Patent Application
20230255278
The invention relates to a multifunctional garment set that can be used, inter alia, as a variable-length apron or mat.
For people who often spend a lot of time outdoors at work or in their leisure time, good outfit is of major importance to be able to protect themselves against the effects of the weather, especially from wetness and cold. This applies in particular when spending time in areas where the weather is likely to change frequently. Moreover, it is especially important for people who regularly engage in outdoor activities even in adverse weather conditions to guard themselves against wetness and cold, which, for example, is true for workers, gardeners, farmers, vintners, hikers, forest workers, hunters, anglers, scouts, horseback riders, or soldiers. For example, grape harvesting or fruit picking in late summer/fall is often largely manual labor and must be done even when weather conditions are inclement.
A wide range of clothing is already available for such activities, most of which is functional clothing or garment made of synthetic fibers, which is especially characterized by the fact that on the one hand it is water-repellent from the outside, thus preventing rain and precipitation to come into contact with the body, but on the other hand it causes sweat produced by the body to be transferred to the outside. However, appropriate garments offered hitherto mostly allow no or at best restricted multifunctional use, allowing the wearer to adapt the garment to the prevailing conditions.
Known from the German utility model DE 93 14 997 is an apron that enables the lower part to be folded upwards and secured in this position so that a pocket is created in which the wearer can stow objects, plants or parts of plants. Nevertheless, the apron does not provide for any other wearing options.
Proceeding from what is known from prior art, the objective to be achieved was to provide a multifunctional garment set that in terms of its usability is even more versatile.
As proposed by the invention this objective is achieved by providing a multifunctional garment set comprising
The multifunctional garment set proposed by the invention permits a variety of wearing options. It consists of at least three parts, namely an apron part as well as two leg portions, which can be combined in various ways. In this context, an apron part is understood to be a flat textile structure which is basically in the form of a conventional apron and can be worn as such, i.e. essentially covering the wearer's upper body and hip area. Leg portions shall be understood to be textile flat structures provided with connecting means allowing them to be placed in different ways around the legs or in front of the legs.
One wearing option is to wear the apron part as an apron in the usual manner. For this purpose, the apron part has appropriate means, which are typically placed around the neck and around the wearer's waist or hip. When worn in this way as a conventional short apron, it provides protection against soiling or, if necessary, some protection against flying debris, twigs or the like.
If needed, however, the short apron can be considerably extended, protecting the leg area against dirt and other influences as well. For this purpose, the two leg portions are connected to each other at the respective first and second edges via the connecting means provided for this. In addition, the interconnected leg portions are secured by the fixing means on the apron part. As a result, the leg portions, secured to the apron part, hang significantly further down than the apron part alone and thus cover the legs completely or to a considerable extent. To achieve a similar result, it is also conceivable to attach only one leg portion to the apron part.
The apron part typically has at least two fixation means by which the two leg portions can be secured to the apron part. The fixation means on the apron part are designed in such a way that they interact with the respective fixation means arranged on the leg portions. These means may be provided in the form of push-fit connections, with the male portions of the push-fit connections being attached to the apron part and the female components arranged on the leg portions, or vice versa. Other means of fixation known from the prior art are also conceivable, such as snap hooks that interact with corresponding counterparts such as rings, eyelets or loops, other hooks or buckles.
Expediently, at least two fixation means are arranged on the apron part in the wearing situation on the sides, i.e. the left and right side. In this respect, each leg portion must have at least one suitable fixing means, in which case, after having joined the two leg portions along their first and second edges, a total of at least two fixing means are available on the combined leg portions for attachment to the apron part. When wearing the garment, the two fixation means should possibly be arranged on the upper edge of the leg portions on the sides, i.e. on the left and right side. For example, one fixation means may be provided on each first edge of a leg portion. Since the first edge of the second leg portion is attached to the second edge of the first leg portion and the second edge of the second leg portion is connected to the first edge of the first leg portion, this automatically results in the fixing means being located on the sides of the combined leg portions.
