USER ADAPTABLE GARMENT

Abstract

A user adaptable garment is based upon a flexible tubular body, generally of a cloth construction, which can be configured into a number of forms. By using pairs of matching clasps and clasp receptacles, preferably of a toggle design, a user can pull lower edge of the garment to an upper edge. The garment can be held in this position by securing the clasps with the corresponding clasp receptacles. By folding parts of the garment in different patterns, by rotating the garment, or through a combination of similar steps, the garment can function as a sleeveless top, a cape, a throw, a shawl, a halter and a number of other items as imagined by the user.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an adaptable garment which is capable of being used for numerous functions. The adaptable garment is a cylindrical piece which can be a single fabric piece or multiple fabric pieces joined together.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Garments are generally provided for specific purposes and are often of a one-size-fits-all nature. As example is the scarf, which is universally offered as a patterned or plain fabric in one size designed for being worn mostly around the head or neck, whether as a wrap or decorative accessory. The scarf is quite useful due to the number of ways it can be wrapped and worn by a user, but there is room for improvement. An improved scarf could be used for a wider range of functions, expanding upon the possibilities of a standard scarf.

It is therefore an objective or the present invention to provide a user adaptable garment that is suitable for a number of purposes. The present invention can be worn wrapped around the head and neck in some of its configurations but additionally can be worn as any one of three distinctly functional garments: a sleeveless top, a cape or a shrug, as well as several body wrap functions including a skirt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective drawing of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a top plan drawing showing an unfinished version of the present invention, with individual segments not connected into the cylinder shape.

FIG. 2A is an illustration of the toggle-style clasp receptacle of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is an illustration of the toggle-style clasp of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing the present invention being folded over.

FIG. 6 is an illustration showing the present invention in a sleeveless top form.

FIG. 7 is another illustration showing the present invention in a sleeveless top form, with overlapping cloth indicated by hatched pattern.

FIG. 8 is an illustration showing the present invention in a cape form, with overlapping cloth indicated by hatched pattern.

FIG. 9 is an illustration showing the present invention in a shrug form.

FIG. 10A is an illustration showing one potential scarf form of the present invention.

FIG. 10B is an illustration showing another potential scarf form of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an illustration showing a halter top form of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an illustration showing a halter top form being transformed into a shawl form.

FIG. 13 is an illustration showing a shawl form of the present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is an adaptable garment that allows a user to convert it into a desirable form. Resulting from this adaptability, the present invention is suitable for use with multiple functions, limited only by the imagination of a user. The present invention is shown through FIG. 1A-FIG. 13 of the accompanying illustrations.

The present invention comprises a flexible tubular body 1 which has a first surface 2 and a second surface 3. The first surface 2 and second surface 3 act as the interior and exterior of the present invention; however, since the present invention can be turned inside-out, the surfaces can switch between interior and exterior depending on the form configured by a user. Additionally, the first surface 2 or second surface 3 can be part interior and part exterior if the flexible tubular body 1 is folded over, as shown in FIG. 5. The first surface 2 and second surface 3 themselves each comprise an upper edge 4 and a lower edge 5. These edges essentially define the top and bottom of the flexible tubular body 1, though due to its flexibility and adaptability the present invention could be inverted without impairing its function. This is another way the present invention can be considered reversible.

This flexible tubular body 1 serves as the basis for the present invention, acting as an item which can be donned as a garment (e.g. cape), accessory (e.g. scarf), or similar clothing related item. The flexible tubular body 1 can be made from a number of different materials. For example, in a preferred embodiment a sheer lightweight fabric is used for construction of the flexible tubular body 1, ideal for use in a number of situations. In an alternative embodiment, provided for travel purposes, the material used can instead be a jersey knit fabric. Such a fabric is beneficial for travel as it does not wrinkle and is stain resistant. Additionally, the fabric is light enough that it can be washed in a sink and air-dried in a few hours; this is advantageous during travel when traditional laundry facilities may be limited, expensive, or even unavailable.

