Garment system with interlocking panels

Abstract

A garment and/or garment kit is disclosed that includes a first panel having a first interior portion, a first outer edge that extends about the first interior portion, and a plurality of first interlocking members movably connected to the first panel and extending radially outwardly relative to the first interior portion toward the first outer edge of the first panel. The garment and/or garment kit includes a second panel having a second interior portion, a second outer edge that extends about the second interior portion, and a plurality of second interlocking members movably connected to the second panel and extending radially outwardly relative to the second interior portion toward the second outer edge of the second panel. One of the plurality of first interlocking members is interlocked with one of the plurality of second interlocking members to connect the first and second panels to each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment, comprising:
 a first panel having a first interior portion, a first outer edge that extends about the first interior portion, and a plurality of first interlocking members movably connected to the first panel and extending radially outwardly relative to the first interior portion toward the first outer edge of the first panel; and   a second panel having a second interior portion, a second outer edge that extends about the second interior portion, and a plurality of second interlocking members movably connected to the second panel and extending radially outwardly relative to the second interior portion toward the second outer edge of the second panel;   wherein one of the plurality of first interlocking members of the first panel is interlocked with one of the plurality of second interlocking members of the second panel to couple the first panel to the second panel thereby defining a portion of the garment.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein each first interlocking member of the first panel includes a first leg that is connected to the first panel, a first tab coupled to the first leg, and a first slit within the first tab,
 wherein each second interlocking member of the second panel includes a second leg that is connected to the second panel, a second tab coupled to the second leg, and a second slit within the second tab,   wherein the first tab of one of the plurality of first interlocking members extends through the second slit of one of the plurality of second interlocking members to couple the first panel to the second panel.   
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 2 , further comprising a third panel having a plurality of third interlocking members movably connected to the third panel, wherein one of the plurality of third interlocking is interlocked to one of the plurality of first interlocking members of the first panel so as to couple the first panel to the third panel. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first interlocking members extends along a respective plurality of axes that intersect and are angularly offset with respect to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein each interlocking member is elongated along an axis, and has having a leg width that is perpendicular to the axis, a tab width that is substantially parallel to the leg width, and a slit length that is equal to or greater than the leg width. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first interlocking members or the plurality of second interlocking members is at least three interlocking members. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first outer edge and the second outer edge each define a substantially polyhedral shape. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper body portion configured for an upper torso of a wearer, the upper body portion including a neck opening, two sleeves, and a lower opening, wherein the upper body portion is at least partially defined by multiple sets of the first panel and the second panel coupled to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a upper body portion configured for an upper torso of a wearer, the upper body portion including a neck opening, a hood proximate the neck opening, two sleeves, and a lower opening, wherein the upper body portion is at least partially defined by multiple sets of the first panel and the second panel coupled to each other. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a lower body portion configured for a lower portion of a wearer, the lower body portion including a waist portion, a lower torso panel adjacent to the waist portion, and two leg portions that extend downward from the lower torso panel, wherein the lower body portion is at least partially defined by multiple sets of first and second panels coupled to each other. 
     
     
         11 . A garment kit, comprising:
 a first panel having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first interior portion, a first outer edge that extends about the first interior portion, and a plurality of first interlocking members movably connected to the first panel and extending radially outwardly relative to the first interior portion toward the first outer edge of the first panel; and   a second panel having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface of the second panel, a second interior portion, a second outer edge that extends about the second interior portion, and a plurality of second interlocking members movably connected to the second panel and extending radially outwardly relative to the second interior portion toward the second outer edge of the second panel;   wherein one of the plurality of first interlocking members of the first panel is configured to be interlocked to one of the plurality of second interlocking members of the second panel to couple the first panel to the second panel.   
     
     
         12 . The garment kit of  claim 11 , wherein each first interlocking member of the first panel includes a first leg that is connected to the first panel, a first tab coupled to the first leg, and a first slit within the first tab,
 wherein each second interlocking member of the second panel includes a second leg that is connected to the second panel, a second tab coupled to the second leg, and a second slit within the second tab,   wherein the first tab of one of the plurality of first interlocking members of the first panel extends through the second slit of one of the plurality of second interlocking members to couple the first panel to the second panel.   
     
     
         13 . The garment kit of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of first interlocking members extends along a respective plurality of axes that intersect and are angularly offset with respect to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The garment kit of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of first interlocking members or the plurality of second interlocking members is at least three interlocking members. 
     
     
         15 . The garment kit of  claim 11 , wherein the first outer edge and the second outer edge each define a substantially polyhedral shape. 
     
     
         16 . A garment panel, comprising:
 a panel body having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface along a central axis, an interior portion that the central axis extends through, and an outer edge that extends about the interior portion;   a first interlocking member movably connected to the panel body and extending along a first axis relative to the interior portion toward the outer edge of the panel body, wherein the first axis is substantially perpendicular to the central axis, the first interlocking member having a first leg that is connected to the panel body, a first tab coupled to the first leg, and a first slit within the first tab, wherein the first tab is disposed between the interior portion and the outer edge; and   a second interlocking member movably connected to the panel body and extending along a second axis relative to the interior portion toward the outer edge of the panel body, wherein the second axis is angularly offset with respect to the first axis, the second interlocking member having a second leg that is connected to the panel body, a second tab coupled to the second leg, and a second slit within the second tab, wherein the second tab is disposed between the interior portion and the outer edge.   
     
     
         17 . The garment panel of  claim 16 , wherein each leg defines a leg width that is perpendicular to the respective axis, a tab width that is substantially parallel to the leg width, and a slit length that is equal to or greater than the leg width. 
     
     
         18 . The garment panel of  claim 16 , further comprising a third interlocking member movably connected to the panel body and extending along a third axis relative to the interior portion toward the outer edge of the panel body, wherein the third axis is angularly offset with respect to the first axis and the second axis, the third interlocking member having a third leg that is connected to the panel body, a third tab coupled to the third leg, and a third slit within the third tab, wherein the third tab is disposed between the interior portion and the outer edge. 
     
     
         19 . The garment panel of  claim 18 , wherein at least two of the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis are angularly offset with respect to each other between 60° and 150°. 
     
     
         20 . The garment panel of  claim 19 , wherein the panel body includes:
 a first elongate arm that extends outward from the interior portion to a first terminal end, wherein the first interlocking member is disposed proximate the first terminal end;   a second elongate arm that extends outward from the interior portion to a second terminal end, wherein the second interlocking member is disposed proximate the second terminal end; and   a third elongate arm that extends outward from the interior portion to a third terminal end, wherein the third interlocking member is disposed proximate the third terminal end.