Patent Publication Number: US-6336226-B1

Title: Convertible garment and method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to convertible garments and more particularly pertains to a new convertible garment and method for providing pants that may be converted into a satchel, backpack, gun case or pillow. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of convertible garments is known in the prior art. More specifically, convertible garments heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,475,251; U.S. Pat. No. 4,485,493; U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,574; U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,831; U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,127; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,209. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new convertible garment and method. The inventive device includes a pair of pants having a first leg portion, a second leg portion, and a lower torso portion. Each of the first and second leg portions is integrally coupled to and extends away from the lower torso portion. Each of a plurality of drawstrings is used for cinching various portions of the pants. A first of the drawstrings is attached to a free end of the first leg portion. A second of the drawstrings is attached to a free end of the second leg portion. A third of the drawstrings is attached to the first leg portion and positioned generally adjacent to the lower torso portion, and a fourth of the drawstrings is attached to the second leg portion and positioned generally adjacent to the lower torso portion. 
     In these respects, the convertible garment and method according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing pants that may be converted into a satchel, backpack, gun case or pillow. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of convertible garments now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new convertible garment and method construction wherein the same can be utilized for providing pants that may be converted into a satchel, backpack, gun case or pillow. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new convertible garment and method apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the convertible garments mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new convertible garment and method which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art convertible garments, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a pair of pants having a first leg portion, a second leg portion, and a lower torso portion. Each of the first and second leg portions is integrally coupled to and extends away from the lower torso portion. Each of a plurality of drawstrings is used for cinching various portions of the pants. A first of the drawstrings is attached to a free end of the first leg portion. A second of the drawstrings is attached to a free end of the second leg portion. A third of the drawstrings is attached to the first leg portion and positioned generally adjacent to the lower torso portion, and a fourth of the drawstrings is attached to the second leg portion and positioned generally adjacent to the lower torso portion. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new convertible garment and method apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the convertible garments mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new convertible garment and method which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art convertible garments, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new convertible garment and method which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new convertible garment and method which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new convertible garment and method which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such convertible garment and method economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new convertible garment and method which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new convertible garment and method for providing pants that may be converted into a satchel, backpack, gun case or pillow. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a new convertible garment and method for providing pants that may be worn over conventional pants. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new convertible garment and method which includes a pair of pants having a first leg portion, a second leg portion, and a lower torso portion. Each of the first and second leg portions is integrally coupled to and extends away from the lower torso portion. Each of a plurality of drawstrings is used for cinching various portions of the pants. A first of the drawstrings is attached to a free end of the first leg portion. A second of the drawstrings is attached to a free end of the second leg portion. A third of the drawstrings is attached to the first leg portion and positioned generally adjacent to the lower torso portion, and a fourth of the drawstrings is attached to the second leg portion and positioned generally adjacent to the lower torso portion. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new convertible garment and method that may be worn as a traditional pair of pants but may also be converted into a gun case, a pillow, a satchel and a backpack. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a new convertible garment and method according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the satchel conversion of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the satchel of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the backpack of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of the backpack of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the backpack of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic front view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic front view of the pillow conversion of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic front view of the panel of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic front view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic front view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a schematic front view of the gun case conversion of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 12 thereof, a new convertible garment and method embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  12  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 12, the convertible garment and method  10  generally comprises a pair of pants  12  having a first leg portion  14 , a second leg portion  16 , and a lower torso portion  18  for covering the lower torso of a person. Each of the first  14  and second  16  leg portions is integrally coupled to and extends away from the lower torso portion  18 . The lower torso portion  18  has a middle annular band extending around the torso portion defining a waistline  20 . A portion of the lower torso portion  18  extends above the waistline for comfort of the wearer and for providing many uses for the pants as will be discussed below. Each of a plurality of loops  22  is securely attached to the waistline  20 . Each of the loops  22  is spaced from each other. The lower torso portion  18  has a front side having an elongated slot  24  extending therethrough. The slot  24  is positioned between the waistline  20  and the leg portions  14 ,  16 . The slot  24  is in an angular relationship with the waistline  20 . 
     Each of a pair of pocket members  26  is securely coupled to the lower torso portion  18  and positioned generally adjacent to one of the first  14  and second  16  leg portions. 
     A plurality of conventional drawstrings for cinching various portions of the pants  12  is attached to the pants  12 . A first  28  of the drawstrings is attached to a free end of the first leg portion  14 . A second  30  of the drawstrings is attached to a free end of the second leg portion  16 . A third  32  of the drawstrings is attached to the first leg portion  14  and positioned generally adjacent to the lower torso portion  18 . A fourth  34  of the drawstrings is attached to the second leg portion  16  and positioned generally adjacent to the lower torso portion  16 . A fifth  36  of the drawstrings is attached to a free edge of the lower torso portion  18 . Each of the drawstrings extends around the respective portion of the pants  12  and may be selectively tightened or loosened. 
     An elongated flexible member  38  has a first end  40  and a second end  42  and defines a strap. The strap is positionable in the loops  22 . A coupler  44  is securely attached to the first end  40  of the elongated flexible member  38  and is adapted for removably securing the first end  40  to the second end  42 . 
     A flap  46  for positioning over the slot  24  in the lower torso portion  18  comprises a panel having a first edge  48  securely attached to the lower torso portion  18  and extending along an edge of the slot  24 . The flap has a second edge  50  positioned opposite of the first edge  48 . A fastening means  52  removably fastens the second edge  50  to the lower torso portion  18  such that the flap  46  generally covers the slot  24 . The fastening means  52  comprises a hook and loop fastening means including a hook portion securely attached to the flap and a loop portion is securely attached to the lower torso portion. The fastening means may also be a zipper or buttons. 
     In use, the pants  12  are to be worn over other pants, but the pants may be worn without undergarments. The pants  12  may be converted into a satchel  54 , backpack  56 , a gun case  58 , or a pillow  60 . The pants  12  are converted into the satchel  54  by inverting the first  14  and second  16  leg portions and pulling the first  14  and second  16  leg portions into an interior of the lower torso portion  18  as shown in FIG.  1 . Tightening the third  32  and fourth  34  drawstrings, and extending the strap  38  through the loops  22  such that the strap  38  extends around the lower torso portion  18  twice. Lifting a pair of generally oppositely positioned portions of the strap  38  extending between a pair of loops creates handles  62  as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     The pants  12  are converted into a backpack  56  by inverting the first  14  and second  16  leg portions, pulling the first and second portions into an interior of the lower torso portion  18 , and extending the second leg portion  16  into the first leg portion  14  as shown in FIG.  4 . Positioning the strap  38  through the loop members  22  positioned on a front side of the lower torso portion  18 , extending the first end  40  of the strap  38  into the first leg  14  and outwardly through the second leg  16 , and extending the second end  42  of the strap  38  into the second leg  16  and outwardly through the first leg  14  as shown in FIG.  5 . The portions of the strap extending from the loops  22  to the legs  14 ,  16  form shoulder straps  64  and the portions extending outwardly of the leg portions  14 ,  16  may be secured around the waist of a user as shown in FIG.  6 . The fifth drawstring  36  is used to cinch closed the top of the backpack/satchel when necessary. 
     The pants  12  are converted into the gun case  58 , FIG. 12, by inverting the first leg  14  and extending the first leg  14  into the second leg  16 , as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, and tightening the second drawstring  30  to close the lower end of the case such that a gun may be extended into the second leg through the lower torso portion. The fifth drawstring  36  is then tightened to close the upper end of the case. The strap  38  may be extended through the exposed loops and fastened to the barrel of the gun to form a harness. 
     The pants  12  are converted into a pillow, FIG. 8, by inverting the first leg  14  and extending the first leg  14  into the second leg  16 , as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The lower torso portion  18  is inverted into the first leg portion  14  such that the lower torso portion  18  and the first leg portion  14  are positioned within the second leg portion  16 . The second  30  and the fourth  36  drawstrings are tightened after stuffing the pants with other garments, or may be left open for use as a hand warmer, leg splint or arm splint. FIG. 8 also shows how the strap  38  may be extended through the pants  12  so that the pants may be carried on a shoulder. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.