Patent Abstract:
A shirt having an indicia disposed on the inner side of a shirt panel is provided. The shirt may be reversed and inverted, i.e. the panel is lifted over the user&#39;s head while a collar remains about the user&#39;s neck. This action exposes the indicia and the act of lifting the shirt makes the shirt and indicia more visible.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This disclosure relates to shirts and, more specifically to a shirt having an indicia on an inner side wherein the shirt may be selectively reversed, i.e. configured inside-out, and inverted to show the indicia. 
         [0003]    2. Background Information 
         [0004]    Sports fans, as well as fans of other forms of entertainment, often wear shirts having an indicia related to the sport, their favorite team, or, disparaging the opposing team. Typically, such indicia are displayed on the outer side of the front panel of the shirt. Such indicia are substantially static or non-interactive. That is, the user simply wears the shirt and, other than holding the shirt taut to clearly show the image, the user has no other option to draw attention to the indicia. This is a disadvantage as a user may especially wish to draw attention to the indicia after an in-game event, e.g. scoring a goal. 
         [0005]    There is, therefore, a need for a shirt having an indicia that may be displayed in a manner other than on the front of the shirt. There is a further need for a shirt that allows the user to draw attention to the indicia. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    These needs, and others, are met by at least one embodiment of the disclosed concept which provides for a shirt having an indicia disposed on the inner side of a shirt panel. In this configuration, the shirt may be reversed and inverted, i.e. the panel is turned inside-out while being lifted over the head. This action exposes the indicia and the act of lifting the shirt makes the shirt and indicia more visible. 
         [0007]    Further, the indicia may be oriented upside-down on the panel inner side so that when the panel is reversed (placed inside out) and inverted, the image is oriented right-side up. Further, the panel may be structured to be wrapped about the user&#39;s head and the indicia may be positioned and structured to be disposed about The user&#39;s head with a 3D appearance. Alternatively, the panel may be structured to be displayed in a flared configuration with a 2D indicia. In these configurations the user&#39;s body will be exposed. As some user&#39;s modesty will prevent such displays, the concept further includes a shirt having an inner sheet that will cover the user&#39;s body. The inner sheet may also include an indicia. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a shirt in a first configuration. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2A  is an isometric view of a shirt in a second configuration,  FIG. 2B  is an isometric view of a shirt in a third configuration. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3A  an isometric view of a shirt in a first configuration,  FIG. 3B  is a side view of a shirt in a fourth configuration. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4A  is a front view of a shirt in a second configuration.  FIG. 4B  is a back view of a shirt in a second configuration. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5A  is a front view of an alternate embodiment of a shirt in a second configuration.  FIG. 5B  is a back view of an alternate embodiment of a shirt in a second configuration. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart of the steps of using the shirt. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    As used herein, “coupled” means a link between two or more elements, whether direct or indirect, so long as a link occurs. 
         [0016]    As used herein, “directly coupled” means that two elements are directly in contact with each other. 
         [0017]    As used herein, “fixedly coupled” or “fixed” means that two components are coupled so as to move as one while maintaining a constant orientation relative to each other. The fixed components may, or may not, be directly coupled. 
         [0018]    As used herein, a “2D indicia” is an indicia structured to be viewed on a generally flat surface. 
         [0019]    As used herein, a “3D indicia” is an indicia structured to be viewed on a shaped surface, i.e. not a flat surface. 
         [0020]    As used herein, a “partial 3D indicia” is an indicia structured to be viewed on a portion of a shaped surface. For example, a map image of the northern hemisphere printed on cloth wherein the cloth may be draped over a basketball so that the image is displayed properly would be a “partial 3D indicia.” As used herein, a “cooperative indicia” is one of two, or more, indicia that form a larger indicia. 
         [0021]    As used herein, a “collar” is an opening in a shirt structured to allow a user&#39;s head to pass therethrough. A “collar” does not require reinforcing material. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , a shirt  10  includes a collar  12  and a panel  14 . In one embodiment there are two panels  14 , a front panel  16  and a back panel  18 . The shirt  10  may further include sleeves  20 , cuffs  22 , or other known elements. In one embodiment, the front panel  16  does not include buttons or other fastening devices. In one embodiment the front panel  16  and a back panel  18  are made from a material that is capable of stretching. Each panel  14  has an upper end  30 ,  40  (front panel and back panel respectively), a lower end  32 ,  42 , an outer side  34 ,  44  and an inner side  36 ,  46 . An indicia  50  is disposed on the panel inner side  36 ,  46 . In one embodiment, the indicia  50  has an upper side  52  and a lower side  54 . In this embodiment, the indicia  50  may be disposed in an inverted configuration on the panel inner side  36 ,  46 . That is, when the shirt is in a first configuration, discussed below, the indicia  50  is disposed in an inverted configuration, i.e. upside-down, on the panel inner side  36 ,  46 . In another embodiment, the indicia  50  does not have an upper or lower side. That is, the indicia  50  may be a pattern or a representation of an object without a specific orientation, e.g. fireworks. 
         [0023]    The shirt  10  may include pockets  60  structured to assist the user in moving between configurations (discussed below). The pockets  60  are disposed adjacent the front or back panel lower ends  32 ,  42 . In one embodiment, the pockets  60  are disposed on substantially opposite sides of the shirt  10 . That is, rather than being disposed on the front of the shirt  10 , the pockets  60  are disposed at the interface of the front panel  16  and the back panel  18 , i.e. on the sides of the shirt  10 . A user may place their hands in the pockets  60  when moving the shirt  10  between configurations. 
         [0024]    The shirt  10 , when worn by a user, may be moved between a first configuration, wherein the panel  14 , i.e. the front panel  16  and/or back panel  18 , is disposed about the user&#39;s torso, and a second configuration, wherein the panel  14 , i.e. the front panel  16  and/or back panel  18 , is raised above the user&#39;s neck. That is, in the second configuration, the user selectively reverses and inverts the panel  14 , e.g. the panel  14  is selectively lifted over the user&#39;s head while the collar  12  remains about the user&#39;s neck. In this configuration, an indicia  50  that is inverted when in the first configuration will be displayed right-side up. That is, if, when the shirt is in the first configuration, the indicia  50  is inverted, then, when the shirt is in the second configuration, the indicia  50  will be oriented right-side up. The shirt may further be placed in a third configuration wherein the panel  14  is partially wrapped about the user&#39;s head, as discussed below. The shirt may further be placed in a fourth configuration wherein the panel  14 , or the front panel  16  or back panel  18 , is substantially wrapped about the user&#39;s head, as discussed below. It is understood that in all four configurations, the collar  12  remains generally about the user&#39;s neck. 
         [0025]    The panel  14 , i.e. the front panel  16  and/or back panel  18 , in one embodiment, is structured to be displayed in a flared manner ( FIG. 2A ). That is, the panel  14  may be a flared panel  15  that is generally tapered having a wide lower end  32 ,  42  and a narrow upper end  30 ,  40 . In this embodiment, when the shirt  10  is in the second configuration, the user may hold opposing sides of the panel lower end  32 ,  42  apart and spaced from the user&#39;s head. Thus, the panel  14  will be generally taut and flat. Moreover, because the panel  14  is tapered, the panel  14 , in the inverted configuration, will be flared from the narrow upper end  30 ,  40  to the wider lower end  32 ,  42 . A panel  14  structured to be displayed in a flared manner is adapted to display a 2D indicia  50 . That is, the indicia  50  is structured to be displayed on a generally flat surface. In this configuration, the user&#39;s arms will be generally within the partially enclosed space defined by the inverted, flared shirt  10 . 
         [0026]    In another embodiment, panel  14  is structured to be partially wrapped about a user&#39;s head as shown n  FIG. 2B . That is, the panel  14  is first drawn taut, in a manner similar to the second configuration, but then the panel is moved rearwardly, or the user&#39;s head is moved forwardly, until the user&#39;s face is pressed into the panel  14 . This is the third configuration. In this configuration, the panel  14  wraps partially about the user&#39;s head. Further, the indicia  50  is a partial 3D indicia  50 . A partial 3D indicia  50  may include features that are appropriately displayed on a three-dimensional mount, but is limited to less than a 360 degree image. For example, a 3D indicia  50  may represent the front of a frontiersman That is, the indicia  50  may have the front of a coonskin hat, a right ear, a left ear, and a face with eyes, nose, mouth, a beard, etc. The back portion of the frontiersman, however, would not be part of the indicia  50 . When the shirt is in the fourth configuration and the indicia  50  is a partial 3D indicia  50 , the features of the partial 3D indicia  50  will be displayed in a three-dimensional manner. That is, in the example of a frontiersman, the representation of a coonskin hat will be disposed on the upper front of the user&#39;s head, the representation of a left ear will be disposed over the user&#39;s left ear, the representation of a right ear will be disposed over the user&#39;s right ear, and the representation of a face will be disposed over the user&#39;s face. As noted, that elements of the back of the frontiersman&#39;s head do not appear and the indicia  50  does not wrap around the back of the user&#39;s head. 
         [0027]    In another embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the panel  14 , i.e. the front panel  16  and/or back panel  18 , is structured to be substantially wrapped about a user&#39;s head. Using a front panel  16  as an example, a user may grasp the front panel lower end  32  and lift it over their head. The user may then pull the front panel lower end  32  downwardly about the back of the user&#39;s neck. In this configuration, the front panel  16  is substantially wrapped about a user&#39;s head. This is the fourth configuration in which the shirt  10  may be placed. In this configuration, the user&#39;s arms may be inside or outside of the shirt  10 . 
         [0028]    In this embodiment, panel  14  is structured to be wrapped about a user&#39;s head and is adapted to display a 3D indicia  50 . A 3D indicia  50  may include features that are appropriately displayed on a three-dimensional mount. For example, a 3D indicia  50  may represent a frontiersman. That is, the indicia  50  may have a coonskin hat, a right ear, a left ear, and a face with eyes, nose, mouth, a beard, etc. When the shirt is in the fourth configuration and the indicia  50  is a 3D indicia  50 , as shown in  FIG. 3B , the features of the 3D indicia  50  will be displayed in a three-dimensional manner. That is, in the example of a frontiersman, the representation of a coonskin hat will be disposed on the top of the user&#39;s head, the representation of a left ear will be disposed over the user&#39;s left ear, the representation of a right ear will be disposed over the user&#39;s right ear, and the representation of a face will be disposed over the user&#39;s face. A back panel  18  may also be structured to be substantially wrapped about a user&#39;s head. While the back panel  18  may be pulled completely over the user&#39;s head in a manner similar to the front panel  16 , as described above, the back panel  18  may also be structured to be partially pulled over the user&#39;s head. That is, the user may position the back panel lower end  42  at an elevation adjacent the user&#39;s nose. For this embodiment, the indicia  50  preferably extends to the back panel lower end  42 . In this configuration, the user&#39;s mouth will be exposed. As used herein, this is also considered to be the fourth configuration of the shirt  10 . The user may use face paint, or other materials, to compliment the indicia  50 . For example, the user may apply face paint representing a team mascot with one expression and the indicia  50  may display the team mascot with another expression. Thus, during a game, the user may keep the shirt in the first configuration and be displaying a team mascot with one expression. But, after an event, e.g. a touchdown, the user may place the shirt  10  in the fourth configuration and display the team mascot with another expression. Alternatively, a partial 3D image may be disposed on the back panel  18 . Such an image would be used in a manner similar to the description above, except the image would be disposed over the back of the user&#39;s head. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , The shirt  10  may include indicia  50  on both the front panel  16  and the back panel  18 . That is, a first indicia  56  is disposed on the front panel inner side  36  and a second indicia  57  is disposed on the back panel inner side  46 . The first and second indicia  56 ,  57  may be related or cooperative. For example, the first indicia  56  may be the letter “D” and the second indicia  57  may be a representation of a fence. Thus, when the shirt  10  is in the second configuration, the front panel  16  displays a “D” and the back panel  18  displays a fence. The user may then pivot about a vertical axis selectively displaying either the “D” or the fence toward the field or the crowd. 
         [0030]    It is noted that when the shirt  10  is in the second, third, or fourth configuration, the user&#39;s torso will be substantially exposed. As some users may not wish to expose their torso, the shirt  10  may include an interior sheet  70 . As shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the sheet  70  may be either, or both, a front sheet  72  or a back sheet  74 . Each sheet  70  has an upper end  80 ,  90  (front sheet and back sheet, respectively), a lower end  82 ,  92 , and an outer side  84 ,  94 . The front sheet  72  and back sheet  74  may be coupled, essentially forming an inner shirt-like construct disposed below the inner and outer panels  16 ,  18 . The front sheet  72  and back sheet  74  may further be coupled to the front and back panels  16 ,  18 , typically at a location below the sleeves  20 . When a shirt  10  having a sheet  70 , e.g. a front sheet  72 , is moved into the second, third, or fourth configuration, the front sheet  72  covers the user&#39;s torso. 
         [0031]    Further, the sheet  70  may also be used as a display surface for an indicia  50 . More specifically, a third indicia  58  may be disposed on the front sheet outer side  84  and a fourth indicia  59  may be disposed on the back sheet outer side  94 . The third indicia  58  may be cooperative with the first indicia  56 . For example, the first indicia  56  may be the upper portion of a mascot such as, but not limited to, a wildcat. The third indicia  58  may be the lower portion of a mascot such as, but not limited to, a wildcat. Thus, when the shirt  10  is in either the second, third, or fourth configuration, a cooperative indicia  50  is displayed. Similarly, the fourth indicia  59  may be cooperative with the second indicia  57 . 
         [0032]    The shirt  10  described above may be utilized according to a method, shown in  FIG. 6 , having the steps of wearing  200  a shirt  10  in a first configuration and placing  202  the shirt  10  in one of a second or third configuration, as described above. 
         [0033]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0