FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates to a convertible garment, such as an article of clothing that is worn as outerwear, and a non-rigid container for carrying objects, such as a bag or backpack. More specifically, the present subject matter relates to manipulating the garment and assembling the garment as the non-rigid container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As will be discussed immediately below, no prior art discloses the present subject matter of a convertible garment that provides ultimate ease of convertibility, comfort, versatility and production. Many of the convertible garments disclosed by the prior art require materials, in addition to garment sleeves, to form straps for carrying the container. Examples of these convertible garments disclosed in the prior art include U.S. Patent Numbers D403,836; 4,307,470; 4,502,174; 5,860,164 and 7,363,659. Some convertible garments disclosed in the prior art require manipulation of the garment sleeves to form straps for carrying the container. However, the sleeves themselves require intricate manipulation and more material than the present subject matter claimed herein. Examples of these garments include U.S. Patent Numbers 4,057,854 and 8,479,315. All of the garments disclosed by the prior art suffer from additional significant drawbacks, such as ease of convertibility, an efficient and cost-effective arrangement of the garment components, and the ability of the garment to convert into a plurality of containers that are entirely non-rigid, such as a backpack, duffle bag, shoulder strapped garment bag and water bladder, to name a few.

SUMMARY

The embodiments described herein disclose a convertible garment. The convertible garment comprises two sleeves, wherein each sleeve includes a zipper arranged along a lower portion of thereof. The garment also comprises a front, a rear, at least one zipper arranged at a lower right garment rear, and at least one zipper arranged at a lower left garment rear. The zippers arranged on the sleeves attach to the zippers arranged on the garment rear, thereby forming carrying straps.

Furthermore, the garment comprises a garment neck portion, wherein at least one fastener is arranged along a first outer neck portion, and wherein at least one fastener securing device is arranged along a second neck portion opposite the first outer neck portion. Additionally, the garment comprises a drawstring arranged circumferentially along a bottom portion of the garment in its basic configuration. Other configurations include one or more other fasteners placed circumferentially along the bottom portion of the garment, same as the corresponding neck portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a convertible garment being worn.

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the convertible garment not being worn. FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the convertible garment with a neck hole closed by a button and hook and loop fastener combination.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the rear of the convertible garment with the neck hole closed by a button and hook and loop fastener combination.

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the convertible garment right sleeve configured with a half-zipper at the wrist.

FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the convertible garment rear bottom right configured with a half-zipper.

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the convertible garment right sleeve attachment to the rear bottom right via a zipper.

FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the convertible garment rear bottom right attachment to the right sleeve via a zipper in the closed position.

FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the convertible garment in an open container configuration.

FIG. 10 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the convertible garment in a closed container configuration with drawstrings arranged at both sides of the top of the garment.

FIG. 11 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the outward facing side of the convertible garment in the closed container configuration with drawstrings arranged at both sides of the top of the garment.

FIG. 12 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the outward facing side of the convertible garment in an open loading container configuration with drawstrings arranged at both sides of the top of the garment.

FIG. 13 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the convertible garment worn across one shoulder of a user.

FIG. 14 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the convertible garment worn across two shoulders of the user. FIG. 15 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the convertible garment worn along the back and two shoulders of the user in the open position.

FIG. 16 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the convertible garment worn along the back and two shoulders of the user in a closed position.

FIG. 17 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the convertible garment button, buttonhole, and zipper configuration.

FIG. 18 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the convertible garment neck portion in the closed position and one sleeve in a converted position.

FIG. 19 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the convertible garment in a container position.

FIG. 20 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the convertible garment neck hole, drawstrings, and covered zippers as used for converting the garment to a gym bag.

FIG. 21 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the convertible garment neck hole folded and zippers closed thereby attaching the sleeve to the front of the jacket.

FIG. 22 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the convertible garment in its closed position as a gym bag.

FIG. 23 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the convertible garment neck with a closed zipper, covered half zippers and a plurality of fasteners.

FIG. 24 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the convertible garment with the neck hole and bottom closed.

FIG. 25 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the convertible garment converted to an over the shoulder bag. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the convertible garment will be apparent from the following description of a particular embodiment, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. While specific exemplary embodiments are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustrative purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations can be used without departing from the scope of the subject matter, as defined by the claims.

As best shown in FIGS. 1-4, the convertible garment 100, such as a jacket or sweatshirt, has two sleeves 102 arranged to manipulate into carrying straps for a container. Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 and 11-12, the garment 100 has a zipper 104 arranged vertically along the center 106 of the garment front 108. In order for the garment 100 to be fully converted into a container, the sleeves 102, the rear zippers 112, and the neck portions 110 require manipulation. A zipper 104 may be arranged vertically along the center 106 of the garment 100 front or, alternatively, no front zippers will be used for a pullover garment. In some embodiments, the zipper 104 located at the center 106 of the garment 100 is a dual pull zipper. For conversion of the garment 100 into a container, the garment 100 front zipper 104 is arranged in the closed position, as shown in FIGS. 3, 11-12 and 17. Further, the garment 100 first neck portion 110 is arranged in a secured position with respect to the second neck portion 110 using a fastener 116 and fastener securing device, such as a button and buttonhole, as shown in FIGS. 3, 11-12 and 17. Additional fastening means may be used to ensure that the neck portions 110 remain secured, such as hook and loop fasteners. FIG. 4 shows the garment rear 118 when the neck portions 110 are arranged in the secured position. FIGS. 5-8 show the garment sleeves securing mechanisms 120 located at the wrist and garment rear 118. FIGS. 9-10 and 17-18 show the garment sleeves 102 and garment rear 118 in a secured position for conversion of the garment 100 into a container. This particular configuration ensures that the weight of any items located within the container are distributed across the width of the garment sleeves 102 and their securing mechanisms 120, so as to provide comfort to the user. FIGS. 5-8, 13, 14 and 18 further show manipulation of the garment 100 into a container by attachment of the two sleeves 102 to at least one securing mechanism 130 arranged at a lower right garment rear 118 and at least one securing mechanism 130 arranged at a lower left garment rear 118.

When zippers 122 are used as the securing mechanisms 120, the zipper 122 on each sleeve 102 is configured to zip towards the center of the garment rear 118, thereby ensuring that the weight of objects located within the container are well-distributed across the zippers 122 to prevent the sleeves 102 and garment rear 118 from pulling apart from one another. The strength of zippers 122 in this configuration ensures that the container is sturdy and an additional securing means, such as hook and loop fasteners, may be included to secure a zipper cover when the garment 100 is worn as a jacket.

Referring to FIGS. 10-11 and 19, the garment 100 has a drawstring 124 arranged along the bottom portion 132 of the garment 100 in a circumferential manner. Pulling of the drawstring 124 allows the garment 100 to be fully converted into a closed container, as shown in FIG. 16. Releasing of the drawstring 124 allows the garment 100 to be manipulated into an open container, as shown in FIG. 15, thereby permitting objects to be loaded into the container.

The container that is formed out of the garment 100 is of an entirely non-rigid structure. As such, the container does not lean back when the user is in a seated position. The container may take on the form of a backpack, duffle bag, water bladder, etc. FIGS. 16 and 19 show the container in the form of a backpack 126.

Referring now to FIGs. 20-22, there is shown the convertible garment converted to a gym bag according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the convertible garment 100 includes half zippers 126 on the front portion 108 of the garment 100, substantially parallel with the bottom of the garment 100. The half zippers 126 are located between the center opening 106 of the garment 100 and the side pockets such that the sleeves 102 are adapted to attach to the half zippers 126 to convert into carrying handles. The neck opening 110 of the garment includes a plurality of fasteners 116, such as snap button fasteners, to enable the neck portions 110 to be folded down and secured to the garment 100, similar to the backpack embodiments. The bottom of the garment 100 includes a fastener, such as drawstrings 124, adapted to close the bottom of the garment 100. The fasteners 116 that are located on the neck portion 110 and the bottom of the garment 100 are interspersed with hook and loop fasteners to provide a more secure enclosure.

In order to transform the convertible garment 100 to the gym bag, the center opening 106 is zippered to the neck portion 110 and subsequently the neck portion 110 is folded down and fastened close. Next, the bottom of the garment 100 is closed using the same type of fasteners used on the neck portion 110, such as buttons, snaps, and drawstrings, interspersed with hook and loop fasteners. Finally, the covered half zippers 122 on the sleeves are zippered to the lower front 108 of the garment 100 forming carrying handles to substantially form the gym bag.

Referring now to FIGs. 23-25, there is shown the convertible garment converted to an over the shoulder bag according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the covered half zippers 126 are adjacent and parallel to the center 106 of the garment 100. The zipper 104, such as a dual pull zipper, on the center opening 106 and the covered half zippers 126 both close toward the neck portion 110. To convert the convertible garment 100 to the over the shoulder bag, the garment 100 is folded and placed on its side with the center opening 106 serving as the top of the garment 100. The neck portion 110 and the bottom opening 132 are closed and secured to the garment via fasteners such that the neck portion 110 and the bottom are perpendicular to the center opening 106. The sleeves 102 are then zippered in parallel with the center opening 106 via half-covered zippers 122 on the sleeves 102 to form a flat non-rigid over the shoulder pouch.

It is noted that the size of the garment determines the size of the container. In one non- limiting embodiment, the garment is proportional to the size of the wearer. Furthermore, the garment material may be composed of material most comfortable or functional for the user, such as a wind-breaking material, micro fiber, denim, waterproof material, etc. Further, it is contemplated that the garment can be reversible such that one side is used as garment and the opposing side is used as the garment bag.

In some embodiments, the garment may include multiple half zippers to allow more than one configuration for the same garment. Two or more sets of half zippers can be arranged on the front and rear of the garment. In this way, the sleeves can be removably attached to different sides of the garment to form a jacket into a back pack, gym bag or an over the shoulder garment bag, as discussed above.

In some embodiments, the container may include a closeable drinking hose built into the garment sleeve for access to liquid. A water bladder may be arranged within the garment rear and secured to the garment using a fastener such as a snap button, zipper, hook and loop fastener, etc. In one non-limiting embodiment, a fastener is held in a liner so that the water bladder will be held between a liner and the from shoulder to shoulder and from the user's neck to their waistline, thereby creating a long, flat bladder. The water bladder may have two drinking tubes that draw water from the top and bottom of the bladder. The tubes can also be used to fill the bladder, while the bladder remains in place, without the need for removing the bladder from the garment. As such, the user may drink from the bladder in the garment or container configuration. Additionally, the drinking tubes may be concealed inside of one sleeve and/or secured by hook and loop fasteners in a pocket. Further, the bladder may include a screw-on mouthpiece and screw-on filler adaptors, such as a hose connector, funnel, or faucet connector. When the water bladder is removed, a partition is formed in a section of the container. It is also contemplated that the water bladder can be cooled or frozen before insertion into the container.

In another embodiment, a hood may be arranged at a top portion of the garment to add stability and strength to the container opening; more specifically, adding strength to the garment neck portions and the bottom of the container. The hood has button holes around the perimeter of the hood that corresponds with buttons on the front inside of the jacket. The hood is secured prior to zipping the jacket closed thereby forming a pocket, which closes the neck hole. A pocket adds strength to the bottom of the container storage area and keeps smaller items from falling through.

If so desired, an embodiment of the present subject matter may include garment tails, similar to tuxedo tails, to accommodate covering the container opening, thereby providing additional fastening means to increase protection for items located within the container. After manipulating the garment into a container, the garment neck becomes the bottom of the container. As such, garment tails become a flap that covers the top of the container, thereby ensuring optimal protection from exterior elements. When tails are configured on the garment, the tails connect to the front of the jacket using material covered by a securing mechanism, such as button, that is connected by bungee-type loops on the inside of the tails or by using button holes. Consequently, the container is tamper resistant when in the closed position.