Versatile two-piece body garment
United States Patent [191 Tepper Apr. 15, 1975 VERSATILE TWO-PIECE BODY GARMENT [76] Inventor: Karen Tepper, 2828 Kings Hwy.,  
 Brooklyn, NY. 11229 [22] Filed: Dec. 12, 1973 211 Appl. No.: 423,909  
 [52] US. Cl. 2/74; 2/90; 2/106;  
  2/211; 2/227; 2/DIG. 2 [51] Int. Cl A41d l/22; A41d l/O6;A41d1/14 [58] Field of Search 2/239, 240, 224 R, 227,  
 2/73, 74, 106, 75, 104, 80, 105, 90, 114, DIG. 7, DIG. 2, 16, 59,115  
 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,250,836 12/1917 Fowler ..2/106X 3,141,175 7/1964 Heater et al. 2/74 3,547,128 12/1970 Ke1tner..... 2/239 X 3,751,730 8/1973 Zamist 2/114 Primary Examiner-H. Hampton Hunter [57] ABSTRACT A body garment comprising two separate and independent, and yet compIementary pieces adapted to be worn with one another or with any other garment piece complementary thereto enabling a wide variety of mixing and matching between and among such complementary pieces.  
 1 Claim, 21 Drawing Figures PATENYEUAPR 1 SISYS 3, 877, 078  
 PATENTEUAPR I 5 r975 VERSATILE TWO-PIECE BODY GARMENT The present invention relates to body garments and more particulary to a novel two-piece body garment structure comprised of separate and independent complementary pieces.  
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Body garments may be considered to fall generally into four basic categories such as blouses or tops; skirts; pants; and dresses. Of these four categories conventional design dictates that the garments be unitary in structure, i.e., of one piece. For example, considering a shirt or blouse, such a garment is typically comprised of left and right sleeves joined to a back panel with the front panels normally joined along their forward edges by buttons, slide fasteners or other means. Thus, the garment is a unitary entity and while it may be mixed and matched with other garments such as jackets, shirts, pants, shorts and the like, it does not achieve the ultimate in versatility from the viewpoint of being easily mixed or matched in and of itself.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is characterized by providing a garment of any of the general categories set forth hereinabove and comprised of two separate and independent and yet complementary pieces having a versatility not heretofore provided through conventional.  
 body garment structures due to the capability of being mixed and matched with a wide variety of complementary body garment pieces.  
  The present invention, in one preferred embodiment, for example, comprises a body garment typically referred to as a halter top which, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, is comprised of two separate and independent garment pieces, each of which may be separately and independently fastened to the body. The garment pieces are complementary in nature in the sense that one piece is worn effectively over the left shoulder, for example, while the complementary piece is worn over the right or opposite shoulder. Utilizing two separate and independent pieces which collectively comprise the halter top provides a significant increase in the amount of versatility in that: two complementary pieces may be mixed or matched in a variety of contrasting colors, fabrics, patterns and even configurations or styles, which versatility was not heretofore obtained through conventional body garmerits.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES AND OBJECTS It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a body garment structure in which the subject body garment is formed of two separate and independent and yet complementary garment pieces.  
  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a body garment design of two separate and yet complementary garment pieces to achieve a versatility of mixing and matching between and among complementary garment pieces not heretofore capable through body garments of conventional design.  
  The above as well as other objects of the present invention will become apparent when reading the accompanying description and drawings in which:  
  FIG. la is a perspective view showing a body garment designed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
  FIG. lb is an elevational view of the body garment of FIG. 1a showing the manner in which the garment is worn;  
  FIG. 2a shows a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
  FIGS. 2b and 20 show front and rear views of the body garment of FIG. 2a to facilitate an understanding of the manner in which the garment is worn;  
  FIG. 3a shows a perspective view of still another preferred embodiment of a body garment designed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
  FIG. 3b shows a front view of a body garment comprising the design of the garment piece shown in FIG. 3a to facilitate an understanding of the manner in which the body garment is worn;  
  FIG. 4a is a perspective view showing two complementary garment pieces comprising another preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
  FIG. 4b shows a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 4a which facilitates an understanding of the manner in which the body garment is worn;  
  FIG. 5a shows a perspective view of two complementary body garment pieces showing another preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
  FIGS. 5b and 50 show front views of a body garment of the type shown in FIG. 5a to facilitate an understanding of the manner in which the body garment pieces may be worn either individually or collectively;  
  FIG. 6a shows a perspective view ofa two-piece body garment of another preferred arrangement embodying the principles of the present invention.  
