HOODED SWEATSHIRT THAT CONVERTS TO A STUFFED PILLOW

Abstract

A hooded sweatshirt that may be converted to a stuffed pillow has a sweatshirt body that is adapted to be worn by a person and a hood attached to the sweatshirt body. The hood has a stuffed-pillow surface and an opposed hood surface. The hood can be reconfigured between a sweatshirt configuration wherein the hood surface faces outward and can cover a head of the person when the person is wearing the sweatshirt body, and a pillow configuration wherein the stuffed-pillow surface faces outward and the sweatshirt body may be stuffed inside the hood so that they together form the stuffed pillow.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application for a utility patent claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/769,885, filed Feb. 27, 2013, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/815,816, filed Apr. 25, 2013.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to sweatshirts and stuffed pillows/animals, and more particularly to a hooded sweatshirt that converts to a stuffed pillow.

2. Description of Related Art

The prior art teaches hooded sweatshirts, and the prior art teaches stuffed pillows; however, the prior art does not teach a hooded sweatshirt that converts to a stuffed pillow.

The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further advantages as described in the following summary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.

The present invention provides a hooded sweatshirt that converts to a stuffed pillow. The hooded sweatshirt has a sweatshirt body that is adapted to be worn by a person and a hood attached to the sweatshirt body. The hood formed by a flexible sheet has a stuffed-pillow surface and an opposed hood surface that together extend to a perimeter. The hood can be reconfigured between a sweatshirt configuration wherein the hood surface faces outward and can cover a head of the person when the person is wearing the sweatshirt body, and a pillow configuration wherein the stuffed-pillow surface faces outward and the sweatshirt body may be stuffed inside the hood so that they together form the stuffed pillow. The hood also has a fastener for removably fastening a first half of the perimeter to a second half of the perimeter to secure the hood in either the sweatshirt or pillow configuration.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide the hooded sweatshirt that converts to the stuffed pillow having advantages not taught by the prior art.

Another objective is to provide the hooded sweatshirt that converts to the stuffed pillow having decorative features of a stuffed animal disposed on the stuffed-pillow surface

A further objective is to provide a method for converting the hooded sweatshirt into the stuffed pillow.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a hooded sweatshirt that converts to a stuffed pillow, according to one embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the hooded sweatshirt in a sweatshirt configuration;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the hooded sweatshirt illustrating a fastener of a hood of the hooded sweatshirt being opened to reveal a stuffed-pillow surface of the hood;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the hooded sweatshirt, illustrating the hood being inverted so that the stuffed-pillow surface is on the outside of the hood;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view thereof, illustrating the hood forming a stuffing space;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the hooded sweatshirt, illustrating a sweatshirt body being folded in preparation for being stuffed into the stuffing space;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the hooded sweatshirt, illustrating a further step of folding the sweatshirt body in preparation for being stuffed into the stuffing space;

FIG. 9 is a rear elevation view of a stuffed pillow that is formed by the hooded sweatshirt once it has been stuffed into the stuffing space of the hood in a pillow configuration; and

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the stuffed pillow formed by the hooded sweatshirt in the pillow configuration once the fastener has been closed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above-described drawing figures illustrate the invention, a hooded sweatshirt 10 that converts to a stuffed pillow 50.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the hooded sweatshirt 10, according to one embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the hooded sweatshirt 10 in a sweatshirt configuration. FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, in the sweatshirt configuration, the hooded sweatshirt 10 may be worn as an article of clothing. The hooded sweatshirt 10 may have a sweatshirt body 12 that is adapted to be worn by a person, and a hood 20 attached to the sweatshirt body 12.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, the sweatshirt body 12 is the part of the hooded sweatshirt 10 that is adapted to be worn over the midsection of the person. For example, in the present embodiment, the sweatshirt body 12 may include a main body 14 that is adapted to be worn over the torso of the person, sleeves 15 to cover the arms of the person, a closure 16 for closing the main body 14 (which is not required if a pullover type of garment), and a collar 17. It is not required that the sweatshirt body 12 be in the shape of sweatshirt. The term “sweatshirt” is hereby defined to include any form of garment or related article, such as a coat, a jacket, a robe, a cape, a towel, a blanket, a shirt, or any article of clothing or cloth item that may have a hood attached to it. While FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the sweatshirt body 12, those skilled in the art may devise alternative embodiments, and these alternative or equivalent are considered within the scope of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, the hood 20 of the hooded sweatshirt 10 is for wearing over the head of the person. In the present invention, the hood 20 is made of a flexible sheet (e.g., cloth) that includes a hood surface 22 and a stuffed-pillow surface 24 (illustrated in FIGS. 3-10). The hood surface 22 and the stuffed-pillow surface 24 are opposed to each other, and extend to a perimeter 25.

