Patent Abstract:
A piece of fabric is provided with a band; and a plurality of temporary fastening members disposed on the band. A skirt is formed by helically securing the temporary fastening members to the band so that the skirt can be put on the waist, the buttocks, and the legs of a person. The formed skirt can accommodate the changed shape of a woman, thereby minimizing the chance of discarding unfitted clothes.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to garments and more particularly to an adjustable skirt for accommodating the changed shape of a woman, thereby minimizing the chance of discarding unfitted clothes. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    A skirt is a tube-shaped or cone-shaped garment that hangs from the waist and covers all or part of the legs. Modern skirts are usually made of light to mid-weight fabrics such as denim, jersey, worsted, or poplin. Typically, skirts have fixed size. It is known that the shape of a woman may change dramatically due to, for example, obesity. Thus, a woman becoming fat may not able to wear clothes of short size. Typically, those clothes (e.g., skirts) are thrown away. This is waste. Thus, the need for improvement still exists. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a piece of fabric comprising a band; and a plurality of temporary fastening members disposed on the band; wherein a skirt is formed by helically securing the temporary fastening members to the band so that the skirt can be put on the waist, the buttocks, and the legs of a person. 
         [0006]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an adjustable skirt according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the extended skirt; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of another configuration of the skirt having two temporary fastening members being extended; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing how to temporarily securing the temporary fastening member of  FIG. 2  to form the skirt of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an environmental view showing the skirt of  FIG. 1  worn between the waist and the knees of a woman; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an adjustable skirt according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the extended skirt of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of another configuration of the skirt of  FIG. 6  having two temporary fastening members being extended; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is an environmental view showing the skirt of  FIG. 6  worn between the waist and the knees of a woman; 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of an adjustable skirt according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention being extended; 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is an environmental view showing the skirt of  FIG. 10  worn between the waist and the knees of a woman; 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  is a plan view of an adjustable skirt according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention being extended; 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  depicts five different configurations of the skirt and parts thereof shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  is a plan view showing the slider being provided proximate the top edge; 
           [0021]      FIG. 15  is a plan view showing the slider being provided proximate the bottom edge; 
           [0022]      FIG. 16  is a plan view of an adjustable skirt according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the invention being extended; 
           [0023]      FIG. 17  is a plan view of the skirt of  FIG. 16  with the temporary fastening member being secured together to form a skirt; 
           [0024]      FIG. 18  is a plan view of an adjustable skirt according to a sixth preferred embodiment of the invention being extended; 
           [0025]      FIG. 19  is a plan view of the skirt of  FIG. 18  with the temporary fastening member being secured together to form a skirt; 
           [0026]      FIG. 20  is a plan view of an adjustable skirt according to a seventh preferred embodiment of the invention being extended; 
           [0027]      FIG. 21  is a plan view of an adjustable skirt according to an eighth preferred embodiment of the invention being extended; 
           [0028]      FIG. 22  is a plan view of the skirt of  FIG. 21  with the temporary fastening member being secured together to form a skirt; 
           [0029]      FIG. 23  is a plan view of an adjustable skirt according to a ninth preferred embodiment of the invention being extended; 
           [0030]      FIG. 24  is a plan view of the skirt of  FIG. 23  with the temporary fastening member being secured together to form a skirt; 
           [0031]      FIG. 25  is a plan view of an adjustable skirt according to a tenth preferred embodiment of the invention being extended; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 26  is a plan view of the skirt of  FIG. 25  with the temporary fastening member being secured together to form a skirt. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 5 , an adjustable skirt in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention comprises the following components as discussed in detail below. 
         [0034]    A band  1  is rectangular in its extended state (see  FIG. 2 ). The band is made of light to mid-weight fabrics such as denim, jersey, worsted, or poplin. 
         [0035]    A temporary fastening member (e.g., zipper)  2  is provided along upper and bottom edges of the band  1  in one configuration (see  FIG. 2 ). The zipper  2  can be temporarily secured together by sliding a slider thereof from one end to the other end in order to form a skirt (see  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0036]    Alternatively, two parallel temporary fastening members (e.g., zippers)  2  are provided in another configuration (see  FIG. 3 ). Such configuration aims to provide four different waist sizes of the skirt. Still alternatively, three parallel temporary fastening members (e.g., zippers) may be provided in still another configuration in order to provide nine different waist sizes of the skirt. This has the advantages of accommodating the changed shape of a woman, thereby minimizing the chance of discarding unfitted clothes. 
         [0037]    While the temporary fastening member  2  is implemented by a zipper, it is envisaged by the invention that the temporary fastening member  2  may be implemented by a hook and loop fabric fastener, buttons and holes, or the like in other embodiments. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 to 9 , an adjustable skirt in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the second preferred embodiment are substantially the same as that of the first preferred embodiment except the following: The band  1  has an inclined side. Further, each zipper  2  is concealed (i.e., on an inner surface of the formed skirt) when the skirt is worn by a woman for aesthetic purposes. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , an adjustable skirt in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the third preferred embodiment are substantially the same as that of the first preferred embodiment except the following: The band  1  is curved and has two inclined sides. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIGS. 12 to 15 , an adjustable skirt  40  in accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the fourth preferred embodiment are substantially the same as that of the third preferred embodiment except the following: A band  41  and a temporary fastening member  42  are provided. The band  41  comprises a top edge  411 , a bottom edge  412 , one curved side  413 , and the other curved side  414 . The top edge  411  comprises a first section  411   a  and a second section  411   b  having a length less than that of the first section  411   a.  The bottom edge  412  comprises a first section  412   a  and a second section  412   b  having a length greater than that of the first section  412   a.    
