Abstract:
An article configured to cover the torso of a wearer includes reversible sleeves that can either extend outwardly from the garment for covering the arms of a wearer or positioned within the garment, and closures for closing the sleeve openings and concealing the sleeve, and/or detachable sleeves.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 15/068,082, filed Mar. 11, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    This disclosure pertains to capes and robes having sleeves that can be detached or concealed. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    Various foul-weather clothing systems and robes or capes are known. However, such systems and garments do not offer flexibility in their use and are not adjustable for varying weather conditions. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0004]    Disclosed is a cape or robe configured to cover a torso of a wearer and having sleeves that can extend outwardly through a closure adjacent a shoulder area of the cape or robe, or allowed to be positioned on the inside of the garment and concealed by the closure. 
         [0005]    Also disclosed is an article comprising a cape or robe integrally attached to a pouch wearable around a neck of a human wearer that offers the convenience and comfort of a selectively deployable and stowable torso covering that can be worn around the neck without restricting head movement or causing discomfort or visual distraction, and which includes sleeves that can extend outwardly from a closure and be worn over the arms, or disposed within the gown or robe and concealed by the closure. 
         [0006]    Also disclosed is a cape or robe having sleeves that are releasably attached, allowing the cape or robe to be worn either with sleeves or as a sleeveless garment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the integral pouch and cape or robe articles with the cape or robe contained in the pouch and the pouch zippered closed. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the articles shown in  FIG. 1  with the pouch zippered open to reveal the cape or robe folded, rolled or otherwise disposed within the pouch. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the article shown in  FIG. 1  with the cape or robe deployed from the pouch. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the article of  FIG. 1  worn on the neck of a human wearer with the cape or robe stowed in the pouch. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the article of  FIG. 1  worn on the neck of a human wearer with the cape or robe deployed from the pouch and draped over the shoulders of the wearer and covering the torso of the wearer. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment that includes a selectively stowable and deployable hood, and concealable sleeves. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment that includes a front closure, namely a zipper, and includes detachable sleeves. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the pouch portion of the article in which the distal ends of the straps extending from opposite ends of the pouch are provided with hook and loop type fastening elements. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the pouch portion of the article in which the distal ends of the straps extending from opposite ends of the pouch are provided with snap-type fasteners. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another embodiment in which the pouch has a crescent shape. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    An article  10  including a cape or robe selectively stowable or deployable from a pouch wearable around a neck of a human wearer is shown in the drawings. Article  10  includes a pouch  12  configured to selectively enclose and deploy a cape or robe  14  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Pouch  12  includes an opening  16  that extends along the length direction of the pouch and that can be selectively opened or closed with a closure element  18 , such as a zipper, buttons, snaps or hook and loop fasteners (e.g., fasteners sold under the trademark “Velcro”). 
         [0018]    The term “cape” encompasses sleeveless garments that drape loosely over the shoulders and cover the torso. Such capes can be of generally any desired length, such as to the waist or lower (e.g., to the knees of the wearer). The term “robe” encompasses loose outer garments that may or may not include sleeves. 
         [0019]    Straps  20 A,  20 B have proximal ends attached at opposite ends of pouch  12 . Straps  20 A and  20 B are joinable at their respective distal ends to secure pouch  12  on the neck of a wearer. For example, straps  20 A and  20 B can be tied together, such as in a bowknot. Alternatively, distal ends  22 A and  22 B can be provided with fastening elements such as hook  24  and loop  26  fasteners (as shown in  FIG. 8 ), or snap fasteners  30  (as shown in  FIG. 9 ). By employing a plurality of snap fasteners  30 , the straps can be adjusted as desired by the wearer for comfort and securement. 
         [0020]    Straps  20 A and  20 B can be made of a fabric that is the same as or different from the fabric used to make pouch  12 . Straps  20 A and  20 B can be integrally cut with the fabric of the pouch or can be sewn to pouch  12 . 
         [0021]    An upper edge  32  of cape or robe  14  is fastened to an inner section  34  of pouch  12  ( FIG. 3 ). For example, cape or robe  14  can be sewn to pouch  12 . Alternatively, cape or robe  14  can be releasably attached to pouch  12 , such as with a zipper, snap fasteners or buttons. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , article  10  can be worn with pouch  12  extending along only the back portion of the neck of the wearer, thereby offering unrestricted movement of the head of the wearer in a forward direction or a sideward direction. 
         [0023]    Robe or cape  14  can be easily deployed from pouch  12  without removing article  10  from around the neck of the wearer by releasing closure fastener  18  to open pouch  12  and allow robe or cape  14  to deploy. Cape or robe  14  can then be pulled over the shoulders of the wearer ( FIG. 5 ). 
         [0024]    In certain embodiments, a hood  38  can be provided ( FIG. 6 ). Hood  38  can be attached to an inner section of pouch  12  such as by sewing, or releasably attached such as with a zipper, buttons, snap fasteners, or hook and loop fasteners. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , cape or robe  14  can be provided with a front closure  40  such as a zipper. Pouch  12  ( FIG. 10 ) can be configured to resemble a collar of the cape  14  when the cape is deployed. For example, pouch  12 ′ has a crescent shape with a zipper  18 ′ along a front edge thereof. The crescent shape creates the collar-like appearance. 
         [0026]    In certain embodiments, the robe or cape  14  can be provided with sleeves  60  that can extend outwardly at the shoulder area and be worn over the arms as shown in  FIG. 7  or pulled inwardly (inside-out) so that they can hang loosely or otherwise be situated on the inside of the cape (see  FIG. 6 ). Zippered closures  62  located adjacent the shoulder area of the garment can be provided to conceal sleeves  60  when sleeves  60  are on the inside of the cape or gown. The wearer may extend arms through slits  64  when sleeves  60  are positioned on the inside of the garment. 
         [0027]    In certain embodiments, the sleeves can be releasably attached to the garment such as with zippers  66 , buttons, hook and loop fasteners, or similar means. This feature can be employed in combination with zippered closures  62 , and optionally with slits  64 . 
         [0028]    Cape or robe  14  can be made of generally any fabric material used for fabricating outerwear. However, to provide a compact lightweight article  10 , cape or robe  14  can be made of a lightweight thermally insulative or water-repellant fabric. 
         [0029]    The robe or cape  14  can optionally be provided with a removable thermal liner that can, for example, be releasably secured to the cape or robe with a zipper, buttons, Velcro® fasteners (hook and loop), or the like. 
         [0030]    While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrated embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited hereto. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings herein will recognize additional modifications and embodiments within the scope thereof. Therefore, the present invention is limited only by the claims attached herein.