Abstract:
A convertible apparatus comprises a foldable object and a hood attached to the foldable object. The foldable object is configured to be capable of folding and stuffing into the hood. One or more fasteners are capable of securing the foldable object within the hood after folding.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION 
       [0001]    This Application is a non-provisional of Application Ser. No. 61/899,837, entitled “Garment That Converts Into a Plush Toy”, filed Nov. 4, 2013. 
     
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0002]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Disclosed and described is a foldable garment toy and pillow. Specifically, a garment converts into a plush toy or pillow by folding within itself and fastening fasteners to contain the garment within the toy or pillow. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Some prior art systems provide attractive and interesting alternatives to otherwise plain and simple devices. For example, backpacks shaped as teddy bears and other plush animals are fun and useful for school children. While such systems are attractive to children, and clever, they do not typically convert into toys or provide night-time self-storage or use. Even teddy bear-shaped backpacks are still backpack-shaped devices, but with eyes and ears attached, for example. Further, such systems do not provide night storage or use for children. 
         [0005]    None of these or other prior art systems provide the ability to be useful in everyday life, to be fun as a children&#39;s toy, and the ability to be useful during sleep-time for children, as the system shown and described in the instant invention as claimed. Thus, such a system for solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In order to solve the problems and shortcomings of the prior art, a convertible garment comprises: a wearable garment comprising a hood; the wearable garment configured to be capable of folding and stuffing into the hood; and one or more fasteners capable of securing the garment within the hood after folding. 
         [0007]    According to another preferred embodiment, a convertible apparatus comprises: a foldable object; a hood attached to the foldable object, the foldable object configured to be capable of folding and stuffing into the hood; and one or more fasteners capable of securing the foldable object within the hood after folding. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a foldable garment toy and pillow in the unfolded laid flat position according to one embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in the laid flat position with the arms folded into the body of the garment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3A  is a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in the laid flat position with the arms folded towards the center of the garment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3B  is a back elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in the laid flat position with the arms folded towards the center of the garment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4A  is a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in laid flat position, but partially rolled from the bottom-up; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4B  is a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in the laid flat position, but further rolled from the bottom-up with respect to  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4C  is a bottom elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the garment fully rolled into the hood of the garment after the rolling of the garment as shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5A  is a back elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  partially rolled from the bottom-up as in  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5B  is a back elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , but further rolled from the bottom-up as in  FIG. 4B ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5C  is a back elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the garment fully rolled into the hood of the garment after the rolling of the garment shown in  FIGS. 4A-4C ; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the garment fully rolled into the hood of the garment and fastened. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings several embodiments of the invention. However, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown therein and described below. 
         [0020]    The foldable garment toy and pillow in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6  wherein like reference numerals are used throughout to designate like elements. With specific reference to  FIG. 1 , a front elevational view of a foldable garment toy and pillow  5  in the unfolded laid flat position according to one embodiment is shown. Got example, the garment  5  may include a pair of arms  7 , a shirt body or vest portion  9 . The garment  5  may also include a hood or hoodie portion  11 . In one embodiment, the hood  11  may include additional features for to appeal to children or other users, such as animal ears, eyes, nose, and/or other features that may cause the hood to appear like a stuffed animal or toy. Other embodiments of the hood  11  may include features, for example, that may cause the hood  11  to appear as a stuffed train, car, boat, or other toy that may appeal to a child or other user. 
         [0021]    With reference to  FIG. 2  a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , laid out in the flat position with the arms  7  folded over the body  9  of the garment  5  is shown. In this regard, the folding of the arms  7  over or under the body  9  may comprise a first step for the stuffing of the garment  5  into the hood  11  as indicated by arrows A. 
         [0022]    With reference to  FIG. 3A , a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in the laid flat position with the arms  7  further folded towards the center of the garment  9  is shown. In this regard, the further folding of the body  9  may comprise a second step for the stuffing of the garment  5  into the hood  11  as indicated by arrows B.  FIG. 3B  is a back elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in the laid flat position with the arms  7  folded towards the center of the garment  9  as shown in  FIG. 3A . 
         [0023]    With reference to  FIG. 4A , a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in the laid flat position, but partially rolled from the bottom-up is shown. In this regard, the further folding of the body  9  into the partially rolled position shown in  FIG. 4A  may comprise a third step for the stuffing of the garment  5  into the hood  11  as indicated by arrows C. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4B  is a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in the laid flat position but further rolled from the bottom-up with respect to  FIG. 4A . In  FIG. 4B , the body  9  is almost completely rolled up, and inserted into the bottom of the hood  11 . In this regard, the almost complete folding of the body  9  into the partially rolled position shown in  FIG. 4C  may comprise a fourth step for the stuffing of the garment  5  into the hood  11  as indicated by arrows 
         [0025]    D. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4C  is a bottom elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the garment  9  fully rolled into the hood  11  of the garment  9  after the rolling of the garment  9  as shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B . Also shown in  FIG. 4C  is a fastener  20  configured to provide securing of the stuffed garment  9  in the hood  11  after folding and stuffing. The fastener  20  may comprise, by way of example and not by way of limitations, one or more buttons, one or more Velcro® hooks and loops, one or more stretchable bands and hooks, or the like. As a final step to stuffing the garment  9  into the hood  11 , the user may secure the stuffed garment  9  in the hood  11  via the fastener  20 . At this point, the garment  9  stuffed in the hood  11  now comprises a stuffed toy  5 , pillow  5 , or other stuffed plush object  5  converted from a wearable garment. Further, in other embodiments, the garment  9  may be substituted for a blanket, towel, cloth or paper napkin, tissue paper, or any other foldable material. 
         [0027]    With reference back to  FIG. 3B , in one embodiment, further fasteners  22  over and above the fastener  20  may be included on the hood  11 . With reference to  FIG. 5A , a back elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , but partially rolled from the bottom-up as in  FIG. 4A  is shown, with the additional fasteners  22  shown on the back part of the hood  11 . 
         [0028]    With reference to  FIG. 5B , a back elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  but further rolled from the bottom-up as in  FIG. 4B  is shown. The additional fasteners  22  may then be connected by folding the bottom part of the hood  11  with the bottom fasteners  22  to connect with the top fasteners  22  to further secure the pillow or toy  5  once the garment  9  has been folded into the hood  11 . This step is shown by arrows E in  FIG. 5B . 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIG. 5C  is a back elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the garment  9  fully rolled into the hood  11  of the garment after the rolling of the garment  9  shown in  FIGS. 4A-4C , but after the additional fasteners  22  have been fastened to complete the structure of the pillow or toy  5 , including, in one embodiment, to condense the pillow or toy  5 . 
         [0030]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the garment  9  fully rolled into the hood  11  of the garment  11  is shown. 
         [0031]    The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the invention. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made to the claimed invention without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.