Patent Publication Number: US-8984666-B1

Title: Protective outer garment apparatus with viewing window for handheld items

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority and is entitled to the filing date of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/911,469, filed on Dec. 4, 2013 and entitled “Protective Outer-Garment Apparatus with Means for Viewing Items.” The contents of the aforementioned application are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     Applicant(s) hereby incorporate herein by reference any and all patents and published patent applications cited or referred to in this application. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Aspects of this invention relate generally to protective garments, and more particularly to a protective outer garment apparatus incorporating an at least one viewing window therein for allowing the wearer to safely view a handheld item from an optimal viewing angle. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     There are many types of protective coverings and outer garments available to protect one&#39;s clothes from unwanted or undesirable outside influences that may damage or negatively affect a person&#39;s body or clothing. Examples of such outer garments include ponchos, capes, cloaks, smocks, aprons, jackets, coats, and wearable blankets. A variety of unwanted or undesirable outside influences may include such things as dirt, hair, moisture, cold, chemicals, and other contaminates. 
     Although offering many protective advantages, such known outer garments all suffer from the limitation of preventing the wearer from gaining access to handheld items stored underneath said outer garments without exposing such items to the unwanted or undesirable outside influences. With the advent of technology, many people rely on or at least desire the ability to use personal electronic or non-electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablet computers, handheld gaming devices, books, and other similarly sized handheld items—many of which can be susceptible to dirt, moisture and other environmental elements. 
     Attempts have been made to remedy this problem by providing a protective outer garment, such as a barber cape, incorporating a basic cut-out in the center area of the garment with a transparent material spanning the cut-out, thereby forming a window in the garment for allowing the wearer to view their handheld items while keeping them underneath the outer garment. However, given the substantially vertical orientation of such windows, as positioned on an outer garment, relative to the wearer&#39;s face and line of sight, such solutions fail to provide or allow for the selective positioning or adjustability of such an outer garment window so that the handheld item may be safely viewed from an optimal viewing angle. 
     Aspects of the present invention fulfill these needs and provide further related advantages as described in the following summary. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects of the present invention teach certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the exemplary advantages described below. 
     The present invention solves the problems described above by providing a protective outer garment apparatus incorporating an at least one viewing window therein for allowing the wearer to safely view a handheld item from an optimal viewing angle. The apparatus provides, in at least one embodiment, an outer garment for being worn by a user. An outer surface of the garment provides an at least one cut-out sized and positioned for allowing an at least one handheld item positioned within an interior of the garment to be selectively extended therethrough by the user. An at least one viewing window is engaged with the outer surface of the garment, substantially overtop of the at least one cut-out, and provides a resilient window frame and a flexible, transparent window flap hingedly engaged with the window frame. The window flap is configured for moving between one of a closed window position, wherein the window flap is substantially positioned overtop of the cut-out, and an open window position, wherein the window flap is hingedly pivoted away from the window frame toward a face of the user. A pair of opposing, flexible side walls are integral with and extend between respective side edges of each of the window flap and window frame. Thus, the user is able to keep the handheld item positioned underneath or otherwise within the interior of the garment while still being able to view the item through the viewing window from an optimal viewing angle. 
     A primary objective inherent in the above described apparatus and method of use is to provide advantages not taught by the prior art. 
     Another objective is to provide such an apparatus that allows the wearer to safely view a handheld item from an optimal viewing angle while keeping the item positioned underneath the outer garment, in at least one embodiment. 
     Another objective is to provide such an apparatus that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and capable of being manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and styles. 
     Another objective is to provide such an apparatus that is capable of being used in a variety of contexts and/or industries. 
     Other features and advantages of aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of aspects of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate aspects of the present invention. In such drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary outer garment apparatus, in  15  accordance with at least one embodiment;  FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the viewing window of  FIG. 1  in an alternative embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a partially exploded view thereof, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 , in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is an alternate partial cross-sectional view of  FIG. 4 , showing an alternative exemplary viewing window, in accordance with at least one embodiment; and 
         FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of the exemplary outer garment apparatus as worn by a user, in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     The above described drawing figures illustrate aspects of the invention in at least one of its exemplary embodiments, which are further defined in detail in the following description. Features, elements, and aspects of the invention that are referenced by the same numerals in different figures represent the same, equivalent, or similar features, elements, or aspects, in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The above described drawing figures illustrate aspects of the invention in at least one of its exemplary embodiments, which are further defined in detail in the following description. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a protective outer garment apparatus  20  incorporating an at least one viewing window  22  therein for allowing a wearer of the apparatus  20  (hereinafter referred to generally as a user  24 ) to safely view a handheld item  26 —including but not limited to a mobile phone, tablet computer, music player, handheld gaming device, camera, book, etc. —from an optimal viewing angle. The apparatus  20  comprises, in at least one embodiment, an outer garment  28  for being worn by the user  24  and the viewing window  22  engaged with an outer surface  30  of the garment  28  and configured for allowing visual access into an interior  32  of the garment  28 . 
