Abstract:
A sample garment is provided for fitting an individual interested in selecting a garment. The garment includes an inner surface, an outer surface, a slit defining a left panel and a right panel, and a fitting panel extending from the inner surface of one of the left and right panels. The fitting panel includes rows of a first fitting attachment, and at least one row of a second fitting attachment, whereby a single garment is readily adaptable for providing a proper fit for individuals of different sizes. In different embodiments, an extending panel may be used in conjunction with the fitting panel to accommodate different size people.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 10/418,462 filed Apr. 18, 2003, the subject matter of which is fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates generally to garments and, in particular, to an apparatus and method to size and fit formal dresses.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     People often purchase garments or dresses for special occasions such as weddings, formal events, high school proms and other, similar engagements. Purchasing a formal dress can be a difficult, time consuming and, sometimes, embarrassing process for the customer. Specifically, many such customers find the process of trying on dresses, while being measured and fitted, possibly in front of a room full of other dress customers, humiliating. In addition, these formal dresses are often very expensive. As such, customers ultimately demand that the dress fit to perfection.  
         [0004]     For the seller of a dress, the process of dress fitting also is very time consuming. To fit the dress properly, the person selling the dress often must size the wearer, tailor the garment, verify the tailoring and then, if necessary, repeat the process. Moreover, because of the difference in peoples&#39; size and shapes, the dress seller often has to carry multiple sizes of the same dress, which increases the seller&#39;s cost and need for storage space.  
         [0005]     To address some of these problems, sellers of such garments or dresses, changed the method of dress purchasing by carrying only size sample for fitting purposes and using “extenders” and “clips” to expand or tighten the dress to meet the shape of the customer. The extenders consist of elastic material that attaches to the opening in the back (in place of the zipper or other fastening mechanism) of the dress and allows a tailor or the person fitting the dress to open the dress wider as necessary. The clips also attach to the opening in the back of the dress, but the clips gather or bunch the material so that the tailor can tighten the dress as necessary. In this manner, the tailor attempts to fit the dress by carrying only the one fitting dress, which will substantially reduce the costs and space capacity issues.  
         [0006]     Unfortunately, this prior art did not solve all of the existing problems. For example, the normal dress used for the fitting process, even with the addition of clips and extenders, generally fits people only four sizes above the dress size and two sizes below. Clearly, this limitation can alienate a large segment of the purchasing public without an option for dress fitting or, to meet this demand, dress sellers are forced to increase their costs and purchase additional fitting dresses—thereby eliminating some of the benefit of the prior art. In addition, for the prior art, the dress seller necessarily has to purchase the extenders and clips, which decreases the overall cost savings.  
         [0007]     The prior art also created new problems. By extending the dress or pinching the excess material, the dress gathers and bunches in awkward manners. Specifically, when using the extenders or clips during the fitting process, the front of the dress may fold over itself or the mid-drift may be too snug. In addition, the back of the dress, because of the very nature of the clips and the extenders, will be completely contorted. As such, these devices provide both the tailor and the customer an inaccurate picture of how the dress will fit after tailoring.  
         [0008]     Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method to size and fit garments.  
         [0009]     It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus and method so as to size and fit formal dresses in particular.  
         [0010]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method to size and fit formal dresses so that the tailor and customer will have an accurate picture of how the dress will fit after the tailoring process.  
         [0011]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method to size and fit formal dresses that is easy and quick to use for the dress seller and reduces the amount of wasted space and inventory.  
         [0012]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method to size and fit formal dresses the provides the customer with a greater degree of privacy and modesty during the fitting and tailoring process.  
         [0013]     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method to size and fit formal dresses that is economical to manufacture.  
         [0014]     It is still a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus and method to size and fit formal dresses that is durable and can be used easily by businesses.  
         [0015]     Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the remaining portion of the specification.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     The preferred embodiment of the apparatus affixes to any garment but, preferably, a dress and, more preferably, a formal dress. The dress has a top, bottom, front and back side and also an inside surface and an outside surface. In the preferred embodiment, the dress will have a slit in the back side and include a fastening mechanism, such as a zipper or zippers, buttons, clasps or other equivalent device, attached to the slit, which opens or closes the garment; however, in other embodiments, the fastening mechanism can be located in the front or the side of the dress. When the fastening mechanism is in the open position, the back side of the dress will be split into two halves or panels.  
