg 15, as described further below. Likewise, a second hand-operated slider 36 is carried on the second series of protruding zipper teeth 34, and defines an identical Y-shaped channel designed for selectively meshing together and separating the complementary zipper teeth of the fashion strip 11 and garment leg 15. Each zipper slider 35, 36 has a manual pull tab 38, and optionally an anti-slide zipper lock (not shown). The zipper lock is designed to hold the slider in a steady closed position, resisting forces that would inadvertently move the slider and open the zipper.
The exemplary garment 10 may comprise only a single fashion strip on one garment leg, or may comprise multiple fashion strips on one garment leg, or may comprise one or more fashion strips on both garment legs. The fashion strips 11 may be constructed of any flexible fabric or non-fabric material such polyester, cotton, fiber blends, vinyl, or the like, and may include separately or integrally formed elements including lights, reflectors, letters, numbers, designs, graphics, pictures, or symbols. The exemplary fashion strips may be fabricated in a wide variety of colors and designs, and may be worn for promoting a sports team, organization, country, special event, tourist area, or the like.
As best shown in
The detachable fashion strip 51 is designed to overlie the garment sleeve 55 between the first and second series of zipper teeth 52, 54. The garment strip 51 has first and second strip edges 61, 62, a first series of protruding zipper teeth 63 attached along the first strip edge 61, and a second series of protruding zipper teeth 64 attached along the second strip edge 62. A first hand-operated slider 65 is carried on the first series of protruding zipper teeth 63, and defines an internal generally Y-shaped channel designed for selectively meshing together and separating complementary zipper teeth of the fashion strip 51 and garment sleeve 55. Likewise, a second hand-operated slider 66 is carried on the second series of protruding zipper teeth 64, and defines an internal generally Y-shaped channel designed for selectively meshing together and separating complementary zipper teeth of the fashion strip 51 and garment sleeve 55. Each zipper slider 65, 66 comprises a manual pull tab 68, and optionally an anti-slide zipper lock.
Each series of zipper teeth 72, 74 comprises opposite lead and tail ends 81, 82, an insertion pin 83A, 83B located at the lead end 81, and a slider stop 84A, 84B located at the tail end 82. In the exemplary embodiment, the first and second series of zipper teeth 72, 74 are arranged such that the insertion pin 83A of the first series of zipper teeth 72 is substantially laterally aligned with the insertion pin 83B of the second series of zipper teeth 14, while the slider stop 84A of the first series of zipper teeth 72 is substantially laterally aligned with the slider stop 84A of the second series of zipper teeth 74.
The detachable fashion strip 71 is designed to overlie the garment leg 75 between the first and second series of zipper teeth 72, 74. The fashion strip 71 has first and second strip edges (or tape edges) 91, 92, a first series of protruding zipper teeth 93 attached along the first strip edge 91, and a second series of protruding zipper teeth 94 attached along the second strip edge 92. A first hand-operated slider is 95 carried on the first series of protruding zipper teeth 93, and defines an internal generally Y-shaped channel designed for selectively meshing together and separating complementary zipper teeth of the fashion strip 71 and garment leg 75. Likewise, a second hand-operated slider 96 is carried on the second series of protruding zipper teeth 94, and defines an identical Y-shaped channel designed for selectively meshing together and separating the complementary zipper teeth of the fashion strip 71 and garment leg 75. Each zipper slider 95, 96 has a manual pull tab 98, and optionally an anti-slide zipper lock (not shown).
In this embodiment, the zipper slider 95 of fashion strip 71 is first applied to the insertion pin 83A at the lead (top) end 81 of the first series of zipper teeth 72 formed with the garment leg 75. The zipper slider 95 is then manually pulled downward towards the bottom hem, such that the internal Y-shaped channel causes the complementary teeth 72, 93 to mesh together and interlock. After slider 95 is pulled to the bottom of the garment leg 75, the second zipper slider 96 of fashion strip 71 is applied to the insertion pin 83B at the lead (top) end 81 of the second series of zipper teeth 74 formed with the garment leg 75. The zipper slider 96 is then manually pulled downward towards the bottom hem, such that the internal Y-shaped channel causes the complementary teeth 74, 94 to mesh together and interlock. The fashion strip 71 is completely attached when the zipper slider 96 reaches the bottom end of the garment leg 75, as shown in
For the purposes of describing and defining the present invention it is noted that the use of relative terms, such as “substantially”, “generally”, “approximately”, and the like, are utilized herein to represent an inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. These terms are also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described above. No element, act, or instruction used in this description should be construed as important, necessary, critical, or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Although only a few of the exemplary embodiments have been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in these exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.
