US3775775A

US3775775A - Design coding for coordinated garment sets

Info

Publication number: US3775775A
Application number: US00290274A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Mazzenga
Original assignee: Garan Inc
Current assignee: Garan Inc
Priority date: 1972-09-18
Filing date: 1972-09-18
Publication date: 1973-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-04

Abstract

Coordinated sets of wearing apparel wherein identical identifying indicia are applied to each garment of the set in order to facilitate selection of the appropriate matching garment.

Description

United States Patent Mazzenga Dec. 4, 1973 DESIGN CODING FOR COORDINATED GARMENT SETS Inventor: Anthony Mazzenga, Commaek,

Assignee: Garan, Incorporated, New York,

Filed: Sept. 18, 1972 Appl. No.: 290,274

u.s. Cl. 2/80 Int. Cl A4ld 11/00 Field of Search 2/80, 239, 1, 75; 36/25 R, 2.5 Y, 2.5 E, 2.5 F, 9 R, 9 A, 11, 1; 35/56, 57

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,258,858 7/1966 Cariffe 35/57 X R 2,703,404 3/1955 Lawson 2/80 X R Primary Examiner-H. Hampton Hunter AttorneyMaxwell James et al.

[57] ABSTRACT Coordinated sets of wearing apparel wherein identical identifying indicia are applied to each garment of the set in order to facilitate selection of the appropriate matching garment.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDUEC 4 1915 l DESIGN CODING FOR COORDINATED GARMENT SETS This invention relates to a device for designating matching garments of a coordinated set of wearing apparel.

A substantial amount of childrens clothing is available in the form of coordinated sets such, for example,

as matching shirts and pants and matching three-piece outfits which may include shirts, pants and vests or sweaters. These garments are generally coordinated on the basis of color and pattern or design. Children, however, frequently encounter difficulty in selecting. the appropriate matching garments of a coordinated set as a result of their inexperience in discerning the minor differences which may distinguish the color, pattern and design of the respective garments. This can be a frustrating experience for a child and, as a result, may discourage unsupervised clothing selection.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide coordinated sets of wearing apparel wherein the matching garments thereof are readily identifiable to children.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device which enables children to readily determine the matching garments of a coordinated set of wearing apparel. I

It is still a further object to provide garment identifying indicia which are decorative, attractive and simple in design.

These objectives are achieved in accordance with the present invention by applying identical identifying indicia to each article of a coordinated garment set. Thus, a child faced with the problem of selecting the appropriate matching garments of a set need merely refer to the identifying indicia present thereon and select those garments which exhibit identical indicia. Furthermore, the indicia are chosen and applied in such a manner as to contribute to the attractiveness of thegar'ment to which they are affixed. 1

To thenaccomplishn'ient of the above, the present invention relates to coordinated garment sets having identifying indicia on the individual pieces thereof as defined in the appended claims and as described in this specification,'taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which: I i I I FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a typical coordinated garment set of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a front plan view depicting four articles of wearing apparel prior to the selection, on' the basis of the affixed indicia, of the appropriate matched garments. 4

The coordinated sets which are applicable to this invention include a wide variety of garments which may be combined in sets comprising garments of at least two generically different classes of wearing apparel, each generic class in the set being represented by only one garment. Among such generic classes are shirts, blouses, pants, skirts, sweaters, vests, jackets, socks, pajama tops, pajama bottoms, and the like. These garments may be coordinated solely on the basis of color or on the basis of combined color and pattern or design. Thus, a matching pair of red garments is indicative of a color coordinated set while a matching pair of white and green vertically striped garments is indicative of a color-design coordinated set. Color coordination may also consist of a solid colored garment combined with an apppropriately matching multi-colored garment.

