US20180255845A1

US20180255845A1 - Jacket with belt arrangement for carrying at least a portion of the jacket or item around a user's person and method of use

Info

Publication number: US20180255845A1
Application number: US15/914,363
Authority: US
Inventors: David Eisenhuth; Allen Potter
Original assignee: Iwom Outerwear LLC
Current assignee: Iwom Outerwear LLC
Priority date: 2017-03-08
Filing date: 2018-03-07
Publication date: 2018-09-13

Abstract

A jacket includes a belt arrangement that allows the jacket to be held around a user's waist, to carry items on a user's back, or to gather a portion of the jacket around the user's person to reduce its overall length. A method of holding the jacket around a user's waist, to carry items on a user's back, or to gather a portion of the jacket around the user's person to reduce its overall length uses the belt arrangement of the jacket.

Description

This application claims priority under 35 USC 119(e) based on provisional patent application No. 62/468,537, filed on Mar. 8, 2017, incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a jacket that employs a belt arrangement that permits a user of the jacket to hold or carry at least a portion of the jacket around a user's person, or hold an item using the belt arrangement.

BACKGROUND ART

It is a common practice for people wearing a jacket to remove the jacket when the ambient temperature becomes too warm or the activity of the person makes wearing the jacket uncomfortable. Often times, the arms of the jacket are used as ties to hold the jacket around the user's body, particularly the waist.
The present invention provides, in one embodiment, an improved way to retain or hold the jacket around a user's person

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of the present invention to provide a jacket that has an improved storage capability when still donned by a user.
In one embodiment, the jacket comprises a jacket body having a pair of sleeves; and at least one belt attached to the jacket body. The belt is adapted to be extended from the jacket body with belt ends connectable together so that at least a part of the jacket body or an article or item can be held around a user's body.
The belt can be attached to the jacket body at at least one portion of the belt. In one attachment mode, the belt is attached at a midportion thereof to the jacket. The belt can be attached to the jacket at an end portion thereof as well.
The belt can be hidden in the jacket body, whereby each end of the belt is extended from the jacket body through an opening in the jacket body. The openings in the jacket body can be in an outer or inner surface of the jacket. Further, the openings can be in a side part of the jacket, at a middle or bottom portion of the jacket, or in an armpit area. At least one end of the belt can be exposed at the opening to allow grasping of the end by a jacket user to either hold the jacket to the user, shorten the length of the jacket, or secure an item or article to the user.
The belt can be held by loops attached to the jacket body or held in a channel formed in the jacket body. The belt ends can have buckles for connecting the belt ends together.
While the belt can be unitary in design, a pair of belts can be employed, with an end of each belt being connectable together.
The invention also includes a method of carrying a jacket around a midsection of a user. The method comprises donning the inventive jacket without using the belt thereof. Each end of the belt or belts can be extended from the jacket body and the ends of the belt or belts are connected together around the midsection of the user or to secure an item to the user using the belt or belts.
In one mode, the jacket can be a full length jacket with the belt located at a lower portion of the jacket. In this mode, the jacket can remain on the user and the belt ends can be connected to reduce the length of the jacket. This in effect gathers a lower portion of the jacket around the waist of the user, thus making it easier for the user to walk around.
In another mode, the jacket can be removed from the user, i.e., arms removed from the sleeves, and the connected belt ends gather the jacket as a whole around the midsection of the user.
In yet another mode, the arms of the user are in the sleeves of the jacket and the belt or belts are extended around an item or article positioned at a back of the user with the belts ends being connected together to carry the item around a user's back.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of the jacket of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows the jacket of FIG. 1 removed from a user and put in a stored position around a user's waist using the jacket belt.

FIG. 3 shows the jacket in an open position showing the belt holder on an inside of the jacket and a first embodiment of securing the belt to an inside of the jacket.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a side portion of the jacket showing an exposed end of the belt in an armpit area of the jacket.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of a way to secure the belt to an inside of the jacket.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of a way to secure the belt to the inside of the jacket.

FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the jacket, wherein a full length jacket is used and the belt is located near a bottom portion of the jacket.

FIG. 8 shows the second embodiment of the jacket of FIG. 7, wherein the belt is used to gather the jacket bottom around a user's waist.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of the present invention to allow the wearer of a jacket the convenience of getting the garment off the upper body and secured at the waist without having to completely remove it. In this way, holding the jacket around the waist without being stowed away completely means that the jacket can be quickly and can easily be brought back up, covering the upper body once more.
The inventive jacket entails a design that allow the user to carry one's jacket around his or her waist, thus not having to stow it or carry it, which may be an inconvenience. In one mode, an elastic belt is integrated inside and across the mid back of the jacket that protrudes from under the right and left armpit area with connectors attached. The elastic belt allows for full retractability of the connectors when not holding the article of clothing around one's body. The user simply zippers the jacket far enough down to pull it off of his or her shoulders, grasping the connectors located under each arm and connects the two connectors together in front of one's self, preferably but not limited, to one's waist.
The belt can also be clipped behind the user's back and used to hold loose clothing tight against the body that may interfere with whatever function the user is performing. These functions may include but are not limited to the following: shooting a bow, construction work, working with equipment, sports, and any activity that having loose clothing may hamper your performance or become entangled during a function.
The belt can also be located at a bottom part of a full length or long garment or jacket. The belt can be used in this location to shorten the length of the jacket by gathering the material of the jacket and securing the gathered material using the belt in a buckled state.
Referring to FIG. 1-4, the inventive jacket is designated by the reference numeral 10. FIG. 1 shows the openings 1 in the jacket that allow the belt to be pulled from its storage position for clipping together to hold the jacket to the user's body. FIG. 2 shows the jacket removed from the user's body and held around the waist of the user 4 using the belt 3. The ends 5 of the belt are connected together at 7 to hold the jacket in place. FIG. 3 shows the inside of the jacket. A channel 9 is included on the inside of the jacket. The channel 9 holds the belt in place during its storage in a retracted position as shown in FIG. 1 or an extended position as shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 shows a close up of the jacket opening 1 wherein the end of the belt can be accessed for use. The belt clip 9 is shown protruding slightly from the opening I that permits the user to grasp the clip and pull on it to extend the belt from the opening for connection to the other clip-containing end of the belt. A flap 12 or other type of covering can also be employed to cover the opening 1 to further hide the belt end from view. The flap is shown in the open position to allow access to the opening 1 and clip 9. With the clip 9 and belt 3 retracted, the flap 12 would be sewn such that is normally covers the opening unless physically moved out of the way to access the belt. Of course, the flap is optional and the jacket could just have the opening, which can be preferably sized inconspicuously so that the opening is not readily apparent to an onlooker.
FIG. 5 shows an alternative mode of holding the belt with the jacket. Instead of the channel 9 shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of loops are provided, with the belt 3 extending through the loops. The belt 3 is attached at 15 so that it when each end of the belt is stretched, the belt center remains stationary. This prevents one end moving when the other end is pulled on by a user. FIG. 5 can also be interpreted to depict two belt segments 3 a and 3 b, joined at the junction 15.
FIG. 6 shows another view of the jacket using the channel 9 for the belt 3. Again, the belt is secured in a middle portion, i.e., at 15, so that each end can be extended from the channel without affecting the other end. Of course, the belt could be made in two segments for this embodiment, with one end of each segment secured in the channel or loops so that the other end can be extended for use.
FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the jacket is designated by the reference numeral 10′ and is a full length jacket as opposed to the jacket of FIG. 1. The jacket shown represents a tactical jacket that is donned by the wearer stepping into the neck opening 20 and pulling the jacket up and over the wearer's body. However, the belt and its features can be used in any long garment to shorten its length. It is especially useful for tactical jackets when the full length of the jacket is not needed.
The belt and structure in the jacket shown in FIGS. 1-6 is positioned at a bottom part 23 of the jacket 10′ with the belt buckles 25 and 27 extending from the openings 1′. In operation, a wearer would gather the bottom part 23 of the jacket 10′ and raise it up closer to the wearer's waist, grab both of the belt buckles 25 and 27, thereby extending the belt from inside of the jacket and connect the belt buckles 25 and 27 so that the length of the jacket is much shorter and the wearer has greater mobility. FIG. 8 shows a view of the jacket of FIG. 7 in a gathered configuration. While the belt 3 and buckles 25 and 27 are shown, the folds of the jacket created by the lifting of the bottom could also obscure the belt from being seen from the front. The embodiment of FIG. 7 can of course employ any of the features of the invention associated with FIGS. 1-6 and the description thereof.
The free ends of the belt can be connected together using any known connection means, clips or buckles that are commonly employed to connect belt free ends together, hook and loop fasteners, or the like. The belt is typically sized in length so at its rest position, the ends of the belt are just accessible from the openings in the jacket but not seen easily when the jacket is worn. This then gives the impression that the belt does not exist and there is no affect on the overall look or design of the jacket.
If so desired, the belt could be held on the outside of the jacket as well, but it is preferred to have the belt on the inside of the jacket so that it is hidden from view.
The belt can also be extended from the jacket and connected together along the back of a user. In this mode, the belt could be used to hold an item or items on the user's back and the jacket would still be worn by the user.
While the belt is preferably an elastic or stretchable material so that it retracts into the jacket when not in use, it could be a defined length of material, which would be stored, preferably in the channel 9, when not in use. The length of the belt could then be adjusted using an adjustable buckle at its free ends to accommodate different sized users.
Other features and advantages of the invention are enumerated below.

