MULTIPLE LAYER GARMENT

Abstract

A garment includes an inner portion, an outer portion, and at least one fastener. The outer portion surrounds the inner portion and is at least partially fixed to the inner portion. The at least one fastener is configured to detachably connect one or more of a first side of the outer portion with a second side of the outer portion or a first side of the outer portion to the inner portion to cause the outer portion to be in a closed position with respect to the inner portion. The outer portion is configured to be movable from the closed position to an open position with respect to the inner portion to facilitate a positioning of a vehicle restraint over the inner portion while the garment is being worn by a vehicle occupant.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/725416, filed on Aug. 31, 2018, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Winter coats and other garments worn by a vehicle occupant often interfere with car seats and safety restraints thereof. As such, vehicle occupants often forego wearing winter coats or other garments in an attempt to avoid rendering a car seat and the safety restraints thereof ineffective.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is noted that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a garment, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a front of a garment having an outer portion in an open position, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a garment having an outer portion in an open position, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a garment having an outer portion in a closed position, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of a garment having an outer portion in an open position, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the garment in use with respect to a sa restraint, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the garment in use with respect to a safety restraint, in accordance with one or more embodiments in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The garment may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. :It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. In describing the embodiments, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.

Garments such as winter coats are generally not safe for use in car seats because the clothing often causes safety restraints such as straps, buckles, or harness to be too loose with respect to a vehicle occupant, rendering the safety restraints ineffective in the event of a crash. For example, if a vehicle occupant is in a car seat, while wearing a winter coat, the safety restraints often fail to keep the vehicle occupant secure in the event of a crash. During a crash, the material of a bulky winter coat, a comfy thick sleeping bag-like garment, or other bundling product often compresses in a manner that causes the safety restraints of a car seat to become loose with respect to the vehicle occupant. When the safety restraints are not snug on the vehicle occupant, the safety restraints often fail to secure the vehicle occupant and sometimes fail to help the vehicle occupant from coming to a gentle stop during a crash, or worse yet, being thrown from a car seat in the event of a crash. Parents are often advised that, when a child is the vehicle occupant, winter coats should not be worn underneath a car seat harness, because that can result in the safety restraints associated with a car seat becoming too loose to be effective in the event of a crash.

In view of the foregoing, parents often go through the tedious exercise of removing a child's winter jacket, or other bulky apparel prior to placing the child in a car seat. Alternatively, parents sometimes resort to clothing a child in lighter weight or less bulky clothing that is insufficient for keeping a child warm in various environments. Out of frustration, oversight or laziness, a parent may unintentionally subject their child to significant risk by putting the child in a car seat without removing the child's winter jacket, potentially rendering the child's car seat restraints ineffective.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a garment 100, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

Garment 100 is capable of being worn by a vehicle occupant and makes it possible for the vehicle occupant to be securely situated in a car seat with one or more of a safety restraint of the car seat or a vehicle within which the vehicle occupant is accommodated while avoiding the potential for the safety restraint from becoming too loose as a result of the garment 100 in the event of a crash.

In some embodiments, garment 100 is a jacket. In some embodiments, garment 100 is a shirt. In some embodiments, garment 100 is a sweater. In some embodiments, garment 100 is a blanket. In some embodiments, garment 100 is some other suitable apparel capable of being worn by a vehicle occupant. In some embodiments, garment 100 is some other suitable apparel capable of being placed on a vehicle occupant. In some embodiments, garment 100 is some other suitable apparel capable of being wrapped around a vehicle occupant. In some other embodiments, garment 100 is some other suitable article of clothing capable of being worn by a vehicle occupant.

Garment 100 comprises multiple layers that make it possible for a safety restraint of a car seat or a vehicle within which the vehicle occupant is accommodated to be secured and unsecured with respect to a vehicle occupant wearing garment 100 or having garment 100 on or wrapped around the vehicle occupant without removing garment 100 from the vehicle occupant. In some embodiments, garment 100 comprises at least two layers. In some embodiments, garment 100 comprises two portions, an inner portion 101 configured to be proximate to a vehicle occupant wearing garment 100, and an outer portion 103 configured to be further from the vehicle occupant than the inner portion 101.

