BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years, the general public has learned more about the damaging effects of exposing human skin to the sun's rays, including damage caused by ultraviolet rays, including UV-A and UV-B rays. Though chemical sunscreens have become more popular and effective over the years, the best means of protection is generally by covering portions of the skin that are most exposed to solar rays.
Generally speaking, the tighter the knit or weave of a fabric in a garment, the smaller the holes and the less UV can get through. Twill, such as with tweed fabric or denim, is an example of a tightly woven fabric. Most fibers naturally absorb some UV radiation, and some have elastic threads that pull the fibers tightly together, reducing the spaces between the holes. Synthetic fibers such as polyester, lycra, nylon, and acrylic are more protective than bleached cottons, and shiny or lustrous semi-synthetic fabrics like rayon reflect more UV than do matte ones, such as linen, which tend to absorb rather than reflect UV. Open weave fabrics provide much less protection. However, when the fibers of a fabric are more tightly woven together, there is less air circulation in an enclosed portion of the garment, which causes the wearer to sweat with less possibility of such sweat evaporating. Also generally speaking, a heavier or denser fabric—such as heavy cotton denim—will provide more sun protection than a lightweight fabric, such as a silk gauze. However, when it is sunny, it is also often hot. And in hot weather, heavier and more tightly woven fabrics can in traditional, fully enclosed garments with traditional long sleeves or high collars be uncomfortable to wear, with no air circulation or other means of cooling such portions of the garment.
Therefore, there is a need for garments that provide sun protection over the portions of the body most likely to be exposed to solar rays, but allowing for circulation of air around the body. With such garments and garment systems, heaver fabrics may be used to protect particularly vulnerable persons or parts of bodies from the harmful effects of the sun or other weather elements, while allowing for exposure of adjacent parts of the body for cooling effects.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a garment providing sun protection comprising one or more sleeve covering the top of the wearer's arm, but with straps under the arm, allowing for ventilation to the underside of the arm for the wearer. The present invention also includes a garment comprising such a sleeve, with an optional undersleeve, that may be optionally worn to provide full surround coverage on the arm, but with different materials to allow for more ventilation to the wearer. The present invention also includes a garment or garment system with sleeves as described above, and an adjustable collar that can be adjusted to cover the wearer's neck and ears, or adjusted to not cover such areas. The present invention further includes a garment system comprising multiple separable elements, which may include a right sleeve, a left sleeve, a torso piece, a collar, a cap or hat, and various other components. The present invention further includes a garment with sleeves of adjustable length, wherein the sleeve length may be adjusted by removing components of each sleeve, with or without an optional undersleeve. The present invention further includes a jumpsuit, said jumpsuit having sleeves covering the top of the arm with straps wrapping around the underside of the arm. Optionally such jumpsuit according to the invention may also have leg panels that cover either the exterior of the leg or the interior of the leg of the wearer, and straps which wrap around the circumference of the leg.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of a cape/open sleeve embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a back view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a front view of a sleeve portion of an embodiment of the invention, with lightweight fabric tubular inner sleeve extended out, to encase the arm of the wearer.
FIG. 5 is a front view of a sleeve portion of the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 4, wherein the fabric tubular inner sleeve is folded into the outer fabric panel of the sleeve.
FIG. 6 is a front view of a cape/sleeves garment embodiment of the invention with fabric tubular inners sleeves extended to cover a wearer's arm.
FIG. 7A is a front view of a sleeve in a garment or garment system in accordance with some embodiments of the invention with an outer sleeve cover secured to the top of the panel of the sleeve, thus leaving the underside of the sleeve “open” to ventilation.
FIG. 7B is a front perspective view of a sleeve in the garment or garment system in accordance with the embodiments as shown in FIG. 7A, but with the outer sleeve cover being moved to cover the underside of the wearer's arm and secured at attachment points to fully encase the arm of the wearer.
FIG. 8 is a front view of an embodiment invention with a base garment similar to that as shown in FIG. 1, with a particular embodiment of a detachable collar or dickie.
FIG. 9 is a back view of the embodiment of a base garment and a detachable collar or dickie as shown in FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a side view of an embodiment of an ear guard portion of a garment according to the invention.
FIG. 11 is an opposite side view of the ear guard portion embodiment as shown in FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is a front view of a separable double open sleeve with low collar embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 13 is a back view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 12.
FIG. 14 is a front view of garment system embodiment of the invention comprising a double open sleeve component similar to that in FIG. 12 with a separate collar attachment, shown without the collar attached.
FIG. 15 is a front view of a single sleeve component embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 16 is a back view of a single sleeve component embodiment in FIG. 15.
FIG. 17 is a front view of a shirt embodiment with open underarm sleeves and open lattice midsection with a tall collar, with the collar up.
FIG. 18 is a front view of a shirt embodiment with open underarm sleeves and open lattice midsection with collar embodiment of the invention, with the collar down.
FIG. 19 is a front view of a modular garment system embodiment of the invention, which when put together comprises a full shirt with collar, but with modular elements of sleeves, midsections, and collars, with open underarm sleeves and open lattice midsection, with collar elements of the invention, with the collar up.
FIG. 20 is a side view of an embodiment of a protective garment system comprising a jacket or shirt with high collar and side cutouts, and a detachable cap.
FIG. 21 is a perspective front view of an embodiment of the protective garment system as shown in FIG. 20.
FIG. 22 is a side view of another embodiment of a protective garment system comprising a jacket or shirt with high collar, a cap, back head piece, and a mouth guard.
FIG. 23 is a perspective front view of an embodiment similar to that provided in FIG. 22, but with a full face guard.
FIG. 24 is a side view of another embodiment of a protective garment system comprising a jacket or shirt with high collar, a cap, back head piece, and a mouth guard similar to that in FIG. 22 and FIG. 23, but with flaps to cover the vents and with a mouth guard pocket for storage when the mouth guard is not in use.
