US2602163A - Lengthenable garment - Google Patents

Description

July 8, 1952 B. E. DAVENPORT LENGTHENABLE GARMENT Filed Nov. 19, 1948 F INVENTOR. Be rnice .E. Davenport Patented July 8, 1952 TUNITED- S AT S PATENT OFFICE i Bernice E. Davenport, Portland, Oreg. Application November 19, 1948, Serial No. 60,879

2Claims. (01. 2-15) My invention pertains to children's clothing, and relates particularlyto the novel construction of and method ofmaking atchilds garment whereby the latter may be lengthened to accommodate normal growth of the child without producing permanent markings on the cloth or otherwise evidencing the fact that the garment has beenaltered.

During the early years when a childs growth is most rapid, it is a common practice among mothers to purchase for their children dresses, slips and other skirt-type garments in sizes substantially longer than immediate-requirements dictate. The garment is then shortened by forming circumferential hems therein which are secured in place with stitching. These hems are arranged" symmetrically and are designed to ornament the garment in the best possible manner. the child grows in stature, one or more of these hems or folds are eliminated by removing thestitching whereby the garment is made longer. This method is not-completely satisfactory, however, for as each fold is eliminated the holes formed in the cloth by the needle and thread previously employed in the stitching do not disappear. The garment is thus marked permanently, giving visible evidence that it has been lengthened.

It is a principal object of my invention, therefore, to provide a method of making a childs skirt-type garment whereby alterations in length may be accommodated without permanently disfiguring the cloth or otherwise giving evidence of such alteration.

Another important object is the provision of a childs skirt-type garment which may be altered in length without disfiguring the cloth or otherwise giving visible evidence of such alteration.

A further object of my invention is to provide a childs garment in which spaced circumferential rows of hemstitching are utilized both as ornamentation and as securing means for hems or folds formed therebetween, whereby said garment may be altered in length without permanently disfiguring the cloth.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary plan view of a childs garment embodying the features of my invention, the left hand portion showing a series of circumferential rows of hemstitching, and the right hand portion showing the manner in which 2 adjacent rows of hemstitching are utilized in forming folds for shortening the length of the garment; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1 and showing in detail the manner in which the fold is secured in place.

The garment illustrated in the drawing for purposes of explaining the novel features of my invention represents a childs dress, although it is to be understood that my invention isapplicable to slips and other garments having similar features of general design. The dress shown comprises a full length body portion 1 which includes both bodice and skirt section. The usual neck opening 2 and armholes 3 are provided, as wellas the ruffled hem 4,the latter being secured to the lower edge of the skirt by' means of stitching 5.

A plurality of rows 6, l, 8 and 9 of hemstitching are formed circumferentially about the lower portion of the skirt. Hemstitching, as is well known, is produced by removing or displacing a few parallel strands of threadfrom a cloth and then'tying the cross threads into bundles. This produces a series of holes l0 separated by the small clusters or bundles of tied threads. This is used extensively in forming ornamental borders and other designs in a large variety of cloth articles. In the present invention the rows are spaced from each other a desired distance along the longitudinal dimension of the dress. The spacing between rows may be uniform, as shown, or they may be irregular. It is to be noted, referring particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawing, that the distance between cooperating pairs of hemstitched rows is equal to one-half of the width of l the fold I l to be formed as is explained more fully hereinafter.

In shortening the overall length of the dress, the material lying between adjacent pairs of hemstitched rows is gathered outwardly and folded together in back-to-back relationship.- The adjacent rows of hemstitching are thus brought into registration with the holes l0 arranged therein in cooperative alinement. A thread I2 is then stitched longitudinally along the hemstitching,

and because of the holes l0 and the clusters or bundles of thread lying between said holes, the stitching thereafter removed is not noticeable.

That is, the thread bundles do not evidence the piercing produced by the stitched thread as would a flat woven fabric.

In the illustration shown in the drawing it is to be observed that the four rows of hemstitching more folds is desired, a greater number of orna-.

mental hemstitch rows may be formed in the garment. Since the four rows illustrated are spaced'apart equal;distances, the two. folds will likewise'be spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width of the fold. If it is desired to have the folds overlap or to be spaced closer together than shown, the spacing between rows:

7 and 8 may be adjusted to produce this result.

In any event, it is to be noted that-- symmetry of ornamental design is maintained regardless-10f the number of hemstitch rows and of the location of the folds. constructed so as to simulate rufiles and thereby enhance the appearance ofithe garment.

When'it is desired to lengthen the'dress to accommodate growth of the wearer, gone onmore foldsare eliminated by removing the'thread l2 from-the cooperating rowsof hemstitching. Since the thread has been :drawn through the bundles of thread between holes 10, its removaLmerely brings the hemstitchinggin-t view. Thus, the dress--is lengthened without causing ipermanentmarkingof the clothwhich would give visible evidence that, the garment had been altered. I

Although-I have described the features of my invention; as applied to thevskirt-type garments of small-growingchildrenit is to ,beunderstood that'theinven-tion is adaptablewith-equal success to thegarments; of adults. Ordinarily, the garmentsof adults are discardedzbefore changes in lengthbeeome necessary, andtherefore the features embodying my invention are applied-principally to thewclothes of the: rapidly growing child. Iclaimz. My V H 1. A garment-comprising a cloth skirt, at-least one; cooperating pair of spaced rows of o rna-' mental ahemstitchingwformed. circumferentially about said skirt, said'eooperatingrows being in alinem'ent ar din overlying; complementary regis tration one with another,-a thread stitehedtlongi tudinallythrough said registering rows and se-= 4 curing the same together with a fold in the cloth lying therebetween, whereby to produce shortening of the length of said garment, said stitched thread being removable from said rows for eliminating said fold, whereby lengthening of said garment is effected without giving visible evidence without giving visible evidence of the alteration. 2. A selectively lengthenable cloth garment, om r s a s rt h vin a lurali y Qiparaliai spaced rows of ornamental hem'stitchijng formed circumferentially thereabout, each"such" row including a series of holes separated by small bundles of tied threads, at least one pair of said parallel rows being in direct overlying abutment one with another, the material between said pair of rows-beingiolded on a circumferential line intermediatesaid pair to register the same in Moreover, the folds maybe-:-

abutment, and a thread means stitched longitudinally down said abutting and registering rows of hemstitching and through abutting ones of said small bundles of tied threads temporarily to interlace and fix said rows in abutment with said folded material. pendent therefronrsaid garment being lengthenable with no visible evidence of alteration by removing said thread means from said bundles of tied threads and opening said folded space.

BERNICE E, DAVENPORT.

REFERENCES. CITED 7 The following references areiof record in the file of this patent:

UNITEDJ'STATES" PATENTS

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