Patent Application
20190082761
The present invention relates generally to clothing and more particularly to devices and methods for attaching to shirts and blouses, and relates as well as to bodysuits.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,727,247, 5,276,923, 5,177,813, 5,177,814, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2015/0089718 and U.S. Design Pat. No. D611678 describe hold down devices for shirts that attach and detach at the shirt.
U.S. Design Pat. No. D738070 describes a shirt stay.
The present invention provides a device for creating a body suit from a shirt or blouse comprising:
a front panel, the front panel having a front panel front and a front panel rear;
a rear panel, the rear panel having a rear panel front and a rear panel rear, the rear panel front attached to the front panel rear via a detachable connection;
at least two front connectors, the front connectors attached to the front panel front and for attaching to the shirt or blouse; and
at least two rear connectors, the rear connectors attached to the rear panel rear and for attaching to the shirt or blouse.
The detachable connection may include at least one hook for interacting with at least one loop, and preferably a plurality of hooks and loops, and preferably made of metal or hard plastic.
A VELCRO, i.e. hook and loop, or snap connection is also possible, the snap connections preferably including a plurality of snaps.
The front and rear connectors can include clips for clipping to the shirt or blouse, which advantageously permits connection to any shirt or blouse. Alternatively, the shirt or blouse also could have holes or snaps specifically designed for the front and rear connectors.
The front connectors advantageously may be at the ends of a single front band, the front panel then connected to the single front band between the ends, for example via stitching, to the front panel front. The ends of the single band may then extend beyond the front panel to provide for adequate length between the crotch area and the shirt or blouse. The band may include length adjusters between the front panel and the front connectors, for example adjustable end loops. The rear connectors may similarly be at ends of a single rear band, with length adjusters as well, and the rear single band connected, for example via stitching, to the rear panel rear.
Advantageously, the band can be elastic, even with the length adjusters present, so that when stretched and connected to the shirt or blouse, the shirt or blouse remains taut. A preferred material for the band is polyester satin lingerie ribbon, with a preferred width of ⅝″ or ½″.
The front and rear panels may be made a material that is easily washable and slightly stretchable as well, preferably made of soft LYCRA or soft LYCRA blend, as well as NYLON or polyester, and possibly in lace form. Cotton blends could also be used, for example for institutional applications.
The present invention also provides a method for modifying a blouse or shirt into a bodysuit comprising:
attaching a front panel at at least two front connection points to the blouse or shirt; and
attaching a rear panel at at least two rear connection points to the blouse or shirt, the rear panel being unconnected from the front panel.
The method can then include placing the front panel and rear panel around a crotch area while connected to the blouse or shirt, and connecting the front and rear panel.
The present invention also provides a modular bodysuit comprising:
a shirt or blouse;
a front panel, the front panel having a front panel front and a front panel rear;
a rear panel, the rear panel having a rear panel front and a rear panel rear, the rear panel front attached to the front panel rear via a detachable connection;
at least two front connectors, the front connectors attached to the front panel front and attached to the shirt or blouse; and
at least two rear connectors, the rear connectors attached to the rear panel rear and attached to the shirt or blouse.
The invention will be better understood upon reading the description which follows, given purely by way of example and with reference being made to the accompanying figures, in which:
Hooks 32, 33, 34, and loops 42, 43, 44, 52, 53, 54 preferably are made of a rigid material such as metal or hard plastic and can be connected to the respective panels 12, 22 via for example stitching, in a manner know for example from bra back connections.
Front panel 12 is connected via stitching 50 at front panel front 14 to a front band 40, made preferably of elastic material. Preferably the front edge of the front patent front 14 aligns with the outer side edge 41 of front band 40, so that a maximum possible stitching area is available.
Rear panel 22 is connected via stitching 51 at rear panel rear 26 to a rear band 60, made preferably of elastic material. Preferably the rear edge of the rear patent rear 26 aligns with the outer side edge 61 of rear band 60, so that a maximum possible stitching area is available. Rear panel 22 advantageously can be longer in direction L than front panel 12, which provides better fitting to most body shapes. The width of both front panel 12 and rear panel 22 in a direction W preferably is less than a respective panel length in direction L, and the width of front panel 12 and rear panel 22 preferably increases from detachable connection 30 toward the respective band 40, 60. The width over the respective length of each of front panel 12 and rear panel 22 though preferably remains below the respective panel length in direction L.
Front band 40 has two adjusters 48, 49 connected at its ends. Front band 40 loops back through the adjusters 48, 49 to form two end loops, 46, 47 respectively. End loops 46, 47 are adjustable individually in size, with adjusters 48, 49 movable up to front panel 12, thus permitting adjustability of the length of front band 40 in direction W.
Loops 46, 47 can loop around connection slits of front connectors 72, 74, respectively. Front connectors 72, 74 can be for example claw snap connectors similar to those known for example from suspenders. Front connectors 72, 74 thus can connect at any point along a shirt or blouse as will be described below.
Similar to front band 40, rear band 60 has two adjusters 68, 69 connected at its ends. Rear band 60 loops back through the adjusters 68, 69 to form two end loops, 66, 67 respectively. End loops 66, 67 are adjustable individually in size, with adjusters 68, 69 movable up to tear panel 22, thus permitting adjustability of the length of rear band 60 in direction W.
