Adjustable upper body garment

Abstract

The present invention pertains to an upper body garment that contains a mechanism which allows the user to adjust the bust size of said garment. Said mechanism would consist principally of a panel located generally below the armpit. A zipper would be located at the top of the panel under the armpit, at the location of the vertical seam commonly found on most upper body garments. As the zipper tab is lowered from the armpit, the strands of the zipper will separate and expose the panel. This action would gradually increase the amount of bust room available for the user.

1 . A garment comprising:
 a) a torso section formed with a first and a second arm opening disposed on opposite sides thereof;   b) first and second vertical openings starting respectively from said first and second arm openings and extending downward, each said vertical opening having two lateral edges;   c) first and second arm section attached to said torso section by seam following said first and second arm openings, respectively;   d) first and second fabric panels attached to said torso section behind said first and second vertical openings; and   e) first and second closure members attached to said lateral edges for selectively closing said first and second vertical opening from the bottom toward said respective arm openings to selectively change the size of said vertical openings and a lateral separation of said lateral edges, to conform the size of the torso section to the bust size of the wearer.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein each said closure member is adapted to selectively enable the user to set said openings vertical openings to a fully open position in which said lateral separation is selected to conform the size of the torso portion to a large bust size, said closure members being adapted to gradually close said vertical openings upwardly toward the arm pit zone thereby conforming the torso section to smaller bust sizes. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 2  wherein said vertical openings are about 4-5 in long. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein each said panels are exposed and visible as said closure members are opened. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein each said panel is made of the same material as the rest of the garment. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein each said panel is made of a blend of approximately 95% cotton and 5% stretchable fabric. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein each said panel is made of a blend of approximately 97% artificial fabric and 3% stretchable fabric. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein said panel is V-shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein each said panel has a top panel edge that is unattached to said torso section and lateral panel edges attached to said torso section. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein each said closure member is a zipper with zipper tracks attached to said lateral edges and a handle selectively movable from the bottom to the top of the respective vertical opening to selectively close said opening. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 10  wherein said zipper is a blind zipper. 
     
     
         12 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An adjustable garment configured to be worn by women having different breast sizes comprising:
 a torso section including a front and a back panel joined at respective right and left seams, and defining a first and a second arm hole, each hole having a lowest point;   first and second arm sections attached to said first and second arm holes respectively;   first and second panels attached to said torso behind said seams;   wherein said front and back define therebetween first and second vertical openings extending downwardly from the respective lowest points; and   first and second zippers configured to selectively close said respective vertical openings, each zipper including a handle having a top position at the respective arm opening for closing the respective arm opening and an open position disposed a predetermined position below the top position, wherein when said handle is disposed at said open position, said vertical opening is at least partially open and separated;   said vertical openings and zippers cooperating in said closed position to conform said torso for a woman having a first size breast,   said vertical openings and zippers cooperating in said open position to conform said torso to for a woman having a second breast size.   
     
     
         17 . The garment of  claim 16  wherein said first size and larger than said second size. 
     
     
         18 . The garment of  claim 16  wherein said panels are not attached to the arms and said torso. 
     
     
         19 . The garment of  claim 16  wherein said panels are made of an extendible fabric.