BEVERAGE-BASED GARMENT

Abstract

A garment is disclosed for aiding in the consumption and distribution of one or more beverages. The garment can include one or more of a sunglass holder, an interior pocket configured to hold a flask, an insulated pocket, one or more exterior pockets, and rollable cuffs having a thumb hole and a high-friction grip portion centrally positioned on the cuff exterior.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 62/135,141 filed on Mar. 18, 2016 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to clothing, and more particularly to functional clothing for aiding a user in consumption and distribution of beverages.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

Garments such as shirts and jackets are well known including garments having functional aspects or features. Functional garments often are directed at a particular use. For example, fishing or hunting vests are adapted for utility particular to the various sporting activities. Recently, advances in micro and nanotechnology have introduced various wearable electronic devices and systems. However, clothing and garments for leisure activities and/or recreational events have seemingly resisted functional incorporation and have been more directed to user comfort rather than function.

For example, recreational events such as sporting events and concerts are such a setting normally associated with leisurely clothing. These recreational events often include prior group gatherings that often include bringing food and beverages in one or another's vehicle to consume once the vehicle has been parked at the event location. Group gatherings of this type are often referred to as “tailgates” and can begin many hours before the event start. Often, one will walk to a designated “tailgate” zone to meet others at a vehicle or arranged zone from which one may enjoy and participate in the gathering including one or more desired beverages.

Transporting and consuming beverages to these tailgates or other group gatherings can be a laborious task, requiring one or more of a carrying container, a beverage opening device, an insulating material for holding or insulating a beverage, and gloves to moderate hand comfort when holding a cold or hot beverage. Accordingly, there is a need for a garment that provides functions, in a wearable and convenient manner, that are related to the consumption and transport of beverages.

SUMMARY

A garment is disclosed for aiding in the consumption and distribution of one or more beverages. The garment can include one or more of a sunglass holder, an interior pocket configured to hold a flask, an insulated pocket, one or more exterior pockets, rollable cuffs having a thumb hole and a high-friction grip portion centrally positioned on the cuff exterior, and a dual-use zipper formed to a bottle opener.

Certain embodiments of the invention may be formed of a sweatshirt, mid or half zipping garments, and hoodless garment types.

This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary garment having long sleeves, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary cuff in an unrolled position to form a covering for at least a portion of the wearer's hand, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 shows the exemplary cuff in a rolled position, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the cuff in its unrolled position, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIGS. 5A-5D show an exemplary insulation-lined pocket for a beverage container, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIGS. 6A-6C show exemplary embodiments of an eyewear holder for a pair of eyeglasses, in accordance with the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 7A and 7B show an exemplary bottle-opening zipper, in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, where like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the claimed invention.

As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiments are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “one embodiment”, “various embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein the depictions are for the purpose of illustrating certain exemplary embodiments only and not for the purpose of limiting the same, FIG. 1 shows an exemplary garment 10 having long sleeves 12 attached to a central or torso body portion, i.e., a garment body 14. The exemplary garment 10 further includes a retractable hood 16 and an integrated bottle-opener device configured to function as a zipper 18. The zipper 18 in one embodiment, extends along the body portion 14 of the hooded garment 10, from a first position 20, such as the bottom opening 22 or the bottom edge 24 of the hooded garment 10, to a second position 30 such as an upper edge 32 of the body portion 14. FIG. 1 is shown as a hooded garment, however upon a careful reading of the teachings herein, one skilled in the art will readily recognize that the disclosure may be applied to various garment types included hoodless shirts and jackets.

As shown in the exemplary embodiment, the garment body 14 is configured to cover a substantial portion of a wearer's upper torso (not shown) and arms of the wearer (not shown) are protected with the two long sleeved portions 12, for each arm. Each sleeve 12 has a sleeve or cuff opening 13. In one embodiment, that one end of the long sleeves 12 is attached to a cuff 40, while the opposite end is attached to a portion of the garment body 11.

The hooded garment 10 preferably has four openings, two openings for each of the two arms 13, a bottom opening 22 near the wearer's waist, and a neck opening for receiving the wearer's neck and head. In one embodiment, the cuffs 40, and/or bottom opening 22 have an elastic material to engageably fit a wearer. In one embodiment, a retractable hood 16, is separately formed and is connected to the garment body 10, at around the front and back of the wearer. The hood 16, in one embodiment, has two openings: one for receiving the head and neck of the wearer, and a face opening for allowing the wearer to see through from the front of the hood 16.