In some embodiments, inner portion 101 is a light-weight apparel compared to the outer portion 103. In some embodiments, outer portion 103 is an outer shell configured to overlie inner portion 101. In some embodiments, outer portion 103 has at least one section that is a flap that is capable of being opened and closed with respect to inner portion 101. In some embodiments, outer portion 103 has at least one section that is a flap that is capable of lying on, across, overlapping, or otherwise folding over, inner portion 101. In some embodiments, outer portion 103 is a flap that is capable of being opened and closed with respect to inner portion 101. In some embodiments, outer portion 103 is a flap that is capable of lying on or across, or otherwise folding over, inner portion 101.

In some embodiments, the inner portion 101 has a first thickness and the outer layer 103 has a second thickness. In some embodiments, the first thickness is less than the second thickness. In some embodiments, the first thickness is equal to the second thickness. In some embodiments, the first thickness is greater than the second thickness. In some embodiments, the inner portion 101 is configured to fit snuggly against a body of a vehicle occupant wearing garment 100 compared to the outer portion 103. In some embodiments, the outer portion 103 is thicker to facilitate garment 100 to be worn in cold weather. Inner portion 101 comprises a first material and outer portion comprises a second material. In some embodiments, the first material is different from the second material. In some embodiments, the first material is the same as the second material. In some embodiments, the first material is a different fabric type compared to the second material. In some embodiments, the first material is a different fabric weight compared to the second material. In some embodiments, the first material comprises a fleece, wool, fur, nylon, polyester, or other suitable fiber. In sonic embodiments the second material comprises a fleece, wool, fur, nylon, polyester, or other suitable fiber. In some embodiments, one or more of the inner portion 101 or the outer portion 103 is water resistant. In some embodiments, one of the inner portion 101 or the outer portion 103 is water resistant and the other of the inner portion 101 or the outer portion 103 is water absorbent.

In some embodiments, the inner portion 101 and the outer portion 103 are connected to one another in a manner that makes it possible for the outer portion 103 to be moved from a closed position with respect to the inner portion 101 to an open position with respect to the inner portion 101 to accommodate a safety restraint in a position that is against the inner portion 101 without removing the garment 100 from a vehicle occupant wearing garment 100.

In some embodiments, the inner portion 101 and the outer portion 103 are connected by way of stitching on at least one side of the inner portion 101 and the outer portion 103. In some embodiments, the inner portion 101 and the outer portion 103 are independent layers of garment 100 connected by way of one or more optional fasteners 105 that detachably connect the inner portion 101 and the outer portion 103 on at least one side of the inner portion 101 and at least one side of the outer portion 103. In some embodiments, one or more of the one or more optional fasteners 105 comprises a button, a zipper, Velcro®, a tie, a clasp, a hook and loop fastener wherein the hook or the loop is on one of the inner portion 101 or the outer portion 103 and the other of the hook or the loop is on the other of the inner portion 101 or the outer portion 103, or some other suitable coupling.

Garment 100 comprises one or more fasteners 107 on one or more sides of the outer portion 103 that are configured to detachably connect one side of the outer portion 103 and another side of the outer portion 103 to prevent the outer portion 103 from moving from the closed position with respect to the inner portion 101 to the opened position with respect to the inner portion 101. In some embodiments, garment 100 comprises one or more fasteners 107 on one or more sides of the inner portion 101 and one or more sides of the outer portion 103 that are configured to detachably connect the inner portion 101 and the outer portion 103 to prevent the outer portion 103 from moving from the closed position with respect to the inner portion 101 to the opened position with respect to the inner portion 103. In some embodiments, one or more of the one or more fasteners 107 comprises a button, a zipper, Velcro®, a tie, a clasp, a hook and loop fastener wherein the hook or the loop is on one side of the outer portion 103 or another side of the outer portion 303 and the other of the hook or the loop is on the other of the one side of the outer portion 103 or the other side of the outer portion 103, a hook and loop fastener wherein the hook or the loop is on one of the inner portion 101 or the outer portion 103 and the other of the hook or the loop is on the other of the inner portion 101 or the outer portion 103, or some other suitable coupling.