     At the outset, it should be noted that the garments  28  shown in the drawings are merely exemplary and are shown simply for illustrative purposes. In further embodiments, the garment  28  may take on any other size, shape or style now known or later developed —such as a poncho, cape, cloak, smock, apron, jacket, coat, pants, skirt, shorts, wearable blanket, sleeping bag, etc. —so long as it is capable of substantially carrying out the functionality herein described. Furthermore, while the garment  28  is preferably constructed out of a durable waterproof and/or weatherproof material, such as nylon, polyester or plastic, it may be constructed out of any other material or combination of materials, now known or later developed. Similarly, the size, shape and position of the viewing window  22  as shown in the drawings is also merely exemplary and shown for illustrative purposes. Thus, in further embodiments, the viewing window  22  may take on any other size or shape now known or later conceived, and may be positioned anywhere on the outer surface  30  of the garment  28 —dependent at least in part on the type of garment  28  and the type of item  26  to be viewed through the viewing window  22 . 
     As shown best in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the garment  28  provides an at least one cut-out  34  sized and positioned for allowing visual access into the interior  32  of the garment  28 . The cut-out  34  is also preferably sized for allowing the item  26  to at least partially extend therethrough, the purpose of which is discussed further below. The viewing window  22  is positioned overtop of the cut-out  34  and is engaged with the outer surface  30  of the garment  28 . In at least one embodiment, the viewing window  22  is permanently affixed to the garment  28  by stitching, welding, or any other technique now known or later developed. In at least one alternate embodiment, discussed further below, the viewing window  22  is removably engagable with the garment  28  by snaps, hook and loop material, magnets, or any other technique now known or later developed. 
     In at least one embodiment, the viewing window  22  provides a relatively resilient window frame  36  engaged (or engagable) with the outer surface  30  of the garment  28 . In the exemplary embodiment, the window frame  36  has a top edge  38 , a bottom edge  40  and a pair of opposing side edges  42 , with a central area of the window frame  36  being open and positioned substantially overtop of the cut-out  34  in the garment  28 . The viewing window  22  further provides a relatively flexible, transparent window flap  44  hingedly engaged with the window frame  36  and configured for moving between one of a closed window position (FIG.  1 )—wherein the window flap  44  is substantially in abutting contact with each of the top edge  38 , bottom edge  40  and side edges  42  of the window frame  36  or is otherwise positioned overtop of the cut-out  34  in the garment  28  in an orientation substantially parallel with the outer surface  30  of the garment  28 —and an open window position (FIG.  2 )—wherein the window flap  44  is hingedly pivoted away from the window frame  36  (i.e., toward a face  46  of the user  24 ) such that a window angle  48  between the window flap  44  and the window frame  36  (or cut-out  34 ) is greater than zero degrees and less than one hundred eighty degrees. In the exemplary embodiment, the window angle  48  is preferably between thirty and ninety degrees when the window flap  44  is in the open window position. In this way, the window flap  44  provides an optimal viewing angle for the user  24  to view and manipulate the item  26  while it is still being protected by the viewing window  22  and garment  28 . In other words, because the window flap  44  is capable of being opened and moved into to a roughly horizontal orientation (or substantially perpendicular to the cut-out  34  of the garment  28 ), the window flap  44  is able to create a transparent protective “roof” under which the item  26  may be positioned as the item  26  extends a distance through the cut-out  34  of the garment  28 . In further such embodiments, the viewing window  22  is configured for allowing the user  24  to selectively adjust the window angle  48  for when the window flap  44  is in the open window position. Similar to the window frame  36 , the window flap  44  has a top edge  50 , a bottom edge  52 , and a pair of opposing side edges  54 . Additionally, in the exemplary embodiment, the window flap  44  is preferably sized and configured for spanning the entire area between the top edge  38 , bottom edge  40  and side edges  42  of the window frame  36 , thereby effectively covering the cut-out  34  in the garment  28  when in the closed window position. As shown in  FIG. 2 , in at least one embodiment, the window flap  44  is hingedly engaged with the top edge  38  of the window frame  36 . However, in alternate embodiments, the window flap  44  may be hingedly engaged with any of the bottom edge  40  or side edges  42  of the window frame  36 . In still further embodiments, the window frame  36  may be omitted altogether, such that the window flap  44  is simply hingedly engaged with the outer surface  30  of the garment  28 . It should be noted that in such further embodiments, each of the components discussed below as being incorporated on or within the window frame  36  are instead incorporated on or within the garment  28  itself. 