         [0017]     On the inside of the panels, the garment will include an adjustable fitting device. In the preferred embodiment, the adjustable fitting device consists of two separate sections of material sewn to the inside of each panel (although other methods to fashion the adjustable device are anticipated).  
         [0018]     Each section is made of an elastic type of material (such as lycra or an equivalent). Ideally, the adjustable fitting device includes a fitting attaching mechanism. In one example of the preferred embodiment, the fitting attaching mechanism consists of one row of hooks (on one section of the adjustable device) and opposing rows of matching latches or clasps (on the other section of the adjustable device) of which any one row is capable of engaging the hooks. In an alternative example of the preferred embodiment, the fitting attaching mechanism consists of multiple rows of zippers and may include an additional panel, which also has multiple rows of zippers, to provide better contouring for fitting, sizing and tailoring dresses for all different size people.  
         [0019]     Essentially, after a customer puts on the dress, the tailor or the person fitting the customer manipulates the adjustable device so that the dress fits the customer. In other words, the tailor will take each section of the adjustable device and move each section with respect to one another and the customer&#39;s body so as to fit the garment on the customer and maneuver the adjustable device to orient the hooks to align with the closed row of clasps or, as applicable, to align the zipper halves. Once the hooks engage the clasps or, as applicable, in the alternative embodiment, the zipper halves engage, the tailor can either close or leave open the fastening mechanism. Also, as discussed as part of the alternative embodiment, in certain instances, the tailor can insert an additional panel as part of the fitting mechanism to provide a more accurate fit for larger dress wearers.  
         [0020]     In this manner, both the customer and the tailor receive an accurate view of how the dress fits because, for example, instead of distorting the dress with clips and extenders as previously done in the prior art, with the present invention, the adjustable device is maneuvered inside the garment around the customer&#39;s body. This provides the tailor an easier, faster method of obtaining an accurate fit for the dress. In addition, the customer is much more likely to find the experience pleasant since they also spend less time during the tailoring process and, if other customer&#39;s are simultaneously being fitted, the invention allows each customer a greater degree of privacy since the setting of the adjustable device is not obvious (especially in comparison to the prior art clips and extenders).  
         [0021]     The following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, provide a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a formal dress in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a back perspective view of a formal dress of the present invention, with the slit in the closed position.  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a back perspective view of the formal dress with the slit in the open position, showing the adjustable fitting mechanism of the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a partial sectional view of one embodiment of the adjustable device of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a partial sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the adjustable device of the present invention, where the fitting attaching mechanism is multiple rows of zippers and includes an additional fitting attachment panel. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0027]     The sample dress or garment  10  is illustrated generally in  FIG. 1 . The garment has a top side  12 , a bottom side  14 , an outside surface  16 , an inside surface  18 , a front side  20  and a back side  22 . In one example of the preferred embodiment, the garment  10  has a neckline  24 , a waistline  26  and a hipline  28 . Also in this example of the preferred embodiment, the garment  10  is a formal gown such as a wedding dress.  
         [0028]     As seen in  FIG. 2 , the garment  10  will have a slit  30  beginning at the neckline  24  down to the hipline  28  on the backside  22  of the garment  10 ; however, in other embodiments, the slit  30  may be on the front side  20 , various other locations in the dress or the garment  10  may not have a slit  30  altogether. The slit  30  ideally will include a fastener portion seen generally at  32  that is preferably a zipper, but can be any similar device as known by one skilled in the art, including buttons. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the fastener portion  32  is in a closed position. As viewed in  FIG. 3 , the fastening portion  32  is shown in the open position and has a left fastener portion  38  and a right fastener portion  40 .  
         [0029]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate this example preferred embodiment of the garment  10  wherein this embodiment includes a left panel  34  and a right panel  36  on the backside  22  of the garment  10 . When the fastening portion  32  is shown in the open position, as seen in  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that the left panel  34  includes a left panel edge  42  and the right panel  36  includes a right panel edge  44 .  
         [0030]     As noted previously, the prior art utilize clips and extenders to maneuver the left panel  34  and right panel  36  to accommodate the customer so that the tailor could properly measure the customer&#39;s dress size. However, as shown in  FIG. 3 , this embodiment of the garment  10  includes an adjustable fitting mechanism seen generally at  46 . The adjustable fitting mechanism  46  has two sections  48   a  and  48   b.  The adjustable fitting mechanism  46  sections  48   a  and  48   b  are preferably attached to the inside surface  18  of the left panel  34  and right panel  36 , respectively. In this embodiment, the adjustable fitting mechanism  46  sections  48   a  and  48   b  will be made of elastic, lycra or some other type of stretchable material.  
