ARTICLES OF APPAREL WITH RETRACTABLE PROTECTIVE ELEMENTS
Articles of apparel provide at least one protective characteristic. The articles of apparel may include a generally annular first element, such as a neckband, and a second, retractable element that is operably secured to the first element. The second element may provide at least one protective characteristic. The first element may (or may not) include a receptacle into which the second element is retractable.
This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/301,536 filed on Feb. 4, 2010, which is entirely incorporated by reference herein.
FIELDThe present disclosure relates to articles of apparel having a retractable protective element. More specifically, an article of apparel for the head and neck of a human user.
BACKGROUNDArticles of apparel are worn for particular purposes such as covering or protecting portions of the wearer's body, warmth, comfort, fashion, conforming to a particular appearance (uniforms, camouflage), and the like. Sometimes wearers wish for their articles of apparel to serve multiple purposes. For example, a shirt serves the purposes of covering the wearer's torso and adhering to fashion or appearance selections of the wearer. This shirt example does not provide the wearer with protective characteristics such as protection against cold or adverse weather conditions, protection to the neck, face, or head of the wearer, and the like. Most known articles of apparel serve a limited number of purposes, which requires wearer's to select multiple layers of articles of apparel to obtain the desired level and type of protection.
More specifically, many wearers wish to protect their necks, faces, and heads from various elements, such as weather, temperature, danger, pathogens, and the like. For example, many wearers will use a scarf or neck band to protect their necks against cold or wet weather. The wearers also will use a hat, face mask, or other head covering to protect their heads against the same cold and wet weather. In another example, a hunter may wish to camouflage his or her face to blend in with the surroundings. These wearers face challenges in that they must wear multiple articles of apparel to achieve all of the protective benefits that they want. Multiple articles are uncomfortable to wear and oftentimes become hot or cumbersome and bulky during wear. Multiple layers increase the number of items that the wearer must own, which is expensive and inconvenient.
SUMMARYAccordingly, despite the benefits of known articles of apparel, there remains a need for comfortable, cost-effective, and conveniently constructed articles of apparel that do not compromise the protective characteristics of the articles of apparel. The present disclosure overcomes these and other shortfalls with the disclosed articles of apparel.
Aspects of the articles of apparel include articles of apparel comprising a generally annular first element and a second, retractable element that is operably secured to the first element. The second element has at least one protective characteristic.
Other aspects of the articles of apparel include an article of apparel comprising a neckband including a receptacle integrally formed therewith and a retractable head covering. The retractable head covering has at least one protective characteristic and is operably secured to the neckband in a location such that a majority of the head covering is house within the receptacle when the head covering is in a retracted position and at least a portion of the head covering is positioned outside of the receptacle when the head covering is in an extended position.
In yet more aspects of the articles of apparel, an article of apparel comprises an elastic band defining a hole and including at least one receptacle and at least one protective element. The protective element is operably secured to the elastic band. A majority of the protective element is positioned within the receptacle when the protective element is in a retracted position and a majority of the protective element extends away from and is positioned outside of the receptacle when the protective element is in an unretracted position.
This section provides a general summary of the disclosed article of apparel with retractable protective element, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION I. General Aspects of Articles of Apparel with Retractable Protective ElementsThe second, retractable element 24 may include a head covering that covers any suitable portion(s) of the wearer's head. For example, the head covering includes a face covering that extends over at least a portion of the wearer's face. Some other examples comprise a head covering that includes a hood and a face covering. A head covering may cover any suitable portions of the wearer's head, neck, and/or torso.
For example, the first element 22 may be a neckband or other band that defines a hole through which the head, neck, shoulders, and/or portion of the wearer's torso fit. The first element 22 may include any suitable materials. For example, the first element 22 includes elastic. In other examples, the first element 22 includes any one or more of the following: fleece, cotton, polyurethane, foam, plastic, rubber, nylon, polyester, wool, and any other suitable material(s) for articles of apparel.
In some examples, the first element 22 is a band that is stretched or otherwise expanded to accommodate a wearer's head, neck, shoulders, and/or portion of the wearer's torso. In this example, the band includes elastic and defines a hole through it into which the wearer inserts his or her head to put on the article of apparel 20. In some more specific examples, the band is a neckband. In other examples, the first element 22 has a first and a second, opposing end that are detachably secured to each other. This example construction would permit the wearer to detach the first end from the second end and wrap the article of apparel 20 around the wearer's neck, for example (i.e., similar to a scarf) and then secure the first end and the second end to each other after the article of apparel 20 is wrapped around the wearer's neck.
The first end and/or the second end may comprise a securing mechanism that helps to detachably secure them to each other. For example, the first end includes a slit in some examples and a portion of the second end is capable of being inserted through the slit to detachably secure the first end and the second end to each other. In another example, the first end and the second end include a hook and loop fastener, a button and hole combination, two mating pieces of one or more snaps or other fasteners, and the like that detachably secure to each other. The first end and/or the second end may optionally include any suitable securing mechanisms.
The second, retractable element 24 is operably secured to the first element 22 in any suitable manner. For example, a portion of the second, retractable element 24 is sewn to the first element. In another example, the second, retractable element 24 is integrally formed from the same piece(s) of material as the first element. In still other examples, the second, retractable element 24 is detachably secured to the first element 22 such as with one or more securing mechanisms like a hook and loop fastener, mating snaps or buttons, and the like.
The second element includes one or more covering(s) for one or more portions of the wearer's body. For example, the second element includes one or more covering(s) for the head, neck, shoulders, and/or torso of the wearer. More specifically, the second element includes a head, face, and/or ear covering in some examples. The second element includes a covering or protective element for any portion(s) of the wearer's body.
In some example constructions, the article of apparel 20 further comprises a third, retractable element 24′ that is operably secured to the first element 22 in any of the same ways as described above with respect to the second, retractable element. The third element 24′ also has at least one protective characteristic. The third element 24′ includes one or more covering(s) for one or more portions of the wearer's body, similar in nature to the second, retractable element 24 described above. The third element 24′ is operably secured to the first element 22 in any suitable location with respect to the second, retractable element 24. For example, the third element 24′ is operably secured to the first element 22 in a position adjacent to the second, retractable element 24 in some examples and is spaced apart from the second element or secured on an opposing portion of the first element 22 in other examples. Any suitable number of retractable elements are operably secured to the first element.
In an example having more than one retractable element, the second, retractable element 24 is a face covering and the third, retractable element 24′ is a head covering operably secured to the first element 22 at a position opposite the second, retractable element 24. In this example construction, the second, retractable element 24 is operably secured to the first element 22 at a position such that when it is extended away from the first element, the second, retractable element 24 is able to be extended over at least a portion of the wearer's face. The third, retractable element 24′ is operably secured to the first element 22 such that when it is extended away from the first element, the third, retractable element 24′ is able to be extended over at least a portion of the wearer's head, such as a hood or portion thereof. Any of the retractable elements may cover any one or more portions of the wearer's head, neck, shoulders, and/or torso.
In some examples, the third, retractable element 24′ is integrally formed with or operably secured to the second, retractable element 24. For example, the second, retractable element 24 is a face covering and the third, retractable element 24′ is a head covering (e.g., a hood) that are integrally formed or are sewn together. In this example construction, the face covering and the head covering extend and retract together. In other examples, the third, retractable element 24′ is discrete from the second, retractable element 24. In this example, the second, retractable element 24 may be a face covering and the third, retractable element 24′ may be a head covering (e.g., a hood) that is discrete from the face covering. The face covering and the head covering are operably secured to the first element 22 in discrete locations and retract and extend independently from one another.
The retractable elements have at least one protective characteristic. The retractable elements may have as many protective characteristics as desirable. For example, the retractable elements have one or more of the following protective characteristics: insulation, warmth, protection from weather elements, protection from pathogens, camouflage, and any other suitable protective characteristic(s). In some aspects, one of the retractable elements is a face covering suitable for protecting the wearer from cold weather. This face covering may provide the wearer with insulation, warmth, and protection from weather elements. In another aspect, the face covering includes warmth and camouflage. This face covering may be suitable for law enforcement, military, hunting, and other wearers in need of camouflage. In yet another aspect, the face covering is a surgical mask and helps protect its wearer from outside pathogens and also helps protect other people around the wearer from pathogens coming from the wearer.
In some examples, the first element 22 includes a receptacle. In some aspects, the second element (or any one or more of the elements operably secured to the first element) is retractable into the receptacle. The receptacle is operably secured to the first element 22 in any suitable fashion. The receptacle is attached to the first element 22 in some examples, such as being sewn to or integrally formed with the first element. In other examples, the receptacle is detachably secured to the first element 22 in any suitable manner, such as, but not limited to, one or more hook and look fastener(s), snaps, buttons, adhesives, magnets, and the like.
