Patent Application
20200245749
The example embodiments in general are directed to garments convertible into a smaller profile within a self-contained bag for stowage and transport.
When traveling on vacations, business, etc., it is desirable to reduce the amount of luggage that accompanies the traveler. To maximize space during travel, articles of clothing that can be reduced in size from a larger bulky profile to a size that might be placed in a carry pouch or bag are desirable. As such, convertible garments have been developed which convert selected garments into bags or pouches for ease of packing and transport, and/or for a quick transition into another outfit without having to lug around a piece of luggage on outings.
U.S. Pat. Appl. Publ. No. 2009/0183529 to Modiano is directed to a prior art garment with an integral storage pocket that can be folded in layers into a smaller profile within the integral pocket for carry and storage. In Modiano, the garment is knitted from superfine or microfibers, such that its fabric is elastic. The garment includes an integral pocket with a pocket perimeter in which the garment can be retained. A first section of the pocket perimeter is attached to the garment and a second section forms a mouth of the pocket. This configuration is such that the length of the pocket mouth is less than the maximum length of the pocket. The integral pocket is stretchable to enable it to envelop the garment and retain it within as a compact package.
U.S. Pat. Appl. Publ. No. 2015/0150319 to Walmsley is directed to another prior art garment that can be folded or rolled into a carry bag with a carrying strap, the strap being formed by part of the garment. In Walmsley, a long sleeve garment has a front and back side, each having an upper and lower section. The lower section has attachment elements and the back has spaces for securing the attachment elements to close the lower section of the garment. The upper section includes two arm sections that are joined together to form the carrying strap.
Another prior convertible garment for stowage is describe in U.S. Pat. No. 6,817,031 to Gravlin. FIG. 1 of Walmsley is a perspective view of a garment convertible into a pouch;
Referring to
To reduce the shorts 20b into a closed pouch configuration 20, the shorts 20b are folded to approximate the pockets 30, with the pin of male zipper stringer 22a being inserted into the slider of female zipper stringer 22b and a zipper tab 22c pulled to begin mating the zipper fastener 22, as shown in
Thus, Gravlin describes a garment convertible into a pouch, the garment having two-pockets. Each of the two pockets have an open top side and three edges that fixed to the side of the garment and have corresponding zipper stringers bordering the three fixed side edges. As the zipper halves are mated, the three edges join together to form a pouch, with the garment folded between the pockets.
An example embodiment of the present invention is directed to garment convertible into a bag for stowage and transport. The garment includes a base garment having a front, a back and opposing sides, and a pair of pockets. Each pocket has a mating teeth halve of a zipper fastener arranged around an entire perimeter of the pocket and attached to the base garment, each pocket having at least one opening between the base garment and material of the pocket within the perimeter bound by the mating teeth halve. The two pockets are joined by attaching the mating teeth halves of the zipper fastener so as to be zipped continuously around the connected pockets to form a bag therein, the material of the base garment being folded for insertion in the bag.
Another example embodiment is directed to a garment convertible into a bag for stowage and transport. The garment includes a base garment and a pair of pockets attached thereto. The two pockets are joined together with a zipper fastener that attaches mating teeth halves on the respective pockets so as to be zipped continuously around the connected pockets to form a bag therein, the material of the base garment being folded for insertion in the bag.
Another example embodiment is directed to a garment convertible into a bag for stowage and transport. The garment includes a base garment and a pair of pockets attached thereto. Each pocket is formed as an opening between the base pocket and material of the pocket attached to the base garment. The two pockets are joined together with a zipper fastener attaching the pockets together and zipped continuously around the connected pockets to form a bag therein, the material of the base garment being folded for insertion in the bag, wherein one or both pockets includes a separate zipper formed therein.
Example embodiments will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are represented by like reference numerals, which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the example embodiments herein.
In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various example embodiments of the disclosure. However, one skilled in the art will understand that the disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures associated with manufacturing techniques have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the descriptions of the example embodiments of the present disclosure.
Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims that follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as “comprises” and “comprising,” are to be construed in an open, inclusive sense, that is, as “including, but not limited to.”
Reference throughout this specification to “one example embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one example embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more example embodiments.
As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. The term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
As used in the specification and appended claims, the terms “correspond,” “corresponds,” and “corresponding” are intended to describe a ratio of or a similarity between referenced objects. The use of “correspond” or one of its forms should not be construed to mean the exact shape or size. In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elements or acts. The size and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.
Referring now to
In
Of note, around each pocket 130a/b there is a mating zipper halve 140a/b formed on tape 142 that in turn is attached (sewed, adhered, etc.) to material of the garment 120. Each mating zipper halve 140a/b is thus arranged so as to bound the outside or perimeter of each pocket 130a/b. In
Referring to
Or closure, initially, only a few inches are zipped, as shown in
As previously noted, in one example, the convertible garment 100 includes a base garment 120 with a front panel containing the pockets 130a/b thereon. In another example, the convertible garment 100 includes a base garment 120 with a rear panel containing the pockets 130a/b thereon (see
In an example, the base garment 120 incorporated as part of the convertible garment 100 may be selected from a group comprising one or more of a shirt, a pair of shorts, a pair of pants, a skirt, a poncho, a jacket, underwear, or any other item weararble by a human being, such as hospital scrubs, uniforms, hats or caps, and the like.
Any type of fabric which is foldable into a smaller profile may be suitable for the above-described convertible garment and is not limited to any particular material of fabric. Almost all fabrics are variants or blends of just five basic fabric types (silk, cotton, linen, wool and worsted). Accordingly, materials suitable for the convertible garment include both man-made and natural materials for the fabric, and namely may include but are not limited to one or more (such as a combination) of cotton, silk, linen, satin, polyester, knit, wool, rayon, blends, lace, and leather/animal hides, and the like. The zipper fastener may be made of plastic or metal, alloys of metal, various synthetic composites, etc.
The example embodiments having been described, it is apparent that such have many varied applications. For example,
An example stowage sequence may be as follows. Lay lab coat 20′ flat and connect the zipper mating halves 140a/b on the inside flaps of coat 20′ together, then zip up a few inches. Begin tucking material of the lab coat 20′ in so as to lay flat and smooth. For this lab coat, 20′, a user may start at the top and work downward, folding in the arms toward the middle, and continue the zipping procedure around corners until reaching the opening 135 formed in the negative space. Neatly roll and flatten the last bit of material of the lab coat 20′ in from the bottom, flatten and then close zipper fastener to the stop 143 (not shown) to achieve the convertible garment 100 in its bag configuration.
The bag configuration of garment 100 further may be connected to other articles or items, such as is shown by example in
The present invention, in its various embodiments, configurations, and aspects, includes components, systems and/or apparatuses substantially as depicted and described herein, including various embodiments, sub-combinations, and subsets thereof. Those of skill in the art will understand how to make and use the present invention after understanding the present disclosure. The present invention, in its various embodiments, configurations, and aspects, includes providing devices in the absence of items not depicted and/or described herein or in various embodiments, configurations, or aspects hereof, including in the absence of such items as may have been used in previous devices, e.g., for improving performance, achieving ease and\or reducing cost of implementation.
The foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the invention to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description for example, various features of the invention are grouped together in one or more embodiments, configurations, or aspects for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The features of the embodiments, configurations, or aspects of the invention may be combined in alternate embodiments, configurations, or aspects other than those discussed above. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment, configuration, or aspect. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the invention.
Moreover, though the description of the invention has included description of one or more embodiments, configurations, or aspects and certain variations and modifications, other variations, combinations, and modifications are within the scope of the invention, e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments, configurations, or aspects to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.
