| WO/2008/094280 | PROTECTIVE GARMENT SYSTEM WITH WEIGHT TRANSFER ELEMENTS |
| JP06312040 | JACKET FOR BOARD SAILING |
| JP11081009 | WAISTCOAT REFLECTING LIGHT AT NIGHT |
| CLAIMS 1. An arrangement that is convertible from a vest to a carrying bag and back to a vest, comprising: a body section, a strap section interconnected with the body section, a first zipper track that extends along a circumferential edge of the arrangement from a first end location to a second end location, a second zipper track that extends along a circumferential edge of the arrangement from another first end location to the second end location, first and second zippers having first and second sliders, respectively, that are movable along a continuous path defined by the zipper tracks between the first end locations and the second end location, wherein the first and second sliders are movable along the continuous path to selectively join opposing rows of interlocking elements on the zipper tracks together or separate the opposing rows of interlocking elements apart, and wherein at all locations between the first and second sliders on the continuous path, said opposing rows of interlocking elements are joined together at all times. 2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the body section and the strap section are integrally formed. 3. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising at least one pocket disposed at one lateral side of the arrangement. 4. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein the arrangement is convertible from a carrying bag mode, in which the arrangement is configured as said carrying bag, into any of a fully zipped, pocket-out vest mode, a partially zipped, pocket-out vest mode, a fully zipped, pocket-in vest mode, and a partially zipped, pocket-in vest mode. 5. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said first zipper is disposed at said first end locations on said path and said second zipper is disposed at said second end location on said path when the arrangement is configured as said carrying bag. 6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the interlocking elements are teeth. 7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the interlocking elements are coils. 8. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein the arrangement is further convertible from the carrying bag mode into a totally unzipped vest mode in which said first and second sliders are disposed on a single one of said zipper tracks. 9. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein the arrangement is further convertible from any of said vest modes into a pocket-in carrying bag mode or a pocket-out carrying bag mode. 10. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein said at least one pocket is a zippered pocket. 11. The arrangement of claim 2, further comprising at least one pocket disposed at one lateral side of the arrangement. 12. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the arrangement is convertible from a carrying bag mode, in which the arrangement is configured as said carrying bag, into any of a fully zipped, pocket-out vest mode, a partially zipped, pocket-out vest mode, a fully zipped, pocket-in vest mode, and a partially zipped, pocket-in vest mode. 13. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein the arrangement is further convertible from the carrying bag mode into a totally unzipped vest mode in which said first and second sliders are disposed on a single one of said zipper tracks. 14. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein the arrangement is further convertible from any of said vest modes into a pocket-in carrying bag mode or a pocket-out carrying bag mode. 15. The arrangement of claim 5, further comprising at least one pocket disposed at one lateral side of the arrangement. 16. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein the arrangement is convertible from a carrying bag mode, in which the arrangement is configured as said carrying bag, into any of a fully zipped, pocket-out vest mode, a partially zipped, pocket-out vest mode, a fully zipped, pocket-in vest mode, and a partially zipped, pocket-in vest mode. 17. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein the arrangement is further convertible from the carrying bag mode into a totally unzipped vest mode in which said first and second sliders are disposed on a single one of said zipper tracks. 18. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein the arrangement is further convertible from any of said vest modes into a pocket-in carrying bag mode or a pocket-out carrying bag mode. 19. The arrangement of claim 6, further comprising at least one pocket disposed at one lateral side of the arrangement. 20. The arrangement of claim 7, further comprising at least one pocket disposed at one lateral side of the arrangement. |
[0001] This application claims priority to provisional U.S. Patent application 61/247,108, titled CARRYING BAG OR VEST, filed September 30, 2009, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention concerns a carrying bag that is convertible into a vest and then back into a carrying bag as desired, and that may be configured in a variety of different modes as either the vest arrangement or the carrying bag.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] U.S. Patent 5,278,998 to Book concerns a garment that is convertible into a tote bag and back to a garment. A zipper track extends from a front terminus near a collar of the garment, down opposed front edges of front panels, along bottom edge segments, along bifurcation edges contiguous with the bottom edge segments, and ultimately to a rear terminus.
CONFIRMATION COPY [0006] U.S. Patent 4,637,076 to Tartt et al. discloses a vest bag that is convertible between a vest garment configuration and a bag configuration. The vest bag includes a unit of leather or other flexible material having a lower portion, sectioned into panels forming pockets, and an upper portion, divided into a central back panel and a pair of side panels.
[0007] U.S. Patent 4,483,469 to Arisland discloses a carrier bag that is convertible between a body support configuration and a hand support configuration and consists of a vest and two purse segments. A zip fastener is provided for connecting the purse segments to one another in a face-to-face relationship to form a garment storage compartment.
[0008] U.S. Patent 4,475,251 to Hopkins discloses a garment capable of being folded and converted to a purse. Pockets of various sizes and shapes designed to receive items usually carried in a purse are provided.
