Articles of Clothing with Interchangeable Components

Abstract

Modular articles of clothing with interchangeable components include connectible and interchangeable clothing components with integrated loops and connecting elements for assembly thereof. The components have integrated loops for inserting a connecting element or strap. The connecting element has an encircling elongate member, two opposing ends with a break therebetween in a closed position sufficiently small to prevent insertion or slippage of the integrated loop therethrough. The connecting element is deformable out of the plane of the encircling elongate member to form a transverse gap between the ends in the open position sufficient for inserting an end into the integrated loop. The connecting element maintains the open position without elastic return and is returnable to the closed position by twisting the ends to close the gap upon assembly of components. A kit comprises the components and a tote bag for carrying them.

1 . A top unit for a swimsuit with interchangeable components, the top unit comprising:
 a left cup and a right cup for covering a wearer's breasts, the left and right cups adapted to interchangeably separate from one another, the left cup having a left medial vertex and the right cup having a right medial vertex;   wherein each of the left medial vertex and right medial vertex includes an integrated loop forming an enclosed passage; and   a connecting element adapted for insertion through each of the integrated loops for assembly of the left cup to the right cup at the medial vertices, the connecting element having a closed position and an open position, the connecting element in the closed position having an encircling elongate member and two ends opposing one another formed by a break in the encircling elongate member, wherein the break between the two ends is sufficiently small to prevent insertion or slippage of the integrated loop therethrough, the connecting element being sufficiently deformable out of the plane of the encircling elongate member to form a transverse gap between the ends in the open position sufficient for assembly of one of the ends into each of the integrated loops, the connecting element maintaining the open position without elastic return and being returnable to the closed position by twisting the ends to close the gap upon assembly of the left cup to the right cup.   
     
     
         2 . The top unit of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting element is in the shape of an annular disk. 
     
     
         3 . The top unit of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting element is in the shape of a D, a heart, an oval, or a rectangle. 
     
     
         4 . The top unit of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting element comprises a metal alloy. 
     
     
         5 . The top unit of  claim 4 , wherein the metal alloy includes at least one or more of copper, tin, gold, cadmium, antimony, zinc, manganese, and nickel. 
     
     
         6 . The top unit of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting element includes a rubberized overcoat. 
     
     
         7 . A bottom unit for a swimsuit with interchangeable components, the bottom unit comprising:
 a lower front panel and a lower back panel adapted to interchangeably separate from one another, each of the lower front panel and the lower back panel having a generally triangular shape and including a right hip vertex, a left hip vertex and a crotch vertex;   wherein each of the right hip vertex and the left hip vertex includes an integrated loop forming an enclosed passage; and   a right connecting element adapted for insertion through and connecting between the integrated loops on the right hip vertices of the lower front panel and the lower back panel, and a left connecting element adapted for insertion through and connecting between the integrated loops on the left hip vertices of the lower front panel and the lower back panel, each of the right and left connecting element having a closed position and an open position, the connecting element in the closed position having an encircling elongate member and two ends opposing one another formed by a break in the encircling elongate member, wherein the break between the two ends is sufficiently small to prevent insertion or slippage of the integrated loop therethrough, the connecting element being sufficiently deformable out of the plane of the encircling elongate member to form a transverse gap between the ends in the open position sufficient for assembly of one of the ends into each of the integrated loops, each of the right and left connecting elements maintaining the open position without elastic return and being returnable to the closed position by twisting the ends to close the gap upon assembly of the lower front and back panels at the corresponding right hip vertices and left hip vertices.   
     
     
         8 . The bottom unit of  claim 7 , wherein the crotch vertexes of the lower front panel and the lower back panel are attached by at least one releasable fastener. 
     
     
         9 . The bottom unit of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the right and left connecting elements is in the shape of an annular disk. 
     
     
         10 . The bottom unit of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the right and left connecting elements is in the shape of a D, a heart, an oval, or a rectangle. 
     
     
         11 . The bottom unit of  claim 7 , wherein the connecting element comprises a metal alloy. 
     
     
         12 . The bottom unit of  claim 11 , wherein the metal alloy includes at least one or more of copper, tin, gold, cadmium, antimony, zinc, manganese, and nickel. 
     
     
         13 . The top unit of  claim 7 , wherein the connecting element includes a rubberized overcoat. 
     
     
         14 . A swimsuit comprising the top unit of  claim 1  and the bottom unit of  claim 7 . 
     
     
         15 . A modular swimsuit kit comprising components for assembling a swimsuit, the components comprising:
 a left cup, the left cup including a left medial vertex including an integrated loop forming an enclosed passage;   a right cup that interchangeably mates with the left cup for covering a wearer's breasts, the right cup including a right medial vertex including an integrated loop forming an enclosed passage;   a lower front panel, the lower front panel having a generally triangular shape, the lower front panel including a right hip vertex, a left hip vertex and a crotch vertex;   a lower back panel for interchangeably attaching to the lower front panel, the lower front panel having a generally triangular shape, the lower front panel including a right hip vertex, a left hip vertex and a crotch vertex, each of the right hip vertices and left hip vertices of the lower front and back panels comprising an integrated loop; and   at least three attaching members, one of the at least three attaching members for attaching the left cup to the right cup at the respective medial vertices thereof, and two of the at least three attaching members for attaching the lower and right back panels at each of the right and left hip vertices;   at least one of the three attaching members comprising a connecting element adapted for insertion through any of the integrated loops for assembly of the left cup to the right cup or of the lower front panel to the lower back panel, the connecting element having a closed position and an open position, the connecting element in the closed position having an encircling elongate member and two ends opposing one another formed by a break in the encircling elongate member, wherein the break between the two ends is sufficiently small to prevent insertion or slippage of the integrated loop therethrough, the connecting element being sufficiently deformable out of the plane of the encircling elongate member to form a transverse gap between the ends in the open position sufficient for assembly of one of the ends into each of the integrated loops, the connecting element maintaining the open position without elastic return and being returnable to the closed position by twisting the ends to close the gap upon assembly.   
     
     
         16 . The modular swimsuit kit of  claim 15 , further comprising a tote bag for holding the components for assembling a swimsuit. 
     
     
         17 . The modular swimsuit kit of  claim 15 , the tote bag comprising an integrated loop and an additional connecting element for inserting therethrough, the tote bag adapted for attaching to the assembled swimsuit via the additional connecting element. 
     
     
         18 . A modular article of clothing with interchangeable components, comprising:
 a first unit of material for covering a portion of a wearer's body;   a second unit of material for covering another portion of a wearer's body, wherein each of the first and second unit of material comprise an integrated loop forming an enclosed passage; and   a connecting element adapted for insertion through each of the integrated loops for assembly of the first unit to the second unit, the connecting element having a closed position and an open position, the connecting element in the closed position having an encircling elongate member and two ends opposing one another formed by a break in the encircling elongate member, wherein the break between the two ends is sufficiently small to prevent insertion or slippage of the integrated loop therethrough, the connecting element being sufficiently deformable out of the plane of the encircling elongate member to form a transverse gap between the ends in the open position sufficient for assembly of one of the ends into each of the integrated loops, the connecting element maintaining the open position without elastic return and being returnable to the closed position by twisting the ends to close the gap upon assembly of the first unit to the second unit.