Abstract:
A garment with an adjustable waist is disclosed, having an opening intersecting a waist section of the garment, a closure mechanism urging the opening to a narrowed position or a widened position to adjust the girth of the waist section, and a panel bridging across the opening, the panel being hidden by the opening in a narrowed position. An embodiment of the closure mechanism includes a slide fastener extending along the opening. Another embodiment of the closure mechanism includes a waist band for extension across the opening and for selective attachment to respective fasteners located along the waist section to correspond with adjustments in the girth of the waist section.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a garment in which the waist is adjustable in girth. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A garment for wearing around a person&#39;s waist is constructed from multiple pieces of a garment fabric. The pieces are joined together along seams of the garment, for example, side seams, a front seam and a rear seam, all of which intersect a waist section of the garment. Usually, each seam at the waist section is closed by sewing together the pieces of the garment fabric. Accordingly, the closed seams at the waist section provide the waist section with a fixed girth. It would be advantageous for a garment to have a waist section that can be expanded or contracted for fitting different waist sizes, for example, a person whose waist size changes, or for adapting the waist section to fit persons having different waist sizes. Further, it would be advantageous for a garment to have a waist section that can progressively expand for accommodating waist size changes that occur throughout different stages of pregnancy, and that can progressively contract for accommodating waist size changes subsequent to giving birth, and during a time period during which reductions in body weight occur. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,910 discloses a garment with an elastic band that extends through a tubular casing at the waist section of the garment. A free end of the elastic band is selectively attachable to respective fasteners that are spaced apart along the waist section of the garment. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,730 discloses a V-shaped, insert panel to cover an opening that is present upon unbuttoning a button-fly of a jeans garment. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,358 discloses a garment having a gathered waist section that is held in a gathered position by miniature hook and loop fasteners. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to an embodiment of the invention, a garment having an adjustable waist has an opening intersecting a waist section of the garment, a panel bridging across the opening, and a closure mechanism, the opening being narrowed and held by operation of the closure mechanism to narrow the opening, and the opening being widened and held by operation of the closure mechanism, thereby to adjust the girth of the waist section. Further, the panel is behind the closure mechanism. 
   According to a further embodiment of the invention, the opening extends between two pieces of fabric, and the panel is hidden behind the two pieces of fabric when the opening is narrowed by operation of the closure mechanism. 
   According to a further embodiment of the invention, the two pieces of fabric are joined together along a side seam of the garment. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a fragmentary view of a garment having an adjustable waist section intersected by an opening, a pane covering the opening, and a closure mechanism for holding the opening in a narrowed position or a widened position, thereby to adjust the girth of the waist section. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of a garment having the alternative forms of either trousers or a skirt. 
       FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , and further discloses the closure mechanism comprising a waist band holding the opening in a widened position. 
       FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , and further discloses the closure mechanism comprising a slide fastener holding the opening in a narrowed position, and further holding the opening in a closed position. 
       FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4 , and further discloses the closure mechanism comprising a waist band holding the opening in a narrowed position. 
       FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5 , and further discloses the closure mechanism comprising a waist band holding the waist section of the garment in a gathered position. 
       FIG. 7  is a view of the inside of the garment that is disclosed by  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  discloses an expandable section  100  of a garment  102 .  FIG. 2  discloses the garment  102  as having the alternative forms of either a pair of trousers  104 , or a skirt  106  indicated by phantom outline.  FIG. 1  further discloses a generally V-shaped opening  108  in the garment  102 , which intersects a waist section  110  of the garment  102 . When the opening  108  is widened to a laterally widened position, as disclosed by  FIG. 1 , the waist section  110  of the garment  102  is expanded in girth. Further, as will be described hereinafter, when the opening  108  is narrowed to a laterally narrowed position, the waist section  110  is contracted in girth. Thereby, the waist section  110  is expandable and contractible to change the waist size of the garment  102 . 
     FIG. 1  further discloses a feature of a V-shaped panel  112  that bridges across the opening  108  to cover the opening  108 . The narrow end of the V-shaped panel  112  is truncated. The panel  112  comprises a flexible material, including, but not limited to: a fabric identical to that of the garment  102 , a stretchable material, and a thin film of polymeric material or a mesh. An exemplary stretchable material comprises a fabric woven with yarns of elastane fibers conducive to elastic stretching, for example, Lycra® or Spandex® elastane fibers. According to various embodiments of the invention, each of the garment  102  and the panel  112  is made of either a non-stretchable material or a stretchable material, according to the extent of stretching desired at the waist section  110 . 
