Patent Publication Number: US-2007101473-A1

Title: Free hanging garment with image on interior surface

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates generally to a costume, and more particularly, to a free hanging garment that suspends from the waist of a wearer, having an exterior surface and an interior surface with an image applied to the interior surface, which functions as a costume that instantaneously transforms the appearance of the wearer.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Costume design and the tradition of wearing costumes have a long history that has been practiced in most every civilization. The use and design of traditional costumes is well known. Masqueraders searching for an unusual costume design most likely can find a costume purveyor that will have a selection that matches nearly every taste or penchant. While there is an almost endless supply of variation on the physical appearance of a costume, there is currently an absence of costumes that can provide the wearer with the option of changing their appearance quickly and easily.  
      Many costumes have several elements that must be worn to adequately change or conceal the appearance of the wearer. A traditional costume may provide a complete transformation of the individual, but traditional costumes are cumbersome or uncomfortable and detract from the enjoyment that the wearer can derive from masquerading as someone, or something else. Although a person can choose to merely wear a mask to conceal their identity or change their appearance, a mask can only provide a means to change the head and face of the wearer, and the transformation is never complete; and there is still the issue of comfort that is not addressed. Despite years of traditional costume and mask design, there is still one other common deficiency that these traditional costume designs can not provide the wearer, the element of surprise. Individuals disguised as ghouls, creatures, or even political figures, which use either a mask or full costume, can not surprise the observer with their appearance since the observer has fair warning of what is approaching. A costume or mask wearer is also limited to wearing one costume unless the outfit worn requires multiple pieces or involves an elaborate design.  
      What is needed, then, is a costume design that provides the wearer with an simplified way to quickly change their appearance, to give the wearer the element of surprise. The costume should have the capability of changing the appearance of the wearer in an instant, transforming a person right before the eyes of any observers.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention broadly comprises an article of manufacture that includes a free hanging garment having an image fixedly attached to the interior of the garment, which when raised, conceals the identity of the wearer and reveals the image fixedly attached to the interior surface of the garment. The free hanging garment includes a hem edge, a waist edge, an exterior surface and an interior surface. The interior surface has the hem edge positioned on one perimeter of the free hanging garment, and the waist edge is on the opposite perimeter of the free hanging garment. The upper portion of the image is fixedly attached to the interior surface proximate to the hem edge, and the lower portion of the image is proximate the waist edge and distal to the hem edge.  
      It should be appreciated that the phrase free hanging garment includes apparel suited for women or men, which could include a skirt or a kilt, or other garments that hang freely from a wearer&#39;s waist. A preferred embodiment of the invention includes at least one marker on the exterior of the garment, located proximate to the hem edge that signifies to the wearer the position at which the wearer should grasp the garment to properly disguise their appearance. In another embodiment of the invention the marker is a pleat or crease in the free hanging garment that also acts as a visual cue to allow the wearer to rapidly determine the proper location to hold and subsequently lift the garment. Once the garment is grasped at the marker position, the wearer can raise the garment upward to conceal her upper body and reveal the image on the interior of the garment. When the garment is raised the wearer is revealing not only the image on the interior surface of the garment, but the legs of the wearer are also revealed. For this reason, it should be appreciated that costume wearers may want to disguise or adorn their own legs with additional costume images or accoutrements, and leg garments that complement the image of the interior surface of the garment is another embodiment of this invention.  
      In another embodiment of the invention a band is placed at a location proximate to the waist of the wearer. The band can be reinforced to add stability to the waist edge, or an elastic member can be added to add comfort and flexibility to the waist edge. Another embodiment of this garment implements separate layers for the exterior and the interior surface. Both layers can be joined either by stitching or an equivalent means such as adhesive, hook and loop strip, or adhesive tape that is ironed. This embodiment adds substance and body to the garment, which can better conceal the image fixedly attached to the interior surface if more delicate or slightly transparent fabrics are used. In another embodiment, images or decoration can be placed on the exterior surface of the garment to give the wearer the option of having two costumes in one. The interior surface is equally flexible in that the image fixedly attached to the interior can be the preferred embodiment of a human-like form, or can run a range of images, which can include nature figures or animal forms, or any image conjured by the imagination. Just as the limits on the characters conjured up in fantasy literature are almost boundless, the limits on the images that can be put onto the interior surface are equally abundant.  
