Abstract:
A garment with one or more personalizable panels and various related embodiments are disclosed. The garment, to be worn about the lower torso and legs, comprises: a waist encircling portion, a first leg encircling portion, and a second leg encircling portion, in which the waist encircling portion may comprise both an adjustable waistband and a non-adjustable waistband portion, and a personalizable panel for displaying one or more personal communications. The disclosed embodiments feature a variety of personalizable panels constructed in a variety of ways and attached to the garment in a variety of ways. Features of the disclosure allow for the attachment of the personalizable panel in such a way as to not interfere with the operation of the adjustable waistband portion. Other features of the disclosure allow the personalizable panel to maintain its shape despite the expansion and contraction of the adjustable waistband portion. The one or more personal communications may be conveyed as text, designs, images, and in any combination thereof as needed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This non-provisional utility application includes subject matter that is related to United States design patent application by inventor Lynn A. Bowman entitled “Garment with One or More Personalizable Panels”, which has the filing date Aug. 19, 2011, agent docket number 2011 — 05_C. The aforementioned design application is incorporated herein by reference. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    One only need look at such things as bumper stickers, T-shirts, web logs, and postings on social media websites to see that people enjoy expressing themselves and their personalities in ways that are visible to others. In addition, many people enjoy expressing themselves through their own personal style, whether it be through clothing choices, hair style, jewelry, or other means. The present application discloses a garment and related embodiments that have features allowing a person to display one or more personal communications for the observation and notice of others. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Disclosed are various embodiments of a garment with one or more personalizable panels. In a first embodiment, a garment with at least one personalizable panel to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprises: a waist encircling portion, a first leg encircling portion, and, a second leg encircling portion; the waist encircling portion having: an adjustable waist band portion abutting a non-adjustable waistband portion, the non-adjustable waistband portion being configured such that at least a first portion of said non-adjustable waistband portion is a first personalizable panel; the first personalizable panel being further configured to substantially retain its shape while the adjustable waistband portion flexes; the first personalizable panel being configured to display a first personalized communication, the first personalizable panel being located such that the first personalized communication is visible on the outside of the garment. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, a garment with at least one personalizable panel to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprises: a waist encircling portion having an adjustable waistband portion, a first leg encircling portion, a second leg encircling portion, and a first elongate personalizable panel attached to the first leg encircling portion; the first elongate personalizable panel further characterized as having both a first panel length and a first panel width with the first elongate personalizable panel being located such that the first panel width is substantially parallel to a portion of the waist encircling portion, the first elongate personalizable panel being further configured to substantially retain its shape while the adjustable waistband portion flexes; the first elongate personalizable panel being configured to display a first personalized communication, the first elongate personalizable panel being located such that the first personalized communication is visible on the outside of the garment. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, a garment with at least one personalizable panel to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprises: a waist encircling portion having an adjustable waistband portion, a first leg encircling portion, a second leg encircling portion, and, a first elongate personalizable panel having at least one panel edge; the first elongate personalizable panel being further configured such that at least a portion of at least one panel edge is attached to the first leg encircling portion, the first elongate personalizable panel having both a first panel length and a first panel width, said first elongate personalizable panel being located such that the first panel width is substantially parallel to a portion of the waist encircling portion; the first elongate personalizable panel being configured to carry a first personalized communication, and, the first elongate personalizable panel being located such that the first personalized communication is visible on the outside of the garment. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, a garment with at least one personalizable panel to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprises: a waist encircling portion having an adjustable waistband portion, a first leg encircling portion, a second leg encircling portion, and a first elongate personalizable panel; the garment further characterized as having a wearer proximal side which faces inward toward the wearer and a wearer distal side which faces away from the wearer; the garment further characterized in that the first elongate personalizable panel is configured such that a portion of the first elongate personalizable panel is attached to the wearer proximal side and a portion of the first elongate personalizable panel is attached to the wearer distal side; the first elongate personalizable panel further characterized in that it is folded over a portion of the waist encircling portion such that the adjustable waistband portion may operate in expansion and contraction without causing substantial expansion and contraction of the first elongate personalizable panel; the first elongate personalizable panel being configured to display a first personalized communication, and, the first elongate personalizable panel being located such that the first personalized communication is visible from the outside of the garment. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, a kit for personalizing a garment with at least one personalizable panel to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprises: a garment to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprising: a waist encircling portion having an adjustable waistband portion, a first leg encircling portion, a second leg encircling portion; the garment further characterized as having a wearer proximal side which faces inward toward the wearer and a wearer distal side which faces away from the wearer; and, a first elongate personalizable panel configured such that a portion of the first elongate personalizable panel is attachable to the wearer proximal side and a portion of the first elongate personalizable panel is attachable to the wearer distal side; the first elongate personalizable panel further characterized in that it can fold over a portion of the waist encircling portion such that the adjustable waistband portion may operate in expansion and contraction without causing substantial expansion and contraction of the first elongate personalizable panel; the first elongate personalizable panel being configured to display a first personalized communication, and, the first elongate personalizable panel being attachable to the garment such that the first personalized communication is visible from the outside of the garment when the first elongate personalizable panel is attached to the garment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1A  shows a perspective view of a garment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1B  shows another perspective view of the garment of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a garment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure having more than one personalizable panel. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a garment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a garment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  shows a cross section view of a garment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS APPEARING IN THE FIGURES 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               2 —garment with one or more personalizable panels 
               10 —waist encircling portion 
               12   a ,  12   b —first leg encircling portion, second leg encircling portion 
               14 ,  14   a ,  14   b —adjustable waistband portion, first adjustable waistband portion, second adjustable waistband portion 
               16 ,  16   a ,  16   b —non-adjustable waistband portion, first non-adjustable waistband portion, second non-adjustable waistband portion 
               24 —front access opening 
               40 —wearer proximal side 
               42 —wearer distal side 
               50 ,  50   a ,  50   b —personalizable panel, first personalizable panel, second personalizable panel 
               52 ,  52   a ,  52   b —elongate personalizable panel, first elongate personalizable panel, second elongate personalizable panel 
               60 —panel edge 
               62 —panel width 
               64 —panel length 
               70 ,  70   a ,  70   b —personalized communication, first personalized communication, second personalized communication 
           
         
       
     
       DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    The present invention is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It may be evident, however, that the present invention can be practiced without these specific details and still be within the teachings of this disclosure. 
         [0032]    Turning now to  FIG. 1A , shown is a perspective view of an embodiment of a garment with one or more personalizable panels  2  to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprising: a waist encircling portion  10 , a first leg encircling portion  12   a , and, a second leg encircling portion  12   b ; waist encircling portion  10  having: an adjustable waist band portion  14  abutting a non-adjustable waistband portion  16 , non-adjustable waistband portion  16  being configured such that at least a first portion of said non-adjustable waistband portion is a first personalizable panel  50   a ; first personalizable panel  50   a  being further configured to substantially retain its shape while adjustable waistband portion  14  expands and contracts; first personalizable panel  50   a  being configured to display a first personalized communication  70   a , the first personalizable panel being located such that the first personalized communication is visible on the outside of the garment. 
         [0033]    With continuing reference to  FIG. 1A , the garment may be characterized as having both a garment top and a garment bottom in which a torso of the wearer is proximate to the garment top and the legs of the wearer are proximate to the garment bottom when the garment is worn. The waist encircling portion  10  of the garment has an adjustable waistband portion  14  to facilitate snugness and proper sizing of the garment while being worn. The adjustable waistband portion  14  need not encircle the entire waist encircling portion of the garment and preferred embodiments have non-adjustable waistband portion  16  which abuts adjustable waistband portion. Constructing the garment in this way still provides adjustability in the waistband area of the garment but also allows for a first personalizable panel  50   a  to be integrated into the garment. Adjustable waistband portion  14  is free to expand and contract as the wearer&#39;s movements dictate while at the same time the non-adjustable waistband portion  16  is substantially free from expansion and contraction as the garment wearer moves. Also shown in  FIG. 1A  is front access opening  24 , which may be particularly useful for a male wearer of the garment. Front access opening  24  is an optional feature of the garment, which may not be present in all embodiments. Front access opening  24  may be constructed to have a closure means such as a button, buttons, hook and loop, zipper to secure the front access opening in a closed aspect. 
