Patent Publication Number: US-2007094774-A1

Title: Simple method and apparatus for accessorizing an outfit

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for accessorizing an outfit. More particularly, the invention relates to an accessories kit which allows a user to wear or carry a single clothing accessory, such as a hat, pocketbook or item of clothing, with a variety of outfits by changing the overall physical appearance of the clothing accessory with a plurality of decorative, interchangeable ornaments.  
      BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Currently, if one wishes to coordinate a clothing accessory, such as a hat, pocketbook or item of clothing, with a particular outfit it is often necessary to purchase a new clothing accessory. Thus, accessorizing an entire wardrobe can be quite expensive, particularly when dealing with children who change sizes frequently as they grow. In addition, creating an outfit for a special occasion, such as the Fourth of July, Halloween or Christmas, generally requires one to purchase a separate outfit and/or clothing accessory for each occasion.  
      2. Prior Art  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,266 by Blackwelder and issued on Sep. 8, 1998, is for an accessories kit having interchangeable ornaments. It discloses an accessories kit for allowing a user to coordinate a clothing accessory with a variety of outfits without the expense of purchasing a separate clothing accessory for each outfit. It is assigned to Hats By Annie, Inc.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,711 by Fletcher, et al. and issued on Jul. 13, 2004, is for absorbent articles with refastenable side seams. It discloses a disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis and a fastening system that together define a refasten able pant. The refastenable pant includes a pair of elastomeric front side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, a pair of elastomeric back side panels extending from the waist opening to each leg opening, and a pair of refastenable seams extending from the waist opening to each leg opening and positioned between the elastomeric front and back side panels. It is assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,652,696 by Kuen, et al. and issued on Nov. 25, 2003, is for a cross direction method for making a refasten able garment with overlaid side panels. It discloses a prefastened absorbent garment that is manufactured with its longitudinal axis in the cross machine direction. A web of garment chassis material extending in the machine direction is overlaid within the garment chassis borders. The side panel webs are attached to the chassis web and have hook and loop fasteners thereon. The garment can be individuated from the combined chassis and side panel webs. It is assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,539,553 by Day and issued on Apr. 1, 2003, is for a hat with adjustable band and interchangeable ornaments. It discloses a hat with an adjustable elastic band for infants and small children having interchangeable decorative ornaments and an elastic band that may be adjusted accordingly to maintain the hat on a child&#39;s head without increasing the stress applied thereto as the child grows. The elastic band provides for air spaces between the hat and the baby&#39;s head to provide ventilation there through. A means for removably securing decorative ornaments such as flowers, butterflies, cartoon characters and the like is provided on an exterior portion of the hat. The present invention provides a means for maintaining a hat that will not need to be replaced as often as hats shown in the prior art because the present invention could be adjusted accordingly as the child grows and could also be accessorized to go with different outfits.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,519,778 by Arias, et al. and issued on Feb. 18, 2003, is for a separable chain scarf fashion accessory and method of manufacture. It discloses a decorative clothing accessory and a method for its manufacture, that comprises both scarf-like and jewelry components, and which can be worn comfortably even by those who are otherwise unable to tolerate clothing worn close against the neck.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,513,221 by Vogt, et al. and issued on Feb. 4, 2003, is for a garment side panel conveyor system and method. It discloses a method for positioning side panels during manufacture of a pant that includes positioning the side panels on side panel transfer devices. The side panels move perpendicular to a pant transport plane as the pant is transported in the machine direction and the side panels reside on the side panel transfer devices. The side panels can include refastenable fastening components. The method and apparatus can move the fastening components closer together in the cross-machine direction or maintain the fastening components at a constant cross-machine position while the side panels reside on the side panel transfer devices. It is assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,032 by Maxton, et al. and issued on Dec. 24, 2002, is for a refastenable bonding of garment side panels. It discloses a process for making prefastened and refastenable garments, in which a discrete article is transported in a primary direction of movement. The discrete article can define a leading half comprising first fastening components, a trailing half comprising second fastening components releasably engageable with the first fastening components, and an interconnecting region disposed between and interconnecting the leading and trailing halves. The leading half can be temporarily diverted from the primary direction of movement, while continuing to transport the interconnecting region and the trailing half in the primary direction. After reestablishing movement of the leading half in the primary direction, the leading half can contact a contoured surface, such as a contoured plate or roll. The contact can cause the first fastening components to be transversely displaced toward one another, whereupon the first and second fastening components can be engaged. It is assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,447,628 by Couillard, et al. and issued on Sep. 10, 2002, is for a process for making a garment with refastenable sides. It discloses a method of producing refastenable side seams in an absorbent garment which results in an absorbent garment that is adapted to easy application and removal. The refastenable side seams can be produced in either a cross direction, wherein the width of the product is the machine direction, or a machine direction wherein the length of the product is the machine direction. Each of the refastenable side seams includes a lap side seam, which puts the seams under shear strain, as opposed to peel forces. The resulting garment can be opened and closed on either a left side or a right side of the garment. It is assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,442,972 by Watson and issued on Sep. 3, 2002, is for a color coded concept for articles of jewelry and clothing. It discloses an article of jewelry or clothing which includes, or has attached thereto, a plurality of colored components which have specific colors. Each specific color represents a numerical value. The colored components are arranged in a selected sequence to depict a desired number. A kit is disclosed to provide the colored components and to be used to attach the colored components to an item.