The methods, apparatus, and systems described herein relate generally to an article of apparel, and more specifically to an article of apparel in which a retractable extension from a body portion can be selectively utilized to cover the wearer's face, head, arms, or legs.
The present invention relates generally to headwear, and more particularly to an article of headwear such as a cap, hat, hood or helmet, and an accessory, such as a goggle or bandanna, stored in the headwear and selectively moved into a position over the wearer's face.
It is typical, that when wearing outerwear, the user would prefer to have the choice of removing portions of his clothing, or adding portions, depending on the weather or the time or day. For example, in the early morning, he may leave the house with a full jacket, where the sleeves are present. As the day goes on, and the sun shines brighter and the heat rises, he may prefer to not have sleeves. In typical designs, it is common practice to un-zip or unbutton the sleeves from a main body portion. The wearer then has to store the sleeves somewhere not on the main body, making it quite common for the wearer to lose the sleeves. As the day goes on, he may begin to get cold again. He therefore has to find where he put the sleeves, and reattach the sleeves to the main body portion. It is typical that the reattaching of the sleeves by buttoning or zipping them to the body can be difficult, time consuming, and frustrating. The zippers or the button snaps have to line up exactly, taking more than a few minutes. The same scenario is relevant to the use of pants with removable legs, jackets with removable hoods, or hoods with removable bandannas.
It is an object of the methods, apparatus, and systems described herein to provide a jacket or shirt, which has retractable sleeves, which when retracted, remain in a storage region within the main body of the article of apparel.
It is also an object of the methods, apparatus, and systems described herein to provide an item of headwear, which has a retractable face covering, which when retracted, remains in a storage region within the main body of the headwear.
It is further an object of the methods, apparatus, and systems described herein to provide a jacket, which has a retractable hood, which when retracted, also remains in a storage region within the main jacket.
It is yet a further object of the methods, apparatus, and systems described herein, to provide shorts, which have a retractable pant leg, which when retracted, remain in a storage region within the main body of the shorts.
To these ends, the methods, apparatus, and systems described herein are directed to items of apparel in which an extension of material from a main body is stored in a first position where it remains in a storage region. It is then placed in a second open position, where the excess material of the main article is used as an extension of the main body. A retention mechanism is attached to the extension of material and then passes through a region in the main body portion, so that when the retention mechanism is pulled through the area of the main body portion, the extended material moves from its second open position, back to its first stored position, within the storage region.
The main body portion may consist of a hood or a hat with an extended face covering. It may consist of shorts and extended material in the form of pant legs. It may also be in the form of a jacket or shirt, wherein the extension extends from the neck area up and over one's head to form a hood. In another aspect of the articles of apparel described herein, the main body portion may be a vest, wherein the extended material is present in the form of sleeves that extend from the storage region and cover one's arms, forming a full jacket.
In some embodiments, an article of apparel is provided that includes a body portion having a storage region and an extension normally positioned in a first, open position; and retention means operably secured to said extension and being effective when manually pulled to move said extension from its said first position to a second, storage position within said storage region. The article of apparel may include embodiments in which the body portion is an article of headwear. Additionally, or alternatively, the article of apparel may include embodiments in which the retention means include a string.
In a related aspect, an article of apparel is provided in some embodiments that may include a body portion having a storage region formed therein and an extension normally positioned in a first, open position, and means operably secured to said extension and passing through a region of said body portion, said retention means being effective when manually pulled to move said extension from its said first position to a second position within said storage region.
The following features may be present in the article of apparel in any suitable combination. The body portion may be an article of headwear and said extension is a face covering in some embodiments. In such embodiments, the headwear may be a hood. The retention means may include a string attached to an end of said extension. Alternatively, or additionally, the retention means may include a band that can be transformed into a string. In some embodiments, the article may be a jacket and said extension is a sleeve. In some other embodiments, the article may be a pair of shorts and said extension is a pant leg.
In some embodiments, headwear having a storage region and extension normally stored in a first stored position within said storage region, and means operably secured to said extension for moving, when manually engaged, said extension from its said first position to a second, engaged position across the wearer's face and a means provided for separably attaching said extension at a location on an alternate side of the headwear may be provided.
Further, in some embodiments, a jacket having a storage region, a hood normally stored in said storage region, and means operably secured to said hood to move, when manually engaged, said hood from its said first position to a second position over the wearer's head and means provided for separably attaching said hood at a position on an alternate location on the jacket may be provided.
