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US-12622471-B2 - Closure system for garments

US12622471B2US 12622471 B2US12622471 B2US 12622471B2US-12622471-B2

Abstract

A garment includes a first panel comprising a first pocket and a first fastener on the first panel, and a second panel comprising a second pocket and a second fastener on the second panel. The first fastener couples with the second fastener to close a portion of the garment.

Inventors

  • Marianne H. Weber
  • Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman
  • Aybuke Sahin
  • Yukiko Naoi
  • Mallory Blackburn

Assignees

  • Even Adaptive Corporation

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20230928

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A garment comprising: a first panel comprising a first pocket and a first fastener on the first panel; and a second panel comprising a second pocket and a second fastener on the second panel; wherein the first fastener couples with the second fastener to close a portion of the garment; and wherein each of the first and second fasteners comprises a housing which comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein each of the first portions comprises a plurality of tabs and each of the second portions comprises a plurality of holes configured to receive respective ones of the plurality of tabs.
  2. 2 . The garment of claim 1 , wherein: the first fastener comprises a first protruding portion and a first receiving portion; the second fastener comprises a second protruding portion and a second receiving portion; and in a coupled configuration of the first and second fasteners, the first protruding portion engages the second receiving portion, and the second protruding portion engages the first receiving portion.
  3. 3 . The garment of claim 2 , wherein, in the coupled configuration, at least part of the first protruding portion wraps around part of the second receiving portion, and at least part of the second protruding portion wraps around part of the first receiving portion.
  4. 4 . The garment of claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second receiving portions comprises a recessed part, and wherein, in the coupled configuration, at least part of the first protruding portion and at least part of the second protruding portion are respectively inserted into the recessed parts of the second and first receiving portions.
  5. 5 . The garment of claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second receiving portions comprises a chamfer.
  6. 6 . The garment of claim 1 , wherein the first fastener comprises a first magnet having a coupling side with a first polarity and second magnet having a coupling side with a second polarity opposite the first polarity.
  7. 7 . The garment of claim 1 , wherein the first pocket is on a first surface of the first panel and at least a coupling portion of the first fastener is on a second surface of the first panel, wherein the second surface is under the first surface.
  8. 8 . The garment of claim 7 , wherein the second pocket and at least a coupling portion of the second fastener are on a same surface of the second panel.
  9. 9 . The garment of claim 1 , wherein the garment comprises a bra, and the first and second panels are parts of a band of the bra.
  10. 10 . The garment of claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions of each of the first and second fasteners are circular-shaped.
  11. 11 . The garment of claim 1 , wherein each the first and second panels comprises fabric portions including a plurality of additional holes corresponding to the plurality of holes of the second portions and configured to receive the respective ones of the plurality of tabs.
  12. 12 . A method for closing a garment which comprises a first panel comprising a first pocket and a first fastener on the first panel, and a second panel comprising a second pocket and a second fastener on the second panel, wherein each of the first and second fasteners comprises a housing which comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein each of the first portions comprises a plurality of tabs, and wherein each of the second portions comprises a plurality of holes configured to receive respective ones of the plurality of tabs, wherein closing the garment comprises: inserting a first finger into the first pocket of the first panel of the garment; inserting a second finger into the second pocket of the second panel of the garment; and bringing the first and second panels in contact with each other to couple the first fastener on the first panel with the second fastener on the second panel.
  13. 13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein bringing the first and second panels in contact with each other comprises exerting force on the first and second panels through the first and second fingers in the first and second pockets.
  14. 14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein: the first fastener comprises a first protruding portion and a first receiving portion; the second fastener comprises a second protruding portion and a second receiving portion; and coupling the first fastener with the second fastener comprises engaging the first protruding portion with the second receiving portion and engaging the second protruding portion with the first receiving portion.
  15. 15 . A closure system for a garment comprising: a first fastener mounted on a first fabric portion; a first pocket formed on the first fabric portion; a second fastener mounted on a second fabric portion; and a second pocket formed on the second fabric portion; wherein the first fastener is configured to engage with the second fastener to close a portion of the garment; and wherein each of the first and second fasteners comprises a housing which comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein each of the first portions comprises a plurality of tabs, and wherein each of the second portions comprises a plurality of holes configured to receive respective ones of the plurality of tabs.
  16. 16 . The closure system of claim 15 , wherein the first pocket is on a first surface of the first fabric portion and at least an engaging portion of the first fastener is on a second surface of the first fabric portion, wherein the second surface is under the first surface.
  17. 17 . The closure system of claim 16 , wherein the second pocket and at least an engaging portion of the second fastener are on a same surface of the second fabric portion.
  18. 18 . The closure system of claim 15 , wherein the first and second portions of each of the first and second fasteners are circular-shaped.
  19. 19 . The closure system of claim 15 , wherein each the first and second fabric portions comprises a plurality of additional holes corresponding to the plurality of holes of the second portions and configured to receive the respective ones of the plurality of tabs.
  20. 20 . The closure system of claim 15 , wherein: the first fastener comprises a first protruding portion and a first receiving portion; the second fastener comprises a second protruding portion and a second receiving portion; and in an engaged configuration of the first and second fasteners, the first protruding portion engages the second receiving portion, and the second protruding portion engages the first receiving portion.

