Abstract:
A hunting garment is provided that comprises an article of clothing. The hunting garment includes an inflatable cushion and a pouch attached to the article of clothing and configured to retain at least a portion of the cushion therein. The hunting garment further includes an inflation device connected to the cushion and configured to inflate and deflate the cushion.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to hunting garments, and more particularly, to a hunting garment having an inflatable cushion attached thereto. 
   Hunting vests are used by hunters in the United States and elsewhere. However, few of these vests address the comfort needs of the hunter. While hunting, the hunter may spend long periods of time seated in one place. Due to possible observation of movement of the hunter by the prey, a hunter attempts to remain still and move as little as possible. This often becomes uncomfortable for the hunter, and moreover, the hunter often becomes wet and cold due to moisture on the ground. 
   To facilitate maintaining hunter comfort, some vests have been designed such that a foam rubber cushion flips down from the bottom of the vest. However, this foam rubber cushion often provides little comfort and is not adjustable. Other seating devices include collapsible stools which are hand carried and then set up at a desired location, but these stools require the hunter to carry extra equipment. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In one aspect, a hunting garment is provided that comprises an article of clothing. The hunting garment includes an inflatable cushion and a pouch attached to the article of clothing and configured to retain at least a portion of the cushion therein. The hunting garment further includes an inflation device connected to the cushion and configured to inflate and deflate the cushion. 
   In another aspect, a cushion system for a hunting garment is provided. The cushion system includes an inflatable cushion and an inflation device configured to inflate or deflate the cushion. The cushion system also includes a pouch configured to receive and retain at least a portion of the cushion therein. An attachment device is configured to attach the pouch to the hunting garment. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an illustration of a hunting garment including a pouch in a retracted position. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of an inflation device and an inflatable cushion configured for storage in the pouch shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an illustration of the inflatable cushion shown in  FIG. 2  partially inserted into the pouch shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is an illustration of the hunting garment shown in  FIG. 1  including the pouch shown in  FIG. 1  in an extended position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  is an illustration of a hunting garment  10  including a pouch  12  in a retracted position. In one embodiment, the hunting garment includes a vest  14 . In other embodiments, garment  10  is at least one of a jacket and a shirt. Vest  14  and pouch  12  are fabricated, in one embodiment, from a water resistant material. Pouch  12  is configured to attach to a vest  14  via attachment devices  16 . In the exemplary embodiment, attachment devices  16  are positioned on a lower portion  18  of an exterior  20  of vest  14 . As such pouch  12  is positioned against exterior  20  when configured in a retracted position. In an alternative embodiment, attachment devices  16  are positioned on an interior (not shown) of vest  14 , such that pouch  12  is positioned against the interior of vest  14  when configured in a retracted position. 
   Attachment devices  16  are at least one of hook and loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, and a zipper. Attachment devices  16  allow pouch  12  to be removable from vest  14  to facilitate cleaning or storage. Alternatively, attachment device  16  is permanent, and includes stitches, such that pouch  12  is not easily removable from vest  14 . 
   Hunting garment  10  also includes an inflation device  22 . Inflation device  22  is attached to a hose  24 , which is attached to an inflatable cushion (described in further detail in  FIG. 2 ) housed within pouch  12 . Inflation device  22  allows a wearer of hunting garment  10  to manually inflate or deflate the cushion housed within pouch  12 . In the exemplary embodiment, inflation device  22  includes a squeezable bulb and a pressure relief screw, which operate similarly to a bulb and relief screw included in a blood pressure cuff. In an alternative embodiment, inflation device  22  is another type of inflation apparatus, such as a valve similar to a bike tire valve. 
     FIG. 2  is a top view of an inflation device  22  and an inflatable cushion  26  configured for storage in pouch  12  shown in  FIG. 1 . In an exemplary embodiment, inflatable cushion  26  includes three bladders. Specifically, an inner bladder  28  having a perimeter  30  is centrally located within cushion  26 . An intermediate bladder  32  extends around perimeter  30 , such that intermediate bladder  32  is substantially flush against inner bladder  28 . Intermediate bladder  32  has a perimeter  34 . An outer bladder  36  extends around perimeter  34 , such that outer bladder  36  is substantially flush against intermediate bladder  32 . Outer bladder  36  has a perimeter  38 , which is sized such that cushion  26  can be inserted into pouch  12 . 
   Hose  24  is attached to outer bladder  36  and inflation device  22 . Inflation device  22  is configured to inflate and deflate cushion  26 . Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, the bulb is squeezed to create air pressure, which inflates cushion  26 . To deflate cushion  26 , the pressure relief screw is turned such that the air pressure in cushion  26  is removed. In the alternative embodiment, in which inflation device  22  includes a valve, cushion  26  is inflated by one of, connecting a can of compressed air to the valve or connecting a pump to the valve. Cushion  26  is then deflated by pushing the pressure relief member of the valve, such that the valve opens. Inner bladder  28 , intermediate bladder  32 , and outer bladder  36  are configured such that air received in outer bladder  36  expands into intermediate bladder  32  and inner bladder  28  to facilitate inflating cushion  26 . Likewise, removing pressure from outer bladder  36  causes pressure in intermediate bladder  32  and inner bladder  28  to also be removed. 
