INVERTIBLE GARMENT

Abstract

An invertible, reversible, tailored, contoured, fitted garment, such as a coat, jacket, cloak, cowl, shawl, car coat, poncho, dupatta, hijab, nursing garment, blanket or vest. A long pattern piece having a shawl collar is provided, as is a short pattern piece having a yoke collar. First and second pattern sleeves are provided for forming sleeves. An elongated armhole is provided to which the first and second pattern sleeves are removably attached. The long pattern piece has at least one pocket. The length of the first and second sleeves of the original garment are substantially equal to the length of the first and second sleeves of the garment after inversion thereof. A fastener in the form of a clasp, a snap, a zipper, a metal retainer pair, a hook and loop fastener, or a button and hole fastener permits attachment of a wraparound portion to a wearer's body of the short, inverted garment.

Claims

1. An invertible, tailored, contoured, fitted garment comprising: a) a long pattern piece having a shawl collar; b) a short pattern piece having a yoke collar; c) a long back pattern piece; d) a short back pattern piece; e) a first pattern sleeve for forming a first sleeve; f) a second pattern sleeve for forming a second sleeve; and g) an elongated armhole to which said first and second pattern sleeves are removably attached.

2. The garment in accordance with claim 1, wherein the long pattern piece has at least one pocket formed therein.

3. The garment in accordance with claim 1, wherein the length of the first and second sleeves of the original garment are substantially equal to the length of the first and second sleeves of the garment after inversion thereof.

4. The garment in accordance with claim 1, wherein the short pattern piece is a yoke collar and drapes over the shoulders and creates an open collar.

5. The garment in accordance with claim 4, further comprising a fastener for fastening a portion of the long front pattern piece to a portion of the short front pattern piece after inversion thereof.

6. The garment in accordance with claim 5, wherein the fastener is chosen from a group of fasteners consisting of: a clasp; a snap; a zipper; a metal retainer pair; a hook and loop fastener; and a button and hole fastener.

7. The garment in accordance with claim 1, wherein the garment is one of a group of clothing consisting of: a coat; a cloak; a cowl; a shawl; and a blanket.

8. The garment in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first and second pattern sleeves can be removable.

9. An invertible, tailored, contoured, fitted garment comprising: a) a long pattern piece creating approximately 66% of the long back and front; b) a short pattern piece having a single yoke to drape over shoulders to create an open collar; c) a first pattern sleeve for forming a first sleeve; d) a second pattern sleeve for forming a second sleeve; and e) an elongated armhole to which the first and second pattern sleeves are removably attached.

10. The garment in accordance with claim 9, wherein the long pattern piece has at least one pocket formed therein.

11. The garment in accordance with claim 9, wherein the length of the first and second sleeves of the original garment are substantially equal to the length of the first and second sleeves of the garment after inversion thereof.

12. The garment in accordance with claim 9, wherein the short pattern piece is a single yoke and drapes over a wearer's shoulders to create an open collar.

13. The garment in accordance with claim 9, further comprising a fastener chosen from a group of fasteners consisting of: a clasp; a snap; a zipper; a metal retainer pair; a hook and loop fastener; and a button and hole fastener.

14. The garment in accordance with claim 9, wherein the garment is one of a group of clothing consisting of: a coat, a jacket, a cloak, a cowl, a shawl, a car coat, a poncho, a dupatta, a hijab, a nursing garment, a blanket or a vest.

15. The garment in accordance with claim 9, wherein the first and second pattern sleeves are removable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent detailed description, in which:

[0021] FIGS. 1A and 1B are front views of a garment and an invertible form thereof, respectively, in accordance with the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a front view of a preferred sewn pattern of material representing the long orientation garment as shown in FIG. 1A; and

[0023] FIG. 3 is a front view of a preferred sewn pattern of material representing the short, inverted orientation garment as shown in FIG. 1B.

[0024] Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0025] Although the following detailed description contains specific details for the purposes of illustration, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention described below are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention.

[0026] An invertible, reversible, tailored, contoured, fitted garment is provided having a long front pattern piece with one or two pockets. A short back pattern piece. A long front pattern piece and a short back pattern piece are provided, as are two pattern sleeves. When the garment is inverted, the short front pattern becomes the back yoke pattern piece (not shown) of the garment and the two sleeves are substantially equal in length to the sleeves in the original garment.

[0027] Referring now to FIG. 1A, there is shown a front view of a long orientation original garment 10, such as a coat, cloak, or shawl. This original garment 10 has a center back E and two sleeves S.sub.1, S.sub.2, substantially equal in length to one another. Armhole B.sub.1, B.sub.2 are positioned on either side of garment 10. Sleeves S.sub.1, S.sub.2 are attached to armholes B.sub.1, B.sub.2, respectively, as is well known in the art. As shown in this FIG. 1A, one or both of the extremities of sleeves S.sub.1, S.sub.2 can be formed into permanent or temporary cuffs. The front opening of garment 10 is represented by letter F.sub.1. At the lower portion of front opening F.sub.1 is a long opening H.sub.1. At the lower extremity of garment 10 is a conventional hem G.sub.1.

[0028] A yoke seam A.sub.1 runs transverse to the major axis of garment 10 at the upper portion thereof. Likewise, a back yoke D.sub.1 runs transverse to the major axis of garment 10, as shown. A shoulder seam C.sub.1 connects the front of garment 10 to the back thereof.

[0029] An optional first clasp I.sub.1 is positioned inside garment 10 midway along a first side thereof to mate with snap J.sub.1 at the inside, opposite side of garment 10, when required. An identical pair of clasp and snap I.sub.1, J.sub.1 is provided at the lower extremities of garment 10. Although the clasp-snap combination I, J for both fastener pairs is preferred, other fastening means can be substituted to provide the same function, including but not limited to hook-and-loop fasteners, a zipper, a button and hole, a metal retainer pair, magnetic fasteners, and the like, not shown.

[0030] Two pockets K.sub.1, K.sub.2 are provided in the preferred embodiment. Garment 10 can include only one pocket K.sub.1 or K.sub.2 or no pockets, if desired, depending upon the preference of a wearer, not shown. Accordingly, any number of pockets or no pockets used with garment 10 are considered within the scope of the present invention.

[0031] Referring now also to FIG. 1B, there is shown a front view of the inverted garment 10, actually a second garment, now in the short orientation, forming a coat, cloak, or cowl. Inverted garment 10 also has center back E and two sleeves S.sub.1, S.sub.2, substantially equal in length to one another. Armholes B.sub.1, B.sub.2 are positioned on either side of garment 10. Sleeves S.sub.1, S.sub.2 are attached to armholes B.sub.1, B.sub.2, respectively, as is well known in the art. As shown in this FIG. 1B, one or both of the extremities of sleeves S.sub.1, S.sub.2 can be formed into permanent or temporary cuffs. The front opening F.sub.1 of original garment 10 is now identified as letter F.sub.2 of inverted garment 10. The long opening H.sub.1 of original garment 10 is now a cross body wrap, identified as letter H.sub.2 of inverted garment 10. At the lower extremity of inverted garment 10 is a conventional hem G.sub.2.

[0032] The yoke seam A.sub.1 of original garment 10 is now identified as a side seam F.sub.2 of inverted garment 10. Likewise, the back yoke D.sub.1 of original garment 10 is now a back neck D.sub.2 of inverted garment 10. A shoulder seam C.sub.2 connects the front of garment 10 to the backthereof.

[0033] The clasp I.sub.1 and snap J.sub.1 of original garment 10 are now referred to as letters I.sub.2 and J.sub.2, respectively, of inverted garment 10 and are used to fasten the wraparound portion thereof to the body thereof, as shown.

[0034] The two pockets K.sub.1, K.sub.2 of original garment 10 are now identified as letters K.sub.1 and K.sub.2 of inverted garment 10. Once again, any number of pockets or no pockets used with garment 10 are considered within the scope of the present invention.

[0035] Referring now to FIG. 2, the patterns of long orientation garment 10 (FIG. 1A) are shown in sewn position. Pattern piece 1 is the back of original garment 10; pattern piece 2 is the shawl collar of original garment 10; pattern piece 3 is the sleeves of original garment 10; and pattern piece 4 is the pockets of original garment 10. Connecting sleeves S.sub.1, S.sub.2 to armholes are elongated armholes B.sub.1, B.sub.2 (FIG. 1A). Sleeves S.sub.1, S.sub.2 can be removably attached to armholes B.sub.1, B.sub.2 to provide yet another design configuration for garments 10 or 10. The use of elongated armholes B.sub.1, B.sub.2 provides wearable ease for a wearer's arms in both directions.

[0036] Referring now to FIG. 3, the patterns of short orientation inverted garment 10 (FIG. 1B) are shown in sewn position. Pattern piece 1 is the cowl collar of inverted garment 10; pattern piece 2 is the back of inverted garment 10; pattern piece 3 is the sleeves of inverted garment 10; and pattern piece 4 is the pockets of inverted garment 10. Connecting sleeves S.sub.1, S.sub.2 to armholes are elongated armholes B.sub.1, B.sub.2 (FIG. 1B). Once again, the use of elongated armholes B.sub.1, B.sub.2 provides wearable ease for a wearer's arms in both directions.

[0037] In operation, a person, not shown, wearing original garment 10 first unfastens the clasp and snap fastener I, J, slips garment 10 from her shoulders, and removes her arms from sleeves S.sub.1, S.sub.2, and inverting sleeves S.sub.1, S.sub.2. Now that original garment 10 has sleeves S.sub.1, S.sub.2 inside out, the garment is inverted, ready for wrapping and wearing as a short orientation inverted garment 10. The wearer places her arms in sleeves S.sub.1, S.sub.2 of inverted garment 10 and wraps loose cross body wrap H.sub.2 around her body, fastening clasp I.sub.2 and snap J.sub.2 together. The extremities of sleeves S.sub.1, S.sub.2 can be cuffed or sleeves S.sub.1, S.sub.2 can be removed altogether.

[0038] All references throughout this application, for example patent documents including issued or granted patents or equivalents; patent application publications; and non-patent literature documents or other source material; are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties, as though individually incorporated by reference, to the extent each reference is at least partially not inconsistent with the disclosure in this application. (For example, a reference that is partially inconsistent is incorporated by reference except for the partially inconsistent portion of the reference). All patents and publications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the levels of skill of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. References cited herein indicate the state of the art as of their publication or filing date and it is intended that this information can be employed herein, if needed, to exclude specific embodiments that are in the prior art.

[0039] The terms and expressions which have been employed herein are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments, exemplary embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims. The specific embodiments provided herein are examples of useful embodiments of the present invention and it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be carried out using a great number of variations of the devices, device components, and method steps set forth in the present description. As will be obvious to one of skill in the art, methods and devices useful for the present methods can include a great number of optional composition and processing elements and steps.

[0040] As used herein, comprising is synonymous with including, containing, or characterized by, and is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. As used herein, consisting of excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specified in the claim element. As used herein, consisting essentially of does not exclude materials or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claim. In each instance herein any of the terms comprising, consisting essentially of, and consisting of may be replaced with either of the other two terms. The invention illustratively described herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitations which is not specifically disclosed herein.

[0041] Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.

[0042] Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.