Outerwear with retractably-tethered hand covering

Abstract

An outerwear garment having sleeves, where at least one sleeve has a closeable pocket of a size to contain a hand covering. A retractable tether, such as a shock cord or bungee cord, is attached at one end to the hand covering and the other end to the closeable pocket. The retractable tether may be detachably attached to the hand covering, closeable pocket, or both, via a fastener such as snaps. The pocket may be closed via a zipper, snaps, or hook at loop fasteners.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 382,587, filed on Sep. 14, 2010, and entitled “Spring or Winter Jacket with Attached Gloves.”TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates generally to the combination of outerwear, such as a jacket, with pocketed sleeves and a hand covering that is retractably-tethered to the pocket.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]A common problem with known type long-sleeved garments is that, while such garments protect the upper torso and arms of the wearer, the hands are exposed to the elements. One inventor has attempted to address this problem for participants in sports and other outdoor activities. H. G. Outlaw, U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,468. The Outlaw patent permits individuals to warm their hands by placing them in small exterior pockets located just below the arm pits. This structure is arranged to allow individuals who need to have their hands uncovered by gloves or such to...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]The present invention is directed to an outerwear garment, such as a jacket, having sleeves where at least one sleeve includes a closeable pocket, a retractable tether, and a hand covering, such as a glove, glove liner, or mitten. One end of the retractable tether, such as a shock cord or bungee cord, is attached to the hand covering. The other end of the retractable tether is attached to the closeable pocket. The hand covering fits inside the closeable pocket when the hand covering is not needed by a user. In this way, a user can have access to the hand covering when needed, but the hand covering can be readily tucked away inside the closeable pocket without the chance of being lost or misplaced.

[0017]In use, a user can unzip, or otherwise open, the pocket to access the hand covering. The retractable tether and hand covering can either extend outside the pocket and sleeve structure through the zipper / closure or through a small opening, such as one positioned near the distal end of the sleeve (e.g., jacket cuff). The hand covering is easily accessed by the user.

Problems solved by technology

A common problem with known type long-sleeved garments is that, while such garments protect the upper torso and arms of the wearer, the hands are exposed to the elements.

Insertion of the hands in opposite sleeves is comfortable and convenient, though the practice over time will result in excessive stretching of the sleeve cuffs.

The Outlaw patent does not accommodate this common practice of inserting ungloved hands into the opposite sleeve.

Instead, it requires individuals to place their hands just below the armpits, an area of the body that it is often sweaty and odorous, particularly if the individual is engaged in an outdoor sport.

Also, to fully insert both hands simultaneously into the pockets on each side of the individual's upper torso is often difficult and uncomfortable.

Furthermore, the Outlaw patent does not warm or protect an individual's hands when he or she is using them.

Neither the Livingstone patent nor the West patent accommodate the use of the pockets for warming of hands.

No provision is made in this device to conveniently store the glove in a pocket along the forearm of the jacket.

This device requires that the mitten be thrust upwardly into the pocket in an inverted position, requiring a difficult step to stow or retrieve the mitten for use.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,758 provides hand warming pockets in the jacket sleeves, but does not provide means to retract gloves into the pockets.

These patents include R. R. Tonkens, U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,091 titled, “Garment Tissue Dispenser and Method,” R. T. French, U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,545 titled, “Pouch for Holding and Dispensing Facial Tissues,” and R. D. Woodson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,791 titled, “Sock Having Knitted Carry-All Compartment and Method of Making Thereof.” However, these inventions, as well as the Outlaw garment, do not accommodate the practice of storing loose items in sleeves.

Images