         [0034]    The garment of  FIG. 1A  may be constructed from a range of suitable materials and with a range of different methods used to join those materials together to complete the manufacture of the garment. Cloth and fabric materials are preferred. However, any suitable garment material could find appropriate application with the teachings of this disclosure. The various embodiments of garments according to this disclosure apply equally to undergarments, overgarments, swimwear and the like, subject only to the materials and construction methods that suit the particular application of the teachings of this disclosure. A preferred embodiment of the garment may be constructed of a plurality of cloth panels, wherein the panels are joined together via stitching and the adjustable waistband portion uses an elastic rubber or latex aspect to provide adjustability to the adjustable waistband portion. Other preferred embodiments may use a drawstring through the waist encircling portion to provide adjustability to the adjustable waistband portion. Other embodiments using a cloth or fabric, which may be thermally joined, such as polypropylene, which is particularly suitable for moisture wicking undergarments, may employ a plurality of panels which are then joined via thermal or ultrasound methods which may fuse the panels or panel edges without stitching. 
         [0035]    In preferred embodiments, garment  2  may have one or more personalizable panels that are configured to display one or more personalized communications. First personalizable panel  50   a  may be constructed from a range of suitable materials, with cloth and fabric being preferred. First personalizable panel  50   a  need not be constructed from the same materials used in the remainder of the garment. In addition, first personalized communication  70   a  may be created on first personalizable panel  50   a  in a variety of different ways. In preferred embodiments, stitching or embroidery may be used on first personalizable panel  50   a  to create an easily recognizable word, phrase, or image that may have meaning to the wearer of the garment. Equally preferred modes of conveying the personalized communication are silk screening, direct-to-garment printing, ink jet printing, stamping, and other means of transferring text or images onto the personalizable panel. In preferred embodiments, first personalizable panel  50   a  may be constructed of multiple plies of material such that first personalized communication  70   a  is displayed on an outermost ply while the inward facing surface of the personalizable panel closest to the skin of the wearer may be a smooth ply with no intrusions or piercings from the displayed first personalized communication  70   a . Such constructions of the personalizable panel have advantages in the comfort of the garment to the wearer. When the personalized communication is implemented by embroidery or stitching it may be preferred that the embroidery or stitching take place on an outer ply while the inner ply would be free of any artifacts of the stitching or embroidery. 
         [0036]    While the embodiment of garment  2  in  FIG. 1A  shows first personalizable panel  50   a  located in the front of the garment, there is no intention to limit the position of the personalizable panel to just the front of the garment. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A , first personalizable panel  50   a  may be located anywhere along waist encircling portion  10 , only subject to the condition that non-adjustable waistband portion  16  and adjustable waistband portion  14  be positioned such that non-adjustable waistband portion  16  is located where first personalizable panel  50   a  is desired. In addition, there is no intention to limit the number of non-adjustable waistband portions that may be used to construct the garment. A garment within the teachings of this disclosure may have one or more non-adjustable waistband portions, and in between those non-adjustable waistband portions there may be one or more adjustable waistband portions. Furthermore, one or more of the non-adjustable waistband portions may be a personalizable panel, with each personalizable panel displaying a personal communication. Each personal communication may be unique or may be a duplicate of another personal communication. 
