Abstract:
A sectionalized over-garment which is convertible for appropriate climatic adaptation during extended outdoor use includes a vest section and a skirt section. The vest section includes a front body opening, as well as arm holes and a pair of access holes respectively located between an arm hole and the front opening. Importantly, the user can manipulate the open/close function for each hole/opening from inside the vest section. As a parka, the vest section includes a hood. The skirt section can be engaged with the vest section to establish a full body over-garment. And, alone, the skirt section can function as a small tent or shelter. When a panel is deployed from the bottom of the skirt section to cover the feet, and with the opening and holes of the vest section closed, the over-garment functions as a sleeping bag.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention pertains to an over-garment for use by persons during strenuous activities out-of-doors, when extra protection from adverse climatic conditions is desirable or necessary. More particularly, the present invention pertains to over-garments which provide a user with an effective freedom-of-movement that is unrestricted, unhindered and unencumbered by the over-garment. The present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, useful as an over-garment for protecting an active user during outdoor activities which can be easily converted between a plurality of different functional configurations, to include: i) a protective parka, ii) a full body over-garment, iii) a blanket/quilt or shelter, and iv) a sleeping bag. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In any twenty-four hour period, anywhere in the world, weather conditions will inevitably change. As is well known, such changes can sometimes be considerable and, if not properly prepared for, can be debilitating or, at best, uncomfortable. The situation becomes even more critical when a person is exposed to adverse weather over prolonged periods of time that exceed twenty-four hours. An additional consideration for long-term exposure is the need for sleep. 
         [0003]    Many outdoor recreational activities such as hunting, fishing and hiking, as well as vocational activities such as law enforcement, search/rescue, fire-fighting and military operations all require specifically different clothing and equipment. Nevertheless, they all have a common interest in maintaining user comfort and a high-performance capability. In particular, despite whatever the weather conditions might be, there is a need, and a desire, to keep the individual warm and dry. 
         [0004]    In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an over-garment that will afford its user with a freedom-of-movement for outdoor activities that is unrestricted, unhindered and unencumbered by the over-garment. Another object of the present invention is to provide an over-garment which can be easily converted between a plurality of different functional configurations, to include: i) a protective parka, ii) a full body over-garment, iii) a blanket/quilt or shelter and, iv) a sleeping bag. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor over-garment that is easy to use, simple to manufacture and relatively cost effective. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In accordance with the present invention, a sectionalized over-garment is provided for use in protecting a human user from adverse climatic conditions. In overview, the over-garment of the present invention includes a vest section and a skirt section. For reference purposes in describing the over-garment, consider that the user defines a vertical axis extending between his/her head and feet when he/she is standing. Further, for disclosure purposes, modifiers such as upper (above), lower (below), left (lateral), right (lateral), front (anterior) and back (posterior) are anatomically referenced on the user. 
         [0006]    Structurally, the over-garment of the present invention includes a vest section that is dimensioned to drape downwardly from the shoulders and over the torso of the user. The vest section is formed with a collar that is centered on the axis at the shoulders of the user, and it includes a hood that is connected with the collar to create a parka. Further, a neck drawstring is oriented along the collar to close the hood onto the neck of the user, and a face drawstring is oriented on the hood to hold the hood on the head of the user with the face of the user exposed. 
         [0007]    For the present invention, the vest section is formed with a front (anterior) body opening that is substantially coplanar with the axis, and which extends from the collar to a bottom hem of the vest section. A zipper is provided for selectively opening and closing the front body opening. Also, for reasons more fully appreciated below, the vest section includes a zipper-half that extends along the length of the bottom hem for interaction with the skirt section of the over-garment. 
         [0008]    Additionally, the vest section is formed with a pair of lateral (side) arm holes that are oriented substantially parallel to the axis and parallel to the body opening. In detail, these arm holes respectively extend from a shoulder portion of the vest section to a point that is located adjacent to the bottom hem of the vest section. And, each arm hole includes an arm hole zipper that is affixed with the vest section for selectively opening and closing the arm hole. Further, the vest section is formed with a pair of access holes that are located between the frontal body opening and a respective arm hole. Each access hole is oriented substantially parallel to the body opening. Also, similar to the arm holes, each access hole is provided with an access zipper for selectively opening and closing the access hole. Used alone, the vest section can be used as a parka. Further, the vest section is intentionally oversized to allow the user to keep his/her arms inside the vest section, and against the torso, to improve the efficiency of body heat. 
         [0009]    As noted above, in addition to the vest section, the over-garment of the present invention also includes a skirt section. In detail, the skirt section is substantially rectangular shaped, with an upper edge and a lower edge, and with opposed, parallel side-edges extending between the upper and lower edges. A zipper-half extends along the upper edge of the skirt section for engagement with the zipper-half of the vest section (noted above) to connect the skirt section with the vest section. Also, a side-edge zipper-half is affixed to each side-edge of the skirt section for their selective engagement with each other to wrap and hold the skirt section around the legs of the user. A belt is incorporated into the skirt section along its upper edge, to cinch the skirt section to the waist of the user. 
