Garment convertible to shoulder bag

One embodiment of a garment convertible to shoulder bag of the type comprising two separating zippers extending in an open fashion vertically along each side of the garment such as to form the bag compartment when the garment is folded and zipped at the sides. The garment further comprising an upper back panel (48) connected to the garment at the back neckline (42), shoulders (12) and back armholes (44). A stitch is applied horizontally through the upper back panel (48) and the garment upper back (52) and through a set of D-rings (66) and a reinforcement strap (68) positioned in between. The horizontal back panel stitch (46) allows for the formation of a straight bag opening edge (76) when the panel is flipped over the neckline towards the garment's front. A removable bag strap (32) is housed within loops on the inside of the garment and the garment's hem is elongated such as to form the bag closing flap (80).

PRIOR ART

The following is a list of some prior art that appears to be relevant presently:

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a garment convertible to bag. Specifically, an outer garment convertible to shoulder bag. It provides the user the advantage of wearing the garment as a conventional jacket designed to further convert into a functional bag with little indication that either item is of the convertible type.

Conventional outer garments provide warmth when needed but they do not address the issue of dealing with changing temperatures and circumstances throughout the day. When the weather becomes warmer, outerwear garments such as jackets have to be hand-carried without providing any additional function. When having to do so, users may often feel discomfort especially when supplementary items are also to be carried. In addition, changing events and circumstances throughout the day provide further hassle when having to sustain a garment that is not in functional use.

Several convertible garments have been proposed to address these issues. However, most inventions focus on ease of carrying or convenient storage during travel. This is done either by options of incorporation into a self-contained pouch or a folding apparatus to create a portable circumstance. However, this does not address the issue of providing additional function when the garment is in its converted form. One must still carry the converted garment as an additional item without any added functional use.

Many garments that are convertible to a functional bag are limited by the use of pockets to house additional items. Nevertheless, these pockets do not offer enough space or long-term durability. Argento, Strandt and Harris propose outerwear garments that when converted to a bag, provide the use of the garment's pockets as a device to carry additional items. This not only limits the space availability for larger items but it also creates a structural issue in the design. The pockets on both sides have to be filled by items of approximately the same weight in order to maintain the structural balance of the converted bag. If one pocket is filled with significantly heavier matter, it will pull the side of the bag down rendering the bag structure increasingly difficult to use.

Several inventions that use the body of the garment to form the carrying container for the bag have been proposed. However, they feature visible hardware on the outside of the garment which further separates it from a conventional garment. Gazzola discloses a jacket-to-bag conversion that includes exposed zip fasteners along the shoulders, side areas and lower portion of the jacket creating visibly bulky seams along each edge. In addition to jeopardizing comfort, the hardware provides an aesthetic style disadvantage thus making the user more hesitant to wear it. Ezell suggests a jacket convertible to backpack that includes visible straps and a set of exposed D-rings on the back portion of the garment. The exposed hardware not only makes the jacket less aesthetically pleasing, it also limits its usability to outdoor activities or only settings appropriate for such design.

While most of these garments address the issue of appropriate storage, the converted bag closures are limited by the use of zippers or snap-like fasteners. This provides no other alternative to provide a fast and efficient bag closure. The use of additional fastening hardware not only adds to the cost of constructing the garment, it further increases bulkiness and discomfort when the item is in garment form. Additionally, proposed inventions like Ezell's Jac Pac lacks a closure all together thus providing no option to safely store items within an efficiently closed compartment.

Most convertible garments use a belt as the strap for carrying means further limiting the invention to only garments that have a belt. Such garments cannot be functionally converted to a carrying article unless the belt is always incorporated into the design. In an attempt to address this issue, Harris discloses a garment that uses the sleeves as a method for carrying the converted bag on one's shoulder. Nevertheless, this limits the invention to only garments that have longer sleeves and provides no alternatives for strap adjustment or removability.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment an outer garment convertible to shoulder bag comprises two separating zippers each connected to each side area of the garment in an open fashion wherein the bottom zipper portions of each separating zipper extend at approximately below the waist area and the top zipper portions of each separating zipper extend above the waist area starting at each side area of the garment. The top zipper portions further extend onto the garment upper back and end underneath an upper back panel. The upper back panel is positioned such that it replicates the shape of the garment's upper back and further connects to the garment at the neckline, shoulders, armholes and upper side areas of the garment. Underneath the upper back panel, a reinforcement strap of flexible material extends horizontally on top of the garment upper back between the two back armholes on each side. A set of D-rings are positioned at approximately each end of the reinforcement strap adjacent to the back armholes. The D-rings are further connected to the reinforcement strap both being reinforced between the garment upper back and upper back panel with a horizontal stitch. A removable bag strap is housed by loops connected to the inside of the garment's back portion along the waist area. The hem is elongated and the bottom zipper portions end at distance up from the garment's hem such that it creates an option for using the garment's bottom portion as a bag closing flap when the garment is converted to bag.

Advantages

The present disclosure provides a garment with hidden hardware that does not give the indication that it can be converted to a fully functional bag. The body of the garment is used to form the bag compartment such that when the garment is fully converted, it offers enough space and durability to be used efficiently as a bag. The addition of a back panel provides a device for hiding additional conversion hardware allowing for a classic outerwear style. The addition of a stitch applied horizontally on top of the upper back panel through the garment's upper back and through conversion elements like the D-rings and reinforcement strap, allows the panel to be flipped over the garment's neckline, shoulders and armholes to enclose them thus forming a straight bag opening edge. The present disclosure further uses the bottom of the garment to provide an easy and efficient bag closure without the need for additional hardware. It provides an aesthetically pleasing bag design with a removable bag strap located on the inside of the garment that can be removed without affecting the structure, design or aesthetics of the garment. The present disclosures also introduces a method of turning the sleeves inside the garment and fastening the front closure such as to create a smooth surface on the inner compartment of the bag.

Referring toFIG. 1A, the garment is constructed in a conventional way consisting of a front zipper closure18positioned on the front of garment10. Front zipper closure18suggested herein is a separating zipper with one of its two mating zipper portions positioned along the garment front opening edge17while the other is fastened into a vertical front seam14on the opposite side on the front of garment10. The positioning of front zipper closure18is not critical to the invention as it may be positioned centrally on the garment's front or off-center as suggested in the present disclosure. The use of a separating zipper as the garment's closure is also not critical to the invention as other alternative garment closures such as snaps, buttons or hook-and-loop tape may be used as chosen by the designer. However, for best results in the convertibility of the present disclosure, garment10should be provided with appropriate means to keep its front portion closed when it is converted to bag.

A depiction of dash lines illustrated inFIG. 1Ashows the hidden removable bag strap32being inserted through vertical loops24and further connected to horizontal side loops38with the help of two hook closures36. An illustration of removable bag strap32when separated from garment10is further displayed inFIG. 1B. As displayed inFIG. 1B, removable bag strap32consists of a flexible strap34wherein each hook closure36is connected to its ends. Additionally,FIG. 1Dillustrates a close up view of one of the hook closures36of removable bag strap32in relation to one of the horizontal side loops38housed on the inside of garment10.

As is further depicted inFIG. 1C, vertical loops24and horizontal side loops38are connected to a loop reinforcement panel40made of flexible material which is then permanently attached horizontally to the inside of garment back portion30(FIG. 1A) at approximately the waist area. While loops serve as a preferred method for housing the removable bag strap32on the inside of garment10in the present embodiment, reinforcement loop panel40alone is not critical to the functionality of the invention as the loops may stand alone. However, loop reinforcement panel40is suggested as a contributing factor in the durability of the garment and helps in further stabilizing removable bag strap32when it is housed on the inside of garment back portion30. The size and material of vertical loops24and horizontal side loops38may be of any length and type as considered by the designer as long as removable bag strap32can easily fit through and be durably housed within each loop opening. Additionally, hook closures36may be of any style or material desired as long as they can be efficiently attached to horizontal side loops38and the later-described D-rings66(FIG. 2B) in a removable style being durable enough to withstand the converted bag at its full weight capacity.

Also referring toFIG. 1A, garment10consists of a front hem26and a back hem28. In one embodiment, it is suggested that back hem28is elongated such that when garment10is converted to a bag, front hem26is hidden by the elongated back hem28to form a clean, single edge for bag closing flap80(FIG. 8). As suggested by the present disclosure, back hem28is elongated in a curved fashion. However, any style considered by the designer is acceptable as long as back hem28is longer than front hem26.

Further displayed inFIG. 1Aare two separating zippers each extending in an open fashion along each side of garment10. Each bottom zipper portion22of each separating zipper extends along each side area of garment10starting at approximately below side waist area60and ending at a distance of at least 2″ up from side hem64. Each top zipper portion20of each separating zipper extends from approximately above side waist area60of garment10starting along the garment's side and ending on garment upper back52(FIG. 2A) underneath an upper back panel48which is further discussed inFIG. 2A.

FIG. 2Adiscloses a three-quarter view of the back of garment10as it appears to the naked eye. Illustrated inFIG. 2Ais a top zipper portion20and a bottom zipper portion22of one of the side separating zippers. Although the three-quarter view inFIG. 2Adisplays the elements and alignment of just one of the side separating zippers, it is important to note that both separating zippers are identically positioned on each side of garment10. The bottom zipper portions22extend vertically along each garment side seam56starting bellow each side waist area60and ending at a distance of at least 3″ up from each side hem64. The distance between the lower end of the bottom zipper portions22and the garment side hem64needs to allow for enough excess to form a functional bag closing flap80(FIG. 8) in the final bag conversion. Suggested in the present disclosure is that bottom zipper portions22are reinforced into the garment side seams56for less visibility. This however is not critical to the invention as bottom zipper portions22may be reinforced to the surface of the garment or by other reinforcement means as considered by the designer. It is however critical to the full convertibility of the garment that both bottom zipper portion22on each side of garment10be placed vertically below the waist area of garment10somewhat adjacent to the garment side seam56and end at enough distance up from side hem64to create bag closing flap80(FIG. 7)

Each top zipper portion20of each side separating zipper extends from approximately above side waist area60starting at each garment side seam56and further extending into a vertical upper back seam54on each side. As top zipper portions20and vertical upper back seams54reach underneath upper back panel48, they are no longer visible to the naked eye.

Further displayed inFIG. 2A, upper back panel48is a separate layer of flexible material, preferably constructed of the same fabric as garment10and connected to garment10at neckline42, shoulder seams12, back armholes44and the uppermost area of garment side seams56. The bottom edge of upper back panel50is free standing and not connected to garment upper back52. Upper back panel48takes the shape of the top portion of garment upper back52. A back panel horizontal stitch46is visible on the outside of upper back panel48and extends horizontally between the two back armholes44. Back panel horizontal stitch46extends longitudinally on the top area of upper back panel48at a short distance down from neckline42and shoulder seams12.

Upper back panel48serves as a device to hide the conversion hardware thus conveying the look of a conventional outer garment with no indication that it may be transformed into a bag. For the same purpose, it is suggested in the preferred embodiment that the color of the side separating zippers on each side be similar to that of garment10such as to blend in with garment side seams56more efficiently. However, the reinforcement means, style and color of the side separating zippers are not critical to the convertibility of the present disclosure as long as they follow a similar open alignment described herein and can be efficiently closed and opened in a separating fashion.

Further referring toFIG. 2A, two loop reinforcement panel stitches50are applied horizontally along back waist area58between the two side waist areas60of garment10. Loop reinforcement panel stitches50are used as a method to connect loop reinforcement panel40(FIG. 1C) to the inside of garment back portion30(FIG. 1A) and visible on both the outside and inside of garment10. Any stitch style that is efficient enough to permanently connect loop reinforcement panel40(FIG. 1C) to inside of garment's back portion30(FIG. 1A) may be used as considered by the designer.

FIG. 2Bshows a three-quarter back view of garment10further illustrating hidden elements not visible to the naked eye marked by dash lines. Similar toFIG. 2A, only one side of garment10is visible in the three-quarter view presented herein. However, it is to be noted that the two sides of garment10are identical even though both sides are not simultaneously displayed inFIGS. 2A and 2B. As displayed in the figure, one of the top zipper portions20which is reinforced into one of the vertical upper back seams54, extends under upper back panel48and ends along one of the back armholes44at a short distance down from one of the shoulder seams12. As further illustrated inFIG. 2B, top zipper portion20and vertical upper back seam54become hidden to the naked eye as they extend underneath upper back panel48. Hidden view of top zipper portion72and hidden view of vertical upper back seam74ending along back armhole44are further illustrated inFIG. 2B. As previously noted, vertical upper back seams54extending on each side of the back of garment10are a recommended suggestion for reinforcing each top zipper portion20. However, top zipper portions20may be reinforced on the surface of garment upper back52without the need for additional seams as long as the alignment follows a similar placement disclosed herein.

Also referring toFIG. 2B, underneath upper back panel48are two D-rings66each located at approximately where each top zipper portion20ends along each back armhole44. b-rings66are connected to garment upper back52in a horizontal alignment with the help of two D-ring attachments70. In the present disclosure, each D-ring attachment70is formed by a durable fabric strip inserted through each D-ring66and further reinforced between garment upper back52and upper back panel48with stitching. It is not critical to the disclosure described herein that D-rings are used exclusively. Other types of devices, flexible or non-flexible composition, or any closed hardware may be used as long as they can be connected to hook closures36(FIG. 1B) of removable back strap32(FIG. 1B) and withstand the weight of the bag when garment10is in converted form. It is however important to the convertibility of the garment that any hardware used to replace D-rings66, whether attached by fabric strips or other means, be positioned horizontally across the face side of garment upper back52somewhat adjacent to the end of each top zipper portion20adjacent to each back armhole44. In addition, any such hardware must be placed under upper back panel48on top of the face side of garment upper back52such that it is invisible to the naked eye both on the inside and outside of garment10. D-rings66or any substitute hardware should be accessible from underneath upper back panel48by lifting upper back panel edge50.

Also referring toFIG. 2B, a 1″ to 2″ wide reinforcement strap68is positioned horizontally between back armholes44overlapping or underneath D-ring attachments70and further positioned underneath upper back panel48. The reinforcement strap68is permanently connected between the face of garment upper back52and upper back panel48with permanent stitching. In the present disclosure, reinforcement strap68is a poly/nylon webbing but other options of durable flexible material may be used as considered by the designer. The purpose of reinforcement strap68is to reinforce and stabilize D-rings66positioned along bag opening edge76(FIG. 4C) contributing to the efficiency and long-term durability of the converted bag. Just like D-rings66and D-ring reinforcements70, reinforcement strap68is sandwiched between upper back panel48and face of garment upper back52such that it is not visible on the inside or outside of garment10.

Further referring toFIG. 2B, a critical back panel reinforcement stitch46is applied horizontally on top of upper back panel48between both back armholes44catching all layers of reinforcement strap68, D-rings66, D-ring attachments70and garment upper back52underneath. Back panel reinforcement stitch46is visible on both the outside of upper back panel48and inside of garment upper back52. Back panel reinforcement stitch46is critical in the coverability of garment10as it eventually allows for the formation of a straight bag opening edge76(FIG. 4C,FIG. 7) at the opening of the converted bag, and facilitates a hidden enclosure of neckline42, shoulders12and the armhole openings.

Further displayed inFIG. 2Bby dash lines is a hidden view of removable bag strap32and loop reinforcement panel40which are connected to the inside of garment back portion30(FIG. 1A) at approximately back waist area. Loop reinforcement panel40(FIG. 1C) is positioned between the lower end of top zipper portions20and upper end of bottom zipper portions22extending horizontally from one of the side waist areas60(FIG. 2A) to the other. Its location serves as a visual guideline when folding garment10in the conversion process further disclosed in the description of the operation steps to follow.

Assuming removable bag strap32has been separated from inside garment10by releasing hook closures36, the first step in the conversion process is illustrated inFIG. 3by the insertion of the two sleeves11towards the inside of garment10. Once sleeves11are turned inside out and positioned on the inside of garment10, front zipper closure18is fully closed. The method described herein hides sleeves11on the inside of garment10such as to make them invisible in the final bag conversion.

Further in the operational steps of the present disclosure,FIG. 4Aillustrates a back view of garment10as one reaches underneath upper back panel48. Lifting upper back panel48further exposes top zipper portions20located on both sides of garment10.

As further displayed inFIG. 4B, the user grabs one of the D-rings66housed underneath upper back panel48. As D-rings66become more visible, so do D-ring attachments70.

InFIG. 4C, both D-rings66and D-ring attachments70become completely exposed by one pulling them towards the outside. Pulling D-rings66outwards results in upper back panel48flipping over neckline42(FIGS. 2A, 2B), shoulder seams12(FIGS. 1A, 2A), front armholes16(FIG. 1A) and back armholes44(FIG. 2A) thus hiding all of them underneath. Once upper back panel48is completely flipped over, the ends of each top zipper portions20are exposed. Back panel reinforcement stitch46(FIG. 2A) applied horizontally through all layers of the garment's upper back allows for the formation of a straight bag opening edge76. Bag opening edge76houses D-rings66and D-ring attachments70being further reinforced for durability by the addition of reinforcement strap68(FIG. 2B) visible along the edge. In the present disclosure, only the edge of reinforcement strap68is visible along bag opening edge76. However, more of its surface may be positioned to be more visually exposed as considered by the designer. Bag opening edge76further contributes to the preferred functional operation of the converted bag.

Once upper back panel48has been completely flipped over to the front of garment10,FIG. 5displays the next operational step in the conversion process by folding garment10horizontally along back waist area58such that front closure18is on the inside of the fold. Folding the garment aligns top zipper portions20to their mating bottom zipper portions22thus allowing them to be closed starting at the waist area up. The newly closed side separating zippers on each side of garment10form bag side areas78. Completing this step creates the bag container.

As displayed inFIG. 6, removable bag strap32is then connected to the converted bag by attaching each hook closure36to each corresponding D-ring66.

As a final conversion step,FIG. 7illustrates the user pulling the bottom of garment10over bag opening edge76to form a bag closing flap80. The elongated back hem28overlaps the shorter front hem26thus hiding it underneath for a clean-finished flap edge. Bag closing flap80serves as a functional device to open and close the bag container.

As a result of the operational steps described herein,FIG. 8illustrates a semi three-quarter view of the converted bag. Bag opening edge76(FIG. 7) is enclosed by bag closing flap80as a preferred option to efficiently close the bag compartment. The two bag side areas78are comprised of closed top zipper portions20and bottom zipper portions22on each side. Back hem28now forms the curved bottom edge of bag closing flap80. Front hem26(FIG. 7) is not visible on the outside of the converted bag due to the elongated nature of back hem28overlapping it.

ALTERNATIVE AND ADDITIONAL EMBODIMENTS

Some alternative embodiments involve zippers being connected by various methods or styles of stitching either within a seam or on the surface of the garment. The front zipper and side separating zippers may be replaced by any device that achieves similar results. Some examples include: hook-and-loop tape, snaps, buttons and hook and eyes. Any alternative closures should operate such that when the garment is folded about the waist area, its top and bottom sides can be connected to form the bag container. In addition, the front closure may be positioned anywhere on the front as long as it keeps the garment closed effectively. However, it is not critical to the convertibility of the garment that it has a front opening all together and the garment may be designed in pullover style. Additionally, the garment can operate with sleeves of any length or have no sleeves at all. Therefore, the inclusion of sleeves is not critical to the convertibility of the garment. The garment may be constructed of any flexible material or combination, from light to heavy weight, as long as it can withstand the wear and use of the garment and converted bag respectively.

The garment does not require a reinforcement loop panel and the loops can therefore be connected to the garment separately. The loops can be made of any material as considered by the designer, as long as they can house the removable bag strap accordingly. In addition, the removable bag strap can be placed on the inside or the outside of the garment, above or below the waist area as desired. Additionally, it can be held in place by only the side loops without the use of vertical loops. The D-rings housed under the upper back panel may be replaced by any other suitable hardware or composition that forms a sealed device for attaching the removable bag strap. This device, hardware or composition can be made of any material, flexible or non-flexible, as long as it is durable enough to withstand the weight of the converted bag at its full capacity. Respectively, the hook closures located on each end of the removable bag strap can be replaced by any type or style of hardware as long as it can be removably attached and withstand the converted bag at its full capacity. Some additional embodiments involve the bottom of the garment having an even hem that is not elongated, the upper back panel being longer or shorter, and the removable strap being made of any material and any width that can operate as a shoulder bag strap.

Accordingly, the reader will see that some embodiments described herein create a more wearable and functional convertible garment. The addition of the back panel to hide the conversion hardware blends in with the style of the outer garment thus giving no indication that the garment is of the convertible nature. The horizontal stitch applied through all layers of the upper back allows the back panel to form an authentic bag opening edge when brought over the front of the garment in the conversion process. The upper back panel hides key elements of the garment when it is in converted bag form thus increasing the functionality of the bag. The side separating zippers are placed such as to form fully functional, sealed sides for the shoulder bag. Additionally, the embodiments described herein use the entire body of the garment as the bag container efficiently. The elongated hem and the positioning of the side bottom zipper portions allow for the formation of a bag closing flap which not only contributes to the bag aesthetically, but it also creates an easy option for closing the bag compartment. The bag strap is housed on the inside of the garment and may be removed as desired without jeopardizing the style, design or structure of the outer garment.

While my above description contains many specificities, these should not be considered limitations on the scope or design, but rather serve as examples of one (or several) embodiments. Other variations are possible as described above.