U.S. patent application number 12/366181 was filed with the patent office on 2010-08-05 for pants for improved body shape.
This patent application is currently assigned to Designer Equity Holding Company, LLC. Invention is credited to ARNOLD SIMON.
Application Number | 20100192284 12/366181 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42396477 |
Filed Date | 2010-08-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100192284 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SIMON; ARNOLD |
August 5, 2010 |
Pants for Improved Body Shape
Abstract
Through the use of pocket bags that span from the outer seams of
certain pants garments to the components of the fastening system
that are capable of reversible engagement, an improved silhouette,
can be created for a wearer of the garment. Elastic panels that
also span from the outer seams to the fastening systems may be
included in order to improve further the look that is created.
Inventors: |
SIMON; ARNOLD; (Saddle
River, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KALOW & SPRINGUT LLP
488 MADISON AVENUE, 19TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10022
US
|
Assignee: |
Designer Equity Holding Company,
LLC
New York
NY
|
Family ID: |
42396477 |
Appl. No.: |
12/366181 |
Filed: |
February 5, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/236 ; 2/243.1;
2/275; 2/336 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 2400/38 20130101;
A41F 9/025 20130101; A41D 1/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/236 ; 2/275;
2/243.1; 2/336 |
International
Class: |
A41F 9/00 20060101
A41F009/00; A41D 27/24 20060101 A41D027/24; A41D 27/00 20060101
A41D027/00; A41F 19/00 20060101 A41F019/00 |
Claims
1. An article of clothing comprising: a. a right leg section,
wherein said right leg section comprises a right outer seam; b. a
left leg section, wherein said left leg section comprises a left
outer seam; c. a waistband; d. a fastening system, wherein said
fastening system is capable of reversibly associating a front upper
end of the right leg section with a front upper end of the left leg
section, and a first fastening element of the fastening system is
located on the front upper end of the right leg section and a
second fastening element of the fastening system is located on the
front upper end of the left leg section; e. a first pocket bag,
wherein the first pocket bag spans from the right outer seam to
said first fastening element and is attached to the waistband; and
f. a second pocket bag, wherein the second pocket bag spans from
the left outer seam to the second fastening element and is attached
to the waistband.
2. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the first pocket bag
and the second pocket bag each comprise an elastic material.
3. The article of clothing of claim 1 further comprising a first
elastic panel and a second elastic panel, wherein the first elastic
panel spans from the right outer seam to the first fastening
element, and the second elastic panel spans from the left outer
seam, to the second fastening element.
4. The article of clothing of claim 3, wherein the first pocket bag
forms a cavity that is accessible by a wearer of the article of
clothing and the second pocket bag forms a cavity that is
accessible by said wearer of the article of clothing.
5. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the first elastic
panel comprises a front face that has an area that is larger than a
rear face of the first pocket bag and the second elastic panel
comprises a front face that has an area that is larger than a rear
face of the second pocket bag.
6. The article of clothing of claim 4 further comprising an elastic
yoke.
7. The article of clothing of claim 4 further comprising
reinforcement stitching along a substantially horizontal line of
said first elastic panel and reinforcement stitching along a
substantially horizontal line of said second elastic panel.
8. The article of clothing of claim 7, wherein the reinforcement
stitching comprises at least two lines of stitching along said
substantially horizontal line of said first elastic panel and at
least two lines of stitching along said substantially horizontal
line of said second elastic panel.
9. The article of clothing of claim 5, wherein said front face of
the first elastic panel comprises has an area that is 10-30% larger
than said rear face of the first pocket bag and the front face of
the second elastic panel has an area that is 10-30% larger than
said rear face of the second pocket bag.
10. The article of clothing of claim 3, wherein the front face of
the first elastic panel has an area that is approximately the same
size as the rear face of the first pocket bag and the front face of
the second elastic panel has an area that is approximately the same
size as the rear face of the second pocket bag.
11. The article of clothing of claim 3, wherein the first pocket
bag and the second pocket bag are each comprised of an elastic
material.
12. The article of clothing of claim 11, wherein the first pocket
bag and the second pocket bag are further comprised of cotton.
13. The article of clothing of claim 11, wherein the first elastic
panel and the second elastic panel are further comprised of
denim.
14. The article of clothing of claim 11 further comprising an
elastic yoke.
15. The article of clothing of claim 14 further comprising
reinforcement stitching along a substantially horizontal line of
said first elastic panel and reinforcement stitching along a
substantially horizontal line of said second elastic panel.
16. The article of clothing of claim 15, wherein the reinforcement
stitching comprises at least two lines of stitching along said
horizontal line of said first elastic panel and at least two lines
of stitching along said horizontal line of said second elastic
panel.
17. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the fastening
system comprises at least one button and hole.
18. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the fastening
system comprises a zipper.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of clothing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Many people do not like their silhouettes when wearing
clothing that they are considering purchasing or that they already
own. They often try on pants and wish that their stomachs were
flatter, and/or their torsos did not bulge as much as they did.
[0003] One option for creating a body shape that one wants is to
increase exercise. Another option is to diet. Unfortunately, very
few people find these options satisfactory. Moreover, as a person
ages, the ability to obtain and to retain one's desired body shape
becomes more difficult, even when adhering to a strict regiment of
exercise or dieting.
[0004] Another option is to wear clothing that helps to create the
silhouette that one desires. For example, many women are familiar
with the use of girdles and control top pantyhose, each of which is
marketed as being able to help to create the appearance that a
woman wants. Unfortunately, many women find these garments to be
uncomfortable and not fully successful for their intended
purposes.
[0005] Because of the limits of known technologies and
methodologies, there remains an unmet need for clothing garments
that will satisfactorily assist a wearer in creating his or her
desired silhouette.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is directed to an article of clothing
for providing a wearer with an improved silhouette.
