Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CONVERTIBLE GARMENTS
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to convertible garments with legs and/or sleeves. There
are
a range of applications for garments which can be converted from a long leg
configuration to a short leg configuration or long sleeve configuration to
short
sleeve configuration respectively. These types of garments are suitable to
provide
for the changing climatic conditions or level of activity experienced by the
wearer
which desirably allow the wearer to be cooler, warmer or stay dry as
appropriate.
Examples include -industriai work wear and military uniforms.
Background to the Invention
In the case of convertible pants there are also applications where activities
for
example fishing or hiking may require the negotiation of a water crossing or
the
boarding of a boat through water. When long pants are being worn this can
present a problem if the lower part of the pants becomes wet resulting in
discomfort for the wearer until the pants dry. These problems have been
addressed in the past in two ways. It has been known to roll up the leg of
long
pants to above the knee. This is awkward and frequently the pants become
unrolled. Some purpose built pants have a removable lower leg section joined
to
the upper part for example by a zip extending circumferentially around the
leg.
This type of pant allows the lower portion of the pants to be removed and
refitted
at a later time. Whilst satisfactory in some respects it is frequently also
necessary
to remove footwear to allow the lower portion of the legs of the pants to be
removed. Consequently removal of the lower portion of the leg results in three
separate components and in a need to temporarily store the detached components
with a significant risk of the lower portions inadvertently being lost.
In the case of shirts this problem has additionally been addressed by
providing
devices which allow shirt sleeves to be "rolled up" and secured. Various
configurations of buttons, tabs and the like have been provided to retain the
rolled
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up sleeve in place. Difficulties with this approach include the bulk of the
material
rolled up which can be uncomfortable particularly if it becomes wet. The
existing
retention arrangements generally only hold the rolled up bundle at one point
and it
tends to hang downwardly which can inhibit movement of the wearers arm.
Disclosure of the Invention
It is an object of the present invention to provide convertible garments with
legs
and/or sleeves that address one or more of the above shortcomings.
Accordingly, in one aspect this invention provides a convertible garment with
legs
that can be shortened, said garment including a pair of legs extending to
below
knee length and each having a bottom hem end, respective releasable seams
extending from each hem along an inner side of the legs, leg attachment
devices
provided on a lower portion of each leg, co-operating respective upper garment
attachment devices above an upper end of said releasable seams whereby said
releasable seams can be opened and a lower portion of each leg folded to
extend
beside an upper portion of the garment and the leg attachment devices
releasably
engaged with corresponding ones of the upper garment attachment device to
secure the lower portion to the respective upper portion of the garment to
convert
to the garment from a long leg configuration to a short leg configuration. '
In one form of the invention the upper garment attachment devices are located
on
the outside of the garment and the lower leg portion is folded upwards to be
outside the upper portion of the garment.
In another form of the invention the upper garment attachment devices are
located
on the inside of the garment and the lower leg portion is folded to be inside
the
upper portion of the garment. Preferably, the upper portion of the garment
includes an access opening to facilitate attachment and release of the co-
operating leg attachment devices and upper garment attachment devices.
In a preferred form of the invention the garment includes a waistband portion
with
the upper garment attachment devices located adjacent the waistband.
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Preferably the releasable seam extends to about midway between the hem end of
the leg and the upper garment attachment devices.
In a preferred form of the invention the leg attachment devices are located at
or
adjacent the hem end of each leg.
In one form of the invention the garment further includes respective
intermediate
attachment devices located on each leg between the corresponding upper
garment and leg attachment devices and respective lower attachment devices
provided on each leg below said leg attachment devices whereby the lower leg
portion can be folded to engage the corresponding lower leg attachment devices
and intermediate attachment devices to shorten the leg before the folded lower
portion is folded beside the upper portion to engage the corresponding leg
attachment devices and upper garment attachment devices. Preferably, the
intermediate attachment devices are on the outside of the garment and the
lower
leg portion is folded outside the leg to engage the corresponding intermediate
attachment devices and lower attachment devices.
In a form of the invention, the waist attachment devices are preferably
provided at
the waist band to receive a belt and, the leg attachment devices are
positioned on
the hem to coincide with the position of the belt loops when the pant leg is
folded
upwardly. The releasable seam can be formed using any appropriate releasable
fastening. In one form of the invention a zipper is used however any suitable
fastening such as hook and loop fastenings can also be used.
The leg attachment devices can take the form of straps fitted with snap lock
fasteners. In a form of the invention three attaching devices are provided
respectively located adjacent each side of the releasable seam and opposite
the
releasable seam.
According to another aspect this invention provides a convertible garment with
sleeves, said garment including a pair of sleeves extending to below elbow
length
and each having a bottom cuff end, respective releasable seams extending from
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each cuff along each sleeve, sleeve attachment devices provided at or adjacent
the cuff end of each sleeve and respective upper garment attachment devices
above an upper end of said releasable seams, whereby said releasable seams
can be opened and a lower portion of each sleeve folded to extend beside an
upper portion of the sleeve and the sleeve attachment devices releasably
engaged
with corresponding ones of the upper garment attachment devices to secure the
cuff ends to the respective upper portion of the garment to convert the
garment
from a long sleeve configuration to a short sleeve configuration.
It will be apparent that in conventional pants the pant leg is typically fully
enclosed
from between the crutch section of the seat of the pants down to the lower
opening
at the hem through which the feet protrude. This invention allows for the
temporary opening up of the pant leg along the releasable inseam, which
facilitates the lower leg section being folded upwards. Similarly, the opening
of the
sleeve of the shirt according to this invention facilitates the folding of the
sleeve
upwards to a short sleeve configuration.
It will also be apparent that the construction of the garment according to
this
invention provides a one piece construction that eliminates the detachment of
portions of the garment in the conversion from long pants to shorts and long
sleeves to short sleeves.
Some embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a schematic sketch of the rear of a pair of pants according to a
first
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic sketch of the front of a pair of pants according to
the
present invention showing one releasable seam open and the pant leg partially
folded;
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Figure 3 is a sketch of a front of a pair of pants according to the present
invention
with one leg shortened;
Figure 4 is a schematic sketch of a belt loop and attachment device forming
part of
the pants of the present invention;
Figures 5A to 5C show a further embodiment of a pair of pants according to the
present invention;
Figures 6A to 6C show a still further embodiment of a pair of pants according
to
the present invention.
Figure 7 is a schematic sketch of the front of a pair of pants according to a
second
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 8 is a sketch of the front of the pants of Figure 7 with one releasable
seam
open and the pant leg partially folded;
Figure 9 is a sketch of the pants in Figure 8 with the pant leg partially
folded
further;
Figure 10 is a sketch of the pants in Figure 9 with the lower attachment
device
connected to the intermediate attachment device;
Figure 11 is a sketch of the pants in Figure 10 being folded into the upper
portion
of the pants;
Figure 12 is a sketch of the pants of Figures 7 to 11 with one leg shortened;
Figure 13 is a schematic cross-section of the shortened leg of Figure 12;
Figure 14 is a schematic sketch of the front of a pair of pants according to a
third
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 15 is a sketch of the pants of Figure 14 with one leg partially folded;
Figure 16 is a sketch of the pants of Figures 14 and 15 with one leg
shortened;
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Figure 17 is a sketch of a cross-section of the shortened leg shown in Figure
16;
and
Figure 18 shows a further embodiment of the convertible garment according to
the
present invention in the form of a sleeved shirt.
Best Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
Figures 1 to 3 show one embodiment of the present invention in the form of a
pair
of pants. The pants are of substantially conventional construction. The pants
have a waistband 2 defining the top of the pants. A series of belt loops 3 are
attached spaced around the waistband 2. A pair of legs 4,5 extend to below the
length and each have a hem 6,7 defining a bottom end. Each of the legs 4,5 are
provided with a releasable inner leg seam 9,10 extending upwardly from the
corresponding hem 6,7. The releasable seams 9,10 are preferably in the form of
zippers which extend from the hem to approximately the mid point between the
hems 6,7 and waistband 2. The hem 6,7 of each leg 5,6 is fitted with hem
attaching devices. The hem attaching devices are strips of fabric 11 (as shown
in
Figure 4) fitted with snap lock connectors 12,13 which enable a releasable
loop to
be formed. The hem attaching devices 11 are sewn to the inside hem (not shown)
in the region 14 of the attachment device. Each leg 4,5 has three hem
attachment
devices 11 secured inside hems 6,7 respectively adjacent the edges of
releasable
seams 9,10 and opposite the seam. Two of the hem attachment devices 11 are
shown in Figure 2 where the hem 6 of one leg 4 is attached by means of the hem
attachment devices 11 to the belt loops 3.
In use the legs 4,5 of the pants 1 are shortened by opening the releasable
seams
9,10. This is best shown in Figure 2 which also shows initial folding upward
of the
leg of the pants. As seen in Figure 3 the leg of the pants can be further
folded
upwardly over the top part of the pants 1 so that the hem 6 extends about the
waistband 2. Hem attachment devices 11 secure the legs to the belt loops 3 at
three locations. This results in the pants being converted to short pants.
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Figures 5A to 5D show a further embodiment of the pants according to the
present
invention. In this embodiment a modified hem attachment device is provided in
the form of a metallic loop 15 attached to a strip of fabric 16 which is sewn
inside
the hems 6,7. Corresponding position metallic hooks 18 secured by strips of
fabric
19 are provided adjacent the waistband 3 for engagement of the hooks 15 to
retain
the trouser leg about the waist of the pants. In all other respects the pants
of the
further embodiment are the same as described in relation to the first
embodiment
and the same reference numerals have been used to identify corresponding
features.
Figures 6A to 6C show yet a further embodiment of the pants according to the
present invention. In this embodiment the hem attachment devices 11 are
replaced with female press stud portions 20 provided on the hems 6,7 of the
pants. Corresponding male press stud portions 21 are positioned adjacent the
waistband 3 so that engagement secures the hems 6,7 of the pants about the
waist 3 of the pants.
Figures 7 to 13 show another embodiment of the convertible garment in the form
of a pair of pants. The pants are of the same general construction as those
shown
in Figures 1 to 6 and the same reference numerals have been used for
corresponding features. The pants 1 have a waistband 2 defining the top of the
pants. A pair of legs 4,5 extend below knee length and each have a hem 6,7
defining a bottom end. Each of the legs 4,5 are provided with a releasable
inner
leg seam 9,10 extending upwardly from the corresponding hem 6,7. The
releasable seams 9,10 are in the form of zippers extending from the hem to
about
midway between the hem and the waistband 2. In this embodiment the legs are
folded twice to convert the pants from a long leg configuration to a short leg
configuration. Each leg 4,5 is provided with a leg attachment device 30 on the
inside of the lower portion of each leg. The leg attachment device 30 shown in
hidden detail in Figure 7. The leg attachment device 30 takes the form of one
half
of a zipper fastening that extends circumferentially around the inside of each
leg
4,5 from one side of the inner leg seam(s) 9,10 to the other side of the inner
leg
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seam. Upper garment attachment device 31 in the form of the other half of the
zipper fastener are located in the thigh region of the pants above the upper
end of
the releasable seams 9,10. The upper fastening zipper 31 extends
circumferentially around the inside of the garment corresponding to the length
of
zipper fastening 30. An access zipper 37 corresponding in length and position
to
the fastening zipper 31 is provided in the legs 4,5 of the garment to allow
internal
access to the upper zipper 31. An intermediate attachment device 32 is
provided
midway between the leg attachment device 30 and the upper garment attachment
device 31. The intermediate attachment device 32 takes the form of one side of
a
zipper fastening which extends circumferentially around the outside of the
legs 4,5.
A covering flap 34 is provided to hide the zipper fastener. A lower attachment
device 35 in the form of a zipper is provided adjacent the hem of the pants
extending circumferentially around the outside of legs 4,5. A covering flap of
material 36 is provided to hide zipper 35.
It will be apparent that the four attachment devices 30,31,32 and 35 are
substantially equally spaced so as to provide for folding of the garment as
will be
described below. The areas between the attachment devices are labelled A,B,C.
To convert the pants from the long leg configuration as shown in Figure 7 to
the
short leg configuration the following steps are performed. The access zipper
37 is
opened to allow access to the adjacent upper zipper 31. The inner seam 9,10 is
opened all the way to its upper end. The lower portion A of each leg is then
folded
over the outside upwardly so that the zipper part 35 of the lower attachment
device
and the zipper part 32 of the intermediate attachment device can be engaged
and
zipped together. This shortens the leg to the form shown in Figure 10 and
results
in the leg attachment device (zipper) 30 being at the lower end of the
shortened
leg with the lower portion A of the leg folded over the portion of the leg B.
The
folded portion is then passed upwardly, inside the leg 4 so that the leg
attachment
zipper 30 can be engaged with the zipper device 31 via the access hole 38
formed
by the open access zipper 37. The zipper 30 is attached to the upper zipper 31
so
that the lower portion A,B of the leg extends beside the upper portion C on
the
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inside and is held in position. The lowest portion of the shortened leg then
becomes the flap 34 covering the intermediate zipper 32. The position of the
various portions in the short leg configuration can be seen in the schematic
cross
section of Figure 13 in which the various panels are labelled. Panel A, the
lower
most panel is positioned on the inside with the hem 6 lower most. Panel B, the
next panel is positioned between the lower most panel A and the thigh panel C.
Once all of the attachment devices have been secured the access opening 38 is
closed and the pants are ready to be worn in the short leg configuration. It
will be
appreciated that the conversion from the long pant configuration to the short
pant
configuration and vice versa can readily be achieved whilst wearing the pants
without the need to remove footwear and without detaching any part of the
garment.
Figures 14 to 17 show another embodiment of the convertible garment in the
form
of a pair of pants. The pants are of the same general construction as those
shown
in Figures 7 to 13 and the same reference numerals have been used for
corresponding features. The pants 1 have a waistband 2 defining the top of the
pants. A pair of legs 4,5 extend below the knee length and each have a hem 6,7
defining a bottom end. Each of the legs 4,5 are provided with a releasable
inner
leg seam 9,10 extending upwardly from the corresponding hem 6,7. The
releasable seams 9,10 are in the form of zippers from the hem to about midway
between the hem and the waistband 2. In this embodiment the legs are folded
once to convert the pants from a long leg configuration to a short leg
configuration.
Each leg 4,5 is provided with a leg attachment device 30 on the outside of the
lower portion of each leg. The leg attachment device 30 takes the form of one
half
of a zipper fastener that extends circumferentially around the outside
adjacent the
hem 6,7. The zipper 30 extends substantially the whole circumference of the
hem.
A covering flap 36 is provided to hide the zipper. An upper garment attachment
device 31 in the form of a corresponding half of the zipper fastener is
located in
the upper portion of the pants adjacent the waistband 2. The upper fastening
zipper 31 extends circumferentially around the inside of the garment and
corresponds in length to the zipper 30. An access zipper 37 corresponding in
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length and position to the fastening zipper 31 is provided near the waistband
2 of
the garment to allow internal access to the upper zipper 31.
It will be apparent that the respective attachment devices or zippers 30,31
are
substantially separated by the length of the pants so as to provide for
folding of the
garment approximately in half as will be described below.
To convert the pants from the long leg configuration as shown in Figure 14 to
the
short leg configuration the following steps are performed. The access zipper
37 is
opened to allow access to the adjacent upper zipper 31. The inner seam 9,10 is
opened all the way to its upper end. The hem 6,7 of the lower portion F is
passed
upwardly inside the leg so that the leg zipper 30 can be engaged with the
upper
zipper 31 via the access hole 38. The leg zipper 30 is attached to the upper
zipper
31 so that the lower portion of the leg extends beside the upper portion G on
the
inside and is held in position. The lowest portion of the leg then becomes the
fold
line 40 of the leg approximately halfway down the length of the pants. The
position of the various portions in the short leg configuration can be seen in
the
schematic cross section D-D of Figure 17 in which the various panels are
labelled.
Panel F, the lower most panel is positioned on the inside of upper panel G
with the
hem 7 upper most. Once the zippers 30,31 have been secured the access
opening 38 is closed and the pants are ready to be worn in the short leg
configuration.
It will be apparent that the pants of the present invention have the advantage
of
providing a simple, quick and effective way of being converted from long pants
to
short pants and vice versa. This allows the wearer to achieve a desired level
of
comfort and/or protection according to the prevailing climate conditions or
level of
physical activity without having to change clothes. In addition, the change to
short
pants does not result in the detachment of any portion of the pants that might
be
lost or misplaced.
Figure 18 shows a convertible garment in the form of a shirt 50. The shirt 50
is of
a generally conventional construction with a pair of long sleeves 51 and 52.
The
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sleeves end in cuffs 53 and are provided with a releasable seam 55 in the form
of
zippers extending from each cuff along the sleeves to approximately midway
between the cuff and shoulder. Sleeve atfiachment devices 57 are provided at
or
adjacent the cuff and take the form of one half of the zipper as described
above for
the convertible pants. An upper garment attachment device 59 is provided on
the
inside of the sleeve in the form of a corresponding half of a zipper. Access
to the
upper garment attachment device 59 is provided through an opening 60 with a
zipper 61. As described for the convertible pants the long sleeve shirt can be
converted to a short sleeve shirt by opening the releasable seam 55 and
folding 10 the lower portion of the sleeve M inwardly so that it extends
beside and inside the
upper portion of the sleeve N. The sleeve attachment devices 57 are engaged
with the corresponding upper garment attachment devices 59 to secure the cuff
ends 53 to the sleeve adjacent the shoulder.
The foregoing describes only certain embodiments of the invention and
modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