In the claims, any means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Thus, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures. Unless the exact language “means for” (performing a particular function or step) is recited in the claims, a construction under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) [or 6th paragraph/pre-AIA] is not intended. Additionally, it is not intended that the scope of patent protection afforded the present invention be defined by reading into any claim a limitation found herein that does not explicitly appear in the claim itself.
Claims
1. A garment, comprising:
- a first series of protruding zipper teeth attached to a garment part;
- a second series of protruding zipper teeth attached to the garment part and spaced apart from said first series of zipper teeth;
- a detachable garment strip designed to overlie the garment part between said first and second series of zipper teeth, and having first and second strip edges, a third series of protruding zipper teeth attached along the first strip edge, and a fourth series of protruding zipper teeth attached along the second strip edge;
- a first zipper slider adapted for selectively meshing together and separating said first and third series of zipper teeth, thereby selectively attaching and detaching the first strip edge of said garment strip to and from said garment part; and
- a second zipper slider adapted for selectively meshing together and separating said second and fourth series of zipper teeth, thereby selectively attaching and detaching the second strip edge of said garment strip to and from said garment part.
2. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said first series of zipper teeth comprises opposite lead and tail ends, an insertion pin located at the lead end, and a slider stop located at the tail end.
3. The garment according to claim 2, wherein said second series of zipper teeth comprises opposite lead and tail ends, an insertion pin located at the lead end, and a slider stop located at the tail end.
4. The garment according to claim 3, wherein said first and second series of zipper teeth are reversely arranged such that the insertion pin of said first series of zipper teeth is substantially aligned with the slider stop of said second series of zipper teeth, and the insertion pin of said second series of zipper teeth is substantially aligned with the slider stop of said first series of zipper teeth.
5. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said first series of zipper teeth is located along one edge of an elongated fabric tape, and wherein an opposite edge of said fabric tape is attached to said garment part.
6. The garment according to claim 5, wherein said garment part comprises a narrow uncut fold, and wherein the edge of said fabric tape opposite said first series of zipper teeth is sewn and concealed between the narrow fold of said garment part.
7. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said second series of zipper teeth is located along one edge of an elongated fabric tape, and wherein an opposite edge of said fabric tape is attached to said garment part.
8. The garment according to claim 7, wherein said garment part comprises a narrow uncut fold, and wherein the edge of said fabric tape opposite said second series of zipper teeth is sewn and concealed between the narrow fold of said garment part.
9. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said first zipper slider is attached to said garment strip for sliding movement along said third series of zipper teeth.
10. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said second zipper slider is attached to said garment strip for sliding movement along said fourth series of zipper teeth.
11. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said first and second zipper sliders comprise respective pull tabs.
12. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said garment part comprises a pant's leg.
13. The garment according to claim 1, wherein garment part comprises an arm sleeve.
14. A garment, comprising:
- a first series of releasable fasteners attached to a garment part;
- a second series of releasable fasteners attached to the garment part and spaced apart from said first series of releasable fasteners;
- a detachable garment strip designed to overlie the garment part between said first and second series of releasable fasteners, and having first and second strip edges, a third series of releasable fasteners attached along the first strip edge, and a fourth series of releasable fasteners attached along the second strip edge;
- whereby the first strip edge of said garment strip is selectively attached and detached to and from said garment part by selectively mating and releasing said first and third series of releasable fasteners, and
- whereby the second strip edge of said garment strip is selectively attached and detached to and from said garment part by selectively mating and releasing said second and fourth series of releasable fasteners.
15. The garment according to claim 14, wherein said first series of releasable fasteners are located along one edge of an elongated fabric tape, and wherein an opposite edge of said fabric tape is attached to said garment part.
16. The garment according to claim 15, wherein said garment part comprises a narrow uncut fold, and wherein the edge of said fabric tape opposite said first series of releasable fasteners is sewn and concealed between the narrow fold of said garment part.
17. The garment according to claim 14, wherein said second series of releasable fasteners are located along one edge of an elongated fabric tape, and wherein an opposite edge of said fabric tape is attached to said garment part.
18. The garment according to claim 17, wherein said garment part comprises a narrow uncut fold, and wherein the edge of said fabric tape opposite said second series of releasable fasteners is sewn and concealed between the narrow fold of said garment part.
19. The garment according to claim 14, wherein said garment part comprises a pant's leg.
20. The garment according to claim 14, wherein garment part comprises an arm sleeve.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 22, 2016
Publication Date: Apr 25, 2019
Inventors: Paul H. Williams (Mocksville, NC), Silas H. Williams (Mocksville, NC)
Application Number: 15/755,381