[0007] According to one embodiment, the present invention provides
an article of clothing comprising: (a) a right leg section, wherein
the right leg section comprises a right outer seam; (b) a left leg
section, wherein the left leg section comprises a left outer seam;
(c) a waistband; (d) a fastening system, wherein the fastening
system is capable of reversibly associating a front upper end of
the right leg section with a front upper end of the left leg
section, and a first fastening element of the fastening system is
located on the front upper end of the right leg section and a
second fastening element of the fastening system is located on the
front upper end of the left leg section; (e) a first pocket bag,
wherein the first pocket bag spans from the right outer seam to the
first fastening element and is attached to the waistband; and (f) a
second pocket bag, wherein the second pocket bag spans from the
left outer seam to the second fastening element and is attached to
the waistband.
[0008] According to a second embodiment, the present invention is
directed to an article of clothing comprising: (a) a right leg
section, wherein the right leg section comprises a right outer
seam; (b) a left leg section, wherein the left leg section
comprises a left outer seam; (c) a waistband; (d) a fastening
system, wherein the fastening system comprises at least one button
and at least one hole for receiving said at least one button and is
capable of reversibly associating a front upper end of the right
leg section with a front upper end of the left leg section, and
either said at least one button or said at least one hole is
located on the front upper end of the right leg section and either
said at least one button or said at least one hole is located on
the front upper end of the left leg section, wherein if said at
least one button is located on the front upper end of the left leg
section, then said at least one hole is located on the front upper
end of the right leg section and if said at least one hole is
located on the front upper end of the left leg section then said at
least one button is located on the front upper end of the right leg
section; (e) a first pocket bag, wherein the first pocket bag is
affixed along at least a portion of a right side of the first
pocket bag to the right outer seam, along at least a portion of a
left side of the first pocket bag to the fastening system and along
at least a portion of a top side of the first pocket bag to the
waistband; (f) a second pocket bag, wherein the second pocket bag
is affixed along at least a portion of a left side of the second
pocket bag to the left outer seam, along at least a portion of a
right side of the second pocket bag to the fastening system and
along at least a portion of a top side of the second pocket bag to
the waistband; (g) a first elastic panel, wherein the first elastic
panel is affixed along at least a portion of a right side of the
first elastic panel to the right outer seam, along at least a
portion of a left side of first elastic panel to the fastening
system and along at least a portion of a top side of the first
elastic panel to the waistband; (h) a second elastic panel, wherein
the second elastic panel is affixed along at least a portion of a
left side of the second elastic panel to the left outer seam, along
at least a portion of a right side of the second elastic panel to
the fastening system and along at least a portion of a top side of
the second elastic panel to the waistband; (i) an elastic yoke; and
(j) reinforcement stitching along a substantially horizontal line
of said first elastic panel and reinforcement stitching along a
substantially horizontal line of said second elastic panel.
[0009] According to a third embodiment, the present invention
provides an article of clothing comprising: (a) a right leg
section, wherein the right leg section comprises a right outer
seam; (b) a left leg section, wherein the left leg section
comprises a left outer seam; (c) a waistband; (d) a fastening
system, wherein the fastening system comprises a zipper system
comprised of a first row of teeth and a second row of teeth and is
capable of reversibly associating a front upper end of the right
leg section with a front upper end of the left leg section, and the
first row of teeth is located on the front upper end of the right
leg section and the second row of teeth is located on the front
upper end of the left leg section; (e) a first pocket bag, wherein
the first pocket bag is affixed along at least a portion of a right
side of the first pocket bag to the right outer seam, along at
least a portion of a left side of first pocket bag to the fastening
system and along at least a portion of a top side of the first
pocket bag to the waistband; (f) a second pocket bag, wherein the
second pocket bag is affixed along at least a portion of a left
side of the second pocket bag to the left outer seam, along at
least a portion of a right side of second pocket bag to the
fastening system and along at least a portion of a top side of the
second pocket bag to the waistband; (g) a first elastic panel,
wherein the first elastic panel is affixed along at least a portion
of a right side of the first elastic panel to the right outer seam,
along at least a portion of a left side of first elastic panel to
the fastening system and along at least a portion of a top side of
the first elastic panel to the waistband; (h) a second elastic
panel, wherein the second elastic panel is affixed along at least a
portion of a left side of the second elastic panel to the left
outer seam, along at least a portion of a right side of the second
elastic panel to the fastening system and along at least a portion
of a top side of the second elastic panel to the waistband; (i) an
elastic yoke; and (j) reinforcement stitching along a substantially
horizontal line of said first elastic panel and reinforcement
stitching along a substantially horizontal line of said second
elastic panel.
[0010] Through the various embodiments of the present invention,
one may easily and efficiently design and wear articles of clothing
that impart the desired silhouette to a wearer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0011] FIG. 1 is representation of a person wearing a prior art
pair of pants.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a representation of person wearing a pair of pants
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a representation of a view of an elastic panel
that is located on the inside of a front left leg section of a pair
of pants according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a representation of a view of an elastic panel
that is located on the inside of a front right leg section of a
pair of pants according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a representation of the configuration of a yoke in
a pair pants according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Unless otherwise specified, any of the features of the
various embodiments described herein can be used in conjunction
with features described in connection with any other embodiments
disclosed. Accordingly, features described in connection with the
various or specific embodiments are not to be construed as not
suitable in connection with other embodiments disclosed herein
unless such exclusivity is explicitly stated or implicit from the
context.
[0017] Definitions
[0018] Unless otherwise specified or apparent from context, the
terms and phrases described below have the following specified
meanings.
