SCARF, GLOVE AND HAT SET FOLDABLE INTO A POCKET ON THE SCARF

Abstract

An article of apparel is convertible into a travel pillow and includes an elongated scarf having opposite end regions, a pair of open pockets at the end regions, and a pair of gloves receivable in one of the pockets when not worn on a wearer's hands. A hat is optionally receivable in the one pocket when not worn on the wearer's head. The scarf is foldable onto itself by being folded or rolled from the other of the pockets towards the one pocket to form folded scarf portions. The folded scarf portions are receivable in the one pocket, together with the gloves and optionally the hat, for joint compact storage, or for use as a travel pillow in which the folded scarf portions, the gloves, and optionally the hat, stuff and plump the pillow.

Description

This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/161,103, filed Mar. 18, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to a scarf, glove and hat set foldable into a pocket on the scarf for compact storage, or for advantageous use as a pillow or cushion.

Scarves or mufflers have long been used for both decorative and utilitarian purposes. Most often, a scarf comprises an elongated piece of material having a length substantially longer than the circumference of a wearer's neck, and a uniform width larger than the vertical extent of the wearer's neck. The scarf is knotted or wrapped about the neck, so as to cover the neck and protect it from inclement weather, especially from cold temperatures encountered during the winter or cooler months of the year. Known scarves are made from a very wide assortment of textile and fabric materials and are worn in a wide variety of styles, including conventional neck scarves, head wraps, head bows, shoulder wraps, shawls and stoles.

Gloves or mittens, as well as hats, have also long been used for protecting a wearer's hands and head from inclement and cold weather. Often such gloves, hats and scarves are sold in coordinated sets, in which the style, material and color of the gloves, hats and scarves are matched. Due to the relatively small size of the gloves and hats as compared to that of the scarf, and also due to the fact that the gloves are often removed to free the hands to perform some manual task, the gloves and the hats are often misplaced and lost, thereby losing their protection and detracting from the value of the matched set.

Closed pockets have been provided on scarves to enable the wearer to conveniently and safely carry, on the wearer's person, money, credit cards, or a variety of other items or valuables normally retained, for example, in purses or wallets, while concealing from others the fact that such valuable items are retained on the person. Open pockets have also been provided on scarves into which the wearer's gloveless hands are inserted for cold weather protection. It would be desirable to provide a stylish and fashionable article of apparel in which the gloves and the hat are less prone to being misplaced and lost from such matched sets, either for compact storage, or to serve some practical use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of this invention is directed to an article including an elongated scarf having opposite end regions, a pair of open pockets at the end regions, and a pair of gloves receivable in one of the pockets when not worn on a wearer's hands. A hat is optionally receivable in the one pocket when not worn on the wearer's head. Another pocket may advantageously be provided on the scarf, for example, between the end regions, and this other pocket could be used to receive a variety of items, e.g., a music player. An additional zippered pocket may advantageously be provided on the scarf, for example, at the exterior of the one pocket, and this zippered pocket could be used to receive still more items.

In accordance with one aspect of this invention, the scarf is foldable onto itself by being folded or rolled from the other of the pockets towards the one pocket to form folded scarf portions. The folded scarf portions are receivable in the one pocket, together with the gloves and optionally the hat, for joint compact storage. The gloves and the hat are thus less prone to being misplaced and lost from such matched sets, because they are all received in the one pocket, and they are all retained in the one pocket by the folded scarf portions. Advantageously, when the scarf portions are received in the one pocket, the article is stuffed and plumped by the folded scarf portions, as well as by the gloves, and optionally by the hat, and is thus converted into a pillow, especially a travel pillow or rectangular cushion upon which one can rest a part of his or her body.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a matched set of a scarf, gloves and a hat, together with a music player, in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the matched set of FIG. 1 at an initial stage of folding the set into a pocket on the scarf;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the matched set of FIG. 1 at a further stage of the folding;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the matched set of FIG. 1 at a still further stage of the folding;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the matched set of FIG. 1 at a still later stage of the folding; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the matched set of FIG. 1 at a final stage of the folding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally identifies an article of apparel including an elongated scarf 12 having opposite end regions 14, 16, a pair of open pockets 18, 20 at the end regions 14, 16, and a pair of gloves 22, 24 receivable in one 20 of the pockets when not worn on a wearer's hands. A hat 26 is optionally receivable in the one pocket 20 when not worn on the wearer's head. Another pocket 28 may advantageously be provided on the scarf 12 between the end regions 14, 16, and this other pocket 28 could be used to receive a variety of items, e.g., a music player having earbuds 30. The pockets 18, 20, 28 are advantageously permanently open. An additional zippered pocket 40 may advantageously be provided on the scarf, for example, at the exterior of the one pocket 20, and this zippered pocket 40 is selectively openable, e.g., by operating a zipper, and could be used to receive still more items.

