Patent Abstract:
An adjustable garment shirt for allowing different sized persons to be able to wear the shirt by allowing the wearer to be able to tighten and pull drawstrings together allowing multiple panel sections to cover different and varying sized bodies. Drawstring type laces criss-cross back and forth between rows of lace holes that are located on the edges of panels on the garment. The ends of the drawstrings can have hook and loop fastener ends that attach to different locations on hook and loop fastener rectangular patches located on the panels. The further along the fastener tie end is located on the rectangular patch, the closer the panels connect to one another. Extra flap materials can exist between the edges of the panels so that modesty of the wearer can be maintained.

Full Description:
This invention relates to clothing, and in particular to a shirt that can be adapted to fit different body sizes having separate front and rear quarter panels that connect together by tie laces that pass through tie holes. 
     BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
     Various garments have been proposed over the years that have sections for ventilation and for cooling. See for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,720,044 to Robinson; 5,727,256 to Rudman; and 5,398,343 to Kuracina. However, these patents are restricted to fixed ventilation panels that can have removable sections. The patents do not allow for a single garment shirt to be easily used on different body sizes. 
     Other patents have been proposed over the years for garments that have removable sections. See for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,088,116 to Gould; and 5,628,064 to Chung. However, these patents are limited to only allow for the removal of panel sections, such as removing a sleeve to make a long sleeve shirt into a short sleeve shirt. These patents do not allow for a single garment shirt to be easily used on different body sizes. 
     Other patents of interest include U.S. Pat. Nos. Des. 396,339 to Ramsey; 253,256 to Barker; 256,747 to Shedaker; 877,416 to Fanta; 879,685 to Siewers; 901,046 to Stiles 1,233,156 to Zies; 2,470,031 to Harris; 2,470,678 to Auslender; 2,591,513 to Cormier; and 2,685,740 to Augustin. Again, none of these patents allow for a single garment to be easily adapted to be used on different body sizes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The first objective of the present invention is to provide a one size fits all garment shirt that can fit a range of people having different body sizes. 
     The second object of this invention is to provide a one size fits all garment shirt that allows the user to reveal parts of their body at expansion areas or cover the expansion areas. 
     The third object of this invention is to provide a one size fits all garment shirt that can be ventilated when needed. 
     The fourth object of this invention is to provide a one size fits all garment shirt that reduces manufacturer production costs, simplifies stock control, and eliminates the over production of certain sizes as compared to producing various size garment shirts for different body types. 
     The invention relates to high fashion summer clothing. A preferred embodiment comprises an upper body shirt with short sleeves having front and rear quarter panels of fabric that are connected together by tie strings passing through lace holes. The panels expand away from one another and are pulled toward one another by loosening and tightening the tie strings. The shirt can be quickly and easily converted from small sizes to large sizes and vice versa as needed. Thus, the same person can wear the shirt as they grow, as well as various persons having different body sizes. Between each of the panels, an extendible fabric can be lowered to cover the expansion joint area allowing modest individuals to not be revealed. The loose exposed ends of the tie strings can be attached to the body of the shirt by hook and loop fasteners (i.e. Velcro®), and the like. 
     Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment which is illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 shows the front view of a preferred embodiment of the invention of the garment shirt having panels separated from one another. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the shirt of FIG. 1 with lace strings and hook and loop fastener pads. 
     FIG. 3 is a rear view of the shirt of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the shirt of FIG. 2 along arrow A. 
     FIG. 5A shows a case for holding the lace string ends of FIGS. 2-4 in an open position. 
     FIG. 5B shows the case of FIG. 5A in a closed position with pad of hook &amp; loop fasteners. 
     FIG. 6 shows an inside view of an expansion panel attachment for the garment shirt. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     FIG. 1 shows the front view of a preferred embodiment of the invention of the garment shirt having panels separated from one another. FIG. 2 is a front view of the shirt of FIG. 1 with lace strings and hook and loop fastener pads. Referring to FIGS. 1-2, left front quarter panel  10  covers a front left breast portion of a wearer and has an upper end left shoulder cover  12 , that covers the left shoulder of the wearer and is fixably or removably attached thereon by being sewn, hook and loop fasteners, and the like. A left collar band portion  11  is attached for fitting about the left neck portion of the wearer. One vertical side edge  14  can angle slightly inwardly running from the edge of the shoulder. The opposite vertical side edge  18  can run perpendicular to the shoulders of the wearer, and include a triangular shaped extended mid portion  19 . Along the vertical side edges  18 ,  19  can be a row of lace holes  17 . The bottom edge  16  can be substantially horizontal with a slight upwardly angled lower edge. Across the bottom edge  16  is a row of lace holes  15 , and a tension adjustment strip  13  that can be a sewn on rectangular patch with exposed hook and loop fasteners. 
