Abstract:
A waist apparel having interchangeable decorative facings constructed of a base member that is generally elongate in shape and may be used as a belt, sash, or cummerbund having removable facings with various decorative designs applied thereto. The base member and facings are removably mounted together by a hook and loop mechanism so that the user can mix and match a combination of facings that are then attached to the base member to achieve different appearances.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    There are no related applications. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
       [0003]    None. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention generally relates to items of apparel such as belts and cummerbunds and is specifically directed to a belt type garment with interchangeable decorative facings. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In this present world where the latest gossip is a few keyboard clicks away and the latest celebrity picture is available for everyone&#39;s Internet viewing pleasure within hours of the images having been taken, trends can come and go within a matter of weeks, if not sooner. This is particularly true with regard to apparel, as last week&#39;s “cutting edge” is often this week&#39;s “mainstream” and can just as easily become the following week&#39;s “fashion disaster.” Consequently, for those interested in staying up-to-date with current fashion trends, as well as wearing coordinated apparel the expense of doing so can be overwhelming. Fashion accessories can sometimes change multiple times in a given year and entail numerous shopping trips. Moreover, the amount of space needed to store apparel accessories can become unwieldy in very short order and is not conducive to present day travel with its limited luggage and weight requirements. As cruising has become a popular form of vacation, women and men are faced with the social necessity of wearing different appearing apparel for the formal or dress up evenings of a cruise. 
         [0006]    What is needed, therefore, are accessories that can be easily modified to suit the apparel of the moment. The present invention has a simple, functional base and various interchangeable facings to adapt the garment as required. The garment may include multiple facings, with additional facings becoming available according to the fashions of the day. This kind of multi-use garment would not only be cost-effective, but in addition be space efficient. Consequently, the user can dress appropriately for any situation simply by replacing the facing of his or her garment with the most appropriate, most fashionable design 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is a fashion garment with interchangeable facings. The garment is a belt including a simple base fabric material made from any appropriate material, including but not limited to the materials commonly utilized in apparel manufacture, for example cotton, linen, silk, wool, leather, polyester, nylon, rayon, or other man-made fibers. With regard to the preferred belt-like embodiment, the device is generally elongate in shape, having a length proportionately greater in dimension than its width and is worn around the waist of the wearer. Attachment means, for example hook and loop-type or hook and pile-type material commonly known as Velcro® are then used to affix various decorative facings to the belt base member to thereby modify the appearance of the garment as desired by the user. Additional attachment mechanism may also be used for mounting the facings to the base belt. While not limited to these mechanism, additional attachment mechanism includes zippers, temporary contact adhesion, magnets, and electrostatic means. With particular regard to the use of hook and loop-type fasteners, either the hook or loop portion of the fastening system is affixed to the belt base member and the complimentary loop or hook material is affixed to the various different decorative facings that may be attached thereto. Additional attachment methods are employed in a similar manner wherein, for example, one side of a zipper is permanently attached to the belt and complimentary zipper halves are attached to the various facings in the wearer&#39;s collection. After selecting the particular facing pattern or color desired, the user simply presses the facing into position onto the belt base member, as appropriate for the attachment and the mechanism being used. Thereafter the wearer is ready to face the world in the color or design of his or her choosing. 
         [0008]    The belt base member may be sized to fit the torso of the wearer but may also be a one-size-fits-all garment. With respect to the one-size-fits-all variety, the garment may be custom sized by the end user, for example, by trimming one end to size, or may simply utilize a buckle from an elastic end piece that secures the free end of the garment in any position from its most constricted diameter to its largest size, with infinite adjustability therebetween. The belt may be used as dictated by the fashion of the day, for example, in a traditional manner fitted about the torso of the user and serving as an accessory to, for example, as a color coordinate with the user&#39;s attire. The user may alternatively choose a contrasting color, material or glitter, or select facings with different patterns that allow the user to wear a single garment, yet create multiple “outfits” for every day of the week by virtue of the type of accessories added. Additionally, use of the apparatus need not be limited to its use about the owner&#39;s torso. There may be other uses of the device as, for example, a sash or accessory collar. 
         [0009]    While the facings are shaped similarly to the base belt member, they need not be. This invention contemplates facings having any number of shapes. Because the facings do not generally provide structural integrity to the garment, they can be shaped to cover all or just part of the belt base member. The facings can be formed in fanciful designs, for example, various geometric shapes or animal silhouettes covering all or just a portion of the belt base member. The desired attachment means is mounted adjacent the ends of the base belt such that the facings may be attached in a manner that the front of the user is covered without a break. 
         [0010]    The facings are designed to also be combined in a mix and match fashion wherein a plurality of smaller facings is provided. The user simply attaches multiple facings to the garment, thereby creating unique designs or patterns from the combination of the facings. 
         [0011]    The garment may be produced as a cummerbund including a base belt sized for and intended to encircle the user&#39;s torso and various facings that allow the cummerbund to be adapted according to the formality of the situation. The wearer may buy, for example, colored facings, or facings with various designs, such as plaid, abstract, paisley, or designs having a glitter component, such as beads, crystals, metallic or cubic zirconium, or designs showing an affiliation to particular colleges, universities, sports teams, or activities. 
         [0012]    It is an object of this invention to provide an easily adaptable, multi-use changeable appearance item of apparel. 
         [0013]    It is another object of this invention to provide a decorative belt with easily replaceable facings. 
         [0014]    It is still another object of this invention to provide a cummerbund with easily replaceable facings. 
