Convertible maternity garment

Abstract

A convertible maternity garment that includes a first garment configured and arranged as a maternity garment to be worn by a woman during her maternity term and a second garment constructed from a portion of the first garment to provide a garment having a configuration for non-maternity use, where a removable portion is provided and where a first waistband and an alternate waistband are provided and configured so that both waistbands are functional waistbands that may be present on the garment simultaneously, but are selectively functional.

1 . A convertible maternity garment comprising a first garment configured and arranged as a maternity garment to be worn by a woman during her maternity term; said garment being convertible from a maternity garment to a non-maternity garment, wherein said non-maternity garment is constructed from a portion of said maternity garment to provide a garment having a configuration for non-maternity use;
 wherein said garment includes at least a portion that is detachable therefrom such that when said portion is detached from said garment a non-maternity garment is formed;   the garment having a stretchable maternity band for holding the convertible maternity garment on the body of a wearer when the convertible maternity garment is configured as a maternity garment, and an alternate waistband for holding the convertible maternity garment on the body of a wearer when the convertible maternity garment is configured as a non-maternity garment;   wherein said alternate waistband has an upper edge, wherein said maternity band extends below said alternate waistband upper edge, said alternate waistband having an attachment zone and a free zone,   wherein an opening is provided in the front of said garment, said opening spanning from the upper edge of said alternate waistband to a location below said alternate waistband,   wherein at least a portion of said maternity band spans across said opening,   
       wherein said maternity band is attached along said attachment zone of said alternate waistband, and wherein said maternity band is free from attachment at said alternate waistband free zone. 
     
     
         2 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The garment of claim  7 , including a configurable member that provides alternate engaging for the alternate waistband when the maternity band is present and when the garment is configured as a maternity garment. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 8 , wherein the configurable member comprises an elastic member. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the configurable member is configured to allow the alternate waistband to remain engageable when the garment is configured in a second configuration for use as a non-maternity garment. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein said alternate waistband has a first end and a second end, with a first portion at said first end and a second portion at said second end, wherein the configurable member has a first end that is free and a second end that is attached to the alternate waistband second portion, wherein said configurable member first end is releasably connectable to said alternate waistband first portion. 
     
     
         12 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The garment of claim  13 , wherein said garment has a top and a bottom, wherein said alternate waistband is formed on said garment bottom, said garment bottom having an interior, wherein the maternity band is attached at an attachment location within the interior of said garment bottom. 
     
     
         15 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said garment has a top and a bottom, wherein said alternate waistband is formed on said garment bottom, and wherein said garment bottom is configured as pants, a skirt or shorts. 
     
     
         16 . The garment of  claim 15 , wherein said maternity band is attached to said garment bottom with stitching. 
     
     
         17 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said maternity band is removably attached to the bottom with a releasable fastening component. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The convertible maternity garment of  claim 1 , wherein a detachable securing means is provided for securing said maternity band to said garment and for facilitating the selective detachment of the maternity band from said garment. 
     
     
         20 . A method for converting a garment designed for use as a maternity garment and a non-maternity garment from a maternity garment to a non-maternity garment, including:
 providing a garment comprised of a first garment configured and arranged as a maternity garment to be worn by a woman during her maternity term, said garment being convertible from a maternity garment to a non-maternity garment, wherein said non-maternity garment is constructed from a portion of the maternity garment, and   wherein the garment comprises a maternity band and an alternate waistband configured and arranged so that both said maternity band and said alternate waistband are functional bands that are present on the garment simultaneously, wherein said first waistband and said alternate waistband are selectively functional based on the configuration of said garment; converting said garment from a maternity garment to a non-maternity garment by removing a removable portion of said garment,   wherein converting comprises detaching from said garment said maternity band to provide non-maternity garment having a configuration for use as a non-maternity garment; and wherein said alternate waistband has an upper edge, wherein said maternity band extends below said alternate waistband upper edge, said alternate waistband having an attachment zone and a free zone,   wherein an opening is provided in the front of said garment, said opening spanning from the upper edge of said alternate waistband to a location below said alternate waistband,   wherein at least a portion of said maternity band spans across said opening;   wherein said alternate waistband has an inside layer that faces a wearer, a first end portion and a second end portion;   and wherein a configurable member is provided, and wherein the method further includes connecting first end portion with the second end portion of the alternate waistband with the configurable member, so that said first end and said second end of the alternate waistband remain connected with said configurable member while at least a portion of said maternity band spans across said opening; and   detaching from said first garment said maternity band to provide a non-maternity garment having a configuration for use as a non-maternity garment.