Abstract:
A modular garment including first and second panels. The first and second panels are aligned with one another such that the first panel first side edge aligns with the second panel second side edge and the first panel second side edge aligns with the second panel side edge and wherein the at least one first panel male connector releasably engages the at least one second panel female connector and the at least one first panel female connector releasably engages the at least one second panel male connector to releasably interconnect the first and second panels to define the garment.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/972,562, which was filed on Mar. 31, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to modular garments. More particularly, the invention relates to modular top and bottom garments which include modular front and rear panels. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Existing apparel construction through current methods of sewing limit the use, size, and general aesthetics of garments. With current modifiable garments and prior art, fronts and backs are not separatable thereby limiting the changeability of style or size. Prior to my invention, apparel construction has either had permanent seams or is separatable only from top to bottom, or body to sleeves. These previous systems of apparel construction severely limits the changes the wearer can make on the garment. It also makes the wearer commit to the current size of the garment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In at least one embodiment, the invention allows the wearer to change styles, add sizes to the current garment, and interchange other modular pieces to transform a garment&#39;s use and style. The modular garment system is fabricated as modular reattachable panels that separate not only portions of the garment from top to bottom or body to sleeves, but also separates front and back panels and allows garment parts that can be interchanged or added to alter garment. 
         [0005]    In at least one embodiment, the invention provides a modular garment including first and second panels. The first panel has a body between top and bottom edges and opposed first and second side edges wherein the first side edge includes at least one male connector and the second side edge includes at least one female connector. The second panel has a body between top and bottom edges and opposed first and second side edges wherein the first side edge includes at least one male connector and the second side edge includes at least one female connector. The first and second panels are aligned with one another such that the first panel first side edge aligns with the second panel second side edge and the first panel second side edge aligns with the second panel side edge and wherein the at least one first panel male connector releasably engages the at least one second panel female connector and the at least one first panel female connector releasably engages the at least one second panel male connector to releasably interconnect the first and second panels to define the garment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the features of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary garment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention shown partially exploded. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the garment of  FIG. 1  fully assembled. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another exemplary garment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention shown partially exploded. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the garment of  FIG. 3  fully assembled. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary top garment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary bottom garment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a partial plan view of another exemplary garment including an expander member. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a partial plan view of another exemplary garment including an expander member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    In the drawings, like numerals indicate like elements throughout. Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. The following describes preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, it should be understood, based on this disclosure, that the invention is not limited by the preferred embodiments described herein. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a first modular garment  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention will be described. The first modular garment  10  is in the form of a dress including a top garment  20  releasably attached to a bottom garment  50 . The top garment  20  defines a shoulder area  38 , arm holes  36  and a waistline  37 . The bottom garment  50  defines a waistband  54  and extends to a hemline  53 . It is noted that the bottom garment  50  may be worn as a separate skirt without interconnection to a top garment. As explained below, the bottom garment  50  may include internal zippers inset within the waistband to allow the skirt to be worn by itself without the top garment. 
         [0017]    To interconnect the top and bottom garments  20 ,  50  to form the dress, an external zipper  46  extends along the waistline  37  and an internal zipper  66  extends along the waistband  54 . As explained in more detail hereinafter, the external zipper  46  and internal zipper  66  may be defined by separate front and rear zippers. In the illustrated embodiment, the external zipper  46  is a male zipper and the internal zipper  66  is a female zipper. That is, the external zipper  46  includes an extending end  47  configured to be received in a female zipper slider  67  of the internal zipper  66 . The external and internal zippers  46 ,  66  interconnect and disconnect in a known manner to facilitate attachment and detachment of the top garment  20  and the bottom garment  50 . As illustrated, a series of snaps  34 , preferably female snaps, extend along the internal perimeter of the arm holes  36  for attachment of sleeves if desired. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a second modular garment  10 ′ in accordance with an embodiment of the invention will be described. The second modular garment  10 ′ is in the form of a shirt. The shirt  10 ′ may utilize the same top garment  20  that was used in the previous embodiment to form the dress. A peplum module  80  attaches to the waistline  37  of the top garment  20  such that the garment  10 ′ will have sufficient length to be worn as a shirt. The peplum module  80  includes a body  82  of a desired length and a waistband  84 . An internal female zipper  86  extends along the waistband  84  and includes a female zipper slider  87  for engagement with the top external zipper  46 . In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of sleeves  90  are configured for attachment to the arm holes  36 . Each sleeve  90  includes a tubular body  92  extending between a free end  91  and an attachment end  93 . A series of snaps  94 , preferably male snaps, extend along the external perimeter of the attachment end  93  for attachment of sleeves to the top garment  20 . The snaps  94  are preferably provided on two linear pieces of tape to match the armseye  28  as described hereinafter. The shoulder area of the each sleeve  90  may be formed with pleats  98  to hide the bulk that the snaps make in the garment, allowing the garment to seem whole. While short sleeves are illustrated, it is desired that sleeves of any desired length may be utilized. The modular nature of the garment allows sleeves of different lengths to be used with the same top garment  20 , for example, depending on the season. 
