Abstract:
A fashion clothing accessory is adjustable, and may be removable or permanent. Two ornamental members have fastening mechanisms for attachment to the clothing at discrete areas thereon, and are attached or attachable to two flexible elongate members that can be secured together at different possible intermediate points therealong using an adjustment mechanism. With the accessory attached to the clothing, the mechanism provides adjustments to both the accessory and clothing by changing its position on the flexible members in order to pull the ornamental members closer together or allow them to drift further apart. The adjustment mechanism may also feature ornamental elements. In addition to this function of changing the appearance and fit of clothing, the ornamental elements provide additional style.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/891,782, filed May 10, 2013, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to ornamental clothing accessories, and more particularly to a clothing accessory and mode of use that can be employed to create a gathering effect drawing together two discrete areas of a piece of clothing while providing an ornamental presentation between the these drawn together areas. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    This invention relates to a removable or permanent adjustable fashion accessory that attaches to clothing or other desired articles. It can modify the look of clothing by adding additional style, and/or adjusting the fit without having to make permanent alterations. 
         [0004]    Conventionally, known ways to change the fit of clothing has typically required safety pins and/or alterations which can cause damage to the article. Belts are also worn as an accessory and/or to adjust the fit of a garment. 
         [0005]    Fashion accessories have a long history and are worn for many reasons and have been used to enhance appearance and self expression. There are numerous fashion items such as earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets and belts. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,793,518 discloses a magnetic clothes gathering clasp in which a chain extending between two ornamentally shaped members is folded around a free edge of a piece of clothing so as to situate the two ornamentally shaped members on opposing interior and exterior sides of the clothing, whereupon magnetic attraction between the members fastens or secures them in place. The selected area of the clothing at which the magnetic members are coupled normally resides at a distance from the clothing edge that exceeds more than half of the chain length, whereby the folding of the chain about the clothing edge causes the clothing to bunch up inside the fold of the chain in order to a gathering effect that pulls the clothing edge toward the area at which the magnetic members are coupled. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,443, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses an adjustable necklace in which two free ends of the necklace are fed through a spring loaded clamping device having some functional resemblance to a conventional cord stop, but featuring two dedicated cord passages that each receive a respective one of the two necklace ends through it. Squeezing together of two opposing ends of the cord stop is used to release the spring-actuated self-locking action of the stop on the necklace. 
         [0008]    U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0269239 teaches magnetic attachment of accessories to a piece of clothing, but relies on permanently affixed magnets on the clothing in order to do so. Accordingly, the accessories cannot be used with existing conventional clothing of a user&#39;s wardrobe, at least not without having to make modifications thereto. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,868,555 discloses a device for decorating a piece of clothing and converting the shape of same through a gathering effect, but does so by gathering together free edges of the garment using a set of three hooks that engage around the edges in order to enable pulling of the edges together by extensions that reach outward from a central member of the device to the three hooks. The device is thus intended only for gathering together of exterior edges of the garment, thus limiting the applications for which the device is suitable. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,123,601 discloses a dress shirt accessory for preventing curling of collar tips, and optionally maintaining the position of a tie. 
         [0011]    The forgoing list of prior art references is presented for the purpose of identifying known accessories that may comparable in some way to the present invention, but it will be apparent from the following description that the present invention provides notable distinction over the prior art in terms of both physical structure and modes of use of the clothing accessory disclosed herein. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a clothing accessory comprising: 
         [0013]    first and second ornamental members each comprising a respective fastening mechanism arranged for fastening of said ornamental member to a respective one of two discrete areas on a piece of clothing in a respective position placing a respective ornamental exterior of said ornamental member outwardly visible at said respective one of the two discrete areas on the piece of clothing; 
         [0014]    first and second flexible elongate members comprising respective attachment ends that are connected or connectable to the first and second ornamental members, and respective free ends located distal to said attachment ends; 
         [0015]    an adjustment member arranged for selective securing together of the first and second flexible elongate members at any one of a plurality of possible intermediate points along the attachment members between the attachment ends and free ends thereof, whereby adjustment of the adjustment member to move from a first intermediate point on the flexible elongate members to a selected intermediate point that is located closer to the attachment ends of the flexible elongate members acts to draw together the first and second ornamental members and thereby gather the first and second discrete areas of the piece of the clothing toward one another. 
