System and method of adjusting the fit of clothing

Abstract

A system for adjusting the fit of an article of clothing and to provide other benefits including, but not limited to, reduction and/or elimination of wind drag, reduction of loose clothing that can get caught or cause obstruction, regulation of blood circulation, movement, and swelling of the wearer of the article of clothing, adjustment of ventilation, general enhancement of the clothing for a desired activity, and general comfort and/or desired appearance. The system comprises one or more closures at various locations of the article of clothing to enable the wearer to adjust the fit of the clothing when desired.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for selectively adjusting a fit of an article of clothing, the system comprising:
 a closure interconnected to a first portion and a second portion of the article of clothing; and   a third portion of the article of clothing positioned between the first and second portions, wherein, when the closure is in an open position, the system is in a first configuration and the third portion maintains a spaced relationship between the first and second portions, wherein, when the closure is in a closed position, the system is in a second configuration, and wherein at least a portion of the article of clothing has a tighter fit in the second configuration than in the first configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the closure is at least one of a zipper, a double zipper, a hook and loop material, a tab, a magnet, a ziplock, ruching, a bungee, lacing, a Boa, a button, a snap, a draw-cord, and a camlock, and wherein the closure is positioned in at least one of an arm or sleeve, a back, a front, a waist, or a leg of the article of clothing. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the article of clothing comprises one of short legs and long legs, wherein the system is positioned in at least a portion of each leg of the article of clothing, and wherein a bottom portion of the third portion proximate to a bottom of each leg is wider than an upper portion of the third portion distal to the bottom of each leg. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is positioned in at least one of an inner portion, an outer portion, a front portion, and a back portion of each leg of the article of clothing, and wherein, in the first configuration, the third portion forms a portion of an exterior surface of the article of clothing, and, in the second configuration, the third portion is not visible from an exterior of the article of clothing. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a first edge of the third portion is interconnected to the first portion along a length of the closure, a second edge of the third portion is interconnected to the second portion along the length of closure, and a third edge of the third portion is oriented in a different direction than the first and second edges, wherein the third edge is positioned between the first and second edges proximate a bottom portion of the article of clothing. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the first edge and the second edge are of approximately the same length, and wherein the first edge of the third portion is not parallel to the second edge of the third portion. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein in the first configuration of the system, a circumference of at least a portion the article of clothing has a first dimension and the article of clothing has a loose fit, and wherein in the second configuration of the system, the circumference of the at least a portion of the article of clothing has a second dimension that is less than the first dimension and the article of clothing has a tighter fit. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion comprises a fabric panel joined by a seam to a different fabric panel of a different one of the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion, and wherein the first, second, and third portion are located in at least one of a leg portion, a sleeve portion, a back portion, a chest portion, and a waist portion of the article of clothing. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first portion is a first fabric panel, the second portion is a second fabric panel, and the third portion is a third fabric panel, wherein the first fabric panel is interconnected to the third fabric panel by a seam and the second fabric panel is interconnected to the third fabric panel by a seam. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the fabric panel of the at least one of the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion is formed of at least one of a fabric type and a fabric color that is different than a fabric type or a fabric color of the different fabric panel. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein a type of fabric of at least one of the first, second, and third portions is selected to change a rate of ventilation provided in the first configuration compared to the second configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein a type of fabric of at least one of the first, second, and third portions is selected to change an amount of wind proofing provided in the first configuration compared to the second configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein one of the first, second, and third portions comprises one of a water proof fabric and a water resistant fabric, and wherein the system provides a different amount of protection from moisture in the first configuration compared to the second configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein a type of fabric of at least one of the first, second, and third portions is selected to change a rate of flexibility and/or stability as well as control blood flow provided in the first configuration compared to the second configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein a type of fabric of at least one of the first, second, and third portions is selected to change a rate of buoyancy provided in the first configuration compared to the second configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein a type of fabric of at least one of the first, second, and third portions is selected to increase visibility of the article of clothing when the system is in one of the first and the second configurations. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one pocket that is accessible when the system is in one of the first and second configurations and that is inaccessible when the system is in the other of the first and second configurations. 
     
     
         19 . A method for selectively adjusting a fit of an article of clothing, the method comprising:
 providing an article of clothing comprising a system adapted to adjust the fit of the article of clothing, the system comprising a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel, a third fabric panel, and a closure, wherein a first edge of the third fabric panel is interconnected to the first fabric panel and a first portion of the closure, a second edge of the third fabric panel is interconnected to the second fabric panel and a second portion of the closure, and wherein the third fabric panel is positioned between the first and second fabric panels;   moving the closure of the system to an open position, wherein the system is in a first configuration and the third fabric panel forms a portion of an exterior surface of the article of clothing; and   moving the closure of the system to a closed position, wherein the system is in a second configuration and the third fabric panel does not form a portion of the exterior surface of the article of clothing, and wherein at least a portion of the article of clothing has a tighter fit in the second configuration than in the first configuration.   
     
     
         20 . An article of clothing with an adjustable fit, comprising:
 a first fabric panel;   a second fabric panel;   a third fabric panel positioned between the first and second fabric panels, a first edge of the third fabric panel interconnected to the first fabric panel and a second edge of the third fabric panel interconnected to the second fabric panel;   a first portion of a closure interconnected to a portion of the first fabric panel; and   a second portion of the closure interconnected to a portion of the second fabric panel, wherein when the first portion of the closure is separate from the second portion of the closure, the article of clothing has a first fit and the third fabric panel maintains a spaced relationship between the first and second fabric panels, and when the first portion of the closure at least partially contacts the second portion of the closure, the article of clothing has a second fit that is tighter than the first fit.