US3582993A - Garment having readily changeable decorative inserts - Google Patents

Abstract

A DRESS OR LIKE GARMENT HAVING A TRANSPARENT OUTER WALL AND MEANS FORMING COMPARTMENTS FOR READILY REPLACEABLE OPAQUE DECORATIVE INSERTS BEHIND THE TRANSPARENT OUTER WALL. THE DECORATIVE INSERTS SPAN THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE TOTAL SURFACE AREA OF THE GARMENT.

Description

June 8, 1971 J.- M. KELLER 3,582,993

GARMENT HAVING READILY CHANGEABLE DECORATIVE INSERTS Filed May 9, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOANNE M. KELLER ATTORNEY June 8, 1971 J KELLER 3,582,993

GARMENT HAVING READILY CHANGEABLE DECORATIVE INSERTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 9, 1969 United States Paten 3,582,993 GARMENT HAVING READILY CHANGEABLE DECORATIVE INSERTS Joanne M. Keller, 2906 Cortland Place NW., Washington, D.C. 20008 Filed May 9, 1969, Ser. No. 823,387 Int. Cl. A41d 1/22 US. Cl. 2-74 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dress or like garment having a transparent outer wall and means forming compartments for readily replaceable opaque decorative inserts behind the transparent outer wall. The decorative inserts span the major portion of the total surface area of the garment.

The objective of the invention is to provide a dress, shift or like body garment which will be appealing to the eye and unique and having provision for quickly and easily changing the color and the design pattern of the garment over substantiall its entire area in a very economical manner. In accordance with the invention, a dress or shift is provided whose appearance may be completely and strikingly changed with an almost endless variety of colors and patterns by the mere removal of decorative inserts from pockets or compartments provided in the garment behind a transparent outer wall. Decorative inserts formed of wrapping paper may be readily cut by the user to provide beautiful colors and patterns not readily obtainable by the use of ordinary woven fabrics or printed fabrics. The compartments for receiving the inserts are formed in a very simple and economical manner and the entire garment is characterized by simplicity and economy in materials employed and relative ease of manufacture. The transparent outer wall of the garment adds greatly to its unique appearance and renders the exterior of the garment easy to clean by merely wiping with a damp cloth. The style and overall configuration of the garment and the closure means therefor may be varied as desired.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear to those skilled in the art during the course of the following detailed description.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a garment embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view thereof.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the garment in a laid out or flat condition, partly broken away.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of garment components.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a portion of the garment body and the manner of placing a decorative insert in a compartment thereof.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partly diagrammatic and partly exploded vertical section taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a similar section taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a modification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the same, the numeral designates a single rectangular sheet of transparent plastic or like material constituting the outer layer or wall of the garment. Durable thin sheet plastics are available which are resistant to flame, staining and stretching. Such materials are also quite soft and flexible and may have a high lustre to add tothe unique appearance of the garment. If desired, other forms of transparent or nearly transparent material may be used for the garment outer layer.

The garment further comprises an interior layer or lining formed of cloth and preferably formed in two separate rectangular sections 16 and 17, the cloth section 16 forming the skirt portion of the garment and the section 17 forming the chest or bosom portion of the garment inner wall. Intervened between the inner and outer garment walls is a latticework of ribbon or other similar relatively narrow strip material shown generally at 18 in FIG. 4 and this ribbon latticework, when appropriately stitched to the garment inner and outer walls, coacts therewith to form the compartments or pockets for the readily changeable decorative inserts, to be described.