         [0041]    The temporary fastening member  42  comprises a first portion  421  along the first section  411   a  (i.e., along the top edge), the first portion  421  having both ends  421   a,    421   b;  and a second portion  422  along the second section  412   b  (i.e., along the bottom edge), the second portion  422  having both ends  422   a,    422   b.  One curved side  413  is at angle θ 1  with respect to the top edge  411  at one end  421   b.  The angle θ 1  is at least 3-degree. The other curved side  414  is at angle θ 2  with respect to the top edge  411  at the other end  422   b.  The angle θ 2  is at least 3-degree. 
         [0042]    The other curved side  414  may be configured as one of the following configurations (see  FIG. 13 ). In configuration A, the other curved side  414  has two curves and the band  41  has a horizontal top edge. The only difference between configuration A and configuration B is that the angle θ 2  of configuration B is greater than that of configuration A. In configuration C, the other side  414  is straight and the band  41  has an inclined top edge. In configuration D, one portion of the other side  414  is curved and the other portion thereof is straight. In configuration E, both portions of the other side  414  are straight. 
         [0043]    The temporary fastening member  42  is a zipper having a slider  423  extending from one end  421   b  (i.e., one stop) to the other end  421   a  (i.e., the other stop). 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIG. 14 , the slider  423  will be slid downward to form a skirt when it is disposed at the other end  421   a.  As shown in  FIG. 15 , the slider  423  will be slid upward to form a skirt when it is disposed at one end  421   b.    
         [0045]    Referring to  FIGS. 16 and 17 , an adjustable skirt  40  in accordance with a fifth preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the fifth preferred embodiment are substantially the same as that of the fourth preferred embodiment except the following: The first portion  421  of the temporary fastening member  42  is disposed from an intermediate portion of the top edge  411  to on end  421   b  at a joining point of the top edge  411  and the other curved side  413 . The second portion  422  of the temporary fastening member  42  is disposed from an intermediate portion of the bottom edge  412  to the other end  422   b  at a joining point of the top edge  411  and one curved side  414 . 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIGS. 18 and 19 , an adjustable skirt  40  in accordance with a sixth preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the sixth preferred embodiment are substantially the same as that of the fourth preferred embodiment except the following: The first portion  421  of the temporary fastening member  42  is disposed from an intermediate portion of the top edge  411  to on end  421   b  at a joining point of the top edge  411  and the other curved side  413 . The bottom edge  412  has an extension  412   c  at the other side. The second section  412   b  of the bottom edge  412  is disposed between the extension  412   c  and the first section  412   a  of the bottom edge  412 . On end  422   b  of the second portion  422  of the temporary fastening member  42  is disposed between the extension  412   c  and the second section  411   b  of the top edge  411 . As shown in  FIG. 19 , the top edge of the band  41  is shaped as two intersected lines. 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 20 , an adjustable skirt  40  in accordance with a seventh preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the seventh preferred embodiment are substantially the same as that of the fourth preferred embodiment except the following: A first tape  43  is provided to form with the first portion  421  of the temporary fastening member  42  and further the first tape  43  is secured to the top edge  411  of the band  41  by stitching. A second tape  44  is provided to form with the second portion  422  of the temporary fastening member  42  and further the second tape  44  is secured to the bottom edge  412  of the band  41  by stitching. 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIGS. 21 and 22 , an adjustable skirt  40  in accordance with an eighth preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the eighth preferred embodiment are substantially the same as that of the fourth preferred embodiment except the following: A concave section  415  is formed on the top edge  411  of the band  41  and adjacent one side  413  of the band  41 . The formed skirt has a flared bottom (see  FIG. 22 ). 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIGS. 23 and 24 , an adjustable skirt  40  in accordance with a ninth preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the ninth preferred embodiment are substantially the same as that of the eighth preferred embodiment except the following: A concave section  415  is formed on the top edge  411  of the band  41  and adjacent the other side  414  of the band  41 . The formed skirt has a tapered top (see  FIG. 24 ). 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIGS. 25 and 26 , an adjustable skirt  40  in accordance with a ninth preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the ninth preferred embodiment are substantially the same as that of the eighth preferred embodiment except the following: A concave section  415  is formed on the top edge  411  of the band  41  and adjacent the other side  414  of the band  41 . The concave section  415  extends from a point PL to the other side  414  of the band  41  and has a length D 2 . A convex section  416  is formed on the top edge  411  of the band  41  and adjacent one side  413  of the band  41 . The convex section  416  extends from a point PH to one side  413  of the band  41  and has a length D 1  not equal to the length D 2 . The formed skirt has a bulged intermediate portion (see  FIG. 26 ). 
         [0051]    While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0