Adjustable Garment
20210235783 · 2021-08-05
Inventors
Cpc classification
International classification
Abstract
Adjustable garments are provided that have one or more features to adjust the length of one or more dimensions of the garment to fit a growing child. For instance, an adjustable jacket can have a series of stitches that allow for the adjustment of the length of a sleeve. A permanent hem stitch and a temporary stitch on the sleeve are arranged and constructed in a particular way to allow for the sleeve to extend as a child grows. In another example, adjustable pants can have a plurality of snap fasteners on an interior surface of a leg to adjust the length of the leg. The snap fasteners are arranged and constructed in a particular way so that a snap fastener at the distal end of the leg can selectively connect to the remaining fasteners to shorten the length of the pant leg.
Claims
1. An adjustable jacket, comprising: a sleeve extending from a shoulder to a distal end by a sleeve length, the sleeve having an external fabric and an internal fabric, and the sleeve forming a generally cylindrical shape; a first stitch joining the external fabric to the internal fabric proximate to the distal end of the sleeve; and a second stitch joining the external fabric to the internal fabric at a position that is offset from the first stitch by a predetermined distance, wherein the second stitch is distinct from the first stitch, and a ratio between the sleeve length and the offset is between 14.8 and 21.7 to accommodate a growth rate of an adolescent person.
2. The adjustable jacket of claim 1, wherein the offset between the first stitch and the second stitch is between 1¼″ and 1¾″, and the sleeve length is between 26″ and 27⅛″.
3. The adjustable jacket of claim 1, wherein the second stitch is distinct from the first stitch such that the first stitch is at least one of a chain stitch, a straight stitch, a zigzag stitch, a running stitch, a back stitch, a bartack stitch, a single needle topstitch, a merrow stitch, a two needle bottom coverstitch, or a satin stitch, and the second stitch is a basting stitch.
4. The adjustable jacket of claim 1, wherein the second stitch is distinct from the first stitch such that the first stitch has a first stitch-to-stitch pitch that is smaller than a second stitch-to-stitch pitch of the second stitch.
5. The adjustable jacket of claim 1, wherein the second stitch is distinct from the first stitch such that the first stitch is sewn with a first tension force and the second stitch is sewn with a smaller second tension force.
6. The adjustable jacket of claim 1, wherein a density of a thread of the first stitch is substantially the same as a density of the external fabric and is greater than a density of the internal fabric.
7. The adjustable jacket of claim 1, wherein the external fabric drapes further below the second stich compared to the internal fabric.
8. Adjustable pants, comprising: a leg extending from a waist to a distal end, the leg having an external surface, an internal surface, and an inseam length, and the leg forming a generally cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis; a plurality of snap fasteners positioned on the internal surface of the leg and arranged along the longitudinal axis, the plurality of snap fasteners comprising: a first snap fastener positioned proximate to the distal end of the leg, the first snap fastener having a first orientation; a second snap fastener positioned at a first offset from the first snap fastener, wherein the second snap fastener has a second orientation to selectively connect with the first snap fastener, and a ratio between the inseam length and the first offset is between 16.4 and 23.2 to accommodate a growth rate of an adolescent person; and a third snap fastener, positioned at a second offset from the second snap fastener, the third snap fastener having a second orientation to selectively connect with the first snap fastener.
9. The adjustable pants of claim 8, wherein the first offset is equal to the second offset.
10. The adjustable pants of claim 8, wherein the first snap fastener, the second snap fastener, and the third snap fastener are metal snap fasteners having a density greater than the material of the leg.
11. The adjustable pants of claim 8, wherein the first snap fastener has a male end oriented inwardly in the first orientation, the second snap fastener has a female end oriented inwardly in the second orientation, and the third snap fastener has a female end oriented inwardly in the second orientation.
12. The adjustable pants of claim 8, further comprising: a second plurality of snap fasteners positioned on the internal surface of the leg and arranged along the longitudinal axis.
14. The adjustable pants of claim 8, wherein the first offset is between 1¾″ and 1¾″, and the sleeve length is between 26″ and 27⅛″.
15. A method of manufacturing an adjustable jacket, comprising: positioning an internal fabric having a generally cylindrical shape within an external fabric having a generally cylindrical shape; joining distal ends of the internal fabric and the external fabric with a first stitch; inverting a distal portion of the internal and external fabrics; joining the internal fabric and the external fabric with a second stitch that is offset from the first stitch by a predetermined distance, wherein the second stitch is distinct from the first stitch, and a ratio between a sleeve length established by the internal and external fabrics and the offset is between 14.8 and 21.7 to accommodate a growth rate of an adolescent person; and joining, after the internal fabric and the external fabric have been joined by the first stitch and the second stitch, the internal fabric and the external fabric to a shoulder portion of the adjustable jacket.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second stitch is distinct from the first stitch such that the first stitch has a first stitch-to-stitch pitch that is smaller than a second stitch-to-stitch pitch of the second stitch.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein a density of a thread of the first stitch is substantially the same as a density of the external fabric and is greater than a density of the internal fabric.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the external fabric drapes further below the second stich compared to the internal fabric.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein the offset between the first stitch and the second stitch is between 1¼″ and 1¾″, and the sleeve length is between 26″ and 27⅛″.
20. The method of claim 15, further comprising severing the second stitch to extend a sleeve to a longer length.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the adjustable garment and together with the Summary given above and the Detailed Description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of these embodiments. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the adjustable garment or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the adjustable garment is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. Additionally, it should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale.
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[0047] Similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a letter that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.
[0048] A list of the various components shown in the drawings and associated numbering is provided herein:
TABLE-US-00001 Number Component 2 Jacket 4 Chest 6 Waist 8 Seat 10 Shoulder 12 Sleeve 14 Arm Length 16 Opening Width 18 External Fabric 20 Internal Fabric 22 Permanent Fastener 24 Selective Fastener 26 Fastener Offset 28 External Fabric Drape 30 Front Pocket 32 Collar 34 Chest Pocket 36 Fastener 38 Interior Pocket 40 Tab 42 Hem 44 Manufacturing Process 46 Positioning Fabrics 48 Joining Fabrics 50 Inverting Fabrics 52 Joining Fabrics 54 Joining to Shoulder 56 Pants 58 Waistband 60 Leg 62 Inseam Length 64 Opening Width 66 Interior Surface 68 First Fastener 70 Offset 72 Second Fastener 74 Third Fastener 76 Fastener Spacing 78 Adjustment Feature 80 Interior Pocket
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0049] The adjustable garment has significant benefits across a broad spectrum of endeavors. It is the Applicant's intent that this specification and the claims appended hereto be accorded a breadth in keeping with the scope and spirit of the disclosure despite what might appear to be limiting language imposed by the requirements of referring to the specific examples disclosed. To acquaint persons skilled in the pertinent arts, a preferred embodiment that illustrates the best mode now contemplated for putting the adjustable garment into practice is described herein by, and with reference to, the annexed drawings that form a part of the specification. The exemplary embodiment is described in detail without attempting to describe all of the various forms and modifications in which the adjustable garment might be embodied. As such, the embodiments described herein are illustrative, and as will become apparent to those skilled in the arts, may be modified in numerous ways within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.
[0050] Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent application, which would still fall within the scope of the claims. To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent application is referred to in this patent application in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning.
[0051] Various embodiments are described herein and as depicted in the drawings. It is expressly understood that although the figures depict adjustable garments, fasteners, and methods and systems for using the same, the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments.
[0052] Referring now to
[0053] In addition, the jacket 2 can be made from a variety of materials and made in a variety of constructions. In some embodiments, the primary material or external fabric of the jacket 2 is a blend of 62% polyester, 33% rayon and 5% polyurethane that weighs approximately 275 grams per square meter. The lining or internal fabric can be made from polyester that weighs approximately 110 grams per square meter. It will be appreciated that the jacket 2 can be made from any material or combination of materials. However, certain materials and aspects of the materials relative to other features of the disclosure, such as fasteners, are critical to the performance, look, and appearance of the garment.
[0054] Referring now to
[0055] The differences between the first stitch 22 and the second stitch 24 can be characterized in a number of ways. For instance, the stitch length or stitch-to-stitch pitch of the first stitch 22 can be smaller or shorter than the stitch length or stitch-to-stitch pitch of the second stitch 24. This would result in a smaller, more compact stitching pattern for the first stitch 22 that is more difficult to remove when compared to the second stitch 24. In addition, the type of stitch can be different between the first stitch 22 and the second stitch 24 such that the second stitch 24 is more easily removed. The first stitch 22 can be chain stitch, a straight stitch, a zigzag stitch, a running stitch, a back stitch, a bartack stitch, a single needle topstitch, a merrow stitch, a two needle bottom coverstitch, or a satin stitch in some embodiments. Moreover, the first stitch 22 can have a two-thread stitch which is, for instance, produced by a sewing machine. The second stitch 24 can be a basting stitch or other similar stitch that can be a single-thread stitch. In addition, the stitches 22, 24 can be distinct in terms of tension, or force along the length of the material or thread that forms the stitch. A tighter stitch will have a larger tension force that a looser stitch. In this sense, the first stitch 22 can have a larger stitch tension force compared to the second stitch 24, which can be looser for easier removal.
