Wearable protective changing garment

Abstract

A garment allows a wearer to change clothes in privacy and can be comfortably worn for protection before, during, and after changing. The garment can include two layers of water-absorbent or water-wicking material separated by a water resistant layer. Alternatively, the garment can include an absorbent or wicking interior layer and a water resistant exterior layer. The garment can include a hood, sleeves, and two apertures that allow a wearer to reach underneath the garment to change clothes.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 358,656, filed Feb. 21, 2006, from which priority is claimed.I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention generally relates to reversible garments with a water absorbent or water wicking layer and a water resistant layer, particularly for the purpose of changing wet clothes. II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Many outdoor activities generally require the use of special clothing to participate. For example, it is typically recommended that surfers and divers wear a wetsuit to keep the body protected from wind and cold water temperatures. After participating in such activities, one must often change clothing in a public facility or near other people to stay warm, drive home, or engage in other activities such as going to a restaurant or shopping. In many instances however, public facilities or private changing quarters are not available due to the remoteness of th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] A garment that can be worn before, during, and after the changing of clothes underneath the garment includes a body portion with a polyester fleece layer and a second layer flush therewith. The second layer includes a water resistant surface made of one or more of neoprene, nylon, polypropylene, thermoplastic polyurethane. The body portion defines a bottom edge and two side edges that are not attached to each other to establish a garment opening for the purpose of facilitating the placement of the garment on a wearer. Two arm apertures are formed within the body portion and are configured to facilitate the placement of a wearer's hands and arms therethrough. With this structure, while the wearer places her hands through the arm apertures to access and remove wet clothing and change into dry clothing with the polyester fleece layer facing the body, the polyester fleece layer can wick water and the second layer remains substantially dry, thereby allowing the wearer, after changing has occurred, to reverse the garment and wear the garment for protection, warmth, or leisure without dampening clothing underneath the garment.

Problems solved by technology

In many instances however, public facilities or private changing quarters are not available due to the remoteness of the location or the circumstances of the activity.

Similarly, a diver on a crowded boat may be forced to wear a wet wetsuit for a prolonged period due to a limited availability of suitable changing facilities or if they are in between dives.

Even in locations where changing facilities are available, such as designated beach areas, if the parking, surfing, and public facility locations are spaced far apart or in different directions, a person may be forced to walk considerable distances and spend valuable time to change clothes in a public facility.

Thus, either in a location with or without suitable changing facilities, safely changing clothes in public can be difficult.

As understood herein, if no adequate facilities are available, changing clothes without accidentally exposing oneself can be a burdensome task.

If no facilities and a second person are not available however, the options for changing clothes without public exposure are rather limited.

However this can be awkward and carries a heightened possibility of public exposure.

However, this option might require walking a long distance and can present safety issues if a person is all alone in a remote area.

This option, while not always available, often requires burdensome and repetitive travel, may involve getting in their vehicles with a wet wetsuit, is time consuming, and does not allow a person to change clothes to be immediately prepared to engage in other activities that are occurring in the same location or close by.

Images