Cold weather garment
In one example embodiment of the present invention, the user carries a backpack, which holds the cape inside, until the user requires the cold weather garment. To use the cold weather garment, the user removes the cape from the bag, places the user's feet in the bag and wraps the cape around the user's body. In other embodiments, the cape may be designed to wrap about the users body and at least a portion of the users legs.
This disclosure pertains to a cold weather garment and method of using said cold weather garment.
BACKGROUNDThere are many cold weather activities, especially those involving long periods of inactivity, which require the use of a warm garment. Many of these activities only require the warm garment at particular times during the activity. For example, the garment may not be needed while traveling to and from the activity but is needed during the activity.
Deer hunting, ice fishing or watching sporting events are some examples of activities where a warm garment is not needed while traveling to and from the hunting spot, ice fishing spot or sporting event, but is needed during the activity. For example, staying warm is not a problem while walking to and from the hunting or fishing spot because the physical activity of walking keeps the person warm. But when the person reaches the desired fishing or hunting location they may sit still and become cold without the proper gear. Additionally, a person may begin to perspire while walking to and from hunting or fishing spots, especially if they are wearing a warm garment.
Then, while sitting still waiting for fish to bite or a deer to pass by, a person may become cold because of the cold temperature and inactivity. Furthermore, they may become cold more quickly if they are damp from perspiring. This situation can be exacerbated by wind drafting into seams or openings in typical garments, such as jackets, for example. Jackets allow cold wind to penetrate the interior of the jacket through the bottom, the neck, and sleeves. Wind entering the interior of the jacket, especially in combination with perspiration, greatly reduces the garment's ability to keep a person warm in cold environments.
SUMMARYIn one example embodiment of the present disclosure, a cold weather garment is disclosed, which includes a bag made to receive a user's feet and a cape for wrapping around the user while in a sitting position. The bag has at least one strap for carrying the bag. Capes made according to the principles of the present disclosure can be made in any number of shapes and sizes and can be made of various materials or combinations of materials. For example, in one embodiment the cape may be constructed of a weatherproof material. In yet another embodiment, the cape may be constructed of a quiet material or both a quiet and weatherproof material. The cape, along with the bag, could also be reversible such that different sides serve different functions.
In another example embodiment, the bag has shoulder straps, so the user can carry the bag like a backpack. The user carries the backpack, which has the cape inside, until the user requires the cold weather garment. To use the cold weather garment, the user removes the cape from the bag, places the user's feet in the bag and wraps the cape around the user's body. In some embodiments, a portion of the cape can also wrap around a portion of the bag and the user's legs.
In yet another aspect of an example embodiment, the bag could include a flap for closing the bag when the bag is being transported or stored. When the bag is being used, the cape is removed from the bag. Again, the user places his feet in the bag, but in this example embodiment, the user takes the flap and places it over his lap and then wraps the cape about the user's body to stay warm.
In yet another aspect of an example embodiment, the cold weather garment could include a backpack having a cape connected to the backpack such that the cape fits inside of the backpack and the backpack can be closed when not in use. When the user needs the garment to stay warm, the user removes the cape from the backpack, places his feet inside the bag and wraps the cape around the user's body. In this example embodiment, the cape could include a hood to receive the user's head and fasteners on the cape to keep the cape wrapped about the user's body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
With reference now to the various drawing figures in which identical elements are numbered identically throughout, example embodiments incorporating the principles of the present disclosure will now be provided.
In the example embodiment shown in
The bag 215 includes at least one strap 212, and preferable two straps 212 for carrying the bag 215. The bag 215 in the example embodiment shown in
The bag 215, in this example embodiment, includes straps 212 such that the bag can be worn on the user's back. The bag could also have only one strap to carry the bag. In this alternative configuration, the user could strap the bag across his back using only one strap, or the user could carry the bag, using the one strap, at his side with the strap over one of his shoulders. Alternatively, the strap could be designed to strap the bag across the user's waist.
Referring now to
The bag 215 has a front 205, a backside 206 a first side 207, a second side 208 and a bottom 209. The bag 215 has a height 200, a width 201, and a depth 202. In certain embodiments, the height 200 can range from approximately 10 inches to approximately 36 inches, the width 201 can range from approximately 10 inches to approximately 50 inches, and the depth 202 can range from approximately 10 inches to approximately 24 inches. Generally, the bag 215 is designed to receive the user's feet while wearing shoes or boots. Alternatively, the bag 215 could be designed to receive a user's feet without shoes or boots. The bag 215 could also have at least one of the front 205, the back 206, the first side 207 and the second side 208 include an elastic material to keep the bag 215 secured about at least a portion of a user's legs and to help prevent air from entering the cavity 211 while the user's feet are within the bag 215. Alternatively, an embodiment made according to the present disclosure could include a drawstring assembly to tighten the bag around the user's legs to help prevent air from entering the cavity while the user's feet are within the bag.