More particularly, a single main compartment spanning the entire skirt portion of the garment is formed by a pair of horizontal ribbons or strips 19 and 20 and a pair of side vertical ribbons or strips 21 and 22. Referring to FIG. 6, the lower horizontal strip 20 is stitched to the fabric inner wall section 16 by a horizontal line of stitching 23 along the bottom edges of the elements 20 and 16. This leaves the upper edge of the strip 20 free from attachment to the cloth section 16 and the lower edge of the transparent front wall 15 is unattached to the elements 16 and 211', as shown. The ribbon or strip 19 is attached to the elements 15 and 16 by a horizontal line of stitching 24 extending entirely across the width of the flattened garment, as shown in FIG. 3. The lower horizontal edge of the strip 19 remains free or unattached as shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 7 and also FIG. 8, the side ribbons or strips 21 and 22 are similarly stitched along their outer edges to both the interior wall sections 16 and 17 and the exterior transparent wall 15 by continuous lines of stitching 25. This leaves the inner edges of the strips 21 and 22 free and unattached. It may now be clearly seen that the several strips 19, 20, 21 and 22 form a rectangular marginal frame or marginal pocket-forming means for the edge portions of a readily replaceable main decorative insert 26 formed of colored and decorated ornate drapping paper or some similar sheet ma terial which is substantially opaque and sufficiently flexible to be suitable. The insert 26 is in one piece and is rectangular and of a size whereby its marginal edge portions will fit readily behind the strips 19, 20, 21 and 22 and be held thereby between these strips and the cloth section 16, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8 clearly. No other securing means for the insert 26 is required and the insert remains firmly in place and cannot be shaken out of the garment even by violent agitation mainly due to the supporting action of the lower ribbon or strip 20. Incidentally, the ribbon latticework may be formed in any suitable blending or contrasting color scheme. It is emphasized that the insert 26 extends over substantially the entire skirt portion of the dress and renders the appearance of this portion of the garment easily changeable so that an almost infinite variety of decorative appearances can be provided by the user.

In this connection, it is felt that one of the more interesting features of the invention, particularly for the young, is that considerable amusement and pleasure can be derived from seeking suitable materials for the decorative inserts, cutting them and fashioning them in some instances with paints and the like, whose individually is desired. Inserts with flowers, figures, printed slogans, comic pictures and the like may be utilized.

Above the strip 19 and parallel therewith is another horizontal compartment forming strip 27 having its lower edge stitched between the transparent garment front wall and the inner cloth section 17 by a horizontal line of stitching 28 adjacent the bottom of the cloth section 17. The upper edge of the strip 17 is unattached as shown clearly in FIG. 6. A similar ribbon or strip 29, chiefly to provide a finished appearance for the top edge of the garment, is attached by a horizontal line of stitching to the front wall 15 along the top edge of the same. The strips 29, 27, 19 and 20 are all joined to the side strips 21 and 22 by the vertical lines of stitching 25. The chest or bosom portion of the garment between the horizontal strips 27 and 29 is preferably divided by a short vertical ribbon or strip 31, secured at its middle to the front wall 15 and cloth section 17 by a vertical line of stitching 32, the longitudinal edges of this strip 31 being free and unattached as shown in FIG. 7. The strip 31 is at the transverse center of the garment, FIG. 3.

It may now be seen that the horizontal strips 27 and 29, the vertical strip 31 and the upper portions of the side strips 21 and 22 form frame-like compartments or pockets for a pair of rectangular decorative opaque chest or bosom inserts 33 which, like the single insert 26, are easily insertable into and removable from the chest compartments of the garment and are very secure therein. These chest inserts 33 together span the entire chest and back portions of the garment as worn on the body, FIGS. 1 and 2. A relatively narrow midriif section 34 formed by the transparent garment front wall 15 bridges the space between the two horizontal strips 19 and 27. If desired, the vertical strip or ribbon 31 may be extended downwardly across the midriif area 34 for added strength but this is not essential.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the opaque decorative inserts 26 and 33 have all of their marginal edges inserted behind the holding strips or ribbons of the latticework 18 and the inserts are totally sandwiched in between the transparent from wall 15 and cloth rear wall sections 16 and 17.

Suitable shoulder suspension straps 35 are applied to the top edge of the composite garment, as shown, and optionally, tie elements 36 may be provided at the elevation of the tape or strip 27. A conventional zipper closure including elements 37 and 38 is preferably provided at the back of the garment extending for its entire height. Alternatively, snaps, buttons or some other form of closure means may be utilized. Also, if preferred, the zipper elements 37 and 38 may be utilized only for the skirt portion adjacent the insert 26 and the remainder of the back of the garment may be tied or the upper portion of the garment above the waist may be narrowed so that the dress is backless. Various style options are available without departing from the essential concept of the invention which consists in the use of a transparent outer layer or Wall with readily changeable pocketed opaque decorative inserts spanning the major surface area of the dress or garment. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the garment is in the form of a simple short length tubular shift, such as might be appropriate in warm weather at summer resorts or the like. However. the garment structure is applicable to a wide variety of uses and environments, even though its form and quality may change somewhat depending upon a particular application.

