Abstract:
Decorative accessories for clothing items are removably supported thereon by hook-and-loop type fasteners. Cuffs are removably secured to the distal ends of legs of pants, cuffs are removably secured to the distal ends of sleeves of tops, and collars are removably secured to neck openings of tops by the hook-and-loop type fasteners. Patches, which may be associated with nations or sports teams attending sports events, with characters and attractions at theme parks, etc. are removably attached to garments utilizing hook-and-loop type fasteners. Collectibles; pictures and other indicia identified with entertainers and other personalities; tickets, licenses and other items subject to inspect by authorities are removably displayed on garments utilizing hook-and-loop type fasteners.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY  
       [0001]    This application claims priority of prior provisional Application Serial No. 60/371,797 filed Apr. 11, 2002, currently pending, and of prior provisional Application Serial No. 60/408,330 filed Sep. 5, 2002. 
     
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to the accessorizing of apparel items including trousers, shirts, and the like, and more particularly to a system for removably attaching accessories to jeans, tops, and other items of casual apparel. The invention further relates to removably displaying photographs and other indicia identified with persons and other subject matters on apparel items.  
         BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Trousers manufactured from denim and other materials and commonly referred to as blue jeans or simply jeans are worn throughout the world for work, play, and casual living. Although jeans intended to be worn by adults are seldom provided with decorative accessories, children&#39;s jeans are often provided with decorative cuffs, pockets, etc. which are made from materials differing in texture and color from the fabric of the jeans themselves. Similarly, tops manufactured for use by children are often provided with decorative accessories such as cuffs, collars, pockets, and/or various types of patches.  
           [0004]    Heretofore decorative accessories for casual apparel including jeans, tops, and similar garments have been permanently attached. This practice necessitates the purchase of multiple garments in order to suit the needs of various activities and occasions.  
           [0005]    The present invention comprises a system for accessorizing casual clothing which overcomes the foregoing and other problems. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, cuffs, pocket patches, and other accessories are removably secured to jeans and other trousers. Similarly, cuffs, patches, and collars are removably secured to tops such as t-shirts, polo shirts, sweaters, jackets, other outer wear, and the like. More particularly, accessary items for trousers and tops are removably secured using hook-and-loop type fasteners.  
           [0006]    As is well known, pins representative of the participating nations or teams are collected and exchanged among visitors to the Olympics® and other sporting events. Similarly, attendees at theme parks such as Disney World® collect and exchange pins representative of various cartoon characters, rides and other attractions, etc. The present invention further contemplates the replacement of such pins with patches which are identified with nations or teams participating in sporting events, characters and attractions at theme parks, etc. The patches are removably secured to wearing apparel utilizing hook-and-loop type fasteners.  
           [0007]    Baseball cards and cards associated with other sporting activities, photographs and other items distributed on behalf of entertainers and other personalities at concerts and other venues, and similar items are often referred to as collectibles. The present invention further contemplates the removable display of such collectibles on clothing items. The collectible display apparatus can also be used to display tickets, licenses, and other items that are subject to inspection by designated authorities.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, wherein:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view the embodiment of FIG. 1 in which certain component parts have been broken away more clearly to illustrate the invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative configuration of the first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is an exploded view which diagrammatically illustrates a second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a partial exploded view of certain component parts of the second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is an illustration of an alternative configuration of the second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 further illustrating the alternative configuration of the second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of a third embodiment of the invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is an exploded view further illustrating the third embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative configuration of the third embodiment of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]    Referring to FIG. 1, a pair of jeans  10  is diagrammatically illustrated. Although the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 in conjunction with jeans, it will be understood that the invention is equally applicable to other types of trousers. The jeans  10  are provided with decorative cuffs  12  which are removably secured at the lower ends of the legs  14  thereof. The cuffs  12  are typically fabricated from a fabric which differs in color, texture, and/or pattern from that of the jeans  10 .  
         [0020]    Referring to FIG. 2, the cuffs  12  have a first component  16  of a hook-and-loop type fastener extending around the exterior thereof while the legs  14  of the jeans  10  have the opposite component  18  of the hook-and-loop type fastener extending around the interior thereof. In this manner the cuffs  12  that were originally supplied with the jeans  10  are easily and readily removed and replaced with cuffs comprising a different color, texture, and/or fabric.  
         [0021]    Referring to FIG. 3, cuffs  12 ′ are securable to the legs  14  of the jeans  10  in lieu of the cuffs  12 . The cuffs  12 ′ are longer than the cuffs  12 , and thereby adapts the jeans  12  to continuing use by children as they grow. In some instances it may be preferable to fabricate either the cuffs  12  or the cuffs  12 ′ from the same fabric as that is used in the manufacture of the jeans  10  so that the cuffs  12  and/or the cuffs  12 ′ become an extension of the legs  14  thereof.  
         [0022]    Referring to FIG. 4, the present invention is also applicable to a wide variety of tops, including t-shirts, tank tops, sweatshirts, etc. Although a pullover type top  20  is illustrated in FIG. 3, it will be understood that the invention is also applicable to tops having front, back, or side openings which are normally secured in the closed condition by buttons, snaps, zippers, and similar fasteners.  
         [0023]    The top  20  is provided with cuffs  22  which are removably secured to the ends of the sleeves  24  of the top  20 . The cuffs  22  are typically fabricated from a fabric which differs in color, texture, and/or pattern from that of the top  20 . As is illustrated in FIG. 4, the cuffs  22  have a first component  26  of a hook-and-loop type fastener extending around the interior thereof while the ends of the sleeves  24  of the top  20  are provided with the opposite component  28  of the hook-and-loop type fastener.  
         [0024]    The top  20  is also provided with a removable collar  32  which normally extends around a neck opening  34  at the upper end of the top  20 . The opening  34  has a first component  36  of a hook-and-loop type fastener extending around the exterior thereof, while the opposite component  38  of the hook-and-loop type fastener extends around the interior of the collar  32 .  
         [0025]    Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the top  20  may be provided with cuffs  22 ′ having a first component  26 ′ of a hook-and-loop fastener extending around the exterior thereof. The opposite component  28 ′ of the hook-and-loop fastener extends around the interior of the sleeve  24  to securely retain the cuff  22 ′ in engagement therewith.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 further illustrates an extension  39  which may be secured to the lower end of the top  20  in a manner similar to the connection of the cuffs  22 ′ to the sleeves  24  thereof, that is, by securing a first component of a hook-and-loop fastener around the exterior of the extension  39  and securing the opposite component of the hook-and-loop fastener around the interior of the top  20  at the lower end thereof. The cuffs  22 ′ and the extension  39  may be formed from the same material as the top  20  thereby accommodating the top  20  to the needs of growing children. Alternatively, the cuffs  22 ′ and the extension  39  may comprise decorative items in which case the cuffs  22 ′ and/or the extension  39  can be formed from fabrics which differ in color and/or texture from the fabric utilized in the manufacture of the top  20 .  
         [0027]    The jeans  10  of FIG. 1 and/or the top  20  of FIG. 3 may be provided with one or more pockets  40 . If so, the pocket may be provided with a decorative covering or patch  42 . A first component  46  of a hook-and-loop type fastener is secured to the interior side of the decorative covering or patch  42 , while the opposite component  48  of the hook-and-loop type fastener is secured to the exterior of the pocket  40 . It will be understood that the decorative covering or patch  42  can be secured directly to the top  20  utilizing the hook-and-loop type fastener and that the use of a pocket in association with the covering or patch  42  is not required.  
         [0028]    An important feature of the invention comprises coordination of the accessorizing of the jeans or other trousers  10  of FIG. 1 with the top  20  of FIG. 2. For example, the cuffs  12  of the jeans  10  and the cuffs  22  and/or the collar  32  of the top  20  may be constructed from the same material such as an animal print, a plaid, a selected solid color, etc. Another option is the use of the same material for the decorative coverings or patches  42  used on the jeans  10  and the top  20 .  
