FOLDABLE WEARING APPAREL

Abstract: Article of wearing apparel (1) provided with cooperating attaching members (12), (24), (26) to be secured to one another after the article of wearing apparel (10) is formed into a compact unit.

Description: DESCRIPTION FOLDABLE WEARING APPAREL Technical Field This invention relates to an article of clothing which can be folded into a cushion or rolled into an easy-to-carry package. Background Art Spectators at sporting events often have to contend with hard seats and bleachers as well as changes in weather conditions which often necessitates the unexpected use of outerwear. The problem is not confined to spec¬ tators but is shared by -. people who engage in outdoor sporting activities such as boating, fishing, hunting, camping, et cetera, who seldom have anything comfortable to sit on while resting and often face changes in weather conditions requiring either the use of outerwear or the removal and carrying of outerwear which is being v/orn. The problem is not confined ' to outdoor activities but is shared by anyone who desires an article of clothing which can be utilized as a cushion or an easy-to-carry garment. Disclosure of Invention In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an article of wearing apparel provided with cooperating attaching merαbers to be secured to one another so that the article of wearing apparel is formed into a compact unit. Description of the Drawings A better understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following description when taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a frontview of a fully extended coat; Figure 2 is a rear view of. the coat of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view of the coat after partial folding; Figure 4 is a view of the coat further folded to form a more compact unit; Figure 5 is a view of the coat completely folded; Figures 6 to 8 are a sequence of views of an article of apparel to be rolled into a compact unit; and Figure 9 is a view illustrating another embodiment of securing of such a compact unit. Description of Invention Referring now to Figure 1, there is illustrated an article of wearing apparel, and in particular a coat, , generally indicated as 10 including a lining (not shown) to provide bulk and softness. As shown in Figure 1, the coat"-. 10 includes strips of material 12 and 14 running from _-fehe shoulder seam of the coat-to the bottom. The strip 12 is located on the border line separating the front of the coat from the right side panel and strip of material 14 is locate:: on the border line separating the front of the coat from the left side panel. The strips 12 and 14 are attached to the coat 10 along edges 16 and 18, respectively, thereof. The coat also includes such conventional items as a collar 20 and pockets 22. Figure 2 shows strips of material 24 and 26 which cooperate with strips of material 12 and 14 respectively, an located along the borders separating the back of coat 10 from its right and left side panels, respectively. The stri 24 and 26 are attached to the coat 10 along edges 28 and 30, respectively, thereof. There is also a strip of material 32 running across the back of the coat 10 from the top material strip 24 to material strip 26. Behind each of the strips of material 12, 14 , 24 and 26, there is provided cooperating pressure sensitive adhesive material, such as VELCRO 09 strips to permit securing of strips 12 to 24 and 14 to 26. The sleeves and th sides of coat 10 are pushed between the front and back panel of the coat and secured there by means of joining the cooperating strips of pressure sensitive adhesive material located behind material strips 12,14,24 and 26, referring no to Figure 3. It should be emphasized that the use of strips of material 12,14, 24 and 26 provided with VELCRO® strips is merely illustrative, and that the invention is not limited to such devices, but encompasses any devices or device, such as mating zipper strips, etc. in any location which will allow the side panels to be secured between the front and back panels -of the garment. As used in this description and in the appended claims the phrase "securable apparel side panel" refers to " any side panel of any article of clothing in which the side panel of said article can be secured betweenthe front and back panels of the garment. Once the sides are secured between ' the front and back of the coat 10, the resulting shape can be utilized as a cushion. The coat 10 may be further folded, as illus¬ trated in Figure 4,with the collar 20 and shoulder regions 33 folded down to meet the front waist area and the bottom of the coat then folded over the shoulder regions 33 and the collar 20 until meeting the strip of material 32. Behind the strip of material 32 is pressure sensitive adhesive material 34. A complimentary or cooperating adhesive material 36 for adhesive material 34 is located on the inside of the base of the back of. coat 10 ' in a centered location. Material strip 32 is then inserted over the sleeves and side panels of coat 10 and the adhesive materials are secured. Figure 5 illustrates the completed process and resulting shape to be used as a cushion. Figure 6 illustrates a coat, generally indicated as 40, a garment without a lining. The securable apparel side panel can be utilized in a garment of this nature to create an extremely compact easy-to-carry garment. Strips of material 42, 44,46 and 48, similar to the strips 12,14,24 and 26 of coat 10, are used to secure the side panel and sleeves between the front and back of the coat 