Abstract:
The present invention involves a garment that allows a wearer to change clothes in privacy and can be comfortably worn for protection before, during, and after changing. Preferably, the garment contains two sides of partially absorbent material separated by a water resistant layer. Alternatively, the garment can include a partially absorbent interior layer and a substantially water resistant exterior layer. The garment contains a hood, sleeves, and two apertures that allow a wearer to reach underneath the garment to change clothes. The garment can contain interior and exterior pockets to store items and keep the wearer&#39;s hands protected. The garment contains sufficient room underneath to enable a wearer to comfortably change clothes. The present invention can include a means for securing the garment to a fixed object to facilitate drying. The garment can also be folded up and stored within an enclosure located within the interior of the garment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to the field of protective garments. More specifically, the preferred embodiment of the present invention involves a water-resistant, reversible, and lightweight garment that, when worn, allows a wearer to change clothes underneath in privacy, and can be comfortably worn for protection against climatic elements before or after changing occurs.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Many outdoor activities generally require the use of special clothing to participate. For example, it is typically recommended that surfers and divers wear a wetsuit to keep the body protected from wind and cold water temperatures. After participating in such activities, one must often change clothing in a public facility or near other people to stay warm, drive home, or engage in other activities such as going to a restaurant or shopping. In many instances however, public facilities or private changing quarters are not available due to the remoteness of the location or the circumstances of the activity. For example, surfers may park on the side of a road far from a designated beach area with changing facilities, and hike down to the water to surf the biggest waves. Similarly, a diver on a crowded boat may be forced to wear a wet wetsuit for a prolonged period due to a limited availability of suitable changing facilities or if they are in between dives. Even in locations where changing facilities are available, such as designated beach areas, if the parking, surfing, and public facility locations are spaced far apart or in different directions, a person may be forced to walk considerable distances and spend valuable time to change clothes in a public facility. Thus, either in a location with or without suitable changing facilities, safely changing clothes in public can be difficult.  
         [0005]     If no adequate facilities are available, changing clothes without accidentally exposing oneself can be a burdensome task. This task frequently involves one person holding a towel around another person to enable that person to change without exposing themselves. If no facilities and a second person are not available however, the options for changing clothes without public exposure are rather limited. A first option is for a person change in their car. However this can be awkward and carries a heightened possibility of public exposure. Another option is to try to find a secluded place to change. However, this option might require walking a long distance and can present safety issues if a person is all alone in a remote area. A final option is to forego changing until reasonable changing facilities can be reached. This option, while not always available, often requires burdensome and repetitive travel, may involve getting in their vehicles with a wet wetsuit, is time consuming, and does not allow a person to change clothes to be immediately prepared to engage in other activities that are occurring in the same location or close by.  
         [0006]     Previous garments have been designed to allow a person to change clothes in public places without exposing oneself to other people. These garments generally take the form of a wrap or robe consisting of water-absorbent material. While some have been effective in providing a certain degree of privacy during changing, the garments have not been designed to allow a person to comfortably wear the garment after changing has occurred to fully protect the person from the various elements of nature. For example, because these previous garments absorb water, a wearer of the damp garment after changing runs the risk of dampening the newly changed clothes and increases the possibility of becoming sick if windy or cold weather conditions are present. Further, previous garments do not cover a majority of the wearer&#39;s body, but rather expose certain parts of the wearer to cold, wind, or rain, increasing the risk of sickness and discomfort by the wearer. Additionally, previous garments have not contained a feature that allows a wearer to removably attach the garment to the side of a boat or other vessel when not being worn, to help facilitate the drying and storage of the garment.  
         [0007]     Therefore, it would be highly desirable to provide a water-resistant, reversible, and lightweight garment that, when worn, allows a wearer to change clothes underneath in privacy, and can be comfortably worn both before and after changing has occurred for protection against various climatic elements.  
         [0008]     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 arrangement 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. In addition, 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.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The principle advantage of this invention is to provide a garment that can be worn to facilitate the changing of clothes in public places.  
         [0010]     Another advantage of this invention is to provide a garment for changing clothes that allows a person to comfortably wear the garment in public places before or after the changing of clothing has occurred.  
         [0011]     Another advantage of this invention is to provide a garment for facilitating the changing clothes in public that contains water-resistant material.  
         [0012]     Another advantage of this invention is to provide a garment for facilitating the changing clothes in public that is lightweight.  