Another option is to provide each leg portion with two fixing means, so that one leg portion alone can also be attached to the apron part.
The leg portions can be put to use in a number of ways. On the one hand, each leg portion can be closed separately to form a tube resembling a conventional trouser leg by attaching the connecting means at the first and second edges of the respective leg portion. Each leg portion can then be fixed separately to the apron part. In this way, the two leg portions taken together make a kind of pants, but they have no seat portion. Pants of this type are also known as legwarmers or chaps. Chaps were originally worn primarily by cowboys, but are now also used by other professions for splash or cut protection, for instance by gardeners and forestry workers.
However, the first leg portion may also be joined to the second leg portion, with the first edge of the first leg portion being joined to the second edge of the second leg portion and the second edge of the first leg portion being joined to the first edge of the second leg portion. As described hereinbefore, the resulting object can be fixed to the apron part with a view to obtaining a quasi-elongated apron. In this case, the combined leg portions cover only the front of the user's legs. However, since the two interconnected leg portions form a tube as a whole, they can also be used similar to a skirt, with the user passing their legs through the interconnected leg portions. In this case as well, the combined leg portions can be attached to the apron part. Used in this manner, the multifunctional garment set provides effective protection even in particularly adverse weather conditions.
Furthermore, each of the two leg portions features a third edge where another connecting means is provided which enables the leg portions to be attached to each other along their respective third edges. Combining the two leg portions in this way ensures that they can also form a mat or pad on which the user can lie down. If necessary, the apron part may additionally be used as matting.
In case the two leg portions are joined together along their first, second and third edges, a kind of sack is formed that can be useful for storage and transportation purposes. For example, such a sack may be used by gardeners for collecting garden waste. Closure of the connecting means at the first, second and third edges of the two leg portions results in only one opening remaining along the respective fourth edges. Via the fixation means, the sack can be secured to the apron part so that the user has his hands free.
Appropriately connecting the two leg portions also enables the sack to be used as a kind of beanbag which must be filled with a suitable padding material, for example, straw. To prevent this from getting out of the beanbag, it may be expedient to provide also the fourth edge of the leg portions with connecting means so that all the leg portions can be interconnected via the respective fourth edges and in this way create a sack which is entirely closed.
The connecting means existing along the third edges of the leg portions can also serve to attach them to further protective objects in the area of the feet, for example gaiters or leg coverings, which provide additional rain or splash protection, and these further protective objects must also be provided with suitably designed compatible connecting means.
The connecting means by which the leg portions can be brought into a tubular shape or with the aid of which the leg portions are connected, preferably are zippers or zipper sections, with a zipper section being understood to be a lateral strip of a zipper which is connectable to a matching counterpart. The zipper sections intended to be joined together must be suitably matched to each other, in particular in that of two matching zipper sections, one is provided with a slider and the other is provided with an end part suitably matching the slider. The zipper's ability to be closed from top to bottom when the garment is worn is advantageous in that the zipper does not have to be completely closed in this case, but may be left slightly open at the bottom, so that the user has more free space available in the lower leg region. Two-way zippers may also be provided which allow the zippers to be opened at both ends.
Optionally or in addition, the connecting means can also be of different design, in which case it is significant that the connecting means allow the connection of the respective edges of the leg portions to be made along a line. For example, Velcro fasteners may be put to use, in which case the edges to be joined together must each comprise the components of a Velcro fastener that are compatible with each other, that is, one edge must have hooks and the other edge must be provided with loops.
When spread out flat, the leg portions preferably are shaped in the form of a rectangle, with a rectangle not being understood here to mean merely a perfect rectangle in the geometrical sense, but instead a shape derived from a rectangle, and with the right angles forming a rectangle also not having to be exactly 90°, but may be in a range of between 70 and 110° which is regarded as sufficient. Nevertheless, 90° angles are preferred. In this context, a square is also considered a rectangle. In particular, not all the edges of the rectangle need to be straight; rather, a rectangle is particularly preferred in which three straight edges are provided and there is one which has a concave curved edge. In this context, a concave edge is understood to be an edge that has a rounded curvature towards the inside. Normally, the concave edge would be the fourth edge, where often no connecting means are arranged and which faces upwards when worn. A concave curved edge offers the advantage that the leg portions can adapt better to the body shape, both when worn as legwarmers/chaps and when worn as a rain skirt. In contrast, the first, second and third edges, which are provided with connecting means, preferably have a straight configuration in order to be able to fit the edges together appropriately along a straight line. In the event the fourth edge is also equipped with connecting means, a straight configuration is of advantage.
The fixation means, which are the objects by which it is possible to link the leg portions to the apron part, are preferably designed such that sufficient mobility is ensured. It is particularly helpful if rotation to some extent, preferably complete rotation, is possible about the axis along which a leg portion is connected to the apron part. Preferred means of fixation in this context are couplings that can be rotated relative to one another and allow at least partial rotation about the respective rotational axis of the coupling, with couplings that allow rotation through 360° being preferred.
Couplings in this context are understood to be connections in which a connector element is detachably inserted into a receptacle provided for this purpose. As mentioned above, it is advantageous if the inserted connector element can still be rotated in the receptacle about its longitudinal axis, at least to a certain extent. The coupling can be released, for example, by actuating lateral engagement means, retracting a coupling section or operating a coupling button. Relevant coupling connectors are available, for example, from the Victorinox company.
Alternatively, however, other detachable fixation means may also be used, for example snap hooks that can be fixed to corresponding rings or eyelets provided for this purpose, other hooks or buckles.
When spread out flat, the apron part preferably has a shape which is basically rectangular, with a chest area situated above the rectangular basic shape to lie in front of the user's chest. Accordingly, the apron part is essentially shaped similar to a commercial apron. When wearing the garment, the edge facing downwards can in particular be straight or convexly curved, i.e. exhibiting a downward rounding. In this case as well, a rectangular basic shape shall be understood to be not exclusively a perfect rectangle in the geometric sense, but shall in fact embrace any basic shape derived from a rectangle, even if, for example, one or more edges of the rectangle are rounded rather than having a straight configuration.
To secure the apron part in the neck area of the user, it is expedient to provide a lanyard which is to be attached to the upper edge of the chest area of the worn garment and can be placed around the neck of the user. To secure the apron part in the user's waist area, a strap is conveniently attached to the rectangular basic shape of the apron part. Fitting the apron part thus takes place similarly to a conventional apron: the lanyard is first placed around the neck of the user, then with the help of the strap the apron part is fastened around the waist or hips.
In the area of the apron part located at the bottom when worn, fastening means are expediently arranged in particular at the lower edge, said means interacting with fastening means arranged in the chest area of the apron part. Such fastening means may, in particular, consist of buttons, snap fasteners or toggle fasteners. Making use of said fastening means the lower area of the apron part can be folded upwards with a view to forming a pocket in front of the chest, in which the user can store objects, plant remains, tools or similar items. Appropriate fastening means are usefully provided on both sides of the apron part, for example on the left and right sides of the worn garment, so that the formed pocket is laterally supported on both sides. Accordingly, at least two fastening means are provided in the lower area of the apron part, said means interacting with two suitably adapted fastening means arranged in the chest area.
It is furthermore of advantage to provide a breast pocket on the apron part, which is expediently located in the chest area, said pocket having an opening pointing upwards when wearing the garment. The opening can also be designed so as to be closable, for example by means of a zipper or Velcro fastener. The breast pocket may be arranged on the inside or on the outside of the apron part.
According to a further advantageous embodiment, the leg portions are of double-layer design, with the leg parts each having a closable opening, and closing of this opening may be brought about with the aid of a zipper or Velcro fastener. This makes it possible to place additional material into the leg portions, such as insulating or padding material. This can be especially advantageous if, as described hereinbefore, two leg portions are attached to each other via the third edge with a view to forming a mat, in particular an insulating floor mat, which serves as a padding when making a break or even for an overnight stay. It is usually recommendable to place the mat on a soft surface, but comfort can be increased by filling the double-layered leg portions with additional padding and insulating material. For example, the padding and insulation may be commonly available material in the form of straw or the like.
