CONVERTIBLE ONE PIECE GARMENT

Abstract

A one-peace garment has an upper section that covers a wearer's upper body, a lower section that covers the person below the waist and legs, and a continuous track on the inseam of the lower section of the garment. This track separates the front and rear portions of the lower section of the garment. As desired, this continuous track enables the wearer to use a connection element to create and close an internal opening between the front and rear garment portions. The adjustable track also allows altering the garment's design for a different appearance.

Claims

1. A one-piece clothing garment in the nature of a jumpsuit comprising: an upper section for covering portion of a wearer's body above a wearer's waistline; a waistline section of the one-piece clothing garment below said upper section; and a lower section of the one-piece clothing garment, below said waistline section, having a pants design comprising: a) a front portion; b) a rear portion symmetrical to said front portion and affixed to said front portion to form lower section having an upper waist edge and left and right pant legs each pant leg having bottom edges and inner vertical edges that form a vertical and continuous inseam extending throughout both pant legs and a mid section of said lower section, said inseam separating said front and back portions of said lower section of the one-piece clothing garment and each said pant legs terminating each at a bottom end; and c) a connecting element incorporated in said continuous inseam to connect said front and back portions of said lower section of the one-piece clothing garment to allow opening of said lower section as desired by garment wearer.

2. The one-piece clothing garment as described in claim 1 wherein said connecting element comprises a zipper element having: zipper tape attached to said inner vertical edges and forming a track; zipper teeth attached to said track; zipper slider attached an end of said track and engages said zipper teeth; and zipper pull handle attached to said zipper slider such that when said zipper pull handled is pulled, said zipper slider moves along said track, engages said zipper teeth such that these teeth lock together to seal said inseam and front and back portions of said lower section of said one-piece clothing garment or disengages said zipper teeth to unseal said inseam and front and back portions of said lower section of said one- piece clothing garment.

3. The one-piece clothing garment as described in claim 2 said zipper element further comprises insertion pins at the bottom ends of said pant legs to initiate said zipper on the track.

4. The one-piece clothing garment as described in claim 3 further comprising a second zipper element as part of the formed track, both said zipper elements used to connect and disconnect front and back portions of said lower section of said one-piece garment.

5. The one-piece clothing garment as described in claim 1 wherein said inseam at the bottom of each said pant leg is permanently closed.

6. The one-piece clothing garment as described in claim 1 wherein said connecting element comprises a snap track element having: zipper tape attached to said inner vertical edges and having a groove and insert in the track where said insert would fit into the groove to form a seal and connect front and back portions of said lower section of said garment.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a conventional design of a one-piece garment design for wear by females.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention, with a zipper track forming the garment's inseam.

[0019] FIGS. 3A and 3B show a close-up of the components of the zipper system of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The one-piece commonly known by names such as a romper, jumpsuit, or coveralls comprises an upper section that covers a person's upper body or chest area and a lower section comprising a trouser design with legs. FIG. 1 shows a one-piece design for a garment worn by a woman. This garment 100 includes an upper blouse section 101 and a waistband 110 between the upper section and the lower 102. This lower section comprises a trouser or pants design with a pair of legs 103 and bottom edges 108. Each pant leg has an outer seam 104.

[0021] A pant leg will usually comprise two garment pieces of the same shape sown together. The seam refers to the stitching line where the two fabrics are sown, connected, or attached together. Depending on the design, this seam 104 can extend up the pant leg to the waistband 110. One can refer to this stitching line simply as the seam line, outer seam, or inseam.