[0019] The term "elastic" means any type of material that may be
stretched in at least one dimension to a size at least 5% larger
than its starting state and as high as 30% larger by the imposition
of a mechanical force and that will have a recovery that enables it
to return to its original size or to substantially its original
size (i.e., to between about 100% and about 105% or between about
100% and about 103% of the original size) if the mechanical force
is removed. Examples of elastic materials include but are not
limited to mesh materials, and as persons of ordinary skill know it
may, for example, be formed by weaving together flexible materials
such as flexible yarns. One non-limiting example of the fabric
content of the mesh is between about 70% and about 80% nylon, e.g.,
78% nylon and between about 20% and about 30% spandex, e.g., about
22% spandex. In other embodiments, stretch denim, which is
comprised of denim and lycra may be used. The aforementioned
exemplary materials may be used to form the pocket bags and/or
elastic panels.
[0020] The phrase "fastening system" refers to a system for causing
two or more pieces of clothing material to reversibly retain an
association with each other. By way of non-limiting examples,
unless otherwise specified, a fastening system may be a zipper
system, one or more buttons and holes for receiving the buttons, a
hook and loop system (e.g., VELCRO.RTM.), one or more snaps and
units on which to be snapped, one or more hooks and hook receiving
elements (also referred to as eye(s)) and combinations thereof. In
a pair of pants, common fastening systems are the button fly and
the zipper in combination with a button and hole that reversibly
attaches the ends of a waistband. These systems allow for the upper
part of the front of the right pants leg section to retain
association with the upper part of the front of the left pants leg
section and to be easily disassociated by a wearer of the garment.
Each of the upper part of the front of the right leg section and
the upper part of the front of the left leg section contains a
fastening element such that a first fastening element is located on
the front upper part of the right leg section and the second
fastening element is located on the front upper part of the left
pant leg section. As used herein, the fastening system also
includes any material that permits, enhances or allows the
fastening elements to remain associated with the garment even when
not fastened, e.g., there may be cloth attached to the zipper and
to the pants panel. The fastening system may also be extended to
reversibly associate ends of the waistband.
[0021] The terms "reversible" and "reversibly" mean that an action
can be done and undone multiple times on a garment and that the
garment is designed to have these actions done and undone multiple
times. For example, the area of a pair of pants that is
colloquially referred to as the "fly" may if the appropriate
hardware is present, be zipped and unzipped; buttoned and
unbuttoned, snapped and unsnapped; and hooked or unhooked. Thus,
the areas that contain these elements may be reversibly associated
with each other. Reversible association may be contrasted with
irreversible association, which may be accomplished through for
example, stitching seams together.
[0022] The term "side" may be used to include a face or surface
area of a piece of cloth. The term may also be used to refer to an
edge. Because pieces of cloth are three dimensional but generally
flat, two of the sides typically have significant surface area,
while the other sides have very little surface area and thus these
other sides may be referred to interchangeably as either edges or
sides.
Preferred Embodiments
[0023] According to a first embodiment, the present invention
provides an article of clothing such as a pair of pants. The pants
may be shorts, long pants or pants of any intermediate length.
Further, it is understood that the size of a pair of pants that is
appropriate for a wearer is dependent on the size of the individual
and the present invention is understood not to be limited to any
particular garment of clothing or pair of pants of any particular
size. Common materials used to form pants and that may be used in
connection with the present invention include but are not limited
to cotton, wool, denim, polyester, leather and combinations
thereof.
[0024] The article of clothing will preferably contain a right leg
section and a left leg section. As persons of ordinary skill are
aware, to make a pair of pants one may begin with four panels: a
front right panel, a front left panel, a rear right panel and a
rear left panel. The front right panel and the rear right panel may
be affixed to each other through e.g., stitching, at what may be
referred to as a right outer seam, and also may be affixed to each
other through a right inner seam to form the right leg section. The
inner seam, however, is typically shorter than the outer seam and
typically extends from the bottom of the pants to what would
correspond to the pelvic area of a wearer of the pants, where the
two inner seams (left and right) meet.
[0025] Similarly, the front left panel and the rear left panel may
be affixed to each other through e.g., stitching at what may be
referred to as a left outer seam. Also as with the right side, the
front and rear left panels may be affixed to each other through a
left inner seam, and typically as with the right side, the left
inner seam is shorter than the left outer seam and typically
extends from the bottom of the pants to what would correspond to
the pelvic area of a wearer of the pants. The front and rear left
panels may together form the left leg section. The stitching of the
inner and outer seams may extend all of the way to the bottom of
the pants, or for aesthetic, functional or other reasons one or
both inner and/or outer of them may end shortly before the bottom.
Additionally, in some embodiments, the left outer seam is the same
length as the right outer seam, and the left inner seam is the same
length as the right inner seam.
[0026] Additionally, although in some embodiments, the outer seam
is formed by a single line of stitching from the waistband to the
bottom of the pants, in some embodiments, there can be two or three
or more parallel or substantially parallel rows of stitching that
join the rear and front right panels or the rear and front left
panels. Regardless of whether there is one row or more than one row
of stitching, for convenience and unless otherwise specified the
plurality of rows may collectively be referred to as the seam.
[0027] In the pelvic area, the rear right panel may be affixed to
the rear left panel from the location of the top of the inner seam
of each panel to the top of the rear panels. The upper ends of the
front right panel and the front left panel may be associated with
each other through a reversible fastening system such as a button
and hole system, a zipper system, a latch and hook system, a snap
system, a hook and eye system or a combination of any of those
systems. It should be noted that in some embodiments, although the
left front panel and the right front panel are associated with each
other through a reversible fastening system at their upper ends, a
portion of these two panels (typically the lower 2 cm to 8 cm or
lower 4 cm to 6 cm) may also be sewn together and thus irreversibly
associated with each other through, for example, one or more rows
of stitching.
[0028] A first fastening element of the fastening system may be
located on the front upper end of the right leg section and a
second fastening element of the fastening system may be located on
the front upper end of the left leg section.
[0029] The garment may also have a waistband. The waistband may be
an additional piece or pieces of material that are affixed to the
four aforementioned panels. It may have a reversible fastening
system that is a continuation of the fastening system that
reversibly associates the two front panels or it may contain a
different system. For example if the front panels are associated by
zipper elements, the two ends of the waistband may be reversibly
associated with each other through a button and hole system or snap
system or hook and eye system.