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,387,459 by Weder and issued on May 14, 2002, is for a decorative ribbon. It discloses a ribbon material produced by cutting a sheet or web of flexible material into strips of flexible material having a uniform, predetermined width such that the ribbon material can be wrapped about items and formed into bows and decorative ornamentations containing ruffles, loops and curved segments. The ribbon material can be a flexible material having a holographic design on at least one surface thereof or a flexible laminated material containing a holographic design or an iridescent material. The ribbon material can also be textured, printed and/or embossed. At least a portion of the ribbon material may be provided with a matte or textured finish simulating the appearance of cloth. It is assigned to Southpac Trust International, Inc.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,088 by Bergemann and issued on Apr. 9, 2002, is for a decorative embellishment for clothing. It discloses a garment embellishment, having no neck or collar attachment means allowing the wearer of casual clothing to quickly attach the embellishment and thereby formalize his clothing. The embellishment may take the place of a more formal necktie, bolo tie, or scarf and may be easily transported in a pocket, purse or briefcase so that it is immediately available to help dress up casual clothing. It is assigned to Bergemann.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,339,866 by French and issued on Jan. 22, 2002, is for a method and apparatus for a removable nametag or insignia. It discloses a removable nametag or insignia that is placed on a uniform or garment with a hook-loop system like the product sold under the registered trademark VELCRO. A flexible backsheet is sewn or otherwise attached to the garment or uniform piece with a set of loops facing outward. A nametag or insignia, either rigid or flexible, is equipped with a set of hooks on its backside. The nametag or insignia is then pressed onto the backsheet when the member is to be worn. For laundering or other maintenance of the garment, the nametag or insignia is removed. Numerous garments can contain backsheets with loop material in the correct position. When the user wants to wear one of them, he or she simply presses the nametag or insignia into position. In this manner a single nametag or insignia can service a wardrobe of garments. The method allows nametags and insignia to be removably worn without making pin or postholes in garments.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,381 by Nelson and issued on May 11, 1999, is for an interchangeable headband. It discloses a decorative headband including an elastic and flexible band having a top edge, a bottom edge, an outer surface, and an inner surface. The band may be fitted about a forehead of a user. Next provided is a coupling mechanism mounted on the elastic and flexible band. Also included is a plurality of decorative attachments each removably attached to the coupling mechanism.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,334 by Marcolini, Jr. and issued on Dec. 8, 1998, is for a kit wear combination sports apparel. It discloses a sportswear design that would allow the individual to interchange an array of decorative patches having hook and loop fastener material similar to the material sold under the trademark VELCRO onto garments. Patches could be changed daily. Combination sportswear consists of hats, coats, and gym bags.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,557 by Reid, et al. and issued on Apr. 21, 1998, is for a magnetic image-display system for apparel. It discloses an invention that modifies nearly any form of apparel, including baseball-style hats, by incorporating a portion of magnetic material into the article of apparel which allows for releasable attachment of a plurality of magnetic-based display panels.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,899 by Reeves and issued on Dec. 6, 1994, is for a magnetic name plate assembly. It discloses a magnetic name plate assembly that includes a name plate and a retaining member which are magnetically receivable in face-to-face relation so that a user&#39;s garment may be sandwiched therebetween. The name plate and the retaining member are provided with interengaging elements that interlock with the fabric sandwiched therebetween and effectively limit relative movement of one member with respect to the other. It is assigned to Reeves Co., Inc.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,734 by Rathburn and issued on Nov. 1, 1994, is for a hat with interchangeable display panels. It discloses a versatile head gear system that includes a hat having a vertical wall in which an opening has been made, and a seam formed about the periphery of the opening; one part of a two-part hook-and-pile type fastening means filling the opening and sewed to the seam; a number of cloth panels each of substantially the same size as the opening and bearing a name, logo, character, or other message on one side thereof; and each of the cloth panels having the other part of the two-part fastening means secured on its other side so that it may be attached to the hat when its particular name, logo, or other message has been selected for display with the hat. It is assigned to The Patch Hat Corp.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,733 by Brannon, et al. and issued on Nov. 1, 1994, is for patch attachments for hats. It discloses an invention that provides a hat that may simultaneously accept a plurality of patches. The patches may be connected to the hat by hook and loop fasteners.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,985 by Halloran and issued on Jan. 11, 1994, is for a detachable cap plaque. It discloses a detachable plaque for a cap having a visor and an adjoining crown portion.  