[0022] In many designs, there is also an inseam 106 on the inner side of the pant leg. This inseam 106 serves the same function as the outer seam 104. The inseams 106 extend up the pant legs and meet at a midpoint 111 in the middle of the lower section 102. This midpoint 111 for the meeting of the inseams is at a position below the waistband 110. This inseam extends from the midpoint 111 down to the bottom edges.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the garment of the present invention, having a fastener track forming the inseam. Although one can implement various fastener track systems in this invention, this detailed description will use a zipper track system to illustrate the invention. Garment 200 comprises the upper section 201. In this embodiment, the upper blouse section does not contain sleeves. The waistband 210 is a strip of material such as an elastic material or other fabric that encircles the waist. This waistband can be a component of the clothing item, or it can be a detached external element such as a belt. The waistband surrounds the waist and provides some confining properties to restrict the garment to the wearer. Finally, the bottom section 202 can be a trouser or shorts design with a pair of pant legs 203. Although many garments have an outer seam on the pant legs, as shown in FIG. 1, the pant legs can have a design with only an inseam 206. In this invention, alternate embodiments can be with and without an outer seam on the pant legs. As shown, a zipper 214 track forms the inseam 206 of this embodiment. This track can extend in one continuous track along the inseam of both pant legs. In the alternative, each pant leg can have a separate zipper track 214 that runs from the midpoint 211 of the trousers to the bottom edge 208 of each pant leg.

[0024] FIG. 3A illustrates a close-up view of the components of the zipper element and the system of the present invention. The zipper element is along the pants leg inseam 306. The zipper element of this invention comprises a zipper track 314 having the teeth 316, the slider 312, a pull handle 313, the tape 318, and the stop 320. The tape can be a textile portion of the zipper that holds the teeth 316. This tape element of the zipper is sewn into the inseam of the pant leg. On either side of the zipper tape 318, the teeth 316 connect to close the zipper. FIG. 3B, shows how the slider and handle of the zipper can move along the track on the inseam 306 to engage the zipper teeth to open and close the zipper. These teeth mesh, or engage, with each other when passed through the slider. Various materials can comprise the teeth. These materials can include standard metal, plastic, nylon, or polyester. The slider 312, when pulled by the slider handle 313, joins or separates the elements when the zipper is opened or closed. Various types of sliders are available, depending on their use. Stop 320 is located at the bottom or top part of the zipper, preventing the slider from pulling off the teeth. Finally, an optional zipper component can be an insert. The insertion pin is located at the bottom of the zipper on one side of the zipper tape, opposite the starter box. The insertion pin is inserted through the slider and connects to the starter box, which enables the zipper to be closed via the slider.

[0025] Various embodiments of the present invention can include zipper elements at each endpoint of each pant leg. Each endpoint would also have a stop and insertion pin. In this embodiment, the wearer can completely separate the pant legs into the front and back sides. A wearer can also accomplish this front and rear pants leg separation with a single zipper design. A vital feature of all embodiments is that the zipper has a continuous track and is not separated at the midpoint 211 of the trousers. The capability to open the bottom section 202 of the garment at the midpoint provides a significant benefit to the wearer over conventional designs.

[0026] Another invention embodiment enables the wearer to convert the long pant garment into a garment with shorter legs. This embodiment comprises two zipper elements. There will be one zipper element per pant leg. In this embodiment, the wearer unzips the pants from the bottom up toward the midpoint 211. The zippers do not meet, allowing a section of the pants at the midpoint to remain attached. Once the wearer has unzipped the pant legs 203, the bottom edge will form two separate endpoints on the inner side of the leg. The wearer can fold these ends upward and attach the endpoints to hooks or fasteners on the garment's waistband. Other amenities can also be added to the appearance of this reconfigured garment.

[0027] The ability to alter the pants legs provides substantial flexibility to the garment of the present invention. This flexibility enables the wearer to maneuver the garment as desired and to create an opening in the lower portion of the garment as desired. In addition, this maneuverability gives the wearer peace of mind knowing that they can easily alter the garment to meet a specific need. In particular for females, this configuration provides advantages over the conventional drop-seat designs of one-piece garments. This invention enables a female to easily and quickly open the bottom of this for restroom purposes without the need to remove the entire garment. This flexibility gives the person assurances and confidence not available with current one-piece garment designs.

[0028] While the description of embodiments thereof has illustrated the present invention, and while the embodiments have been described in some detail, it is not the applicant's intention to restrict or limit the scope of the invention to such information. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Moreover, the invention is broader than the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described in its broader aspects. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general inventive concept.