[0030] The waistband used in some embodiments is about 1 cm to 5 cm
or 2 cm to 4 cm high and as long as the combined top edges of the
four panels of the pants. Some waistbands will contain loops
through which a belt may be thread. In some embodiments, the
waistband may contain an adjustable waist mechanism that is at
least substantially hidden from view. In some embodiments, the
adjustable waist mechanism is accessible from the outside of the
garment, while in other embodiments it is accessible from the
inside of the garment.
[0031] In one embodiment the adjustable waist mechanism comprises a
right waist sizing mechanism and a left waist sizing mechanism.
Each of these sizing mechanisms may for example comprise an elastic
strip, a plurality of button receiving holes and a first button
that may be reversibly associated with the right waist sizing
mechanism's plurality of button receiving holes and a second button
that may be reversibly associated with the left waist sizing
mechanism's plurality of button receiving holes. This mechanism
thus enables the user to adjust the waistband of the garment.
[0032] The garment also comprises a first pocket bag and a second
pocket bag. These pocket bags are located on the right and left
front sides of the garment respectively. In some embodiments, they
may be constructed to serve two purposes. First, they may permit a
wearer of the pants to easily store and to retrieve items. Thus,
they each have an accessible cavity. Second, they may facilitate
imposing a force on the wearer that pushes in the wearer's stomach
and/or lower pelvic region.
[0033] In some embodiments, each pocket bag is formed from an
elastic material that has the capacity to stretch to a size of at
least 5% greater than its resting state in at least one dimension.
In some embodiments, each pocket bag can stretch to a size of at
least 10% greater than its resting state in at least one dimension.
In some embodiments, each pocket bag can stretch to a size of at
least 20% greater than its resting state in at least one dimension.
In some embodiments, each pocket bag can stretch from about 5% to
about 30% along the portion of the bag that spans from the
respective outer seam to the fastening system. In some embodiments,
each pocket bag may stretch from about 10% to about 25% along the
dimension that spans along the portion of the bag that spans from
the respective outer seam to the fastening system. In some
embodiments each pocket bag may stretch from about 15% to about 20%
along the dimension that spans from the respective outer seam to
the fastening system. This dimension may also be referred to as the
width of the pocket bag.
[0034] The cavity of a pocket bag may, for example, be formed from
the association of two pieces of material, e.g., cotton; denim; a
combination of cotton and nylon; a combination of cotton and
polyester; a combination of cotton, nylon and polyester; polyester;
nylon; a combination of polyester and nylon; spandex; spandex and
nylon. In some embodiments, both pieces of material comprise an
elastic material or one piece of material in each pocket bag
comprises and elastic material, e.g., the piece of material closer
to the body of the wearer of the pants. Additionally, in some
embodiments the composition of these materials is uniform and
consists only of one or more of the aforementioned materials or
combinations of materials.
[0035] The two pieces of material may be the same or different
shapes, and regular or irregular shapes. They are sewn or otherwise
associated with each other to form a pocket bag that has an opening
that is large enough for a human hand to be inserted at least part
way and to insert and/or to remove items such as a wallet, change,
keys, a cellular telephone and/or a personal digital assistant.
[0036] In some embodiments, one of the two pieces of material is
larger than the other piece of material. In some of these
embodiments, the larger piece of material may be referred to as the
rear piece of the pocket bag (i.e., closer to the body of the
wearer) and the smaller piece of material may be referred to as the
front piece of material of the pocket bag (i.e., distal to the body
of the wearer). The two pieces may be aligned and associated with
each other through, for example, stitching that forms a pocket that
is enclosed except for at the area where the opening to the pocket
through which the wearer of the garment gains access. This may also
be the area where the pieces of material do not overlap because of
their size differences.
[0037] When the two pieces are of different sizes, the area of the
rear piece that is larger than the front piece, or a portion of
this area, may ultimately be visible when someone other than the
wearer of the pants looks at them while in use. Accordingly, it may
be advantageous for this area to have an aesthetically desirable
appearance. For example, it may be desirable to have at least that
portion of the rear piece or more than that portion of the rear
piece be dyed a certain color, have a certain pattern and/or made
of a different material, e.g., denim, when the rest of the pocket
is not denim. In other embodiments a large portion or all of the
rear material is aesthetically pleasing. As persons of ordinary
skill in the art are aware, one solution to creating an
aesthetically pleasing area, is rather than to dye or create a
pattern in the pocket bag itself, to add a pocket facing, which can
be sewn or otherwise affixed to the pocket bag.
[0038] In some embodiments each pocket bag is made from two pieces
of material of unequal sizes and only one of the pieces (or
portions of only one of the pieces) spans from the outer seam to
the fastening system.
[0039] The opening to the cavity of the pocket may for example be
exclusively along one edge of the pocket bag or it may cut across
part of two edges of the pocket bag. Configurations of the opening
for access to pocket bags are well known to persons of ordinary
skill in that art.
[0040] Each piece of material that forms the pocket bag has an
inner surface (also referred to as an inner side) that when the bag
is empty may abut the inner side of the other piece of material.
These inner sides may be accessible to receive items inserted
through the opening of the pocket bag. In other embodiments, there
may be a stitching or other restricting means that causes less than
95%, less than 85%, less than 75%, less than 65%, less than 55%,
less than 45%, less than 35%, less than 25%, or less than 15% of
those inner sides to be accessible to the wearer of the pants.
[0041] In most articles of clothing that contain front pockets,
there are typically at least two front pockets. There may, for
example, be exactly two front pockets. There may also be two large
front pockets and a third or even a fourth smaller front pocket
associated with one (in the case of three front pockets) or each
(in the case of four front pockets) of the larger pockets. These
additional front pockets may be referred to as coin pockets.
