Multi-function garment with convertible hood

Abstract

Disclosed are embodiments of a hood configured to be removably coupled to a garment and to be convertible into a handbag. In some embodiments, the hood includes loops configured to be coupled to a carrying strap. In certain embodiments, the hood can be converted to a traveling pillow using at least part of the garment, such as a skirt or vest of the garment. In one embodiment, a band of the garment can be configured to be used as the strap of the handbag or carrying bag. In some embodiments, a neckline of the hood includes two zipper parts configured to match complimentary zipper parts coupled to a neckline of the garment. In one embodiment, a face opening of the hood has a face opening edge that is coupled to two zipper parts.

Description

MULTI-FUNCTION GARMENT WITH CONVERTIBLE HOODBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Embodiments of the invention relate generally to garments that are convertible to serve multiple functions. In particular, embodiments of the invention disclosed here concern hoods that can be removably detached from garments, and the hoods can be converted to function as, for example, a handbag or a pillow.

[0002] Garments available mostly do not allow any multifunctional use, or at best only a limited one. Commonly known as part of garments are hoods, some of which being designed to be separable from the garment itself. Hoods of this type may be attached to the garment, such as a jacket, by means of a zipper. However, conventional hoods do not serve any other purpose and moreover are limited with respect to their adjustment options.

[0003] Inventors have created several types of convertible garments. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,042 to DeWan, wherein the converted garment does not have the benefit of looking like an actual purse after conversion. U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,853 to Argento, et. al. does not show a protective hood. U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,066 to Pearsall, wherein the folding process is complicated, and the garment is limited to being worn around the waist after conversion. Typically, convertible garments suffer from several disadvantages--most often including complicated and lengthy folding and conversion processes.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified format that are further described in the detailed description of the present disclosure. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the present disclosure, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the present disclosure.

[0005] In one aspect, the invention is concerned with a hood for a garment, the hood convertible to a bag. In one embodiment, the hood includes a hood body having a crown, a neck edge, and a face opening edge, the hood body configured to also function as the body of the bag; wherein the neck edge is configured to form at least part of a side of the bag, and wherein the face opening edge is configured to form the opening of the bag. The hood canfurther include a first fastener coupled to the neck edge, the first fastener configured to facilitate removably coupling the hood to the garment, the first fastener further configured to close the neck edge of the hood body to form a side of the bag; and a second fastener coupled to the face opening edge, the second fastener configured to facilitate closing of the opening of the bag.

[0006] In some embodiments, the first fastener comprises a first zipper, and the second fastener comprises a second zipper. In certain embodiments, the hood further includes a first loop coupled in the vicinity of the crown, the first loop configured to facilitate coupling a carrying strap to the bag; and a second loop coupled in the vicinity of the neck edge or the face opening edge, the second loop configured to facilitate coupling the carrying strap to the bag.

[0007] In another aspect of the invention, the inventio is directed to a garment with a hood, the hood convertible to a bag or a pillow. In one embodiment, the garment includes a torso cover or vest and a garment neck edge. The garment can also include a bag carrying strap removably coupled to the garment; a hood body having a crown, a hood neck edge, and a face opening edge, the hood body configured to also function as the body of the bag; wherein the neck edge is configured to form at least one side of the bag; and wherein the face opening edge is configured to form an opening of the bag. The hood body can further include a first fastener coupled to the neck edge, the first fastener configured to facilitate removably coupling the hood to the garment, the first fastener further configured to close the neck edge of the hood body to form the at least one side of the bag; and a second fastener coupled to the face opening edge, the second fastener configured to facilitate closing the opening of the bag.

[0008] In some embodiments of the garment, the first fastener comprises a first zipper, and the second fastener comprises a second zipper. The garment can also include a first loop coupled to the crown, the first loop configured to facilitate coupling the bag carrying strap to the bag; and a second loop coupled to the hood neck edge or the face opening edge, the second loop configured to facilitate coupling the bag carrying strap to the bag. In certain embodiments, the garment includes a vest. In one embodiment, the garment includes a jacket.

[0009] Yet another aspect of the invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a hood for a garment. In one embodiment, the method involves providing a hood body configured tosubstantially cover a top, back, and sides of the head of a user; wherein the hood body comprises a crown, a hood neck edge, and a face opening edge; coupling a first fastener to the hood neck edge, wherein the first fastener comprises two zipper parts that together, in sequence, extend along the hood neck edge; and coupling a second fastener to the face opening edge, wherein the second fastener extends along the face opening edge.

[0010] In some embodiments, the method can also include providing a hood body configured to be convertible to a bag. In certain embodiments, the bag is a handbag. In one embodiment, the method can include coupling a first loop to the crown, the first loop configured to facilitate coupling a carrying strap to the hood; and coupling a second loop to the neck edge or the face opening edge, the second loop configured to facilitate coupling the carrying strap to the hood.

[0011] In some embodiments, the method involves providing a first zipper that is configured to facilitate removably coupling the hood to a garment; wherein the first zipper is further configured to facilitate converting the hood into a bag. The method can also include providing a second zipper configured to facilitate closing an opening of the bag.

