Clothing adjusting zipper arrangement

An adjustable article has an area of overlapping fabric with facing surfaces and a zipper on one of the surfaces. A zipper slider with fastener moves along two rows of teeth of the zipper to cause them to be separated in one direction and interdigitate in an opposite direction. A connector at the other surface and at one end of a distance of a dimension to be adjusted is engaged to the fastener so that a degree of overlap of the overlapping fabric surfaces changes as the slider moves along the rows of teeth to change the dimension.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of clothing, and in particular to a new and useful clothing adjusting zipper arrangement that is used to adjust at least one dimension of a cloth or fabric item, for example, the size of a garment.

Zippers have long been used as closures for cloth and fabric items, including garments, apparel, upholstery and furniture coverings, camping gear like tents, sleeping bags or other shelters, textiles and sporting goods. For ease of reference, all such cloth or fabric items are here referred to generally as clothing items.

Zippers include a pair of tapes, often but not always of cloth, that are attached, for example by sewing, to opposite edges of a closure. Two chains or rows of teeth on facing edges of the tapes are capable of meshing with each other by being caused to interdigitate as a zipper slider that embraces both rows past the teeth. A zipper pull is attached to the slider to be held by a person opening or closing the zipper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a new arrangement using one or more zippers and their sliders, to adjust the size of an item of clothing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a concealed and/or exposed zipper, open or closed, ended with a button, VELCRO brand fastener, clasp, hook or other fastening device of different shapes and sizes, sewn or attached onto the slider body or pull tab of the zipper that can slide back and forth on the chain or row of teeth of the zipper for the use in all types of garments, apparel, upholstery and furniture coverings, camping gear, textiles or sporting goods (separately or collectively called clothing in this disclosure), to adjust the circumference or length of at least one dimension of the clothing.

The zipper can be used to change or vary the size of any of the above mentioned items in width, length and/or height. As a non-limiting example, the invention can be used to adjust the circumference or girth of a jacket or other article of clothing. The zipper can be exposed or hidden by being sewed either on the inside or outside of the fabric or textile of the clothing to be adjusted.

Accordingly an object of the invention is to provide a clothing adjusting zipper arrangement, understanding the category of cloth or fabric items referred to as clothing in this disclosure, that comprises an area of overlapping fabric having facing surfaces in the item that overlap at least by a distance of a dimension of the item to be adjusted, a zipper having a pair of tapes with a respective pair of interdigitating rows of teeth and a slider for moving along the teeth to cause the teeth to become separated in one direction of movement of the slider and to become interdigitated in an opposite direction of movement of the slider, the zipper being fixed along one of the facing surfaces in the area of overlap and extending at least partly in the dimension of the item to be adjusted, a fastener connected to the slider, and a connector at the other of the facing surfaces and at one end of the distance of the dimension of the item to be adjusted, the fastener engaging the connector so that a degree of overlap of the overlapping fabric surfaces changes as the slider moves along the rows of teeth to change the dimension.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article in which the position of the slider along the zipper arrangement may be pre-adjusted before engagement of the fastener with the connector.

It is also within the objects of the invention to provide an article which includes at least two zipper arrangements, adapted such that the fasteners of the respective zipper arrangements may be aligned along different vertical axes.

In certain embodiments, the fastener is a button provided on one of the facing surfaces and the connector is an opening defined by the facing surface opposite the facing surface on which the zipper arrangement is provided.

In alternative embodiments, the fastener is a hook portion of a hook-and-loop fastener and the connector is a loop portion of a hook-and-loop fastener.

In yet further embodiments, the fastener is a male portion of a snap fastener and the connector is the female portion of a snap fastener.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings,FIG. 1shows a fastener12, a slider body14with a loop and a pull tab16connected to the loop of the slider14, at a time before the fastener12and the slider body14are tied together by tying means18according to the present invention.FIG. 2shows the fastener12, slider body14and pull tab16united for engagement with a pair of zipper teeth20(FIG. 3).FIG. 3shows the fastener12, slider body14and pull tab16, united and now engaged with the pair of zipper teeth20, the zipper teeth20being supported by respective strips of zipper tape22. The fastener12may be a button or the like, but it is by no means limited thereto. The tying means18may be a thread or any convenient means effective for achieving the purpose of securing the fastener12to the slider body14. It is also within the scope of the invention for the fastener to12to be secured to the pull tab16, or some part of the slider body, other than the loop, or to be made as one piece with the slider body as illustrated inFIG. 14.

FIG. 4shows a preferred jacket26embodiment according to the present invention which employs the zipper arrangement10. Although three zipper arrangements10are shown, a single zipper arrangement10would be effective for achieving the objects of the invention. Likewise, more than three zipper arrangements10may be employed. As can be seen inFIG. 4, the jacket26has a first flap28and a second flap30. Although the zipper teeth20are shown exposed inFIG. 4, it is within the scope of the invention for the zipper teeth20to be concealed.

FIGS. 5-7show that the jacket26may be worn in an unfastened state (FIG. 5), in a partially fastened state (FIG. 6) and a fully-fastened state (FIG. 7).FIG. 5shows the unfastened state, in which none of the fasteners12are inserted through the corresponding fastener connectors32.FIG. 6shows a partially-fastened state, in which some fasteners12are inserted through the associated fastener connector32and some are not.FIG. 7shows the fully-fastened state, in which all the fasteners12are inserted through their respective fastener connectors32. In the embodiment shown, the fasteners12are buttons and the fastener connectors32are button holes32. However, it is within the scope of the invention for any fastener-connector means to be employed, such as, for example, a snap-fastener arrangement, a hook-and-loop fastener (e.g., VELCRO), a clasp, or a hook.

FIGS. 8-10show that, once in the fully-fastened state (FIG. 7) the jacket26of the present invention may be adjusted to accommodate a variety of sizes. The jacket26may be adjusted by varying the distance of the fasteners12along the length of the zipper arrangement10to any degree desired, according the comfort of the wearer.

InFIG. 8, the jacket26is in the most-constricted state. From this state, the jacket26may be expanded to a semi-constricted state shown inFIG. 9, if, for example, the wearer of the garment has experienced an expansion of girth (e.g., due to dietary or health reasons). It may also be desirable to expand the garment if it has been transferred to a different person who has a wider girth than the original wearer. InFIG. 9, the fasteners12remain in the fastener connectors32, and the first flap28and the second flap30are pulled away from one another. Because the fasteners12remain anchored in the connectors32, the effect is that the fasteners12slide along the length of the zipper arrangement10from a first end34towards a second end36(the first and second end are best seen inFIGS. 4 and 5which show the unfastened state), to a point roughly near the middle of the zipper arrangement10, depending on the comfort of the wearer.FIG. 10shows the least-constricted state of the garment. InFIG. 10, the fasteners12remain in the fastener connectors32, and the first flap28and the second flap30are pulled yet further away from one another. The fasteners12slide further along the length of the zipper arrangement10, that is, to a point at or near the second end36of the zipper arrangement10.

The jacket26may also be adjusted back from the least-constricted state (FIG. 10) to the semi-constricted state (FIG. 9) or to the most-constricted state (FIG. 8) by holding the first flap28stationary and pulling the second flap30such that its degree of overlap over the first flap28is increased.

It also within the scope for the size of the jacket26to be adjusted when the jacket26is in the fully-unfastened state. Here, the wearer pre-adjusts the positions of the fasteners12along length of the zipper arrangement10. As shown inFIGS. 11-13, it is well within the scope of the invention for the fasteners12to positioned at varying distances along the length of their respective zipper arrangements10. After the fasteners12have been positioned according the wearer's desire, the fasteners12may then be secured through the connectors32.

FIG. 15shows the invention applied to a vest andFIG. 16shows the invention applied to a dress.

The present invention is advantageous in contexts where an individual has eaten a large meal or is experiencing a gastric condition requiring additional accommodation in the abdominal region.

The present invention is also advantageous in contexts where garments are transferred frequently from one person to the next, such as in the tuxedo rental, military and law enforcement fields.

The present invention may also be used in used in connection with camping gear (e.g., sleeping bags and tents) and sporting goods.