Abstract: The present invention provides a one-piece, open-seam garment which encompasses the head, covers and conforms to the body and limbs of the wearer, and provides on-demand access to one portion of the covered body and limbs without uncovering the remainder of the body and legs. When worn, the garment provides privacy and protection for the person unlike the conventionally used johnnies and hospital gowns conventionally worn during physical examination or medical treatment in the physician's office or clinic.

Abstract: The versatile patient gown of the present invention provides access to the entire torso, front or back without removing the gown by opening the releasable butterfly sleeve closures and cotton ties. The gown has multiple uses as a regular patient gown, a surgical gown; it can be used in intensive care by opening a sleeve for I.V.'s, etc.; for critical care using a telemeter unit placeable in a front pocket which has a buttonhole to pass the lead into the body; for radiology by using exclusively VELCRO closures and cotton ties; for mammography and for neonatal care by exposing the breast or chest without removing the entire gown.

Abstract: This garment for a woman who has a need to breast feed an infant may be in the form of a hospital gown, blouse, dress, or any other type of upper body covering clothing normally worn by a woman. The garment, made of flexible material, has a vertical inwardly facing pleat centered on and along the upper front in the vicinity of the breasts of a wearer. The pleat includes and is formed by a pair of exposed exterior fold lines and a pair of normally hidden interior fold lines, with an inwardly facing pleat face disposed between the interior fold lines. Along a portion of the interior fold lines are normally hidden openings which are positioned to allow an infant access to the breasts of the wearer. A pair of movable breast cover panels are attached along opposite side of the inwardly facing pleat face.

Abstract: An outerwear garment having a highly unique design and display feature. The outerwear garment of a particular fabric material includes a plurality of parallel slits which form a plurality of strips of fabric within a visual area. A display panel is secured to the inside of the fabric material such that a depiction is positioned to correspond to the visual area and partially visible through the slits. The slits may be cut generally horizontally, vertically, or at an inclined angle. When the fabric material is wetted, the strips become distorted in various ways to reveal increased portions of the respective depictions within the respective visual areas. Multiple visual areas can be created on the garment to provide an unlimited number of different designs, patterns, textures, and visual effects.

Abstract: An aggregate floor length gown including an upper section which forms a knee length gown with an ornamental lower border and a lower section with an ornamental upper border, the two sections ornamental borders releasably interconnecting to become an integral part of the gown's design and ornamental appearance.

Abstract: A single dress of simple design is selectively changed into entirely different dresses by changing decorative front pieces which are located on the front of the dress by a rear flap sewed along a line of stitching corresponding in shape to that of a neckline and tucked behind the neckline to hold the respective dress front pieces of different design in place.

Abstract: A hospital gown with means for fully closing an openable seam, while affording selective access to portions of a patient's body through the seam. The closing or fastening elements are either continuous along the seam or are relatively closely spaced so that no significant gaps remain when all of the closing elements are secured together. Several normally closed and openable seams may be provided in alternative embodiments to afford access to different portions of the patient's body.

Abstract: The present invention provides surgical gowns and other garments possessing the advantages of raglan sleeve construction in terms of comfort and freedom of movement, with improved manufacturing efficiency. The garment of the present inveniton provides a raglan sleeve divided into an upper portion and lower portion joined approximately in the area of the bicep. Waste is greatly reduced by creating a shoulder portion from material removed to form the arm openings in the body portion of the garment. The shoulder portion is attached to the body portion of the garment to form a raglan shoulder portion which extends to about the bicep of the wearer. A sheet of material is cut in a trapezoidal pattern to form a plurality of lower sleeve portions, each of which is attached to a shoulder portion. Gowns made in accordance with the present invention exhibit the flow and shoulder lines of a raglan sleeve construction while making efficient use of the fabric from which the gown is constructed.

Abstract: A patient's hospital gown comprised of a wrap around lower portion secured with a waist drawstring and a series of releasable fasteners along the overlapped seam. Front and rear panels are sewn to the top edge of the nether portion, forming main front flap looping an auxiliary front panel attached to one of rear panel sleeves and drawn over the wearer's shoulder and onto one side of the wearer's chest. Other sleeve portions of the main front and rear panels have a releasable seam extending along the top edge.

