Abstract:
A device and method for easily adjusting the fit of a garment by pinching and holding excess material and creating a temporary seam that holds without damaging the garment material. The device is easily aligned and adjusted for length. It has snap-like closures that allow the device to lock into place through the fabric, either by piercing the fabric, or by pushing the fabric through without piercing or damaging it, thus creating an inside seam. The device is durable and secure enough to be machine-washable so that, once positioned, it may be left in place for washing or drying if desired. Alternatively, the device may be easily removed for washing or other reasons and easily reapplied and/or repositioned.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/728,446 filed 20 Nov. 2012 by the present inventor. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a removable adjustable device for altering the fit of clothing. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    The vast majority of manufactured clothing around the world comes in predetermined sizes. But while a wearer may generally fit most aspects of a particular size (such as small, medium, large or extra-large), they often do not fit all aspects. For example a manufactured garment in a particular size may fit the wearer at the waist, but not in the arms. It may fit at the hips, but not at the hem. So wearers are often required to purchase the size of garment that most fits the wearers body dimensions and style, and forced to either accept certain aspects of the garment as non-fitting or take the time (and/or pay the money) to have them altered. 
         [0004]    One example of this situation is with t-shirts which are generally manufactured in sizes ranging from small to extra-large. The wearer chooses a size that generally fits his (or her) body shape in most aspects. However, because the shirts are manufactured to fit a majority of wearers within a certain size, certain aspects of the t-shirt, such as the sleeve circumference, need to be adjusted. T-shirt sleeves which are loose or floppy are considered generally unstylish or uncomfortable to wear. This is why expensive designer brands, which cater to a smaller market of wearers, will occasionally manufacture t-shirts with a slimmer sleeve fit because it is generally perceived as a more expensive and stylish cut. Still, exact fit is hard to pre-determine must be adjusted for the individual. 
         [0005]    There are several well-worn methods for adjusting fit both permanently and temporarily. One common permanent method is to cut, measure and re-stich the fabric to the proper dimension. Common temporary methods include use of tape, hook &amp; loop, or staples to pinch the fabric. There are significant drawbacks to both. The cut and stitch method is permanent, time consuming and relatively expensive. The temporary methods are tricky to apply, may not hold properly for the duration of wear or may damage the material. 
         [0006]    Applying the t-shirt sleeve example, one permanent method of decreasing the circumference of a t-shirt sleeve might involve pinching the fabric together along the inside seam, and using a needle &amp; thread to sew the excess material of the sleeve together, in essence creating a new inside seam. This is a laborious, multi-step slow process, which is difficult to undo if either too much or too little fabric is sewn, resulting in a sleeve that is respectively either too tight or still too loose. Alternatively, one could use tape or a hook &amp; loop (such as Velcro brand fasteners) or even staples to pinch the fabric. Tape is difficult to apply, doesn&#39;t hold well and leaves a sticky residue on the fabric. The hook &amp; loop fasteners must be fastened to the garment using sticky glues or by sewing. And staples are difficult to properly align and can damage the fabric. 
         [0007]    What is needed is a way to adjust the fit of a garment using an easily applied and adjustable device which can be either temporarily or permanently applied to the garment and which does not damage the garment when removed. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0008]    In accordance with the invention, the problem of easily adjusting the fit of a garment is solved by a device made of flexible material, such as plastic or heavy fabric, having hinged opposing arms with gripping means for holding fabric between the arms and fastening means for fastening the arms together with fabric pinched in between. The device is grooved to provide flexibility and provide an easy way to adjust length. It may be easily positioned on the inside of a garment and fastened to pinch excess material and create a seam that holds without damaging the garment material. The device is easily aligned and adjusted for length. The fasteners are snap-like closures that allow the device to lock into place through the fabric, either by piercing the fabric, or by pushing the fabric through without piercing or damaging it, thus creating an inside seam. The device is durable and secure enough to be machine-washable so that, once positioned, it may be left in place for washing or drying if desired. Alternatively, the device may be easily removed for washing or other reasons and easily reapplied and/or repositioned. In accordance with the invention, a method for using the device to adjust the fit of a garment is also disclosed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example embodiment containing the inventive principles, in this a case a preferred form of the device which could be used to alter a t-shirt sleeve. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are a side view of the preferred embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  in closed position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the preferred embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  in open position and exposing the interior surfaces. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the preferred embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  in open position with interior surfaces positioned upward. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a standard t-shirt shape created by most manufacturers&#39; patterns. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a front view of how the standard t-shirt sleeves look when worn on a man. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a front view of how the standard t-shirt sleeves look when worn on a woman. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  shows a standard t-shirt turned inside-out, with the preferred embodiment as depicted in  FIG. 1  positioned &amp; secured along the inside seam of each sleeve. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  shows the t-shirt from  FIG. 8  turned right-side-out, with a new shape to the sleeves due to the devices being secured (but not visible). 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  shows the t-shirt from  FIG. 9  (with devices secured but not visible) worn by a man. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  shows the t-shirt from  FIG. 9  (with devices secured but not visible) worn by a woman. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments in accordance with the invention, examples of which are illustrated in accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with various embodiments, it will be understood that these various embodiments are not intended to limit the invention. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the scope of the invention as construed according to the Claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of various embodiments in accordance with the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the invention. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment containing the inventive principles, in this a case a preferred form of the device  10  which could be used to alter a t-shirt sleeve as depicted in closed position. The depicted embodiment has a folding design in this case utilizing a hinge portion  12  connected with a pair of opposing extending arms  14  and  16  each having interior  18  and exterior  20  surfaces. 
