US20230255282A1

US20230255282A1 - Modular clothing articles with replaceable and interchangeable panels

Info

Publication number: US20230255282A1
Application number: US17/669,491
Authority: US
Inventors: Keith Gitlin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-02-11
Filing date: 2022-02-11
Publication date: 2023-08-17

Abstract

A modular and reversible clothing article with replaceable and interchangeable panels or parts that allows the article to have one color, design, pattern or texture on one side and another color or pattern on the other side and to mix and match the panels or parts to have the same or different color, design, pattern or texture in the front and the back of the clothing article. The wearer may change the appearance of the clothing article on a daily basis, as needed or desired, increasing the usable lifespan and utility of any clothing article several fold.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to clothing articles and a method for creating a clothing article. More specifically, the present invention is clothing articles and a method for creating modular clothing articles with replaceable and interchangeable panels or parts.
This invention was not made pursuant to any federally-sponsored research and/or development.

BACKGROUND

Garments with inserts are known in the art. A number of clothing articles, particularly infant and children’s clothing, have been designed and produced with inserts that can change the color scheme or tone of the clothing article, entertain the child or allow the child to play in a number of different ways, or even educate the child. However, no truly modular clothing articles are known that would allow a piece of clothing to become a different piece of clothing by replacing colors or designs of sections of the outfit, by lengthening or shortening the clothing, by replacing old, worn-out, stained, or damaged parts of the outfit, or “retire” parts of the outfit that are no longer desired.
What is needed is a garment that allows the change of the color, design, length, warmth level, condition, and length of the garment during its use, generating an endless variety of combinations, allowing the owner to use the same garment for multiple occasions, and increasing the life cycle and the usefulness of a garment. Such clothing articles and a method for creation of the articles are provided. The invention encompasses all kinds of clothing, including short-sleeve shirts, long-sleeve shirts, dress shirts, sleeveless tank tops, blowses, pants, shorts, jeans, jackets, sport coats, sweatshirts, hoodies, track suits, dresses, skirts (short, long, and with a vertical slit), and all kinds of children’s and infant clothing.
Although the modular clothing articles of the present invention will have great use for casual wear, the users can dress them up or dress them down at will. For example, the users of the garments can dress them up for a wedding or formal occasion, make them funky for a night out, or dress them down for a family picnic or fishing trip. The same garments can be worn in school, at work, at sporting events, at concerts, and in restaurants, and they can even be changed several times a day to fit the occasion when a person has to (or simply wants) to change the clothing throughout the day, color-coordinate, coordinate sports team logos or insignias, change the style, and for a number of other uses. This will allow the owners of modular garments to use them more fully rather than spend the money on one piece of clothing and have it collect dust because it is worn once a week or less frequently.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to introduce fully-modular clothing articles and garments and a method for creation therefor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a modular garment and a method for the creation of a modular garments.
For example, for changing colors, a panel of clothing may have one color or design on one side and another color or design on the other side. If the panel is substantially rectangular in shape and has attachment means on both vertical (or horizonal) sides as appropriate, the color may be changed by simply disconnecting the panel from the garment, turning the panel to the other side, and reattaching the panel with the previously hidden color or design now facing outward instead of inward.
Thus, if the article of clothing is made from several panels that are green on one side and silver on the other side, connected by vertical attachment means, and the way the article of clothing is currently worn is so that only the green color is visible (outside color) and the silver color being invisible (inside color), the wearer can easily disconnect one of the panels using attachment means along its two substantially vertical edges, flip it to the other side (with the silver color outwards and green color inwards now), and reconnect the panel to the clothing article so that the wearer now displays both green color and silver color on the outside. Although this example is illustrated by way of a substantially rectangular panel, the modular clothing article of the present invention may be constructed of substantially oval or circular panels, triangular panels, or other polygonal panels suitable for constructing a clothing article and that would fit together (such as pentagons or hexagons for example).
This method of attachment allows the article of clothing to have one color or design on one side and another color or design on the other side. Hence, when the article is fully flipped inside out, it looks completely different than when it was on the other side, in addition for the wearer to be able to change individual panels. The present invention can come in a variety of different types and sizes.
In addition to creating a clothing article with two different colors or designs, or a mix of colors and/or designs, the clothing articles can be short or long, creating different length clothing articles. Taking the same substantially rectangular panel as described before, it may have attachment means along its substantially horizontal edges in addition to attachment means along its substantially vertical edges. By attaching or detaching additional panels using the attachment means along the substantially horizontal edges, the clothing article may be lengthened or shortened at will, it may acquire a new color or design on the bottom panel, which may be used as extension or trim panels. Such extension or trim panels may also be triangular, substantially rectangular, polygonal, substantially oval or circular.
The clothing article has attachment means, connected to the edges, or proximate to the edges, of the panels from which the clothing article is to be constructed. The preferred attachment means of the present invention are zippers, due to their reliability, ease of use, and simplicity of attachment and detachment of interchangeable clothing panels with just a couple of moves. However, the present invention may also be implemented with other attachment means, including buttons and loops, buttons and slots, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, locks, straps, latches, buckles, or other methods known in the art, providing a semi-permanent (or detachable) attachment.
The above examples are illustrated with substantially rectangular panels (i.e., such as a tube-top or a strapless top would have). If the substantially rectangular panels are connected over the shoulder (such as a square tank top), the substantially rectangular panels would need to have substantially horizontal attachment means. The addition of short or long sleeves to the panels is preferably accomplished by extending those substantially horizontal attachment means over the arm and adding attachment means under the arm to close the sleeves when the adjacent panels are connected, as illustrated in the drawings.
The attachment means may also be used to attach separate panels, pockets, or decorative/trim panels with decorative designs, jewels, rhinestones, and other decorations to the modular clothing panels of the present invention. If the wearer needs a shirt with a pocket today, the wearer can simply swap out a panel in the clothing article for a panel that includes a pocket. If the wearer need two pockets, wearer can use a panel with two pockets or two separate panels with a pocket each.
Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention uses a panel of clothing that is made from a single piece of fabric or textile and has different colors and/or designs on its two sides, the present invention may be constructed with two layers of fabric or textile. The two different layers of fabric or textile may have different colors and/or design patterns, and they may also have different thickness, texture, comfort and warmth level. The fabric or textile layer currently worn on the inside acts as lining and the layer worn on the outside is the outer side or layer. When the garment is turned inside out, the former inner side or layer acts as the outer side or layer of the clothing, and the former outer side or layer acts as the lining. Regardless of the color or texture of the two sides or layers, the panels can still be mixed and matched, with different sides or layers visible at any given time, generating interesting designs and contrasts of materials, textures, and colors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The features, aspects and advantages of the novel clothing articles will become further understood with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings where

FIG. 1 is a front view of the modular clothing article of the present invention with the same-pattern outer layer externally visible and the second design layer visible in one panel’s cut-out, illustrating the attachment means connecting the modular panels;

FIG. 2 is a right-hand side view of the same-pattern side of the modular clothing article of FIG. 1 , illustrating the attachment means of the first front panel and the back panel over the arm;

FIG. 3 is a right-hand side view of the same-pattern side of the modular clothing article of FIG. 2 , illustrating the attachment means of the first front panel and the back panel under the arm;

FIG. 4 is a right-hand side view of the same-pattern side of the modular clothing article of FIG. 2 , illustrating the attachment means over the arm being a partially unzipped zipper;

FIG. 5 is a right-hand side view of the same-pattern side of the modular clothing article of FIG. 3 , illustrating the attachment means under the arm being a partially unzipped zipper;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the modular clothing article of FIG. 1 with the pattern and second design outer layer externally visible after the panel that had the second design layer visible in the cut-out is reversed and reconnected to the same-pattern panel, with the design on the right side and color pattern on the left side, illustrating the attachment means connecting the modular panels being a partially unzipped zipper;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the of the modular clothing article of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 8A is a front view of the two front panels of the clothing article, each with the same color pattern in the front and design on the reverse side (design shown in FIG. 9 );

FIG. 8B is a front view of the back panel of the clothing article with the same color pattern in the front and design on the reverse side (design shown in FIG. 9 );

FIG. 9 is a front view of some of the various combinations of the reversible back panel and interchangeable front panels of FIGS. 8A-8B;

FIG. 10A is a front view of the various combinations of the front and back of the modular back panel embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10B is a front view of other combinations of the front and back of the modular back panel embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a front view of another embodiment of the modular clothing article where the front panels have the same color or design on their respective inner and outer layers, with the design on the left side and the color pattern on the right side, illustrating the attachment means connecting the modular panels being a fully zipped zipper;

FIG. 12 is a right-hand side view of one of the embodiment of FIG. 11 , illustrating the attachment means over the arm;

FIG. 13 is a right-hand side view of the combination of FIG. 12 , illustrating the attachment means under the arm, with a design back and a solid color front panel;

FIG. 14 is a left-hand side view of one of the of the embodiment of FIG. 11 , illustrating the attachment means over the arm, with a design back and a design pattern front panel; and

FIG. 15 is a front view of the modular clothing article of FIG. 11 , with the zipper connecting the modular panels fully zipped after the front panels illustrated in FIG. 11 have been reversed and reconnected with the design on the right side and color pattern on the left side.

DESCRIPTION

With reference to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 1-5 and FIGS. 7-9 the clothing article 10 of the present invention includes a first front panel 20, a second front panel 30, and a back panel 40. The first front panel 20 has an outer layer 21 (illustrated in FIG. 1 ) and an inner layer 23 (illustrated in FIG. 9 ) (in this particular embodiment, the first outer layer 21 and the first inner layer 23 are of the same color and pattern), and typically has four edges: first top edge 22, first bottom edge 24, first center side edge 26 and first back side edge 28.
The second front panel 30 likewise has a second outer layer 31 illustrated in FIG. 1 and a second inner layer 33 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 6, 9, and 11 and second front panel 30 typically has four edges: second top edge 32, second bottom edge 34, second center side edge 36 and second back side edge 38. The outer layer 31 has a solid color pattern and the inner layer 33 of the second front panel 30 has a star pattern on reverse of the second front panel 30, as illustrated in FIG. 1 , or the outer layer 31 and the inner layer 33 may have the same color or pattern as illustrated by the same star pattern in FIG. 11 . Thus, various combinations or colors, patterns and designs are possible.
The back panel 40 also has an outer layer 41 and an inner layer 43 as illustrated in FIGS. 2-3, 8-9 , a back top edge 42, a back bottom edge 44, a back side edge 48 and an opposite back side edge 48.
The first front panel 20 and the second panel 30 are removably connected to each other and the back panel 40 using the attachment means 50 of the present invention. The attachment means 50 are preferably disposed on the respective edges of the panels that are intended to connect together: (a) the attachment means 50 along the first center side edge 26 and the second center side edge 36 connects the first front panel 20 to the second front panel 30 in the front of the clothing article 10, (b) the attachment means 50 along the first back side edge 28 and the back side edge 48 connects the first front panel 20 to the back panel 40, and (c) the attachment means 50 along the second back side edge 38 and the opposite back side edge 48 connects the second front panel 30 to the back panel 40. When all attachment means 50 are thus engaged or fastened, the clothing article 10 is assembled and ready to be worn by pulling it over the head of the wearer, like a pullover sweater, or by disengaging the attachment means connecting the first front panel 20 and the second front panel 30, putting the clothing article 10 on through the sleeves or arm openings, and reengaging the attachment means 50 is desired, or the clothing article 10 may be worn unfastened, like a cardigan sweater.
After assembly, the bottom edges of all panels are preferably substantially vertically aligned (in other words, they are on approximately the same visual level, creating the appearance of a seamless or nearly seamless bottom edge or hem of the clothing article 10. That envisions that the lengths of the front and back panels are approximately the same. However, for design or aesthetic purposes, the panels may be of different lengths: for example the back panel or one or both of the front panels may be longer, creating an uneven look; then the attachment means 50 are connected only along the shortest of the panels. This would work well with buttons and loops or hooks and loop attachments, for example, but to work with zippers, the attachment means would have to run only along the shortest panel and the corresponding length of the longer panel (i.e., not the entire length of the side edge of the longer panel).
The first front panel 20 also preferably has a sleeve part 25 that attaches to the cooperating sleeve part 45 of the back panel 40 by attachment means 50, running along the first top edge 22 and the back top edge 42 (connecting the first front panel 20 and the back panel 40) and then along the upper and lower portions of the sleeve parts 25 and 45, connecting those respective sleeve parts. Likewise, the second front panel 30 also preferably has a sleeve part 35 that attaches to the respective cooperating sleeve part 45 of the back panel 40 by attachment means 50, running along the second top edge 32 and the back top edge 42 (connecting the second front panel 30 and the back panel 40) and then along the upper and lower portions of the sleeve parts 35 and 45, connecting those respective sleeve parts.
It is envisioned that the sleeve parts 45 would be able to connect to sleeve parts 25 and 35 interchangeably, as would the back panel 40 itself be able to connect to the first front panel 20 and the second front panel 30 interchangeably at first back side edge 28 and second back side edge 38 respectively, so that the user can disconnect the attachment means 50 running along the back side edges 48, invert the back panel 40 inside out, and reconnect the back panel 40 to the first front panel 20 and the second front panel 30 at the opposite side edges of the first and second front panels. That would easily allow the user to change the color or design of the back of the clothing article 10 and leave the front panels 20 and 30 unchanged (i.e., same color, pattern or design as they were before).
Without the respective sleeve parts 25, 35, and 45, the clothing article 10 would look and function like a regular sleeveless tank top, with the first front panel 20, second front panel 30, and back panel 40 connected to each other by the substantially vertical attachment means 50, but the wearer of the tank top would also have the capability of taking it off an putting it on through the arm opening rather than overhead, by disconnecting the first front panel 20 and the second front panel 30. However, that is only one embodiment of the present invention, and it is anticipated that short or long sleeves would be included in other embodiments. The length of the sleeves would be regulated by sizing the sleeve parts 25, 35, and 45 appropriately, and the sleeves may be short, elbow-length, full length (to the wrist), or three-quarter sleeves for example.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention envision the attachment means 50 running along the entire length of the upper and lower portions of the cooperating sleeve parts 25 and 45 and 35 and 45 respectively, an alternative embodiment may have a full-length or three-quarter sleeve where the attachment means connecting the respective parts runs only part of the way-half-way down the length of the sleeve for example-for utilitarian or aesthetic design reasons.
Notwithstanding the respective sleeve parts 25, 35, and 45, the first front panel 20, the second front panel 30 and the back panel 40 are preferably substantially rectangular in shape, but they can also be triangular or of other polygonal shapes (not shown). When the panels are of a substantially rectangular shape, the attachment means 50 connecting them may be substantially vertical, but the attachment means 50 may be curved, slanted, diagonal, irregular or otherwise shaped to form the body and/or the sleeve parts under the arm and over the shoulder as appropriate.
For example, with a diagonal attachment means 50 between the first front panel 20 and the second front panel 30, each of the panels 20 and 30 would be substantially triangular in shape, preferably still having substantially vertical attachment means 50 between each of the panel 20 and 30 and the back panel 40. In other words, one side of the substantially triangular panels 20 and 30 would be a substantially vertical side of the triangle as viewed when the article 10 is worn.
FIG. 6 illustrates the options of wearing the clothing article 10, where the first front panel 20 and the second front panel 30 have been reversed versus the clothing article 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 . The first front panel 20 is now on the left-hand side of the wearer (versus the right-hand side previously), and the second front panel 30 is now on the right-hand side of the wearer (versus the left-hand side previously). The inner layer 33 of the second front panel 30 is now fully visible (in other words, it became the outer layer of the clothing article as far as the second front panel 30 is concerned). FIG. 6 also shows the inner layer 23 of the first front panel 20, which was not visible in FIG. 1 where the outer layer 21 is visible. The changing of the clothing article 10 was accomplished by simply disengaging the attachment means 50 along the vertical side edges of the panels that connect the front panels to the back.
Specifically, to get from the version of the clothing article 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 to the version illustrated in FIG. 6 , the attachment means 50 along the first back side edge 28 and the back side edge 48, connecting the first front panel 20 to the back panel 40, and the attachment means 50 along the second back side edge 38 and the opposite back side edge 48, connecting the second front panel 30 to the back panel 40, were disengaged, disconnecting the front panels 20 and 30 from the back panel 40. After disconnecting from the back panel 40, the front panels 20 and 30 were turned over. The attachment means 50 along the first back side edge 28 were connected along the opposite back side edge 48 (where the second front panel 30 was previously connected), and, on the other end, the attachment means 50 along the second back side edge 38 were connected to the back side edge 48 (where the first front panel 20 was previously connected). It should be noted that for this change, the disengagement of the attachment means 50 connecting the first front panel 20 to the second front panel 30 is not necessary, but could also be done.