         [0031]      FIGS. 3 and 4  shows the adjustable fitting mechanism  46  to include a row of hooks  50  on adjustable fitting mechanism  46  section  48   a  and multiple rows of clasps  52  on adjustable fitting mechanism  46  section  48   b;  however, the adjustable fitting mechanism  46  can utilize a variety of different attaching mechanisms. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , in an alternative embodiment, instead of the hooks  50  and multiple rows of clasps  52 , the adjustable fitting mechanism  46  is made of multiple rows of zippers  53  positioned generally on sections  48   a  and section  48   b.    
         [0032]     The hooks  50  and the clasps  52  are seen in greater detail in  FIG. 4 . Specifically, left panel  34  is folded over itself  54  to reveal the hooks  50 . Likewise, the right panel  36  is folded over itself  56  to reveal the clasps  52 . In this manner,  FIG. 4  illustrates how the clasps  52  would engage the hooks  50  as the adjustable fitting mechanism  46  section  48   a  and  48   b  are moved towards each other along line  4 - 4 . Ideally, each row of clasps  52  corresponds to a differing garment  10  size. Specifically, the tailor fitting the garment  10  will engage the hooks  50  and the clasps  52 , with respect to the customer&#39;s body, to determine the proper dress size. The adjustable fitting mechanism  46  is on the inside surface  18  and thereby hidden within the garment  10  and will wrap around the wearer.  
         [0033]     In the other embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the fitting attachment mechanism  46  of the sample dress  10  uses zippers to close the fitting attachment mechanism  46  around the dress wearer. In particular, the zipper rows  70   a ,  70   b ,  70   c ,  70   d  and  70   e  on section  48   a  do not include any sliders. Instead, the zipper rows  72   a ,  72   b ,  72   c ,  72   d  and  72   e  on section  48   b  include the sliders  74   a ,  74   b ,  74   c ,  74   d  and  74   e.  Essentially, during the fitting and sizing of a dress, one of the zipper rows  70   a ,  70   b ,  70   c ,  70   d  and  70   e  will engage a slider  74   a ,  74   b ,  74   c ,  74   d  and  74   e  from zipper rows  72   a ,  72   b ,  72   c ,  72   d  and  72   e . Any slider  74   a ,  74   b ,  74   c ,  74   d  and  74   e  can engage any zipper row  70   a ,  70   b ,  70   c ,  70   d  and  70   e.  In this manner the adjustable fitting mechanism  46  can be zipped up around the wearer to determine a dress size. The fastening portion  32  is in the open position and, in this instance, is a zipper made of a left row  90  and a right row  92  that engage to close the fastening portion  32 . As before, ideally, each row of zippers corresponds to a differing sample dress  10  size.  
         [0034]     Also in  FIG. 5 , in instances where the sample dress  10  does not quite fit the wearer, an extending panel  80  may be inserted into the adjustable fitting mechanism  46 . The extending panel  80  will then become part of the adjustable fitting mechanism  46  already shown in  FIG. 5 . In particular, the extending panel  80  has multiple zipper rows  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c ,  82   d  and  82   e.  In an example of an embodiment with the extending panel  80 , zipper rows  82   a  and  82   b  include sliders  86   a  and  86   b.  These sliders  86   a  and  86   b  engage the zipper rows  70   a ,  70   b ,  70   c ,  70   d  and  70   e . In an addition, zipper rows  82   c ,  82   d  and  82   e  engage the zippers  72   a ,  72   b ,  72   c ,  72   d  and  72   e , specifically, the sliders  74   a ,  74   b ,  74   c ,  74   d  and  74   e.  As before, it is a one to one correspondence of slider to zipper row and any sliders on the extending panel  80  can match any non-slider zipper row  70   a ,  70   b ,  70   c ,  70   d  and  70   e  on section  48   a.  Likewise, any non-slider zipper row  82   c ,  82   d  and  82   e  can engage any slider  74   a ,  74   b ,  74   c ,  74   d  and  74   e.    
         [0035]     As can be seen from the description of the invention, this novel, unique sample dress eliminates the difficulties and inaccuracies created by the prior art clips and extenders and creates a fast, easy to use apparatus to simplify dress tailoring.