Abstract: A solar look dress is provided and consists of regular cloth material forming a skirt, lower bodice and cuffs of the sleeves. A netting material is for forming a hem, upper bodice and the sleeves to permit ventilation of air therethrough thus affording comfort to a wearer of the dress particularly during warm periods of the year.

Abstract: A one-piece garment is disclosed. The garment has two panels with a neck opening between the panels. The second panel has a central panel, side panels and transverse panels. The central panel covers the wearer's back and shoulders, the side panels cover the wearer's sides from under the junctions of the wearer's arms and shoulders, and the transverse panels extend substantially across the wearer's chest. The first panel may lie over or under the transverse panels. Means for closing the transverse panels is provided so that the transverse panels may be secured in position across the wearer's chest. In a preferred embodiment, the closure means allows the transverse panels to be closed in two ways: first, with one transverse panel overlying the other; second, in a draw string manner with the outer ends of the transverse panels extending toward each other. The panels of the garment are proportioned to ensure adequate coverage of the wearer.

Abstract: An unfinished article of clothing is provided which includes a plurality of fabric panels to be sewn together along a plurality of seams. At least one seam connecting the plurality of panels is finished while the rest of the seams which will connect the panels together are unfinished and have a plurality of tacks along the locations of the seams which will fasten the panels together. The article of clothing is provided inside out for ease in finishing the seams.

Abstract: A method of making a dress for a woman involves obtaining from a prospective wearer certain circumferential and longitudinal measurements, the latter including lengths from the shoulder to the waist at the rear, from the shoulder to the waist over the bust, from the waist to the floor and from the waist to a chosen hem level and also, preferably, from the underbust to the waist. Panels of the dress are provided each in several sizes, the panels being formed from block patterns thereof, each panel having a circumferentially extending edge spaced significantly from the waist level of the finished dress. The measurements taken are employed to select the panels of the dress to be made each in desired size and the selected panels are thereafter formed into a dress by seaming together thereof.

Abstract: A functional and attractive garment is provided for convalescents who are confined to wheelchairs and secured therein for safety reasons by a restraining device, and those convalescents which have limited walking ability but must use a wheelchair periodically. The garment features slits at either side, through which strap portions of a pelvic or other wheelchair restraint can be drawn from within to outside of the garment for fastening to the back of the wheelchair; a graduated hemline; and color-coded, detachable sleeves. When used in conjunction with such a restraining device, the garment fits the wearer comfortably and falls gracefully over the wearer's knees, preserving warmth and dignity.

Abstract: An adjustable dress is disclosed which includes an adjustable crinoline or slip, an adjustable overskirt and an adjustable blouse. The slip is upwardly formed with a plurality of vertically spaced casings and is provided with a drawstring which is insertable into a casing to thereby provide the desired vertical dress length adjustment. The slip terminates downwardly in a fabric ruffle to form the finished bottom of the dress. An overskirt overfits the slip and is provided with a waist construction that is widely adjustable to fit substantially all sizes. The length of the overskirt is less than the length of the slip to thereby assure that the ruffle will bottomly extend below the overskirt. An adjustable blouse is fabricated of the same fabric as the slip ruffle and the overskirt and includes suitable drawstrings about the blouse top and sleeves to comfortably fit the shoulders, neckline and back of the wearer.

Abstract: A fastener device including an elongated sleeve member having an elongated top fastener surface and elongated detachable side edge portions for attachment to the shoulder strap of a foundation garment, such as a brassiere, for securing the undersurface of an overlying outer garment worn over the shoulder strap to conceal the shoulder strap from view.

Abstract: Special garments for the disabled and infirm are provided with a front and back portion to enclose a portion of a person wherein the front is comprised of an inner front portion and a removable outer front portion. The inner front portion of the garment includes an outer face of a selected design and material having a fastening means disposed about a selected area thereon. The outer front portion comprises an outer face of design and material matched with the selected design and material of the outer face of the inner front portion and an inner face which is fluid resistant and includes a fastening means about an area matched with the selected area of the inner front portion, designed to align and cooperate with the first fastening means to releasably attach together the outer face of the inner front portion and the inner face of the outer front portion forming a removable bib-like portion which matches the garment portion.

Abstract: An article of wearing apparel is constructed having a full conical skirt, a close fitting waist and bodice, and a wide neck strap section, enclosed within a pair of moveable cloth shaping rings. The dress is constructed in three sewn panels of four-way stretchable fabric. The stretch of the fabric, the combination of close fitting bodice and waist and full skirt section, and the manipulation of the strap gathering rings permits the dress to be worn as a strap or strapless dress, as a dress having a crisscross neck or a keyhole neck, with wide or narrow shoulder straps, as a strapless dress or as a pantsuit form. The dress is capable of achieving a multiplicity of appearances.

Abstract: A dress formed of two sheets of material joined in a back to back relationship. Each sheet has a differential design or color combination and is joinable at one side edge and the top which allows several styles to be attained for the dress. A series of side and top edge closures secures the dress in each of its selected positions.

Abstract: An article of wearing apparel designed and suited for women in their child bearing years. The apparel is uniquely designed to provide a proper and fashionable fit prior to pregnancy, during the term of pregnancy and after delivery through utilization of interchangeable elements. A coordinating panel constructed with mating and aligned fastening elements is added to the main body of the garment to increase the girth by proportionate increments in the desired areas to create the proper fit for a pregnant woman's increased volume.

Abstract: A functional and attractive garment is provided for convalescents who are confined to wheelchairs and secured therein for safety reasons by a restraining device. The garment features slits at either side, through which strap portions of a pelvic or other wheelchair restraint can be drawn from within to outside of the garment for fastening to the back of the wheelchair; a graduated hemline; and color-coded, detachable sleeves. When used in conjunction with such a restraining device, the garment fits the wearer comfortably and falls gracefully over the wearer's knees, preserving warmth and dignity. The color-coded, detachable sleeves facilitate donning of the garment and can be separated for injections, blood pressure examinations and so forth.

Abstract: A wrap-around jumper dress adapted to fit a plurality of different female figures having height, waist, bust and hip measurements within predetermined ranges of these measurements between small and large. The ability for a garment to fit a wide variety of female shapes and sizes results from a particular combination of garment components assembled in a particular relationship and actuated by pulling the tab ends of the waistband toward each other at the wearer's back and then securing the tab ends in place with buttons or other securing means.

Abstract: Dress inserts for smoothing the contour lines of dresses improving the appearance in the bosom area and an improved manufacturing method therefor comprising the use of three cut pieces--an outer, liner, an inner lining smaller than the outer lining, and a foam padding layer which is sewn as a unit to and is sandwiched between the inner and outer linings, the method of manufacturing avoiding the need for any trimming step due to the overlapping of too much material. All three pieces have a general oval shape, with "left" and "right" versions begin mirror images of each other, with a triangular or pie shaped section cut out of each of the ovals, so that, when the two diverging edges created by removal of the slice are connected, a natural cone-shape is produced. Because the inner lining is smaller, it supports and raises the outer lining, with the padding providing for correct contouring.

Abstract: Alterable garments are formed of front and back fabric parts joined by side seams. Each fabric part includes inwardly folded material about the side seams to allow alteration of the garment.

Abstract: An invisible seam assembly for garments and the like, comprising: a non-extensible, but flexible elongated band having a plurality of hooks molded integrally therewith and projecting perpendicularly therefrom, affixable to an inner surface of a garment portion along a seam path; and, an elongated elastic cord affixed to an elongated carrier strip at a plurality of spaced points, defining a plurality of loops enabling the hooks to snugly engage the cord, the carrier strip being affixable to another garment portion. The elasticity of the cord imparts yieldability to the engaged seam and the integrally formed band and hooks impart stability to the engaged seam, whereby the garment portions may be detachably but reliably connected to one another. Such invisible seam assemblies may be incorporated into a modular clothes outfit made from sheer or fine fabrics, for example a wedding gown.