         [0019]    The garments  10  and  10 ′ are provided as two exemplary garments that may be formed with the modular components. It is recognized that a wide variety of garments beyond the illustrated garments may be formed utilizing various components. To further increase the variety, the top and bottom garments  20 ,  50  may each be modular between the front surface and the rear surface. Similarly, the plenum modules  80  and sleeves  90  may similarly be made to be modular front to back in a manner similar to that described below with respect to the top and bottom garments  20 ,  50 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a modular top garment  20  will be described. The modular top garment  20  includes a front panel  22  and a rear panel  22 ′. It is noted that the panel  22  includes a v-neckline  26  while the panel  22 ′ includes a standard neckline  26 ′. In other aspects, the panels  22 ,  22 ′ are substantially the same. While the illustrated embodiment utilizes different front and rear panels  22 ,  22 ′, it is recognized that either panel may be utilized as the front or the rear and the front and rear panels may be different or the same. Each panel  22 ,  22 ′ extends from a top edge  21  to a bottom edge  23  and between opposed side edges  25 ,  27 . When the two panels  22 ,  22 ′ are interconnected, the top edges  21  will define the shoulder area  38  of the top garment  20  and the bottom edges  23  will define the waistline  37  of the top garment  20 . 
         [0021]    To interconnect the two panels  22 ,  22 ′, one side edge  25  includes an internal female zipper  40  with a female zipper slider  41  and the other side edge  27  includes an external male zipper  42  with a male extension  43 . In the present embodiment, the top edge  21  adjacent the side edge  25  includes female eyes  45  while the top edge  21  adjacent the side edge  27  includes male hooks  44 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , when the internal surfaces of the two panels  22 ,  22 ′ face each other, the female zippers  40  on side edges  25  align with the male zipper  42  on the side edge  27  of the opposed panel. Similarly, the female eyes  45  adjacent the side edges  25  align with the male hooks  44  adjacent the side edge  27  of the opposed panel. This configuration, i.e. male connectors on one side edge of the panel and female connectors on the opposite side edge of the panel, allows the panels to be utilized as either front or rear panels. The zippers and snaps may be color coded to allow ease in combining the modules. 
         [0022]    To facilitate proper fit and appearance of the top garment  20 , the panels  22 ,  22 ′ may include additional features which facilitate use as a front or rear panel. One such feature includes the pleats  32  extending generally parallel to the side edges  25 ,  27  adjacent the bottom edge  23 . The pleats  32  allow the panel  22 ,  22 ′ to be worn in front and accommodate the bust or to lay flat when worn on the back. 
         [0023]    As another feature, the angle of the armseye  28  is specifically angled as to allow the piece to be worn in front or in back. That is, the armseye  28  includes two generally linear portions  29 ,  30  which are at an obtuse angle a relative to one another. Similarly, the snaps  34  are preferably provided on two pieces of tape with each tape following the respective linear portion  29 ,  30 . Such a configuration avoids a rounded armseye, as the other garments, which would gape open or pull when worn in an opposing manner from intended, making it unwearable. 
