EP3214962B1

EP3214962B1 - Article of clothing and method to manufacture the same

Info

Publication number: EP3214962B1
Application number: EP15808030.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mathias STEFANONI
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-11-07
Filing date: 2015-11-06
Publication date: 2021-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 2035-11-06
Also published as: AU2015344457A1; EP3214962A1; WO2016071874A1; JP2017534778A; CN107105805A; US20170332712A1

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an article of clothing and the method to manufacture it.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to use articles of clothing that cover the torso and the back of the wearer, also called "tops". These articles of clothing are typically worn by putting them over the head through a suitable opening delimited on the perimeter by an anatomically shaped "neck". The articles of clothing include for example T-shirts, with long or short sleeves, sweaters or fleeces. The articles of clothing in question can be personalized and/or printed with colors, writing, and various graphical or decorative motifs.
One possible disadvantage of such articles of clothing is that they are designed and produced so that they can be put on correctly only in a "normal" configuration, not back-to-front (that is, inverting the front side and the back side), or they are designed as reversible "inside-out" articles of clothing. In fact, if a traditional article of clothing were worn back-to-front, the shape of the neck for example would be unsuitable for the anatomical conformation and would be uncomfortable.
This makes articles of clothing not very versatile in use, as they are uncomfortable if worn differently from how they were designed and produced.
Furthermore, this means it is possible to personalize them only on the front and/or back side of the article of clothing in the "normal" configuration, thus limiting for example the creative aspect regarding the personalization of such articles of clothing.
Document US 2013/254968 A1 is known, which describes a reversible article of clothing that comprises three different panels, stitched together only along part of the perimeter edge, to define three different external configurations or aspects.
Document US 2007/094762 A1 describes an article of clothing with an inside-out reversible structure, but unsuitable to be worn back-to-front, and has disadvantages connected to the shape of the neck.
Document US 2014/317823 A1 is also known, which describes a compression article of clothing, of the reversible type, having a front portion and a back portion, each comprising a first panel and a second panel, each in turn formed by a structure with two overlapping layers, joined by stitching only along part of the perimeter edge: the layers can thus remain free to slide with respect to each other. The first panel of the front portion has a neck with a different shape from that of the second panel of the back portion, and therefore the neck would be unsuitable for the anatomical conformation if the article of clothing was worn back-to-front, and hence not comfortable.
Document US 2007/124870 A1 is also known, which describes a reversible printed article of clothing, having a front side and a back side, in which the front side comprises a textile element with a first surface and a second surface, opposite the first surface, which has different visual elements from the first surface. This article of clothing, however, is unsuitable to be worn back-to-front, i.e. inverting front and back, because the shape of the neck would be unsuitable for the anatomical conformation and hence not comfortable.
There is therefore a need to perfect an article of clothing and a corresponding manufacturing method which can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.
In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to obtain a versatile article of clothing.
Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain an article of clothing that can be personalized in different ways.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe further embodiments of the invention.
According to the invention, an article of clothing to wear on the top part of the body to cover at least the shoulders, torso and back, consists of two opposite panels, joined together overlapping along all the respective facing perimeter edges, except for at least a lower segment that is not joined, which defines a lower opening in order to put the article of clothing at least on the torso, shoulders and back, and an upper segment, not joined, which defines an upper opening for the head to go through, and possibly one or more lateral segments, not joined, which define respective one or more lateral openings for the arms to go through, said two panels having the same shape and size, optionally except for exclusively the zone of said upper segment defining the upper opening, wherein said panels have respective shaped edges having an identical profile, chosen between a rounded shape and a V-shape, wherein at least one, or each, of said two panels consists of a single layer of textile material and wherein said two panels are a front panel and a back panel.
In the present article, the front panel and the back panel are joined to each other along said perimeter edge, laterally by means of a left lateral seam and a right lateral seam and, in the upper part, by means of a left shoulder seam and a right shoulder seam to define a tubular structure wearable by the user, wherein the left lateral seam, the right lateral seam, the left shoulder seam and the right shoulder seam are external seams or internal seams, wherein the left shoulder seam and the right shoulder seam have the same type of seam, internal or external, as have the respective left lateral seam and the right lateral seam, wherein said front panel and back panel are shaped or cut so as to be identical to each other and each symmetrical front/back with respect to themselves and also symmetrical with respect to each other and wherein the front panel and the back panel each provide, in correspondence to said upper segment along which they are not joined together, an identical edge shaped to define a part of the article of clothing that surrounds the user's neck, delimiting said upper opening for the head to go through, wherein at least one of either the left lateral seam or the right lateral seam is an internal seam, and at least one other of either the left lateral seam or the right lateral seam is an external seam and wherein at least one of either the left shoulder seam or the right shoulder seam is an internal seam, and at least one other of either the left shoulder seam or the right shoulder seam is an external seam.
According to other forms of embodiment, a method is provided to make an article of clothing to be worn on the top part of the body to cover at least the shoulders, torso and back. The method includes:

making available exclusively two panels, provided with perimeter edges, so that the article of clothing consists of said two panels wherein said two panels are a front panel (12) and a back panel (14);
joining together the two panels overlapping along all the facing perimeter edges, except for at least a lower segment that is not joined, which defines a lower opening in order to put the article of clothing at least on the torso, shoulders and back, and an upper segment, not joined, which defines an upper opening for the head to go through, and possibly one or more lateral segments, not joined, which define respective one or more lateral openings for the arms to go through, wherein the front panel and the back panel are joined to each other along said perimeter edge, laterally by means of a left lateral seam and a right lateral seam and, in the upper part, by means of a left shoulder seam and a right shoulder seam to define a tubular structure wearable by the user, wherein the left lateral seam, the right lateral seam, the left shoulder seam and the right shoulder seam are external seams or internal seams and wherein the left shoulder seam and the right shoulder seam have the same type of seam, internal or external, as have the respective left lateral seam and the right lateral seam, wherein said front panel and back panel are shaped or cut so as to be identical to each other and each symmetrical front/back with respect to themselves and also symmetrical with respect to each other and wherein the front panel and the back panel each provide, in correspondence to said upper segment along which they are not joined together, an identical edge shaped to define a part of the article of clothing that surrounds the user's neck, delimiting said upper opening for the head to go through; wherein at least one of either the left lateral seam or the right lateral seam is an internal seam, and at least one other of either the left lateral seam or the right lateral seam is an external seam and wherein at least one of either the left shoulder seam or the right shoulder seam is an internal seam, and at least one other of either the left shoulder seam or the right shoulder seam is an external seam
said two panels having the same shape and size, optionally except for exclusively the zone of said upper segment defining the upper opening, wherein said panels can have respective shaped edges having an identical profile, or a different profile, chosen between a rounded shape and a V-shape, wherein at least one, or each of said two panels consists of a single layer of textile material.

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood with reference to the following description, drawings and attached claims. The drawings, which are integrated and form part of the present description, show some forms of embodiment of the present invention, and together with the description, are intended to describe the principles of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some forms of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

fig. 1 is a front view of an article of clothing according to forms of embodiment described here;
fig. 2 is a diagram of possible ways of using an article of clothing according to forms of embodiment described here;
fig. 3 is an enlarged detail (I) of fig. 2;
fig. 4 is an enlarged detail (II) of fig. 2;
fig. 5 is an enlarged detail (III) of fig. 2;
fig. 6 is an enlarged detail (IV) of fig. 2;
fig. 7 is a detail of the seam of the reinforcement flaps of the hems of an article of clothing according to forms of embodiment described here;
fig. 8 is an enlarged detail (V) of fig. 2;
fig. 9 is an enlarged detail (VI) of fig. 2;
fig. 10 is a front view of an article of clothing according to other forms of embodiment described here;
fig. 11 is a front view of an article of clothing according to other forms of embodiment described here;
fig. 12 is a front view of an article of clothing according to still other forms of embodiment described here;
fig. 13a is a front view of an article of clothing according to forms of embodiment described here;
fig. 13b is a back view of the article of clothing in fig. 13a according to some forms of embodiment described here

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one form of embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other forms of embodiment without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME FORMS OF EMBODIMENT

We shall now refer in detail to the various forms of embodiment of the present invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof.
Before describing these forms of embodiment, we must also clarify that the present description is not limited in its application to details of the construction and disposition of the components as described in the following description using the attached drawings. The present description can provide other forms of embodiment and can be obtained or executed in various other ways. We must also clarify that the phraseology and terminology used here is for the purposes of description only, and cannot be considered as limitative.
Forms of embodiment described here concern an article of clothing 10 to be worn on the upper part of the body to cover at least shoulders, torso and back, and a method to manufacture it.
We would point out that an article of clothing as used in the forms of embodiment described here can be an article of clothing that is worn by putting it on over the head through a suitable opening delimited on the perimeter by a "neck" and which, once it is on, covers the torso and back. Examples of this type of article of clothing can be T-shirts with long or short sleeves, sweaters, tunics, long dresses, undershirts, waistcoats, ponchos. According to some forms of embodiment of the present invention, the article of clothing 10 can also cover the legs, or at least part of them. The article of clothing 10 according to forms of embodiment described here can be personalized esthetically with colors, writing, graphical motifs, decorations, printed images or a combination of such personalizations. Techniques that can be used to apply or print these esthetic personalizations can be, for example, digital printing, direct digital printing, heat printing with a digital plotter, laser printing, ink-jet printing, silk screen printing, aerograph application, textile sublimation, manual painting, stencil technique.
According to the present description, the article of clothing 10 consists of two opposite panels 12, 14, joined together overlapping along all the facing perimeter edges 13, except for at least a lower segment 15 that is not joined, which defines a lower opening 23 in order to put the article of clothing 10 at least on the torso, shoulders and back, and an upper segment 17, not joined, which delimits an upper opening 21 for the head to go through, and possibly one or more lateral segments 19, not joined, which define respective one or more lateral openings 25 for the arms to go through.
The two panels 12, 14 have the same shape and size, i.e. they are symmetrical or mirrored, optionally except for only the zone of the upper segment 17 defining the upper opening, wherein the panels 12, 14 have respective shaped edges 27 having an identical profile, chosen between a rounded shape, i.e. for example concave, curved or round, and a V-shape. In other words, the two panels 12, 14 are symmetrically equal, they are symmetrically equal except for the shape of the upper opening 21 which, when it is different between the two panels 12, 14, is chosen exclusively either as round or V-shaped (see for example figs. 13a and 13b).
We must point out here that the terms "join", "joined" and suchlike as used in the forms of embodiment described here, can be understood as a join of two complementary parts using stitching techniques, for example with needle and thread, or with a sewing machine, or heat-sealing techniques. Hereafter in the description, we will refer by way of example to forms of embodiment that use stitching to join together the various components of the article of clothing 10, but it is understood that the same description can also apply, where possible, to forms of embodiment that provide joining by means of heat-sealing.
In some forms of embodiment, each of the two panels 12, 14 of the article of clothing 10 in question is integral, i.e. each of them is a single body or piece, not formed by joining other flaps, i.e. it has no flaps joined together by buttons, zips, laces or similar releasable closing elements.
In some non-claimed forms of embodiments each of the two panels 12, 14 can have a multi-layer structure of textile material. In a possible implementation, it is possible for example to provide different layers for each panel, overlapping each other and adherent on the whole reciprocal contact surface. In these forms of embodiment, the different layers of the multi-layer structure of each of the two panels can possibly be made with different properties, for example to produce technical clothing, to be used for example in everyday life, or in sport or the workplace, or modelling clothing..
In other forms of embodiment, which can be combined with all the other forms of embodiment described here, except for the forms of embodiment in which each of the two panels 12, 14 can have a multi-layer structure, at least one of the two panels 12, 14, or both, consists on the contrary of a single layer of textile material (see figs. 3-8 for example).
Fig. 1 is used to describe forms of embodiment of an article of clothing 10 according to the present description which consists of the two panels 12, 14 which hereafter, for ease of explanation, will be called front panel 12 and back panel 14; however, since the panels 12, 14 are identical, the definition front/back, like "normal"/inside-out and left/right, does not restrict the field of protection of the present invention.
In particular, here and hereafter in the description, the words "right" and "left" will refer to the right and left side respectively of fig. 1.
The front panel 12 and back panel 14 are identical, i.e. they are shaped or cut so that they are each symmetrical back/front with respect to themselves and also symmetrical each with respect to the other.
In possible implementations, in correspondence with said upper segment 17 along which they are not joined together, the front panel 12 and back panel 14 can each have an identical edge 27 shaped to define the part of the article of clothing 10 that surrounds the user's neck. In practice, the shaped edges 27 delimit peripherally the upper opening 21 for the head to pass through. For example, in some forms of embodiment (see for example figs. 1, 10 and 11) the shaped edge 27 of the front panel 12 and the back panel 14 can be shaped concave, or in general with a recessed profile, to define a neck 16. The neck 16 can be symmetrical back/front and internally/externally and can have different shapes. In particular, in possible implementations, the neck 16 can be rounded for example, or again high-necked or V-necked, or any other shape. For example the rounded neck can be the normal type (round-neck) or can have a deeper and more rounded neckline (scoop-neck). In other forms of embodiment, the shaped edge 27 of the front panel 12 and the back panel 14 can be shaped with a protruding profile, to define a high neck 31, more or less accentuated, which can be worn as such, or rolled or draped.