      A primary objective of the invention is to provide a costume including a free hanging garment with an image fixedly attached to the interior of the garment that gives the wearer the ability to surprise would be observers.  
      Another objective of the invention is to provide a costume that is two costumes in one that includes a free hanging garment with an image fixedly attached to the interior of the garment and decoration or images on the exterior, which gives the wearer the option of masquerading with the exterior of the garment exhibited, or raising the free hanging garment, hiding the exterior surface and their true form, revealing the image fixedly attached to the interior of the garment.  
      Another objective of the invention is to provide costume including a free hanging garment that has an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface includes a marker that guides the wearer in the proper position to grasp the free hanging garment and reveal then reveal the image on the interior surface.  
      A further objective of the invention is to provide a garment including an image on the interior surface of the free hanging garment that is aligned with the legs of the wearer to add realism to the transformation effected by the costume.  
      These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the invention in view of the several drawings of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a person wearing the costume of the present invention with the image of the interior surface fully revealed;  
       FIG. 2  is a front view similar to  FIG. 1  with the image of the interior surface concealed;  
       FIG. 3  is a front view similar to  FIG. 1  with a person preparing to reveal the image of the interior surface;  
       FIG. 4  is a front view similar to  FIG. 1  with the image of the interior surface partially revealed;  
       FIG. 5  is a front view similar to  FIG. 1  with the image of the interior surface almost entirely revealed; and,  
       FIG. 6  is a side view of a person wearing the costume of the present invention with the free hanging garment held over the person&#39;s head; 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.  
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a person wearing costume  10  with image  18  fully revealed. Costume  10  preferably comprises a free hanging garment  42 , which has both an interior surface  20  and an exterior surface  22  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ), image  18  fixedly attached to interior surface  20 , a hem edge  16 , and a waist edge  14  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). Free hanging garment  42  suspends from a wearer&#39;s waist and is secured to the wearer&#39;s waist at waist edge  14 . Waist edge  14  can also include a band that is attached to the perimeter of free hanging garment  42  proximate to waist edge  14 . The band can be stiff to add structure and durability to waist edge  14 , or elastic to eliminate the need for a closure at waist edge  14 . An elastic band at waist edge  14  can also be implemented to make costume  10  adaptable to fit a range of sizes. Securing free hanging garment  42  to a wearer&#39;s waist can be accomplished using an elastic band around the entire circumference of the free hanging garment  42 , a snap closure, hook and loop fabric, a button, a drawstring, or numerous other clothing securing means, all of which are well known in the art. Free hanging garment  42  is preferred to be constructed of a fabric that is compliant and that can suspend freely. A person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that a plurality of natural or synthetic fabrics could perform this function. It is also preferred that interior surface  20  of free hanging garment  42  be constructed of black material to properly execute the transformation capabilities of costume  10 . Black material can blend in with the surroundings, especially in a dark room or outside in the evening, which complements the intended object of costume  10 . Although black is the preferred color of the material for interior surface  20 , it would be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that other color choices may be better suited depending on the background setting in which costume  10  is used. For example, white may be the color of choice for interior surface  20  if the backdrop of the environment in which costume  10  is used is white. In other words, it is preferred that the color of interior surface  20  will blend with its backdrop and in this manner interior surface  20  can be camouflaged, which improves the illusion that image  18  is the actual torso and head of wearer  12 .  
      Free hanging garment  42  comprises interior surface  20  and exterior surface  22 , and it is preferred that both surfaces are opposite sides of a single piece of fabric, but other embodiments include having exterior surface  22  as a separate piece of fabric joined to interior surface  20 , which is another separate piece of fabric. Both individual pieces of fabric can be joined by stitching the pieces together, or joining them in a comparable method. Having a separate interior surface  20  and exterior surface  22  creates a thicker free hanging garment which can better obscure image  18  that is fixedly attached to interior surface  20 .  