     FIG. 3  is an illustration of inflatable cushion  26  shown in  FIG. 2  partially inserted into pouch  12  shown in  FIG. 1 . Pouch  12  includes an opening  40  sized such that pouch  12  receives and retains cushion  26 . Pouch  12  also includes attachment members  42  to enable pouch  12  to attach to vest  14  in a retracted position. Attachment members  42  are at least one of, hook and loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, adhesive and a zipper. In the exemplary embodiment, pouch  12  includes three attachment members  42 . However, in alternative embodiments, pouch  12  includes any number of attachment members  42 . For example, when attachment member is a zipper, only one attachment member  42  is needed. 
   In one embodiment, attachment members  42  are positioned on a top surface of pouch  12  and corresponding attachment members are placed on exterior  20  of vest  14 . As such, pouch  12  is secured in a retracted position against exterior  20 . In an alternative embodiment, attachment members  42  are positioned on a bottom surface of pouch  12  and corresponding attachment portions are placed on an interior of vest  14 . As such, pouch  12  could be secured in a retracted position against the interior of vest  14 . 
   Hose  24  is attached to cushion  26  such that hose  24  extends through opening  40  when cushion  26  is located within pouch  12 . As such, a user of garment  10  will have access to inflation device  22  while wearing garment  10 . Consequently, cushion  26  can be inflated or deflated without a user having to remove garment  10 . 
     FIG. 4  is an illustration of hunting garment  10  shown in  FIG. 1  including pouch  12  shown in  FIG. 1  in an extended position. In the exemplary embodiment, garment  10  includes attachment members  42  positioned on exterior  20  of vest  14 . Corresponding attachment members  42  are positioned on a top portion of pouch  12 . As such, pouch  12  is configured to be secured against exterior  20  when placed in a retracted position. In an alternative embodiment, attachment members  42  may be positioned such that pouch  12  secures to an interior of vest  14  when placed in the retracted position. 
   When in the extended position, pouch  12  is positioned below vest  14  to facilitate providing a seat for a user of garment  10 . Hose  24  extends outward from pouch  12  to enable a user of garment  10  to access inflation device  22 . 
   When in use, a user of garment  10  wears vest  14  like any other vest. Pouch  12  is initially in a retracted position wherein attachment members  42  of pouch  12  are attached to corresponding attachment members  42  positioned on vest  14 . Pouch  12  houses cushion  26 , which is initially in a deflated position. Hose  24  extends from pouch  12  such that inflation device  22  is accessible to the user. Inflation device  22  can be stored within a pocket positioned either on vest  14  or on another article of the users clothing. 
   When cushion  26  is to be used as a seat, attachment members  42  are detached such that pouch  12  is placed in an extended position. In the extended position, pouch  12  hangs below vest  14  and is aligned such that the user of vest  14  can sit on pouch  12 . Inflation device  22  is manipulated to send air to cushion  26  via hose  24 . Cushion  26  is inflated within pouch  12  to facilitate providing a comfortable seat to the user of garment  10 . 
   The inflated seat is maintained for an extended period of time. When the user is finished with the seat, inflation device  22  is used to deflate cushion  26 . After cushion  26  is deflated, pouch  12  is stored in a retracted position, against either the interior or exterior of vest  14  utilizing attachment members  42 . In an alternative embodiment, pouch  12  is stored in a retracted position while cushion  26  is still inflated. Inflation device  22  is stored in a pocket positioned either on vest  14  or positioned on another article of the users clothing. 
   After use of garment  10 , pouch  12  can be detached from vest  14  to facilitate cleaning. Likewise, cushion  26  can be removed from pouch  12  to facilitate cleaning. 
   In alternative embodiments (not shown), garment  10  may be configured with a padding device, for example a foam rubber, inflatable, or another cushioning device that is permanently attached to a back of garment  10 . This padding device is intended to provide protection for the back of a user, for example, as the user sits on the ground he or she may lean against a base of a tree. The padding device thus provides cushioning for the back and spine of the user. The padding device is of variable width and may run the length of garment  10 . In one embodiment, the cushion may overlap the portion of garment  10  where pouch  12  attaches to garment  10  for storage. This padding device may, for example, be sewn in between layers of garment  10 , or be contained within a pouch that is permanently attached to either the interior or exterior of garment  10 , for example, by sewing or stitching. 
   The above-described hunting garment facilitates providing a comfortable and dry seat for a hunter. Specifically, the hunting garment provides comfort to a hunter required to sit in one position for a long period of time. The inflatable cushion prevents a hunter from having to sit on the ground, while eliminating the need to carry stools or other seating devices. Furthermore, the inflatable cushion keeps the hunter away from moisture collected on the ground and facilitates keeping the hunter dry and warm. As a result, a hunter can have a more comfortable experience and stay dry while waiting long periods of time. 
   As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly recited. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. 
   Although the garment described herein is described in the context of a hunting garment, it is understood that the garment described herein is not limited to hunting garments. Likewise, the hunting garment components illustrated are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of the hunting garment can be utilized independently and separately from other components described herein. Moreover, the hunting garment described herein is not limited to a vest, but rather, may be a jacket, shirt, or any other article of clothing. 
   While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.