Modular clothing articles with replaceable and interchangeable panels

Abstract

A modular and reversible clothing article with replaceable and interchangeable panels or parts that allows the article to have one color, design, pattern or texture on one side and another color or pattern on the other side and to mix and match the panels or parts to have the same or different color, design, pattern or texture in the front and the back of the clothing article. The wearer may change the appearance of the clothing article on a daily basis, as needed or desired, increasing the usable lifespan and utility of any clothing article several fold.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular clothing article comprising:
 a. a first substantially rectangular front panel, having a first outer layer, a first inner layer, a first top edge, a first bottom edge, a first center edge, a first side edge, and a first sleeve part proximate to an intersection of the first top edge and the first side edge;   b. a second substantially rectangular front panel, having a second outer layer, a second inner layer, a second top edge, a second bottom edge, a second center edge, a second side edge, and a second sleeve part proximate to an intersection of the second top edge and the second side edge;   c. a substantially rectangular back panel, having an outer layer, an inner layer, a back top edge, a back bottom edge, a back side edge, an opposite back side edge, a back sleeve part reciprocal to the first sleeve part, and an opposite back sleeve part reciprocal to the second sleeve part;   d. a first plurality of cooperating attachment means disposed peripherally along the first top edge, an upper portion of the first sleeve part, the second top edge, an upper portion of the second sleeve part, the back top edge, an upper portion of the back sleeve part, and an upper portion of the opposite back sleeve part, removably connecting the first top edge and the upper portion of the first sleeve part to the back top edge and the upper portion of the back sleeve part and removably connecting the second top edge to the back top edge and the upper portion of the second sleeve part to the upper portion of the opposite back sleeve part by engaging the first plurality of cooperating attachment means;   e. a second plurality of cooperating attachment means disposed peripherally along the first side edge, a lower portion of the first sleeve part, the second side edge, a lower portion of the second sleeve part, the back side edge, a lower portion of the back sleeve part, the opposite back side edge, and a lower portion of the opposite back sleeve part, removably connecting the first side edge and the lower portion of the first sleeve part to the back side edge and the lower portion of the back sleeve part and removably connecting the second side edge and the lower portion of the second sleeve part to the opposite back side edge and the lower portion of the opposite back sleeve part by engaging the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, thereby connecting the first front panel and the second front panel to the back panel and forming sleeves of the clothing article; and   f. a cooperating attachment means disposed peripherally along the first center edge and the second center edge, removably connecting the first center edge to the second center edge by engaging the cooperating attachment means, thereby selectively connecting the first front panel to the second front panel, wherein the first outer layer, the second outer layer, and the outer layer are externally visible.   
     
     
         2 . A modular clothing article of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeves are short length, elbow length, three-quarter length, or full length. 
     
     
         3 . A modular clothing article of  claim 1 , wherein the first center edge, the first side edge, the second center edge, the second side edge, the back side edge and the opposite back side edge are substantially vertical. 
     
     
         4 . A modular clothing article of  claim 1 , wherein the first bottom edge, the second bottom edge, and the back bottom edge are substantially horizontal. 
     
     
         5 . A modular clothing article of  claim 4 , wherein the first bottom edge, the second bottom edge, and the back bottom edge are substantially vertically aligned, forming a hem of the clothing article. 
     
     
         6 . A modular clothing article of  claim 1 , wherein a neck opening is defined in the modular clothing article between the first front panel, the second front panel, and the back panel. 
     
     
         7 . A modular clothing article of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first outer layer, the second outer layer, and the outer layer has a color, design or pattern. 
     
     
         8 . A modular clothing article of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first inner layer, the second inner layer, and the inner layer has a color, design or pattern. 
     
     
         9 . A modular clothing article of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first front panel, the second front panel, and the back panel is reversible. 
     
     
         10 . A modular clothing article of  claim 1 , wherein the first front panel and the second front panel are interchangeable. 
     
     
         11 . A modular clothing article of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of cooperating attachment means, the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, and the cooperating attachment means are selected from the group consisting of: standard zippers, #3 reversible zippers, buttons and loops, buttons and slots, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, hook and bar fasteners, locks, straps, elastic attachments, latches, ties, ribbons, clasps, and buckles. 
     
     
         12 . A modular clothing article of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of cooperating attachment means, the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, and the cooperating attachment means are zippers. 
     
     
         13 . A modular clothing article comprising:
 a. a first substantially rectangular front panel, having a first layer of fabric being a first outer layer and a second layer of fabric being a first inner layer, said first layer of fabric and said second layer of fabric being coupled together, defining a first top edge, a first bottom edge, a first center edge, a first side edge, and a first sleeve part proximate to an intersection of the first top edge and the first side edge;   b. a second substantially rectangular front panel, having a third layer of fabric being a second outer layer and a fourth layer of fabric being a second inner layer, said third layer of fabric and said fourth layer of fabric being coupled together, defining a second top edge, a second bottom edge, a second center edge, a second side edge, and a second sleeve part proximate to an intersection of the second top edge and the second side edge;   c. a substantially rectangular back panel, having a fifth layer of fabric being an outer layer and a sixth layer of fabric being an inner layer, said fifth layer of fabric and said sixth layer of fabric being coupled together, defining a back top edge, a back bottom edge, a back side edge, an opposite back side edge, a back sleeve part reciprocal to the first sleeve part, and an opposite back sleeve part reciprocal to the second sleeve part;   d. a first plurality of cooperating attachment means disposed peripherally along the first top edge, an upper portion of the first sleeve part, the second top edge, an upper portion of the second sleeve part, the back top edge, an upper portion of the back sleeve part, and an upper portion of the opposite back sleeve part, removably connecting the first top edge and the upper portion of the first sleeve part to the back top edge and the upper portion of the back sleeve part and removably connecting the second top edge to the back top edge and the upper portion of the second sleeve part to the upper portion of the opposite back sleeve part by engaging the first plurality of cooperating attachment means;   e. a second plurality of cooperating attachment means disposed peripherally along the first side edge, a lower portion of the first sleeve part, the second side edge, a lower portion of the second sleeve part, the back side edge, a lower portion of the back sleeve part, the opposite back side edge, and a lower portion of the opposite back sleeve part, removably connecting the first side edge and the lower portion of the first sleeve part to the back side edge and the lower portion of the back sleeve part and removably connecting the second side edge and the lower portion of the second sleeve part to the opposite back side edge and the lower portion of the opposite back sleeve part by engaging the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, thereby connecting the first front panel and the second front panel to the back panel and forming sleeves of the clothing article; and   f. a cooperating attachment means disposed peripherally along the first center edge and the second center edge, removably connecting the first center edge to the second center edge by engaging the cooperating attachment means, thereby selectively connecting the first front panel to the second front panel, wherein the first outer layer, the second outer layer, and the outer layer are externally visible.   
     
     
         14 . A modular clothing article of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first layer of fabric, the second layer of fabric, the third layer of fabric, the fourth layer of fabric, the fifth layer of fabric, and the sixth layer of fabric has a color, design, or pattern. 
     
     
         15 . A modular clothing article of  claim 13 , wherein the sleeves are short length, elbow length, three-quarter length, or full length. 
     
     
         16 . A modular clothing article of  claim 13 , wherein the first center edge, the first side edge, the second center edge, the second side edge, the back side edge and the opposite back side edge are substantially vertical. 
     
     
         17 . A modular clothing article of  claim 13 , wherein the first bottom edge, the second bottom edge, and the back bottom edge are substantially horizontal. 
     
     
         18 . A modular clothing article of  claim 17 , wherein the first bottom edge, the second bottom edge, and the back bottom edge are substantially vertically aligned, forming a hem of the clothing article. 
     
     
         19 . A modular clothing article of  claim 13 , wherein a neck opening is defined in the modular clothing article between the first front panel, the second front panel, and the back panel. 
     
     
         20 . A modular clothing article of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first front panel, the second front panel, and the back panel is reversible. 
     
     
         21 . A modular clothing article of  claim 13 , wherein the first front panel and the second front panel are interchangeable. 
     
     
         22 . A modular clothing article of  claim 13 , wherein the first plurality of cooperating attachment means, the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, and the cooperating attachment means are selected from the group consisting of: standard zippers, #3 reversible zippers, buttons and loops, buttons and slots, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, hook and bar fasteners, locks, straps, elastic attachments, latches, ties, ribbons, clasps, and buckles. 
     
     
         23 . A modular clothing article of  claim 13 , wherein the first plurality of cooperating attachment means, the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, and the cooperating attachment means are zippers. 
     
     
         24 . A modular clothing article comprising:
 a. a first substantially rectangular front panel, having a first outer layer, a first inner layer, a first top edge, a first bottom edge, a first center edge and a first side edge;   b. a second substantially rectangular front panel, having a second outer layer, a second inner layer, a second top edge, a second bottom edge, a second center edge and a second side edge;   c. a substantially rectangular back panel, having an outer layer, an inner layer, a back top edge, a back bottom edge, a back side edge and an opposite back side edge;   d. a first plurality of cooperating attachment means disposed peripherally along the first top edge, the second top edge and the back top edge, removably connecting the first top edge and the second top edge to the back top edge by engaging the first plurality of cooperating attachment means;   e. a second plurality of cooperating attachment means disposed peripherally along the first side edge, the second side edge, the back side edge and the opposite back side edge, removably connecting the first side edge to the back side edge and removably connecting the second side edge to the opposite back side edge by engaging the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, thereby connecting the first front panel and the second front panel to the back panel; and   f. a cooperating attachment means disposed peripherally along the first center edge and the second center edge, removably connecting the first center edge to the second center edge by engaging the cooperating attachment means, thereby selectively connecting the first front panel to the second front panel, wherein the first outer layer, the second outer layer, and the outer layer are externally visible.   
     
     
         25 . A modular clothing article of  claim 24 , wherein the first center edge, the first side edge, the second center edge, the second side edge, the back side edge and the opposite back side edge are substantially vertical. 
     
     
         26 . A modular clothing article of  claim 24 , wherein the first bottom edge, the second bottom edge, and the back bottom edge are substantially horizontal. 
     
     
         27 . A modular clothing article of  claim 26 , wherein the first bottom edge, the second bottom edge, and the back bottom edge are substantially vertically aligned, forming a hem of the clothing article. 
     
     
         28 . A modular clothing article of  claim 24 , wherein a first arm opening is defined between the first front panel and the back panel, a second arm opening is defined between the second front panel and the back panel, and a neck opening is defined in the modular clothing article between the first front panel, the second front panel, and the back panel. 
     
     
         29 . A modular clothing article of  claim 24 , wherein each of the first outer layer, the second outer layer, the outer layer, the first inner layer, the second inner layer, and the inner layer has a color, design or pattern. 
     
     
         30 . A modular clothing article of  claim 24 , wherein each of the first front panel, the second front panel, and the back panel is reversible. 
     
     
         31 . A modular clothing article of  claim 24 , wherein the first front panel and the second front panel are interchangeable. 
     
     
         32 . A modular clothing article of  claim 24 , wherein the first plurality of cooperating attachment means, the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, and the cooperating attachment means are selected from the group consisting of: standard zippers, #3 reversible zippers, buttons and loops, buttons and slots, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, hook and bar fasteners, locks, straps, elastic attachments, latches, ties, ribbons, clasps, and buckles. 
     
     
         33 . A modular clothing article of  claim 24 , wherein the first plurality of cooperating attachment means, the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, and the cooperating attachment means are zippers. 
     
     
         34 . A modular clothing article comprising:
 a. a first substantially rectangular front panel, having a first outer layer, a first inner layer, a first top edge, a first bottom edge, a first center edge, a first side edge, and a first sleeve part proximate to an intersection of the first top edge and the first side edge;   b. a second substantially rectangular front panel, having a second outer layer, a second inner layer, a second top edge, a second bottom edge, a second center edge, a second side edge, and a second sleeve part proximate to an intersection of the second top edge and the second side edge;   c. a first substantially rectangular back panel, having a first back outer layer, a first back inner layer, a first back top edge, a first back bottom edge, a first back side edge, a first back center edge, and a first back sleeve part reciprocal to the first sleeve part;   d. a second substantially rectangular back panel, having a second back outer layer, a second back inner layer, a second back top edge, a second back bottom edge, a second back side edge, a second back center edge, and a second back sleeve part reciprocal to the second sleeve part;   e. a first plurality of cooperating attachment means disposed peripherally (i) along the first top edge, an upper portion of the first sleeve part, the first back top edge, and an upper portion of the first back sleeve part, removably connecting the first top edge and the upper portion of the first sleeve part to the first back top edge and the upper portion of the first back sleeve part, and (ii) along the second top edge, an upper portion of the second sleeve part, the second back top edge, and an upper portion of the second back sleeve part, removably connecting the second top edge to the back top edge and the upper portion of the second sleeve part to the upper portion of the second back sleeve part, by engaging the first plurality of cooperating attachment means;   f. a second plurality of cooperating attachment means disposed peripherally (i) along the first side edge, a lower portion of the first sleeve part, a first back side edge, and a lower portion of the first back sleeve part, removably connecting the first side edge and the lower portion of the first sleeve part to the first back side edge and the lower portion of the first back sleeve part, and (ii) along the second side edge, a lower portion of the second sleeve part, the second back side edge, and a lower portion of the second back sleeve part, removably connecting the second side edge and the lower portion of the second sleeve part to the second back side edge and the lower portion of the second back sleeve part, by engaging the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, thereby connecting the first front panel to the first back panel and the second front panel to the second back panel and forming sleeves of the clothing article;   g. a first cooperating attachment means disposed peripherally along the first back center edge and the second back center edge, removably connecting the first back center edge to the second back center edge by engaging the first cooperating attachment means, thereby connecting the first back panel to the second back panel; and   h. a second cooperating attachment means disposed peripherally along the first center edge and the second center edge, removably connecting the first center edge to the second center edge by engaging the second cooperating attachment means, thereby selectively connecting the first front panel to the second front panel, and wherein the first outer layer, the second outer layer, the first back outer layer and the second back outer layer are externally visible.   
     
     
         35 . A modular clothing article of  claim 34 , wherein the sleeves are short length, elbow length, three-quarter length, or full length. 
     
     
         36 . A modular clothing article of  claim 34 , wherein the first center edge, the first side edge, the second center edge, the second side edge, the first back side edge, the first back center edge, the second back side edge, and the second back center edge are substantially vertical. 
     
     
         37 . A modular clothing article of  claim 34 , wherein the first bottom edge, the second bottom edge, the first back bottom edge, and the second back bottom edge are substantially horizontal. 
     
     
         38 . A modular clothing article of  claim 37 , wherein the first bottom edge, the second bottom edge, the first back bottom edge, and the second back bottom edge are substantially vertically aligned, forming a hem of the clothing article. 
     
     
         39 . A modular clothing article of  claim 34 , wherein a neck opening is defined in the modular clothing article between the first front panel, the second front panel, the first back panel, and the second back panel. 
     
     
         40 . A modular clothing article of  claim 34 , wherein each of the first outer layer, the second outer layer, the first back outer layer, and the second back outer layer has a color, design or pattern. 
     
     
         41 . A modular clothing article of  claim 34 , wherein each of the first inner layer, the second inner layer, the first back inner layer, and the second back inner layer has a color, design or pattern. 
     
     
         42 . A modular clothing article of  claim 34 , wherein each of the first front panel, the second front panel, the first back panel, and the second back panel is reversible. 
     
     
         43 . A modular clothing article of  claim 34 , wherein the first front panel, the second front panel, the first back panel, and the second back panel are interchangeable. 
     
     
         44 . A modular clothing article of  claim 34 , wherein the first plurality of cooperating attachment means, the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, the first cooperating attachment means, and the second cooperating attachment means are selected from the group consisting of: standard zippers, #3 reversible zippers, buttons and loops, buttons and slots, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, hook and bar fasteners, locks, straps, elastic attachments, latches, ties, ribbons, clasps, and buckles. 
     
     
         45 . A modular clothing article of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of cooperating attachment means, the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, the first cooperating attachment means, and the second cooperating attachment means are zippers. 
     