         [0010]    For reference purposes, the skirt section defines a centerline that is located midway between, and generally parallel to, the upper edge and the lower edge of the skirt section. An upper panel extends over the skirt section from its upper edge to the centerline. For this relationship, the upper panel is connected to the skirt section along its upper edge as well as along the side-edges between the upper edge and the centerline. The upper panel also includes an upper zipper-half that is affixed to the upper panel to be positioned adjacent and along the centerline. Similarly, a lower panel extends from the lower edge of the skirt section to the centerline. Also, there is a lower zipper-half that is affixed to the lower panel for selective engagement with the upper zipper-half to hold the lower panel over the skirt section between the lower edge of the skirt section and the centerline. Further, a fastener is located along each of the opposed side-edges of the skirt section. More specifically, these fasteners are located between the lower edge of the skirt section and its centerline to secure the lower panel against the skirt section when the upper and lower zipper-halves are engaged with each other. Further, a drawstring is incorporated into the lower panel adjacent the lower zipper-half. The purpose for this drawstring is to cinch the lower panel over the feet of the user. Specifically, this is to be done when the lower panel has been disengaged from the upper zipper-half on the upper panel, and the lower panel has been released from the fasteners. Thus, with the skirt section closed around the legs and engaged with the vest section, with the lower panel deployed from the skirt section, and with the front opening, the arm holes and the access holes closed from within the vest section to cover the user&#39;s arms against his/her torso, the over-garment is conveniently configured for use as a sleeping bag. 
         [0011]    As intended for the present invention, the hood, the vest section and the skirt section are each made of a quilted insulation material that is held between an inner shell and an outer shell, wherein the inner shell and the outer shell are each made of a breathable semi-permeable material. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a sectionalized over-garment in accordance with the present invention, while it is being worn by a user; 
           [0014]      FIG. 1A  is a view of the sectionalized over-garment as seen in  FIG. 1  with the user reaching from within the over-garment, to a location outside the over-garment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a layout view of the inside of the vest section of the sectionalized over-garment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  is a layout view of the inside of the skirt section of the sectionalized over-garment; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 3B  is a view of the skirt section as shown in  FIG. 3A  with a lower panel deployed from the skirt section. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , an over-garment in accordance with the present invention is shown and is generally designated  10 . As shown, the over-garment  10  is being worn by a user  12 . For reference purposes in describing the over-garment  10 , consider that the user  12  defines a vertical axis  14  which extends between his/her head  16  and feet  18  when he/she is standing. Further, for disclosure purposes, modifiers such as upper (above), lower (below), left (lateral), right (lateral), front (anterior) and back (posterior) are herein anatomically referenced on the user  12 . 
         [0019]    As shown  FIG. 1 , the over-garment  10  includes a vest section  20  and a skirt section  22 . In detail, the vest section establishes a collar  24 , and it includes a hood  26  above the collar  24  to configure the vest section  20  as a parka. A shoulder portion  28  of the vest section  20  is established below the collar  24 , and the vest section  20  drapes over the torso of the user  12  to extend from the shoulder portion  28  of the vest section  20  to a bottom hem  30 . 
         [0020]    Still referring to  FIG. 1 , it will be seen that the vest section  20  is formed with a front body opening  32 . As shown, the front body opening  32  is substantially parallel to the axis  14  defined by the user  12 , and it extends from the collar  24  to the bottom hem  30 . As is readily apparent, this body opening  32  is provided so the user  12  can put on the vest section  20 . Specifically, this is done by respectively inserting arms of the user  12  through a right arm hole  34   a  and a left arm hole  34   b . The body opening  32  can then be selectively closed to cover the torso of the user  12  as shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  also shows that the vest section  20  includes a right access hole  36   a  which is between the body opening  32  and the right arm hole  34   a , and a left access hole  36   b  which is between the body opening  32  and the left arm hole  34   b .  FIG. 1A  is provided to show that the user  12  can functionally extend his/her arm(s) through an access hole  36   a  or  36   b  as an alternative to having the arm extend from the vest section  20  through respective arm hole  34   a  or  34   b . Moreover, it is to be appreciated that when an access hole  36   a , and/or  36   b , is/are being used, the associated arm hole  34   a  and/or  34   b  can be closed, and vice versa. Further, it is to be appreciated that the selective opening and closing of the front body opening  32 , and/or the arm holes  34   a  and  34   b , as well as the access holes  36   a  and  36   b , can all be accomplished by the user  12  from within the vest section  20 . 
