Reconfigurable garment

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a reconfigurable garment with detachable accessories, which allow quick and easy changes from one costume or clothing design to another. The disclosed garment allows for combination and exchange of a substantial number of accessories, requires less storage space, facilitates transport, and provides a new alternative for the creation of countless designs.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable garment comprising: a front part and a rear part; a first textile band comprising a plurality of attachment points; said textile band surrounding said front part and rear part; a plurality of accessories; and wherein said plurality of accessories are configure to attach to said attachment points.

2. A reconfigurable garment of claim 1 comprising a second textile band.

3. The reconfigurable garment of claim 2, wherein the first textile band comprises a different textile material from said a second textile band

4. A reconfigurable garment of claim 1 wherein the rear part of the reconfigurable garment comprises a closure.

5. A reconfigurable garment of claim 1, wherein said plurality of accessories may have one textile layer to a plurality of textile layers.

6. A reconfigurable garment of claim 1, wherein said textile band is configured to receive a plurality of accessories in a continuous surrounding arrangement to define a single structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, constitute part of the specifications and illustrate the preferred embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a frontal view of an exemplary embodiment of the reconfigurable garment.

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a rear view of an exemplary embodiment of the reconfigurable garment.

[0016] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of two exemplary embodiments of the accessories.

[0017] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the reconfigurable garment with accessories attached to form a flat, platter-like disc.

[0018] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the reconfigurable garment with accessories attached to form a flat, pancake-like disc.

[0019] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the reconfigurable garment with accessories attached to form a bell shaped disc.

[0020] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the reconfigurable garment with accessories attached to form an elongated bell shaped disc.

[0021] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the reconfigurable garment with accessories attached to form a disc with a fluffier, looser appearance.

[0022] FIG. 9 shows a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the reconfigurable garment and accessories positioned to form a disc.

[0023] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the reconfigurable garment and accessories attached as an alternative design.

[0024] FIG. 11 shows a frontal view of a second exemplary embodiment of the reconfigurable garment.

[0025] FIG. 12 shows a rear view of a second exemplary embodiment of the reconfigurable garment.

[0026] FIG. 13 shows a frontal view of a third exemplary embodiment of the reconfigurable garment.

[0027] FIG. 14 shows a frontal view of a third exemplary embodiment of the reconfigurable garment with a top accessory attached.

[0028] FIG. 15 shows a frontal view of a fifth exemplary embodiment of the reconfigurable garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of being arranged in other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of including, comprising, or having, containing, involving, and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

[0030] Aspects of the disclosure are described below with reference to illustrative embodiments. It should be understood that reference to these illustrative embodiments is not made to limit aspects of the disclosure in any way. Instead, illustrative embodiments are used to aid in the description and understanding of various aspects of the disclosure. Therefore, the following description is intended to be illustrative, not limiting.

[0031] The present disclosure is directed to a reconfigurable garment that is useful in the business of costume design and dance performances. The disclosure is also directed to the design of reconfigurable clothing with detachable accessories that allow quick and easy changes from one clothing design to another. The disclosed garment allows for combination and exchange of a substantial number of accessories, requires less storage space, facilitates transport, and is a new alternative for the creation of countless designs.

[0032] The disclosed a first exemplary embodiment for the reconfigurable garment 1 is comprised of at least a band 110 with a plurality of attachment points 120 arrange along the band. In some embodiments, the rear part of the reconfigurable garment comprises a closure 210 for easy opening and closing of the garment. The closure may be configured with a plurality of fasteners 220 including, but not limited to, rivets, velcro, zipper, magnets, snaps, tacks, and hook-and-eye fasteners.

[0033] The attachment points 120 allow attachment/detachment of a plurality of accessories 300, which have corresponding attachment points 320, 330. The accessories can be attached and detached in multiple configurations in order to create a variety of designs. In some embodiments, the attachment points 120, 320, 330 may be comprised of a variety of fasteners including, but not limited to, rivets, velcro, zipper, magnets, snaps, and tacks.

[0034] In some embodiments, the accessories 300 are manufactured with textiles 340 appropriate for the proposed use. For example, a lightweight textile may be used for applications that require athletic movements such as leaps, lifts, turns, and pirouettes, among others. In other embodiments heavier textiles may be used for costume applications that require an authentic look and feel. Some examples of textiles that may be used are tulle, muslin, or silk, among others. In some embodiments, the accessories 300 may be configured to accept a number of adornments like beads, sequins, fringe trim, pearls, feathers, and chains, among others.