The bag 215 could take on a variety of shapes including a rectangle as shown in
The bag 215 as depicted in
The bag 215 also includes straps 212 for carrying the bag about a person's shoulders. The straps 212 can be adjustable such that they can accommodate a variety of different sized persons. The straps 212 can be made out of any suitable material strong enough to support the contents of the bag about the user's shoulders. The straps 212 may also be padded for comfort. The straps 212 could be connected to the front side 205 of the bag 215 or any other operable position on the bag 215.
The bag 215 may be made out of one material and one layer or a variety of materials and a variety of layers or any combination of layers and materials. The bag 215, for example, could have an outer protective layer 216, a middle insulating layer 217, and an inner layer 218 as shown in
The bag 215 may have an insulation layer 217 as shown in
In one embodiment, the bag could be made of a weatherproof material. Alternatively, the bag or a portion or layer of the bag could be water resistant, waterproof, wind resistant or windproof or any sensible combination thereof. Alternatively, the bag could be designed such that it has one layer that it is more water resistant than another. The bag could also be designed such that it has one layer that it is more wind resistant than another. The bag could also be designed such that it has one layer that it is more weatherproof than another.
As described, the bag 215 could be made out of any suitable material, or combination thereof, depending upon the bag's purpose or use. For example, if the bag 215 was to be made for hunting purposes, the material could be a durable, waterproof and windproof material and also a quiet material so animals do not hear the bag 215 when it is moved or objects brush against it. The bottom of the bag 209 and at least a portion of the first side 207, second side 208, back side 206, and front side 205, could be made of a waterproof material such that when the bag 215 is on the ground and the user's feet are placed inside the bag 215, the user's feet will remain dry.
The cape 100 could also include a hood 101. The hood 101 could have concave edges 102 and hood flaps 103. The concave edges 102 help not to block a person's peripheral vision. The hood flaps 103 are designed such that they cover the user's neck and in some embodiments, a portion of a user's face. The hood flaps 103 can be fastened into place using buttons, snaps, Velcro, or any other suitable connecting mechanism. The flaps 103 are designed to at least partially keep the wind from entering the interior of the cold weather garment 113. The portion of the flaps 103 that contact the face could be made of a soft comfortable material so as not to irritate the user's skin. The exterior of the flaps 103 could be made of a windproof and waterproof material to guard a user from the elements. Generally, the flaps 103 could be made of any suitable material or combination of materials known to those of skill in the art.
The cape 100, like the bag 215, could also be reversible. For example, the cape 100 could have one side made of orange or orange camouflage material and the reverse side could be made of green camouflage material. The cape 100 could also have any number of designs printed on it or be made of material having different designs. As described above, the cape could be made at least partially of a material having a camouflage pattern. The cape 100 could also have a sports team emblem on it or made of the team's colors.
In the example embodiment shown in
Alternatively, the cape 100 could be attached to the bag 215 at any operable place on the bag 215, as the embodiment shown in the figures are merely example embodiments. The cape 100 could be attached along at least a perimeter of the bag 215, for example, along a portion of the top portion 210 of the bag 215. Such a design could aid in wrapping the user and preventing heat from escaping the interior of the cold weather garment 113 during use. The cape 100 could also be designed such that the user sits on a portion of the cape 100 or the bag 215 where the cape 100 connects to the bag 215. A pad could also be positioned such that a user sits on the pad when using the cold weather garment 113. The pad could be integral to the bag or the cape or a portion of both, or the pad could be detachably connected to the cape or bag.
Like the bag 215, the cape 100 could be made of one layer or a variety of layers and materials. The cape 100 may be made of various layers of material such as, an outer protective layer 114, a middle insulating layer 115 and an inner layer 116 as shown in
In one embodiment, the cape or a portion or layer of the cape could be made of a weatherproof material. Alternatively, the cape or a portion or layer of the cape could be water resistant, waterproof, wind resistant or windproof or any sensible combination thereof. Alternatively, the outer protective layer could be designed such that it is more water resistant that the insulation layer or inner layer. The outer protective layer could also be designed such that it is more wind resistant that the insulation layer or inner layer. The outer protective layer could also be designed such that it is more weatherproof that the insulation layer or inner layer. The cape, as described above, could be made of a breathable material. The cape could also be treated with a durable water repellant polymer or any other chemical suitable for weatherproofing purposes.
The cape 100 may have an insulation layer. The middle insulation layer, for example, could be made of compressed polyester, wool, down, or any other suitable insulating material known to those of skill in the art. The cape could be designed such that it has one layer that is more insulated than another. The inner layer of the cape 100, for example, may be made of wool, fleece, cotton or any of a variety of suitable material known to those of skill in the art. The materials used to construct the cape can be selected by those of skill in the art depending on the purpose or purposes of the cold weather garment 113.
In other embodiments, the cape could be designed such that it has one layer that it is more water resistant than another. The bag could also be designed such that it has one layer that it is more wind resistant than another. The bag could also be designed such that it has one layer that it is more weatherproof than another.
The cold weather garment 113 could also have different capes for different uses and temperatures. For example, the different capes could have various amounts of insulation, be made of different materials, or have different designs depending on the intended purpose. Thus, different capes could be interchangeable with the bag 215. Cold weather garments built according to the principles of the present invention could be sold as kits, including the bag and the cape, or the bag and the cape could be sold separately.
In the example embodiment illustrated in
The cape 100, as illustrated in example embodiment of
Alternatively, the cape 100 could have a first length 111 that ranges from approximately 12 inches to approximately 62 inches, and a second length 112 that ranges from approximately 30 inches to approximately 120 inches. The cape 100 could also have a first length 111 that ranges from approximately 24 inches to approximately 52 inches, and a second length 112 that ranges from approximately 48 inches to approximately 72 inches. In yet another embodiment, the first length 111 of the cape could be approximately 42 inches in length and the second length 112 of the cape 100 could be approximately 96 inches in length. As discussed above, the cape 100 can be designed such that it fits into the cavity 211 of the bag 215. The cape 100 could also be designed such that it wraps around the user's body and at least a portion of the bag 215 when the user's feet and a portion of their legs are placed inside the bag 215.
When a person wishes to use the cold weather garment 113 as illustrated in
When a user wishes to store or transport the cold weather garment 113, as illustrated in
The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of an embodiment the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
Claims
1. A cold weather garment comprising:
- a bag defining a cavity;
- a bag defining an opening granting access to the cavity;
- the cavity designed to receive a user's feet;
- the bag having at least one strap for carrying the bag; and
- a cape having first and second positions relative to the bag, the cape being stored within the cavity of the bag when in the first position and being wrapped around the body of a user when in the second position.
2. The cold weather garment as in claim 1, wherein the cape is weatherproof.
3. The cold weather garment as in claim 1, wherein the cape has at least 2 layers.
4. The cold weather garment as in claim 1, further comprising a hood.
5. The cold weather garment as in claim 1, wherein the cape is wing shaped.
6. The cold weather garment as in claim 1, wherein the cape includes:
- first and second lengths,
- the first length being a vertical length of the cape and the second length being a horizontal length of the cape; and
- the second length being longer than the first length.
7. The cape as in claim 1, further comprising:
- first and second lengths,
- the first length being a vertical length of the cape and the second length being a horizontal length of the cape; and
- the first length ranges from approximately 12 inches to approximately 62 inches; and
- the second length ranges from approximately 30 inches to approximately 120 inches.
8. The cold weather garment as in claim 1, wherein the cape is connected to the bag.
9. The cold weather garment as in claim 8, wherein the cape is detachable from the bag.
10. The cold weather garment as in claim 1, wherein the cape includes fasteners.
11. The cold weather garment as in claim 10, wherein the fasteners are hooks.
12. A cold weather garment comprising:
- a backpack defining a cavity;
- the backpack having a top portion defining an opening to the cavity;
- the cavity designed to receive a user's feet and a portion of a user's legs;
- a flap having a first position in which the flap covers the opening to the cavity and a second position in which the flap covers a user's thighs when the user is sitting with his feet in the backpack; and
- a cape having a first position in which the cape is storable within the backpack and a second position in which the cape is removed from the backpack and designed to wrap a users body.
13. The cold weather garment as in claim 12, wherein the cape weatherproof.
14. The cold weather garment as in claim 12, wherein the cape is detachably connected to the bag.
15. The cold weather garment as in claim 12, wherein the cape has a first length ranging from approximately 40 inches to approximately 70 inches and a second length ranging from approximately 80 inches to approximately 110 inches.
16. The cold weather garment as in claim 12, wherein the cape is wing shaped.
17. The cold weather garment as in claim 12, wherein the cape is at least partially concave such that it facilitates wrapping a user.
18. The cold weather garment as in claim 12 further comprising a hood.
19. A method of using a cold weather garment to stay warm comprising the steps of:
- removing a cape from a cavity of a bag;
- placing one's feet and a portion of one's legs in the cavity of the bag;
- sitting down and wrapping the cape around the user's body.
Type: Application
Filed: May 25, 2004
Publication Date: Dec 1, 2005
Inventor: Ron Panek (Chisago City, MN)
Application Number: 10/853,832