Abstract:
A multi-purpose convertible garment that can be used as a traditional jacket or converted for use as a backpack. The garment includes a left, right and rear panel having a top and bottom and adapted for covering the upper torso of a human. A zipper is provided for attaching the left and right panels together along with left and right arm sleeves attached to respective ones of the left and right panels. When used as a backpack, the sleeves are rolled up and stored insider the body of the garment and a pair of shoulder harness assemblies are extended to the exterior of the garment. The bottom of the garment is closed off by a pair of adjustable straps, thus allowing the garment to be used as a backpack.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to, and incorporates by reference herein, U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/196,317 filed on Jan. 13, 2009 in the name of Applicant and is entitled “Motorcycle Jacket That Transform To A Backpack.” 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention is generally directed to the field of wearing apparel and more particularly, is directed to a multi-purpose convertible garment that can be used as a traditional jacket or converted for use as a backpack. The present invention has particular application where the carrying of a jacket and separate backpack is inconvenient or not possible. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE TECHNOLOGY 
       [0003]    Jackets and other garments for keeping a user warm or otherwise protected from the environment are well known in the prior art. Such jackets come in many different designs, depending on their use and preference of the wearer. 
         [0004]    Backpacks are well known in the prior art as a convenient way to carry small items. Backpacks also come in many different designs and typically have a carry pouch which can be carried on a person&#39;s back with the aid of one or more back straps. 
         [0005]    Jackets and backpacks serve important, but different roles. Their use typically is limited to serving the purpose for which they were specifically designed. 
         [0006]    While attempts have been made in the prior art to combine the functions of a jacket and a backpack into one garment, such attempts have resulted in a compromise garment that does not fully meet the requirements of each role. Thus, there is a need in the art for a garment that can efficiently and readily function as a jacket and as a backpack. 
         [0007]    The novel features of the garment of the present invention are set out with particularity in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment. However, the invention will be understood more fully and clearly from the detailed description of the invention as set forth in the accompanying drawings in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front view of one embodiment of the garment of the present invention in the jacket mode; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of one embodiment of the garment of the present invention in the jacket mode; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3 and 4  are further front views of one embodiment of the garment of the present invention in the jacket mode, illustrating the interior of the garment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of one embodiment of the garment of the present invention in the backpack mode; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a front view of one embodiment of the garment of the present invention in the backpack mode; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a further rear view of one embodiment of the garment of the present invention in the backpack mode, illustrating the interior of the rear access area; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  are side views of another embodiment of the garment of the present invention in the jacket mode; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a front view of another embodiment of the garment of the present invention in the jacket mode, illustrating the interior of the garment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0016]    The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which  FIG. 1  is a front view of one embodiment of a convertible garment in accordance with the invention. The garment is shown in  FIG. 1  in a “jacket” mode. 
         [0017]    The garment of the present invention may be made of any number of materials that are used to make jackets and backpacks as is known in the art. Such materials include natural and man made fabrics. 
         [0018]    In the jacket mode, the garment includes an upper body torso area having left and right torso panels  1  and  2  as is known in the art with respect to a conventional jacket. As also known in the art, torso panels  1  and  2  are held together by zipper  3  extending from waist area  4  to neck area  5 . In an alternative embodiment, zipper  3  may be replaced by buttons, Velcro strips, snaps or other methods of fastening torso panels  1  and  2  together as may be known in the art. 
         [0019]    Torso panels  1  and  2  terminate in neck area  5  to form collar  6 . Collar  6  includes optional collar strap  7  and fastener  8  which holds the ends of the collar together in the neck area of the garment as may be known in the art. Fastener  8  may be formed of a button and corresponding button hole, Velcro strips, snaps or other methods of holding the ends of collar  6  together. 
         [0020]    Each of torso panels  1  and  2  include a zippered ventilation area  9  which allows external air to enter the garment in order to cool the user or internal warm air to exit the garment as such ventilation areas are known in the prior art with respect to conventional jackets. Pockets  10  are also provided which may be used to carry small items or as a place for the user to keep his or her hands warm or dry during inclement weather. 
         [0021]    Torso panels  1  and  2  include declarative seams  11 - 13  to enhance the esthetic appeal of the jacket and which may also serve to demark a change in construction materials used to make torso panels  1  and  2 , or a change in material color. 
         [0022]    A pair of arms  15  and  16  is attached to their respective torso panels  1  and  2 , e.g., by sewing as is known in the art with respect to a conventional jacket. Each arm includes a zippered ventilation area  17  which is similar to ventilation areas  9  explained above. The ends of arms  15  and  16  include a decorative seam  18  for esthetic appeal, or to demark a change in material construction or color, as well as a decorative arm strap  19  and fastener  20 . 
         [0023]    Lines  21  and  22  illustrate the location of pouches within the interior of the garment which may be used to hold shoulder pads. 
         [0024]    As further illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the garment of the present invention includes a pair of draw strings  23  and  24 . The draw strings may be used to tighten the waist end of the garment around the user when the garment is used in the jacket mode. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  also illustrates Velcro straps  27  and  28  which are attached to respective torso panels  1  and  2 . Straps  27  and  28  may be attached to their respective panel by sewing or by other suitable methods as may be known in the art. Straps  27  and  28  are attached to corresponding retainer buckles  25  and  26  when the garment is used in the “backpack” mode. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of the convertible garment of the present invention as shown in the “jacket” mode. This view shows back panel  125  which may be attached to respective edges of torso panels  1  and  2  shown in  FIG. 1  or be part of a continuous piece of construction material used to form back panel  125  and torso panels  1  and  2 . 