The attachment means 50 of the present invention are preferably zippers, such as a standard zipper or #3 reversible zipper due to their reliability, ease of use, and simplicity of attachment and detachment of interchangeable clothing panels with just a couple of moves. However, the present invention may also be implemented with other attachment means, including buttons and loops, snaps, clasps, hook and loop fasteners, hook and bar fasteners, locks, straps, elastic attachments, ties, ribbons, latches, buckles, or other methods known in the art, providing a semi-permanent (or detachable) attachment. The zippers and other attachment means 50 may be made from metal, plastic, and other suitable materials known in the art.
When zippers are used as the attachment means 50, the zippers should be attached to the first front panel 20 and the back panel 40, the second front panel 30 and the back panel 40, and any sleeve parts 25, 35 and 45 so that the zipper pulls with the sliders come to rest at the bottom of the respective attachment when the zippers are closed, as illustrated in FIGS. 2-5 and 12-14 . This would avoid chafing at the neck or under the arm where the zipper pulls would otherwise be located. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 5 and 13 , the attachment means 50 (zipper) would connect the respective sleeve parts 25 and 45, run under the arm, completing the right sleeve of the clothing article 10 when the zipper that is the attachment means 50 is closed, and then run all the way downwards between the first front panel 20 and the back panel 40, securely connecting them. When the zipper that is the attachment means 50 is fully closed as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 13 , the zipper pull with the slider is preferably resting at the right-hand side bottom of the clothing article 10, approximately at the point where the first back side edge 28 meets the first bottom edge 24 and the back side edge 48 meets the back bottom edge 44. In other words, the zipper bottom stop is mounted at the top of the clothing article 10 and the zipper top stop is mounted at the bottom. The same kind of attachment is used for the left-hand side of the clothing article 10.
Likewise, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, 12 and 14 the attachment means 50 used to connect the first front panel 20 and the back panel 40 at the top of the clothing article 10 would be attached near the neck opening of the clothing article 10, run down between the first front panel 20 and the back panel 40 along their respective top edges: the first top edge 22 and the back top edge 42, and then downwards along the respective sleeve parts 25 and 45, completing the right sleeve of the clothing article 10. The zipper bottom stop is also mounted at the top of the clothing article 10 near the neck opening and the zipper top stop is mounted at the bottom of the sleeve. The same kind of attachment is used for the left-hand side of the clothing article 10.
If chafing is not an issue, the zippers may be attached either way, including on opposite ends of the preferred embodiment. In the preferred embodiment, most of the zippers are attached at the top and the zipper pull is pulled downwards to close the zipper. The zipper is closed when the zipper pull with the slider is substantially at the bottom of the zipper as mounted (at the top stop).
Notwithstanding the attachment of the first front panel 20 and the back panel 40, the second front panel 30 and the back panel 40, and the sleeve parts 25, 35 and 45, when the attachment means 50 between the first front panel 20 and the second front panel 30 is a zipper in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, that particular zipper is preferably attached to the first front panel 20 and the second front panel 30 so that the zipper would close in a conventional manner, bottom to top, with the zipper pull resting at the top of the first and second center side edges 26 and 36 in the closed position, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 6, 11, and 15 . Any mix and match of attachment means 50 may be used in the present invention: for example zippers may be used to connect the first front panel 20 to the back panel 40 and the second front panel 30 to the back panel 40, but then buttons and loops may be used to close the first front panel 20 and the second front panel 30.
The attachment means 50 are preferably connected to the edges or near the edges of the panels by sewing or stitching the attachment means to the fabric of the panel at or near the edge. Alternative means of connecting the attachment means 50 include molding them into the material from which the clothing article 10 is made if the material is suitable for that purpose, such as plastics and plastic derivative materials.
Although the figures of the preferred embodiment (FIGS. 1, 7, 8A, 8B and 9 ) illustrate two interchangeable front panels 20 and 30 that are attached to the solid back panel 40, the back panel 40 itself could be split into two panels 47 and 49 pursuant to the disclosure of the present invention, so that the modular clothing article 10 is made up of four reversible, interchangeable panels: first front panel 20, second front panel 30, first back panel 47 and second back panel 49. Such an embodiment of the modular back panel 40 is illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B. Specifically, one of each first back panel 47 and second back panel 49 may be used as illustrated in FIG. 10A, where the first back panel 47 has a solid color pattern on both sides, and the second back panel 49 has a star patterns on both sides (i.e., for each panel, the inner layer 43 is the same as the outer layer 41). FIG. 10A illustrates flipping or turning over these panels to achieve a different pattern or design on left-hand or right-hand side.
As illustrated in FIG. 10B, two first back panels 47 or two second back panels 49 may be used to achieve the same color or pattern on both sides. Additionally, the first back panel 47 and the second back panel 49 may each or both have a different color or pattern outer layer 41 versus the inner layer 43, adding additional combinations to the clothing article 10.
The same kind of attachment as between the first front panel 20 and the back panel 40, between the second front panel 30 and the back panel 40, or between the first front panel 20 and the second front panel 30 may be used between the first and second back panels 47 and 49, that preferably have attachment means 50 running along the substantially vertical back center edge 46, which is opposite to the two back side edges 48 as illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B.
FIGS. 11-15 illustrate some of the possible variations in the clothing article 10: this embodiment of the present invention includes a first front panel 20, a second front panel 30, and a back panel 40. The first front panel 20 has an outer layer 21 illustrated in FIG. 11 and an inner layer 23 illustrated in FIG. 15 , in which the first front panel 20 is disconnected, turned over (reversed), exchanged with the second front panel 30, and reconnected to the back panel 40. In this particular embodiment, the outer layer 21 and the inner layer 23 are of the same solid color. The first front panel 20 still has four edges: first top edge 22, first bottom edge 24, first center side edge 26 and first back side edge 28.
The second front panel 30 likewise has an outer layer 31 illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 14 and an inner layer 33 illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 15 , after the second front panel 30 is disconnected, turned over (reversed), exchanged with the first front panel 20, and reconnected to the back panel 40. In this embodiment, both the outer layer 31 and the inner layer 33 have a star pattern as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 15 . The second front panel 30 still has four edges: second top edge 32, second bottom edge 34, second center side edge 36 and second back side edge 38.
The back panel 40 also has an outer layer 41 illustrated in FIGS. 12-13 and an inner layer 43 illustrated in FIG. 14 , and in this particular version both the outer layer 41 and the inner layer 43 have a star pattern, so the back panel 40 looks the same from either side, and may be used interchangeably without regard where the front and back of the back panel 40 are. The back panel 40 has a back top edge 42, a back bottom edge 44, a back side edge 48 and an opposite back side edge 48.
