# US 11,998,074 B2 · Multi-layer swimwear fitment apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,074 B2 - Document ID: US11998074B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/042,186 - Filed: 2022-09-07 - Published: 2023-07-20 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-09-10 - Applicants: Karena Klabunde - Inventors: Karena Klabunde - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998074B2 ## CPC - A41D 7/00: Bathing gowns; Swim-suits, drawers, or trunks; Beach suits - A41D 2300/20: Inserts - A41D 2300/22: Elastic inserts - A41D 2300/33: using straps or ties - A41D 2400/38: Shaping the contour of the body or adjusting the figure - A41D 2600/10: for sport activities - A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES ## Abstract Apparatus and associated methods relate to a garment having adjustable closure modules to reduce unwanted exposure. In an illustrative example, a continuous one-piece swimsuit may include at least one distributed tension closure system (DTCS) at each side of the swimsuit. The DTCS, for example, may include an elastic layer disposed underneath a longitudinally adjustable tension member coupled to opposing lateral edges of the DTCS. For example, when the swimsuit is donned by a wearer and lengths of the adjustable tension members are individually adjusted to a corresponding desired tension, each adjustable tension members urges the opposing lateral edges together by the corresponding desired tension such that an aperture of the hip openings is adjusted to reduce unwanted exposure of a body of the wearer. Various embodiments may advantageously provide modest fittings while maintaining a substantially smooth layer fitting comfortably to the wearer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A garment comprising: a continuous garment body; and, two pairs of adjustable closure modules, each pair at a respective side of the continuous garment body and comprising: a hip module extending longitudinally from a hem of one side of a leg opening towards an armhole of the respective side of the continuous garment body; and, an underarm module extending longitudinally from under the armhole of the respective side of the continuous garment body towards a hip portion of the continuous garment body, wherein: each of the adjustable closure modules comprises an elastic layer disposed underneath a tension adjustable layer, and the tension adjustable layer comprises a longitudinally adjustable tension member coupled to opposing lateral edges of the adjustable closure module such that, when the garment is donned by a wearer and a length of the longitudinally adjustable tension members of each of the adjustable closure modules are individually adjusted to a corresponding desired tension, then each longitudinally adjustable tension members urges the corresponding opposing lateral edges together by the corresponding desired tension such that an aperture of the corresponding leg opening, or armhole of the continuous garment body is fitted to reduce exposure of a body of the wearer, the elastic layer maintains a substantially smooth layer separating the body of the wearer from a corresponding one of the longitudinally adjustable tension members, and the garment is configured such that, a crotch line defines a lowermost terminal edge of the garment such that the crotch line is lower than a highest point of the garment leg openings. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The garment of claim 1, wherein the continuous garment body is a one-piece swimsuit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The garment of claim 1, wherein the continuous garment body is a gymnasium suit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The garment of claim 1, wherein the elastic layer comprises a 4-way stretchable fabric. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The garment of claim 1, wherein the elastic layer comprises polyamides. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The garment of claim 1, wherein the longitudinally adjustable tension member comprises a closure cord and a stopper, wherein the closure cord is coupled to the opposing lateral edges by inserting through a plurality of points of engagement at each side of the opposing lateral edges. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The garment of claim 6, wherein, upon the corresponding desired tension being fixed with the stopper, a tension exerted at each of the plurality of points of engagement is substantially evenly distributed such that abrasion and pinching are substantially mitigated. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The garment of claim 1, wherein the longitudinally adjustable tension member comprises an elastic drawstring and a stopper, wherein the elastic drawstring is coupled to the opposing lateral edges by a reinforcement stitch. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The garment of claim 1, wherein measurement of the aperture of a corresponding leg opening of the continuous garment body is capable of being reduced between 0 inch and 1.5 inches in circumference after the length of the longitudinally adjustable tension member is adjusted. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The garment of claim 1, wherein the continuous garment body comprises a shell fabric made of elastic materials. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The garment of claim 1, wherein each of the elastic layers disposed underneath a respective one of the tension adjustable layers comprises a separate fabric panel, such that the garment comprises four distinct elastic panels. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The garment of claim 11, wherein the separate fabric panel comprises a tapered panel, wherein, in the underarm module, the tapered panel comprises a width that tapers toward the leg opening along the respective side, and, in the hip module, the tapered panel comprises a width that tapers toward the armhole along the respective side. ### Claim 13 A garment comprising: a continuous garment body; and, two adjustable closure modules, each of the adjustable closure modules being disposed at a respective side of the continuous garment body and extending longitudinally from a hem of the continuous garment body from a leg opening of the respective side towards an armhole of the respective side of the continuous garment body, and each of the adjustable closure modules comprising an elastic layer disposed underneath a tension adjustable layer, wherein: the tension adjustable layer comprises a longitudinally adjustable tension member coupled to opposing lateral edges of the adjustable closure module such that, when the garment is donned by a wearer and a length of the longitudinally adjustable tension members of each of the adjustable closure modules are individually adjusted to a corresponding desired tension, then each one of the longitudinally adjustable tension members urges the corresponding opposing lateral edges together by the corresponding desired tension such that an aperture of a corresponding leg opening on the continuous garment body is fitted to reduce exposure of a body of the wearer, the elastic layer maintains a substantially smooth layer separating the body of the wearer from a corresponding one of the longitudinally adjustable tension members, and the garment is configured such that, a crotch line defines a lowermost terminal edge of the garment such that the crotch line is a lower than a highest point of the leg openings. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The garment of claim 13, further comprising two additional adjustable closure modules, each additional adjustable closure module being disposed under a respective armhole of a corresponding respective side of the continuous garment body and extending longitudinally towards a corresponding leg opening such that an aperture of each respective armhole is independently adjustable to avoid exposure of an upper body of the wearer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The garment of claim 13, wherein the continuous garment body is a one-piece swimsuit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The garment of claim 13, wherein the continuous garment body is a gymnasium suit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The garment of claim 13, wherein the elastic layer comprises a 4-way stretchable fabric. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The garment of claim 13, wherein the elastic layer comprises polyamides. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The garment of claim 13, wherein the longitudinally adjustable tension member comprises a closure cord and a stopper, wherein the closure cord is coupled to the opposing lateral edges by inserting through a plurality of points of engagement at each side of the opposing lateral edges. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The garment of claim 19, wherein, upon the corresponding desired tension being fixed with the stopper, the tension exerted at each of the plurality of points of engagement is substantially evenly distributed such that abrasion and pinching are substantially mitigated. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The garment of claim 13, wherein the longitudinally adjustable tension member comprises an elastic drawstring and a stopper, wherein the elastic drawstring is coupled to the opposing lateral edges by a reinforcement stitch. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The garment of claim 13, wherein a measurement of the aperture of a corresponding leg opening of the continuous garment body is capable of being reduced by up to 1.5 inches in circumference after the length of the longitudinally adjustable tension member is adjusted. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The garment of claim 13, wherein the continuous garment body comprises a shell fabric made of elastic materials. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The garment of claim 23, wherein each elastic layer disposed underneath a respective tension adjustable layer comprises a separate fabric panel. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The garment of claim 23, wherein the separate fabric panel comprises a tapered panel, wherein the tapered panel comprises a width that tapers towards the armhole along the respective side. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The garment of claim 23, wherein the elastic materials comprise elastane.