US20090049581A1

US20090049581A1 - Reversible Garment with Detachable Cape

Info

Publication number: US20090049581A1
Application number: US12/193,327
Authority: US
Inventors: James Lewey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-08-20
Filing date: 2008-08-18
Publication date: 2009-02-26

Abstract

A garment comprising a reversible shirt and a cape is disclosed. The reversible shirt has at least an interior side and an exterior side. A first attachment means is fixed to a pair of shoulder portion at the interior side of the shirt adjacent to a collar of the shirt. A second attachment means is fixed proximate a top edge of the cape. As such, the first and second attachment means, such as hook-and-loop type fastening material, cooperate to allow the cape to be selectively attached to the shirt. In use, with the second attachment means of the cape fixed to the first attachment means of the shirt, the shirt may be worn with the cape fixed to the internal side of the shirt and hidden from view. When the shirt is placed in a reversed configuration, such that the interior side is exposed outwardly, the cape is visibly suspended from the shoulder portions.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/965,372, filed on Aug. 20, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHTS AND TRADE DRESS

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may show and/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner. The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright and trade dress rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to garments, and more particularly to a reversible garment with a cape.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Costume garments are well known and comprise a variety of different designs. Costumes of characters, such as super-heroes, typically include a cape. However, when wearing such a costume it is not always desirable to have the cape exposed. For example, when traveling to a costume party, a cape can become a nuisance such as while driving, in an elevator, or the like. Further, one might not desire to be in full costume until the costume party begins.
As such, a reversible costume would be beneficial. However, typical costumes with capes make no provision for reversibility. U.S. Pat. No. 5,561,860 to Nguyen-Senderowicz on Oct. 8, 1996, teaches a reversible shirt. However, no provision is made for attaching a cape to such a device for use with a caped costume. Further, when indicia (such as a superhero indicia) is printed on the one side of such a garment, it often is evident from the other side. This tends to detract from the “incognito” persona of the superhero when “in disguise.”
U.S. Pat. No. 4,296,498 to Vinson on Oct. 27, 1981 teaches a shirt having a reversing flap. However, such a garment does not provide for a costume having a cape. The flap of such a device is designed to be fixed to either one side or the other of the garment, and is not meant to hang loose from three sides like a cape. Further, such a garment is not designed for reversing (that is, configuring inside-out). Still further, such a garment makes no provision for removably attaching a cape.
Therefore, there is a need for a garment that is reversible between a first “superhero” configuration that includes a selectively removable cape, and a second “incognito” configuration that conceals the cape and obscures any indicia that is visible in the first configuration. Such a needed device would further allow for selective attachment of the cape, and would be durable and comfortable to wear in either configuration. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is a garment comprising a reversible shirt and a cape. The reversible shirt has at least an interior side, an exterior side, a collar, and a pair of shoulder portions adjacent to the collar. The shirt further includes a front side and a rear side. A front indicia may be applied to the front side at the exterior side, and a second indicia may be applied to the front side at the interior side. Preferably the first indicia is larger than the second indicia, and preferably the first indicia is opaque or otherwise able to obscure second indicia when the shirt is configured exterior side facing outward. The cape has a top edge, a bottom edge, at least two side edges, a front side and a rear side.
A first attachment means is fixed to each shoulder portion at the interior side of the shirt. A second attachment means is fixed proximate the top edge of the cape. As such, the first and second attachment means cooperate to allow the cape to be selectively attached to the shirt. Such first and second attachment means is preferably a hook-and-loop type fastening material, respectively.
In use, with the second attachment means of the cape fixed to the first attachment means of the shirt, the shirt may be worn with the cape fixed to the internal side of the shirt and hidden from view. When the shirt is placed in a reversed configuration, such that the interior side is exposed outwardly, the cape is visibly suspended from the shoulder portions. The cape and the shirt may be washed separately and stored separately as desired.
The present invention is a garment that is reversible between a first “superhero” configuration that includes a selectively removable cape, and a second “incognito” configuration that conceals the cape and obscures any indicia that is visible in the first configuration. The present garment provides for selective attachment of the cape, and is durable and comfortable to wear in either configuration. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention, illustrating a reversible shirt in a normal configuration from a front side thereof,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention from a rear side thereof,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention, illustrating the reversible shirt in a reversed configuration from a front side thereof, and a cape selectively fixed to the shirt;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention from a rear side thereof, illustrating the reversible shirt in the reversed configuration and a front side of the cape;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the reversible shirt of the invention from a rear side thereof, and

