Patent Publication Number: US-2013232657-A1

Title: Flexible Article of Apparel

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Today&#39;s fashion trends are ever changing. People are often looking for the next great trend or are looking to push the envelope of fashion. Often times, the appearance of various articles of clothing may be improved, altered, etc. by the use of a foundation garment that provides shaping, structure, etc. In conventional systems, these foundation garments are often structured in a single configuration that cannot be altered. Further, the foundation garments are generally not suitable to be worn as an exterior garment, which may be seen or visible when worn. Accordingly, an adjustable or flexible article of apparel configured to be worn either under an article of clothing or as an exterior garment would be beneficial. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. The summary is not an extensive overview the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention, nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the description below. 
     According to one or more aspects described herein, a flexible article of apparel is provided. In some examples, the flexible article of apparel may include a plurality of movable apparel members. The movable apparel members may be connected to each other, such as with a fastener. In some examples, the movable apparel members may be substantially identical in size and/or shape. The movable apparel members may maintain their position via a friction fit between the movable apparel members and/or the fastener. The position may be maintained until one or more of the movable apparel members are acted on by an outside force sufficient to overcome the friction fit. 
     In some arrangements, the movable apparel members may be movable or rotatable relative to each other about the fastener. Movement or adjustment of one or more movable apparel members may alter or adjust the overall configuration of the flexible apparel member. Thus, the flexible apparel member may have a variety of different configurations or appearances based on the position of the movable apparel members. These different configurations may also alter the appearance or configuration of another article of apparel worn over the flexible article of apparel in arrangements in which the flexible article of apparel is worn as a foundation garment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates one configuration of one example flexible article of apparel according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 2  is a close-up view of a portion of the flexible article of apparel of  FIG. 1  according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates another example configuration of the flexible article of apparel of  FIG. 1  in a first arrangement according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates the flexible article of apparel of  FIG. 3A  in a second arrangement according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a plurality of movable apparel members joined or connected by fasteners to form the flexible article of apparel according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates another configuration of the flexible article of apparel according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates yet another example configuration of the flexible article of apparel having a shoulder portion according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates still another configuration of the flexible article of apparel having a shoulder portion according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates another configuration of the flexible article of apparel having a plurality of open regions according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates yet another configuration of the flexible article of apparel according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates still another configuration of the flexible article of apparel according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates another configuration of the flexible article of apparel according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 12A  illustrates one example schematic drawing of a configuration of the flexible article of apparel along with a garment or other article of apparel that may be used with the flexible article of apparel according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 12B  illustrates the garment of  FIG. 12A  when worn over the flexible article of apparel of  FIG. 12A  according to one or more aspects described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description of various illustrative embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, various embodiments in which the claimed subject matter may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present claimed subject matter. 
     Aspects of this disclosure relate to a flexible article of apparel. The flexible article of apparel may be worn as a foundation garment beneath another article of apparel, or as an exterior garment either alone or over another article of apparel. The flexible article of apparel may include a plurality of movable apparel members. The movable apparel members may be joined or connected to each other via a fastener and may move relative to each other. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one example configuration of the flexible article of apparel  100 . Although several configurations of the flexible article of apparel are shown and described herein, various other configurations may be used without departing from the invention. For instance, each portion of the flexible article of apparel  100  may be positioned or repositioned in a variety of different arrangements to alter the overall shape of the flexible article of apparel  100 . Thus, infinitely many configurations are possible based on the adjustment of the various portions of the flexible article of apparel  100 , etc. 
     The flexible article of apparel  100  may generally include a bodice portion  102  configured to be positioned in a chest area of a wearer. Further, the flexible article of apparel  100  may include a skirt portion  104  configured to be positioned in a waist and/or hip region of the wearer. In some examples, the bodice portion  102  and skirt portion  104  may surround or encircle their respective portions of the body. For instance, the bodice portion  102  may surround the chest area of the wearer, while the skirt portion  104  may surround the hip and/or waist region of the wearer. 
