The present invention relates generally to convertible apparel and more particularly to a wearable article that is convertible to a bag configuration.
It is common for individuals to wear various types of apparel such as jackets, shirts, or robes. For example, apparel can keep a user warm while serving as a fashion statement. Sometimes apparel can have other functions. For example, a bathrobe is commonly made of a water-absorbent material to help a user dry off after a bath or shower. As another example, some jackets are made from water resistant material to protect a user from rain.
A bag is a common item that is configured to hold items and typically has one or more handles, allowing the device to be suspended from one's grip. Sometimes bags have straps that allow a user to wear a bag on their torso. Backpacks have two straps that go over opposite shoulders, while purses and handbags typically have one strap that could be slung over one's shoulder.
Minimalism is becoming more and more common as individuals are more conscious of the number of items they own. Convertible items are gaining in popularity because they have multiple purposes, which could save space and money. For example, scarfs exist that are convertible into a facemask and headband. As another example, multi-purpose tools are common that include a plurality of different apparatuses such as screw drivers, scissors, files, and blades in one unit.
Minimalists would appreciate the ability to convert a garment into a bag, and vice-versa. But, the convertible garments currently available are deficient in various aspects, such as being structurally weak, lacking accessory holders, and lacking the ability to choose different strap and handle arrangements.
Therefore, there exists a need for a convertible bag-garment that improves on currently available systems.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure.
Disclosed is a wearable article that is convertible between a garment configuration and a bag configuration, the article comprising:
a carrying arrangement for carrying the bag configuration.
In another aspect, the carrying arrangement includes two handles that are oppositely located such that when the garment is folded along a waist line into the bag configuration, the handles meet such that the handles may be used to carry the bag configuration.
In another aspect, the handles are each located at end portions of an inner strip, the inner strip passing through the garment.
In another aspect, the handles are selectively concealable behind a pocket, and exposable through the pocket for use.
In another aspect, the carrying configuration includes two attachment points on the garment configuration, such that the attachment points can each be connected to opposite ends of a strap, allowing the bag configuration to be carried by the strap.
In another aspect, the attachment points are at a waist of the garment configuration, such that the strap attaches to the attachment points while being threaded through a loop of the article, allowing the bag configuration to be carried as a backpack.
In another aspect, the strap is threaded through both handles while being attached to the attachment points at the waist.
In another aspect, the attachment points are on shoulders of the garment configuration such that when the strap is attached to the shoulders, the bag configuration is carriable as a handbag.
In another aspect, the article includes a writing instrument holder.
In another aspect, the article includes an eyewear holder.
In another aspect, in the garment configuration, the article is a robe.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow.
The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements, and in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
As shown throughout the figures, disclosed is a wearable article 100 that is convertible or transformable between a garment configuration 102 and a bag configuration 1202. For example, garment configurations are shown in
The article 100 may include a carrying arrangement 202 for carrying the bag configuration 1202. The carrying arrangement 202 includes two handles 204 that are oppositely located such that when the garment 102 is folded along a waist line into the bag configuration 1202, the handles 204 meet such that the handles 204 may be used to carry the bag configuration 1202 (
As shown in
The carrying arrangement 202 may include two or more attachment points 1702 (
The attachment points 1702 may be located at a waist of the garment configuration 102 (
The attachment points 1702 may be on shoulders of the garment configuration 102 such that when the strap 2602 is attached to the shoulders, the bag configuration 1202 is carriable as a handbag 1204 (
The article 100 may include a writing instrument holder 902. For example,
The article 100 may include an eyewear holder 502. For example,
In conclusion, the article allows a user to convert or transform a garment 102 (e.g. a jacket) into a bag 1202 and the bag 1202 into the garment 102. As a bag 1202, the article 100 may have handles 204 that are concealable. For example, the handles 204 may be concealable such that the handles 204 are not visible when the article is in a garment form 102 (
The garment 102 could fold along its waist 2002 (
The garment 102 and/or bag 1202 could include an eyewear holder 502 and writing instrument holder 902. For example, such holders may be located on a front surface 104 of the garment configuration 102 such that the holders become internally located in the bag configuration.
It is to be understood that the fasteners shown in the figures and mentioned herein may be any appropriate fastener such as zippers or even in some instances buttons or hook and loop fasteners.
The handles 204 may be through-design, which means they could include a sub-surface strip 206 attaching opposing handles 204 together. This configuration adds significant strength to the bag configuration 1202, because in the bag configuration 1202, the strip 206 structure extends from handle-to-handle and, under tension, it helps support contained items. However it is to be understood that such sub-surface strips 206 may be omitted, and in some instances they may be visible to the naked eye rather than being hidden behind a surface of the article. A strip could be one wide piece of strong and flexible material, or a plurality of strands or discontinuous portions.
As shown in
The garment may be folded in any appropriate way. For example, it may be folded along a vertical or horizontal axis. Once folded, open areas of the once-garment would be sealed to form a cavity of the bag. For example, zippers or buttons could be included appropriately to selectively seal or open any portion that needs to be closed to form a bag or a garment. Although it is useful to keep the pockets inwardly facing in the bag configuration, the garment could alternatively be folded such that the pockets face outward. In other words, either one of the front or back surfaces of the garment could become an internally facing or externally facing surface of the bag depending on a folding direction. The folding direction could be about an axis at the waist or even a vertical axis. Such a vertical axis is to be understood as being roughly the intersection of the sagittal plane with the body with reference to direct frontal view of the garment. This is not to be limiting, and is mentioned merely to advance the illustration.
As a robe, the garment could have buttons down the lateral sides of the robe such that the buttons may be attached to one another in the bag configuration to close the cavity of the bag configuration.
In some examples, the handles could be attached within their respective concealable areas without the sub-strip being present which could reduce manufacturing costs.
Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
This U.S. non-provisional patent application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/367,299, filed on Dec. 2, 2016, incorporated-by-reference herein in its entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 15367299 | Dec 2016 | US |
Child | 16663008 | US |