     Right front quarter panel  20  covers a front right breast portion of a wearer and has an upper end right shoulder cover  22 , that covers the right shoulder of the wearer and is fixably or removably attached thereon by being sewn, hook and loop fasteners, and the like. A right collar band portion  21  is attached for fitting about the right neck portion of the wearer. One vertical side edge  24  can angle slightly inwardly running downward from the edge of the shoulder, with a bottom straight edge having a small row of lace holes  24 A. The opposite vertical side edge  28  can run perpendicular to the shoulders of the wearer, and include an inwardly cut-out triangular mid portion  29 . Along the vertical side edges  28 ,  29  can be a row of lace holes  27 . The bottom edge  26  can be substantially horizontal with a slight upwardly angled lower edge. Across the bottom edge  26  is a row of lace holes  25 , and a tension adjustment strip  23  that can be a sewn on rectangular patch with exposed hook and loop fasteners. 
     Lower left front panel  30  can include an upwardly sloped angled edge  32  having a row of lace holes  31 , thereon and a rectangular hook and loop fastener patch  39  along the row of lace holes  31 . Outer vertical edge  34  can also include a row of lace holes  33 . An opposite inner vertical edge  38  can include a row lace holes  37 . A bottom horizontal edge  36  can run between inner and outer vertical side edges  34 ,  38 . 
     Lower right front panel  40  can include an upwardly sloped angled edge  42  having a row of lace holes  41 , thereon and a rectangular hook and loop fastener patch  49  along the row of lace holes  41 . Outer vertical edge  44  can also include a row of lace holes  43 . An opposite inner vertical edge  48  can include a row lace holes  47 . A bottom horizontal edge  46  can run between inner and outer vertical side edges  44 ,  48 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2, inner side edge  18  of left panel  10  can be joined to inner side edge  28  of right panel  20  by a single tie lace  52  criss-crossing back and forth between rows of lace holes  17  and  27 . Exposed end  51  of lace  52  can pass through a fixed loop  50  located on one end of rectangular patch  23 . End  51  can include an end having hook and loop fasteners thereon for being removably fastened to various positions along hook and loop rectangular fastener patch  23 . The further along tie end  51  is moved in the direction of arrow T 1 , the smaller the space exists between the side panel edges  18 ,  28 . Likewise opposite exposed tie lace end  53  passes through a fixed loop  54  located on one end of rectangular patch  13 . End  53  can include an end having hook and loop fasteners thereon for being removably fastened to various positions along hook and loop rectangular patch  13 . The further along tie end  53  is moved in the direction of arrow T 2 , the smaller the space exists between side panel edges  18 ,  28 . 
     Inner side edges  38  and  48  are joined by a single tie lace  58  having respective ends  57 ,  59  which pass through and criss-cross back and forth through rows of lace holes  37  and  47 . A screwable tension clip  56  can be moved upward in the direction of arrow T 4 , while tie ends  57 ,  59  are moved downward in the direction of arrow T 3 . Moving the clip and tie ends in opposite directions allows for the space between inner side edges  38 ,  48  to be adjusted. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-2, the bottom edge  26  of right upper panel  20  can be joined to upper edge  42  of lower right panel  40  by a single tie lace  62  having an end  61  which passes through and criss-crosses back and forth between rows of lace holes  25  and  41 . Exposed end  61  of tie  62  can have a hook and loop fastener end which fastens onto hook and loop rectangular fastener patch  49 . Moving end  61  through fixed loop  60  located on one end of patch  49  in the direction of arrow T 5  adjusts the space between edges  26  and  42 . The end of tie lace  63  is extended through the loop  60 A and attached to hook and loop(Velcro) base  23 A. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-2, the bottom edge  16  of left upper panel  10  can be joined to upper edge  32  of lower left panel  30  by a single tie lace  66  having an end  65  which passes through and criss-crosses back and forth between rows of lace holes  15  and  31 . Exposed end  65  of tie  66  can have a hook and loop fastener end which fastens onto hook and loop rectangular fastener patch  39 . Moving end  65  through fixed loop  64  located on one end of patch  39  in the direction of arrow T 6  adjusts the space between edges  26  and  42 . The end of lace  67  is extended through the lower panel through loop  60 B and attached to hook and loop base  23 B. 
     FIG. 3 is a rear view of the shirt of FIG.  2 . Referring to FIG. 3, left rear quarter panel  110  covers a rear left back portion of a wearer and has an upper end left shoulder cover  12 , that covers the left shoulder of the wearer and is fixably or removably attached thereon by being sewn, hook and loop fasteners, and the like. A left collar band portion  111  is attached for fitting about the left neck portion of the wearer. One vertical side edge  114  can angle slightly inwardly running from the edge of the shoulder downward. The opposite vertical side edge  118  can run perpendicular to the shoulders of the wearer. Along the vertical side edge  118  can be a row of lace holes  117 . The bottom edge  116  can be substantially horizontal with a slight upwardly angled lower edge. Across the bottom edge  116  is a row of lace holes  115 . A vertical tension adjustment strip  113  runs along vertical inner edge  118  that can be a sewn on rectangular patch with exposed hook and loop fasteners. 
     Right rear quarter panel  120  covers a rear right back portion of a wearer and has an upper end right shoulder cover  22 , that covers the right shoulder of the wearer and is fixably or removably attached thereon by being sewn, hook and loop fasteners, and the like. A right collar band portion  121  is attached for fitting about the right neck portion of the wearer. One vertical side edge  124  can angle slightly inwardly running downward from the edge of the shoulder, with a bottom straight edge having a small row of lace holes  124 A. The opposite vertical side edge  128  can run perpendicular to the shoulders of the wearer. Along the vertical side edge  128  can be a row of lace holes  127 . The bottom edge  126  can be substantially horizontal with a slight upwardly angled lower edge. Across the bottom edge  126  is a row of lace holes  125 . A vertical tension adjustment strip  123  can be located along vertical inner edge  128  and can be a sewn on rectangular patch with exposed hook and loop fasteners. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, inner side edge  118  of left panel  110  can be joined to inner side edge  128  of right panel  120  by a single tie lace  152  criss-crossing back and forth between rows of lace holes  117  and  127 . Exposed end  151  of lace  152  can pass through a fixed loop  150  located on one end of rectangular patch  123 . End  151  can include an end having hook and loop fasteners thereon for being removably fastened to various positions along hook and loop rectangular fastener patch  123 . The further along tie end  151  is moved in the direction of arrow T 7 , the smaller the space exists between the side panel edges  118 ,  128 . Likewise opposite exposed tie lace end  153  passes through a fixed loop  154  located on one end of rectangular patch  113 . End  153  can include an end having hook and loop fasteners thereon for being removably fastened to various positions along hook and loop rectangular patch  113 . The further along tie end  153  is moved in the direction of arrow T 8 , the smaller the space exists between side panel edges  118 ,  128 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3, lower left rear panel  130  can include an downwardly sloped angled edge  132  having a row of lace holes  131 . Outer vertical edge  134  can also include a row of lace holes  133 . An opposite inner vertical edge  138  can include a row lace holes  137 , and a rectangular hook and loop fastener patch  139  along the row of lace holes  137 . A bottom horizontal edge  136  can run between inner and outer vertical side edges  134 ,  138 . 
