Patent Application
20220007749
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The disclosure as detailed herein is in the technical field of articles of clothing. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to the technical field of clothing design. Even more specifically, the present disclosure relates to the technical field of functional clothing design.
For most one-piece garments currently on the market, there is no specific mechanism to address the issue of having to use the bathroom without taking off the entire garment. Current one-piece garments are either designed to utilize a partial zipper/button mechanism or are made of a spandex/leotard design for the sole purpose to secure positioning of the entire garment. Despite the various design elements, none of the elements in the current art include a mechanism by which the garment can be fully worn while being able to use the bathroom. The prior art of having a zipper apparatus in the pelvic area for functionality has mainly been applied in garments used for costuming, trendy apparel such as jeans or more recently, for athletic garments. However, these designs have not addressed 1) the issue of discreteness and 2) the need for flexible pelvic accessibility in the zipper design (i.e., “side to side” vs. “front to back” zipper orientation).
Many wearers of one-pieces outfits find it to be quite a nuisance and inconvenience when faced with the issue of having to use the bathroom. The functionality of the one-piece does not make it easy for one to be able to use the bathroom quickly. Instead, it creates a burdensome task of having to fully disrobe before the wearer can use the bathroom. This creates a significant functionality issue and problem for the wearer of a one-piece outfit who enjoy wearing this comfortable and stylish apparel item but are discouraged from wearing the item because of this nuisance. The invention described herein I have created is the micro-seam hidden zipper. There are two contemplated versions of the Micro-Seam Hidden Zipper: 1) side to side zipper orientation and 2) front to back zipper orientation. The invention in both iterations contains a Zipper Fabric Flap (201). A description of each version's functionality is listed below. Although zippers, buttons and spandex have helped to revolutionize the way we wear one-pieces today, their current location on the one-piece does not lend itself as a solution to the disrobing debacle when faced with having to use the bathroom. The wearer is still faced with the dilemma of having to fully disrobe when needing to use the bathroom. Therefore, the present invention enables and creates a solution to this ongoing challenge
One or more different inventions may be described in the present application. Further, for one or more of the inventions described herein, numerous alternative embodiments may be described, it should be appreciated that these are presented for illustrative purposes only and are not limiting of the inventions contained herein or the claims presented herein in any way. One or more of the inventions may be widely applicable to numerous embodiments, as may be readily apparent from the disclosure. In general, embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice one or more of the inventions, and it should be appreciated that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, logical, software, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the particular inventions. Accordingly, one skilled in the art will recognize that one or more of the inventions may be practiced with various modifications and alterations. Particular features of one or more of the inventions described herein may be described with reference to one or more particular embodiments or figures that form a part of the present disclosure, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments of one or more of the inventions. It should be appreciated, however, that such features are not limited to usage in the one or more particular embodiments or figures with reference to which they are described. The present disclosure is neither a literal description of ail embodiments of one or more of the inventions nor a listing of features of one or more of the inventions that must be present in all embodiments.
Headings of sections provided in this patent application and the title of this patent application are for convenience only and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.
Devices that are in communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices that are in communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more communication means or intermediaries, logical or physical.
A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. To the contrary, a variety of optional components may be described to illustrate a wide variety of possible embodiments of one or more of the inventions and to illustrate one or more aspects of the inventions more fully. Similarly, although process steps, method steps, algorithms or the like may be described in a sequential order, such processes, methods, and algorithms may generally be configured to work in alternate orders, unless specifically slated to the contrary. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be described in this patent application does not, in and of itself, indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of described processes may be performed in any order practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously despite being described or implied as occurring non-simultaneously (e.g., because one step is described after the other step). Moreover, the illustration of a process by its depiction in a drawing does not imply that the illustrated process is exclusive of other variations and modifications thereto, does not imply that the illustrated process or any of its steps are necessary to one or more of the invention(s). and does not imply that the illustrated process is preferred. Also, steps are generally described once per embodiment, but this does not mean they must occur once, or that they may only occur once each time a process, method, or algorithm is carried out or executed. Some steps may be omitted in some embodiments or some occurrences, or some steps may be executed more than once in a given embodiment or occurrence
When a single device or article is described herein, it will be readily apparent that more than one device or article may be used in place of a single device or article. Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein, it will be readily apparent that a single device or article may be used in place of the more than one device or article.
