Patent Publication Number: US-2023157394-A1

Title: System and method for magnetically aligning and connecting a garment

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No 63/282,255, filed Nov. 23, 2001, entitled “SYSTEM FOR MAGNETICALLY ALIGNING AND CONNECTING TWO SEPARATE ELEMENTS TOGETHER” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     The present invention relates to a system and method for connecting two elements of a garment together with magnetic internal components, such as a tubular neck surround, garments that attach behind the line of sight, or for appliances like orthotics for the disabled or the arthritic. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the early phases of the coronavirus pandemic, a variety of methods of respiratory containment were pursued. One of the earliest and most rudimentary design approaches was a neck gaiter, or balaclava, which could be easily pulled up or down as a form of protection. While the gaiter provided some form of protection, it also required pulling it over the head, and frequently in colder climates, created considerable undesirable static-electricity. The same issues of ease of use, relate to other garments that require being pulled over the head, with the same undesirable effects. 
     Prior Art U.S. Pat. No. 10,433,600 teaches a garment for people with physical disabilities that includes multiple pieces of fabric to be connected with releasable strap fasteners. U.S. Pat. No. 10,448, 687 teaches adaptive clothing using magnetic closures fastening a front layer and a back layer. Although the prior art may teach adaptive clothing it uses multiple pieces of fabric and fasteners that are more cumbersome and difficult for the user to use. The present invention provides a simple way for a user to create a tubular garment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention minimizes or eliminates the negative aspects of use mentioned above by providing a mechanism that does not require the same degree of dexterity to attach, making the use “more user friendly.” The use of magnetically aligned components of the present invention provides a broad use for items or garments requiring an attachment which is not in the line-of-sight. It provides a quick-disconnect system for ease of use. Other embodiments of the present invention for the attachment of the two sides can be accomplished utilizing a zipper or series of buttons, that connect the 2 sides into a tubular structure. 
     The present invention provides a system of attachment for a tubular garment including a single piece of flat fabric, wherein the fabric has a first side and a second side, at least one pair of magnets on each of the first side and the second side of the fabric, wherein each pair of magnets has a polarity arrangement to removably attract the first side of fabric and the second side of fabric. 
     The present invention also provides a method of making a removably attached tubular garment including forming a flat piece of fabric to a desired shape, magnetically attaching a first side of the flat fabric and a second side of a flat fabric. 
     The present invention provides a system and method for connecting two elements of a garment together, such as a tubular neck surround, which includes two separate sides, each having magnetic internal components that enable the two sides to magnetically interlock and attach together. 
     The invention also provides a system and method applicable to garments that attach behind the line of sight, or appliances, such as orthotics, for the disabled or arthritic. This necessitates the user to be able to quickly align, connect, or disconnect a wrapping or covering where two separate elements require continuity to perform their function. 
     The present invention eliminates the necessity of pulling a garment over the head by magnetically fastening two adjacent sides together with an internal magnetic interlocking alignment system. It may be used for the elderly or people with disabilities whose fine-motor dexterity has been impaired. 
     In addition, the invention precludes the necessity of removing other garments, such as a shirt, to be able to benefit from the insulating aspects of the tubular knitted item. 
     The present invention provides and promotes the ability for blind attachment behind the head, or for the dexterity impaired to be able to easily use the product 
     The present invention provides a permanent magnetic connection system that can be used for attachment / quick-disconnecting two ends of an orthotic device, such as those that currently rely on straps and Velcro attachment that deteriorate over a short time, and are bulky to use by those with compromised dexterity 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures showing illustrative embodiments of the invention, in which: 
         FIGS.  1   a - d    show different views of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when fully assembled and in use; 
         FIGS.  3   a  and  3   b    show an exemplary embodiment of the garment and the magnetic connection device; 
         FIGS.  4   a  and  4   b    show exploded perspective views showing various elements of the invention; 
         FIG.  5    is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention showing the magnetic attachment to the garment and the concealment of the magnetic connection device; and 
         FIG.  6    shows an alternative embodiment of the invention, where the magnetic connection element is not visible and enclosed within two sides of the garment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a system and method for attaching garments and orthotics, for example, a system of attachment incorporated into the construction of a shirt neck that can be easily attached. This includes magnetically attaching two separate elements of a single piece of flat fabric, or other material used to create a garment, to create a complete tubular piece. The flat piece of fabric/material is cut into a desired form. The flat piece has two sides, such as a left side and a right side, and when the two sides are connected, form a tubular shape, such as a neck insulation device, a turtleneck or a dickey collar. The tubular shape may be used in a garment covering the entire upper body of a person or as a garment for only a portion of a person’s upper body, such as the neck. The single piece of flat fabric does not become a garment until the two sides of the fabric are attached. A series of flexible molded ends that contour to the variability of the desired form variations get permanently affixed to the left and right sides of the fabric. Each side of the fabric contains at least one pair of magnets that may be contained within the molded parts. The magnets are in a specific polarity arrangement to promote their attraction of the two sides to create a removable attachment method 
       FIG.  1   a    shows a front view of garment  10 ,  FIG.  1   b    shows a side view of garment  10 ,  FIG.  1   c    shows a top view of garment  10  and  FIG.  1   d    shows a back view of garment  10 .  FIGS.  1   a - 1   d    show two ends of fabric  1 , 2  which create cowl  16  . Two ends  1 ,  2  can be removably attached together (forming cowl  16 ) using at least two magnets  14  (one pair). Magnets  14  may be polarized rare earth magnets. Magnets  14  may be contained in molded alignment parts  12 ,  13  on each end  1 ,  2  of cowl  16 . Garment  10  includes a front bib  17  and shoulder piece  18 . 
       FIG.  2    shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention assembled.  FIG.  2    shows ends  1 , 2  of cowl  16  in a closed position. Magnets  14  are contained within the molded magnet holders  12 ,  13 , by snapping into magnet holders  12 ,  13 , for example. Magnets  14  are disposed within magnet holders  12 ,  13  in a fashion where their poles are magnetically attracted to one another, thereby promoting a constant force closure of the two magnet-holding molded parts  12  and  13 . Magnet holders  12 ,  13  have an optional integral nesting interlock that aligns the two ends  1 ,  2 , of cowl  16  which are affixed to molded parts  12 ,  13  to create the closure. Magnet holders  12 ,  13  may be sewn in or heat sealed onto two ends  1 ,  2  of fabric / cowl  16  at tabs  20 , for example. In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIG.  6   , magnet holders  21 , do not have an interlock detail, and rely on the strength and polarity of the magnet  14  to create the alignment of the two ends of cowl  16 . 
       FIG.  3   a    shows garment  10  in a flat position, with cowl portion  16  having a top portion  3  and a bottom portion  4 . The top portion having ends  1   a .  2   a  and bottom portion of cowl  16  having ends  1   b ,  2   b . (Ends  1  and  2  shown in other figures include side ends  1   a ,  2   a ,  1   b  and  2   b ). Assembled magnet holders  12 ,  13  are attached using tabs  20  to ends  1   b ,  2   b  in bottom portion of cowl  16  in the flat body of garment  10 . Top portion  3  of cowl  16  can be rolled over bottom portion  4 , once garment  10  is assembled and magnets  14  in magnet holders  12 ,  13  are connected, concealing magnet holders  12 ,  13 , and also creating a barrier of fabric behind the molded magnet part, now ready to wear.  FIG.  3   b    shows an exploded version of the magnet holders  12 ,  13 , with tabs  20  and magnets  14 . Magnets  14  are placed in “pockets”  19  that retain the magnets and dispose them in the correct polarity for attachment. 
       FIGS.  4   a  and  4   b    show another view of the main components of the invention.  FIG.  4   a    is an exploded view, showing main flat front bib  17 , shoulder piece  18 , magnets  14 , tabs  20  and molded magnet holders  12 ,  13  mounted on bottom portion  1   b ,  2   b  of cowl  16 . Cowl  16  has a top portion  3  having top ends  1   a ,  2   a , and a bottom portion  4  having bottom ends  1   b ,  2   b . (Top ends  1   a ,  2   a  and bottom ends  1   b ,  2   b  are shown as ends  1 , 2  in other figures when top portion  3  is folded over bottom portion  4 ). Top portion  3  and bottom portion  4  are the same size in length. Magnet holders are located in bottom portion  4 , allowing top portion  3  of cowl  16  to fold over the bottom portion and conceal assembled magnetic holders  12 ,  13 . Cowl  16  is shown in the open position in  FIG.  4   a   , prior to being folded over ( FIG.  4   b    showing ends  1 , 2  and  FIG.  5   ) to conceal assembled magnet holders  12 ,  13 . 
       FIG.  5    shows an enlarged exploded assembly of garment  10  including cowl  16 . Cowl  16  is shown being rolled/ folded over to conceal the lower portion of cowl  16  where flat attachment tabs  20  of the magnet holders  12 ,  13  are connected. Tabs  20  are an integral part of magnet holders  12 ,  13 . Tabs  20  are the portion of magnet holders  12 ,  13  that attach to end pieces of flat fabric  1 ,  2 . They can be attached by sewing or heat sealing, for example. 
       FIG.  6    shows an alternative embodiment of the attachment device in which magnetic attachment holders  12 ,  13  are fully concealed within the fabric of cowl  16 . In the alternative embodiment, there are no exposed molded parts. This embodiment relies on the strength of the rare earth magnets to provide the alignment based on the pull strength of the magnets. When the two opposing ends of cowl  16  of garment  20  are within 2″ of one another, the magnetic rare earth elements incorporated into each of the separate ends automatically align, and removably attach the two opposing ends together, completing the tubular “sleeve” and locking them together. 
     Other embodiments of the present invention for the attachment of the two sides can be accomplished utilizing a zipper or series of buttons, that connect the 2 sides into a tubular structure, such as a cowl or for a limb, for example. 
     Though the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications in shape, size, composition, and arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.