- 1. The belt can be permanently attached to any clothing garment that is worn over the shoulders.
- 2. For optimum performance, the belt should be positioned in the upper part of the garment just below the armpit area in a horizontal position.
- 3. The belt can be positioned lower in the garment and the holding of the jacket will still work.
- 4. The length of the belt should be no more then the total length between each opening placed in the jacket, e.g., under each arm pit.
- 5. The length of the belt should extend past the opening just enough so a fastening mechanism can be attached to each end.
- 6. The belt can be attached either on the outside or inside of the garment.
- 7. Attaching the belt to the inner part of the garment is preferred.
- 8. A cloth cover or flap separate from the actual material of the outer garment can be then attached at the end of each opening in the main shell of the garment to cover the fastening mechanism when in a retracted position. The cover is intended to cover the end of the belt but still allow the belt material to pass through when the belt is in use.
- 9. The belt is then attached to the main body of the garment, preferably at the mid point directly between each opening.
- 10. Permanently attaching the belt to the garment ensures the belt stays in place and does not allow for the end of the belt to be pulled into the jacket and keeps one end moving when the other end is pulled.
- 11. For maximum performance, the belt should be attached to the inner part of the garment.
- 12. Once the belt is attached to the garment, the belt material can be covered with an outer layer of material provided the material is sewn on jacket with respect to the outer sides of the belt and the belt is free to pull out and retract back within the covered opening of the garment.
- 13. The belt can also be held in place using cloth loops in place of the solid piece of material.
- 14. The belt can be positioned at or near the bottom of a long garment and the belt can be used to gather the bottom portion of the long garment to transform the jacket into one with a shorter length.
  Construction material:
- a) The belt can be made of any pliable material that stretches and returns to its original shape.
- b) The width of the material can be any size provided the material is strong enough to attach at the ends and hold the weight of the garment in place.
- c) The belt can be made of any non expanding flexible material but using this type of material will warrant manually reinserting the belt back into the pocket on the garment.
- d) When using a material that does not expand, an adjustment buckle should be used to control or adjust the length of the belt
- e) Plastic buckles with both a male and female end can be attached to each end of the belt to secure the two ends of the belt together.
- f) It is possible to use metal buckles and or a plastic or metal snap in place of the plastic buckle to attach the ends of the belt.
- g) Hook and loop fasteners or other similar materials in place of buckles or snaps can be used to connect both ends of the belt.
  Uses for the invention:
- i. The invention is designed to allow any outer shell garment to be pulled off one's shoulders and worn around one's waist without tying sleeves together.
- ii. The inventive design allows both young and old to go from a cold environment into a wanner heated area.
- iii. The design allows both young and old to wear a jacket to the store and remove the jacket form their shoulders without over heating and leaving both hands free.
- iv. The design allows a sports fan to enter a stadium where bags or fanny packs are not allowed without having to carry a jacket or rain suit.
- v. Most outerwear garments are bulky and the inventive design allows the user to attach the belt together behind the person's back instead of in the front of the person. The belt can be attached between the user's shoulder blades pulling the garment tight against the person's chest. This is extremely beneficial to the archery hunter who is shooting a bow and can't allow the garment to interfere with their shot. The invention is extremely beneficial to the construction worker who maybe isn't wearing several layers of cloths and their jacket would be loose if not for the back attachment.
- vi. The invention is extremely useful to workers who maybe have to wear disposable outer garments where one size fits all.
- vii. The invention is extremely useful to motorcycle riders when wearing a rain suit and may not have layers of cloths on underneath.
- viii. The invention is also useful for garments that are full or have an extended length so as to allow the garment to be used in a full length capacity or reduced length, depending on the desire or need of the wearer.

As such, an invention has been disclosed in terms of preferred embodiments thereof which fulfills each and every one of the objects of the present invention as set forth above and provides a new and improved jacket and method of carrying the jacket or an item using a belt arrangement of the jacket.
Of course, various changes, modifications and alterations from the teachings of the present invention may be contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof. It is intended that the present invention only be limited by the terms of the appended claims.

Claims

We claim:

1. A jacket comprising:

a jacket body having a pair of sleeves; and

at least one belt attached to the jacket body and adapted to be extended from the jacket body with belt ends connectable together so that at least a part of the jacket body can be held around a user's body.

2. The jacket of claim 1, wherein the belt is attached to the jacket body at at least one portion of the belt.

3. The jacket of claim 1, wherein the belt is hidden in the jacket body and each end of the belt is extended from the jacket body through an opening in the jacket body.

4. The jacket of claim 3, wherein the openings are in an outer or inner surface of the jacket.

5. The jacket of claim 1, wherein the belt is attached to the jacket at at least a mid portion of the belt.

6. The jacket of claim 1, wherein the belt is elastic.

7. The jacket of claim 1, wherein the belt is held by loops attached to the jacket body or held in a channel formed in the jacket body.

8. The jacket of claim 1, wherein the belt ends have buckles for connecting the belt ends together.

9. The jacket of claim 3, wherein each opening is located on a waist side portion or a bottom portion of the jacket.

10. The jacket of claim 9, wherein each opening is located in an armpit area of the jacket.

11. The jacket of claim 1, wherein a pair of belts are employed, with an end of each belt being connectable together.

12. The jacket of claim 1, wherein the at least one belt is mounted to the jacket so that ends thereof are accessible from an inside of the jacket.

13. The jacket of claim 12, wherein the at least one belt is mounted to an inside of the jacket with at least a portion hidden from view and at least ends of the at least one belt being exposed.

14. The jacket of claim 12, comprising a pair of belts with an end of each belt adapted to be connected together to hold the jacket.

15. A method of carrying a jacket around a mid section of a user comprising extending each end of the belt or belts from the jacket body of the jacket of claim 1 and connecting the ends of the belt or belts together around the midsection of the user or an item being carried by the user.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein arms of the user are in the jacket prior to the extending step or the arms are removed from the sleeves of the jacket before the extending step.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the arms of the user are in the sleeves of the jacket and the belt or belts are extended around an item positioned at a back of the user with the belts ends being connected together to carry the item around a user's back.