Combination outerwear garment and carrier pack

A combination carrier pack and single upper torso outerwear garment is disclosed and taught. A pack member is provided to be secured around the mid-section of a person. The pack has a front portion, a back portion, first and second opposed end portions, and a closeable compartment defined therewithin. A mechanism for releasably closing and opening the compartment is also provided. A single upper torso outerwear garment is integrally connected within the closeable compartment of the pack. In order to be worn around the mid-section of a person, a belt member is associated with the first and second opposed end portions of the pack. In preferred embodiments, the belt members include interconnecting fastening mechanisms at their distal ends for size adjustment, and for removable attachment of the pack about the mid-section of a person. This combination allows the single upper torso outerwear garment which is integrally connected within the closeable compartment of the pack to enable the pack and belt members to releasably secure the garment about the mid-section of a person when the garment is worn by that person. This combination further enables the garment to be folded into the closeable compartment of the pack for storage to be carried in the pack about the mid-section of a person when the garment is not being worn by that person.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to body garments and combined carriers for 
such garments. More specifically, the present invention relates to a 
combination upper torso outerwear body garment and carrier therefor. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
When one is in an outdoor environment it is often highly desirable, 
especially when the weather conditions change unexpectedly, to have ready 
access to an upper torso outerwear garment such as a jacket, a wind 
breaker, a poncho, a rain coat, or the like. However, people tend to dress 
according to the weather conditions at the start of an outdoor excursion, 
and do not always take the garment that they need. So, for example, if the 
weather is fair and warm, a person will tend to not wear an upper torso 
outerwear garment. Should the weather subsequently become cold or stormy, 
the person will want to be able to easily and conveniently put on an 
outerwear garment for warmth or protection, and to avoid the possibility 
of succumbing to hypothermia. Consequently, convenient and ready 
accessibility to such outerwear garments is highly desirable. Conversely, 
a person may start an outdoor excursion wearing an outerwear garment, and, 
should the weather subsequently become warm or the precipitation end, the 
person will want to be able to easily and conveniently remove the 
outerwear garment and store it neatly and safely away without having to 
carry it by hand, or in cumbersome separate bags, pouches, or the like. 
Numerous attempts have been made in the prior art to provide outer wear 
garments having self-contained carrier pockets or similar type of 
self-containment members, such as those taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 
2,334,061; 3,085,254; and 5,077,838. In each of these references, the 
individual is required to carry a separate pack or pouch which houses the 
outerwear garment when the garment is not being worn. 
A popular type of carrier pack, commonly referred to as a "fanny pack", is 
particularly convenient for activities where unencumbered, hands free, 
outdoor movement is desired. These packs are generally carried along the 
lower back, front or side of the mid-section of an individual, and are 
held, for example, by an adjustable belt. Common designs provide a pack of 
generally uniform cross-section, with access to a storage compartment by 
one or more zippers. Examples of such packs include U.S. Pat. Nos. 
4,029,243; 4,244,499; 4,518,107; 4,523,703 and Design Patent 261,197. U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,523,703, specifically notes that, because of the bulk and 
length of coats and jackets, that prior art fanny pack designs have a poor 
capability to accommodate them. U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,703 attempts to 
overcome this problem by providing a separate, tubular-shaped fanny pack 
having side openings which are designed to permit storage of a separate 
bulky object such as a coat or jacket. Unfortunately, such a carrier pack 
cannot effectively function in any capacity other than to carry a coat. 
Moreover, in the latter reference the coat is entirely separate from the 
pack. U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,107 discloses a flexible carrier system for ski 
equipment which, in one embodiment, is connected within a closable fanny 
pack. 
In addition to the above stated problem of utilizing carrier packs with 
existing coats or jackets, an individual user must remember to carry both 
the pack and the upper torso outerwear garment prior to venturing out of 
doors. As a result, if one inadvertently forgets to pack the carrier with 
an appropriate outerwear garment, obviously such garment is not available 
for later use. Moreover, if one starts out wearing the garment, but 
forgets the carrier, or packs the carrier with other items without leaving 
sufficient storage room for the garment, the garment may not be stored in 
the carrier. One solution to this problem is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 
5,040,243 which discloses a main upper torso body garment having a 
built-in mid-section carrier which contains an integrally attached, full, 
second upper torso body outerwear garment. One short coming of this 
reference is that a user must have a need to wear the main garment in 
order to be able to have ready access to the secondary or outermost 
garment. Without such a need, the entire unit will have to be separately 
stored and carried. An additional short coming of this reference is that 
the two garments are always combined, and that a user does not have the 
option of carrying and using the secondary garment separate from the main 
garment. Thus, there remains a need for a lightweight carrier system which 
is easy to use and multi-functional, and which is designed to incorporate 
and integrally carry a single outerwear garment. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide a 
combination outerwear garment and carrier therefor. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight and 
comfortable combination single outerwear garment and carrier which is 
adapted to be worn about the mid-section of a user whether the garment is 
in a worn or a stored position. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a single upper 
torso outerwear garment with an integral storage container therefor in the 
form of a small, lightweight carrier pack combination. 
In accordance with the above and other objects and advantages of the 
present invention, a combination carrier pack and single upper torso 
outerwear garment is disclosed and taught. A pack member is provided to be 
secured around the midsection of a person. The pack has a from portion, a 
back portion, first and second opposed end portions, and a closeable 
compartment defined therewithin. A mechanism for releasably closing and 
opening the compartment is also provided. A single upper torso outerwear 
garment is integrally connected within the closeable compartment of the 
pack. In order to be worn around the mid-section of a person, a belt 
member is associated with the first and second opposed end portions of the 
pack. In preferred embodiments, the belt members include interconnecting 
fastening mechanisms at their distal ends for size adjustment, and for 
removable attachment of the pack about the midsection of a person. This 
combination allows the single upper torso outerwear garment which is 
integrally connected within the closeable compartment of the pack to 
enable the pack and belt members to releasably secure the garment about 
the mid-section of a person when the garment is worn by that person. This 
combination further enables the garment to be folded into the closeable 
compartment of the pack for storage to be carried in the pack about the 
mid-section of a person when the garment is not being worn by that person. 
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to 
those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, showing 
the contemplated novel construction, combination, and elements as herein 
described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being 
understood that changes in the precise embodiments of the herein disclosed 
invention are meant to be included as coming within the scope of the 
claims, except insofar as they may be precluded by the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring initially to FIGS. 1-4, a combination carrier pack and outerwear 
garment device, generally 10 is disclosed and includes a carrier pack 
member 12 having a single outerwear garment 14 integrally associated 
therewith. In the preferred embodiment which is shown, the outerwear 
garment is a hooded jacket. However, as used herein, the term "outerwear 
garment" shall be understood to be any upper torso garment, such as a 
jacket, a wind breaker, a coat, a raincoat, a poncho, and the like. 
The carrier pack 12 includes a main body portion 16, a front surface 18 and 
a back surface 20 (FIGS. 6-9) which together define an interior main 
compartment 22 (FIG. 7). The main body portion 16 may be constructed from 
a single sheet of material folded on itself, or from multiple panels cut 
to size and sewn or otherwise connected together, as is known in the art. 
The main compartment 22 includes a closure mechanism 24 that is adapted to 
open and close compartment 22 for access thereto. The closure mechanism 
may be of any desired type of closure such as a zipper, hook and loop 
closure material, buckles, snaps, buttons, laces, and the like. In the 
preferred illustrated embodiment, the closure mechanism 24 is in the form 
of a zipper. As used herein, the term "carrier pack", or "carrier pack 
member", or "pack" or "fanny pack" shall all be understood to mean a small 
pack having an interior compartment and designed to be carried around the 
midsection of a person by a belt. In no instance shall the term "carrier 
pack" or "pack" or "fanny pack" mean another garment. 
The main body 16 of pack 12 includes first and second opposed external end 
portions 26 and 28. A pair of length adjustable belt members 30 and 32 
having their proximal ends secured to end portions 26 and 28, 
respectively. In the embodiment shown, the free or distal end of the belt 
30 includes a first fastening member 34 which is releasably engagable with 
a second fastening member 36 disposed on the free or distal end of the 
belt member 32. In this manner, the pack member 12 with the belts 30 and 
32 may be adjustably engaged about the mid-section of a person 38 in a 
typical "fanny pack" attachment position. It is to be understood that 
other art known belt members may be used for the same purpose. For 
example, a single piece belt which is threaded through end portions 26 and 
28, and through the body of the pack may be used instead of two separate 
belt portions 30 and 32. Similarly, the pack 12 may have a mechanism for 
detachably receiving belt members 30 and 32, or for detachably receiving 
some other belt system. 
In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, a secondary compartment 40 is 
present. Compartment 40 may be formed, for example, from a web of material 
42 secured to the front surface 18 of the main body 16 of pack 12. In such 
an embodiment, second closure mechanism 44 is provided at the upper 
surface of the web 42 to provide access to the secondary compartment 40. 
The secondary compartment 40 is utilized, generally, for the storage of 
miscellaneous items, while the primary or main compartment 22 of the main 
body 16 is utilized to store the outerwear garment 14 when it is not being 
worn by a person 38. Of course, the main compartment 22 may also be 
utilized, as desired, and space permitting, to store other items in 
addition to the garment 14. 
In the preferred embodiment shown, and visible in FIG. 3, outerwear garment 
14 includes a main body portion 46 having a back panel 48 and a front 
portion 50. The outerwear garment 14 may be of any desired type and may be 
made from any flexible material. The flexible material may be air 
permeable material, or air impermeable material, and/or waterproof 
material. Nylon is one preferred, but nonlimiting material. In the latter 
instance, the outerwear garment may function as either a raincoat or as a 
wind breaker, depending on the desired environment with which the garment 
14 is designed to be utilized. In the illustrated embodiment, the garment 
14 includes a pair of sleeves 52, 54, each of which preferably includes a 
sleeve adjustment device 56 at the outermost end thereof. The front panel 
50 of the garment 14 can be opened and closed by a fastener 58 (FIG. 5), 
such as a zipper, or may be of a pullover or poncho design, as desired. 
Where a closure is utilized, any desired art known form of closure may be 
used. 
In the illustrated preferred embodiment, a hood 59 is provided for covering 
the head of a person 38. Hood 59 includes a latching mechanism 60 and an 
associate catch 61 for use in pulling the hood 59 tightly about the face 
of a user 38. Also shown in this preferred form, garment 14 includes a 
lower body portion 64 which extends below the mid-section, and over the 
hips of user 38. An art known draw string tightening member 66 is also 
provided at the bottom edge, and may, if desired, be used to secure bottom 
edge 68 of the lower portion 64 firmly about the hips of user 38. 
As discussed above, the outerwear garment 14 is integrally associated with 
the carrier pack 12. In this manner, a single combination outerwear 
garment 14 and carrier 12 is created in which the belt 30 and 32 of the 
pack 14 also serves as the belt of garment 14 when it is being worn. 
In the preferred embodiment, the single outerwear garment 14 is integrally 
associated with the carrier 12 by securing the outer surface of the back 
panel 48 of the garment 14 to the inner surface of the compartment 22. 
Referring in particular to FIGS. 7 and 7A, the main compartment 22 
includes an interior rear surface 70 which forms a portion of the back 20 
of carrier member 12. The outer surface 71 of the back panel 48 of the 
garment 14 is attached directly to the inner surface 70 of the main 
compartment 22 toward the upper portion thereof proximate to the closure 
24. The manner of attaching the two components can be by any desired type 
of attachment mechanism, such as stitching, or bonding, although the use 
of snaps, hooks, laces, zippers, hook and loop material, and by other art 
known connecting means may be used. In the illustrated and preferred form, 
the back panel 48 is stitched or bonded directly to the inner surface 70 
along the upper portion thereof at 72. This bonding or stitching 72 takes 
place along a substantial portion of the entire width of the main 
compartment 22 so as to maximize the area of bonding or attachment between 
the garment 14 and the carrier member 12. 
When the body of garment 14 is removed from within the compartment 22 and 
positioned on the user 38 as illustrated in FIG. 3, the carrier 12 remains 
integrally joined and secured to the back side 20 of garment 14 in such a 
manner as to continue to maintain the second compartment 40 for ready 
access thereof. Moreover, in this manner the belt members 30 and 32 can be 
secured about the mid-section of the user 38 after the garment 14 has been 
positioned on the user 38 so as to serve as a belt for the garment 14. 
This provides several distinct advantages. First of all, the carrier 12 
with belt members 30 and 32 secured in place will securely hold the coat 
or jacket 14 about the user 38. Moreover, this arrangement will provide 
wind and weather protection by closing the garment 14 about the 
mid-section of the user 38 so that neither wind nor cold air can migrate 
around the upper body portion of the user 38, the garment 14 being 
essentially sealed at the mid-section of the user 38. In addition, the 
ties or cords 66 at the lower edge 68 of the garment 14 can be tied 
tightly about the hips of the user 38 so as to isolate the air space 
between the belts 30 and 32 and the lower cords 66, thereby providing 
further insulation and warmth to the body of user 38. 
Referring now to FIGS. 5-9, when its desired to store the garment 14 within 
the carrier 12, belt members 30 and 32 are released at fastening members 
34 and 36, the garment 14 is removed from the person 38 and laid with its 
back side panel 48 down. The arms 52, 54 and the hood 60 are then folded 
inwardly toward the front portion 50 of the garment 14 as illustrated in 
FIG. 5. The sides 74, 76 are then folded further inwardly as illustrated 
as in FIG. 6 so as to reduce the width dimension of the garment 14 to be 
less than the width dimension of opening of compartment 22 of carrier 12. 
The lowermost edge 68 of the garment 14 is then folded upwardly toward the 
hood 60 as illustrated in FIG. 7 along the attachment portion 72. The 
garment 14 is then rolled toward the carrier 12 as illustrated in FIG. 8 
until the garment reaches the attachment portion 72, whereupon the rolled 
garment 14 is then slipped into the main compartment 22, as illustrated in 
FIG. 9. The closure mechanism 24 may then be closed so as to store the 
garment 14 within the compartment 22, as shown in FIG. 1. The carrier 12 
may then be reattached by belt members 30 and 32 about the mid-section of 
the user 38, as illustrated in FIG. 2, with the carrier 12 being utilized 
as a traditional fanny pack, with a secondary compartment 40 being fully 
accessible, until such time as use of the garment 14 is once again 
desired. 
While the embodiment shown herein has the back of the garment connected 
within the compartment of the carrier, it is within the teaching of the 
present invention for a person to wear the carrier in the front of their 
body, as fanny packs are sometimes carried, and to therefore attach the 
front of the garment within the compartment of the carrier. 
As noted above, the material for the outerwear garment 14 may be of any 
desired type material but is preferably light weight material such as 
nylon or light weight fleece. It may be impermeable barrier material or 
porous depending upon the environment in which the garment 14 is designed 
to be utilized. Depending on the material selected for the garment 14, the 
size dimensions of the carrier 12 will be adapted to fit garment 14 when 
it is in its folded position. 
As can be seen from above, the combination carrier and outerwear garment 
device of the present invention providing a unique article particularly 
useful for individuals who are engaged in outdoor activities. The 
invention provides a mid-section supported backpack for carrying various 
articles as well as provides for a permanently available single outerwear 
garment in the event an individual is exposed to a change in weather 
requiring the use of such a garment. Consequently, such garments need not 
be packed separately, but rather are inherently part of the carrier 
itself. When in the form of a raincoat, the outerwear garment 14 is 
readily available for people exposed to the elements, but not wishing to 
carry a separate raincoat. When in the form of a wind breaker, the device 
of the invention provides for a fanny pack type of carrier and also 
provides for a warm wind breaker should the weather become unexpectedly 
cool. Thus, the present invention obviates the necessity of individuals 
having to remember to carry separate garments or to make such garments 
available as well as eliminating the nuisance of carrying such garments in 
separate containers. Further, the outerwear garment 14 is contained in a 
stored, out of the way position so as not to be lost or to interfere with 
access to other articles or items stored in the carrier pack. As a result, 
the present invention provides highly convenient accessibility to a single 
outerwear garment as well as to a fanny pack type of carrier. 
The foregoing description and the illustrative embodiments of the present 
invention have been described in detail in varying modifications and 
alternate 6 embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the 
foregoing description of the invention is exemplary only, and that the 
scope of the invention is to be limited only to the claims as interpreted 
in view of the prior art. Moreover, the invention illustratively disclosed 
herein, may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not 
specifically disclosed herein.