US2443085A - Adjustable skirt - Google Patents

Description

June 8, 1948. 1. sAcHs ADJUSTABLE SKIRT Filed Nov. 8, 1945 lRVlNG SACHS INVENTOR ZMM ATTO R N EY Patented June 8, 1948 ADJUSTABLE SKIRT Irving Sachs, New York, N. Y., assignor to Jain- Sax Clothing (30., Inc., New York, N. Y.

Application November 8, 1945, Serial No. 627,486

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates generally to skirts and the like and more particularly to an adjustable skirt, particularly suited for wear by Women during the various stages of pregnancy.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an adjustable skirt construction in which ample provision is made for adjustment in the effective girth of the garment to accommodate the changes in girth sizes of pregnant women. While the present invention presents its greatest utility in garments in which relatively large variations in girth are required, where desired the same may be utilized to accommodate relatively smaller changes and thus in smaller sizes may be used for growing girls. Furthermore, in ready made skirts, the variations in girth provided by the present invention, permit a lesser number of sizes being utilized to fit a relatively complete range of garment sizes.

Another object herein lies in the provision of skirt structure of the class described which presents a symmetrical and attractive appearance throughout the extremes in variation in girth SlZe.

Another object herein lies in the provision, of an adjustable skirt construction which is comfortable to wear in the several size adjustments thereof.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that the garment presents an attractive appearance which tends to conceal the adjustable structure thereof.

Another object herein lies in the provision of structure of the class described which may be manufactured in a relatively simple manner, so that skirts made in accordance therewith may have a low cost and a consequently wide distribution.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a front view in perspective of an embodiment of the invention as worn. In this figure the skirt is shown in an intermediate adjusted position thereof.

Figure 2 is a front view in perspective corresponding generally to Figure 1 but showing the skirt in the smallest girth adjustment thereof.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary View in perspective corresponding generally to Figure 1 but showing the skirt in the largest girth adjustment thereof.

.the waist band l3.

Figure 4 is an enlarged rear fragmentary view in perspective showing the rear portions of the upper forward parts of the skirt.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane 55 on Figure 1.

In accordance with the invention the skirt generally indicated by reference character Ill comprises broadly a front panel H, a rear panel l2, 2. waist band I3 having a central portion l4, laterally disposed front portions I5 and I3, and a rear portion IT.

The front panel H at the Vertical edges thereof and the rear panel l2 at the vertical edges thereof may be interconnected by vertically disposed seams (not specifically illustrated) in a well known manner to provide the general tubular or cylindrical body of the skirt. The waist band 13 is preferably composed of a single elongated strip of material and is secured to the upper edge of the body 20 extending downwardly a substantial distance as seen in the drawings. The waist band l3 may be secured in position by the horizontally disposed annular rows of stitches l8 and It. The length of the waist band I3 is substantially equal to the circumference of the upper edge 2| of the body 20.

Disposed outwardly of an imaginary line vertically bisecting the front panel I l are a pair of oppositely and outwardly disposed folds and 26. These folds extend the complete height of the skirt and include not only the body 20 but also The upper portions of the folds 25 and 26 have the outer and inner layers thereof interconnected by the rows of stitches 21 and 28, respectively. The row 21 extends vertically through a substantial distance and then is diagonally arranged in a laterally outward direction at 29. Similarly. the row of stitches 23 is diagonally arranged at 30.

The rows of stitches 21 and 28, and particularly upwardly and outwardly thereof, define girth sizing members 3| and 32. Each of the members 3| and 32 is provided with a plurality of button holes 33 and 34 respectively. As seen in the drawings the button holes 33 and 34 are substantially horizontally disposed and are arranged in vertical rows on each of the members 3| and 32.

Located outwardly of the fold 25 is the right front panel portion 35, and similarly, located outwardly of the fold 26 is the left front panel portion 36. Each of the panel portion-s 35 and 36 are provided with a plurality of buttons arranged in vertical rows to correspond to the vertical rows of button holes 33 and 34. Thus the panel portion 35 has the rows of buttons 4|, 43 and 45 while the panel portion 36 has the rows of buttons 42, 44 and 46. The rows 4|, 43 and 45 are preferably substantially parallel or they may taper slightly inwardly in an upward direction approaching the waist band |3. The spacing between the row 4| and the row 43 and the spacing between the row 42 and the row 44 are substantially equal, and similarly the spacing between the row 43 and the row 45, and the row 44 and the row 46, are substantially equal.