The functionality or the features of a device may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices that are not explicitly described as having such functionality or features. Thus, other embodiments of one or more of the inventions need not include the device itself.
Techniques and mechanisms described or referenced herein will sometimes be described in singular form for clarity. However, it should he appreciated that particular embodiments may include multiple iterations of a technique or multiple instantiations of a mechanism unless noted otherwise. Process descriptions or blocks in figures should be understood as representing modules, segments, or portions of code which include one or more executable instructions for implementing specific logical functions or steps in the process. Alternate implementations are included within the scope of embodiments of the present invention in which, for example, functions may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art.
The Micro-Seam Hidden Zipper Clothing Garment comprises a Garment (202) a Micro Zipper (105), and a Zipper Fabric flap (201). One Purpose of the Micro-Seam Hidden Zipper Clothing Garment is to address the issue of discreteness and the need for flexible pelvic accessibility when needed when a user is wearing the Micro-Seam Hidden Zipper Clothing Garment. One Purpose of the Micro-Seam Hidden Zipper Clothing Garment is to allow the Garment (202) to be fully worn while being able to use the bathroom through the use and creation of the Zipper Aperture (104). The Micro-Seam Hidden Zipper Clothing Garment comprises a Garment (202), a Micro Zipper (105), and a Zipper Fabric Flap (201).
Referring now to
The Micro Zipper (105) is defined as a fabric panel closing and/or attachment device. The Micro Zipper (105) could also be a zipper, zip, fly, dingy, or zip fastener, formerly known as a clasp lock/locker. One purpose of the Micro Zipper (105) is as a device for binding the edges of the Zipper Aperture (104). It is a device whereby the edges of the Garment (202) are brought and held together using interlocking teeth. The Micro Zipper (105) has a preferred position located along the Clothing Seam (301) and inside the Pelvic Area (206) of the Garment (202). The positioning of the Micro Zipper (105) is such that it is discretely hidden in its attachment to the Garment (202) such that it does not distract or take away from the fashion aesthetic of the Garment (202) and that its presence it not detectable on casual observation. The Micro Zipper (105) has several possible sizes and dimensions. However, it is contemplated that the interlocking teeth of the Micro Zipper (105) range in size from 2 mm to 4 mm. It is contemplated that Micro Zippers (105) which are sized outside of this range will not serve the intended purpose of the invention as they are not as easily concealed via the Zipper Fabric Flap (201). The Micro Zipper (105) has two ends which are located along its longitudinal axis. The Micro Zipper (105) further comprises a Right Zipper (102), a Left Zipper (103), a Zipper Pull (101) and a Zipper Aperture (104).
The Right Zipper (102) is defined as one side of the Micro Zipper (105) which contains interlocking teeth. The Right Zipper (102) is positioned on a side of the Zipper Aperture (104) opposite the Left Zipper (103).
The Left Zipper (103) is defined as one side of the Micro Zipper (105) which contains interlocking teeth. The Left Zipper (103) is positioned on a side of the Zipper Aperture (104) opposite the Right Zipper (102).
The Zipper Pull (101) is defined as an apparatus which is operably connected to both the Right Zipper (102) and Left Zipper (103). The purpose of the Zipper Pull (101) is to simultaneously operably traverse the Right Zipper (102) and Left Zipper (103) bringing the interlocking teeth of both the Left Zipper (103) and Right Zipper (102) into contact and connecting the interlocking teeth of both the Right Zipper (102) and the Left Zipper (103).
