U.S. patent application number 16/458949 was filed with the patent office on 2019-11-28 for garment assembly with deployable seat.
This patent application is currently assigned to Cabela's LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Cabela's LLC. Invention is credited to Kevin L. Matthews.
Application Number | 20190357608 16/458949 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44729858 |
Filed Date | 2019-11-28 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190357608 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Matthews; Kevin L. |
November 28, 2019 |
GARMENT ASSEMBLY WITH DEPLOYABLE SEAT
Abstract
A garment assembly comprises a garment, a seat, and at least one
elastic member extending between the seat and the garment. When the
seat is in a stowed position, a) a bottom surface of the seat is
constructed and arranged to be alongside and face an outer surface
of the garment and b) a top surface of the seat is constructed and
arranged to face away from the outer surface of the garment. The at
least one elastic member is configured to stretch to accommodate
movement of the seat from the stowed position to a deployed
position adjacent to a butt of the user. The at least one elastic
member, in one configuration, retains the seat in the stowed
position and, in another configuration, biases the top surface of
the seat against the butt of the user when the seat is in the
deployed position.
Inventors: |
Matthews; Kevin L.; (Sidney,
NE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Cabela's LLC |
Sidney |
NE |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Cabela's LLC
Sidney
NE
|
Family ID: |
44729858 |
Appl. No.: |
16/458949 |
Filed: |
July 1, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13231432 |
Sep 13, 2011 |
10376002 |
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16458949 |
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11778134 |
Jul 16, 2007 |
8032949 |
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13231432 |
|
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60820531 |
Jul 27, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 13/00 20130101;
A45F 5/02 20130101; A47C 9/10 20130101; A41D 15/04 20130101; A41D
2600/108 20130101; A41D 1/04 20130101; A47C 3/16 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A41D 15/04 20060101
A41D015/04; A47C 13/00 20060101 A47C013/00; A41D 1/04 20060101
A41D001/04; A47C 9/10 20060101 A47C009/10; A47C 3/16 20060101
A47C003/16; A45F 5/02 20060101 A45F005/02 |
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A garment assembly comprising: a garment configured to be
wearable by a user and to cover at least a portion of a back of the
user, the garment having an inner surface and an opposing outer
surface, wherein, when the garment is worn by the user, the inner
surface of the garment faces toward the user and the outer surface
of the garment faces away from the user; a seat having a top
surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface and the
bottom surface are on opposite sides of the seat; wherein, when the
seat is in a stowed position, a) the bottom surface of the seat is
constructed and arranged to be alongside and face the outer surface
of the garment and b) the top surface of the seat is constructed
and arranged to face away from the outer surface of the garment;
and at least one elastic member extending between the seat and the
garment, the at least one elastic member configured to stretch to
accommodate movement of the seat from the stowed position to a
deployed position adjacent to a butt of the user; and wherein the
at least one elastic member, in one configuration, retains the seat
in the stowed position and, in another configuration, biases the
top surface of the seat against the butt of the user when the seat
is in the deployed position.
22. The garment assembly of claim 21, wherein the at least one
elastic member comprising a first end section attached to the
garment, a second end section attached to the garment, and an
intermediate section extending through the seat, at least one of
both the first end section and the second end section are elastic,
and the intermediate section is elastic.
23. The garment assembly of claim 22, wherein the intermediate
section is elastic.
24. The garment assembly of claim 22, wherein both the first end
section of the at least one elastic member and the second end
section of the at least one elastic member are elastic.
25. The garment assembly of claim 22, wherein the seat includes an
aperture that extends through the seat from a first side surface of
the seat to a second side surface of the seat, and wherein the
intermediate section of the at least one elastic member extends
through the aperture of the seat.
26. The garment assembly of claim 21, wherein the at least one
elastic member comprising a first section fixed to the garment and
a second section fixed to the seat, wherein the seat is connected
to the garment by the first section and the second section of the
at least one elastic member.
27. The garment assembly of claim 21, wherein the at least one
elastic member comprising: a first elastic member comprising: a
first section fixed to the garment, and a second section fixed to
the seat, a second elastic member comprising: a first section fixed
to the garment, and a second section fixed to the seat; wherein the
first elastic member and the second elastic member are separate
structures, and wherein the seat is connected to the garment by the
first elastic member and the second elastic member.