         [0022]    In  FIG. 1 , the embodiment shown has opposing arms that are approximately the same length. The device may be made of a molded plastic material or other suitable light and durable material that is resistant to environmental conditions (such as but not limited to temperature, moisture, dry-heat and chemicals such as detergents and fabric softeners) normally encountered by garments that are placed in automatic washers and dryers and which are unlikely to burn or stain a garment during a washing or drying cycle. In alternative embodiments, the opposing arms may be of different lengths. The device may be made all of the same material or a variety of materials consistent with their purpose. For example, fasteners may be made of less flexible material than the arms. The hinge portion  12  may be made of a more or less flexible material than the arms such as nylon flexible strap material or relatively stiff and arcuate shaped molded plastic. The device is designed to be light weight, stiff enough to allow easy alignment of the arms, but flexible enough to be worn comfortably without wearer being in danger of being poked or impaled by the device. In other words, the material stiffness might be described as semi-rigid. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are side views of the preferred embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  in closed position. The interior surface of arm  14  has one or more protuberances  22  extending outward from the inside surface which directly oppose facing holes  24  located on the interior surface of opposing arm  16 . Use of the semi-rigid material is preferable with this embodiment so as to facilitate the protuberances  22  lining up easily with the holes  24 , since they will be visually obstructed when the t-shirt fabric is slid between them for positioning prior to snap-closure. In this preferred embodiment, molded plastic is used to make the device and thus both arms  14  and  16  have aligned grooves  26  at multiple locations along the interior and exterior surfaces of each arm and adjacent to the protuberances  22  and holes  24 , so as to enable additional flexibility. The grooves  26  also provide a convenient place to cut and decrease the length of the arms without inhibiting the effectiveness of the device. The grooves located on the interior surface of each arm also provide both additional space and additional means for gripping the fabric when the device is positioned over a fold of fabric and closed.  FIG. 8  shows the embodiment positioned over a fold of fabric  28  near the bottom seam of a t-shirt sleeve and closed, pinching the t-shirt fabric between the interior surfaces of the opposing arms to form a new seam. 
         [0024]    As depicted in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the embodiment utilizes fasteners in the form of multiple protuberances  22  (see  FIG. 2  A) having stem  30  and head  32  portions (See  FIG. 2B ) which extend outward from the inside surface of an arm (in this case arm  14  as shown) with corresponding holes which in this embodiment extend all the way through the opposing arm (in this case arm  16  as shown). In this example, all protuberances extend from one arm  14  and the corresponding holes are positioned on the opposing arm  16 . This configuration provides the advantage of allowing one arm (in this case the top arm) to be thinner than the opposing arm (having corresponding holes) and thus allowing the device to be thinner overall when in closed position. In alternative embodiment, the protuberances and corresponding holes may be located on either or both arms as long as there is a corresponding hole for each protuberance and the protuberances and corresponding holes are easily aligned with one another when the device is in the closed position. 
         [0025]    In this preferred embodiment, the protuberances are made of plastic material and extend outwards forming stem and head portions. The stem portions extend from the interior surface of the arm such that the circumference of the stem at the base exceeds the diameter of the stem at its connection with the head portion. The head portions of the protuberances are diamond shaped such that the circumference of the head exceeds the circumference of the stem at its connection with the head portion. As depicted in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the protuberance stem portion  30  is cylindrical in shape, but it could be square or oval depending on manufacturing or stylistic preference. Also as depicted the protuberance head portion  32  is diamond shaped, but could be rounded or conical in shape again depending on manufacturing or stylistic preference. 
         [0026]    Also as depicted in  FIG. 2B , the corresponding holes located along the interior surface of the opposing arm (i.e. the bottom arm as shown) extend into or through the opposing arm and are narrower in circumference closer to the inside surface and then become greater in circumference thus creating a lip ( 34 ). In this embodiment, the hole  24  begins at a smaller circumference and then rounds outward in a larger circumference that extends through to the outside surface of the arm. The circumference of the lip is large enough to allow the head of the protuberance (with fabric) to push through the hole lip but small enough relative to the size of the protuberance head to hold and prevent the head from easily sliding back once the head and fabric are through. The circumference of the lip  34  is large enough, however, to allow the head to be pulled back through the lip by pulling the opposing arms,  14  and  16 , apart. In other words, the protuberance and holes function together as a kind of snap fastening mechanism which not only secures the fabric to the device but secures the opposing arms to one another. 