  FIGS. 6b and 60 respectively show front and rear views of the body garment of FIG. 6a which facilitates an understanding of the manner in which the body garment is worn;  
  FIGS. 6c, 6d, 6e show front or rear views of modified embodiments of the garment of FIGS. 6a-6c.  
  FIG. 7a is a perspective view showing still another preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
  FIG. 7b shows a perspective view of the two-piece body garment of FIG. 7a;  
  FIG. 8a is a perspective view showing a two-piece body garment structure designed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and showing still another preferred embodiment thereof;  
  FIG. 8b shows a front view of the body garment of FIG. 8a which facilitates an understanding of the manner in which the body garment is worn.  
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIGS. la and 1b show a long sleeve, two-piece tie top 10 designed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and comprising first and second complementary garment pieces 11 and 12, respectively. These pieces will hereinafter be referred to as left-hand (12) and right-hand (11) body pieces in the sense that they are worn respectively on the left-hand and righthand portions of the body. The body garment pieces are each comprised of a sleeve 11a and 12a; front panel 11b and 12b; rear panel 11c and 12c; front ties 11d and 12d; and rear ties He and 12e. The embodiment shown in FIG. 1a is a tie top with peplum provided in each garment piece and shown at 11f and 12f, respectively.  
  The manner in which the garment is worn is shown best in FIG. 1b. The garment piece 11 is put on first and its ties 11d and 11e are fastened together about waist high along the left side of the wearer. The garment pice 12 is then put on and its ties 12d and 126 are fastened about waist high and are preferably tied in a decorative bow as shown at 13. The versatility of the body garment in FIGS. la and 1b is such that either half may be tied or wrapped about the other half and worn as the outer portion.  
  Another distinct advantage resides in the fact that numerous sets of garments of the type shown as garment 10, being of different colors, fabrics, patterns and the like, may be mixed and matched with a wide variety of combinations being limited only by the imagination of the wearer.  
  Whereas the body garment is shown as having a peplum and as having sleeves it is obvious that the body garment may be designed eliminating the peplum and- /or sleeves so as to make a sleeveless garment with or without peplum or, alternatively, a short sleeved or sleeveless garment with or without peplum while nevertheless retaining the versatility of the garment structure as set forth hereinabove.  
  FIGS. 2a-2r&#39; show another modification 20 conventionally referred to as a tie halter top with peplum and comprised of halter halves 21 and 22, each having: a bodice portion 21a and 22a; a peplum 21b and 22b; a halter top tie 21c and 22e; a rear waist tie 21d and 22d; and a front waist tie 21c and 220. FIG. 2a shows the body garment viewed from the rear while FIGS. 2b and 20 show front and rear views of the body garment and the manner in which it is worn on the body.  
  The halter top section 22 is placed on the body first, for example, and its waist ties 22c and 22d are fastened about waist high and on the left side of the body. The left-hand halter top piece 21 is then placed on the body and its waist ties 22d and 22d tied in the form ofa decorative bow as shown at 23, positioned about waist high and near the right side of the body.  
  The halter ties 212 and 22e have their lower ends sewn or secured to or otherwise integrally joined to the tapering upper portions 21a-1 and 22a-1 as shown best in FIG. 2b. The ties are placed respectively around the left and right-hand sides of the neck of the wearer and about the back or nape of the neck where they are tied in a decorative bow 24, as shown best in FIG. 2c. As was set forth hereinabove, it is obvious that either halter half 21 or 22 may be wrapped about the exterior of the remaining halter half enabling the decorative bow 23 arranged at the waist to be positioned to either side of the body. The mixing and matching combination referred to hereinabove in connection with the embodiment 10 applies equally well to the embodiment 20.  
