Garment closure mechanism

Abstract

A closing mechanism for garments including a torso portion and a bottom portion wherein the bottom portion extends from the posterior of the torso portion through the wearer's legs and removably attaches to the anterior portion. The bottom portion, or tail panel or lever, contains one or more patches of hook and loop members, and the anterior portion contains one or more corresponding patches of hook and loop members. A further embodiment of the invention, which may be used separately or in conjunction with the closing mechanism, constitutes a resilient portion upon the tail panel.

I Claim:  
     
         1 . A garment comprising: 
 a torso section for covering at least the anterior and posterior of a human torso; 
 a tail panel for covering at least the crotch region of  
 a human;  
 a first attachable portion comprising at least one member of a loop and hook fastening pair mechanically cooperating with said torso section; and  
 a second attachable portion comprising at least one corresponding member of a loop and hook fastening pair mechanically cooperating with said tail panel;  
   whereby said tail panel extends from said torso section and said second attachable portion of said tail panel removably attaches to said first attachable portion of said torso section.    
     
     
         2 . A garment as in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said tail panel extends from said torso section generally about the posterior of a human torso;    said tail panel comprising an outward facing and inward facing portion;    said second attachable portion mechanically cooperating with said inward facing portion of said tail panel; and    said first attachable portion mechanically cooperating with said torso section generally about the anterior of a human torso.    
     
     
         3 . A garment as in  claim 2  wherein said first attachable portion comprises at least one strip of members of a loop and hook fastening pair traversing a substantially longitudinal direction upon said torso section.  
     
     
         4 . A garment as in  claim 3  wherein said second attachable portion comprises at least one patch of corresponding members of a loop and hook fastening pair traversing in a substantially longitudinal direction upon said inward facing portion of said tail panel.  
     
     
         5 . A garment as in  claim 4  wherein said second attachable portion corresponds in size, shape and orientation to said strip.  
     
     
         6 . A garment as in  claim 4  wherein said first attachable portion comprises at least one strip of members of a loop and hook fastening pair traversing a substantially lateral direction upon said torso section.  
     
     
         7 . A garment as in  claim 6  wherein said second attachable portion comprises least one patch of corresponding members of a loop and hook fastening pair traversing in a substantially lateral direction upon said inward facing portion of said tail panel.  
     
     
         8 . A garment as in  claim 7  wherein said second attachable portion corresponds in size, shape and orientation to said strip.  
     
     
         9 . A garment as in  claim 1 , wherein said first attachable portion comprises a plurality of members of a loop and hook fastening pair arranged such that at least one geometric shape is defined, said geometric shapes selected from the group consisting of polygons, squares, rectangles, circles, ovals, and triangles.  
     
     
         10 . A garment as in  claim 9 , wherein said second attachable portion comprises a plurality of corresponding members of a loop and hook fastening pair arranged such that at least one shape is defined which corresponds to the geometric shape defined by said first attachable portion.  
     
     
         11 . A garment as in  claim 1 , wherein said first attachable portion comprises a plurality of members of a loop and hook fastening pair arranged such that at least one shape is defined, said shapes selected from the group consisting of flowers, animals, human figures, characters, letters, words, numerals and logos.  
     
     
         12 . A garment as in  claim 11 , wherein said second attachable portion comprises a plurality of corresponding members of a loop and hook fastening pair arranged such that at least one shape is defined which corresponds to the shape defined by said first attachable portion.  
     
     
         13 . A garment as in  claim 1 , wherein said tail panel comprises a resilient material.  
     
     
         14 . A garment as in  claim 13 , wherein said resilient material is selected from the group consisting of spandex, Lycra® and elastic.  
     
     
         15 . A garment as in  claim 1 , wherein said tail panel further has attachable portions comprising at least one member of a loop and hook fastening pair mechanically cooperating with said outward facing portion of said tail panel; and 
 wherein said torso section further has at least one flap member mechanically cooperating with said torso section, said flap members having an exposed side and attachable side, said attachable side mechanically cooperating with at least one corresponding member of a loop and hook fastening pair.    
     
     
         16 . A garment as in  claim 1 , wherein said torso section further comprises a dress.  
     
     
         17 . A garment comprising: 
 a torso section for covering at least the anterior and posterior of a human torso;    a tail panel for covering at least the crotch region of a human;    wherein said tail panel comprises a resilient material.    
     
     
         18 . A garment as in  claim 17 , wherein said resilient material is selected from the group consisting of spandex, Lycra® and elastic.