Abstract:
A hooded garment which can be converted into a purse. The garment, having the appearance of a jacket, sweater, sweatshirt, etc. will have a zipper ( 2 ) sewn into the opening of the hood ( 4 ), beginning at the location corresponding to the crown of the head and ending at the location corresponding to the collar bone. This provides the ability to zip the hood ( 4 ) closed, creating an enclosed hood ( 1 ). The body of the garment ( 16 ) should then be inserted into the hood enclosure ( 1 ). The invention also includes a pouch ( 30 ) attached to a shoulder strap ( 20 ) in the fashion of a small purse. The pouch ( 30 ) can be detached from the shoulder strap ( 20 ) and placed inside the hood enclosure ( 1 ). The shoulder strap ( 20 ) can then be attached to the hood enclosure ( 1 ), creating a complete purse ( 36 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to convertible clothing, specifically to an improved function in garments. Originally garments such as jackets and sweaters, once removed had to be carried over your arm, hung over your purse or tied around your waist. This is an inconvenience and creates a problem, because when the garment is hung over your arm or purse it can fall and become stained. It can be lost or get too heavy. It can also cause stretching of the garment. Short sleeved jackets and sleeveless garments don&#39;t even have the option to be tied around your waist. It is unattractive to carry your garment in this way. Inventors have created several types of convertible garments in an attempt to solve some of these problems, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,475,251 to Hopkins (1984) wherein the folding process was too complicated. U.S. Pat. No. 4,404,689 to Hager (1983) wherein the garment was of an outdated style after transformation, and seemed limited to being carried around the waist. U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,042 to DeWan (1990) wherein the converted garment did not have the benefit of looking like an actual purse after transformation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,853 to Argento, et. al. (1977) wherein the garment did not have a protective hood and also had too many steps in the folding process. U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,066 to Pearsall (1982) wherein the folding process was too complicated and the garment was limited to being worn around the waist after conversion. U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,334 to Pearsall (1982) was limited to female use and also had a complicated folding process. U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,709 to DeLott (1987) had too many steps in the conversion process. All of the convertible garments heretofore mentioned suffer from a number of disadvantages most often including complicated and lengthy folding and conversion processes. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A garment constructed in accordance with the principles of the average upper body garment, however such garment can be converted into a purse by removing the garment and zipping it up in the normal fashion. The hood, which has a zipper sewn into it&#39;s opening, that zips from the location corresponding to the crown of the head towards the location corresponding to the area of the collar bone, meeting the top of the separating zipper, creates an enclosure out of the hood. The body of the garment, which primarily consists of: a left and a right sleeve, a front of the garment (which can include a left and a right side of the garment), and a back of the garment, folds into the hood enclosure, which becomes the body of the purse. In combination with the garment is a small pouch attached to a shoulder strap with swivel hooks, in the fashion of a small purse. Once the body of the garment is inserted into the hood enclosure, the small pouch is unhooked from the shoulder strap and placed inside the hood enclosure. The shoulder strap is then hooked into the corresponding D-rings located at the base of the back of the hood and at the front of the hood, forming a complete purse. 
         [0003]    Accordingly, several objects and advantages of our invention are: when the garment is taken off it can be converted into a purse, thus providing a dual purpose. Another object of this invention is to provide an attractive method for carrying the garment while it is not being worn, therefore also protecting it from soiling and stretching. This invention provides a place to store items, as opposed to carrying those items in the pockets of the garment, preventing the need to transfer each item individually, thus keeping these items secure. An additional advantage of our invention is that it is very easily converted from an article of clothing to a purse and vice versa. Other objects and advantages of our invention include that it appears to be an ordinary garment when not converted and that it does not require complicated folding, tying or knotting procedures, as opposed to the prior art. Our invention also does not have to be placed on a flat surface during conversion. Our invention has the advantage of having a hood in case of inclement weather. Another object and advantage of our invention is that it can be used just as a purse, but also has the option of becoming a garment in case of change in climate, whether indoor or outdoor. Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       Preferred Embodiment 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective front view of our invention. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a perspective back view of our invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a perspective front view of our invention, showing the garment closed and the hood zipped shut, during transformation. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective front view of the pouch. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a perspective front view of our invention after conversion into a purse. 
         Alternate Embodiment 
         [0009]      FIG. 6  is a perspective front view of an alternate embodiment of our invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is a perspective back view of an alternate embodiment of our invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  is a partial, perspective angled view of an alternate embodiment of our invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  is a perspective side view of an alternate embodiment of our invention, with both drawstrings attached to the d-rings, and the hood enclosed. 
           [0013]      FIG. 10  is a perspective front view of an alternate embodiment of our invention, showing the body of the garment being inserted into the hood enclosure during conversion into a tote bag. 
           [0014]      FIG. 11  is a perspective front view of an alternate embodiment of our invention after conversion into a tote bag. 
       
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     Preferred Embodiment 
       [0015]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                  1 
                 enclosed hood 
               
               
                   
                  2 
                 zipper 
               
               
                   
                  4 
                 hood 
               
               
                   
                  5 
                 fabric strip 
               
               
                   
                  6 
                 d-ring 
               
               
                   
                  8L 
                 left sleeve 
               
               
                   
                  8R 
                 right sleeve 
               
               
                   
                 10 
                 separating zipper 
               
               
                   
                 12 
                 front of the garment 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 back of the garment 
               
               
                   
                 16 
                 body of the garment 
               
               
                   
                 17 
                 fabric strip 
               
               
                   
                 18 
                 d-ring 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 shoulder strap 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 swivel hook 
               
               
                   
                 24 
                 swivel hook 
               
               
                   
                 25 
                 fabric strip 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 d-ring 
               
               
                   
                 27 
                 fabric strip 
               
               
                   
                 28 
                 d-ring 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 pouch 
               
               
                   
                 32 
                 zipper 
               
               
                   
                 34 
                 whole pouch 
               
               
                   
                 36 
                 complete purse 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       Alternate Embodiment 
       [0016]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                  1 
                 enclosed hood 
               
               
                   
                  2 
                 zipper 
               
               
                   
                  4 
                 hood 
               
               
                   
                  8L 
                 left sleeve 
               
               
                   
                  8R 
                 right sleeve 
               
               
                   
                 10 
                 separating zipper 
               
               
                   
                 12 
                 front of the garment 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 back of the garment 
               
               
                   
                 16 
                 body of the garment 
               
               
                   
                 38 
                 left drawstring 
               
               
                   
                 40 
                 right drawstring 
               
               
                   
                 42 
                 cordstop 
               
               
                   
                 43 
                 mouth of the tote bag 
               
               
                   
                 44 
                 swivel hook 
               
               
                   
                 46 
                 eyelet 
               
               
                   
                 48 
                 eyelet 
               
               
                   
                 49 
                 fabric strip 
               
               
                   
                 50 
                 d-ring 
               
               
                   
                 52 
                 d-ring 
               
               
                   
                 54 
                 eyelet 
               
               
                   
                 55 
                 channel 
               
               
                   
                 56 
                 swivel hook 
               
               
                   
                 58 
                 fabric strip 
               
               
                   
                 60 
                 complete tote bag 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Preferred Embodiment 
     FIGS.  1 - 5   
       [0017]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . The invention, in this embodiment, is comprised of a hood  4  and a body of the garment  16 . Said hood  4  has a zipper  2  sewn into its opening. Said body of the garment  16  is comprised of a front of the garment  12 , a back of the garment  14 , a left sleeve  8 L, a right sleeve  8 R, a d-ring  6 , a fabric strip  5 , and a separating zipper  10 . (Said body of the garment  16  also includes and a d-ring  18  and a fabric strip  17 , which are shown in  FIG. 2 .) 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  shows an enclosed hood  1 , which is comprised of said zipper  2  (which is now closed), and said hood  4 .  FIG. 2  also shows said body of the garment  16  which is comprised of the back of the garment  14 , said left sleeve  8 L, said right sleeve  8 R, said fabric strip  17 , and said d-ring  18 . (Said body of the garment  16  also includes said front of garment  12 , said d-ring  6 , said fabric strip  5 , and said separating zipper  10  which are shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 .) 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  shows an enclosed hood  1 , which is comprised of said zipper  2  which is now closed, and said hood  4 .  FIG. 3  also shows said body of the garment  16 , which is comprised of said front of the garment  12 , said left sleeve  8 L, said right sleeve  8 R, said d-ring  6 , said fabric strip  5 , and said separating zipper  10 . (Said body of the garment  16  also includes said back of the garment  14 , said d-ring  18  and said fabric strip  17 , which are shown in  FIG. 2 .) 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  shows a whole pouch  34 , which is comprised of a shoulder strap  20 , two swivel hooks  22  and  24 , and a pouch  30 . Said pouch  30  includes two d-rings  26  and  28 , two fabric strips  25  and  27 , and a zipper  32 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 5  shows a complete purse  36  which is comprised of said shoulder strap  20 , said swivel hooks  22  and  24 , said d-rings  6  and  18 , said fabric strips  5  and  17 , and said enclosed hood  1 . Also partially shown in  FIG. 5  is said body of the garment  16 . Shown to be hidden inside said enclosed hood  1  is said pouch  30 . Said enclosed hood  1  is comprised of said zipper  2  which is now closed, and said hood  4 . (Said body of the garment  16  is comprised of said front of the garment  12 , said back of the garment  14 , said left sleeve  8 L, said right sleeve  8 R, said d-rings  6  and  18 , said fabric strips  5  and  17 , and said separating zipper  10 , which are shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 . Said pouch  30  includes said d-rings  26  and  28 , said fabric strips  25  and  27 , and said zipper  32  which are shown in  FIG. 4 .) 
       Operation of Preferred Embodiment 
       [0022]      FIG. 1  shows the first step in converting the garment into a purse (after removing the garment from your body), which is zipping separating zipper  10 .  FIG. 3  shows step two of the conversion process, which is zipping zipper  2 , so that zipper  2  meets separating zipper  10 . The third step in the conversion process is to insert the body of the garment  16  into hood enclosure  1 , leaving d-rings  6  and  18  exposed. The fourth step in the conversion process is to release the shoulder strap  20  from d-rings  26  and  28 , by unhooking swivel hooks  22  and  24 , and then inserting the pouch  30  into hood enclosure  1 . Step five of the conversion process is to attach the shoulder strap  20  to the hood enclosure  1  by hooking swivel hooks  22  and  24  onto d-rings  6  and  18  creating a complete purse  36  (shown in  FIG. 5 ). 
       Alternate Embodiment 
     FIGS.  6 - 11   
       [0023]    An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 6 . The invention, in this embodiment, is comprised of said hood  4  and said body of the garment  16 . Said hood  4  has said zipper  2  sewn into its opening and has attached to it a d-ring  50 , a fabric strip  49 , two eyelets  46  and  48 , two drawstrings  38  and  40  (which are partially encased by a channel  55 ), a cordstop  42 , and a swivel hook  44 . Said body of the garment  16 , in this embodiment, is comprised of said front of the garment  12 , said back of the garment  14 , said left sleeve  8 L, said right sleeve  8 R, and said separating zipper  10 . (Said hood  4  also has attached to it a d-ring  52 , a fabric strip  58 , an eyelet  54 , and a swivel hook  56  which are shown in  FIG. 7 .) 
         [0024]      FIG. 7  shows said hood  4  and said body of the garment  16 . Said hood  4  has attached to it said fabric strip  58 , said d-ring  52 , said eyelet  54 , said drawstring  38 , said channel  55  partially encasing said drawstring  38 , which has said swivel hook  56  attached to it. Said body of the garment  16 , in this embodiment, is comprised of said back of the garment  14 , said left sleeve  8 L, and said right sleeve  8 R. (Said hood  4  also has a zipper  2  sewn into it, and said d-ring  50 , said fabric strip  49 , said eyelets  46  and  48 , said drawstring  40 , said cordstop  42 , and said swivel hook  44  attached to it, which are shown in  FIG. 6 . Said body of the garment  16 , in this embodiment, also includes said front of the garment  12 , and said separating zipper  10  shown in  FIG. 6 . Said channel  55  also partially encases said drawstring  40  as shown in  FIG. 8 .) 
         [0025]      FIG. 8  shows said hood  4 , and a partial view of said body of the garment  16 . Said hood  4  has said zipper  2  sewn into its opening and said fabric strips  49  and  58 , said d-rings  50  and  52 , said drawstrings  38  and  40  (which are partially encased by said channel  55 ), said eyelets  46  and  54 , said swivel hooks  44  and  56 , and said cordstop  42  attached to it. Said body of the garment  16 , in this embodiment, is comprised of said front of the garment  12 , said back of the garment  14 , said left sleeve  8 L, and said separating zipper  10 . (Said hood  4  also has said eyelet  48  attached to it as shown in  FIG. 6 . Said body of the garment  16 , in this embodiment, also includes said right sleeve  8 R which is shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 .) 
         [0026]      FIG. 9  shows an enclosed hood  1 , and a partial view of said body of the garment  16 . Said enclosed hood  1  is comprised of said zipper  2 , and said hood  4 . Said hood  4  has said fabric strips  49  and  58 , said d-rings  50  and  52 , said swivel hooks  44  and  56 , said drawstrings  38  and  40  (which are partially encased by said channel  55 ), said eyelets  46  and  54 , said cordstop  42  attached to it. Said body of the garment  16 , in this embodiment, is comprised of said front of the garment  12 , said separating zipper  10 , said back of the garment  14 , and said left sleeve  8 L. (Said hood  4  also has said eyelet  48  attached to it as shown in  FIG. 6 . Said body of the garment  16 , in this embodiment, also includes said right sleeve  8 R which is shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 .) 
         [0027]      FIG. 10  shows a complete tote bag  60  and a partial view of the body of the garment  16 . Said complete tote bag  60  is comprised of said enclosed hood  1 , said eyelets  48  and  54 , said drawstrings  38  and  40 , said swivel hooks  44  and  56 , said d-rings  50  and  52 , said fabric strips  49  and  58 , said cordstop  42 , said channel  55 , and a mouth of the tote bag  43 . Said enclosed hood  1  is comprised of said hood  4  and said zipper  2 . Said body of the garment  16 , in this embodiment, is comprised of said front of the garment  12 , said back of the garment  14 , said left sleeve  8 L, and said separating zipper  10 . (Said complete tote bag also includes said eyelet  46 , shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  8 , and  9 . Said body of the garment  16 , in this embodiment, also includes said right sleeve  8 R also shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 .) 
         [0028]      FIG. 11  shows said complete tote bag  60 . Said complete tote bag  60  is comprised of said enclosed hood  1 , said eyelets  48  and  54 , said drawstrings  38  and  40 , said swivel hooks  44  and  56 , said d-rings  50  and  52 , said fabric strips  49  and  58 , said channel  55 , and said mouth of the tote bag  43 . Said enclosed hood  1  is comprised of said hood  4  and said zipper  2 . Also shown in  FIG. 11  is a very small portion of said front of the garment  12  and said back of the garment  14 . (Said complete tote bag  60  also includes said cordstop  42  which is shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  8 ,  9 , and  10 .) 
       Operation of Alternate Embodiment 
       [0029]      FIG. 6  shows the first step in converting the garment into a tote bag (after removing from your body) which is zipping the separating zipper  10 . Step two of the conversion process is zipping zipper  2 , so that zipper  2  meets separating zipper  10 . The third step in the conversion process is to pull drawstring  38  (which is free moving and partially encased within channel  55 ) through eyelet  54  until cordstop  42  meets eyelet  46 . The fourth step in the conversion process is to insert the body of the garment  16  into the enclosed hood  1 . The fifth step in the conversion process is to attach swivel hook  44  to d-ring  50  and swivel hook  56  to d-ring  52  creating a complete tote bag  60 . The sixth step in the conversion process is to close the mouth of the tote bag  43  by holding onto the mouth of the tote bag  43  and pulling on drawstring  38  and drawstring  40  (which is stationary and partially encased within the channel  55 ), one at a time, thus completing the conversion process, and creating a complete tote bag  60 . 
       CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    Thus the reader will see that the convertible garment of the invention provides a highly reliable, economical article of clothing that can be worn by persons of any age. While our above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of two preferred embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible. For example: the garment can be made of any kind of flexible fabric or material that lends itself to sewing and conversion. It can be any color, size, or style that includes an enclosing hood. The garment can include or exclude pockets, waist bands, wrist bands, decorative embellishments, a collar, short, long or no sleeves, etc. The garment does not have to be a zippered article of clothing; it can resemble a sweatshirt design. The garment is also not limited to having an attached hood. It can have a removable hood, as long as it is an enclosing hood. The garment can have any shoulder strap size and can be made out of numerous materials. The shoulder strap can be attached to the garment in various fashions and does not have to be attached to a pouch. The shoulder strap can also be attached to the garment in various locations. Its closing and/or attaching apparatus&#39; are not limited to swivel hooks, zippers, and d-rings. Parachute buckles, snaps, circular rings, fabric loops, buttons, hook and loop, belt buckles, etc. can also be used. The garment can be used by not only females, but has alternate embodiments that are gender neutral. The garment can also be made to fit an animal such as a dog or cat. The garment can have a lining, but does not require one. The pouch included in the preferred embodiment can also have any of the aforementioned applicable variations, and can also be exchanged for an existing purse or pouch that lends itself to attachment to the shoulder strap, and insertion into an enclosed hood. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.