     
         46 . A method of manufacturing a modular clothing article comprising:
 a. providing a first substantially rectangular front panel, having a first outer layer, a first inner layer, a first top edge, a first bottom edge, a first center edge, a first side edge, and a first sleeve part proximate to an intersection of the first top edge and the first side edge;   b. providing a second substantially rectangular front panel, having a second outer layer, a second inner layer, a second top edge, a second bottom edge, a second center edge, a second side edge, and a second sleeve part proximate to an intersection of the second top edge and the second side edge;   c. providing a substantially rectangular back panel, having an outer layer, an inner layer, a back top edge, a back bottom edge, a back side edge, an opposite back side edge, a back sleeve part reciprocal to the first sleeve part, and an opposite back sleeve part reciprocal to the second sleeve part;   d. disposing a first plurality of cooperating attachment means peripherally along the first top edge, an upper portion of the first sleeve part, the second top edge, an upper portion of the second sleeve part, the back top edge, an upper portion of the back sleeve part, and an upper portion of the opposite back sleeve part, enabling a removable connection of the first top edge and the upper portion of the first sleeve part to the back top edge and the upper portion of the back sleeve part and enabling a removable connection of the second top edge to the back top edge and the upper portion of the second sleeve part to the upper portion of the opposite back sleeve part by selectively engaging the first plurality of cooperating attachment means;   e. disposing a second plurality of cooperating attachment means peripherally along the first side edge, a lower portion of the first sleeve part, the second side edge, a lower portion of the second sleeve part, the back side edge, a lower portion of the back sleeve part, the opposite back side edge, and a lower portion of the opposite back sleeve part, enabling a removable connection of the first side edge and the lower portion of the first sleeve part to the back side edge and the lower portion of the back sleeve part and enabling a removable connection of the second side edge and the lower portion of the second sleeve part to the opposite back side edge and the lower portion of the opposite back sleeve part by selectively engaging the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, thereby connecting the first front panel and the second front panel to the back panel and forming sleeves of the clothing article; and   f. disposing a cooperating attachment means peripherally along the first center edge and the second center edge, enabling a removable connection of the first center edge to the second center edge by selectively engaging the cooperating attachment means, thereby selectively connecting the first front panel to the second front panel, wherein the first outer layer, the second outer layer, and the outer layer are externally visible.   
     
     
         47 . A method of manufacturing a modular clothing article of  claim 46 , wherein the first center edge, the first side edge, the second center edge, the second side edge, the back side edge and the opposite back side edge are substantially vertical. 
     
     
         48 . A method of manufacturing a modular clothing article of  claim 46 , wherein the first bottom edge, the second bottom edge, and the back bottom edge are substantially horizontal. 
     
     
         49 . A method of manufacturing a modular clothing article of  claim 46 , further comprising substantially aligning the first bottom edge, the second bottom edge, and the back bottom edge vertically, forming a hem of the clothing article. 
     
     
         50 . A method of manufacturing a modular clothing article of  claim 46 , further comprising defining a neck opening in the modular clothing article between the first front panel, the second front panel, and the back panel. 
     
     
         51 . A method of manufacturing a modular clothing article of  claim 46 , further comprising imparting a color, design or pattern on each of the first outer layer, the second outer layer, and the outer layer. 
     
     
         52 . A method of manufacturing a modular clothing article of  claim 46 , further comprising imparting a color, design or pattern on each of the first inner layer, the second inner layer, and the inner layer. 
     
     
         53 . A method of manufacturing a modular clothing article of  claim 46 , wherein each of the first front panel, the second front panel, and the back panel is reversible. 
     
     
         54 . A method of manufacturing a modular clothing article of  claim 46 , further comprising changing a color, design or pattern of the clothing article by interchanging the first front panel and the second front panel. 
     
     
         55 . A method of manufacturing a modular clothing article of  claim 46 , wherein the first plurality of cooperating attachment means, the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, and the cooperating attachment means are selected from the group consisting of: standard zippers, #3 reversible zippers, buttons and loops, buttons and slots, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, hook and bar fasteners, locks, straps, elastic attachments, latches, ties, ribbons, clasps, and buckles. 
     
     
         56 . A method of manufacturing a modular clothing article of  claim 46 , wherein the first plurality of cooperating attachment means, the second plurality of cooperating attachment means, and the cooperating attachment means are zippers.