Garment Fit Alteration Device with Rounded Form and Elastic Band
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for temporarily altering the fit or style of garments, such as knots and elastic bands, result in bulkiness, slippage, and an unsightly appearance, failing to provide a secure, customizable, and inconspicuous solution for maintaining the desired shape and structure of clothing.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a rounded form made of rigid material with a hollow center, wrapped with an elastic band, which secures excess fabric flat and prevents slippage, allowing for adjustable and reusable customization of garment fit without damaging the fabric, and can be applied in multiple ways to achieve a ruched or rosette effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If knots are used to alter garment fit, then the garment can be temporarily altered, but the knots add unwanted bulk and appear sloppy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a button as an intermediary device between fabric sections. The button acts as a mediator that connects and secures fabric without creating the bulk and sloppiness of knots. The button is passed through fabric sections and secured in a collar, serving as a clean intermediate element that maintains garment shape while enabling fit alteration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the problematic knotting action and replaces it with a button-based system. By removing the knotting function and substituting it with a button-and-collar mechanism, the solution eliminates the unwanted bulk and sloppy appearance while retaining the ability to alter garment fit.
2Adaptability or versatility
If elastic bands are used to secure fabric, then the garment can be adjusted, but the elastic band may slide off when tension is applied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a rounded form (such as a button with rounded edges or a curved collar structure) that prevents the elastic band from slipping off. The curved or spherical geometry creates a mechanical interlock where the elastic band cannot easily disengage, even when tension is applied during normal garment movement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If excess fabric is tied off with elastic band, then the fit can be altered, but the excess fabric becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The button serves as an intermediary that gathers and secures excess fabric in a controlled manner. Instead of allowing fabric to bunch randomly as with elastic bands, the button集中s the excess fabric into a neat, compact arrangement that minimizes bulk while maintaining the altered fit.
4Device complexity
If fabric is gathered without a form, then the device can be simple, but the fabric bunches and creates bulk
Solution Approach 1:
The rounded form (button or curved collar) provides a smooth, curved surface around which fabric can be gathered neatly. This curved geometry prevents fabric from bunching and creasing, maintaining a smooth appearance while keeping the device relatively simple in structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively minimizes bulk, provides a secure and adjustable fit, prevents elastic band slippage, and offers a versatile, reusable solution that maintains the desired shape and structure of clothing, enhancing the appearance and usability of garments without visible bulk or damage.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic band comprised of a continuous band configured to stretch around the form and wrap multiple times around the fabric to secure the form within the fabric
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method used to temporarily alter the fit or style of a garment is provided. The device includes a rounded form constructed of a rigid material. The rounded form has a width, a length, a hollow center and an inner edge and an outer edge. The device also includes a continuous elastic band configured to allow the form to pass through it as it is wrapped multiple times securely around the garment fabric. The device provides two methods of application, both of which effectively cinch excess fabric and minimize the bulk by hiding the excess fabric under the garment and holding it flat and smooth. The device remains invisible under clothing and can easily be removed and reused without damage to the garment.