Waistband And Pocket Expansion System For Garments

Abstract

In certain embodiments, a waistband expansion system for a garment includes a first panel of a garment, a second panel of the garment, and a first stretch panel coupling at least a portion of the first panel to at least a portion of the second panel of the garment. The first stretch panel is made of a material with elastic properties. The first stretch panel forms a portion of a waistband of the garment and includes a first panel portion that forms an exterior portion of the garment, a second panel portion that forms an interior portion of the garment, and an elastic strip that is positioned between the first panel portion and the second panel portion. The elastic strip has first and second ends that are each secured to at least one of the first panel portion and the second panel portion by a row of stitches.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A waistband expansion system for a garment, comprising:
 a front panel of a garment;   a back panel of the garment;   a pair of stretch panels positioned on opposing sides of the garment, each of the pair of stretch panels coupling at least a portion of the front panel to at least a portion of the back panel of the garment, the pair of stretch panels made of material with elastic properties and forming a portion of a waistband of the garment,   wherein each of the pair of stretch panels comprises:
 a first panel portion that forms an exterior portion of the garment; 
 a second panel portion that forms an interior portion of the garment; and 
 an elastic strip that is positioned between the first panel portion and the second panel portion, the elastic strip having first and second ends that are each secured to at least one of the first panel portion and the second panel portion by a row of stitches, and 
   wherein:
 the first stretch panel forms a portion of a first pocket on a first side of the garment, 
 the second stretch panel forms a portion of a second pocket on a second side of the garment, 
 each of the first and second stretch panels are formed of a single piece of fabric that is formed along a centerline, 
   
     
     
         2 . A waistband expansion system for a garment, comprising:
 a first panel of a garment;   a second panel of the garment;   a first stretch panel coupling at least a portion of the first panel to at least a portion of the second panel of the garment, the first stretch panel made of a material with elastic properties and forming a portion of a waistband of the garment,   wherein the first stretch panel comprises:
 a first panel portion that forms an exterior portion of the garment; 
 a second panel portion that forms an interior portion of the garment; and 
 an elastic strip that is positioned between the first panel portion and the second panel portion, the elastic strip having first and second ends that are each secured to at least one of the first panel portion and the second panel portion by a row of stitches. 
   
     
     
         3 . The waistband expansion system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a third panel of a garment;   a fourth panel of the garment; and   a second stretch panel coupling at least a portion of the third panel to at least a portion of the fourth panel of the garment, the second stretch panel made of a material with elastic properties and forming a portion of a waistband of the garment,   wherein the first stretch panel and second stretch panel are positioned on opposing sides of the garment,   wherein the first and third panels of the garment form a front of the garment, and   wherein the second and fourth panels of the garment form a back of the garment.   
     
     
         4 . The waistband expansion system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the garment further comprises a pair of pockets positioned on opposing sides of the garment,   the first stretch panels forms a lining or facing for a first one of the pair of pockets, and   the second stretch panel forms a lining or facing for a second one of the pair of pockets.   
     
     
         5 . The waistband expansion system of  claim 2 , wherein the first panel portion and the second panel portion are formed of a single piece of fabric that is folded along a centerline. 
     
     
         6 . The waistband expansion system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first panel portion is formed of a first piece of fabric;   the second panel portion is formed from a second piece of fabric; and   at least one edge of each of the first panel portion and the second panel portion are stitched together.   
     
     
         7 . The waistband expansion system of  claim 2 , wherein the first stretch panel has a diamond configuration that includes a pair of opposing clipped points, each of the pair of clipped points having a rounded edge. 
     
     
         8 . The waistband expansion system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first stretch panel is positioned on a first side of the garment,   the first panel of the garment forms a front of the garment, and   the second panel of the garment forms a back of the garment.   
     
     
         9 . The waistband expansion system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first stretch panel is positioned on a back side of the garment,   the first panel of the garment forms a first back panel of the garment, and   the second panel of the garment forms a second back panel of the garment.   
     
     
         10 . The waistband expansion system of  claim 2 , wherein the first stretch panel has a truncated diamond configuration such that the first panel portion has a substantially triangular configuration and the second panel portion has a substantially trapezoidal configuration. 
     
     
         11 . A method for assembling a garment that includes a waistband expansion system, comprising:
 positioning a first elastic strip proximate to a first panel portion of a first stretch panel, the first elastic strip having first and second ends that are each secured to the first panel portion by a row of stitches;   positioning a second panel portion relative to the first panel portion to form the first stretch panel, wherein the first elastic strip is disposed between the first panel portion and the second panel portion;   stitching at least a portion of the first panel portion to the second panel portion;   positioning the first stretch panel along a waistband of a garment; and   coupling the first stretch panel between a first panel of a garment and a second panel of the garment, the first stretch panel forming a first portion of the waistband of the garment.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first stretch panel forms a lining or facing for a pocket. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising forming the first panel portion and the second panel portion from a single piece of fabric that is folded along a centerline. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 forming the first panel portion from a first piece of fabric;   forming the second panel portion from a second piece of fabric; and   stitching at least one edge of each of the first panel portion and the second panel portion together.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the stretch panel has a diamond configuration that includes a pair of opposing clipped points, each of the pair of clipped points having a rounded edge. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising positioning the first stretch panel on a first side of the garment, and wherein:
 the first panel of the garment forms a front of the garment, and   the second panel of the garment forms a back of the garment.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 positioning a second elastic strip proximate to a first panel portion of a second stretch panel, the second elastic strip having first and second ends that are each secured to the first panel portion of the second stretch panel by a row of stitches;   positioning a second panel portion of the second stretch panel relative to the first panel portion to form the second stretch panel, wherein the second elastic strip is disposed between the first panel portion and the second panel portion of the second stretch panel;   stitching at least a portion of the first panel portion to the second panel portion of the second stretch panel;   positioning the second stretch panel along the waistband of the garment; and   coupling the second stretch panel between a first panel of the garment and a second panel of the garment, the second stretch panel forming a second portion of the waistband of the garment.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising positioning the first stretch panel on a back side of the garment, and wherein
 the first panel of the garment forms a first back panel of the garment, and   the second panel of the garment forms a second back panel of the garment.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first stretch panel has a truncated diamond configuration such that the first panel portion has a substantially triangular configuration and the second panel portion has a substantially trapezoidal configuration. 
     
     
         20 . A waistband expansion system for a garment, comprising:
 a first panel of a garment;   a second panel of the garment;   a first stretch panel coupling at least a portion of the first panel to at least a portion of the second panel of the garment, the first stretch panel made of a material with elastic properties and forming a portion of a waistband of the garment,   wherein the first stretch panel comprises:
 a first panel portion that forms an exterior portion of the garment; 
 a second panel portion that forms an interior portion of the garment; and 
 an elastic strip that is coupled at a first edge to the second panel portion and at a second edge to the first panel portion, the elastic strip having first and second ends that are each secured to at least one of the first panel portion and the second panel portion by a row of stitches. 
   
     
     
         21 . The waistband expansion system of  claim 20 , wherein the first panel portion and the second panel portion are formed of a single piece of fabric that is folded along a centerline. 
     
     
         22 . The waistband expansion system of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the first stretch panel is positioned on a first side of the garment,   the first panel of the garment forms a front of the garment, and   the second panel of the garment forms a back of the garment.   
     
     
         23 . The waistband expansion system of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the first stretch panel is positioned on a back side of the garment,   the first panel of the garment forms a first back panel of the garment, and   the second panel of the garment forms a second back panel of the garment.