Abstract:
An apparel system including interchangeable accessories, as well as a furniture system including interchangeable, decorative covers and accessories, are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, the decorative accessories have a unitary structure including a decorative portion and a flexible band that houses magnetic connectors.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 60/717,234, entitled Reconfigurable Apparel and Furniture and filed on 16 Sep. 2005, as well as to Provisional Application No. 60/719,312, entitled Portable/Reconfigurable Headboard Kit and filed on 21 Sep. 2005. The disclosures of the aforementioned applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Generally, the present invention relates to an apparel system including interchangeable accessories, as well as to a furniture system including interchangeable, decorative covers and accessories. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0003]      FIG. 1  illustrates perspective views of pants-type apparel for use with associated decorative accessories.  
         [0004]      FIG. 2  illustrates perspective views of jacket-type apparel for use with associated decorative accessories.  
         [0005]      FIG. 3  illustrates perspective views of skirt-type and blouse-type apparel for use with associated decorative accessories.  
         [0006]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate perspective views of footwear apparel for use with associated decorative accessories.  
         [0007]      FIG. 6  illustrate close-up views of decorative accessories include an attachment mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 7  illustrates perspective views of stocking-type apparel for use with associated decorative accessories.  
         [0009]      FIG. 8  illustrates perspective views of furniture and curtains for use with associated decorative accessories. 
     
    
       [0010]     Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elements throughout this disclosure.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]      FIGS. 1-8  illustrate reconfigurable apparel according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the articles of clothing or apparel may include, but are not limited to, outerwear such as jacket-type articles ( FIG. 1 ), pants ( FIG. 2 ), skirt-type and blouse-type articles ( FIG. 3 ), and footwear such as shoes ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) and socks, stockings, or boots ( FIG. 6 ). Additional apparel may include headwear such as hats and caps, handbags, dress shirts, suit jackets, etc. The apparel may be adapted (modified) to receive accessory attachments that alter the overall presentation or appearance of the particular article of clothing. In another embodiment of the present invention, the accessory attachments are adapted to connect to unmodified base apparel. Each piece of base apparel is specifically manufactured with connector portions to receive the accessory options. The accessory attachments may include, but are not limited to, attachments that trim clothing (e.g., frill, lace, etc.), as well as decorative elements (plastic flowers, beads, rhinestones, etc.). For example, in  FIG. 1 , a pair of pants  10  may be adapted to couple with a waist accessory  15 A,  15 B,  15 C. The waist accessory  15 A,  15 B,  15 C may include, but is not limited to, a band of material comprising different patterns, fabrics, or decorative elements, as well as a pant hem (pant cuff) accessory  20 A,  20 B,  20 C similarly comprising a band of material comprising various fabrics and materials. For example, the pant hem accessory  20 A comprises a fabric panel with tassels. In accordance with the present invention, the pants  10  may include snaps and or hooks, buttons, or zippers, depending on the overall pant design and the weight of the accessory to be attached thereto. In operation, a user simply connects the desired accessory  15 A,  15 B,  15 C,  20 A,  20 B to the pair of pants  10 . Should the user desire to alter the overall appearance of the pair of pants  10 , the user may substitute one accessory for another. Specifically, the user may remove one waist accessory  15 A and replace it with another waist accessory  15 B, or the user may simply remove the waist accessory and not replace it.  
         [0012]     Similarly, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , jacket-type apparel  100 ,  105  (e.g., a rain jacket, a suit jacket, a sport jacket, etc.) may be adapted to receive a collar accessory  110 A,  110 B,  110 C or a cuff accessory  115 A,  115 B that removably attaches along the neck opening of the jacket  100 ,  105 , or along the cuff of the sleeve of the jacket  100 ,  105 , respectively. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the appearance of skirt-type apparel  200 , dress-type apparel  205 , and blouse-type apparel  220  may also be reconfigured using interchangeable accessories. For example, skirt-type apparel  200  may be configured to receive to a hem decoration  210 A,  210 B (e.g., a frill, a plaid hem, a lace hem, a tasseled hem etc.), as well as a waist decoration  215  (e.g., a border with a flower). Similarly, the appearance of a blouse-type apparel  220  or dress-type apparel  205  may be altered via the attachment of interchangeable trims  230 A,  230 B,  230 C,  230 D that connect along the bottom (hem) of the blouse or across the chest of the blouse (e.g., across the scoop/v-neck of the blouse/dress).  