     In at least one embodiment, the window flap  44  is biased toward the open window position such that an at least one hand  56  of the user  24  is free to hold and manipulate the item  26  without also having to manually hold the window flap  44  in the open window position. In one such embodiment, shown in the cross-sectional views of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , this biasing is achieved through a pair of resilient, substantially V-shaped biasing members  58  positioned within or otherwise integral with each side edge  42  of the window frame  36  and corresponding side edge  54  of the window flap  44 . Each biasing member  58  is preferably constructed of plastic. However, in alternate embodiments, the biasing members  58  may be constructed of any other material (such as metal) or combination of materials, now known or later developed, so long as they are capable of substantially carrying out the functionality herein described. In an alternate embodiment, shown in  FIG. 5 , the biasing of the window flap  44  is achieved through an at least one spring hinge  60  engaged between each of the window flap  44  and window frame  36 . In at least one such embodiment, the spring hinge  60  is configured for floating between the window flap  44  and window frame  36 , thereby allowing for expansion between the window flap  44  and window frame  36  when moving between the closed and open window positions. In still further embodiments, the biasing of the window flap  44  may be achieved using any other mechanism, or combination of mechanisms, now known or later developed, capable of allowing the window flap  44  to substantially carry out the functionality herein described. 
     In at least one embodiment, as best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , where the window flap  44  is biased toward the open window position, an at least one free edge  52  and  54  of the window flap  44  provides an at least one attachment point  62  configured for removably securing the window flap  44  to the at least one corresponding edge  40  and  42  of the window frame  36  when the window flap  44  is in the closed window position, thereby preventing the window flap  44  from unintentionally moving out of the closed window position. In at least one such embodiment, the attachment point  62  is a button or snap. In another such embodiment, the attachment point  62  is a pair of magnets. In another such embodiment, the attachment point  62  is hook and loop material. In still further embodiments, the attachment point  62  may comprise any other temporary fastening or removable engagement means, now known or later developed, strong enough to resist and overcome the biasing forces that urge the window flap  44  into the open window position. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in at least one embodiment, the biasing of the window flap  44  toward the open window position causes the window flap  44  to slightly bow when locked in the closed window position—i.e., the side edges  54  of the window flap  44  are not in complete abutting contact with the side edges  42  of the window frame  36 . This allows the item  26  to be extended a distance through the cut-out  34  and into the viewing window  22 , even when the window flap  44  is in the closed window position. 
     In at least one embodiment, as best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the viewing window  22  further provides a pair of opposing, flexible side walls  64 , each side wall  64  integral with and extending between the respective side edge  54  and  42  of each of the window flap  44  and window frame  36 . Thus, when the window flap  44  is in the closed window position, a weatherproof seal is created about an entire perimeter of the window frame  36  and, thus, the cut-out  34  of the garment  28 . Additionally, when the window flap  44  is in the open window position, the side walls  64  provide further protection to the item  26  when the item is positioned within the viewing window  22 . In one such embodiment, the side walls  64  are constructed out of the same material as the garment  28  itself, so as to be more aesthetically pleasing. However, in alternate embodiments, the side walls  64  may be constructed out of any other material or combination of materials, now known or later developed. In at least one alternate embodiment, where the window frame  44  is omitted altogether, each side wall  64  is integral with and extends between one of the side edges  54  of the window flap  44  and the outer surface  30  of the garment  28 . 
     In at least one embodiment, as best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the viewing window  22  further provides a cover flap  66  hingedly engaged with the bottom edge  52  of the window flap  44  and configured for moving between one of a closed cover position (FIG.  3 )—wherein a top edge  68  of the cover flap  66  is removably engaged with the top edge  50  of the window flap  44 , thus covering the window flap  44 —and an open cover position (FIG.  4 )—wherein the cover flap  66  is hingedly pivoted down and away from the window flap  44  such that the window flap  44  is substantially uncovered. Additionally, the top edge  68  of the cover flap  66  provides an at least one attachment point  70  configured for removably securing the cover flap  66  to the window flap  44  when the cover flap  66  is in the closed cover position, thereby preventing the cover flap  66  from unintentionally moving out of the closed cover position. In at least one such embodiment, the attachment point  70  is a button or snap. In another such embodiment, the attachment point  70  is a pair of magnets. In another such embodiment, the attachment point  70  is hook and loop material. In still further embodiments, the attachment point  70  may comprise any other temporary fastening or removable engagement means, now known or later developed, capable of allowing the cover flap  66  to substantially carry out the functionality herein described. In the exemplary embodiment, the cover flap  66  has substantially the same dimensions as the window flap  44 . Thus, when the viewing window  22  is not in use, the cover flap  66  may be manually moved to the closed cover position so as to cover/hide the window flap  44 . As such, in the exemplary embodiment, the cover flap  66  is constructed out of the same material as the garment  28  itself, so as to be more aesthetically pleasing. However, in alternate embodiments, the cover flap  66  may be constructed out of any other non-transparent material or combination of materials, now known or later developed. In still further embodiments, as exemplified by  FIG. 1A , the cover flap  66  provides a central opening  71  therethrough, allowing visual access through a portion of the window flap  44  even when the cover flap  66  is in the closed cover position. Such a central opening effectively creates a porthole (though could be a shape other than circular), which can be beneficial to the user  24  when the item  26  positioned underneath the garment  28  is a camera or camcorder, as the user  24  is then able to capture photos or video through the viewing window  22  even when the window flap  44  is in the closed window position and the cover flap  66  is in the closed cover position. 