FIG. 9 of the drawings shows a possible modification of the invention which may be identical in its construction to that already described except for one feature. Instead of the outer garment wall being formed of transparent plastic or the like, as shown at 15 in the previous embodiment, such outer wall may be formed by a rectangular section 39 of wide open mesh, similar to fish netting. In such case, the transparent characteristics of the outer garment layer are essentially preserved and an interesting eifect or appearance is obtained when the same changeable decorative inserts and other previouslydescribed features are employed.

Additional variations in appearance are attainable by employing diiferent colors and contrasting designs for the inserts 33 and 26. Also the large compartment for insert 26 could be divided by an extension downwardly of the strip 31, in which case two inserts at the skirt region having contrasting designs could be employed instead of a single insert. Quite obviously, a wide range of appearances can be created by the user, adding greatly to the utility of the garment and to the pleasure derived from its use. In eifect, a complete dress wardrobe could be created by providing a variety of inserts.

I claim:

1. A dress or the like comprising an initially fiat body portion having closure means thereon enabling the body portion to assume a generally tubular form on the body of a wearer, said body portion having an exterior substantially transparent wall and an interior wall, a lattice of strip elements intervened between said walls and attached thereto along certain lines and forming with said walls framed compartments in said dress body portion said compartments open along at least one edge portion thereof, and readily changeable decorative substantially opaque inserts of sheet material mountable in the framed compartments with edge portions of the inserts overlapped by said strip elements of said lattice, said inserts spanning a major portion of the total surface area of said dress body portion, thereby enabling substantially the entire dress to have its appearance changed.

2. The structure of claim 1, and said body portion, exterior transparent wall, interior Wall, framed compartments and decorative inserts being generally rectangular.

3. The structure of claim 1, and said exterior Wall formed of transparent sheet plastic, said interior wall formed of cloth, said strip elements formed of ribbon and said inserts formed of decorative paper.

4. The structure of claim 1, and said exterior wall formed of wide mesh netting and said interior wall formed of cloth.

5. The structure of claim 1, and a transparent midriff area portion on the dress body portion formed by the exterior transparent wall, said lattice of strip elements forming a major skirt area compartment and a pair of chest high compartments below and above said midriff area portion.

6. A decorative garment which assumes a substantially tubular form when worn on the body and which is initially flat and substantially rectangular prior to donning comprising an exterior substantially transparent wall, an in-- terior wall of flexible sheet material generally coextensive with the exterior transparent wall, a framework of relatively narrow ribbon elements intervened between said Walls and attached thereto to form with the Walls framed compartments in the garment for readily interchangeable decorative inserts of sheet material, each compartment having at least one open edge portion to allow entry and removal of an insert, and readily changeable decorative sheet inserts mountable within the framed compartments with edge portions of said inserts overlapped by said ribbon elements whereby the latter position and support the inserts, the inserts collectively spanning the major por-- tion of the total area of the garment so that the garment may have its total appearance changed by changing said inserts.

7. The structure of claim 6, and said framework of ribbon elements forming on the garment a lower main insert compartment which opens at the bottom and at least one upper chest covering compartment which opens at the top.

8. The structure of claim 6, and said framework of ribbon elements forming on the garment a lower main rectangular insert compartment spanning substantially the full width of the garment when the latter is fiat, said main compartment opening at the bottom edge of the garment,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/ 1949' Ackley 274 6/ 1958 Townley 2-49 3,018,486 1/1962 Bul pan 2--87 3,055,133 9/1962 Anderson 40--129(A) FOREIGN PATENTS 963,526 1/1950 France 267 H. HAMPTON HUNTER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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