Patent Application
20070113314
The present invention is generally directed to clothing that is worn outdoors and, in particular, to a system and method for forming untanned skin portions on the body of a person during a sun tan process.
When a person wears an item of clothing outdoors in the sunshine (for example, a bathing suit) light rays from the sun irradiate the portions of the skin of the person that are not covered by the clothing. If the person remains in the sun for an extended period of time the exposed portions of the skin of the person will tan. Conversely, the portions of the skin of the person that are covered by clothing will not tan. The line between the skin that is tanned and the skin that is not tanned is referred to as a suntan line.
If the woman 100 remains outdoors in the sunshine long enough, the exposed portions of skin 130 will tan. The amount of tan depends upon the length of the exposure time.
The suntan lines between the tanned skin portions 130 and the untanned skin portions 210 are designated with reference numeral 220. As shown in
Later when the woman 100 wears other types of clothing the suntan lines 220 may be visible.
There may be times when it is desirable that the untanned skin portions 210 not be visible. For example, in a wedding a bride may wish to wear a bridal gown with portions that would not cover the untanned skin portions 210. The same may be true for bridesmaids in the wedding who desire to wear a dress with portions that would not cover the untanned skin portions 210.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a system and method for positioning the location of untanned skin portions 210 (and suntan lines 220) on the body of a person when the person is getting a suntan.
Before undertaking the Detailed Description of the Invention below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is-inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior uses, as well as future uses, of such defined words and phrases.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts:
The present invention comprises a sun tan garment (for example, a bathing suit) that has dimensions that position the location of the untanned skin portions (and suntan lines) on the body of a person when the person is getting a suntan. The dimensions of the sun tan garment are designed to provide boundaries for the untanned skin portions in reference to another garment (for example, a wedding dress) that will be worn at a later time. For convenience in description, the garment that will be worn at a later time is referred to as the design garment.
It is acceptable that the portions of the exposed skin 420 are tanned when the dress 410 is worn. However, it is desirable that no untanned skin portions or suntan lines be visible when the dress 410 is worn.
The sun tan garment of the present invention is designed having portions that position the location of the untanned skin portions (and suntan lines) on the body of the woman 400 so that the untanned skin portions (and suntan lines) are not visible when the woman 400 wears the dress 410.
All of the untanned skin portions (and suntan lines) that are created by wearing sun tan garment 500 are located under design garment 410 and at a selected distance from the edges 430 of design garment 410. The value of the selected distance is chosen so that the untanned skin portions are not visible when the design garment 410 is worn.
Then a sun tan garment 500 is provided that has a pattern for the untanned skin portions of wearer of the design garment 410 (step 730). Then the wearer wears the sun tan garment 500 during a tanning process (step 740). After the tanning process the wearer removes the sun tan garment 500 and wears the design garment 410 (step 750). The design garment 410 covers the untanned skin portions and the suntan lines so they are not visible (step 760).
Although an advantageous embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to a sun tan garment 500 worn by a woman 400, the principle of the present invention is not limited to use by women. The principles of the sun tan garment of the present invention are applicable to persons of either sex and to persons of any age.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may understand the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.
Although the present invention has been described with an exemplary embodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present invention encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.