To allow the present invention to be switched between and secured in one of a variety of desirable forms, at least one pair of clasps 6 and at least one pair of clasp receptacles 7 are provided for the first surface 2. Illustrated in FIG. 1A and FIG. 2A-FIG. 5, the clasps 6 are positioned adjacent to the upper edge 4 while the corresponding clasp receptacles 7 are positioned adjacent to the lower edge 5. Additionally, the clasps 6 and clasp receptacles 7 are positioned at opposite ends along the perimeter of the flexible tubular body 1. That is, the clasps 6 are positioned at a front section of the flexible tubular body 1, while the clasp receptacles 7 are positioned at a rear section of the flexible tubular body 1. The positioning of these can be further defined in relation to a vertical reference axis and a horizontal reference axis. The vertical reference axis and horizontal reference axis are perpendicular to each other, with the vertical reference axis being parallel with the first surface 2 and the second surface 3. The horizontal reference axis is perpendicular to both the first surface 2 and second surface 3, as it traverses into and through the flexible tubular body 1. The clasps 6 and clasp receptacles 7 are positioned opposite each other with regards to the coordinates of each of these axes; this results in the positioning shown in FIG. 5. The described positioning is ideal for the clasp 6 and clasp receptacle 7 as it allows the tubular body to be folded over, bringing the top edge of the first surface 2 to meet the lower edge 5 of the second surface 3 and thus allowing the clasps 6 to engage the clasp receptacles 7 and secure the present invention in a new form such as a cape or shawl.

As illustrated, the clasps 6 and clasp receptacles 7 are of a toggle design. The individual clasp 6 itself comprises a bar 8, which is connected to the second surface 3, interior to the flexible tubular body 1. The individual clasp receptacle 7 comprises a ring 9, which is likewise positioned interior to the flexible tubular body 1 and connected to the second surface 3. To allow a user to more easily manipulate the clasp 6 and clasp receptacle 7 and thus engage or disengage them from each other, they are each pivotally connected to the second surface 3. This allows the bar 8 and the ring 9 to more easily allow the bar 8 to be threaded through the ring 9 (i.e. engaged with the ring 9) or removed from the ring 9 (i.e. disengaged).

The flexible tubular body 1 can be manufactured in a number of ways; for example, the flexible tubular body 1 can be made by taking a single piece of cloth and joining the free ends together to create a uniform body. In another potential example, the flexible tubular body 1 comprises a plurality of segments 10. Two segments from the plurality are joined together, with a reference segment 11 being connected to an adjacent segment 12. Any number of segments can be connected in this manner, with the series of segments being closed by connecting a final segment to the first segment. In this manner the plurality of segments 10 are serially connected to each other resulting in the uniform flexible tubular body 1.

One way the adjacent segments 12 and reference segment 11 can be connected to each other is by a seam. Sewing a seam is a simple, inexpensive, and effective way of joining two segments to each other, though it is not the only manner in which two segments can be connected. Furthermore, the seam can be finished in order to make it more presentable. By having a finished seam the flexible tubular body 1 can be reversed, exposing the second surface 3 and seam, without detracting from the aesthetics of the present invention.

While there are advantages to the components and configurations thus far described for the present invention, this does not preclude the use of alternative embodiments. For example, the illustrated embodiment uses a toggle design for the clasp 6 and clasp receptacle 7 due to several advantages; one advantage is toggles do not cause bunching or catching of the flexible tubular body 1 when folded over, as occurs with more traditional mechanisms including snaps, buttons, and hook-and-loop (more commonly known by the trademarked name of Velcro). Another advantage of toggles, compared to the aforementioned alternatives, is their more fashionable nature. Toggles are able to serve as decorative elements in addition to coupling elements, improving the visual impact of the present invention. Regardless, it is possible to replace the toggles with alternative components if so desired. Likewise, while the illustrated embodiment has two pairs of toggles, the number of toggles could be increased or even decreased while still allowing a user to convert the present invention between various forms.

The present invention is capable of being worn in different styles, dependent upon how the user configures and dons the present invention. Several examples of how the present invention may be used are subsequently provided, assuming an embodiment with two toggles as illustrated in FIG. 3-FIG. 5. These are only a few ways the present invention may be used and do not limit users from devising and imagining further ways to configure the present invention.

For each method of wearing 9 the garment, it is first placed on a flat surface. The flexible tubular body 1 thus presents a rectangular profile to a user. The lower edge 5 of the first surface 2 is then folded up, such that the male toggle components (i.e. the bars 8) are positioned next to the female toggle components (i.e. the rings 9). The toggle components can then be engaged with each other, resulting in three openings being formed at the top of the flexible tubular body 1. The central opening is provided for a user's head, while the lateral openings on either side are provided for a user's arms. The user can then place their head through the central opening and their arms through the lateral openings, wearing the flexible tubular body 1 as a sleeveless top as shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 shows where the flexible tubular body 1 overlaps with itself, said areas being indicated by the hatched pattern on the drawing.

