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Modifying garments to provide an adjustable length feature

Modifying garments to provide an adjustable length feature description/claims

The invention relates generally to variable-length garments. More particularly, the invention relates to end-user adaptation of garments to allow for reversible shortening thereof.

Wearable garments purchased off-the-rack, such as trousers and gowns often require some adjustment or alteration to ensure a proper fit before wearing. Such adjustments are often accomplished by a skilled tailor or seamstress, and generally require additional time and expense. Even when a proper length has been attained, there are occasions in which a different length would be advantageous. For example, the same pants may be worn with shoes of substantially different heights (platforms versus flats). Simply adjusting the length of the pant legs for either of the different height shoes will result in a poor fit when worn with the other. Selection of a length that lies in between the two extremities may be functional, but may not provide the same aesthetic appeal had the pants been tailored to the proper length.

Adjustment systems for modifying a hem on a garment have been used in various forms, particularly within the garment rental industry. Such systems are reversibly adjustable to different lengths and may include hook-and-loop type fasteners. (See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,936 to Jones, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,932 to Howard). Because such systems are intended for the garment rental industry, they are adapted to provide adjustment over a wide and substantially continuous range of hemlines. Accordingly, portions of the system attached to interior surface of the garment tend to cover a substantial region of the garment. For example, the Jones patent describes using a number of thin vertically elongated adjuster strips extending upward from the bottom edge of the garment. As the pant leg is folded inward to a desired length, the adjuster strips will reside within the folded bottom edge of the garment. In fact, the adjuster strips will be doubled in thickness as they overlap along the folded portion. Accordingly, such solutions are likely not well suited for all materials, and particularly for lighter weight materials, as they may appear bulky.

Others have described solutions for reversibly adjusting garment length of conventional hemmed garments. (See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,149,275 to Sanchez, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,128 to Kape). The Kape patent describes using pairs of VELCRO pads in combination with a drop down cuff arrangement. The VELCRO pads are applied to an exterior surface of the garment and although hidden by the cuff in a high position hemline, they are plainly visible when the cuff is lowered. Also, reliance on an external cuff limits fashion options to cuffed designs. The Sanches patent describes attaching fasteners to the garment interior, such as snaps. Unfortunately, Sanches describes attaching the fasteners in such a manner that they would be visible from the exterior of the garment. Acknowledging this, Sanches describes providing reinforcing elements, such as buttons to mask the stitching or other attachment means.

Still others have provided internal cuff arrangements for temporarily adjusting the length of a garment, but these were either complicated to install (U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,938 to LeTourneau) or cumbersome to adjust (U.S. Pat. No. 3,328,809 to Payne et al. readjusting garment length using a tacky lining strip and a steam iron—intended for limited lengthening as may be required by growth of the wearer).

What is needed is a simple solution allowing an unskilled individual, such as any garment wearer, to modify a garment providing for easy and rapid reversible length adjustments. Additionally, any solution should accommodate garments of various weights and types and be substantially imperceptible when worn.

Beneficially, the present invention is directed towards methods, devices, and systems that allow such an unskilled individual to modify a garment in an inconspicuous manner to provide the desired length-adjustability.

In one aspect, the invention features a process for modifying a garment to provide for its reversible length adjustment. The process includes fastening together first and second fastener components of each of multiple fastener pairs. One of the first and second fastener components of each of the fastened pairs is fixedly attached along a lower interior surface of the garment. The lower interior surface of the garment having been affixed with the multiple fastened pairs is folded inward upon itself, such that each of the fastened pairs is positioned along a higher interior surface of the garment. The other one of the first and second fastener components of each of the fastened pairs is fixedly attached along the higher interior surface of the garment. A length adjustment of the garment is accomplished by fastening the fastener pairs to shorten the garment, and unfastening the fastener pairs to lengthen the garment.

In another aspect, the invention features an apparatus for modifying a garment to provide a reversible length adjustment including multiple non-angular fastener pairs, each including first and second fastener components. Each of the first and second fastener components has a respective fastening surface and a respective garment-attachment surface. An adhesive compound is disposed along a substantial portion of the garment-attachment surface of each of the first and second fastener components for fixedly attaching the multiple fastener pairs to an interior surface of the garment. A distinctive marking is also provided on at least one of the fastener components of each of the fastener pairs to distinguish between the fastener components. The multiple fastener pairs when attached to the interior surface of the garment provide for a reversible length adjustment. The length adjustment is accomplished by fastening the fastener pairs to shorten the garment, and unfastening the fastener pairs to lengthen the garment.

The above and further advantages of this invention may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like structural elements and features in the various figures. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1A is a front view of a hemmed garment incorporating an embodiment of the present invention in an unfastened configuration.

FIG. 1B is a front view of a hemmed garment incorporating an embodiment of the present invention shown in a fastened configuration.

FIG. 2 is a more detailed view of a portion of the interior surface of a hemmed garment incorporating an embodiment of the present invention shown in an unfastened configuration.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of one embodiment of a fastener shown in an unfastened configuration.

FIG. 3B is a top perspective view of the fastener of FIG. 3A shown in a fastened configuration.

FIG. 3B is a top perspective view of the fastener of FIG. 3A shown in a fastened configuration.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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