  The concept of the present invention is further carried out in the form of a sleeveless dress 30 having complementary garment pieces 31 and 32, the garment piece 32 being shown best in FIG. 3a. Each garment piece is comprised of a bodice portion 310, 32a, and a three-tiered skirt portion 31b and 32b, respectively. The bodice portions have front and rear sections (as do the skirt portions). The bodice portion 32a has a front 32a-1 and rear 3211-2 section, the upper tapering portions of which are joined to form a strap portion, the strap portions 310 and 32c being shown best in FIG. 3b and being worn respectively upon the right and left shoulders and adjacent the neck.  
  Each garment piece is further provided with a waist band such as, for example, the waist band 32d, sewn or otherwise affixed to the garment piece and having free ends 32d-1 and 32d-2 to serve as ties.  
  The garment piece 32 may be placed upon the body with its ties 32d-1 and 32d-2 fastened to one another about waist high and along the right-hand side of the body. Garment piece 31 is then placed on the body and its ties are fastened to form a decorative bow as shown at 33. Either garment piece may be wrapped about the exterior of the other garment piece if desired, so that the ties 32d-1 and 32d-2 may be utilized to form a decorative bow along the right side of the body as opposed that arrangement shown in FIG. 3b.  
  The body garment pieces may be made in any and all fabrics including, for example, sweater knits and, as was recited hereinabove, complementary garment pieces may be mixed and matched to a degree limited only by the imagination of the user.  
  FIGS. 4a and 4b show another alternative embodiment of the present invention which comprises a longsleeve, two-piece top with side seams replacing the ties shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 13. The embodiment 40 of FIG. 4a is comprised of garment pieces 41 and 42, each comprising a sleeve 41a and 42a and front and rear bodice sections 41b-42b and 4lc-42c which are sewn or otherwise joined to one another, as well as being joined to their associated sleeves 41a and 42a. Alternatively, the bodice pieces such as, for example, 41b and 41c may be a single knitted piece having the configuration of FIG. 4a while eliminating the need for seams for joining pieces 41b and 41c. The garment pieces, when made up in knitted form are further provided with stretchable ribbed waistban&#39;ds 41d and 42d and with marginal ribbing 412 and 42e along the free diagonal edges.  
  FIG. 4b shows the manner in which the two garment pieces are worn with garment piece 41 being put on first and with garment piece 42 being put on over garment piece 41. Obviously, the garment pieces may be placed on the body in reverse order, if desired. The embodiments of FIGS. 4a and 4b may be provided with peplum, as a dress, or with long or short sleeves, or in sleeveless form and may be made up in all fabrics, in-&#39; cluding sweater knits, with the number of mixable and matchable complementary garment pieces being quite large.  
  FIGS. 5a and 5b show an embodiment 40 modified somewhat relative to the embodiment 40 of FIGS. 4a  
 and 4b wherein like parts are designated by like, but  
 primed, numerals. The sleeve portions 41a and 42a differ from the sleeves of FIGS. 4a and 4b which are ribbed at 41f and 42f forming stretchable waist portions whereas the sleeves 41a and 42a are each flared. Also, the bodice portions are designed so as to each individually cover substantially the entire breast of the wearer. As can best be seen from a consideration of FIG. 5b, the garment piece 41 is shown as being worn on the body and exclusively of garment piece 42. FIG. 50 shows the manner in which both garment pieces 41&#39; and 42 are worn on the body. The obvious alternative arrangements to those shown in FIGS. 5b and 5c are those in which garment piece 41&#39; is worn over garment piece 42 and where garment piece 42&#39; is worn without garment piece 41&#39;. Both of the embodiments 40 and 40&#39; may be of the short sleeve or sleeveless type, may  
 also be done as a dress and may be made in all fabrics including sweater knits.  