         [0016]    Preferably each ornamental member comprises a respective outer piece defining the ornamental exterior of said ornamental member and a separate inner piece, and the fastening mechanism of each ornamental member comprises a magnet on one of said inner and outer pieces and a magnetically attractable element on the other of said inner and outer pieces to magnetically couple the inner and outer pieces together through the piece of the clothing at the respective discrete area of the piece of the clothing. 
         [0017]    Preferably each ornamental member comprises a coupling element at which the respective flexible elongate member is releasably connectable to said ornamental member. 
         [0018]    Preferably each flexible elongate member comprises an attachment clasp at the attachment end thereof for selective connection and release of said attachment clasp to and from the coupling element of the respective ornamental member. 
         [0019]    The accessory may be accompanied by a separate necklace, where the coupling element of each ornamental member allows disconnection thereof from the respective flexible elongate member and attachment of said ornamental member to said necklace for wearing of said ornamental member in a neck-worn position. 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, the flexible elongate members comprises respective chains, intermediate links of which are located between the attachment ends and free ends of said chains and define the intermediate points at which the adjustment member is engagable to said chains. 
         [0021]    In such instance, the adjustment member may comprise a securing clasp engagable through the intermediate links of said chains. 
         [0022]    Preferably the adjustment member comprises a decorative exterior for facing outwardly away from the piece of the clothing for decorative effect. 
         [0023]    The securing clasp may be at least partially concealed behind said decorative exterior of the adjustment member. 
         [0024]    In another embodiment, the adjustment member is a spring loaded cord stop, and each flexible elongate member comprises a respective flexible cord feedable through the cord stop for automatic securing thereto via a spring loaded clamping action of said spring loaded cord stop. 
         [0025]    The adjustment member may comprise a fastening device operable to fasten the adjustment member to an area of clothing at an intermediate location between the discrete areas at which the ornamental members are received. 
         [0026]    In such instance, the adjustment member may comprises an outer unit and a separate inner unit, and the fastening device of the adjustment member comprises a magnet on one of said inner and outer units and a magnetically attractable element on the other of said inner and outer pieces to magnetically couple the inner and outer units together through the area of clothing at the intermediate location. 
         [0027]    For each of the ornamental and adjustment members, the magnetically attractable element may be another magnet, whereby the magnets attract one another when oriented to face opposing poles of said magnets toward one another. 
         [0028]    Preferably the adjustment member and the first and second flexible elongate members are arranged to freely suspend the free ends of said flexible elongate members from the adjustment member while said adjustment member secures together said flexible elongate members at a selected intermediate point on said flexible elongate members. 
         [0029]    The piece of clothing may comprise an opening therein, with the discrete areas disposed on opposing sides of said opening, whereby gathering the first and second discrete areas of the piece of the clothing toward one another using the clothing accessory acts to draw said opposing sides of the opening together to thereby reduce a size of said opening. 
         [0030]    The opening in the piece of clothing may be a front-torso opening that runs longitudinally and centrally at a front side of a wearer&#39;s torso in a worn position of said piece of clothing, whereby the gathering of the first and second discrete areas together by the clothing accessory at least partially closes up the front-torso opening of the piece of clothing and tightens a circumferential fit of the piece of clothing around the wearer&#39;s torso. 