Likewise, the identifying indicia which are applied to these garments may be selected from a virtually unlimited number of designs. Among such designs are stylized animal configurations, geometric shapes, toy configurations, and the like. It is preferred that each of these designs be decorative and attractive so as to augment the appearance of the garment set. It is also preferred that the design be simple and distinct so as to facilitate recognition of the design and to avoid the situation where identification of the corresponding indicia is more difficult that the matching of the coordinated garments. It should be noted that stylized animal configurations are particularly appropriate for use on childrens clothing and thus are preferred for purposes of this invention.

The identifying indicia can be prepared from a wide variety of textile materials which are'either identical or complementary to the garment material. These indicia can then be applied to the garment by means of any effective technique whose use is desired by the practitioner. Sewing isthe preferred method inasmuch as it provides the greatest degree of permanence by resisting the tendency of normal wear and tear and/or laundering to detach the indicia. Adhesive techniques are also available such as with the use of hot melt or pressure sensitive adhesives. I-lot melts offer the advantage of being in a dry, non-tacky state when present on the indicia, thereby facilitating storage and handling prior to application. Thereafter, the adhesive coated surface need merely be placed on the garment and have heat and pressure applied thereto, the heat tackifying the adhesive and the pressure affixing the indicia to the surface of the garment.

The indicia are preferably affixed to the outer surface of the garment so as to serve both identifying and decorative functions. They may, however, be affixed to the inside of the garment or be present on a label which is sewn into the garment. The presence of the indicia on a label is less desirable, however, inasmuch as there is the tendency for such labels to be separated from the garment, thereby nullifying the primary objective of this invention. i

By way of illustration, FIG. 1 depicts a typical coordinated garment'set of this invention. Thus, shirt A'and short pants B comprise a color-coordinated set of garments. Indicia l0, represented in this instance by an emblem in the form of a hippopotamus, is sewn to the outer surface of shirt A and short pants B. The presence of the identical indicia' 10 on each of the garments thus identifies the matching garments of the coordinated set.

In use, a child attempting to select the appropriate matching garments will be faced by the dilemma depicted in FIG. 2. Thus, shirts C and E and pants D and F are present in his drawer but he is in doubt as to which of these are the appropriate matching garments. Visual inspection of the garments quickly reveals the presence of the indentical monkey emblem 12 on shirt C and pants D and the presence of the identical lion emblem on shirt E and pants F. The child is now able to select the matching garments of each coordinated set. In this manner, the child can select his own clothes without the supervision of an older person.

While the invention has been described in terms of the specific embodiments herein, it should be apparent at least two generically different articles of wearing ap- 3 p p p a 4 that variations may be developed without departing "garment set. p p p from the'spirit or scope of the invention. 1 i f 2.,The garment set of claim 1, wherein said identify-r I claim: a I I ing indicia are animal designs. I l. A plurality of sets of garmentaeach set comprising 1 parel which are appearance-coordinated to be worn together, articles of each set having an appearance which is not compatible with the appearance of articlesof an- 7 other set, the articles of each sethaving substantially shmanda of pants i ment. 7

3,;The garment setof claim; 1, whereinqsaid identify I ,ing'indicia are affixed to thezoutei': surface of theigar i 4.The garment set of claim 1', which consists of a identical indicia affixed thereto, the indicia of each set 10 j The'garmem Set of claim 5' wherein Said Shirt being different from the indicia of each other set; said pair of pants are of-identicalcolor. thereby to designate the articles appropriate to each

Claims

1. A plurality of sets of garments, each set comprising at least two generically different articles of wearing apparel which are appearance-coordinated to be worn together, articles of each set having an appearance which is not compatible with the appearance of articles of another set, the articles of each set having substantially identical indicia affixed thereto, the indicia of each set being different from the indicia of each other set, thereby to designate the articles appropriate to each garment set.

2. The garment set of claim 1, wherein said identifying indicia are animal designs.

3. The garment set oF claim 1, wherein said identifying indicia are affixed to the outer surface of the garment.

4. The garment set of claim 1, which consists of a shirt and a pair of pants.

5. The garment set of claim 4, wherein said shirt and said pair of pants are of identical color.