In another related aspect, provided in some embodiments may be an article of apparel having a storage region and an extension normally in a first, exposed position, said extension having a normally secured opening through which an appendage passes, and manually operable means operably secured to said extension for moving said extension from its said first position to a second, stored position within said storage region. In such embodiments, the extension may include a sleeve of a jacket or shirt. Conversely, or additionally, the extension may be a pant leg of a pair of shorts.
Another related aspect may be provided in some embodiments in which an article of apparel may have a body, a storage region formed in said body, and an extension normally positioned in a first, exposed position and a normally secured opening that allows an appendage of said wearer to pass through said opening, and manually operable retention means operably secured to said appendage for moving said extension from its said first position to a second storage position within said storage region, said retention means passing through a second opening in said body. In such embodiments, the extension may include a sleeve of a jacket or shirt. Conversely, or additionally, the extension may be a pant leg of a pair of shorts. The extension may be a mask extending from an item of headwear in some such embodiments. Alternatively, or additionally, the extension may be a hood extending from a jacket.
In some embodiments, an article of apparel may be provided that has a storage region and an extension stored in a first position within said storage region, and means operably secured to said extension for moving said extension to a second exposed external to the article and for then returning said extension to its said first position by manually grabbing said extension from inside the article. In such embodiments, the extension may include a sleeve of a jacket or shirt. Conversely, or additionally, the extension may be a pant leg of a pair of shorts.
Provided in some embodiments may be a self-storing pocket on an article of clothing having a main body portion, said pocket being formed when a retention mechanism operably secured to an extension of material extending from said main body portion is moved through an area on said main body portion, thereby causing said extension to fold into itself. In such embodiments, the extension may be a mask extending from an item of headwear. The extension may be a hood extending from a jacket; the extension may be a sleeve extending from a jacket. In some embodiments, the extension may be a pant leg extending from a pair of shorts.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an item of headwear and an associated accessory in which the accessory can be readily placed in position for use when desired and returned to its original, stored position after its use.
It is another object of the invention to provide an item of headwear as described, in which the accessory may be easily adjusted over the wearer's face so as to achieve an improved fit and snugness.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide an item of headwear as described in which the accessory is securely retained in the headwear when not in use in a manner that does not materially change the overall appearance of the headwear.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide an item of headwear in which fogging of an eyewear lens or goggle during use is substantially prevented.
To these ends, the present invention is directed to an item of headwear and an accessory in which an accessory-storage area or pocket is provided on one side of the hat and in which the accessory is stored when it is not in use. When it is desired to deploy the accessory for use in protecting the wearer's face, the wearer grasps the free end of the accessory, pulls it out and away from its stored position and across his face, and then detachably secures the free end of the accessory to the opposite side of the hat. The wearer may adjust the tightness and fit of the accessory to optimally conform it to the size and shape of his face.
The accessory used with the headwear of the invention may be a goggle band, ski goggle, or bandanna. The accessory may be used, for example, in conjunction with the hood of a hooded sweatshirt, the hood of a jacket, a hat, a cap or a helmet.
In another aspect of the present invention, the headwear may include a non-permeable layer to prevent heat and moisture from the wearer from passing onto the lens of the adjacent goggle when it is in its rest or stored position, so that the lens is not fogged and the wearer's vision is not impaired when the goggle is in place over the wearer's eyes.
To the accomplishment of the above and to such further objects as may hereinafter appear, the methods, apparatus, and systems described herein relate to an article of apparel and an associated extension of the article, substantially as defined in the appended claims and as described in the following specification of several embodiments as considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in
Contact Point 13 divides up extended material 6 into two parts, outer area 4 and inner area 5, by means of area 21. Here the retention mechanism is a string. It is possible that the retention mechanism may also be a strap or a band. It is also possible that the retention mechanism may begin as a strap, and continue into a string.
Attached to the inner area of extension area 4 is a Velcro® tab 8, which when material 6 is extended across the face, attaches to an alternate Velcro® tab positioned either internal or external to headwear 1, on the opposite side of headwear 1 (not shown). Velcro® tab 8 may also be attached to the outer area of extension area 4. As used herein, Velcro® may refer to hook and loop fasteners or components of those types of fasteners.