         [0031]    According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of creating a gathering effect between two discrete areas on a piece of clothing that are normally spaced apart by a first distance when said piece of clothing is worn in a natural position, the method comprising the steps of: 
         [0032]    (a) with first and second ornamental members respectively fastened to first and second ones of said two discrete areas on said piece of clothing, and with first and second flexible elongate members respectively connected to the first and second ornamental members at respective attachment ends of said flexible elongate members, drawing intermediate points on the flexible elongate members together at an intermediate area between the two discrete areas on said piece of clothing, thereby pulling the two ornamental members toward one another across said intermediate area in order to pull the discrete areas of the piece of clothing toward one another into a gathered relationship; and 
         [0033]    (b) securing the intermediate points of said flexible elongate elements together at said intermediate area to thereby retain the gathered relationship of the discrete areas on said piece of clothing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0034]    Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0035]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates two ornamental members of a clothing accessory of the present invention that are magnetically fastened in place at two discrete areas on the same shirt or blouse. 
           [0036]      FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of  FIG. 1  to illustrate the fastening of each ornamental member using magnetically attracted inner and outer pieces that reside inside and outside the clothing. 
           [0037]      FIG. 3  schematically illustrates one possible design for the ornamental members of  FIG. 2 , where the outer piece of the ornamental member defines an ornamental exterior thereof that faces outward from the exterior of the shirt. 
           [0038]      FIG. 4  illustrates an assembled clothing accessory using two ornamental members of same design as  FIG. 3 , together with two flexible chains or cords that extend respectively from the two ornamental members and are connected by an adjustment member at intermediate points on the chains or cords. 
           [0039]      FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the ornamental member of  FIG. 3  in a fastened condition on the shirt of  FIG. 1 , as would be seen at cross-sectional plane V-V thereof. 
           [0040]      FIG. 6  schematically illustrates the clothing accessory fastened to an sweater at opposing sides of a front torso opening thereof with the flexible chains/cords and the adjustment mechanism suspended in the front torso opening between the two ornamental members. 
           [0041]      FIG. 7  schematically illustrates the clothing accessory of  FIG. 6  after a tightening or gathering action has been performed by repositioning the adjustment member on the flexible chains/cords to draw the two ornamental members together, thereby gathering the two sides of the torso opening toward one another to close-up the opening and circumferentially tighten the sweater on the wearer. 
           [0042]      FIG. 8  schematically illustrates wearing of select components of the accessory in alternate configurations for purely decorative purposes without performing the gathering effect demonstrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
           [0043]      FIG. 9  illustrates use of the clamping device or double cord-stop of U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,443 as the adjustment member for the clothing accessory of  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
           [0044]      FIG. 10  is a rear perspective exploded view of one embodiment of a magnetically fastened ornamental member of the clothing accessory. 
           [0045]      FIG. 11  is a front perspective exploded view of the magnetically fastened ornamental member of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0046]      FIG. 12  is a rear perspective view of another possible design of the adjustment member, particularly for embodiments employing chains as the flexible members. 
           [0047]      FIG. 13  is a rear view of an assembled accessory employing the adjustment member of  FIG. 13  with ornamental members of different ornamental appearance, but same magnetic fastening functionality, as the ornamental member illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0048]      FIG. 3  schematically illustrates one of two ornamental members  10  used in assembling a clothing accessory of the present invention. The ornamental member features two distinct and separate pieces  12 ,  14 . An outer piece  12  of the member defines an ornamental exterior of the member that faces outwardly away from a piece of clothing at the exterior thereof when the clothing accessory is worn. In the particular design shown in  FIG. 3 , the outer piece is made up of a base plate  16  from which a pendant-like ornament  18  with a plurality of gems  20  is suspended, but the ornamental decoration of the outer member may take any form, and may include any individual use or combination of jewels, chains, stones, cords, leather, plastic, metal, precious jewels, precious metals, diamonds, crystals, cloth, silver, gold or other various elements to provide an ornamental appearance that is pleasing to the eye. 