28. The garment assembly of claim 27, wherein the seat is connected
to the garment by only the first elastic member and the second
elastic member.
29. The garment assembly of claim 27, further comprises at least
one hinging strap, the at least one hinging strap comprising a
first section and a second section, the first section attached to
the seat and the second section attached to the garment.
30. The garment assembly of claim 29, wherein the seat is connected
to the garment by only the first elastic member, the second elastic
member and the at least one hinging strap.
31. The garment assembly of claim 27, wherein the first elastic
member and the second elastic member are configured to increase in
length during an initial portion of deployment and thereafter to
decrease in length during a subsequent portion of deployment
32. The garment assembly of claim 21, further includes at least one
hinging strap, the at least one hinging strap including a first
section and a second section, the first section of the at least one
hinging strap attached to the seat and the second section of the at
least one hinging strap attached to the garment.
33. The garment assembly of claim 32, further includes a hinging
strap connector attached to at least one of the first section of
the at least one hinging strap and the second section of the at
least one hinging strap.
34. The garment assembly of claim 33, wherein the first section of
the at least one hinging strap is releasably connected to the
second section of the at least one hinging strap via the hinging
strap connector.
35. The garment assembly of claim 33, wherein the hinging strap
connector includes a first hinging strap connector portion
releasably connected to a second hinging strap connector portion,
the first hinging strap connector portion attached to the first
section of the at least one hinging strap, the second hinging strap
connector portion attached to the second section of the at least
one hinging strap.
36. The garment assembly of claim 21, wherein, when the garment is
worn by the user, the seat extends more vertically than
horizontally in the stowed position and more horizontally than
vertically in the deployed position.
37. The garment assembly of claim 21, wherein at least one elastic
member comprising a first section attached to the garment, and a
second section attached to the garment and extending through the
seat; and a connector attached to at least one of the first section
and the second section, the first section releasably connected to
the second section via the connector, such that the seat is
deployable between the stowed position exterior to and outside of
the garment and across from the back of the user and the deployed
position adjacent to the butt of the user.
38. The garment assembly of claim 37, further comprising an
intermediate section extending through the seat.
39. The garment assembly of claim 37, wherein the connector
includes a first connector portion and a second connector portion,
the first connector portion attached to the first section of the at
least one elastic member, the second connector portion attached to
the second section of the at least one elastic member, the first
connector portion releasably connected to the second connector
portion.
40. The garment assembly of claim 37, further includes first and
second hinging straps, each of the first and second hinging straps
including a first section and a second section, wherein the first
sections of each of the first and second hinging straps are
attached to the seat, and wherein the second sections of each of
the first and second hinging straps are attached to the
garment.
41. The garment assembly of claim 40, further comprising first and
second hinging strap connectors, the first hinging strap connector
attached to at least one of the first section and the second
section of the first hinging strap, the second hinging strap
connector attached to at least one of the first section and the
second section of the second hinging strap.
42. The garment assembly of claim 41, wherein the first section of
the first hinging strap is releasably connected to the second
section of the first hinging strap via the first hinging strap
connector, and the first section of the second hinging strap is
releasably connected to the second section of the second hinging
strap via the second hinging strap connector.
43. The garment assembly of claim 21, wherein the seat is
deployable between the stowed position exterior to and outside of
the garment and across from the back of the user and the deployed
position adjacent to the butt of the user.
44. The garment assembly of claim 21, wherein the at least one
elastic member is configured to bias the bottom surface of the seat
towards the outer surface of the garment when the seat is in the
stowed position and to bias the top surface of the seat against the
butt of the user when the seat is in the deployed position.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 13/231,432, filed on Sep. 13, 2011, which is a
continuation of and claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.
Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 11/778,134 (now U.S.
Pat. No. 8,032,949), filed on Jul. 16, 2007 (issued on Oct. 11,
2011), which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/820,531, filed on Jul. 27, 2006, the
entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] This application is also related to U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 14/484,175 filed on Sep. 11, 2014, which is continuation
of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/231,432, filed on Sep. 13,
2011, which is a continuation of and claims the benefit of and
priority to U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No.
11/778,134 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,032,949), filed on Jul. 16, 2007
(issued on Oct. 11, 2011), which claims priority to and the benefit
of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/820,531, filed
on Jul. 27, 2006.
