Abstract:
Applicant&#39;s invention is directed to a garment for donning or removing clothing, in particular, a surfer&#39;s wetsuit, the garment comprising a tubular skirt/wrap having an open upper end and an open lower end, the open upper end securable about the waist of a surfer, the tubular skirt/wrap having hand and arm apertures formed therein proximate said upper end for insertion of the user&#39;s hands and arms for removal and donning of street clothes and removal and donning of a wetsuit, the garment formed of a combination of waterproof and absorbent panels.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a garment, and more particularly, to a skirt or wrap to be worn around the waist by a surfer which allows the surfer to put on and take off the lower portion of a wet suit, on the beach, immediately prior to or immediately after surfing, the skirt or wrap around being formed with a combination of waterproof panels and terry cloth towel-like panels with multiple pockets. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The sport of surfing is enjoyed by millions of surfers world wide. It is a year round sport, even in areas which experience winter-like weather. Further, even in those areas of moderate to tropic climates year round, the water temperature often dictates that the surfer wear a wet suit in order to maintain proper body temperature and to conserve heat. Figures would indicate that world wide, surfers require and wear wet suits during 80 percent of their surfing activities. 
   Typically a surfer will travel to the beach with their wet suit and surf board to determine the condition of the ocean and the size of the waves. If the surfer determines that surfing is feasible, the surfer must remove his clothing and don a wet suit prior to entering the water. Often times this can be accomplished in a vehicle, but more often than not, depending on access to the beach, the surfer must wrap a series of towels about their waist in order to remove their shorts and pants, and then with the towels still secured about their waist, must then put on the lower portion of the wet suit which is typically made of neoprene or other suitable man-made material, and which is designed to form fit the body, therefore making it more difficult to put on than a normal pair of shorts or trousers. 
   The reverse situation occurs when the surfer concludes his or her surfing activity. In this situation, if the ambient temperature is extremely cold, the surfer may opt to wear his wet suit home if his or her vehicle is in close proximity. In that situation, the surfer must only concern his or herself with covering the vehicle seat cushion to prevent it from becoming wet. Applicant&#39;s invention has application to this situation. However, the majority of the time, the surfer after concluding surfing activities desires to remove his wet suit while in close proximity to the beach and ocean. Again, in the past, this required the surfer to utilize a variety of towels wrapped about the waist to allow the surfer to remove the lower portion of the wet suit, dry off his torso, and then don his regular clothes, all while being wrapped in one or more towels. 
   While the procedure just described was acceptable to surfers, it was an unwieldy and cumbersome exercise requiring the surfer to transport not only his surfboard and wet suit, but a sufficient quantity of towels and a repository to place his street clothes in while surfing, and a repository to place the dampened wet suit after surfing. 
   Applicant has developed a garment in the form of a skirt or wrap which incorporates terrycloth or towel-like panels with panels of waterproof material, which may be worn about the waist to allow a surfer to don and remove the lower portion of his wet suit. The garment also contains sufficient pockets with closure to store valuables and street clothing while engaging in surfing activity and also serve as a repository for the damp wet suit when the surfing activity is concluded. The garment fits snugly about the surfer&#39;s waist and allows access to the lower portion of the wet suit beneath the garment. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide for a garment for surfers which allows the surfer to put on and remove the lower portion of his wet suit in modesty while on a public beach. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel garment which incorporates terrycloth towel-like panels with waterproof panels which combine to allow the surfer to dry himself and to store street clothing or the dampened wet suit. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel garment for surfers which negates the need for the surfer to bring multiple towels and containers to the beach with his or her surfboard in order to store valuables and street clothing while surfing and to hold the dampened wet suit when surfing activities are completed. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel garment which may be slipped on about the waist and secured by a draw string or wrapped about the waist and secured by a suitable fastening means such as hook and loop fasteners or the like. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A garment for donning or removing clothing, in particular, a surfer&#39;s wetsuit comprising a tubular skirt/wrap having an open upper end and an open lower end, said open upper end securable about the waist of a surfer, said tubular skirt/wrap having hand and arm apertures formed therein proximate said upper end for insertion of said user&#39;s hands and arms for removal and donning of street clothes and removal and donning of a wetsuit, said tubular skirt/wrap further comprising a front waterproof panel having a top edge, bottom edge and opposing side edges; a two-ply rear panel comprised of two waterproof overlaid panels having a top edge, bottom edge, and opposing side edges, said bottom edges and said side edges secured to form a pocket with a closure means along said top edge, said front waterproof panel and said two-ply back panel secured to each other along their side edges thereby forming a tubular wrap, said front waterproof panel or said two ply rear panel overlaid with an absorbent panel and secured thereto. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent, particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a first embodiment of the present garment invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a rear view of a first embodiment of the garment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the first embodiment of the garment of the present invention in a reversible mode; 
       FIG. 4  is a rear view of a first embodiment of the garment of the present invention in a reversible mode; 
       FIG. 5  is a top cutaway view of the first embodiment of the garment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a front view of an individual wearing a garment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an individual wearing the garment of the present invention in the process of putting on a wet suit; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an individual removing a wet suit; 
       FIG. 9  is a top cutaway view of a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 10  is a front view of a third embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4  are front and rear views of a first embodiment of the garment  10  of the present invention,  FIGS. 1 and 2  showing it in one mode and  FIGS. 3 and 4  showing it in a reversed mode. In  FIG. 1  there is illustrated the garment  10  of the present invention in what we will selectively call a front view. Garment  10  is comprised of an absorbent panel  12  which is overlaid and secured to an underlying waterproof panel  14  as best illustrated in FIG.  5 .  FIG. 2  is a rear view of a first embodiment of the garment of the present invention which is comprised of two waterproof panels  16  and  18  as best illustrated in FIG.  5 . The panels  16  and  18  and  14  and  12  are secured along their side edges  20  and  22  so as to form a skirt. The upper ends collectively referred to as  24  are folded over to form a waist band  26  which includes a casing channel (not shown) in which a drawstring  28  is secured. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  are a front and rear view of the first embodiment of the present invention in a reversible mode. The reversible view of the front panel as illustrated in  FIG. 3  illustrates waterproof panel  14  which is secured to absorbent panel  12 . In this embodiment, the absorbent panel  12  overlaps a bottom margin  30  of waterproof panel  14 . Again, the waistband and casing  24  and  26  are illustrated in which drawstring  28  is secured.  FIG. 4  is a reversible view of the rear panels  16  and  18  of garment  10 . A second absorbent panel  13  overlaps panels  16  and  18  along the lower margin  32  of panels  16  and  18 . Panels  16  and  18  define a pocket therebetween accessed by means of a slit aperture  34  positioned proximate casing  26  and secured by a suitable fastening means  36  such as a hook and loop fastener or zipper. Additional pockets  38  may also be formed on the interior of garment  10  with suitable closure means such as hook and loop fasteners in order to store valuables or the like. 
     FIG. 5  is a top view wherein waterproof panels  16  and  18  and waterproof panel  14  and absorbent panel  12  have not yet been secured along their opposing side edges  20  and  22  thereby providing a top view of the arrangement of the panels and the fastening means allowing access to the pocket formed between waterproof panels  16  and  18 . This pocket  36  is designed to store clothing removed so as to don a wetsuit and in the reverse, is designed to store the damp wet suit when the surfing activity has been completed. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  8 , there is illustrated the garment  10  of the present invention being utilized by an individual.  FIG. 6  illustrates the manner in which the garment  10  is worn about the waist of the individual and secured snuggly by drawstrings  28  within waistband  26 . In this illustration, garment  10  is being worn in the mode illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  with the absorbent panel  12  facing outwardly. In this configuration, the individual might have just removed his clothing from the lower torso by reaching through apertures  40  formed in the seam along the opposing side edges where panels  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  are joined. These apertures  40  are covered by an aperture flap  42  and allows the individual insert, his hands and arms under the garment  10  in order to loosen the belt or other securing means to the user&#39;s street clothes and allow them to drop to the ground. 
     FIG. 7  illustrates the next process in the utilization of garment  10 . In this illustration, the user with garment  10  still in the configuration as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , dons the leg portion  44  of a surfer&#39;s wetsuit. The user is able to maneuver the leg portion  44  of the wetsuit up about his waist utilizing the apertures  40  formed in the seam between panels  12  and  14  and  16  and  18 . Once the leg portion  44  of the wetsuit is in position, the user can remove garment  10 . 
     FIG. 8  illustrates the next step in the utilization of garment  10 . The user has completed surfing and now wishes to remove the wetsuit. The user dons the garment  10  in a reverse mode as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  wherein panels  12  and  16  are adjacent the body. The surfer then utilizes apertures  40  to maneuver the leg portion  44  of the wetsuit off of the body. Since the absorbent panel  12  is in the reversed mode and adjacent the body, the surfer can utilize the absorbent panel  12  as well as that portion of absorbent panel  12  and  13  which overlaps panels  14  and  18  to dry his body. The user can then don the street clothes which were removed prior to the surfing act ivity. 
   There are other embodiments of Applicant&#39;s invention which will be discussed, but it should be remembered that in all of the embodiments, the utilization of the garment  10  remains the same as illustrated and discussed in  FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  8 . 
     FIG. 9  is a top view of an arrangement of panels for a second embodiment of the garment identified as  10 A. In this embodiment, the rear of garment  10 A is comprised of two waterproof panels  16 A and  19 A secured along their bottom and opposing side edges and forming a pocket therebetween having a slit aperture and closure means  36 A for securing said pocket. The front panel comprises a first waterproof panel  14 A and a second waterproof panel  15 A overlaid with absorbent panel  12 A. In this configuration, a second pocket is formed in the front portion of the garment  10  between waterproof panels  14 A and  15 A having a closure means  35 A, similar to closure means  36 A for forming a pocket for the storage of clothing or the like. As with the first embodiment, a plurality of additional pockets  38 A with suitable closure means could be formed on the interior or exterior of the panels to allow for storage of other valuables or the like. As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , when the panels  16 A and  18 A are secured to panels  14 A,  15 A, and  12 A along their opposing edges, they would form the garment  10  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4  and  6  through  8 . The only difference in this embodiment is that the front panel incorporates two waterproof panels  14 A and  15 A to provide for the forming of a second waterproof pocket. 
   In a third embodiment of the garment of the present invention identified as  10 B and illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the garment  10 B is in the form of a wrap. The configuration of the panels and the pockets could be the same as that illustrated in either  FIG. 5  or FIG.  9 . However, in this configuration  10 B, there is no waistband, casing or pull string, but rather, the panels are essentially secured along one of the side edges and the opposing side edges are provided with a fastening means  50  in the form of a hook and loop fastener. The garment  10 B still remains reversible and still maintains the construction as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 9  and is still utilized in the same manner as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  8 . However, it is secured about the waist, not by a drawstring  28 , but rather by the fastening means  50  such as a hook and loop fastener. 
   While the garment has been described with respect to its application to the sport of surfing, it will be recognized that the garment has application to any outdoor sport wherein the participant finds it convenient or necessary to change clothing in a public or semi-public open area. 
   While the present invention has been described with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications or changes can be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore it is manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the claims and the equivalence thereof.