U.S. patent application number 10/403384 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-07 for cape for covering the back, with shoulder and hip extensions.
Invention is credited to Mayr, Andreas.
Application Number | 20040194187 10/403384 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33096856 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040194187 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mayr, Andreas |
October 7, 2004 |
Cape for covering the back, with shoulder and hip extensions
Abstract
The invention concerns a cape for the beach that features four
extensions in the shape of the hide of an animal. The two upper
extensions are lead over the shoulders of the wearer and held
releasably at a further garment or piece of swim wear in the upper
breast area with the help of joining elements. The two lower
extensions are lead over the hips and can also be joined releasably
with each other in the area of the abdomen with the help of joining
elements. Tensile forces emerging from the releasable connection of
the extensions in the area of the abdomen let the cape fit tightly
to the body. Thus the parts of the body that are especially
sensitive and exposed to wind, like shoulders and kidneys, are
protected. The cape warms when the swim wear is wet and protects
the skin from excessive sun radiation in the area of the shoulders
and the back. Moreover, the invention offers an advantage with
regard to its processing: because it is made of only one ply no
hems or border seams are needed. Also, the cape can be put on
quickly by laying it over the back. The wearer does not have to
slip into a further piece of outerwear, which is not desired when
she or he is at the beach, dressed for swimming or sunbathing. In
addition, the wearer has the option of using the cape in several
different ways: as a flowing cape, a skirt or in a way similar to a
dress.
Inventors: |
Mayr, Andreas; (Landshut,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Andreas Mayr
Laendgasse 131
Landshut
84028
DE
|
Family ID: |
33096856 |
Appl. No.: |
10/403384 |
Filed: |
April 1, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/46 ; 2/88 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 7/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/046 ;
002/088 |
International
Class: |
A41D 003/08 |
Claims
1. Cape (1) made of textile material for covering at least the back
of a wearer, with a central main part (2) in a shape and size
corresponding approximately to the shape and size of a human back;
featuring joining elements at the borders of the garment (5, 6),
for releasable connection with complementary joining elements
situated either also at the cape or at other garments;
characterized by featuring altogether four extensions (3, 4)
bulging out from the main part (2), corresponding to the shape of
the back, in the area of the shoulders and in the area of the hips;
at the ends of the extensions, situated most distant from the main
part, joining elements (5, 6) are situated. The extensions in the
area of the hips (4), in addition with the lower border of the main
part, have a length corresponding to the girth of the human
torso.
2. Cape as in claim 1 as the part of a further garment (12) that
features components in the breast area; the cape is characterized
by the extensions in the area of the shoulders (3) having a length
reaching from the area of the shoulders of the main part (2) to the
contact area of the components of the further garment in the breast
area where the joining elements that are complementary to the
joining elements (5) at the extensions (3) are situated.
3. Cape as in claim 2, characterized by the further garment (12)
being a ladies garment that features rings serving as joining
elements in the breast area, at which garment-components in the
form of stripes are sewed on, and by the joining elements (5) at
the shoulder extensions (3) of the cape being hooks that can be
hung into the rings.
4. Cape as in claim 2, characterized by the joining elements (5) at
the extensions in the area of the shoulders (3) being clip braces.
The borders of the textile material of the garment-components in
the breast area (12) are the complementary joining elements of the
clip braces.
5. Cape as in one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized by the
extensions in the area of the hips (4) bulging out essentially
sideways from the main part (2), and the extensions in the area of
the shoulders (3) bulging out from the main part (2) essentially in
vertical direction, according to the longitudinal axis of a
standing person.
6. Cape as in claim 5, characterized by the extensions in the area
of the hips (4) emerging from the bottom of the main part (2) on
the one hand and on the other hand from a point that lies between
1/4 and 1/2 of the extent of the main part on the longitudinal axis
bottom-up.
7. Cape as in claim 5 or 6, characterized by the upper border of
the extensions in the area of the hips (4) running in the course of
the extent on the longitudinal axis of the main part (2) from its
border in a steady curve.
8. Cape as in claims 5 to 7, characterized by the lower border of
the extensions in the area of the hips (4) running as a
prolongation of the lower border of the main part (2) sideways from
it, and running upwards from there in a steady curve.
9. Cape as in claim 8, characterized by the upper border and the
lower border of the extensions in the area of the hips (4) each
joining in a point and by the joining elements (6), which can be
joined with each other releasably, being situated in the area of
the points facing one another.
10. Cape as in one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized by being
made of elastic material.
11. Cape as in one of the claims 1 to 10, characterized by
containing pieces of elastic (7) in certain areas.
12. Cape as in claim 11, characterized by featuring two pieces of
elastic (7) that are incorporated in the areas at the two sides of
the main part (2).
13. Cape as in one of the claims 1 to 12, characterized by being
free of seams and hems.
Description
[0001] The invention concerns a cape made of textile material, for
covering at least the back of the wearer. It features a central
main part that corresponds approximately to the human back in terms
of shape and size, and which is attached releasably to
complementary joining elements at the cape itself or at other
pieces of clothing, with the help of joining elements at its sides.
According to the invention, the cape is intended especially as a
supplementary component for swimwear, in order to protect the
wearer from cool wind, at the beach for instance.
[0002] At the beach, a piece of outerwear, like a sweater for
instance, is usually put on when there is a cool wind. Thus the
wearer is protected from the coldness, but also the sunbeams are
shielded off completely. Besides, articles of outerwear, such as
sweaters, are not suitable for the beach, as they often tend to
pick up sand. The insight that for protecting the wearer from the
coldness it is often sufficient to cover the back and possibly the
area of the kidneys, forms the basis of the invention. The cape
according to the invention serves this purpose.
[0003] It is characterized by a main part that features, in
accordance with the shape of the back of the wearer, four
extensions bulging out from it at the shoulders and the hips. At
the ends of these extensions are joining elements. The extensions
in the area of the hips have a length which, in addition to the
lower border of the main part, exceed the girth of a human torso.
So the cape has more or less the shape of the hide of an animal,
with two rather short extensions in the area of the shoulders and
two rather long extensions, sticking out mainly to the sides, in
the area of the hips. This shape corresponds to the limbs of a
four-legged animal. It can be put on easily and quickly without the
wearer having to slip through openings for the arms, legs or the
head. As the case may be, the cape might look like a dress worn by
the wearer when watched from behind.
[0004] "Wearer" may mean persons of both sexes, but the cape is
primarily thought of as a garment for ladies. The cape is suited
especially for ladies because ladies swim wear features components
in the breast area at which the cape can be fixed with its shoulder
extensions.
[0005] Several preferred versions of the cape according to the
invention are characterized in the dependent claims. The two
extensions in the area of the hips of this hide-shaped version are
lead together in the area of the abdomen of the wearer and joined
with each other releasably. By the connection of the lower ends of
the cape at its front the cape fits tightly on the sides and on the
back of the wearer because of the resulting tensile forces.
Preferably soft, elastic material is used for this cape. With the
help of additional pieces of elastic in certain areas at the sides
of the garment the cape fits perfectly on the body of the
wearer.
[0006] While even in sunshine the humidity of a swim suit or a
light breeze may make the wearer chill and may even cause damage to
her health, the wearer is able to protect the parts of the body
that are especially sensitive and exposed to wind and weather
without having to change clothes completely or having to put on
different clothes, which is not desired normally when somebody is
at the beach, dressed for swimming or sunbathing.
[0007] Another advantage of the cape is the fact that, because of
its particular shape, seams which usually keep a garment like a
dress, for instance, in its hose-like shape can be avoided.
Nowadays there are many new types of material that can be cut out
without fraying or releasing threads. By using such types of
material and because of the flatness of the garment according to
the invention setting border seams or hems become redundant, except
at the points at which the releasable joining elements and perhaps
the additional pieces of elastic in certain sections are fixed.
[0008] Apart from the advantages of the cape according to the
invention with regard to its processing, it also offers the
advantage of numerous possibilities of use: firstly as an open
cape, for example when the releasable fastenings at the abdomen are
kept open and the extensions in the area of the hips are not joined
with each other over the abdomen; secondly as an actual dress that
only stays open at the front in the breast area when the upper
joining elements are closed releasably in the breast area and the
lower joining elements at the abdomen; and finally as a slitted
skirt, when the two shoulder extensions are not fixed releasably in
the upper breast area of the wearer but when the garment is simply
held by the tensile forces of the fastened hip extensions, and its
upper part at the back of the wearer falls from the hips over the
thighs on the backside of the wearer.
[0009] In the following, the invention will be explained in more
detail on the basis of several examples of possible versions of the
invention with reference to the drawing. The following diagrams
show schematically:
[0010] Diagram 1 top view of the inside of a cape in spread out
state;
[0011] Diagram 2 front view of a cape according to a modified
version of the invention, with clip fasteners, on a presentation
stand;
[0012] Diagram 3 rear view of the setup of diagram 2;
[0013] Diagram 4 side view of the setup of diagram 2;
[0014] Diagram 5 rear view of a cape worn in such a manner that it
is not fastened in the upper areas, resulting in the appearance of
a skirt;
[0015] Diagram 6 side view of a cape that is worn in such a manner
that it is not closed in the lower areas, resulting in the
appearance of cloak hanging down.
[0016] Diagram 1 shows a cape 1 in the form of a textile cut,
consisting of elastic material that is stretchable and does not
fray, in a way that it can be just cut out or stamped out without
having to use seams and hems. The shape of its pattern can be
regarded as being subdivided into a central, roughly rectangular
main part 2, two upper shoulder extensions 3, which lie on the
shoulders of the wearer, and two extensions in the lower area of
the garment, which are in the area of the hips 4 of the wearer.
[0017] The extensions 3 emerge from the main part 2 essentially in
its vertical longitudinal direction when the cape is worn, which
means at the short side of the rectangle. The extensions 4 emerge
from the sides, at the long side of the rectangle, but in the lower
area where they span about a third of the long sides of the main
part 2. The long sides of the main part 2 in this area are only
imaginary geometrical subdivisions. The textile material does not
have seams or other lines in the material in these areas.
[0018] In the displayed model, the shoulder extensions 3 are
gathered a little, and at each of its ends is a joining element 5
in the form of a hook. The extensions in the area of the hips 4 lie
flat on the ground. They have rounded borders which form a steady
transition from the side borders of the main part 2 on the one
hand, and a steady transition from the lower short border of the
main part 2 on the other hand. The curves of the borders of these
extensions 4 are convex in the same direction and they meet in a
rounded point, in the area of which one joining element 6 at each
side is situated. The joining elements 6 of the cape 1, which face
each other, are complementary to each other and they are designed
in a way that they can be joined with each other releasably, for
instance in the form of hooks, snap links, poppers, screws, clips,
magnets, or Velcro. But they can also have the form of bands or
strings that can be joined with each other releasably with a
loop.
[0019] At both sides of the cape 1, in the middle area of the main
part 2, pieces of elastic are incorporated.
[0020] The cape 1 is put on at the back of the wearer who is
already wearing a garment like a swimsuit that features rings in
the breast area, or other joining elements that can be grabbed by
the hook 5, including loops, strings or bands, on which hooks can
be hung. The extensions 3 are laid over the shoulders to the front
and are fastened there. The area between the shoulder extensions 3
is rounded and lies around the onset of the neck.
[0021] After that, the extensions in the area of the hips 4 are
wrapped around the body and joined with the help of the joining
elements 6. When an elastic type of material is used for the cape,
good fit on the body is achieved by the joining elements 6 and the
borders of the extensions 4 having a certain distance from each
other when the material is not stretched. So, in order to close the
joining elements, the extensions have to be pulled together, which
causes them to overlap a little.
[0022] Thus tensile forces on the material are created, which lets
the garment fit tightly on the body of the wearer. Thus the cape is
put on and the parts of the body that are sensitive to coldness,
namely the back and the area of the kidneys, are covered.
[0023] The cape can be put on and off effortlessly and quickly.
When the cape itself is folded it becomes very small and can
therefore be transported easily.
[0024] Diagram 2 shows the cape on a presentation stand 11, like on
a torso or mannequin that is already clothed with a two-piece
swimsuit 12. In the version in diagram 2 the upper joining elements
5 are drawn in a different version at one side. In this case not a
hook but a clip is used, as it can often be found at suspenders or
garter belts etc. The joining elements according to diagrams 1 and
2 are again only examples for the numerous possibilities of
connecting pieces of clothing that are known to the expert. So the
cape displayed in the diagrams features the two extensions 3 at the
top of the hide-like shape with a curve in the area of the neck
lying between, and two rather long extensions 4 close to its lower
end. The extensions 3 are lead over the shoulders to the upper
breast area of the wearer and are knotted together there; or they
are held at the garment 12 underneath the cape by the releasable
joining elements 5, which can be attached to both the upper
extensions 3 of the cape 1, as well as to the garment 12, in the
upper breast area.
[0025] The lower extensions 4 can be joined directly with each
other with the help of the releasable joining elements 6, or with
the help of a bar (not displayed in the diagram) at which the
releasable joining elements 6 are fastened. Because the joining
elements 6 are joined only when the elastic material is stretched,
a stretching of the whole area of the cape above them is effected,
which lets the cape fit tightly on the body. In addition, the
pieces of elastic 7 in certain areas hold the cape closely to the
body.
[0026] The displayed cape 1 has a flat shape and can be worn
without hems and border seams because a sewing together of parts of
the material is not necessary. That is also why no hems for
covering possible seams at the borders are needed because, as
mentioned above, a type of material that does not fray at all, or
only a little, is used in the described example.
[0027] Diagram 3 shows the cape 1 put on on the back of the wearer
or the presentation stand 11. In this perspective the option of
wearing the cape as a dress is shown. The pieces of elastic 7
ensure that the garment fits tightly on the body and they also
prevent a possible air draft from affecting the skin.
[0028] Diagram 5 shows the cape 1 with its upper part hanging down.
The hooks 5 are pulled upwards and hung in the upper folding of the
cape that has emerged from letting the cape hang down. So it has
the appearance of a skirt when watched from behind. Alternatively,
the wearer can also let the extensions hang down over the thighs so
that they fall over the part of the cape that is already hanging
down at the back.
[0029] According to diagram 6 the cape 1 also offers the option of
letting it "flow" over the back without stretching it around the
body or fixing it at other points apart from the two joining
elements 5.
* * * * *