The hood surface 22 may include an outer surface 32 that faces outwardly and protects the person from the elements (e.g., sun, rain, etc.), and an inner surface 34 that contacts the person's head. The outer surface 32 and the inner surface 34 are separated by a fold 36 which may be defined by structure, or simply defined by the natural fold of the material. While FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the hood 20, those skilled in the art may devise alternative embodiments, and these alternative or equivalent are considered within the scope of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, the hood 20 may be attached to or adjacent the collar 17 of the sweatshirt body 12 via any structure or mechanism known in the art. For example, it may be attached via a permanent stitch, removably attached with a connector (e.g., snaps, buttons, hooks and loops, etc.), or connected or associated in any manner known in the art.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the hooded sweatshirt 10 further includes a fastener 30 for removably fastening a first half 26 of the perimeter 25 to a second half 28 of the perimeter 25 to secure the hood 20 in either the sweatshirt configuration or a pillow configuration (shown in FIGS. 3-10). In the present embodiment, the fastener 30 is shown as a zipper. Other alternatives are possible, for example the fastener 30 may be a hooks and loops type fastener, buttons, snaps, clasps, or any kind of fastener known to one skilled in the art, and these alternative or equivalent devices are considered within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the hooded sweatshirt 10 illustrating the fastener 30 of a hood 20 of the hooded sweatshirt 10 being opened to reveal a stuffed-pillow surface 24 of the hood 20. FIG. 4 is a side elevational view thereof. As illustrated in FIGS. 3-4, the fastener 30 of the hood 20 may be opened to reveal the stuffed-pillow surface 24 that will form the outer surface of the stuffed pillow 50 when converted to the pillow configuration.

The stuffed-pillow surface 24 is for providing a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing surface to the stuffed pillow 50. In the present embodiment, the stuffed-pillow surface 24 has decorative features 40 of a stuffed animal formed, attached to, and or otherwise disposed on the stuffed-pillow surface 24. Other features and designs are possible for the stuffed-pillow surface 24. The decorative features 40 may be symbols, embossing, designs, further stuffed elements. There may also be none of the decorative features 40 on the stuffed-pillow surface 24, giving a plain appearance. While FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the stuffed-pillow surface 24, those skilled in the art may devise alternative embodiments, and these alternative or equivalent are considered within the scope of the present invention.

FIGS. 5-10 illustrate the conversion of the hooded sweatshirt 10 from the sweatshirt configuration to the pillow configuration. FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the hooded sweatshirt 10, illustrating the hood 20 being inverted so that the stuffed-pillow surface 24 is on the outside of the hood 20. FIG. 6 is a side elevational view thereof, illustrating the hood 20 forming a stuffing space 23. The stuffing space 23 is shaped and sized to receive the sweatshirt body 12.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the hooded sweatshirt 10, illustrating the sweatshirt body 12 being folded in preparation for being stuffed into the stuffing space 23. FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the hooded sweatshirt 10, illustrating a further step of folding the sweatshirt body 12 in preparation for being stuffed into the stuffing space 23. Obviously, such folding steps are not required, and the sweatshirt body 12 may be stuffed into the stuffing space 23 in any manner desired, although these steps illustrate one method in which the stuffing may be accomplished.

FIG. 9 is a rear elevation view of a stuffed pillow 50 that is formed by the hooded sweatshirt 10 once it has been stuffed into the stuffing space 23 of the hood 20 in the pillow configuration. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the fastener 30 may be closed to draw together the first and second halves 26, 28 of the perimeter 25, thereby closing the stuffed pillow 50.

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the stuffed pillow 50 formed once the fastener 30 has been closed as illustrated in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 10, the stuffed pillow 50 is a fully formed, decorated, and stuffed pillow, which may provide a pillow for sleeping, a stuffed animal for play, and/or any other similar use.