[0056] It will be appreciated that while stitches 22, 24 are described with respect to
[0057] As depicted in
[0058] These ratios are based on many factors for a boy or adolescent youth. First, the long bones of the arm such as the humerus, the radius, and the ulna account for most of the length of an arm, and therefore, dictate whether a sleeve of a jacket fits properly. Long bones stop growing around the age of 21 in males in a process called epiphyseal plate closure. During this process, cartilage cells stop dividing and all of the cartilage is replaced by bone. However, the fastest growth rate for a boy is around age 13 where the overall growth velocity increases from 2.17 to 3.07 inches/year (5.5 to 7.8 cm/year), and the limb growth velocity increases from 1.26 to 1.97 inches/year (3.2 to 5 cm/year) at the peak of puberty. Based on these rates and also the expected size of a boy or adolescent youth at these ages, the above ratios between the arm length and the offset provide the desired balance between an offset that is too large and an offset that is too small.
[0059] Finally,
[0060] Referring now to
[0061] Referring now to
[0062] Referring now to
[0063] For a boy's or adolescent youth's pants 56, the length of the pant 56, as expressed by an inseam 62 of a leg 60 of the pants 56, can be between approximately 28¾″ and 29″ (73 cm and 73.7 cm). Each leg 60 has a generally cylindrical shape with an opening at a lower end that has a width 64 between approximately 6¼″ and 6½″ (15.9 cm to 16.5 cm). In addition, the pants 56 can be made from a variety of materials. In one embodiment, the primary material or external fabric is a blend of 62% polyester, 33% rayon, and 5% polyurethane that weighs approximately 275 grams per square meter. The lining or interior fabric is 100% polyester that weighs approximately 110 grams per square meter. It will be appreciated that the pants 56 can be made from any material or combination of materials. However, aspects of the materials relative to other features of the disclosure, such as fasteners, are critical to the performance, look, and appearance of the garment.
[0064] Referring now to
[0065] As noted above, the fasteners 68, 72, 74 can be any type of fastener, however, the pants have a particular drape and silhouette. The legs 60 of the pants as expected to have a generally vertical orientation in most uses. Even when a person is sitting while wearing the pants, the lower end of the legs 60 will typically have a vertical orientation. With this in mind, the fasteners 68, 72, 74 are made from a material that has a higher weight per square meter or cubic meter compared to each of the internal and external fabrics used to make the pants. Thus, the greater density of the fasteners 68, 72, 74 holds the lower ends of the legs in vertical orientation and preserves the particular drape and silhouette of the pants while adding the functionality described herein.
[0066] The fasteners 68, 72, 74 are arranged along a length of the leg 60, which can be described as along a longitudinal axis of the generally cylindrical shape of the leg 60. The fasteners 68, 72, 74 are also spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance 76, which is approximately 1½″ (3.8 cm) in this embodiment. In some embodiments, the spacing distance 76 between each fastener 56, 60, 62 is between approximately 1¼″ and 1¾″ (3.2 cm and 4.4 cm). Like the jacket, the spacing 76 is critical to the operation of the pants and the adjustable length of the pants. Too large of a spacing 76, and the pants will fit poorly between the different leg lengths established by the fasteners 68, 72, 74. Too small of a spacing 76, and the benefit of adjusting the length of the pants is too marginal. Thus, the relationship between the inseam of the pants and the spacing 76 can be expressed as a dimensionless ratio. In some embodiments, this ratio between inseam length and fastener spacing is between 16.4 and 23.2. In various embodiments, the ratio is between 19.1 and 19.4. The ratio can be greater than 16.4 in some embodiments. In various embodiments, the ratio is less than 23.2. This ratio is based on the fully-extended length of the pant length. However, it will be appreciated that the ratio can also be based on an average pant length or length of the pant at any position.
[0067] Like the jacket, these ratios are based on many factors for a boy or adolescent youth. Specifically, the long bones of the legs such as the femur, the tibia, and the fibula grow fastest for a boy around age 13. Based on growth rates and the expected size of a boy or adolescent youth at these ages, the above ratios between the inseam length and the spacing provide the desired balance between an offset that is too large and an offset that is too small.
[0068] As shown in
[0069] Referring now to
[0070] The description of the adjustable garment has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of the adjustable garment to the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiments described and shown in the figures were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the adjustable garment, the practical application, and to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the adjustable garment.
[0071] While various embodiments have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Moreover, references made herein to “the adjustable garment” or aspects thereof should be understood to mean certain embodiments of the adjustable garment and should not necessarily be construed as limiting all embodiments to a particular description. It is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure, as set forth in the following claims.