[0012] To further clarify the advantages and features of the present disclosure, a more particular description of the disclosure will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a front view of a garment with a convertible hood according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a back view of the garment of FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a front view of the garment of FIG. 1 showing the hood attached to the garment.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a back view of the garment and hood of FIG. 3.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a front view of the garment of FIG. 3 showing the garment having certain detachable components.

[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a hood convertible to a bag, according to one embodiment of the invention, in a first configuration.

[0020] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the hood of FIG. 6 in a second configuration.

[0021] FIG. 8 is a side view of the hood of FIG. 7 showing the hood converted to a bag coupled to a carrying strap.

[0022] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the bag of FIG. 8.

[0023] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the hood of FIG. 6 showing a certain component of a garment being used to facilitate forming a pillow with the hood.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] To promote an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated article, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein would be contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art. The articles, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and are not intended to be limiting.

[0025] The term "some" as used herein is to be understood as "one or more than one or all." Accordingly, the terms "one," "more than one," "more than one, but not all" or "all" would all fall under the definition of "some." The term "some embodiments" may refer to one embodiment or to several embodiments or to all embodiments, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0026] The terminology and structure used here is for describing, teaching, and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features. It does not in any way limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the claims or their equivalents.

[0027] More specifically, any terms used here such as, but not limited to, "includes," "comprises," "has," "consists," and grammatical variants thereof do not specify an exact limitation or restriction and certainly do not exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated, and furthermore must not be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated with the limiting language "must comprise" or "needs to include."

[0028] Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, either way, it may still be referred to as "one or more features" or "one or more elements" or "at least one feature" or "at least one element."

[0029] Unless otherwise defined, all terms, and especially any technical and / or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art.

[0030] Reference is made to some "embodiments." An embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and / or elements presented in the attached claims. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of illuminating one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and / or elements of the attached claims fulfill the requirements of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.

[0031] Use of the phrases and / or terms including, but not limited to, "a first embodiment," "a further embodiment," "an alternate embodiment," "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "multiple embodiments," "some embodiments," "other embodiments," "further embodiment", "furthermore embodiment", "additional embodiment" or variants thereof do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more features and / or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments. Although one or more features and / or elements may be described here in the context of only a single embodiment, or alternatively in the context of more than oneembodiment, or further alternatively in the context of all embodiments, the features and / or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and / or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.

[0032] Any particular and all details described here are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should not be necessarily taken as limiting factors to the attached claims. The attached claims and their legal equivalents can be realized in the context of embodiments other than the ones used as illustrative examples in the description below. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] As used here, the terms "left" and "right" are used with reference to the perspective of an observer seeing the garment in front of them. In other words, the terms "left" and "right", as used here, are opposite sides of what would be considered "left" and "right" from the perspective of the wearer of the garment. It should be noted, however, that "left" and "right" are used here merely for descriptive purposes because the inventive embodiments do not depend on relative positions of "right" or "left", but rather the reference is significant simply in that there are complimentary sides.

[0034] Referencing FIG. 1-5, in one embodiment, garment 100 includes jacket 105 that is removably coupled to hood 110. Hood 110 can include hood body 112, which is generally configured to substantially cover the top, sides, and back of the head of a wearer. In some embodiments, hood 110 includes crown 114, face opening edge 115, and hood neckline edge 120. In certain embodiments, hood 110 includes face opening zipper 125 and hood neckline zipper 130. In one embodiment, hood face opening zipper 125 includes right-side zipper part 135 and left-side zipper part 140. In some embodiments, hood 110 includes hood neckline right-side zipper part 145 and hood neckline left-side zipper part 150. In certain embodiments, hood 100 can include first strap loop 155 and second strap loop 160 (See FIG. 8).

[0035] In one embodiment, jacket 100 can include jacket neck 165, jacket arms 170, jacket torso / cover 175, jacket skirt 180, and torso-skirt band 185. In some embodiments, jacket neck 165 includes jacket neckline zipper 190 coupled to the neckline of the jacket. Jacket necklinezipper 190 can be configured to removably couple to hood neckline zipper 130. In certain embodiments, jacket neckline zipper 190 can include jacket neckline right-side zipper part 195 and jacket neckline zipper left-side part 200.

[0036] Referencing FIG. 4, in one embodiment, hood 110 can be releasably coupled to jacket 105 by zipping (a) hood neckline right-side zipper part 145 with jacket neckline right-side zipper part 195, and (b) hood neckline left-side zipper part 150 with jacket neckline left-side zipper part 200. It is to be noted that this configuration of two zipper parts (145, 150) coupled to the hood neckline, and configured to couple to two zipper parts (195, 200) of the jacket neckline, allows for the neckline of the hood to be closed when forming the bag (FIG. 6, FIG. 7).

[0037] Referencing FIG. 6-9, in some embodiments, hood 110 can be converted into a bag, such as a handbag for example, that can be carried by hand or with bag strap 205. In certain embodiments, bag strap 205 can include, for example, hooks 210 configured to hook to first strap loop 155 and second strap loop 160. In one embodiment, first strap loop 155 is placed at or near the crown of the hood (near the face opening). In some embodiments, second strap loop 160 can be placed near hood neckline edge 120 and face opening edge 115. In certain embodiments, torso-skirt band 185 can be configured to be used as bag strap 205.

[0038] Referencing FIG. 5 and FIG. 10, in one embodiment, garment 100 can include jacket 105 with jacket skirt 180 configured to be removably coupled to jacket torso 175. Jacket torso 175 can be, for example, a vest. In some embodiments, jacket skirt 180 can be configured to fit into hood 110 to form a pillow (not shown). When jacket skirt 180 is put inside hood 110, right-side zipper part 135 is zipped to left-side zipper part 140, and hood neckline right-side zipper part 145 is zipped to neckline left-side zipper part 150, to thereby form, for example, a traveling pillow (not shown). In some embodiments, jacket torso 175 and / or jacket arms 170 can be configured to be removably coupled from jacket 100, and jacket arms 170 and / or jacket torso 175 can then be used as alternative stuffing for the pillow.

[0039] In the embodiments described and illustrated above, zippers have been used as exemplary fasteners. However, in some embodiments, other fasteners can be used in combination, or alternatives, to zippers. For example, in certain embodiments, loop-and-hook fasteners can be used. In other embodiments, buttons, laces, or cords can be used.

Claims

Claims1. A hood for a garment, the hood convertible to a bag, the hood comprising: a hood body having a crown, a neck edge, and a face opening edge, the hood body configured to also function as the body of the bag; wherein the neck edge is configured to form at least part of a side of the bag; wherein the face opening edge is configured to form the opening of the bag; a first fastener coupled to the neck edge, the first fastener configured to facilitate removably coupling the hood to the garment, the first fastener further configured to close the neck edge of the hood body to form a side of the bag; and a second fastener coupled to the face opening edge, the second fastener configured to facilitate closing of the opening of the bag.

2. The hood of Claim 1, wherein the first fastener comprises a first zipper.

3. The hood of Claim 2, wherein the second fastener comprises a second zipper.

4. The hood of Claim 1, further comprising a first loop coupled in the vicinity of the crown, the first loop configured to facilitate coupling a carrying strap to the bag.

5. The hood of Claim 4, further comprising a second loop coupled in the vicinity of the neck edge or the face opening edge, the second loop configured to facilitate coupling the carrying strap to the bag.

6. A garment with a hood, the hood convertible to a bag or a pillow, the garment comprising: a garment having a torso cover and a garment neck edge; a bag carrying strap removably coupled to the garment; a hood body having a crown, a hood neck edge, and a face opening edge, the hood body configured to also function as the body of the bag; wherein the neck edge is configured to form at least one side of the bag; wherein the face opening edge is configured to form an opening of the bag;a first fastener coupled to the neck edge, the first fastener configured to facilitate removably coupling the hood to the garment, the first fastener further configured to close the neck edge of the hood body to form the at least one side of the bag; and a second fastener coupled to the face opening edge, the second fastener configured to facilitate closing the opening of the bag.

7. The garment of Claim 6, wherein the first fastener comprises a first zipper.

8. The garment of Claim 7, wherein the second fastener comprises a second zipper.

9. The garment of Claim 6, further comprising a first loop coupled to the crown, the first loop configured to facilitate coupling the bag carrying strap to the bag.

10. The garment of Claim 9, further comprising a second loop coupled to the hood neck edge or the face opening edge, the second loop configured to facilitate coupling the bag carrying strap to the bag.

11. The garment of Claim 6, wherein the garment comprises a vest.

12. The garment of Claim 6, wherein the garment comprises a jacket.

13. A method of manufacturing a hood for a garment, the method comprising: providing a hood body configured to substantially cover a top, back, and sides of the head of a user; wherein the hood body comprises a crown, a hood neck edge, and a face opening edge; coupling a first fastener to the hood neck edge, wherein the first fastener comprises two zipper parts that together, in sequence, extend along the hood neck edge; and coupling a second fastener to the face opening edge, wherein the second fastener extends along the face opening edge.

14. The method of Claim 13, wherein the hood body is configured to be convertible to a bag.

15. The method of Claim 14, wherein the bag comprises a handbag.

16. The method of Claim 13, further comprising coupling a first loop to the crown, the first loop configured to facilitate coupling a carrying strap to the hood.

17. The method of Claim 16, further comprising coupling a second loop to the neck edge or the face opening edge, the second loop configured to facilitate coupling the carrying strap to the hood.

18. The method of Claim 13, wherein the first zipper is configured to facilitate removably coupling the hood to a garment.

19. The method of Claim 18, wherein the first zipper is further configured to facilitate converting the hood into a bag.

20. The method of Claim 19, wherein the second zipper is configured to facilitate closing an opening of the bag.

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