         [0013]     And still another advantage of this invention is to provide a garment for changing clothes that allows a person to secure the garment to a surface while not in use.  
         [0014]     And yet a further advantage of this invention is to provide a garment for changing clothes that allows a person to attach the garment to a surface to increase drying time.  
         [0015]     And yet a further advantage of this invention is to provide a garment for changing clothes that contains an enclosure means attached to the garment for storing the garment when not in use.  
         [0016]     And still a further advantage of this invention is to add a new and unique garment to the field of clothes changing garments.  
         [0017]     These advantages, and other advantages of the invention, will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the disclosure of the present invention as set forth herein.  
         [0018]     The present invention involves a garment that allows a wearer to change clothes in privacy and can be comfortably worn for protection before, during, and after changing. Preferably, the garment contains two sides of partially absorbent material separated by a water resistant layer. Alternatively, the garment can include a partially absorbent interior layer and a substantially water resistant exterior layer. The garment contains a hood, sleeves, and two apertures that allow a wearer to reach underneath the garment to change clothes. The garment can contain interior and exterior pockets to store items and keep the wearer&#39;s hands protected. The garment contains sufficient room underneath to enable a wearer to comfortably change clothes. The present invention can include a means for securing the garment to a fixed object to facilitate drying. The garment can also be folded up and stored within an enclosure located within the interior of the garment.  
         [0019]     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof 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. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principals of this invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  depicts a front view of the wearable protective changing garment, partially exposing the interior portion, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  depicts a front perspective view of a person wearing the wearable protective changing garment, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  depicts a back view of the wearable protective changing garment, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4A  depicts a cross-section of the preferred embodiment of the fabric material, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 4B  depicts a cross-section of an alternate embodiment of the fabric material, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  depicts a front view of an alternate embodiment of the wearable protective changing garment, partially exposing the interior portion to illustrate the garment enclosure means, constructed in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  depicts a partially cut away perspective view of the wearable protective changing garment contained within the garment enclosure, constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]     Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar parts are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in  FIG. 1 a  front view of the wearable protective changing garment  10 , with a partially exposed interior region. In the preferred embodiment, wearable protective changing garment  10  contains an interior layer  12  and a surrounding exterior layer  14 . Interior layer  12  and exterior layer  14  are separated by a dividing layer  16  (see  FIG. 4A ). Interior layer  12 , exterior layer  14 , and dividing layer  16  can all be contained within one type of fabric or material having three separate layers, or can each be separate layers of fabric sewn or otherwise combined together to form a continuous piece of material. Interior layer  12  and exterior layer  14  can be comprised of either a substantially water absorbent material such as terry cloth, cotton, or other water absorbent material as would be deemed suitable by one with ordinary skill in the art, or a material that is partially water absorbent. However, interior layer  12  and exterior layer  14  can also be comprised of a completely water absorbent material. Dividing layer  16  is preferably comprised of a substantially water-resistant material such as neoprene, nylon, polypropylene, or other substantially water repellent material as would be deemed suitable by one with ordinary skill in the art. However, dividing layer  16  can also be comprised of a fully water-resistant material. In an alternative embodiment, wearable protective changing garment  10  can include an interior layer  12  and a surrounding exterior layer  14  (see  FIG. 4B ), wherein interior layer  12  is comprised of a partially or substantially water absorbent material and exterior layer  14  is comprised of a substantially water resistant material, thereby eliminating a need for a dividing layer  16  comprised of a water resistant material. In the alternative embodiment, interior layer  12  can also be completely water absorbent and exterior layer  14  can also be completely water resistant.  