Additionally, there is no technological impediment to creating a
pants garment with only one front pocket, but it is preferable to
have at least two front pockets in order to obtain the maximal
benefits of the present invention, as well as for aesthetic
reasons. Similarly, there is no technological impediment to
including additional cargo pockets down the sides of the legs.
[0042] For convenience, the pocket bag that is associated with the
right pants leg may be referred to as the first pocket bag, and the
pocket bag that is associated with the left pants leg may be
referred to as the second pocket bag. At least a portion of each
pocket bag spans from the respective outer seam to the fastening
system.
[0043] In some embodiments each pocket bag is a rectangular or
substantially rectangular shape. As noted above, the side of the
first pocket bag that will be closest to the body of the wearer of
the garment may be referred to as the rear side of the first pocket
bag and the side of the first pocket bag that will be farthest from
the body of the wearer of the garment may be referred to as the
front side of the first pocket bag. The first pocket bag will also
have a top side, which refers to the edge that is closest to the
waistband, a right side, which is the edge that is closest to the
outer seam, a left side, which is the edge that is closest to the
fastening system and a bottom edge, which is the edge that is
farthest from the waistband.
[0044] The pocket bags span from the outer seams to the fastening
systems. The pocket bag is considered to span to the outer seam if
at least a portion of pocket bags is sewn to or otherwise affixed
directly to the outer seam or to the front panel of the respective
legs within 1 cm, within 9 mm, within 8 mm, within 7 mm, within 6
mm, within 5 mm, within 4 mm, within 3 mm, within 2 mm, or within 1
mm of the outer seam. Similarly, the pocket bag is considered to
span to the fastening system if it is directly sewn to or otherwise
affixed to a fastening system or within 1 cm, within 9 mm, within 8
mm, within 7 mm, within 6 mm, within 5 mm, within 4 mm, within 3
mm, within 2 mm or within 1 mm of the fastening system. In some
embodiments a distance of at least 1 cm, at least 2 cm, at least 3
cm, at least 4 cm, or at least 5 cm of the respective top edge of
the pocket bag, if not the entire top edge of the pocket bag is
associated with or affixed to the waistband.
[0045] In some embodiments, substantially all or all of the right
side of the first pocket bag is affixed to the right outer seam. If
a portion of the pocket opening is directed to the right outer
seam, it is not possible for the entire right side of both pieces
of material of the pocket bag to be affixed to the right outer
seam. However, it is possible for the entire right side of the rear
material in this area to extend to the right outer seam.
Additionally, regardless of whether that portion of the pocket bag
is affixed to the outer seam, in some embodiments, if all of the
right side of the first pocket bag is not affixed to the right
outer seam, then preferably at least 50%, at least 60%, at least
70%, at least 80%, at least 90% or at least 95% of the right side
of the first pocket bag is affixed to the right outer seam. When
the rear piece of material is a different size than the front piece
of material, then these percentages refer to the side of the rear
piece of material.
[0046] As noted above, the first pocket bag is attached along at
least a portion of a top side of the first pocket bag to the
waistband. Preferably substantially all or all of the top side of
the first pocket bag is affixed to the waistband. If a portion of
the pocket opening is directed to the waistband, it is not possible
for the entire top side of the pocket bag to be affixed to the
waistband. However, it is possible for the top side of the rear
material in this area to extend to the waist band. Additionally,
regardless of whether that portion of the pocket bag is affixed to
the waistband if all of the top side of the first pocket bag is not
affixed to the right outer seam, then preferably at least 50%, at
least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90% or at least 95%
of the top side of the first pocket bag is affixed to the
waistband. For example, it may be attached along at least 2 cm, at
least 3 cm, at least 4 cm, at least 5 cm, at least 6 cm, at least 7
cm, at least 8 cm, at least 9 cm, at least 10 cm, at least 11 cm,
at least 12 cm, at least 13 cm, at least 14 cm, at least 15 cm, at
least 16 cm, at least 17 cm, at least 18 cm, at least 19 cm, or at
least 20 cm.
[0047] The first pocket bag may also be affixed along at least a
portion of a left side of the first pocket bag to the fastening
system. Preferably substantially all or all of the left side of the
first pocket bag is affixed to the fastening system. If all of the
left side of the first pocket bag is not affixed to the fastening
system, then preferably at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%,
at least 80%, at least 90% or at least 95% of the left side of the
first pocket bag is affixed to the fastening system.
[0048] It should be noted that by being affixed to the fastening
system includes being directly sewn to or otherwise irreversibly
associated with the material that secures a fastening element and
that in turn is secured to the pants leg.
[0049] In some embodiments, the bottom edge or side of the first
pocket bag is not affixed to any other material.
[0050] The second pocket bag may be designed according to similar
parameters to which the first pocket bag is designed. Thus, in some
embodiments, substantially all or all of the left side of the
second pocket bag is affixed to the left outer seam. If a portion
of the pocket opening is directed to the left outer seam, it is not
possible for the entire left side of both pieces of material of the
pocket bag to be affixed to the left outer seam. However, it is
possible for the left side of the rear material in this area to
extend to the left outer seam. Additionally, regardless of whether
that portion of the pocket bag is affixed to the outer seam, in
some embodiments, if all of the left side of the second pocket bag
is not affixed to the left outer seam, then preferably at least
50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90% or at
least 95% of the left side of the second pocket bag is affixed to
the left outer seam. When the rear piece of material is a different
size than the front piece of material, then these percentages refer
to the sides of the rear piece of material.
[0051] The second pocket bag is attached along at least a portion
of a top side of the second pocket bag to the waistband.
Preferably, substantially all or all of the top side of the second
pocket bag is affixed to the waistband. If a portion of the pocket
opening is directed to the waistband, it is not possible for the
entire top side of the pocket bag to be affixed to the waistband.