         [0049]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the inner piece  14  consists solely of a magnet, for example a neodymium or other rare earth magnet. The base plate  16  of the outer piece is either made from a magnetically attractable material, or has a piece of magnetically attractable material attached to its rear face that opposes the front face of the base plate from which the ornamental pendant  18  is suspended. Alternatively, the base plate  16  may have its own magnet attached thereto, with one of the magnet&#39;s poles facing outwardly from the rear face of the base plate  16 , whereby placement of the inner magnet  14  in an orientation facing its opposite pole toward the magnet of the outer piece  12  will act to magnetically attract and couple together the inner and outer pieces  14 ,  12 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 2  illustrates how this magnetic configuration can be used to fasten two such ornamental members  10  to a piece of clothing, for example to the shirt or blouse  100  of  FIG. 1 . For ease of illustration, this particular figure shows the outer piece  12  of each ornamental member  10  only schematically, without any ornamental detail. The inner piece  14  is placed inside the piece of the clothing  100  against the inner surface  102  of the fabric that faces the wearer&#39;s body when worn, whereupon placement of the rear face of the outer piece  12  in a matching position at the outer surface  104  of the fabric causes the inner and outer pieces to magnetically attract one another through the fabric. This magnetic bond acts to secure the inner outer pieces in clamped together condition across the thickness of the fabric in order to retain them in stationary positions relative to one another and the relative to the piece of clothing  100 . Accordingly, the ornamental member is magnetically fastened to the clothing  100  in a secured position. 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , each ornamental member  10  (again shown schematically without detail for ease of illustration) is fastened to the clothing  100  in this manner at a different respective one of two discrete areas of the clothing, which are sufficiently spaced apart to provide a notable distance of separation between the two ornamental members  10 . For example, the figure shows the two ornamental members  10  situated at generally equal elevation upward from the circumferential edge of the torso-accommodating opening at the bottom of the shirt or blouse, but with the ornamental members notably spaced apart across the width of the front side of the torso. 
         [0052]    Turning to  FIG. 4 , assembly of the clothing accessory  1  includes connection of an attachment end  22   a  of a respective chain, cord or other elongated flexible member  22  to each one of the ornamental members  10 . With the two ornamental members  10  fastened to the clothing  100 , and the cords/chains  22  attached thereto, assembly of the accessory is completed by installation of an adjustment member  24  on the two flexible members  22  in a manner securely interconnecting the two flexible members  22  together at a user-selected intermediate point along the lengths of the flexible members  22 . The user-controllability of the position of the adjustment member  24  on the flexible members  22  can be used to perform a gathering effect on the article of clothing that pulls together the two discrete areas of the clothing at which the ornamental members are securely fastened by magnetic coupling. 
         [0053]    This is further explained with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , in which the accessory  1  is shown in use on an open-front sweater  200  that has an opening  202  running longitudinally up the front side of the torso between two edges of the sweater. Each ornamental member  10  of the accessory  1  is fastened to the sweater  200  at a respective area thereof that resides adjacent a respective one of the two longitudinal edges  204  of the front-torso opening of the sweater. In  FIG. 6 , the adjustment member  24  is secured to the two flexible members  20  at points near their free ends  22   b  that lie distal to the attachment ends  22   a  that are attached to the two ornamental members  10 . The length of each flexible member  22  is notably greater than half of the default width of the front torso opening  202  of the sweater when worn in a fully open position in which the two edges of the opening hang freely with no fastening means connected between them. The adjustment member  24  attaches the two flexible members together at matching points along their equal lengths, and thus is suspended at the horizontal center of the torso opening  202  at a height below the ornamental members  10 , which thus angle downwardly and laterally inward from their respective attachments to the two ornamental members. The two flexible members  22  and the adjustment member thus form a decorative tie that joins together the two side edges  204  of the sweater opening  202  and hangs within the open area between the two sides edges of the torso opening. 
