US20240114983A1

US20240114983A1 - Hooded Garment with Zipper Hood for Accommodating a Cap's Brim or Visor

Info

Publication number: US20240114983A1
Application number: US18/326,153
Authority: US
Inventors: Isaiah Conway; Fatina Conway; Juan Conway
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-10-06
Filing date: 2023-05-31
Publication date: 2024-04-11

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hooded garment that allows users to wear their hats or caps backwards underneath their hoods without having to remove their hoods from their heads. The hooded garment has a horizontal zipper integrated in back of the hood for accommodating brim, bill, or visor of a hat therethrough when the hat is worn backwards. The zipper is dimensioned as per brim length of conventional caps and is positioned to receive brim/bill of all types of caps. The garment comes in a variety of designs, such as jackets, windbreakers, and other garments having an integrated or removable hood. The zipper can be unfastened to create an opening in the hood to receive the brim/bill therethrough, thereby not obstructing the brim/bill when the cap is worn underneath a hood.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/413,810, which was filed on Oct. 6, 2022 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of garments. More specifically, the present invention relates to a novel hooded garment that allows users to wear their hats or caps backwards underneath a hood without having to remove their hoods from their heads. The back of the hood of the garment has a zipper for creating an opening to accommodate a brim, bill, or visor of a cap. The cap can be worn in a non-conventional manner (i.e. backwards) with the closure positioned on the forehead and the brim or bill facing backwards with the hood not obstructing the positioning of the brim/visor. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.

BACKGROUND

By way of background, ball caps and visors (i.e. brimmed or billed caps) have been a fashion staple for decades for both men and women. A specific type of ball cap that has gained popularity is snapback. Snapbacks are a type of baseball caps that go well with casual outfits and hip-hop outfits. Snapbacks have an adjustable strap in the back that snaps together and functions as a closure mechanism and, therefore, have the name snapbacks. Snapbacks are famous for their style, comfort, and casual ease. Wearing a snapback with the brim facing forward is the common way to wear a snapback, although many individuals love to wear their snapbacks backwards. Wearing a snapback sideways has become outdated and dorky and, therefore, individuals love wearing their snapbacks backwards.
Individuals who love wearing hooded garments, such as sweatshirts, hooded jackets, and more, face the problem of wearing their snapbacks or any hat having a brim or bill facing backwards with their hood still on. Generally, a hood of such garments gets in the brim's way when the snapbacks/ballcaps are worn backwards. Individuals can wear either the hood or their snapbacks backwards, but not both together. Therefore, individuals desire a way that allows them to wear both the hood and the snapbacks backwards simultaneously.
Current hooded garments have a zipper around the neck portion that allows a user to remove the hood completely. Further, the periphery of the opening of the hood generally has drawcords that can be pulled to fit the hood around face and head of a wearer. But no hooded garment currently allows a way for a wearer to wear snapbacks/ballcaps backwards. Therefore, individuals desire an improved hooded garment that allows them to wear their snapbacks backwards while their hood is still up.
Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved hooded garment that allows users to wear simultaneously their snapbacks backwards and their hood in the upright position. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a hooded garment that accommodates a brim or bill of any cap or visor. Additionally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a hooded garment that eliminates the requirement of removing the hood from the head for wearing a cap having a brim or bill facing backwards. Moreover, there is a long-felt need in the art for a hooded garment that appears and functions like a conventional hooded garment but allows users to wear their caps backwards. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for a hooded garment that does not obstruct the look of a hood placed on the head while the cap is worn backwards. Furthermore, there is a long-felt need in the art for a hooded garment that comes in various forms like hoodies, jackets, and windbreakers and allows users to wear their caps backwards with the hood still up on the head. Furthermore, there is a long-felt need in the art for a hooded garment that grants consumers the option to wear their hats backwards without having to remove their hoods from their heads.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a hooded garment. The hooded garment comes in various style options including hoodies, jackets, windbreakers and more and allows users to wear their hats or caps backwards without having to remove their hoods from their heads. The garment further comprising a central body portion having attached a pair of sleeves, an optional logo sewn on the left breast portion of the central body portion, a hood sewn to said central body portion around the neck portion, the hood having a face opening, a zipper horizontally sewn on the back of the hood for selectively creating an opening wherein the opening is used for accommodating a brim, bill, or visor of a cap when the cap is worn backwards such that closure of the cap positions on the forehead of the wearer and the brim or bill is positioned backwards thereby enabling a wearer to wear the cap in the backwards direction underneath the hood.
In this manner, the hooded garment of the present invention accomplishes all of the foregoing objectives and provides users with hoodies, jackets, windbreakers, and any other type of hooded garment that allows users to wear their ball caps or snapbacks backwards while their hood is still up on their heads. The zipper on the back of the hood accommodates a brim or bill of a cap enabling users to wear the hood and cap simultaneously.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a hooded garment. The hooded garment further comprising a central body portion having attached a pair of sleeves, a hood sewn to said central body portion around the neck portion, the hood having a face opening, a zipper horizontally sewn on the back of the hood for creating an opening wherein the opening is used for accommodating a brim, bill, or visor of a cap when the cap is worn backwards such that closure of the cap positions on the forehead of the wearer and the brim or bill is positioned backwards thereby enabling a wearer to wear the cap in the backwards direction underneath the hood.
In yet another embodiment, the garment has a fastener in front of the central body portion to divide the central body portion into a left portion and a right portion.
In yet another embodiment, a logo is sewn or removably attached to the left top portion of the central body portion.
In yet another embodiment, a hooded garment system is disclosed. The system includes a hooded garment in the form of a jacket, hoodie, windbreaker, or more. The system further includes an integrated or removable hood attached to a central body portion, a fastener sewn in the back portion of the hood is configured to create an opening for accommodating a brim, bill, or visor of a cap when the cap is worn backwards underneath the hood. The fastener can be unfastened to accommodate the brim/bill when a cap is facing backwards or can be fastened when the cap is not worn backwards.
In yet another embodiment, the fastener is a zipper that has interlocking teeth for fastening.
In yet another embodiment, the zipper is of neon green color.
In yet another embodiment, the zipper has a slider and a pull tab for fastening and unfastening the zipper.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method of wearing caps and hats backwards underneath a hood of a hooded garment is described. The method includes the steps of providing a hooded garment, the garment having a hood that has a horizontal zipper positioned horizontally along the back of the hood; wearing a cap backwards such that the closure of the cap is positioned on the forehead of a user and the brim faces backwards, and wearing the hooded garment and covering the panels and crown of the cap with the hood such that the brim of the cap is accommodated in the opening created by the zipper.
In yet another embodiment, the method includes opening the zipper by sliding a slider using a pull tab of the zipper from a first end to a second end.
In yet another embodiment, closing the zipper by sliding the slider using the pull tab from the second end to the first end.
In yet another embodiment, the second end has a stopper to stop sliding of the slider.
Numerous benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of one potential embodiment of a hooded garment of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear perspective view of the hooded garment of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of a user wearing the hooded garment of the present invention with the hood on the head and simultaneously wearing a cap or snapback backwards in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged view of the zipper positioned on back of the hood accommodating a brim or bill of a cap in accordance with the disclosed architecture; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view showing the user wearing another embodiment of the hooded garment of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved hooded garment that allows users to wear simultaneously their snapbacks backwards and their hood in the upright position. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a hooded garment that accommodates a brim or bill of any cap or visor. Additionally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a hooded garment that eliminates the requirement of removing the hood from the head for wearing a cap having a brim or bill facing backwards. Moreover, there is a long-felt need in the art for a hooded garment that appears and functions like a conventional hooded garment but allows users to wear their caps backwards. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for a hooded garment that does not obstruct the look of a hood placed on the head while the cap is worn backwards. Furthermore, there is a long-felt need in the art for a hooded garment that comes in various forms like hoodies, jackets, and windbreakers and allows users to wear their caps backwards with the hood still up on the head. Furthermore, there is a long-felt need in the art for a hooded garment that grants consumers the option to wear their hats backwards without having to remove their hoods from their heads.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a novel hooded garment. The garment is in the form of a jacket, hoodie, windbreaker, or more. The garment further includes a hood attached to a central body portion, a fastener sewn in the back portion of the hood and is configured to create an opening for accommodating a brim, bill, or visor of a cap when the cap is worn backwards underneath the hood. The fastener is unfastened to accommodate the brim/bill/visor and is fastened when the cap is not worn backwards wherein the fastening of the zipper is facilitated by moving a slider of the zipper from a first end of the zipper to a second end of the zipper.
Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of one potential embodiment of the hooded garment 100 of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The exemplary hooded garment 100 has a hood 102 that has an integrated horizontal zipper 104. The hooded garment 100 also includes a pair of sleeves 106, 108 that can be long sleeves or short sleeves, attached to a central body portion 110. The central body portion 110 is configured to cover at least a portion of a wearer's upper body. The hood 102 can be permanently attached or can be removably attached to the central body portion 110 around the front and back of the wearer. More specifically, the zipper 104 extends across the back of the hood 102 (as seen through the face opening of the hood 102 in FIG. 1 ) and is positioned adjacent to the back of the head of a wearer when the garment 100 is worn by a user such that the brim or bill of a hat worn backwards is accommodated by an opening created when the zipper 104 is in the opened position. The hood 102 includes a drawcord 120 routed through a channel along a periphery 122 of the face opening of the hood 102 and is used for closing or constricting the face opening of the hood 102 as per preferences of a wearer.
The zipper 104 has a zipper length 112 dimensioned as per the length of the brim of a conventional cap or hat such as a snapback and accommodates the brim or bill as illustrated in FIG. 2 enabling a user to wear the cap backwards while wearing the hood 102. The zipper 104 has a zipper pull tab 114 (shown in FIG. 2 ) for opening and closing the zipper 104 as per preferences of the wearer wherein the zipper pull tab 114 is pulled from the first end 1040 to the second end 1042 for closing the zipper 104 (as illustrated in FIG. 2 ).
The central body portion 110 can includes a logo or any other indicia 116 positioned on the left top portion 118. The logo 116 can be permanently sewn using a conventional stitching technique and can be used for branding and marketing purposes. The garment 100 can have any color or a combination of colors and can have any print, design, and embroidery.
The material for the hooded garment 100 can be selected from a group comprising a wool material, a cotton material, a nylon-type material, a fire-retardant material, a moisture absorbing material, a synthetic material, fleece material, and many more. Further, the material of various components of the hooded garment 100, can be the same or different, or a combination thereof.
FIG. 2 illustrates a rear perspective view of the hooded garment 100 of the present invention showing the position of the zipper in accordance with the disclosed architecture. As illustrated, the hood 102 includes the horizontally sewn zipper 104 extending from the first end 1040 to the second end 1042. The first end 1040 has a slider 202 that is moved along the zipper length by pulling the pull tab 114 and is moved to abut to a stopper 204 positioned at the second end 1042. The zipper 104 is preferably of neon green color, however, any color can be used for the zipper 104.
More specifically, the zipper 104 includes a pair of zipper teeth lining, each having a plurality of interlocking teeth for coupling to each other to close an opening/cavity 206 in the hood 102 created by the zipper 104. Further, the zipper 104 includes a length substantially half of the width of the hood 102 in an unfolded position, thereby easily accommodating a brim of a cap while maintaining fashion and utility of the hood 102. The zipper 104 is lightweight and does not alter the shape of the hood 102 when worn by a user. The zipper 104 can be closed when it is not required to accommodate a brim/bill and can be opened when the brim/bill is accommodated.
FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of a user wearing the hooded garment 100 of the present invention with the hood on the head and simultaneously wearing a snapback backwards in accordance with the disclosed architecture. As illustrated, a user 300 wearing the hooded garment 100 includes the hood 102 positioned on the head 302. The user 300 is simultaneously wearing a cap such as a snapback 304 backwards such that the closure 306 is positioned on the forehead 308 and the brim 310 of the cap 304 is accommodated by the zipper 104. As illustrated, the zipper 104 is in an open position with the pull tab 114 and the slider 202 positioned at the first end 1040 of the hood 102.
It should be appreciated that the garment 100 allows the user 300 to wear the hood 102 and the cap 304 backwards simultaneously without any discomfort and/or without compromising the look and style of both the cap 304 and the hood 102. When the cap 304 is worn backwards under the hood 102, the closure 306 and the brim 310 are visible while also enabling the hood 102 to be visually exposed from outside. The crown 312 of the cap 304 touches the inner surface of the hood 102 and thus provides a sense to a user of wearing the cap 304.
It should be noted that the exact cap shape, fabric, and styling details are not important to the utility of the unique hooded garment 100 described and claimed. For example, the cap 304 pictured in FIG. 3 need not have the rigidly rounded crown 312 and brim 310 but could embody a less structured crown and brim typical of the ubiquitous unisex sports caps well known.
FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged view of the zipper 104 positioned on back of the hood 102 accommodating a brim/bill of a cap in accordance with the disclosed architecture. As illustrated, the brim 310 extends out of the opening of the zipper 104 when the zipper 104 is in an unfastened position thereby preventing the hood 102 from getting in the way of the brim 310 of the hat 304. The zipper 104 includes a length 112 generally equal to or greater than a width 113 of the brim/visor 310 for accommodating the brim 310. The brim 310 can be oriented horizontal or slightly downwards as per preference of a wearer, and the zipper 104 helps in maintaining the style of both the hood 102 and the brim 310 of the cap 304.
The zipper 104 is compatible with typical fabric and plastic-molded visors/brims. Further, the zipper 104 allows air flow across the backwards direction worn cap. The zipper 104 is weatherproof to prohibit water (i.e. rain) from leaking therethrough when the zipper is selectively closed when not accommodating the bill 310 of the cap 304.
FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view showing the user wearing another embodiment of the hooded garment of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. In the present embodiment, the hooded garment 500 has a body portion 502 with attached conventional sleeves. The body portion 502 has a central longitudinal zipper 504 for dividing the body portion 502 into a left portion 5020 and a right portion 5022. A hood 506 is attached to the body portion 502 around the neck portion. The hood 506 has a zipper (not shown) as described in other embodiments of the present invention. The hood 506 has a face opening 508 along which the drawstring 510 routes through a channel.
As illustrated, the wearer 300 wears the cap 304 backwards such that the closure 306 is positioned on the forehead and the bill or visor of the cap extends out from the cavity/opening created by the zipper as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 . The garment 500 can includes a logo 116 for marketing and branding purposes. The garment 500 can be available in a variety of colors, designs, and fabrics.
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “hooded garment,” “garment,” “hooded garment with zipped hood,” and “hat brim zipper hooded garment” are interchangeable and refer to the hooded garment with zipped hood 100, 500 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the hooded garment with zipped hood 100, 500 of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hooded garment with zipped hood 100, 500 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the hooded garment with zipped hood 100, 500 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the hooded garment with zipped hood 100, 500 are important design parameters for user convenience, the hooded garment with zipped hood 100, 500 be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A hooded garment for accommodating a cap, the hooded garment comprising:

a hood having a drawcord routed through a channel along a periphery of a face opening of said hood and usable for constricting the face opening of said hood;

a pair of sleeves;

a central body portion, wherein said central body portion is configured to cover at least a portion of a wearer's upper body;

a zipper positioned on a rear of said hood and that extends across a back of said hood, wherein the zipper is proximal to a back of the head of a wearer, and further wherein said zipper is selectively openable for receiving a bill of the cap therethrough, such that the bill of the cap worn backwards is accommodated by an opening created when said zipper is in an opened position.

2. The hooded garment of claim 1, wherein said zipper is selectively closable when not required to accommodate said bill of the cap.

3. The hooded garment of claim 2, wherein said hood is selectively attached to said central body portion.

4. The hooded garment of claim 2, wherein said zipper includes a first length and said bill of the cap includes a second length, and further wherein said first length is generally equal to said second length.

5. The hooded garment of claim 4, wherein said hood includes a width in an unfolded position, and further wherein said first length is generally about half of said width of said hood.

6. The hooded garment of claim 2, wherein said zipper comprises a pull tab for selectively opening and closing said zipper.

7. The hooded garment of claim 6, wherein said zipper is weatherproof.

8. The hooded garment of claim 7, wherein each of said hood and said central body portion is comprised of a material selected from a group consisting of a wool material, a cotton material, a nylon-type material, a fire-retardant material, a moisture absorbing material, a synthetic material and a fleece material.

9. A hooded garment for accommodating a cap, the hooded garment comprising:

a hood;

a pair of sleeves;

a central body portion configured to cover at least a portion of an upper body of a wearer;

a zipper positioned on a rear of said hood and extending across a back of said hood and proximal to a back of a head of the wearer, wherein said zipper includes a length and a bill of the cap includes a width and said length is generally equal to said width; and

further wherein said zipper is selectively openable for receiving the bill of the cap therethrough, such that the bill of the cap worn backwards is accommodated by an opening created when said zipper is in the opened position.

10. The hooded garment of claim 9, wherein said zipper selectively closable when not required to accommodate said bill of the cap.

11. The hooded garment of claim 10, wherein said hood selectively attached to said central body portion.

12. The hooded garment of claim 10, wherein said hood includes a drawcord routed through a channel along a periphery of a face opening of said hood and usable for constricting the face opening of said hood.

13. The hooded garment of claim 10, wherein said zipper includes a pull tab for selectively opening and closing said zipper.

14. The hooded garment of claim 10, wherein said zipper is weatherproof.

15. The hooded garment of claim 14, wherein said hooded garment and said hood include a material selected from a group consisting of a wool material, a cotton material, a nylon-type material, a fire-retardant material, a moisture absorbing material, a synthetic material, and a fleece material.

16. A method of wearing a hooded garment for accommodating a cap, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a hooded garment including a hood, a pair of sleeves and a central body portion;

wherein said central body portion configured to cover at least a portion of a wearer's upper body;

wherein said hood includes an integrated horizontal zipper positioned on a rear of said hood;

wherein said zipper extending across a back of said hood and proximal to the back of the head of a wearer; and

further wherein said zipper includes a length and a bill of the cap includes a width and said length generally equal to said width;

placing the cap onto a wearer's head;

orienting said bill of the cap to face backwards;

opening said zipper to create an opening for receiving said bill of the cap therethrough;

placing said bill through said opening; and

pulling said hood over the wearer's head while said bill is simultaneously accommodated through said opening.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said zipper selectively closable when not required to accommodate said bill of the cap.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said hood includes a drawcord routed through a channel along a periphery of a face opening of said hood and usable for constricting the face opening of said hood.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said zipper includes a pull tab for selectively opening and closing said zipper.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said zipper is weatherproof.