FIG. 25 is a perspective front view of an embodiment similar to that provided in FIG. 24.
FIG. 26 is a front perspective view full body coverage garment system embodiment of the invention comprising a jacket with high collar and side vents, pants with side vents, and a cap.
FIG. 27 is a front view of a jumpsuit embodiment of the invention with head to foot body coverage.
FIG. 28 is a back view of the jumpsuit embodiment shown in FIG. 27.
FIG. 29 is a front view of a modular pant embodiment of the invention with coverage on the inner thighs of the wearer.
FIG. 30 is a back view of a modular pant embodiment of the invention with coverage on the inner thighs of the wearer.
FIG. 31 is a front view of another jumpsuit embodiment according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to or in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
Several embodiments of the garment of the present invention are comprised of fabric or fabric-like substances to form sun protection sleeve panels or “half sleeves” covering the top or some portion of the wearer's arm. In preferred embodiments, the other portion of the wearer's arm is not covered, or is only covered with an attachment portion to secure the sleeves. This allows airflow under the arms of the wearer, so that the wearer can stay cooler and avoid excessive use of sunscreen. Such half sleeve embodiments include fabric or other fabric-like substances that cover and protect some or all of: the top of the shoulders, the top half of the arms, the top of the hand, or the back of the hand.
In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-3 and the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the sun protective garment system comprises: a first sleeve 10, wherein said first sleeve comprises a first fabric panel, said fabric panel with a shoulder end 14 and a hand end 15 and a front longitudinal edge 16 and back longitudinal edge 18, and one or more straps 60 extending from the front longitudinal edge 16 of the fabric panel, and one or more sleeve connectors, said sleeve connectors on the back longitudinal edge 18 of the fabric panel; a second sleeve 20, wherein said second sleeve comprises a fabric panel, said fabric panel with a shoulder end 24 and a hand end 25 and a front longitudinal edge 26 and back longitudinal edge 27, and one or more straps 70 extending from the front longitudinal edge of the fabric panel, and one or more sleeve connectors, said sleeve connectors on the back longitudinal edge of the fabric panel; a front connective panel 40, said front connective panel attached to the front side of the shoulder end of the first sleeve near the front longitudinal edge; a back connective panel 30, said back connective panel attached to the back side of the shoulder end of either the first sleeve or the second sleeve; and a front shoulder connector on the front side of the second sleeve; and a back shoulder connector on the back side of either the first sleeve or the second sleeve (the one that the back connective panel is not previously connected to.) In order to conform to the shoulder of the wearer, embodiments of the invention may have one or more seams in the shoulder side of the first sleeve 13 and seams in the shoulder side of the second sleeve 23. As shown in FIG. 3, these seams may be in T formation, or may be in pleats or other formations to allow for conformity to the shoulder of the wearer of the garment. Embodiments of the invention may optionally have protrusions 12, 22 in said front panel to protect the elbow of the wearer as shown in FIG. 2 to protect the elbow of the wearer, or additional panels or flaps sown in to provide additional coverage over that part of the wearer's body.
The width of the fabric or fabric-like substance comprising each sleeve panel 10, 20 or half sleeve can vary. Wider swaths can be used to provide more sun protection or for a larger individual, and narrower swaths may be used to provide less sun protection or for a smaller person. The half sleeves can be any length from very short covering just the top of the shoulders with a strap securing it under the arm, to any lengths on the arm to include covering the back of the hand. The half sleeves can include gloves, thumb holes 65, 75 or thumb straps, finger holes or finger straps, or hand attachment to secure it to the body. Such attachment may include a partial glove without the fingers, or a loop around one or more of the fingers made out of any material including a metal ring attachment.
The sleeve panels or half sleeves can be of varying widths. Widths may range from a narrow strip to protect sun damaged areas of the skin to a width that covers the whole shoulder including front and back, whole top width of the arm including top half of the elbow, and the top of the hand.
The variations include sleeve panels of various widths, width referring generally as the distance between the front longitudinal edge 16, 26 of a sleeve panel to the back longitudinal edge 17, 27 of the panel. These widths in preferred embodiments are at least half of the circumference of a typical user's arm, generally referred to in this application as “half-width”. Embodiments with half-width sleeves can typically extend on the wearer only on the top portion of the wearer's arm. Other embodiments have widths that are larger, such as sleeve panels with larger widths, such as at least three-quarters of the circumference around the arm of the wearer or even larger-width sleeves that extend most of the way around the arm with a very narrow opening underneath for airflow and attachment straps. The sleeve panels in some embodiments are secured by any number of connector straps of any width, made of any material. They may also be secured by other means. These connector straps may be as few as one connection at the wrist, a connection at one or more of the fingers, or an unlimited number of connecting straps in various configurations. Connecting straps may be used to connect and secure the sleeves across the front and back of the shoulders or on top of the shoulders including around the neck. The connector straps can be constructed of the same material as the sleeves, or of any other material including elastic. The sleeves can be secured by any attachment technique or mechanism, including permanent attachment sewn with thread and needle or detachable mechanisms such as snaps, hook and eyes, buttons and buttonholes, or hook-and-loop (such as Velcro), etc.
In some embodiments, the garment or garment system further comprises one or more tubular inner sleeve composed of mesh, fabric, or other flexible fabric-like material. One embodiment as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 further comprises a first lightweight fabric tubular inner sleeve 80, said inner sleeve attached to the front longitudinal edge of the first sleeve, the back longitudinal edge of the first sleeve, or both edges of the first sleeve, and or otherwise attached to the edge or underside of the first sleeve longitudinally. As shown in FIG. 5 (FIG. 14) such tubular inner sleeve may optionally be pushed in to the inner surface or underside of the fabric panel of the first sleeve, so that it may optionally be worn or not worn around the arm of the person wearing such protective garment or garment system.
