Clothing systems and methods

Abstract

A clothing system that may include a lower component of an article of clothing and one or more upper components of an article of clothing that may be sized and configured to be selectively and/or interchangeably connected to and disconnected from the lower component. For example, a first upper component may include a generally fixed waistband, and a second upper component may include an expandable maternity waistband. Desirably, a woman may connect the first upper component to the lower component to form an article of clothing that she may wear when not pregnant and/or during her first months of her pregnancy. The woman may later disconnect the first upper component from the lower component and then connect the second upper component to the lower component to form an article of clothing that she may wear during her latter months of her pregnancy and/or during her recovery from pregnancy.

1 . A clothing system comprising:
 a lower component of an article of clothing including at least one engaging portion; and   a plurality of upper components of an article of clothing, the plurality of upper components being sized and configured to be interchangeably connected to and disconnected from the lower component, the plurality of upper components comprising:
 a first upper component of an article of clothing, the first upper component including:
 an expandable maternity waistband; and 
 at least one engaging portion sized and configured to engage the at least one engaging portion of the lower component to create a first pair of pants that includes the expandable maternity waistband; and 
 
 a second upper component of an article of clothing, the second upper component including:
 a second waistband; and 
 at least one engaging portion sized and configured to engage the at least one engaging portion of the lower component to create a second pair of pants that includes the second waistband; 
 the at least one engaging portion of the first upper component and the at least one engaging portion of the second upper component being sized and configured to interchangeably engage the at least one engaging portion of the lower component. 
 
   
   
   
       2 . The clothing system as in  claim 1 , wherein the first upper component is sized and configured to be connected to the lower component along a generally under-the-belly connection line; and wherein the second upper component is sized and configured to be connected to the lower component along a generally under-the-belly connection line. 
   
   
       3 . The clothing system as in  claim 1 , wherein the second waistband has a generally fixed configuration. 
   
   
       4 . The clothing system as in  claim 1 , wherein the second waistband comprises an expandable maternity waistband. 
   
   
       5 . A clothing system comprising:
 a lower component of an article of clothing including at least one fastener member; and   a plurality of upper components of an article of clothing, the plurality of upper components being sized and configured to be interchangeably connected to and disconnected from the lower component, the plurality of upper components comprising:
 a first upper component of an article of clothing, the first upper component including:
 an expandable maternity waistband; and 
 at least one fastener member sized and configured to be connected to the at least one fastener member of the lower component to create a first article of clothing that includes the expandable maternity waistband; 
 
 a second upper component of an article of clothing, the second upper component including:
 at least one fastener member sized and configured to be connected to the at least one fastener member of the lower component to create a second article of clothing; and 
 the at least one fastener member of the first upper component and the at least one fastener member of the second upper component being sized and configured to be interchangeably connected to and disconnected from the at least one fastener member of the lower component. 
 
   
   
   
       6 . The clothing system as in  claim 5 , wherein the first upper component is sized and configured to be connected to the lower component along a generally under-the-belly connection line; and wherein the second upper component is sized and configured to be connected to the lower component along a generally under-the-belly connection line. 
   
   
       7 . The clothing system as in  claim 5 , wherein the at least one fastener member of the first upper component comprises zipper teeth;
 wherein the at least one fastener member of the second upper component comprises zipper teeth;   wherein the at least one fastener member of the lower component comprises zipper teeth;   wherein the zipper teeth of the lower component are sized and configured to engage the zipper teeth of the first upper component to create the first article of clothing that includes the expandable maternity waistband; and   wherein the zipper teeth of the lower component are sized and configured to engage the zipper teeth of the second upper component to create the second article of clothing.   
   
   
       8 . The clothing system as in  claim 7 , wherein the first upper component further includes an edge having a seam finish;
 wherein the lower component further includes a edge having a seam finish; and   wherein at least a portion of the edge of the lower component is sized and configured to, when the zipper teeth of the lower component engage the zipper teeth of the first upper component, abut at least a portion of the edge of the first upper component to at least substantially cover the engaged zipper teeth of the lower and the first upper components.   
   
   
       9 . The clothing system as in  claim 7 , wherein the second upper component further includes an edge having a seam finish;
 wherein the lower component further includes a edge having a seam finish; and   wherein at least a portion of the edge of the lower component is sized and configured to, when the zipper teeth of the lower component engage the zipper teeth of the second upper component, abut at least a portion of the edge of the second upper component to at least substantially cover the engaged zipper teeth of the lower and the second upper components.   
   
   
       10 . The clothing system as in  claim 7 , wherein the first upper component further includes an edge;
 wherein the lower component further includes a edge; and   wherein the edge of the lower component and the edge of the first upper component are sized and configured to, when the zipper teeth of the lower component engage the zipper teeth of the first upper component, at least partially overlap to at least substantially cover the engaged zipper teeth of the lower and the first upper components.   
   
   
       11 . The clothing system as in  claim 7 , wherein the second upper component further includes an edge;
 wherein the lower component further includes a edge; and   wherein the edge of the lower component and the edge of the second upper component are sized and configured to, when the zipper teeth of the lower component engage the zipper teeth of the second upper component, at least partially overlap to at least substantially cover the engaged zipper teeth of the lower and the second upper components.   
   
   
       12 . The clothing system as in  claim 5 , wherein the at least one fastener member of the first upper component comprises a plurality of snap members;
 wherein the at least one fastener member of the second upper component comprises a plurality of snap members;   wherein the at least one fastener member of the lower component comprises a plurality of snap members;   wherein the snap members of the lower component are sized and configured to engage the snap members of the first upper component to create the first article of clothing that includes the expandable maternity waistband; and   wherein the snap members of the lower component are sized and configured to engage the snap members of the second upper component to create the second article of clothing.   
   
   
       13 . The clothing system as in  claim 5 , wherein the first article of clothing comprises a pair of pants that includes the lower component and the first upper component; and wherein the second article of clothing comprises a pair of pants that includes the lower component and the second upper component. 
   
   
       14 . The clothing system as in  claim 5 , wherein the first article of clothing comprises a skirt that includes the lower component and the first upper component; and wherein the second article of clothing comprises a skirt that includes the lower component and the second upper component. 
   
   
       15 . A clothing system comprising:
 a lower component of an article of clothing including at least one fastener member; and   a first upper component of an article of clothing, the first upper component including:
 an expandable maternity waistband; and 
 at least one fastener member sized and configured to be selectively connected to and disconnected from the at least one fastener member of the lower component to create a first article of clothing that includes the expandable maternity waistband. 
   
   
   
       16 . The clothing system as in  claim 15 , wherein the first upper component is sized and configured to be connected to the lower component along a generally under-the-belly connection line. 
   
   
       17 . The clothing system as in  claim 15 , wherein the expandable maternity waistband of the first upper component comprises a demi-panel maternity waistband. 
   
   
       18 . The clothing system as in  claim 15 , wherein the expandable maternity waistband of the first upper component comprises a full-panel maternity waistband. 
   
   
       19 . The clothing system as in  claim 15 , wherein the expandable maternity waistband of the first upper component comprises a hidden-panel maternity waistband. 
   
   
       20 . The clothing system as in  claim 15 , wherein the expandable maternity waistband of the first upper component comprises a roll-panel maternity waistband.