[0035] In some embodiments, the accessories 300 may comprise only one layer of textile 340. In other embodiments the accessories 300 may comprise a plurality of textile layers mechanically attached to the band supporting the connectors 320. A multiplicity of accessories 300 are intended to be connected around the reconfigurable garment 1, more particularly to the band supporting the attachment points 120, in order to form a single embodiment. The number of accessories may depend on the supporting band 110 length. Also the number of parts forming an accessory is preferred to be divided in several pieces, as shown in FIG. 3, in such way that make easier to carry it. For example, an accessory, such as a tutu, is divided into several pieces making easier to carry when it is compared to a single tutu structure. Further the tutu's divisions or pieces are made of several textile layers but said textile layer are connected to a single band support. This configuration simplifies the manufacturing of the tutu, more particularly the tutu's pieces while provides a structure easier to vary or to wear without the need of buying different complete structures.

[0036] According to the desired design, textile layers may be of different length and stiffness. For instance, one embodiment may comprise accessories 400 with a plurality of short and stiff textile layers 410 that, when attached to an embodiment of the garment, extend straight outwards from the hips in a flat platter shape also known as platter tutu, as shown in FIG. 4. Another embodiment may comprise accessories 500 with a plurality of short and stiff textile layers 510 that, when attached to an embodiment of the garment, extend slightly downwards from the hips in a flat, pancake shape also known as pancake tutu, as shown in FIG. 5. Another embodiment may comprise accessories 600 with one or more medium sized, flexible textile layers 610 that, when attached to an embodiment of the garment, extend downward from the hips in a bell shape also known as a bell tutu, as shown in FIG. 6. Another embodiment may comprise accessories 700 with a plurality of long textile layers 710 that, when attached to an embodiment of the garment, extend downward from the hips in an elongated bell shape also known as romantic tutu, as shown in FIG. 7. Another embodiment may comprise accessories 800 with a plurality of short, loosely arranged, textile layers 810 that, when attached to an embodiment of the garment, extend downward from the hips for a fluffier and looser appearance also known as Balanchine tutu, as shown in FIG. 8.

[0037] In some embodiments, the accessories may be combined to form a disc around the reconfigurable garment, as shown in FIG. 9. However, the reconfigurable garment 1 may be used without attaching enough accessories to form a disc or circle as shown in FIG. 10. In some embodiments, the accessories may be reversible. In some embodiments, the accessories may be used interchangeably to create a plurality of designs.

[0038] FIG. 11 thru FIG. 15 discloses several exemplary reconfigurable garment embodiments. FIGS. 11 and 12 discloses a second exemplary reconfigurable garment 2 embodiment comprising of at least a band 1420 with a plurality of attachment points 1410 arrange along the band 1420. The rear part of the reconfigurable garment comprises a closure 210 for easy opening and closing of the garment. The closure may be configured with a plurality of fasteners 220 including, but not limited to, rivets, velcro, zipper, magnets, snaps, tacks, and hook-and-eye fasteners.

[0039] Yet, another configuration is disclosed in FIG. 13. A third exemplary reconfigurable garment 3 embodiment comprises at least a first band 1610 with a plurality of attachment points 1630 arrange along the band 1610. The front part of the reconfigurable garment comprises a second 1600 band arrange in a different configuration from the first band 1610. The second band 1600 comprises a plurality of fasteners 1630 including, but not limited to, rivets, velcro, zipper, magnets, snaps, tacks, and hook-and-eye fasteners. The second band is intended to provide flexibility between the reconfigurable garment 3 and a corset or top accessory, see FIG. 14, while maintaining the connection with the reconfigurable garment 3. The first band 1610 and second band 1600 may vary on the textile properties, such as elasticity.

[0040] Another configuration, such as a fourth exemplary reconfigurable garment 3 embodiment comprising of at least a first body 1720 with a plurality of attachment points 1630 arrange along the first body.

[0041] The disclosure is not limited to the precise configuration described above. While the disclosure has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the subject invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this disclosure after considering this specification together with the accompanying drawings. Accordingly, all such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by this invention as defined in the following claims and their legal equivalents. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses, if any, are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.