Article Of Clothing Having Magnetic Fastening Assemblies

Abstract

An article of clothing, such as a dress shirt, blouse, coat, jacket, or vest, includes a sheet of material forming a body portion. First and second plackets are formed along respective first and second end portions of the sheet of material. First and second magnetic elements, each being encased in an encasement, are secured inside first and second pockets, respectively, such that positions of the plurality of second magnetic elements correspond to positions of the plurality of first magnetic elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of clothing comprising:
 a first placket comprising an inside layer and an outside layer coupled together to form a first pocket between the inside and outside layers of the first placket;   a second placket comprising an inside layer, a middle layer and an outer layer, parallel inner and outer lines of stitching joining the layers of the second placket, a second pocket being located between the inside and middle layers of the second placket and a third pocket being located between the middle and outside layers of the second placket; and   a plurality of encased first magnetic elements secured inside the first pocket, first seams joining the inside and outside layers of the first placket for restraining movement of each encased first magnetic element inside the first pocket,   a plurality of encased second magnetic elements secured inside the second pocket, second seams joining only the inside and middle layers of the second placket around each encased second magnetic element for restraining movement of the plurality of encased second magnetic elements in the second pocket;   at least some of the encased first magnetic elements being adapted to engage with at least some of the encased second magnetic elements to close the article of clothing around a person's body, positions of the plurality of encased second magnetic elements corresponding to positions of the plurality of encased first magnetic elements, the second placket overlaying the first placket such that the first and second seams securing the plurality of encased first and second magnetic elements are not visible from an exterior of the article of clothing when the article of clothing is closed.   
     
     
         2 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of buttons coupled to only the outside layer of the second placket. 
     
     
         3 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second seams create rectangular enclosures. 
     
     
         4 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second seams create circular enclosures. 
     
     
         5 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein each of the encased first and second magnetic elements is rectangular. 
     
     
         6 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the first placket is on a right side of the article of clothing. 
     
     
         7 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the first placket is on a left side of the article of clothing. 
     
     
         8 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein each of the encased first and second magnetic elements includes a solid magnetic element. 
     
     
         9 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein each of the encased first and second magnetic elements includes a plastic encasement. 
     
     
         10 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pair of sleeves;   a cuff located at a distal end of each sleeve; and   an encased magnetic fastening assembly coupled to each cuff.   
     
     
         11 . An article of clothing comprising:
 a first placket comprising an inside layer of the first placket and an outside layer of the first placket coupled together to form a first pocket between the inside and outside layers of the first placket and between a fold and a line of stitching;   a second placket having an inside layer, a middle layer and an outer strip of material, parallel inner and outer lines of stitching joining the outer strip of material to the inside and middle layers of the second placket, the middle layer of the second placket being between the inside layer of the second placket and the outer strip of material, a second pocket being located between the middle layer of the second placket, a third pocket being located between the inside and middle layers of the second placket and the outer strip of material;   a plurality of encased first magnetic elements secured in position in the first pocket with seams joining the inside and outside layers of the first placket and a plurality of encased second magnetic elements, each of the encased second magnetic elements being secured in position in the second pocket with additional seams joining the inside and middle layers of the second placket,   at least some of the encased first magnetic elements adapted to be attracted to at least some of the encased second magnetic elements to close the article of clothing around a person's body, positions of the plurality of encased second magnetic elements corresponding to positions of the plurality of encased first magnetic elements wherein when the article of clothing is closed, the seams and additional seams are not visible from an exterior of the article of clothing.   
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of buttons coupled to only the outer strip of material of the second placket. 
     
     
         13 . The article of clothing of  claim 11 , wherein the first placket is on a right side of the article of clothing. 
     
     
         14 . The article of clothing of  claim 11 , wherein the seams and additional seams are rectangular. 
     
     
         15 . The article of clothing of  claim 11 , wherein the seams and additional seams are circular. 
     
     
         16 . An article of clothing comprising:
 a first placket comprising an inside layer of the first placket and an outside layer of the first placket coupled together to form a first pocket between the inside and outside layers of the first placket,   a second placket comprising an inside layer of the second placket, a middle layer of the second placket, the inside and middle layers of the second placket being secured to an outer strip of material with lines of stitching, the middle layer of the second placket being between the inside layer of the second placket and the outer strip of material, a second pocket being located between the middle and inside layers of the second placket, a third pocket being located between the middle layer of the second placket and the outer strip of material;   a plurality of spaced magnetic fastening assemblies including a plurality of encased first magnetic elements secured inside the first pocket and a plurality of encased second magnetic elements secured inside the second pocket, each encased first magnetic element being secured in position inside the first pocket by seams joining the inside and outside layers of the first placket and each encased second magnetic element being secured in position inside the second pocket by additional seams joining the inside and middle layers of the second placket,   the plurality of magnetic fastening assemblies being engaged when the article of clothing is closed around a person's body, positions of the plurality of encased second magnetic elements corresponding to positions of the plurality of encased first magnetic elements, wherein when the article of clothing is closed, the second placket overlays the first placket such that the seams and additional seams around the pluralities of encased first and second magnetic elements are not visible from an exterior of the article of clothing.   
     
     
         17 . The article of clothing of  claim 16 , further comprising buttons coupled to the outer strip of material of the second placket. 
     
     
         18 . The article of clothing of  claim 16 , wherein the seams and additional seams securing each of the encased first and second magnetic elements in the first and second pockets, respectively, are rectangular. 
     
     
         19 . The article of clothing of  claim 16 , further comprising a pair of sleeves, a cuff being located at a distal end of each sleeve and a magnetic fastening assembly coupled to each cuff. 
     
     
         20 . The article of clothing of  claim 16 , further comprising a pair of sleeves and a magnetic fastening assembly located at a distal end of each sleeve.