CAPE WITH DETACHABLE OR CONCEALABLE SLEEVES

Abstract

An article configured to cover the torso of a wearer includes reversible sleeves that can either extend outwardly from the garment for covering the arms of a wearer or positioned within the garment, and closures for closing the sleeve openings and concealing the sleeve, and/or detachable sleeves.

Claims

1. An article comprising a cape or robe integral with a wearable pouch, comprising: an elongate pouch configured to be worn along a back of a neck of a human wearer, a fabric strap extending from each of opposite ends of the elongate pouch, the straps being joinable at a front of the neck of the wearer to secure the pouch on the neck of the wearer, the pouch including an opening extending along the length direction of the pouch and a closure for closing the pouch opening; a cape or robe having an upper edge fastened to an inner section of the pouch, the cape or robe being selectively deployable over shoulders of the wearer and covering a torso of the wearer, and stowable in the pouch; and sleeves that can extend outwardly through a sleeve closure adjacent the shoulder of the cape or gown, or can be positioned on the inside of the garment.

2. The article of claim 1 further comprising arm slits located below the sleeve closures.

3. The article of claim 1, in which fabric straps are made of the same fabric material as the pouch.

4. The article of claim 1, in which the straps each have a proximal end attached to one of the opposite ends of the pouch and a distal end having a strap fastener for releasably and adjustably securing the distal ends of the straps together.

5. The article of claim 4, in which the strap fastener is selected from the group consisting of snap fasteners, hook and loop fasteners, and buttons and holes.

6. The article of claim 1, in which the pouch closure is selected from the group consisting of hook and loop closures, snap closures, button closures, and a zipper.

7. The article of claim 1, in which the deployable cape or robe includes a front closure.

8. The article of claim 7, in which the front closure is a zipper.

9. The article of claim 1, further comprising a hood that is selectively stowable in and deployable from the pouch and attached to an upper section of the cape or robe or to an inner section of the pouch.

10. The article of claim 1, wherein the pouch is configured to resemble a collar of the cape when the cape is deployed.

11. A cape or robe, comprising: a garment for covering a torso of a wearer, the garment having a shoulder area; and sleeves that can extend outwardly through a sleeve closure adjacent the shoulder area, or positioned on the inside of the garment.

12. The cape or robe of claim 11, wherein the sleeve closure is a zippered closure.

13. The cape or robe of claim 11 further comprising arm slits located below the closures.

14. A cape or robe, comprising: a garment for covering a torso of a wearer, and sleeves releasably attached at a shoulder area of the garment.

15. The cape or robe of claim 14, wherein the sleeves are releasably attached to the garment with zippers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the integral pouch and cape or robe articles with the cape or robe contained in the pouch and the pouch zippered closed.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the articles shown in FIG. 1 with the pouch zippered open to reveal the cape or robe folded, rolled or otherwise disposed within the pouch.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the article shown in FIG. 1 with the cape or robe deployed from the pouch.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the article of FIG. 1 worn on the neck of a human wearer with the cape or robe stowed in the pouch.

[0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the article of FIG. 1 worn on the neck of a human wearer with the cape or robe deployed from the pouch and draped over the shoulders of the wearer and covering the torso of the wearer.

[0012] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment that includes a selectively stowable and deployable hood, and concealable sleeves.

[0013] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment that includes a front closure, namely a zipper, and includes detachable sleeves.

[0014] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the pouch portion of the article in which the distal ends of the straps extending from opposite ends of the pouch are provided with hook and loop type fastening elements.

[0015] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the pouch portion of the article in which the distal ends of the straps extending from opposite ends of the pouch are provided with snap-type fasteners.

[0016] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment in which the pouch has a crescent shape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] An article 10 including a cape or robe selectively stowable or deployable from a pouch wearable around a neck of a human wearer is shown in the drawings. Article 10 includes a pouch 12 configured to selectively enclose and deploy a cape or robe 14 (FIGS. 1 and 2). Pouch 12 includes an opening 16 that extends along the length direction of the pouch and that can be selectively opened or closed with a closure element 18, such as a zipper, buttons, snaps or hook and loop fasteners (e.g., fasteners sold under the trademark “Velcro”).