         [0054]    Turning to  FIG. 7 , by relocating the adjustment member  24  upwardly along the flexible members  22  to a position nearer to their attachment to the respective ornamental members  10 , the partial length of each flexible member that hangs downward from the adjustment member  24  is increased, while the partial length of each flexible member that reaches from the respective ornamental member  10  to the adjustment member  24  is accordingly reduced. This not only changes the visual appearance of the accessory, but acts to pull the two ornamental members  10  together toward the center of the torso, thus likewise drawing the two side edges  204  of the torso opening  202  together, which acts to partially close up the torso opening of the sweater and tighten the circumferential fit of the sweater about the wearer&#39;s torso. In other words, this adjustment of the accessory acts to gather-together the two discrete areas of the sweater at which the two ornamental members are magnetically fastened, thereby closing up the torso opening and tightening the fit of the sweater. 
         [0055]      FIG. 9  illustrates possible use of a cord-stop clamping mechanism as the adjustment member  24 , and corresponding use of flexible cords, strings, wires or cables as the flexible members  22 . As shown, the cord stop clamping mechanism may be of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,443, whereby a separate dedicated passage  24   a  through the device is provided for each of the two flexible cords  22 . To install the adjustment member  24 , the free end  22   b  of each flexible cord  22  is passed through one of the two available cord passages  24   a  in the adjustment member while the ends of the adjustment member are held in a squeezed together condition that acts to release the default spring-clamping action of the cord stop. The cord stop  24  is slid to the desired position along the two flexible cords  22 , at which point the squeezing action on the cord stop is released, whereby the cord stop securely clamps itself at this position on both of the flexible members  22 , thereby locking the two cords  22  together at the selected intermediate position therealong. 
         [0056]    A conventional single-passage cord stop may alternatively be used, where both cords  22  pass through a single passage in the cord stop. In either case, The cords may have some elasticity in order to allowing for some relative movement or give between the clothing and the accessory. 
         [0057]      FIGS. 10 to 13  illustrate another embodiment of the accessory, which is configured for use of chains as the flexible elements instead of cords, cables, wires, strings or the like.  FIGS. 10 and 11  show one of the ornamental members  10 ′ of such an embodiment, in which the outer piece  12 ′ is in the form of a pendant body  26  having a front face  28  that faces outward from the clothing exterior to form the visible ornamental exterior of the member  10 ′ when worn, and a rear face  30  that faces clothing when worn. A cylindrical socket  32  is recessed into pendant body  26  from the rear face  30  thereof to accommodate receipt of a cylindrical magnet  34  therein during manufacture of the accessory. A connection loop  36  fixed to the pendant body  26  at a bottom end thereof forms a connection point for releasable attachment of the respective flexible chain  22  to the pendant body via an openable and closeable clasp  38  that defines the attachment end  22   a  of the chain  22 . 
         [0058]    Each inner piece  14 ′ in this embodiment features a generally disc-shaped body  40  having a front face  42  that faces toward the interior surface of the clothing article, and an opposing rear face  44  that faces away therefrom and toward the wearer&#39;s body. The rear face  44  features a cylindrical socket  46  for receipt of a respective magnet  48  therein. This magnet  48  is oriented so that its forward-facing pole is opposite to the rearward-facing pole of the magnet  34  of the outer piece  12 ′, whereby the magnets will attract one another through the piece of clothing. 
         [0059]    To improve the retention strength of the ornamental member&#39;s magnetically fastened position on the article of the clothing, the outer piece  12 ′ and the inner piece  14 ′ feature mating male and female features at the rear face  30  of the outer member and the front face  42  of the inner member. The outer piece  12 ′ features a raised collar  50  that projects from the remainder of its rear face  30  around the recessed socket  32  and the magnet received therein, and the inner piece features a cylindrical recess  52  of slightly greater diameter than the outer piece&#39;s collar  50 . This way, the magnetic coupling together of the two pieces acts to nest the male collar  50  of the outer member within the female recess  52  of the inner member. This maintains axial alignment of the cylindrical magnets with one another, and prevents relative sliding between the inner and outer members in planes normal to the aligned axes of the cylindrical magnet. The cylindrical lie concentric with the mated collar and recess of the two pieces. 
