Patent Application
20150020286
The present invention relates generally to garments for the lower body and, more particularly, such garments having a waistband assembly convertible for multiple wearing options.
The fit of a garment around the waist of the wearer is an important design consideration. This is particularly true for garments used in sports. A proper fit can contribute to an athlete's performance, whereas an improper fit can hamper performance. Moreover, it is a growing trend to wear garments in unique, non-traditional ways as a means for individual expression, such as positioning a garment's waistband comparatively low on the body.
Current approaches for a secure waist fit provide a single configuration for securing the garment around the waist, which can be uncomfortable and limiting individual expression. Thus, the wearer must often time sacrifice a secure waist fit for comfort and better looking fit or sacrifices the comfort and look for a secure waist fit, particularly when the garment is worn in a non-traditional manner.
It should be appreciated that there remains a need for a garment that addresses these concerns. The present invention fulfills this need and others
Briefly, and in general terms, the invention is embodied in a garment having a waist assembly that provides multiple wearing options. The garment includes a waistband that defines inner openings and outer openings in the front of the waistband assembly on opposing sides of the front centerline of the garment providing access to the drawstring channel from the inner side and the outer side of the waist assembly, respectively. The drawstring optionally passes through the pair of inner openings or the outer openings to tie in the front of the garment. In this manner, the waist assembly that provides multiple wearing options, including with the drawstring exposed, with the drawstring hidden, and waistband flipped with drawstring and indicia exposed. Thus, the garment has several, unique wearing options, allowing the wearer to vary the look and fit of the garment.
More specifically, in an exemplary embodiment, the waistband assembly includes a central panel folded over the front of waistband, confined to the front portion of the garment. The central panel defines both the inner openings and the outer openings.
In a detailed aspect of an exemplary embodiment, the inner openings and the outer openings are aligned with each other to enable the wearer to thread the drawstring ends easily through either pair of opening. The garment includes grommets disposed about the openings.
In another detailed aspect of an exemplary embodiment, the waistband assembly further includes covers attached over the outer openings. The covers have inwardly facing curved edges that provide access to the outer openings, with the remaining edges of the cover attached to the waistband. The covers extend from the upper edge of the waistband to the bottom edge. Both the central panel and the covers are formed of woven material
In yet another detailed aspect of an exemplary embodiment, the inner side of the waistband body has indicia spaced along the length thereof. The indicia are oriented such that they are right side-up when the waistband is flipped, exposing the indicia. In the exemplary embodiment, the indicia are logos that spaced along the entire length of the inner side of the waistband. Of course, in other embodiments, the indicia can be confined to particular regions of the waistband. In addition, indicia can be embodied in any graphics, letters, symbols, other representations, or combinations thereof, as desired.
For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages achieved over the prior art, certain advantages of the invention have been described herein. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment disclosed.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which:
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly
The waistband assembly 16 includes a central panel 28 folded over the front of waistband, confined to the front portion of the garment. The central panel defines both the inner openings 20 and the outer openings 22. The pairs of openings are disposed on opposing sides of the central panel, bisected by the front centerline (Lc) of the garment. The openings provide access to the drawstring channel 18 to either the interior side or the exterior side of the garment. More particularly, an interior side 30 of the panel extends from a fold line 32 to a bottom edge 34 of the waistband assembly 12 along the interior side of the garment, and an exterior side 36 of the panel 28 extends from the fold line 32 to the bottom edge 34 of the waistband assembly 12 along the exterior side of the garment, above a fly 38 of the garment 10.
The inner openings 20 and the outer openings 22 are aligned with each other to enable the wearer to thread the drawstring ends easily through either pair of openings (20, 22). The garment includes grommets 40 disposed about the openings (20, 22). In the exemplary embodiment, welded rubber grommets are used, though in other embodiments other types of grommets can be used. The central panel 28 is formed of woven fabric material, which facilitates secure attachment and durability of the grommet attachment.
The waistband assembly further includes covers 42 attached over the outer openings 22. The covers have inwardly facing curved edges 44 that provide access to the outer openings, with the remaining edges of the cover attached to the waistband. The covers extend from the upper edge 46 of the waistband to the bottom edge 34. Both the central panel and the covers are formed of woven material. The covers 42 provide a clean look the garment, particularly when the user ties the drawstring on the inside of the waist (e.g.,
The drawstring channel 18 is defined by waistband body 48 that is attached to the garment body 14 along the bottom edge 34 thereof via stitching. The waistband body 48 has an outer side 52 is formed of double knit material extending substantially around the waist of the garment, to optimize stretch, comfort and performance. The drawstring channel 18 terminates proximate to the openings (20, 22) on both sides of the front centerline (Lc) of the garment 10. Best, this drawstring extend out of the drawstring channel such that it can be threaded through either the inner or the outer openings (20, 22).
The inner side 50 of the waistband body 48 has indicia spaced along the length thereof. The indicia are oriented such that they are right side-up when the waistband is flipped, exposing the indicia (
In the exemplary embodiment, the inner side 50 of the waistband body 48 is formed of an elastic jacquard such that the indicia can be provided via a jacquard process. The outer side 52 of the waistband body is formed of double knit material. The elasticity of the inner side and the outer side substantially match. The waistband body is configured such that stretching occurs from a smooth resting position, thereby minimizing bunching of the waistband to provide a smooth appearance. The inner side 50 can also provide moisture retention to keep perspiration draining from the upper body to the shorts.
With reference now to
It should be appreciated from the foregoing that the present invention provides a garment having disclosed having multiple wearing options. The garment includes a waistband that defines inner openings and outer openings in the front of the waistband assembly on opposing sides of the front centerline of the garment providing access to the drawstring channel from the inner side and the outer side of the waist assembly, respectively. The drawstring optionally passes through the pair of inner openings or the outer openings to tie in the front of the garment. In this manner, the waist assembly that provides multiple wearing options, including with the drawstring exposed, with the drawstring hidden, and waistband flipped with drawstring and indicia exposed.
The present invention has been described above in terms of presently preferred embodiments so that an understanding of the present invention can be conveyed. However, there are other embodiments not specifically described herein for which the present invention is applicable. Therefore, the present invention should not to be seen as limited to the forms shown, which is to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.