According to possible forms of embodiment described using figs. 13a and 13b, the front panel 12 and back panel 14 are symmetrical, except for the upper segment 17 that defines the upper opening 21, in other words they can have a single degree of asymmetry in correspondence with the upper segment 17 which defines the upper opening 21, wherein they can include respective shaped edges 27 with an identical profile, chosen between rounded and V-shaped (V-neck). For example, the front panel 12 can have a concave shaped edge 27, defining a rounded neck 16, while the back panel 14 can have a V-shaped edge 27 and hence the respective V-neck 16. In these forms of embodiment, with the definition of rounded neck we mean a round-neck or scooped-neck. For example, forms of embodiment described with reference to figs. 13a and 13b can be combined with forms of embodiment in which each of the two panels 12, 14 consists of a single layer of textile material.
As we said before, the front panel 12 is identical in shape to the back panel 14. However, the front panel 12 can be different in terms of material used, personalization, color print, graphical motifs, writing, images or decorations applied or printed, or any combination of such personalizations with respect to the back panel 14.
According to the present description, the front panel 12 and the back panel 14 are joined together along the perimeter edge 13, in particular laterally, by means of a left lateral seam 36 and a right lateral seam 38 and, in the upper part, by means of a left shoulder seam 20 and a right shoulder seam 22, to define a tubular structure 44 that can be worn by the user.
The left shoulder seam 20 and the right shoulder seam 22 are not connected to each other, so that between them the front panel 12 and the back panel 14 are not joined or stitched together, defining the upper segment 17 that delimits the upper opening 21. Therefore, the shaped edge 27 can develop between the left shoulder seam 20 and the right shoulder seam 22. The left shoulder seam 20 and the right shoulder seam 22 can thus delimit the neck 16 at the sides (figs. 1, 10 and 11) or the high neck 31 (fig. 12).
In the same way, in the lower segment 15 where the front panel 12 and the back panel 14 are not joined or stitched together, the front panel 12 and the back panel 14 have lower edges, or bottoms 40, 46, which remain free of seams or other types of join, to allow the user to put the article of clothing on.
At least one of either the left lateral seam 36 or the right lateral seam 38 that join the front panel 12 with the back panel 14 laterally along the perimeter edge 13, is an internal seam, and at least another is an external seam.
We must point out here that the expression "internal seam" or in general "internal join", as used in the forms of embodiment described here, can be a join, seam or heat-sealing, in which the edges stitched together do not protrude externally, i.e. they are not visible externally, since they are folded back inside, whereas the expression "external seam" or in general "external join" as used in the forms of embodiment described here, can be a join, seam or heat-sealing in which the edges stitched together protrude externally, i.e. they are visible externally since they extend outside.
In some forms of embodiment, which can be combined with all the forms of embodiment described here, the external seam, i.e. the one where the edges stitched together are visible externally, can be made with a whipstitch, which prevents the edges from fraying.
At least one of either the left shoulder seam 20 or the right shoulder seam 22 is an internal seam, and at least another is an external seam.
The left shoulder seam 20 and the right shoulder seam 22 have the same type of internal or external seam that the respective left lateral seam 36 and right lateral seam 38 have, so that one of the two sides, left or right, of the article of clothing 10, both when it is in a "normal" condition and when it is in an inside-out condition, and also when it is turned front or back, has all the seams of the external type, and the opposite side, right or left respectively, has all the seams of the internal type.
In this way, the article of clothing 10 not only has a back/front and internal/external symmetry but also a back/front and internal/external specularity with regards to the seams. It is understood that in other non-claimed forms of embodiment the seams of the article of clothing, in particular the left shoulder seam 20, the right shoulder seam 22 and the respective left lateral seam 36 and right lateral seam 38 can all be the internal type, or all the external type, for example in the "normal" condition or in the inside-out condition. It can therefore be provided that the conformation of the seams, or other joins such as heat-sealing, defines not only a left/right symmetry of the article of clothing 10, but also a symmetry between the upper part and the lower part thereof.
According to other non-claimed forms of embodiment, it can be provided that the left shoulder seam 20, the right shoulder seam 22, the left armhole seam 32, the right armhole seam 34 and the respective left lateral seam 36 and right lateral seam 38 are partly external seams and partly internal seams, alternately.
According to still other non-claimed forms of embodiment, the left shoulder seam 20 and the right shoulder seam 22, the left armhole seam 32 and right armhole seam 34 could be internal seams, whereas the respective left lateral seam 36 and right lateral seam 38 could be external seams, or vice versa.
Fig. 2 is used to describe forms of embodiment in which the front panel 12 has an external face 12a and an internal face 12b, and the back panel 14 has an external face 14a and an internal face 14b. In particular, fig. 2 is also used to describe possible ways of using an article of clothing 10 according to some forms of embodiment described here, in which by rotating the article of clothing 10 by 180° around its median longitudinal axis X (arrow R) or turning it inside out (arrow I/E) it can be used all the same, always having the same conformation and therefore maintaining the same wearability and comfort in use. In this specific case, the article of clothing 10 has one side with all the seams internal and one side with all the seams external, in the "normal" r inside-out condition, or back-to-front.
In this way, it is possible to wear the article of clothing 10 in four different ways:

a first way is to use the external face 12a of the front panel 12 as the front side of the article of clothing 10;
a second way is to use the external face 14a of the back panel 14 as the front side, this obtainable by rotating the article of clothing 10 through 180° (arrow R) around the median longitudinal axis X;
a third way is obtained by rotating the article of clothing 10 internally/ externally, so that it is possible to use the internal face 14b of the back panel 14 as the front side of the article of clothing 10;
a fourth way is to start from the third way and to rotate the article of clothing 10 through 180° (arrow R) around the median longitudinal axis X, so that it is possible to use the internal face 12b of the front panel 12 as the front side of the article of clothing 10.

The article of clothing 10 can be personalized in different ways in terms of print/color/decorations and/or types of material used for the front panel 12 (external face 12a and internal face 12b) and for the back panel 14 (external face 14a and internal face 14b). In particular, thanks to the characteristics of symmetry and identity in the size/shape of the front panel 12 and back panel 14, the article of clothing 10, in every moment and in all conditions of use (front/back and "normal"/inside-out) can have at least one personalized external face 12a, for example printed and/or colored differently from the external face 14a, and a personalized internal face 12b, for example printed and/or colored differently from the at least one internal face 14b and at least one of the external faces 12a, 14a.
Therefore, according to the present description, the article of clothing 10 can appear different, in terms of personalization, in every possible orientation/ condition (front/back and "normal"/inside-out) in which it is worn, since the faces 12a, 12b, 14a, 14b can be printed and/or colored and/or made with different types of material, each different from the others.
According to some forms of embodiment, described for example using fig. 10 and which can be combined with all the forms of embodiment described here, the article of clothing 10 can have no sleeves. In this case, the article of clothing 10 can have the lateral openings 25 close to the shoulders, so the arms can pass, and can be for example an undershirt or like a waistcoat, or it can have lateral openings 25 lower down, or can have no lateral openings 25 and be like a poncho.
According to other forms of embodiment, described for example using figs. 1, 11 and 12 and which can be combined with all the forms of embodiment described here, the article of clothing 10 can be provided with a left sleeve 24 and a right sleeve 26. The left sleeve 24 and the right sleeve 26 can be short (see fig. 1) or long (see for example figs. 11 and 12), for example down to the wrists or with an average length, between the shoulders and the wrists.
The left sleeve 24 and the right sleeve 26 can be joined to the tubular structure 44 formed by the join of the front panel 12 and the back panel 14 by means of left armhole seams 32 and right armhole seams 34. According to an example form of embodiment, at least one of the left armhole seams 32 or right armhole seams 34 is an internal seam, and at least another is an external seam as defined above.
For example, with reference by way of example to the forms of embodiment described using fig. 2, the left armhole seams 32 and right armhole seams 34 can have the same type of internal or external seam as the respective left lateral seam 36 and right lateral seam 38 so that, in possible implementations, one of the two sides - left or right - has all the seams of the external type, and the opposite side has all the seams of the internal type.
Fig. 3 is used to describe in detail a right armhole seam 34 that joins the right sleeve 26 to the front panel 12 and the back panel 14. In this example case, the right armhole seam 34 can be the external type, and the edges are visible externally.
Fig. 4 is used to describe in detail a right armhole seam 34 that joins the right sleeve 26 to the right shoulder seam 22 and to the front panel 12 and the back panel 14. For example, the right armhole seam 34 can be the external type.
In possible forms of embodiment, not restrictive of the field of protection of the present invention, the upper segment 17, and hence the shaped edge 27, which can define for example the neck 16 or the high neck 31, the left sleeve 24, the right sleeve 26 and the lower segment 15 and the corresponding bottom 40, 46, can have finished hems. Here and hereafter, the expression "hem" or "finished hem" means the work which, in clothing and linen articles, is carried out along one or more end edges, folding the material back a little and securing it with a suitable stitch, for example an invisible stitch, for reinforcement or decoration, and also the finishing material that is applied along the edge of an article of clothing or for other use.
In some forms of embodiment, the lateral openings 25 can be hemmed, by hemming trimmings 28, 30, both when the article of clothing 10 has sleeves (figs. 1, 11 and 12) and also when it does not have sleeves (fig. 10).
For example, in some forms of embodiment, the left sleeve 24 and the right sleeve 26 can have a hem formed respectively by the trimming 28 of the left sleeve 24 and the trimming 30 of the right sleeve 26, both made, for example, of the same type of material used for the respective left sleeve 24 and right sleeve 26.
The hems of the left sleeve 24 and the right sleeve 26 can be obtained, for example, by overlapping respectively the trimming 28 and the trimming 30, folded in half, over the ends of the cut edge of the sleeves, so that one end stays outside and one stays inside the sleeves, and joining the elements by stitching.
The shaped edge 27, which can define the neck 16 or the high neck 31, can be hemmed by a neck hem trimming 18, which can consist of at least two flaps 18a and 18b, initially separated from the front panel 12 and the back panel 14. In one form of embodiment, the materials used for the two flaps 18a and 18b can be the same ones chosen for the front panel 12 and the back panel 14, or they can be different.
In particular, in this specific case, the flaps 18a and 18b of the neck hem trimming 18 of the shaped edge 27 can each be stitched to the panel 12, 14 of corresponding material, and the cut edge of the flap 18a, 18b can be visible both internally and externally, in this way adding symmetry to the article of clothing 10 in question.
In possible implementations, the bottoms 40, 46 can also be hemmed and, in the same way, can have a bottom hem trimming 42, consisting of at least two flaps 42a and 42b, initially separated from the front panel 12 and the back panel 14. In one form of embodiment, the materials used for the flaps 42a and 42b can be the same ones chosen for the front panel 12 and the back panel 14, respectively, or they can be different.
Figs. 5-7 are used to describe in detail seams to make the neck hem trimming 18 of the shaped edge 27 (figs. 5 and 6) and the bottom hem trimming 42 of the bottoms 40, 46, in forms of embodiment according to the present description (fig. 7).
In particular, in fig. 5 it can be seen that the seam between the flaps 18a and 18b of the neck hem trimming 18 on the left side is the external type, whereas in fig. 6 it can be seen that the seam between the flaps 18a and 18b of the neck hem trimming 18 on the right side is the internal type.
On the contrary, in fig. 7 it can be seen that the flaps 42a and 142b can each be stitched to the panel 12, 14 of corresponding material and the cut edge of the flap 42a, 42b is visible both internally and externally, contributing to the symmetry of the article of clothing 10.
Fig. 8 is used to describe forms of embodiment, which can be combined with all forms of embodiment described here, in which the seam between the flaps 42a and 42b of the bottom hem trimming 42 on the left side can be the internal type, whereas, with reference to forms of embodiment described using fig. 9, the seam between the flaps 42a and 42b of the bottom hem trimming 42 on the right side can be the external type.
When the article of clothing 10 is turned inside out, or vice versa, one seam of the bottom hem trimming 42 always stays internal, whereas the opposite seam always stays external, to increase the symmetry of the article of clothing 10.
Forms of embodiment described here also refer to a method to make an article of clothing 10. We shall now describe, by way of non-restrictive example, a method according to the present description with reference to an article of clothing 10 formed by two panels 12, 14 of different materials and/or personalized in different ways; the description can also refer to an article of clothing 10 in which the two panels 12, 14 are the same material and/or are personalized in different ways.
According to one form of embodiment, the method provides:

to make available two panels 12, 14 only, provided with perimeter edges 13, so that the article of clothing consists of said two panels;
to join together the two panels 12, 14 overlapping along all the facing perimeter edges 13, except for at least a lower segment 15 that is not joined, which defines a lower opening 23 in order to put the article of clothing at least on the torso, shoulders and back, and an upper segment 17, not joined, which defines an upper opening 21 for the head to go through, and possibly one or more lateral segments 19, not joined, which define respective one or more lateral openings 25 for the arms to go through,

panels

upper segment

upper opening

panels

edges

According to some forms of embodiment, the join can be made by stitching or heat-sealing.
According to a possible form of embodiment of the method, at least one of either the external faces 12a, 14a or the internal faces 12b, 14b of the front panel 12 and back panel 14 can be personalized differently from another of the external faces 12a, 14a and internal faces 12b, 14b. The personalization can be understood, for example, in terms of different colors/images, or in terms of different types of materials used to make the front panel 12 and back panel 14.
According to possible forms of embodiment, a preliminary operation that can be carried out is to cut the elements that make up the article of clothing 10, in particular the front panel 12, the back panel 14, the possible left sleeve 24 and right sleeve 26 and the trimmings 18, 28, 30, 42 for the hems.
For example, in a possible form of embodiment, the front panel 12, a left sleeve 24, a left sleeve trimming 28, a flap 18b, which forms half of the neck hem trimming 18, and a flap 42a, which forms half of the bottom hem trimming 42, are cut from a reel of material A.
The back panel 14, a right sleeve 26, a right sleeve trimming 30, a flap 18b, which forms another half of the neck hem trimming 18, and a flap 42b, which forms another half of the bottom hem trimming 42, are cut from a second reel of material B, in this case different from material A.
Material A and material B can be considered different in that the substance they are made of is different, or they can be made of the same substance but are personalized differently, by prints, images, colors, graphical motifs/writing and/or applied or printed decorations.
Subsequently, the left sleeve 24 of the material A is hemmed, folding the trimming of the left sleeve 28 in correspondence with the lower end of the left sleeve 24 and stitching it so that, both internally and externally, the edges stay visible.
In the same way, the front panel 12 of material A is hemmed with the flap 42a, which forms half the bottom hem trimming 42, with the same material A.
Subsequently, the right sleeve 26 of material B is hemmed, folding the trimming of the right sleeve 30 in correspondence with the lower end of the right sleeve 26 and stitching it so that, both internally and externally, the edges stay visible.
Furthermore, the back panel 14 of material B is hemmed with the flap 42b, which forms half of the bottom hem trimming 42, with the same material B.
Afterward, the internal face 12b of the front panel 12 is put in contact, i.e., overlapped adjacent, with the internal face 14b of the back panel 14 and the right shoulder seam 22 is made, which in this way can be, for example, the external type.
Subsequently, the assembled article is turned inside out, so that the face 12a of the front panel 12 is in contact with the face 14a of the back panel 14, and the left shoulder seam 20 is made. In this case too, the seam made can be the external type, but when the garment is turned outside in again, it appears as the internal type.
Afterward, the right sleeve of material B is assembled on the front panel 12 and the back panel 14 by stitching the right armhole seam 34, as described with reference to fig. 3.
Subsequently, the assembled article is again turned inside out and the left sleeve 24 of material A is assembled on the front panel 12 and the back panel 14 by stitching the left armhole seam 32.
Afterward the neck hem trimming 18 is assembled by stitching the flaps 18a and 18b, with two seams at the longitudinal ends, one internal and one external.
Subsequently, the neck hem trimming 18 is assembled by folding it on the margin of the shaped edge 27, so as to make the materials A and B respectively correspond, and then stitching them.
According to some forms of embodiment, as final operations, the left lateral seam 36 and right lateral seam 38 are made, in sequence. For example, first the left lateral seam 36 is made, then the assembled article is turned inside out and the right lateral seam 38 is made, or vice versa.
In a possible form of embodiment, the stitches can be the whipstitch type, but can also be plain stitch, zig zag or any other type.
