DETACHABLE AND OPENABLE GARMENTS

Abstract

The present invention is an openable garment for adults and/or children. The invention is specifically designed as an openable outer garment which covers at least the lower torso and upper legs of the wearer. Examples of such latter garments are, but not limited to: coveralls, inner ski overalls and outer ski overalls and wet suits. The innovation herein includes the option to open the portion of the garment required to urinate and/or complete a bowel movement without removing the garment.

Description

DESIGN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed generally to an openable garment for adults and/or children. The invention is specifically directed to an openable outer garment which covers at least the lower torso and upper legs of the wearer. Examples of such latter garments are, but not limited to: coveralls, inner ski overalls and outer ski overalls and wet suits.

Many types of outer garments include a Velcro in the front portion of the garment. The Velcro makes it easier to remove the garment. For garments to be worn by males, the Velcro enables the wearer to urinate without removing the item. However, when there is a need for females to urinate or either gender to have a bowel movement, outerwear clothing for both sexes must be at least partially removed. For many types of inner and outer garments, partial removal of garments, such as slacks or trousers, does not represent a great inconvenience.

However, for items which cover at least a portion of a person's torso along with a portion of the legs, partial removal of the garment is substantially inconvenient.

The inconvenience becomes more than substantial for winter innerwear and outerwear such as snowsuits or skisuits but also wetsuits. In addition, most skiers wear an inner suit and an outer suit The removal of two items of skiwear, especially within the confines of a toilet stall, is extremely awkward, cumbersome and time-consuming.

These and other difficulties experienced with the prior art clothing systems have been obviated by the present invention.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide an inner and an outer garment which Is efficiently openable to enable a male individual wearing the garment to urinate conveniently and/or either gender to have a bowel movement without inconveniently fully or partially removing the garment.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an openable outer garment which is simple in construction and easy to use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An openable inner and an openable outer garment that has an openable fastener such as Velcro or other such attaching method, that holds closed a length of seam in the garment that extends from at least the waist area of the garment in the front, beneath the crotch of the garment and up to approximately the belt area or the lower back just above the belt area in the back portion of the garment. For a garment that covers the entire torso and includes a collar, the openable fastener extends from the collar or lower chest of the garment in the front, underneath the crotch area and up along the rear portion of the garment up to a point which coincides with the lower to middle back of the wearer. More specifically, the openable fastener is protected by a flap which is reasonably maintained in a closed protective position by the Velco strip and by the structure and design of the garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Because the inventor does not have a prototype we will only be submitting drawings. The character of the invention, however, may be best understood by reference to one of its structural forms as illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a person wearing a garment, embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the outer garment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a photocopy of a front view of a person wearing a second type of garment, embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a photocopy of the rear view of the garment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of the openable fastener and protective flap for the garment of FIGS. 3 and 4, shown in an open position; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the protective flap in a closed position.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a garment such as a wet suit having a u-shaped Velcro seam (shown in heavy line), from the front of the user's neck or lower chest, around the crotch, and to the back of the user's neck or lower middle back. The Velcro unites both sides of the garment. The rear view is identical.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the garment shown in FIG. 7, having a u-shaped Velcro (shown in heavy line), from the front of the user's neck or lower chest, around the crotch, and to the back of the user's neck or lower middle back. The Velcro seam allows the two sides of the garment to be completely separated except for the very top rear and below the crotch, as shown in FIG. 8, making it much easier to enter and exit the suit than would otherwise be the case. The rear view is identical.

FIG. 9 is right side view of the left half of the garment shown in FIG. 8, showing the u-shape of the Velcro (shown in heavy line).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an openable outer wear garment, generally indicated by the reference numeral 10, and worn by a person, generally indicated by the reference numeral 11. Garment 10 includes a right hand portion 12, a left hand portion 14 which covers the upper torso and the legs. Garment 10 extends up to the neck of the wearer and includes a collar portion if desired by purchasing customer 13. The right and left half portions 12 and 14, respectively, are connected together by a combination of a permanently sewn seam and an openable fastening system such as Velcro, generally indicated by the reference numeral 16. The Velcro seam 16 includes a front portion 18, a crotch portion 20, and a back portion 22. The front portion 18 extends from the collar 13 down to the crotch portion 20. The crotch portion 20 extends completely under the crotch portion of the garment and up to the back portion 22. The back portion 22 of the Velcro extends up to the middle of the back portion of the garment to a conventional stop 23 as shown in FIG. 2. When the Velcro 16 is completely opened, the garment 10 is separated into two half portions, except for the upper rear portion of the garment extending from stop 23 to the collar 13 and below the crotch. The garment 10 can come with a detachable hood and detachable neck wrap and can come as an inner garment and an outer garment, the inner garment designed to be worn inside the outer garment.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown a coverall modified to embody the principles of the present invention and generally indicated by the reference numeral 30. The coverall 30 is provided with an openable fastener such as Velcro or other method, generally indicated by the reference numeral 32. The Velcro 32 includes a front portion 34, a crotch portion 36 and a back portion 38. The front portion 34 extends from the waist portion of the coverall 30 in the front to the crotch portion 36 of the Velcro. The crotch portion 36 of the Velcro extends entirely under the crotch portion of the coverall to the back portion 30 of the Velcro. The back portion 30 of the Velcro extends up to a point just above the waist of the garment.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 5 and 6, the coverall 30 includes a protective flap, generally indicated by the reference numeral 41, for covering the Velcro 32. The flap 41 is attached to the coverall 30 along the line of stitching 44. The flap 41 can be moved from an open position, wherein the Velcro or other method of attachment 32 is exposed, as shown in FIG. 5 to a closed position, wherein the Velcro 32 is completely covered as shown in FIG. 6. The flap 41 is maintained in the closed position by the Velcro or other attachment method, generally indicated by the reference numeral 43, such as the product sold under the trade name “Velcro”. The fastening 43 includes a strip 40 extending along one side of the Velcro 32 and containing the attaching Velcro strip 43 on its outer surface. The surface of the flap 42 which faces the Velcro 32, when the flap is in the closed position, contains the matching portion of the Velcro strips 43. Preferably, the outer suit described above also contains a protective flap for the Velcro such as that shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, another embodiment of the invention, exemplified by a garment such as a wet suit, having a u-shaped Velcro seam (shown in heavy line), from the front of the user's neck or lower chest, around the crotch, and to the back of the user's neck or lower middle back. The Velcro allows the two sides of the garment to be completely separated except for the very top and below crotch, as shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a garment such as a wet suit having a u-shaped Velcro (shown in heavy line), from the front of the user's neck or lower chest, around the crotch, and to the back of the user's neck or lower middle back. The Velcro unites both sides of the garment. The rear view is identical.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a garment shown in FIG. 7, having a u-shaped Velcro seam (shown in heavy line), from the front of the user's neck or lower chest, around the crotch, and to the back of the user's neck or lower middle back. The Velcro allows the two sides of the garment to be completely separated except for the very top back side and below the crotch, as shown in FIG. 8, making it much easier to enter and exit the wet suit than would otherwise be the case. The rear view is identical.

FIG. 9 is right side view of the left half of the garment shown in FIG. 8, showing the u-shape of the Velcro seam (shown in heavy lines). shape of the Velcro (shown in heavy line).

The U-shaped Velcro could be unity, from front to back or back to front. It could also be two separate Velcros, one in front and one on the back. Each of the two Velcros could close upward or close downward. Each of these possible configurations have different advantages in use, especially in zipping and unzipping.

Claims

1. A 1-piece garment designed to cover part of all or the torso and part or all of the legs as one piece or multiple pieces attachable to each other by Velcro or other means containing:

One openable seam running down the back side of the garment from the lower back, under and through the crotch area and up the front of the garment up to the lower chest; and

Having an attachment method for closing and opening the seam such as Velcro, a zipper or other means of attachment; and

2. A 2-piece detachable garment designed to cover part or all of the torso for the upper garment and part or all of the legs for the lower garment that can be combined into a detachable 1-piece garment by an attaching method and containing:

An upper garment with one openable seam running down the back side of the garment from the lower back to the very bottom and another openable seam running down the front of the garment from the lower chest area down to the very bottom of the upper garment, both of which seams open completely from their top ends to their bottom ends; and

having an attaching method along the entire bottom edge of said upper garment designed to match or attach to the same attaching method along the entire top edge of said bottom garment; and

A lower garment with one openable seam running down the front side of the garment from the top down through the crotch section toward the back side and up to the very top of the rear of said lower garment which seam opens completely from its top front end to its top rear end and having an attaching method along the entire top edge of said lower garment designed to match or attach to the same attaching method along the entire bottom edge of said bottom upper garment.