Although FIGS. 11-15 illustrate different combinations and reversed combinations of the clothing panels of the clothing article 10, the connection methods remain the same: first front panel 20 and the second panel 30 are removably connected to each other and the back panel 40 using the attachment means 50 of the present invention. The attachment means 50 are preferably disposed on the respective edges of the panels that are intended to connect together: (a) the attachment means 50 along the first center side edge 26 and the second center side edge 36 connects the first front panel 20 to the second front panel 30 in the front of the clothing article 10, (b) the attachment means 50 along the first back side edge 28 and the back side edge 48 connects the first front panel 20 to the back panel 40, and (c) the attachment means 50 along the second back side edge 38 and the opposite back side edge 48 connects the second front panel 30 to the back panel 40. When all attachment means 50 are thus engaged or fastened, the clothing article 10 is assembled and ready to be worn by pulling it over the head of the wearer, like a pullover sweater, or by disengaging the attachment means connecting the first front panel 20 and the second front panel 30, putting the clothing article 10 on, and reengaging the attachment means 50 is desired, or the clothing article 10 may be worn unfastened, like a cardigan sweater.
The first front panel 20 also preferably has a sleeve part 25 that attaches to the cooperating sleeve part 45 of the back panel 40 by attachment means 50, running along the first top edge 22 and the back top edge 42 (connecting the first front panel 20 and the back panel 40) and then along the sleeve parts 25 and 45, connecting those respective sleeve parts. Likewise, the second front panel 30 also preferably has a sleeve part 35 that attaches to the respective cooperating sleeve part 45 of the back panel 40 by attachment means 50, running along the second top edge 32 and the back top edge 42 (connecting the second front panel 30 and the back panel 40) and then along the sleeve parts 35 and 45, connecting those respective sleeve parts.
It is envisioned that the sleeve parts 45 would be able to connect to sleeve parts 25 and 35 interchangeably, as would the back panel 40 itself be able to connect to the first front panel 20 and the second front panel 30 interchangeably at first back side edge 28 and second back side edge 38 respectively, so that the user can disconnect the attachment means 50 running along the back side edges 48, invert the back panel 40 inside out, and reconnect the back panel 40 to the first front panel 20 and the second front panel 30 at the opposite side edges of the first and second front panels. That would easily allow the user to change the color or design of the back of the clothing article 10 and leave the front panels 20 and 30 unchanged (i.e., same color or design as they were before).
Without the respective sleeve parts 25, 35, and 45, the clothing article 10 would look like a regular sleeveless tank top, with the first front panel 20, second front panel 30, and back panel 40 connected to each other by the substantially vertical attachment means 50. However, that is only one embodiment of the present invention, and it is anticipated that short or long sleeves would be included in other embodiments. The length of the sleeves would be regulated by sizing the sleeve parts 25, 35, and 45 appropriately. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention envision the attachment means 50 running along the entire length of the cooperating sleeve parts 25 and 45 and 35 and 45 respectively, an alternative embodiment may have a full-length or three-quarter sleeve where the attachment means connecting the respective parts runs only part of the way-half-way down the length of the sleeve for example-for utilitarian or esthetic design reasons.
Notwithstanding the respective sleeve parts 25, 35, and 45, the first front panel 20, the second front panel 30 and the back panel 40 are preferably substantially rectangular in shape, but they can also be triangular or of other polygonal shapes (not shown). When the panels are of a substantially rectangular shape, the attachment means 50 connecting them may be substantially vertical, but the attachment means 50 may be curved, slanted, diagonal, irregular or otherwise shaped to form the body and/or the sleeve parts under the arm and over the shoulder as appropriate.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, one or more of the panels of the clothing article 10 may use two separate layers of fabric or material to compose the inner layer and the outer layer. This would be a more expensive embodiment to manufacture due to the added material and labor (such as more work to sew in the zipper because it would be necessary to align and hem two pieces of fabric or material), but the resulting clothing article 10 would be thicker, warmer, and possibly more durable for long-term wear. Same or different types of materials may be used for the inner and outer layers: for example, both the inner layer and the outer layer may be cotton fabric, or one of them could be cotton fabric and the other one wool fabric. Any number of combinations of materials, colors, patterns, and textures could be used.
This alternative embodiment of the present invention may also be illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1, 9 : the outer layer 31 and the inner layer 33 can be the first and second layer of fabric or material rather than different color patterns or designs on two sides of the same piece of fabric. The outer layer 31 and the inner layer 33 in this embodiment are connected together, preferably by sewing or stitching them to one another along their peripheral edges: second top edge 32, second bottom edge 34, second center side edge 36 and second back side edge 38 for second front panel 30 for example.
The first front panel 20 may likewise be composed of two separate pieces of fabric or other material that are its outer layer 21 and inner layer 23, connected along the peripheral edges of the first front panel 20: first top edge 22, first bottom edge 24, first center side edge 26 and first back side edge 28. The back panel 40, in turn, may be composed of two separate pieces of fabric or other material that are its outer layer 41 and inner layer 43, connected along the peripheral edges of the back panel 40: back top edge 42, back bottom edge 44, back side edge 48 and an opposite back side edge 48 (and also along the back center edge 46 when the back panel 40 is modular and made up of the first back panel 47 and the second back panel 49).
This alternative embodiment allows the designer to use a selected color, design, pattern, material or texture for the outer layer and another selected color, design, pattern, material or texture for the inner layer of any panel that is part of the clothing article 10. Each layer of fabric or material has an internal side and an external side, where the internal sides of the layers of fabric or material are in contact with one another (and maybe stitched through in locations other than the peripheral edges of the panel for added support, sturdiness, and durability), and the external sides form two visible, usable, and wearable sides of the clothing article 10 (i.e., the respective inner and outer layers of the clothing panel).
When the embodiment of the clothing article 10 with two layers of fabric or material is used, the attachment means 50 along the edge of any clothing panel may be sewn into the panel between the layers of the fabric or material. When the attachment means 50 is a zipper, the tape is preferably sewn between the layers, with only the zipper elements (teeth) visible on the outside, with minimal amount of tape visible on the outside.
The clothing article 10 pursuant to the disclosure of the present invention is completely modular and reversible so that the wearer has one color, design, pattern, or texture on one side and another color, design, pattern, or texture on the other side of any clothing panel that is part of the clothing article 10.
The present invention is a clothing article that makes a statement (or a number of statements as desired at any given time), and is a practical investment into changeable, modular clothing. The present invention is a multiple-in-one article that gives the wearer the versatility to transform the clothing article any day of the week based on the desired outcome.
Those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, that various features of the novel clothing article illustrated by way of example in the foregoing may vary in alternate embodiments. For example, without limitation, the clothing articles may have various different shapes to fit different body shapes or come in various different sizes, for adults and children.
Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention, other equivalent or alternative methods of providing a novel clothing article according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention has been described above by way of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. For example, the particular implementation of the clothing article may vary depending upon the particular type of fabric or material used. Implementations of the present invention for use with different types of fabrics or materials are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention. The invention is thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims.
The above description of the disclosed preferred embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the principles described herein can be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention and the subject matter of the present invention, which is broadly contemplated by the Applicant. The scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments that may be or become obvious to those skilled in the art.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A modular clothing article comprising:

a. a first substantially rectangular front panel, having a first outer layer, a first inner layer, a first top edge, a first bottom edge, a first center edge, a first side edge, and a first sleeve part proximate to an intersection of the first top edge and the first side edge;

b. a second substantially rectangular front panel, having a second outer layer, a second inner layer, a second top edge, a second bottom edge, a second center edge, a second side edge, and a second sleeve part proximate to an intersection of the second top edge and the second side edge;

c. a substantially rectangular back panel, having an outer layer, an inner layer, a back top edge, a back bottom edge, a back side edge, an opposite back side edge, a back sleeve part reciprocal to the first sleeve part, and an opposite back sleeve part reciprocal to the second sleeve part;

d. a first plurality of cooperating attachment means disposed peripherally along the first top edge, an upper portion of the first sleeve part, the second top edge, an upper portion of the second sleeve part, the back top edge, an upper portion of the back sleeve part, and an upper portion of the opposite back sleeve part, removably connecting the first top edge and the upper portion of the first sleeve part to the back top edge and the upper portion of the back sleeve part and removably connecting the second top edge to the back top edge and the upper portion of the second sleeve part to the upper portion of the opposite back sleeve part by engaging the first plurality of cooperating attachment means;

e. a second plurality of cooperating attachment means disposed peripherally along the first side edge, a lower portion of the first sleeve part, the second side edge, a lower portion of the second sleeve part, the back side edge, a lower portion of the back sleeve part, the opposite back side edge, and a lower portion of the opposite back sleeve part, removably connecting the first side edge and the lower portion of the first sleeve part to the back side edge and the lower portion of the back sleeve part and removably connecting the second side edge and the lower portion of the second sleeve part to the opposite back side edge and the lower portion of the opposite back sleeve part by engaging the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, thereby connecting the first front panel and the second front panel to the back panel and forming sleeves of the clothing article; and

f. a cooperating attachment means disposed peripherally along the first center edge and the second center edge, removably connecting the first center edge to the second center edge by engaging the cooperating attachment means, thereby selectively connecting the first front panel to the second front panel, wherein the first outer layer, the second outer layer, and the outer layer are externally visible.

2. A modular clothing article of claim 1, wherein the sleeves are short length, elbow length, three-quarter length, or full length.

3. A modular clothing article of claim 1, wherein the first center edge, the first side edge, the second center edge, the second side edge, the back side edge and the opposite back side edge are substantially vertical.

4. A modular clothing article of claim 1, wherein the first bottom edge, the second bottom edge, and the back bottom edge are substantially horizontal.

5. A modular clothing article of claim 4, wherein the first bottom edge, the second bottom edge, and the back bottom edge are substantially vertically aligned, forming a hem of the clothing article.

6. A modular clothing article of claim 1, wherein a neck opening is defined in the modular clothing article between the first front panel, the second front panel, and the back panel.

7. A modular clothing article of claim 1, wherein each of the first outer layer, the second outer layer, and the outer layer has a color, design or pattern.

8. A modular clothing article of claim 1, wherein each of the first inner layer, the second inner layer, and the inner layer has a color, design or pattern.

9. A modular clothing article of claim 1, wherein each of the first front panel, the second front panel, and the back panel is reversible.

10. A modular clothing article of claim 1, wherein the first front panel and the second front panel are interchangeable.

11. A modular clothing article of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of cooperating attachment means, the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, and the cooperating attachment means are selected from the group consisting of: standard zippers, #3 reversible zippers, buttons and loops, buttons and slots, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, hook and bar fasteners, locks, straps, elastic attachments, latches, ties, ribbons, clasps, and buckles.

12. A modular clothing article of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of cooperating attachment means, the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, and the cooperating attachment means are zippers.

13. A modular clothing article comprising:

a. a first substantially rectangular front panel, having a first layer of fabric being a first outer layer and a second layer of fabric being a first inner layer, said first layer of fabric and said second layer of fabric being coupled together, defining a first top edge, a first bottom edge, a first center edge, a first side edge, and a first sleeve part proximate to an intersection of the first top edge and the first side edge;

b. a second substantially rectangular front panel, having a third layer of fabric being a second outer layer and a fourth layer of fabric being a second inner layer, said third layer of fabric and said fourth layer of fabric being coupled together, defining a second top edge, a second bottom edge, a second center edge, a second side edge, and a second sleeve part proximate to an intersection of the second top edge and the second side edge;

c. a substantially rectangular back panel, having a fifth layer of fabric being an outer layer and a sixth layer of fabric being an inner layer, said fifth layer of fabric and said sixth layer of fabric being coupled together, defining a back top edge, a back bottom edge, a back side edge, an opposite back side edge, a back sleeve part reciprocal to the first sleeve part, and an opposite back sleeve part reciprocal to the second sleeve part;

14. A modular clothing article of claim 13, wherein each of the first layer of fabric, the second layer of fabric, the third layer of fabric, the fourth layer of fabric, the fifth layer of fabric, and the sixth layer of fabric has a color, design, or pattern.