     In some examples, the flexible article of apparel  100  may be a single garment formed of a plurality, of movable apparel members  106 . The movable apparel members  106  will be described more fully below. In another example, the flexible article of apparel  100  may be formed of multiple garments connected together or that may be worn separately. For instance, the bodice portion  102  may be a separate garment from the skirt portion  104  (e.g., may be removable, disconnectable, etc.). Thus, in this example arrangement, the bodice portion  102  may be worn separately from the skirt portion  104  (e.g., the bodice  102  may be worn alone or the skirt  104  may be worn alone). In some examples, a portion of the flexible article of apparel  100  (e.g., the bodice portion  102 , the skirt portion  104 ) may be connected to or worn with a conventional article of apparel (e.g., flexible apparel bodice  102  with conventional skirt or pants, flexible apparel skirt  104  with conventional top, etc.). 
     In arrangements in which one or more portions of the flexible article of apparel can be separated from the remainder of the flexible article of apparel  100 , the portions may be joined using known methods of attachment, such as fasteners, snap fits, zippers, buttons, snaps, and the like. In some examples, the fasteners ( 108  in  FIG. 2 ) connecting the movable apparel members  106  may be removable or disconnectable such that one or more movable apparel members  106  may be disconnected from an adjacent movable apparel member  106  and may be reconnected to another movable apparel member  106  or reconnected to the movable apparel member  106  from which it was removed. The fasteners  108  connecting the movable apparel members  106  will be discussed more fully below. 
       FIG. 2  is a close-up view of a portion of the flexible article of apparel  100 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the flexible article of apparel  100  is formed by a plurality of movable apparel members  106 . The movable apparel members  106  may be joined or connected to an adjacent movable apparel member  106  using known attachments, such as snaps, buttons, snap fits, mechanical fasteners such as screws, rivets, etc., and the like. For instance, as shown in  FIG. 2 , adjacent movable apparel members  106   a  and  106   b  are connected via fastener  108 . 
     In some examples, the fastener  108  may permit movement of the connected movable apparel members  106   a ,  106   b  relative to each other. For instance, movable apparel member  106   a  may be movable relative to movable apparel member  106   b , or vice versa. In some arrangements, the movable apparel members  106  may be rotatable about the fastener  108 . Movement or adjustment of the movable apparel members  106  may alter the configuration of the flexible article of apparel  100 . The movable apparel members  106  may, in some examples, generally form a web-like arrangement with a plurality of apertures formed between the movable apparel members  106  or the plurality of apertures being defined by the movable apparel members  106 . The apertures may have varying sizes depending on the position of the movable apparel members  106  forming any particular aperture. 
     For example,  FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate alternate configurations of the flexible article of apparel  100 . As shown in  FIG. 3A , the flexible article of apparel  100  includes a bodice portion  102  and a skirt portion  104 . Both the bodice portion  102  and the skirt portion  104  are formed of a plurality of movable apparel members  106  connected via fasteners  108 . Similar to the arrangement discussed above, the movable apparel members  106  may be adjusted relative to each other to alter the shape or configuration of the flexible article of apparel  100 . 
     For instance, as shown in  FIG. 3A , the flexible article of apparel  100  may include downward pointing skirt portions  110   a . The downward pointing skirt portions  110   a  may form a skirt or portion of a skirt or may alter a shape of a skirt being worn over the flexible article of apparel  100 , as will be discussed more fully below. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 3B , the downward pointing skirt portions  110   a  may be adjusted outward to form outward pointing skirt portions  110   b . That is, the movable apparel members  106  comprising the downward pointing skirt portions  110   a  may be moved or adjusted to reconfigure the skirt portion  104  of the article of apparel  100 . The movable apparel members  106  may be adjusted or moved by providing sufficient force to overcome a friction fit provided between the fastener  108  and one or more movable apparel member  106 . However, when the force is removed, the movable apparel members will remain in place (e.g., via the friction fit) until another force is provided to adjust the movable apparel members  106 . 
