GB2538564A

GB2538564A - Improvements in upper-body clothing

Info

Publication number: GB2538564A
Application number: GB1508831.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Allen Mary
Original assignee: MAGNET MOUSE Ltd
Current assignee: MAGNET MOUSE Ltd
Priority date: 2015-05-22
Filing date: 2015-05-22
Publication date: 2016-11-23
Also published as: GB201508831D0

Abstract

An item of upper-body clothing 1 comprises a main housing (2, figure 1) with a front 3 and a back (4, figure 2), an upper neck opening (6, figure 1) and a lower opening (8, figure 1). The shirt 1 has a frontal opening extending down the front of the main housing from the neck opening to the lower opening. The frontal opening is releasably closable by means of a plurality of pairs of neodymium magnets 10a, 10b, attached to the clothing in substantially fixed positions, and spaced apart alongside the frontal opening. Buttons (11, 13) are provided in front of each pair of magnets giving the shirt the appearance of a standard buttoned opening. Shirt cuffs (14, figure 5) comprising a magnetic closure (15a, 15b, figure 5) and for display a button (16, figure 5) or cufflink ends are also disclosed.

Description

Improvements In Upper-Body Clothing The present invention relates to improvements in upper-body clothing.

Items of upper-body clothing (i.e. those designed to house the torso of a person, and for example, shirts, jackets, coats, blouses) are worn in most everyday situations.

However, for some people, in particularly the disabled and elderly, items of upper clothing can be difficult to put on in particular owing to the dexterity required to operate buttons.

The present invention seeks to address this issue.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an item of upper-body clothing comprising: a main housing having a front and a back, an upper neck opening and a lower opening; a frontal opening extending down the front of the main housing from the neck opening to the lower opening; wherein: the frontal opening is releasably closable by means of a plurality of pairs of magnets attached to the item of clothing in substantially fixed positions; outwardly facing on the front of the item of upper clothing and spaced apart alongside the frontal opening are attached a plurality of fasteners.

The provision of a plurality of fasteners on the front of an item of clothing and spaced apart along a frontal opening that is releasably closable by a plurality of pairs of magnets means that a bystander will believe that the opening on item of clothing is closed by the fasteners and will not realize that the opening is in fact closed by concealed pairs of magnets.

Preferably the pairs of magnets are housed within the item of clothing.

In some embodiments fasteners are attached to the front of the item of clothing adjacent respective pairs of magnets.

In some embodiments a fastener is attached to the item of clothing adjacent 5 each pair of magnets.

In some embodiments the fasteners are buttons.

In some embodiments a fake buttonhole is provided adjacent at least one fastener.

In some embodiments fake buttonholes are provided adjacent a plurality of respective fasteners.

In some embodiments a fake buttonhole is provided adjacent each fastener.

In some embodiments the item of clothing comprises a collar.

In some embodiments the collar is releasably closable by means of a pair of magnets housed within the shirt in substantially fixed positions.

In some embodiments the item of clothing comprises sleeves In some embodiments the item of clothing is a shirt and comprises long sleeves and cuffs.

In some embodiments the cuffs are each releasably closable by means of a pair of magnets housed within the shirt in substantially fixed positions.

In some embodiments a button or pair of cufflink ends is attached to each cuff adjacent the pair of magnets.

In some embodiments the shirt is an office shirt or dress shirt.

In some embodiments the main housing and sleeves of the shirt comprise a fabric selected from the group of cotton, cotton moleskin, brushed cotton cotton/silk blend, cotton/polyester blend, silk, kapok.

In some embodiments the magnets are neodymium magnets.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a shirt comprising: a main housing having a front and a back, an upper neck opening and a lower opening; long sleeves and cuffs; wherein the cuffs are each releasably closable by means of a pair of magnets attached to the cuffs in substantially fixed positions; and a button or pair of cufflink ends is attached to each cuff.

Preferably the magnets are housed within the cuffs.

