Patent Application
20190350277
The present invention relates to garments, and more particularly to a garment that includes a hidden pocket within which to stow and carry the garment when not being worn by a user.
When engaging in activities in the outdoors, it is common for a person to encounter a variety of environmental conditions. For example, a runner or other athlete can set off on a run or begin an athletic activity in the cool morning hours, and continue their activity well into a hot and humid late morning or afternoon. Some people address such a temperature change by donning a jacket or other garment in the morning hours, and then carrying the garment later in the day. In other cases, a person might engage on a hike or run in the afternoon, and in anticipation of changing weather, such as a cooler evening, will take with them in a bag or backpack, some sort of extra garment to wear after it cools. Changes in outer dress may also be necessitated by changing levels of personal exertion, health considerations and the like. The concept of layering clothing is a well-known technique used to ensure comfort despite changing environmental conditions, personal exertion, and other factors.
Where environmental or other circumstances necessitate removal and stowage of a garment, devices useful for carrying the garment in a small package are helpful. There are a variety of such devices. Some of those devices incorporate a backpack with straps built into a jacket. The straps are helpful, but add to the weight and bulk of the jacket. Other devices incorporate a zippered pocket in a front panel of a jacket. The jacket can be stuffed into the zippered pocket and then the pocket can be zipped closed to secure the jacket inside. While helpful, the zipper adds weight, and due to the extra stresses upon stuffing the jacket, can frequently break and give way, thereby no longer providing adequate enclosure for the stowed jacket.
Accordingly, there remains room for improvement in the field of garments that can include devices for stowing and carrying the garments when not in use.
A garment is provided including a back panel joined with a bag panel, and a closure strap. The back panel and bag panel can be used in a wearing mode while the garment is worn, then turned inside out into a stowed mode, when the garment is to be stowed, to form a stowage bag within which the garment can be stuffed, with the closure strap movable to a closing configuration to at least partially close an opening of the stowage bag and secure the garment inside the stowage bag.
In one embodiment, the garment can include first and second arm portions joined with the front panel and the back panel. The back panel can include a first back panel portion, that forms part of the stowage bag, and second back panel portion. The back panel can include a first back panel surface configured to face toward a wearer's posterior and a second back panel surface configured to face away from the wearer's posterior.
In another embodiment, the garment can include a bag panel located between the first and second arm portions, and optionally along a part of a longitudinal axis of the garment. The bag panel can include a bag panel surface configured to face toward the posterior and a second bag panel surface configured to face away from the posterior, the first back panel surface facing toward the second bag panel surface, when the bag panel is in the stowed mode.
In still another embodiment, the bag panel and the back panel are operable in a wearing mode and a stowed mode. The strap can be disposed in a first void defined between the bag panel and the back panel when those panels are in the wearing mode.
In a further embodiment, the bag panel and the back panel are turned inside out in the stowed mode. In this mode, these components can define a second void, with the second bag panel surface being a front exterior surface of a stowage bag. The first back panel surface can be a rear exterior surface of the stowage bag in this mode as well.
In still a further embodiment, in the stowed mode, the strap can extend over the front exterior surface of the stowage bag, while the stowage bag defines an opening. The second portion of the back panel, the first and second arm portions and the front panel can be stored inside the second void in the stowed mode.
In even a further embodiment, the strap can extend over the rear exterior surface of the stowage bag, and over the opening of the stowage bag so as to close the opening in the stowed mode.
In yet another embodiment, a method is provided. The method can include: providing a garment similar to those described above; engaging the bag panel and the back panel so as to turn the bag panel and the back panel inside out so as to define a second void, and to render the second bag panel surface a front exterior surface of a stowage bag, and to render the first back panel surface a rear exterior surface of the stowage bag, with the strap extending over the front exterior surface of the stowage bag, the stowage bag defining an opening; stuffing the garment into the second void; and reorienting the strap so that the strap extends over the rear exterior surface of the stowage bag, and over the opening of the stowage bag so as to at least partially close the opening.
In a further embodiment, the method can include closing the opening only with the strap extending over the upper edge and the opening of the stowage bag.
In still a further embodiment, the method can include placing a user's hand between the strap and the rear exterior surface of the stowage bag. In this manner the stowage bag can be carried by the user in one hand.
The current embodiments of the garment and related method of use provide benefits that previously have been unachievable. For example, with the bag panel joined directly with the back panel, the resulting stowage bag can be loaded relatively symmetrically with the remainder of the garment. Where the stowage bag is closed with the elongated strap, extra zippers, fasteners and other bulky closures can be eliminated to simplify the construction. In cases where the strap is elastic, and is placed over the rear exterior surface of the bag, the bag can be easily carried by a user inserting their hand between the strap and the rear exterior surface. Where included, the elongated strap can form the final and only closure after the garment has been packed. This strap also can serve as the element to assist in carrying around the garment, whether in the hand, on the arm, or attached to belt, pocket and/or a backpack.
These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the description of the current embodiment and the drawings.
Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of operation or to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention may be implemented in various other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in alternative ways not expressly disclosed herein. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. Further, enumeration may be used in the description of various embodiments. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the use of enumeration should not be construed as limiting the invention to any specific order or number of components. Nor should the use of enumeration be construed as excluding from the scope of the invention any additional steps or components that might be combined with or into the enumerated steps or components.
A current embodiment of the packable garment is illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, the jacket 10 is a generally conventional zip-up, hooded jacket. The jacket 10 can include a front zipper 26 closure. The jacket 10 can include other closures or can be a pullover garment, and can include a collar instead of, or in addition to, a hood. Referring now to
As shown, the jacket 10 can include a variety of accessories, such as pockets, cuffs, and various trim elements. The pockets can include closures, such as zippers, snaps or buttons. The front zipper 26 can be fitted with a storm flap and/or a chin guard. The jacket 10 can include closable vents located in the sides of the jacket 10 to selectively vent the underarm regions of the jacket 10. The closable vents can each include a closure, such as a zipper. Further, the cuffs can be bound by a spandex material, such as Lycra®, or other similar materials to provide a certain amount of elasticity in the cuffs, while at the same time providing a comfortable and durable interface with the wearer's skin. If desired, the lower hem can include one or more drawstrings (not shown).
The front panel 30 of the jacket 10 can be configured to extend over an anterior of a wearer's torso, and the back panel 40 can be configured to extend over a posterior of a wearer's torso, for example, a wearer's back. The front panel 30 includes opposing side portions 30a, 30b joined via the zipper 26, and each of the side portions 30a, 30b can optionally include a pocket 32. These pockets optionally can include a zipper closure. The jacket 10 incudes a longitudinal axis LA (
Referring to
The bag panel 60 of the jacket 10 can be positioned on the back panel 40 and located between the two sleeves 22a-b, substantially centered on the longitudinal axis LA. The bag panel 60 can define a first bag panel surface 62 configured to face toward the posterior of the wearer, and a second bag panel surface 64 configured to face away from the posterior of a wearer. Optionally, in relation to the stowage bag 12, when the jacket 10 is being worn, the first bag panel surface 62 can be on the exterior surface of the bag 12 (and bag panel 60), and the second bag panel surface 64 can be on the interior surface of the bag 12 (and bag panel 60). A seam 72 can be sewn with stitching around a perimeter of the bag panel 60, with the exception of an upper edge 66 of the bag panel 60. The seam 72 can join a lower edge 68 of the bag panel 60, and opposing side edges 70 of the bag panel 60 to the first portion 42 of the back panel 40, to define a first void 80 therebetween. In this orientation, the first back panel surface 46 faces toward the second bag panel surface 64, and the first void 80 is disposed therebetween. Also, the first portion 42 of the back panel 40 overlaps the bag panel 60. The unsewn (by seam 72) upper edge 66 of the affixed bag panel 60 and the back panel 40 can define an opening 74 to provide access to the first void 80. The opening 74 includes an opening width OW.