Also, in a situation where the leg portions are worn as chaps, skirt-like, or as an elongated apron, the insertion of additional material into the space between the double-layered leg portions may be beneficial, especially to achieve additional thermal insulation or also as additional mechanical protection against flying plant debris or stones. The latter is useful in the event the multifunctional garment set is worn when using certain tools such as a motorized string trimmer or similar.
Aside from the two leg portions and the apron part the multifunctional garment set may be provided with other components, for example a backpack. The backpack should include a hip belt to which means of fixation are attached by means of which the leg portions can be secured to the hip belt. The fixing means on the hip belt are compatible with the fixation means provided on the leg portions, i.e. they can be connected to each other. This increases the wearing options of the multifunctional garment set, because the leg portions cannot exclusively be secured to the apron part, but to the backpack as well. Therefore, the multifunctional garment set can also be worn independently of the apron part, for example during a hike, to ensure effective additional weather protection in the area of the legs.
An alternative or additional component for the multifunctional garment set comprises a pair of pants to which are attached fixation means by means of which the leg portions can be secured to the pants. In this case, too, the fixing means on the pants are adapted to the fixation means on the leg portions in such a way that they can be connected with each other, for example in the form of matched push-fit connections, couplings or snap hooks. This increases the variability of the multifunctional garment set even further, due to the fact that the leg portions can also be attached to the pants independently of the apron part, especially as rain protection, for example during a hike. Expediently, the fixing means are arranged in the upper area of the pants when worn, e.g. in the area of the waistband.
As regards the attachment to the hip belt of a backpack and to the attachment to pants, all the variation options described in the context of an attachment to the apron part are basically available for the leg portions as well. In particular, the leg portions can be put to use as legwarmers/chaps in tubular form to surround one pant leg each. Alternatively, they may also be worn in the form of a skirt or apron in front of the leg area.
As proposed by the present invention, a multifunctional garment set shall also be understood as one in which no apron part is used, but the described leg portions as well as the described backpack with hip belt and/or the pants form part of the garment set, provided that a fixation of the leg portions can be made via appropriate fixation means on the hip belt and/or the pants.
Another wearing option provides for the leg portions to be connected to a hood. For this purpose, the leg portions and the hood must be equipped with matching means of connection, for example zippers. In particular, two leg portions can be connected to each other via the first and/or second edges, with the hood being connected to the leg portions via the third edge. In this way, a rain cape is created. The connection of two legwarmers creates sufficient width in the shoulder area, which will ensure good protection from the rain. Accordingly, the invention also relates to a set comprising a relevant hood.
The invention is now described in detail as follows with reference being made to the figures showing the respective embodiments. It is to be noted that the figures show preferred embodiment variants of the invention, with the invention itself not being limit thereto. To the extent it is technically expedient, the invention comprises, in particular, any optional combinations of the technical features that are stated in the claims or in the description as being relevant to the invention.
Clarification of the invention is provided by the following figures where
Via the fixation means 2, a connection of the apron part 1 can be brought about to attach leg portions 10 as further components of the multifunctional garment set.
In
In addition, leg portion 10 has a fixation means 2, with the aid of which it is possible to secure it to the apron part 1, as shown in
Finally,
Another possibility is to connect the first and second edges 11, 12 of the two leg portions 10 to each other also by means of the connecting means 15 provided for this purpose, whereupon a kind of sack is formed out which is open only in the area of the 4 edges 14. Such a sack can be used for the stowing and storing of objects, plants, plant remains etc., and with the aid of the fixation means it can be attached to the apron part.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2020 118 416.6 | Jul 2020 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2021/069412 | 7/13/2021 | WO |