In some embodiments, the outer portion 101 is capable of being in the closed position with respect to the inner portion 103 with a safety restraint of a car seat or of a vehicle within which a vehicle occupant is accommodated with a portion of the safety restraint between the outer portion 103 and the inner portion 101. In sonic embodiments, the outer portion 103 and the inner portion 101 have one or more unsecured areas between an outer surface of the inner portion 101 and an inner surface of the outer portion 103 to permit a safety restraint of a car seat or a vehicle within which the vehicle occupant is accommodated to fit underneath the outer portion 103 and rest securely against the outer surface of the inner portion 101 to facilitate connecting the outer portion 103 to the inner portion 101 so that the outer portion 103 is in the closed position with respect to the inner portion 101 with the safety restraint between the outer portion 103 and the inner portion 101.

In some embodiments, the outer portion 103 remains in the opened position with respect to the inner portion 101 to accommodate a safety restraint of a car seat or of a vehicle within which a vehicle occupant is accommodated with a portion of the safety restraint between the outer portion 103 and the inner portion 101, or against an outside surface of the inner portion 101.

In FIG. 1, fasteners 107 are in a locked position such that the outer portion 103 unable to be moved away from an overlapping position with respect to the inner portion 101, and as such, is in the closed position with respect to inner portion 101.

Inner portion 101 has a collar 109. In some embodiments, inner portion 101 is free from including collar 109. Outer portion 103 has a collar 111. In some embodiments, a top edge of outer portion 103 extends from a point on the outer portion 103 at which the collar 111 begins across a front portion of garment 100 substantially toward an uppermost fastener 107 such that the outer portion 103 has an opening exposing inner portion 101. In some embodiments, a top edge of outer portion 103 extends from a point on the outer portion 103 at which the collar 111 begins on a slant across a front portion of garment 100 substantially toward an uppermost fastener 107 such that the outer portion 103 has a substantially v-shaped opening exposing inner portion 101. In some embodiments, the top edge of outer portion 103 is separated from the collar 109 to enhance accessibility for positioning the safety restraint. In some embodiments, a distance between the point from which the top edge extends toward the uppermost fastener 107 and the uppermost fastener 107 is greater than a distance between the uppermost fastener 107 and the top edge of the outer portion 103 on a side of the outer portion 103 opposite to the side at which the slanted top edge begins such that the substantially v-shaped opening is non-symmetrical. In some embodiments, the substantially v-shaped opening makes it possible to improve accessibility to a safety restraint when fastening the safety restraint around a vehicle occupant. The substantially v-shaped portion helps to prevent part of the outer portion 103, such as collar 111 or the upper edge from coming between the vehicle occupant and the safety restraint, increasing comfort for the vehicle occupant and also helping to avoid strangulation. In some embodiments, the substantially v-shaped portion improves accessibility for positioning the safety restraint. In some embodiments, outer portion 103 is free from including collar 111. In some embodiments, outer portion 103 has at least one opening of some other suitable shape or size that helps to one or more of increase comfort for the vehicle occupant, avoid strangulation, or improve accessibility for positioning the safety restraint. In some embodiments, the top edge of outer portion 103 extends substantially straight across the front portion of the garment 100 in the closed position such that a front side of the outer portion 103 substantially covers a front panel of inner portion 101. In some embodiments, the top edge of outer portion 103 extends substantially straight across the front portion of the garment 100 in the closed position such that a front side of the outer portion 103 completely covers a front panel of inner portion 101. Outer portion 103 has sleeves 113. In some embodiments, outer portion 103 is free from having sleeves 113. In some embodiments, inner portion 101 has sleeves (not shown) within the sleeves 113. In some embodiments, inner portion 101 is free from having sleeves.

