GB2588818A

GB2588818A - A clothing item

Info

Publication number: GB2588818A
Application number: GB1916305.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Boden Belinda
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-11-08
Filing date: 2019-11-08
Publication date: 2021-05-12
Also published as: GB2588841A; GB201916305D0; GB2588841B; GB202011210D0

Abstract

An item of clothing 99 with a basal part 4 having one or more limb portions 3 extending away, the limb portions comprising a distal portion 9 and intermediate extension portion 5, the extension portion having attachment means formed of a plurality of securing parts 7, 8 which when fastened put the limb in a shorter configuration and when unfastened a longer configuration by introducing the folded material 6 into the length. The garment might be leggings, tights or trousers with extensible legs, especially for an infant or child to compensate for their growth. When in a shorter configuration the folded material 6 might be positioned to provide knee padding for the wearer. Preferably the fasteners are located to inner and outer edges of the limb in sets allowing a plurality of folded lengths, and the fasteners on the inner edge (figure 3) might be staggered closer to the distal portion than the fasteners on the outer edge.

Description

A CLOTHING ITEM

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a clothing item, in particular a item for clothing a growing wearer; more particularly but not exclusively an infant.

Background

Increasing numbers of people in increasing numbers of societies across the world are becoming more aware of the need to be cost-conscious as well as environmentally aware to costs to resources.

For example the cost of fashion and clothing in general has increased in general 15 understanding, and many wearers or users are keen to reduce the costs of their clothing.

Small infants or growing children need frequent changes of clothing and this can be environmentally or economically destructive. This is because an infant's limbs are 20 liable to grow significantly over a relatively short period of time, and consequently clothing will need frequent replacement to accommodate this growth.

Prior Art

KR 2015 0 066 400 (KIM) discloses a snap button attached to the inside of pants without changing or deforming the style of pants and enables a user to wear the pants although the length of the pants is longer than the length of user's legs. Therefore, the snap button reduces economic burden for repairing the pants. The present invention enables the snap button to be attached to the inside of the end of the pants and a user can reduce the length by connecting the snap buttons on the end. When the pants are short, the snap buttons can be disconnected to increase the length of the pants.

EP 1 718 176 (RATCLIFFE) discloses a pant leg adjustment mechanism comprising: 35 at least one lengthwise portion, the lengthwise portion including a first inside seam and a second inside seam; at least one attaching mechanism fastened to each of the first inside seam and the second inside seam; and at least one receiving portion positioned along a length of each of the first inside seam and the second inside seam for receiving the at least one attaching mechanism when the lengthwise portion is turned inwards.

CA 1 211 252 (KATZ) discloses an adjustable garment, i.e. a pant leg for trousers, jeans, etc. is provided hereon. It includes the combination, with the part of the garment whose length is to be varied, e.g. the pant leg whose length is to be varied, of two cooperating elements. One element is a plurality of spaced apart, longitudinally-extending prepositioned, positively-aligned fastener elements, secured along an inside seam of such part, e.g. the pant leg. The second element is a lower complementary fastener element secured to the inside of such part, e.g., the pant leg, either along the same inside seam or along an extension of such inside seam on the inner finished hem or in the cuffed fold, preferably at the lowest possible level of such part. When the lower complementary fastener element is engaged with a selected one of the plurality of longitudinally spaced apart preposifioned, positively-aligned fastener elements, the length of the garment, e.g. the leg is varied, i.e. either lengthened or shortened. These means provide for adjustment of the length without alteration to the garment in a manner which is not bulky or clumsy.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing items.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a clothing item comprising a basal part having one or more limb portions extending away from the basal part, wherein the one or more limb portions each comprises a distal foot and an intermediate extension portion with at least one attachment means; wherein the extension portion comprises sufficient material to allow the limb to be extended from a first (shortest) position to a second (longest) position; wherein the attachment means comprises a plurality of securement parts spaced longitudinally and arranged to allow securement of the first position and the second position, and wherein the attachment means comprises securement parts on two opposing sides of a limb portion.

It may be envisaged that the clothing item is for an infant, or growing child.

It may be envisaged that typically the item comprises two limb portions or legs.

In some embodiments the item may comprise a pair of trousers, legging, fights or other leg covering. In other embodiments it may be envisaged that a top or torso cover may be formed in a similar way. In still further embodiments there may be provided a romper suit with all limbs formed in this way.

The attachment means and material comprising the extension portion may be envisaged to be located proximate a knee region. Or elbow region where appropriate. In some embodiments additionally or alternatively the material comprising the extension portion may be envisaged to fold when in the first position. Advantageously this means that the folded material is hidden or accommodated in 15 use.

Additionally or alternatively advantageously the material may fold and/or may be envisaged to form a knee pad for the wearer.

In some embodiments the attachment means may comprise means to adjust to length differences between the legs and/or across different parts of the limb portions. For example in some embodiments it may be envisaged to be possible to hitch one side of the leg higher than the other side, so as to allow for leg splay, avoid crotch bunching or otherwise distribute folded material.

For example it may be envisaged that the securement parts may be located or dispersed differently on an inner side of a limb portion or inner side seam to an outer side of the limb portion or outer side seam. In this way for example the outer side seams may comprise securement parts that are spaced differently to the inner side seams.

Alternatively or additionally the securement parts on the outer side seams may be located closer the basal part than the foot than the securement parts on the inner side seams.

In other embodiments the securement parts on the inner side seams may be located closer the basal part that the foot than the securement parts on the outer side seams.

In some embodiments the legs comprise side seams. In this way the front and rear 5 faces of the legs may be left free and unencumbered, for comfort for the wearer.

In some embodiments the side seams comprise the attachment means, wherein the front face and rear faces of the legs are not interfered with, or encumbered, and consequently the wearer may have more comfortable clothing. Additionally or 10 alternatively the attachment means is less liable to interference or damage.

In some embodiments the attachment means comprises a plurality of male or female securement parts arranged to attach to corresponding female or male attachment anchors.

In some embodiments the securement parts and anchors comprise press-studs.

In some embodiments the securement parts and anchors comprise buttons In some embodiments the securement parts and anchors comprise hooks and eyes In some embodiments the securement parts and anchors comprise hook and loop portions such as Velcro (RIM) In some embodiments the securement parts and anchors comprise ferromagnetic parts and anchors.

In some embodiments the item comprises enclosed limb portions. For example this may comprise enclosed feet. In other embodiments the item may comprise enclosed 30 hands, so as to limit scratching or the like.

In some embodiments the item comprises an expandable section complementary or additional to the extension portion. This section may comprise a part or whole of the basal part and/or limb portion(s). For example in some embodiments the basal part 35 may comprise an expandable panel section.

This section may comprise a securement and/or adjustment mechanism, and in other embodiments may comprise elastomeric material.

In some embodiments for example the item comprises an elasticated waist section or 5 basal part section. This elastication may advantageously enable the basal part and the item in general to accommodate and mirror and allow the item's movement between positions as the wearer grows.

In some embodiments the item may comprise an adjustable waist section, with a 10 securement mechanism for when the section has been expanded.

For example the mechanism may comprise a belt and/or a cord. The section may comprise a pleated section for example, wherein a cord may pass through a sleeve within or with reference the section.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the clothing item according to the present invention, with one leg in the first position and a second leg in the second position; Figure 2 shows an isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 with both legs in an intermediate position between the positions; And Figure 3 shows a front view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 with both legs in the second position.

Detailed Description of Fiqures

With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of the clothing item generally comprising an infant clothing item 99 comprising a basal part 4 with two limb portions 3 extending away therefrom, wherein the limb portions comprise a distal foot 9 and an intermediate extension portion 5, which extension portion is provided by an attachment means having plural securement parts 7 defining a first shortest limb portion position and a second longest limb portion position, the extension portion 5 containing sufficient foldable material 6 in the shortest position to allow the limb portion to be extended into the longest position.

In particular reference to the pictured embodiment the embodiment comprises a pair of trousers, leggings or tights for an infant, with two legs comprising limb portions 3 and a lower torso basal part 4 The basal part comprises a crotch area and a bottom area.

The legs comprise enclosed feet 9, so as to allow the embodiment to form a pair of romper suit trousers. The enclosed feet comprise booties on the ends of the legs. It may be envisaged that such booties are appropriately sized for a foot size accompanying the leg length of the second position. In some embodiments the booties or enclosed feet may be elastomeric part or whole or adjustable. In still further embodiments the booties may be detachable and/or replaceable.

In some embodiments the trousers may be a part of a larger romper or play suit, for example with a top or upper torso covering. In some embodiments the top may comprise a item according to the present invention, with extendable arm limb portions. In some embodiments the top and trousers of the pictured embodiment may form a single item of clothing, in others they may be separate or separable.

The legs comprise side seams 10, 11, 12, 13, which extend from top to bottom of the 30 legs, on the inner sides and outer sides of the legs. This means that the front and rear faces of the legs are clear.

The attachment means comprises an anchor 8, located below the knee on the side seams, and three securement parts 7, located and spaced apart in a vertical line 35 above the knee on the side seams.

In some embodiments the anchor may be located further up the leg in use, for example so as to be better hidden from view should the item be tights and/or the user is wearing a skirt. In some embodiments additionally or alternatively the anchor may be hidden from view by a flap or similar piece of material The anchors 8 and securement parts 7 are repeated on the inner side seams 10, 11 and the outer side seams 12, 13.

The three outer side seam securement parts 7 start and finish and are located closer up the legs 3 than the inner side seams' securement parts 7. In this way advantageously the folded material 6 of the extension portion 5 is not liable to bunch at the crotch, and is angled when folded so as to distribute better around the leg, being particularly advantageous with reference the expected leg movements and general splaying of legs in use.

The attachment means of the pictured embodiment is formed in use by attachment of the anchors 8 to one of the three securement parts 7. Ideally this may be achieved at a time across all four side seams, so as to create a regular movement between the legs. In use other eventualities may advantageously be envisaged also.

The anchors 8 comprise male press stud rivets, and the securement parts 7 comprise female press stud rivets The leg material is unbroken, and arranged therefore to fold in use into the first and 25 intermediate positions. In some embodiments the foldable material in the extension portion may be comprised to differ from the rest of the item or leg, for example being thinner or more flexible.

The waist 1 of the basal part 4 comprises an elastomeric belted waist expandable 30 section forming the adjustment mechanism in use, as the user grows. The main material of the embodiment may also be elastomeric at least in part.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims

Claims 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
A clothing item comprising a basal part having one or more limb portions extending away from the basal part, wherein the one or more limb portions each comprises a distal foot and an intermediate extension portion with at least one attachment means; wherein the extension portion comprises sufficient material to allow the limb to be extended from a first (shortest) position to a second (longest) position; and the attachment means comprises a plurality of securement parts spaced longitudinally and arranged to allow securement of the first position and the second position, and wherein the attachment means comprises securement parts on two opposing sides of a limb portion.
A clothing item according to claim 1 which is a pair of trousers. A clothing item according to claim 1 which is a pair of tights.
A clothing item according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the at least one attachment means and material comprising the extension portion is located proximate a knee region of the pair of trousers.
A clothing item according to claim 4 wherein the material is adapted to be folded to form a knee pad for the wearer in the first position.
A clothing item according to any preceding claim wherein the at least one attachment means is comprised in side seams such that a front face and a rear face of a leg of a garment are unencumbered.
A clothing item according to any preceding claim wherein securement parts are located or longitudinally spaced differently on opposing inner and outer sides of a limb portion.
A clothing item according to claim 7 wherein the securement parts on outer sides of the limb portion are located closer the basal part than the foot than the securement parts on inner sides of the limb portion.
9. A clothing item according to claim 7 wherein the securement parts on the inner sides of the limb portion are located closer to the basal part that the foot than the securement parts on the outer sides of the limb portion.
10. A clothing item according to any preceding claim wherein the attachment means on a limb portion comprises an anchor and a plurality of longitudinally spaced securement parts.
11. A clothing item according to claim 10 wherein the securement parts and anchors include press-studs.
12. A clothing item according to any preceding claim comprises an expandable section of a part or whole of the basal part
13.A clothing item according to claim 12 wherein the expandable section comprises an elasticated waist.