Abstract: An upper body garment including a front body section, a back body section and two sleeves extending from the upper portion of the front and back section for covering the front, back, shoulders and arms of a wearer formed of two pieces of fabric and a single closing seam is provided. The upper fabric member includes two outwardly extending sleeve and upper arm sections with a central neck cutout and the lower fabric member includes a central lower back section with two outwardly extending front body sections. Both upper and lower fabric members are formed with curved cutout regions for forming arm and shoulder regions of the garment. The entire garment is formed by two seams joining the cooperating contoured cutout regions and the closing seam.

Abstract: A garment (30) formed from two rectangular elongated panels (32 and 34) of identical shape and dimensions. The panels are superimposed in a face-to-face manner at an angle. Their upper portions are folded so that the edge of each upper portion adjoins a part of the corresponding edge of the other panel, thereby to form triangularly-shaped sleeve portions (50 and 50'). The latter are turned over towards the adjacent edges (46 and 46') to form sleeve openings (38 and 38'). The lower portions of the panels are folded so that the inner edge of one of panels adjoins and is attached to the outer edge of the other panel on both sides of the panels. The formation of the garment is completed by attaching coincident inner edges of the overlapped portions of the panels to leave a neck opening. Various modifications are possible so that dress-type, blouse-type, or coat-type garments can be formed. The garment is attractive and economical to produce.

Abstract: A garment, particularly a female dress in comprised of only two pleated pieces of cloth which are joined to each other by side seams extended longitudinally of the dress such that they form armholes at the upper portion of the dress and by a shoulder seam which extends such as to form a neck aperture at the top of the dress. A lace extended around the neck aperture can be drawn to close the dress at the back thereof.

Abstract: A wrap-around garment having a main or single body encircling element adapted for wrapping around the body and securely fastening the front sections of the garment in an overlapped position to substantially eliminate accidental opening or dislodging of one wrapped section with respect to the other thus reducing embarrassment during wearing of the garment. The garment may be easily donned and removed by means of the use of the single body encircling fastening element.

Abstract: The present invention entails a single piece garment having a two piece garment appearance. First, a dress type outer garment section is provided and includes shoulder areas as well as neck and arm openings. A lining or interfacing is secured interiorly of said outer garment section about said shoulder areas by stitching the lining or interfacing about said neck and arm opening. From the area where said lining is secured by stitching to said outer garment section, the lining or interfacing extends downwardly in an unsecured relationship to said outer garment section. This lower extending lining or interfacing is formed into a body suit that encloses a portion of a subject's mid-body area.

Abstract: A method of making dresses for dolls or the like, comprising: superposing to each other two strips of synthetic fabric of a kind capable of being welded; repeatedly performing thereafter, all along the development of said fabric strips, electronic welds or the like in the form of dotted or dashed weld lines in order to obtain joining together of said strips in proximity of the boundaries of the individual doll dresses which are to be obtained so that sewn seams are simulated; causing the so welded garments to be cut all along their boundary line leaving a slight margin outside the weld line to simulate the margin of a sewn seam and, finally, turning each single dress inside out so that the faces of the fabric strips which had initially been made to adhere to each other, are now outwardly directed.

Abstract: A doll dress constructed by providing a strip of net material gathered on a cord and sewn to the inside of the dress circumferentially of the hem thereof. The strip has a width of approximately 1/3 the length of the skirt portion and is approximately 30 times longer than the circumferential length of the skirt at the hem portion thereof. The strip is gathered on the cord to the circumferential length of the hem portion of the skirt to give a desirable billowy appearance and provide a flexible base for maintaining the doll upright on an uneven or unstable surface.

Abstract: A long dress is made up of a slip-like underdress which may be worn under a short overdress or alone, the overdress and the underdress, when worn together, providing the appearance of a long dress. The overdress and the underdress may be worn alone, however, if desired.

