Patent Application
20230010784
The present invention relates to an improved convertible glove that can be configured to be worn as a bracelet or wristband configured to be worn around the wrist of a wearer that further comprises an integrated glove configured to easily be transitioned between a worn and unworn state.
Clothing has always had at least two main functions: a protective function and a social function. The main purpose of clothing is to protect the human body against the environment, such as cold or heat. But not less important is the social function that clothing has in communicating one's social status. This has become even more important in the last century with the increasing significance of fashion.
Transformable design is an emerging design method and has resulted in fashion trends, and hence more fashion brands and designers are willing to engage in transformable design. Transformable clothing occupies a significant market share in the clothing market. It is implemented in children's wear, working wear, sportswear, clothes for pregnant women etc. The ability to change function makes transformable clothes very useful in rapidly changing conditions. Transformable clothing appears in literature, fashion shows, online shops, fashion magazines, online fashion reviews, patents databases. In general, transformation of comprises of: “detaching—attaching”, “stretching—contracting”, “regulating—fixing”, “folding—unfolding”, “showing —hiding”, “overlapping (laying in)”, “replacing”, “orienting”, “rearranging”, “segmentation”, and/or “overturning”. Transformation processes might refer to one of the mentioned types of transformations as well as several being used simultaneously. Any of the aforementioned types of transformation provides the ability for the transformable garment to change its function. The most common form of transformation includes change in function by way of attaching or detaching elements.
Transformable garments can also be created through modular design. Modular design is focused on how to assemble and disassemble modules that comprise clothing. The different assembled and disassembled forms bring different advantages and disadvantages. Modular design can be considered to have three categories. In component modular design, the basic clothing form is retained; in geometric modular, the modular form is separated from the basic garment shape; and in compounded modular design both concepts are adopted.
In an example of component modular design, to retain the basic form and structure of a clothing article, the clothing article will be disassembled into two or more than two modules. Part of the modular design is a departure from the original form of the clothing design. In other words, each part of the module is part of the clothing article, and each has specific functions. The modules in combination restore the original shape of clothing article.
Component modules can be single or multi-function. In a single function module, the module only has a fixed function, and it has only one form of splicing. Single functional modules generally disassemble from the complete garment. Multi-function modules have two or more functions. Generally, this can be achieved through disassembly, assembly, or conversion. Conversion can include opening conversion and role conversion. Opening conversion can include assimilation through use of conventional garment openings. Role conversion comprises changing clothing from its original role to other roles. For example, pants may convert to skirts, sleeves may convert to trouser legs and so on.
Geometric modular design involves disassembling clothing from its basic form of into geometric shapes such as triangle, quadrangle or a polygon. Geometric modular design can be very flexible and can involve making clothing as building blocks. In geometric module design geometric modules can be used to create new designs by changing the assemblage.
Compounded modular design involves a combination of component modular design and geometric modular design. In an exemplary design, a geometric module removed from the basic form of a skirt may be used as cloak.
In addition to assembling and disassembling modules, splicing modules is another focus of modular design. Common splicing techniques include, but are not limited to, the use of buttons, snap fasteners, magnets, Velcro, and zippers.
In the last two decades there has been a significant increase in the demand for highly differentiated products with a significant added value and that, at the same time, consider issues such as ease of use, comfort, flexibility and fashion. This includes transformable, multifunction fashion garments.
In general, transformable multifunction fashion garments can be defined has clothing or clothing systems that allow different uses in different scenarios, such as adaptation (dynamic or not) to diverse social situations or weather conditions, or clothing that has different characteristics in different body areas in order to have different functional features, such as different permeability characteristics and different flexural properties in specific areas of the garment, among others.
Bracelets and/or wristbands are well-known articles of clothing. They generally consist of an object designed to be worn around the wrist of the wearer. Ornamental bracelets are ubiquitous in various forms and can be made of almost any material.
Gloves are common articles of clothing used to protect and comfort hands against cold or heat, damage by friction, abrasion, chemicals, and disease. As such, gloves are a part of the daily routine of many people with wide ranging application in the commercial, industrial, sporting, and recreational fields (including, construction and football). Gloves are commonly used in the activities of gardening, weightlifting, cycling, skiing, and driving. In performing these activities, gloves are often taken on and off with great regularity. When taken off, gloves are often misplaced or lost, as the gloves are no longer attached to the wearer. Some gloves are capable of being attached together so as to not lose one of the pair, and yet others are attachable to different articles of clothing. However, these attachment methods are often cumbersome and awkward to the wearer. It would be advantageous to develop gloves that do not need to be taken off, thereby enabling the wearer to keep the gloves always attached to the body to prevent loss of the gloves when not in use.
Prior attempts to address these shortcomings have been ineffective for a variety of reasons. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,117 discloses a cuff construction that can be configured to transform into a glove or mitten. However, the disclosure describes a cumbersome clothing article that requires a complex number of folding and unfolding of various panels for utilization. Furthermore, in order to accommodate the various panels required under the disclosure, the cuff configuration of the disclosed article is bulky and unappealing. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,810,530 discloses a convertible glove that is also cumbersome, requiring various folds and panels. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,874 discloses a hand covering that can be removed such that it hangs from a bracelet or wristband. This invention is also cumbersome and presents an impractical solution to the problems described above because the hanging glove is obstructive and visually unappealing. Accordingly, there is a need for a glove that can simply and quickly be converted to a bracelet.
The present invention relates to a convertible glove that folds into itself and is wearable as a stylish bracelet or wristband when not in use. The inventive glove has a resealable opening on the top surface of the glove below the metacarpophalangeal joints or knuckles and the interphalangeal joint of the thumb of a wearer. Three male fasteners are positioned along the wrist portion of the inventive glove. One male fastener is on the top surface of the glove and two are on the bottom surface. One female fastener is positioned under the thumb portion on the top surface of the glove, and two female fasteners are positioned on the palm portion of the bottom surface of the glove. The invention can include various embodiments configured for a variety of uses such as moving gloves incorporating softer fasteners for improved comfort during use.
The opening allows the hand of a wearer to be removed from the glove while the wrist portion of the glove is secured to the wrist of a wearer. The inventive glove may then be rolled and secured to the wrist portion with the fasteners.
As a result, instead of removing the glove when not in use and risk misplacing the glove, the glove folds into itself and converts to a wearable bracelet. In other words, to convert the glove to a bracelet, the wearer can open the resealable opening on the top of the glove, remove all five digits from the glove so that the glove is essentially solely connected at the wrist, fold the glove into itself until the three male fasteners are aligned with the three female fasteners, and fasten the fasteners to form a wristband. To convert the article back into a glove, the wearer can unfasten the fasteners, unfold the glove, re-insert digits through the opening, and reseal the opening. The conversion between glove and wristband is simple and easy. This also allows for multiple embodiments of the invention that can be adapted to various uses.
It is to be understood that the changes may be made in the above disclosed construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/219,823.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63219823 | Jul 2021 | US |