         [0013]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the appearance of different types of shoe apparel  300  may be reconfigured via the interchangeable accessories. The shoes  300  may be configured to receive to the shoe accessories  310 A,  310 B,  310 C,  310 D,  310 E,  310 F,  310 G,  310 H such as bows, flowers, beads, and panels disposed along the top front portion of the shoe. The accessories may connect to the shoes via clips, buttons, snaps, etc. Some of the shoe accessories ( 310 A,  310 B,  310 C,  310 D,  310 E,  310 F,  310 G,  310 H) may to the shoe  300  with a clip, usually metal, unless other more suitable clip options are available. Other shoe accessories ( 310 A,  310 B,  310 C,  310 D,  310 E,  310 F,  310 G,  310 H) may not be attached to the shoe  300  at all. The accessories ( 310 A,  310 B,  310 C,  310 D,  310 E,  310 F,  310 G,  310 H) may comprise ornaments that slip onto the foot by means of elastic or other stretch fabric bandings (e.g., lycra, spandex, nylon or a combination of any of these fibers). When placed on the foot, the accessories ( 310 A,  310 B,  310 C,  310 D,  310 E,  310 F,  310 G,  310 H) lays over the shoe or the arch of the upper foot and this, both accessory styles (attached directly to the shoe  300  or slipped over the foot) visually appear to be a part of the shoe  300 . For example, the shoe accessories  310 A,  310 B,  310 C,  310 D,  310 E,  310 F,  310 G,  310 H may comprise an elastic band that frictionally engages the front or tongue of the shoe  300 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the shoe  300  may further include a loop or eyelet  320  located proximate the rear upper edge of the shoe  300 . The loop or eyelet  320  is configured to receive an accessory  330 A,  330 B,  330 C,  330 D,  330 E such as decorative ribbon or band that extends through the loop and wraps around the foot/ankle of the user.  
         [0014]     Alternatively or in addition to, each interchangeable accessory  310 A,  310 B,  310 C,  310 D,  310 E,  310 F,  310 G,  310 H may magnetically connect to a shoe  300  or other apparel item.  FIG. 6  shows perspective views an interchangeable accessory  310 A and  310 E according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown, the accessory  310 A and  310 E may include a unitary structure with a decorative portion  312  and a band of flexible material  314  (e.g., felt, cloth, etc.) coupled to the decorative portion  312  (i.e., the flexible band  314  extends away from the decorative portion  312 , forming a tail). A first magnet  340  may be positioned along the back of the decorative portion  312  and a second magnet  350  may be positioned within the flexible band  314 . In one embodiment of the invention, the first magnet  340  may be disposed proximate one end of the flexible band  314 , while the second magnet  350  may be disposed proximate the opposing end of the band  314 . The portion of the band  314  including the first magnet  340  may, in turn, be integrally coupled to the rear surface of the decorative accessory  310 A,  310 E using attachment mechanisms such as permanent adhesives, sewing, etc. Similarly, the magnets  340 ,  350  may be secured within the band  314  via adhesives, sewing, etc. The first  340  and second  350  magnets may be configured to align with each other; consequently, when a portion of the apparel item is placed in between the magnets, the magnets are drawn toward each other, capturing a portion of the apparel item therebetween. In operation, a user selects an accessory  310 A,  310 B,  310 C,  310 D,  310 E,  310 F,  310 G,  310 H and positions the apparel item (e.g., a shoe  300 ) between the two magnets  340 ,  350 . When the magnets  340 ,  350  are aligned, their respective attraction captures the apparel item between the magnets  340 ,  350  thus securing the decorative accessory  310 A,  310 B,  310 C,  310 D,  310 E,  310 F,  310 G,  310 H to the apparel item such that the decorative accessory  310 A,  310 B,  310 C,  310 D,  310 E,  310 F,  310 G,  310 H is displayed.  
         [0015]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , boots  400  may be ornamentally reconfigured through the use of a stocking  410  adapted to fit within the boot and extend around an upper portion  405  of the exterior of the boot. The material comprising the stocking  410  is not limited and may comprise nylon, lycra, spandex or any combination of these fabric fibers, but may also be made from cotton or cotton blends dependant on the overall design of the ornamented stocking as a whole. The uppermost portion of each stocking  410  may include a decorative panel  415 A,  415 B,  415 C,  415 D comprising various textures, fabrics, or decorative elements. For example, the decorative panels may comprise fur, lace, denim, etc. The decorative panels  415 A,  415 B,  415 C,  415 D may be permanently or removably connected to the stockings  410  (e.g., by sewing, buttons, snaps, etc.). The stockings  410  are configured such that when the stocking portion to which the decorative panel ( 415 A,  415 B,  415 C,  415 D) is attached is positioned over the upper portion  405  of the exterior of the boot  400 , the decorative panel  415 A,  415 B,  415 C,  415 D is displayed (i.e., the panel drapes over the sides of the boot  400  so that it is displayed. Thus, in operation, a user may place her foot into the stocking  410 , and then insert her foot into the boot  400 . Once inserted, the uppermost edge of the stocking  410  may be placed over the uppermost edge of the boot  400  to expose the decorative panel  415 A,  415 B,  415 C,  415 D, as seen in  FIG. 7 . In this manner, a user can alter the appearance of the boot  400  by simply changing the decorative panel ( 415 A,  415 B,  415 C,  415 D) along the top of the boot. Alternatively, the decorative panel  415 A,  415 B,  415 C,  415 D could be removably attached to the upper portion  405  of the exterior of the boot  400  (via any suitable attachment means).  
         [0016]     The mechanism by which the accessories couple to the particular piece of apparel is not limited. For example, the accessories may connect to the apparel via snaps (e.g., the apparel may include the male portion of the snap with the accessory including the female portion of the snap), buttons, hook and loop fasteners, zippers, etc. The material comprising the accessory devices is not limited, and may include fabric of various patterns and designs, fur, lace, chains, beads, crystals, stones, pearls, etc.  
         [0017]     In another embodiment of the present invention, the appearance of furniture pieces may be altered via interchangeable decorative attachments. For example, referring to  FIG. 8 , a headboard  500  for a bed  505  may be enveloped in a decorative cover  512  configured to either connect to the headboard directly (e.g., via snaps), or to completely enclose the headboard  500  (the cover  512  being secured to the headboard  500 . The decorative cover  512  may comprise fabric such as cotton or silk. Alternatively, decorative overlays  515 A,  515 B,  515 C,  515 D may be applied to tables  520 , chests  525 , or dressers  530  to provide furniture with a reconfigurable appearance. By way of example, decorative overlay accessories  515 A,  515 B may comprise fabric, paper, vinyl, or ornamentally printed plastics, with a backing of pressure sensitive adhesive, enabling the overlay accessories to be removed and replaced when desired. Additionally, a the appearance of a drapery  540  (e.g., a shower curtain, a window curtain, etc.) may be reconfigured using decorative accessory panels  550 A,  550 B,  550 C,  550 D including slots configured to align with connectors (slots, buttons, snaps, etc.) mounted to the drapery  540 . The connectors enable the connection of the decorative accessory panels  550 A,  550 B,  550 C,  550 D to the drapery  540 . Additionally, decorative hanging elements  580  may further be provided that are adapted to connect to the decorative accessory panels  550 A,  550 B,  550 C,  550 D to provide additional interchangeable decorative accents. The decorative hanging elements  580  may connect to the accessory panels  550 A,  550 B,  550 C,  550 D or to the drapery  540  via conventional fasteners, including but not limited to, pins, buttons, snaps, hooks, hook and loop fasteners, etc.  
         [0018]     The above described invention enables a user to purchase a single clothing item and alter the look of the clothing item throughout its lifetime. With the present invention, a user could buy the base element of clothing, and then purchase each accessory for that base element as desired. The user is then capable of reconfiguring the base element using multiple interchangeable accessories as desired. In addition, a user may buy multiple base elements (e.g., a rain coat and a suit coat), and interchange the same accessory between the elements.