Abstract:
A two panel convertible maternity coat that can be used by a woman before, after, and during pregnancy, a pregnancy panel, and a baby panel. Pregnancy is accommodated through the addition of the pregnancy panel between the front sides of the coat. The pregnancy panel is wider at the bottom and tapered toward the top. The two panel convertible maternity coat also can be used as a garment for covering both baby and mother, father, or other wearer though the addition of the baby panel between the front sides of the coat. The baby panel is shaped wider at the top and tapers down to a lower portion. Means are provided for readily fastening each panel separately to the coat so as to provide for ease in transitioning between the uses of the coat.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/925,238, filed Apr. 19, 2007, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates in general to outerwear garments, and more specifically to a convertible maternity coat transformable for use by a woman before and during pregnancy, and, after birth of the baby, for covering both baby and mother, father, or other wearer of the coat. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Outerwear garments that can be converted for other uses are known in the art. For example, some coats include removable linings to permit use in different temperature conditions. Maternity coats for use by women before, during and after pregnancy are also known. Maternity coats have also been designed for use during pregnancy and afterwards, to cover both baby and mother, father, or other wearer of the coat. The conventional maternity coats, however, do not provide the flexibility and ease of transitioning from a coat for use during pregnancy to a coat for use by both mother, or other wearer, and baby. One known coat has an extra zip-in panel to be worn both during pregnancy and with baby, i.e., a one panel coat. The one panel coat was designed to function as a maternity coat during pregnancy and, secondly, as a coat for use after pregnancy by both mother or other wearer and baby. A drawback of known one panel coat designs is the coat provides too much fabric at the top, near the bust and neck during pregnancy. This excess of fabric was very cumbersome to the wearer and made the coat less functional as a maternity coat. Further, it was also difficult for the wearer to stay warm using the one panel coat since the neck area was more exposed. 
         [0004]    Another drawback of the single panel coat is that it did not successfully accommodate the baby in utero or after birth. The reason for this is that the bottom of the known panel was typically too narrow, not allowing enough room on the lower half for the baby as it grows larger in utero. In addition, the excess fabric at the top of the coat was open to accommodate the baby, but since the same piece of fabric had to be used by the mother during pregnancy, it could not be shaped to accommodate the true needs of the baby. Another drawback of known one panel and other known convertible maternity coats is that the coats do not provide the flexibility to enable easy transitioning to provide the two functions, i.e. for use during pregnancy by the mother and for use by both mother, father, or other wearer and baby after the baby has been born. 
         [0005]    There is therefore a need for a convertible maternity coat that separates the functions of a coat for the mother during pregnancy and a coat after birth for the mother or other wearer and baby. That is, there is a need for a convertible maternity coat that provides a removable panel designed just for use during pregnancy and another removable panel designed to enable both the new-born baby and the mother, father or other wearer to be covered comfortably. There is also a need for a coat that provides a panel designed for pregnancy that has no excess fabric at the top, so as to keep the wearer warmer and more comfortable. 
         [0006]    There is also a need for a convertible maternity coat that enables the easy transition between various functions, e.g., for use by the mother during pregnancy and by both baby and mother, father, or other wearer after the baby is born. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides a convertible maternity coat that overcomes the drawbacks of known designs. Broadly stated, the present invention provides a wearable and convertible maternity outerwear garment, comprising a coat having two sleeves and left front and right front portions, each attached to and extending from a back portion; a first fastener for securing the left front and right front portions together and for enabling the addition of a first panel or a second panel to the coat; wherein the first panel is wider at the top and tapered from the top to the bottom and shaped for wrapping around a baby and for accommodating growth of the baby, the first panel including a second fastener for securing the first panel to the coat; and wherein the second panel is wider at the bottom and tapered from the bottom to the top and shaped to accommodate growth of a mother during pregnancy, the second panel including a third fastener for securing the second panel to the coat. 
         [0008]    Broadly stated, the present invention also provides in one embodiment, a wearable and convertible maternity outerwear garment, comprising: a coat having two sleeves and left front and right front portions, each attached to and extending from a back portion; a first zipper for securing the left front and right front portions together for joining said front portions and for enabling the addition of a first panel or a second panel to the coat; wherein the first panel is wider at the top and tapered from the top to the bottom and shaped for wrapping around a baby and for accommodating growth of the baby, the first panel including a second zipper for securing the first panel to the coat, the first and second zippers enabling detachment of one or both sides of the first panel from the coat for unwrapping the first panel from the baby, the first panel including a left upper portion, a substantially U-shaped center upper portion, and a right upper portion, the left and right upper portions for wrapping around at least a portion of the neck of the baby to enable the center upper portion to cover at least a portion of the throat of the baby; wherein the second panel is wider at the bottom and tapered from the bottom to the top and shaped to accommodate growth of a mother during pregnancy, the second panel including a third zipper for securing the second panel to the coat; and a snap for securing the left upper and right upper portions of the second panel to join the left upper and right upper portions for providing cover of at least a portion of the throat of the mother, father, or other wearer; and means for enabling addition of a hood. 
         [0009]    An advantage of the convertible maternity coat according to the present invention is that it includes an additional panel designed to be used just during pregnancy, i.e., a pregnancy panel. The pregnancy panel has substantially no excess fabric at the top such that the wearer is kept warmer and more comfortable than with conventional maternity coats. 
         [0010]    Another advantage of the convertible maternity coat according to the present invention is that it provides a separate baby panel shaped to wrap around the new-born baby without excess fabric. By providing a separate panel for the baby, it enables the fabric to encircle the baby and the neck area of the mother, father, or other wearer, and thereby prevents the lack of warmth around the neck of the wearer caused by conventional maternity coats. Further, the lower portion of the baby panel of the coat of the present invention is shaped to allow for substantial growth of the baby. Due to the increased size of the lower portion of the baby panel, another advantage according to one embodiment of the present invention is the addition of a supply pocket to the baby panel to further increase the maternity coat&#39;s versatility. 
         [0011]    Another advantage according to one aspect is that the convertible maternity coat of the present invention provides for ease of transition between the various functional uses of the coat. Another advantage according to one embodiment of the present invention is the addition of a separate baby hat. 
         [0012]    Another advantage according to one embodiment of the present invention is the addition of a removable hood for the mother. Still another advantage according to another embodiment is a quilted lining for added warmth. Another advantage according to another embodiment is ribbed cuffs for increased comfort. Yet another advantage according to one embodiment is the providing of double-headed zippers for each side of the pregnancy panel and baby panel when included in the maternity coat, to enable unzipping or partial unzipping in either direction. 
         [0013]    These and other embodiments, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a view of the convertible maternity coat without additional panels according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the convertible maternity coat in  FIG. 1  including a detachable hood according to an preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the convertible maternity coat in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the convertible maternity coat in  FIG. 1  including a pregnancy panel attached thereto according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a view of the pregnancy panel according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the convertible maternity coat in  FIG. 1  including a baby panel attached thereto having a pocket, and a separate baby hat according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the baby panel of  FIG. 6  having a pocket and providing a separate baby hat according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Reference symbols or names are used in the Figures to indicate certain components, aspects or features shown therein, with reference symbols common to more than one Figure indicating like components, aspects or features shown therein. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]      FIG. 1  is a view of the convertible maternity coat  100  without additional panels according to an embodiment of the present invention. The convertible maternity coat  100  provides a convertible maternity coat for use by person  110  before and during pregnancy and after birth of the baby  160 . The convertible maternity coat  100  is preferably made of a water resistant material for all season use.  FIG. 2  is a front view of the convertible maternity coat  100  in  FIG. 1  including a detachable hood  150  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the convertible maternity coat in  FIG. 1 . The convertible maternity coat  100  has an outer shell preferably of a lightweight water resistant material such as nylon having left and right front portions  112 ,  114 , one back portion  116 , a collar  118 , sleeves  120  and a zipper  124 . The sleeves  120  and the left front and right front portions  112 ,  114  are attached to and extend from the back portion  116 . Preferably, zipper  124  is a double-headed zipper, i.e., enabling either partial or complete unzipping in either direction. An interior knit cuff  126  at the end of each sleeve  120  is preferably ribbed. 
         [0024]    The convertible maternity coat  100  and hood  150  are preferably each lined with quilted fabric and have a nylon outer surface. Preferably, the hood  150  includes an elastic draw cord for cinching and is detachable from convertible maternity coat  100 . The collar  118  of convertible maternity coat  100  is preferably shaped like a nehru collar, as shown best in the front view in  FIG. 2  and the rear view in  FIG. 3 . The convertible maternity coat  100  preferably has front and back seams  128 . Angled flat pockets  130 ,  132  on the left and right front portions  112 ,  114 , respectively, are preferably provided. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the convertible maternity coat in  FIG. 1  including a pregnancy panel  200  attached thereto according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5  is a view of the pregnancy panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0026]    The pregnancy panel  200  fastens to the zipper  124  of convertible maternity coat  100 . The zipper  124  preferably has two rows of metal toothed edges (teeth) on strips of tape and a sliding piece that closes an opening by drawing the teeth together. Alternatively, the teeth are plastic or another suitable material. A first row of teeth is attached to left front portion  112  and a second row of teeth is attached to right front portion  114 . The sliding piece may be positioned on either row of teeth. 
         [0027]    The pregnancy panel  200  preferably includes a double-headed zipper  230  that includes one row of teeth, including a double headed sliding piece, along a side  220  and another row of teeth along a side  240 . One skilled in the art would appreciate that the location of the sliding piece on either row of teeth is a matter of design choice. The double headed sliding piece of pregnancy panel  200  is for attaching to the row of teeth of convertible maternity coat  100  that does not have a sliding piece. The row of teeth along side  240  in this example is for attaching to the row of teeth of convertible maternity coat that does include the sliding piece. Each sliding piece closes the opening, joining the pregnancy panel with the convertible maternity coat  100 .  FIG. 4  shows an exemplary convertible maternity coat with pregnancy panel where the zippers are fully joining the pregnancy panel sides  220 ,  240  to the zipper  124  of convertible maternity coat  100 . The design of the pregnancy panel  200  and convertible maternity coat  100  thus provides for ease of transition between use by a woman before or after pregnancy and during pregnancy. 
         [0028]    As seen in the examples in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the pregnancy panel  200  is narrower at the top than the bottom, i.e., tapered from bottom to top. The pregnancy panel  200  is designed just for pregnancy, in that it is wider at the waist and has no excess fabric at the top  210 , so that the wearer is kept warmer and more comfortable than with conventional maternity coats. The pregnancy panel  200  is preferably the same color and designed of the same material as the convertible maternity coat  100 . 
         [0029]    The convertible maternity coat of the present invention also enables use during maternity so as to accommodate the increased size of the mother during pregnancy.  FIG. 6  is a front view of the convertible maternity coat in  FIG. 1  including a baby panel  300  attached thereto having a pocket  310 , and a separate baby hat  320  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7  is a front view of the baby panel  300  of  FIG. 6  having a pocket  310  and the separate baby hat  320 . The convertible maternity coat  100  with baby panel  300  is for use for a mother, father, or other wearer having the baby in some type of baby carrier (not shown). The baby in the baby carrier can be facing out or facing in. The convertible maternity coat  100  with baby panel  300  provides coverage to warm both the mother, father, or other wearer and the baby. The separate baby panel  300  is shaped, as best seen in  FIG. 7 , to wrap around the baby without excess fabric. A fastening means is provided to secure the top left  330  and top right panel  340  of the baby panel  300 . Preferably, snaps are provided for the fastening means. Alternatively, VELCRO may be used for the fastening means. By providing a separate panel for the baby, the lack of warmth around the neck of the mother, father, or other wearer due to conventional maternity coats is overcome by encircling the baby and the mother&#39;s neck areas. 
         [0030]    The width of the baby panel  300  is narrower at the bottom than at the top, as seen best in  FIG. 7 . The lower portion  350  is shaped to allow for substantial growth of the baby. The increased lower portion for accommodating growth of the baby preferably includes the pocket  310  to enable the storing of supplies for the baby, thus further increasing the coat&#39;s versatility. Preferably, the pocket  310  is in the center of the lower portion of baby panel  300  and includes a conventional fastening means, e.g., hook and loop closure, VELCRO, etc. The baby panel  300  preferably has the same outer fabric and lining as the convertible maternity coat  100 . 
         [0031]    The baby panel  300  is preferably attached to the convertible maternity coat  100  via a fastener, preferably zippers. The baby panel  300  preferably includes a double-headed zipper having one row of teeth including a double headed sliding piece along a side  350  and another row of teeth along a side  360 . One skilled in the art would appreciate that the location of the sliding piece on either row is a matter of design choice. The double headed sliding piece of baby panel  300  is for attaching to the row of teeth of convertible maternity coat  100  that does not have a sliding piece. The row of teeth along side  360  in this example is for attaching to the row of teeth of convertible maternity coat that does include the sliding piece. Each sliding piece closes the opening, joining the pregnancy panel with the convertible maternity coat  100 . 
         [0032]    In the example in  FIG. 6 , the convertible maternity coat  100  with baby panel  300  is shown with the zippers fully joining the baby panel&#39;s sides  350 ,  360  to the zipper  124  of convertible maternity coat  100 . The design of the baby panel  300  and convertible maternity coat  100  thus provides for ease of transition between use by a woman with baby, and before or after maternity. According to one exemplary use, the pregnancy panel  200  can be easily replaced with the baby panel  300  for use by both mother and child; or even for use by father or other wearer and child. Thus, another advantage according to one aspect is that the convertible maternity coat of the present invention provides for ease of transition between the various functional uses of the coat. 
         [0033]    The two panel convertible maternity coat of the present invention thus enables use with no panels, with the addition of the pregnancy panel  200 , or with the addition of the baby panel  300 . In addition, the preferred double headed sliders for the zippers enable unjoining of one or both sides of the added panel from the coat for example, to remove the baby for placing into a car seat, to increase an opening to allow more air for cooling, and for easy removal of the coat. 
         [0034]    The baby hat  320  preferably has a front visor  322 , and earflaps  324 ,  326 . The baby hat  320  also preferably includes a back sun/weather protection flap  328  a portion of which is visible in the example  FIG. 6 . Flap  328  is a known flap used for sun/weather protection. 
         [0035]    According to one example, during pregnancy, the user can zip the baby panel  300  into the front of the convertible maternity coat  100 . The arrangement allows the wearer to customize fit to changing needs, e.g., open top of zip panel, carry baby in a sling or front-pack; put the coat on and take off without waking baby, and protect baby from the wind, cold, rain and snow. After the baby is past the being-carried stage, the convertible maternity coat user can remove the baby panel  300  and use the convertible maternity coat without any additional panel as in the example in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0036]    Having disclosed exemplary embodiments, modifications and variations may be made to the disclosed embodiments while remaining within the scope of the invention as described by the following claims.