     FIG. 1  further discloses a closure mechanism  114 . An embodiment of the closure mechanism comprises a waist band  114   a . The waist band  114   a  comprises a belt that is sewn at one end  116  to the waist section  110  of the garment  102 . The waist band  114   a  is made with any desirable, flexible material suitable for use as a belt, including, but not limited to: fabric identical to that of the garment  102 , leather, or synthetic film material. Further, the closure mechanism  114  comprises one or more respective fasteners  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124 , for example, a series of spaced apart buttons  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124  which are sewn or otherwise attached along the waist section  110 . The respective fasteners  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124  comprise alternative embodiments, including, but not limited to: snap fasteners, arrays of miniature sized hooks and loops fasteners as, for example, Velcro®, a hook and loop type fastener and a clasp type fastener. A free end of the waist band  114   a  has an attachable fastener  126 , for example, in the form of a button hole, such that the button hole is selectively attachable to the respective fasteners  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124 , wherein the respective fasteners  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124  are positioned at respective locations along the waist section  110  of the garment  102  to correspond with adjustments in the girth of the waist section  110 . A belt loop  128  is provided for inserting the waist band  114   a  through the belt loop  130 . 
     FIG. 3  discloses that the waist band  114   a  is extendable over the opening  108 , and is extendable along the waist section  110  of the garment  102  to form a partial belt. The waist band  114   a  is selectively attached to the respective fastener  120  to hold the opening  108  in a widened position, which stabilizes the girth of the waist section  110 . The waist band  114   a  extends across, and covers another respective fastener  118  shown with phantom outline in  FIG. 3 . According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the waist band  114   a  can be moved from its position disclosed by  FIG. 3 , to become attached to the respective fastener  118 , which allows further widening of the opening  108 , so as to become wider than that shown in  FIG. 3 , and so as to expand the girth of the waist section  110 . Such further widening of the opening  108  is accompanied by elastic stretching of the stretchable garment materials, for example, when either or both the panel  112  and the garment  102  comprise stretchable materials. Once again, the closure mechanism  114  comprising the waist band  114   a  holds the opening  108  in a widened position, which stabilizes the girth of the waist section  110 . 
     FIG. 3  further discloses that the opening  108  is positioned at or along a generally vertical seam  130  of the garment  102 , wherein two pieces of fabric  102   a ,  102   b  are sewn together to close the seam  130 , except where the opening  108  is positioned at the seam  130 . Alternatively, the opening  108  can be positioned elsewhere in the garment  102 , for example, by cutting a slit through the garment  102 . 
     FIG. 2  discloses that the garment  102  is fabricated with two vertical side seams  130 , and a vertical front seam  130   a . According to a further embodiment of the invention, each side seam  130  of the garment has a corresponding opening  108  positioned at or along the side seam  130 . Each opening  108  positioned at or along a corresponding side seam is disguised, as having the appearance of a side-pocket that a person associates with being along the side seam  130  of a garment  102 . According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, an opening  108  is positioned at any one of the seams  130 ,  130   a.    
     FIGS. 1 and 3  disclose an embodiment of the invention, according to which the closure mechanism  114  comprises a fastener  114   b , for example, a slide fastener including a zipper. Alternative embodiments of the fastener  114   b  include, but are not limited to: snap fasteners, arrays of miniature sized hooks and loops fasteners as, for example, Velcro®, larger size hook and loop type fasteners and a series of clasp type fasteners. Embodiments of the closure mechanism  114  comprise the fastener  114   b  alone, or the waist band  114   a  alone, or both the fastener  114   b  and the waist band  114   a . The fastener  114   b  will now be described as an embodiment of a slide fastener  114   b . The embodiment of a slide fastener  114   b  comprises two interlocking tracks  132  and a slide mechanism  134 . The slide mechanism  134  is operated by being slidable along the tracks  132  in a first direction to interlock the tracks  132  and close the slide fastener  114   b , and the slide mechanism  134  is operated by being slidable in a reverse direction to separate the tracks  132  and open the slide fastener  114   b . The slide mechanism  134  has a small handle  136  attached by a swivel fastener. The handle  136  is manually gripped between a person&#39;s thumb and finger, for example, to operate the slide mechanism  134 . 
