U.S. patent application number 11/274679 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-25 for systems and methods for raised impressions.
Invention is credited to Thomas Davis.
Application Number | 20060111016 11/274679 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36461519 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060111016 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Davis; Thomas |
May 25, 2006 |
Systems and methods for raised impressions
Abstract
Described herein is a system and method for displaying a raised
impression of a design through a cover, such as an overgarment or
other material. For example, a star or other desired design may be
covered by a garment in order to display a raised impression of the
design without exposing the entire design. Such raised impressions
can serve many purposes including a method for women to attract
males, advertising, to protest, serve as a reminder, notice to
others, or other similar uses where raised impressions provide a
means to convey a message. Such raised impressions provide a means
to convey messages without explicitly broadcasting the message.
Inventors: |
Davis; Thomas; (Bayside,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Thomas R. Davis
3839 207th Street
Bayside
NY
11361
US
|
Family ID: |
36461519 |
Appl. No.: |
11/274679 |
Filed: |
November 14, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60627474 |
Nov 12, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
450/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 27/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
450/001 |
International
Class: |
A41C 3/00 20060101
A41C003/00 |
Claims
1. A method for creating a raised impression comprising: attaching
a design to a location, and covering said design with a material
such that the raised impression of the design is visible.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein part of the design visible.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the design has a height component
that contributes to creating the raised impression.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the design is attached by at least
one of a tape strip, glue, or velcro.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the design is attached by
inserting the design into a pocket.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the design is covered by
fabric.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the design is attached to one of a
garment or a wearer.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the garment is a bra.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the design is comprised of at
least one of a symbol, an alphanumeric character, and
punctuation.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the design is comprised of at
least one of a blinking light, a fluorescent color, and a glow
stick.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the design is an advertiser's
logo.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the advertiser's logo is
attached to one of a garment or a wearer.
13. A system for creating a raised impression comprising a design
having a height component that contributes to creating the raised
impression, a location where said design is attached, and a
material for covering said design at said location such that the
raised impression of the design is viewable.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein part of the design is
visible.
15. The system of claim 13 wherein the material is fabric.
16. The system of claim 13 wherein the design is attached to one of
a garment or a wearer.
17. The system of claim 13 wherein the design is covered by
fabric.
18. The system of claim 13 wherein the design is comprised of at
least one of a symbol, an alphanumeric character, and
punctuation.
19. The system of claim 13 wherein the design is comprised of at
least one of a blinking light, a fluorescent color, and a glow
stick.
20. The system of claim 13 wherein the design is an advertiser's
logo.
Description
PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/627,474, filed Nov. 12, 2004, the contents of
which are incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Clothing has been used to cover the human body for ages.
However, there has never been a way to display a raised impression
through a garment or other covering worn on the body, e.g., a
bandage or du-rag. Additionally, there has never been a way to
display different raised impressions in the same location by
providing a means to alter the underlying design. Thus, there is
currently a need for displaying a changeable raised impression
through an overgarment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This patent and all the embodiments herein deal with a
displaying a raised impression of a design through a cover, such as
an overgarment or other material. For example, a star or other
desired design may be covered by a garment in order to display a
raised impression of the design without exposing the entire design.
Such raised impressions can serve many purposes including a method
for women to attract males (for example at a nightclub or
discotheque), advertising (e.g., a BEER design attached to the bra
of an attractive woman, with the impression showing through), to
protest, serve as a reminder (e.g., an appointment time design
under a shirt), notice to others (e.g., stay away), or other
similar uses where raised impressions provide a means to convey a
message. Such raised impressions provide a means to convey messages
without explicitly broadcasting the message.
[0004] In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a method
for creating a raised impression comprising attaching a design to a
location, and covering said design with a material such that a
raised impression of the design is visible.
[0005] In other aspects, part of the design visible; the design has
a height component that contributes to creating the raised
impression; the design is attached by at least one of a tape strip,
glue, or velcro; the design is attached by inserting the design
into a pocket; the design is covered by fabric; the design is
attached to one of a garment or a wearer; the garment is a bra; the
design is comprised of at least one of a symbol, an alphanumeric
character, and punctuation; the design is comprised of at least one
of a blinking light, a fluorescent color, and a glow stick; the
design is an advertiser's logo; and the advertiser's logo is
attached to one of a garment or a wearer.
