Abstract:
The present invention includes a article of clothing. The article of clothing comprises a flexible main body, comprising a hood portion and a shoulder portion. The hood portion is attached to the shoulder portion. The shoulder portion comprises a pair of shoulder segments and a back segment. The shoulder segments are attachable to each other. The back segment is attached to each segment of the shoulder portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an article of clothing, a hood device, to a method for making a hood and to a kit for making a hood. 
     Articles of clothing that have hoods have typically had either attached hoods, integral with a garment such as a jacket or a coat or a cape or detachable hoods, typically detachable from a coat. Attached hoods, in some embodiments, have had a dramatic, theatrical, aesthetic effect, when worn. In other embodiments, however, hoods are a nuisance when not needed for protection from inclement weather and are unattractive. 
     Detachable hoods typically have functionality but no desirable aesthetics. Typically, detachable hoods are attached to a garment by button attachment mechanisms or zippers. Button attachment mechanisms define holes between the buttons. These holes are a source of drafts that chill the neck of an individual wearing a garment with a detachable hood. 
     Zipper attachment mechanisms tend to have openings on either side of a wearer&#39;s head. These openings also permit drafts to contact a wearer and to chill the wearer in cold or wet weather. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,340, which issued Dec. 8, 1998, describes a face and head protector garment for use against inclement weather. The garment includes a hood that covers the head and back area of the neck and a mask that fits over the head of the wearer. The mask defines openings for eyes, nose and mouth. The mask and hood function as a single unit. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In its product aspect, the present invention comprises an article of clothing. The article of clothing comprises a flexible main body. The flexible main body comprises a hood portion and a shoulder portion. The hood portion is attached to the shoulder portion. The shoulder portion comprises a pair of shoulder elements, attachable to each other and a back portion. The back portion is attached to each of the shoulder elements. 
     Another product aspect of the present invention comprises a kit for making a hood device. The kit comprises a template for a hood portion, a template for a first shoulder segment and a template for a second shoulder segment. The template for the second shoulder segment is a mirror image of the template for the first shoulder segment. The kit further comprises a template for a back segment. 
     A method aspect of the present invention comprises a method for making a hood device. The method comprises providing fabric and cutting the fabric to make hood segments. The fabric is also cut to make shoulder segments. The shoulder segments are mirror images of each other. The fabric is cut to make a back segment. The hood segments are attached to each other to make a hood portion. The back segment is attached to the hood portion. The shoulder segments are attached to the hood portion and the back segment. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the hood device of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a top plan view of one embodiment of the hood device of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view of a backside of the hood device of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In its product aspect, one embodiment of the hood device of the present invention, illustrated generally at  10  in FIG. 1, comprises a main body  12  that includes a hood portion  14  and collar portion  16  attached to the hood portion  14 . The collar portion  16  is of a shape that rests upon the shoulders of a user as shown in FIG.  1 . The collar portion comprises an underlying end  18  and overlying end  20  that are attached to each other with an attachment mechanism, which is shown in FIG.  1 . The attachment mechanism is a device such as a VELCRO® brand strip of hook and loop fasteners, or snaps, or buttons. The attachment mechanism is not shown in FIG.  1 . 
     In one embodiment, illustrated at  10  in FIG. 1 the hood portion  14  comprises panels  22 ,  24 , and  26 . Panels  22  and  26  are substantially mirror images of each other. Panel  24  is a generally rectangular panel size to fit about the head of a user. In one embodiment, the fit is a loose fit wherein the hood portion  14  extends past the head of the user when in a used position as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     In one embodiment, the hood device  10  is made with a double ply fabric arrangement, as shown in FIG. 1 at  28  and  30 . With the double ply configuration, the hood device  10  may comprise an outer water repellant, wind repellant fabric and an inner, softer fabric. The double ply arrangement can also be used to impart the aesthetically best “lay” of the hood. By “lay” is meant that the hood acquires a desirable symmetry when covering the head of the wearer. In another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 2, the hood device is made of only a single layer of fabric. This layer of fabric may be wind resistant and water repellant. The fabric may also be a soft, warm fabric such as wool or cashmere. 
     In one embodiment, the hood device  10  includes a tie  40  for positioning the hood closer to the head of the wearer. The tie  40  is positioned within a channel  42 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 2, the hood device  10  further comprises a back shoulder panel  32 . The back shoulder panel is attached to the collar portions  18  and  20  at  34  and  36 , respectively. The back shoulder panel  32  attachment is by a mechanism such as thread stitching. The back shoulder panel  32  is attached to the hood portion at  38 . The back shoulder panel  32  not only stabilizes the hood device  10  when worn by a wearer but also protects the neck of the wearer against drafts, and rain, snow or sleet. The back shoulder portion  32  also keeps the wearer warm. 
     The back shoulder panel  32 , shown in FIG. 3, is tapered so that the hood device  10  is securely held when positioned under a coat or jacket. The back shoulder panel  32  tapered shape also aids in reducing drafts. textile material such as a polyamide or an olefin blend, a viscose fiber, cotton, wool, silk or satin, polyethylene microfiber, polyethylene blend, polypropylene, velvet, nylon, velveteen, a polyethylene rayon blend, or other material. As discussed, the hood device  10  of the present invention may comprise a single fabric layer or may comprise a double fabric layer. 
     The hood device is made by separately cutting the components  18 ,  20 ,  32 ,  22 ,  24 , and  25  from cloth. The cloth may be one ply. For some embodiments, the cloth comprises at least two-ply of the same type of cloth or different types of cloth. The components  22 ,  24  and  25  are sewn together as shown in FIGS. 1,  2  and  3  to make the hood portion. The back section  32  is sewn to the hood portion as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The shoulder segments  18  and  20  are sewn to the hood portion and the back portion  32  as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     The components  18 ,  20 ,  32 ,  22 ,  24  and  25  are, in one embodiment, cut from pattern elements in a kit. Each pattern element provides a template for shaping each of the components. Each kit includes elements sized for particular types of wearers such as children and adults. Some kit embodiments include fabric. 
     Since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes, which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims, are intended to be embraced therein.