     FIGS. 1 and 3  disclose the two interlocking tracks  132  extending along opposite sides of the V-shaped opening  108 , such that the opening  108  is urged to a widened position by said described operation of the slide mechanism  134  to open the slide mechanism  134 . The slide mechanism  134  of the slide fastener  114   b  has been moved to the position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . Further, the opening  108  is held in a widened position by the slide fastener  114   b  of the closure mechanism  114  being in an open position, which stabilizes the girth of the waist section  110 . The panel  112  is behind the closure mechanism  114 . 
   Each of  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  discloses the opening  108  that has been urged to a narrowed position by operation of the closure mechanism  114 , wherein the slide mechanism  134  has been moved to a closed position. Further, the closure mechanism  114  comprising the slide fastener  114   b  holds the opening  108  in the narrowed position, which stabilizes the girth of the waist section  110 . In addition, the closure mechanism  114  closes the opening  108 . The panel  112  is behind the closure mechanism  114 . When the opening  108  is narrowed, the panel  112  is sufficiently limp, flexible and thin, so as to become gathered or folded inside the garment  102 , without causing discomfort to a person wearing the garment  102 . 
     FIG. 5  discloses the waist band  114   a  selectively attached to the fastener  122 . The closure mechanism  114  that comprises the waist band  114   a  and the multiple fasteners  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124 , has the free end of the waist band  114   a  selectively attached to the respective fastener  122 , to hold the opening  108  in the narrowed position, as shown in  FIG. 5 . The waist band  114   a  extends through the belt loop  128 , and covers the handle  136  on the slide mechanism  134  that has been operated to move to a closed position. The closure mechanism  114   b  can be held closed, as disclosed by  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 , or alternatively, held open, as disclosed by  FIG. 3 , because the waist band  114   a  holds the opening  108  in either the narrowed position, as shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 , or one of the widened positions, as shown in  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, the closure mechanism  114   b  can be absent, and the opening  108  would be held closed solely by the waist band  114   a.    
     FIG. 6  discloses that the waist band  114   a  can be moved from its position shown in  FIG. 5 , to become selectively attached to the fastener  124 . The garment  102  can be gathered, as shown at  138 , which further contracts the girth of the waist section  110 . The waist band  114   a  stabilizes the girth of the waist section. 
     FIG. 7  discloses a sewn construction of the expandable section  100  of the garment  102 . The two pieces of fabric  102   a ,  102   b  are sewn together along the seam, except for the V-shaped opening  108 . The two pieces of fabric  102   a ,  102   b  are doubled back on themselves, so as to define there between the edges of the V-shaped opening  108 . Further, the edges  102   c ,  102   d  of the two pieces of fabric  102   a ,  102   b  are shown as being bound at the edges with surger machine stitching. The slide fastener  114   b  is opened to a V-shape, and is laid over the doubled back edges  102   c ,  102   d . Then, the V-shaped panel  112  is laid over the open, V-shaped, slide fastener  114   b . The overlaid, V-shaped slide fastener  114   b  and V-shaped panel  112  are sewn together, as shown by stitches  140 ,  142 , to the edges  102   c ,  102   d  of the two pieces of fabric  102   a ,  102   b . According to an embodiment of the invention, the fastener  114   b  is visible along the doubled back edges  102   c ,  102   d  of the two pieces of fabric  102   a ,  102   b , while viewing the exterior of the garment, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the fastener  114   b  is invisible or hidden behind the doubled back edges  102   c ,  102   d  of the two pieces of fabric  102   a ,  102   b , as shown in  FIG. 4 . In another embodiment of the invention, the fastener  114   b  is absent from the garment, such that the doubled back edges  102   c ,  102   d  provide finished hem lines that remain unheld by a fastener for a more casual dress-code appearance. Further, an internal waist band  114   a  of the garment  102  is tucked under  114   c ,  114   d  at the V-shaped opening  108 , and is sewn by the stitches  140 ,  142 . Thus, the panel  112  is permanently attached to the garment  102 . When the garment  102  comprises a material such as denim, the fastener  114   b  of the closure mechanism  114  comprises a lapped zipper. 
   Each of the exemplary embodiments of the garment  102 , described herein, advantageously has a waist section that can progressively expand with different waist size adjustments for accommodating waist size changes that occur throughout different stages of pregnancy, and that can progressively contract with different waist size adjustments for accommodating waist size changes subsequent to giving birth, and during a time period during which reductions in body weight occur. 
   This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description, relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”, “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. 
   Although the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claims should be construed broadly, to include other variants and embodiments of the invention, which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention.