GB2405782A - Multi-purpose garment - Google Patents

Abstract

A garment such as a scarf 10 can be converted into a garment that can be worn over the shoulders and torso, such as a hooded top. The hooded top may be water repellent. Torso section 3 and hood 2 may be contained within the scarf and extendable therefrom. Hook and loop fastening tape may be provided to secure head and torso sections within the scarf and on the cuffs 14a, 15a.

Description

Improvements in garments This invention relates to multi-purpose garments

and in particular, though not exclusively, to a scarf that can be converted into a water-repellent hooded top.

Scarves are a well-knovn accessory and are generally worn when it is cold. They offer warmth but in rain they offer no dual purpose for preventing the wearer getting wet.

Rain wear and overcoats are excellent at preventing a wearer getting wet but they are often big and bulky garments and often regarded as too cumbersome to carry when the weather is indecisive.

Fold up rainwear is a well known item which takes the general form of a lightweight rain repellent garment that is able to be scrunched up and compressed in order to be stored for convenience in an accompanying pouch or bag. They are useful as they take the place of the raincoat when the weather is indecisive allowing the wearer to avoid having to carry a big raincoat when it is not raining.

However such fold away rainwear items are designed with the functional aspect as a primary concem, thereof rendering the creased and untidy aesthetics of the worn garment as incidental to the function. In addition, the item, when stored also has no function, instead only adding to the amount which the wearer must carry either in their bag or taking up space in a pocket.

An object of this invention is to provide a useful multi-purpose accessory, which in the preferred embodiment is represented by the scarf format, which provides warmth and assumes the role of a regular scarf simply adding style to the wearer's overall appearance whilst not inhibiting or taking up further unnecessary space about that persons body or within that which they are already carrying. However, if it begins to rain the wearer has the option of opening the scarf along each of its sides via the Velcrsips, to access a hood from one side and a torso area from the other, and by then reversing the garment by turning it inside out, a rain-proof garment is produced. The wearer can then slip the newly transformed garment over his/her head and avoid getting soaked in the rain.

Accordingly this invention provides in the preferred embodiment a double layered scarf that is fabricated in a soft water repellent fabric within which is a water repellent lining that runs throughout, extending to a fold away hood and a fold away torso section, the latter of which uses the 'Bl-folding fix' method of design. This creates, both, a reduced amount of bulk within the scarf and a reduced amount of creasing ensuring the garment does not have the scrunched-up creased effect common to other fold away rainwear items. It also provides a simple and quick procedure for the user.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with a reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the front view of the article in scarf format and below it, in hooded top format.

Figure 2 shows the back view of the article in scarf format and below it, in hooded top format.

Figure 3 shows in perspective the front and back views in both scarf and hooded top format.

Figure 4 shows how to access the hood.

Figure 5 shows how to access the torso section.

Figure 6 shows a cut through section indicating the construction of the article.

Figure 7 shows the 'BI-folding fix' design of the torso section when unfolded.

Figure 8 shows the 'BI-folding fix' design when folded in the storage position.

Figure 9 shows the article as the water repellent hooded-top in the fully wearable configuration with cuffs wound round and tightened with Velcro tabs and indicating the use of the drawer string hood on and off the body.

Figure 10 shows the garment being worn, and Figures 11 to 14 show the garment in its fully unfolded and reversed format.

Referring to the drawings, the scarf comprises of a front scarf section 10 and a back scarf section ll, which are joined along the edges lea and lob, constituting in an open-ended rectangular tube (with a depth from edge lea to lOb ranging from a minimum measurement of 20 cm inclusive to a maximum measurement of 40cm inclusive.) The tube has two open sections, one extending symmetrically from the mid point along top edge lea, referring to the position of the hood 2, (This open measurement along the straight edge lea whereof the hood 2 is accessible can range from a maximum 30cm to a minimum 15cm inclusive.) The second open section extends symmetrically from the scarf's mid point along edge lab referring to the region where the torso section 3 is accessed. This open measurement along each single straight edge of lOb can range from 55cm to 95cm inclusive).

Such ranges in scale are included to account for the necessary changes in size that will be encountered in the manufacture of the garment. And to ensure that no infringement can be made on the configuration of the article, especially in accordance to components 2 and 3 referring to the specific detail that the measurement- parameters/ranges previously stipulated state that they remain symmetrical in measurement either side of the mid-point as taken from either end of the total measurement of the scarf's length. This is intrinsic to this article in both function and aesthetics.

The scarf is lined and fixed to the scarf via a seam at the cuffs 18, and by two Velcro's Al and B1, each placed at a symmetrical distance from the hood section at the mid point along the front top edge 10a of the scarf. The hood 2 is attached to the semi-circular lid on the front part of the scarf 6 and to the lining 17 and to the semi-circular cutaway section on the front scarf section 10. The torso section 3 is also joined to the liningl7 via a seam at the front 20a and a seam at the back 20b. Stitch line 12a attaches the front lining 17a to the front scarf section 10 and stitch line 12b attaches the back lining 17b to the back scarf section 11 and also acts as the primary fold line in the 'BI-folding fix' design method.

In order to convert the scarf into the hooded-top, see fig 5, the tab at the front 1 is pulled up and the hood 2 can be pulled out. Secondly, the Velcro strips at the bottom edge C1 and C2 can be undone and the torso section 3 can be pulled out. This action will undo Velcro's Al from A2 and B1 from B2. The garment can then be worn and the cuffs can be tightened by winding the Velcro tabs E2 and F2 around the wrist until the desired size is reached, whereby fastening at the corresponding E1 and F1. The hood can be tightened via the drawer string using the known press- release button device 4.

In order to convert the hooded-top back into a scarf, Velcro's A2 and B2 are attached up inside the scarf to corresponding Velcro's Al and B1 which are both easily visible *tom the square stitch motif on the front scarf section. Then Velcro's C 1 and C2 at the bottom edges are pressed together to close the edge. The hood 2 is then folded into the scarf along the top edge and Velcro Dl is attached to Velcro D2. Velcro's E2 and F2 can then be undone at the cuffs and the operation is complete.

The article consists of two main areas of fabrication. See drawings. The 'scarf section'10 and 11 and 6 which is the most prominent area seen when the item is in scarf format and the 'lining section' 17 which lines the scarf extending beyond the length of the scarf sections to form cuffs 14a and 14b, 15a and 15b at either end. This lining also encompasses both the hood 2 and torso region 3 and a front pocket detaill6 if applicable.

The 'scarf section'l0 and 11 and 6 may be made from several fabrics including wool, wool mix, poly/viscose mix, brushed cotton or a waterrepellent soft fabric. Such fabrications will vary according to cost. The coating of a water-repellent finish may also be applied to these fabrics. The surface pattern of the design may take the form of bold flat colours, printed images or woven designs such as checks, tartars or stripes.

The lining section 17 along with the hood 2, torso section 3, pocket 16 tabs E2 and P2 is fabricated in a lightweight water-repellent fabric. The surface of which may be printed on with selected and appropriate designs or images.

The other areas of fabrication are the semi-circular border shape 5 on the front side of the scarf 10, which may be any of the fabrics mentioned previously and shape 6 which may also be subject to alternative fabrication.

Other materials include standard Velcro, which in parts of the design may be replaced with other operational items such as magnets, buttons, toggles or press-studs.

The tab at the front 1 is a strong flat tape as used in rucksacks. There is a drawer string chord that runs through the hood with a plastic stopper at the front 4, of which the exact configuration may vary according to the overall design of the garment.

A Further design change may be employed thereby incorporating a channeled drawstring to operate the BI-folding fix method of design.

The rain-proof garment may be worn in two ways, firstly with the scarf fabric visible on the outside and secondly by reversing the garment inside out. When reversed, with the garnent turned inside out, the outer rain proof fabric conceals the scarf fabric, so that it does not get wet. This is seen in Figures 13 and 14.

In Figures 11 and 12, 20a and 20b are flat-feld seams, or seams Mat are of a similar quality to ensure that no untidiness in the garments appearance is visible. This type of seasoning will occur throughout the garment especially on the hood and torso side-seam regions.

21a and 21b are open slits that allows the reversing operation to function, ensuring the item maintains a clean and flat balance when converted back into a scarf. ie. Preventing bulk occurring along Me edge of the scarf. s

Claims (22)

1 A scarf that can be converted into a water-repellent hooded-top garment, whereby when wom as a garment, the wearer will have protection from rain on his/her head, arms and torso region.

2 A scarf that can be converted into a hooded-top, whereby the rectangular length of fabric that constitute a scarf or wrap has been embellished to form an open-ended tubular structure, within which, a fold away hood and or a fold away torso- ; covering component can be accessed and stored using the configuration and details represented by the accompanying drawings and details.

3 A scarf as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 that requires two points of attachment along the top edge either side of a hood access-area. Whereby release at these points benefits and allows the access to a torsocovering section.

4 A scarf as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein there is the inclusion of the BI-folding fix method of design (figure 7) which allows a sequence of two folds along a pre manufactured lines to benefit the easy storage and access of a torso-or bodily part covering.

A scarf as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein a pocket detail is placed on the front of the torso region 3.

6 A scarf as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein a hood is attached to a cut away section in the scarf

7 A scarf as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein a fabricated lid is incorporated to conceal a foldaway hood.

8 A scarf as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein a drawstring is incorporated to benefit the access and storage of the hood and or torsocovering components of I the item. I

9. A multi-purpose garment which in a first format can be wom as a scarf, eg over the head andIor around the neck of a wearer, characterized in that the garment has a hole therein for the wearer to put his or her head through for the garment to be wom in a first alternative format over the shoulders and arms of the wearer.

10. A garment as claimed in claim 9 further characterized in that We garment comprises sleeve portions for the arms of the wearer when the garment is being wom in its first alternative format.

11. A garment as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 further characterized in that the gamment comprises a body portion for the torso of the wearer when the garment is being worn in its first alternative coronet.

12. A garment as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11 further characterized in that the garment comprises a hood portion for the wearer's head when the garment is being worn in its first alternative format.

13. A garment as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12 wherein the garnent comprises a generally elongate section of a first material such as plaid.

14. A garment as claimed in claim 13 wherein said section is folded over along a longitudinal axis when the garment is in its first format.

15. A garment as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14 and further comprising a liner of a second, water-resistant, water-repellent or waterproof material.

16. A garment as claimed in claim 15 wherein said sleeve, body and head portions are each of said second material.

17. A gamnent as claimed in claim 16 wherein said sleeve, body and head portions are i each tucked into said folded section when the garment is in its first format.

18. A gannent as claimed in claim 17 and further comprising releasable attachment means such as Velcro fasteners for holding the garment together in its first format.

19. A gannent as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 18 characterized in that the garment can be turned inside out and be worn in a second alternative fomnat with the first material being covered by the second material. -I

20. A garment as claimed in claim 10, 11 or 12 respectively where the sleeve, body and head portions have means such as draw strings for tightening said portions around a wearer in use of the gannent in its first and/or second alternative formats.

21. A garment as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 20 wherein said body portion I comprises a pocket for the wearer's hands. I

22. A multi-purpose gannent substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.