The article of clothing 10 obtained with the method according to forms of embodiment described here therefore has four faces 12a, 12b, 14a, 14b, all equally wearable as the front side, by suitably rotating the article of clothing 10 and turning it inside out, and for example comprising at least two different materials and/or different personalizations, while the comfort remains unchanged. This advantageously allows to personalize the article of clothing 10, providing, for example using printing or other techniques, a different image/graphical pattern/writing/color on every face 12a, 12b, 14a, 14b. In this way, the article of clothing 10 is extremely versatile, because it is esthetically different in each of the four different possible ways in which it can be worn, while always keeping the same comfort and wearability.
In some forms of embodiment, which can be combined with all the forms of embodiment described here, the front panel 12 and the back panel 14 of the article of clothing 10 can be made of flexible material. The flexible material of the front panel 12 can be the same as or different from the flexible material of the back panel 14.
In particular, among the possible flexible materials that can be used are textile materials, which can also include, according to the present description, both materials based on textile fibers, in particular carded fibers, and also flexible materials not based on textile fibers but which can be used in the clothing industry, such as for example leather or metal.
Examples of textile fibers are natural fibers, in particular vegetable, animal or mineral fibers, or synthetic or artificial fibers or combinations thereof. The materials based on fibers can be in the form of fabric, i.e. obtained from a weave of fibers, for example with a warp-and-weave structure. The fabric can therefore be formed from fibers of natural origin, such as vegetable, animal or mineral fibers, or techno fibers, such as artificial, synthetic or inorganic fibers. The material can alternatively be in the form of non-woven fabric (TNT), for example with overlapping fibers, distributed in order or randomly.
According to possible implementations, vegetable fibers usable in some forms of embodiment can be fibers chosen from a group comprising: cotton, linen, hemp, jute, ramie (or nettle yarn), sisal, coconut, broom, hibiscus, Manila hemp, straw, bamboo.
According to possible implementations, animal fibers usable in some forms of embodiment can be chosen from a group comprising: wool, hide, silk, horsehair, byssus (sea silk).
According to possible implementations, mineral fibers usable in some forms of embodiment can be chosen from a group comprising: asbestos, metal wires, glass wool.
According to possible implementations, synthetic fibers usable in some forms of embodiment can be chosen from a group comprising: acrylic, modacrylic (acrylic modified to be flame-resistant), polyamide (nylon), polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, chlorovinyl, polyurethane (elastam), Teflon (Gore-Tex), aramids (Kevlar).
According to possible implementations, inorganic fibers usable in some forms of embodiment can be chosen from a group comprising: textile glass, carbon fiber, basalt, metal fibers (copper, silver, gold, steel), metalized fibers.
According to possible implementations, artificial fibers usable in some forms of embodiment can be chosen from a group comprising: rayon, modal, cupro, acetate, triacetate, lyocell, rubber or caoutchouc, viscose or artificial silk.
Other examples of flexible materials can be materials not formed from textile fibers, such as natural or synthetic leather, such as faux leather, metal, for example in the form of thin flexible foil, or any other type of material usable in the clothing or textile industry which, being flexible, can be shaped, folded, deformed and worn.
In some forms of embodiment, which can be combined with all the other forms of embodiment described here, the left sleeve 24 and right sleeve 26, when present, can be made of two different materials. For example they can be made of the same materials used for the front panel 12 and back panel 14.
It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the article of clothing 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.
It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other forms of article of clothing according to the present invention, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.
Although the above refers to forms of embodiment of the invention, other forms of embodiment can be provided without departing from the main field of protection, which is defined by the following claims.
In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading, and must not be considered as limiting factors with regard to the field of protection of the specific claims.