[0006] In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a system
for creating a raised impression comprising a design having a
height component that contributes to creating the raised
impression, a location where said design is attached, and a
material for covering said design at said location such that the
raised impression of the design is viewable.
[0007] In other aspects, the design is visible; the material is
fabric; the design is attached to one of a garment or a wearer; the
design is covered by fabric; the design is comprised of at least
one of a symbol, an alphanumeric character, and punctuation; the
design is comprised of at least one of a blinking light, a
fluorescent color, and a glow stick; and design is an advertiser's
logo.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates exemplary locations for raised impression
designs for one embodiment using a bra as the overgarment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] As shown in FIG. 1, a bra 100 can have any number of
locations for a raised impression 110. A design (described in
detail below) can be attached to the bra using any means and at any
location in order to display the raised impression of the design
without exposing the entire design. In one embodiment, the entire
design is covered. In another embodiment, portions of the design
are left exposed. For example, as noted below, a flashing light
portion of the design may be left exposed for added effect.
[0010] Although FIG. 1 describes the invention in the context of a
bra, those skilled in the art will recognize that any garment can
provide the desired result. Furthermore, in various embodiments,
any desired garment can have any number of display locations. By
way of non-limiting example only, the raised impressions may be
displayed using a design and a t-shirt, a collared shirt, a blouse,
a dress, pants, shorts, warm-ups, sweat pants, tube tops, swim
trunks, vests, biker's tights, dancer's tights or sweaters. Also,
materials that stretch will provide a different effect than
materials that drape over a design. As will be recognized, various
embodiments can utilized different clothing materials and fits for
different raised impression effects. Additionally, wearing loose
fitting clothing can add an additional effect, whereby the raised
impression is not always viewable. By wearing a tight fitting
overgarment, it is possible to display the raised impression at all
times.
[0011] In one embodiment, a design may be attached to the outer
surface of an undergarment such that the raised impression can be
seen when an outer garment is placed over the design. In another
embodiment, a design is placed between layers of a garment, or in a
pocket sufficient to hold the design. When held between layers or
in a pocket, the raised impression can be seen through the
outermost layer. In another embodiment, the design is attached
directly to the wearer.
[0012] By way of non-limiting example only, a design can be
attached to a garment using a pin, rod, nail, tack, handle, dowel,
safety pin, paper clip, snap, Velcro, sticky tape, glue, other
adhesive material, string, wire, yarn, button, other sewing method,
clip, clamp (or other pressure type connection device), zipper,
hook, or any other method suitable for securing the design to the
garment. By way of non-limiting example, the design can be attached
to a wearer using tape, glue, pressure, suction, gravity, or other
method suitable for securing the design to the wearer. In another
embodiment, the design is attached to the underside of the
overgarment. In this embodiment, when the garment is worn, the
raised impression can be seen.
[0013] In one embodiment, the design is not permanently affixed. In
another embodiment, the design may be permanently affixed.
[0014] In another embodiment, the design is created such that any
pressure on the wearer is distributed over a larger surface area
than the design itself. For example, the side closest to the
wearer's skin may flair out, or the design itself may be mounted to
a platform to distribute the pressure of the design. In yet another
embodiment, the display location is created to distribute the
pressure of the design over a larger surface area than of the
design itself. For example, a mounting platform may be built into
the display location, padding may be provided, or some backing
material may be provided to distribute the pressure of the design.
In this regard, the design will not cause any discomfort to the
wearer. Further, where a physical connector is used, it may be
attached to the design in such a way that the wearer is not
discomforted or harmed, and may also be designed so that attaching
the design to a garment will not cause the wearer any harm or
discomfort.
[0015] Overgarments are preferably any article of clothing worn
over the design, but may also be any item sufficient to cover the
location of the raised impression, e.g., a bandage, towel, hat,
du-rag, bandana, armband, wristband, etc. Further, layers of
overgarments are also contemplated. Where layers are used, the
outermost garment can be considered a second overgarment. Garments
beneath the outermost garment are often called undergarments within
this patent, however, each layer can also be considered an
overgarment. For example, the first layer can be referred to as
overgarment one, and the outer most layer can be referred to as the
final overgarment. Intermediate layers can be labeled layer 1,
layer 2, etc., as necessary. For example, traditional
undergarments, e.g., underwear, bras, and t-shirts, can be
considered undergarments, and clothing worn over these can be
considered final overgarments. In one embodiment, the raised
impression is high enough to be displayed through multiple layers
of overgarments. As will be recognized, no layering is required,
and in some embodiments, it may be preferable to for the wearer to
have only one overgarment. For example, it may be desirable for the
wearer to only have on a bra displaying a raised impression for
added effect.
[0016] Returning now to FIG. 1 and the example of using a bra, the
bra may have any number of predesignated spots for attachment. In
one embodiment, these spots can have 1/2 of the method for
connecting (e.g., the male or female portion of a snap, a slot for
inserting a metal pin, one side of a Velcro strip, etc). The bra
may also have suggested locations where the wearer will not notice
the design, and may also have suggested spots where the design will
be most noticeable. These suggested locations may be marked with
different colors, or be reinforced to provide long life of the
location for applying the design.
[0017] As noted above, in one embodiment, the design is detachable,
however in other embodiments, the design may be permanently
attached to one location, or permanently attached to the bra (or
other garment), but still moveable (on a track, or attached to the
strap but able to slide up and down for example). The removable
designs may connect to any place the wearer desires, such as the
underwire, the strap, the cup, the casing, the body band, the top
wires, any frilly or lacy part. This accommodates women with
different bust sizes, or bra designs, or desired raised impression
results. As noted above, the design is not limited to attachment to
a bra, and may, for example, be attached to any garment or directly
to the skin.
[0018] As will be recognized, any desired design may be used,
including, words, icons, symbols, letters, etc. For example, the
words `sexy`, `flirt`, `dangerous` etc can be used, to show a
raised impression of the word. Additionally, icons may be used for
the design such as a single letter, a combination of letters (which
may be worn independently or together to form a word), a circle, an
eye, a heart, or any arbitrary picture, symbol, etc. In one
embodiment, the garment and/or the connecting location is created
to permit daisy-chaining designs. For example, a chain of letters
to form a word, or a chain of symbols to form a unique design.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that multi-sided designs
can be used to reduce the cost of acquiring designs. For example, a
cube shaped design can have up to 6 different designs in one
cube.
[0019] The manufacture of the designs as well as the attachment
location on the design for the connector is encompassed in this
description, i.e., the location of the connector on the design
itself. For example, the connector may be moveable to predesignated
spots on the design, or may moveable to any random location, to
facilitate placing the design on different areas of the bra. By
this, you may rotate a word to show up better, or may have 2 or
more connectors on a very long word. Both the connectors and the
connection spots may be standardized to provide consistency in
their connection or connecting location, or may be random or
non-predetermined to allow the designs to be added to already
existing bras. This also provides a mechanism to allow the
connector for a multi-sided design to be placed at the most
advantaged location.
[0020] In another embodiment, the connectors may also be
manufactured to allow stacking of the designs to add more depth to
the impression, i.e., two stars on top of each other may provide a
higher raised impression through the overgarment. This may be done
through standardize locations of the connectors or other
combination of the connectors noted above. In one embodiment, there
may be one or more `base` connectors for the rest of the designs to
connect to.
[0021] These designs may be made any color for increasing appeal,
and may also incorporate blinking lights, glow in the dark
sections, glow sticks, fluorescent colors, etc., for noticeability.
Moveable designs running on tracks, slides, slots, rails etc, may
also be used. The designs should preferably be light (not heavy),
however, so that it does not burden the wearer, and so that
multiple designs may be worn if desired. The connectors should
preferably also be light (not heavy). In certain embodiments,
selected portions of the design can be exposed for added effect.
For example, the blinking, glowing, or fluorescent sections of the
design may be exposed.
