Apparatus and method for sizing and fitting garments

Abstract

A sample garment is provided for fitting an individual interested in selecting a garment. The garment includes an inner surface, an outer surface, a slit defining a left panel and a right panel, and a fitting panel extending from the inner surface of one of the left and right panels. The fitting panel includes rows of a first fitting attachment, and at least one row of a second fitting attachment, whereby a single garment is readily adaptable for providing a proper fit for individuals of different sizes. In different embodiments, an extending panel may be used in conjunction with the fitting panel to accommodate different size people.

1 . A sample dress for fitting and sizing an individual, comprising: 
 an inner surface;    a slit defining a left panel and a right panel; and    a mechanism secured to on the inner surface of the sample dress and adjustably coupled to the left panel or right panel so as to adjustably position and retain the sample dress on the individual during the sample dress fitting and sizing to enable the individual to see how the sample dress will appear after a similar style sample dress is tailored to the individual's particular size, whereby a single sample dress is readily adaptable for providing a proper fit and size for individuals of different sizes.    
   
   
       2 . The sample dress of  claim 1  wherein the sample dress includes a front side and a back side, the back side having the slit.  
   
   
       3 . The sample dress of  claim 1 , wherein the sample dress includes a front side and a back side, the front side having the slit.  
   
   
       4 . The sample dress of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer surface, and wherein the mechanism includes a first fitting panel extending from the inner surface of one of the left and right panels, the first fitting panel having rows of a first fitting attachment; and at least one row of a second fitting attachment secured to the inner surface of the other one of the left and right panels.  
   
   
       5 . The sample dress of  claim 4 , wherein each row of the first fitting attachment includes a row of hooks and each row of the second fitting attachment includes row of clasps adapted for coupling with the hooks of the first fitting attachment.  
   
   
       6 . The sample dress of  claim 4 , wherein the first fitting attachment and the second fitting attachment are zippers.  
   
   
       7 . The sample dress of  claim 6 , wherein the fitting attachment includes an extending panel whereby the fitting attachment can accommodate people of larger sizes.  
   
   
       8 . The sample dress of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustably and retaining means includes an elastic portion, whereby the sample dress is more readily adaptable to a greater range of sizes.  
   
   
       9 . The sample dress of  claim 8 , wherein the elastic portion includes a first elastic portion having a first degree of elasticity and a second elastic portion having a second degree of elasticity which is greater than the first elastic portion.  
   
   
       10 . The sample dress of  claim 4 , wherein the left panel includes an edge, the right panel includes an edge, and the fitting panel includes a proximate edge and a distal edge, the proximate edge is secured to the inner surface of the sample dress at a position spaced apart from the edge of either the right or left panel whereby the sample dress may be fitted and sized to an individual with the fitting panel extending from the secured position, and surrounding the individual so that the first attachment is secured to the second attachment.  
   
   
       11 . The sample dress of  claim 10 , wherein the left panel edge includes a first fastener portion and the right panel edge includes a corresponding second fastener portion, whereby after the sample dress is fitted and sized to an individual using the adjustably and retaining means, while the fitting panel is around the individual, the panels may be closed via the fastener portions.  
   
   
       12 . The sample dress of  claim 11 , wherein the fastener portion is a zipper.  
   
   
       13 . The sample dress of  claim 12 , wherein the fitting attachment includes an extending panel whereby the fitting attachment can accommodate people of larger sizes.  
   
   
       14 . The sample dress of  claim 4 , wherein the second fitting attachment is secured to the inner surface via a second fitting panel, the second fitting panel having a proximate edge and a distal edge, the proximate edge secured to the inner surface, and the second fitting attachment is secured adjacent to the distal edge.  
   
   
       15 . A sample dress for fitting and sizing an individual, comprising: 
 an inner surface;    an outer surface;    a slit defining a left panel and a right panel;    a fitting panel extending from the inner surface of one of the left and right panels, the fitting panel having rows of a first fitting attachment; and    at least one row of a second fitting attachment at the inner surface of the other of the left and right panels, adapted for fastening one row of the fitting panel with one row of the other panel, whereby a single sample dress is readily adaptable for providing a proper fit and size for individuals of different sizes.    
   
