Abstract:
A waterproof garment in the form of a cloak is disclosed. The cloak includes an outer layer and an inner layer, each made of a suitable fabric. The outer surface of the outer layer is endowed with decorative properties such as color and texture for the intended use. The inner surface of the inner layer is preferably chosen for suitability in coming in contact with a wearer. Enclosed between the outer and inner layers, protected from abrasion and other potential hazards inherent in direct physical contact, at least one surface is a weather layer, preferably impervious to water.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention relates to clothing, particularly outerwear. More particularly, the invention is directed to waterproof outerwear generally and cloaks specifically. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Outerwear and weather resistant or “waterproof” clothing is known in various conventional forms. Traditional rain coats may be generally classified into overcoat or trench coat configurations, providing a relatively long, sleeved garment designed to offer some level of protection from the elements. Parkas or jackets offer a similar sleeved garment configuration, generally distinguished by being longer or shorter in overall length. Ponchos are also known in the arts. Lacking sleeves, ponchos are simple one-piece garments, usually having a hood. In the cases of raincoats and ponchos generally, the garment has a single outer layer providing protection from the elements, including either a water-resistant fabric or a more protective waterproof layer. In many cases, especially in raincoat construction, an inner layer, typically not water-resistant, may also be used to prevent the water-resistant fabric from coming in direct contact with the wearer and/or to provide added thermal insulation. Water-resistant fabrics tend to leak to varying degrees, especially after long periods of exposure to the elements. Waterproof materials have the disadvantage of trapping moisture within, due to being “unbreathable” with respect to bodily moisture. As a result, there is a tendency among practitioners of the relevant arts to make raincoats using water-resistant materials and to restrict the use of waterproof materials to ponchos, outerwear for children, and for very heavy-duty applications. Cloaks, incorporating some of the features of a coat structure and some of the features of a poncho, are less well-known known in the arts, having been almost entirely supplanted in recent years by raincoat and poncho design configurations. 
         [0003]    Due to these and other problems and potential problems, improved outerwear configurations and materials would be would be useful and advantageous contributions to the arts. After careful study and thorough experimentation, the inventors have developed useful and novel improvements in outerwear, and waterproof cloaks, using modern materials, construction methods, and designs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In carrying out the principles of the present invention, in accordance with preferred embodiments, the invention provides advances in the arts with novel design and construction directed to providing waterproof cloaks or other garments having an improved structure and enhanced characteristics for protection from the weather, convenience, and comfort. 
         [0005]    According to one aspect of the invention, in an example of a preferred embodiment, a garment is constructed with an outer layer including a decorative exterior surface and an inner surface on the opposite side. An inner layer has a weather surface on one side and a tactile surface on the opposite side. The outer layer and inner layer are joined to form a garment with an exterior defined by the decorative surface and an interior defined by the tactile surface. The weather surface is enclosed between the inner and outer layers of the garment. 
         [0006]    According to another aspect of the invention, in a presently preferred embodiment of the garment described above, the weather surface is made from a waterproof material. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect of the invention, in an example of a preferred embodiment, the garment is constructed in a cloak configuration. 
         [0008]    According to additional aspects of the invention, the weather surface is contained within the garment such that it is protected from direct exposure to the environment. 
         [0009]    The invention has advantages including but not limited to one or more of the following, furnishing improved waterproof structures applicable to outerwear, and providing light weight, durability and comfort in such garments. These and other advantageous features and benefits of the present invention can be understood by one of skilled in the arts upon careful consideration of the detailed description of representative embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The present invention will be more clearly understood from consideration of the following detailed description and drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front view of an example of a preferred embodiment of a waterproof cloak according to the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a cross section view illustrating the structure of an example of a preferred embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a cross section view depicting another example of a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0014]    References in the detailed description correspond to like references in the various drawings unless otherwise noted. Descriptive and directional terms used in the written description such as right, left, back, top, bottom, upper, side, et cetera, refer to the drawings themselves as laid out on the paper and not to physical limitations of the invention unless specifically noted. The drawings are not to scale, and some features of embodiments shown and discussed are simplified or amplified for illustrating principles and features, as well as anticipated and unanticipated advantages of the invention. 
       DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    The front perspective view of  FIG. 1  depicts an example of a preferred embodiment of a cloak  10  according to the invention. Although additional alternative embodiments are possible without departure from the principles of the invention, in general, the cloak  10  includes a body  12 , preferably of sufficient length to provide protection to the wearer. A mantle  14  is preferably provided to cover the shoulders and a portion of the upper body of the wearer. A hood  16  is preferably secured to the back side of the mantle  14 . As shown, the body  12  preferably includes arm apertures  18  and a neck aperture  20 . In the presently most preferred embodiment, the mantel  14  is configured to fully encircle the upper body of the wearer, covering the arm apertures  18 , and with the attached hood  16  in the raised position, covering the neck aperture  20  as well. In this preferred configuration, the body  12  also has a front opening  22  for ingress and egress. 
         [0016]    With continued reference to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , preferably the cloak  10  includes an outer layer  24  made from a fabric selected for characteristics desirable for the application. For example, in order to provide a “decorative surface”  26  suitable for a particular use, a color or pattern may be selected for esthetic, camouflage, reflective, and/or heat retention characteristics, among other attributes. Similarly, the decorative surface  26  of the outer layer  24  may be provided with a selected texture for esthetic reasons, or for example in the case of hunting cloaks, for quietness when the garment is placed in motion. For example, micro suede material may be selected for quietness and durability in some applications, and reflective material may be used, or applied in strips, for safety in others. In presently preferred embodiments of the invention, micro-suede fabrics are generally preferred, although a variety of synthetic or natural fabrics may be used without departure from the principles of the invention. The cloak  10  also includes an inner layer  28  joined with and adjacent to the outer layer  24 . Preferably, the inner layer  28  and outer layer  24  generally correspond with one another and are joined together at their seams  30  and edges  32 . 
         [0017]    Referring primarily to  FIG. 2 , a cross-section view taken along line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1  illustrates the relationship among the aforementioned layers and surfaces. The inner layer  28  has a “weather surface”  34 , herein defined as being highly water-resistant, or in the presently most preferred embodiments, substantially impervious to water, or waterproof. The inner layer  28  also has a surface worn adjacent to the body, denominated a “tactile surface”  36 , preferably selected for texture characteristics conducive to the comfort of a wearer. The decorative surface  26  of the outer layer  24  is opposed by an inner surface  38  of the outer layer  24 . The weather surface  34  of the inner layer  28  is adjacent to the inner surface  38  of the outer layer  24 . This arrangement, enclosing the weather surface  34  within the garment  10 , is preferred in order to protect the weather surface  34  from damage due to abrasion and other potentially harmful contact. The tactile surface  36  preferably opposes the weather surface  34  on the other side of the inner layer  28 . In preferred embodiments of the invention, the weather surface  34  is made from a waterproof flexible coating applied to the inner layer  28 . Preferably, the weather surface  34  is thin relative to the thickness of the inner layer  28  itself, providing waterproofing properties without significantly adding to the stiffness or thickness of the inner layer  28 . In an example of a preferred embodiment, the weather surface  34  is made from polypropylene, although rubber, silcone, Teflon, PVC, or other materials may also be used. The tactile surface  36  is preferably selected for one or more attributes such as comfort, silence, durability, appearance, texture, and to prevent interference with freedom of movement. 
         [0018]    It should be appreciated by those skilled in the arts that in alternative embodiments one or more additional layers may be provided without departure from the invention. For example, as depicted in the cross-section view of  FIG. 3 , an outer layer  24  and inner layer  28  may be provided, as above described with reference to  FIG. 2 . A weather surface  34  is also provided, preferably on the inner layer  28 , in a configuration such that the weather surface  34  is protected by the outer layer  24  from coming into direct physical contact with the surrounding environment and its potential harms. In this alternative embodiment, an additional lining layer  40  is shown. The lining layer  40  may be selected for insulating properties, texture, appearance, or other attributes, and preferably provides a tactile surface  42  independent of the inner layer  28 . There are many potential embodiments of the invention and it should be understood that all possible variations cannot, and need not, be shown. To cite another example of an alternative configuration, the weather surface may be included on the inner surface of the outer layer. Of course, any number of additional inner or outer layers may also be included for appearance, insulation, safety, or other purposes. 
         [0019]    While the structure and use of various exemplary embodiments of the invention are described and shown herein, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides inventive concepts which can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. It should be understood that the invention may be practiced with garments of various particulars, such as cloaks having variations in size, and style, as well as with other garments such as capes, coats, parkas, jackets, vests, and the like in addition to the embodiments shown and described for illustration purposes. For purposes of clarity, detailed descriptions of functions, components, and materials familiar to those skilled in the applicable arts are not included. The features of the invention provide one or more advantages including but not limited to, providing a lightweight weather surface protected from damage by incorporation into the interior structure of a garment. While the invention has been described with reference to certain illustrative embodiments, those described herein are not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. For example, variations or combinations of design features or materials in the embodiments shown and described may be used in particular cases without departure from the invention. Various modifications and combinations of the illustrative embodiments as well as other advantages and embodiments of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the arts upon reference to the drawings, description, and claims.