         [0027]    One may note, looking at  FIGS. 2A and 2B , that the holes  24  extend all the way through the thickness of the arm. However, alternative embodiments could have holes that go only partially through the arm thickness. As long as there is enough room to hold the protuberance head and fabric and accomplish the task of holding the fabric, the function of the fastener is accomplished. 
         [0028]    One will note by looking at the closed view of the device as depicted in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  as well as the open interior surface of the device depicted in  FIG. 3  that there are gripping means (shown in the form of several staggered raised rails)  36  located immediately adjacent to the hinge  12 . These staggered rails  36  assist in immobilizing (or gripping) the t-shirt fabric when the device is closed such that the raised bars are located at the doubly thick fabric at the t-shirt sleeve hem. Because t-shirt sleeves are usually doubly thick at the outside hem, the fabric at that location may be too difficult to allow for a protuberance to easily push fabric through an opposing hole. The raised rails offer a more appropriate gripping means at this location because of the thickness of the fabric. Alternately, the device could have differently sized protuberances  22  and corresponding holes  24  to accommodate the double thickness of the fabric at this location. Also, the gripping means  36  do not need to take the form of staggered raised rails. They could alternatively be staggered oval shaped or some other shapes, or it could take the form of a strip of sticky or roughed material along the interior surface as long the gripping means serves to function by increasing immobilization and deterring slippage of the fabric from the device particularly when located along particularly thick portions of fabric. 
         [0029]    One will note that the preferred embodiment shown in the Figures utilizes multiple fasteners (in the form of protuberances with opposing holes) to both grip the fabric and hold the opposing arms together to form a seam. Alternative embodiments could utilize a variety of gripping means (such as staggered bumps or rails on the interior surfaces of one or both arms) as well as overarching fastening means (such as removeable or attached C-shaped clamping fasteners) to hold the opposing arms together. Nevertheless, the current embodiment is preferred as it provides the appropriate pinching strength and flexibility of design. Also, by utilizing the protuberance/hole fastening approach interspersed between aligned grooves, the device may be shortened without inhibiting the operation of the device. If all fasteners were located at the end of the arm opposite the hinge, then the device could not be shortened without having to moving the fastener. In alternative embodiments, a more flexible material may be substituted for grooves to accommodate additional flexibility in these locations and provide a place where the material may be more easily cut to shorten the device. 
         [0030]    One will note, looking at  FIGS. 2A and 2B , that the interior surfaces of the opposing arms in closed position define the space for fabric to be pinched between the opposing arms. For this reason, the gripping means (i.e. staggered rails and/or protuberance/holes) and fastening means (i.e. protuberance/holes and/or other type of fastening means) must allow enough space to accommodate the material while providing the appropriate attachment. For the current embodiment, the protuberance stems must be long enough to provide enough space between the interior surfaces of the opposing arms to accommodate the pinched fabric when the head portions are secure within the corresponding holes. While the protuberances themselves offer a gripping means (of sorts) to prevent the fabric from slipping between the opposing arms, it is helpful that the protuberance stems not be so long as to allow excess space between the arms which may cause the fabric to be held only by the protuberances (and not otherwise pinched between the interior surface of the arms) which would eventually cause damage over time and use to the fabric located at or near the protuberances. Flexibility of the materials used to fashion the opposing arms and/or hinge portion is also important in determining the appropriate amount of space needed to adequately pinch the fabric to create the seam. Very flexible material may allow the too much space and not enough pinching/gripping to hold the fabric. A hinge that is too stiff and/or is not adequately arcuate may not allow enough space for the fabric at the exterior seam/fold of a t-shirt, for example. 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the preferred embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  in an open position and exposing the interior surfaces of the opposing arms. In this preferred embodiment designed specifically to be positioned at t-shirt shirt sleeves, both arms are slightly curved so that, when closed, the new inside seam created by the device will generally mimic the natural increased widening of the arm between the elbow and the armpit. The curve of the device in its proper application, therefore secures slightly more fabric at edge (see item  28  on  FIG. 8 ), thereby making it tighter, and secures slightly less fabric as it extends towards the armpit, keeping it looser. 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the preferred embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  in an open position with interior surfaces positioned upward. As in previously described  FIGS. 1-3 , the device folds open at the hinge  12 . This particular embodiment designed for use with a t-shirt sleeve has staggered rails  36  on opposing sides of the hinge  12  to pinch and grip the double thick fabric at the t-shirt sleeve cuff. In this embodiment, the various protuberances  22  are located on the interior surface of one arm and the corresponding holes  24  are located on the interior surface of the opposing arm. However, as previously discussed, each protuberance  22  or hole  24  could be positioned on either arm, staggered or otherwise interspersed, as long as each protuberance  22  lines up with a corresponding hole  24  when the device is in closed position. One will again note that each protuberance  22  as depicted has a stem portion and a head portion and each corresponding hole  24  has a smaller circumference at the interior surface of the arm and expands as it moves outward toward the exterior surface of the arm to a larger circumference creating a lip  34 . 
