Patent Publication Number: US-10327483-B2

Title: Extender for an outerwear

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an article of clothing transformable into a maternity wear and a baby carrying cover, and more particularly relates to an extender which can be conveniently attached to or detached from an outerwear for transformation purposes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many maternity coats are available for pregnant women which conform to girth of the women&#39;s waist during pregnancy. These maternity coats, however, do not provide the flexibility to be used after the pregnancy period. Therefore, purchase of such maternity coat is an added expense for the purpose of only using it for a short time period of pregnancy. Also, there are known various devices for carrying an infant by a person wherein the infant is safely and securely carried close to the carrying person for warmth and support, for example a front carrying device that allows the carrying person to hold the infant close to the chest of the person so that the infant is secure and comfortable and shares warmth with the person. However, with cold or other inclement weather, the use of front carrying infant devices raises a problem in that with the front seams of the person&#39;s coat spaced apart, the infant, as well as the carrying person is exposed to the inclement weather. 
     Further, there are some coat extenders available in the market which include zippers that secures with the corresponding zippers on regular coats and convert these regular coats to maternity coats and, in some cases, even be used as baby carrying covers, but again these products do not provide the ease of conversion from a maternity coat for use during pregnancy to a baby carrying cover for use by mother, or any other wearer, and/or back to regular coat for daily use. For example, the known coat extenders have to match up to the exact type of zipper that is on the regular coats of the consumer which sometimes poses an issue, and even if this is accomplished it can only be worn for those particular coats with which the zipper matches. Further most of these products often require different and multiple attachments for conversion purposes which makes the process cumbersome for the consumer. 
     Therefore, there is a need of a simple extender for the outerwear which can transform the outerwear into maternity wear as well as to be used a baby carrying cover, with relatively ease and convenience. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an extender for an outerwear. The extender includes a first section and a second section. The first section provides a first side and a second side. The second section provides a first side and a second side. The extender also includes a fastening arrangement adapted to removably secure the second side of the first section to the second side of the second section. The extender also includes an anchoring arrangement arranged on the first side of the first section and the first side of the second section. The anchoring arrangement is adapted to removably secure the first section and the second section to first and second seams of the outerwear, respectively. 
     In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an article of clothing transformable into a maternity wear and a baby carrying cover. The article of clothing includes an outerwear having a first seam and a second seam defining an opening extending therebetween. The article of clothing further includes an extender having a first section and a second section. The first section provides a first side and a second side. The second section provides a first side and a second side. The extender also includes a fastening arrangement adapted to removably secure the second side of the first section to the second side of the second section. The extender also includes an anchoring arrangement arranged on the first side of the first section and the first side of the second section. The anchoring arrangement is adapted to removably secure the first section of the extender to the first seam of the outerwear and the second section to the second seam of the outerwear. 
     Other advantages and features of the disclosure will become apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the appended claims and upon review of the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of an extender, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of an article of clothing, as a maternity wear, having the extender being used with an outerwear, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of the article of clothing, a baby carrying cover, having the extender being used with the outerwear, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of a clip, in an open position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the clip grasping a seam of the outerwear, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of the clip, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a top view of two clips with respect to two pockets, the clips being appended to the seam of the outerwear, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a back view of the extender including a lining, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a cross-section view cut at the dotted line denoted A-A in  FIG. 8 , as viewed towards the fourth side of the extender, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein; however, it is to be understood that disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the present disclosure, which may be embodied in various alternative forms. Specific process details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure in any appropriate process for preparing similar food products. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an extender  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The extender  100  may be formed of a plurality of suitable fabric that provides protection against the weather and cold from passing through. In an exemplary embodiment, there may be combination of an outer material  110   a ,  120   a , for example a waterproof material (e.g., 3-ply nylon, 1-ply nylon, etc.) and an inner material  110   b ,  120   b  (e.g., fleece, microfleece, etc.) for the comfort of the wearer. A plurality of fabrics can be used in the present invention, for example, but not limited to 3-ply nylon, 1-ply nylon, fleece, microfleece, and a combination thereof. See, for example,  FIG. 9 , illustrating a cross section view of an embodiment of the extender  100 , cut at the central dotted line A-A seen in  FIG. 8 , towards the fourth side  148  of the extender  100 .  FIG. 9  illustrates one embodiment of the present disclosure where the first and second sections  110 ,  120  are each composed of two materials  110   a ,  120   a  and  110   b ,  120   b .  FIG. 9  does not illustrate specific ratios and locations of the first and second materials. A single, weather resistant material could be used as opposed to different materials. It may be understood that the term “fabric” is used herein to indicate any substantially two-dimensional material suitable for incorporation into the surface of a garment, including rigid materials and plastic as well as woven fabrics. 
     In general,  FIGS. 2-3  illustrate an article of clothing, generally indicated by the numeral  1 , transformable into a maternity wear  100   a  and a baby carrying cover  100   b , depicted respectively in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . The article of clothing  1  includes an outerwear  10  and the extender  100 . The extender  100  of the present disclosure is adapted to be attached to the outerwear  10 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2-3 . For purposes of this application, the outerwear  10  has been described as a coat. It may be contemplated that the outerwear  10  be any garment type covering the upper body of the wearer, such as a jacket, sweater, vest, poncho, shirt, harness, or dress. The outerwear  10  is not intended to be limited to a coat or a single type of apparel, but can be used for different types of garments/apparels, just as long as the same is intended for covering the upper body of a wearer. The outerwear  10  generally includes a back portion, a neckline, a hemline and a front portion. The front portion of the outerwear  10  provides a first seam  12  and a second seam  14  defining a vertical opening (not shown) extending from the neckline to the hemline. Some conventional fastening means are employed to secure the opening in a closed configuration, for example, but not limited to, a zipper attached to the first and second seams in a zipper-type outerwear, buttons on the first seam and corresponding button-holes on the second seam in a button-type outerwear, etc. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the extender  100  transforms the outerwear  10  from being a regular, daily-use coat to be used as a maternity wear  100   a  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), or alternatively as a baby carrying cover  100   b  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). It may be understood that the same extender  100  can be inverted upside down to switch between the two applications, i.e., from being a maternity wear  100   a  to a baby carrying cover  100   b , thereby serving the said two purposes. It may be seen that the extender  100  has a vertical length that covers substantially the torso of a person so that the extender  100  can fully cover the wearer and the infant positioned at the chest of the wearer, when the extender  100  is attached to the outerwear  10 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment, the extender  100  of the present disclosure comprises two sections, a first section  110  and a second section  120 . In general, the first section  110  and the second section  120  are of the same design and shape, and in one embodiment are somewhat mirror images of each other. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1  is illustrated the first section  110  having two mutually opposite sides, a first side  112  and a second side  114 . The first side  112  can be any configuration, for example, but not limited to, tapered or substantially straight. In this embodiment, the first side  112  is tapered. The second side  114  can also be in any configuration, such as, but not limited to substantially straight or tapered. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the second side is substantially straight. Similarly, the second section  120  includes two mutually opposite sides, a first side  122  and a second side  124 . These sides  122 ,  124  may also be in any configuration including, but not limited to substantially straight or tapered. As may be seen from the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the first sides  112 ,  122  may be designed to provide tapered edges for the extender  100 . This, in general, provides the extender  100  with two tapering edges  142 ,  144  extending along a vertical axis, imparting a substantially trapezoidal shape thereto. 
     In an embodiment, the extender  100  includes a fastening arrangement  130  to removably secure the second side  114  of the first section  110  to the second side  124  of the second section  120 . In one example, the fastening arrangement  130  may be a zipper with corresponding interlocking teeth arranged on the second sides  114 ,  124  which can be locked with each other for attaching the two sections  110 ,  120  together. In an embodiment, the fastening arrangement  130  of the present disclosure may be a two-way zipper. In an alternate embodiment, the fastening arrangement  130  may include any other fastening means, such as, but not limited to, buttons on the second side  114  and corresponding button-holes on the second side  124 , or snaps/hooks attached to the second side  114  and corresponding snaps/hooks receivers attached to the second side  124 , hook and loop fastener straps, or the like. The first section  110  and the second section  120 , when joined together by means of the fastening arrangement  130 , complete the extender  100  in an assembled configuration. 
     For subsequent disclosure, the extender  100  has been referred to in its complete/assembled form, i.e., wherein the first section  110  and the second section  120  are joined together. In its assembled form, the extender  100  may be understood to have a first extender side  142  (previously being the first side  112 ) and a second extender side  144  (previously being the first side  122 ), along its width. In a further embodiment, the extender  100  may be configured to have a third extender side  146  and a fourth extender side  148 , along its length. Further, it may be understood that the tapered edges, as provided by the first sides  112 ,  122  are generally imitated, and in this embodiment are configured to be in tapered form of the first extender side  142  and the second extender side  144 . As illustrated, the first and second extender sides  142 ,  144  extend between the third extender side  146  and the fourth extender side  148 , and thereby making the third extender side  146  as a short side and the fourth extender side  148  as a long side. Also it may be contemplated that in first orientation (depicted as extender  100   a ), as shown in  FIG. 2 , the third extender side  146  forms the narrower top of the extender  100  and the fourth extender side  148  forms the broader bottom of the extender  100 . And in second orientation (depicted as extender  100   b ), as shown in  FIG. 3 , the third extender side  146  forms the narrower bottom side of the extender  100  and the fourth extender side  148  forms the broader top side of the extender  100 . 
     The extender  100  may also be configured to include an anchoring arrangement  150  to removably secure the first extender side  142  and the second extender side  142  to the outerwear  10 . In particular, the anchoring arrangement  150  independently and reversibly secures the extender sides  142 ,  144  to the first seam  12  and the second seam  14  of the outerwear  10 , respectively. This allows for the extender  100  to be attached to the outerwear  10  in both first and second orientations, as discussed above, further illustrating the versatility of the extender. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the anchoring arrangement  150  includes a plurality of clips  152  arranged along the length of the first and second extender sides  142 ,  144 . In other words, the plurality of clips  152  are arranged on the first side  112  of the first section  110  and the first side  122  of the second section  120 . In an embodiment, the plurality of clips  152  may be sewn on a ribbon  153 , made of, for example, twill tape, provided on the first and second extender sides  142 ,  144 . The plurality of clips  152  is not intended to be, and should not be so limited, sewn only on a ribbon but may also be sewn on any portion of the first and second extender sides  142 ,  144  which can accommodate the same securely. 
     Further, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4-5 , each of the plurality of clips  152  includes an upper protrusion  154  and a lower protrusion  155  which may be opened or closed by pressing or releasing a lever  156 , respectively. The lever may be any type of device understood to open and/or close such a feature, such as, but not limited to a handle. To close the protrusions  154 ,  155  onto the seam  12 ,  14  the lever  156  is pressed down. To release the protrusions  154 ,  155  from the seam  12 ,  14  or “open” the protrusions  154 ,  155  the lever is lifted up. In use, it is contemplated that the protrusions  154 ,  155  may grasp tapes of zippers provided at the two seams  12 ,  14  of the outerwear  10 , such as in case of zipper-type outerwear. This is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In one embodiment, with button-type outerwear  10 , the protrusions  154 ,  155  directly grasp the seams  12 ,  14 , for attaching the extender  100  to the outerwear  10 . In another embodiment, with zipper-type outerwear  10 , the protrusions  154 ,  155  may include protective gel teeth in order to prevent any damage to the fabric around the seams  12 ,  14  of the outerwear  10  when the plurality of clips  152  are attached thereto. 
     In the embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the extender  100  further includes two flaps, a first flap  162  and a second flap  164 . The first flap  162  and the second flap  164  substantially cover the first extender side  142  and the second extender side  144 , respectively. In other words, the first flap  162  and the second flap  164  substantially cover the first side  112  of the first section  110  and the first side  122  of the second section  120 , respectively. The flaps  162 ,  164  are arranged in a manner to substantially prevent any air to pass through, between the gaps where the plurality of clips  152  are attached to the outerwear  10 . The flaps  162 ,  164  protect the wearer (and child) from harsh weather. The plurality of clips  154  are also protected from harsh weather, which reduces the likelihood of damage, thus preventing deterioration of materials and boosting confidence in the reliability of the outerwear  10 . Moreover, by preventing deterioration, when using the extender  10  in the baby cover embodiment, there is little to no risk of exposing a baby to rusty or freezing, or wet clips  154 . In some embodiments, the extender  100  includes a third flap (not shown) under the fastening arrangement  130  (i.e., between the wearer and the extender  100 ). The third flap provides additional protection from harsh weather and protects the wearer (and child) from rough portions of the fastening arrangement  130 . 
     In an embodiment, the extender  100  may also include a plurality of pockets  172  formed on an inner side  162   a  of the first flap  162  and an inner side  164   a  of the second flap  164 . The pockets  172  are formed by, for example, folding the first flap  162  and sewing a stitching line about ¾ inches away from an edge of the first flap  162  then stitched down into pockets. The lever  156  (more clearly illustrated in  FIGS. 6-7 ) of each of the plurality of clips  152  is adapted to be received within the plurality of pockets  172 . This is done in order to hold the first flap  162  and the second flap  164  substantially close with respect to the first and second extender sides  142 ,  144  and/or the outerwear  10 . When the flaps  162 ,  164  are substantially close to the extender sides  142 ,  144  less air is allowed to pass between the gaps where the plurality of clips  152  reside in the outerwear  10  (thus improving the comfort of the wearer and child). In another embodiment, the extender  100  also includes a patch  166  of fabric attached to and extending along the inner side  162   a  of the first flap  162 . Similarly, another patch (not shown), may be attached to and extending along the inner side  164   a , of the second flap  164 . The patch  166  should be made of any seam stabilizer, and can be, but is not limited to, for example twill tape. The plurality of pockets  172  may be formed on the patch  166  to avoid any direct tear in the flaps  162 ,  164 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a clip  156  in an open configuration and a clip  156  in a closed configuration (upper and lower depictions, respectively). In the open configuration, the protrusions  154 ,  156  are not anchored to a seam  12 ,  14 , and the lever  156  is not received by the pocket  172 . In the closed configuration, the lever  156  is received (i.e., pressed down against) by the pocket  172 . The reception of the lever  156  by the pocket  172  draws the flaps  162 ,  164  substantially close to the first and second sections  110 ,  120 , respectively. 
     In an embodiment, the extender  100  may also include darts  180  adapted to provide a shape to the extender  100 . As illustrated, the darts  180  may be provided at the fourth extender side  148  which forms the bottom area of the extender  100   a , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The darts  180  contour the extender  100   a  to a shape of a belly of the wearer when attached to the outerwear  10  to form the maternity wear. Not only could this provide a more tailored look, but in addition, could provide a closer fit thereby potentially keeping the wearer and if used to include an infant, then keep an infant, warmer due to a closer fit. In another embodiment, the darts  180  may be replaced by seams, pleats, gathers or the like. Further, in an embodiment, the extender  100  includes an adjusting arrangement  182  to adjust the width of the fourth extender side  148 , i.e., bottom of the extender  100   a , as shown in  FIG. 2 . For example, the adjusting arrangement may adjust the width of the fourth extender side  148  within a range of 8 inches to 15.5 inches (depending on the woman&#39;s waist). In another embodiment, the tie cord  182  may be replaced by a pull toggle or the like. In some embodiments, the extender  100  includes a second adjusting arrangement (not shown) between the third extender side  146  and the fourth extender side  148  (e.g., near the woman&#39;s chest when the extender  100  is worn). The second adjusting arrangement may adjust the width of a portion of the extender  100  within a range of 6 inches to 11.5 inches (depending on the woman&#39;s chest). 
     Also, the extender  100  may include a hood accessory (not shown) provided on the fourth extender side  148 . The hood accessory may be used to cover a head of the baby positioned inside the baby carrying cover configuration of the outerwear  10 , as provided by the extender  100   b , as shown in  FIG. 3 . In one example, the hood accessory may be detachable from the extender  100 . 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present disclosure provides the extender  100  which can be clipped on to the outerwear  10  to transform it into a maternity wear  100   a  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) or alternatively as a baby carrying cover  100   b  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). The present extender  100  is versatile and can simply be inverted and then attached to outerwear  10  to switch between the two applications. The fastening arrangement  130  (e.g., a two-way zipper) enables the wearer to zip and unzip the front in either direction when the extender  100  is required to be inverted, for example from extender  100   a  to extender  100   b . As most baby carrying covers are shorter than the maternity wear, the present extender  100  provides for the extra length as shown by the extender  100   b , on the lower part, which can be adjusted to make it substantially even with the hemline of the outerwear  10 . This can be achieved easily with the clips  152  of the present disclosure, as opposed to zippers of the known products, by folding up and using the extra clips  152  to secure the lower part in the fold to clip to the inside of the extender  100 . 
     In the present extender  100 , the fastening arrangement  130  allows the wearer to get out of the outerwear  10  while the extender  100  (in disassembled form as sections  110 ,  120 ) remains attached thereto. This conveniently provides that the outerwear  10  can be opened which may be frequently required, for example, to check on baby, etc. without completely removing the extender  100 . Also, there is less wear and tear on the outerwear  10  as there is no repeated clipping and unclipping of the clips  152 . Further, the fastening arrangement  130  allows for easy attachment of the extender  100  to the outerwear  10 , as the sections  110 ,  120  can be separately and independently attached thereto. 
     The plurality of clips  152  allows the extender  100  to attach to the tape of the zipper (for example, of the zipper-type outerwear) or directly at the seams (for example, of the button-type outerwear) of the outerwear  10 . In other words, the extender  10  can be universally used on outerwear  10  having different closures. Therefore, there is no need to match to any particular kind of closures or even zippers of the outerwear  10 . In the present extender  100 , the plurality of clips  152  have been arranged to be closely spaced to have smaller gaps therebetween, to prevent cold air from entering the inside of the outerwear  10 . Further, the provided pockets  172  configure the flaps  162 ,  164  in a position such that the clips  152  are hidden, while simultaneously holding those flaps  162 ,  164  substantially close (i.e., tightly down), to further prevent cold air from entering the inside of the outerwear  10 . Further, the patch  166  (e.g., twill tape) allow for easy sewing of the clips  152  and formation of pockets  172  without affecting the fabric of the extender  100 . 
     The terms and descriptions used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Examples and limitations disclosed herein are intended to be not limiting in any manner, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, and their equivalents, in which all terms are to be understood in their broadest possible sense unless otherwise indicated.