FIG. 2 is a front of a garment 200 having an outer portion in an open position, in accordance with one or more embodiments. Garment 200 is similar to garment 100 (FIG. 1), with the reference numerals increased by 100. Outer portion 203 is in an opened position with respect to inner portion 201. In use, if a vehicle occupant is wearing garment 200, a safety restraint of a car seat or a vehicle within which the vehicle occupant is accommodated is capable of being places over the inner portion 201 without interference from the outer portion 203. With the outer portion 203 in the open position with respect to inner portion 201, a user is able to slide the safety restraint of the car seat or the vehicle within which the vehicle occupant is accommodated over the inner portion 201 so that the vehicle restraint is able to be positioned snuggly over the vehicle occupant without removing the garment 200 from the vehicle occupant.

Inner portion 201 has an inner fastener 215 that is configured to close the inner portion 201. In some embodiments, inner portion 201 is an inner jacket. In some embodiments, inner portion 201 is an inner vest. In some embodiments, inner fastener comprises one or more of a zipper, a button, Velcro®, a tie, a clasp, a hook and loop fastener wherein the hook or the loop is on one of the inner portion 101 or the outer portion 103 and the other of the hook or the loop is on the other of the inner portion 101 or the outer portion 103, or some other suitable coupling. In some embodiments, inner portion 201 is free from including inner fastener 215. In some embodiments, inner portion 201 is a shirt or other suitable unitary apparel that is configured to slip over a vehicle occupant's head onto the vehicle occupant's body.

In FIG. 2, fasteners 207 are in an unlocked position such that the outer portion 203 is free to be moved away from an overlapping position with respect to the inner portion 201, and as such, is in the opened position with respect to inner portion 201. In use, after a safety restraint is placed over the inner portion 201 and fastened to an anchor associated with the car seat or the vehicle within which the vehicle occupant is accommodated, outer portion 203 is optionally movable to the closed position with respect to inner portion 201 such that the outer portion 203 is overlapping inner portion 201 with the safety restraint accommodated between outer portion 203 and inner portion 201. Fasteners 207 make it possible to optionally fix the outer portion 203 in the closed position with respect to inner portion 201 with the safety restraint accommodated between outer portion 203 and inner portion 201.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a garment 300 having an outer portion in an open position, in accordance with one or more embodiments. Garment 300 is similar to garment 100 (FIG. 1), with the reference numeral increased by 200. Outer portion 303 is in an opened position with respect to inner portion 301.

Outer portion 303 includes one or more side slots 317 on side regions of outer portion 303. In some embodiments, outer portion 303 includes one side slot 317 on one of a left side of outer portion 303 or a right side of outer portion 303. In some embodiments, outer portion 303 includes at least one side slot 317 on each of the left side of outer portion 303 and the right side of outer portion 303. In some embodiments, outer portion 303 is free from including a side slot 317. Side slots 317 optionally provide additional comfort for a vehicle occupant or access for use of garment 300 with various types of safety restraints.

In FIG. 3, the outer portion 303 is in an open position with respect to inner portion 301. In some embodiments, garment 300 includes one or more optional side fasteners 319 on one or more sides of the outer portion 303 that are configured to detachably connect one side of the outer portion 303 and another side of the outer portion 303 to prevent the outer portion 303 from moving from the closed position with respect to the inner portion 301 to the opened position with respect to the inner portion 301. In some embodiments, garment 300 optionally comprises one or more side fasteners 319 on one or more sides of the inner portion 301 and one or more sides of the outer portion 303 that are configured to detachably connect the inner portion 301 and the outer portion 303 to prevent the outer portion 303 from moving from the closed position with respect to the inner portion 301 to the opened position with respect to the inner portion 303. In some embodiments, one or more of the one or more fasteners 319 comprises a button, a zipper, Velcro®, a tie, a clasp, a hook and loop fastener wherein the hook or the loop is on one of the inner portion 301 or the outer portion 303 and the other of the hook or the loop is on the other of the inner portion 301 or the outer portion 303, or some other suitable coupling.