   
       16 . The sample dress of  claim 15 , wherein the fitting panel includes an elastic portion, whereby the sample dress is more readily adaptable to a greater range of sizes.  
   
   
       17 . The sample dress of  claim 16 , wherein the elastic portion includes a first elastic portion having a first degree of elasticity and a second elastic portion having a second degree of elasticity which is greater than the first elastic portion.  
   
   
       18 . The sample dress of  claim 15 , wherein the left panel includes an edge, the right panel includes an edge, and the fitting panel includes a proximate edge and a distal edge, the proximate edge is secured to the inner surface of the sample dress at a position spaced apart from the edge of either the right or left panel whereby the sample dress may be fitted and sized to an individual with the fitting panel extending from the secured position, and surrounding the individual so that the first attachment is secured to the second attachment.  
   
   
       19 . The sample dress of  claim 18 , wherein the left panel edge includes a first fastener portion and the right panel edge includes a corresponding second fastener portion, whereby after the sample dress is fitted and sized to an individual using the adjustably and retaining means, while the fitting panel is around the individual, the panels may be closed via the fastener portions.  
   
   
       20 . The sample dress of  claim 15 , wherein each row of the first fitting attachment includes a row of hooks and each row of the second fitting attachment includes row of clasps adapted for coupling with the hooks of the first fitting attachment.  
   
   
       21 . The sample dress of  claim 15 , wherein the sample dress includes a front side and a back side, the back side having the slit.  
   
   
       22 . The sample dress of  claim 15 , wherein the sample dress includes a front side and a back side, the front side having the slit.  
   
   
       23 . The sample dress of  claim 15 , wherein the fastener portion is a zipper.  
   
   
       24 . The sample dress of  claim 23 , wherein the fitting attachment includes an extending panel whereby the fitting attachment can accommodate people of larger sizes.  
   
   
       25 . A sample dress for fitting and sizing an individual, comprising: 
 an inner surface;    an outer surface;    a slit defining a left panel and a right panel;    a fitting panel extending from the inner surface of one of the left and right panels, the fitting panel having rows of a first fitting attachment;    at least one row of a second fitting attachment at the inner surface of the other of the left and right panels, adapted for fastening one row of the fitting panel with one row of the other panel; and    the fastener portion is a zipper whereby a single sample dress is readily adaptable for providing a proper fit and size for individuals of different sizes.    
   
   
       26 . The sample dress of  claim 25 , wherein the fitting attachment includes an extending panel whereby the fitting attachment can accommodate people of larger sizes.  
   
   
       27 . A method of fitting and sizing a sample dress to an individual, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a sample dress to be adorned by the individual, the sample dress having a slit forming a first panel and a second panel;    adjusting the position of the second panel with respect to a fitting panel extending from the inner surface of the first panel, until the sample dress provides a proper fit and size for the individual;    releasably securing the fitting panel to the second panel by means of selecting one of a row of first fitting attachments located on the first panel, for being releasably coupled to a row of second fitting attachments located on the second panel, wherein the row selection is judged to provide a sufficient taughtness in the fitting panel so as to provide a proper fit and size for the individual.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising the step of fastening the slit closed.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising the step of inserting an extending panel whereby the sample dress can accommodate people of larger sizes.  
   
   
       30 . A method of making a sample dress for fitting individuals of various sizes, the method comprising the steps of: 
 cutting and sewing material to provide a sample dress having a slit defining a first panel and a second panel;    preparing a fitting panel which includes elastic material and includes a proximate edge and a distal edge;    securing a first fitting attachment to the fitting panel, the first fitting attachment having multiple rows of connectors;    secruing the proximate edge of the fitting panel to an inner surface of the first panel;    securing at least one row of connectors of a second fitting attachment to the second panel, whereby a single sample dress is readily adaptable for providing a proper fit and size for individuals of different sizes by removably fastening one row of connectors of the first fitting attachment with one row of connectors of the second fitting attachment. The method of  claim 30  further comprising the step of inserting an extending panel whereby the sample dress can accommodate people of larger sizes.