         [0027]    As further illustrated in  FIG. 2 , back panel  125  includes zippered storage area  126 , which as explained below, is used when the garment is in the “backpack” mode and which also provides storage space when the garment is used in the “jacket” mode. Storage area  126  further includes a zippered access area  127  which provides additional storage space. 
         [0028]    As discussed above with respect to  FIG. 1 , additional decorative seams  128  and  129  are provided which enhances the esthetic appeal of the jacket and may also serve to demark a change from one construction material to another. 
         [0029]    The back of the garment also includes access area  131  which also will be discussed in connection with use of the garment as a backpack. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  illustrates the garment in the jacket mode with the interior of the garment exposed. As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the garment includes a back interior lining  35  and waist draw strings  36  and  37  to complete construction of the garment for use in the jacket mode. 
         [0031]    Thus, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , the convertible garment of the present invention may be worn as a conventional jacket. Note, however, that  FIG. 3  illustrates a number of additional elements of the garment which are provided when the garment is used as a backpack as will be discussed below. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate alternative embodiments of the garment of the present invention in the jacket mode. As illustrated in  FIG. 8B , an enhanced storage area  130  is present to provide more storage space. 
         [0033]    Use of the garment of the present invention in the “backpack mode” will now be described. 
         [0034]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the interior of the garment includes a pair of sleeve retainer straps  36  and  37 . Retainer straps  36  and  37  may be formed from individual straps of material held together by respective buckles  38  and  39  as one in the art would understand. Buckles  38  and  39  allow the length of the retainer strap to be adjusted as necessary. 
         [0035]    The first step in the conversion process of the garment to the backpack mode is to pull sleeves  15  and  16  inside out into the interior of the garment. The sleeves are then rolled or folded up so that they may be placed under their respective sleeve retainer straps  36  and  37  and held in place as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Storing the sleeves in this manner gets them out of the way so that they do no interference with use of the garment as a backpack. 
         [0036]    As further shown in  FIG. 4 , a pair of upper backpack straps  40  and  41  are provided which normally are stored within the interior of the garment. Straps  40  and  41  are made of a flexible strap material as one of ordinary skill in the art would understand and are secured to the upper interior of the garment at points  42  and  43  using a convenient fastening method, such as sewing. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a reinforcement strip  31  is used to insure that straps  40  and  41  are securely attached to the interior of the garment. Reinforcement strip  31  is formed with a slot  52  which allows straps  40  and  41  to be routed to the exterior of the garment as will be discussed below. Straps  40  and  41  terminate in respective releasable fasteners  44  and  45  as known in the art. 
         [0037]    As further illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a pair of lower backpack straps  46  and  47  is provided. Straps  46  and  47  also are made of a flexible strap material as one of ordinary skill in the art would understand and are secured to the lower exterior of the garment using a convenient fastening method, such as sewing. Straps  46  and  47  enter the interior of the garment through corresponding slots  50  and  51  formed in the side of the garment and terminate in respective releasable fasters  48  and  49  which mate with fasters  44  and  45  as one of ordinary skill in the art would understand. 
         [0038]    Fastening upper straps  42  and  43  to their respective lower straps  46  and  47  allows both sets of traps to be secured within the interior of the garment when it is being used as a jacket. 
         [0039]    When the garment is to be used in the backpack mode, upper backpack straps  42  and  43  are released from lower backpack straps  46  and  47  at fasters  44  and  45 . Lower backpack straps  46  and  47  are then withdrawn from the interior of the garment to the outside through slots  50  and  51  so that they no longer reside insider the garment as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In addition, upper straps  42  and  43  are routed to the exterior of the garment via slot  52  formed in reinforcement strip  31 . 
         [0040]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , upper backpack straps  42  and  43  are coupled to lower backpack straps  46  and  47  via fasteners  44 ,  48  and  45 ,  49  on the exterior of the garment. 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  illustrates the front of the garment while being in the backpack mode. As shown in  FIG. 6 , panels  1  and  2  of the garments are hold together by zipper  3  as also shown in  FIG. 1 . Panels  1  and  2  also include bottom end closure straps  60  and  61  for closing off the bottom of the back pack. Closure straps  60  and  61  may be made of a Velcro material and attached to panels  1  and  2  by any convenient means, such as sewing. 
         [0042]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , a pair of retainer straps  62  and  64  is attached to the lower edge of back panel  25  of the garment. In order to close off the bottom of the garment, closure straps  60  and  61  mate with fastening buckles  63  and  65  attached to respective retainer straps  62  and  64  as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 6 . Closure straps  60  and  61  are placed through their respective buckles  63  and  65  and held in place by overlapping their Velcro surfaces as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 5  also illustrates a further embodiment of access area  70  with zipper  71 .  FIG. 7  illustrated the interior of access area  70 . 
         [0044]    While the foregoing specification teaches the principles of the present invention, with examples provided for the purpose of illustration, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art from reading this disclosure that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention.