Abstract:
Convertible swimwear comprising a top piece and extendable bottom piece; the top piece having a plurality of fasteners along the lower portion thereof and the extendable bottom piece having a plurality of corresponding fasteners along the upper edge thereof to be releasably secured to the fasteners on the lower portion of the top piece. The position of the fasteners may be reversed. The bottom piece further includes a string component secured on the upper edge of the bottom piece, where upon releasing of the respective fasteners the string component is pulled away from the lower edge of the bottom piece bringing the upper edge of the bottom piece substantially close to said lower edge of the bottom piece and thereby rolling, folding or scrunching the upper edge of the bottom piece to effectively convert a one piece to two piece style bathing suit. The top piece further includes a cover flap to conceal the fasteners on each respective piece.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to bathing garments and, more particularly, to convertible swimwear capable of converting from a one piece swimsuit to a two piece swimsuit. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Women&#39;s swimwear has evolved over time. While women&#39;s swimwear may have originated for use in bathing spas, swimwear is now used for sunbathing as well as swimming. Starting with bloomers and stockings, swimwear migrated into one piece style bathing suits. The one piece style bathing suits became the generally accepted swimwear and thereafter began a trend of creating swimwear that was lighter and briefer. The desire for greater exposure while wearing swimwear created the two piece style bathing suits. 
     Two piece bathing suits, also known as bikinis, allow women to have more of their bodies exposed for tanning purposes. Unfortunately, bikinis expose so much skin that a woman can easily sunburn. Additionally, a two piece bathing suit may not be practical for active sports because they offer little coverage of the women&#39;s body and pose the threat of disrobing. 
     There have been various attempts to design swimwear which is interchangeable from a one piece to a two piece style bathing suit which combine fashion and function. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,301,545, “Adjustable Swimsuit” includes an adjustable swimsuit comprising an upper piece and a lower piece, the upper piece including a pair of cups and an intermediate connector section between the cups, with the connector including a first connector component. The lower piece includes a connector member with a second connecting component for connection to the first connecting component. The first connector component and the second connector member are fastened to one another in an adjustable fashion using string or ribbon, and the upper piece connecting section and lower piece connecting member are configured to cover selected portions of the wearer&#39;s body when the first connector component and the second connector component are connected to one another. The connecting components are concealable in the upper and lower pieces of the bathing suit, respectively, when not in use. The connecting components are tucked into the swimsuit upper and lower piece when the wearer desires to wear a two piece swimsuit. However, because the lower and upper pieces are fitted against the wearer&#39;s skin when the wearer tucks in the respective connecting component within its respective piece it protrudes outwardly creating an unfashionable look and furthermore it may also be uncomfortable for the wearer as a connecting component is pressed up against the wearer&#39;s skin by the tight-fitting upper and lower pieces. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,669, “Versatile Bathing Suit” provides a two-piece bathing suit having an upper bra section and a lower panty section. The panty section comprises at least one pouch disposed in an internal area of the panty. The pouch can contain various bathing suit materials for complementing the bathing suit ensemble. One such material is a frontal piece for covering the abdomen. This piece attaches underneath the bra and panty sections, and effectively converts the two-piece appearance into a one-piece look. Unfortunately, this extra material portion must be inconveniently carried by the wearer at all times that the swimsuit is in a two piece style bathing suit. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,145, “Convertible Bathing Suit” comprising a top portion having securing means disposed along at least a portion of the lower edge thereof; a bottom portion having securing means secured along at least a portion of the upper edge thereof; and a midriff portion having securing means disposed along at least a portion of its upper and lower edges corresponding to the securing means of said top portion and bottom portion, respectively, whereby the upper edge of said midriff portion can be attached to the lower edge of said top portion, and the lower edge of said midriff portion can be attached to the upper edge of said bottom portion to form a one-piece style bathing suit or said midriff portion can be detached from said top portion and said bottom portion to form a two piece type bathing suit. Again, this extra material portion must be inconveniently carried by the wearer at all times that the swimsuit is in a two piece style bathing suit. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,741 B1, “Convertible Ladies Swimwear” provides a convertible ladies&#39; swimsuit that can be changed from a one piece swimsuit into either a two piece tank-top style swimsuit or two piece bikini style swimsuit for purposes such as, but not limited to, tanning or using the restroom. The swimsuit has a top piece and a separate bottom piece that may be attached to each other along the top edge of the bottom piece and the bottom edge of the top piece, using any of a number of attachment or fastening means such as snaps, Velcro® (hook and loop components), or any other appropriate fastening means, to form a one piece swimsuit. The top piece can be unfastened from the bottom piece to allow the wearer to conveniently use the bathroom. The lower region of the top piece can also be unfastened from the bottom piece, folded upward, either under or over the lower region of the top piece, and fastened behind the wearer&#39;s back to create a tank top style or a bikini type two piece swimsuit. The lower region of the top piece can alternatively be folded up completely over the front of the swimsuit and secured behind the wearer&#39;s neck to create a bikini style swimsuit, which allows for complete sunning of the midriff. Unfortunately, the extra material portion is either tucked into the top piece creating an unfashionable look or it is fastened behind the wearer&#39;s back or neck in effect creating less area of exposure for tanning purposes which the two piece attempts to accomplish. 
