GB2471311A - Garment carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

A garment carrying device 10 comprises a sleeve 12 of flexible sheet material having at least one open end 14, 16 for receiving a garment or the like 38, 40 to be carried. A carrying strap (28, fig.2) and at least one compression tie means 18, 20 are provided for compressively holding a garment in the sleeve. The carrying strap (28, fig.2) is preferably a shoulder strap which can be removably attached to the ends of the sleeve 12. The device preferably has four compression tie means, a draw cord 18 at either end and two tie straps 20 adjacent the draw cords 18. It provides a ready and convenient means for carrying a garment such as an outer item of clothing, for example a jacket or coat. The device 10 may be stored in a tightly packed volume, for example in an integral pocket provided on the device 10, preferably sewn into the sleeve.

Description

Garment Carrying Device The present invention relates to a garment carrying device and in particular concerns a lightweight carrying device that is of sufficient size and strength for carrying an item of clothing such as a jacket, coat or the like.

When engaging in outdoor leisure activities individuals can find themselves inappropriately dressed due to both changes in the prevailing weather conditions and their level of physical activity. For example, it is well known that the human body warms up relatively quickly once moderate physical activity is commenced. Individuals engaged in moderate to arduous activities such as hiking and hill walking typically carry a small rucksack for carrying an outdoor jacket or the like so that they may dress appropriately according to their physical state or the prevailing weather conditions.

Individuals involved in less demanding outdoor activities are generally less well prepared for changes in their physical state or the weather and generally prefer to carry the removed item of clothing.

The majority of people who enjoy less strenuous outdoor activities generally accept the inconvenience of carrying a removed item of outer clothing rather than involving themselves in the logistics of routinely carrying a rucksack or the like in preparation for their changing requirements, particularly when venturing only relatively short distances from a place of shelter, say for example, when visiting an outdoor attraction or going for a county walk.

There is requirement for a lightweight garment carrying device that may be carried on the body of the wearer when in use and which may be readily stowed when not in use.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a garment carrying device comprising a sleeve of flexible sheet material having at least one open end for receiving, at least partially, a garment or the like to be carried, a carrying strap and at least one compression tie means for compressively holding a garment or the like in the sleeve. The garment carrying device according to the above aspect of the invention provides a ready and convenient means for carrying a garment such as an outer item of clothing, for example a jacket or coat, in the sleeve of flexible sheet material by tensioning of the compression tie means around the sleeve and enclosed garment.

The sheet material readily enables the carrying device to be folded and/or compressed down so that the carrying device may be stowed away in a tightly packed volume, for example in an integral pocket provided on the device, preferably sewn into the sleeve.

In preferred embodiments the carrying device is arranged to be worn across the body of the wearer, for example with the carrying strap worn across the chest and one shoulder of the wearer with the sleeve of sheet material extending across the wearer's back. In this way the weight of the device and any articles carried by the carrying device are readily supported by the carrying strap bearing on the wearer's shoulder with the sleeve and its contents held relatively close to the wearers body but sufficiently loose to accommodate movement of the wearer's body, while walking etc. The carrying strap preferably comprises a shoulder strap as previously described.

However, other embodiments are envisaged where the carrying strap or straps are arranged in a different way, for example to provide a harness to be worn around the wearer's body.

The ends of the carrying strap may be attached or attachably/detachably connected to the sleeve in the region of the respective ends of the sleeve. This arrangement provides for a balanced arrangement in which the weight of the carrying device and articles carried by the device may be evenly distributed across the wearer's body.

In preferred embodiments the sleeve is open at both its ends. In this way it is possible for an item of clothing to be inserted through the sleeve form one end to the other. In this way items of clothing having a different length may be inserted within the sleeve and the weight of the item of clothing distributed uniformly along the length of the garment carrying device to provide a uniformly distributed load on the wearer's body.

The compression tie means may comprise an adjustable draw cord, tie strap or the like.

Thus the above aspect of the invention contemplates embodiments having different compression tie means capable of being tensioned to apply compressive force around the sleeve and any item of clothing located therein.

Preferably, respective compression tie means are provided at or in the region of both respective ends of the sleeve.

Each end of the sleeve may include an adjustable draw cord and a tie strap adjacent to the draw cord, preferably with the tie strap disposed externally around the sleeve and the draw cord integrally located in a loop of flexible sheet material formed cit each end of the sleeve.

In preferred embodiments the sleeve includes at least one reinforcement element. The reinforcement element provides the sleeve and hence the carrying device with additional strength for supporting heavier items of clothing and/or outdoor accessories.

In preferred embodiments the sleeve includes an element or web of reinforcement material preferably extending along the length of the sleeve.

The length of the carrying strap is preferably adjustable so that the garment carrying device can be adjusted for different body shapes and sizes and/or load to be carried.

In preferred embodiments the sheet material of the sleeve comprises a lightweight, preferably polyester, sheet material or the like. This readily enables the sleeve to be compressed so that the device can be easily stowed when not in use additionally providing sufficient strength for supporting the item or items of clothing to be carried.

In preferred embodiments the sleeve is of sufficient size and strength to accommodate and support a jacket, coat or the like. The garment carrying device may also be used to carry additional outdoor accessories, preferably outdoor accessories such as a walking stick or pole, or an umbrella etc. An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view of a garment carrying device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a view of the garment carrying device of Figure 1 with an item of clothing located therein; Figure 3 is a view of the garment carrying device of Figures 1 and 2 carried on the back of a person; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 with outdoor accessories also being carried.

Referring to Figure 1 a garment carrying device (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a main body of sheet material, preferably polyester sheet material or the like, which is machined (sewn) or bonded into a sleeve (12) having a pair of open ends (14) and (16) at opposite ends of the sleeve for receiving an item of clothing or the like therein. Each end (14), (16) is provided with a respective draw cord (18), preferably of an elastic material. In the context of the present invention the draw cords (18) constitute compression tie means for compressively holding a garment or the like in the sleeve by tensioning the draw cords around the item of clothing. Additional compression tie means are provided by means of adjustable straps (20) positioned a short distance along the length of the sleeve from the respective ends thereof such that the straps are spaced from the respective draw cords (18). The straps are preferably attached to the sleeve by stitching or other means and preferably comprise strips of polypropylene material or the like with a friction buckle (22) at a tail end (24) of the adjustable strap for joining two ends of the strip in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. The straps (20) are joined either by sewing or other bonding means to a reinforcement strip (26) of similar material which extends along the length of the sleeve and attached to the sleeve sheet material, preferably by sewing to provide a reinforcement element for distributing the loads acting on the carrying device in use.

As can be best seen in Figure 2 which shows an item of clothing accommodated within the sleeve (12) of the carrying device in Figure 1, a carrying strap (28) is attachably/detachably connected at both ends thereof to respective attachment straps (30), which are connected to the stiffening element (26). The attachment straps (30) are provided with a loop buckle element (32), of a moulded plastics type material for connection fo a respective clip (34) secured to each end of the carrying strap (28).

The carrying strap is also provided with an adjustment buckle (36) so that the length of the strap can be adjusted to suit the wearer's body.

Referring to Figure 3, the garment carrying device of Figures 1 and 2 is shown worn over the back of a user with the carrying strap (28) passing over the left hand shoulder of the wearer, over the wearer's chest and under the wearer's left hand arm terminating in the region of the wearer's waist such that the sleeve is held diagonally across the wearer's back with the weight of the item of clothing canied in the device supported principally on the wearer's left hand shoulder through the carrying strap.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3 the respective draw cords (18) are tensioned to hold the item of clothing within the sleeve. It will be understood that any one of the draw cords may be tensioned, preferably the one that is uppermost in the orientation of the carrying device when worn as shown in Figure 3, so that the weight of the item of clothing is readily supported. The adjustable straps (20)' may also be tensioned to provide additional support for the item of clothing held within the sleeve and/or to hold additional items as shown in Figure 4 where an umbrella (38), and a walking stick (40) are held between the respective straps (20) and the sleeve (12) with the umbrella and walking stick extending longitudinally along the length of the sleeve along the line of.

the supported item of clothing (42).

Claims (16)

1. CLAIMS1. A garment carrying device comprising a sleeve of flexible sheet material having at least one open end for receiving, at least partially, a garment or the like to be carried, a carrying strap and at least one compression tie means for compressively holding a garment or the like in said sleeve.
2. 2. A garment carrying device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said carrying device is arranged to be worn across said body of said wearer.
3. 3. A garment carrying device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said carrying strap comprises a shoulder strap.
4. 4. A garment carrying device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said ends of said carrying strap are attached, or attachably/ detachably connected, to said sleeve in said region of said respective ends of said sleeve.
5. 5. A garment carrying device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said sleeve is open at both ends.
6. 6. A garment carrying device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said compression tie means comprises an adjustable draw cord, tie strap or the like.* S. 55.* S
7. 7. A garment carrying device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein * , 25 respective compression tie means are provided at or in said region of both respective *.*.

   * ends of said sleeve. **.
8. 8. A garment carrying device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein each end of said sleeve includes an adjustable draw cord and a tie strap adjacent to said draw cord and disposed externally around said sleeve.
9. 9. A garment carrying device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said sleeve includes at least one reinforcement element.
10. 10. A garment carrying device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said sleeve comprises an element or web of reinforcement material, preferably extending along said length of said sleeve.
11. 11. A garment carrying device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said length of said carrying strap is adjustable.
12. 12. A garment carrying device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said sheet material comprises a lightweight polyester sheet material or the like.
13. 13. A garment carrying device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said sleeve is of sufficient size and strength to accommodate and support a jacket. coat or the like.
14. 14. A garment carrying device as claimed in any preceding Claim, comprising an integral pocket provided on the device for receiving the device in a folded and/or compressed down configuration.
15. 15.. A garment carrying device as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the integral pocket is sown into said sleeve.
16. 16. A garment carrying device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. * * *..*S555... * S * S. * . S S...S S.. 5*S* S...*.....S