     In at least one embodiment, as shown best in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the viewing window  22  further provides an at least one light  72  positioned underneath the window flap  44 , within the window frame  36 , for selectively illuminating the item  26  positioned within the viewing window  22  at night or in low-light conditions where it may otherwise be difficult for the user  24  to view the item  26 . In the exemplary embodiment, the light  72  is configured for automatically turning on when the window flap  44  is in the open window position, and automatically turning off when the window flap  44  is in the closed window position. In further embodiments, any other means for or method of manually or automatically turning the light  72  on and off, now known or later developed, may be substituted. 
     As mentioned above, in at least one embodiment, the viewing window  22  is removably engagable with the outer surface  30  of the garment  28 . In at least one such embodiment, the garment  28  is capable of removably receiving viewing windows  22  of varying shapes and sizes, such that the user  24  is able to selectively interchange various viewing windows  22  with a single garment  28  or with multiple garments  28 . In at least one further embodiment, not shown, the garment  28  provides two or more cut-outs  34  positioned on different locations on the garment  28  such that the user  24  may selectively engage the viewing windows  22  overtop of whichever cut-outs  34  are most convenient. For example, a particular right-handed user  24  might find that a cut-out  34  on a left side of the garment  28  is the most comfortable to use. Thus, such a garment  28  is able to be utilized by a wider range of users  24 . In at least one such embodiment, not shown, each of the cut-outs  34  provides a closure configured for temporarily sealing the cut-out  34  when not in use (i.e., when the viewing window  22  is not positioned overtop of said cut-out  34 ), in order to prevent unwanted environmental elements from entering the interior  32  of the garment  28 . In one such embodiment, the closure is a zipper. In another such embodiment, the closure is one or more buttons or snaps. In another such embodiment, the closure is hook and loop material. In still further such embodiments, the closure may be any other temporary fastening or sealing means, now known or later developed. 
     In  FIG. 1 , the garment  28  provides an at least one wire clip  73  positioned proximal a neck aperture of the garment  28  and configured for removably receiving a wire of a pair of headphones, earphones or the like, where such an audio peripheral is interconnected with the item  26 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 6 , in at least one embodiment, the garment  28  provides an at least one access slot  74  sized and configured for allowing the user  24  to reach their hand  56  into the interior  32  of the garment  28  for holding and manipulating the item  26  therewithin. In at least one such embodiment, each access slot  74  provides a closure  76  configured for temporarily sealing the access slot  74  when not in use, in order to prevent unwanted environmental elements from entering the interior  32  of the garment  28 . In one such embodiment, the closure  76  is a zipper. In another such embodiment, the closure  76  is one or more buttons or snaps. In another such embodiment, the closure  76  is hook and loop material. In still further such embodiments, the closure  76  may be any other temporary fastening or sealing means, now known or later developed. 
     Thus, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the user  24  is able to keep the handheld item  26  positioned underneath or otherwise within the interior  32  of the garment  28  (to protect it from unwanted environmental elements) while still being able to view and manipulate the item  26  by viewing it through the viewing window  22  from an optimal viewing angle. When the window flap  44  is in the open window position, the user  24  even has the ability to move the item  26  closer to their face  46  in order to more comfortably view the item  26  while still being protected by the viewing window  22  and garment  28 . 
     To summarize, regarding the exemplary embodiments of the present invention as shown and described herein, it will be appreciated that a protective outer garment apparatus incorporating an at least one viewing window therein is disclosed and configured for allowing the wearer to safely view a handheld item from an optimal viewing angle. Because the principles of the invention may be practiced in a number of configurations beyond those shown and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not in any way limited by the exemplary embodiments, but is generally directed to a protective outer garment with an at least one viewing window and is able to take numerous forms to do so without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the particular geometries and materials of construction disclosed, but may instead entail other functionally comparable structures or materials, now known or later developed, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, the various features of each of the above-described embodiments may be combined in any logical manner and are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. 
     While aspects of the invention have been described with reference to at least one exemplary embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here, that the inventor(s) believe that the claimed subject matter is the invention.