In the position of the parts in which the smallest effective circumference of the waist band I3 is produced, the girth sizing members 3| and 32 are engaged upon the rows of buttons 45 and 46 and as a result of this the front panel portions 35 and 36 have folds 5|] and 5|, Connected to said panel portions, at said folds, and located a substantial distance below the upper edge 2| are a pair of tie members 52 and 53. These tie members may be interconnected as for example by tying a bow 54 therein and they serve to support the garment portions in and adjacent the folds 50 and 5| so that they do not gap or drop downwardly. By virtue of the fact that the button holes 33 and 34 are relatively elongated, minor or relatively intermediate adjustments in effective girth of the garment may be obtained by varying the distance between the points 55 and 56 at which the inner ends of the tie members 52 and 53 are attached to the garment. By virtue of the fact that the fabric of which the skirt I is composed has a limited amount of resiliency, wearing stresses produce an equilibrium in the strain of the ties 52 and 53 and the connections of the buttons (then active) to their:-

respective button holes. In obtaining the most comfortable adjustment of the ties, the user ties them into a bow for this purpose.

In an intermediate position of adjustment, the

rows of button holes 33 and 34 are engaged uponthe rows of buttons 43 and 44 respectively. This position of adjustment is shown in Figure 1 and is, of course, accompanied by a corresponding adjustment in the ties 52 and 53.

In the largest adjustment of girth, the rows.

of button holes 33 and 34 are engaged upon the rows of buttons 4| and 42, This position of the parts is shown in Figure 3.

As the girth sizing members 3| and 32 are moved inwardly to engage the more inwardly disposed rows of buttons, the outwardly disposed rows of buttons become visible upon the correspondingly exposed surfaces of the panel portions 35 and 36. They may be permitted to remain there to produce a decorative effect or as:

the extra rows of buttons become exposed outwardly of the folds 25 and 26, they may be removed. Such removal is facilitated by the button mounting structure shown in Figure 5. All

of the buttons, or all except the rows 4| and 42 may be detachably engaged upon the respective panel portions on which they are mounted. In Figure 5 the button 55 includes an orificed shank 56 which penetrates an orifice 51 in the panel portion36. The rear end of the shank 56 is then penetrated by one of the arms of a safety pin 53. The orifice 51 is preferably not cut out of the fabric but is temporarily formed by placing the relatively sharp shank through the fabric causing the threads thereof to spread thereat. Upon removal of the pin 56 the shank may be withdrawn and the threads of the fabric manually moved back into place to substantially conceal the fact that the area of the fabric was previously occupied by a button.

The waist band portion of the garment may be provided with a pair of loops 60 and 6| which may be used for supporting the garment [0 upon a well known h'anger (not shown) when the garment is not in use.

While I have illustrated the connecting means in the form of buttons and button holes other detachably engageable interconnecting means such as hooks and eyes, snap fasteners, and. the like may be substituted therefor, said means acting to variously position the members 3| and 32 and to interconnect them with the panel portions 35 and 36 along spaced lines to produce the variation in girth desired.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

For use by a wearer, an adjustable girth maternity skirt composed of sheet textile material, said skirt comprising: a laterally continuous rear panel; a unitary front panel, having a pair of opposite inwardly directed folds and a pair of opposite outwardly directed folds each having a vertical row of button h'oles disposed at and below the waistline of said skirt; stitches securing the juxtaposed upper portions in each of said outwardly directed folds to each other for maintaining each of said folds in folded condition, said stitches terminating at points immediately below the lowest of said buttonholes and above the middle portion of the skirt, the portions of the outwardly directed folds below the lower terminals of said stitches being loose and disconnected so that they are free to open when moved by the legs of the wearer; a pair of ties each connected to one of said inwardly directed folds for detachably and adjustably interconnecting the same, inhibiting relative motion of said inwardly directed folds and reducing bulkiness; and a plurality of laterally spaced vertical rows of buttons on said front panel for detachably buttoning the upper portions of said outwardly directed folds at the waistline and therebelow to the front panel at a plurality of positions outwardly of said folds.

IRVING SACHS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,665 Mahoney Aug. 14, 1945 564,292 Schlwinski July 21, 1886 1,031,112 Fox July 2, 1912

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