The Zipper Aperture (104) is formed when the Zipper Pull (101) is moved along the length of the Right Zipper (102) and Left Zipper (103) such that the Zipper Pull (101) travels the full length of the Right Zipper (102) and Left Zipper (103). The Zipper Aperture (104) is defined as the opening in the Garment (202) and Pelvic Area (206) that is formed when the Zipper Pull (101) is moved to its open position.
Referring now to
The Garment (202) is defined as the article of clothing which is intended to be worn by the user of the Micro-Seam Hidden Zipper Clothing Garment. One purpose of the Garment (202) is to provide the attachment place for the Micro Zipper (105). The Garment (202) could also be a one-piece article of clothing, pants, leggings, jumpsuits, shorts, or the like. The Garment (202) comprises a Clothing Seam (301), and two or more Leg Members (204).
The Clothing Seam (301) is located on the Garment (202) at the intersection where the Front Fabric Panel (205) meets the Rear Fabric Panel (303). One purpose of the Clothing Scam (301) is to provide for a connection point between the Front Fabric Panel (205) and the Rear Fabric Panel (303).
The Micro-Seam Hidden Zipper contains two opposite facing Leg Members (204). Each Leg Member (204) has the purpose of providing space for the wearer of the Garment (202) to place one of their legs. The Leg Member (204) Further Comprises a Front Fabric Panel (205), a Rear Fabric Panel (303) and a Pelvic Area (206).
The Front Fabric Panel (205) is located on the front facing side of the Garment (202). One purpose of the Front Fabric Panel (205) is to provide the fabric panel for the front of the Garment (202).
The Zipper Fabric Flap (201) has a preferred width that can be calculated based on the width of the Micro Zipper (105) and ranges from one times the length of the Micro Zipper's (105) width to three times the Micro Zipper's (105) width. One purpose of the Zipper Fabric Flap (201) is to allow the wearer to access and unzip the Micro Zipper (105), permuting the wearer to separate the Right Zipper (102) and the Left Zipper (103) and expose the Zipper Aperture (104). The Zipper Fabric Flap (201) has a length which ranges from the longitudinal length of the Zipper Pull (101) to the length measured from end to end of the Zipper Aperture (104).
The Front to Back configuration (203) is a version of the invention in which the Micro Zipper (105) is located and positioned along a longitudinal axis of the Garment (202) as indicated in
Referring now to
The Pelvic Area (206) is located on the Garment (202) and the center of the Pelvic Area (206) is positioned longitudinally between two of the Leg Members (204). In one embodiment of the invention the outer limits of the Pelvic Area (206) can be defined based on the outer edges of the Micro Zipper (105). In one embodiment of the invention the size of the Pelvic Area (206) can be calculated as a range between one and two times the length of the Micro Zipper (105).
The Side to Side Configuration (302) is one embodiment of the invention. The Side to Side configuration is a version of the invention in which the Micro Zipper (105) is positioned along the Clothing Seam (301) and specifically is located within the Pelvic Area (206) The Micro Zipper (105) is placed at such a point where one side of the Micro Zipper (105) is attached to the Front Fabric Panel (205) and the other side of the Micro Zipper (105) is attached to tire Rear Fabric Panel (303). One purpose of this arrangement is so that the Micro Zipper (105) is embedded in the Clothing Seam (301) which in tins embodiment of the invention is located in the Pelvic Area (206). This configuration provides for concealment of the Micro Zipper (105) arid offers a discrete, fast, and convenient way to access the inside of the Garment (202) without having to fully remove the Garment (202) from the user's body. To access the Micro Zipper (105), a user releases the Zipper Fabric Hap (201) to gain access the Zipper Pull (101). In one embodiment of the invention the Zipper Fabric Flap (201) is located along the Clothing Seam (301) stretching from one Leg Member (204) to another.
The Rear Fabric Panel (303) is located opposite the Front Fabric Panel (205) One purpose of the Rear Fabric Panel (303) is to provide the fabric for the rear of the Garment (202).