In use, after a safety restraint is placed over the inner portion 301 and fastened to an anchor associated with the car seat or the vehicle within which the vehicle occupant is accommodated, outer portion 303 is optionally movable such that the side slots 317 are in the closed position with respect to inner portion 301 such that the outer portion 303 is overlapping inner portion 301 with the safety restraint accommodated between outer portion 303 and inner portion 301. Fasteners 317 make it possible to optionally fix the side slots 317 of the outer portion 303 in the closed position with respect to inner portion 301 with the safety restraint accommodated between outer portion 303 and inner portion 301.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a garment 400 having an outer portion in a closed position, in accordance with one or more embodiments. Garment 400 is similar to garment 300 (FIG. 3), with the reference numerals increased by 100. Side slot 417 of outer portion 403 is in a closed position with respect to inner portion 401. Side slot 417 is held in the closed position with respect to inner portion 401 by side fastener 419.

In some embodiments, closing side slot 417 helps to ensure the safety restraint of the car seat or the vehicle within which a vehicle occupant is accommodated remains in place and helps to ensure that the vehicle occupant is able to keep warm while minimizing exposure to an outside environment.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of a garment 500 having an outer portion in an open position, in accordance with one or more embodiments. Garment 500 is similar to garment 300 (FIG. 3), with the reference numerals increased by 200. Side slots 517a and 517b of outer portion 503 are in an opened position with respect to inner portion 501. Side slots 517a and 517b are optionally held in a closed position with respect to inner portion 501 by way of side fasteners 519a and 519b.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the garment 100 in use with respect to a safety restraint 621, in accordance with one or more embodiments. The outer portion 103 is in the closed position with respect to inner portion 101 and safety restraint 621 is beneath outer portion 103 such that safety restraint 621 is between outer portion 103 and inner portion 101.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the garment 100 in use with respect to a safety restraint, in accordance with one or more embodiments. The outer portion 103 is in an open position, such that the safety restraint 621 is between the outer portion 103 and the inner portion 101.

An aspect of this description is related to a garment comprising an inner portion, an outer portion, and at least one fastener. The outer portion surrounds the inner portion and is at least partially fixed to the inner portion. The at least one fastener is configured to detachably connect one or more of a first side of the outer portion with a second side of the outer portion or a first side of the outer portion to the inner portion to cause the outer portion to be in a closed position with respect to the inner portion. The outer portion is configured to be movable from the closed position to an open position with respect to the inner portion to facilitate a positioning of a vehicle restraint over the inner portion while the garment is being worn by a vehicle occupant.

Another aspect of this description is related to a garment comprising an inner portion, an outer portion coupled with the inner portion, and at least one fastener configured to detachably connect one or more of a first side of the outer portion with a second side of the outer portion or a first side of the outer portion to the inner portion to cause the outer portion to be in a closed position with respect to the inner portion. The outer portion is configured to be movable from the closed position to an open position with respect to the inner portion to facilitate a positioning of a vehicle restraint over the inner portion while the garment is being worn by a vehicle occupant.

A further aspect of this description is related to a garment comprising an inner portion and an outer portion coupled with the inner portion. The outer portion comprises a rear panel, a front panel connected with a first side of the rear panel, and a moveable flap connected to a second side of the rear panel opposite the first side. The garment also comprises at least one fastener configured to detachably connect the flap with the front panel of the outer portion or a first side of the outer portion to the inner portion to cause the flap to be in a closed position with respect to the inner portion. The flap is configured to be movable from the closed position to an open position with respect to the inner portion to facilitate a positioning of a vehicle restraint over the inner portion while the garment is being worn by a vehicle occupant.

The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A garment, comprising:

an inner portion;

an outer portion surrounding the inner portion, the outer portion being at least partially fixed to the inner portion; and

at least one fastener configured to detachably connect one or more of a first side of the outer portion with a second side of the outer portion or a first side of the outer portion to the inner portion to cause the outer portion to be in a closed position with respect to the inner portion,

wherein the outer portion is configured to be movable from the closed position to an open position with respect to the inner portion to facilitate a positioning of a vehicle restraint over the inner portion while the garment is being worn by a vehicle occupant.

2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the outer portion has a thickness greater than a thickness of the inner portion.

