Patent Application
20100077640
The disclosed subject matter relates to a garment tag for organizing and planning a wardrobe. More particularly, the disclosed subject matter relates to a garment tag and method for associating garments and accessories to be worn with the garments.
Personal appearance and image is important in both business and social settings. An individual's style of dress can convey a desirable image and social impression to others. There are many social functions which may be held in regular intervals or time and in which the same people may attend. Being seen in different clothing at different events attended by the same people portrays a sense of personal creativity and fashion. Repeatedly wearing the same clothes to such social functions would inherently create an undesirable notion of thriftiness which may be detrimental to one's personal image. Therefore, it is important to many people to avoid repeatedly wearing the same clothing or accessories to social gatherings attended by the same people.
An individual's style of dress is also important in a business or school setting. Therefore, individual's dressing patterns in a business or school setting should portray the desired sense of fashion, accomplishment and success to clients, potential new clients, co-workers, classmates and others.
One may attempt to avoid repeatedly wearing the same clothing or accessories by having a large and diverse wardrobe. However, purchasing such a large wardrobe is cost prohibitive for many individuals. Furthermore, having a large wardrobe does not prevent an individual from mistakenly wearing certain garments and combinations of garments and accessories on repeated occasions.
Provided is a garment tag comprising a body of sheet material, at least one of an opening formed in said body for associating said garment tag with a garment or garment hanger or a pocket for holding at least one item associated with said garment, and an area for recording information regarding said garment. According to certain embodiments, the garment tag includes an opening formed in said body for associating said garment tag with a garment, garment hanger or a pocket for holding at least one item associated with said garment, and an area for recording information regarding said garment.
Also provided is a garment in combination with a garment tag, said garment tag comprising a body of sheet material, at least one of an opening formed in said body for associating said garment tag with a garment or garment hanger or a pocket for holding at least one item associated with said garment, and an area for recording information regarding said garment.
Additionally provided is a method of selling a garment comprising associating a garment tag with said garment, said garment tag comprising a body of sheet material, at least one of an opening formed in said body for associating said garment tag with a garment or garment hanger or a pocket for holding at least one item associated with said garment, and an area for recording information regarding said garment; and selling the garment with the garment tag associated therewith to a buyer.
Further disclosed is a method of cleaning a garment comprising receiving a garment to be cleaned from a garment owner; cleaning said garment; and associating a garment tag with said cleaned garment, said garment tag comprising a body of sheet material, at least one of an opening formed in said body for associating said garment tag with a garment or garment hanger or a pocket for holding at least one item associated with said garment, and an area for recording information regarding said garment.
Further disclosed is a method of storing a garment comprising receiving a garment to be stored from a garment owner, associating a garment tag with said garment, said garment tag comprising a body of sheet material, at least one of an opening formed in said body for associating said garment tag with a garment or garment hanger or a pocket for holding at least one item associated with said garment, and an area for recording information regarding said garment; and storing said garment.
Furthermore disclosed a method of repairing a garment comprising receiving a garment to be repaired from a garment owner, repairing said garment, and associating a garment tag with said repaired garment, said garment tag comprising a body of sheet material, at least one of an opening formed in said body for associating said garment tag with a garment or garment hanger or a pocket for holding at least one item associated with said garment, and an area for recording information regarding said garment.
Further disclosed is a method of organizing a clothing wardrobe comprising associating a garment tag with at least one article of clothing of said wardrobe, said garment tag comprising a body of sheet material, at least one of an opening in said body for associating said garment tag with a garment or garment hanger of a pocket for holding at least one item associated with said garment; and an area for recording information regarding said garment.
Disclosed is a garment tag for use with a garment. The garment tag includes a body of sheet material. The body of the garment tag includes at least one of an opening for engaging the garment tag with a garment or garment hanger or a pocket for holding items associated with the garment, and an area for recording information regarding said garment. According to certain illustrative embodiments, the pocket may further include an opening, such as a slit or slot, that is adapted to accept or otherwise receive a portion of the body of the garment tag to close the pocket.
The material from which the body of the garment tag is prepared may comprise a foldable sheet material. The foldable sheet material may be provided with a perforation or scored line to permit a portion of the body to be folded along the score line into a flap portion that is inserted into the pocket of the garment tag. Alternatively, the pocket may be provided with a slot or opening that is suitable to accept a portion of the garment tag.
Also disclosed is a garment tag in combination with a garment. The garment tag includes a body of sheet material. The body of the garment tag includes at least one of an opening for engaging the garment tag with a garment or garment hanger, a pocket for holding items associated with the garment, and an area for recording information regarding said garment. According to certain illustrative embodiments, the pocket may further include an opening, such as a slit or slot, adapted to accept or otherwise receive a portion of the body of the garment tag to close the pocket. The material from which the body of the garment tag is prepared may comprise a foldable sheet material. The foldable sheet material may be provide with a perforation or scored line to permit a portion of the body to be folded along the score line into a flap portion that is inserted into the pocket of the garment tag. Alternatively, the pocket may be provided with a slot or opening that is suitable to accept a portion of the garment tag.
Additionally disclosed is a method of selling a garment. The method of selling a garment generally includes associating a garment tag with the garment to be sold, said garment tag including a body of sheet material. The term “associated” means that the garment tag may be removably attached directly to a garment, may be removably attached to the garment via an attachment means, may be included within a package containing a garment, or may be attached or engaged with a garment hanger. The body of the garment tag includes at least one of an opening for engaging the garment tag with a garment or garment hanger or a pocket for holding items associated with the garment, and an area for recording information regarding said garment. According to certain illustrative embodiments, the pocket may further include an opening, such as a slit or slot, adapted to accept or otherwise receive a portion of the body of the garment tag to close the pocket. The material from which the body of the garment tag is prepared may comprise a foldable sheet material. The foldable sheet material may be provide with a perforation or scored line to permit a portion of the body to be folded along the score line into a flap portion that is inserted into the pocket of the garment tag. Alternatively, the pocket may be provided with a slot or opening that is suitable to accept a portion of the garment tag.
The garment tag may be associated with a garment in either the folded or unfolded position. For example, when the garment tag used in the unfolded position the tag is associated with a garment by engaging the tag with the garment by attaching the tag to a button or snap though an opening provided in the body of the garment tag. Alternatively, when the garment tag is used in the folded position, the folded garment tag may be inserted into a pocket of the garment to which it is associated.
Further disclosed is a method of cleaning a garment. The method of cleaning the garment includes receiving a garment to be cleaned from a garment owner. The garment is then cleaned, which may comprise either washing the garment or dry cleaning the garment. After the garment has been cleaned, a garment tag is associated with the cleaned garment, and it is returned to the garment owner. Returning the cleaned garment to the garment owner may include either the owner of the garment picking up the cleaned garment from the cleaning facility or the cleaner of the garment or some third party delivering the cleaned garment to the garment owner. The garment tag associated with the cleaned garment generally comprises a body of foldable sheet material, an opening formed in said body for associating said garment tag with a garment or garment hanger, a pocket for holding items associated with said garment, and an area for recording information regarding said garment. The pocket of the garment tag may be used to hold buttons, snaps, or any other part of the garment that may be become separated from the garment during the cleaning process.
Illustrative embodiments of the garment tag will now be described in greater detail with reference to the FIGURES. It should be noted that the garment tag, the garment with associate garment tag and methods of using the garment tag are not intended to be limited to the illustrative embodiments shown in the FIGURES.
Body 12 of garment tag 10 includes upper and lower ends 18, 20 and opposite lateral sides 22, 24. Upper end 18 of body 12 may be angled or otherwise tapered. An opening 26 may be provided near the upper end 18 of body 12 of the garment tag 10 to permit the garment tag 10 to be attached to a button of a garment or a garment hanger. Body 12 includes fold line 28. Pocket 30 is located on side 16 of body 12 of garment tag 10. Pocket 30 includes opening 32, such as a slit or slot, to receive a portion of upper end 18 of body 12 to close the pocket. As shown in
Referring to
Garment tag 10 may be made from paper material, plastic material, or a combination of paper and plastic materials. Garment tag 10 should be prepared from a material that can accept writing thereon with ink or pencil. According to certain illustrative embodiments, garment tag 10 is prepared from a sturdy paper material.
