Patent Application
20130232657
Today's fashion trends are ever changing. People are often looking for the next great trend or are looking to push the envelope of fashion. Often times, the appearance of various articles of clothing may be improved, altered, etc. by the use of a foundation garment that provides shaping, structure, etc. In conventional systems, these foundation garments are often structured in a single configuration that cannot be altered. Further, the foundation garments are generally not suitable to be worn as an exterior garment, which may be seen or visible when worn. Accordingly, an adjustable or flexible article of apparel configured to be worn either under an article of clothing or as an exterior garment would be beneficial.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. The summary is not an extensive overview the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention, nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the description below.
According to one or more aspects described herein, a flexible article of apparel is provided. In some examples, the flexible article of apparel may include a plurality of movable apparel members. The movable apparel members may be connected to each other, such as with a fastener. In some examples, the movable apparel members may be substantially identical in size and/or shape. The movable apparel members may maintain their position via a friction fit between the movable apparel members and/or the fastener. The position may be maintained until one or more of the movable apparel members are acted on by an outside force sufficient to overcome the friction fit.
In some arrangements, the movable apparel members may be movable or rotatable relative to each other about the fastener. Movement or adjustment of one or more movable apparel members may alter or adjust the overall configuration of the flexible apparel member. Thus, the flexible apparel member may have a variety of different configurations or appearances based on the position of the movable apparel members. These different configurations may also alter the appearance or configuration of another article of apparel worn over the flexible article of apparel in arrangements in which the flexible article of apparel is worn as a foundation garment.
The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements.
In the following description of various illustrative embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, various embodiments in which the claimed subject matter may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present claimed subject matter.
Aspects of this disclosure relate to a flexible article of apparel. The flexible article of apparel may be worn as a foundation garment beneath another article of apparel, or as an exterior garment either alone or over another article of apparel. The flexible article of apparel may include a plurality of movable apparel members. The movable apparel members may be joined or connected to each other via a fastener and may move relative to each other.
The flexible article of apparel 100 may generally include a bodice portion 102 configured to be positioned in a chest area of a wearer. Further, the flexible article of apparel 100 may include a skirt portion 104 configured to be positioned in a waist and/or hip region of the wearer. In some examples, the bodice portion 102 and skirt portion 104 may surround or encircle their respective portions of the body. For instance, the bodice portion 102 may surround the chest area of the wearer, while the skirt portion 104 may surround the hip and/or waist region of the wearer.
In some examples, the flexible article of apparel 100 may be a single garment formed of a plurality, of movable apparel members 106. The movable apparel members 106 will be described more fully below. In another example, the flexible article of apparel 100 may be formed of multiple garments connected together or that may be worn separately. For instance, the bodice portion 102 may be a separate garment from the skirt portion 104 (e.g., may be removable, disconnectable, etc.). Thus, in this example arrangement, the bodice portion 102 may be worn separately from the skirt portion 104 (e.g., the bodice 102 may be worn alone or the skirt 104 may be worn alone). In some examples, a portion of the flexible article of apparel 100 (e.g., the bodice portion 102, the skirt portion 104) may be connected to or worn with a conventional article of apparel (e.g., flexible apparel bodice 102 with conventional skirt or pants, flexible apparel skirt 104 with conventional top, etc.).
In arrangements in which one or more portions of the flexible article of apparel can be separated from the remainder of the flexible article of apparel 100, the portions may be joined using known methods of attachment, such as fasteners, snap fits, zippers, buttons, snaps, and the like. In some examples, the fasteners (108 in
In some examples, the fastener 108 may permit movement of the connected movable apparel members 106a, 106b relative to each other. For instance, movable apparel member 106a may be movable relative to movable apparel member 106b, or vice versa. In some arrangements, the movable apparel members 106 may be rotatable about the fastener 108. Movement or adjustment of the movable apparel members 106 may alter the configuration of the flexible article of apparel 100. The movable apparel members 106 may, in some examples, generally form a web-like arrangement with a plurality of apertures formed between the movable apparel members 106 or the plurality of apertures being defined by the movable apparel members 106. The apertures may have varying sizes depending on the position of the movable apparel members 106 forming any particular aperture.
For example,
For instance, as shown in
The adjustability of the flexible article of apparel 100 provides for a variety of configurations, shapes, etc. to be formed. Further, the adjustability of the flexible article of apparel 100 allows for adjustment of various features of the apparel, such as arm holes, to be adjusted for size, fit, location, configuration, etc. In still other arrangements, various embellishments or structure/shape features may be added, removed, adjusted, etc. to the flexible article of apparel 100 by adjusting the movable apparel members 106. Examples of some arrangements will be discussed more fully below.
The movable apparel members 106 may, in some examples, be identical or substantially identical to each other. That is, the entire flexible article of apparel 100 may be formed of movable apparel members 106 having an identical or substantially identical size, shape, configuration, etc. For instance, the movable apparel members 106 may be substantially rectangular but, in some arrangements, may also include rounded corners in order to improve comfort for the wearer. Additionally or alternatively, the movable apparel members 106 may be a variety of other shapes, such as square, circular, oval, and the like, without departing from the invention.
In some examples, the movable apparel members 106 may be between 1.5 inches and 4.5 inches, between 1.0 inch and 5.0 inches, or between 0.5 inch and 7 inches in length. In one example arrangement, the movable apparel members 106 may be 3.0 inches in length. Further, the movable apparel members 106 may be between ¼ inch and 2 inches wide. In one example arrangement, the movable apparel members 106 may be 0.5 inch wide. The movable apparel members 106 may be between 0.005 and 0.050 inch thick. In some examples, the movable apparel members 106 may be 0.010 inch thick. Although the arrangements discussed above include movable apparel members 106 that are identical or substantially identical, alternatively, the flexible article of apparel 100 may be formed of movable apparel members 106 having different sizes, shapes, configurations, etc.
In some arrangements, the movable apparel members 106 may be formed using a laser cutting process. Additionally or alternatively, the movable apparel members 106 may be molded, printed, etc. In some examples, the movable apparel members 106 may include a pre-cut aperture or puncture through which the fastener 108 may extend. The aperture may be any suitable size, shape, etc. to accommodate the fastener 108. In some examples, the aperture may be between ⅛ and % inch in diameter. In one example configuration, the aperture may be ¼ inch in diameter.
As discussed above, adjacent movable apparel members 106 may be joined or connected using a fastener 108. In some examples, the fastener 108 may be an aluminum post. Additionally or alternatively, the fastener 108 may be another mechanical fastener, such as a screw, rivet, and the like. In still other arrangements, the fastener 108 may be a button, snap, snap-fit, and the like. The fastener 108 may be formed of any suitable material including various metals, such as aluminum, titanium, steel, etc. or combinations thereof. Additionally or alternatively, the fastener 108 may be formed of various plastic materials, composite materials, etc.
The fasteners 108 may have a diameter between ⅛ and ¾ inch and, in some arrangements, may be ¼ inch in diameter. Further, the fastener 108 may be between ⅛ inch and ½ inch in length. In some arrangements, the fasteners 108 used throughout the flexible article of apparel 100 may be identical or substantially identical in size, shape, configuration, etc. For instance, the fasteners 108 may have a diameter of ¼ inch and may be ¼ inch in length. Additionally or alternatively, a variety of fasteners 108 may be used. That is, different types of fasteners 108 may be used or the fasteners 108 may vary by size, shape, configuration, etc. In some examples, the fasteners 108 may have identical or substantially identical diameters but may vary in length. For instance, the fasteners 108 may include different length fasteners 108 used in different regions of the flexible article of apparel 100. In some examples, the fasteners 108 used may include fasteners 108 that are ⅛ inch, ¼ inch and/or ⅜ inch in length. This may allow for easier adjustment of the movable apparel members 106 in regions having the longer length fasteners 108. That is, a fastener 108 having a longer length may provide a looser fit between the movable apparel members 106. Thus, less force may be provided to move the movable apparel members 106. This may be advantageous in the skirt portion 104 where additional movement or ease of movement of the members may be advantageous.
Additionally or alternatively, the shorter fastener members 108 may be used when a tighter friction fit is desired between the movable apparel members 106. For instance, in the bodice portion 102, less movement or ease of movement may be desired. Accordingly, shorter fasteners 108 may be used in order to provide a tighter friction fit between the movable apparel members 106 and thus may make the members stiffer or more difficult to adjust in that region than in regions having longer fasteners 108 and thus more ease of movement between the members 106.
In some examples, the movable apparel members 106 and fasteners 108 may have any desired color. For instance, if the flexible article of apparel 100 is to be worn as an exterior garment that is visible, the flexible apparel members 106 may coordinate with or contrast with the fasteners 108 to provide a pleasing aesthetic appearance. Color may be provided during manufacture of the movable apparel members 106 and/or fasteners 108, or may be applied in a separate process (e.g., via paint, or other known methods of adding color).
As further shown in
The flexible article of apparel 100 of
The embellishment 314 may provide a unique appearance for the flexible article of apparel 100 when worn as an exterior garment. Alternatively, the embellishment 314 may be, configured to alter a shape of a garment or other article of apparel worn over the flexible article of apparel 100. That is, a garment (not shown) worn over the flexible article of apparel 100 may protrude outward as it overlays the embellishment 314 of the flexible article of apparel 100. The garment may remain in that position until the shape and/or configuration of the embellishment 314 is adjusted by adjusting or moving one or more movable apparel members 106.
As discussed above, the flexible article of apparel may provide a unique appearance in a variety of configurations. By moving or adjusting one or more movable apparel members, the flexible article of apparel may be adjusted to a variety of different configurations, positions, shapes, arrangements, etc. and may be worn as a garment that is visible. Alternatively, the flexible article of apparel may be worn under another garment or article of apparel to provide or alter the shape, configuration, position, arrangement, etc. of the garment. Thus, one flexible article of apparel may be used to provide a variety of appearances or visual configurations for itself as an article of apparel, or for another garment or article of apparel.
The flexible article of apparel shown and described herein may, in some examples, be one article that is configurable in the variety of different positions as shown and described herein. The various configurations may be formed by moving or adjusting the flexible apparel members to a desired arrangement. Although several example configurations of the flexible article of apparel are shown and described herein, infinitely many alternate configurations may be formed by adjusting one or more of the movable apparel members without departing from the invention.
Although the figures generally depict a dress shape for the flexible article of apparel, a variety of other articles of apparel may be formed without departing from the invention. For instance, the flexible article of apparel may be pants, shorts, long or short skirts, jackets, tops, and the like.
While the illustrative flexible article of apparel described herein embodying various aspects is shown, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. For example, each of the elements of the aforementioned embodiments may be utilized alone or in combination or sub-combination with the elements in the other embodiments. It will also be appreciated and understood that modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit and score of the present invention. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.