     While these prior arts may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, these prior arts would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. Alleviating the existing problems of having to retain and carry a midriff portion when not using the swimsuit as a one piece style or not having an unsightly, unfashionable connecting component protruding from the inside of the lower or upper piece of a two style bathing suit when tucked into its respective piece. As a consequence of these aforementioned problems, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an convertible swimwear having removably attachable top and bottom piece for converting the swimwear from a one piece to a two piece style bathing suit that is fashionable and functional. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The objective of this invention is to provide a convertible swimwear, comprising of a top piece having at least one fastener along either the upper portion or lower portion thereof; an extendable bottom piece having an upper edge, a lower edge, and an intermediate section, and the bottom piece including at least one corresponding fastener on the upper edge. The bottom piece includes at least one string component on at least one side of the bottom piece and the string component having a top portion, bottom portion, and intermediate portion. The string component comprising of a first and second end. The intermediate portion of the string component is disposed within the bottom piece between the proximate upper edge and lower edge of bottom piece. The top portion of the string component is secure d to the upper edge of the bottom piece and the top portion of string component can be used to form a substantial loop on the upper edge of the bottom piece, the loop may be attached or separate. The bottom portion of the string component, specifically the first and second ends, extends outwardly from the lower edge of the bottom piece. 
     To form a one piece style bathing suit the fasteners on the upper edge of the bottom piece is releasably secured to the fasteners on the lower edge of the top piece thereby the bottom piece substantially covers the entire abdomen portion of a person. Upon release of the fasteners on upper edge of the bottom piece from the fasteners of the lower edge of the top piece. The upper edge is folded, rolled or scrunched together with the intermediate section thereby forming a two piece style bathing suit. Then contemporaneously the bottom portion of the string component is pulled away from the lower edge of the bottom piece bringing the upper edge of the bottom piece substantially close to the lower edge of said bottom piece, so the string component is not necessary to fold over the upper edge of the bottom piece. The first end of the string component is seeped through the loop on the top portion of the string component and secured to the second end to maintain the swimwear in a two piece style bathing suit and maintain the scrunch between the upper edge and intermediate section of the bottom piece. It should be noted that the string need not be tied through the loop, but it is suggested. 
     Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide convertible swimwear which allows a wearer to effectively have a one piece style bathing suit for sport activities such as diving, swimming, skiing, and yet be convertible to a two piece style bathing suit for sun-tanning purposes, restroom purposes, or the like. 
     It is a further objective of the present invention to provide convertible swimwear where the top and bottom piece are releasably secured by any number of attachment or fastening devices such as snaps, buttons, Velcro® (hook and loop component), or any other appropriate fastening devices to form a two piece to a one piece style bathing suit. 
     It is an additional objective of the present invention to provide convertible swimwear having a decorative cover flap extending overtop of the fasteners to mask the fasteners appearance, the fasteners may be placed under or over on the cover flap, also as a functional decoration as well. 
     It is an additional objective of the present invention to provide convertible swimwear having a string component to secure and maintain the upper edge of the bottom piece in close proximity to the lower edge of the bottom piece. 
     It is another additional objective of the present invention to provide convertible swimwear where the upper edge of the bottom piece is rolled, folded, or scrunched relative to the intermediate section of the bottom piece and then secured by a string component to secure and maintain the upper edge of the bottom piece is close proximity to the lower edge of the bottom piece. 
     It is a further objective of the present invention to provide convertible swimwear that the upper edge and intermediate portion of the bottom piece is capable of covering the entire abdomen portion of a wearer&#39;s body to conceal imperfections and flaws when in a one piece style bathing suit. 