[0022] Further, the designs may be skin stick-ons so that they may
be worn anywhere, not just on the bra, or may attach to any
garment. As described above, the design may be attached to a
garment under the outer garment, such that when the outer garment
is worn, the design can be see, or the design can be attached to
the underside of the outer garment, also resulting in a raised
impression that can be seen when the outer garment is worn. That
is, the design may attach to an under-shirt for showing the
impression through an overgarment (attached to any garment that
will have an overgarment), or attached directly to the skin where
to show the raised impression when one or more over garments are
worn. Any overgarment may be worn depending on the shape and size
of the design, and the desired effect. For example a tight
overgarment might be worn where the design is small, but a loose
overgarment may be worn where the design is large. The opposite can
also occur as a wearer desires.
[0023] In certain embodiments, the designs are machine washable,
and do not bleed in the washer or dryer, and may also be rust proof
or rust resistant.
[0024] The dimensions of the design may also be altered to give a
deeper, wider, longer design. In one embodiment, this is a
condition of manufacture (the inherent size of the design). In
another embodiment, this is a result of the design being stackable
or chainable as noted above. In one embodiment, these stackable and
chainable designs may be duplicates of each other.
[0025] In one embodiment a design may be designated with a
suggested or preferred connection location, i.e., connects to
clothes (or skin), connects to already connected design, connects
as level 2, connects to add height, etc.
[0026] In one embodiment, the designs are worn with a shirt system
designed to allow the design to be more noticeable. For example, an
overgarment may have holes located strategically to allow part or
all the design to show through, or part or all of an undergarment's
raised impression to show through. As a further example, an
overgarment may have stretchier material where the designs are to
located. Additionally, the design may attach to the underside of
the overgarment, rather than to the undergarment or skin. This may
be through any connection device as noted above, including a pocket
on the body-side of the garment intended specifically for the
design. In this way, the design may show the raised impression when
worn. This also facilitates experimenting with locations of the
design, as well as transportability of the design between
overgarments and undergarments, or any over/undergarment and direct
connection to the body.
[0027] There are many uses for the raised impressions viewable
through a garment. For example, it may be particularly useful for a
woman desiring to attract males at a nightclub or discotheque. The
raised impression may also be used for advertising purposes, such
as, a BEER design attached to the bra of an attractive woman, with
the impression showing through, might sell more beer, or a lightly
raised impression of "vote for Bush" may create a subliminal
message to indeed vote for Bush. This is another aspect of the
present invention: a system and method for advertising using raised
impression designs through clothes, and also, designs raised
through clothes that are associated with a sexual location. This
may create an association of sex and the item, which may
subconsciously create an additional desire to purchase the
item.
[0028] Other embodiments include using the raised impression to
protest, to serve as a reminder (e.g., an appointment time design
under a shirt), to serve as notice to others (e.g., stay away), or
any other use where a raised impression through an overgarment
would be beneficial.
[0029] Further, other embodiments include placing the raised
impression on headwear (e.g., hats or caps), footwear (e.g., shoes
or boots), or other accessories (e.g., wallets, purses,
pocketbooks, umbrellas, baby strollers, etc. For example, it is
possible to have a pocket or pouch (or other specific location) for
placing a design, with the pocket or pouch covered with an elastic
or other material to create a raised impression. In this way raised
impressions can be implemented on any item, clothing, accessory, or
otherwise. Again, by way of example only, such raised impressions
can be implemented on car seats, theater seats, or any other item
that can be covered with fabric, leather, plastic, or other typical
covering materials. In other embodiments, specific locations can be
built into locations that would not normally be covered with a
material, such as a pocket or recess in a wall that has a covering.
In fact, in the spirit of this disclosure, and all of these
embodiments, a raised impression can be implemented on virtually
any surface, so long as a design can be covered to create the
raised impression.
[0030] While the invention has been described in connection with
specific embodiments, it is evident that numerous alternatives,
modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in
the art in light of the foregoing description. In particular, and
as noted above, although FIG. 1 illustrates using the invention in
connection with a bra, any garment can be used. Further, as
described above, a raised impression can be implemented at any
location where a design can be covered to create the raised
impression.
* * * * *