GARMENT WITH MAGNETIC CLASP AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME

Abstract

The present invention provides a hooded garment having a device to maintain a position of the hood on the wearer's head. In some embodiments, the hood may have one or more magnets positioned in a superior aspect of the hood that is operable to magnetically clasp to a ferrous metal object in headwear worn by the wearer. The one or more magnet clasps may be positioned at or near a seam location at the top medial aspect of the hood.

Claims

1. A hooded garment comprising: a. a hood extending upward from a neck region; b. a space formed in an upper area of the hood; c. at least one magnetic element positioned in said space, wherein said magnetic element is operable to magnetically engage with a ferrous metal positioned on an upper portion of a wearer's head.

2. The hooded garment according to claim 1, wherein said hood includes an inner lining material and an outer hood material, forming adjacent layers.

3. The hooded garment according to claim 2, wherein the space is located between the inner lining material and the outer hood material in the upper area of the hood.

4. The hooded garment according to claim 3, wherein the space is located along a seam running along the top upper portion of the hood.

5. The hooded garment of claim 1, wherein said at least one magnetic includes a plurality of magnets that are positioned along a medial area of the upper area of the hood.

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. The hooded garment of claim 1, further comprising a second magnetic element connected to an anchoring element that is attached to headgear, headwear, or other items present on the head of the wearer, wherein said at least one magnetic element is operable to magnetically connect with the second magnet when the hood is positioned over the head.

10. A hooded garment comprising a hood extending upward from a neck region having at least one magnetic element embedded therein, wherein said magnetic element is operable to magnetically engage with a ferrous metal positioned on an upper portion of a wearer's head.

11. The hooded garment according to claim 10, wherein said hood includes an inner lining material and an outer hood material, forming adjacent layers, and a space is formed in an upper area of the hood between said inner lining material and said outer hood material.

12. The hooded garment according to claim 12, wherein the space is located along a seam running along the top upper portion of the hood.

13. The hooded garment of claim 10, wherein said at least one magnetic includes a plurality of magnets that are positioned along a medial area of the upper area of the hood.

14. (canceled)

15. The hooded garment of claim 10, wherein said at least one magnetic element is a permanent magnet.

16. The hooded garment of claim 10, wherein said at least one magnetic element is an electromagnet.

17. The hooded garment of claim 10, further comprising a second magnetic element that includes either ferrous metal or a permanent magnet, wherein said second magnetic element is connected to an anchoring element that is attached to headgear, headwear, or other items present on the head of the wearer, wherein said at least one magnetic element is operable to magnetically connect with the second magnet when the hood is positioned over the head.

18. A method of using a hooded garment, comprising: a. placing a garment or device on a wearer's head, said garment or device having a magnetic element that includes either ferrous metal or a permanent magnet; and b. placing a hood of said hooded garment over said garment or device having a hood magnet therein, and aligning said hood magnetic element in an upper area of the hood with the magnetic element of said garment or device such that said hood magnetic element and said magnetic element of said garment or device are magnetically engaged.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said hood includes an inner lining material and an outer hood material, forming adjacent layers.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the hood includes a space located between the inner lining material and the outer hood material in the upper area of the hood located along a seam running along the top upper portion of the hood.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said at least one magnetic includes a plurality of magnets that are positioned along a medial area of the upper area of the hood.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein said plurality of magnets may include magnets having various shapes.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein said at least one magnetic element is a permanent magnet.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein said at least one magnetic element is an electromagnet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a hooded garment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a front view of a hooded garment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 3 shows a back view of a hooded garment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 4 shows a first side view of a hooded garment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 5 shows a second side view of a hooded garment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 6 shows a top view of a hooded garment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 7 shows a bottom view of a hooded garment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a hooded garment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 9 shows a top view of a hooded garment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 10 shows a top view of a hooded garment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of a hooded garment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in reference to these figures and certain implementations and examples of the embodiments, it will be understood that such implementations and examples are not intended to limit the invention. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that are included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In the following disclosure, specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. References to various features of the “present invention” throughout this document do not mean that all claimed embodiments or methods must include the referenced features. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details or features.

[0026] Reference will be made to the exemplary illustrations in the accompanying drawings, and like reference characters may be used to designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1-11, the present invention relates to a hooded garment 100 for having one or more magnetic elements for holding the hood 101 of the garment 100 in place over the wearer's head. The hood 101 may be positioned over the head of the wearer in a predetermined position. The hood 101 includes an upper area 102 that is positioned over the head of the wearer in which magnetic elements may be attached to or embedded in the hood 101. The hood 101 may have an outer, superior layer 102 and an inner, inferior liner layer of material 103, which contacts the head of the wearer. The inner and outer layers may be made of one or more typical clothing fabric such as cotton, polyester, nylon, rayon, etc. The hood 101 may include a space 104 between the inner and outer layers in which the one or more magnetic elements may be positioned.

[0028] The magnetic elements 110 may be permanent magnets or electromagnets with a small power source. The magnets 110 may be operable to magnetically connect to an underlying headgear 120 (or other item worn on the head) having a magnetically interacting element (e.g., a ferrous metal structure, or a magnet), such as the metal button 121 on the headgear 120. The wearer may position the hood 101 such that at least one magnetic element 110 is positioned over the metal button 121 (or other magnetically interacting element) to hold the position of the hood 101 in place as the wearer moves around. The hood 101 may include a single magnetic element 110 in a predetermined position along the upper medial aspect of the hood 101. In other embodiments, the hood may include a plurality of magnetic elements 110 that are distributed along the upper medial aspect of the hood 101, allowing adjustment of the position of the hood 101. In other embodiments, the magnetic element 110 may be an elongate strip that runs along at least a portion of the upper medial aspect of the hood, such as along entire length of the seam of the upper aspect 102 of the hood 101, allowing adjustment of the position of the hood 101. In further embodiments, the magnetic element 110 may be positioned on traveler 125 on a track 126 that runs along at least a portion of the upper medial aspect of the hood 101, such that the position of the magnetic element 110 can be adjusted to the preference of the wearer, as shown in FIG. 10. The track 126 may be a zipper construction with the magnet connected to the slider body of the zipper that is operable to be moved along the chain of the zipper between the distal stops of the zipper. FIG. 10 shows a progression from a first position of the traveler 125 to a second position on the track 126, as indicated by the arrow. Such embodiments, allow the wearer to adjust the position at which the hood 101 is worn on the head.

[0029] In some embodiments, the invention may include a second magnetic element 130 may that is operable to be connecting to underlying headwear or headgear to provide a connection point for the one or more magnetic elements in the hood 101, see FIG. 11 above. For example, the second magnet 130 may be attached to a clip that is operable to attach to a headband 135 (e.g., on a set of headphones) or a piece of headwear, on a hair clip, or other connector to items that may be worn on the head.

[0030] It is to be understood that variations, modifications, and permutations of embodiments of the present invention, and uses thereof, may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is also to be understood that the present invention is not limited by the specific embodiments, descriptions, or illustrations or combinations of either components or steps disclosed herein. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Although reference has been made to the accompanying figures, it is to be appreciated that these figures are exemplary and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.