[0003] The contents of all of these applications are incorporated
herein by reference in their entirety. Such incorporation by
reference should be understood to include, but not be limited to,
each of the claims as originally filed in each of those patent
applications. The inventions specifically contemplated by this
patent application include those disclosed herein, as well as those
specifically claimed in the aforesaid applications that have been
incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0004] The present invention generally relates to garments that
incorporate a seat.
[0005] Hunting vests or the like exist that incorporate a seat.
Various strap with buckles, retain the seat in a stowed position on
the rear or back side of the vest sing one or more straps. When use
of the seat is desired, one or more of the straps may be unhooked
or unbuckled. Each of the straps also may be unhooked or unbuckled
to totally disconnect the seat from the hunting vest. In any case,
the hunter typically either grasps the seat and holds the same
against his/her butt and sits down on the seat, or the hunter
manually places the seat onto the relevant supporting structure
(e.g., the ground) and then sits on the same.
[0006] Although the above-noted type of hunting vest offers certain
advantages, noise is a concern when disconnecting the seat from the
hunting vest for subsequent use. Operating the buckles/hooks may
spook nearby game. Also, in many cases a hunter will want to move
very short distances after getting situated. This of course
requires the hunter to manually move the seat. If the hunter is
going to move any significant distance, the hunter will typically
manually re-attach the seat to the hunting vest. This is time
consuming and also generates undesired noise through engagement of
buckles or the like. There is also of course the risk that the
hunter will forget the disconnected seat when moving as well.
SUMMARY
[0007] A first aspect of the present invention is generally
directed to a garment assembly. This garment assembly includes a
garment, a seat, and at least one elastic member that interconnects
the garment and the seat.
[0008] Various refinements exist of the features noted in relation
to the first aspect of the present invention. Further features may
also be incorporated in the first aspect of the present invention
as well. These refinements and additional features may exist
individually or in any combination. The garment may be of any
appropriate size, shape, configuration, and/or type. For instance,
the garment may be in the form of a jacket, a vest, a life jacket,
a shirt, a coat, a parka, a backpack, or a sporting event seat. The
garment may also be used for any appropriate application, such as
hunting, fishing, boating, camping, hiking, attending sporting
events, or the like. The garment may include any feature or
combination of features for the relevant application (e.g.,
pockets, shell holders). The seat also may be detachably
interconnected with the garment so as to be totally separable from
the garment, or the seat may somehow remain interconnected with the
garment at all times.
[0009] First and second elastic strap sections may interconnect the
seat and the garment in the case of the first aspect. One portion
of each of these first and second elastic strap sections may be
attached or fixed at any appropriate location and in any
appropriate manner to the garment (e.g., an end of the first and
second elastic strap sections). Another portion of each of the
first and second elastic strap sections may be associated with
first and second sides, respectively, of the seat. For instance,
the first and second elastic strap sections may be part of a single
strap that extends side-to-side through the interior of the seat.
In this case, the first and second elastic strap sections may not
in fact be attached or fixed to the seat, but would appropriately
interface or interact with the seat. However, the first and second
elastic strap sections could in fact be attached or fixed to the
seat in any appropriate manner and at any appropriate location
(e.g., the first and second strap sections may be separate
structures), for instance at or near the opposing sides of the
seat. In any case, a separate buckle or the like may be associated
with each of the first and second elastic strap sections to
facilitate the detachable interconnection of the seat with the
garment if desired/required.
[0010] Generally, the above-noted first and second elastic strap
sections may stretch or extend to accommodate movement of the seat
from a stowed position to a deployed position in the case of the
first aspect. As will be discussed in more detail below in relation
to the second aspect of the present invention, this movement may be
characterized as a pivoting or pivotal-like motion of the seat
(e.g., the front of the seat pivoting at least generally about the
rear of the seat), as a "flipping" of the seat, or as an inversion
of the seat.
[0011] Additional straps may be used to interconnect the seat with
the garment in the case of the first aspect, although such may not
be required in all instances. For instance, two or more straps may
engage each of the garment and the seat at or near the rear of the
seat. The straps may facilitate movement of the seat from the
stowed position to a deployed position in a pivoting or
pivotal-like motion, such that these particular straps may be
referred to as "hinging" straps or the like. In any case, each of
these hinging straps may include a buckle or the like to facilitate
the detachable interconnection of the seat with the garment if
desired/required.
[0012] One function of the elastic member in the case of the first
aspect is to facilitate deployment of the seat from a stowed
position to a deployed position. Generally, the elastic member may
be stretched or extended to move the seat from the stowed position
to a deployed position. The elastic member may also resiliently
bias the seat into engagement with a user when the seat is in a
deployed position (e.g., so as to maintain contact between the seat
and a butt of the user, particularly when the user is in a standing
position). In any case, movement of the seat between the stowed
position and any deployed position does not require disconnecting
the seat from the garment in any manner in one embodiment.
[0013] A second aspect of the present invention is directed to a
method of deploying a seat that is associated with a garment.
Movement of the seat from a stowed position to a first deployed
position entails stretching or extending at least one
interconnection between the seat and garment.
[0014] Various refinements exist of the features noted in relation
to the second aspect of the present invention. Further features may
also be incorporated in the second aspect of the present invention
as well. These refinements and additional features may exist
individually or in any combination. The garment used by the second
aspect may be in accordance with the garment discussed above in
relation to the first aspect.
[0015] The movement of the seat from the stowed position to a first
deployed position in the case of the second aspect may be
characterized as a pivoting of the seat, as an inversion of the
seat, as a flipping of the seat, or as a movement of a front of the
seat at least generally about a rear of the seat. In one embodiment
and regardless of the characterization of the type of motion of the
seat during deployment, the seat need not be disconnected from the
garment to move from a stowed position to a first deployed
position. That is, using at least one elastic interconnection
between the seat and the garment may be incorporated in a manner
that alleviates the need to disconnect the seat in any manner from
the garment in order to move the same from a stowed position to a
first deployed position. Stated another way, all interconnections
that exist between the seat and the garment when the seat is in the
stowed position may be maintained as/while the seat is moved from
its stowed position to a first deployed position.
[0016] The interconnection between the seat and garment may include
a first strap that is stretched at least at some point in time
during the movement of the seat from its stowed position to a first
deployed position in the case of the second aspect. This stretching
of the first strap increases its length, and may be followed by a
subsequent contraction or retraction of the first strap that in
turn decreases its length. In a first embodiment, the length of the
strap is increased in moving the seat from its stowed position to
an intermediate position (where such an intermediate position is
between the stowed position and a first deployed position), and
thereafter the length of the first strap is decreased in moving
from the intermediate position to a first deployed position. In a
second embodiment, the first strap is of a first length when the
seat is in the stowed position, the movement of the seat from the
stowed position to an intermediate position stretches or extends
the first strap to a second length, and the first strap contracts
to a third length at least at some point in time during the
movement of the seat from the intermediate position to the first
deployed position. In this second embodiment, the third length of
the first strap (associated with the seat being in a first deployed
position) is greater than the first length of the first strap
(associated with the seat being in the stowed position), the seat
is pulled into contact with a user of the garment by the first
strap when the seat is in the first deployed position, or both.
[0017] The movement of the seat from the stowed position to a first
deployed position may be accommodated by an elasticity or
resiliency of at least one interconnection between the seat and the
garment in the case of the second aspect. Furthermore, this
elasticity or resiliency of at least one interconnection between
the seat and the garment in the case of the second aspect may
maintain contact between the seat and a user when the seat is in a
first deployed position (e.g., at least one interconnection between
the seat and the garment may "pull" the seat into contact with the
user when the seat is in a first deployed position). This is
particularly advantageous when the user moves from a standing
position to a seated position, in that the user does not need to
hold onto the seat at this time. Moreover, the manner in which the
seat may be integrated with the garment (through the use of at
least one elastic interconnection) also allows the user to move
from a seated position to a standing position, to move to a new
location, and then again sit down on the seat as the user does not
need to hold onto the seat throughout this time and the seat will
simply "follow" the user.
[0018] A third aspect of the present invention is directed to a
method of deploying a seat that is associated with a garment. The
seat is maintained in a stowed position relative to the garment
using at least one interconnection between the garment and the
seat. However, the seat may be moved from this stowed position to a
first deployed position. Notably, each interconnection between the
garment and seat (which is used to maintain the seat in the stowed
position) may be retained or maintained during movement of the seat
from the stowed position to the first deployed position. Therefore,
there is no need to disconnect the seat from the garment in any
manner when moving the seat from the stowed position to the first
deployed position in the case of the third aspect. The various
features discussed above in relation to the second aspect may be
used by this third aspect, individually or in any combination.
