Stabilizer loop for garment overlap closures

Abstract

The invention relates to a garment or robe that includes a stabilizer loop for overlap closures. The stabilizer loop is disposed on at least one of the garment's opposing front fabric panels and is adjacent to a peripheral edge of one or more of the front fabric panels. The robe includes a belt that is passed through a stabilizer loop. When a knot is formed from opposing end portions of the belt and the knot engages with the stabilizer loop, it effectively maintains opposing front fabric panels in a substantially overlapping position with respect to each other. As a result, the stabilizer loop provides several advantages. It provides improved stability to an overlap garment's closure for reducing slippage effects on the front fabric panels. In addition, the stabilizer loop provides improved alignment of bottom hemlines for a more aesthetic look.

1 . A garment that covers at least an upper body portion of a person, comprising: 
 a back fabric panel sized and shaped to extend substantially from a shoulder to an area below a waist of said person, a lower edge of said back fabric panel defining a portion of a hemline of said garment;    a pair of opposing front fabric panels, each attached to said back fabric panel and dimensioned for overlapping one another across a person's chest when said garment is worn by said person, each of said front fabric panels having a lower edge defining a portion of said hemline;    a stabilizer loop disposed on at least one of said front fabric panels and adjacent to a peripheral edge of said at least one front fabric panel that overlaps a second one of said front fabric panels; and    a belt.    
   
   
       2 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein said belt passes through one stabilizer loop.  
   
   
       3 . The garment according to  claim 2 , wherein a first portion of said belt is adapted for being knotted to a second opposing portion of said belt.  
   
   
       4 . The garment according to  claim 2 , wherein said belt disposed in said stabilizer loop substantially aligns said opposing front fabric panels so that said portion of said hemline defined by each of said opposing front fabric panels are substantially aligned with each other.  
   
   
       5 . The garment according to  claim 3 , wherein a knot formed from said opposing first and second portions of said belt exceeds an aperture size of said stabilizer loop.  
   
   
       6 . The garment according to  claim 5 , wherein an engagement of said knot with said stabilizer loop maintains said opposing front fabric panels in a substantially overlapping position with respect to each other.  
   
   
       7 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein said belt passes through said stabilizer loop and said belt disposed in said stabilizer loop aligns said opposing front fabric panels so that said portion of said hemline defined by each of said opposing front fabric panels are substantially aligned with each other, and wherein a knot formed from opposing portions of said belt engages said stabilizer loop, said knot maintaining said opposing front fabric panels in a substantially overlapping position with respect to each other.  
   
   
       8 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein said belt passes through said stabilizer loop, a frictional engagement of said belt through said stabilizer loop maintains said opposing front fabric panels in a substantially overlapping position with respect to each other and substantially aligns said opposing front fabric panels so that said portion of said hemline defined by each of said opposing front fabric panels are substantially aligned with each other.  
   
   
       9 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one aperture is formed in said garment and positioned for receiving therein an arm of said person wearing said garment.  
   
   
       10 . A garment that covers at least an upper body portion of a person, comprising: 
 a back fabric panel sized and shaped to extend substantially from a shoulder to an area below a waist of said person, a lower edge of said back fabric panel defining a portion of a hemline of said garment;    a pair of opposing front fabric panels, each attached to said back fabric panel and dimensioned for overlapping one another across a person's chest when said garment is worn by said person, each of said front fabric panels having a lower edge defining a portion of said hemline;    at least one aperture formed in said garment and positioned for receiving therein an arm of said person wearing said garment;    a stabilizer loop disposed on at least one of said front fabric panels adjacent to a peripheral edge of said at least one front fabric panel that overlaps a second one of said front fabric panels;    wherein a belt passes through said stabilizer loop and said belt disposed in said stabilizer loop aligns said opposing front fabric panels so that said portion of said hemline defined by each of said opposing front fabric panels are substantially aligned with each other, and wherein a knot formed from opposing portions of said belt engages said stabilizer loop, said knot maintaining said opposing front fabric panels in a substantially overlapping position with respect to each other.    
   
   
       11 . A robe, comprising: 
 a pair of opposing front fabric panels arranged to cover a front of a person in an overlapping configuration when said robe is worn;    at least one stabilizer loop disposed adjacent to a peripheral edge of at least a first one of said front fabric panels that overlaps a second one of said front fabric panels; and    wherein a belt passes through said stabilizer loop, and a combination of said belt and said stabilizer loop positions said opposing front fabric panels so that a bottom peripheral edge defined by each of said opposing front fabric panels are substantially aligned with each other.    
   
   
       12 . The robe according to  claim 11 , wherein a knot formed from opposing portions of said belt exceeds an aperture size of said stabilizer loop disposed adjacent to said peripheral edge, wherein an engagement of said knot with said stabilizer loop maintains said opposing front fabric panels in a substantially overlapping position with respect to each other.  
   
   
       13 . The robe according to  claim 11 , wherein said stabilizer loop is disposed on said robe below at least one aperture positioned for receiving therein an arm of said person wearing said robe.