     Lower right rear panel  140  can include an downwardly sloped angled edge  142  having a row of lace holes  141 . Outer vertical edge  144  can also include a row of lace holes  143 . An opposite inner vertical edge  148  can include a row lace holes  147 , and a rectangular hook and loop fastener patch  149  along the row of lace holes  147 . A bottom horizontal edge  146  can run between inner and outer vertical side edges  144 ,  148 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the bottom edge  126  of right upper panel  120  can be joined to upper edge  142  of lower right panel  140  by a single tie lace  162  having an end  161  which passes through and criss-crosses back and forth between rows of lace holes  125  and  141 . Exposed end  161  of tie  162  can have a hook and loop fastener end which fastens onto hook and loop rectangular fastener patch  149 . Moving end  161  through fixed loop  160  located on one end of patch  149  in the direction of arrow T 9  adjusts the space between edges  126  and  142 . The end of lace  163  is extended to the lower panel through loop  194  and is attached to hook and loop base  190 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the bottom edge  116  of left upper panel  110  can be joined to upper edge  132  of lower left panel  130  by a single tie lace  166  having an end  165  which passes through and criss-crosses back and forth between rows of lace holes  115  and  131 . Exposed end  165  of tie  166  can have a hook and loop fastener end which fastens onto hook and loop rectangular fastener patch  139 . Moving end  165  through fixed loop  164  located on one end of patch  139  in the direction of arrow T 10  adjusts the space between edges  126  and  142 . The end of lace  167  is extended to the lower panel through loop  184  and is attached to hook and loop base  180 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3, inner side edges  138  and  148  are joined by a single tie lace  158  having respective ends  157 ,  159  which pass through and criss-cross back and forth through rows of lace holes  137  and  147 . A screwable tension clip  156  can be moved upward in the direction of arrow T 4 , while tie ends  157 ,  159  are moved downward in the direction of arrow T 3 . Moving the clip and tie ends in opposite directions allows for the space between inner side edges  138 ,  148  to be adjusted. Component  180  refers to the hook and loop base  180 , tie lace end  182  has hook and loop fasteners such as  540  shown in FIGS. 5A-5B. Component  184  refers to a loop that can be made of fabric that can be sewn on the hook and loop base  180 . Component  190  refers to a hook and loop base, and  192  can be the hook and loop fasteners  540  shown in FIGS. 5A-5B. Component  194  refers to a loop that can be made of fabric that is sewn onto the hook and loop base  190 . 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the shirt of FIG. 2 along arrow A. Referring to FIG. 4, left front panel  20  can have an upper outer edge  20 A having hook and loop fasteners, shoulder cover  12  can have inner edges  12 A,  12 B, each having hook and loop fasteners, and rear back panel  120  can have an upper exterior edge  120 B having hook and loop fasteners. Edges  20 ,  20 A,  12 A,  12 B,  120 ,  120 A can have various amounts of hook and loop fastener surfaces that would allow the shoulder cover  12  to fit over various sized shoulders of the wearer. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, side edges  24  &amp;  124 ,  44  &amp;  144  are joined by a single tie lace  172  having respective ends  171 ,  173  which pass through and criss-cross back and forth through rows of lace holes  24 A,  124 A,  44 ,  144 . A screwable tension clip  175  can be moved upward in the direction of arrow T 13 , while tie ends  171 ,  173  are moved downward in the direction of arrow T 14 . Moving the clip and tie ends in opposite directions allows for the space between inner side edges  24  &amp;  124 ,  44  &amp;  144  to be adjusted. 
     FIG. 5A shows a case  500  for holding the lace string ends of FIGS. 2-4 in an open position. FIG. 5B shows the case  500  of FIG. 5A in a closed position with pad of hook &amp; loop fasteners. Referring to FIGS. 5A-5B, case  500  includes a lower half section  520  and an upper half section  530 . Lower half section  520  has interior arched supports  522  for supporting a portion  510  of a tie lace, with a knot end  512  to one side. Inwardly bending snaps  525  project from lower half section  520 . Upper half section  530  includes at least one interior arched support  532  that is located to be between supports  522 . Upper half section  530  is hingedly attached to lower half section  520  by hinge member  529 . Side indentations  535  in upper half section  530  allow protruding snaps  525  to close locking the tied end  512  of tie lace  510 . The exposed outer surface of either or both lower half section  520  or upper half section  530  can have hook and loop fasteners  540  on the surface. Case  500  allows for the exposed ends of the previously described lace ties to be have fastener surfaces thereon. The case  500  can be made from pre-injection formed plastic, and the like. 
     FIG. 6 shows an inside view of an expansion panel  607  and attachment fasteners  603 - 606  for the garment shirt panels  601 ,  602 . The chest panel  607  can be made from a stretchable elastic fabric, and the like. The chest panel  607  can be attached to the backside of the front upper left panel  601  and upper right panel  602  by fasteners such as but not limited to parallel rows of snap button fasteners  603 ,  604 ,  605 , and  606 . Another type of fasteners that can be used can be hook and loop fasteners, and the like. The chest panel  607  can be stretched according the body size. Alternatively, the chest panel  607  can be removed from the garment. Although not shown, other like expansion panels and like fasteners can be used behind other tie string areas wherever, bare skin or undergarments are exposed. 
     The panels and materials for forming the garment shirt can be made from cotton, cotton blend, polyester, combinations thereof, and the like. 
     While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0