However, it is possible for the top side of the rear material in
this area to extend to the waist band. Additionally, regardless of
whether that portion of the pocket bag is affixed to the waistband,
if all of the top side of the second pocket bag is not affixed to
the left outer seam, then preferably at least 50%, at least 60%, at
least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90% or at least 95% of the top
side of the second pocket bag is affixed to the waistband. For
example, it may be attached along at least 2 cm, at least 3 cm, at
least 4 cm, at least 5 cm, at least 6 cm, at least 7 cm, at least 8
cm, at least 9 cm, at least 10 cm, at least 11 cm, at least 12 cm,
at least 13 cm, at least 14 cm, at least 15 cm, at least 16 cm, at
least 17 cm, at least 18 cm, at least 19 cm, or at least 20 cm.
[0052] The second pocket bag may also be affixed along at least a
portion of a right side of the second pocket bag to the fastening
system. Preferably substantially all or all of the right side of
the second pocket bag is affixed to the fastening system. If all of
the right side of the second pocket bag is not affixed to the
fastening system, then preferably at least 50%, at least 60%, at
least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90% or at least 95% of the right
side of the second pocket bag is affixed to the fastening
system.
[0053] It should be noted that reference to being "affixed to the
fastening system" includes being directly sewn to or otherwise
irreversibly associated with the material that secures a fastening
element and that in turn is secured to the pants leg.
[0054] In some embodiments, the bottom of the second pocket bag is
not affixed to any other material.
[0055] When there is more than one row of stitching that forms a
seam, the plurality of rows may collectively be referred to as a
seam. The references above to the attachments to a seam or in the
proximity of a seam may be in reference to the area bounded by the
rows of stitching. Thus, by way of example, a pocket bag is affixed
to a seam if it is directly affixed to a row of stitching that
forms a seam or to an area of the pants material located between
two rows of stitching. Similarly, a pocket bag that is 1 mm from a
seam is 1 mm from the closest relevant line of stitching, but not
between two rows of stitching.
[0056] For simplicity, the above description is provided in the
context of a rectangular or substantially rectangular shaped pocket
bag. However, the pocket bag may for example be of other shapes.
For example, in some embodiments the sides that are affixed to the
waistband, to the fastening system and to the outer seam of the
applicable leg piece may be straight, while the bottom side is
irregular or curved. Further, it may be that only a portion of the
side that is associated with the fastening system is straight.
[0057] Additionally, when the pocket bag is affixed to or
associated with the outer seam, the fastening element and the
waistband, the affixing or association may for example be caused by
one or more parallel or substantially parallel rows of stitching.
Moreover, although for convenience reference is made above to
affixing the right side, top side and left side of the pocket bags
to the seams, waistband and fastening system, as a matter a
practicality, the actual attachment may be in the vicinity of those
sides or edges and for example, stitching may be between the
respective edges of pocket bags and within 5 mm, within 4 mm,
within 3 mm, within 2 mm, or within 1 mm from the those edges
(i.e., from where the front and/or rear sides of the a piece of
material that forms the pocket bag such as the rear piece, meets
the right side, top side and left side).
[0058] As noted above, the pocket bags may be made of a material is
stretchable or elastic. It is important to note that most materials
that are used in clothing have some degree of stretchability.
However, unless otherwise specified, the pocket bags of the present
invention has an elasticity that enable them to be stretched from
about 5% to about 30% or from about 10% to about 25% or from about
10% to about 20% or from about 15% to about 20% along the dimension
that spans from the respective outer seam to the fastening system.
In some embodiments the elastic panels and the pocket bag have the
aforementioned elasticity properties and the elastic panels and the
pocket bags have either the same or different degrees of
elasticity. In some embodiments, the elastic panels have the
aforementioned elasticity properties, but the pockets bags are not
elastic. In some embodiments, both the pocket bags and the elastic
panels have a degree of elasticity but the elastic panels have a
greater degree of elasticity. In some embodiments, both the pocket
bags and the elastic panels have a degree of elasticity but the
elastic panels have a smaller degree of elasticity.
[0059] Additionally, in some embodiments, the pocket bags and/or
elastic panels are comprised of two-way stretch material, meaning
that they stretch only along their widths (i.e., from the outer
seam to the fastening system). In other embodiments the pocket bags
and/or elastic panels are comprised of elastic materials that may
stretch in both height directions (i.e. from the waist band to the
bottom edge) and in both width directions and thus are know as
four-way stretch materials.
[0060] When the pocket bags of the present invention are in use,
because they span from the outer seam to the fastening system, when
the pants are closed, a user's lower torso area may be compressed
in and up. From the wearer's perspective, in some embodiments, she
will see herself as appearing about 1/2 of a size to about 2 sizes
smaller. In some embodiments, she will appear about one size
smaller. The aforementioned size changes are in reference to the
standard U.S. pants sizing system for women. In some embodiments,
the wearer of the pants will appear from about 3/4 of an inch to
about 2 inches smaller around her pelvic or lower torso area, which
corresponds to the area around a person's high hip and lower hip
area, which is below a person's waist. In some embodiments, the
wearer will appear from about 1 inch to about 1 and 1/2 inches
smaller in this area.
[0061] When the pocket bags are comprised of elastic, in some
embodiments, both pieces of material that form each pocket bag is
comprised of elastic. In some embodiments, only the rear pieces of
material (i.e., the ones closest to the wearer's body) that form
each pocket bag are elastic. In some embodiments, only the front
pieces of material (i.e., the ones farthest from the wearer's body)
that form each pocket bag are elastic.
[0062] In some embodiments, the article of clothing also comprises
a first elastic panel that spans from the right outer seam to the
fastening system and at least a portion of a top side of the first
elastic panel is associated with the waistband, and the second
elastic panel spans from the left outer seam to the fastening
system and at least a portion of a top side of the second elastic
panel is associated with the waistband. The elastic panels may for
example each be formed from a single piece of material and do not
form a pocket.
