Garment having adjustable waistline

Abstract

A lower body garment that includes a dynamic waist-resizing feature and method. A lower body garment includes a body portion adapted to be worn about a waist and a lower abdomen of a wearer, the body portion including a generally longitudinal opening extending from a waistline of the lower body garment, the generally longitudinal opening defining a first edge and second edge with the garment secured to the wearer when the edges are juxtaposed; and a garment closure assembly, coupled to the body portion near the generally longitudinal opening, including a closure fastener coupled to the first edge and two or more mating fasteners coupled to the second edge, the closure fastener repeatably engageable with and disengageable from one of the mating fasteners wherein a circumference of the waistline varies responsive to the closure fastener engaging with a particular one of the two or more mating fasteners.

1 . A lower body garment, comprising:
 a body portion adapted to worn about a waist and a lower abdomen of a wearer, said body portion including a generally longitudinal opening extending from a waistline of the lower body garment, said generally longitudinal opening defining a first edge and second edge with said garment secured to the wearer when said edges are juxtaposed; and   a garment closure assembly, coupled to said body portion near said generally longitudinal opening, including a closure fastener coupled to said first edge and two or more mating fasteners coupled to said second edge, said closure fastener repeatably engageable with and disengageable from one of said mating fasteners wherein a circumference of said waistline varies responsive to said closure fastener engaging with a particular one of said two or more mating fasteners.   
     
     
         2 . The lower body garment of  claim 1  wherein said fasteners include mating zippers. 
     
     
         3 . The lower body garment of  claim 1  wherein said mating fasteners define a plurality of non-parallel mating paths with respect to one another along said second edge. 
     
     
         4 . The lower body garment of  claim 3  wherein said plurality of non-parallel mating paths diverge from one another as said mating paths approach said waistline. 
     
     
         5 . The lower body garment of  claim 1  wherein said first edge overlies said second edge concealing said opening and said mating fasteners when said closure fastener engages any of said mating fasteners. 
     
     
         6 . The lower body garment of  claim 5  wherein said mating fasteners define a plurality of non-parallel mating paths with respect to one another along said second edge. 
     
     
         7 . The lower body garment of  claim 6  wherein said plurality of non-parallel mating paths diverge from one another as said mating paths approach said waistline. 
     
     
         8 . The lower body garment of  claim 7  wherein said fasteners include mating zippers. 
     
     
         9 . A waistline resizing method for a lower body garment worn about a waist of a wearer, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) forming a generally longitudinal opening in a body portion of the lower body garment, said generally longitudinal opening extending from the waistline, said generally longitudinal opening defining a first edge and a second edge with said garment secured to the wearer when said edges are juxtaposed;   (b) disposing a closure fastener along said first edge; and   (c) disposing two or more mating fasteners along said second edge with said closure fastener repeatably engageable with and disengageable from one of said mating fasteners wherein a circumference of the waistline varies responsive to said closure fastener engaging with a particular one of said two or more mating fasteners.   
     
     
         10 . The waistline resizing method of  claim 9  wherein said fasteners include mating zippers. 
     
     
         11 . The waistline resizing method of  claim 9  wherein said mating fasteners define a plurality of non-parallel mating paths with respect to one another along said second edge. 
     
     
         12 . The waistline resizing method of  claim 11  wherein said plurality of non-parallel mating paths diverge from one another as said mating paths approach said waistline. 
     
     
         13 . The waistline resizing method of  claim 9  wherein said first edge overlies said second edge concealing said opening and said mating fasteners when said closure fastener engages any of said mating fasteners. 
     
     
         14 . The waistline resizing method of  claim 13  wherein said mating fasteners define a plurality of non-parallel mating paths with respect to one another along said second edge. 
     
     
         15 . The waistline resizing method of  claim 14  wherein said plurality of non-parallel mating paths diverge from one another as said mating paths approach said waistline. 
     
     
         16 . The waistline resizing method of  claim 15  wherein said fasteners include mating zippers.