      Image  18  is fixedly attached to interior surface  20 . Image  18  is preferably a two-dimensional image, however, an image on interior surface  20  could include contour or projections that could give image  18  a three-dimensional appearance or are actually three-dimensional. In a preferred embodiment image  18  is fixedly attached to interior surface  20  of costume  10  with the top of image  18  proximate to hem edge  16 , and the bottom of image  18  distal to waist edge  14 . In the preferred embodiment the top of image  18  has at least one head  30 , and the bottom of image  18  is preferably arranged to abut waist edge  14 . Bottom of image  18  is to preferably a waist of torso  32 . Image  18  should be fixedly attached to inner surface  20  at a position that aligns torso  32  of image  18  with legs  38  of wearer  12  to add realism to the illusion created by the costume. Preferably image  18  portrays at least one torso  32  and at least one head  30  connected to torso  32 , but other embodiments could have an image  18  that has multiple heads or multiple torsos for that matter. Other embodiments can have image  18  with arms  34  connected to torso  32 , understanding that multiple arms  34  could be used as well. However it should be understood that image  18  can be devoid of arms, head, or torso, in favor of some non-human form, such as a tree, flower, animal figure, or some other subject matter from nature. In other embodiments image  18  can be a non-human creature or animal that has more than one head, or appendages that are not natural to human beings. Alternatively, costume  10  could also be comprised of a stiffening reinforcement included in the upper portion of image  18 . This stiffening reinforcement would improve the ability of the wearer to completely hide their actual head and torso, by resisting free hanging garment  42  from collapsing or bending.  
      It is advantageous that costume  10  include leg garment  36  that includes an image fixedly attached to the exterior of leg garment  36 . The image fixedly attached to leg garment  36  is preferred to match and make whole image  18  of free hanging garment  42 . As free hanging garment  42  is raised into place the bottom of image  18  aligns with the top of the image on leg garment  36  to give the appearance that image  18 , and the leg image, are the actual torso, head, arms, and legs of the wearer. This arrangement can augment the illusion contemplated by costume  10 . Leg garment  36  is depicted in  FIG. 1  extending to the knee of the wearer, but it should be appreciated that leg garment  36  could cover the entire leg, or be shorter than knee length. Length of leg garment  36  will be dictated by the style of the costume and the judgment of the wearer. Combining free hanging garment  42  with leg garment  36  in costume  10  can be advantageous to the modest wearer that would prefer to conceal her legs, or just to improve the aesthetics of the costume.  
      Another embodiment of costume  10  has an exterior surface  22  that is adorned with a multiplicity of decorative elements which could include elements such as bows, ribbons, embroidery, stitching, appliqué, or other decorations. A decorated exterior can improve the shock value of the transformation accomplished by costume  10  since observers would be deceived by the soft image created by a decorated exterior surface  22 , and shocked when free hanging garment  42  is raised to conceal exterior surface  22  and the actual upper body of the wearer, and image  18  of interior surface  20  is revealed. For example, the wearer of costume  10  could have an exterior surface  22  that resembles the appearance of a princess, and when the wearer raises free hanging garment  42  to conceal that soft exterior revealing the contrasting image  18 , the shock value is enhanced due to the great contrast between the appearance of exterior surface  22  and interior surface  20 .  
      In the preferred embodiment image  18  is printed onto an iron-on transfer that is then fixedly attached to interior surface  20  of free hanging garment  42 . Heat is applied to the iron-on transfer to fixedly attach image  18  to interior surface  20 . Alternatively, image  18  could be printed directly to interior surface  20 . Printing can be executed using a number of processes or machines, but preferably a color ink jet printer or a color laser printer is used. Since printer capacity and complexity varies greatly, it would be understood that the realism of image  18  can vary greatly, and the image can be printed in one piece or in numerous pieces that can be assembled prior to fixedly attaching image  18  to inner surface  20  of the costume, all dependent on the type of printer used. In another embodiment image  18  can just as readily be first printed onto a suitable textile, and then fixedly attached to interior surface  20  of the costume by stitching, adhesive or another similar attachment means. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that a range of suitable textiles could be used successfully which include: cotton, polyester, cotton/polyester blend, rayon, or other textiles with similar properties.  
      Other embodiments include an image  18  that could also be fixedly attached to interior surface  20  by drawing image  18  onto interior surface  20 , embroidering image  18  onto interior surface  20 , weaving image  18  into interior surface  20 , adhesively attaching image  18  to interior surface  20 , or screen printing image  18  to interior surface  20 . Image  18  can also be detachable from interior surface  20  via the use of removable attachment means like hook and loop (i.e. Velcro™) fasteners, tape, or a releasable adhesive. By removably attaching image  18  to interior surface  20 , the image can be changed giving the wearer of the costume the option of changing image  18  instead of the entire costume  10 .  