[0063] In some embodiments, each elastic panel is located between
the respective pocket bag and the wearer of the pants. By placing
the elastic panel in this location, the contents of the pocket will
not be compressed against the wearer's body by the elastic panel.
As with the pocket bags described above, the right side of the
first elastic panel may be affixed to or associated with the right
outer seam of the garment, the left side of the first elastic panel
may be affixed to or associated with the fastening system, the
upper side of the first elastic panel may be affixed to or
associated with the waistband and the lower side of the elastic
panel may be unassociated with other material, or it may be
associated with (or affixed to) the lower edge of the pocket bag
but not any portion of the pant leg.
[0064] The elastic panel may be the same width or approximately the
same width (from left to right) as the pocket bag, while either
being the same height or approximately the height (from top to
bottom side) as the pocket bag or larger than the pocket bag in
that dimension or smaller than the pocket bag in that dimension.
The phrase "approximately the size" means within five
millimeters.
[0065] When the pocket bag is comprised of two pieces of material
that are of different sizes, the elastic panel may in some
embodiments be larger than both of them or the same size as the
larger of the two. In some embodiments, the elastic panel may be
smaller than both pieces of material that form the pocket bag. In
some embodiments, the elastic panel may be smaller than one piece
of material that forms the pocket bag, but larger than the other
piece of material that forms the pocket bag. When there are both
elastic panels and pocket bags that span from the outer seam to the
fastening system, in some embodiments, the force of the elastic
panels on the user's body is what imparts that majority of the
desired silhouette to the wearer of the garment. Additionally, when
both the elastic panels and pocket bags are present, in some
embodiments only the elastic bag is comprised of an elastic
material, while in other embodiments, both the pocket bags and the
elastic panels are comprised of elastic materials.
[0066] In some embodiments, the first elastic panel comprises a
front face that has an area that is 1-10% or 10-20% or 20-30% or
30-40% larger than a rear face of the first pocket bag and the
second elastic panel comprises a front face that has an area that
is 1-10% or 10-20% or 20-30% or 30-40 larger than a rear face of
the second pocket bag.
[0067] In some embodiments, the entire right, top and left edges of
the first elastic panel are associated with or affixed to the right
outer seam, the waistband and the first fastening element,
respectively. In other embodiments, at least 50%, at least 60%, at
least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90% or at least 95% of one or
more of these sides or edges of the elastic panel is associated
with the outer seam, waistband, and fastening elements. Further,
the percentage of each edge of the elastic panel that is associated
with the pants seam, fastening element and waistband may be
different e.g., at least 70% of the right edge, at least 80% of the
left edge and at least 100% of the top edge.
[0068] In some embodiments, the entire left, top and right edges of
the second elastic panel are associated with or affixed to the left
outer seam, the waistband and the second fastening element,
respectively. In other embodiments, at least 50%, at least 60%, at
least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90% or at least 95% of one or
more of these sides or edges of the elastic panel is associated
with the outer seam, waistband, and fastening elements
respectively. Further, the percentage of each edge of the elastic
panel that is associated with the pants seam, fastening elements
and waistband may be different e.g., at least 70% of the left edge,
at least 80% of the right edge and at least 100% of the top
edge.
[0069] Exemplary dimensions of the pocket bags include but are not
limited to the dimensions provided below in Table I. When the
pocket bag is formed from two pieces of material of unequal sizes,
the dimensions refer to the size of the large panel. When the
material is an irregular shape, the dimension refers to the largest
width and height.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE I Exemplary Pocket Bag Dimensions Woman's
pants size (U.S. sizing system) 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Pocket
7''-9'' 71/4''-91/4'' 71/2''-91/2'' 73/4''-93/4'' 8''-10''
81/4''-101/4'' 85/8''-105/8'' 9''-11'' 93/8''-113/8'' bag width
Pocket 31/2''-61/2'' 31/2''-61/2'' 31/2''-61/2'' 4''-7'' 4''-7''
4''-7'' 41/2''-71/2'' 41/2''-71/2'' 41/2''-71/2'' bag height
[0070] A person of ordinary skill will appreciate that the precise
dimension will in part be determined on how tight or loose the
low-hip measurement is in the resting state, and the type of fit of
the pocket bag that is to be made, e.g., triangular, circular or
linear.
[0071] Exemplary dimensions of the elastic panels may be for
example, the same as those for pocket bags. In some embodiments,
they will be between 1/4 of an inch and 1 inch larger in the height
dimension. In some embodiments, they will be between 1/4 of an inch
and 1 inch smaller in the height dimension.
[0072] In some embodiments, the present invention further comprises
an elastic yoke. The yoke of a pair of pants refers to the part of
the pants below the waistband on the rear left and rear right side
of the pants. Thus, in these embodiments, the waistband is affixed
to the yoke and not the rear pants panels. Each of the right yoke
piece and the left yoke piece may be formed of the same or
different materials as the front elastic panels. The yoke pieces
are preferably affixed to the right and the left rear pants legs
along the perimeters of each of the left and right yoke. In some
embodiments, the elastic yoke pieces appear exclusively between the
wearer's body and the rear of the pants garment. In other
embodiments, the elastic yoke pieces replace the yoke that would
otherwise appear is the pants garment. Accordingly, the size of the
yoke may be determined by the size of the pants.
[0073] In embodiments in which there is an elastic yoke, the
combination of the elastic yoke and the pocket bags described above
or pocket bags in combination with the elastic panels, provides
further redistribution of the wearer's torso region.
[0074] In some embodiments, the pocket bags and/or the elastic
panels contain reinforcement stitching. Reinforcement stitching is
one or more series of stitchings that impart additional resilience
to the pocket bags or elastic panels and both protects against loss
of elastic properties, as well as increases compression force on
the wearer of the garment. By way of example, there may be one,
two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven,
twelve, etc. rows of stitching that are regularly or irregularly
spaced along horizontal or substantially horizontal lines of the
pocket bags and/or elastic panels. Additionally or alternatively,
there may be one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine,
ten, eleven, twelve, etc. rows of stitching that are regularly or
irregularly spaced along vertical or substantially vertical lines
of the pocket bags and/or elastic panels. In some embodiments
stitching appears only on the elastic panels. In some embodiments
there is reinforcement stitching that not only reinforces, but also
affixes the elastic panel to the pocket bag. In some embodiments
there is separate reinforcement for the elastic panel and the
pocket bag.
[0075] Exemplary materials for reinforcement stitching include but
are not limited to various threads. As persons of ordinary skill in
the art are aware, thread is typically measured by text weight. In
some embodiments, the thread used for reinforced stitching may have
a text weight between 40 and 250 or between 60 and 200 or between
80 and 150 or between 100 and 125. By way of example, the stitching
material may be made of cotton or a cotton/polyester blend.
[0076] When the stitching is across the pocket bag, it is important
not to stitch together the region of the two pieces of material
that form the pocket cavity that one intends to have permissible
for access. Thus, one may stitch a region that in effect causes the
accessible part of the pocket cavity to be smaller than the
potential volume that is formed by the two sides of the material
and/or one may stitch only one side of the pocket cavity, e.g., the
side closest to the wearer, or stitch both sides. If the cavity is
restricted, for convenience of reference, even the inaccessible
portion of the pocket bag is still considered to be part of the
pocket bag.
[0077] Additionally, one could use horizontal and/or vertical
and/or diagonal stitching that attaches the rear panel of the
pocket bag to the elastic panel, or both panels of the pocket bag
to the elastic panel.
[0078] Thus, in some embodiments, the article of clothing comprises
reinforcement stitching along a substantially horizontal line of
the first elastic panel and reinforcement stitching along a
substantially horizontal line of the second elastic panel. The
reinforcement stitching may for example, comprise at least two
lines of stitching along said horizontal line of said first elastic
panel and along said second elastic panel. The phrase
"substantially horizontal" means parallel to the horizontal plane
when the pants are worn or within 10 degrees of the horizontal
plane. In some embodiments there may be stitching that is oriented
on a diagonal that is between 10 and 80 degrees or between 20 and
70 degrees or between 30 and 60 degrees or between 40 and 50
degrees of the horizontal plane.
[0079] With respect to the types of stitching that may be useful in
connection with the reinforcement stitching. At the webpage,
www.amefird.com/stitchingtypematrixflyer2.pdf, the contents of
which are incorporated by reference as if set forth herein,
American & Efird, Inc. identify the following types of
stitching, which may be used for reinforcement stitching, alone or
in combination: (i) single thread chainstitch; (ii) single thread
chainstitch or lockstitch buttonsew, buttonhole or bartack; (iii)
single threadblind stitch; (iv) lockstitch; (v) zig zag lockstitch;
(vi) chainstitch; (vii) zig zag chainstitch; (viii) 2 needle cover
stitch; (ix) 3 needle cover stitch; (x) 2 needle chainstitch with
cover thread; (xi) 2 thread overedge; (xii) 3 thread overedge;
(xiii) mock safety stitch; (xiv) 2 needle 4 thread overedge; (xv) 4
thread safetystitch; (xvi) 5 thread safetystitch; (xvii) 2 needle 4
thread coverstitch; (xviii) 3 needle 5 thread coverstitch; and
(xix) 4 needle 6 thread coverstitch.
[0080] The present invention may be further appreciated by
reference to the attached figures. FIG. 1 is a representation of a
woman 1 wearing a prior art pair of pants 2. In the pants, the
woman's lower torso 3 protrudes to degree that is undesirable to
her.
[0081] In FIG. 2, the same woman 4 is shown. However, she is
wearing an article of clothing 5 pursuant to the present invention.
As is shown, her stomach 6 lower torso region appears smaller and
tighter.
[0082] FIG. 3 is a representation of the upper portion of the front
left leg panel of a pair of pants 7. The waistband 8 is along the
top of the pants. A pocket bag is accessible by a wearer of the
pants but is not shown because its view is blocked by the elastic
panel 10. One edge (the left side) of the pocket bag is affixed to
the left outer seam of the pants 29. Along a portion of the top
edge of the pocket bag 30 the pocket bag is affixed to the
waistband of the pants. The right edge of the pocket bag is affixed
to the fastening system 31, which comprises zipper teeth 32. In
this embodiment, the pocket bag and elastic panel, by virtue of
stretching from the outer seam to the fastening system and being
affixed to both of them, will enable the garment to create a
desired silhouette on a wearer. The lower edge 9 is not affixed to
anything. Reinforced stitching is present in horizontal 11 and
vertical 13 lines.
[0083] FIG. 4 is a representation of the upper portion of the front
right leg panel of a pair of pants 14. There is again a waistband
15 and an outer seam there 34 at which the elastic panel and the
pocket bag are attached. The pocket bag (not shown) is located
behind the elastic panel 21. Additionally, the location of the
attachment of the elastic panel to the fastening system is blocked
by a cloth 33. Both horizontal 18 and vertical 17 reinforcement
stitching are present. The elastic panel is attached to the
waistband 20 at its upper edge, but not attached to the pants
garment at its lower edge 16.
[0084] FIG. 5 is a representation of the upper rear portions of a
garment of clothing 22 that includes right and left yoke pieces 23.
The upper edges of the right and left yoke pieces are affixed to
waistband 24 at stitching 26. These pieces of the yoke are also
affixed to the outer seams of the pants 35, and the rear center
seam of the pants 36. Further, they are attached at their lower
edges to the right and left sides of the pants 27 (in the figure
only the right lower edge is identified by numeral 27). Rear
pockets 25 are shown for reference, as is the seam that attaches
the right and left rear pants panels 28.
[0085] This patent application discusses specific embodiments of
the present invention. The specific features described herein may
be used in some embodiments, but not in others, without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the
foregoing disclosure.
* * * * *
References