         [0033]    The circumference of the smaller portion of the hole allows the protuberance  22  head to be pushed through with fabric and held by the lip  34 . One will also note that the protuberance head  32  as depicted is pointed in this embodiment but could otherwise be rounded or squared. The interior and exterior surface grooves (or crimps)  26  are used in this embodiment which is made of molded plastic to allow additional flexibility and an easier place to cut and thus shorten the arms if desired. However, such grooves (or crimps)  26  may not be necessary if the material used to fashion the device is itself of moderate flexibility and stiffness which would allow some bend in the material and increased comfort to the user. While the grooves provide appropriate places to cut the material, they are not required to allow for shortening if the material is relatively flexible and easy to cut. Also, in an alternative embodiment, the grooves (or crimps) could include an attachment mechanism to allow additional opposing sections to be added to the device and thus the arms lengthened to provide further adjustability. One will also note that the opposing arms of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  have rounded tips so as to alleviate sharp edges and provide additional comfort to the user. Although the grooves  26  are not rounded as shown, alternative embodiments could allow for rounded grooves to provide for a rounded tip should the user want to use the grooves to assist in cutting and shortening the length of the arms while retaining the more comfortable rounded tips. 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a standard t-shirt shape created by most manufacturers&#39; patterns. One will note the double fold of fabric at the outside edge of each sleeve. Also note that the typical bottom seam of the shirt sleeve is straight rather than curved. 
         [0035]      FIG. 6  is a front view of how the standard t-shirt sleeves look when worn on a man. 
         [0036]      FIG. 7  is a front view of how the standard t-shirt sleeves look when worn on a woman. One may note that it is not uncommon for women to wear t-shirts that were designed for wear by a man. The sleeve of a t-shirt designed for a man is typically much wider than that which is designed for a woman this is because the upper shoulder and arm of most men is larger in circumference that that for most women. The added benefit of the device is that it makes many more t-shirts available to women who might utilize the device to create a shirt sleeve seam that is narrower and more contoured to fit a woman&#39;s arm shape. 
         [0037]      FIG. 8  shows a standard t-shirt turned inside-out, with the devices positioned &amp; secured along the inside seam of each sleeve. As most T-shirt sleeves are folded and doubly thick around the hem outside seam of each sleeve  28 , the embodiment of the device accommodates this by using opposing gripping means, in this case staggered rails  36  adjacent to the hinge  12  as previously described, to pinch and grip the hem edge material  28  together without using the protuberance and hole solution which would be more difficult with the double thick fabric at this location. One will note that the curve of the device positioned at each sleeve provides for a contoured seam when applied which is more aesthetically pleasing. 
         [0038]    One will note that the curvature of the device as applied and replacing the bottom sew seam of the t-shirt sleeve actually creates a more contoured sleeve design and enhances the look of the sleeve where other prior art clamping devices may not have such curvature and effect. 
         [0039]      FIG. 9  shows the t-shirt from  FIG. 8  turned right side-out, with a new shape to the sleeves due to the devices being secured (but not visible). Again, one will note the contour of the newly fashioned bottom seam of the t-shirt sleeve which is created by the curve of the device positioned along that location. 
         [0040]      FIG. 10  shows the t-shirt from  FIG. 9  (with device secured but not visible) worn by a man. 
         [0041]      FIG. 11  shows the t-shirt from  FIG. 9  (with devices secured but not visible) worn by a woman. 
         [0042]    The following is a description of the preferred method for using the preferred embodiment of the device as depicted in the figures above to alter a t-shirt sleeve. The preferred method consists of the following steps:
       Turning the t-shirt sleeve inside out;   Attaching a clip device (as shown) to the bottom portion of the sleeve such that the fabric is pinched between the opposing sides and closed together to form a fold and new temporary seam;   Turning the t-shirt sleeve right-side-out so that the fold is not visible.
 
In alternative methods, the step of turning the t-shirt sleeve inside out could include use of a garment other than a t-shirt and/or keeping the garment right-side out. The step of attaching the clip device could include attaching to some portion of the garment other than the t-shirt sleeve where the user wants to establish a new seam.
       
 
         [0046]    The foregoing descriptions of various specific embodiments in accordance with the invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The invention can be construed according to the Claims and their equivalents.