In some embodiments a button or pair of cufflink ends is attached to each cuff adjacent a pair of magnets In some embodiments a fake buttonhole is provided behind a button or pair of cufflink ends attached to each cuff adjacent the pair of magnets.

In some embodiments the shirt comprises a collar.

In some embodiments the shirt comprises a frontal opening extending down the front of the main housing from the neck opening to the lower opening; wherein: the frontal opening is releasably closable by means of a plurality of pairs of magnets attached to the shirt in substantially fixed positions; outwardly facing on the front of the item of upper clothing and spaced apart alongside the frontal opening are attached a plurality of buttons.

Preferably the pairs of magnets that releasably close the frontal opening are housed within the shirt.

In some embodiments buttons are attached to the front of the shirt adjacent respective pairs of magnets that releasably close the frontal opening.

In some embodiments a button is attached to the front of the shirt adjacent each pair of magnets that releasably close the frontal opening.

In some embodiments a fake buttonhole is provided adjacent at least one button.

In some embodiments fake buttonholes are provided adjacent a plurality of respective buttons.

In some embodiments a fake buttonhole is provided adjacent each button.

In some embodiments the shirt is an office shirt or dress shirt.

In some embodiments the magnets are neodymium magnets.

In order that the present invention may be more fully understood a specific embodiment will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a front view of a shirt made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a rear view of the shirt of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of the shirt of Figure 1 with the frontal opening of the shirt partly opened; Figure 4 is a close up view of the shirt of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a close up view of a cuff of the shirt of Figure 1, the cuff being open; Figure 6 is a close up view of a cuff of the shirt of Figure 1, the cuff being closed; Figure 7 is a close up view of a cuff of a shirt made in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, the cuff being open; Figure 8 is a close up view of the cuff of Figure 7, the cuff being closed; Figure 9 is a close up view of a cuff of a shirt made in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, the cuff being open; and Figure 10 is a close up view of the cuff of Figure 9, the cuff being closed.

Referring to the drawings, a shirt 1 comprises main housing 2 having a front 3 formed of first and second sides 3a, 3b and a back 4.

Shirt 1 also comprises first and second sleeves 5a, 5b having first and second cuffs. Back 4 of shirt 1 comprises a shirt yoke (not illustrated for clarity and brevity).

At an upper end of shirt 1 is neck opening 6 surrounded by collar 7. At lower end of shirt 1 is a lower opening 8 defined by hem 9.

In the present embodiment main housing 2, sleeves 5a, 5b and collar 7 are formed of cotton fabric. But any suitable material could of course be used.

Down the front 3 of main housing 2 and formed between first and second sides 3a, 3b is a releasably closable opening extending from neck opening 6 to lower opening 8.

Thus, shirt 1 as described thus far may be seen to be a standard dress shirt.

However, as best illustrated in Figure 4, first and second sides 3a, 3b of main housing 2 may retained in a releasably closed configuration by means of a plurality of pairs of neodymium magnets.

For clarity and brevity out of the magnets sealing only a single pair of magnets 10a, 10b is labelled. Magnets 10a, 10b are not visible as they are housed inside shirt 1 and are therefore illustrated in the Figures by circles drawn in a dashed line.

On the outward face of shirt 1 and located in front of pair of magnets 10a, 10b is attached button 11. Button 11 is merely for show as no operative button hole is provided, as the closure of the shirt front is made by means of the plurality of pairs of magnets.

Each other pair of magnets down the length of the frontal opening of shirt 1 also have a button attached in front of them on the outward face of shirt 1.

Similarly collar 7 is openable and releasably closable by means of pair of magnets 12a, 12b, and in front of that pair of magnets is attached button 13 so as to give the appearance that collar 7 is a standard buttoned collar.

Thus by providing a button in front of each respective pair of magnets shirt 1 is given the appearance of having a standard buttoned opening down its front.

However, opening and closing of the opening is of course much easier for a user as to open the shirt a force merely needs to be applied to break the magnetic bonds and in order to close the shirt the magnets merely need to be 25 aligned.