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the cape of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a garment 10 comprising a reversible shirt 20 and a cape 40. The reversible shirt 20 has at least an interior side 21, an exterior side 26, a collar 28, and a pair of shoulder portions 29 adjacent to the collar 28. The 20 shirt further includes a front side 22 and a rear side 27 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The shirt 20 is made from cotton or other suitable fabric. While a shirt 20 is illustrated in the figures, it is to be understood that a tank top (not shown) or other form of upper torso garment may be substituted without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.
A front indicia 50 may be applied to the front side 22 at the exterior side 26 (FIG. 1), and a second indicia 60 may be applied to the front side 22 at the interior side 21 (FIG. 3). Preferably the first indicia 50 is larger than the second indicia 60, and preferably the first indicia 50 is opaque or otherwise able to obscure second indicia 60 when the shirt 20 is configured exterior side 26 facing outward, as in FIG. 1. As various means of applying the indicia 50,60 may cause the indicia to bleed through or otherwise be visible from the opposing side of the shirt 20, the first indicia 50 is made to obscure the evidence of such bleed through. The first indicia 50 may also be a patch (not shown), for example.
The cape 40 has a top edge 48, a bottom edge 42, at least two side edges 45, a front side 43 and a rear side 47. The cape is made from a suitably flexible fabric or plastic material. Preferably each side edge 45 of the cape is shorter in length than the length of the shirt 20, such that the cape 40 may be completely hidden from view when worn inside the shirt 20.
A first attachment means 30 is fixed to each shoulder portion 29 at the interior side 21 of the shirt 20. A second attachment means 35 is fixed proximate the top edge 48 of the cape 40. As such, the first and second attachment means 30,35 cooperate to allow the cape 40 to be selectively attached to the shirt 20. Such first and second attachment means 30,35 is preferably a hook-and-loop type fastening material, respectively. Clearly, however, the first attachment means could also be a loop-type fasting material while the second attachment means 35 could be a hook-type fastening material. Likewise, the first and second attachment means 30,35 may each be one part of a two-part mechanical fastener, such as mechanical snaps (not shown), button-and-hole arrangements (not shown), zipper arrangements (not shown), or the like. Other fastening means known in the art may also be used, although hook-and-loop fastening material is preferred because it is flexible and may be sewn into the shoulder portions 29 of the shirt 20 as illustrated. Such first and second fastening means 30,35, in any embodiment, are machine washable, durable, and reliably allow for selective attachment and detachment of the cape 40 from the shirt 20.
In use, with the second attachment means 35 of the cape 40 fixed to the first attachment means 30 of the shirt 20, the shirt 20 may be worn with the cape 40 fixed to the internal side 21 of the shirt and hidden from view (FIG. 1). When the shirt 20 is placed in a reversed configuration (FIG. 3), such that the interior side 21 is exposed outwardly, the cape 40 is visibly suspended from the shoulder portions 29 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The cape 40 and the shirt 20 may be washed separately and stored separately as desired.
While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, one particular shape of the cape 40 is illustrated in FIG. 6, but it is to be understood that the cape 40 may take any of several common shapes for capes. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A garment comprising:

a reversible shirt having at least an interior side, an exterior side, a collar, and a pair of shoulder portions adjacent to the collar, a first attachment means being fixed to each shoulder portion at the interior side of the shirt; and

a cape having a second attachment means fixed proximate a top edge thereof, the cape having at least two side edges, a bottom edge, a front side, and a rear side, the second attachment means selectively attachable to the first attachment means of the reversible shirt;

whereby with the second attachment means fixed to the first attachment means, the shirt may be worn with the cape fixed to the internal side of the shirt and hidden from view, and whereby with the shirt reversed such that the interior side is exposed outwardly, the cape is visibly suspended from the shoulder portions.

2. The garment of claim 1 wherein the shirt further includes a front side and a rear side, and wherein the front side of the shirt includes a front indicia on the front exterior side, and a second indicia on the front interior side.

3. The garment of claim 2 wherein the first indicia is larger than the second indicia.

4. The garment of claim 2 wherein the first indicia is opaque.

5. The garment of claim 1 wherein the first and second attachment means are hook-and-loop type fastener material.

6. The garment of claim 1 wherein the first and second attachment means are each one part of a two-part mechanical fastener.

7. The garment of claim 6 wherein the two-part mechanical fastener is a mechanical snap.

8. The garment of claim 6 wherein the two-part mechanical fastener is a button and button hole arrangement.

9. The garment of claim 1 wherein the first and second attachment means are each one part of a zipper fastener.

10. The garment of claim 1 wherein each side edge of the cape is shorter in length than the length of the shirt, whereby the cape is completely hidden from view when worn inside the shirt.