Abstract: An article of wearing apparel has a panel of readily-expansible material in the front upper half thereof to enable that article of wearing apparel to be worn by persons of different sizes and configurations; and it has a panel of less-expansible material overlying and concealing the panel of readily-expansible material. The panel of less-expansible material permits free expansion and contraction of the panel of readily-expansible material while effectively concealing the latter panel.

Abstract: An adjustable dress capable of fitting different size and shaped women. The dress is uniquely formed by front top portions and a front skirt joined by a midriff sash. Back yokes and a shoulder pattern are joined to the front. The back yokes provide the fullness of the back which adjusts to all sizes within a predetermined range. The arrangement and fullness of the patterns forming the dress allow for adjustment to the body within the garment. When the sash is tied by drawing it to the rear on each side, excessive fullness in the front is neatly and evenly draped in accordian fashion between the side seams at the rear by relocating excessive body fabric from the front to the rear where it is held neatly in place by the sash. The resultant dress forms an attractive garment on any size woman within the selected range of measurements.

Abstract: Unitary garments and a low-cost method of manufacture for such garments are disclosed. The garments of this invention are formed by folding a unitary sheet of material upon itself to form front and back sides. This folded sheet is then cut and seamed to form the garment's shoulders and sleeves.

Abstract: A dress-type garment is formed of one or more strips of fabrics wound helically about the torso of the wearer and having contiguous edges of adjacent convolutions joined by helical seams. A pants-type garment is similarly formed by strips helically wound to form the legs, with upper end portions of the strips cut and joined by a central seam to form the upper portion of the pants. Another embodiment of a dress-type garment is made of first, second and third squares with two adjacent edges of the second square joined to two adjacent edges of the first square and the other two edges of the second square joined to two adjacent edges of the third square.

Abstract: A body garment adapted to be converted into a tote bag and vice versa, the garment having three panel sections superimposed one upon another, with the front and intermediate panel sections having neck, waist and arm openings and with the back and intermediate panel sections defining a compartment closed at the shoulder end of the garment. With such a construction, a draw cord is carried by the bottom edge portions of the front and rear panel sections for securing the panel sections of the garment about the waist of the wearer. When used as a tote bag, the draw cord provides a constrictable mouth portion between the intermediate and panel sections.

Abstract: A garment which is adapted to be worn in a plurality of different styles. The garment comprises a lower tubular portion adapted to encircle portions of the body. Additionally, an upper tubular portion forms an extension of the lower portion. The upper portion comprises opposed scarves having spaced front and rear edges wherein each scarf extends from the front edge to the rear edge. The scarves are adapted either to enfold or to be draped about the body in various configurations to support the garment on the wearer.

Abstract: A sweatshirt or other suitable long-sleeved garment is provided with a drawstring around the neck or the hood, a drawstring through the waist, and grommets in the wrists or cuffs of the sleeves. The sweatshirt can be worn in its customary fashion for warmth. The drawstring in the waist is threadable through the grommets in the wrists to secure the sleeves to the waist and simultaneously close the waist so that it provides a sealed bottom for a pack. The sleeves of the garment can then be worn over the shoulders of the wearer with the drawstring in the neck or hood being available for closing off the top of the pack.

Abstract: The garment can be worn in any one of many different ways and is especially adaptable to cover the upper torso of the wearer as a halter-like garment. The garment includes a substantially flat double stretch knit body including a base portion and two separate upstanding portions formed integrally with the base portion, the upstanding portions diverging away from the center line of the body at the upper end thereof.

Abstract: A dress-type garment is formed of one or more strips of fabrics wound helically about the torso of the wearer and having contiguous edges of adjacent convolutions joined by helical seams. A pants-type garment is similarly formed by strips helically wound to form the legs, with upper end portions of the strips cut and joined by a central seam to form the upper portion of the pants. Another embodiment of a dress-type garment is made of first, second and third squares with two adjacent edges of the second square joined to two adjacent edges of the first square and the other two edges of the second square joined to two adjacent edges of the third square.