     The adjustability of the flexible article of apparel  100  provides for a variety of configurations, shapes, etc. to be formed. Further, the adjustability of the flexible article of apparel  100  allows for adjustment of various features of the apparel, such as arm holes, to be adjusted for size, fit, location, configuration, etc. In still other arrangements, various embellishments or structure/shape features may be added, removed, adjusted, etc. to the flexible article of apparel  100  by adjusting the movable apparel members  106 . Examples of some arrangements will be discussed more fully below. 
       FIG. 4  is a close-up view of a portion of the flexible article of apparel  100  illustrating the movable apparel members  106  and fasteners  108 . In some examples, the movable apparel members  106  may be formed of plastic, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PETE). Additionally or alternatively, various other plastics may be used. In some examples, the movable apparel members  106  may be formed of a variety of other materials, such as flexible metals, leather, rubber, composite materials, and the like. 
     The movable apparel members  106  may, in some examples, be identical or substantially identical to each other. That is, the entire flexible article of apparel  100  may be formed of movable apparel members  106  having an identical or substantially identical size, shape, configuration, etc. For instance, the movable apparel members  106  may be substantially rectangular but, in some arrangements, may also include rounded corners in order to improve comfort for the wearer. Additionally or alternatively, the movable apparel members  106  may be a variety of other shapes, such as square, circular, oval, and the like, without departing from the invention. 
     In some examples, the movable apparel members  106  may be between 1.5 inches and 4.5 inches, between 1.0 inch and 5.0 inches, or between 0.5 inch and 7 inches in length. In one example arrangement, the movable apparel members  106  may be 3.0 inches in length. Further, the movable apparel members  106  may be between ¼ inch and 2 inches wide. In one example arrangement, the movable apparel members  106  may be 0.5 inch wide. The movable apparel members  106  may be between 0.005 and 0.050 inch thick. In some examples, the movable apparel members  106  may be 0.010 inch thick. Although the arrangements discussed above include movable apparel members  106  that are identical or substantially identical, alternatively, the flexible article of apparel  100  may be formed of movable apparel members  106  having different sizes, shapes, configurations, etc. 
     In some arrangements, the movable apparel members  106  may be formed using a laser cutting process. Additionally or alternatively, the movable apparel members  106  may be molded, printed, etc. In some examples, the movable apparel members  106  may include a pre-cut aperture or puncture through which the fastener  108  may extend. The aperture may be any suitable size, shape, etc. to accommodate the fastener  108 . In some examples, the aperture may be between ⅛ and % inch in diameter. In one example configuration, the aperture may be ¼ inch in diameter. 
     As discussed above, adjacent movable apparel members  106  may be joined or connected using a fastener  108 . In some examples, the fastener  108  may be an aluminum post. Additionally or alternatively, the fastener  108  may be another mechanical fastener, such as a screw, rivet, and the like. In still other arrangements, the fastener  108  may be a button, snap, snap-fit, and the like. The fastener  108  may be formed of any suitable material including various metals, such as aluminum, titanium, steel, etc. or combinations thereof. Additionally or alternatively, the fastener  108  may be formed of various plastic materials, composite materials, etc. 
     The fasteners  108  may have a diameter between ⅛ and ¾ inch and, in some arrangements, may be ¼ inch in diameter. Further, the fastener  108  may be between ⅛ inch and ½ inch in length. In some arrangements, the fasteners  108  used throughout the flexible article of apparel  100  may be identical or substantially identical in size, shape, configuration, etc. For instance, the fasteners  108  may have a diameter of ¼ inch and may be ¼ inch in length. Additionally or alternatively, a variety of fasteners  108  may be used. That is, different types of fasteners  108  may be used or the fasteners  108  may vary by size, shape, configuration, etc. In some examples, the fasteners  108  may have identical or substantially identical diameters but may vary in length. For instance, the fasteners  108  may include different length fasteners  108  used in different regions of the flexible article of apparel  100 . In some examples, the fasteners  108  used may include fasteners  108  that are ⅛ inch, ¼ inch and/or ⅜ inch in length. This may allow for easier adjustment of the movable apparel members  106  in regions having the longer length fasteners  108 . That is, a fastener  108  having a longer length may provide a looser fit between the movable apparel members  106 . Thus, less force may be provided to move the movable apparel members  106 . This may be advantageous in the skirt portion  104  where additional movement or ease of movement of the members may be advantageous. 