[0009] U.S. Design Patent 352,152 to Maye discloses an ornamental design for a combined convertible vest and purse.
[0010] German publication DE 37 32 496 Al to Mantz discloses a sleeveless jacket for photographic equipment that can be converted into a bag when unrequired parts are turned inwardly. [0011] French publication 2 413 052 to Zimmer discloses a waistcoat for fishermen with a portion usable as a bag.
[0012] French publication 2 507 441 to Anjubault discloses a vest convertible into a case for a photographer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] A convertible carrying bag or vest arrangement can be selectively configured into any of at least four modes. These modes include substantially or totally zipped, unzipped, and partially zipped vest modes, as well as various tote bag or hand bag modes.
[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the arrangement that is convertible from a vest to a carrying bag and back to a vest includes a body section, a strap section interconnected with the body section, a first zipper track that extends along a circumferential edge of the arrangement from a first end location to a second end location, and a second zipper track that extends along a circumferential edge of the arrangement from another first end location to the second end location. First and second zippers have respective first and second sliders that are movable along a continuous path defined by the zipper tracks between the first end locations and the second end location. The first and second sliders are movable along the continuous path to selectively join opposing rows of interlocking elements on the zipper tracks together or separate the opposing rows of interlocking elements apart. To facilitate rapid and simple conversion between a carrying or tote bag mode and any of a variety of vest modes, the opposing rows of interlocking elements are joined together at all times at all locations between the first and second sliders on the continuous path. The interlocking elements may be teeth, coils, or other interlocking structures.
[0015] The body section and the strap section may be integrally formed or, alternatively, formed from multiple pieces of material sewn or otherwise secured together. The arrangement may be lined or unlined, and may have a pocket or multiple pockets, which may be zippered, if desired. The pocket or pockets may be disposed at one or both lateral sides of the arrangement. When the arrangement is provided with pockets on only one of its lateral sides, it is convertible from a carrying bag mode, in which the arrangement is configured as the carrying bag, into any of a fully zipped, pocket-out vest mode, a partially zipped, pocket-out vest mode, a fully zipped, pocket-in vest mode, and a partially zipped, pocket-in vest mode. When the arrangement is configured as the carrying bag, the first zipper is disposed at the first end locations on the path and the second zipper is disposed at the second end location on the path.
[0016] The arrangement is further convertible from the carrying bag mode into a totally unzipped vest mode, in which the first and second sliders are disposed on a single one of said zipper tracks, as well as from any of the vest modes into a pocket-in carrying bag mode or a pocket-out carrying bag mode. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a convertible carrying bag or vest arrangement according to the invention in a partially zipped, pocket-out vest mode.
[0018] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the arrangement of Figure 1 in a fully zipped, pocket-out vest mode.
[0019] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the arrangement of Figure 1 in a totally unzipped, pocket-out vest mode.
[0020] Figure 4 is a plan view of a lateral side of the arrangement shown in Figure 3 in a completely unfolded state showing pockets on the visible lateral side.
[0021] Figure 5 is a view of an opposite lateral side of the arrangement shown in Figure 4, without pockets.
[0022] Figure 6 is a view of the arrangement when used as a vest, with a leading zipper at a terminal position on cooperating zipper tracks and a trailing zipper at an intermediate position on the zipper tracks. [0023] Figure 7 is a view of the arrangement when used as a carrying bag, with the leading zipper at the same terminal position as in Figure 6 and the trailing zipper at an opposite terminal position on the zipper tracks.
[0024] Figure 8 is a view of the arrangement of Figure 7 when used in a different manner as a carrying bag.
[0025] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the arrangement as it is being placed into a pocket-out carrying bag mode and showing the cooperating zipper tracks in greater detail.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] As shown in Figure 1, the convertible carrying bag or vest arrangement 50 according to the invention includes a pair of zippers 52 and 54 that can travel with respect to interlocking elements, such as teeth, coils, or other interlocking, meshing, or mating structures, secured to parallel zipper tapes or other attachment structure to form cooperating zipper tracks 56 and 58. For clarity, the zipper 52 will be referred to as a first or leading zipper, while the zipper 54 will be referred to as a second or trailing zipper. In one preferred configuration, the zipper track 56 extends along a circumferential edge of the arrangement 50 from an end location 60, and the zipper track 58 extends along a circumferential edge of the arrangement from an end location 62. The arrangement 50 is shown in Figure 1 in a partially zipped vest mode. [0027] The arrangement 50 illustrated includes a body section 64, which may be formed of a single piece of material or of multiple material pieces attached together; as schematically illustrated in Figures 1-3, the body section 64 is formed from a single piece of any desired and appropriate material, such as cloth, leather, vinyl, and so on.
[0028] As illustrated, straps 70, forming at least part of a strap section of the arrangement, are formed with and continue from or are sewn, buttoned, or secured by snaps, or are otherwise attached, directly or indirectly, to an upper portion of the body section 64. The straps 70 may be of fixed or adjustable length, as desired.
[0029] In the substantially or totally zipped vest mode of Figure 2, the first zipper 52 is displaced upward toward zipper track end locations 60 and 62, visible in Figure 1, until the zipper 52 is prohibited from further movement by a top stop at the end location 60. The substantially or totally zipped mode of Figure 2 will be referred to subsequently as a "fully" zipped vest mode for simplicity. When the zipper 52 is in the position illustrated in Figure 2, the top stop, at the end location 60, and an insertion pin, at the end location 62, are brought into proximity by way of the slider of the first zipper 52. In the partially zipped vest mode shown in Figure 1, by contrast, the interlocking elements, such as teeth, coils, or other interlocking structures disposed along the zipper tracks 56 and 58 are separated by the slider of the first zipper 52. As a result, the previously meshing or mating interlocking elements disengaged between the location of the first zipper 52 and zipper track end locations 60 and 62.
[0030] To change the arrangement 50 from the partially zipped vest mode of Figure 1 or the fully zipped vest mode of Figure 2 into the totally unzipped vest mode shown in Figure 3, after displacing both of the zippers 52 and 54 upward toward zipper track end ocations 60 and 62 to such an extent that the insertion pin at the end location 62 can be disengaged from the sliders of both of the zippers 52 and 54, the insertion pin at the end location 62 is withdrawn from both sliders. The zipper track end locations 60 and 62 may then separate, placing the arrangement 50 into the totally unzipped vest mode illustrated. In the totally unzipped vest mode, the zippers 52 and 54 can be located in desired positions anywhere along the zipper track 56, and could be located adjacent a joint end location 80 of the cooperating zipper tracks 56 and 58 as shown in Figure 4. The joint end location 80 is disposed at extreme distal positions on the tracks with respect to the proximal positions on the tracks occupied by the zipper track end locations 60 and 62.
[0031] To return the arrangement from the totally unzipped vest mode shown in Figure 3 to either the partially zipped vest mode shown in Figure 1 or the fully zipped vest mode of Figure 2, the insertion pin at the end location 62 can be inserted into the slider of the second or trailing zipper 54, and then the slider of the first or leading zipper 52. The second zipper 54 may then be displaced along the zipper tracks 56 and 58 away from the first zipper 52 to place the arrangement into the fully zipped vest mode, which is shown in Figure 6 as well as in Figure 2. The first zipper may then be displaced along the zipper tracks away from the end locations 60 and 62 to a desired extent to place the arrangement into the partially zipped vest mode, as is evident from Figure 1.
[0032] In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the body section 64 of the arrangement 50 is provided with pockets 74 on one of its lateral sides but not on the other lateral side; this is evident, for example, from a comparison of Figures 4 and 5. If desired, of course, the arrangement could be configured to have pockets on both of its sides, or on neither of its sides. Figure 6 provides an illustration of the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated and described when worn in a fully zipped, pocket-out vest mode. The arrangement i
shown, of course, could also be worn in various pocket-in vest modes.
[0033] Instead of being used in the vest modes mentioned, the arrangement may be used in a carrying bag mode. Figure 7 illustrates the arrangement as being used in a pocket-out carrying bag cross body mode, while Figure 8 illustrates the arrangement as being used in a pocket-out carrying bag side mode.^
[0034] The pockets shown in Figures 1-4 and 6-9 of the drawings are zippered pockets, but the pockets could have other configurations. The pockets, for example, could include snap, VELCRO, or button closure elements, or no closure elements at all. Again, moreover, an arrangement without pockets is additionally contemplated. [0035] Figure 9 is a view of the arrangement 50 as it is being converted from the totally unzipped, pocket-out vest mode to a pocket-out carrying or tote bag mode. To change the arrangement 50 from the totally unzipped vest mode shown in Figure 3 to a carrying bag mode, the insertion pin at the end location 62 of the zipper track 58 can be inserted into the slider of the second or trailing zipper 54 and then the slider of the first or leading zipper 52. The second zipper 54 may then be displaced along the zipper tracks 56 and 58, away from the first zipper 52, and past the position taken when the arrangement 50 is in the fully zipped vest mode shown in Figures 2 and 6, in a direction 90, until the second zipper 54 arrives at the joint end location 80 of the cooperating zipper tracks 56 and 58. The first zipper 52, by contrast, remains in place at the proximal track positions of the zipper track end locations 60 and 62. To return the arrangement again to mode shown in Figure 3, these acts or operations are reversed.
[0036] When each of the zippers 52, 54 engages both of the zipper tracks 56, 58, the zippers are both movable along a single continuous path defined, by the adjacent zipper tracks, between the joint end location 80 and the end locations 60, 62 to selectively join opposing interlocking zipper elements together or separate those opposing elements apart. Between the zippers 52 and 54, opposing rows of interlocking zipper elements are joined together at all times to provide a garment that is secure and yet readily removable. Rapid and simple conversion between the carrying or tote bag mode and the variety of vest modes is also facilitated by an arrangement according to the invention. [0037] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
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