IES20020222A2 - An adjustable garment - Google Patents

Abstract

An adjustable garment such as a skirt (1) has a front panel (2) and a rear panel (3). An upper hem (5) of the skirt (1) forms an adjustable waistband by adjusting the length of the front portion only of the hem (5). An elasticated stomach panel (6) extends downwardly from the adjustable front portion of the hem (5). An elasticated insert (10) is mounted within the front portion of the hem (5) which forms an elasticated sleeve. One end of the insert (10) is fixed within the hem (5). The insert (10) freely passes outwardly through an opening (11) in the hem (5), with the other end of the insert (10) being fixed to an exterior of the hem (5). The insert (10) can be pulled outwardly through the opening (11) to shorten the waistband of the skirt (1) with buttonholes (15) in the insert (10) engaging a button (14) beside the opening (11) to hold the waistband in the shortened configuration. <Figure 5>

Description

This invention relates to an adjustable garment. iirrct > ! F. 7//1 Irish Patent No. 65729 discloses a maternity garment having an adjustable waistband formed by an endless elasticated insert in an upper hem of the garment. This provides a garment that is comfortable to wear during pregnancy. However, because the elasticated waistband extends continuously about the waist of the wearer in use, the garment is very unflattering for the wearer and tends to look baggy and makes the wearer look bigger than in reality.

U.S. patent no. 5255393 discloses a form fitting garment such as pantyhose made of stretch material such as nylon having a waistband which is expandable and adjustable. This garment also has a front panel of extra stretchable material. British patent no. 1508597 discloses a garment with an elasticated waistband and an elasticated front panel extending downwardly from the waistband at the front of the garment. U.S. patent no. 5283910 discloses another garment with an expandable waistband with limited stretchability in a rear portion of the waistband and greater elasticity and adjustability in a front portion of the waistband.

In U.S. patent no. 4139913 there is disclosed maternity slacks having front and rear flaps which overlap at each side of the garment and are adjustably fixed together.

The front flap has an adjustable elasticated waistband. French patent no. 2413051 discloses trousers for wearing during pregnancy. A central portion of the front of the trousers forms a rectangular elastic panel. A cover flap extends over the elastic panel and has upper ends secured by buttons at the front of the garment to conceal the elastic panel.

The present invention is directed towards providing an adjustable garment which is modern and fashionable in look but at the same time is comfortable and flattering for the wearer and is easily adjusted when required. ¢02 0222 Statements of Invention According to the invention, there is provided an adjustable garment having a front panel, a rear panel connected to the front panel at each side along common side seams, a waistband extending around a top of the front and rear panel, said waistband having a substantially inelastic rear portion and an elasticated front portion, an elasticated stomach panel at a front of the garment extending downwardly from the waistband, a front portion of the waistband forming a hollow sleeve with an elasticated insert mounted within the sleeve, said elasticated insert having a first inner end fixed adjacent one end of the sleeve at a side of the garment and a second outer end which projects outwardly through a slot adjacent the other end at a side of the garment and is fixed to an inside face of the waistband, the insert having a number of spaced-apart button holes, a button for engagement with said button holes being mounted on the inside face of the waistband adjacent the slot. Thus advantageously, the stomach panel and front portion of the upper hem can be allowed expand as the stomach area of a wearer grows, while at the same time, the rear of the garment is allowed to remain fitted to the rear portion of the wearer’s body for a more aesthetically pleasing and flattering appearance. Thus from all aspects excluding the front waist and stomach area the garment looks and fits as a normal ready to wear fashion garment.

In one embodiment of the invention the button is mounted on the inside face of the waistband intermediate the sleeve opening and the fixed outer end of the elasticated insert.

In a further embodiment the stomach panel extends between opposite sides of the garment.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the elasticated stomach panel is of jersey material. Conveniently the front panel and the rear panel may be formed of a substantially inelastic woven material which will hold the shape in which they are cut and formed.

The garment may be formed as a skirt or as a trousers, including shorts. ΙΕΟ 2 02 2 2 Detailed Description of the Invention The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Fig. 1 is a front eievational view of an adjustable skirt according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a rear eievational view of the skirt of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side eievationai view of the skirt; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the skirt; Fig. 5 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 4 showing the skirt in another position of use; Fig. 6 is a detail elevation view of portion of an adjustable waistband of the skirt; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the waistband portion in another position of use; Fig. 8 is a front eievational view of an adjustable trousers according to the invention; Fig. 9 is a rear eievational view of the trousers of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a side eievational view of the trousers of Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the trousers of Fig. 8; Fig. 12 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 11 showing an adjustable waistband ofthe trousers in a second position of use; Fig. 13 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 11 showing the waistband in a third position of use; Fig. 14 is a detail elevational view of portion of the waistband of the trousers of Fig. 8; and Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 showing the waistband in another position of use.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Figs. 1 to 7 thereof, there is illustrated an adjustable garment according to the invention comprising a skirt, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The skirt 1 has a front panel 2 and a rear panel 3 interconnected along vertical side seams 4. An upper hem 5 of the skirt 1 forms an adjustable waistband for fitting about the waist of a wearer in use. An elasticated stomach panel 6 is provided at an upper end of the front panel 2 at the front of the skirt 1 extending downwardly from a front part 7 of the upper hem 5.

The stomach panel 6 and front part 7 of the upper hem 5 can be formed of a stretch jersey fabric and the remainder of the skirt 1 is formed of a flat weave fabric. This allows the skirt to remain fitted to the other parts of a wearer’s body while allowing the stomach panel 6 and front part 7 of the upper hem 5 to expand for comfortable fitting on the wearer. This advantageously eliminates excess fabric which will add excess bulk to parts of the wearer’s body where it is not required, for example, at the back of the skirt 1 and parts of the leg area. Thus advantageously, the skirt 1 can be shaped and styled attractively to fit about the wearer’s body while allowing the stomach panel 6 accommodate the wearer’s stomach. A garment can be provided that is modern in look and is fashionable with the current trends of a particular season but with the added feature of a stomach panel 6 of stretch jersey with an adjustable waist provided by the front part 7 of the upper hem 5 to accommodate the wearer’s stomach.

The front part 7 of the upper hem 5 forms an elasticated sleeve within which an ΙΕ η 2 0722 - 5 elasticated insert 10 is mounted. An opening 11 is provided in the front part 7 on an inside face of the hem 5 at the side seam 4. An inner end of the elasticated insert 10 is fixed within the front part 7 at one side of the front part 7 adjacent the side seam 4 opposite where the slot 11 is provided. An outer end 12 of the elasticated insert 10 is fixed on the upper hem 5 on an inside face of the hem 5 spaced-apart from the opening 11. A button 14 is mounted on the inside face of the hem 5 intermediate the opening 11 and the fixed outer end 12 of the elasticated insert 10. The elasticated insert 10 has a number of buttonholes 15 spaced along the insert 10 for engagement with said button 14 to allow adjustment of the length of the front portion 7 of the waistband 5. The elasticated insert 10 allows further adjustability for added comfort of the wearer. Fgs. 4 and 6 show the front portion 7 of the waistband 5 fully extended and Figs. 5 and 7 show the front portion 7 of the waistband 5 collapsed to reduce the size of the waistband 5.

Referring now to Figs. 8 to 15, there is shown another adjustable garment, in this case in the form of trousers, indicated generally by the reference numeral 30. These are largely similar to the skirt 1 described previously and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case, instead of the front and rear skirt panels, front leg panels 32 and associated rear leg panels 33, are provided. Also, it will be noted that a stomach panel 36 is provided which extends between the opposite side seams 4. This is a simpler construction than the skirt in that the sides of the stomach panel 36 can be integrally stitched with the side seams 4.

Figs. 11 and 14 show the waistband 5 fully expanded to its maximum size. Fig. 12 shows the front portion 7 of the waistband 5 partially collapsed to partially reduce the size of the waistband 5. To collapse the front portion 7 of the waistband 5 the elasticated insert 10 is drawn outwardly through the slot 11 and one of the buttonholes 15 engaged with the button to retain the front portion 7 in a partially collapsed position as shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 13 shows the front portion 7 of the waistband 5 in a fully collapsed position to provide the waistband 5 in its minimum size. To fully collapse the front portion 7 of the waistband 5 the elasticated insert 10 is fully drawn through the slot 11 and the innermost buttonhole 15 engaged with the button 14 on the inside face of the hem 5. It will be appreciated that the adjustment of the front portion 7 of the waistband 5 can be readily easily and quickly achieved.

IE0 2 02 2 2 Further, as the outer end 12 of the elasticated insert 10 is fixed to the inside face of the hem 5 there is no possibility of losing the outer end 12 of the elasticated insert 10 such as when it is released. It cannot be pulled back in through the slot 11 into the interior of the front portion 7 of the hem 5. It will also be noted that any excess portion of the elasticated insert 10 withdrawn from the slot 11 is neatly stored inside the hem 5 of the trousers 30 during use to give a clean external appearance to the trousers 30.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides a garment which is stylish while at the same time allowing adjustment for the comfort of the wearer in the stomach region. Such garments are particularly advantageous for pregnant women as they allow ongoing adjustment of ttie garment over the period of the pregnancy for the comfort of the wearer.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described but may be varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (5)

1. An adjustable garment comprising: a front panel a rear panel connected to the front panel at each side along common side seams, a waistband extending around a top of the front panel and the rear panel, said waistband having a substantially inelastic rear portion and an elasticated front portion, an elasticated stomach panel extending downwardly from the front portion of the waistba nd, the front portion of the waistband forming a hollow sleeve with an elasticated insert mounted within the sleeve, said elasticated insert having a first inner end fixed adjacent one end of the sleeve at a side of the garment and a second outer end which projects outwardly through a slot adjacent the other end at an opposite side of the garment and is fixed to an inside face of the waistband adjacent the slot, the insert having a number of spaced-apart button holes, a button being mounted on the inside face of the waistband adjacent the slot for releasable engagement with said button holes for adjustment of the size of the waistband.

2. An adjustable garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the button is mounted on the inside face of the waistband intermediate the sleeve opening and the fixed outer end of the elasticated insert.

3. An adjustable garment as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the stomach panel extends between opposite sides of the garment. 11= η 9 η 9 2 2

4. An adjustable garment as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the elasticated stomach panel is of jersey material and the front panel and the rear panel are formed of a substantially inelastic woven material.

5. An adjustable garment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.