In accordance with one aspect of this invention, the scarf 12 is constituted of a foldable fabric material that is foldable onto itself by being folded or rolled from the other of the pockets 18 towards the one pocket 20 to form folded scarf portions 32. The folded scarf portions 32 are receivable in the one pocket 20, together with the gloves 22, 24 and optionally the hat 26, for joint compact storage. The gloves 22, 24 and the hat 26 are thus less prone to being misplaced and lost from such matched sets, because they are all received in the one pocket 20, and they are all retained in the one pocket 20 by the folded scarf portions 32. Advantageously, when the scarf portions 32 are received in the one pocket 20, the article 10 is stuffed and plumped by the folded scarf portions 32, as well as by the gloves 22, 24, and optionally by the hat 26, and is thus converted into a pillow, especially a travel pillow or rectangular cushion upon which one can rest a part of his or her body.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, also may find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a scarf, glove and hat set foldable into a pocket on the scarf and method of converting the set into a pillow or cushion, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An article, comprising:

an elongated scarf having opposite end regions;

a pair of open pockets at the end regions;

a pair of gloves receivable in one of the pockets when not worn on a wearer's hands; and

the scarf being foldable onto itself by being folded from the other of the pockets towards the one pocket to form folded scarf portions that are receivable in the one pocket.

2. The article of claim 1, and a hat receivable in the one pocket, together with the gloves and the folded scarf portions, when the hat is not worn on the wearer's head.

3. The article of claim 1, and an additional pocket provided on the scarf between the end regions, and wherein the additional pocket receives an item.

4. The article of claim 1, wherein the article is shaped as a generally rectangular pillow when the folded scarf portions are received in the one pocket, and wherein the folded scarf portions and the gloves stuff the pillow.

5. The article of claim 1, and a zippered pocket provided on the scarf at an exterior of the one pocket.

6. An article of apparel convertible into a pillow, comprising:

an elongated scarf having opposite end regions;

a pair of open pockets at the end regions;

a pair of gloves receivable in one of the pockets when not worn on a wearer's hands; and

the scarf being foldable onto itself by being folded from the other of the pockets towards the one pocket to form folded scarf portions that are receivable in the one pocket to form a generally rectangular pillow stuffed by the folded scarf portions and the gloves.

7. The article of claim 6, and a hat receivable in the one pocket, together with the gloves and the folded scarf portions, when the hat is not worn on the wearer's head, and wherein the hat also stuffs the pillow.

8. The article of claim 6, and an additional pocket provided on the scarf between the end regions, and wherein the additional pocket receives an item.

9. The article of claim 6, and a zippered pocket provided on the scarf at an exterior of the one pocket.

10. A method of converting an article of apparel into a pillow, comprising the steps of:

providing a pair of open pockets at opposite end regions of an elongated, foldable scarf;

receiving a pair of gloves in one of the pockets when not worn on a wearer' s hands;

folding the scarf onto itself from the other of the pockets towards the one pocket to form folded scarf portions; and

receiving the folded scarf portions in the one pocket to form a generally rectangular pillow stuffed by the folded scarf portions and the gloves.

11. The method of claim 10, and receiving a hat in the one pocket, together with the gloves and the folded scarf portions, when the hat is not worn on the wearer's head, and wherein the hat also stuffs the pillow.

12. The method of claim 10, and providing an additional pocket on the scarf between the end regions, and receiving an item in the additional pocket.

13. The method of claim 10, and providing a zippered pocket on the scarf at an exterior of the one pocket.