         [0037]    With reference now to  FIG. 1B , shown is the garment of  FIG. 1A  illustrated without the personalized communication to more clearly show the location of non-adjustable waistband portion  16 .  FIG. 1B  shows the garment  2  comprising waist encircling portion  10 , first leg encircling portion  12   a , and second leg encircling portion  12   b . Waist encircling portion  10  is shown comprising adjustable waistband portion  14  and non-adjustable waistband portion  16 . Also, front access opening  24  is visible in the figure indicating that  FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the front of the garment. Non-adjustable waistband portion  16  may be adorned directly with a personalized communication, or a personalizable panel that displays a personalized communication may be added to the garment, as both embodiments are within the teachings of this disclosure. 
         [0038]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , shown is another embodiment of a garment with one or more personalizable panels  2  to be worn about the lower torso and legs, having more than one personalizable panel. The view of the embodiment of the garment of  FIG. 2  is shown from the back of the garment. The garment of  FIG. 2  is shown comprising: a waist encircling portion  10 , a first leg encircling portion  12   a , a second leg encircling portion  12   b . Waist encircling portion  10  is shown comprising: a first adjustable waistband portion  14   a  abutting a first non-adjustable waistband portion  16   a , and, a second adjustable waistband portion  14   b  abutting a second non-adjustable waistband portion  16   b . At least a portion of first non-adjustable waistband portion  16   a  is first personalizable panel  50   a , and, at least a portion of second non-adjustable waistband portion  16   b  is second personalizable panel  50   b  and second personalizable panel  50   b . In other embodiments of the garment of  FIG. 2 , first and second personalizable panels  50   a  and  50   b  may be separate panels that are attached to first and second non-adjustable waistband portions, respectively. 
         [0039]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , shown is another embodiment of a garment with one or more personalizable panels  2  to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprising: a waist encircling portion  10 , a first leg encircling portion  12   a , a second leg encircling portion  12   b , and an elongate personalizable panel  52 . The garment of  FIG. 3  may be characterized as having both a garment top and a garment bottom in which the torso of the wearer is proximate to garment top and the legs of the wearer are proximate to the garment bottom when the garment is worn. Elongate personalizable panel  52  comprises at least one panel edge  60 , a panel width  62 , and, a panel length  64 . At least one panel edge  60  of the elongate personalizable panel  52  is attached to one of the leg encircling portions so as to position panel width  62  to be substantially parallel to at least a portion of waist encircling portion  10 . In addition, elongate personalizable panel  52  may be positioned so that it attaches to the garment below the waist encircling portion area defined by the adjustable waistband portion. Also shown in  FIG. 3  is front access opening  24  which may be particularly useful for a male wearer of the garment. Front access opening  24  is an optional feature of the garment which may not be present in all embodiments. Front access opening  24  may be constructed to have a closure means such as a button or zipper to secure the front access opening in a closed aspect. 
         [0040]    The garment of  FIG. 3  may use the same variety of materials and the same variety of methods of joining the various panels as the garments of  FIG. 1A ,  FIG. 1B , and  FIG. 2 , previously described. In addition, the elongate personalizable panel of  FIG. 3  may be expected to use the same materials and construction methods as the one or more personalizable panels embodied in the garment of  FIG. 1A ,  FIG. 1B , and  FIG. 2 . In particular, the elongate personalizable panel may be a single ply or multi-ply construction. In preferred embodiments, panel length may be greater than panel width, with the elongate personalizable panel further characterized in that it is located such that the panel width is oriented substantially parallel to a portion of the waist encircling portion of the garment. It is noted that a garment with more than one elongate personalizable panel is entirely within the scope of this disclosure. A preferred embodiment has a first elongate personalizable panel aligned with and on the same side of the garment as the first leg encircling portion and a second elongate personalizable panel aligned with and on the same side of the garment as the second leg and circling portion. 
         [0041]    The garment of  FIG. 3  has a number of embodiments that may be desirable. The advantages of certain preferred embodiments will now be described. One preferred embodiment of the garment of  FIG. 3  has elongate personalizable panel  52  that is attached to the garment via one panel edge  60 . The remainder of elongate personalizable panel need not be attached to the garment in this embodiment. This preferred embodiment would then allow the garment  2  to be manufactured first and then the unattached portion of elongate personalizable panel  52  of the garment may be inserted or otherwise positioned into a machine that may then stitch or in some other way create a first personalized communication  70   a  directly on elongate personalizable panel  52 . The free access to one or more unattached edges of the elongate personalizable panel makes it much easier to personalize the garment. Once the garment has been personalized via stitching or other methods, then one or more of the free panel edges may be attached to the garment. 
