Patent Publication Number: US-9848660-B1

Title: Garment with two waistbands

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY 
     The disclosed technology relates generally to clothing and fashion, more specifically, to garments having two waistbands which could be positioned directly over one another for a classic appearance, or one beneath the other for a fashionable drooped appearance, without exposing undergarments. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY 
     One of the modern fashions is that of wearing pants having a waistband worn relatively low or on the hips, exposing the waistband of the underpants. While this look is considered to be trendy, it is unsuitable for certain situations or under certain dress codes, such as in offices, schools, and places of prayer. Additionally, many people would like to dress in accordance with such fashion, without exposing their undergarments. 
     The prior art describes various types of pants having adjustable or changeable appearances. 
     US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0246818 to Kim discloses pants having adjustable length by using a zipper to connect or disconnect parts of the pants from each other, such that when disconnected, respective parts of the pants are spaced apart vertically, but when zipped together the area between the respective parts is folded over such that the pants are shorter and attached. However, this reference does not relate to two waistbands which can hang one beneath the other. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,832,867 to Boyle discloses a garment with a concealed zipper system. The zipper system allows one to remove a mid-section of the legs of the pants and attach a lower portion of the leg to an upper portion, or one can attach the mid-section, by zipper, between the upper and lower parts. Thus, Boyle teaches extending or retracting the length of the pants, but does not relate to multiple waistbands, or to the fabric remaining attached to the garment also in the retracted arrangement. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,209 to St. Ange discloses pants which are and which include an entirely detachable inner seam which allows one to use a toilet without removing the pants. However, also this reference does not relate to the waistband of pants. 
     Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a garment which complies with the fashion of a drooped waistband exposing an upper waistband without exposing the wearer&#39;s undergarments, and which could be worn in the classic or standard manner when required to maintain decorum. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY 
     The disclosed technology relates generally to clothing and fashion, more specifically, to garments having two waistbands which could be positioned directly over one another for a classic appearance, or one beneath the other for a fashionable drooped appearance, without exposing undergarments. 
     There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosed technology a garment including an outer waistband, an inner waistband, and a fabric portion connecting the outer waistband and the inner waistband, wherein in a first operative mode, the outer waistband is positioned adjacent the inner waistband, and the fabric portion is hidden, and in a second operative mode the outer waistband hangs below the inner waistband, and the fabric portion is visible. 
     In some embodiments, the garment further includes outer fasteners associated with the outer waistband and corresponding inner fasteners associated with the inner waistband, such that, when the outer fasteners and the inner fasteners are connected, the outer waistband is held in the first operative mode. 
     In some embodiments, the garment further includes a main body portion extending from a bottom edge of the outer waistband. 
     In some embodiments, decorative elements are provided only on the main body portion. In other embodiments, decorative elements are provided on the main body portion and on the fabric portion. 
     In some embodiments, the fabric portion and the main body portion are made of different fabrics. In some such embodiments, a fabric forming the fabric portion is thinner than a fabric forming the main body portion. 
     In some embodiments, the main body portion includes a main opening, and the fabric portion includes a secondary opening, and wherein in the first operative mode, the main opening and the secondary opening are aligned. In some such embodiments, in the second operative mode, only the second opening need be opened for wearing and removal of the garment. 
     In some embodiments, the garment comprises pants. In some embodiments, the garment comprises a skirt. In some embodiments, the garment comprises a skort. 
     In some embodiments, in the first operative mode the garment is shorter than in the second operative mode. In some such embodiments, a length of the garment in the second operative mode is greater than a length of the garment in the first operative mode by an amount equal to a length of the fabric portion. 
     Any device or step to a method described in this disclosure can comprise or consist of that which it is a part of, or the parts which make up the device or step. The term “and/or” is inclusive of the items which it joins linguistically and each item by itself. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a front view of a garment according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology, where the outer waistband droops beneath the inner waistband. 
         FIG. 2  shows a front view of a garment according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology, where the outer waistband is disposed adjacent the inner waistband. 
         FIG. 3  shows the garment of  FIG. 2 , where the inner waistband is fastened to the outer waistband by fasteners. 
         FIG. 4  shows a rear view of a garment according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology, where the outer waistband droops beneath the inner waistband. 
         FIG. 5  shows a rear view of a garment according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology, where the outer waistband is disposed adjacent the inner waistband, and the inner waistband is fastened to the outer waistband by fasteners. 
         FIG. 6  shows a front view of a garment according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology, where the outer waistband droops beneath the inner waistband and a slit connected to the inner waistband is used to open the garment. 
         FIG. 7  shows a front view of a garment according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology, where the outer waistband is disposed adjacent the inner waistband and the slits connected to the inner and outer waistbands are aligned to open the garment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY 
     In an embodiment of the disclosed technology, a garment includes an outer waistband, an inner waistband, and a fabric portion connecting the outer waistband and the inner waistband, wherein in a first operative mode, the outer waistband is positioned adjacent the inner waistband, and the fabric portion is hidden, and in a second operative mode the outer waistband hangs below the inner waistband, and the fabric portion is visible. 