As shown in FIGS. 1-10, the hood 20 can be quickly and easily reconfigured between the sweatshirt configuration wherein the hood surface 22 faces outward and can cover the head of the person when the person is wearing the sweatshirt body 12, and the pillow configuration wherein the stuffed-pillow surface 24 faces outward and the sweatshirt body 12 may be stuffed inside the hood 20 so that they together form the stuffed pillow 50.

The present invention also includes a method of converting the hooded sweatshirt 10 into the stuffed pillow 50 and is best shown by FIGS. 3-10. Beginning with FIG. 3, where the fastener 30 is closed, the fastener 30 may be opened to expose the stuffed-pillow surface 24 inside the hood 20, as shown in FIG. 4. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, inverting the hood 20 such that the stuffed-pillow surface 24 is exterior to the hood surface 21, and the hood 20 forms the stuffing space 23. FIGS. 6-8 show stuffing the sweatshirt body 12 inside the stuffing space 23 of the hood 20. It should be noted that the folding shown of the hood 20 body is for exemplary purposes only; any method of stuffing the hood 20 into the stuffing space 23 may be used by the user. The fastener 30 is then closed, with the hood 20 body inside the stuffing space 23, as shown in FIG. 9, such that the sweatshirt body 12 is held inside the stuffing space 23 of the hood 20 and provides stuffing of the stuffed pillow 50. Finally, the stuffed pillow 50 is formed, with the stuffed-pillow surface 24 on the outside forming the surface of the stuffed pillow 50, as shown in FIG. 10.

As used in this application, the words “a,” “an,” and “one” are defined to include one or more of the referenced item unless specifically stated otherwise. Also, the terms “have,” “include,” “contain,” and similar terms are defined to mean “comprising” unless specifically stated otherwise. Furthermore, the terminology used in the specification provided above is hereby defined to include similar and/or equivalent terms, and/or alternative embodiments that would be considered obvious to one skilled in the art given the teachings of the present patent application.

Claims

1. A hooded sweatshirt that converts to a stuffed pillow, comprising:

a sweatshirt body that is adapted to be worn by a person; and

a hood attached to the sweatshirt body, the hood formed by a flexible sheet comprising: a stuffed-pillow surface and an opposed hood surface that together extend to a perimeter; wherein the hood can be reconfigured between a sweatshirt configuration wherein the hood surface faces outward and can cover a head of the person when the person is wearing the sweatshirt body, and a pillow configuration wherein the stuffed-pillow surface faces outward and the sweatshirt body may be stuffed inside the hood so that they together form the stuffed pillow; and a fastener for removably fastening a first half of the perimeter to a second half of the perimeter to secure the hood in either the sweatshirt or pillow configuration.

2. The hooded sweatshirt of claim 1, further comprising decorative features of a stuffed animal disposed on the stuffed-pillow surface.

3. The hooded sweatshirt of claim 1, wherein the fastener is a zipper.

4. A method for converting a hooded sweatshirt to a stuffed pillow, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a hooded sweatshirt having a sweatshirt body, and a hood having a stuffed-pillow surface and an opposed hood surface that extend to a perimeter, wherein in a sweatshirt configuration the stuffed-pillow surface is within the hood and the hood surface faces outwardly;

inverting the hood such that the stuffed-pillow surface is exterior to the hood surface, and the hood forms a stuffing space;

stuffing the sweatshirt body inside the stuffing space of the hood; and

closing the perimeter of the hood, such that the sweatshirt body is held inside the stuffing space of the hood and provides stuffing of the stuffed pillow, with the stuffed-pillow surface on the outside of the stuffed pillow.

5. A hood that converts to a stuffed pillow, comprising:

a stuffed-pillow surface and an opposed hood surface that together extend to a perimeter;

wherein the hood can be reconfigured between a hood configuration wherein the hood surface faces outward and can cover a head of the person when the person is wearing the hood, and a pillow configuration wherein the stuffed-pillow surface faces outward and the hood forms a stuffing space; and

a fastener for removably fastening a first half of the perimeter to a second half of the perimeter to secure the hood in either the hood configuration or the pillow configuration.

6. The hood of claim 5, wherein the hood is formed by a flexible sheet.

7. The hood of claim 5, further comprising decorative features of a stuffed animal disposed on the stuffed-pillow surface.

8. The hood of claim 5, wherein the fastener is a zipper.

9. The hood of claim 5 wherein a stuffing article is attached to the hood and the stuffing article may be stuffed inside the hood so that they together form the stuffed pillow.