Abstract:
Garments with fastenable panels are provided. In this regard, a representative garment includes: a body formed of material and configured as pants; an opening defined in the body; and a panel sized and shaped to cover the opening, the panel being movable between an opening position, in which the panel provides access to the opening, and a closed position, in which the panel obstructs access to the opening.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure generally relates to garments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0002]    Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. 
           [0003]      FIGS. 1-4  depict an example embodiment of a garment. 
           [0004]      FIGS. 5-7  depict a second example embodiment of a garment. 
           [0005]      FIGS. 8-10  depict a third example embodiment of a garment. 
           [0006]      FIGS. 11-14  depict a fourth example embodiment of a garment. 
           [0007]      FIGS. 15-17  depict a fifth example embodiment of a garment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    Reference will now be made in detail to that which is illustrated in the figures. While the disclosure will be described in connection with these figures, there is no intent to limit the scope of legal protection to the embodiments disclosed herein. Rather, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0009]    In this regard, garments with movable panels are provided, some embodiments of which involve the use of zippered panels, the zippers of which may be unzipped to provide access to the interiors of the garments. By way of example, a garment may be configured as pants and the panel may be positioned at the front of the crotch where a conventional zipper typically would be provided. However, in contrast to such a conventional arrangement, the panel may be secured to the pants at a lower edge of the panel, which is positioned toward the center of the crotch. The upper end of the panel is detachable from the garment and may be folded outwardly and downwardly from the waist band of the pants to provide access to the interior. Zippers may be provided along the side edges of the panel to facilitate selective securing and repositioning of the panel. Additionally, clasps or snaps may be provided near the. intersection of the upper end and the sides of the panel for enhancing attachment of the panel to the waist band. 
         [0010]      FIGS. 1-4  depict an example embodiment of a garment, which is configured as a pair of jeans. It should be noted that although denim is shown in many of the figures, there is no intention to limit the concept to this material. 
         [0011]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , garment  100  includes pant legs  102  and  104  that form a body and join to define a crotch  106 . A panel  110  is positioned at the front of the pants and generally extends between the crotch and the waist  112 . The upper end  114  of the panel is detachable from the garment and may be folded outwardly and downwardly from the waist band  116  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) to provide access to the interior. 
         [0012]    Zippers  118  and  120  are mounted to the left and right sides of the panel, respectively, and to corresponding portions of the garment to facilitate selective securing and repositioning of the panel. Specifically, the zippers are unzipped to provide the open configuration shown in  FIG. 2 , and zipped to provide the closed configuration shown in  FIG. 1 . Note that in the open configuration, an opening in the pants is exposed that is generally trapezoidal in shape, although various other shapes of openings may be provided in other embodiments. The opening is defined by the lower edge of the waist band (which is joined by a button and button hole arrangement), edges of the pants adjacent the zippers, and the stitched edge of the pants that secures the panel. 
         [0013]    As shown most clearly in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , clasp members  122  and  124  are positioned at the upper corners  126 ,  128  of the panel, respectively, with each of the clasp members being able to engage a corresponding member  130 ,  132  attached to the waist. The clasps enhance attachment of the panel to the waist band. It should be noted that the components for performing the functions of the clasps are optional. 
         [0014]    Panel  110  of this embodiment is generally triangular in shape and includes an upper edge  140  that is generally parallel with the length of the waist band when closed. Panel  110  also exhibits a slight convex shape presenting a slight outward domed shape. Note that approximately a bottom 10-20% of the apex  142  (positioned at the bottom of the panel) is secured to the garment by stitching. Thus, the apex functions as a form of hinge. 
         [0015]    Also shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  is that the panel incorporates in inner pocket  144  formed between inner and outer layers  146 ,  148  of material that form the panel. 
         [0016]      FIG. 4  depicts a back side  150  of the pants. Notably, this embodiment incorporates pockets  152 ,  154 . In contrast to these buttoned, flap pockets, slit pockets  156 ,  158  are provided on the front ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0017]      FIGS. 5-7  depict a second example embodiment of a garment, which is configured as a pair of jeans, although there is no intention to limit the concepts to jeans, as various other forms of pants and other types of garments may be used. 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIGS. 5-7 , garment  200  includes pant legs  202  and  204  that join to define a crotch  206 . A panel  210  is positioned at the front of the pants and generally extends between the crotch and the waist  212 . A portion of the upper end  214  of the panel is detachable from the garment and may be folded outwardly and downwardly from the waist band  216  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) and toward an attached side  218  of the panel to provide access to the interior. 
         [0019]    Zipper  220  is mounted to the left side of the panel and to a corresponding portion of the front of the garment to facilitate selective securing and repositioning of the panel. Specifically, the zipper is unzipped to provide the open configuration shown in  FIG. 6 , and zipped to provide the closed configuration shown in  FIG. 5 . Note that in the open configuration, an opening in the pants is exposed that is defined by the waist band, the edge of the pants adjacent the zipper, and a portion of the panel. 
         [0020]    As shown most clearly in  FIG. 6 , a clasp member  212  is positioned at the upper left corner  226  of the panel, with the clasp member being able to engage a corresponding member  230  that is attached to the waist. 
         [0021]    Panel  210  of this embodiment has a perimeter that has a generally rectangular upper portion and a generally curved or U-shaped lower portion. The upper edge  240  of the panel is generally parallel with the length of the waist band when closed. Note that the lower portion  242  of the panel and the right side  244  of the panel are secured to the garment. 