Turning to a second but related aspect of the present invention it can be seen that shirt 1 is provided with cuffs 14, 14b having a magnetic closure. The magnetic closure is effected by means of a pair of magnets housed within each respective cuff.

Thus for illustrative purposes, and as shown in Figures 5 and 6, cuff 14a comprises internally a pair of magnets 15a, 15b configured to releasably close cuff 14a. Cuff 14a also comprises a button 16 attached to cuff 14a adjacent magnet 15b. Cuff 14 does not comprise a buttonhole for button 16 to attach to. Instead magnets 15a, 15b are configured to close cuff 14a such that button 16 is outwardly facing and such that shirt 1 therefore appears to have standard buttoned cuffs.

In another embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention, and as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, a cufflink attachment for a single cuff 17 may be replicated by means of a pair of magnets 18a 18b housed within cuff 17.

Attached to cuff 17 adjacent respective magnets 18a, 18b are cufflink ends 19a, 19b.

Magnets 18a 18b are oriented so as to form a closure of cuff 17 such that cufflink ends 19a, 19b are outwardly facing thereby replicating a regular cufflink attachment on a single cuff.

In yet a further embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention, and as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, a cufflink attachment for a double cuff 20 may be replicated by means of a pair of magnets 21a 21b housed within cuff 20. Attached to cuff 20 adjacent respective magnets 21a, 21b are cufflink ends 22a, 22b.

Magnets 18a 18b are oriented so as to form a closure of double cuff 20 such that cufflink ends 22a, 22b are outwardly facing thereby replicating a regular cufflink attachment on a double cuff.

It will be apparent that the second aspect of the present invention, namely magnetic cuff closures might be employed in shirts that have a standard buttoned front and need not be employed in shirts that have a front with magnetic closures.

For example, persons that have difficulty attaching cufflinks may appreciate the benefits of magnetic cuff closures. Thus, the embodiments wherein a shirt cuff comprises a pair of fake cufflink ends are believed to be particularly beneficial.

In the present embodiments the magnets are housed within plackets at the frontal opening of the shirts and housed within the lining of the cuffs of the shirts. The magnets are sewn in position such that they cannot move.

However, in other embodiments it will be apparent that magnets might be attached to a shirt by means of adhesive, stapled, or retained within small pockets.

In some embodiments a fake buttonhole may be formed in the fabric adjacent a button or cufflink end so as to enhance the impression that the inoperable buttons or cufflink ends attached to the shirt are in fact regular buttons or cufflink ends effecting closure of a frontal opening or cuff of the shirt.

Such a buttonhole may be provided as a slit in an outward-facing layer of material behind the button or cufflink end, or may be a crease formed by stitches.

In other embodiments a fake buttonhole may be provided by one or more stitches exposed on one side or on both sides of a button or cufflink end, or by one or more coloured markings adjacent the button or cufflink end.

The provision of fake buttonholes is particularly advantageous, as if a bystander notices that an item of clothing has buttons or cufflink ends but no buttonholes the façade that the present invention seeks to create is largely destroyed.

In the present embodiments buttons are used as inoperable fasteners spaced part alongside the frontal opening of the item of clothing, but in other embodiments other types of fasteners such as toggles might be employed.

It will be recognized that although the present invention is particularly advantageous in respect of office shirts and dress shirts the invention may be employed with other items of upper clothing including, but not limited to coats, blouses, jackets, and cardigans.

Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims: 1. An item of upper-body clothing comprising: a main housing having a front and a back, an upper neck opening and a lower opening; a frontal opening extending down the front of the main housing from the neck opening to the lower opening; wherein: the frontal opening is releasably closable by means of a plurality of pairs of magnets attached to the item of clothing in substantially fixed positions; outwardly facing on the front of the item of upper clothing and spaced apart alongside the frontal opening are attached a plurality of fasteners.
2. The item of clothing of claim 1 wherein the pairs of magnets are housed within the item of clothing.
3. The item of clothing of claim 1 or 2 wherein fasteners are attached to the front of the item of clothing adjacent respective pairs of magnets.
4. The item of clothing of claim 1 or 2 wherein a fastener is attached to the item of clothing adjacent each pair of magnets.
5. The item of clothing of any preceding claim wherein the fasteners are buttons.
6. The item of clothing of any preceding claim wherein a fake buttonhole is provided adjacent at least one fastener.
7. The item of clothing of any preceding claim wherein fake buttonholes are provided adjacent a plurality of respective fasteners.
8. The item of clothing of any preceding claim wherein a fake buttonhole is provided adjacent each fastener.
9. The item of clothing of any preceding claim wherein the item of clothing comprises a collar.
10. The item of clothing of claim 9 wherein the collar is releasably closable by means of a pair of magnets housed within the shirt in substantially fixed positions.
11. The item of clothing of any preceding claim wherein the item of clothing comprises sleeves
12. The item of clothing of any preceding claim wherein the item of clothing is a shirt and comprises long sleeves and cuffs.
13. The item of clothing of claim 13 wherein the cuffs are each releasably closable by means of a pair of magnets housed within the shirt in substantially fixed positions.
14. The item of clothing of claim 14 wherein a button or pair of cufflink ends is attached to each cuff adjacent the pair of magnets.
15. The item of clothing of any of claims 12 to 14 wherein the shirt is an office shirt or dress shirt.
16. The item of clothing of any of claims 12 to 15 wherein the main housing and sleeves of the shirt comprise a fabric selected from the group of cotton, cotton moleskin, brushed cotton cotton/silk blend, cotton/polyester blend, silk, kapok.
17. The item of clothing of any preceding claim wherein the magnets are neodymium magnets.
18. A shirt comprising: a main housing having a front and a back, an upper neck opening and a lower opening; long sleeves and cuffs; wherein the cuffs are each releasably closable by means of a pair of magnets attached to the cuffs in substantially fixed positions; and a button or pair of cufflink ends is attached to each cuff.
19. The item of clothing of claim 18 wherein the magnets are housed within the cuffs.
20. The item of clothing of claim 18 or 19 wherein a button or pair of cufflink ends is attached to each cuff adjacent a pair of magnets
21. The item of clothing of claim 20 wherein a fake buttonhole is provided behind a button or pair of cufflink ends attached to each cuff adjacent the pair of magnets.
22. The item of clothing of any of claims 19 to 21 wherein the shirt comprises a collar.
23. The item of clothing of any of claims 19 to 22 wherein the shirt comprises a frontal opening extending down the front of the main housing from the neck opening to the lower opening; wherein: the frontal opening is releasably closable by means of a plurality of pairs of magnets attached to the shirt in substantially fixed positions; outwardly facing on the front of the item of upper clothing and spaced apart alongside the frontal opening are attached a plurality of buttons.
24. The item of clothing of claim 23 wherein the pairs of magnets that releasably close the frontal opening are housed within the shirt.
25. The item of clothing of claim 23 or 24 wherein buttons are attached to the front of the shirt adjacent respective pairs of magnets that releasably close the frontal opening.
26. The item of clothing of claim 25 wherein a button is attached to the front of the shirt adjacent each pair of magnets that releasably close the frontal opening.
27.The item of clothing of claim 25 or 26 wherein a fake buttonhole is provided adjacent at least one button.
28. The item of clothing of claim 25 or 26 wherein fake buttonholes are provided adjacent a plurality of respective buttons.
29. The item of clothing of claim 25 or 26 wherein a fake buttonhole is provided adjacent each button.
30. The item of clothing of any of claims 18 to 29 wherein the shirt is an office shirt or dress shirt.
31. The item of clothing of any of claims 18 to 30 wherein the main housing and sleeves of the shirt comprise a fabric selected from the group of cotton, cotton moleskin, brushed cotton cotton/silk blend, cotton/polyester blend, silk, kapok.
32. The item of clothing of any of claims 18 to 31 wherein the magnets are neodymium magnets.
33. An item of upper-body clothing substantially described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
34. A shirt substantially described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
35. A shirt cuff substantially described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings