US3378853A - Convertible sweater construction - Google Patents

Description

April 23, 1968. J. I. FIERST CONVERTIBLE SWEATER CONSTRUCTION Filed June 1, 1965 United States Patent 3,378,853 CONVERTIBLE SWEATER CONSTRUCTION Jeannette I. Fierst, Great Neck, NY. (Rm. 200, 545 th Ave., New York, N.Y. 10017) Filed June 1, 1965, Ser. No. 460,155 1 Claim. (Cl. 2--90) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A convertible sweater construction having selectively attachable sleeves interconnecting to respective armholes in the body of the sweater, the armholes being provided with concealing and protecting means in the form of a flexible band which may be folded and retained in folded condition around the edge of the armhole, to conceal the interconnecting means associated therewith.

This invention relates generally to garments, and more an improved sweater construction which is especially adapted to multi-seasonal wear, or varying style effects.

Some garments of this type may have a substantial cost, particularly when expensive wools or fibers are used, and where fur decorative elements are involved. It is therefore among the objects of the present invention to provide garment construction in which the garment may have, at the selective wish of the wearer, a choice of long sleeves, short sleeves, or no sleeves.

Detachable attaching means utilized to provide this interchange, and it is another object of the present invention to have means of concealing the detachable attaching means while the garment is being worn.

The detachable attaching means have projections which can make a rough contact with the wearers skin, to irritate or abrade the same, and it is a still further object of the present invention to protect the wearers skin from such deleterious action.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as worn, with the garment having full sleeves.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view corresponding generally to FIGURE 1, but showing the garment having short sleeves.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view corresponding generally to FIGURES 1 and 2, but showing the garment as a sleeveless garment.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane 4--4 on FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane 5-5 on FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane 66 on FIGURE 2.

In accordance with the invention, the convertible sweater, generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly: a body element 12; a sleeve element 14; first detachable attaching means 20; concealing and protecting means 22; and second detachable attaching means 24.

The body element 12 may be of any suitable construction, for example, of the type illustrated, having a front panel 26, side portions 28 and 30, and a rear panel (not shown). The neck opening 32 may be provided with a collar, such as the fur collar 34. In the shoulder areas of the side portions 28 and 30, the body element 12 is provided with a pair of armholes 36 and 38.

3,378,853 Patented Apr. 23, 1968 As may be seen by a perusal of FIGURES 1, 2, and 3, there are provided a pair of long sleeves 14, and a pair of short sleeves 16. The sleeves 14 and 16 are preferably composed of the same material as the body 12, but where desired, for styling or other purposes, they may be made of difierent material or even color. Each sleeve has a lower end, such as the lower ends 18 and 19, and also has an upper end which may be referred to as an upper free sleeve edges 15 and 17, respectively. Thus the armholes 36 and 38 at their free body edges thereat have a perimeter which matches the perimeter of the said edges 15 and 17.

The first detachable attaching means 20 are preferably in the form of a detachable slide fastener 21 having first and second slide fastener elements 40 and 42, on stringer tapes 44 and 46.

The concealing and protecting means 22 is in the form of a flexible band 23,.composed for example of textile ribbon. It is of a width sufficient to conceal the juncture at the opposed spaced edges 37 and 39 formed by the connected slide fastener elements 40 and 42 and the adjoining tapes 44 and 46. The band 23 is also of a width sufiicient to be folded inwardly upon itself so that it may completely enclose the slide fastener elements 40. In length the band 23 is suificient to equal the perimeter of the edges 37 and 39. Other materials may be used for the band 23, such as for example ribbon composed of thermoplastic resin fibers which can be preformed to have an elastic memory causing it to curl or bend inwardly into the position it takes in FIGURE 3 and as shown in FIGURE 5. Where this reaction of the ribbon is strong enough, the second detachable attaching means may be omitted.

The second detachable attaching means are preferably in the form of well known snap fasteners in pairs, thus the means 24 seen on FIGURE 5 may include male first member 25 and a female second member 27. The male members 25 are secured in a suitable manner as by cementing or self riveting to the under surface of the band 23 while the female members 27 are similarly affixed to the under surface of the tape 44. Where desired, the members 27 may be shifted inward of the edge 37 and this will require a greater width in the band 23.

As best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5, the means 22 in the form of the band 23 is connected to the body element 12 inwardly of the edge 37 preferably by a plural row of stitches 48 which also serves to connect the tape 44 t said body element 12. The sleeve 14 has the tape 46 connected thereto at the edge 39 by another row of stitches 50.

The first detachable attaching means 20 may take the form of different types of slide fasteners, such as metal element, synthetic resin element, and metal wire or synthetic resin wire types. It is of course requisite that the short sleeves 16 have a matching set of fastener elements corresponding in construction and organization with the elements 42 (FIG. 4).

The use of the present convertible sweater construction is a simple and convenient matter. Assuming the garment to be in the condition shown in FIGURE 1, to change to shorter sleeves, it is only necessary to operate the separable means 20, remove the sleeves 14 and to substitute the sleeves 16, reengaging the corresponding slide fastener elements which are secured upon tape 46' which is attached to the sleeves 16. The concealing and protecting means again covers the first detachable attaching means 20, presenting the appearance shown in FIGURE 5.

When it is desired to wear the garment 10 as a sleeveless garment, the means 20 is disengaged, and either the long sleeves 14 or the short sleeves 16 are removed. Where band 23 is of the preformed type having an elastic memory, it will'curl or bend into the position shown in FIGURES 3 and 5. Where the band 23 is equipped with the means 24, the first and second members 25 and 27 are interengaged, and the parts will take the positions shown in FIGURES 3 and 5, so that not only is a neat finished appearance provided at the edges 37, but the slide fastener elements 40 are prevented from contacting the skin on the wearers arms, and irritation and abrasion are avoided.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

I claim:

1. Convertible sweater construction comprising: a body element having an armhole with a free body edge; a sleeve element of predetermined length and having an upper free sleeve edge; detachable attaching means with a first element and a second element; said first element being connected to said free body edge, said second element being connected to said sleeve edge; concealing and protecting means in the form of a flexible band extending over and beyond said attaching means, said concealing and protecting means being connected with said body edge; said hand being inwardly foldable and having means for maintaining the same in folded condition, whereby upon disengagement of the detachable attaching means, said sleeve element may be removed, and concealing and protecting means folded inwardly shielding the first element from view and from contact with the skin of a user; said band being comprised of a thermoplastic resin preformed to have an elastic memory to bend inwardly upon itself.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,104,826 1/1933 Stramiello 2126 2,677,131 5/1954 Shuster 2-90X FOREIGN PATENTS 608,323 9/1948 Great Britain.

RICHARD J. SCANLAN, JR., Primary Examiner.

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