Various patterning may be used to form the constitute elements of the hooded garment 10. For example, the garment body 11, may have front and rear main panels that are sewn together. Once combined, each of the sleeves 12, may be formed and sewn for later attachment to the combined front and rear panels. The garment 10 may be formed of one or more flexible materials, including, but not limited to, cotton, polyester, a cotton polyester blend, nylon, wool, linen, silk, spandex, hemp, various brands of para-aramid synthetic fiber, and polyethylene fiber and various mixtures thereof.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1-4, the garment 10 includes cuffs 40. The cuffs 40 are formed at an end of one or both of the long sleeves 12 of the garment 10. FIG. 2 shows the cuff in an unrolled position to form a covering for at least a portion of the wearer's hand. In one embodiment, the cuff 40 extends just past the knuckles of the hand in the area where the fingers meet the hand. The wearer's thumb is inserted in the opening 42 and is partially exposed to the exterior of the cuff 40. The overall effect is that a partial hand covering is formed at the end of each sleeve 12 with at least a portion of the wearer's fingers and the thumb being exposed to the exterior of the cuff 40 so that the wearer's dexterity and sense of touch are unimpeded.

The cuffs 40 include a high-friction grip portion 45 comprised of a frictional material on the exterior of one or more of the cuffs 40. In one embodiment, the grip portion 45 is positioned in a central area of the cuff 40. The grip portion 45 may be formed by screen printing plastisol on the cuff 40 so that the frictional material at least partially extends above the cuff 40 on the exterior surface. Other frictional materials may be used including, but is not limited to, combinations, mixtures and compositions of elastomers, or other polymers, such as latex, vinyl, nitrile, silicone, polyurethane, polypropylene, PVC and polyethylene.

The friction material of the grip portion 45 to the cuff 40 may be applied by a three dimensional screen printing process, although any suitable method known in the art may be substituted for three dimensional screen printing, including dip coating, casting, spraying and spread coating. Additionally, the friction material may be deposited on a substrate other than the garment 10, such as a reinforcing material. In use, the friction material of the grip portion 45 may then be selectively in contact with an item such as a beverage to resist the relative motion of the item and prevent slipping.

Referring specifically to FIG. 4, a cross-sectional view of the cuff 40 is shown in its unrolled position. The cuff 40 comprises a tubular member 44 having interior side wall 46, a proximal end 48 secured to the end of sleeve 12, and a distal end 49 having an opening 13 coaxial to the longitudinal axis of sleeve 12 for the hand of the wearer to pass through. The side wall 46 of the tubular member 44 has a hole 42 radial to the longitudinal axis of sleeve 12 corresponding in location with the base of the thumb of the wearer's hand. The hole 42 is of sufficient size to allow the thumb to extend from the interior of the tubular member 44 through the hole 42 to the exterior of the cuff 40.

The structure of the cuff 40 permits fingers of the wearer's hand to extend to the exterior of the cuff 40 through the opening 42 and permits the thumb to extend through the thumb sheath 30 to the exterior of the cuff 40. As a result, the dexterity and tactile senses of the wearer's hand are unimpeded as it is possible for the wearer to use the thumb with the remaining fingers of the hand and feel any article being handled. In one embodiment, the cuff 40 covers a substantial portion of the wearer's hand. As a result of the structure of cuff 40 of the present invention, the hand is kept protected and warm while dexterity and the tactile senses are preserved.

FIG. 3 shows the cuff 40 in a rolled position. As FIG. 3 shows, when it is not desirable to use the cuff 40 as a hand covering, the cuff 40 may be stored at the end of the sleeve 12 in a rolled position by folding the tubular member 44 back over itself toward the sleeve 12 to create at least one fold. In one exemplary application of a rolled position, the opening 42 is hidden and stored within the fold of the cuff 40. In one embodiment, the cuff 40 has an appearance identical to that of a conventional cuff when in the rolled position. Further, in various embodiments, the cuff 40 may be rolled more than once as desired by the wearer. The cuff 40 may be made of a cotton ribbed material or any other suitable material. In one embodiment, the cuffs 40 are formed of stretchable material. While the present disclosure is presented in context of a jacket, the cuffs 40 may be implemented on a wide variety of garments such as shirts and sweatshirts.