Description

FIELD The field relates generally to a closure system for garments and methods of manufacturing and using same. BACKGROUND The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that millions of people in the United States experience difficulty while they are dressing or undressing. This difficulty can be due to, for example, an injury, a condition, post-operative recovery, and/or a disability that limits an individual's ability to perform one or more tasks that may be needed while getting dressed or undressed. Accordingly, there is a need for garment designs that facilitate dressing and undressing for individuals who may need assistance with such tasks. SUMMARY Illustrative embodiments provide a closure system for garments comprising fasteners configured for engaging with each other, and pockets configured for receiving fingers of a user to provide force necessary to bring the fasteners together. According to an embodiment, a garment comprises a first panel comprising a first pocket and a first fastener on the first panel, and a second panel comprising a second pocket and a second fastener on the second panel. The first fastener couples with the second fastener to close a portion of the garment. According to an embodiment, a method for closing a garment, comprises inserting a first finger into a first pocket on a first panel of the garment and inserting a second finger into a second pocket on a second panel of the garment. In the method, the first and second panels are brought in contact with each other to couple a first fastener on the first panel with a second fastener on the second panel. According to an embodiment, a closure system for a garment comprises a first fastener mounted on a first fabric portion, a first pocket formed on the first fabric portion, a second fastener mounted on a second fabric portion, and a second pocket formed on the second fabric portion. The first fastener is configured to engage with the second fastener to close a portion of the garment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of first and second fasteners with fabric in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 2A shows an exploded view of the first fastener with fabric in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of the first fastener in an assembled configuration with fabric in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 2C shows a perspective view of the first fastener in an assembled configuration without fabric in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 3A shows an exploded view of the second fastener with fabric in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 3B shows a perspective view of the second fastener in an assembled configuration with fabric in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 3C shows a perspective view of the second fastener in an assembled configuration without fabric in accordance with an embodiment. FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F show top, perspective, left, front, right and bottom views, respectively, of the first and second fasteners in an engaged configuration without fabric in accordance with an embodiment. FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E and 5F show top, perspective, left, front, right and bottom views, respectively, of the first and second fasteners in an engaged configuration with fabric in accordance with an embodiment. FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E, 6F and 6G show top, perspective, left, front, right, bottom and back views, respectively, of the first or second fasteners without fabric in accordance with an embodiment. FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E, 7F and 7G show top, perspective, left, front, right, bottom and back views, respectively, of the first or second fasteners with fabric in accordance with an embodiment. FIGS. 8A and 8B show first and second fasteners individually with fabric in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 8C shows first and second fasteners engaged with each other with fabric in accordance with an embodiment. FIGS. 9A and 9B show first and second fasteners individually without fabric in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 9C shows first and second fasteners engaged with each other without fabric in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 10 shows a process for engaging and disengaging first and second fasteners to fasten a bra on a user in accordance with an embodiment. FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E and 11F show front, bottom, top, right, left and back views, respectively, of the first fastener on a right side of the bra shown in FIG. 10 in accordance with an embodiment. FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D, 12E, and 12F show front, bottom, top, right, left and back views, respectively, of the second fastener on a left side of the bra shown in FIG. 10 in accordance with an embodiment. FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D, 13E, 13F and 13G show top, %, left, front, right, bottom and back views, respectively, of the first fastener on a right side of the bra shown in FIG. 10 in accordance with an embodiment. FIGS. 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D, 14E, 14F and 14G show top, %, left, front, right, bottom and