[0019] In one embodiment of the present patent application, a
garment assembly is provided. The garment assembly comprises a
garment configured to be wearable by a user and to cover at least a
portion of a back of the user, a seat having a top surface and a
bottom surface, and at least one elastic member extending between
the seat and the garment. The garment has an inner surface and an
opposing outer surface. When the garment is worn by the user, the
inner surface of the garment faces toward the user and the outer
surface of the garment faces away from the user. The top surface
and the bottom surface are on opposite sides of the seat. When the
seat is in a stowed position, a) the bottom surface of the seat is
constructed and arranged to be alongside and face the outer surface
of the garment and b) the top surface of the seat is constructed
and arranged to face away from the outer surface of the garment.
The at least one elastic member is configured to stretch to
accommodate movement of the seat from the stowed position to a
deployed position adjacent to a butt of the user. The at least one
elastic member, in one configuration, retains the seat in the
stowed position and, in another configuration, biases the top
surface of the seat against the butt of the user when the seat is
in the deployed position.
[0020] Additional features and advantages are described herein, and
will be apparent from the following Detailed Description and the
figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0021] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of a
garment assembly with a deployable seat in a stowed position.
[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates the garment assembly of FIG. 1 during
deployment of its seat.
[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates the garment assembly of FIG. 1 with its
seat in a representative deployed position.
[0024] FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the seat used by the
garment assembly of FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the garment assembly of FIG.
1 while being worn by a user and with its seat in a stowed
position.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the garment assembly of FIG.
5 that illustrates the user initiating deployment of the seat.
[0027] FIG. 7 as a perspective view of the garment assembly of FIG.
5 that illustrates the seat in a representative deployed position
and with the user sitting on this seat.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] Each of the patents and patent applications listed in the
"Cross Reference to Related Applications" section of the present
patent application is incorporated by reference in its entirety
into the present patent application. Such incorporation by
reference should be understood to include, but not be limited to,
each of the claims as originally filed in each of those patents and
patent applications.
[0029] One embodiment of a garment assembly is illustrated in FIGS.
1-4 and is identified by reference numeral 10. The garment assembly
10 includes a garment 14 and a deployable seat 22. The garment 14
may be of any appropriate size, shape, configuration, and/or type,
and may be used for any appropriate application (e.g., hunting).
For instance, the garment 14 may be in the form of a jacket, vest,
life jacket, shirt, coat, parka, backpack, or sporting event seat.
In the illustrated embodiment, the garment 14 is in the form of a
vest (e.g., a hunting vest).
[0030] The deployable seat 22 includes a top or upper surface 26, a
bottom or lower surface 30, a pair of side or side surfaces 34, a
front or front surface 38, and a rear or rear surface 42. The seat
22 may be of any appropriate size, shape, and/or configuration, and
may incorporate any appropriate supporting material or combination
of supporting materials. Moreover, any desirable properties may be
incorporated/utilized by any of the surfaces 26,30,34,38,42 (e.g.,
the bottom or lower surface 30 of the seat 22 may be waterproof;
the entire exterior of the seat 22 may be waterproof).
[0031] A pair of lower strap assemblies or hinging strap assemblies
48 interconnect the garment 14 and the seat 22, and may facilitate
the deployment of the seat 22 in a manner that will be discussed in
more detail below. Each lower strap assembly 48 may include a
buckle 52 (FIGS. 5-7) to facilitate detachably interconnecting the
garment 14 and seat 22. Any appropriate number of lower strap
assemblies 48 may be used, each lower strap assembly 48 may be
fixed at any appropriate location on each of the garment 14 and
seat 22 and in any appropriate manner, multiple lower strap
assemblies 48 may be disposed in any appropriate arrangement, and
each lower strap assembly 48 may use one or more straps of any
appropriate type (e.g., elastic; non-elastic). In the illustrated
embodiment, each lower strap assembly 48 is fixed to the seat 22 at
or near its rear 42. It may be possible to alleviate the lower
strap assemblies 48 altogether, although again the use of the lower
strap assemblies 48 may facilitate the deployment of the seat
22.
