Detachable-Tail Kigurumi with Convertible Neck Pillow Feature
The detachable tail mechanism in kigurumi pajamas addresses discomfort by converting into a neck pillow and enabling personalization, improving comfort and utility while maintaining aesthetic appeal.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- US · United States
- Patent Type
- Applications(United States)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SHENG ADAM
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-01
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-07
AI Technical Summary
Existing kigurumi pajamas face discomfort due to fixed tails causing pressure points during sitting or lying down, limiting their use as sleepwear, and existing solutions fail to integrate comfort and aesthetic features effectively.
A detachable tail mechanism using a standardized zipper allows the tail to be easily attached or detached, converting into a neck pillow for enhanced comfort and utility, with interchangeable designs for personalization.
The detachable tail provides comfort during sleep and sitting, serves as a practical neck pillow, reduces loss risk, and allows for customization, enhancing the kigurumi's versatility and aesthetic appeal.
Smart Images
Figure US20260123693A1-D00000_ABST
Abstract
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to cosplay pajamas, commonly referred to as “kigurumi” or “kigu,” a type of loose-fitting jumpsuit for adults characterized by an animal or anthropomorphic animal appearance.
[0002] “Kigurumi” literally means “wearable plush mascot” in Japanese and originally referred to costumes worn by costumed performers. Over time, the term has come to encompass all types of characterized jumpsuits for adults, often called “onesies” in the United States. In English, “kigurumi” or “kigu” typically does not carry the meaning of performer costumes and is used exclusively to refer to these characterized jumpsuits for adults.
[0003] This invention specifically pertains to the aforementioned type of jumpsuits and does not concern costumes worn by professional performers.BACKGROUNDS
[0004] In recent years, there has been an increase in the popularity of kigurumi pajamas, often referred to as “onesies” in some markets. These garments are commonly used as novelty sleepwear and feature animal or animal-inspired designs, often with features such as hoods that display animal faces and tails attached to the back of the suit.
[0005] While kigurumi pajamas are typically designed to provide both comfort and playful aesthetic appeal, several limitations persist in their current designs. Notably, the fixed, attached tails often cause discomfort when the wearer is sitting or lying down, as the plush tails create an uneven surface, leading to pressure points and overall discomfort during extended use. This issue is particularly pronounced in scenarios where wearers want to use the kigurumi as sleepwear or while seated. Such an issue essentially prevents users from wearing a kigurumi as a ‘pajama,’ which is how people commonly perceive kigurumi and generally imagine it to be primarily used as sleepwear.
[0006] Maintaining comfort and utility while adding playful features to kigurumi (or similar items) has been a persistent challenge in the industry. For example, U.S. application Ser. No. 15 / 249,007 (now abandoned) proposed the idea of attaching a configurable pouch to the front of the jumpsuit, allowing the user to place a plush toy inside. This design introduces a playful feature without permanently fixing a stuffed plush to the jumpsuit, which could otherwise interfere with its usability. Such an alternative solution uses the plush toy to resemble an animal feature while keeping the jumpsuit itself free from modifications like attached ears and tails. However, in exchange, the jumpsuit itself fails to fully represent the intended animal figure, as it lacks integrated features that traditionally contribute to the overall aesthetic and character of the kigurumi.
[0007] Animal designs have also been applied to wearable neck pillows in prior art. U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 613,707 (abandoned) discussed a neck pillow featuring animal elements, either ‘long-shaped’ animals like snakes and lizards, which naturally resemble the shape of a strip-style neck pillow, or other animals like dogs, exaggerated into a lengthy shape to accommodate the pillow form. The neck pillow in this invention is identified as a ‘wearable plush toy as wearing apparel.’ However, this definition does not effectively distinguish it from ‘a plush toy in a wearable shape,’ making its utility and novelty questionable from a practical perspective. The tail of a kigurumi, on the other hand, is an existing part of the apparel, and converting it into a neck pillow represents an effective utilization of the garment's design. This approach not only preserves the functionality and aesthetic appeal of the kigurumi but also adds practical value by offering comfort during sleep or travel, without introducing an entirely new or exaggerated form to achieve utility.
[0008] This In summary, none of the prior art has addressed the dual functionality of a detachable tail on a kigurumi that enhances both comfort and utility. Existing designs either focus on aesthetic features or isolated improvements in comfort, without integrating these elements into a multifunctional, user-friendly solution. This gap in the related art presents a clear opportunity for innovation, which the present invention seeks to address. By allowing the tail to be easily detached and repurposed, this invention provides an elegant solution that enhances the versatility and practicality of kigurumi garments, all while maintaining their playful nature.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention addresses the limitations of existing kigurumi designs by introducing a detachable tail feature. The tail is connected to the main body of the kigurumi using a standardized zipper mechanism. This design allows the tail to be easily attached or detached by the wearer.
[0010] When detached, the plush tail transforms into a neck pillow, providing additional comfort and utility as a pajama. The detachable feature also allows users to exchange tails for personalization and fun, enhancing the social and interactive aspects of wearing a kigurumi.
[0011] Key benefits of the invention include:
[0012] a) Enhanced Comfort: Detaching the tail enables comfortable sitting and sleeping without obstruction.
[0013] b) Additional Utility: The detached tail serves as a plush neck pillow, improving the pajama functionality.
[0014] c) Loss Prevention: The tail's additional functionality when detached makes it more useful and less likely to be misplaced, as the user can continue to use it even when it's not attached to the kigurumi.
[0015] d) Customization: Interchangeable tails allow users to personalize their kigurumi and engage in playful exchanges.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1: Front view of a user wearing the kigurumi with the tail attached.
[0017] FIG. 2: Side view of a user wearing the kigurumi with the tail attached, illustrating the typical size of the tail and the position of the zipper.
[0018] FIG. 3: Detailed view of the zipper mechanism connecting the tail to the kigurumi body, focused on the zipper mechanism.
[0019] FIG. 4: Detailed view of the zipper mechanism connecting the tail to the kigurumi body, focused on the attachment area.
[0020] FIG. 5: Side view of a user wearing the kigurumi with the tail detached, alongside the detached tail, highlighting the zipper handle on the tail portion.
[0021] FIG. 6: User wearing the kigurumi without the tail, demonstrating a comfortable sitting posture.
[0022] FIG. 7: User using the detached tail as a neck pillow, showing how the tail is placed inside the hood while wearing it to hold the pillow in place.
[0023] FIG. 8: Multiple tail designs illustrating the interchangeability feature.DETAILED DESCRIPTIONKigurumi Structure (FIG. 1)
[0024] The kigurumi (10) comprises a one-piece jumpsuit designed to resemble an animal figure. It includes a body portion (12), sleeves (14), legs (16), a hood (18) featuring animal facial characteristics, and a tail (20). The tail (20) is traditionally plush and extends from the lower back area of the kigurumi.The Detachable Tail on the Kigurumi (FIGS. 2-4)
[0025] The tail (20) is connected to an attachment area (26) on the body portion (12) via a standardized zipper mechanism (22). The attachment area is an enhanced flap made of the same material of the kigurumi, extended out from the back waist of the body portion. The zipper allows for easy attachment and detachment of the tail by the wearer.Detaching the Detachable Tail (FIG. 5):
[0026] The zipper mechanism (22) comprises two halves: one (23) affixed to the tail base and the other (25) to the attachment area (26) on the kigurumi body. Once detached, the handle of the zipper (24) remains on the tail halve (23).Comfort Enhancement (FIG. 5)
[0027] Detaching the tail removes the obstruction that traditionally hinders comfortable sitting or lying down. FIG. 5 illustrates a user (32) wearing the kigurumi without the tail, seated comfortably without pressure or imbalance caused by the tail.Tail Conversion to Neck Pillow (FIG. 6)
[0028] When detached, the tail (20) reshapes into a neck pillow. The tail's plush material and ergonomic design provide neck support for the user. The conversion may involve simple folding and placing it inside the hood while wearing it to hold the pillow in place.Interchangeable Tails (FIG. 7)
[0029] The standardized zipper mechanism allows for various tails (20a, 20b, 20c) to be attached to the same kigurumi body. Users can exchange tails featuring different designs, colors, or animal characteristics, adding a customizable element to the garment.Preferred Embodiment
[0030] In the preferred embodiment, the kigurumi is designed to represent various animal figures, each with a corresponding tail design. The zipper mechanism is a high-quality plastic zipper with a concealed design to blend seamlessly with the garment's aesthetics. The tail's conversion into a neck pillow involves folding the tail and securing it with snap buttons or Velcro fasteners, which are discreetly integrated into the tail's structure.
[0031] The materials used are hypoallergenic and machine-washable, ensuring ease of maintenance. The interchangeability of tails allows for accessory packs to be sold separately, encouraging collectability and personalization among users.Industrial Applicability
[0032] This invention is applicable in the garment industry, specifically in the production of novelty sleepwear and loungewear. It offers a solution to comfort issues associated with traditional kigurumi designs and adds value through multifunctionality and customization.
Claims
1. A kigurumi pajama comprising:a one-piece jumpsuit defining (1) a body portion resembling an animal figure and (2) a hood at an upper region of the body portion, the hood featuring animal facial characteristics, the one-piece jumpsuit comprising an enhanced flap attached to a lower back region of the body portion, the enhanced flap being made of the same material as the body portion; anda tail component detachably connected to the enhanced flap at the lower back region of the body portion via a standardized zipper mechanism, the standardized zipper mechanism comprising a first half portion affixed to the tail component and a second half portion affixed to the enhanced flap;wherein the tail component is detachable to enhance comfort for a wearer of the kigurumi pajama during sitting and sleeping, and detaching the tail component from the enhanced flap causes the tail component and the body portion to form two separate components.
2. The kigurumi pajama of claim 1, wherein the tail component that is detached and separated from the body portion of the kigurumi pajama is convertible into a neck pillow for the wearer.
3. The kigurumi pajama of claim 1, wherein the standardized zipper mechanism allows for interchangeable attachment of an alternative tail component selectable from multiple tail components, each alternative tail component having a different design.
4. The kigurumi pajama of claim 1, wherein the second half portion of the standardized zipper mechanism is concealed within a fabric of the enhanced flap to prevent irritation to the wearer's skin.
5. The kigurumi pajama of claim 2, wherein the tail component is constructed from plush material providing cushioning when used as the neck pillow.
6. The kigurumi pajama of claim 2, wherein the tail component comprises one or more additional fasteners integrated in a structure of the tail component, and the tail component is foldable and securable using the integrated fasteners to convert the tail component into the neck pillow.
7. The kigurumi pajama of claim 6, wherein the integrated fasteners comprise snap buttons or Velcro fasteners.
8. The kigurumi pajama of claim 2, wherein the tail component comprises a plush material capable of providing neck support for the wearer.
9. The kigurumi pajama of claim 2, wherein the tail component is positionable inside the hood of the one-piece jumpsuit to function as the neck pillow for the wearer.
10. A kigurumi pajama comprising:a one-piece jumpsuit defining (1) a body portion resembling an animal figure and (2) a hood at an upper region of the body portion and featuring animal facial characteristics; anda tail component detachably connected to a lower back region of the body portion via a standardized zipper mechanism, the tail component further comprising one or more additional fasteners integrated in a structure of the tail component;wherein the tail component is detachable to enhance comfort for a wearer of the kigurumi pajama during sitting and sleeping and, upon detaching, is convertible into a neck pillow by folding and securing the tail component using the integrated fasteners.
11. The kigurumi pajama of claim 10, wherein the integrated fasteners comprise snap buttons or Velcro fasteners.
12. The kigurumi pajama of claim 10, wherein the tail component comprises a plush material capable of providing neck support for the wearer.
13. The kigurumi pajama of claim 10, wherein the tail component is positionable inside the hood of the one-piece jumpsuit to function as the neck pillow for the wearer.