The present invention relates generally to clothing, and more particularly to clothing articles that may be selectively decorated.
Prior systems and methods relating to clothing decoration are known. However, most prior systems and methods involve permanent fastening of decorative elements, such as faux jewels, to a clothing article. This fastening is deemed permanent, because the decorative elements would need to be destroyed beyond a point of reuse in order to be removed from a clothing article. However, there are situations in which it may be desirable to decorate a clothing article in different ways for different occasions, or for a limited period of time, or even in different decorative configurations during the same wearing time.
Accordingly, the art of clothing decoration would be improved by systems and methods related to temporary or easily reconfigurable decoration.
Embodiments of systems and methods according to the present invention provide selective decoration of a clothing article.
A decorative clothing article according to the present invention may include a left panel having a left panel top end, a left panel front side, and a left panel rear side; a right panel having a right panel top end, a right panel front side, and a right panel rear side; and a top panel having a top panel top end and a top panel bottom end. The left panel front side is preferably attached to the right panel front side and the left panel rear side is attached to the right panel rear side, and the top panel bottom end is preferably attached to the left panel top end and the right panel top end. A fastening member is attached to at least one of the left and right panels; an anchor point is located in at least one of the left panel, the right panel, and the top panel; and a fastener comprising a fastener back member reversibly connectable to a fastener front member is configured to be received within the anchor point.
According to an aspect of a decorative clothing article according to the present invention, the left and right panels may be substantially identical.
According to another aspect of a decorative clothing article according to the present invention, the fastening member may be a strap. The fastening member may also be a zipper.
The decorative clothing article may also have a knee cap panel with a knee cap panel bottom end, whereby the knee cap panel bottom end is attached to the top panel top end. The knee cap may also have an anchor point, whereby the anchor point in the knee cap panel is alignable with an anchor point in the top panel, and whereby the knee cap panel is selectively attachable to the top panel by the fastener received within the knee cap panel anchor point and the top panel anchor point.
According to yet another aspect of the decorative clothing article of the present invention, the fastener front member may include a receiving aperture, and further, a decorative element may be selectively supportable by the receiving aperture of the fastener front member.
The decorative clothing article may also include a shin wrap panel having at least two anchor points, whereby the shin wrap panel is selectively supportable by the top panel and the anchor points in the shin wrap panel are alignable with the anchor points in the top panel wherein fasteners are received therethrough. The shin wrap panel and the top panel may be substantially similar in shape. The shin wrap panel may also be a different color and/or a different material than the top panel, and may include indicia.
A kit comprising elements of a decorative clothing article according to the present invention may include a tray having a cavity to retain the elements of a decorative clothing article; the elements of a decorative clothing article comprising at least one of a clothing article, a knee cap panel, a decorative element, a fastening member, a fastener, and instructions. The clothing article may comprise a left panel having a left panel top end, a left panel front side, and a left panel rear side; a right panel having a right panel top end, a right panel front side, and a right panel rear side; a top panel having a top panel bottom end and a top panel top end; whereby the left panel front side is attached to the right panel front side and the left panel rear side is attached to the right panel rear side; the top panel bottom end is attached to the left panel top end and the right panel top end; and including an anchor point in at least one of the left panel, the right panel, and the top panel.
Another aspect of the kit according to the present invention provides that the right and left have an anchor point and includes a heel strap having a pair of anchors alignable with the anchors in the right and left panels. The kit may further include a plurality of fastening members of various lengths.
The kit may also provide the top panel with an anchor point and further include a shin wrap panel, the shin wrap panel having at least two anchor points, whereby the anchor points in the shin wrap panel are alignable with anchor points in the top panel.
The fastener provided in the kit may have a back member reversibly connectable to a front member, whereby the front member has a receiving aperture.
A method of coupling a decorative element to an anchor point on a clothing article may include the steps of: providing a clothing article with a left panel having a left panel top end, a left panel front side, and a left panel rear side; a right panel having a right panel top end, a right panel front side, and a right panel rear side; a top panel having a top panel bottom end and a top panel top end; whereby the left panel front side may be attached to the right panel front side and the left panel rear side may be attached to the right panel rear side; the top panel bottom end may be attached to the left panel top end and the right panel top end; a fastening member may be attached to at least one of the left and right panels; and an anchor point may be provided in at least one of the left panel, the right panel, and the top panel; providing a plurality of fasteners, each fastener having a receiving aperture; providing a decorative element with a jeweler's hook; receiving one of the plurality of fasteners within the anchor point; and coupling the jeweler's hook with the receiving aperture of the fastener.
Another aspect of the method of coupling a decorative element to an anchor point on a clothing article according to the present invention may further include the steps of: providing a strap with an anchor point; aligning the anchor point of the clothing article and the anchor point of the strap; and receiving one of the plurality of fasteners within the anchor points.
