U.S. patent application number 13/225017 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-15 for outerwear with retractably-tethered hand covering.
Invention is credited to Elizabeth A. Parker.
Application Number | 20120060256 13/225017 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45805211 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120060256 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Parker; Elizabeth A. |
March 15, 2012 |
OUTERWEAR WITH RETRACTABLY-TETHERED HAND COVERING
Abstract
An outerwear garment having sleeves, where at least one sleeve
has a closeable pocket of a size to contain a hand covering. A
retractable tether, such as a shock cord or bungee cord, is
attached at one end to the hand covering and the other end to the
closeable pocket. The retractable tether may be detachably attached
to the hand covering, closeable pocket, or both, via a fastener
such as snaps. The pocket may be closed via a zipper, snaps, or
hook at loop fasteners.
Inventors: |
Parker; Elizabeth A.;
(Seattle, WA) |
Family ID: |
45805211 |
Appl. No.: |
13/225017 |
Filed: |
September 2, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61382587 |
Sep 14, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/85 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 3/02 20130101; A41D
27/20 20130101; A41D 19/0041 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/85 |
International
Class: |
A41D 3/02 20060101
A41D003/02; A41D 27/00 20060101 A41D027/00 |
Claims
1. An outwear garment comprising: a body to conform to a human
torso, said body include a pair of sleeves wherein each sleeve has
a proximal end adjoined to the outerwear body and a distal end; at
least one sleeve including an closeable pocket; said pocket being
of a size and shape to enclose a hand covering; and a hand covering
being connected to the closeable pocket by a retractable
tether.
2. The outerwear garment according to claim 1 wherein the tether is
a shock cord.
3. The outerwear garment according to claim 1 wherein the tether is
detachable from the closeable pocket.
4. The outerwear garment according to claim 1 wherein the tether is
detachable from the hand covering.
5. The outerwear garment according to claim 3 wherein the tether is
further detachable from the hand covering.
6. The outerwear garment according to claim 5 wherein the tether is
detachable to the closeable pocket and hand covering via leather
snaps.
7. The outerwear garment according to claim 1 wherein the closeable
pocket is an interior pocket positioned at the distal end of the
sleeve.
8. The outerwear garment according to claim 1 wherein the pocket
includes a small opening configured to allow the retractable tether
to pass through.
9. The outerwear garment according to claim 7 wherein the tether is
detachable from the closeable pocket.
10. The outerwear garment according to claim 1 wherein the pocket
is closeable via a zipper.
11. The outerwear garment according to claim 1 wherein the pocket
is closeable via snaps.
12. The outerwear garment according to claim 1 wherein the pocket
is closeable via hook and loop fasteners.
13. The outerwear garment according to claim 1 wherein the pocket
is located near the distal end of the sleeve.
14. The outerwear garment according to claim 13 wherein the pocket
is interior to the sleeve.
15. The outerwear garment according to claim 1 wherein the zipper
of the pocket is positioned longitudinally of the sleeve.
16. An arrangement for retaining a hand covering to a jacket, said
arrangement comprising: a jacket having a formed sleeve and a cuff;
said sleeve including a zippered pocket being of a size for a hand
covering; said zippered pocket being placed longitudinally on the
sleeve; a bungee cord tethered to a glove and the jacket via a
bungee cord; and said bungee cord detachable to the glove and
jacket via leather snaps.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/382,587, filed on Sep. 14, 2010, and
entitled "Spring or Winter Jacket with Attached Gloves."
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the combination
of outerwear, such as a jacket, with pocketed sleeves and a hand
covering that is retractably-tethered to the pocket.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A common problem with known type long-sleeved garments is
that, while such garments protect the upper torso and arms of the
wearer, the hands are exposed to the elements. One inventor has
attempted to address this problem for participants in sports and
other outdoor activities. H. G. Outlaw, U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,468.
The Outlaw patent permits individuals to warm their hands by
placing them in small exterior pockets located just below the arm
pits. This structure is arranged to allow individuals who need to
have their hands uncovered by gloves or such to intermittently warm
their hands. It is designed to maximize the use of body heat and
afford protection from being caught by external objects.
[0004] It is common practice, particularly among women and
children, whose hands are exposed to the cold to insert their
ungloved hands into the opposite sleeves of long-sleeved garments.
This practice also allows individuals who are not wearing gloves or
such to intermittently warm their hands. External destruction is
often not a concern. Insertion of the hands in opposite sleeves is
comfortable and convenient, though the practice over time will
result in excessive stretching of the sleeve cuffs.
[0005] The Outlaw patent does not accommodate this common practice
of inserting ungloved hands into the opposite sleeve. Instead, it
requires individuals to place their hands just below the armpits,
an area of the body that it is often sweaty and odorous,
particularly if the individual is engaged in an outdoor sport.
Also, to fully insert both hands simultaneously into the pockets on
each side of the individual's upper torso is often difficult and
uncomfortable.
[0006] Furthermore, the Outlaw patent does not warm or protect an
individual's hands when he or she is using them. When an individual
is warming and protecting his or her hands, it is convenient to
have the option of using his or her hands while still keeping them
warm and protected. The Outlaw patent is specific in having an
individual's hands unencumbered, by such devices as gloves and the
like, when participating in an activity.
[0007] It is also common practice for people who wear long sleeve
garments to store tissues, napkins, handkerchiefs or other loose
items in their sleeves. Two inventors have addressed putting a
concealed pouch in the sleeve of a garment for the purpose of
retaining and concealing small personal valuables. J. Livingstone,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,200 titled, "Garment Having Concealed Pouch,"
and M. E. West, U.S. Pat. No. 2,134,425 titled, "Sleeve Pocket
Structure." The Livingstone patent only allows for the pockets to
be located in the cuff of the sleeve located along the stitching
line, as opposed to elsewhere on the sleeve. The West patent allows
for a pocket on the sleeve but only where the entrance of the
pocket is located along the seam of the sleeve panel, as opposed to
on the sleeve panel itself. Neither the Livingstone patent nor the
West patent accommodate the use of the pockets for warming of
hands.
[0008] Tethered gloves attached to jackets are well known, such as
is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,240. No provision is made in this
device to conveniently store the glove in a pocket along the
forearm of the jacket.
[0009] It is also known to store mittens in a pocket of a jacket
with the cuff of the mitten securely attached to the sleeve of the
jacket, such as is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,214,771. This device
requires that the mitten be thrust upwardly into the pocket in an
inverted position, requiring a difficult step to stow or retrieve
the mitten for use.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,758 provides hand warming pockets in the
jacket sleeves, but does not provide means to retract gloves into
the pockets.
[0011] Other inventors have created several types of alternative
pockets suitable for transporting loose items. These patents
include R. R. Tonkens, U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,091 titled, "Garment
Tissue Dispenser and Method," R. T. French, U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,545
titled, "Pouch for Holding and Dispensing Facial Tissues," and R.
D. Woodson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,791 titled, "Sock Having Knitted
Carry-All Compartment and Method of Making Thereof." However, these
inventions, as well as the Outlaw garment, do not accommodate the
practice of storing loose items in sleeves.
[0012] Overall, none of the prior art patents listed above offer
the new and novel features of the subject invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention is directed to an outerwear garment,
such as a jacket, having sleeves where at least one sleeve includes
a closeable pocket, a retractable tether, and a hand covering, such
as a glove, glove liner, or mitten. One end of the retractable
tether, such as a shock cord or bungee cord, is attached to the
hand covering. The other end of the retractable tether is attached
to the closeable pocket. The hand covering fits inside the
closeable pocket when the hand covering is not needed by a user. In
this way, a user can have access to the hand covering when needed,
but the hand covering can be readily tucked away inside the
closeable pocket without the chance of being lost or misplaced.
[0014] According to one form on the invention, the closeable pocket
is an interior pocket that may be closed via a zipper, snaps, hook
and loop fasteners, or other traditional fastening means. The small
interior pocket includes a small opening near a distal end of the
sleeve to allow the retractable tether, to extend and retract
through.
[0015] In another embodiment of the invention, the retractable
tether may be attached to the hand covering via a detachable
fastener, such as a snap. Likewise, the other end of the
retractable tether may be attached to an interior of the pocket via
a detachable fastener such as a snap.
[0016] The closable pocket may be positioned longitudinally of the
sleeve near a distal end of the sleeve, e.g., a jacket cuff.
[0017] In use, a user can unzip, or otherwise open, the pocket to
access the hand covering. The retractable tether and hand covering
can either extend outside the pocket and sleeve structure through
the zipper/closure or through a small opening, such as one
positioned near the distal end of the sleeve (e.g., jacket cuff).
The hand covering is easily accessed by the user.
[0018] When the hand covering is no longer needed, the user takes
the hand covering off and the retractable cord retracts the hand
covering back toward the pocket. The hand covering is inserted in
the pocket and can be zipped or otherwise closed. The pocket may be
used to store other things, like tissue and change.
[0019] These and other advantages will become more apparent upon
review of the Drawings, the Detailed Description of the Invention,
and the Claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts
throughout the several views of the drawings, wherein:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective of a jacket having this invention
incorporated in the sleeves thereof;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one sleeve having the glove
extended from the sleeve and in operative position on the hand of
the user;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of this
invention showing the glove with tether extended from the interior
access opening of the sleeve;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view showing attachment of the
tether to the glove, with the glove and tether extended from the
cuff of the jacket;
[0025] FIG. 5. is a perspective view of one sleeve of the jacket
showing the stowed position of the glove within the sleeve; and
[0026] FIG. 6. is a perspective view of another embodiment of this
invention showing the glove with tether extended outside the
sleeve, the sleeve having an exterior access for extension and
retrieval of the glove into and out of the pocket in the
sleeve.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] A new structure and method for providing accessible hand
covering 12 (e.g., gloves, glove liners, or mittens) incorporated
into a sleeve structure 14 of an outerwear garment (e.g., jacket)
10 is shown in FIGS. 1-6. During the peak of the day, the weather
may be quite pleasant; however, when the sun goes down, the weather
may drastically change and with retractable glove liners or mittens
a user will be able to conveniently protect his or her hands from
the cold weather elements. For anyone who participates in outdoor
activities where large temperature variations may occur, having a
means for retaining glove liners, gloves, or mittens to a jacket
will protect a user's hands from inclement weather.
[0028] The hand covering 12 is retractably-tethered to a closeable
pocket 16 formed within the sleeve structure 14 having a proximal
end and a distal end. According to one embodiment of the invention,
pocket 16 is an interior pocket formed within the sleeve structure
14. The pocket is of a size and shape to allow the hand covering to
fit within the pocket. According to one aspect of the invention,
the pocket is of a size and shape to allow the hand covering to be
fully extended such that when the hand covering is inserted into
the pocket it may be stored with minimal extra bulk to the
sleeve.
[0029] The hand covering is tethered to the pocket 16 by a
retractable tether 18, such as a shock cord (e.g., bungee cord).
The tether 18 may be fed through a small opening 20 at or near the
distal end of the sleeve such as cuff 22 or through the opening of
pocket 16. In this way, the retractably-tethered hand coverings are
near a user's hands for ready use.
[0030] The tether 18 may be detachable from closeable pocket 16 or
hand covering 12, or both. Detachment means may be snaps, hooks,
buttons, toggles, clips, or other well known attachment fasteners.
In one form of the invention, the detachment means are a pair of
leather snaps 24, 26 (snap attachment from tether to hand covering,
snap attachment from tether to pocket, respectively). In this way,
the hand covering can be removed for cleaning or to be used alone
or with other outerwear garments.
[0031] Similar to a jacket with a hood that is in a zipped
compartment, where the closure of the pocket may be made via a
zipper 28, as illustrated in FIG. 1-3, 5-6, or by snaps or hook and
loop fasteners. The zippered pocket, or otherwise closable pocket,
may be placed longitudinally of the sleeve structure 14 near the
wrist/cuff area of the sleeve. The tether may pass through the
zipper opening or small opening 20, where a user may quickly put on
the hand covering when circumstances warrant the user wearing a
hand covering. Otherwise, the user may tuck away the hand covering
into the pocket so that the hand covering is retained with the
jacket/outerwear garment. The pocket may also be used to store
small items, such as a tissue, ID, or change.
[0032] In use the hand covering is fed outwardly through the small
opening 20 at the wrist to allow one to use the attached hand
covering for added warmth. The retractable tether 18 (e.g., shock
cord/bungee cord) retract after the user takes off the hand
covering to retract the hand covering back into the zipped pocket
16.
[0033] The access to the pocket 16 may be positioned on the
exterior of the jacket sleeve, (not illustrated), or may be
positioned on the interior of the sleeve, as best seen in FIGS. 3,
5 and 6.
[0034] FIGS. 5 and 6 show an exteriorly located access, which may
also be small opening 20, into the pocket 16, which may be opened
and closed by a zipper, snaps, or hook and pile fasteners (as
illustrated), providing additional access into the interior of
pocket 16.
[0035] The bungee snap placement in the formed pocket of the jacket
is near the inner elbow and the other end of the bungee snap is
placed at the wrist of the glove. The length of the bungee cord
should be the stretched of the forearm plus the necessary length to
pull the bungee cord down through the wrist and past the hand to
allow an easy fitting of the glove. The formed pocket in the jacket
securely retains the unworn glove.
[0036] This invention will warm and protect the hands of an
individual in inclement weather, such as rain or snow, while he or
she is engaged in a wide range of activities. The individual has
the option of either extending the glove or mitten with tether into
a location to cover his or her hands or retracting the tethered
glove or mitten into pocket 16. This invention can be used by an
individual engaged in outdoor activities, such as running,
football, soccer, hunting, golf, or military activities. It can
also be used by an individual engaged in indirect outdoor
participation, such as a spectator, statistician, trainer, team
physician, band member, reporter, photographer or cheerleader. Many
of these indirect participants also benefit from hand warming for
use of such items as a laptop computer, camera, musical instrument,
cheerleading prop, or medical equipment.
[0037] For everyone, who may forget their gloves or mistakenly not
think they will need gloves, a jacket with retractable gloves is
ideal to protect your hands from the elements. The jacket 10 with
hand covering/glove liners 12 will be great for skiing, hiking,
biking, brisk runs or any active outdoor sport. Hand coverings such
as lightweight retractable glove liners can be tucked away in the
forearm of a jacket when not in use will add to usability of any
jacket.
[0038] The illustrated embodiments are only examples of the present
invention and, therefore, are non-limitive. It is to be understood
that many changes in the particular structure, materials, and
features of the invention may be made without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is the Applicant's
intention that her patent rights not be limited by the particular
embodiments illustrated and described herein, but rather by the
following claims interpreted according to accepted doctrines of
claim interpretation, including the Doctrine of Equivalents and
Reversal of Parts.
* * * * *