         [0015]    It is yet another object of this invention to provide an item of apparel that allows the user to easily clean the individual facings. 
         [0016]    It is a further object of this invention to provide an item of apparel that allows the user to adapt his or her wardrobe to the current fashion. 
         [0017]    It is an object of this invention to provide a space efficient item of apparel that can be stored compactly for travel. 
         [0018]    The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective partial view of the belt base member and an exemplary facing separated from the base member of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a top broken apart plan view of the invention showing its facing, and attachment means; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a bottom broken apart plan view of the invention shown in  FIG. 2  depicting shown in the base member and attachment means; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  depicts the invention shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  with ends buckled to one another; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a top broken apart plan view of a cummerbund of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a bottom broken apart plan view of the cummerbund of  FIG. 5 ; and, 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  depicts the cummerbund shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  with ends buckled to one another. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    The preferred embodiments and best modes of the apparel invention are shown in  FIGS. 1 through 7 . While the invention is described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is not intended that the present invention be so limited. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalent arrangements as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0027]    The belt apparel invention  20  may be constructed from any material appropriate for the manufacture of apparel, including but not limited to cotton, linen, silk, wool, leather, polyester, nylon, rayon, man-made fibers, or combinations thereof. As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the belt apparel device  20  includes a belt-like base member  30  having an elongated shape with exterior  32  and interior  33  surfaces. The base member  30  has a long dimension generally suitable for being placed circumferentially about a body part, for example, the wearer&#39;s torso, and has a width substantially shorter than its length. Buckle means in the form of interconnecting loops  50  are mounted at each extremity of the base member  30  to facilitate joining of the ends while in use. Those skilled in the art will understand that the belt ends may be fastened together using a variety of buckling mechanisms which includes magnets, snaps and the like. Here, the buckle means  50  consist of complimentary ring-like structures  50  attached to the extremities of the base member  30 , each ring-like structure  50  being narrowed across two approximately opposing points along the circumference of said structure  50  such that one ring  50  may be inserted into the other in an interlocking fashion. It is understood that other belt buckling mechanisms are well-known and are encompassed by this description, including but not limited to traditional ring and prong style closures, D-rings, cam buckles, snap closures, magnets and the like. 
         [0028]    A decorative interchangeable facing  40  is provided shaped in substantially the same shape as the base member  30 . The facing  40  includes an interior surface  43  and exterior surface  42  with aesthetically pleasing designs applied thereto. Alternatively, the exterior surface  42  may be a solid color, differing colors, different designs such as plaid, paisley, checkered or abstract or include various simulated or semi-precious stones, beads, crystal, ornamental metal, plastic, or ceramic formations; and various appliqués applied in an artistically pleasing pattern. It is also envisioned that designs showing applications to various college, universities, sports teams or advertisers can be used. 
         [0029]    Attachment means  50  are mounted to the ends  32  of base member  30  which are each folded over the base of the respective ring  50  and sewn together at  33  or may be an elastic end strip as shown in  FIGS. 5-7 . In the preferred embodiment, the attachment means is the looped material  31  of the hook and look closure, for example Velcro®, is mounted to the exterior or outer surface  35  of the base member  30  whereby the looped material  31  covers a significant area of the surface area of the base member  30  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Complimentary hook material  41  is mounted to inner or interior surface  43  of the facing  40  allowing the facing  40  and base member  30  to be securely attached to one another by pressing the interior surface  43  of the facing  40  to the exterior surface  35  of the base member  30 . In alternative embodiments, the looped material  31  is mounted in sections to the base member  30  rather than in a single contiguous piece, thereby facilitating artful positioning of the facing  40  when in use. Another attachment means can be magnetic strips fastened to the base member and facing which hold the two belt components together. 
         [0030]    Another form of belt is shown in  FIGS. 5 through 7  wherein the device is manufactured in the form of a cummerbund  120 . Similarly, a cummerbund base member  130  and cummerbund facing  140  are provided wherein the exterior surface of the cummerbund base member (not shown) and interior surface of the cummerbund facing (not shown) are mated using hook and loop style closures. In another version, the cummerbund facing  140  includes additional cummerbund facing wings  142  forming a tripartite facing that may be mixed and matched to achieve different effects as desired by the user. Moreover, it is noted that in all cases, facings  40 ,  140 ,  142  may be provided that are substantially smaller than the shape and surface area of the base member  30 ,  130  to facilitate mixing and matching of the facings  40 ,  140 ,  142  by the user. Alternatively, the facings  40 ,  140 ,  142  may be provided in arbitrarily artful shapes that obscure the base member  30 ,  130  when in use but do not necessarily conform to its shape. Loops  150  of cummerbund  120  are fastened together as shown in  FIG. 7 . If desired, elastic end strips  148  secured to the ends of the base member  130  can hold the loops  150  allowing the same to be stretched for a snug fit or to fit varying waist sizes. 
         [0031]    In use, the wearer will generally have on hand a number of different facings  40 ,  140 ,  142  such that she or he may choose from a wide selection of “looks” to suit the fashion of the day or her or his mood. In addition to varying designs, colors or materials, glitter type materials such as beads, crystals, metallic member and cubic zirconium can be added to the facings  40 ,  140 ,  142 . Additional facings  40 ,  140 ,  142  may also be purchased with the latest designs or motifs applied thereto. The user simply mates the facing  40 ,  140 ,  142  to the base member  30 ,  130  which is already on hand, and the entire apparatus may be worn. 
         [0032]    The principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. However, the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular embodiments which have been described above. Instead, the embodiments described here should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims: