US3839740A

US3839740A - Garment having an expandable waist

Info

Publication number: US3839740A
Application number: US00387954A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Tornberg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-08-13
Filing date: 1973-08-13
Publication date: 1974-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 1991-10-08

Abstract

An expandable waist construction is disclosed herein for a garment such as a pant, trouser, skirt, or the like which includes a waistband having an elongated section joining the opposite ends of the band and a folded or cut portion joining the opposite edges of the main body of the garment such as the pant leg or skirt. In the case of a trouser or pant, the cut portion extends from the lower edge of the waistband immediately behind the pocket to a length extending to the bottom of the pocket. A selected end of the elongated section joining the opposite ends of the waistband is provided with a snap fastener so that the waist may be narrowed by selecting alignment of mating snaps and the waist may be expanded additionally by unfolding the tucked or folded portion so as to permit expansion of the upper part of the garment body.

Description

United States Patent 91 Tornberg I GARMENT HAVING AN EXPANDABLE WAIST [76] Inventor: William Tornberg, 8540 Willis Ave., No. 9, Panorama City, Calif, 91402 [22] Filed: Aug. 13, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 387,954

[52] US. Cl. 2/237 .1451 x Oct. 8, 1974 Primary Examiner-11. Hampton Hunter Attorney, Agent, or FirmRoger A. Marrs [57 ABSTRACT An expandable waist construction is disclosed herein for a garment such as a pant, trouser, skirt, or the like which includes a waistband having an elongated section joining the opposite ends of the band and a folded or cut portion joining the opposite edges of the main body of the. garment such as the pant leg or skirt. In

1 the case of a trouser or-pant, the cut portion extends from the lower edge of the waistband immediately behind the pocket to a length extending to the bottom of the pocket. A selected end of the elongated section joining the opposite ends of the waistband is provided with a snap fastener so that the waist may be narrowed by selecting alignment of mating snaps and the waist may be expanded additionally by unfolding the" tucked or folded portion so as to permit expansion of the upper part of the garment body 1 Claim, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED OCT 8 I974 SHEET 10F 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to garments having expandable waist devices and, more particularly, to a novel expandable waist permitting the garment to be adjusted in waistband size so as to provide a normal look of garment construction denoting proper tailoring and sizing.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art In the past, the waist portion of a variety of garments such as skirts, pants and trousers have employed a variety of expandable materials of elastic character to provide adjustment for varying the garment waist size. Also, a plurality of buttons, snaps and other mechanical devices have been employed for narrowing or widening the waistband. Although these devices are somewhat successful for their intended purpose of providing expansion for the waistband, difficulties and problems have been encountered which stem largely from the fact that only the size of the band is adjusted and the main body of the garment is left unchanged.

Furthermore, conventional waistband constructions which permit alterations generally include bulky fasteners, zippers and other devices which detract from the overall tailored look of the garment.

Therefore, a long standing need has existed to provide a novel waistband construction for garments that will permit alterations to larger or smaller sizes which will maintain the tailored look of the garment and yet provide additional material for such alterations. The additional material need not be taken from the garment seam or hem as is the customary practice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the above difficulties and problems are obviated by the present invention which provides a novel means for altering garment waistbands that includes a waist construction having the opposite ends of a conventional waistband joined by an elongated section wherein the section is attached to a selected end of the waistband by a suitable fastening means. Immediately below the waistband and lying along the seam or hemline of the garment is a tucked or folded portion of material suitable for providing additional material to the body of the garment in the event the garment is to be altered ,so as to expand or extend the waistband. Preferably, the tucked or folded portion of material is immediately behind the pocket of the garment so that a completely tailored look is provided. to the garment after alterations.

Therefore, it is among the primary objects of the present invention to provide a novel waistband construction for a garment permitting the waist of the garment to be altered so as to maintain and prevent a natu ral or tailored look.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel waistband construction permitting alteration by including a tucked or folded portion of material immediately below the waistband and immediately behind the pockets.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a novel waistband construction permitting alterations which includes additional garment material tucked or folded in a selected portion of the garment away from the seat or rear of the garment so as to not interfere with wearing comfort.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel and unique means for altering the waistband of a garment by simply expanding the waistband and the garment body portion attendant thereto without major altering of the garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a trouser incorporating the novel waistband construction of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the expandable waist construction'of the present invention as taken in the direction of arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the waistband construction shown in FIG. 2 with the waistband expanded or altered;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the waistband construction of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the waistband construction prior to alteration;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to the view shown in FIG. 5 after alteration of the waistband construction;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of the joining waistband sections taken in the direction of arrows 7--7 of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to the view of FIG. 7 showing the waistband construction after alteration as indicated in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the construction as taken in the direction of arrows 99 in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a pair of trousers is indicated in the general direction of arrow 10 having a pair of legs 11 and 12 and a waistband 13. It is noted that the leg 11 includes an outside seam l4 and a pocket indicated in general by the numeral 15. The opposite ends of the waistband 13 are joined together by an elongated section 16.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the garment as fabricated includes the waistband construction wherein one end of section 16 is secured to one end of waistband 13 while the opposite end of section 16 is detachably se cured to the opposite end of waistband 13 by means of snap fasteners indicated by numeral 17. Immediately behind the pocket 15 and along the seam 14 immediately below waistband 13 with section 16, there is provided a folded or tucked portion of material indicated in general by numeral 20 which'may be'considered excess material for use when it is desired to expand or alter the waistband construction to a larger size. For purpose of discussion, the manufactured size is indicated by the letter D denoting a fixed dimension between seam 14 and the end of pant leg 11 terminating in the fly 21. It is also to be noted that the pocket 15 includes an upper portion 22 and a lower portion 23 which combine to define the rear or back side of the pocket. The front side of the pocket forms a continuous extension of leg 11 and is provided with a selected cut or shape as indicatecLlay. the edge 24 that defines an opening into the pocket between the back side of the leg 11 and the opposing side of the combined

pieces

22 and 23.