         [0029]    Referring to FIG. 8, a garment  50  is provided with the first component  52  of a hook-and-loop type fastener. The positioning of the component  52  relative to the garment  50  as shown in FIG. 5 is illustrative only, it being understood that the component  52  may be positioned at any desired location on any type of garment. The component  52  receives a patch having the opposite component of the hook-and-loop type fastener secured thereto. The patch may be indicative of and associated with a country or team participating in a sporting event such as the Olympics, etc. The patch may also be indicative of a character or attraction at a theme park. The patch may also comprise a fanciful representation of a flower or an animal, or a representation of a real or imagined person. Other utilizations of such a patch will readily suggest themselves for those skilled in the art.  
         [0030]    The size and shape of the component  52  of the hook-and-loop type fastener is preferably closely matched to the size and shape of the patch utilized in conjunction therewith. In such manner accidental or mischievous disengagement of the patch from the component  52  and the garment  50  is prevented.  
         [0031]    Referring to FIG. 9, the display technique illustrated in FIG. 8 and described hereinabove in connection therewith may be utilized to display the components  56  comprising a collection  58 . For example, the components  56  comprising the collection  58  may be representative of the various nations participating in the Olympics®. Alternatively, the components  56  comprising the collection  58  may be representative of the various teams participating in a multi-team sporting event. The components  56  comprising the collection  58  may also comprise photographs or other indicia representative of individual members comprising a particular athletic team, band or other musical group, etc. The components  56  comprising the collection  58  may also comprise tickets or other indicia demonstrating attendance at a series of athletic contests, concerts or other musical events, etc. The components  56  comprising the collection  58  may also comprise photographs or other indicia of family members, friends, pets, etc. which are particularly important to the owner of the group  58 .  
         [0032]    Regardless of the contents of a particular collection  58 , the display technique illustrated in FIG. 8 and described hereinabove in connection therewith may be utilized to selectively display particular components  56  of the group  58  on clothing items. Alternatively, a particular garment may be provided with multiple components  52  thereby facilitating the simultaneous display of multiple components  56  of a particular collection  58  on an individual clothing item.  
         [0033]    As will be understood, the present invention contemplates providing each component  56  of each collection  58  with a component of a hook-and-loop fastener which is opposite from but otherwise compatible with the component  52  that is secured to the garment  50  as shown in FIG. 8. By engaging the hook-and-loop component which is secured to the reverse side of the component  56  of the collection  58  with the component  52  which is secured to the garment  50  the component  56  of the collection  58  is removably secured to the garment  50  for displayed thereon.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative technique for displaying the components  56  of the selected collection  58  on a garment. A display container  60  has a transparent front surface  62  and a transparent or opaque rear surface  64 . A component of a hook-and-loop type fastener is secured to the rear surface of the back layer  64 . The hook-and-loop fastener component which is secured to the rear surface of the back layer  64  is opposite from but otherwise compatible with the hook-and-loop component  52  which is secured to the garment  50 . Thus, by engaging the hook-and-loop fastener component which is secured to the rear surface of the back layer  64  of the display apparatus  60  with the hook-and-loop component  52  which is secured to the garment  50  the display apparatus  60  is releaseably secured on the garment  50 .  
         [0035]    A selected component  56  from a particular collection  58  is positioned between the back layer  64  and the transparent front layer  62  of the display apparatus  60  prior to or after the connection of the display apparatus  60  to the garment  50  utilizing the hook-and-loop fastener components which are secured to the display apparatus  60  and to the garment  50 , respectively. The previously selected component  56  of the collection  58  may be replaced with a different component either by providing multiple display apparatus  60  each containing a particular component  56 , or by simply removing one of the components  56  and by replacing it with a different component  56  comprising the collection  58 .  
         [0036]    The display apparatus  60  is also adapted for the display of items which must be available for inspection by appropriate authorities. For example, the display apparatus  60  may be utilized to receive and display tickets for sporting events, musical events, and the like. The display apparatus  60  may be utilized to receive and display airline tickets and/or boarding passes. Another advantageous use of the display apparatus  60  is the display of hunting licenses, fishing licenses and similar items indicating the right or permission to engage in particular activities.  
         [0037]    Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.