3. The garment of claim 1, wherein the inner portion is a vest and the outer portion of the garment has sleeves.

4. The garment of claim 1, wherein the outer portion has a side slot.

5. The garment of claim 1, wherein the outer portion comprises two side slots.

6. The garment of claim 1, wherein the outer portion is configured to be movable to the closed position when the vehicle restraint is over the inner portion while the garment is being worn by the vehicle occupant.

7. The garment of claim 1, wherein the outer portion comprises a collar, and a top edge of the outer portion extends from a point on the outer portion at which the collar begins on a slant toward the at least one fastener such that when the outer portion is in the closed position, the outer portion has an asymmetrical v-shaped opening exposing the inner portion.

8. The garment of claim 1, wherein the outer portion comprises a collar, and a top edge of the outer portion extends from a point on the outer portion at which the collar begins on a slant toward the at least one fastener such that when the outer portion is in the closed position, the outer portion has an opening exposing the inner portion.

9. A garment, comprising:

an inner portion;

an outer portion coupled with the inner portion; and

at least one fastener configured to detachably connect one or more of a first side of the outer portion with a second side of the outer portion or a first side of the outer portion to the inner portion to cause the outer portion to be in a closed position with respect to the inner portion,

wherein the outer portion is configured to be movable from the closed position to an open position with respect to the inner portion to facilitate a positioning of a vehicle restraint over the inner portion while the garment is being worn by a vehicle occupant.

10. The garment of claim 9, wherein the outer portion has a thickness greater than a thickness of the inner portion.

11. The garment of claim 9, wherein the inner portion is a vest and he outer portion of the garment has sleeves.

12. The garment of claim 10, wherein the outer portion has a front panel and a rear panel opposite the front panel, and the front panel is separated from the rear panel such that the outer portion has a side slot.

13. The garment of claim 12, wherein the outer portion comprises two side slots, and at least one of the two side slots is configured to be fixedly closed by a side fastener on the outer portion.

14. The garment of claim 9, wherein the outer portion is configured to be movable to the closed position when the vehicle restraint is over the inner portion while the garment is being worn by the vehicle occupant.

15. The garment of claim 9, wherein the outer portion comprises a collar, and a top edge of the outer portion extends from a point on the outer portion at which the collar begins on a slant toward the at least one fastener such that when the outer portion is in the closed position, the outer portion has an asymmetrical v-shaped opening exposing the inner portion.

16. The garment of claim 9, wherein the outer portion comprises a collar, and a top edge of the outer portion extends from a point on the outer portion at which the collar begins on a slant toward the at least one fastener such that when the outer portion is in the closed position, the outer portion has an opening exposing the inner portion.

17. A garment, comprising:

an inner portion;

an outer portion coupled with the inner portion, the outer portion comprising: a rear panel; a front panel connected with a first side of the rear panel; and a moveable flap connected to a second side of the rear panel opposite the first side; and

at least one fastener configured to detachably connect the flap with the front panel of the outer portion or a first side of the outer portion to the inner portion to cause the flap to be in a closed position with respect to the inner portion,

wherein the flap is configured to be movable from the closed position to an open position with respect to the inner portion to facilitate a positioning of a vehicle restraint over the inner portion while the garment is being worn by a vehicle occupant.

18. The garment of claim 17, wherein the flap is configured to be movable to the closed position when the vehicle restraint is over the inner portion while the garment is being worn by the vehicle occupant.

19. The garment of claim 17, wherein the outer portion comprises a top edge extending along the rear panel, the flap and the front panel, and the top edge extends along the flap from a point on the flap nearest the rear panel on a slant toward the at least one fastener such that when the flap is in the closed position, the outer portion has an asymmetrical v-shaped opening exposing the inner portion.

20. The garment of claim 17, wherein the outer portion comprises a top edge extending along the rear panel, the flap and the front panel, and the top edge extends along the flap from a point on the flap nearest the rear panel on a slant toward the at least one fastener such that when the flap is in the closed position, the outer portion has an opening exposing the inner portion.