Yet another aspect of the method of coupling a decorative element to an anchor point on a clothing article according to the present invention may further include the steps of: providing a shin wrap panel with at least two anchor points; aligning the anchor points of the clothing article and the anchor points of the shin wrap panel; and receiving one of the plurality of fasteners within the anchor points.
Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
Turning now to the figures,
The panels 110 are preferably formed from a flexible woven or nonwoven material, such as vinyl, leather, cloth, latex, and/or neoprene, for example.
This preferred embodiment 100 is generally formed as a tubular structure including at least one panel 110, but preferably three panels 110. The tubular structure extends longitudinally from an open bottom end 101 to an open top end 102 and circumferentially generally through a back side 103, left side 104, front side 105, and right side 106. A left panel 112, a right panel 114 and a top panel 116, all of which may be the same material (e.g. leather) or different material, are secured together, such as by stitching 118.
The to end 112c may be formed in any desired shape, such as substantially outwardly curved as shown. The front side 112e and the rear side 112f are preferably at least substantially identical mirror images, including a margin 112m extending therealong, the margins 112m being suitable for fastening the panel 112 to other clothing panels (e.g. the right panel 114) or to fastening members 190 such as the zipper 192. The front side 112e and rear side 112f preferably taper inwardly from the top end 112c towards the bottom end 112b, and from the bottom end 112b towards the top end 112c, the tapers generally meeting at a narrowest width 112d located closer to the bottom end 112b than the top end 112c.
The top end 114c may be formed in any desired shape, such as substantially outwardly curved as shown. The front side 114e and the rear side 114f are preferably at least substantially identical mirror images, including a margin 114m extending therealong, the margins 114m being suitable for fastening the panel 114 to other clothing panels (e.g. the left panel 112) or to fastening members 190 such as the zipper 192. The front side 114e and rear side 114f preferably taper inwardly from the top end 114c towards the bottom end 114b, and from the bottom end 114b towards the top end 114c, the tapers generally meeting at a narrowest width 114d located closer to the bottom end 114b than the top end 114c.
The bottom end 116e may be formed in any desired shape, such as having two symmetric peaks, as shown. The left side 116b and the right side 116c are preferably at least substantially identical mirror images, including a margin 116m extending therealong, the margins 116m being suitable for fastening the member 190 to other clothing panels (e.g. the left panel 112 and/or right panel 114) or to fastening members 190 such as the zipper 192.
The bottom end 170e is preferably formed in a symmetric V-shape, as shown, including a margin 170m extending therealong, the margin 170m being suitable for fastening the panel 170 to other clothing panels (e.g. the left panel 112 and/or right panel 114), such as by being sewn thereto, or coupled at one or more anchor points 150.
The front member 750 includes a stem 752 and a cap 754. The stem 752 is generally a solid, cylindrical member extending along a length 752a. The cap 754 is attached, preferably symmetrically, at one end of the stem 752. An outside surface of the stem 752 is preferably provided with threads 756 to cooperate with the back member 710. The cap 754 is generally provided as a rounded head 759 extending between a rear surface 760 and a front surface 762 and having a diameter 759a. The back surface 760 is preferably a planar surface annularly disposed about the stem 752, and may extend perpendicularly therefrom. The length 752a of the stem 752, as measured from the back surface 760 of the cap 754 is preferably shorter than a thickness of panel material and/or grommet 154 provided at an anchor point 150. The front surface 762 is preferably partially frustospherical or at least partially domed and has a nipple 764 formed thereon, which is preferably coaxial with the stem 752. Extending at least partially through the nipple 764 is at least one receiving aperture 766, preferably formed perpendicularly to the stem 752. The aperture 766 is sized and configured to receive one or more clips, as described below.
Additionally or alternatively, the shin wrap panel 580 may be of a different color or material than the left panel 112, right panel 114, or the top panel 116 and may include indicia 582 emblazoned thereupon.
A method according to the present invention includes steps of coupling a decorative element to an anchor point on a clothing article and decoupling the decorative element from the anchor point without destruction of the clothing article or the decorative element. A method according to the present invention may additionally or alternatively include the steps of coupling a plurality of decorative elements to a plurality of anchor points provided on a clothing article. A method according to the present invention may additionally include the step of donning the clothing article on an animal body, such as a body of a human or domesticated pet. The step of coupling and/or decoupling a decorative element may be performed after or before the donning step. A method according to the present invention may additionally include the step of supporting at least one fastener on the clothing article and supporting the decorative element on at least one of the fasteners.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. For instance, embodiments of articles falling within the scope of the present invention may include other types of clothing articles or accessories, such as jackets, head bands, skirts, pants, shorts, belts, vests, bustiers, brasseres, boots, wrist cuffs, arm cuffs, neck collars, purses, wallets, etc., whether worn by a human or another animal. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/043,249, entitled, “Selectively Decorative Clothing Article,” and filed on 28 Aug. 2014.
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