As shown in FIG. 3, the waistband construction has been altered so as to enlarge the waistband size to the dimension indicated by the arrow D In this latter instance, the folded or tucked material 20 has been expanded to allow for the desired increase whereby the fold line 25 is coextensive with the seam line 14.

Referring now in detail to FIG. 4, an exploded view of the waistband construction is illustrated whereby it can be seen that the folded or tucked material 20 provides an excess intended to make up for the expansion whenthe garment is altered to increase the dimension or size of the waistband 13. It is to be noted that one edge of the folded material 20is secured along the seam 14 on one half of the pant leg 11 while the other edge of the material is sewn to the edge 14 on the opposite half of the leg 11. Also, it is to be understood that when the material is folded, fold 25 is hidden behind the pocket 15 while, when the band construction is expanded, fold 25 will lie coextensively with seam 14. It is to be understood that seam 14 comprises seam 14' and that leg vl1 also includes leg half 11'.

Referring now to FIG. in detail, it can be seen that the waistband construction is in its'normally tailored sized condition prior to alterations to expand the waistband. Again, it can be seen that the folded or tucked portion 20 is behind the pocket and particularly behind the rear portion comprised of

pieces

22 and 23. The section 16 joins the opposite ends of belt or waist band 13 and one end of the band or section 16 is doubled over and fastened by snap fasteners to the end'of waistband 13. It is also seen that the band 13 includes snap fasteners 27 that may be selectively engaged with mating fasteners 28 for closing the garment about the waist of the person.

In FIG. 6, the waistband construction has been expanded substantially as shown in FIG. 3 wherein the material has been unfolded so that the foldline is exposed and is in coextensive relationship with seam l4.

In FIG. 7, the snap fastener relationship between the section 16 and the band 13 is illustrated when the waistband constuction has not been altered or expanded, such as shown in FIG. 5.

In FIG. 8, the position of snaps 17 and the lengthen ing of section 16 is illustrated when the belt construction has been expanded as shown in FIG. 6.

Referring now in detail to FIG. 9, it can be seen that the folded materialor portion 20 lies immediately behind the pocket and that the band 13 is secured thereto by its edge adjacent to the upper edge of the folded material. The opposing vertical edges of the folded material are sewn to the seam associated with leg portions' 11 and 11 so that the combined seam 14 is produced as a coextension thereof.

In view of the foregoing, it can be seen that the novel waistband construction of the presentinvention permits alteration to larger sizes by separating waistband 13 by means of detaching fasteners 17 and permitting the waistband to expand and then resnapping the fasteners after the section 16 has been elongated and the material 20 unfolded. When the construction has been so altered, a neat and tailored appearance is provided which is identical to the original construction so that no noticeable alteration appears. Furthermore, by providing the excess material along the seam line 14, the material is not awkward and does not interfere with the usage of the wearer such as is conventional practice in providing excessive materials along the seat seam. Also, no thread lines are visible in the excessive material and no threads need be removed as is the conventional practice.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing fromthis invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such channges and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a waist band construction for altering the waist size of a garment comprising:

a waist band;

an elongated waist section having its opposite end engaged with the opposite and opposing ends of said waistband so as to define an encircling, continuous band;

said gannent having a main body composed of a pair of halves joined to provide a seam along the side of said garment;

a portion of excess material folded over upon itself when in its non-altered condition and the opposite edges of said excess material secured to adjacent edges of said seam so as to be co-extensive therewith;

releasable fastener means detachably securing said waist section at one end to said waist band;

said releasable fastener means being snap fasteners in registry for joining said section and said waist band together;

said garment including a pocket defined by a back material part and a front part wherein the rearmost edge of said parts are joined together in common with the seam and the fold line of said excess material;

said excess material being V-shaped withtapering side edges converging to meet with said seam; and

said waist band, said waist section, said excess material and said pocket are over-lapped so as to be substantially flat in a unitary construction whereby said excess material is hidden from sight and available for use when desired to expand the waist measurement.

Claims

1. In a waist band construction for altering the waist size of a garment comprising: a waist band; an elongated waist section having its opposite end engaged with the opposite and opposing ends of said waist band so as to define an encircling, continuous band; said garment having a main body composed of a pair of halves joined to provide a seam along the side of said garment; a portion of excess material folded over upon itself when in its non-altered condition and the opposite edges of said excess material secured to adjacent edges of said seam so as to be coextensive therewith; releasable fastener means detachably securing said waist section at one end to said waist band; said releasable fastener means being snap fasteners in registry for joining said section and said waist band together; said garment including a pocket defined by a back material part and a front part wherein the rearmost edge of said parts are joined together in common with the seam and the fold line of said excess material; said excess material being V-shaped with tapering side edges converging to meet with said seam; and said waist band, said waist section, said excess material and said pocket are over-lapped so as to be substantially flat in a unitary construction whereby said excess material is hidden from sight and available for use when desired to expand the waist measurement.