Patent Publication Number: US-10772366-B1

Title: Convertible garment

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to garments. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There are many garments that are worn as external shells. Oftentimes a user may want to remove the external shell, but carrying the external shell can be annoying because the user does not want portions of the garment to drag on the ground. As such, some garments are designed with an auxiliary pocket such that the garment can be stuffed inside the auxiliary pocket to form a small package. The small package can be easily carried around. As such, this concept is generally limited to thin wind breaker type jackets. 
     The wind breaker is generally made of a thin nylon material. The auxiliary pockets are sized to be able to pack the wind breaker into the smallest package possible. As such, the package size tends to be about the size of a person&#39;s hand. These packages can then be stuffed inside a person&#39;s pocket or purse so as to be easily carried around. However, as a small package, the package does not have much other functional use. 
     Oftentimes, users bunch up their garments to form a fluffy cushion of sorts. However, the garment tends to unravel and lose its fluffiness because nothing keeps in bound in the cushion configuration. 
     For the foregoing reasons there is a need for a garment that can be converted into a cushion configuration that is large enough to use as a cushion or a pillow and maintain its fluffiness and cushion configuration during use. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is directed to a garment that can be stuffed into its own pocket to form a cushion with hand-warming pockets still accessible. The garment can be a hoodie, jacket, vest, or other type of garment warn as an outer layer of clothing, such as the shell layer. A pocket is formed on the front side of the garment with two side openings for insertion of the user&#39;s hands. A third opening, preferably located at the bottom of the pocket, is formed with a fastener to close the opening. When the garment is worn, the fastener is closed and the pocket functions as a standard pocket. 
     To convert the garment into a cushion, the fastener is released to open the third opening. In the preferred embodiment, a handle is attached to the top side of the pocket on the inside. The user can reach into the pocket through the third opening, grab the handle and pull the handle out so that the pocket is turned inside-out. The remainder of the garment is stuffed back into the pocket to form a cushion. In addition, the pockets are still accessible for the user to insert his or her hands. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a front view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  shows another side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a back view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  shows a top view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  shows a bottom view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  shows another bottom view of an embodiment of the present invention with the pocket open from the bottom side. 
         FIG. 9  shows the present invention converted into a cushion. 
         FIG. 10  shows a front view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently-preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention. Directional terms, such as top, bottom, front, back, sides, and the like are in reference to the invention properly worn by a user in a standing position in typical fashion of how garments are worn. Therefore, these terms are not intended to be limiting as the orientation of the invention can change, but rather are used for purposes of clarity and convenience. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-7 , the invention of the present application is directed towards a garment  100  having a pocket  102  that can be converted into a cushion configuration  200  by converting the pocket  102  inside-out while still allowing access to pocket openings  104 ,  106  so that the cushion configuration  200  has openings  104 ,  106  into which a user can insert his or her hands so that the cushion  200  (see  FIG. 9 ) can be used as a hand-warmer. 
     The garment  100  can be a typical out garment worn during colder weather. As such, the garment  100  comprises a body  110  that covers the torso of the user. The body  110  comprises a front side  112  and a back side  114  opposite the front side  112 . The body  110  further comprises a first side  116  and a second side  118  opposite the first side  116 , typically in the area where the front side  112  and the back side  114  meet. The body  110  further comprises a bottom opening  120  through which the user can don the garment  100 . The body  110  also comprises a top opening  122  through which the user&#39;s head exits when the garment  100  is donned. The body  110  also comprises a first arm hole  126  on the first side  116 , and a second arm hole  128  on the second side  118  through which the arms of the user exit when the garment  100  is donned. Such an embodiment defines a vest. 
     In some embodiment, a first sleeve  130  can be attached to the first side  116  at the first arm hole  126 , and a second sleeve  132  can be attached to the second side  118  at the second arm hole  128 . The sleeves  130 ,  132  can be short-sleeves designed to cover a portion of the user&#39;s arms, or long-sleeves designed to cover substantially all or most of the user&#39;s arms. In some embodiments, a hood  134  can be attached to the body  110  at the top opening  122  to create a hoodie. 
     A patch  140  is attached to the front side  112  of the body  110 . The patch  140  has a top side  142 , a bottom side  144  opposite the top side  142 , a first lateral side  146  adjacent to the top side  142  and the bottom side  144 , and a second lateral side  148  opposite the first lateral side  146  and adjacent to the top side  142  and the bottom side  144 . The top side  142 , first lateral side  146 , second lateral side  148 , and bottom side  144  are attached to the front side  112  of the body  110  to define the pocket  102  in between the body  110  and the patch  140 . 
     The first lateral side  146  defines a first opening  104 , and the second lateral side  148  defines a second opening  106 . The first and second openings  104 ,  106  can extend the full length of their respective lateral sides  146 ,  148  or only a portion thereof. The first and second openings  104 ,  106  allow the user access into the pocket  102  so that the user can insert his or her hands or various items into the pocket  102 . 
     In some embodiments, the bottom side  144  defines a third opening  154 , and comprises a fastener  156  to close the third opening  154 . The fastener  156  can be a zipper, buttons, hook-and-loop fasteners, magnets, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, the top side  142  defines a fourth opening  176 , and comprises a fastener  170  to close the fourth opening  176  like the third opening  154 . The fastener  170  can be a zipper, buttons, hook-and-loop fasteners, magnets, and the like. Having an opening  176  on the top side allows the pocket  102  to be used like a pouch. 
     In some embodiments, the first and second openings  104 ,  106  can also be closeable with respective fasteners  172 ,  174 , like the third opening  154 . For example, the fasteners  172 ,  174  can be a zipper, buttons, hook-and-loop fasteners, magnets, and the like. 
     The critical aspect of the invention is that the patch  140  that defines the pocket  102  can have an opening at the top side  142  or the bottom side  144  to allow for the pocket  102  to be turned inside-out and have the body  110  of the garment  100  stuffed inside the pocket  102 . In prior garments that can be stuffed into a pouch, the pouch is a separate structure fastened to the garment, but does not serve as the hand-warming pocket. As such, traditional pouches only have a single opening. Therefore, when the garment is stuffed into the pouch, and the pouch is zipped up at the opening, there is no longer any access to the interior of the pouch. Even if the opening of the pouch was not zipped up, it would only allow for one hand to be inserted comfortably. 
     By using the hand-warming pocket  102  located on the front side  112  of the body  110  as the pouch into which the body  110  can be stuffed, the garment  100  eliminates the need for an extraneous pouch generally located on the back of the garment. More importantly, the openings  104 ,  106  to the pocket  102  are still accessible even after the garment  100  has been stuffed into the pocket  102 . This allows the user access to the pocket  102  from a natural and comfortable position so as to continue to use the hand-warming pocket  102  as a hand-warming pocket even after the garment  100  is converted into a cushion  200 . 
     Preferably, the pocket  102  is positioned centrally on the front side  112  of the body so that the first opening  104  and the second opening  106  are symmetrically arranged on the front side  112  of the body. The first, second, and third openings  104 ,  106 ,  154  (and fourth opening  176 , if any) all lead to the same main pocket  102 . That main pocket  102 , when turned inside-out, receives the entire body  110  of the garment  100 . Therefore, sub-sections of the pocket  102  are not required. 
     Preferably, the garment  100  is an oversized hooded garment that is fluffy and warm so that when converted into a cushion  200 , the cushion is soft and plush, while providing ample room for the hands. Because the entire body must fit inside the pocket  102 , and the preferably embodiment is an oversized hooded garment, the pocket  102  must also be oversized so as to be capable of receiving the entire body  110 , including the hood  134 . For example, the pocket  102  can have a height H measured from the top side of the pocket  102  to the bottom side of the pocket  102  of approximately 8 inches to approximately 25 inches. Preferably, the height H of the pocket  102  is approximately 10 inches to approximately 20 inches. Most preferably, the height H of the pocket  102  is approximately 12 inches to approximately 18 inches. For example, the pocket  102  can have a height H of approximately 13 inches, 14 inches, 15 inches, 16 inches, or 17 inches. 
     The pocket  102  can have a width W of approximately 16 inches to approximately 35 inches. Preferably, the pocket  102  has a width W of approximately 18 inches to approximately 30 inches. More preferably, the pocket  102  has a width W of approximately 20 inches to approximately 26 inches. Most preferably, the pocket  102  has a width W of approximately 21 inches to 25 inches. For example, the width W can be 22 inches, 23 inches or 24 inches. As such, the pocket size and volume is larger than typical hand warming pockets for outwear. 
     In addition, because packaging the garment into a small package is not a concern, and use as a cushion is preferable, the body  110  can be thicker than typical garments than are packaged into small packages. In other words, the thickness T of the garment of the present invention can be greater than the thickness of a standard windbreaker. For example, the body  110  can have a thickness T of approximately 0.1 inch or greater. Preferably, the body  110  can have a thickness T of approximately 0.2 inch or greater. More preferably, the body  110  can have a thickness T of approximately 0.3 inch or greater. In some embodiments, the body  110  can have a thickness T of approximately 0.4 inch to 1 inch. Therefore, preferably material to use includes soft, fluffy, plush-type material, such as fleece, Sherpa, cotton, wool, and the like. However, thinner material can also be used, such as nylon, linen, rayon, polyester, and the like. In addition, any combination thereof is also suitable. 
     Due to the shape of the pocket  102 , when the garment is converted into the cushion configuration  200 , the cushion  200  forms a box-like shape having a length that is equivalent to the width W of the pocket  102  and a width that is equivalent to the height H of the pocket  102 . As such, the cushion  200  can be used as a pillow to sleep on or sit on, but with the added advantage of having pockets that are accessible to keep the hands warm. 
     With reference to  FIG. 8 , to facilitate the conversion of the garment  100  into a cushion configuration  200 , the garment  100  can further comprise a handle  160  inside the pocket  102 . Preferably, the handle  160  is located opposite the top opening or the bottom opening  154  of the pocket  102 . For example, if the pocket  102  has a top opening  158 , then the handle  160  is preferably adjacent to the bottom  144  of the pocket  102 . If the pocket  102  has a bottom opening  154 , then the handle  160  is preferably adjacent to the top  142  of the pocket  102 . 
     In some embodiments, both the top  142  and bottom  144  of the pocket  102  may be openable and closeable. In such an embodiment, the garment  100  can have two handles  160 ,  178  on the inside of the pocket  102 , one handle  160  adjacent to the top  142  and one handle  178  adjacent to the bottom  144 . In this configuration, the user can choose which direction to stuff the body  110  into the pocket  102 . i.e. through the top opening  158  of the pocket  102  or through the bottom opening  154  of the pocket  102 . 
     By way of example only, in the preferred embodiment, the garment  100  has a front, hand-warming pocket  102  created by fastening a patch  140  on the front  112  of the body  110 . The top  142  of the patch  140  can be permanently attached to the front  112  of the body  110  by stitching, for example. Lower portions of the two lateral sides  146   a ,  148   a  can also be permanently attached to the front  112  of the body  110  by stitching for example. This leaves upper lateral side portions  146   b ,  148   b , one on each side, unattached to the front  112  of the body  110  thereby defining openings  104 ,  106  to access inside the pocket  102 . The bottom side  144  of the pocket  102  has an opening  154  that can be closed with a fastener  156 , such as a zipper. 
     In use, the user unfastens the bottom side  144  of the pocket  102  from the body  110  of the garment  100 . In this example, the user unzips the bottom side  144  of the pocket  102  all the way to expose the opening  154  at the bottom side  144 . The first lateral side  146 , second lateral side  148 , and top side  142  of the pocket  102  remain attached to the body  110  of the garment  100 , except that the first lateral side  146  defines a first opening  104 , and the second lateral side  148  defines a second opening  106  for access inside the pocket  102 . 
     The user then turns the pocket  102  inside-out so that an interior of the pocket  102  defined by the patch  140  and the body  110  is exposed to the environment. In the preferred embodiment, this step can be accomplished by pulling on the handle  160  located at the top  142  of the pocket  102  to turn the pocket  102  inside-out, so that the interior of the pocket  102  is now exposed to the environment. 
     Once the pocket  102  is turned inside-out, the user can stuff the body  110  of the garment  100  into the pocket  102  to convert the garment  100  into a cushion  200  (see  FIG. 9 ). However, because the pocket  102  is used to receive the body  110 , the first opening  104  and the second opening  106  are still accessible for receiving a user&#39;s hands. Therefore, a hand-warming cushion  200  is formed. Furthermore, because the pocket  102  is now inside-out, the handle  160  is now accessible from the outside. As such, the handle  160  can be used to carry the cushion  200  as well. 
     Having a bottom side opening  154  makes it easier to quickly stuff the body  110  into the pocket  102 , particularly with the handle  160  adjacent to the top side  142  of the pocket  102  on the inside. In this configuration, when the user grabs the handle  160  inside the pocket  102 , the user grabs approximately at the mid-point of the garment. When the handle  160  is pulled out of the pocket  102  and held above the rest of the body, the bottom  144  of the pocket  102  folds over and encompasses a portion of the body  110  with the remaining hanging underneath the inverted pocket  102 , which is now taking on the form of a rectangular cushion  200 . This configuration makes it very easy to stuff the remainder of the body  110  up into the inverted pocket  102  by rotating the cushion  200  so that the opening  154  is now at the top allowing the remainder of the body to settle into the pocket  102 . 
     In some embodiments, the openings  104 ,  106  of the pocket  102  can be made closeable with a fastener  156 . Therefore, one or both openings  104 ,  106  of the pocket  102  can be closed with respective fasteners, such as zippers, buttons, hook-and-loop fasteners, and the like. 
     The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims appended hereto.