     Additionally or alternatively, the shorter fastener members  108  may be used when a tighter friction fit is desired between the movable apparel members  106 . For instance, in the bodice portion  102 , less movement or ease of movement may be desired. Accordingly, shorter fasteners  108  may be used in order to provide a tighter friction fit between the movable apparel members  106  and thus may make the members stiffer or more difficult to adjust in that region than in regions having longer fasteners  108  and thus more ease of movement between the members  106 . 
     In some examples, the movable apparel members  106  and fasteners  108  may have any desired color. For instance, if the flexible article of apparel  100  is to be worn as an exterior garment that is visible, the flexible apparel members  106  may coordinate with or contrast with the fasteners  108  to provide a pleasing aesthetic appearance. Color may be provided during manufacture of the movable apparel members  106  and/or fasteners  108 , or may be applied in a separate process (e.g., via paint, or other known methods of adding color). 
       FIG. 5  illustrates another configuration of the flexible article of apparel  100 . The flexible article of apparel  100  includes a bodice portion  202  and a skirt portion  204 . In the arrangement shown, various movable apparel members  106  have been adjusted to create a shoulder region  212 . In some examples, the shoulder region  212  may be a protrusion extending upward from the bodice portion  202  (e.g., extending upward from a top, front of the bodice region  202 ). Additionally or alternatively, the shoulder region  212  may include a strap arrangement in which the shoulder region  212  extends over a shoulder of the wearer and connects to the bodice portion  202  at both a front and a rear of the bodice portion  202 . 
     As further shown in  FIG. 5 , the skirt portion  204  may include a large open area or aperture  214 . The large open area  214  may provide a unique appearance of the flexible article of apparel  100  and may also affect how a garment or other article of apparel worn over the flexible article of apparel  100  may appear. The large open area  214  may be formed by adjusting one or more movable apparel members  106  of the plurality of movable apparel members  106  forming the flexible article of apparel  100 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates yet another configuration of the flexible article of apparel  100 . Similar to the arrangements described above, the flexible article of apparel includes a bodice portion  302  and a skirt portion  304 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the flexible article of apparel  100  includes a plurality of movable apparel members  106  that have been adjusted to include a shoulder portion  312  extending upward from the bodice portion  302 . The shoulder portion  312  may be formed by adjusting or moving one or more movable apparel members  106  of the plurality of movable apparel members  106  forming the flexible article of apparel  100 . The shoulder portion  312  may extend upward from one side of the flexible article of apparel  100  or may extend over the shoulder of the wearer from the front to the rear of the flexible article of apparel  100 . The shoulder portion  312  may provide a unique appearance of the flexible article of apparel  100  when worn as an external garment or article of apparel. Additionally or alternatively, the shoulder portion  312  may alter an appearance of another article of apparel (not shown) worn over the flexible article of apparel  100 . That is, when the flexible article of apparel  100  is worn as a foundation garment, the garment worn over the flexible article of apparel  100  may have a shoulder portion that extends upward from the bodice and is held in place by the shoulder portion  312  of the flexible article of apparel  100 . 
     The flexible article of apparel  100  of  FIG. 6  may further include a skirt portion  304  having an embellishment  314  on one side of the skirt portion  304 . The embellishment  314  may be formed by moving or adjusting one or more movable apparel members  106  to provide the desired appearance of the embellishment  314 . The members  106  may be moved by providing a sufficient force to overcome the friction fit maintaining the position of the members  106 . Once the desired new position is reached, the force may be removed and the friction fit will maintain the new position of the movable apparel members  106  until they are again acted on by an outside force sufficient to overcome the friction fit. 
     The embellishment  314  may provide a unique appearance for the flexible article of apparel  100  when worn as an exterior garment. Alternatively, the embellishment  314  may be, configured to alter a shape of a garment or other article of apparel worn over the flexible article of apparel  100 . That is, a garment (not shown) worn over the flexible article of apparel  100  may protrude outward as it overlays the embellishment  314  of the flexible article of apparel  100 . The garment may remain in that position until the shape and/or configuration of the embellishment  314  is adjusted by adjusting or moving one or more movable apparel members  106 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates yet another configuration of the flexible article of apparel  100 . The flexible article of apparel  100  includes a plurality of movable apparel members  106  joined or connected via fasteners  108 . Portions of the movable apparel members  106  may be manipulated to create a shoulder portion  412  extending from the bodice portion  402  and an embellishment  414  associated with the skirt portion  404 . Similar to the arrangements above, the shoulder portion  412  and the embellishment  414  may provide a unique appearance for the flexible article of apparel  100  when worn as an exterior garment and may provide structure and/or shape to a garment worn over the flexible article of apparel  100 . 
       FIGS. 8-11  illustrate additional configurations of the flexible article of apparel  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 8-11 , a variety of shapes and configurations for the flexible article of apparel are possible by manipulating one or more of the movable apparel members  106 . The various configurations and shapes may provide a unique appearance for the flexible article of apparel  100  and/or may provide structure or shaping characteristics for a garment (not shown) worn over the flexible article of apparel  100 . 
       FIGS. 12A and 12B  illustrate yet another configuration of the flexible article of apparel  100  including a garment  550 .  FIG. 12A  illustrates a schematic or simplified drawing of the flexible article of apparel  100  shown in  FIGS. 1-11 . The flexible article of apparel  100  includes a bodice portion  502  and a skirt portion  504 . The skirt portion  504  includes outwardly extending skirt portions  510   a ,  510   b . In addition,  FIG. 12A  illustrates a simplified garment  550  that may be used or worn with the flexible article of apparel  100  when the flexible article of apparel  100  is worn beneath an article of clothing as a foundation garment to provide structure, shape, configurations, etc. The garment  550  includes a bodice portion  552  and a skirt portion  554 . 
       FIG. 12B  illustrates the garment  550  being worn over the flexible article of apparel  100 . The bodice portion  552  of the garment may fit over the bodice portion  502  of the flexible article of apparel  100 , while the skirt portion  554  of the garment may fit over the skirt portion  504  of the flexible article of apparel  100 . The end portions  560   a  and  560   b  of the skirt portion  554  may extend outward (as shown in  FIG. 12B ) as the skirt  554  fits over the outwardly extending skirt portions  510   a ,  510   b  of the skirt portion  504  of the flexible article of apparel  100 . Although  FIGS. 12A and 12B  illustrate one simplified arrangement of the flexible article of apparel  100  being worn beneath another article of apparel, a variety of configurations of the flexible article of apparel  100  may be used to alter the shape, structure, support, etc. of the garment  550  without departing from the invention. 
     As discussed above, the flexible article of apparel may provide a unique appearance in a variety of configurations. By moving or adjusting one or more movable apparel members, the flexible article of apparel may be adjusted to a variety of different configurations, positions, shapes, arrangements, etc. and may be worn as a garment that is visible. Alternatively, the flexible article of apparel may be worn under another garment or article of apparel to provide or alter the shape, configuration, position, arrangement, etc. of the garment. Thus, one flexible article of apparel may be used to provide a variety of appearances or visual configurations for itself as an article of apparel, or for another garment or article of apparel. 
     The flexible article of apparel shown and described herein may, in some examples, be one article that is configurable in the variety of different positions as shown and described herein. The various configurations may be formed by moving or adjusting the flexible apparel members to a desired arrangement. Although several example configurations of the flexible article of apparel are shown and described herein, infinitely many alternate configurations may be formed by adjusting one or more of the movable apparel members without departing from the invention. 
     Although the figures generally depict a dress shape for the flexible article of apparel, a variety of other articles of apparel may be formed without departing from the invention. For instance, the flexible article of apparel may be pants, shorts, long or short skirts, jackets, tops, and the like. 
     While the illustrative flexible article of apparel described herein embodying various aspects is shown, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. For example, each of the elements of the aforementioned embodiments may be utilized alone or in combination or sub-combination with the elements in the other embodiments. It will also be appreciated and understood that modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit and score of the present invention. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.