  FIG. 6 shows another alternative embodiment 50 of the present invention, comprised of first and second bolero pieces 51 and 52, each having a sleeve 51a and 52a; front bodice pieces 51b and 52b and rear bodice pieces 51c and 52c whose free ends 51d, 52d and Sle, 522 taper considerably toward their free ends to serve as ties to be fastened whereby free ends 51d and 52d and 51a and 52a, respectively form bows arranged at the front and rear of the body as shown at 53 and 54 in FIGS. 6b and 60, respectively.  
  As another alternative arrangement, the two rear sections 51c and 520 (see FIG. 6a) may be joined by a slide fastener provided at 54 or, alternatively, may be joined by snaps, buttons or the like. The front bodice pieces 51b and 52b may also be joined in a similar fashion as shown in FIG. 6e, using buttons, snaps, slide fasteners and the like. As was the case with all previous embodiments, the separate but complementary pieces may be mixed with pieces of either the same fabric but different color, contrasting fabrics, patterns and the like.  
  FIGS. 7a and 7b show still another embodiment 60 in which the complementary type body garment structure is comprised of first and second wrap skirt portions 61 and 62, having a front panel 61a, 62a and rear panels 61b, 62b, as well as waistbands 61c, 62c each being sewn or otherwise affixed to the panels 6la-61b and 62a-62b in the manner shown so as to form ties 6ld6le and 62d-62e, respectively.  
  FIG. 7b shows the manner in which the body garment pieces are worn, body garment piece 61 being placed on the body first with its ties 61d and 612 being fastened about the waist and along the left-hand side of the body. Garment piece 62 is then placed on the body and its ties 62d and 62e are fastened so as to form a decorative bow shown at 63. Obviously, either garment piece may be wrapped about the exterior of the other. The mixing and matching capabilities of the embodiment&#39;of FIGS. 7a and 7b are similar to the capabilities of the previous embodiments.  
  FIGS. 8a and 8b show still another preferred embodiment 70 of the present invention comprised of first and second pants or trouser pieces 71 and 72 each having a pant leg 71a and 72a. Garment piece 71 is provided with a shortened pant leg 71b which is sewn or otherwise joined to pant leg 71a along a U-shaped seam 71d extending from the crotch forwardly and rearwardly up to the waist. An elasticized waistband 710 is provided as shown. The body garment piece 72 is provided with a waistband 720 having free ends 72d and 72c and has a U-shaped cut-out portion 72f for receiving shortened pant leg 71b.  
  The body garment is worn by placing body garment piece 71a on the body, the left and right legs being placed in pant legs 71b and 71a, respectively. this garment piece being retained on the body by the elasti cized waistband 710. The left leg of the wearer is placed through the pant leg 72a of garment piece 72 (shorted pant leg 7 lb fitting inside of pant leg 72a). Ties 72d and 72e are fastened about the waist of the wearer forming a decorative bow as shown at 73. Obviously, the garment piece 72 may be designed in the manner shown by garment piece 71 and garment piece 72 so that the abbreviated pant leg is provided in garment piece 72, as well as the elasticized waistband while garment piece 71 would be provided with the waistband ties as shown thereby enabling the garment piece 71 to have its waist portion wrapped about the exterior of garment piece 72. The mixing and matching capabilities of this embodiment can be seen to be at least as great as those embodiments described hereinabove. In addition thereto, the two-piece garment structure may be done in all fabrics, including sweater knits and alternatively may be done as pedal pushers or shorts.  
  Although there have been described preferred embodiments of this novel invention, many variations and modifications will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is to be limited, not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.  
 I claim:  
  1. An outer garment worn primarily over the wearers torso comprising first and second independent and complementary garment pieces either of which is capable of being wrapped around the other;  
 said first and second pieces respectively covering left and right-hand portions of the body;  
 each of said garment pieces having separable fastening means for individually securing each of the body pieces around the wearers waist independently of the other body piece;  
 one of the garment pieces being substantially completely wrapped about the other garment piece only in the region of the wearers waist and tapering away from the other garment piece both above and below the waist;  
 each of said garment pieces being further comprised of a bodice portion for covering one side of the wearers torso;  
 said bodice portions each having additional tie means positioned behind the wearers neck for releasably securing the bodice portions to one another.