[0018] The term “cape” encompasses sleeveless garments that drape loosely over the shoulders and cover the torso. Such capes can be of generally any desired length, such as to the waist or lower (e.g., to the knees of the wearer). The term “robe” encompasses loose outer garments that may or may not include sleeves.

[0019] Straps 20A, 20B have proximal ends attached at opposite ends of pouch 12. Straps 20A and 20B are joinable at their respective distal ends to secure pouch 12 on the neck of a wearer. For example, straps 20A and 20B can be tied together, such as in a bowknot. Alternatively, distal ends 22A and 22B can be provided with fastening elements such as hook 24 and loop 26 fasteners (as shown in FIG. 8), or snap fasteners 30 (as shown in FIG. 9). By employing a plurality of snap fasteners 30, the straps can be adjusted as desired by the wearer for comfort and securement.

[0020] Straps 20A and 20B can be made of a fabric that is the same as or different from the fabric used to make pouch 12. Straps 20A and 20B can be integrally cut with the fabric of the pouch or can be sewn to pouch 12.

[0021] An upper edge 32 of cape or robe 14 is fastened to an inner section 34 of pouch 12 (FIG. 3). For example, cape or robe 14 can be sewn to pouch 12. Alternatively, cape or robe 14 can be releasably attached to pouch 12, such as with a zipper, snap fasteners or buttons.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 4, article 10 can be worn with pouch 12 extending along only the back portion of the neck of the wearer, thereby offering unrestricted movement of the head of the wearer in a forward direction or a sideward direction.

[0023] Robe or cape 14 can be easily deployed from pouch 12 without removing article 10 from around the neck of the wearer by releasing closure fastener 18 to open pouch 12 and allow robe or cape 14 to deploy. Cape or robe 14 can then be pulled over the shoulders of the wearer (FIG. 5).

[0024] In certain embodiments, a hood 38 can be provided (FIG. 6). Hood 38 can be attached to an inner section of pouch 12 such as by sewing, or releasably attached such as with a zipper, buttons, snap fasteners, or hook and loop fasteners.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 7, cape or robe 14 can be provided with a front closure 40 such as a zipper. Pouch 12 (FIG. 10) can be configured to resemble a collar of the cape 14 when the cape is deployed. For example, pouch 12′ has a crescent shape with a zipper 18′ along a front edge thereof. The crescent shape creates the collar-like appearance.

[0026] In certain embodiments, the robe or cape 14 can be provided with sleeves 60 that can extend outwardly at the shoulder area and be worn over the arms as shown in FIG. 7 or pulled inwardly (inside-out) so that they can hang loosely or otherwise be situated on the inside of the cape (see FIG. 6). Zippered closures 62 located adjacent the shoulder area of the garment can be provided to conceal sleeves 60 when sleeves 60 are on the inside of the cape or gown. The wearer may extend arms through slits 64 when sleeves 60 are positioned on the inside of the garment.

[0027] In certain embodiments, the sleeves can be releasably attached to the garment such as with zippers 66, buttons, hook and loop fasteners, or similar means. This feature can be employed in combination with zippered closures 62, and optionally with slits 64.

[0028] Cape or robe 14 can be made of generally any fabric material used for fabricating outerwear. However, to provide a compact lightweight article 10, cape or robe 14 can be made of a lightweight thermally insulative or water-repellant fabric.

[0029] The robe or cape 14 can optionally be provided with a removable thermal liner that can, for example, be releasably secured to the cape or robe with a zipper, buttons, Velcro® fasteners (hook and loop), or the like.

[0030] While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrated embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited hereto. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings herein will recognize additional modifications and embodiments within the scope thereof. Therefore, the present invention is limited only by the claims attached herein.