This sleeveless top can then be converted to a cape as shown in FIG. 8. The user accomplishes this by first bringing their arms inside the flexible tubular body 1 (instead of having the arms protruding from the lateral openings as done in the sleeveless top form). The user then rotates the flexible tubular body 1 90 degrees, resulting in one toggle being anteriorly positioned, and the other toggle being positioned posteriorly positioned. That is, one toggle is in front of the user and the other toggle is behind. As with the sleeveless top, areas where the flexible tubular body 1 overlap with itself are indicated by a hatched pattern.

Alternatively, the sleeveless top can be converted into a shrug rather than a cape. To do this, instead of retracting their arms and rotating the flexible tubular body 1 a user takes the “front” lower edge 5 of the flexible tubular body 1 and reverses it over their head. The term front is subjective to the viewpoint of the user; the part of the tubular body that is positioned adjacent to the anterior side of the user is considered the front. As the lower edge 5 is pulled over the user's head to the user's posterior, the flexible tubular body 1 falls into a shrug form. An illustration of this is provided in FIG. 9.

Though a few example forms have been described, as mentioned they do not limit the use of other forms. A few other possibilities are illustrated in FIG. 9-FIG. 13, including a scarf, a halter, and a shawl. Allowing the present invention to be accessible to a variety of potential customers, different embodiments may be provided in different sizes. Ideally, the present invention is offered in five different sizes such that the function and style is consistent across users of different physical characteristics. The circumference of the present invention might range from 80 inches at the smallest size up to 120 inches at the largest size, though it is not limited to this range. Thus, when measured in a flat rectangular shape as seen in FIG. 1, the length ranges from 40 inches to 60 inches. The height can range from 28 inches to 40 inches, though other dimensions may be used with different embodiments.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A method of using an adaptable garment, comprising: providing a generally tubular shaped, flexible fabric body having a first surface and a second surface, the generally tubular shaped body having a first elongated edge and a second elongated edge, said generally tubular having a pair of toggle clasps positioned spaced from one another adjacent said first elongated edge and a pair of toggle receptacles positioned spaced from one another adjacent said second elongated edge opposite said toggle clasps;placing the tubular shaped, flexible fabric body on a flat surface and folding one of the elongated edges so as to position the first and second elongated edges to overlap one another with the toggle clasps and toggle receptacles aligned;threading the toggle clasps into the toggle receptacles to form a sleeveless top, having an opening between the toggle clasps adapted to insert a wearer's head, with the toggle clasps adapted to be positioned on the wearer's shoulders;and transforming the sleeveless top to a cape, or a shrug, or a halter, scarf or shawl by a transforming step of converting the sleeveless top to a cape by rotating the garment so that the toggle clasps are adapted to be positioned in front and in back of the wearer; ora transforming step of converting the sleeveless top to a shrug by gathering one edge of the tubular body to be positioned over a head of a wearer; ora transforming step of converting the sleeveless top to a halter, scarf or shawl by gathering together the edges of the tubular shaped fabric body.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the flexible tubular body comprises a plurality of segments; anda reference segment from the plurality of segments is connected to an adjacent segment form the plurality of segments.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each of plurality of segments is serially connected to each other to form the flexible tubular body.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the reference segment is connected to the adjacent segment by a seam.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the seam is a finished seam.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one pair of toggle clasps includes a bar, and the receptacle is a ring; andthe bar is adjacently connected to the second surface.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the bar is pivotally connected to the second surface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one pair of toggle clasps comprises a bar;each of the at least one pair of clasp receptacles comprises a ring;the at least one pair of clasps is adjacently connected to the first surface;the at least one pair of clasp receptacles is adjacently connected to the second surface;the at least one pair of clasps is positioned opposite the at least one pair of clasp receptacles around the second surface;the at least one pair of clasps is positioned adjacent to the upper edge of the second surface;the at least one pair of clasp receptacles is positioned adjacent to the lower edge of the first surface;a reference segment from the plurality of segments is connected to an adjacent segment from the plurality of segments;one bar is adjacently connected to the second surface;one bar is pivotally connected to the second surface;one ring is adjacently connected to the second surface; andone ring is pivotally connected to the second surface.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of segments is serially connected to each other to form the flexible tubular body.