In use, as shown in
Inside of pocket 15, extended material 6 is prevented from folding or being pulled further inward past area 21 as contact point 13 is not allowed to be pulled further into the hood as the length of material area 5 and its connection to the material of hood 1 at area 20 prevents it, thereby leaving excess material 4 which houses Velcro® tab 8, to rest inside pocket 15 in a stable and stored position. It is also possible when extended material 6 is retracted into hood 1, Velcro® tab 8 may attach itself to an alternate attaching means situated external to natural pocket 15.
When it is desired to have extended material 6 cover one's face, the wearer reaches inside pocket 15, grabs material 4 and pulls it out of pocket 15, unfolding and extending it over his face, and then reattaches Velcro® tab 8 to the alternate side of his headwear at a cooperating means, as is shown in
It is also possible to have material 6 fold on area 20 and remain inside the hood, whereas retention mechanism 12 would then be connected to an area external to extension 6. It would then pass through an area or an external loop situated on the inside of headwear 1. In this case, it is also possible to have a pocket built into the inside of headwear 1, so that material 6, when folded inside of headwear 1, will rest more securely in place.
It is also possible that natural pocket 15, may be positioned inward from the frontal opening of hood 6.
Retention mechanism 60 is operably secured to the inner surface of sleeve 59 at point 56, which also designates where sleeve 59 divides into its two areas 58 and 42. Beginning at contact point 56, retention mechanism string 60 travels through the inside of sleeve 59, passing up through area 44, then down the right side of jacket 40 entering the top open side area of pocket 64, and exiting jacket 40 through grommet 62. Grommet 62 and pocket 64 may be situated at any position within jacket 40. The bottom portion of pocket 64 may be opened or closed, and pocket 64 may be constructed of a mesh material if desired or of any fabric. A layer of material may be added within sleeve 59, with both sides open to cover the exposed retention mechanism 60.
In use, with his left hand, the wearer reaches over to sleeve 59, and grabs zipper pull 49a, and pulls it downward from point 49 to point 51, thereby opening the sleeve. He then pulls his right hand up through opening 54, and sticks it out of the open hole that is left open formed by zipper 48 being opened. With his left hand he now grabs hold of retention mechanism 60 and pulls it out and away from the main body portion, thereby causing sleeved 59 to be retracted into the jacket 40, whereby sleeve 59 is now folded into itself and rests on the inside of jacket 40 within pocket 64, also forming natural pocket 55, which lies inside of pocket 64 as shown in
When the user desires to put the sleeve to use, with his left hand he reaches into pocket 55, grabs hold of sleeve 59 at its edge 54, and pulls sleeve 59 out of pocket 64 through arm hole 47 thereby causing string 60 to retract through grommet 62 and once again extend itself within jacket 40 along the inner area of sleeve 59. When sleeve 59 is outside of jacket 40, the user then takes his right hand and slides it back through hole 54, and then with his left hand he takes the zipper 49a and moves it upward from point 51 to point 49, thereby closing his right arm within the sleeve.
Tab 52 is situated on the lower portion of sleeve 59, and may be used if retention mechanism 60 were not present. In this case, after opening zipper 48 with his opposite hand and sliding his arm through the opening, the wearer with his left hand, would then open the front zipper of jacket 40 and reach through the lower portion of pocket 64 (now open), past area 44, and reach into sleeve 59 grabbing hold of tab 52, and then pull tab 52 inside through area 44 and into pocket 64, where the sleeve would rest until needed. It is also possible, that an opening may be situated on the lower portion of area 44 around the armpit area of the jacket, and that tab 52 would be positioned external to sleeve 59. In this case, from the interior of jacket 40, the wearer would stick his arm through this opening, reach for tab 52 on the outside of sleeve 59, and pull sleeve 59 into the interior of jacket 40, where he would then manually fold it into pocket 64. From the inside of jacket 40, he may also reach through the bottom open portion of pocket 64, then out through the opening at the armpit area, grab external tab 52, and then pull it back into pocket 64, thereby retracting sleeve 59 into pocket 64 where it would rest until needed. It is also possible to implement the two aforementioned embodiments into the other extensions and body portions mentioned herein.
Regarding
In use, and as seen in
To extend the pant leg, the wearer reaches inside pocket 73 grabs pant leg 91 by its edge 88 and pulls the pant leg down so it is fully extended, takes his foot and steps back into the pant leg through hole 88, and then he brings zipper pull 80a from point 82 back up to point 80, completing the pant again. As the pant leg is being dropped out of pocket 73, retention mechanism 76 is retracted back into the pant.
On the far side of area 114, beginning from point 104 and stretching horizontally to the wearer's left to point 105, hood 110 is separably detachable to main jacket 98 by means of Velcro®, magnets or the like.
In use the wearer first opens the rear of hood 110 by separating slit 118 from points 104 to 106. He then takes the far side of hood 110 from points 104 to 105 and separates the Velcro® tabs from the main jacket 98. Then he grabs retention mechanism 102 and pulls it out and away from his body thereby pulling hood 110 into the body portion of jacket 98 as seen in
In
Velcro® tabs 117 and 126 are separably detachable when the hood is exposed and in use. Therefore, in use the wearer reaches into hole 124, grabs hood 110 at area 112, pulls it out and over his head, and attaches Velcro® tabs 126 to the alternate Velcro® tabs 117. As he pulls the hood out of the pocket, retention mechanism 102 retracts back into the main jacket 98 through grommet 100. The user then reattaches edge 118a to 118b to once again form the seal of 118.
While this specification contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of an invention that is claimed or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or a variation of a sub-combination. Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results.
Although embodiments of various methods and devices are described herein in detail with reference to certain versions, it should be appreciated that other versions, methods of use, embodiments, and combinations thereof are also possible. Therefore the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in
As can be seen in
The other, free end of the goggle band GP5 protrudes out from the pocket GP4 toward the front end of the hat and is folded back on itself and attached to material GP3 by means of a female Velcro® (hook and loop fabric) tab GP9a attached to the underside of the free end of the goggle band. When the goggle band GP5 is in the position shown in
When the wearer wishes to cover his eyes with the goggle, such as a skier about to descend a slope, he grabs the free end of goggle band GP5 with one hand, thereby separating Velcro® (hook and loop fabric) tab GP9a from Velcro® (hook and loop fabric) tab GP10 and allowing him to pull the goggle band GP5 out of pocket GP4. As the wearer continues to pull the goggle band GP5 out of the pocket, the goggle band unfolds so that it comes to rest partially in front of the wearer's face, exposing the most forward position of goggle lens GP7, which is embedded into the goggle band by means of a plastic or rubber encasement GP7a.
The wearer proceeds by continuing to pull the free end GP5a of goggle band GP5 outward and away from his face, and then wraps it horizontally across his face and attaches its free end to the opposite side of the hat as is shown best in
As can be seen in
It is also possible that pocket GP4 and Velcro® (hook and loop fabric) tab GP14 be separably attached to hat GP1 by Velcro® (hook and loop fabric) or other known attaching means, If the goggle band is to be used with an open-faced helmet, the underside of pocket GP4 and tab GP14 may be coated with an adhesive. The wearer would peel off a protective backing and place the pocket and Velcro® (hook and loop fabric) tab on the outer surface of the helmet.
If the wearer desires a yet tighter fit of the goggle band over his face, he may squeeze chord lock GP13 and pull string GP11 through chord lock GP13, back and away from his head, thereby to pull the goggle band tighter around his face. Alternatively, the wearer may squeeze chord lock GP13 while pulling goggle band GP5 further out of pocket GP4, which then pulls string GP11 further into pocket GP4, thereby allowing for additional slack in the string, which, in turn, results in a looser fit of the goggle band around the wearer's face.
To return the goggle band GP5 to its original, stored position shown in
The wearer may either squeeze chord lock GP13 and thread retention string GP11 through it, as he pulls string GP11 out and away from his head, or he may leave chord lock GP13 in position and pull string GP11 out and away from his head, thereby pulling chord lock GP13 away from his head. If the latter is chosen, when goggle band GP5 is back in pocket GP4, the wearer may squeeze chord lock GP13, and, while holding string GP11, slide the chord lock GP13 closer to material GP3. It is also possible that excess slack of string GP11 protruding out of pocket GP4 may be stored in a built-in pocket. It is also possible to loop a Velcro® (hook and loop fabric) tab around string GP11, and then wrap the string around the wearer's head, and separably attach it to Velcro® (hook and loop fabric) tab GP14 on the opposite side of the hat.
As shown in
Area GP16a, GP16b of hat GP1 is preferably made of a breathable material such as Gore-Tex® (waterproof, breathable fabric membrane), cotton, or Primaloft® (synthetic microfiber thermal insulation material), which does allow the passage therethrough of moisture and heat. By ventilating areas GP16a and GP16b and not ventilating the non-permeable area GP15, the wearer's head is allowed to breathe and to expel moisture through the areas GP16a and GP16b but not through the non-permeable layer. The non-permeable layer GP15 may be sewn or attached by Velcro® (hook and loop fabric) tabs to the interior or exterior of the hat or may be secured to the hat by latches or hooks. The non-permeable layer may also be sewn in between an internal and external lining of a dual-layered hat. The non-permeable layer may also be in the form of a sprayed sealant or sprayed rubber material. This layer may also be formed by dipping the hat material into a liquid rubber, which, after drying coats the hat and creates a non-permeable layer.
The embodiment of the invention shown in
A retention string GP11c is fully extended within pocket GP4a formed at one side of hood GP2 so that chord lock GP13a prevents bandanna GP20 from falling out of the pocket. Although not shown in
As also shown in
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in
When the wearer wishes to end the use of the protective lens GP7c, he manually releases the lens from Velcro® (hook and loop fabric) tab GP14 and manually pushes it back into the storage pocket. Lens GP7c is adjustable at this point at which it connects to Velcro® (hook and loop fabric) tab GP14 at the opposite side of the hat. An adjusting device may also be added to material GP3d or pocket GP4b or to the allowed extension area of lens GP7c, such as by the use of buttons or other types of closure devices on the interior of material GP3d, that would be attached to the outer surface of the hat, inside and toward the front of pocket GP4b. To close these connecting points would allow a shorter length of the lens to be released from the pocket, thereby allowing the lens to fit snugly over the face of a smaller person.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in
In use, the wearer grasps goggle band GP5b at its free end, pulls it across his face, and attaches it to the opposite side of the hat as in the previously described embodiments. As this happens, knob GP20 slides toward the front of pocket GP4c toward the wearer's eyes along track GP23. Further inward motion of knob GP20 is prevented when the knob reaches its most forward position on track GP23, which prevents the goggle band from falling out of the pocket. To retract goggle band GP5b into the pocket, after use, the wearer first detaches the goggle band free end GP5c from its separable attachment at the opposite side of the hat, and then takes hold of knob GP20 with his other hand to slide the knob along track GP23 back to its rearmost position in pocket GP4c, which causes the goggle band to be pulled into its stored position within pocket GP4c.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in
When the wearer attaches area GP5f to the opposite side of the hat at Velcro® (hook and loop fabric) tab GP14, reel mechanism GP33 locks in place and maintains the extended length of string GP11a constant. When the wearer no longer wishes the goggle band to be positioned over his eyes, he detaches area GP5f from Velcro® (hook and loop fabric) tab GP14 and pulls area GP5f out and away from reel mechanism GP33, thereby to release the locking mechanism. The wearer then releases his hold on area GP5f, which causes reel mechanism GP33 to automatically recoil and rewind retention string GP11a back into reel mechanism GP33, thereby to pull the goggle band back into the storage pocket.
As an alternate to string GP11d, goggle band GP5b may extend through pocket GP4d to its rear in the form of a material band, which then may pass through a plastic ring or loop that would be used in place of grommet GP8b. The excess, extended material from goggle band GP5b would pass through this loop, change direction toward the front of the hat and be separably be attached by means of a Velcro® (hook and loop fabric) tab, for example, to a designated area at the rear of the pocket. Excess material from goggle band GP5b would pass through the loop and then through any known adjustable guiding mechanism. This arrangement allows for the lengthening or shortening of the excess material of goggle band GP5b, thus allowing for an adjustable fit of the goggle band over the wearer's eyes. Excess, extended material from goggle band GP5b or from string GP11d may also pass out of pocket GP4d at a slit or opening on the surface of material GP3d at the rear of pocket GP4d.
It is also possible to incorporate the reel mechanism GP33 into the embodiment of
It will be understood that although the present invention has been hereinabove described with respect to several embodiments thereof, modifications may be made therein and thereto without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
This application claims priority to and is a continuation of a U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/452,380 to Saladino, filed Aug. 5, 2014, and entitled “Apparel with Retractable Extensions”, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,226,086, issued Mar. 12, 2019, which claims priority to and is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/507,389 to Saladino, entitled “Headwear With Storable Accessory,” filed Jun. 25, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,364,040, issued Jun. 14, 2016; and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/862,145, entitled “Apparel With Retractable Extensions,” filed Aug. 5, 2013. The disclosures of the aforementioned applications are hereby incorporated by reference, each in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61862145 | Aug 2013 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 14452380 | Aug 2014 | US |
Child | 16297046 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13507389 | Jun 2012 | US |
Child | 14452380 | US |