AU755245B2 - Clothing extension device - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION AFTER PROVISIONAL

DATED:

TITLE:

New Zealand 337903 20 September 1999 Clothing Extension Device -2- CLOTHING EXTENSION DEVICE TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to clothing extension devices.

For convenience only, the invention will predominantly be described as a clothing extension device for use in clothing during pregnancy, for which it is particularly suitable, however it is to be understood that the clothing extension device is not to be limited to such use.

BACKGROUND ART Maternity clothing may incorporate clothing extension devices of various styles. These devices are usually an integral non-removable part of the whole garment, for example, a pair of maternity pants or a maternity skirt where the garment is one whole item possibly with an expansion panel incorporated therein.

Maternity clothing is not normally designed to be suitable to wear when the wearer is not pregnant and therefore maternity clothing is generally limited to use during times of pregnancy.

Normal female clothing is not designed to suit or allow for the body expansion that -occurs during pregnancy, therefore most women need to obtain extra maternity clothing when they become pregnant.

Some attempts to overcome these problems have been made by providing a panel with a hollow waistband along the upper edge so that an elastic strap with a button at one end and a buttonhole at the other can be threaded through the waistband. The button and buttonhole are attached to buttons and button holes in existing clothing which can be left "unzipped", the panel covering the opening. However such devices gather and also slide on the belt which limits their effectiveness.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or minimise the foregoing problems in a simple yet effective manner or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description.

18/10 '02 FRI 15:26 FAX 61 2 99255996 GRIFFITH RACK 1@]007 3 DISCLOSURE OF THE JNVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a clothing extension device including: a panel including a top edge and side edges, the panel being capable of expansion in at least the side to side direction, and (ii) means mounted on the panel comprising a band of elastic mnaterial carrying buttons and buttonholes, or parts of two part dome constructions, the means arranged to attach the panel into jeans, trousers, shorts or skirts which have a two part fastening device at or near the waistline, the means being capable of expansion with the panel.

Preferably the panel comprises a shaped panel formed of a stretch or knit fabric.

Preferably the panel is shaped to cover the space left in a garment when the fly or zip, and button and buttonholes or parts of a two dome constructions have not been done up.

Preferably a buttonhole is provided at or adjacent one side edge of the panel and a button V. is provided at, or adjacent the other edge.

Preferably a plurality of buttons are provided across the panel at or adj apcent the top 0 Alternatively a buttonhole is provided at each side edge with a plurality of buttons therebetween.

The user of the present invention puts on an item of clothing that would be worn by them during periods of 'normal weight', but does not do up the fly/zip or buttonhole. The buttonhole on one side of the panel of the clothing extension device is attached by fitting it over the button on the waist of the chosen item of clothing.

The panel of the clothing extension device is then stretched across the waist and the appropriate button setting is chosen to suit the size and shape of the user. The selected ,cT to setting is then fitted to the other side of the garment by inserting the button on the /tclCjj0j.ng extension device into the buttonhole on the garment.

With the clothing extension device and methods as described above, a person's normal clothing such as jeans, trousers, shorts or skirts, can continue to be worn when one's stomach expands as is generally experienced in pregnancy.

The present invention is considered to be particularly useful for pregnant women. It can be used to extend the waist and stomach region of their wardrobe so that no extra clothing need be purchased during pregnancy.

The present invention may also be used by any person requiring their clothing to have an expansion in the waist or stomach part of its construction.

The material insert could be provided in a range of different colours so as to suit different shades of the clothing it is worn with.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope. of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of one form of clothing extension device according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic elevation of an alternative clothing extension device according to the invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION With respect to the construction of Figure 1, there is provided a clothing extension device 1 according to the present invention.

The clothing extension device comprises a panel 2 which has a top edge 3, and side edges 4 and 5. The panel is able to stretch at least in the side to side direction. To this end the panel 2 may be formed from some form of stretch or knit fabric. The panel 2 is provided in a size and shape so that it will cover the space left when inserted into an item of clothing that is both unzipped and unbuttoned, and so that it will stay fitted into that space.

Elastic threads or an elastic band 8 is sewn into the waistband of the material insert and once sewn in, is in this embodiment, not visible in the finished item. A buttonhole 9 is sewn through both the material and the elastic. Buttons 10 are sewn on and through the material insert and elastic. In the embodiment shown a buttonhole 9 is provided at or near each side edge of the panel 2. Darts 11 are provided adjacent each end of the elastic band 8 to allow the panel to be positioned underneath the fly line.

The device 1 as described in the embodiment above may be used for a number of applications. It will be particularly useful as a clothing extension device for women during pregnancy. In this case the device 1 is inserted into an item of clothing that is both unzipped and unbuttoned. The buttonhole on one side of the clothing extension device is attached by fitting it over the button on the waist of the chosen item of clothing. The clothing extension device I is then stretched across the waist and the appropriate button setting is chosen to suit the size and shape of the woman. The selected button setting is then fitted to the other side of the garment by inserting the button on the clothing extension device into the buttonhole on the garment.

The device 1 may also be ideal for people requiring an extension to their clothing for other reasons apart from pregnancy, for example, during periods of weight gain.

In the construction of Figure 2 the clothing extension device 1 again has a panel 2. Again buttonholes 9 and buttons 10 are provided except that this time the buttonholes 9 and buttons 10 are provided on an elasticised band 15. The band is directly connected to the panel 2, for example, being sewn thereto. The end parts 16 of the band 15 are left free so that the buttonholes can be connected with a button on the clothing. In the constructions of Figure 1 and Figure 2, buttonholes are provided at each end of either the band 15 or the elasticised area 8 so that clothing which is left or right-handed insofar as the position of the button is concerned may be accommodated. Again the panel 2 is formed of a material which will stretch in at least the side to side direction, such as cotton-lycra. It is believed that with this construction the darts provided in the construction of Figure 1, are not required. Of course it will be apparent that the buttons and buttonholes described above, can be replaced by parts of a two part dome construction or indeed by other fastening devices.The applicants consider the advantages of at least the preferred form of the invention to be as follows, however, other advantages of the present invention may be found by users.

18/10 '02 FRI 15:27 FAX 61 2 99255996 GRIFFITH HACK 0 -6- 1. The device provides a means so that the same items of clothing can be worn during both pregnant and -noa-pregnant periods.

2. The device provides a fully adjustable clothing extension to suit a wide variety of shapes and sizes of person and to suit every stage of a pregnancy.

3. The device provides a means for women to save money during pregnancy by not having to purchase items of maternity clothing.

4. The device provides a means for a pregnant woman to maintain her own sense of style and image during pregnancy.

The device is easily fitted.

6. The device is easily opened and/or removed.

7. The device is easily adjusted to different sizes and shapes.

8. The device is easily adjusted to changes in size and shape.

The device provides a mneans for people to adjust items of their clothing to different periods of weight gain or loss.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

For the purposes of this specification it is to be clearly understood that the word "comprising"' means "including but not limited to", and that the word "comprises" 9 has a corresponding meaning.

Claims (7)

1. A clothing extension device including: a panel including a top edge and side edges, the panel being capable of expansion in at least the side to side direction, and (ii) means mounted on the panel comprising a band of elastic material canrying buttons and buttonholes, or parts of two part dome constructions, the means arranged to attach the panel into jeans, trousers, shorts or skints which have a two part fastening device at or -near the waistline, the means being capable of expansion with the panel.

2- A clothing extension device as claimed in claim I wherein the panel comprises a shaped panel formed of a stretch or knit fabric.

3. A clothing extension panel as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein the panel is shaped to cover the space left in a garment when the fly or zip, and button and buttonhole or parts of a two dome construction have not been done up.

4. A clothing extension device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a .Vo buttonhole is provided at, or adjacent one side edge of the panel and a button is provided at, or adjacent the other edge.

A clothing extension device as claimed in any one of claims I to 3, wherein a buttonhole is provided at each side edge wit a plurality of buttons therebetween.

6. A clothing extension device as claimed in either claim 4 or claim 5 wherein a plurality of buttons are provided across the panel at or adjacent the top edge. 3o

7. A clothing extension device substantially as herein dp t'ih reference to the accompanying drawings. SEC Dated ths I t' day of October 2002 3 By their Patent Attorneys PentC'ka Hind P'iy 14 -a !GRIfhITH HACK