Claims

Article of clothing to wear on the top part of the body to cover at least the shoulders, torso and back, said article of clothing consists of two opposite panels (12, 14), joined together overlapping along all the respective facing perimeter edges (13), except for at least a lower segment (15) that is not joined, which defines a lower opening (23) in order to put the article of clothing at least on the torso, shoulders and back, and an upper segment (17), not joined, which defines an upper opening (21) for the head to go through, and possibly one or more lateral segments (19), not joined, which define respective one or more lateral openings (25) for the arms to go through, said two panels (12, 14) having the same shape and size, optionally except for exclusively the zone of said upper segment (17) defining the upper opening (21), wherein said panels (12, 14) have respective shaped edges (27) having an identical profile, chosen between a rounded shape and a V-shape, wherein at least one, or each, of said two panels (12, 14) consists of a single layer of textile material and wherein said two panels are a front panel (12) and a back panel (14), wherein the front panel (12) and the back panel (14) are joined to each other along said perimeter edge (13), laterally by means of a left lateral seam (36) and a right lateral seam (38) and, in the upper part, by means of a left shoulder seam (20) and a right shoulder seam (22) to define a tubular structure (44) wearable by the user, wherein the left lateral seam (36), the right lateral seam (38), the left shoulder seam (20) and the right shoulder seam (22) are external seams or internal seams, wherein the left shoulder seam (20) and the right shoulder seam (22) have the same type of seam, internal or external, as have the respective left lateral seam (36) and the right lateral seam (38), wherein said front panel (12) and back panel (14) are shaped or cut so as to be identical to each other and each symmetrical front/back with respect to themselves and also symmetrical with respect to each other and wherein the front panel (12) and the back panel (14) each provide, in correspondence to said upper segment (17) along which they are not joined together, an identical edge (27) shaped to define a part of the article of clothing that surrounds the user's neck, delimiting said upper opening (21) for the head to go through, characterized in that at least one of either the left lateral seam (36) or the right lateral seam (38) is an internal seam, and at least one other of either the left lateral seam (36) or the right lateral seam (38) is an external seam and wherein at least one of either the left shoulder seam (20) or the right shoulder seam (22) is an internal seam, and at least one other of either the left shoulder seam (20) or the right shoulder seam (22) is an external seam.
Article of clothing as in claim 1, wherein the front panel (12) and the back panel (14) have respective external faces (12a, 14a) and internal faces (12b, 14b), wherein at least one of either said external faces (12a, 14a) or internal faces (12b, 14b) has a different personalization from another of said external faces (12a, 14a) and internal faces (12b, 14b).
Article of clothing as in any of the preceding claims, wherein the left shoulder seam (20) and the right shoulder seam (22) are not connected to each other, defining said upper segment (17) which delimits the upper opening (21).
Article of clothing as in any of the preceding claims, wherein in the lower segment (15) where the front panel (12) and the back panel (14) are not joined together, the front panel (12) and the back panel (14) have lower edges, or bottoms of the article of clothing, (40, 46) which remain unjoined so as to allow wearability.
Article of clothing as in any of the preceding claims, wherein said article of clothing has no sleeves, or said article of clothing is provided with a left sleeve (24) and a right sleeve (26).
Article of clothing as in claim 5, wherein the left sleeve (24) and the right sleeve (26) are joined to the tubular structure (44) defined by the front panel (12) and by the back panel (14) by means of left armhole seams (32) and right armhole seams (34), wherein said left armhole seams (32) and right armhole seams (34) are external or internal.
Method to make an article of clothing (10) to be worn on the top part of the body to cover at least the shoulders, torso and back, the method comprises:
- making available exclusively two panels (12, 14), provided with perimeter edges (13), so that the article of clothing consists of said two panels (12, 14), wherein said two panels are a front panel (12) and a back panel (14);

- joining together the two panels (12, 14) overlapping along all the facing perimeter edges (13), except for at least a lower segment (15) that is not joined, which defines a lower opening (23) in order to put the article of clothing at least on the torso, shoulders and back, and an upper segment (17), not joined, which defines an upper opening (21) for the head to go through, and possibly one or more lateral segments (19), not joined, which define respective one or more lateral openings (25) for the arms to go through, wherein the front panel (12) and the back panel (14) are joined to each other along said perimeter edge (13), laterally by means of a left lateral seam (36) and a right lateral seam (38) and, in the upper part, by means of a left shoulder seam (20) and a right shoulder seam (22) to define a tubular structure (44) wearable by the user, wherein the left lateral seam (36), the right lateral seam (38), the left shoulder seam (20) and the right shoulder seam (22) are external seams or internal seams and wherein the left shoulder seam (20) and the right shoulder seam (22) have the same type of seam, internal or external, as have the respective left lateral seam (36) and the right lateral seam (38), wherein said front panel (12) and back panel (14) are shaped or cut so as to be identical to each other and each symmetrical front/back with respect to themselves and also symmetrical with respect to each other and wherein the front panel (12) and the back panel (14) each provide, in correspondence to said upper segment (17) along which they are not joined together, an identical edge (27) shaped to define a part of the article of clothing that surrounds the user's neck, delimiting said upper opening (21) for the head to go through; said two panels (12, 14) having the same shape and size, and have respective shaped edges (27) having an identical profile chosen between a rounded shape and a V-shape, wherein at least one , or each of said two panels (12, 14) consists of a single layer of textile material, characterized in that least one of either the left lateral seam (36) or the right lateral seam (38) is an internal seam, and at least one other of either the left lateral seam (36) or the right lateral seam (38) is an external seam and wherein at least one of either the left shoulder seam (20) or the right shoulder seam (22) is an internal seam, and at least one other of either the left shoulder seam (20) or the right shoulder seam (22) is an external seam.
Method as in claim 7, wherein the front panel (12) and the back panel (14) have respective external faces (12a, 14a) and internal faces (12b, 14b), wherein at least one of either said external faces (12a, 14a) or internal faces (12b, 14b) has a different personalization from another of said external faces (12a, 14a) and internal faces (12b, 14b).
Method as in claim 7 or 8, wherein the joining can be carried out by stitching and/or heat-sealing.