Body 42 of garment tag 40 includes upper and lower ends 48, 50 and opposite lateral sides 52, 54. An opening 56 may be provided near the upper end 48 of body 42 of the garment tag 40 to permit the garment tag 40 to be attached to a button of a garment or a garment hanger. Body 52 includes fold line 58. Pocket 60 is located on side 46 of body 42 of garment tag 40. Pocket 60 includes opening 62, such as a slit or slot, to receive a portion of upper end 48 of body 42 to close the pocket. According to
According to
The garment tag may be used in both men's and women's wardrobes to ensure that there is no repetition of clothing worn at functions attended by the same groups of people. For example, the garment tag may be used to avoid repetition of clothing worn to work, school, or social events. The use of the garment tag will permit individuals to keep track of the garments they have worn on different occasions and garment accessories that have been worn with particular garments so that they can appropriately plan the wearing of such garments in the future.
The garment tag may be used in any facility where one party may be responsible for organizing or cleaning another party's wardrobe. For example, and without limitation, the garment tag may be used in a hospital, physical rehabilitation facility, assisted living facility, nursing home, or other long-term care facility, or a day care facility, public school, private school, boarding school, college, university, camp, or other educational institution to organize or clean the wardrobe of a patient, student, or resident. A patient or resident of a hospital or long-term care facility, such as a nursing home, often brings a certain amount of clothing with them to wear during their stay in the facility. The clothing is stored in a closet in the resident's assigned room, or in a common area designated by the facility operator. The resident often needs assistance with dressing and undressing on a daily basis. Furthermore, the care facility is often responsible for cleaning the clothing of its residents. An employee or volunteer working at the care facility assists the residents with these tasks. Because there are a large number of residents living in a long term care facility and there are different workers assigned to a particular resident, it is important that the resident's garment remain associated with the resident and do not become lost or intermingled with the garments of another resident. Furthermore, it is important that any part of a garment that may become separated from the garment during normal wear or cleaning remain associated with the garment.
Loss of dignity and self-esteem are often expressed by residents living in a long term care facility. To maintain a dignified appearance and to avoid embarrassment associated with repeatedly wearing the same garments or combinations of accessories with garments, it is important to organize and track the wardrobe combinations. At the direction of the resident or family member or friend of the resident, a member of the staff of the care facility can ensure that the garment and wardrobe accessories remain associated with a particular garment within the wardrobe. According to illustrative embodiments, the method of organizing a garment wardrobe for a garment owner includes associating a garment tag with at least one garment of within the wardrobe of the patient, resident or student. According to certain embodiments, the garment tag that is associated with the garment of such a patient, resident or student garment tag includes a body of sheet material, an opening in said body for associating said garment tag with a garment or garment hanger, a pocket for holding at least one item associated with said garment, and an area for recording information regarding said garment. The method and device are for identifying and tracking garment and accessories in order to avoid repeating in wearing of the same garment and accessories to the same social function or occasion in its next occurrence. Distinctive identification devices are attachable to the garment and/or accessories after each function and the occasion is recorded either on such identification devices or in an associated recording device such that it can be ascertained that in the next occurrence of the same social function the same garment and accessories would not be worn again.
Further disclosed is a kit comprising a plurality of garment tags 10 or 40 and at least one marking implement for writing information on the garment tags 10 or 40 relating a garment to which the tag 10 or 40 is to be associated. The kit may comprise a package containing a plurality of garment tags 10 or 40 and marking implements for writing information on the garment tags 10 or 40 relating a garment to which the tag 10 or 40 is to be associated. According to certain embodiments, the kit may comprise a flexible transparent package containing a plurality of garment tags 10 or 40 and marking implements for writing information on the garment tags 10 or 40 relating a garment to which the tag 10 or 40 is to be associated. According to other embodiments, the kit may comprise separately packaged garment tags 10 or 40 and marking implements that are sold together as a kit. Furthermore, the separately packaged garment tags and marking implements may be bundled together or placed within an overpack as sold as a kit.
While the garment tag and methods of use have been described in connection with various illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiments for performing the same function disclosed herein without deviating therefrom. The embodiments described above are not necessarily in the alternative, as various embodiments may be combined to provide the desired characteristics. Therefore, the garment tag and methods should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitation of the appended claims.