The garment 10 preferably includes one or more pockets such as an insulation-lined pocket 50 for receiving a beverage container, a sleeve pocket 52 along one or both sleeves 12 for storing, e.g., identification cards or financial instruments, exterior accessible front pockets 54 and 55, and one or more hidden flask pockets 56. The exterior accessible front pockets 54 and 55 may have openings from the top or the sides. In one embodiment, the exterior accessible front pockets 54 and 55 include extended interior portions for added storage.

FIGS. 1 and 5A-5C show an exemplary insulation-lined pocket 50. As FIGS. 5B and 5C show, the pocket 50 is lined with an insulating material 60. The insulating material 60 is preferably formed of a single, integrated piece of material although stitched material may be suitable in some embodiments. The material 60 is preferably formed in a manner configured to fold flat or substantially flat when not in use. As FIG. 5D shows, a bottom tab 62 is formed of the material 60 to function as a bottom surface when the pocket is in use by, e.g., a can 2, placed through an open end 64 of the pocket 50.

In one preferred embodiment, the insulating material 60 is a neoprene-based material although, it is contemplated that one of many known insulating materials may be used consistent with the teachings herein, e.g., polyurethane foam. It should be appreciated that the insulating material 60 helps keep the beverage cooler for a longer period of time.

FIG. 1 and FIGS. 6A-6C show exemplary embodiments of an eyewear holder 70 for a pair of eyeglasses 4. As FIGS. 6A-6C show, the holder 70 includes a sleeve or loop 72 and a strap 74. In one embodiment, the loop 72 or strap 74 is formed of an elastic material. In one embodiment, holder 70 is positioned in the upper breast portion of the garment 10 as shown in FIG. 1. However, the spectacle holder 30 can be positioned in a variety of position to achieve a variety of functional and aesthetic goals. In one embodiment, the holder 70 is positioned over the underside of the flask pocket 56.

The loop 72 and the strap 74 may be spaced apart so that an eyewear hinge of an arm inserted through the loop 72 will rest against a top edge of the loop 72 and the strap 74 will be spaced such that the strap 74 will secure the arm in place. In one embodiment, the strap 74 is adjustable. In one embodiment, the strap 74 has a hook and loop fastener to adjustably hold the eyewear 4 in place. In one embodiment, a mechanical fastener may be used such as a snap-type fastener or button may be used.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show an exemplary bottle-opening zipper 18 configured to function as a zipper head and a bottle opener. The zipper 18 functions to broaden or closing of the garment 10 and may be configured to open various beverage containers. For example, the zipper 18 may be adapted to remove different type bottle caps from bottles and tabs from push-tab cans. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the bottle-opener zipper is formed from a fulcrum-type opener. It is contemplated by the disclosure herein that many types of bottle opener types may be used, including a flat types having rectangular or rounded openings for applying force to a cap and is not intended to by limited thereby except by the appended claims.

The disclosure has described certain preferred embodiments and modifications thereto. Further modifications and alterations may occur to others upon reading and understanding the specification. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A multi-purpose garment comprising:

a garment having an outer pocket sized to permit items to be inserted and retained therein and to permit the retained items to be retrieve therefrom;

a beverage holder disposed within the visible outer pocket, the beverage holder constructed of insulating material forming an interior pouch having an opening sized to receive a beverage container and with insulating sidewalls sufficient to receive a majority of a length of the beverage container, the interior pouch constructed to collapse in substantially flat relation so that the garment appears to not have a beverage holder when the beverage container is not received within the interior pouch;

a horizontal strap;

a slip resistant grip disposed on cuff of an exterior of an arm sleeve, wherein the sleeve includes an opening sized and positioned for a thumb; and

a zipper configured to open bottles.

2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the cuff is foldable along a fold line substantially half-way from a distal to a proximal end of the cuff.

3. The garment of claim 2, wherein the interior pouch is constructed of a single piece of insulated material having mating sidewalls which fold together along a fold line and wherein mating edges of the mating sidewalls are secured together to form the interior pouch.