         [0021]    In  FIG. 2  it is shown that the hood  26  includes both a neck drawstring  38 , which is oriented along the collar  24  to close the hood  26  onto the neck of the user  12 , and a face drawstring  40  which is oriented on the hood  26  to hold the hood  26  on the head of the user  12 . Also shown in  FIG. 2  is a waist drawstring  42  that extends along the bottom hem  30 , and which can be cinched to close the vest section  20  against the waist of the user  12 .  FIG. 2  further indicates that the vest section  20  includes zipper-halves  32   a  and  32   b  which engage with each other to close the front body opening  32 . Also indicated in  FIG. 2  is that the arm holes  34   a  and  34   b  are opened and closed with a zipper (not numerically designated), as are the access holes  36   a  and  36   b . Additionally,  FIG. 2  shows a zipper-half  44   a  extending along the bottom hem  30  of the vest section  20 . Further,  FIG. 3A  shows a zipper-half  44   b  which is affixed to the skirt section  22 , and which can be engaged with the zipper-half  44   a  to connect and hold the vest section  20  with the skirt section  22 .  FIGS. 1 and 1A  show that with this engagement, the present invention provides for a full body over-garment  10 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 3A  shows that an upper panel  46  and a lower panel  48  both overlie the inside of skirt section  22 . As indicated, both panels  46  and  48  are connected together at a centerline  50  which is defined to be midway between an upper edge  52  of the skirt section  22  and a lower edge  54 . When they are connected together, the panels  46  and  48  are respectively extended to cover the skirt section  22  between the upper edge  52  and the lower edge  54 . As best appreciated with reference to  FIG. 3B , this connection between panels  46  and  48  is made by a zipper  56 . To do this, the zipper  56  includes an upper zipper-half  56   a , which is affixed to the upper panel  46  and a lower zipper-half  56   b , which is affixed to the lower panel  48 . 
         [0023]    By cross referencing  FIG. 3A  with  FIG. 3B , it will be appreciated that by manipulating the zipper  56 , the lower panel  48  can be deployed from the skirt section  22 . In a separate operation, by cross referencing  FIG. 3B  with  FIG. 1 , or  FIG. 1A , it will be appreciated that a side-edge zipper-half  58   a  can be engaged with a side-edge zipper-half  58   b  to establish a zipper  58  that will hold the skirt section  22  around the legs and lower body of the user  12 . Still referring to  FIG. 3B , it is to be further appreciated that a fastener  60   a  on skirt section  22  will interact with a fastener  60   b  on the lower panel  48 ; that a fastener  62   a  on skirt section  22  will interact with a fastener  62   b  on the lower panel  48 ; and that together the fasteners  60  and  62  will hold the lower panel  48  against the skirt section  22  when the zipper  56  is engaged.  FIG. 3B  further shows that the skirt section  22  will include a drawstring  64  on the lower panel  48 , and a belt  66  that is located along the upper edge  52  of the skirt section  22  for holding the skirt section  22  on the user  12 . 
         [0024]    As intended for the present invention, the over-garment  10  needs to be comfortable and not restrict action by the user  12 . To do this, the hood  26 , the vest section  20  and the skirt section  22  are each made of a flexible, quilted insulation material that is held between an inner shell (not shown) and an outer shell (not shown). The inner shell and the outer shell are each made of a breathable semi-permeable material. In combination, the insulation material and the shells can be made using fabrics well known in the pertinent art. 
         [0025]    For a reconfiguration of the over-garment  10 , it is to be appreciated that the vest section  20 , with its hood  26 , when used alone, will function as a parka. Further, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 1A , when the vest section  20  is joined with the skirt section  22  by the zipper  44 , the result is a full body over-garment (see  FIGS. 1 and 1A ). 
         [0026]    To convert the parka into a sleeping bag, it is first necessary to cover and secure the hood  26  on the head  16  of the user  12 . The skirt section  22  can then be engaged with the vest section  20  using the zipper  44 , and the skirt section  22  can be closed around the legs of the user  12  by closing the zipper  58 . The lower panel  48  can then be deployed from the skirt section  22  and cinched by the drawstring  64  to cover the feet  18  of the user  12 . Subsequently, in accordance with the design of the over-garment  10 , the arm holes  34   a  and  34   b  can be closed with respective zippers (not shown). Importantly, this can be done by the user  12  from within the vest section  20 . Likewise, the access holes  36   a  and  36   b  can also be closed with respective zippers (not shown) from within the vest section  20 . Thus, the user  12  is enclosed by the over-garment in a sleeping bag. 
         [0027]    As an added feature of the present invention, the skirt section  22  can be used as a make-shift shelter. For this purpose, the skirt section  22  can include grommets (not shown) which are respectively located at the four corners of the skirt section  22 , and with a single grommet at the center of the skirt section  22 . Specifically, as intended for the present invention, these various grommets will provide attachment points which can be used for engagement of the skirt section  22  with external structures in a manner that will provide protection for the user  12  from such weather conditions as rain, sleet, snow, wind, and direct sunlight. 
         [0028]    While the particular Sectionalized Over-garment as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.