     It is a further objective of the present invention to provide convertible swimwear where the back of the bottom piece may be low-cut to expose more of the wearer&#39;s back. The suit may be formed into either a high cut or low cut suit. 
     It is a further objective of the present invention to provide convertible swimwear constructed of an elastic water porous material. 
     Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of the convertible swimwear. 
         FIG. 2  is an back view of the convertible swimwear. 
         FIG. 3  is a enlarged front cut away view of the fastening device of the convertible swimwear. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the bottom piece of the convertible swimwear. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the rolled, folded or scrunched bottom piece of the convertible swimwear. 
         FIG. 6  is back view of an alternative embodiment of the convertible swimwear. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Detailed embodiments of the instant invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific functional and structural details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representation basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-6 , wherein like components are numbered consistently throughout,  FIG. 1  illustrates the preferred embodiment of the convertible swimwear  1 . The convertible swimwear  1  is constructed of expandable or elastic material, such as poly propylene by way of example only, so that the wearer is able to fittingly wear the convertible swimwear  1 . The elastic material allows the convertible swimwear to be form-fitting to adapt to the contours on a user&#39;s body. The convertible swimwear  1  includes a top piece  10 , bottom piece  20 , cover flap  34 , and a string component  40 . The top piece  10  includes breast cups  11 , a neck strap  16 , a back strap  18 , a cover flap  34 , and along the lower portion  12  of the top piece  10  is a plurality of fasteners  14 .  FIG. 3  more aptly shows the fasteners  14  along the lower portion  12  of the top piece  10  and  FIG. 2  more aptly shows the neck strap  16 , back strap  18 , and body opening  21 . The cover flap  34  on the top piece  10  is located below the breast cups  11  and extends downwardly overtop the lower portion  12  of the top piece  10 , thereby concealing the plurality of fasteners  14  along the lower portion  12  of the top piece  10 . 
     The extendable bottom piece  20  of the convertible swimwear  1  includes an upper edge  22 , lower edge  24 , and intermediate section  26 . The lower edge  24  includes two leg openings  23  and the upper edge  22  includes a body opening  21 . The intermediate section  26  is capable of covering an entire abdomen section of a wearer when the convertible swimwear  1  is in a one piece style bathing suit. Along the upper edge  22  of the bottom piece  20  are a plurality of corresponding fasteners  28 . The bottom piece  20  further includes at least one string component  40  on at least one side of the bottom piece  20 . The bottom piece  20  is extendable from a one piece to a two piece style bathing suit, even without the use of fasteners  14  because of the form-fitting material used to construct the convertible swimwear  1 . The extendable bottom piece  20  adapts to the contours of a user&#39;s body at the abdomen and just below the top piece  10 . However, fasteners  14  provide a more secure method of keeping the bottom piece  20  attached to the top piece. For a one-piece style bathing suit. In a one piece style bathing suit, the intermediate section  26  conceals any imperfections, flaws, or the like that a wearer may have on their abdomen. 
     The string component  40  is one continuous elastic element having a first end  42  and second end  44 . At least one string component  40  located on the side of the bottom piece  20  is contemplated, however, in the preferred embodiment two string components  40  on opposite sides of the bottom piece  20  is chosen. The string component  40  is integrated into the construction of the bottom piece  20  and includes a top portion  46 , an intermediate portion  48 , and a bottom portion  50 . The intermediate portion  48  of the string component  40  is disposed of within the bottom piece  20 , particularly extending from the lower edge  24  to proximate upper edge  22 . The bottom portion  50  of the string component  40  extends outwardly from the lower edge  24  of the bottom piece  20 . The bottom portion  50  further includes the first end  42  and second end  44  of the string component  40 . The first and second ends,  42  and  44 , are not limiting and used for reference only. The top portion  46  of the string component  40  is secured to the upper edge  22  of the bottom piece  20  and forms a loop  52  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) on the upper edge  22  of the bottom piece  20 . The loop may be formed from part of the string or be formed separated. 
       FIG. 2 . illustrates the back view of the convertible swimwear  1 . The bottom piece  20  is a full back  32 , thereby effectively covering a substantial portion of the wearer&#39;s lower back. The top piece  10  includes a neck strap  16  and a back strap  18 . The straps  16  and  18  shown are tie-knot fasteners, however it is contemplated that other fasteners may be used to secure to the top piece  10  to the wearer. By way of example,  FIG. 6  shows clips as a fastening means for securing the top piece  10  to the wearer. Other fastening means such as Velcro®, buttons, or the like maybe used. Additionally, the cover flap  34  is shown to only extend around the front of the top piece  10 . 
       FIG. 3  shows an enlarged front cut away view of the fastening device of the convertible swimwear  1 . A plurality of fasteners such as buttons  14  along the lower portion of the top piece  10  are releasably secured to a plurality of corresponding fasteners such as button holes  28  along the upper edge  22  of the bottom piece  20 . The convertible swimwear  1  is a one piece style bathing suit when the buttons  14  on the top piece  10  are secured unto the corresponding button holes  28  on the bottom piece  20 . To convert to a two piece style bathing suit the buttons  14  are released from the button holes  28  allowing the bottom piece  20  to fall. Also shown in  FIG. 3  is a cover flap  34 . The cover flap  34  is attached to the top piece  10  just below the breast cups  11 . The cover flap  34  extends across the front of the top piece  10  and downwardly overtop of the buttons  14  along the lower portion  12  of the top piece  10  and corresponding button holes  28  along the upper edge  22  of the bottom piece  20 . The cover flap  34  effectively conceals the buttons  14  and corresponding button holes  28  when secured. The cover flap  34  is an aesthetic feature to conceal the fasteners  14  and  28 ; because the convertible swimwear  1  must be pleasant to admire aside from its functional aspects. The fasteners may be placed above or below the cover flap. The fasteners may be buttons, snaps, zippers, Velcro, hooks and eyes, loops, and the like. The fasteners  14  are shown as a means to secure the bottom piece  20  to the top piece; however, it is contemplated that the bottom piece  20  maybe of a form-fitting material whereby the upper edge  22  and intermediate section  26  on the bottom piece  20  adapt to the contours of a user&#39;s body as the upper edge  22  of the bottom piece  20  is pulled toward the top piece  10 . 
       FIG. 4  is an illustration of the bottom piece  20  when the button holes  28  are released from the buttons  14  on the top piece  10  and the upper edge  22  and intermediate section  26  of the bottom piece  20  falls downwardly. As discussed previously, the string component  40  is securely attached at the top portion  46  along the upper edge  22  of the bottom piece  20  and at the bottom portion the string component  40  extends outwardly from the lower edge  24  of the bottom piece  20 . This construction allows the wearer to pull outwardly on the first end  42  and second end  44  of the string component  40  away from the upper edge  22 , as illustrated by the arrows on the wearer&#39;s left hip, and thus draw the upper edge  22  near the lower edge  24  of the bottom piece  20 , shown on the wearer&#39;s right hip, because the string component  40  is secured at the top portion  46  at the upper edge  22 . 
     On  FIG. 4 , specifically on the wearer&#39;s right hip, and  FIG. 5  illustrates the bottom piece  20  when fully converted into a two piece style bathing suit. Upon release of the buttons  14  from the button holes  28  and upon drawing the upper edge  22  substantially close to the lower edge  24  of the bottom piece  20  then one end, either first end  42  or second end  44  as they are convertible, of the string component  40  is extended and seeped through the loop  52  on the upper edge of the bottom piece  20 . Once seeped through the loop  52  the first end  42  of the string component  40  is drawn downwardly and secured to the second end  44  of the string component  40 . The wearer rolls, folds or scrunches up the upper edge  22  together with the intermediate section  26  of the bottom piece  20 . To scrunch the upper edge  22  relative to the intermediate section  26  is to crunch, crumple, fold or roll. Contemporaneously the user draws the upper edge  22  substantially close to the lower edge  24  of the bottom piece  20  using the string component  40 . Since the string component is securely attached to the upper edge  22  of the bottom piece  20 , when the upper edge  22  and intermediate section  26  are scrunched together they are maintained in place when the ends of the string component are secured together once seeped through the loop  52 . This function provides an aesthetic value as the convertible swimwear  1  is converted to a two piece style bathing suit. 
       FIG. 6  shows alternative embodiments of the convertible swimwear  1 , specifically the low back  30  on the bottom piece  20 , which exposes more of the back of the wearer. Additionally, the neck strap  16  and back strap  18  are shown with clips as a means of fastening the top piece  10  so that it may fit snuggly about the wearer. 
     All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. 
     It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein. 
     One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.