In other embodiments of the invention, such as shown in FIG. 6 (FIG. 18), there may be no front panel but merely a back panel, and as shown in FIG. 6 (FIG. 18), the back panel may in some embodiments be made from a unitary piece of cloth or cloth material as the first sleeve fabric panel 10 (also sometimes referred to as the right sleeve fabric panel or right sleeve) and the second sleeve fabric panel 20 (also sometimes referred to as the left sleeve fabric panel or left sleeve), such that the first sleeve (and thus first sleeve panel 10), back connector panel 30, and second sleeve (and thus second sleeve panel 20) are all made of a single piece of fabric with no seams needed to connect the first sleeve fabric panel 10, back connector panel 30, and second sleeve fabric panel 20.
In other embodiments of the invention, such as the embodiment shown in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, the first sleeve (shown), second sleeve, or both may have an additional overlay panel 90 on the first sleeve panel and/or the second sleeve that may either be secured using one or more connectors 190, 192 to the front longitudinal edge of the sleeve such that the top portion of the arm of the wearer is covered by both the first sleeve panel 10 and the secured overlay panel 90 with the underside of the arm exposed to keep the wearer cool, as shown in FIG. 7A, or may be “closed” using the connectors 190, 192 completely encasing the arm, with the act of moving the overlay panel 90 towards the front longitudinal edge of the first panel to enclose the wearer's arm, thus making a traditional tubular sleeve, which completely surrounds the wearer's arm. This aspect of convertability from an open underside of the arm of the wearer to a fully-enclosed traditional sleeve can be attractive to many endeavors where protection from the sun or other elements may be necessary, but the temperature can also vary. Thus, on some days, having an open underside of one or both arms may be desirable, so the wearer attaches the overlay panel 90 over the top side of the first panel to the attachments on the front of the front longitudinal side of the panel. On other days, when a traditional full or tubular sleeve is desired to fully encase the arm, in addition to the straps 60, the wearer would detach the overlay panel from the top or front of the first panel, wind it around the arm over the straps 60, and then attach the overlay panel 90 using the attachment connectors to the front longitudinal edge of the first panel 10, making one cylindrical or tubular shape around the wearer's arm.
Embodiments of the invention include all sorts of garments comprising sleeve panels as described above. The sleeves can be incorporated into the construction of any garment that has sleeves and is covering the upper part of the body. Such garments may include jumpsuits, dress shirts, jackets, t-shirts, shirts designed for sports or outdoor activities, dresses, coats, and other upper body garments.
In some embodiments of the invention, such as the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 (FIG. 10 and FIG. 11) sun or any other protection is provided by providing a garment further comprising a collar which protects covered areas from the damaging rays of the sun and any other environmental hazards. The collar may or may not be detachable from the rest of the garment, depending on the embodiment. In some embodiments, such detachable collar attaches (and detaches from) the sleeve of such garment, or the half-sleeve of such a garment as described above, as well as attaching to a section in the back that covers the upper part of the back and to a section in the front that shades the neck and upper chest areas. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 (FIG. 10 & FIG. 11) the garment system further comprises a flexible collar piece 100, said flexible collar piece wrapping around the neck of the wearer of said garment system, said flexible collar piece comprising an outward collar surface 160 and an inward collar surface 150, said outward collar surface further comprising a first front outward surface 110, a back outward surface 130, and a second front outward surface 120 all along the outward collar surface, with said inward surface facing the skin of the garment wearer's neck, said shoulder edge of the first sleeve and said shoulder edge of the second sleeve overlaying a portion of the outward collar surface 141, 241 and touching the first sleeve at its shoulder edge 31 and the second sleeve at its shoulder edge 32. The first outward surface 110 and second front outward surface 120 may also lay under or over (shown as under in FIG. 8 (FIG. 10) the front connective panel 40. The collar piece may or may not be actually attached to the first sleeve and/or the second sleeve, or the front connective panel or the back connective panel. Optionally, as shown in FIG. 8 (FIG. 10), the flexible collar piece 100 can be attached to the first sleeve panel 10 with one or more connectors 142, and to the second sleeve panel 20 with one or more connectors 242. Said connectors 142, 242 may be various types of connectors that would be useful in attaching and detatching fabric pieces in a garment at particular points, such as snap connectors, buttons (with corresponding button loops or hoops), hook and eye connectors, hook and loop (Velcro®) connectors, or any other means of connecting fabric at specified locations.
The height of such a collar in embodiments of the invention can be from a very narrow strip around the base of the neck of about one inch in height to as high as covering the top of the ears and the sides of the face, which could be about eight to about fifteen inches from the shoulder end of the first and second sleeve to the top of the collar, preferably about eight to ten inches. It may use one connection strap 170 or any number of connection straps at various locations, connecting and holding the two sides of the collar in position. The collar may optionally in some embodiments use any number of straps across the front of the face which will also provide shade where attached. The location for such straps 170 or other attachments across the front of the face can include below the nose, above the upper lip, below the lower lip, across the chin, and or over the nose. Embodiments of the invention with these straps include variations of being detachable, open, and hooked back to secure them by any attachment device to retract into the collar when they are not being used. The collar can also have a strip that will run over the top of the head to hold the collar in place. This strip may be retractable or removable for complete sun and environmental threat protection when worn with a hat of any kind.
The shape of such sun protection garments with permanently attached or such detachable collars according to the invention are shaped such to provide the wearer full visibility. Such collars according to the invention may optionally have scalloping 180 or cutouts around and below the eyes, yet able to shade the cheeks and sides of the face to allow freedom to breathe, eat and drink. One or more straps 170 connecting the first outward surface 110 and second front outward surface 120 may be located such that they are in one embodiment placed between the nose and the mouth of the wearer of the garment system.
The taller variations of garments and collars according to such embodiments of the invention may optionally be retracted and expanded to any height by rolling or folding the collar up or down. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 (FIG. 11), a fold line 131 to fold the collar down can be pressed into the collar's fabric. In other embodiments, the collar design may have multiple fold lines in opposing directions to include an accordion effect function to position and attach the collar to numerous heights to achieve the level of protection desired.