For the examples in which the article of apparel 20 includes a second, retractable element 24 and a third, retractable element 24′ that are discrete from one another (i.e., a face covering is discrete from and extends and retracts independently from a hood), the article of apparel 20 may include a first receptacle and a second receptacle. The second, retractable element 24 is retractable into the first receptacle and the third, retractable element 24′ is retractable into the second receptacle. In the examples in which the article of apparel 20 includes a second, retractable element 24 and a third, retractable element 24′ that are sewn together, integrally formed, or otherwise operate together, the article of apparel 20 includes one receptacle into which both the second, retractable element 24 and the third, retractable element 24′ retract.
In some aspects, the article of apparel 20 includes a neckband including a first receptacle that is integrally formed with the neckband and a retractable head covering having at least one protective characteristic. The retractable head covering is operably secured to the neckband in a location such that a majority of the head covering is housed within the first receptacle when the head covering is in a retracted position and at least a portion of the head covering is positioned outside of the first receptacle when the head covering is in an extended position. In some other aspects, the article of apparel 20 further comprises a retractable face covering operably secured to the neckband that is discrete from the retractable head covering. In this example construction, the article of apparel 20 further comprises a second receptacle that is operably secured to the neckband in a location such that the face covering is housed within the second receptacle when the face covering is in a retracted position and at least a portion of the face covering is positioned outside of the second receptacle when the face covering is in an extended position.
The receptacles may be operably secured to the first element 22 (e.g., a neckband or elastic band) in any suitable location. For example, a first receptacle is positioned adjacent to a second receptacle in some aspects. In other examples, the first receptacle is positioned opposite the second receptacle. In this example, the first element 22 or neckband is generally annular and the receptacles are positioned opposite each other on the annular neckband.
The receptacles are positioned on any portion or surface of the first element, such as an interior or exterior surface of a generally annular first element 22 (or neckband or elastic band). When the receptacle(s) are positioned on the interior surface of the neckband, the openings of the receptacle(s) are positioned adjacent to the wearer's body when the wearer is wearing the article of apparel 20. When the receptacle(s) are positioned on the exterior surface of the neckband, the openings of the receptacle(s) are positioned on the surface opposite the wearer's body and do not contact the wearer's body in some aspects. In yet other aspects, the receptacles are extendable and retractable from either the interior or exterior surface of the first element 22 or neckband.
The receptacles may be any suitable form including, but not limited to a pocket in any suitable shape and size. Any receptacle optionally includes one or more securing mechanisms including, but not limited to, a button, hook and loop fastener, magnet, snap, and the like.
In still other aspects, an article of apparel 20 comprises an elastic band defining a hole and having at least one receptacle. The article of apparel 20 also comprises at least one protective element that is operably secured to the elastic band. A majority of the protective element is positioned within the at least one receptacle when the protective element is in a retracted position and a majority of the protective element extends away from and is positioned outside of the receptacle when the protective element is in an unretracted position.
The second, retractable element 24 or first protective element is operably secured to the first element 22 (neckband or elastic band) at any suitable location on the first element. In the examples in which the first element 22 includes a receptacle, the second, retractable (or any number of retractable or protective elements) are operably secured to the first element 22 at a position within the receptacle. For example, the second, retractable element 24 is operably secured to the first element 22 at a position within the receptacle such that when it is retracted into the receptacle, the entire second, retractable element 24 is housed within the receptacle. In other examples, the second, retractable element 24 is operably secured to the first element 22 at a position near the receptacle such that a majority of the second, retractable element 24 is housed within the receptacle when the second, retractable element 24 is in its retracted position.
Alternatively, second, retractable element 24 may be detachably secured to the first element 22 in any suitable fashion including hook and loop fastener(s), snap(s), button(s), magnet(s), and the like. The second, retractable element 24 may be secured to the first element 22 by sewing, gluing, bonding, or the like, or the second, retractable element 24 and the first element 22 may be integrally formed together. The second, retractable element 24 may be operably secured to the first element 22 at a position adjacent to the receptacle and still be retracted into the receptacle in some aspects. The second, retractable element 24 is operably secured to the first element 22 in any suitable location.
