Clothing alteration device and method

Abstract

A clothing alteration device may include an elongated body having a first side and an opposing second side. One or more adhesive surfaces may be disposed on the first side that may be formed by an adhesive material. The device may also include one or more non-adhesive surfaces which may comprise portions of the first side to which adhesive material has not been applied. Preferably, the device may comprise two or more adhesive surfaces that may be separated from each other by a non-adhesive surface. The body may comprise a resilient material which is able to regain its shape after deformation so that the adhesive surface(s) and non-adhesive surface(s) may likewise regain their shape after deformation. The body may be stretched and adhered to portions of a garment, and once adhered, the body may be released thereby gathering the portions of the garment that the device is adhered to.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A clothing alteration device, the device comprising:
 an elongated body having a first side and an opposing second side;   at least one adhesive surface disposed on the first side, wherein each of the at least one adhesive surface on the first side is formed by an adhesive material applied to the first side;   at least one non-adhesive surface disposed on the first side, wherein each of the at least one non-adhesive surface is formed by a portion of the first side to which adhesive material has not been applied, and wherein the body comprises a resilient material which is able to regain its shape after deformation so that the at least one adhesive surface and the at least one non-adhesive surface likewise regain their shape after deformation.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a release liner that is removably coupled to at least one adhesive surface. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the release liner comprises a first distal tab, a second distal tab, and a central tab, and wherein the first distal tab and second distal tab are both removably coupled to the central tab. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one adhesive surface covers at least 25 percent of the first side. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one adhesive surface covers at least 40 percent of the first side. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a sheet of resilient material. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a length dimension and a width dimension, and wherein the length dimension is greater than 100% of the width dimension. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises at least two non-adhesive surfaces, and wherein the at least two non-adhesive surfaces are separated from each other by the at least one adhesive surface. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the device comprises a first distal adhesive surface, a second distal adhesive surface, and a central adhesive surface, wherein the first distal adhesive surface and the central adhesive surface are separated from each other by a first non-adhesive surface, and wherein the second distal adhesive surface and the central adhesive surface are separated from each other by a second non-adhesive surface. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the device comprises a first distal adhesive surface, a second distal adhesive surface, a central adhesive surface, a first non-adhesive surface, and a second non-adhesive surface, wherein both the first and second non-adhesive surfaces extend between the first distal adhesive surface and the second distal adhesive surface, and wherein the first non-adhesive surface and the second non-adhesive surface are separated from each other by the central adhesive surface. 
     
     
         11 . A method for decreasing the size of a garment with a clothing alteration device having:
 an elongated body having a first side and an opposing second side; at least one adhesive surface disposed on the first side, wherein each of the at least one adhesive surface on the first side is formed by an adhesive material applied to the first side; at least one non-adhesive surface disposed on the first side, wherein each of the at least one non-adhesive surface is formed by a portion of the first side to which adhesive material has not been applied, and wherein the body comprises a resilient material which is able to regain its shape after deformation so that the at least one adhesive surface and the at least one non-adhesive surface likewise regain their shape after deformation, and the method including the steps of:   stretching the body;   applying the stretched body to the garment so that the at least one adhesive region adheres to a portion of the garment; and   releasing the body from stretching causing the body to gather the portion of the garment thereby decreasing the size of the garment.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the device comprises a release liner that is removably coupled to at least one adhesive surface. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the release liner comprises a first distal tab, a second distal tab, and a central tab, and wherein the first distal tab and second distal tab are both removably coupled to the central tab. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one adhesive surface covers at least 25 percent of the first side. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one adhesive surface covers at least 40 percent of the first side. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the body comprises a sheet of resilient material. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the body has a length dimension and a width dimension, and wherein the length dimension is greater than 100% of the width dimension. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the device comprises at least two non-adhesive surfaces, and wherein the at least two non-adhesive surfaces are separated from each other by the at least one adhesive surface. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the device comprises a first distal adhesive surface, a second distal adhesive surface, and a central adhesive surface, wherein the first distal adhesive surface and the central adhesive surface are separated from each other by a first non-adhesive surface, and wherein the second distal adhesive surface and the central adhesive surface are separated from each other by a second non-adhesive surface. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the device comprises a first distal adhesive surface, a second distal adhesive surface, a central adhesive surface, a first non-adhesive surface, and a second non-adhesive surface, wherein both the first and second non-adhesive surfaces extend between the first distal adhesive surface and the second distal adhesive surface, and wherein the first non-adhesive surface and the second non-adhesive surface are separated from each other by the central adhesive surface.