     Embodiments of the disclosed technology will become clearer in view of the following description of the drawings. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 1 , which shows a front view of a garment  100  including an outer waistband  102  and an inner waistband  104 , the outer waistband drooping beneath the inner waistband. Outer waistband  102  and inner waistband  104  may both be standard waistbands, including a fastener  116 , such as a button or hook-and-eye arrangement for opening and closing the waistband and belt loops  108  for threading a belt there through. In the illustrated embodiment, a belt  110  is threaded through the belt loops  108  of the outer waistband  102 . 
     The outer waistband  102  extends from a main body portion  111  of the garment. Additionally, the outer waistband  102  and the inner waistband  104  are connected to one another by a fabric portion  112  extending from the bottom edge of the inner waistband  104  to the inner surface or to a top edge of the outer waistband  102 . 
     In some embodiments, the main body portion  111  includes a fly or zipper  113  and the fabric portion  112  includes a slit, opening, or fly  114 . In some embodiments, inner waistband  104  includes one or more fasteners  116 , which may be mounted onto tabs  118 , for securing the inner waistband  104  to the outer waistband  102  as explained in further detail hereinbelow. 
     In some embodiments, decorative features such as pockets  120 , embroidery, stitching  122  and the like, may be provided only on the main body portion  111 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . However, it will be appreciated that such decorative features may also be provided on fabric portion  112 , for example adjacent inner waistband  104 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a front view of garment  100  of  FIG. 1 , where the outer waistband  102  is disposed adjacent the inner waistband  104 . As seen, the belt  110  is still threaded through the loops  108  of the outer waistband, and fabric portion  112  is invisible, and is folded behind a top section of main body portion  111 . It is a particular feature of the disclosed technology that fabric portion  112  remains connected to main body portion  111  in the orientation shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     It is appreciated that in the orientation of  FIG. 2 , when fabric portion  112  is folded into the garment  100 , the length of garment  100  from the inner waistband to the bottom end thereof is shorter than in the orientation of  FIG. 1 , in which the fabric portion  112  contributes to the length of the garment  100 . In some embodiments, the length of the garment in the orientation of  FIG. 1  is greater than the length of the garment in the orientation of  FIG. 2  by an amount equal to the length of fabric portion  112 . 
     It is further appreciated that the fabric portion  112  may be of the same type of fabric as the main body portion  111 , or may be of a different material. For example, if the main body portion  111  is made of denim or another thick or rigid fabric, the fabric portion  112  may be a cotton fabric or other thin flexible fabric, so as to reduce bulk at the top of the garment when the fabric portion  112  is folded behind the main body portion  111 . Additionally, the fabrics of main body portion  111  and of fabric portion  112  may have different patterns, colors, or appearances. 
       FIG. 3  shows the garment  100  of  FIG. 2 , where the inner waistband  104  is fastened to the outer waistband  102 . Specifically, as mentioned above with reference to  FIG. 1 , extending from inner waistband  104  are tabs  118  having fasteners  116  thereon. Corresponding fasteners  124  are attached to an inner surface of outer waistband  102  or to main body portion  111 . Connection of fasteners  116  to fasteners  124 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , ensures that the outer waistband  102  will remain in position relative to inner waistband  104 , and will not droop below the inner waistband, even if the position of garment  100  is shifted or if the wearer opens the garment or removes it. 
       FIG. 4  shows a rear view of the garment  100  when the outer waistband  102  droops beneath the inner waistband  104 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , fasteners  116  on tabs  118  are attached to the inner waistband  104 , and corresponding fasteners  124  are attached to the inner waistband  102  also on a rear side of the garment  100 . Similarly, it is seen that decorative elements, such as pockets  120  and stitching  122  are not provided on fabric portion  112  also on a rear side thereof. However, it will be appreciated that in some embodiments, such decorative features may be provided on the rear side of fabric portion  112 . 
       FIG. 5  shows the garment  100  of  FIG. 4 , where the outer waistband  102  is disposed adjacent inner waistband  104  and is fastened thereto via fastening of fasteners  116  on tabs  118  with corresponding fasteners  124 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a front view of garment  100  when the outer waistband  102  droops beneath the inner waistband  104 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . In the arrangement of  FIG. 6 , the fly  113  of the main body portion  111  may remain closed, and in some cases buckled behind belt  110 , and the slit  114  in fabric portion  112  may be used to enable the user to put on and remove the garment. 
       FIG. 7  shows a front view of garment  100  when the outer waistband  102  is disposed adjacent the inner waistband  104 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 . In the arrangement of  FIG. 7 , the slit  114  in fabric portion  112  is aligned with the fly  113  of main body portion  111 , such that both openings  113  and  114  are opened in order for the user to put on and remove the garment. 
     It will be appreciated that the garment described hereinabove may be any garment having a waistband, such as a pair of pants, a skirt, or a skort. 
     While the disclosed technology has been taught with specific reference to the above embodiments, a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the disclosed technology. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. Combinations of any of the methods and apparatuses described hereinabove are also contemplated and within the scope of the invention.