Abstract:
A garment is disclosed for aiding in the consumption and distribution of one or more beverages. The garment can include one or more of a sunglass holder, an interior pocket configured to hold a flask, an insulated pocket, one or more exterior pockets, and rollable cuffs having a thumb hole and a high-friction grip portion centrally positioned on the cuff exterior.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 62/135,141 filed on Mar. 18, 2016 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to clothing, and more particularly to functional clothing for aiding a user in consumption and distribution of beverages. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
         [0004]    Garments such as shirts and jackets are well known including garments having functional aspects or features. Functional garments often are directed at a particular use. For example, fishing or hunting vests are adapted for utility particular to the various sporting activities. Recently, advances in micro and nanotechnology have introduced various wearable electronic devices and systems. However, clothing and garments for leisure activities and/or recreational events have seemingly resisted functional incorporation and have been more directed to user comfort rather than function. 
         [0005]    For example, recreational events such as sporting events and concerts are such a setting normally associated with leisurely clothing. These recreational events often include prior group gatherings that often include bringing food and beverages in one or another&#39;s vehicle to consume once the vehicle has been parked at the event location. Group gatherings of this type are often referred to as “tailgates” and can begin many hours before the event start. Often, one will walk to a designated “tailgate” zone to meet others at a vehicle or arranged zone from which one may enjoy and participate in the gathering including one or more desired beverages. 
         [0006]    Transporting and consuming beverages to these tailgates or other group gatherings can be a laborious task, requiring one or more of a carrying container, a beverage opening device, an insulating material for holding or insulating a beverage, and gloves to moderate hand comfort when holding a cold or hot beverage. Accordingly, there is a need for a garment that provides functions, in a wearable and convenient manner, that are related to the consumption and transport of beverages. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    A garment is disclosed for aiding in the consumption and distribution of one or more beverages. The garment can include one or more of a sunglass holder, an interior pocket configured to hold a flask, an insulated pocket, one or more exterior pockets, rollable cuffs having a thumb hole and a high-friction grip portion centrally positioned on the cuff exterior, and a dual-use zipper formed to a bottle opener. 
         [0008]    Certain embodiments of the invention may be formed of a sweatshirt, mid or half zipping garments, and hoodless garment types. 
         [0009]    This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    One or more embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary garment having long sleeves, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows an exemplary cuff in an unrolled position to form a covering for at least a portion of the wearer&#39;s hand, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows the exemplary cuff in a rolled position, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of the cuff in its unrolled position, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 5A-5D  show an exemplary insulation-lined pocket for a beverage container, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 6A-6C  show exemplary embodiments of an eyewear holder for a pair of eyeglasses, in accordance with the present disclosure; and 
           [0017]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  show an exemplary bottle-opening zipper, in accordance with the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, where like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the claimed invention. 
         [0019]    As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiments are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “one embodiment”, “various embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. 
         [0020]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein the depictions are for the purpose of illustrating certain exemplary embodiments only and not for the purpose of limiting the same,  FIG. 1  shows an exemplary garment  10  having long sleeves  12  attached to a central or torso body portion, i.e., a garment body  14 . The exemplary garment  10  further includes a retractable hood  16  and an integrated bottle-opener device configured to function as a zipper  18 . The zipper  18  in one embodiment, extends along the body portion  14  of the hooded garment  10 , from a first position  20 , such as the bottom opening  22  or the bottom edge  24  of the hooded garment  10 , to a second position  30  such as an upper edge  32  of the body portion  14 .  FIG. 1  is shown as a hooded garment, however upon a careful reading of the teachings herein, one skilled in the art will readily recognize that the disclosure may be applied to various garment types included hoodless shirts and jackets. 
         [0021]    As shown in the exemplary embodiment, the garment body  14  is configured to cover a substantial portion of a wearer&#39;s upper torso (not shown) and arms of the wearer (not shown) are protected with the two long sleeved portions  12 , for each arm. Each sleeve  12  has a sleeve or cuff opening  13 . In one embodiment, that one end of the long sleeves  12  is attached to a cuff  40 , while the opposite end is attached to a portion of the garment body  11 . 
         [0022]    The hooded garment  10  preferably has four openings, two openings for each of the two arms  13 , a bottom opening  22  near the wearer&#39;s waist, and a neck opening for receiving the wearer&#39;s neck and head. In one embodiment, the cuffs  40 , and/or bottom opening  22  have an elastic material to engageably fit a wearer. In one embodiment, a retractable hood  16 , is separately formed and is connected to the garment body  10 , at around the front and back of the wearer. The hood  16 , in one embodiment, has two openings: one for receiving the head and neck of the wearer, and a face opening for allowing the wearer to see through from the front of the hood  16 . 
         [0023]    Various patterning may be used to form the constitute elements of the hooded garment  10 . For example, the garment body  11 , may have front and rear main panels that are sewn together. Once combined, each of the sleeves  12 , may be formed and sewn for later attachment to the combined front and rear panels. The garment  10  may be formed of one or more flexible materials, including, but not limited to, cotton, polyester, a cotton polyester blend, nylon, wool, linen, silk, spandex, hemp, various brands of para-aramid synthetic fiber, and polyethylene fiber and various mixtures thereof. 
         [0024]    Referring generally to  FIGS. 1-4 , the garment  10  includes cuffs  40 . The cuffs  40  are formed at an end of one or both of the long sleeves  12  of the garment  10 .  FIG. 2  shows the cuff in an unrolled position to form a covering for at least a portion of the wearer&#39;s hand. In one embodiment, the cuff  40  extends just past the knuckles of the hand in the area where the fingers meet the hand. The wearer&#39;s thumb is inserted in the opening  42  and is partially exposed to the exterior of the cuff  40 . The overall effect is that a partial hand covering is formed at the end of each sleeve  12  with at least a portion of the wearer&#39;s fingers and the thumb being exposed to the exterior of the cuff  40  so that the wearer&#39;s dexterity and sense of touch are unimpeded. 
         [0025]    The cuffs  40  include a high-friction grip portion  45  comprised of a frictional material on the exterior of one or more of the cuffs  40 . In one embodiment, the grip portion  45  is positioned in a central area of the cuff  40 . The grip portion  45  may be formed by screen printing plastisol on the cuff  40  so that the frictional material at least partially extends above the cuff  40  on the exterior surface. Other frictional materials may be used including, but is not limited to, combinations, mixtures and compositions of elastomers, or other polymers, such as latex, vinyl, nitrile, silicone, polyurethane, polypropylene, PVC and polyethylene. 
         [0026]    The friction material of the grip portion  45  to the cuff  40  may be applied by a three dimensional screen printing process, although any suitable method known in the art may be substituted for three dimensional screen printing, including dip coating, casting, spraying and spread coating. Additionally, the friction material may be deposited on a substrate other than the garment  10 , such as a reinforcing material. In use, the friction material of the grip portion  45  may then be selectively in contact with an item such as a beverage to resist the relative motion of the item and prevent slipping. 
         [0027]    Referring specifically to  FIG. 4 , a cross-sectional view of the cuff  40  is shown in its unrolled position. The cuff  40  comprises a tubular member  44  having interior side wall  46 , a proximal end  48  secured to the end of sleeve  12 , and a distal end  49  having an opening  13  coaxial to the longitudinal axis of sleeve  12  for the hand of the wearer to pass through. The side wall  46  of the tubular member  44  has a hole  42  radial to the longitudinal axis of sleeve  12  corresponding in location with the base of the thumb of the wearer&#39;s hand. The hole  42  is of sufficient size to allow the thumb to extend from the interior of the tubular member  44  through the hole  42  to the exterior of the cuff  40 . 
         [0028]    The structure of the cuff  40  permits fingers of the wearer&#39;s hand to extend to the exterior of the cuff  40  through the opening  42  and permits the thumb to extend through the thumb sheath  30  to the exterior of the cuff  40 . As a result, the dexterity and tactile senses of the wearer&#39;s hand are unimpeded as it is possible for the wearer to use the thumb with the remaining fingers of the hand and feel any article being handled. In one embodiment, the cuff  40  covers a substantial portion of the wearer&#39;s hand. As a result of the structure of cuff  40  of the present invention, the hand is kept protected and warm while dexterity and the tactile senses are preserved. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  shows the cuff  40  in a rolled position. As  FIG. 3  shows, when it is not desirable to use the cuff  40  as a hand covering, the cuff  40  may be stored at the end of the sleeve  12  in a rolled position by folding the tubular member  44  back over itself toward the sleeve  12  to create at least one fold. In one exemplary application of a rolled position, the opening  42  is hidden and stored within the fold of the cuff  40 . In one embodiment, the cuff  40  has an appearance identical to that of a conventional cuff when in the rolled position. Further, in various embodiments, the cuff  40  may be rolled more than once as desired by the wearer. The cuff  40  may be made of a cotton ribbed material or any other suitable material. In one embodiment, the cuffs  40  are formed of stretchable material. While the present disclosure is presented in context of a jacket, the cuffs  40  may be implemented on a wide variety of garments such as shirts and sweatshirts. 
         [0030]    The garment  10  preferably includes one or more pockets such as an insulation-lined pocket  50  for receiving a beverage container, a sleeve pocket  52  along one or both sleeves  12  for storing, e.g., identification cards or financial instruments, exterior accessible front pockets  54  and  55 , and one or more hidden flask pockets  56 . The exterior accessible front pockets  54  and  55  may have openings from the top or the sides. In one embodiment, the exterior accessible front pockets  54  and  55  include extended interior portions for added storage. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 1 and 5A-5C  show an exemplary insulation-lined pocket  50 . As  FIGS. 5B and 5C  show, the pocket  50  is lined with an insulating material  60 . The insulating material  60  is preferably formed of a single, integrated piece of material although stitched material may be suitable in some embodiments. The material  60  is preferably formed in a manner configured to fold flat or substantially flat when not in use. As  FIG. 5D  shows, a bottom tab  62  is formed of the material  60  to function as a bottom surface when the pocket is in use by, e.g., a can  2 , placed through an open end  64  of the pocket  50 . 
         [0032]    In one preferred embodiment, the insulating material  60  is a neoprene-based material although, it is contemplated that one of many known insulating materials may be used consistent with the teachings herein, e.g., polyurethane foam. It should be appreciated that the insulating material  60  helps keep the beverage cooler for a longer period of time. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 6A-6C  show exemplary embodiments of an eyewear holder  70  for a pair of eyeglasses  4 . As  FIGS. 6A-6C  show, the holder  70  includes a sleeve or loop  72  and a strap  74 . In one embodiment, the loop  72  or strap  74  is formed of an elastic material. In one embodiment, holder  70  is positioned in the upper breast portion of the garment  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 . However, the spectacle holder  30  can be positioned in a variety of position to achieve a variety of functional and aesthetic goals. In one embodiment, the holder  70  is positioned over the underside of the flask pocket  56 . 
         [0034]    The loop  72  and the strap  74  may be spaced apart so that an eyewear hinge of an arm inserted through the loop  72  will rest against a top edge of the loop  72  and the strap  74  will be spaced such that the strap  74  will secure the arm in place. In one embodiment, the strap  74  is adjustable. In one embodiment, the strap  74  has a hook and loop fastener to adjustably hold the eyewear  4  in place. In one embodiment, a mechanical fastener may be used such as a snap-type fastener or button may be used. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  show an exemplary bottle-opening zipper  18  configured to function as a zipper head and a bottle opener. The zipper  18  functions to broaden or closing of the garment  10  and may be configured to open various beverage containers. For example, the zipper  18  may be adapted to remove different type bottle caps from bottles and tabs from push-tab cans. As shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the bottle-opener zipper is formed from a fulcrum-type opener. It is contemplated by the disclosure herein that many types of bottle opener types may be used, including a flat types having rectangular or rounded openings for applying force to a cap and is not intended to by limited thereby except by the appended claims. 
         [0036]    The disclosure has described certain preferred embodiments and modifications thereto. Further modifications and alterations may occur to others upon reading and understanding the specification. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.