[0032] The garment assembly 10 further includes a pair of upper
strap sections 56 that each interconnect with the garment 14 and
that each at least interface or interact with the seat 22. In the
illustrated embodiment, the upper strap sections 56 are actually
part of a single strap that extends through the interior of the
seat 22 via a side-to-side aperture 44 (FIG. 4) that is
incorporated by the seat 22 (e.g., an intermediate section of this
single strap extends through the seat 22 and joins with each of the
upper strap sections 56). The upper strap sections 56 could also be
separate structures and separately attached or fixed to the seat 22
in any appropriate manner and at any appropriate location. In any
case, an end of each upper strap section 56 is fixed or mounted to
the garment 14 in any appropriate manner and at any appropriate
location. In the illustrated embodiment, a buckle 60 is provided
for each upper strap section 56 to detachably interconnect the
garment 14 with the seat 22 at two additional location s. The upper
strap sections 56 and the lower strap assemblies 48 thereby support
the seat 22 in its stowed position of FIG. 1. Although the seat 22
may be detachably interconnected with the garment 14 so as to be
totally separable from the garment 14 as thus far described, it
should be appreciated that at least one interconnection may remain
between the seat 22 and the garment 14 at all times (not
shown).
[0033] Each upper strap section 56 also interfaces with the seat 22
at a pair of laterally spaced locations, or along each of the two
sides 34 of the seat 22 as noted. In the illustrated embodiment
where the upper strap sections 56 are part of a common strap, the
upper strap sections 56 are not actually fixed to the seat 22 as
noted. However and once again, it should be appreciated that the
upper strap sections 56 could indeed be separate structures, with
one portion (e.g., one end) of each such upper strap section 56
being appropriately fixed or mounted to the garment 14 and with
another portion.(e.g., the opposite end) of each such upper strap
section 56 being appropriately fixed or mounted to the seat 22 in
any appropriate manner.
[0034] The upper strap sections 56 of the garment assembly 10
facilitate deployment of the seat 22, and notably without having to
disconnect the seat 22 from the garment 14 of the garment assembly
10 in any manner. In this regard, the upper strap sections 56 are
each able to extend or stretch (i.e., increase in length) some time
during deployment of the seat 22. More specifically, each upper
strap section 56 extends or stretches (i.e., increases in length)
during the initial portion of the deployment of the seat 22, and
thereafter may contract (i.e., decreases in length) during a
subsequent portion of the deployment of the seat 22. Preferably,
each upper strap section 56 is formed from an appropriate elastic
or other appropriate resilient material, such that each upper strap
section 56 may extend or stretch when exposed to an appropriate
force, and thereafter uses stored internal energy or the like to
contract or retract to at least some degree upon experiencing at
least a certain reduction of this force (including via a pure
elastic deformation, where each upper strap section 56 would move
back to its undeformed state once a load is totally removed).
[0035] FIGS. 1-3 illustrate three representative positions for the
seat 22. FIG. 1 illustrates a stowed position for the seat 22,
where the bottom or lower surface 30 of the seat 22 faces the back
side of the garment 14 and where the top or upper surface 26 of the
seat 22 faces away from the back side of the garment 14. In one
embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, when the garment assembly is
worn by the user, the seat extends substantially/generally
vertically (i.e., more vertically than horizontally) in the stowed
position. The upper strap sections 56 may "pull" the seat 22
against the garment 14 at this time (e.g., to resiliently bias the
seat 22 against the garment 14, particularly when being worn by a
user), although such is not required (e.g., the upper strap
sections 56 may be in tension or stretched with the seat 22 in its
stowed position). FIG. 2 illustrates a representative intermediate
position of the seat 22, or a partially deployed position, while
FIG. 3 illustrates a representative deployed position of the seat
22 (i.e., other deployed positions may exist). In one embodiment,
as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, when the garment assembly is worn by the
user, the seat extends substantially/generally horizontally (i.e.,
more horizontally than vertically) in the deployed position.
Generally, the seat 22 may be characterized as' being pivoted,
flipped, or inverted to move from the stowed position of FIG. 1 to
the deployed position of FIG. 3 (e.g., the deployment of the seat
22 may be characterized as the front 38 of the seat 22 pivoting at
least generally about the rear 42 of the seat 22, as illustrated by
the arrows A and B in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively), and again this
motion may be undertaken without disconnecting the seat 22 from the
garment 14 in any manner which may be desirable for one or more
applications (e.g., hunting).
[0036] With the seat 22 being in the stowed position of FIG. 1, the
front or front surface 38 of the seat 22 is moved at least
generally away from the garment 14 to initiate deployment of the
seat 22. Each upper strap section 56 extends or stretches to
accommodate movement of the seat 22 from the stowed position of
FIG. 1 to the intermediate of FIG. 2. That is, the length of each
upper strap section 56 in FIG. 2 is greater than its corresponding
length in the stowed position of FIG. 1. Again, note that the seat
22 remains interconnected with the garment 14 by the upper strap
sections 56 and the various lower strap assemblies 48.
[0037] In order to move the seat 22 from the stowed position of
FIG. 1 to the representative deployed position of FIG. 3, the front
38 of the seat 22 is also moved in a downward direction. Compare
the vertical position of the front 38 of the seat 22 in each of
FIGS. 1 and 2, again where FIG. 2 is an intermediate position of
the seat 22 during its deployment. Movement of the seat 22 from the
intermediate position of FIG. 2 to the deployed position of FIG. 3
entails directing the front 38 in a continued downward direction
and then back toward a position where the seat 22 is now disposed
underneath the garment 14 versus "behind" the garment 14 as in the
case of the stowed position of FIG. 1. The existence of the lower
strap assemblies 48, which again interconnect the seat 22 with the
garment 14, may facilitate the above--noted type of motion for
deployment of the seat 22 (e.g., a pivoting or pivotal--like motion
of the seat 22 at least generally about its rear 42).
[0038] In the FIG. 3 position, the upper strap sections 56 may be
of an intermediate length compared to the FIGS. 1 and 2
configurations. That is, the upper strap sections 56 may be in an
extended or stretched state in FIG. 3 compared to the FIG. 1
position (FIG. 1 being the stowed position), but are contracted or
retracted in FIG. 3 (deployed position) compared to the FIG. 2
position (intermediate position). That is, the upper strap sections
56 may and preferably are in tension in the deployed position of
FIG. 3, which desirably retains the top or upper surface 26 of the
seat 22 against the user. Stated another way, the upper strap
sections 56 preferably resiliently bias the seat 22 into contact
with a user of the garment assembly 10 with the seat 22 being in
the deployed position of FIG. 3.
[0039] The above-described motion of the seat 22 during its
deployment in effect inverts or flips the seat 22. Recall that in
the FIG. 1 position (the stowed position), the bottom or lower
surface 30 of the seat 22 faces the garment 14 (in a horizontal
dimension), while in the FIG. 3 position (a representative deployed
position) the bottom or lower surface 30 of the seat 22 faces away
from the garment 14 (in a vertical dimension). Moreover, the top or
upper surface 26 of the seat 22 faces away from the garment 14 of
the garment assembly 10 in the stowed position of FIG. 1 (facing in
a horizontal dimension), but faces the garment 14 in the deployed
position of FIG. 3 (facing upwardly in a vertical dimension). It
should be appreciated that the above-noted protocol may simply be
reversed to move the seat 22 from a deployed position (FIG. 3) back
to the stowed position of FIG. 1.
[0040] FIGS. 5-7 illustrate three representative positions for the
seat 22, with the garment assembly 10 being worn by a user, and
with the lower strap assemblies 48 being fixed at or near a lower
edge 18 of the garment 14 (although again the lower strap
assemblies 48 may be fixed or anchored at any appropriate location
of the garment 14 as noted above, and in fact may be alleviated
altogether). FIG. 5 is a stowed position for the seat 22, where the
bottom or lower surface 30 of the seat 22 faces the garment 14, and
where the top or upper surface 26 of the seat 22 faces away from
the garment 14 (in a rearward direction in relation to the
direction that the user is facing in FIG. 5). At this time, the
upper strap sections 56 may be in tension to "pull" the seat 22
against the back of the user, although again such is not required.
Although the lower strap assemblies 48 are not necessarily
required, they may enhance the retention of the seat 22 in the
stowed position of FIG. 5.
[0041] FIG. 6 illustrates the use of a single hand to initiate the
deployment of the seat 22 by moving the front 38 of the seat 22
both away from the garment 14 of the garment assembly 10 and in a
downward direction, as illustrated by the arrow C. Both of the
user's hands could of course be used. This movement of the seat 22
is accommodated by stretching or extending each of the upper strap
sections 56 (i.e., the length of the upper strap sections 56 is
increased progressing from the stowed position of FIG. 5 to the
intermediate position of FIG. 6). The movement of the seat 22 from
the FIG. 5 position to the FIG. 6 position exposes the bottom or
lower surface 30 of the seat 22 (the bottom 30 now facing "up" in
FIG. 6 versus facing the back of the user in the stowed position of
FIG. 5), and further changes the orientation of both the top or
upper surface 26 of the seat 22 and its bottom or lower surface 30.
For instance, the top 26 of the seat 22 faces down in the
intermediate position of FIG. 6 (in a vertical dimension), versus
facing rear or away from the user in the stowed configuration of
FIG. 5 (in a horizontal dimension).
[0042] FIG. 7 illustrates a deployed position where the user is
sitting on the top or upper surface 26 of the seat 22. In order to
dispose the seat 22 in the deployed position of FIG. 7 from the
intermediate position of FIG. 6, the user manipulates the seat 22
to move the front 38 of the seat 22 at least generally in the
direction depicted by the arrow D in FIG. 7, typically while still
in a standing position. In the deployed position of FIG. 7, the
upper strap sections 56 are preferably of an intermediate length
compared to the configurations of FIGS. 5 and 6. That is,
preferably the upper strap sections 56 in FIG. 7 are longer
compared to the FIG. 5 configuration (the stowed position for the
seat 22), but are shorter compared to the FIG. 6 configuration (an
intermediate position in the deployment of the seat 22). As such,
the upper strap sections 56 will retract to at least a degree at
some point in time of the movement of the seat 22 from the
intermediate position of FIG. 6 to the deployed position of FIG. 7
(possibly when the deployed position of FIG. 7 is reached). In any
case, the upper strap sections 56 are preferably in tension or
stretched to a degree in the deployed position of FIG. 7 to "pull"
the seat 22 against the butt of the user, although such may not be
required in all instances.
[0043] The garment assembly 10 with its deployable seat 22 offers a
number of advantages. One is that the user does not have to
"unlock" or "unlatch" any buckles to move the seat 22 from the
stowed position (e.g., FIG. 5) to a deployed position (e.g., FIG.
7). Unlocking or unlatching buckles generates undesired noise for
hunting applications. Stated another way, all structural
connections between the seat 22 and the garment 14 of the garment
assembly 10 may be retained or maintained while moving the seat 22
between its stowed position and a deployed position. Moreover, the
user does not have to hold onto the seat 22 when moving from
standing position to a position where the user is sitting on the
seat 22, as the upper strap sections 56 may provide a force for
retaining the seat 22 against the user at this time. Yet another
advantage is that the user may leave the seat 22 in a deployed
position when moving from one location to another location. That
is, the user may stand up from the position illustrated in FIG. 7
and need not grab the seat 22 to do so--the upper strap sections 56
should retain the top or upper surface 26 of the seat 22 against
the butt of the user during the user's transition from the sitting
position of FIG. 7 to a standing position. Moreover, the seat 22
may be retained in a deployed position (i.e., the seat 22 need not
be moved back to the stowed position of FIG. 5) if the user is
moving only a short distance--the upper strap sections 56 again
should retain the top or upper surface 26 of the seat 22 against
the butt of the user. However, if the user is going to move any
significant distance, the foregoing deployment protocol may be
reversed to dispose the seat 22 back into the stowed position of
FIG. 5 (again, without having to disconnect the seat 22 from the
garment 14 of the garment assembly 10 in any manner).
[0044] The foregoing description of the present invention has been
for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the
description is not intended to limit the invention to the form
disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications
commensurate with the above teachings, and skill and knowledge of
the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention.
The embodiments described hereinabove are further intended to
explain best modes known of practicing the invention and to enable
others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such, or
other embodiments and with various modifications required by the
particular application(s) or use(s) of the present invention. It is
intended that the appended claims be construed to include
alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior
art.
[0045] It should be understood that various changes and
modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described
herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes
and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its
intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and
modifications be covered by the appended claims.
* * * * *