         [0024]    As previously explained, snaps  34  are provided along the armseye  28  for connection of sleeves if desired. The snaps  34  are set into the sleeve in the armseye  28  to hide the snaps  28  as to not appear as an un-whole garment. The snaps  34  may be fused to tape which is then sewn onto garment. The use of snap tape alleviates stress from the garment when the sleeves are separated. The snaps  34  on the armseye  28  are preferably female snaps while the snaps  94  on the sleeves  90  are preferably male snaps. With this configuration, the male snaps point away from the body. This allows the garment to be worn comfortably even without sleeves attached. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a modular bottom garment  50  will be described. The modular bottom garment  50  includes a front panel  52  and a rear panel  52 . While the illustrated embodiment utilizes identical front and rear panels  52 , it is recognized that either panel may be utilized as the front or the rear and the front and rear panels may be different or the same. Each panel  52  extends from a top edge  51  to a bottom edge  53  and between opposed side edges  55 ,  57 . When the two panels  52  are interconnected, the top edges  51  will define the waistband  54  of the bottom garment  50  and the bottom edges  53  will define the hemline of the bottom garment  50 . 
         [0026]    To interconnect the two panels  52 , one side edge  55  includes an internal female zipper  62  with a female zipper slider  63  and the other side edge  57  includes an external male zipper  60  with a male extension  61 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , when the internal surfaces of the two panels  52  face each other, the female zippers  62  on side edges  25  align with the male zipper  60  on the side edge  57  of the opposed panel. This configuration, i.e. male connectors on one side edge of the panel and female connectors on the opposite side edge of the panel, allows the panels to be utilized as either front or rear panels. In the illustrated embodiment, the zippers  66  at the waistline  54  are sewn to begin and end away from the sides  55 ,  57  of the garment  50  to minimize the bulk created when four corners of a garment combined with zippers meet. The zippers may be color coded to allow ease in combining the modules. 
         [0027]    To facilitate proper fit and appearance of the top garment  20 , the panels  52  may include additional features which facilitate use as a front or rear panel. One such feature includes pleats  56  extending generally parallel to the side edges  55 ,  57  adjacent the top edge  51 . The pleats  56  allow the panel  52  to be worn in the front while accommodating the rear end when worn in the back. Without this modification, skirts would either balloon in the front or pull/tug and be unwearable in the back. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , expander panels  100 ,  100 ′ usable with the panels  22 ,  22 ′ and  52 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the expander panel  100  is configured to be positioned between two top garment panels  22 ,  22 ′. The illustrated panel  100  has a triangular body  102  with opposed side edges  101  and  103 . The panel  100  may have a shape other than triangular. A male zipper  104  with a male extension  105  extends along the side edge  101  and is configured to interconnect with the female zipper  40  of the panel  22 ′. A female zipper  106  with a female zipper slider  107  extends along the side edge  103  and is configured to interconnect with the male zipper  42  of the panel  22 . The expander panel  100  allows the waistline  37  of the top garment  20  to be expanded, for example, to be utilized as a maternity shirt. 
         [0029]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the expander panel  100 ′ is configured to be positioned between two top garment panels  22 ,  22 ′ and two bottom panels  52 . The illustrated panel  100 ′ has a diamond shaped body  102  with opposed upper side edges  101  and  103  and opposed lower side edges  109  and  111 . The panel  100 ′ may have a shape other than diamond shape. A male zipper  104  with a male extension  105  extends along the side edge  101  and is configured to interconnect with the female zipper  40  of the panel  22 ′. A female zipper  106  with a female zipper slider  107  extends along the side edge  103  and is configured to interconnect with the male zipper  42  of the panel  22 . A male zipper  114  with a male extension  115  extends along the side edge  111  and is configured to interconnect with the female zipper  62  of the panel  52 . A female zipper  112  with a female zipper slider  113  extends along the side edge  109  and is configured to interconnect with the male zipper  60  of the panel  52 . The expander panel  100 ′ allows the waistline  37  of the top garment  20  and the waistband  54  of the bottom garment  50  to be expanded, for example, to be utilized as a maternity dress. Expander panels may be configured to be positioned between top panels or bottom panels or both top and bottom panels. 
         [0030]    These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing specification. Accordingly, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It should therefore be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is intended to include all changes and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the claims.