Collars on garments according to embodiments of the invention may be held in position over the neck of the wearer and other parts of the body above the shoulders that the wearer wishes to be covered various means that will allow the collar to stand up. This can include using stiff fabric, starching, using a stiffening material between layers of the collar, having a wire, flexible polymer, or other flexible but stiff material around the edge of the collar or anywhere inside the collar, by such collar being comprised of inherently stiff fabric, but such collar being comprised of at least one outer fabric and a material that can be used internally in the collar to stiffen the structure, provide support, and hold it at its designated intended position.
An optional element of protection in garments with collars according to the invention includes an extension of the collar for the protection of the face and/or ear or ears. These functional and protective collar variations include many techniques for coverage and many materials. One such protective collar design is shown in more detail in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 (FIGS. 16-17). In this embodiment element, the collar may be turned down or, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 (FIGS. 16-17), flipped up, with a smaller flap on the top edge of each end of the collar, 210, 220 that curves over the ear of a wearer. Alternately, when there is no indentation 190 in the back surface of the collar, there could be a single unitary flap on the top edge 200. Variations of the option collar element embodiments according to the invention can close around the face completely and be held in place by any technique or support material, including but not limited to wire supports or other piping sewn underneath or into the material, stiffening material sewn or otherwise attached beneath within, or otherwise incorporated into the fabric, straps across the top of the head with closure options over the entire head to form a hood or head liner for helmets or hats of any kind. Variations of such a collar and hood element embodiment can include areas that detach and/or areas that retract down to any size of collar or retract into the base of the garment. Uses for such an embodiment with such a collar element include for exterior environmental protection, including protection from the sun, heat, cold, wind, insects and other pests, occupational hazards, medication (including medication sensitivity to light, heat, cold, wind, and other elements), or for any other need.
Such collar element embodiments can close with any attachment device or mechanism to include straps, wires, retractable straps or wires, or other supports across any area of the face to cover the nose, upper lip, chin with any sheer, solid fabric, or other material that facilitates full peripheral vision and facilitates breathing and breathing support.
In another embodiment of the invention, such as that shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 (FIG. 4 & FIG. 5), the first sleeve and the second sleeve may directly connect to each other with no separate front panel 40 or back panel 30 needed. As shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the garment system comprises: a first sleeve, wherein said first sleeve has a first fabric panel with an outward surface and inward surface, said first fabric panel with a hand edge 15 opposite a neck edge 35, a front longitudinal edge 16 opposite a back longitudinal edge 27, and a front connector edge 45 between the front longitudinal edge and the neck edge and a back connector edge between the back longitudinal edge 16 and the neck edge 35. The outward surface of the first sleeve is generally defined as having a hand end, a forearm surface, an elbow surface, and a shoulder end comprising the front shoulder surface and the back shoulder surface. The embodiment in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 has one or more straps (four total on each sleeve as shown) extending from the front longitudinal edge 16 of the first fabric panel to the back longitudinal edge 27of the first fabric panel. Similarly, on the opposite arm of the garment is a second sleeve, comprising a second fabric panel with an outward surface and inward surface, said second fabric panel with a hand edge 25 opposite a second neck edge 36, a front longitudinal edge 18 opposite a back longitudinal edge 26, and a front connector edge 37 between the front longitudinal edge 18 and the neck edge and a back connector edge between the back longitudinal edge and the neck edge, said outward surface generally defined as having a hand end, a forearm surface, an elbow surface, and a shoulder end comprising the front shoulder surface and the back shoulder surface, and one or more straps 70 extending from the front longitudinal edge of the second panel. The straps of each sleeve may optionally be attached on either the front longitudinal edge or the back longitudinal edge with sleeve connectors, allowing for detachment of straps, or they may in an embodiment (as shown in the figures) be unitary with the sleeve panel. In this embodiment, the front connector edge of the first fabric panel and the front connector edge of the second fabric panel may be attached or detatched along said edges, such as with buttons, snaps, a zipper, internal connectors or straps, hook and loop closures, hook and eye closures, or using any means by which panels of fabric can be routinely attached and detached from each other. Similarly, in the back in the shown embodiment of FIG. 13, the back connector edge 37 of the first fabric panel and the back connector edge 38 of the second fabric panel may be attached or detached along said back connector edges using similar means.
Embodiments as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 may also, as shown in FIG. 14, have an optional collar attachment 300. Such collar attachment may be attached to the top of the sleeved garment at the neck edges 35, 36 of such, using any attachment mechanism, including paired connectors 310, 360 along the neck edges of the first sleeve 35 and second sleeve 36 and the bottom of the detachable collar 300. Such detachable collar may be of any configuration that is useful in providing additional sun protection to the neck of the wearer of the garment or garment system. Such detachable collar may be of a single piece of fabric with a connector 310 to connect it to the neck edges of the sleeves. Alternately in some embodiments it may also be comprised of two neck pieces, a first neck piece 316 intended to connect to the neck edge 360 of the first sleeve panel and a second neck piece 326 intended to connect to the neck edge 370 of the second sleeve panel. The first neck piece 316 and the second neck piece 326 in the back of said collar piece 300 connect to each other, forming a unitary collar, but can also be separated as the sleeves are similarly separated from each other.
The wearer of the garment system may in certain situations choose to only wear one sleeve or another sleeve of the garment system. As shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, a single sleeve may be worn as a garment, either the first sleeve without the second sleeve or the second sleeve without the first sleeve. To assist in securing the single sleeve to the wearer's body, as shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, one or more securing straps 420, 430 or panels may be wrapped around the wearer's opposite, head, neck, shoulder, or torso and secured using any type of attachable and detachable fabric connector 440, such as for example buttons, snaps, to secure the one-sleeve garment to the wearer. In some embodiments, the front attachment panel 40 and/or the back attachment panel 30 may double as a securing strap when only one sleeve is worn.
In embodiments of the invention the collar may in some embodiments attach at the base of the neck and separate on or at the sleeves. Embodiments of this invention may include a garment comprised of many numbers of pieces, such as a garment comprised of a collar, a yoke, one or more sleeves. All parts can be worn as separate garments for the desired or needed protection.
Collars on embodiments of the invention may have various heights. As indicated previously in this detailed description, collars can fold down into the garment or detach at the base of the neck. A collar can be worn connected to the upper back section and the upper chest section, which detaches from the shoulder and arm sections to be worn in the form of a dickie. The top of the shoulder and upper arm piece can be detached from those sections and be worn separately. The whole garment can be divided in half to use any time one is positioned where only half of the body is exposed to the sun. One side of the garment for a driving shade shirt, and using the other side as a riding sleeve in a vehicle or any other form of transportation where the wearers would be exposed to the sun on only one side of the body. This one half of shade shirts could be then strapped on or hooked on to the body with any form of connection straps. However, some embodiments of the invention include sleeves or half sleeves with no collars.
The embodiment with its front view shown in FIG. 17 is a shirt garment with a first front body panel 410, a first sleeve panel 10 with a longitudinal front edge 16 and back longitudinal edge, and one or more (three shown) first sleeve straps 60, and a second front body panel 420 with a second sleeve panel 20 and one or more second sleeve straps 70 (three shown). The first front body panel includes, near the first sleeve 10 and at the right side or right torso of the wearer, various holes or vents 412 defined by one or more front panel horizontal straps 414 and one or more vertical straps 416 from the front panel. Similarly, the second front body panel includes, near the sleeve 20 and at the left side or left torso of the wearer various holes or vents 422 defined by one or more front panel horizontal straps 424 and one or more front panel vertical straps 426 on the second front panel, reaching around to the back of the shirt (not shown on the figure.) Such a shirt may, as shown in FIG. 17, optionally include a high collar 300 which may optionally be worn up, as shown in FIG. 17, or folded down along the fold line 131, and may optionally include at the top edge of said collar 200 an ear flap, cutouts 180 or scalloping, and one or more back cutouts 140 for mobility of the neck or easy of using other devices. As shown in FIG. 17, the shirt also includes buttons and button holes or snaps (shown as closed) along the front of both the first front body panel, with its complementary attachment mechanism along the front of the second front body panel, overlapping at 470. The embodiment shown in FIG. 17 also includes a first tubular inner sleeve 81 attached to the first sleeve panel 10 along the front longitudinal edge 16 and back longitudinal edge of the first sleeve panel, and a second tubular inner sleeve 81 attached to the second sleeve panel 20 near or along the front longitudinal edge 26 and back longitudinal edge of the second sleeve panel 20.
The embodiment shown in FIG. 18 is an embodiment similar to that in FIG. 17, but with a folded-down collar 152, a button front closure 472. Similar embodiments may optionally have mesh inner sleeves on both the right sleeve and left sleeve, and or inner mesh panels on the right side of the torso and left side of the torso.
Another embodiment, the front view of which is shown in FIG. 19, includes at least four separable garments that may be worn separately or together for protection of the wearer from sun or other elements. The first garment is the first sleeve, or right sleeve (as it is on the right side of the wearer), 1. The second garment in the garment system is the second sleeve, or left sleeve, 2. The third garment is the torso piece, 480, and the fourth garment is the collar assembly, 300. The first sleeve and the second sleeve may be connected to each other using any longitudinal or point attachments, including but not limited to a zipper, buttons, slaps, hook and loop closures (a continuous line or aligned pieces along a line), hook and eye closures, magnetic closures, and any other means of attaching and detaching fabric pieces, in the back, 5. The first sleeve and second sleeve may also optionally be attached at one or more points in the front as well, 6, using any spot connectors such as snaps, buttons, hook and eyes, and hook and loop spots. As shown in the FIG. 19, said first sleeve and second sleeve come together with a V-neck shape when the collar 300 is not attached.
As shown in the embodiment in FIG. 19, the torso piece 480 may be connected to the right sleeve 1 and left sleeve 2 using halves of a zipper or other attachment mechanisms joining the top edge of the torso piece 490 to the bottom chest edge of the right sleeve 491 to the bottom chest edge of the left sleeve 492. As shown in FIG. 19, the torso piece also has a right front panel 410, a left front body panel 420, though both the right front body panel and the left front body panel may be made from a unitary fabric piece. The sleeves as shown in FIG. 19 also have separable portions: on the right sleeve, the primary shoulder or right front panel of the sleeve 10 can be worn alone as a short sleeve. It also optionally may be joined with a second right front panel 901 using an attachment mechanism 910, to form a ¾ length sleeve. To make a long sleeve as shown in the FIG. 19, the second right front panel 901 is also joined at the other end with a third right front panel 902 at another attachment mechanism 912. Similarly on the left side of the wearer, left front panel of the sleeve 20 (which when worn alone is a “short” sleeve”) is joined with a second left front panel 921 using an attachment mechanism 930 to form a ¾ length sleeve, and the second left front panel 921 is also joined at the other end with a third left front panel 922 at another attachment mechanism 932 to form a full-length or “long” sleeve.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 19, the first front body panel includes, when worn with the right sleeve the middle panel 901 on the wearer and at the right side or right torso of the wearer, various holes or vents 412 defined by one or more front panel horizontal straps 414 and one or more vertical straps 416 from the front panel. Similarly, the second front body panel also includes, when worn along with the left sleeve near the middle panel 921 of the sleeve and at the left side or left torso of the wearer various holes or vents 422 defined by one or more front panel horizontal straps 424 and one or more front panel vertical straps 426 on the second front panel, reaching around to the back of the shirt (not shown on the figure.) Further as shown in FIG. 19, the detachable collar 300 may be attached to the right sleeve 1 and left sleeve 2 at the right front edge 301 and left front edge 302 respectively with the bottom edges 303, 304 of the collar piece using any attachment mechanism, including snaps (as shown), buttons, hook and eye closures, hook and loop closures, magnetic closures, etc. The back of the collar may also be attached to the back of both the right sleeve 1 and left sleeve 2 (at 393.) Such collar may also have a detachment point 132 for the top piece 133 of such collar, and such collar may also have various scalloping, indentations 140, ear flaps along the top edge 200 as have been described previously.
In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 20 and FIG. 21, the garment may in the form of a jacket. The jacket in this embodiment comprises a right sleeve panel 10 with straps 60 connecting the front longitudinal edge 16 and back longitudinal edge, and a second sleeve panel 20, with a front longitudinal edge 26 and back longitudinal edge, and one or more straps 70 extending from the front longitudinal edge of the second sleeve panel to the back longitudinal edge of the second sleeve panel. Such jacket in this embodiment also has one or more finger or thumb holes 65 (two shown on each sleeve) and side vents 412, 422 as previously described in the description of the embodiment in FIGS. 17-18. This embodiment also includes a unified collar and cheek cover 310 as part of the jacket, said collar having a right cheek cover 312 a back collar 316 and a left check cover 314. An optional cap 600 can attach to right cheek cover 312 and/or the left cheek cover 314 using various means and/or the back collar 316, including that shown in FIG. 20 and FIG. 21 with a strap 640 connecting to the top edge 222 of the right cheek cover 312, with an optional additional strap (not shown) connecting to the top edge 223 of the left cheek cover 314. Such an embodiment may optionally, as shown, have one or more other attachment straps 616 that connects the cap 620 to another point on the collar or cheek strap. Such cap 600 as shown in this FIG. 20 and FIG. 21 is comprised of a top head covering portion 620 and a bill 630, in addition to the aforementioned attachment straps 616, 640.
The embodiment shown in FIG. 22 and FIG. 23 is similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, but the embodiment in FIG. 22 and FIG. 23 further includes a back cap piece 700 that attaches to the cap 600 along the edge of the cap 720 using any attachment mechanism, including snaps, buttons, hook and eye, hook and loop, magnets, and other fabric attachment and detachment means. It further attaches to the side cheek panels 312, 314 and the back collar's edge 740 using similar means. The embodiment shown in FIG. 22 and FIG. 23 further includes a fabric or mesh face cover 382 that is comprised of one or more pieces of fabric or mesh that are attached to the cheek panels 312 and 314 and can be used to further shield the lips, mouth, and even eyes from exposure.
The embodiment shown in FIG. 24 and FIG. 25 is also similar to that in FIG. 22 and FIG. 23. The embodiment in FIG. 24 and FIG. 25 includes that the back cap piece 700 may be permanently attached to the back collar 316 along one or more points or along the entire edge of the back collar edge 214, and may be retracted into a pocket within such back collar 316. Alternately, the back cap piece may be permanently attached to the top cap 620, and detachable from the back collar 316, and retractable into a pocket within the top cap 620. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 24 and FIG. 25, the fabric mesh or face cover 382 can also be stored in an interior pocket of either (as shown) the right cheek panel 312, the left cheek panel, or detachable to either. Also as shown on the embodiment in FIG. 24 and FIG. 25, the jacket or shirt garment may have optional side panel covers 442, 443, 444 which can be used to cover the vent holes 412, 422 on the side panels of the garment, and one or more pockets 450 for storing such optional side panel covers, which may be permanently affixed to the front panel 111, 121 or the back panel of such garment.
Similar embodiments can include sun and sports outdoor wear with a shorter billed hat or visor with clear sides on each side of the visor that would be made of any clear plastic panel or safety glass tinted material and or polarized material or sheer mesh material to protect the eyes and sides of the upper part of the face from external environmental dangers.
In such embodiments, an additional clear panel may run across the front and below the front of the visor or made of any transparent material to include: plastic or safety glass and/or polarized transparent material or variations of different mesh material that is sheer with visibility through it. This particular embodiment of the invention provides eye protection from sun, rain, hail, flying debris, and insects, including possible protection from bee stings.
In such embodiment, the face panel has a detachable and/or retractable full face coverage. Such face panel may be composed or comprised of a variety of materials that are flexible for free movement of the body. In such an embodiment, the design and material facilitates clear breathing around the mouth and nose yet includes dense and protective materials for full coverage and protection when needed. Such material sections may be lined with fabrics that are comfortable and safe to be next to skin when needed and are functional and comfortable. For example, a layer of fabric on the side of the protective material is optional. In such an embodiment, the protective liner material and possibilities vary and is made of anything flexible enough to install and use open and closure options. The ability to close the closer options up of the clothing when protection is needed and the ability to conveniently open the closure options, with straps to hold it in place and or clear mesh for airflow to the skin when full body protection is not needed.
The shoulder and arm piece in embodiments that include such wherein they are detachable can be detached to any length ranging from just covering the top of the shoulder, various T-shirt lengths, three-quarter-length, to the wrist, or to cover the whole hand. The arm piece may include a glove holding the shirt in position or any other connection to the hand around different fingers or wrist with the underarm open
Garments according to the invention may be comprised of an upper half sleeve (as previously described) with a lower fabric or mesh undersleeve, such embodiment providing a closed underarm option. Such fabric or mesh would sit above the arm when it is not in use to further shade the upper part of the arm. The arm may also be positioned between the closure option and the sleeve, and a sleeve would be put on with the arm going through both fabrics yet with the straps still intact under the arm. The underarm closure option can be a piece of material or fabric that the arm can be put on top of when wearing this garment to close the underarm part of the sleeves. To use the closed under arm sleeve option, the arm would be slid between or through the two pieces of material or fabric. The underarm closed sleeve option is an additional piece of material or fabric that lies on top of the arm under the upper arm piece when the underarm is open. This piece is attached to the garment by being sewn on or attached by any other attachment technique, mechanism, or device on each side the whole length of the upper sleeve from the armpit to the length of the sleeves. This piece could be any length from a very short sleeve to a very long sleeve in which it would be from the armpit to the wrist or hand.
One embodiment of a garment system including elements that cover the head, neck, arms, and upper body plus the legs and lower body is shown in FIG. 26. As shown in FIG. 26, the garment system of this embodiment includes a jacket with collar similar to that as shown in FIG. 20-21, though the indentations 180, 182 of the collar panel near the face of the wearer as shown in FIG. 26 are more pronounced in the embodiment shown in this figure. The garment system further includes a pants element, comprising a right leg panel 701 and a left leg panel 702, said right leg panel having various holes or vents 710 at the right inner thigh of the wearer defined by one or more right leg panel horizontal straps 714 and one or more vertical straps 716 from the right leg panel, and further down the right leg panel 701 optionally additional holes or vents 712 near the inner right calf of the wearer similarly defined. Similarly, the left leg panel also includes in this embodiment holes or vents 720 at the left inner thigh of the wearer defined by similar horizontal and vertical straps, and optionally additional holes or vents 722 near the inner left calf of the wearer similarly defined. As shown in the embodiment in FIG. 22, both the right leg panel and the left leg panel have toe holes or straps 790 and heel straps 790 at the end of each pant leg to help attach the pant element to the body and provide coverage with open elements in the back of the wear's leg, if desired.
Other embodiments of the invention include full-body jumpsuits, as shown in FIG. 27 and FIG. 28, FIG. 30, and FIG. 31. The jumpsuit embodiment as shown in FIG. 27 includes a front right panel 111 and a front left panel 121 that each extend down over the outer right leg to an outer right leg panel 711 and an outer left leg panel 721 to cover the outside surface of the wearer's legs. The embodiments of both FIG. 27 and FIG. 28 show that the outer right leg panel has a front longitudinal edge 766 and a back longitudinal edge. Similar to the straps 60, 70 that cover the arms of the wearer on the top half of the jumpsuit, the leg covering portion of this embodiment includes one or more thigh straps 760 and/or one or more knee or calf straps 762 that extend over the inner right thigh of the wearer from the front longitudinal edge 766 to the back longitudinal edge of the outer right leg panel 711. Such straps 760, 762 may be permanently attached, or may be detachable at the front longitudinal edge 766, the back longitudinal edge, or both. Similarly on the left leg of the wearer, the outer left leg panel 721 has a front longitudinal edge 776 and a back longitudinal edge. The left leg covering portion of this embodiment includes one or more thigh straps 770 and/or one or more knee or calf straps 772 that extend over the inner left thigh of the wearer from the front longitudinal edge 776 to the back longitudinal edge of the outer left leg panel 721. Such straps 770, 772 may also be permanently attached, or may be detachable at the front longitudinal edge 776, the back longitudinal edge, or both. Such straps may be attached or detached using any reasonable means for repeatedly attaching and detaching fabric panels, including by using one or more paired snaps, buttons with button holes, hook and eye closures, hook and loop closures, magnetic closures, toggles and toggle straps, etc. The embodiments shown in FIG. 27 and FIG. 28 also include a right knee flap 768 extending across the right knee of the wearer which may be permanently extending around the knee, essentially stretching from the knee portion of what would be the front longitudinal edge 766 to the back longitudinal edge of the right leg of the wearer. It may alternately be detachable, similar to how the right thigh straps 770 and right calf straps 762 are. The embodiments shown in FIG. 27 and the embodiment shown in FIG. 28 also include a left knee flap 778 extending across the left knee of the wearer which may be permanently extending around the knee, essentially stretching from the knee portion of what would be the front longitudinal edge 776 to the back longitudinal edge of the left leg of the wearer. It may alternately be detachable, as explained above for the right knee flap.
The embodiment shown in FIG. 27 is a front view and the embodiment shown in FIG. 28 is a back view of very similar embodiments, and seam lines are shown as dotted lines thereon. However, the embodiment shown in FIG. 28 has a detachable or separable pants portion, rather than being a unitary jumpsuit, where the pants are separated from the top at the waistband 790.
The embodiments shown in FIG. 29 and FIG. 30 are pant protective garments, which may be standalone garments or part of a garment system in accordance with the invention. Such pant protective garments provide protection against the elements to the inner thigh, rather than the outer thigh. As such, in this embodiment there is an inner right thigh panel 730 and an inner left thigh panel 740 each attaching to an upper right panel 750 and an upper left panel 752, which are sewn together to form the front of the pants garment. There are one or more thigh straps 732 extending from the front longitudinal edge 736 of the inner right thigh panel to the back longitudinal edge 796 and/or one or more knee or calf straps 734 that extend over the inner right calf of the wearer from the front longitudinal edge 736 to the back longitudinal edge 796 of the inner right leg panel 730. Such straps 732, 734 may be permanently attached, or may be detachable at the front longitudinal edge 736, the back longitudinal edge 796, or both. Similarly on the left leg of the wearer, the inner left leg panel 740 has a front longitudinal edge 746 and a back longitudinal edge786. The left leg covering portion of this embodiment includes one or more thigh straps 732 and/or one or more knee or calf straps 744 that extend over the outer left thigh or calf of the wearer from the front longitudinal edge 746 to the back longitudinal edge 786 of the inner left leg panel 740. Such straps 742, 744 may also be permanently attached, or may be detachable at the front longitudinal edge 746, the back longitudinal edge 786, or both. As shown on the embodiments in FIG. 29, there is one thigh strap on each leg panel, and as shown in the embodiment in FIG. 30 (which is a back view of a similar but not identical embodiment), there are two thigh straps 732, 742 on each leg panel. As shown on the embodiments in FIG. 29 and FIG. 30, there is also a back portion of the inner right leg panel 790 and a back portion of the inner left leg panel 780, which are joined by a backside panel 754 as shown in FIG. 30.
