CONVERTIBLE DRESS AND POUCH STORAGE GARMENT
The present invention relates to a fully functioning dress which may be stored in an integrated small pouch or pocket and carried independently or placed within a purse or handbag. Additionally, when the dress is removed from its storage position within the pouch and placed in the ready to wear position the storage pouch is not viewable similar to a tag within a garment that is secured within the inside.
This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Ser. No. 61/608,249 filed Mar. 8, 2012 the entire content is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to an easy pack and carry dress and more specifically to a dress that is stored within a small compartment of itself when not worn, and quickly removed from the storage compartment and worn at users discretion, wherein the storage compartment may additionally serve as the tag for the dress.
2. Background Information
As people are more constantly on the go and away from home for extended periods of time, they are often required to make changes on the fly. Although, various outer garments which can be folded into a pouch located on the garment itself are present in the art, these garments appeal mainly to hikers, campers, and other sportsmen who appreciate the convenience of a jacket or other outer garment which can be folded into a compact package and placed into a backpack, clipped to a belt, or carried easily by hand.
Additional garments in the art were created to provide a better variety of convertible outerwear garments including pajamas, nightshirts and sleepers which may fold into a carrying bag which can be worn on ones back, these simpler designs were designed with an emphasis for easily carried and convertible children's clothing. But these designs also required the outer garments to incorporate straps and/or other features to the outerwear to support the additional functions which may not always be desirable as a component of the outerwear but were necessary for converting the garment into a carrier.
There is a void in the art for garments which may be stored in a very small space, easily carried and not comprise additional straps, belts or other accessories which are often not desired in outerwear. For women a dress is a single garment which may serve as a day's primary garment or as an emergency set of clothes should another garment get ripped, soiled or generally become un-wearable. A dress is a single garment that can serve as a change of clothes (complete outerwear change) when necessary or desired.
Unfortunately, a condensed easily stored complete outerwear change set has not previously been described. Thus, a need exists for a easily packed and stored complete outerwear garment which may serve as a change of clothes to be worn in an emergency or due to a quick change of plans wherein a dress is ideal for the occasion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe embodiments of the present invention were created to allow women to have a stylish outerwear change of clothes that may be easily carried and stored for a period of time and removed and worn when a situation arises.
The present invention relates to a fully functioning dress which may be stored in a small bag and carried independently or placed within a purse or handbag, and that when removed from its storage position and placed in the ready to wear position the storage pouch is not viewable just as a tag within a garment is secured within the inside. Additional embodiments include a dress that is designed with an appropriate styling to be sufficient for semi-formal attire. Further additional embodiments allow for the dress to be styled such that either side of the dress may serve as the front or back of the dress.
Additional embodiments may feature the storage pouch additionally having a drawstring or elastic pouch closure feature. Further additional embodiments may include a storage pouch that is made of the same material as the dress. While alternative embodiments may include a storage pouch that is made of a different material than the dress, some contemplated storage pouch materials are highly elastic fabrics and/or mesh or mesh-like materials.
Yet further embodiments feature the storage pouch serving as the tag or label for the dress garment. Yet still further embodiments feature specific blends of wrinkle-free or wrinkle-resistant fabrics such that the dress garment can be wearable with no further preparation such as ironing or steaming, without appearing sloppy or ill-prepared.
The principles of the present invention will be apparent with reference to the following drawings, in which like reference numerals denote like components:
The present invention contemplates a dress garment with a carrying pocket located on the inside side portion when the garment is in the wearing mode. The dress garment has the pouch/pocket fastened into the side seams of the dress garment.
Although the pouch is designed to be placed almost anywhere within the inside of the dress garment, it is preferable for the pouch to be located along a side seam, and most preferable for the pouch to be located on the side seam in an area that corresponds with the general midsection of the wearer. The strategic location of the pouch ensures the best concealment so that the pouch is not easily visible and does not negatively impact the visible aesthetics of the outer surface of the dress when worn by a user.
In some contemplated embodiments when an embodied dress garment is folded into its stored carrying position within the storage pouch, the dress garment is turned inside out from its wearing mode so that the pouch is fully accessible. The pouch is also in the inside out position before the dress is stuffed inside. The dress is folded or stuffed into the pouch and the pouch becomes right side out when the dress is stored inside. But when the dress is in the wearing position the attached pouch is inside out. Additionally, when the pouch serves as the garment tag for the dress or a tag is attached to the pouch the tag writing is on the inside of the pouch and when the dress is in the wearing position, the pouch remains inside out and the tag is thus viewable. Once the dress is folded or stuffed into the pouch a drawstring or other closing mechanism such as elastic bands, hook and loop fasteners (such as Velcro), snaps or magnets can be used to close the pouch with the dress stuffed inside. The dress is then protected within the pouch from dirt or grime because it is stuffed within the pouch. The pouch resides on the inside of the dress (similar to a tag on a shirt) and is therefore, not easily visible when the dress is worn in wearing mode. Thus, any blemishes created on the pouch while storing the dress are not easily viewed by a third party when the dress is in wearing mode.
Another additional embodiment includes the inside pouch is placed discreetly near the waist area of the wearer, and based on its placement and the cut and style of an embodied dress, the dress may be able to be worn with either side serving as the front or back of the dress.
Additionally, the embodiments contemplated include wrinkle free dress materials comprising but not limited to polyester/spandex blends, rayon/spandex blends or all polyester.
Additional embodiments, include versions of sufficient style as to be appropriately worn for semi-formal events.
Additional embodiments relate to the storage pouch, which may be made of the same materials as the dress, or may be of different materials. The size of the pouch will vary based on the size of the dress garment and the elasticity properties of the pouch. Generally the pouch will range in size from about 2 inches by 2 inches up to about 6 inches to about 6 inches. With a smaller size generally preferred, especially when the pouch also serves as the garment tag. The more preferable size is about 2 inches by 2 or 3 inches. The pouch need not be exactly square so any size ranges in inches of 3 by 4, 2 by 3, and 3 by 5 are contemplated in the present invention. Pouches, made of highly elastic materials such as condensed meshes may be preferable because these meshes contain less material and allow the manufacturer to make the pouch smaller, yet still elastic enough to contain the entire dress garment. Additionally, the meshes are very lightweight and are easy to conceal on the inside of the dress garment.
Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
EXAMPLES DESCRIPTION OF FIGURESAs shown in the drawings of
The dress garment is desirably formed of a soft, pliable material, that also has wrinkle-free or wrinkle resistant properties, such as a polyester/spandex blend, rayon/spandex blend or all polyester or knitted cotton material, a knitted fleeced material or lightweight woven materials. This permits the dress garment to be more easily converted into the wearing mode, from the stored mode with minimal to no garment preparation such as ironing or steaming necessary to achieve a finished or wrinkle free look.
Both the dress portions 110 or 210 and the pouch/pocket portions 120 and 220 of the exemplified embodiments may be made of the same or different fabric materials. It is however preferred that the dress portion 110 or 210 be a low maintenance wrinkle free or resistant material so that the dress can be converted from stored mode to wearable mode with minimal maintenance. It is also preferred that the pouch/pocket portions 120 and 220 be made of a highly stretchable and resilient material so that the pouch can be as small as possible yet still able to store a full dress garment.
Example 2 Tag AlongAlthough the invention has been described with reference to the above example, it will be understood that modifications and variations are encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the following claims.
Claims
1. A convertible dress garment comprising:
- a dress portion;
- a storage pouch portion,
- wherein the dress portion further comprises an inside surface and an outside surface, wherein the inside surface is proximal to a users body and the outside surface is distal to a users body and said outside surface is viewable to a third party when the dress garment is worn by a user,
- wherein the storage pouch portion is attached to the dress portion on the inside surface of the garment, wherein the pouch portion comprises an inner pouch surface and an outer pouch surface.
2. The garment of claim 1 wherein said pouch comprises a pouch closing apparatus selected from a drawstring, an elastic band, hook and loop fasteners, snaps or magnets.
3. The garment of claim 1 wherein said pouch also serves as a product tag for the dress.
4. The garment of claim 1 wherein the dress portion contains a side seam.
5. The garment of claim 1 wherein the pouch is attached to the dress portion along a side seam.
6. The garment of claim 1 wherein the pouch is attached to the dress portion along a side seam, and further wherein the pouch location along the side seam is designed to be located at a general midsection of a wearer.
7. The garment of claim 1 wherein said pouch comprises of the same material as used for the dress garment.
8. The garment of claim 1 wherein said pouch comprises of a different material as used for the dress garment.
9. The garment of claim 1 wherein said pouch comprises an elastic mesh-like material.
10. The garment of claim 2 wherein said pouch closing apparatus selected is a drawstring.
11. The garment of claim 2 wherein said pouch closing apparatus selected is a an elastic band.
12. A convertible dress garment comprising:
- a dress portion comprising a side seam, an inside surface and an outside surface, wherein the inside surface is proximal to a users body and the outside surface is distal to a users body and said outside surface is viewable to a third party when the dress garment is worn by a user,
- a storage pouch portion attached to the dress portion at said side seam on the inside surface of the garment, wherein the pouch portion comprises an inner pouch surface and an outer pouch surface and an elastic band pouch closing apparatus;
- wherein the storage pouch portion additionally serves as a product tag for the dress garment,
- wherein the storage pouch portion comprises of a mesh material which is different than the material used for the dress portion.
13. The garment of claim 12 wherein said dress garment comprises a uniform appearance for a front portion of the dress or a back portion of the dress.
14. The garment of claim 12 wherein said pouch and tag are about 2 inches by 2 inches in size, yet elastic enough to store the entire dress portion within the pouch.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 8, 2013
Publication Date: Sep 12, 2013
Inventors: Dara Rexroad (San Diego, CA), Alan Kajiwara (San Diego, CA)
Application Number: 13/791,890