      There is still room for improvement in the art.  
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
      The principal object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for accessorizing the physical appearance clothing, such as a dress, pants, shirt, a hat, pocketbook or item of clothing, therefore producing multiple looks for the same article of clothing.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention is a device and method to allow a user to change the look of their cloths and outfits while allowing multiple accessories to be used with different outfits. These can be a plurality of belts and bands with different patterns as well as accessories that connect to the belts and bands or directly to the cloths themselves.  
      The fastening means for the belts and bands can be a hook and latch type fastening means and the accessories can be attached by hook and latch or by a snaps attachment means. The belts and bands can be of multiple designs and fabric and materials while the accessories can be ribbons, bows, buttons, badges, jewelry pieces and any other type of ornamental item or design that can be attached.  
      The belts, bands and accessories can be use with a single article of clothing or with multiple articles of clothing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
      Without restricting the full scope of this invention, the preferred form of this invention is illustrated in the following drawings:  
       FIG. 1  is a view of the current invention on a dress;  
       FIG. 2  is a view of the belt being attached to an article of clothing;  
       FIG. 3  is a view of the current invention on a hat;  
       FIG. 4  is a view of an accessory being attached;  
       FIG. 5  shows an attaching means for an accessory;  
       FIG. 6  displays a variety of accessories; and  
       FIG. 7  displays several accessories being attached to a hat. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      The following description is demonstrative in nature and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention or its application of uses.  
      There are a number of significant design features and improvements incorporated within the invention.  
      The invention is a device and method to allow a user the change the look of their clothes and outfits while allowing multiple accessories to be used with different outfits. These can be a plurality of belts and bands with different patterns as well as accessories that connect to the belts and bands or directly to the clothes themselves.  
      The belts and bands can be of multiple designs and fabric and materials while the accessories can be ribbons, bows, buttons, badges, jewelry pieces and any other type of ornamental item or design that can be attached.  
      The belts, bands and accessories can be used with a single article of clothing or with multiple articles of clothing. The belts and bands can be made of any type of cloth or fabric, including silk, leather, cotton, plastic or even metal.  
       FIG. 1  displays the current invention being used with a dress or skirt  10 . It is an ornamental belt  20  that is attached to the dress  10 . The ornamental belt  20  is designed to add to the fashion look of the dress  10 . Multiple numbers of belts or bands  20  can used to create different fashion statements and looks. In the preferred embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2 , the fastening means  30  for the belts  20  and bands  19  can be a hook and latch type fastening means and the accessories can be attached by hook and latch or by a snaps attachment means. Other fastening means can be used.  
       FIG. 3  displays the current invention being used with a hat  15 . Different bands  20  can be added and removed from the hat  15  to provide a different look or fashion statement. These bands  19  can be coordinated with different belts  20  depending on the look that the user is looking to achieve. The bands  19  and belts  20  can match or be a completely different pattern.  
       FIG. 4  displays an accessory  25  being attached to a belt  20 . An accessory  25  is a fashion piece that adds to the look of the fashion statement. The accessory  25  in  FIG. 4  is a bow ribbon.  
       FIG. 5  shows how the accessories  25  are attached. In the preferred method, button snaps are used. The base  70  is placed on the belt  20  and the button  75  is placed on the accessory  25 . The button  75  is snapped into the base  70  connecting the accessory  25  to the belt  20  in a tight secure method. The base  70  is colored and designed to match the pattern and coloring of the belt  20  so that it is not visible if no accessory  25  is used. Other connecting means like a hook and latch connection can be used.  
       FIG. 6  displays some of the different types and styles of accessories  25 . There can be a flower design  26 , a button  27 , a heart  28 , a unique design  29 , a ribbon  27 , a jewelry piece  23  or any other type of design and material that will be supported by the clothing and belt  20 . The user can even create their own accessory by attaching a button  75 . This allows the user an unlimited number of accessories  25  to choose from.  
      The accessories  25  do not have to be attached exclusively to the article of clothing.  FIG. 7  displays the accessories being attached directly to the hat  15  and not the band  19  or a belt  20 .  
      Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the point and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.  
      As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.  
      With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.  
      Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.