Convertible outerwear garment with thermal insulation

Abstract

A garment for use by outdoors persons permits mobility and includes an integral foot and leg warming tubular bag section that is readily deployed without requiring removal of the garment. The garment including integral foot and leg warming tubular bag section may be carried initially in a bundle at the small of the back using straps in much the same manner as a fanny pack. The user unfastens and then drops the foot and leg warming tubular bag section of the garment to the floor, where a closure is provided to enable the bottom of the bag to be sealed around the legs and the feet. Once deployed and sealed, the bottom portion of the bag works much like a sleeping bag to conserve the body's heat.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 675,451 filed Apr. 28, 2005.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to clothing for use by outdoors persons and others needing protection from cold or inclement weather. More particularly, the invention relates to clothing for use by outdoors persons that permits mobility and protects the wearer's upper and lower extremities. [0004] 2. Background Art [0005] Hunters, fishermen, military personnel and other outdoors persons often hike into remote locations in cold or inclement weather and then engage in an activity requiring little or no movement, such as sitting in and hunting from a tree stand or sitting while ice fishing or conducting surveillance. The sedentary portion of such activities can last for several hours, and if the weather is cold, discomfort or hypothermia can be a problem. [0006] In the past, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a durable garment permitting mobility and including a convenient facility to protect the user's lower extremities. Another object of the present invention is to provide an anorak or upper body section in conjunction with an imperforate garment extension to envelope the user's lower extremities, wherein the garment can be repeatedly deployed as needed, preferably without requiring removal thereof.

Problems solved by technology

The sedentary portion of such activities can last for several hours, and if the weather is cold, discomfort or hypothermia can be a problem.

Such articles, however, are cumbersome and inconvenient to carry, stow and use.

Moreover, these articles frequently impede and detract from the activity being engaged in, and are not suited for use while an individual is standing or in motion.

Such garments have not found widespread acceptance in the marketplace, however, perhaps because they incorporate too many features which serve no purpose in most practical situations, and so add unnecessary weight.

A variety of articles styled as emergency garments have been proposed for avoiding hypothermia, but they are often packaged as temporary or single use “space blanket” type products, and so do not meet the needs of the outdoorsman seeking a durable, versatile garment that can be used day after day.

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