         [0060]      FIG. 12  shows the adjustment member  24 ′ of this embodiment, which features a generally disc-shaped body  60  having a front face that faces outwardly from the exterior of the clothing when worn, and an opposing rear face  64  that faces inwardly toward the clothing when worn. The rear face  64  features a cylindrical socket for receiving a cylindrical magnet  66  in the same manner as the ornamental members  10 , whereby the adjustment member can also be optionally fastened to an underlying piece of clothing through use of a cooperating inner piece  14 ′ like that described above for each ornamental member  10 ′. A male collar  68  surrounds the socket and the magnet  66  therein, and projects from the body&#39;s rear face  64  to mate with the female socket  52  of the inner piece. Also projecting from the rear face  64  of the adjustment member body  60  is a U-shaped hanger bar  66 , from which an openable and closeable clasp  68  is hung in a position that is substantially concealed behind the front face of the body  60  when the adjustment member  24 ′ is worn. The front face of the adjustment member may be configured with an ornamental pattern, design, gem setting, color or other ornamental value. 
         [0061]    With reference to  FIG. 13 , this embodiment of the accessory is assembled by connecting the clasp  38  of each flexible chain  22  to the connection loop  36  of the respective ornamental member  10 ′ (which differ in  FIG. 13  only in their ornamental shape, but otherwise have the same structure that is described above in relation to  FIGS. 10 and 11 ), and the ornamental members are magnetically fastened to the piece of clothing in the manner described above. Instead of installing a cord lock and sliding the same along flexible cord members to a desired point of clamped connection therebetween, the clasp  66  of the adjustment member  24 ′ is simply opened up and engaged through two matching links  70  of the two flexible chains  22 , thereby securing the two chains  22  together at this selected pair of matching intermediate links. 
         [0062]    It will be appreciated that instead of using the chain clasps  38  and the rigidly closed connection loops  36  on the outer pieces  12 ′ of the ornamental bodies to form a releasable connection between the two, this configuration may be switched, or openable/closable clasps may be used on both. With reference to  FIG. 8 , by having all the components (i.e. the ornamental members, the flexible members and the adjustment member) completely detachable from one another, one or more components may be assembled in alternate configurations for ornamental/decorative wear that is independent of the clothing-gathering functionality described above.  FIG. 8  shows one ornamental member  10 ′ being worn near the waistline of a dress, skirt or other garment  300  with a single flexible chain  22  hanging therefrom, and with the adjustment member  24 ′ attached to the single flexible chain to form a free-swinging or magnetically retained ornament hanging externally of the garment. Such ornamentation may be worn at the front of the garment  300 , as shown, or at another location therearound.  FIG. 8  shows the outer piece  12 ′ of the other ornamental member  10 ′ being worn on a necklace  300 , for example by connection of a clasp of the necklace to the rigidly closed connection ring  36  of the ornamental piece  12 ′, or by connection of a clasp on the ornamental piece (if so equipped) to a link of a chain-type necklace, or to a connection loop of a chain, cord or other necklace type. 
         [0063]    While the forgoing embodiments employ magnetic fasteners, the adjustable fashion accessory may be fastened or attached to the inside and outside of clothing using other fastener/coupling devices such as garter fasteners, rivets, snaps, clamps, hooks, jaw clips or other various means of fastening. 
         [0064]    The disclosed accessory is usable on a wearer&#39;s existing or newly acquired wardrobe without requiring any specialized modification to same, and can be used not only as a fashionable accessory, but also to adjust or improve the fit of same through the described gathering function that pulls together the separate areas of the garment at which the ornamental members are placed. This accessory can be used on all body sizes and various articles of clothing, whether the need is to help hide a mid-section, accentuate the waist or wanting an improved fit. It can also be used on hats, or to change the length of a skirt or dress, and is easy to attach and remove. This accessory can help achieve any of a number of desirable looks. 
         [0065]    Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.