         [0029]     Interior layer  12  and exterior layer  14  are shaped to form a body portion  18 . Body portion  18  is generally defined by end seams  20  and bottom seam  22 . Body portion  18  is preferably configured to cover the body of a wearer extending from the torso region down to the knees. Body portion  18  does not fit tightly against the body of a wearer, but rather is sufficiently sized so as to allow a wearer enough space underneath to maneuver hands and arms around to comfortably change clothes. Body portion  18  additionally includes sleeves  24 . Sleeves  24  are preferably designed to extend from the shoulder region of a wearer to cover the entire arm area. However, in alternative embodiments, sleeves  24  can be designed to extend from the shoulder region midway down the arm to substantially cover only the upper arm area. Body portion  18  can also include a hood  26 . Hood  26  is preferably incorporated seamlessly into the design of body portion  18 . However, hood  26  can also be removably attached to body portion  18  by snaps, buttons, Velcro, zippers, or other means that provide removable attachment as would be recognized by one with ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0030]     Body portion  18  also includes a set of exterior pockets  28  and can include a set of interior pockets  30 . Exterior pockets  28  are attached to exterior layer  14 . Interior pockets  30  are attached to interior layer  12 . Exterior pockets  28  are preferably comprised of similar material as exterior layer  14 , while interior pockets  30  are preferably comprised of similar material as interior layer  12 . Exterior pockets  28  and interior pockets  30  serve to provide protection for the hands of a wearer against wind, cold, and rain, but also can provide storage areas for personal items such as wallets, keys, and cell phones. Exterior pockets  28  and interior pockets  30  are preferably positioned opposite one another on wearable protective changing garment  10 . However, exterior pockets  28  can be positioned anywhere on outer layer  14  within hands&#39; reach of the wearer and interior pockets  30  can similarly be positioned anywhere on interior layer  12  within hands&#39; reach of the wearer. The positioning of interior pockets  30  directly opposite exterior pockets  28  allows convenient protection for the wearer&#39;s hands and storage capabilities for personal items once wearable protective changing garment  10  has been reversed after the changing of clothes has occurred. In the preferred embodiment of wearable protective changing garment  10 , exterior pockets  28  and interior pockets  30  are of similar style and dimension. However, in alternate embodiments, exterior pockets  28  and interior pockets  30  can either be larger or smaller in dimension and can embody different styles of pockets.  
         [0031]     Body portion  18  also includes a set of arm apertures  32  formed there within. Arm apertures  32  serve to allow an opening for the arms of a wearer to enter through to enable the wearer to remove a swimsuit, wetsuit, or other clothing apparel located underneath wearable protective changing garment  10  and change into other clothing apparel. Arm apertures  32  are preferably situated opposite one another within body portion  18 , substantially adjacent to the openings of exterior pockets  28  and interior pockets  30 . However, arm apertures  32  can be also positioned within the immediate opening region of exterior pockets  28  and interior pockets  30 , thereby being substantially covered by the outer portion of both exterior pockets  28  and interior pockets  30 . An alternate embodiment of wearable protective changing garment  10  can exclude interior pockets  30  to enable the positioning of arm apertures  32  more substantially within the opening of exterior pockets  28 , providing more privacy and helping to prevent wind or rain from entering the interior region of the garment. Arm apertures  32  can range from a length of about 4″ to 8″ to enable arms of various sizes to fit within, while minimizing the risk that a wearer will inadvertently expose themselves to the public while changing.  
         [0032]     Body portion  18  also includes a closure means  34  to allow a wearer to change clothes underneath in privacy and maintain warmth and protection from the elements after changing has occurred. Closure means  34  is preferably located on or extending from each of end seams  20 , extending from bottom seam  20  to the lower boundary of hood  26 . Closure means  34  can include buttons, snaps, hooks and fasteners, zippers, Velcro, or any other elements used for closing two ends of material as recognized by one with ordinary skill in the art. In the preferred embodiment, closure means  34  is comprised of a plurality of snaps that can be used to close body portion  18  when wearable protective changing garment is either in a normal position, with exterior pockets  28  being situated exterior to interior pockets  30 , or in a reversed position, with exterior pockets  28  being situated interior to interior pockets  30 .  
         [0033]     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , there is seen a front perspective view of a typical wearer  36  of the preferred embodiment of wearable protective changing garment  10 . Particularly shown are the spatial relationship and arrangement of body portion  18 , sleeves  24 , hood  26 , exterior pockets  28 , arm apertures  32 , and closure means  34  to each other and wearer  36 .  
         [0034]     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , there is seen a back view of an alternate embodiment of wearable protective changing garment  10 , particularly depicting an attachment means  38 . Attachment means  38  extends from exterior layer  14  below the lower most boundary of hood  26  and can be comprised of a similar material as exterior layer  14 . Attachment means  38  is preferably comprised of two short and narrow attachment sections  40  that can be joined together by a connection means  42  located on each attachment section  40 . However, the size and shape of attachment sections  40  can vary as would be recognized by one with ordinary skill in the art. Connection means  42  is preferably a snap, but can be a more than one snap, a button, Velcro, a hook and loop, or other means used for attachment of fabric as would be recognized by one with ordinary skill in the art. Attachment means  38  allows a user to hang wearable protective changing garment  10  for storage or to aid in drying the garment when it is wet and not being used. Also, attachment means  38  allows a user to attach wearable protective garment  10  to a pole on a boat or other vessel, to prevent the garment from blowing away or falling to the ground while the boat or other vessel is in motion.  
         [0035]     As illustrated in  FIG. 4A , there is seen a cross-section view of the preferred embodiment of the fabric for wearable protective changing garment  10 , including an interior layer  12  and a surrounding exterior layer  14 . Interior layer  12  and exterior layer  14  are separated by a dividing layer  16 . It is to be noted that interior layer  12 , exterior layer  14 , and dividing layer  16  can all be contained within one type of fabric or material, or can each be separate layers of fabric sewn or otherwise combined together to form a one coherent piece of material. Interior layer  12  and exterior layer  14  can be comprised of either a substantially water absorbent material or a material that is partially water absorbent. However, interior layer  12  and exterior layer  14  can also be comprised of a completely water absorbent material. Dividing layer  16  is preferably comprised of a substantially water-resistant material, but can also be comprised of a fully water-resistant material. Dividing layer  16  ensures that water absorbed by interior layer  12  does not penetrate and significantly dampen exterior layer  14 . The preferred configuration of the fabric material allows a wearer to use interior layer  12  to help dry off after changing out of a wetsuit or damp swimsuit. After a wearer has finished changing into dry clothes, the wearer can then reverse wearable protective changing garment  10  so that dry exterior layer  14  is contacting with the body of the wearer and the damp interior layer  12  is exposed to the environment. This capability helps interior layer  12  dry faster and allows the wearer to be protected from wind, rain, and cold after changing. Because exterior layer  14  can be comprised of water absorbent material, which can also be material that provides more warmth than water repellant material, a wearer is more likely to remain warm and comfortable with the fabric configuration of the preferred embodiment.  
         [0036]     As illustrated in  FIG. 4B , there is seen a cross-section view of an alternate embodiment of the fabric for wearable protective changing garment  10 , including interior layer  12  and surrounding exterior layer  14 . Interior layer  12  is generally comprised of a partially or substantially water absorbent material and exterior layer  14  is comprised of a substantially water resistant material, thereby eliminating a need for a dividing layer  16  comprised of a water resistant material. In the alternative embodiment, interior layer  12  can also be completely water absorbent and exterior layer  14  can also be completely water resistant.  
         [0037]     In this embodiment, a wearer can also use interior layer  12  to help dry off after changing out of a wetsuit or damp swimsuit. After a wearer has finished changing into dry clothes, the wearer can then reverse wearable protective changing garment  10  so that dry exterior layer  14  is contacting with the body of the wearer and the damp interior layer  12  is exposed to the environment. This embodiment of the fabric configuration does not offer the warmth and comfort characteristics as the preferred embodiment does, as the exterior layer in the alternate embodiment is preferably comprised of a substantially water repellent material.  
         [0038]     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , there is seen a front view of an alternate embodiment of wearable protective changing garment  10  that includes a garment enclosure  44  attached to interior layer  12 . Garment enclosure  44  is preferably sewn to interior layer  12  in such a fashion as to allow wearable protective changing garment  10  to be fully folded within and enclosed within garment enclosure  44 . The preferred attachment of garment enclosure  44  to interior layer  12  is to sew the top edge  46  of one side of garment enclosure  44  to interior layer  12 , so that the remaining edges of garment enclosure  44  remain free relative to interior layer  12 . This allows the sides of wearable protective changing garment  10  to be folded inward and the bottom portion of wearable protective changing garment  10  to be folded upward and into garment enclosure  44 . Garment enclosure  44  can be comprised of water repellent material such as neoprene, nylon, polypropylene, or other suitable water resistant material as would be recognized by one with ordinary skill in the art. Garment enclosure  44  contains a drawstring  48  located at the opening thereof, to enable a wearer to close garment enclosure  44  so that wearable protective changing garment  10  is protected during transport or storage.  
         [0039]     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , there is seen a partially cut away perspective view of wearable protective changing garment  10  contained within garment enclosure  44 , with drawstring  48  in the open position.  
         [0040]     With respect to the above description it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, including 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. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents fall within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0041]     The above description, together with the objects of the invention and 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 advantages 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.  
         [0042]     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.