         [0022]      FIG. 7  depicts a back side  250  of the pants. Notably, this embodiment incorporates pockets  252 ,  254 . Pockets  256 ,  258  are provided on the front ( FIG. 5 ). 
         [0023]      FIGS. 8-10  depict a third example embodiment of a garment. As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , garment  300  includes pant legs  302  and  304  that join to define a crotch  306 . A panel  310  is positioned at the front of the pants and generally extends between the crotch and the waist  312 . The upper end  314  of the panel is detachable from the garment and may be folded outwardly and downwardly from the waist band  316  (as shown in  FIG. 9 ) to provide access to the interior. 
         [0024]    Zippers  318  and  320  are mounted to the left and right sides of the panel, respectively, and to corresponding portions, of the garment to facilitate selective securing and repositioning of the panel. Specifically, the zippers are unzipped to provide the open configuration shown in  FIG. 9 , and zipped to provide the closed configuration shown in  FIG. 8 . Note that in the open configuration, an opening in the pants is exposed that is generally trapezoidal in shape, although various other shapes of openings may be provided in other embodiments. The opening is defined by the lower edge of the waist band (which is joined by a button and button hole arrangement), edges of the pants adjacent the zippers, and the stitched edge of the pants that secures the panel. 
         [0025]    As shown most clearly in  FIG. 9 , clasp members  322  and  324  are positioned at the upper corners  326 ,  328  of the panel, respectively, with each of the clasp members being Able to engage a corresponding member  330 ,  332  attached to the waist. 
         [0026]    Panel  310  of this embodiment has a perimeter that has a generally rectangular upper portion and a generally curved or U-shaped lower portion. Panel  310  includes an upper edge  340  that is generally parallel with the length of the waist band when closed. Note that the lower portion  342  is secured to the garment by stitching. 
         [0027]    Also shown in  FIG. 9  is that the panel incorporates in inner pocket  344  formed between inner and outer layers  346 ,  348  of material that form the panel. 
         [0028]      FIG. 10  depicts a back side  350  of the pants. Notably, this embodiment incorporates pockets  352 ,  354 . In contrast to these buttoned, flap pockets, slit pockets  356 ,  358  are provided on the front ( FIG. 8 ). 
         [0029]      FIGS. 11-14  depict a fourth example embodiment of a garment. As best shown in  FIGS. 11-13 , garment  400  includes pant legs  402  and  404  that join to define a crotch  406 . A panel  410  is positioned at the front of the pants and generally extends between the crotch and the waist  412 . A portion of the upper end  414  of the panel is detachable from the garment and may be folded outwardly and downwardly from the waist band  416  (as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 ) to provide access to the interior. 
         [0030]    In contrast to the zipper arrangements previously described, this embodiment includes rotatable fittings (e.g., fitting  418 ) that form interference fits with corresponding eyelets (e.g., eyelet  420 ) located along the side edges of the panel to facilitate selective securing and repositioning of the panel. Specifically, at least some of the fittings are rotated and removed from the eyelets to provide the open configuration shown in  FIG. 12 , and the fittings are inserted into the eyelets to provide the closed configuration shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0031]    Panel  410  of this embodiment has a perimeter that has a generally rectangular in shape. The upper edge  440  of the panel is generally parallel with the length of the waist band when closed. Note that the lower portion  442  of the panel is secured to the garment. 
         [0032]      FIG. 14  depicts a back side  450  of the pants. Notably, this embodiment incorporates pockets  452 ,  454 . Pockets  456 ,  458  are provided on the front ( FIG. 11 ). 
         [0033]      FIGS. 15-17  depict a fifth example embodiment of a garment. As shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , garment  500  includes pant legs  502  and  504  that join to define a crotch  506 . A panel  510  is positioned at the front of the pants and generally extends between the crotch and the waist  512 . The upper end  514  of the panel is detachable from the garment and may be folded outwardly and downwardly from the waist band  516  (as shown in  FIG. 16 ) to provide access to the interior. 
         [0034]    Zippers  518  and  520  are mounted to the left and right sides of the panel, respectively, and to corresponding portions of the garment to facilitate selective securing and repositioning of the panel. Specifically, the zippers are unzipped to provide the open configuration shown in  FIG. 16 , and zipped to provide the closed configuration shown in  FIG. 15 . The opening is defined by the lower edge of the waist band (which is joined by a button and button hole arrangement), edges of the pants adjacent the zippers, and the stitched edge of the pants that secures the panel. 
         [0035]    An additional zipper  522  is located along a centerline of the panel. Zipper  522  allows the panel to be opened into first and second portions  521  and  523 . 
         [0036]    As shown most clearly in  FIG. 16 , clasp members  522  and  524  are positioned at the upper corners  526 ,  528  of the panel, respectively, with each of the clasp members being able to engage a corresponding member  530 ,  532  attached to the waist. 
         [0037]    Panel  510  of this embodiment has a perimeter that has a generally rectangular upper portion and a generally curved or U-shaped lower portion. Panel  510  includes an upper edge  540  that is generally parallel with the length of the waist band when closed. Note that the lower portion  542  is secured to the garment. 
         [0038]      FIG. 17  depicts a back side  550  of the pants. Notably, this embodiment incorporates pockets  552 ,  554 . Pockets  556 ,  558  are provided on the front ( FIG. 15 ). 
         [0039]    It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merely examples of possible implementations. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the principles of the present disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.