15. A modular clothing article of claim 13, wherein the sleeves are short length, elbow length, three-quarter length, or full length.

16. A modular clothing article of claim 13, wherein the first center edge, the first side edge, the second center edge, the second side edge, the back side edge and the opposite back side edge are substantially vertical.

17. A modular clothing article of claim 13, wherein the first bottom edge, the second bottom edge, and the back bottom edge are substantially horizontal.

18. A modular clothing article of claim 17, wherein the first bottom edge, the second bottom edge, and the back bottom edge are substantially vertically aligned, forming a hem of the clothing article.

19. A modular clothing article of claim 13, wherein a neck opening is defined in the modular clothing article between the first front panel, the second front panel, and the back panel.

20. A modular clothing article of claim 13, wherein each of the first front panel, the second front panel, and the back panel is reversible.

21. A modular clothing article of claim 13, wherein the first front panel and the second front panel are interchangeable.

22. A modular clothing article of claim 13, wherein the first plurality of cooperating attachment means, the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, and the cooperating attachment means are selected from the group consisting of: standard zippers, #3 reversible zippers, buttons and loops, buttons and slots, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, hook and bar fasteners, locks, straps, elastic attachments, latches, ties, ribbons, clasps, and buckles.

23. A modular clothing article of claim 13, wherein the first plurality of cooperating attachment means, the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, and the cooperating attachment means are zippers.

24. A modular clothing article comprising:

a. a first substantially rectangular front panel, having a first outer layer, a first inner layer, a first top edge, a first bottom edge, a first center edge and a first side edge;

b. a second substantially rectangular front panel, having a second outer layer, a second inner layer, a second top edge, a second bottom edge, a second center edge and a second side edge;

c. a substantially rectangular back panel, having an outer layer, an inner layer, a back top edge, a back bottom edge, a back side edge and an opposite back side edge;

d. a first plurality of cooperating attachment means disposed peripherally along the first top edge, the second top edge and the back top edge, removably connecting the first top edge and the second top edge to the back top edge by engaging the first plurality of cooperating attachment means;

e. a second plurality of cooperating attachment means disposed peripherally along the first side edge, the second side edge, the back side edge and the opposite back side edge, removably connecting the first side edge to the back side edge and removably connecting the second side edge to the opposite back side edge by engaging the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, thereby connecting the first front panel and the second front panel to the back panel; and

25. A modular clothing article of claim 24, wherein the first center edge, the first side edge, the second center edge, the second side edge, the back side edge and the opposite back side edge are substantially vertical.

26. A modular clothing article of claim 24, wherein the first bottom edge, the second bottom edge, and the back bottom edge are substantially horizontal.

27. A modular clothing article of claim 26, wherein the first bottom edge, the second bottom edge, and the back bottom edge are substantially vertically aligned, forming a hem of the clothing article.

28. A modular clothing article of claim 24, wherein a first arm opening is defined between the first front panel and the back panel, a second arm opening is defined between the second front panel and the back panel, and a neck opening is defined in the modular clothing article between the first front panel, the second front panel, and the back panel.

29. A modular clothing article of claim 24, wherein each of the first outer layer, the second outer layer, the outer layer, the first inner layer, the second inner layer, and the inner layer has a color, design or pattern.

30. A modular clothing article of claim 24, wherein each of the first front panel, the second front panel, and the back panel is reversible.

31. A modular clothing article of claim 24, wherein the first front panel and the second front panel are interchangeable.

32. A modular clothing article of claim 24, wherein the first plurality of cooperating attachment means, the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, and the cooperating attachment means are selected from the group consisting of: standard zippers, #3 reversible zippers, buttons and loops, buttons and slots, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, hook and bar fasteners, locks, straps, elastic attachments, latches, ties, ribbons, clasps, and buckles.

33. A modular clothing article of claim 24, wherein the first plurality of cooperating attachment means, the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, and the cooperating attachment means are zippers.

34. A modular clothing article comprising:

c. a first substantially rectangular back panel, having a first back outer layer, a first back inner layer, a first back top edge, a first back bottom edge, a first back side edge, a first back center edge, and a first back sleeve part reciprocal to the first sleeve part;

d. a second substantially rectangular back panel, having a second back outer layer, a second back inner layer, a second back top edge, a second back bottom edge, a second back side edge, a second back center edge, and a second back sleeve part reciprocal to the second sleeve part;

e. a first plurality of cooperating attachment means disposed peripherally (i) along the first top edge, an upper portion of the first sleeve part, the first back top edge, and an upper portion of the first back sleeve part, removably connecting the first top edge and the upper portion of the first sleeve part to the first back top edge and the upper portion of the first back sleeve part, and (ii) along the second top edge, an upper portion of the second sleeve part, the second back top edge, and an upper portion of the second back sleeve part, removably connecting the second top edge to the back top edge and the upper portion of the second sleeve part to the upper portion of the second back sleeve part, by engaging the first plurality of cooperating attachment means;

f. a second plurality of cooperating attachment means disposed peripherally (i) along the first side edge, a lower portion of the first sleeve part, a first back side edge, and a lower portion of the first back sleeve part, removably connecting the first side edge and the lower portion of the first sleeve part to the first back side edge and the lower portion of the first back sleeve part, and (ii) along the second side edge, a lower portion of the second sleeve part, the second back side edge, and a lower portion of the second back sleeve part, removably connecting the second side edge and the lower portion of the second sleeve part to the second back side edge and the lower portion of the second back sleeve part, by engaging the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, thereby connecting the first front panel to the first back panel and the second front panel to the second back panel and forming sleeves of the clothing article;

g. a first cooperating attachment means disposed peripherally along the first back center edge and the second back center edge, removably connecting the first back center edge to the second back center edge by engaging the first cooperating attachment means, thereby connecting the first back panel to the second back panel; and

h. a second cooperating attachment means disposed peripherally along the first center edge and the second center edge, removably connecting the first center edge to the second center edge by engaging the second cooperating attachment means, thereby selectively connecting the first front panel to the second front panel, and wherein the first outer layer, the second outer layer, the first back outer layer and the second back outer layer are externally visible.

