EP0333479A1

EP0333479A1 - Articles of clothing

Info

Publication number: EP0333479A1
Application number: EP19890302610
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roger Geoffrey Halstead
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Halstead Roger Geoffrey
Priority date: 1988-03-16
Filing date: 1989-03-16
Publication date: 1989-09-20
Also published as: GB2217579B; GB8828179D0; GB2217579A

Abstract

An article of clothing which comprises an elongate piece of stretchable material which includes a central portion (1) and two end portions (2), each end portion (2) being shaped to include two side pieces (5) separated by a generally triangular space (3) which tapers inwardly from the outer edge (4) of the respective end portion towards the central portion, the outer edges (4) of the side pieces (5) of one end portion including means (6) by which they can selectively be joined to the outer edges of the side pieces of the other end portion.

The two sides of the material piece may include means by which the respective sides can be joined together at one or more locations.

Description

This invention relates to articles of clothing and to methods of producing such articles.
One object of the invention is to provide an article of clothing, especially swimwear, which is relatively simple to produce and which can be worn by the user in several different ways.
According to the present invention in one aspect, there is provided an article of clothing which comprises an elongate piece of stretchable material which includes a central portion and two end portions, each end portion being shaped to include two side pieces separated by a generally triangular space which tapers inwardly from the outer edge of the respective end portion towards the central portion, the outer edges of the side pieces of one end portion including means by which they can selectively be joined to the outer edges of the side pieces of the other end portion.
The two sides of the material piece may include means by which the respective sides can be joined together at one or more locations.
The means for joining the two ends and/or the two sides of the material piece may include buttons, press studs or the like.
The central portion of the material piece may be waisted; alternatively, the central portion may be generally parallel sided.
A further elongate piece of material (e.g. in the form of a belt or lace) may be provided for use as a waist band.
Preferably, the material from which the article is produced is a stretch-type material in which the warps and the wefts of the material move together or independently after one another.
The material piece may be cut from a single piece of material and may be provided with stitched seams or edges.
According to the present invention in another aspect, there is provided an article of clothing made from an elongate piece of stretchable material in which are formed two lengthwise extending generally triangular cut-outs each of which tapers inwardly from a respective end of the material to define two end portions each divided by the respective generally triangular cut-out and a central portion, the central portion defining that part of the garment which in use passes between the legs of the wearer and the end portions together defining straps which can selectively be joined together over the shoulders of the wearer.
The article of clothing may comprise a ladies swimsuit or a bodice for another garment.
The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are respectively plan views of an article of clothing in accordance with the invention in its unassembled and assembled forms; and
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively plan views of a second article of clothing in accordance with the invention in its unassembled and assembled forms.

The article of clothing illustrated in the drawings is a ladies swimsuit.
As will be seen from Figure 1 of the drawings, in its unassembled form the article of clothing takes the form of an elongate piece of stretchable material which includes a central portion 1 and two end portions 2. Each end portion 2 is formed with a generally rectangular cut-out 3, which tapers inwardly from the outer edge 4 of each end portion 2 to define two spaced strap members 5. Each cut-out 3 extends lengthwise of the material substantially along the centre line of the material from a point substantially midway across the material width.
Press studs 6 are positioned along each outer edge 4 of the material to enable the strap members 5 selectively to be joined by the wearer to produce the assembled swimsuit shown in Figure 2. Additional press studs 7 are positioned at locations along the two sides of the length of material to enable the sides to be joined together at one or more of these locations by the wearer.
In the swimsuit shown in Figures 1 and 2, the central portion 1 is waisted.
As will be seen more clearly in Figure 2, the central portion 1 is positioned between the legs of the wearer and the strap members 5 drawn respectively over the front and back of the wearer to be joined by the press studs 6 in the shoulder region of the wearer. If desired, the sides of the swimsuit may be joined by means of the press studs 7.
The material of the swimsuit is preferably a stretch-type material which the warps and the whefts move together or independently after one another. As will be appreciated, the article can be cut from a single piece of material and is preferably provided with stitched seams or edges.
The article illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 is similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 excepting that the central portion 1 is generally parallel sided, the overall shape of the material piece being rectangular.
The articles illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 may be used to define the bodice of another garment such as a gown or trouser suit.
The articles described may be cut from two or more pieces of material to provide the required usual effect. These pieces may either be stitched together or may be provided by press studs or the like so that the wearer can vary the material pieces used.
It is to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are merely exemplary of garments in accordance with the invention and that modifications ran readily be made thereto without departing from ths true scope of the invention as set out in the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. An article of clothing which comprises an elongate piece of stretchable material in which the warps and wefts of the material move together or independently after one another and which includes a central portion and two end portions, each end portion being shaped to include two side pieces separated by a generally triangular space which tapers inwardly from the outer edge of the respective end portion towards the central portion, means by which the outer edges of the side pieces of one end portion can selectively be joined to the outer edges of the side pieces of the other end portion; and means by which the respective two sides of the material piece can be joined together at one or more locations.

2. An article of clothing as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the means for joining the two ends and/or the two sides of the material piece include buttons, press studs or the like.

3. An article of clothing as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the central portion of the material piece is waisted.

4. An article of clothing as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the central portion is generally parallel sided.

5. An article of clothing as claimed in Claim 1 further comprising an elongate piece of material in the form of a belt.

6. An article of clothing as claimed in Claim 1 which has been out from a single piece of material and is provided with stitched seams or edges.

7. An article of clothing made from an elongate piece of stretchable material in which the warps and the wefts of the material move together or independently after one another in which are formed two lengthwise extending generally triangular cut-outs each of which tapers inwardly from a respective end of the material to define two end portions each divided by the respective generally triangular cut-out and a central portion, the central portion defining that part of the garment which in use passes between the legs of the wearer and the end portions together defining straps which can selectively be joined together over the shoulders of the wearer.

8. An article of clothing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in the form of a lady's swimsuit or a bodice for another garment.