US20120246794A1

US20120246794A1 - Transformable magnetic apparel

Info

Publication number: US20120246794A1
Application number: US13/073,985
Authority: US
Inventors: Sara Gatlin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-03-28
Filing date: 2011-03-28
Publication date: 2012-10-04

Abstract

A transformable magnetic garment is disclosed, which comprises one or a plurality of magnetic clasps which clasps detachably grip fabric of a predetermined shape and color. The garment may be transformed by moving the clasps into, and out of, contact with each other, thus rearranging the fabric hanging from the clasps.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to clothing, and more particularly relates to clothing that is configurable to assume multiple forms.
2. Description of the Related Art
Women and men commonly attempt to reconfigure, or transform, clothing they are wearing to provide more warmth, more comfort, or more style. Clothing can be unbuttoned, unsnapped, unzipped, or folded up to be more or less revealing, more stylish, or less cumbersome.
There exists no way in the art of easily configuring clothing without activating a zipper, button, snap or some other mechanism. It is therefore desirable that an easily transformable apparel be provided which does not require constant activating of attaching mechanisms to transform, and which holds itself together securely.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for a transformable magnetic garment. Beneficially, such a garment would overcome many of the difficulties with prior art by providing means for easy configuration and transformation.
The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available apparel. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a transformable magnetic garment comprising: an outer piece of fabric of a predetermined shape; and one or more flexible cable(s) for draping over a wearer's shoulders.
The transformable magnetic garment further comprises one or more magnetic clasp(s) permanently affixed to the flexible cable(s), wherein each of the one or more magnetic clasps comprises two permanent magnets hingedly affixed to one another to form a clasp, wherein each clasp is held in a closed position by attractive magnetic force between opposing poles of the magnets forming the clasp; wherein the fabric is detachably affixed to the flexible cables with one of more of the magnetic clasps such that the fabric is gripped within the magnets forming the clasp(s).
The two or more magnetic clasps may be detachably connectable, using the magnets, to draw the fabric clasped in the magnetic clasps together.
The transformable magnetic garment may further comprise a plurality of pendants disposed between the flexible cables and one or more of the magnetic clasps.
A method of transforming a magnetic garment is also disclosed, the method comprising: detachably affixing one or more outer piece(s) of fabric of a predetermined shape to one or more magnetic clasp(s), the clasps permanently affixed to flexible cable(s), wherein each of the one or more magnetic clasp(s) comprises two permanent magnets hingedly affixed to one another to form a clasp, wherein each clasp is held in a closed position by attractive magnetic force between opposing poles of the magnets forming the clasp; wherein the fabric is detachably affixed to the magnetic clasps in such a manner that the fabric is gripped within the magnets forming the clasp(s).
These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of a transformable magnetic blouse in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a close up frontal perspective view of a transformable magnetic blouse in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a transformable magnetic blouse in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a lower elevational perspective view of a transformable magnetic blouse in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of a transformable magnetic blouse 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The transformable magnetic blouse 100 comprises fabric 102, a magnetic clasp 104 a, a magnetic clasp 104 b, a magnetic clasp 104 c, a pendant 106 a, a pendant 106 b, a pendant 106 c, a pendant 106 d, and a wire frame 108.
The fabric 102 is well known to those of skill in the art. The fabric 102 can be made from a very wide variety of materials, from leather and fur, to woven materials, to natural and synthetic fabrics.
The fabric 102 is cut to a predetermined shape, or may comprise multiple pieces of fabric cut to predetermined shapes and/or colors. The fabric 102 used is a predetermined color. The fabric 102 may be permanently affixed to the magnetic clasps 104 a-c.
The fabric 102 may be permanently affixed to one or more brooches, or pendants 106 a-d. In some embodiments, the pendants 106 a-d are detachable. In other embodiments, the pendants 106 a-d are affixed between the clasps 104 a-c and the wire frame 108 (or. i.e., “flexible cable” 108).
The flexible cable 108 may consist of any rigid or flexible cable or wire of any gauge size long enough to drape over the shoulders of a human wearer. The flexible cable 108 (e.g. flexible cable) may consist of a plurality of pieces or a single piece, each between 1 centimeter and 2 meters in length. The flexible cable 108 may comprise plastic, metals, alloys, polymer blends, nylon, silicone and/or organic fibers.
FIG. 2 is a close up frontal perspective view of a transformable magnetic blouse 200 in accordance with the present invention. The transformable magnetic blouse 200 comprises fabric 102, a magnetic clasp 104 a, a magnetic clasp 104 b, a magnetic clasp 104 c, a pendant 106 a, a pendant 106 b, a pendant 106 c, a pendant 106 d, and a wire frame 108.
The fabric 102, clasps 104 a-c, pendants 106 a-d, and wire frame 108 are substantially described above with respect to FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a transformable magnetic blouse in accordance with the present invention. The transformable magnetic blouse 100 comprises fabric 102, a magnetic clasp 104, a pendant 106 a, a pendant 106 b, a pendant 106 c, a pendant 106 d, and a wire frame 108.
The fabric 102, clasps 104 a-c, pendant 106, and wire frame 108 are substantially described above with respect to FIG. 1.
Other garments, in addition to a blouse, may embody the present invention, including sweaters, shirts, scarfs, and the like.
FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a magnetic clasp 104. The magnetic clasp 104 comprises a hinge 302, a magnet 304 a, and a magnet 304 b.
The magnet 304 a, in the shown embodiment, is polarly opposed to the magnet 304 b. The north pole of the magnet 304 a faces the south pole of the magnet 304 b such that they attract one another with sufficient force so as to grip the fabric 102 within them. In some embodiments of the present invention, the magnets 304 a-b have textured inner surfaces to increase the grip and friction coefficient between the magnets and the fabric 102.
The magnet 304 a is hingedly connected to the magnet 304 b. In some embodiments, one or more of the magnets 304 a-b is affixed to the back of one or more of the pendants 106.
The hinge 302 hingedly connects the magnets 304 a-b.
FIG. 4 is a lower elevational perspective view of a transformable magnetic blouse 400 in accordance with the present invention. The transformable magnetic blouse 400 comprises fabric 102, a magnetic clasp 104, a wire frame 108, and a magnet 402.
The fabric 102, clasp 104 and wire frame 108 are all substantially described above in relation to FIGS. 1-3.
In the shown embodiment, the blouse 400 comprises an additional magnet 402 affixed to a pendant for adjusting the blouse 400 by holding the pendants together. In some embodiments of the present invention, the fabric 102 can be withdrawn from the clasps 104 and draped across the torso of a wearer in any number of configurations.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1. A transformable magnetic garment comprising:

an outer piece of fabric of a predetermined shape;

one or more flexible cable(s) for draping over a wearer's shoulders; and

one or more magnetic clasp(s) permanently affixed to the flexible cable(s), wherein each of the one or more magnetic clasps comprises two permanent magnets hingedly affixed to one another to form a clasp, wherein each clasp is held in a closed position by attractive magnetic force between opposing poles of the magnets forming the clasp;

wherein the fabric is detachably affixed to the flexible cables with one of more of the magnetic clasps such that the fabric is gripped within the magnets forming the clasp(s).

2. The transformable magnetic garment of claim 1, wherein the two or more magnetic clasps are detachably connectable, using the magnets, to draw the fabric clasped in the magnetic clasps together.

3. The transformable magnetic garment of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pendants disposed between the flexible cables and one or more of the magnetic clasps.

4. The transformable magnetic garment of claim 1, wherein the flexible cable(s) comprise one or more of metal, polymers, cloth, nylon, and organic fibers.

5. A method of transforming a magnetic garment, the method comprising:

detachably affixing one or more outer piece(s) of fabric of a predetermined shape to one or more magnetic clasp(s), the clasps permanently affixed to flexible cable(s), wherein each of the one or more magnetic clasp(s) comprises two permanent magnets hingedly affixed to one another to form a clasp, wherein each clasp is held in a closed position by attractive magnetic force between opposing poles of the magnets forming the clasp; wherein the fabric is detachably affixed to the magnetic clasps in such a manner that the fabric is gripped within the magnets forming the clasp(s).