35. A modular clothing article of claim 34, wherein the sleeves are short length, elbow length, three-quarter length, or full length.

36. A modular clothing article of claim 34, wherein the first center edge, the first side edge, the second center edge, the second side edge, the first back side edge, the first back center edge, the second back side edge, and the second back center edge are substantially vertical.

37. A modular clothing article of claim 34, wherein the first bottom edge, the second bottom edge, the first back bottom edge, and the second back bottom edge are substantially horizontal.

38. A modular clothing article of claim 37, wherein the first bottom edge, the second bottom edge, the first back bottom edge, and the second back bottom edge are substantially vertically aligned, forming a hem of the clothing article.

39. A modular clothing article of claim 34, wherein a neck opening is defined in the modular clothing article between the first front panel, the second front panel, the first back panel, and the second back panel.

40. A modular clothing article of claim 34, wherein each of the first outer layer, the second outer layer, the first back outer layer, and the second back outer layer has a color, design or pattern.

41. A modular clothing article of claim 34, wherein each of the first inner layer, the second inner layer, the first back inner layer, and the second back inner layer has a color, design or pattern.

42. A modular clothing article of claim 34, wherein each of the first front panel, the second front panel, the first back panel, and the second back panel is reversible.

43. A modular clothing article of claim 34, wherein the first front panel, the second front panel, the first back panel, and the second back panel are interchangeable.

44. A modular clothing article of claim 34, wherein the first plurality of cooperating attachment means, the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, the first cooperating attachment means, and the second cooperating attachment means are selected from the group consisting of: standard zippers, #3 reversible zippers, buttons and loops, buttons and slots, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, hook and bar fasteners, locks, straps, elastic attachments, latches, ties, ribbons, clasps, and buckles.

45. A modular clothing article of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of cooperating attachment means, the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, the first cooperating attachment means, and the second cooperating attachment means are zippers.

46. A method of manufacturing a modular clothing article comprising:

a. providing a first substantially rectangular front panel, having a first outer layer, a first inner layer, a first top edge, a first bottom edge, a first center edge, a first side edge, and a first sleeve part proximate to an intersection of the first top edge and the first side edge;

b. providing a second substantially rectangular front panel, having a second outer layer, a second inner layer, a second top edge, a second bottom edge, a second center edge, a second side edge, and a second sleeve part proximate to an intersection of the second top edge and the second side edge;

c. providing a substantially rectangular back panel, having an outer layer, an inner layer, a back top edge, a back bottom edge, a back side edge, an opposite back side edge, a back sleeve part reciprocal to the first sleeve part, and an opposite back sleeve part reciprocal to the second sleeve part;

d. disposing a first plurality of cooperating attachment means peripherally along the first top edge, an upper portion of the first sleeve part, the second top edge, an upper portion of the second sleeve part, the back top edge, an upper portion of the back sleeve part, and an upper portion of the opposite back sleeve part, enabling a removable connection of the first top edge and the upper portion of the first sleeve part to the back top edge and the upper portion of the back sleeve part and enabling a removable connection of the second top edge to the back top edge and the upper portion of the second sleeve part to the upper portion of the opposite back sleeve part by selectively engaging the first plurality of cooperating attachment means;

e. disposing a second plurality of cooperating attachment means peripherally along the first side edge, a lower portion of the first sleeve part, the second side edge, a lower portion of the second sleeve part, the back side edge, a lower portion of the back sleeve part, the opposite back side edge, and a lower portion of the opposite back sleeve part, enabling a removable connection of the first side edge and the lower portion of the first sleeve part to the back side edge and the lower portion of the back sleeve part and enabling a removable connection of the second side edge and the lower portion of the second sleeve part to the opposite back side edge and the lower portion of the opposite back sleeve part by selectively engaging the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, thereby connecting the first front panel and the second front panel to the back panel and forming sleeves of the clothing article; and

f. disposing a cooperating attachment means peripherally along the first center edge and the second center edge, enabling a removable connection of the first center edge to the second center edge by selectively engaging the cooperating attachment means, thereby selectively connecting the first front panel to the second front panel, wherein the first outer layer, the second outer layer, and the outer layer are externally visible.

47. A method of manufacturing a modular clothing article of claim 46, wherein the first center edge, the first side edge, the second center edge, the second side edge, the back side edge and the opposite back side edge are substantially vertical.

48. A method of manufacturing a modular clothing article of claim 46, wherein the first bottom edge, the second bottom edge, and the back bottom edge are substantially horizontal.

49. A method of manufacturing a modular clothing article of claim 46, further comprising substantially aligning the first bottom edge, the second bottom edge, and the back bottom edge vertically, forming a hem of the clothing article.

50. A method of manufacturing a modular clothing article of claim 46, further comprising defining a neck opening in the modular clothing article between the first front panel, the second front panel, and the back panel.

51. A method of manufacturing a modular clothing article of claim 46, further comprising imparting a color, design or pattern on each of the first outer layer, the second outer layer, and the outer layer.

52. A method of manufacturing a modular clothing article of claim 46, further comprising imparting a color, design or pattern on each of the first inner layer, the second inner layer, and the inner layer.

53. A method of manufacturing a modular clothing article of claim 46, wherein each of the first front panel, the second front panel, and the back panel is reversible.

54. A method of manufacturing a modular clothing article of claim 46, further comprising changing a color, design or pattern of the clothing article by interchanging the first front panel and the second front panel.

55. A method of manufacturing a modular clothing article of claim 46, wherein the first plurality of cooperating attachment means, the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, and the cooperating attachment means are selected from the group consisting of: standard zippers, #3 reversible zippers, buttons and loops, buttons and slots, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, hook and bar fasteners, locks, straps, elastic attachments, latches, ties, ribbons, clasps, and buckles.

56. A method of manufacturing a modular clothing article of claim 46, wherein the first plurality of cooperating attachment means, the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, and the cooperating attachment means are zippers.