CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/788,686, filed Jan. 4, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND 1. Field The present inventions relate generally to outer garments such as coats and jackets and, in particular, to apparatus and methods for carrying outer garments when they are not in use.
2. Description of the Related Art Outer garments such as coats and jackets are frequently worn in times of cold and wet weather. One issue associated with outer garments is related to the fact that there is not always a convenient place to store an outer garment when the weather improves or when the wearer goes inside. As a result, the wearer may have to either wear the outer garment, store the outer garment in an inconvenient location (e.g., a coat check), or carry the outer garment. Carrying the outer garment can be both inconvenient and tiresome due to the size and weight of the outer garment and the fact that at least one of the wearer's arms will be occupied by the outer garment.
Some proposed solutions involve the addition of straps and/or other instrumentalities to the outer garment itself in order to make the outer garment easier to carry. Other proposed solutions involve the use of outer garment carriers that can be worn and used to carry the outer garment when it is not worn. The present inventors have determined that the proposed solutions are susceptible to improvement. For example, the present inventors have determined that it would be desirable to avoid alterations to the outer garment itself, especially given the fact than many people own many outer garments. The present inventors have also determined that conventional wearable outer garment carriers tend to be relatively large and heavy, difficult to assemble and disassemble, difficult to put on and take off, and uncomfortable to wear. For example, some conventional carriers have a harness with straps that define arm holes. These carriers position the arm holes around the arms with the lower straps attached to the remainder of the harness at or above the armpit, which causes pulling at the armpit, or just above the armpit at the front of the arms, that is uncomfortable for most users once the weight of the outer garment is applied.
Accordingly, the present inventors have determined that it would be desirable to provide an outer garment carrier that, for example, can be used with an outer garment without the addition of straps or other modifications to the outer garment, that is relatively small and light, that is relatively easy to assembly and disassemble, that is relatively easy to put on and take off, and that is comfortable to wear.
SUMMARY A carrier in accordance with one embodiment of a present invention includes an attachment mechanism and a shoulder harness adapted to mount at least a portion of the attachment mechanism at or above the superior angles of the wearer's scapulae.
A method in accordance with one embodiment of a present invention includes the steps of positioning at least a portion of an attachment mechanism at or above the superior angles of a wearer's scapulae with a shoulder harness, and mounting an outer garment to the shoulder harness with the attachment mechanism.
The features of the present inventions will become apparent as the inventions become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Detailed description of embodiments of the inventions will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front view of an outer garment carrier in accordance with one embodiment of a present invention being worn.
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the outer garment carrier illustrated in FIG. 1 being worn.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the outer garment carrier illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a rear view of the outer garment carrier illustrated in FIG. 1 being worn with an outer garment supported thereon.
FIG. 5 is rear skeletal view showing certain points of reference associated with the present inventions.
FIG. 6 is side skeletal view showing certain points of reference associated with the present inventions.
FIG. 7 is a front view of a torso showing certain points of reference associated with the present inventions.
FIG. 8 is a rear view of a torso showing certain points of reference associated with the present inventions.
FIG. 9 is a front view of a torso showing certain points of reference associated with conventional outer garment carriers.
FIG. 10 is a rear view of a torso showing certain points of reference associated with conventional outer garment carriers.
FIG. 11 is a plan view of an outer garment carrier in accordance with one embodiment of a present invention.
FIG. 12 is a plan view of an outer garment carrier in accordance with one embodiment of a present invention.
FIG. 13 is a rear view of the outer garment carrier illustrated in FIG. 12 being worn.
FIG. 14 is a plan view of an outer garment carrier in accordance with one embodiment of a present invention.
FIG. 15 is a front view of the outer garment carrier illustrated in FIG. 14 being worn.
FIG. 16 is a rear view of the outer garment carrier illustrated in FIG. 14 being worn.
FIG. 17 is a plan view of an outer garment carrier in accordance with one embodiment of a present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following is a detailed description of the best presently known modes of carrying out the inventions. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the inventions.
As illustrated for example in FIGS. 1-4, an exemplary outer garment carrier 100, which may also be used to carry purses, tote bags, and other personal items, includes an attachment mechanism 102 and a shoulder harness 104. As discussed in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 5-8, the shoulder harness 104 is adapted to mount at least a portion of the attachment mechanism 102 (and in some instances the entire attachment mechanism) at or above the superior angles of the scapulae. In the illustrated implementation, the attachment mechanism 102 is a hook that may be secured to the shoulder harness 104 with a fastener 106. The exemplary outer garment OG includes a loop L (as do many other outer garments) that allows the outer garment to be hung on the hook or other attachment mechanism 102 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4. Other suitable attachment mechanisms include, but are not limited to clamps, jaws and the like. It should also be noted that the illustrated hook includes an undercut which reduces the likelihood that the garment or other carried item will be inadvertently dislodged. The fastener 106 is also mounted at or above the superior angles of the scapulae by the shoulder harness 104.
Referring again to FIGS. 1-4, the exemplary shoulder harness 104 includes a neck portion 108 that is located behind the wearer's neck N and extends over the both of the wearer's shoulders S and downward over the chest C when the outer garment carrier 100 is worn, a back portion 110 that is located behind the wearer's back B when the outer garment carrier is worn, and under arm portions 112 and 114 that extend from respective ends of the neck portion to the back portion when the outer garment carrier is worn. The exemplary shoulder harness 104 may also include a vertical portion 116 that extends from the longitudinal middle of the neck portion 108 to the longitudinal middle of the back portion 110. The neck portion 108, back portion 110, under arm portions 112 and 114, and vertical portion 116 define arm holes 118 and 120. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the neck portion 108, back portion 110, under arm portions 112 and 114, and vertical portion 116 are formed from separate straps that are connected to one another as shown. The strap that forms the back portion 110 is connected to the straps that form the under arm portions 112 and 114 with slides 122 and 124. The slides 122 and 124 allow the in-use lengths of the under arm portions 112 and 114 (i.e., the lengths that extend from the slides to the neck portion 108) to be increased and decreased, thereby increasing and decreasing the distance between the ends of the neck portion 108 and the ends of the back portion 110 and increasing and decreasing the size of the arm holes 118 and 120 to accommodate differently sized wearers.
Referring more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, the configuration of the present outer garment carrier 100 (as well as other outer garment carriers described below) results in the lower ends of the arm holes 118 and 120 to be substantively below the armpits A. When the wearer tightens the shoulder harness 104, it is done across the back B, not by pulling the under arm portions 112 and 114 against the armpit A. Such positioning improves comfort during wear and minimizes the pulling of the outer garment weight against the armpit or the area above the armpit at the front of the arms. The hook or other outer garment attachment mechanism 102 is unobtrusively located substantially behind the neck or just below the back of the neck. This placement distributes the weight of the hanging coat or other outer garment across the back, chest and shoulders rather than in front, just above the armpits, which is more comfortable for the user. The outer garment will also be at essentially the same height that it would be when worn and, accordingly, will not hang low and interfere with walking or a create a tripping hazard. This location also makes it easier to put on an outer garment that is attached to the present carrier, or to take the garment off, by simply moving one's arms in and of the outer garment sleeves.
The exemplary shoulder harness 104 may in some instances also include a stiffener 126 that is associated with the attachment mechanism 102 and attached to the neck portion 108. In particular, the attachment mechanism 102 may be secured to the stiffener 126 (and neck portion 108) with the fastener 106. The stiffener 126 distributes the hanging load associated the outer garment OG (FIG. 4) across a longer segment of neck portion 108 than would be the case with the fastener 106 alone, and also facilitates the use of a relatively soft and pliable neck portion 108. The stiffener 126 may be more rigid than the neck portion 108, yet flexible enough to conform to the wearer's body contours.
With respect to materials, the various straps that make up the exemplary shoulder harness 104 may be formed from any suitable flexible material or materials. For example, in the implementation illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the neck portion 108 may be relatively soft and wide, as compared to the straps that form the back portion 110, under arm portions 112 and 114, and vertical portion 116, to aid in the distribution of weight and user comfort. Suitable materials for strap that forms the neck portion 108 include, but are not limited to, soft fabrics, fleeces, foams, padded quilting. The neck portion 108, back portion 110, under arm portions 112 and 114, and vertical portion 116 may have the same or different stiffnesses than one another, and may be formed from the same or different materials than one another. For example, a vertical portion 116 that is stiffer than the under arm portions 112 and 114 would help keep the points at which the under arm portions meet the back portion 110 relatively low on the wearer's back B, thereby improving comfort in the area of the wearer's armpits. Suitable materials for the neck portion 108, back portion 110, under arm portions 112 and 114, and vertical portion 116 include, but are not limited to, fabrics, organic materials (such as cotton), and inorganic (such as nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, etc.) configured as strips or webbing. Foams and other padded materials may also be employed. Suitable materials for the stiffener 126 include, but are not limited to, fabrics that are stiffer than the neck portion 108, interfacing, fabric coated wires and semirigid plastics.
Suitable instrumentalities for connecting the strap that forms the neck portion 108 to the straps that form the under arm portions 112 and 114, and for connecting the strap that forms the vertical portion 116 to the straps that forms the neck portion 108 and the back portion 110, include but are not limited to instrumentalities that are commonly used in the textile industry such as, for example, sewing and riveting as well as heat staking/welding and ultrasonic staking/welding in the case of synthetic materials.
The components of the present outer garment carriers may be provided in any suitable sizes that result in the functionality described herein. By way of example, but not limitation, the components of the exemplary outer garment carrier 100 may have the following dimensions. The neck portion 108 is about 35 inches in length, the back portion 110 is about 14 inches in length, the under arm portions 112 and 114 are each about 14 inches in length, the vertical portion 116 is about 15 inches in length, and the stiffener 126 is about 5 inches in length. As used herein, the term “about” means ±10%.
Advantages of the present outer garment carrier are also described with reference to FIGS. 5-8. Referring first to FIGS. 5 and 6, and as alluded to above, the present inventors have determined that the optimal location OL behind the wearer's neck N for the hook or other outer garment attachment mechanism 102 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is the location identified by the solid line. As used herein, “behind the neck” means the location identified by the solid line, from the center of the spine plus 15 degrees around the neck in either direction from center of spine. The acceptable location region AL extends from at or above the superior angles SA of the scapulae SC to about an inch above the optimal location OL, as identified by the dashed lines. The acceptable location region AL above the superior angles SA of the scapulae SC slants inward until it joins the neck N. As such, positioning the hook or other outer garment attachment mechanism 102 in this area results in the wearer's back carrying some of the load. The closer the outer garment attachment mechanism is to the neck, the greater the load carrying contribution of the back. Also, when placed above the superior angles SA of the scapulae SC, the hook or other outer garment attachment mechanism 102 will be less likely to move downwardly due to the angle of the back. In those instances where movement of the wearer causes the shoulder harness to slip a small amount, thereby lowering the hook or other outer garment attachment mechanism 102 below the acceptable location region AL, the wearer can easily pull the parts of neck portion 108 that are on the chest downward to move the load higher.
Turning to FIGS. 7 and 8, where an asterisk (“*”) represents the hook or other outer garment attachment mechanism 102 of the present outer garment carrier 100, it can be seen that the load LD carried by the attachment mechanism 102 is principally felt near the neck N in the circled areas LF. Parts of the harness neck portion 108 extend downward from circled areas LF to areas below the arms, resulting in the harness neck portion 108 extending across the wearer's chest C and thereby enabling the chest to carry some of the load LD. By way of comparison, as can be seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, conventional outer garment carriers position the hook (shown with an asterisk) between the scapulae at a point far lower than the present outer garment carrier. The load LD carried by the hook is also is principally felt further out on the shoulders S such as at the circled areas LF due to the design of the conventional shoulder harnesses and the location of the load LD. The harness shoulder portions SP extend downward from circled areas LF to areas below the arms, resulting in the harness shoulder portions SP extending straight downwardly, instead of across the wearer's chest C, which places the principal load LD on the front of the wearer's arms.
It should also be noted that the outer garment carriers described herein are self-contained designs in which everything necessary to carry a coat or other outer garment is provided. The present outer garment carriers are also small and light enough to carry in a coat pocket so that they may be used as needed, and can be produced inexpensively so that they may be purchased as needed in a manner similar to small umbrellas.
Another exemplary outer garment carrier is generally represented by reference numeral 100a FIG. 11. The outer garment carrier 100a is substantially similar to outer garment carrier 100 and similar elements are represented by similar reference numerals. For example, the garment carrier 100a is worn in the same manner as the garment carrier 100, the vertical portion 116 extends from the longitudinal middle of the neck portion 108a to the longitudinal middle of the back portion 110, and the attachment mechanism 102 is secured to the shoulder harness 104a with a fastener 106. Here, however, the shoulder harness 104a includes a neck portion 108a and under arm portions 112a and 114a together define an integral, one-piece structure. The neck portion 108a and under arm portions 112a and 114a may be formed from a single strap. The stiffener 126a may be shorter than the stiffener 126, longer than the stiffener 126, or the same length as the stiffener 126. It should also be noted here that the outer garment carrier 100a may be provided without the vertical strap 116.
By way of example, but not limitation, the components of the exemplary outer garment carrier 100a may have the following dimensions. The combined neck portion 108a and under arm portions 112a and 114a is about 63 inches in length, the back portion 110 is about 14 inches in length, the vertical portion 116 is about 15 inches in length, and the stiffener 126a is about 5 inches in length.
Turning to FIG. 12, another exemplary outer garment carrier is generally represented by reference numeral 100b. The outer garment carrier 100b is substantially similar to outer garment carrier 100 and similar elements are represented by similar reference numerals. For example, the carrier 100b is worn in the same manner as the carrier 100 and the shoulder harness 104b includes a back portion 110 and under arm portions 112 and 114. Here, however, the neck portion 108b is generally U-shaped (or “yoke-shaped”) and the length of the vertical portion 116b, which defines the distance between the neck portion 108b and the back portion 110, is adjustable. The U-shaped neck portion 108b, which may be formed from fabric, foam or any other suitable flexible material, extends behind the neck and over the shoulders. Such a configuration may place the attachment mechanism 102 slightly lower than the location associated with the shoulder harness 104 illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, i.e., below the back of the neck rather than behind the neck, yet still at or above the superior angles of the scapulae. This may aid in comfort as the weight of the outer garment pulls directly downward on the attachment mechanism 102 rather than out and down. The vertical portion 116b includes straps 116b1 and 116b2 and a slide 128 that allows the in-use length of the strap 116b1 (as well as the length of the vertical portion 116b) to be adjusted. It should also be noted here that shoulder harness vertical portions with adjustable lengths may be employed in any of the outer garment carriers described herein. The stiffener 126b may have a V-shape, which corresponds to the shape of the associated portion of the neck portion 108b, or any other suitable shape. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the essentially identical outer garment carrier 100b′ includes a shoulder harness 104b′ with a stiffener 126b′ that has a horizontal portion and a pair of angled portions. By way of example, but not limitation, the components of the exemplary outer garment carrier 100b may have the following dimensions. The U-shaped neck portion 108b is about 8.5 inches in width (measured in the horizontal direction in FIG. 12) and 20 inches in height (measured in the vertical direction in FIG. 12), the back portion 110 is about 14 inches in length, the under arm portions 112 and 114 are each about 14 inches in length, the length of the adjustable vertical portion 116b may range from about 12 inches to about 18 and is set at about 15 inches in FIG. 12, and the stiffener 126b is about 5 inches in length.
Shoulder harnesses may omit the vertical portion in some implementations. To that end, and referring to FIGS. 14-16, the exemplary outer garment carrier 100c is substantially similar to outer garment carrier 100a and similar elements are represented by similar reference numerals. For example, the outer garment carrier 100c includes an attachment mechanism 102 that is secured to a shoulder harness 104c with a fastener 106. A stiffener 126c may also be provided. The shoulder harness 104c includes a neck portion 108c, a front portion 110c, and under arm portions 112c and 114c. The neck portion 108c and under arm portions 112c and 114c together define an integral, one-piece structure. For example, the neck portion 108c and under arm portions 112c and 114c may be formed from a single strap. The front portion 110c includes a pair of sub-portions 110c1 and 110c2 that are connected to the under arm portions 112c and 114c by slides 122 and 124, and that are connected to one another by a buckle 130. The under arm portions 112c and 114c are also relatively long. As a result, when the outer garment carrier 100c is worn, the under arm portions 112c and 114c may be crossed behind the wearer's back B and connected to one another in the front F with the buckle 130 or other suitable instrumentality. The under arm portions 112c and 114c should be long enough to keep buckle point relatively low and the under arm portions away from the wearer's armpits.
By way of example, but not limitation, the components of the exemplary outer garment carrier 100c may have the following dimensions. The combined neck portion 108c and under arm portions 112c and 114c is about 120 inches in length, the back portion 110 is about 14 inches in length, and the stiffener 126c is about 5 inches in length.
It should be noted here that the present inventions include any and all combinations of the elements from the various embodiments described herein. By way of example, but not limitation, the exemplary outer garment carrier 100d illustrated in FIG. 17 includes an attachment mechanism 102 and a shoulder harness 104d. The exemplary shoulder harness 104d has a neck portion 108, a front portion 110c (with sub-portions 110c1 and 110c2) and under arm portions 112c and 114c that are connected to the neck portion 108. The under arm portions 112c and 114c are also connected to the front sub-portions 110c1 and 110c2 with slides 122 and 124, while the front sub-portions 110c1 and 110c2 are connected to one another with a buckle 130. A stiffener 126c may also be provided.
By way of example, but not limitation, the components of the exemplary outer garment carrier 100c may have the following dimensions. The neck portion 108 is about 35 inches in length, the back portion 110c is about 14 inches in length, and the under arm portions 112c and 114c are each about 42.5 inches in length. Although the present inventions have been described in terms of the preferred embodiments above, numerous modifications and/or additions to the above-described preferred embodiments would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the scope of the present inventions extend to all such modifications and/or additions.
