Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02261498 1999-02-04
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to wearing apparel and more specifically to
wearing apparel with releasably secured patches containing a variety of images
andlor characters and attendant game of chance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Description of the Prior Art.
Since 1950 there have been patents filed covering different aspects of
removable sections secured to clothing. Particular to all of these is their
specialization to a limited application, for example, US Patent number
5,379,461
to Wilmers; and US Patent number 5,359,734 to Rathbum; and US Patent
number 5,052,056 to Braun. Each of these inventors was trying to solve a very
narrow and specific problem as in Wilmers with a pocket and a message.
This limitation can also be seen in Braun with a sports team and competitor's
logo attached.
It is the object of this invention to overcome the aforementioned
disadvantages.
The first benefit of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is that
the
intention is to have unlimited potential in terms of variety of the detachable
patches. This allows multiple demographic public to benefit from the wearing
of
the invention.
The second benefit is that a preferred embodiment of the present invention
would include the advertised purpose of trading patches with others as a means
of acquiring a new appearance to one's clothing and as a means of interacting
with others. This trading aspect is seen in but not nearly so narrow in scope
as
the trading of cards depicting sports heroes which has been popular for
decades.
The third and most unique aspect of a preferred embodiment of the present
invention is the inclusion of a game panel on the back of each patch through
which one can win prizes from the manufacturer, retailer or other sponsors by
matching game fields from two separate patches. This gives the present
invention a much increased incentive for the individual to become interactive
with other patch owners.
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Another benefit of the removal of the patches is that the clothing can contain
high quality, high resolution images such as photographs that will retain
their
quality through washing of the garment as they are removed for this procedure.
On the same point one could include a holographic image on their garment with
the same benefit of removal for washing of the garment.
It is also the intention of the inventor to make use of the detachable aspect
of
the patches to incorporate electronic devices into clothing. This would
include
small scale video games, animal figures that, when pressed, will emit their
characteristic sound, cartoon characters that, when pressed, will speak. Some
of
these aforementioned characters exist in a form that allows two of them to
interact when connected and activated. All of these types of devices cun-ently
exist or can be easily modified to adapt to the present invention and it is
not the
province of this inventor to invent them. The present invention is designed as
a
vehicle to move existing inventions as well as images and characters into a
portable and interactive state by being donned by the individual and included
in
the interactive game of chance. As regards electronic devices, the present
invention overcomes previous limitations in clothing by having the electronic
device removable so the garment can be washed with no damage to the
electronic device. It is also an improvement of this invention to have a
stable and
consistent place to store the electronic device which can help to reduce loss
of
it, especially where children are concerned.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to improvements in wearing apparel. For the purpose
of illustration we will use a sweat shirt, however this invention is by no
means
limited to sweatshirts. This invention can be on any wearing apparel.
This invention relates more specifically to wearing apparel with releasably
securable indicia with the purpose of providing: a) a means of creating a
variety
of appearances with the same root apparel item; b) a means of interacting with
others who have one of these inventions, by trading or swapping the releasable
indicia ; c) a means of participating in an interactive game using a game
field on
the back of the indicia and by which prizes can be won; and d) a means of
incorporating electronic games and devices into clothing.
The variety attainable through the changing of the detachable indicia or
patches will provide the benefit of saving the consumer money as a new patch
will be considerably less expensive than a new jersey.
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The individual also can easily express his personality by selecting his own
combination of patches for his jersey. Thus another limitation of previous
clothing articles is overcome.
One of the primary designs envisioned for the invention is that of sports
heroes depicted on the patches. These figures have been traded in card form
for
decades and are still popular. This invention has the benefit of allowing the
individual to wear the sports hero on hislher clothing and thereby be
identified
with the sports hero but also to trade it for a different sports hero at will.
In a preferred embodiment of the subject invention each detachably fastened
indicium would have on the reverse plane to the image a small panel
constructed of plastic and having on its surface a set of three images as well
as
a bar-code to verify the authenticity of the images. These images will vary
from
patch to patch with the intention of creating a game of chance. When two
patches have substantially identical images a potential to win a prize exists.
The
images will be hidden from view by a manually scratchable covering as seen on
scratch-and-win lottery tickets.
The variety of patches envisioned for this invention is not limited, however,
the essential components consist of the garment ( in this illustration a
sweatshirt
of cotton and/or polyester or another polymer or any suitable material well
known
to those skilled in the art) with rectangular attachments of strips of the
pile
component of hook and pile type fasteners, otherwise known as Velcro. The
associated patch will have a substantially rectangular shape to the rectangle
on
said sweatshirt and a corresponding strip consisting of the hook component of
said Velcro peripherally secured.
A typical patch will consist of a plurality of layers; the first being a frame
to
which the Velcro hook strips will be attached peripherally. Also, to a small
section of this frame and on the same plane as the Velcro hooks will be
attached
the game surface with images and bar-code. On the opposite plane to the Velcro
hooks will be attached the indicium. Finally will be a clear plastidvinyl
covering
to protect the indicium. Said covering can be slightly larger peripherally
than the
image and thereby wrap around it to enclose the edges of the image. However,
due to the unlimited potential for patch designs the above serves as a
guideline
for someone skilled in the art.
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An example of a different patch would be simply an embroidered logo on a
strong piece of cloth with the Velcro fastening system and game field in place
as
described above. No plastic covering required in this case. The same could
apply for a small electronic game.
The emphasis being on utility not design and the inclusion of a game of
chance which will be universal and create the spirit envisioned for the
present
invention by the inventor.
The differences between the present invention and others that have come
before it are:
The stated more general and unlimited nature of the patches to provide
cosmetic changes to clothing for personal reasons and fashion reasons as
opposed to represent a specific sports team or a hidden pocket with a riddle
in it,
for example.
Second is the aspect of the swapping of patches with others in the general
public as a means to acquire a new image for one's clothing as well as a means
or a medium to provide interaction between people that might not otherwise
interact and thereby enriching their lives.
Third is the component of the game as provided by the aforementioned
scratchable surface on the reverse plane to the image. This provides an
element
of fun to the clothing and an even greater incentive for one to reach out and
interact with new people. This incentive is not a physical component to the
invention but rather a result of a physical component and is herein declared
to
be specifically envisioned by the inventor to be integral to the invention.
Fourth is the intention to incorporate the utility of the patches with already
existing, brand-name electronic devices as well as original electronic games
and
devices and high resolution images and holograms. The advantages having
been discussed in the BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION above.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a front plan view of an sweatshirt embodying the invention.
Fig. 2 is an exploded front perspective view of a sweatshirt embodying the
invention showing both parts of the hook and pile fastening system.
Fig. 3 is a rear plan view of a patch embodying the invention showing the
game field and Velcro.
Fig. 4 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a patch of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the illustrations in which my invention has been depicted
on a sweatshirt and wherein like parts are given like reference characters;
for
the purpose of illustration FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of a sweatshirt 10 of
cotton/polyester - or any other polymer or suitable material well known to
those
skilled in the art - embodying the present invention. The sweatshirt 10 has a
releasable patch on the chest 2 and two releasable patches 3 one on either
sleeve. Again, this is for the purpose of illustration and is not the only
possible
placement of patches. The patches are depicted in more detail in Figure 2
where
the reverse of a patch 3 reveals a peripherally attached strip of Velcro hook
fastener 4 to correspond to a substantially rectangular strip of Velcro loop
fastener 4a on the desired location of fixture on said garment 10. Such loop
fastener will be associated to the exterior surface of the garment 10 and sewn
or
glued thereto.
FIG. 3 displays the game field 5 and bar-code 6 for verification of
authenticity
of the game field 5. The purpose of said game field is to provide a potential
of
winning a prize by matching the game field with a substantial game field on
another patch. Said prize to be claimed through the manufacturer or retailer.
This provides the wearer with more than just a garment but with an on-going
game wherever helshe may meet another wearing one of the present inventions.
FIG. 4 shows one method of constructing a patch for the present invention.
The salient parts being the image 8, the game field 5, the bar code 6, a frame
to
support the game field T and the strip of Velcro fastener 4.
The image 8 can be of anything one can imagine.
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In FIG. 3 the game field 5 and bar code 6 will be based on a material non-
porous enough to support an image for the playing field, for example, three
pieces of fruit 5 and the bar code 6 as well as a scratch-off coating 5a to
hide
the playing field and reveal the playing field when scratched off. Such base
material can be the consistency of plasticlvinyl, very supple and less than 1
mm
thick. The game field 5 and bar-code 6, the reverse side of which is shown in
FIG. 4 are associated with and sewn or glued to the frame 7 so as to allow for
removal of said game field 5 and bar-code 6 when claiming a prize. This allows
the owner of the patch to retain the patch while claiming the prize. Removal
of
the game field 5 and bar-code 6 prevents multiple claims for a single prize.
The frame 7 to which the game field will be mounted should be of a
plastic/vinyl substance of 1 mm thickness or less and will be supple to semi-
stiff.
This is to provide a permanent base for the game field but will not be so
stiff as
to make the wearing of the garment uncomfortable or restrictive. Also in FIG.
4,
the strip of Velcro hook fastening material 4, the reverse, non functional
side of
which is shown, will be attached peripherally to the frame 7 and on the
opposite
plane to the image 8 so that the image will be presented on the exterior
surface
of the garment 10.
Referring still to FIG. 4, the protective cover 9 is only necessary where the
image 8 does not include such a covering in its composition. The image 8 may
not need this protective cover 9 as the image 8 itself can be constructed of
embroidery or other fabric. The image 8 can also be replaced by an electronic
device such as a calculator or game. The removal of such being an advantage of
this invention so that the garment may be washed with no damage to the
electronic device. '
The removal of the image 8 also has the benefit of providing the wearer with
an affordable means of changing his/her wardrobe by purchasing or trading for
a
new patch. Such cost being nil or much less than the cost of a new shirt or
other
base clothing item.
While the main features of the present invention have been described and
delineated in this document thus far, it is expected to be at once understood
by
anyone reasonably skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be
made to the present invention without abandoning the true spirit or factual
scope
of the invention. It follows then, that all such changes and modifications do
in
fact fall under the broad scope of the present invention and do comprise the
present invention as described above and in the following claims.
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