         [0042]    Turning now to  FIG. 4 , shown is a perspective view of another embodiment of a garment with one or more personalizable panels  2  to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprising: a waist encircling portion  10 , a first leg encircling portion  12   a , a second leg encircling portion  12   b , and a first elongate personalizable panel  52   a . Waist encircling portion  10  comprises an adjustable waistband portion  14 . The garment shown is further characterized as having a wearer proximal side  40 , which faces inward toward the wearer when garment  2  is worn, and a wearer distal side  42  which faces away from the wearer when the garment is worn. First elongate personalizable panel  52   a  is configured such that a portion of the panel is attached to wearer proximal side  40  of the garment and a portion of first elongate personalizable panel  52   a  is attached to wearer distal side  42 . As shown in the figure, first elongate personalizable panel  52   a  is folded over a portion of the waist encircling portion  10  of the garment such that adjustable waistband portion  14  may operate in expansion and contraction without causing substantial expansion and contraction of the first elongate personalizable panel. The garment of  FIG. 4  as shown displays a personalized communication  70  on first elongate personalizable panel  52   a  such that personalized communication  70  is visible from the outside of the garment. Furthermore, the garment of  FIG. 4  is constructed in such a way that the means of attaching first elongate personalizable panel  52   a  to the garment  2  in no substantial way interferes with the functional expansion and contraction of adjustable waistband portion  14 . 
         [0043]    The embodiment of the garment according to  FIG. 4  has a number of advantages set forth now. Prior to attaching the first elongate personalizable panel to either the wearer proximal side or the wearer distal side, the remainder of the garment may be manufactured. The first elongate personalizable panel may be manufactured separately and then attached to the garment afterward. This introduces a number of beneficial efficiencies in the manufacturing process. In addition, a kit may be prepared wherein the kit comprises: an elongate personalizable panel and a garment to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprising: a waist encircling portion, a first leg encircling portion, and a second leg encircling portion, the waist encircling portion having an adjustable waistband portion. A personalized communication may then be added to the elongate personalizable panel and then the elongate personalizable panel may be attached to the garment. The elongate personalizable panel is attachable to the garment. The means of attaching the elongate personalizable panel to the garment may include stitching, hook and loop fasteners, gluing, and other means. A cross section view is indicated in  FIG. 4  to show the details of the relative positioning of elongate personalizable panel with respect to adjustable waistband portion. The cross section view can be seen in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0044]    The garment of  FIG. 4  may use the same variety of materials and the same variety of methods of joining the various panels as the garments of  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 3  previously described. In addition, the elongate personalizable panel of  FIG. 4  may be expected to use the same materials and construction methods as the one or more personalizable panels embodied in the garments of  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 3 . In particular, the elongate personalizable panel may be single ply or multi-ply in construction. In preferred embodiments, panel length may be greater than panel width. The elongate personalizable panel may take on shapes which are suitable to the construction methods described and need not be limited to rectangular shapes. 
         [0045]      FIG. 5  is a cross section view of the garment of  FIG. 4  with the position and direction of the cross sectional view as indicated in  FIG. 4 . The cross section of  FIG. 5  shows waist encircling portion  10  having an adjustable waistband portion  14 . Also shown in  FIG. 5  are wearer proximal side  40  and wearer distal side  42 . First elongate personalizable panel  52   a  is shown attached to both wearer proximal side and wearer distal side of the garment in such a manner as to allow the adjustable waistband portion to flex and contract without causing substantial expansion or contraction of the first elongate personalizable panel. Also  FIG. 5  indicates that personalized communication  70  is visible from the front of the garment. 
         [0046]    Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Section 112, Paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. Section 112, Paragraph 6.