       FIG. 1  demonstrates costume  10 , as it is preferred to be used, with wearer  12  taking hold of the front of exterior surface  22  and interior surface  20  at hem edge  16  at the preferred gripping location  24 . Wearer  12  is showing raising exterior surface  22  of free hanging garment  42  toward the wearer&#39;s body and over wearer&#39;s head  40 . Raising free hanging garment  40  in this manner conceals the wearer&#39;s actual torso, arms, and head, and reveals head  30 , torso  32 , and arms  34  of image  18 . Preferably image  18  is aligned with legs  38  of the wearer to produce a realistic transformation when free hanging garment  42  is raised.  
       FIG. 2  is a front view similar to  FIG. 1  with image  18  of interior surface  20  concealed. This view demonstrates the dual nature of costume  10 . At one moment the wearer can appear to be dressed in an innocuous costume, and the next moment the wearer is transformed instantaneously into a vampire, or another character. Marker  28 , as shown, is a circle, but the marker is not limited to any particular shape or image. Alternatively, the image of marker  28  could be much larger or could take numerous other forms. It is preferred that if a marker is used that the placement be near the hem edge  16  and be oriented with image  18 , so that wearer can rely on marker  28  to correctly position their hands before raising free hanging garment  42 . Marker  28  is designed to be position in the middle of free hanging garment  42  so that it can be a visual cue to the wearer to indicate at which point the wearer should grasp free hanging garment  42 . This will allow the wearer to use costume  10  correctly and complete the transformation properly. Marker  28  is not limited to only images placed on exterior surface  22  of free hanging garment  42 . Other embodiments of marker  28  could include a pleat or crease on exterior surface  22  of free hanging garment  42  denoting the point at which free hanging garment  42  should be grasped. The location of marker  28 , whether it is a pleat or a marker, can be determined by where image  18  is positioned and what image  18  is chosen.  
       FIG. 3  is a front view similar to  FIG. 1  with wearer  12  preparing to reveal image  18  of interior surface  20  of free hanging garment  42 . Wearer  12  is slightly crouched reaching to grasp free hanging garment  42  at gripping points  24  by using marker  28  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) as a visual guide to properly grasp gripping points  24 . If utilized properly, marker  28  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) can facilitate a more rapid transformation by allowing the wearer to quickly determine where to quickly grasp free hanging garment  42  without much thought, and marker  28  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) can eliminate potential error in aligning image  18  with wearer&#39;s legs  38 .  
       FIG. 4  is a front view similar to  FIG. 1  with image  18  of interior surface  20  partially revealed. Image  18  begins to take shape and the part of the actual torso of wearer  12  is now hidden behind free hanging garment  42 . Hands  26  of wearer  12  still securely grasp free hanging garment  42  at the preferred gripping point  24  as the wearer is quickly raising free hanging garment  42  toward her own head  40 .  
       FIG. 5  is a front view similar to  FIG. 1  with image  18  of interior surface  20  almost entirely revealed. Head  40  of wearer  12  is slightly visible, just peering over hem edge  16 . Wearer  12  is still grasping free hanging garment  42  at the gripping point  24 . As free hanging garment  42  is raised, wearer  12  is simultaneously pulling outwardly on free hanging garment  42  as it is raised. Simultaneous pulling and rising of free hanging garment  42  removes any wrinkles or creases in the fabric of free hanging garment  42  that could detract from the illusion that costume  10  can achieve. Alternatively, wearer can lift free hanging garment  42  over her head and rest the hem edge  16  of free hanging garment  42  on her head to enhance the presentation of image  18 .  
       FIG. 6  is a side view of costume  10  showing wearer  12  holding free hanging garment  42  above wearer&#39;s head  40  to fully reveal image  18  of interior surface  20 . This side view demonstrates the proper positioning of wearer&#39;s hands  26  at gripping point  24 , and the proper arm positioning to reach the height necessary to completely conceal wearer&#39;s head  40 , which is one goal of costume  10 . Free hanging garment  42  completely conceals the torso and head  40  of wearer  12 , and the arms of the wearer are also completely concealed. Only the tips of the fingers are visible when costume  10  is put into practice. It should be appreciated that wearer  12  could keep their fingers on exterior surface  22  of free hanging garment  42  to conceal the fingers of the wearer when free hanging garment  42  is raised.  
      Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, and these modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.