40. Material flap 50 is attached to a collar 52. A strip of pressure sensitive adhesive material 54 is on one end facing with the front of the coat. The bottom of the coat is to be rolled to collar 52 which has been turned up. Figure 7 is a view of the back of coat 40 illustrating the flap 50 and collar 52. A complimentary strip of pressure sensitive adhesive material 56 is located at the bottom of the back of the collar 52. The strips of adhesive material 54 and 56 are positioned at a distance approximately equal to the circumference of the rolled garme Figure 8 illustrates the garment after it has been entirely rolled and the strips of adhesive' material 54 and 56 secure Flap 50 can be concealed when the garment is worn by folding it under the collar and securing the strips of adhesive material 54 and 56 to each other. An ordinary garment which has been secured in a rolled position with the use of strings or other devices wil have many rough edges which can get ripped or torn. By rolling the garment bythe ^ methods illustrated in Figures 6 t the garment is surrounded by flat fabric which is more suita for sporting uses or any traveling, etc. as well as being mo attractive in appearance. This flap technique need not be us in combination with securable apparel side panel as any proc of folding which will allow the garment to be surrounded by the flap area will significantly reduce the number of rough edges. The flap also need . not be attached to the collar as any position which will allow the rolled garment to be surrounded by the flap area will yield the advantage of eliminating ragged edges. The invention need not require an additional flap, as illustrated by a coat, generally indicated as 60 referri to Figure 9. The coat 60 has a large collar 62 which affords enough area to surround the circumference of the rolled garment when the collar 62 is turned up. When the coat 60 is being worn, the long collar 62 can be rolled down and secured there by any suitable means. Figure 9 illustrat the inclusion of buttons 64 and 66 and buttonholes 68 and 70 (to secure the collar down) and a strip of adhesive material It should be noted that the invention encompasses and is ideal for garments with what are commonly referred to as "zip out" or "removable" linings as the garment is capable of both the cushion form, illustrated in Figures 1 t or the compact easy-to-carry roll form illustrated in Figures 6 to 9. It should be emphasized that the garment is merely illustrative and the invention is not limited to coats but embraces capes, jackets, parkas, vests, waterproof and foul weather gear, et cetera. The material from which the garment is made is also not intended to be limited and may include natural or man made fibers or any combination thereof.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An article of wearing apparel capable of being formed into a compact unit, which comprises; a first attaching member positioned on said wearing apparel; and a second attaching member positioned on said wearing apparel to be secured to said first attaching member after forming said article into said compact unit. 2. The article of wearing apparel as defined in Claim 1 wherein said article of wearing apparel is a coat and said first and second attaching members are positioned on a back section of said coat. 3. The article of wearing apparel as defined in Claim 2 wherein said first and second attaching members are substantially horizontally-positioned on said back section and said coat is provided with vertically-disposed sets of securing members on either side thereof for attachment after insertion of respective sleeve portions therein. 4. The article of wearing apparel as defined in Claim 2 wherein said first attaching member is disposed on a flap mounted to an upper portion of said back section and said second attaching member is disposed on the lower inside portion of said back section. 5. The article of wearing apparel as defined in Claim 1 wherein said article of wearing apparel is a coat and includes a collar and a flap mounted to said collar and wherein said first attaching member is mounted to said collar and said second attaching member is mounted to said flap. 6. The article of wearing apparel as defined in Claim 1 wherein said attaching members are positioned on opposite sides of said collar and said flap. 7. The article of wearing apparel as defined in Claim 1 wherein said first and second attaching members are cooperating strips of pressure sensitive adhesive material. 8. The article of wearing apparel as defined in Claim 7 wherein one of said attaching members is a loop pile and another is of a hooked substrate. 9. The article of wearing apparel as defined in Claim 1 and including securable apparel side panels. 10. The article of wearing apparel as defined in Claim 1 wherein said article is formed of a waterproof material. 11. An article of wearing apparel capable of being formed into a compact unit and including securable apparel side panels. 12. The article of wearing apparel as defined ir Claim 11 wherein said securable apparel side panels are e tic ll . - - disposed sets of securing members on either side thereof for attachment after insertion of respective sleeve portions therein. 13. The article of wearing apparel as defined in Claim 12 wherein said wearing apparel is a coat. 14. The article of wearing apparel as defined in Claim 13 wherein said article is formed of a waterproof material.

Inventors: DEGENNARO A
Applicants: DEGENNARO A
Application year: 1981
Main classification: A41D1
IPC codes: A41D3