Patent Application
20150237935
This invention relates to the field of clothing and more particularly to a system for providing convertible shorts/skirts with detachable leggings.
There are many situations in which one needs to convert to and from clothing that covers one's legs. Often, when moving from outdoors where temperatures require leg covering to indoors where temperatures do not require leg covering, perhaps during exercise, a conversion is desired. Many times, one wears shorts for indoor exercise and wears sweat pants over the shorts while traveling outdoors. This is sufficient for warmth, but requires undressing (removing the sweatpants) before exercise. Furthermore, many people prefer leggings over sweatpants for the way leggings shape their legs, provide support, and are conducive to exercising.
In a similar industry, cargo pants have been introduced with removable leg portions, typically attachable/detachable by a zipper that circumnavigates the bottom of the shorts and top of the leg portions at a location approximately mid-thigh. This type of article of clothing is well suited for outdoor exploration, for example, allowing the leg portion to be removed as temperatures increase during daylight hours, but this style does not bode well for exercise, due not only to the appearance, but to the bagginess of the cargo pants style. Furthermore, even though a flap is often provided to cover the zippers, the area at which the leg portion joins with the short portion provides a detraction from the overall style of the article.
There are many times when a person wishes to be stylish, yet quickly transition to workout dress. For example: squeezing in a power-hour workout during a lunch break; heading to the gym after work; heading to yoga after dropping off a child at school then a run on the beach; meeting friends for coffee or lunch before the gym; grocery shopping after a nice walk in the park with grandchildren; running errands after dance, gymnastics, or tennis; etc. All of these often require some sort of dress change.
Further, there are matters of style that individuals prefer, but often, it is difficult to mass-produce large numbers of color variations between sections of clothing. For example, some people prefer a solid color leg portion with a print pattern skirt or shorts while other people prefer a solid color skirt or shorts with a print pattern leggings, while other people prefer everything to be solid and still other people prefer everything to be of a print pattern, To provide all of these options to buyers, manufacturers would need at least four times the number of items for a given style.
What is needed is a system that will detachably join shorts/skirts to leggings without a visible seam to provide robust reconfigurations and multiple color combinations.
A clothing system having a shorts and/or skirt portion and a legging portion in which the legging portion is removably attached to the shorts and/or skirt portion by fasteners near the waistband of the shorts and/or skirt portion such that, when attached, the upper edge of the legging portion is covered by the shorts and/or skirt portion. In some embodiments, a convertible skirt portion is attached to the shorts portion at the waistband, such that, the skirt portion covers the shorts portion when deployed, or the skirt portion folds up at the waistband appearing like a belt.
In one embodiment, clothing system having removable leggings is disclosed. The removable leggings have two legging portions, each of which has an ankle end and a distal end; the distal end has at least one attachment mechanism. The clothing system includes a shorts portion that has a waistband and at least one mating attachment mechanism for mating with the attachment mechanism of the legging portions. When the legging portions are worn, each is connected to the shorts portion by connecting the attachment mechanisms to respective mating attachment mechanisms resulting in the shorts portion substantially covering and hiding the distal end of each of the legging portions.
In another embodiment, a method of changing clothes is disclosed including donning a shorts portion for covering a central portion of the wearer's body then, at a later time, donning removable leggings. The removable leggings have two legging portions. Each legging portion has an ankle end and a distal end. Donning includes pulling one legging portion over each leg and attaching the distal end to the shorts portion by way of an attachment mechanism. After donning the removable leggings, the shorts portion substantially covers the distal end of the two legging portions.
In another embodiment, a clothing system is disclosed including removable leggings that have two legging portions. Each legging portion has an ankle end and a distal end; the distal end has at least one attachment mechanism and a seam of the distal end has elastic material there within. The clothing system includes a shorts portion that has a waistband and at least one mating attachment mechanism. A skirt portion is affixed to the shorts portion at the waistband. When worn, each of the legging portions is connected to the shorts portion by the attachment mechanisms and respective mating attachment mechanisms in the shorts portion and the shorts portion substantially covers and hides the distal end of each of the legging portions. When the skirt portion is deployed, the skirt portion substantially covers the shorts portion and, when the skirt portion is not deployed, the skirt portion is worn over the waistband to provide the appearance of a belt.