Another variation of the underarm closed option sleeve can be an additional piece of material or fabric of any kind that can be sewn on or attached by any attachment technique, device, or mechanism on one side and folded back over the top of the sleeve of the garment. The fabric may be secured by any attachment technique, device, or mechanism to the garment from the shoulder to the whole length of the sleeve. This fabric can provide an additional layer of protection. With this variation that piece can then be folded back down over the underside of the arm to create a closed option of the under sleeve, and then be held in place by any attachment technique, device, or mechanism.
A version of the open under the arm shirt that can be separated in the middle into two halves may be used for driving a vehicle or riding as a passenger. This shirt gives comfortable, cool protection from sun exposure through car door windows to the top of the arm and shoulder, the side of the neck and chest, or any other of these parts used separately or all together. This variation will have retractable or detachable straps, clips or any other attachment mechanism or technique or devise etc. to secure it in position.
The open under the arm sleeved shirt variation will be divided into two halves in the middle by zippers or any other attachment and detachment technique or devise with straps, clips, a hook-and-loop fastener or touch fastener (such as that sold under the brand Velcro.)
In some embodiments of the invention, there is an optional closure panel that may be opened or closed to fully enclose the arm of the wearer. In some such embodiments, the wearer may open the under the arm sleeve, or close it using a closure option includes a sleeve that can be retractable two different lengths by retracting or folding the sleeve section back under or back on top of the section of sleeve that is in use. Alternately in this embodiment, the whole sleeve can be retracted—folded back under or on top of the shoulder and back of the garment—and held in place by any attachment techniques or mechanism to the base of the garment, such as in a sleeveless tank top shape with or without a collar. Another embodiment would include a section of the sleeves that are not in use would be able to be retracted back into a collar that can be part of the base of the garment.
The collar in such garments according to such embodiments can optionally be made to also be worn alone with any other upper body shirt or garments The underarm closure embodiments of the multi length sleeves could be sewn into the fabric or material of the sleeves and lay on top of the arm under the upper piece of fabric or material that protects the arm or be worn in sections and that the arm can be positioned in between the two layers of fabric or material that can be the length of the length of each section of sleeve that is being worn. The choice of sleeve lengths to wear can be any length, including but not limited to cap sleeve, T-shirt length, ¾ length sleeve, full length sleeves, and a sleeve length that covers the top of the hand. For such embodiments, the underarm closure options would be the length of these sections and be worn with the length of sleeve that is being worn. For example, when wearing the T-shirt length, the user would wear the T-shirt length of closure option. As another example, when wearing the three-quarter-length sleeves, the user could put his or her arm through the T-shirt length closure option and through and additional closure option to fill the gap of closure between the T-shirt length and the three quarter length closure option. As another example, for the full length sleeve, the wearer would put their arm into and between the upper fabric and all three lengths of underarm options to have a full underarm closure.
Another embodiment variation for the multi-length open under the arm sleeves with underarm closure options have the closure options that fold back around the upper section of the sleeves on top of and attached with any attachment mechanism or techniques. This embodiment variation can also have the option of the different lengths of the sleeves that are not in use to be retractable or detachable when not being used at full length.
In both techniques or variations of multi-length open under the arm sleeves with underarm closures described above, the exterior and interior attached closure options for the open under the arm sleeves are the same options in the long shirt or jumpsuit variations with open areas at the core of the body below the chest with closure options and it would include different lengths of pants legs with open areas with straps made of any material to hold the garment in place with either interior or exterior closure option variations described for the sleeve closure options.
The different variations of the jumpsuit length of pants legs include short pants legs at length above-the-knee three-quarter-length pant legs at a length below the knee or a full length pant legs with an additional section of upper fabric for protection of the top of the foot for Barefoot or sandals use for sun protection or any other protective use which includes needs for medical purposes such as covering the and treating burn injuries or any other skin protection purpose or need requirements for any section of the body and held in place by any variations of attachment straps with uses for ventilation and securing the garment in the desired position in combination with covered protection. With this variation any sections of the pants legs that are not in use would be retractable into the pants legs and lower part of the garment that are being worn
The material used for garment embodiments of the invention can be any material that is flexible or made flexible enough to cover the form of the human body and functions with any movement of the body. The garment can be made of any material for any purpose, protection aspect, or use that would make this garment advantageous to wear. Uses include sun protection in combination with other uses or advantages. Uses may also include a gauze or paper material or liner to collect moisture, apply medication, or apply natural lotions and oils that prevent wrinkles, moisturize, or reverse aging. This garment can be made of a material that has solar collector capabilities or reflection capabilities. The advantages include materials that have capabilities to protect from rain or collect water or rain, or protection from insects to include bees, mosquitoes, gnats, ticks, and chiggers. This garment can be made of a material that protects the wearer from smoke or pollution. This garment can be made of material that insulates for warmth and to raise body temperature or could be a heating material such as a fabric comprising a woven fabric shell with hollow tubes and a heating element within such tubes.
Alternately, garments according to the invention may in some embodiments be made of any kind of material or any thickness of fabric to give the degree of protection desired to include a cooling material that can be wet and with water and cooled in the refrigerator, to a sheer material with very little protection of nylon mesh. This garment can be made of any material or fabric for any other use or advantage to include battery run cooling tubes as well as heating tubes for the desired need and or protection from outside elements, or any material or new technology that would be beneficial.
These active and inactive wear variations would include uses in any sport, occupation, activity, and while sleeping. Uses include but are not limited to sun protection, protection against heat or cold, underwater, sleep support, medical applications, and other applications. Potentially such garments could be used for protection from exterior atmosphere, potentially including in space exploration and living in any and all atmospheres, manmade or natural.
Patent Application
20190313715
