Garment with One Or More Personalizable Panels

Abstract

A garment with one or more personalizable panels and various related embodiments are disclosed. The garment, to be worn about the lower torso and legs, comprises: a waist encircling portion, a first leg encircling portion, and a second leg encircling portion, in which the waist encircling portion may comprise both an adjustable waistband and a non-adjustable waistband portion, and a personalizable panel for displaying one or more personal communications. The disclosed embodiments feature a variety of personalizable panels constructed in a variety of ways and attached to the garment in a variety of ways. Features of the disclosure allow for the attachment of the personalizable panel in such a way as to not interfere with the operation of the adjustable waistband portion. Other features of the disclosure allow the personalizable panel to maintain its shape despite the expansion and contraction of the adjustable waistband portion. The one or more personal communications may be conveyed as text, designs, images, and in any combination thereof as needed.

1 . A garment with at least one personalizable panel to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprising: a waist encircling portion, a first leg encircling portion, and, a second leg encircling portion; the waist encircling portion having: an adjustable waist band portion abutting a non-adjustable waistband portion, the non-adjustable waistband portion being configured such that at least a first portion of said non-adjustable waistband portion is a first personalizable panel; the first personalizable panel being further configured to substantially retain its shape while the adjustable waistband portion flexes; the first personalizable panel being configured to display a first personalized communication, the first personalizable panel being located such that the first personalized communication is visible on the outside of the garment. 
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1  in which the first personalizable panel comprises an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion being configured to rest proximate to the wearer of the garment, the outer portion being configured to display the first personalized communication. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 1  further configured such that the waist encircling portion has a first adjustable waistband portion that abuts a first non-adjustable waistband and a second adjustable waistband portion that abuts a second non-adjustable waistband portion, in which the first non-adjustable waistband portion is configured to have a portion that is a first personalizable panel and in which the second non-adjustable waistband portion is configured to have a portion that is a second personalizable panel; wherein each personalizable panel is further configured to substantially retain its shape while each of the adjustable waistband portions flex; the first personalizable panel being further configured to display a first personalized communication and the second personalizable panel being further configured to display a second personalized communication, wherein the first personalizable panel is located such that the first personalized communication is visible on the outside of the garment, and wherein the second personalizable panel is located such that the second personalized communication is visible on the outside of the garment. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 1  in which the garment further comprises a front access opening, the front access opening being located between the first leg encircling portion and the second leg encircling portion, the front access opening also being located below the waist encircling portion. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 1  in which the adjustable waistband portion uses elastic material or drawstring material to provide adjustability. 
     
     
         6 . A garment with at least one personalizable panel to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprising: a waist encircling portion having an adjustable waistband portion, a first leg encircling portion, a second leg encircling portion, and a first elongate personalizable panel attached to the first leg encircling portion; the first elongate personalizable panel further characterized as having both a first panel length and a first panel width with the first elongate personalizable panel being located such that the first panel width is substantially parallel to a portion of the waist encircling portion, the first elongate personalizable panel being further configured to substantially retain its shape while the adjustable waistband portion flexes; the first elongate personalizable panel being configured to display a first personalized communication, the first elongate personalizable panel being located such that the first personalized communication is visible on the outside of the garment. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 6  further comprising: a second elongate personalizable panel attached to the second leg encircling portion, the second elongate personalizable panel further characterized as having both a second panel length and a second panel width with the second elongate personalizable panel being located such that the second panel width is substantially parallel to a portion of the waist encircling portion, the second elongate personalizable panel being further configured to substantially retain its shape and position while the adjustable waistband portion flexes; the second elongate personalizable panel being configured to display a second personalized communication, and, the second elongate personalizable panel being located such that the second personalized communication is visible on the outside of the garment. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 6  further characterized in that the second panel length is larger than the second panel width. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 6  in which the garment further comprises a front access opening, the front access opening being located between the first leg encircling portion and the second leg encircling portion, the front access opening also being located below the waist encircling portion. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 6  in which the adjustable waistband portion uses elastic material or drawstring material to provide adjustability. 
     
     
         11 . A garment with at least one personalizable panel to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprising: a waist encircling portion having an adjustable waistband portion, a first leg encircling portion, a second leg encircling portion, and, a first elongate personalizable panel having at least one panel edge; the first elongate personalizable panel being further configured such that at least a portion of at least one panel edge is attached to the first leg encircling portion, the first elongate personalizable panel having both a first panel length and a first panel width, said first elongate personalizable panel being located such that the first panel width is substantially parallel to a portion of the waist encircling portion; the first elongate personalizable panel being configured to carry a first personalized communication, and, the first elongate personalizable panel being located such that the first personalized communication is visible on the outside of the garment. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 11  in which the first personalizable panel is configured such that the first panel length is larger than the first panel width. 
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 11  in which the garment further comprises a front access opening, the front access opening being located between the first leg encircling portion and the second leg encircling portion, the front access opening also being located below the waist encircling portion. 
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 11  in which the adjustable waistband portion uses elastic material or drawstring material to provide adjustability. 
     
     
         15 . A garment with at least one personalizable panel to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprising: a waist encircling portion having an adjustable waistband portion, a first leg encircling portion, a second leg encircling portion, and a first elongate personalizable panel; the garment further characterized as having a wearer proximal side which faces inward toward the wearer and a wearer distal side which faces away from the wearer; the garment further characterized in that the first elongate personalizable panel is configured such that a portion of the first elongate personalizable panel is attached to the wearer proximal side and a portion of the first elongate personalizable panel is attached to the wearer distal side; the first elongate personalizable panel further characterized in that it is folded over a portion of the waist encircling portion such that the adjustable waistband portion may operate in expansion and contraction without causing substantial expansion and contraction of the first elongate personalizable panel; the first elongate personalizable panel being configured to display a first personalized communication, and, the first elongate personalizable panel being located such that the first personalized communication is visible from the outside of the garment. 
     
     
         16 . The garment of  claim 15  in which the garment further comprises a front access opening, the front access opening being located between the first leg encircling portion and the second leg encircling portion, the front access opening also being located below the waist encircling portion. 
     
     
         17 . The garment of  claim 15  in which the adjustable waistband portion uses elastic material or drawstring material to provide adjustability. 
     
     
         18 . A kit for personalizing a garment with at least one personalizable panel to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprising:
 A. a garment to be worn about the lower torso and legs comprising: a waist encircling portion having an adjustable waistband portion, a first leg encircling portion, a second leg encircling portion; the garment further characterized as having a wearer proximal side which faces inward toward the wearer and a wearer distal side which faces away from the wearer;   B. a first elongate personalizable panel configured such that a portion of the first elongate personalizable panel is attachable to the wearer proximal side and a portion of the first elongate personalizable panel is attachable to the wearer distal side; the first elongate personalizable panel further characterized in that it can fold over a portion of the waist encircling portion such that the adjustable waistband portion may operate in expansion and contraction without causing substantial expansion and contraction of the first elongate personalizable panel; the first elongate personalizable panel being configured to display a first personalized communication, and, the first elongate personalizable panel being attachable to the garment such that the first personalized communication is visible from the outside of the garment when the first elongate personalizable panel is attached to the garment.   
     
     
         19 . The garment of  claim 18  in which the garment further comprises a front access opening, the front access opening being located between the first leg encircling portion and the second leg encircling portion, the front access opening also being located below the waist encircling portion. 
     
     
         20 . The garment of  claim 18  in which the adjustable waistband portion uses elastic material or drawstring material to provide adjustability.