Referring to
The jacket 10 is operable in a wearing mode and a stowed mode. In the wearing mode, the stowage bag 12 is in the form of an open-topped pouch disposed between the interior of the torso portion 20 of the jacket 10 and the wearer's back when the jacket 10 is being worn. In the illustrated example, the bag panel 60, which can be reconfigured into the stowage bag 12, is located across the center of the back of the jacket 10, extending across the longitudinal axis LA of the jacket 10. Optionally, the opening width OW is transverse to and intersects generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis LA. The bag panel 60 is situated below a base of the hood 24 (or collar) of the jacket 10. For example, the upper edge 66 of the bag panel 60 can be about 1 to 2 inches below the base of the hood 24. Optionally, the upper edge 66 of the stowage bag 12 can be immediately below the base of the hood 24, and further optionally, the upper edge 66 of the stowage bag 12 can be more than 2 inches below the base of the hood 24. The location and orientation of the bag panel 60 and stowage bag 12 can vary from application to application, as desired.
Referring now to
Referring to
Referring now to
In the stowed mode, the second portion 44 of the back panel 40, the first and second sleeves 22a-b, and the front panel 30 are stuffed into and stored inside the second void 90 of the stowage bag 12. The interior volume of the void 90, which is also the interior volume of the stowage bag 12, and the volume of the jacket 10 can be selected so that the jacket 10 substantially fills the stowage bag 12.
A method of using the packable jacket 10 will now be described. On a high level, the method can include the steps of: (a) wearing the garment described above; (b) removing the garment from the wearer; (c) engaging the bag panel and the first portion of the back panel to turn the back panel and the first portion of the back panel inside out; (d) stuffing the second portion of the back panel into the second void through the opening; (e) stuffing the first and second arm portion and the front panel into the second void through the opening; and (f) reorienting the strap so that the strap extends over the rear exterior surface of the stowage bag, and over the upper edge and the opening of the stowage bag so as to close the opening
The method step, illustrated in
The method step, illustrated in
The method can include reorienting the strap 16 so that the strap 16 moves from being located over and adjacent the front exterior surface 92 to a position over and adjacent, and extending over the rear exterior surface 94 of the stowage bag 12, as illustrated in
The method can include placing a single user's hand between the strap 16 and the rear exterior surface 94 of the stowage bag 12, such that the stowage bag 12 can be carried by the user with the single user's hand, as shown in
The above described embodiments of the garment and related method of use provide benefits that previously have been unachievable. For example, with the bag panel 60 joined directly with the back panel 40, the resulting stowage bag 12 can be loaded relatively symmetrically with the remainder of the jacket 10. Because the stowage bag 12 is closed with the elongated strap 16, extra zippers, fasteners, and other bulky closures can be eliminated to simplify the construction. In cases where the strap 16 is elastic, and is placed over the rear exterior surface 94 of the stowage bag 12, the stowage bag 12 can be easily carried by a user by inserting their hand between the strap 16 and the rear exterior surface 94. The strap 16 can form the final and only closure after the jacket 10 has been stuffed into the stowage bag 12. The strap 16 also can serve as the element to assist in carrying the garment, whether in the hand, on the arm, or attached to belt, pocket and/or a backpack.
Directional terms, such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “inwardly,” “outer” and “outwardly,” are used to assist in describing the invention based on the orientation of the embodiments shown in the illustrations. The use of directional terms should not be interpreted to limit the invention to any specific orientation(s).
The above description is that of current embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these embodiments. For example, and without limitation, any individual element(s) of the described invention may be replaced by alternative elements that provide substantially similar functionality or otherwise provide adequate operation. This includes, for example, presently known alternative elements, such as those that might be currently known to one skilled in the art, and alternative elements that may be developed in the future, such as those that one skilled in the art might, upon development, recognize as an alternative. Further, the disclosed embodiments include a plurality of features that are described in concert and that might cooperatively provide a collection of benefits. The present invention is not limited to only those embodiments that include all of these features or that provide all of the stated benefits, except to the extent otherwise expressly set forth in the issued claims. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular. Any reference to claim elements as “at least one of X, Y and Z” is meant to include any one of X, Y or Z individually, and any combination of X, Y and Z, for example, X, Y, Z; X, Y; X, Z ; and Y, Z.