In another embodiment, a clothing system is disclosed including removable leggings that have two legging portions bridged at a first edge distal from an ankle end with at least one strap attached near the first edge. A second end of each of the at least one straps includes a first half of an attachment mechanism. A shorts portion has a waistband and the waistband has a second half of the attachment mechanism. The legging portion is removably attached to the shorts portion by the attachment mechanism and, when worn, the shorts portion substantially covers and hides the first edge of the legging portion.
The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.
Note that, throughout this description, the term “removable,” although generally an indefinite term, “removable” is limited to being performed by hand without machinery such as one would “remove” their shirt by unbuttoning first. Likewise, the term “affixed” is to be taken as affixed in a way that is not easily removed by hand without machinery as, for example, two sections of cloth that are sewn together are “affixed” as a machine is typically needed to separate the two sections of cloth (e.g., a razor blade or knife). Therefore, one skilled in the art would not view two sections of cloth that are sewn together as being removable.
Throughout this specification, “ankle end” and “ankle area” refer to the lower end of each legging portion 38 and there is no limitation as to how far down the wear's leg that the legging portion 38 reside, in that, the end being referenced is towards the wearer's ankles as opposed to towards the wearer's waist or torso and, therefore, the clothing system 10 is not limited to full-length legging portions 38 that end at the wearer's ankles, as, for example, caprice-style legging portions 38, stirrup-style legging portions 38, and foot-covering legging portions 38 are equally anticipated.
Referring to
When present and deployed, the skirt portion 20 covers the shorts portion 40 and provides an aesthetic look that is different than the look of the shorts portion 40 and is often preferred by users before and after exercise. As shown in
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In some embodiments, a cover material or flap is provided over the fastener 11 and/or mating fastener 31 for added comfort.
In some embodiments, the legging portions 38 are independent of each other. In other embodiments the legging portions 38 are interfaced to each other by a crotch/bridge section.
As shown, the upper edges 32 of the legging portions 38 (distal from the ankle area 39 of the legging portions 38) are completely covered by the shorts portion 40, thereby substantially hiding the top edge 32 of each of the legging portion 38 and providing an overall look in which it appears that the removable leggings 30 is a continuous part of the shorts portion 40, especially when both are made from the same material and pattern, though such is not required.
Although it is anticipated that in some embodiments, the removable leggings 30 are connected by a bridge (not shown), in other embodiments, the legging portions 38 are separate, providing even more configuration options, in that, in one scenario, the user wears a shorts portion 40 that is made from the same material (e.g. material composition, texture, pattern, color) as both legging portions 38, while in another scenario the user wears a shorts portion 40 that is made from the a different material (e.g. material composition, texture, pattern, color) as both of the legging portions 38, while in still another scenario, the user wears a shorts portion 40 that is made from a different material (e.g. material composition, texture, pattern, color) as one of the legging portions 38 and the other legging portion 38 is made from another, different material (e.g. material composition, texture, pattern, color). Further, since legging portions 38 tend to wear faster than shorts portions 40, the above state flexibility provides the ability to market the clothing system 10 with spare legging portions 38 and/or mix-and-match legging portions 38.
Referring to
In some embodiments, a cover material or flap is provided over the fastener 11 and/or mating fastener 31 for added comfort.
In some embodiments, the legging portions 38 are independent of each other. In other embodiments the legging portions 38 are interfaced to each other by a crotch/bridge section.
As shown, the upper edges 32 of the legging portions 38 are completely covered by the skirt portion 20, thereby hiding the upper edges 32 of each of the legging portions 38 and providing an overall look in which it appears that the removable leggings 30 is a continuous part of the skirt portion 20, especially when both are made from the same material and pattern, though such is not required.
Although it is anticipated that in some embodiments, the removable leggings 30 are connected by a bridge (not shown), in other embodiments, the legging portions 38 are separate, providing even more configuration options, in that, in one scenario, the user wears a skirt portion 20 that is made from the same material, pattern, and color as both legging portions 38, while in another scenario the user wears a skirt portion 20 that is made from the a different material, pattern, and color as both of the legging portions 38, while in still another scenario, the user wears a skirt portion 20 that is made from a different material, pattern, and color as one of the legging portions 38 and the other legging portion 38 is made from still another, different material, pattern, and color. Further, since the legging portions 38 tend to wear faster than skirt portion 20, the above state flexibility provides the ability to market the clothing system 10 with spare legging portions 38 and/or mix-and-match legging portions 38.
Referring to
The upper area of the legging portion 38 (waist area to thigh area) is shown as having a somewhat level area 37 and a crotch area 36. The level area 37, when worn, conforms and abuts the area of the waistband 22 of the shorts portion 40, the skirt portion 20, or both (when combined). The crotch area 36 conforms to the crotch area of the wearer without overly applying pressure in that area.
The level area 37 of the legging portion 38 has one or more matting fasteners 31 that, when worn, mate with fasteners 11 of the shorts portion 40, the skirt portion 20, or both (when combined). By attaching the fasteners 11 to the mating fasteners 31, the legging portions 38 become part of the ensemble and, from the outside of the skirt portion 20 or shorts portion 40; appear to be a single article of clothing.
Although not required, it is preferred to include an elastic material 35 within the seam of the upper edges 32. When present, the elastic material 35 provides an improved fit, maintains the position of the legging portions 38 while donning or removing, and maintain the shape of the upper edges 32 after repeated wear.
Referring to
The upper area 43 of the alternate legging portions 38A has straps 32A, preferable multiple straps 32A on each of the alternate legging portion 38A. In the example shown, a first end of each of the straps 32A is affixed to an upper edge of the alternate legging portion 38A by any attachment mechanism known in the art such as stitching, adhesives, etc. A second end of the straps 32A is removably attached to the waistband 22 by any detachable and re-attachable mechanism known in the industry such as a button 11/button-hole 31 (as shown), a snap fastener, a hook fastener, hook-and-loop fasteners, magnets, etc. The detachable and re-attachable mechanism is shown as buttons 11 on the waistband 11 and button holes 31 on the straps 32A. In some embodiments, small cloth covers (not shown) are provided to cover the buttons 11 for added comfort. In some embodiments, the second ends of the straps 32A are affixed to each other at the location of the fasteners 11/31.
In some embodiments the alternate legging portions 38A are interfaced to each other by a crotch/bridge section.
Although any material is anticipated for fabrication of the straps 32A, the straps 32A are preferably made of a resilient material (elastic, resilient cloth, etc.). By making the straps from a resilient material, tension is applied to the removable alternate legging portions 38A, providing support to the wearer's upper legs in the hamstring area, improving the wearer's appearance as well as adding extra support for the lumbar. Resilient straps 32A further provide some level of resistance when the wearer stretches, improving exercise and helping to stabilize balancing postures such as dancer's pose or extended hand to big toe pose.
Although a triangular-like formation of straps 32A are shown in
Note, it is anticipated that when the straps 32A are attached to the shorts portion 40 or skirt portion 20 in the area of the waistband 22, the top edge of the alternate legging portions 38A as well as the straps 32A are completely covered by the skirt portion 20 and/or the shorts portion 40 as shown on one side of
Again, any combination of material, color, and patterns is anticipated for the shorts portion 40, the skirt portion 20, and the alternate legging portion 38A, providing flexibility to the wearer and the marketer. It is anticipated that the shorts portion 40, the skirt portion 20, and the alternate legging portion 38A be sold as sets or as separate components.
Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result.
It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/942,747 filed on Feb. 21, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61942747 | Feb 2014 | US |