II. Specific Examples of Articles of Apparel with Retractable Protective ElementsIn the example wrap illustrated in
In other embodiments similar to the one illustrated in
Optional features may be added to any of the aspects of the article of apparel 20 described above. Any one or more portions of the articles of apparel may include one or more suitable materials. In some examples, the first element, neckband, or elastic band includes a first material or group of materials and the receptacle or another portion of the article of apparel 20 includes at least one material that is different than the material(s) in the first element. The one or more receptacle(s) in the first element are positioned in any suitable location on the first element. In many of the examples illustrated and discussed above, the receptacle is located either near the face of the wearer and/or at the back of the head or neck of the wearer when the first element is positioned around the wearer's neck. However, the receptacle(s) may be positioned at any location on the first element. Decorative elements and other mechanical connectors may be included in the articles of apparel. Still other optional features include various adjustment mechanism(s) that permit the wearer to adjust the length of a strap or a size of any portion of the head covering. Any suitable one or more adjustment mechanisms may be included in the articles of apparel. Also, the articles of apparel optionally include a pad or other comfort element that cushions or otherwise helps to prevent the strap from making the strap uncomfortable for the wearer during wear.
Similarly, individual elements or features of a particular aspect of the articles of apparel are generally not limited to that particular aspect, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected aspect, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the invention, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. An article of apparel, comprising:
- a generally annular first element; and
- a second, retractable element operably secured to the first element, wherein the second element has at least one protective characteristic.
2. The article of apparel of claim 1, wherein the article of apparel is at least one of a neck gaiter, neck band, and scarf.
3. The article of apparel of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first element includes an elastic material.
4. The article of apparel of claim 1, wherein the first element has a first end and a second, opposing end that are detachably secured to each other.
5. The article of apparel of claim 1, wherein the second element includes at least one of a face covering, a head covering, and an ear covering.
6. The article of apparel of claim 1, further comprising a third, retractable element operably secured to the first element, wherein the third element has at least one protective characteristic.
7. The article of apparel of claim 6, wherein the second element is a face covering and the third element is a head covering.
8. The article of apparel of claim 1, wherein the protective characteristic of the second element includes at least one of insulation, warmth, protection from weather elements, protection from pathogens, and camouflage.
9. The article of apparel of claim 1, wherein the first element includes a receptacle.
10. The article of apparel of claim 9, wherein the second element is retractable into the receptacle.
11. The article of apparel of claim 9, wherein the receptacle is detachably secured to the first element.
12. An article of apparel, comprising:
- a neckband including a receptacle integrally formed therewith; and
- a retractable head covering having at least one protective characteristic, the retractable head covering operably secured to the neckband in a location such that a majority of the head covering is housed within the receptacle when the head covering is in a retracted position and at least a portion of the head covering is positioned outside of the receptacle when the head covering is in an extended position.
13. The article of apparel of claim 12, wherein the neckband has a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end is detachably secured to the second end.
14. The article of apparel of claim 12, wherein the head covering includes a face covering.
15. The article of apparel of claim 12, further comprising a retractable face covering operably secured to the neckband, wherein the retractable face covering is discrete from the retractable head covering.
16. The article of apparel of claim 15, wherein the receptacle is a first receptacle and further comprising a second receptacle operably secured to the neckband in a location such that the face covering is housed within the second receptacle when the face covering is in a retracted position and at least a portion of the face covering is positioned outside of the second receptacle when the face covering is in an extended position.
17. The article of apparel of claim 12, wherein the at least one protective characteristic includes at least one of insulation, warmth, protection from weather elements, protection from pathogens, and camouflage.
18. An article of apparel, comprising:
- an elastic band defining a hole and including at least one receptacle; and
- at least one protective element operably secured to the elastic band, wherein a majority of the protective element is positioned within the at least one receptacle when the protective element is in a retracted position and a majority of the protective element extends away from and is positioned outside of the receptacle when the protective element is in an unretracted position.
19. The article of apparel of claim 18, wherein the at least one protective element is operably secured to the elastic band at a position within the receptacle.
20. The article of apparel of claim 18, wherein the elastic band has a first end and a second, opposing end that are detachably secured to each other.
21. The article of apparel of claim 18, wherein the protective element provides at least one of insulation, warmth, protection from weather elements, protection from pathogens, and camouflage.
22. The article of apparel of claim 18, wherein the receptacle is detachably secured to the elastic band.
23. The article of apparel of claim 18, wherein the at least one protective element includes at least one of a face covering, a head covering, and an ear covering.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 4, 2011
Publication Date: Aug 4, 2011
Inventors: Daniel H. Godfrey (Tigard, OR), Maki Myoga (Tigard, OR)
Application Number: 13/021,513
International Classification: A42B 1/18 (20060101); A41D 13/05 (20060101); A42B 1/24 (20060101); A41D 13/11 (20060101);