US20030188370A1

US20030188370A1 - Wearing apparel for the upper part of the body

Info

Publication number: US20030188370A1
Application number: US10/405,293
Authority: US
Inventors: Errolson Hugh; Michaela Sachenbacher
Original assignee: Acronym GmbH
Current assignee: Acronym GmbH
Priority date: 2002-04-04
Filing date: 2003-04-02
Publication date: 2003-10-09
Also published as: JP2003301308A; DE50310343D1; DE10214797C1; EP1371299A2; ATE405182T1; EP1371299B1; EP1371299A3

Abstract

A wearing apparel for the upper part of the body that permits articles of daily use and other items required on travels to be stowed away, in a manner such that it can be clearly overseen and is theft-proof and permits quick access to such articles and items at any time. The wearing apparel comprises two front components that can be connected with each other, and an object of use that is preferably carried together the wearing apparel. A slide-in aperture extends from the hem up into the armhole and is arranged offset sideways on the front or back component in the area connecting the front components of the wearing apparel with the back component, on one or both sides of the wearing apparel or in said area of the wearing apparel. The object of use carried together with the wearing apparel is equipped with a shoulder strap to be worn on the body.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a wearing apparel for the upper part of the body. Such a wearing apparel may be a jacket, an overcoat, a windbreaker, a loosely-fitting, blouse-type jacket, a vest, a sweat shirt, a shirt, or a similar type of garment that can be used as a top garment particularly during shopping strolls, city sightseeing tours, and during travels or hikes.

2. The Prior Art

A travel top coat having a pocket (or pouch) on the inner side of the coat for receiving and transporting the overcoat when it is not worn, is described in German Patent No. DE 26 45 889 C2. The inside pouch is comprised of two parts that can be folded together. In this design, the folded-open pockets with a rectangular shape are arranged in an upright manner in the front part of the travel coat and are equipped with pouches for inserting objects therein. Such pouches can be closed by zippers. When the overcoat is worn, the pouches assume a position in which they hang down, so that the identification papers, for example, which are additionally accommodated in these pouches, are always readily available. In the condition in which it is folded together, the travel coat then forms a hand-carried bag that also may have gripping loops as handles.

One drawback of this type of embodiment, among others, is the fact that only items with small dimensions and low weight can be transported in the chest pockets, so that during traveling, another rucksack or an additional traveling (or carryall) bag is always needed in addition to the traveling top coat for transporting larger pieces of items of daily use needed on travels.

Another drawback of the travel top coat is that for changing the traveling top coat into a bag, it has to be placed and folded together on a substrate (or support) that is as flat as possible, so that the removal of the top coat from the body and its folding together, for example in the course of a hike, requires significant effort. Therefore, folding the traveling top coat together during hiking necessarily requires an intermediate stop or help from some other person.

A further drawback of this type of design is that when the top coat is removed and changed into a traveling bag that is carried along, for example during city sightseeing tours, such a bag has to be set down, which means it is necessarily exposed to a heightened risk of theft.

Furthermore, like any other hand-carried bag, the traveling top coat, after it has been folded together and changed into a bag, either has to be stowed away into a rucksack or needs to be carried by hand, so that it necessarily impairs freedom of action.

A windbreaker described in International Application No. WO 84/01092 A1, which has a transport hand bag that has to be carried under the windbreaker and can be changed into a belt pouch, is afflicted with all of the above-mentioned drawbacks as well.

Special rucksack-and-jacket combinations are described in European Patent No. EP 02 28 767 A2 and also U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,111 A as well, in connection with which the rucksack has to be carried on the unfolded jacket without being protected against rain and unauthorized access.

Furthermore, in addition to the drawback that the rucksack has to be set down for unfolding and stowing away the jacket, the disadvantage the aforementioned embodiments have the common is that items can be unlawfully removed from the rucksack (by strangers) in densely populated locations.

Other embodiments comprising combinations of a rucksack and poncho, where the rucksack can be covered for protecting it against rain and theft, such as described in German Patent No. DE 201 02 379 U1; or with combinations comprising a rucksack and a raincoat, where the rucksack can be covered with a rain jacket and thus protected against theft and rain as well, as described in German Patent No. DE 44 46 814 C1 that relates to a protective jacket joined with the rucksack in a fixed manner and adapted to covering both the person wearing the rucksack and the rucksack, do in fact offer the advantage that all utensils for traveling can be stowed away in the rucksack during hiking trips or on city sightseeing tours in a manner that is appropriate for traveling. However, in these devices, the contents of the rucksack are not accessible to the wearer at any time because it can be opened by the person wearing it only after it first has been set down on the ground or floor.

Furthermore, in connection with all of these embodiments, the rucksack needs to be set down both for unfolding and stowing away the rain cover or rain jacket because with all of these embodiments, it is not possible to unfold or to stow away the rain jacket during hikes without requiring some outside help.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to develop a wearing apparel for the upper part of the body that, when it is worn, permits stowing away items of daily use and other travel utensils in a manner that can be clearly overseen and is theft-proof, and that permits the items or utensils to be quickly accessed at any time in such a way that, when such utensils are worn on the body, the travel utensils can be protected against unauthorized access even in densely populated locations. It is another object to provide an item of use that does not need to be set down for either unfolding or stowing away the wearing apparel as defined by the invention. This item of daily use can be used also for transporting the wearing apparel as defined by the invention, such wearing apparel can be at any time quickly unfolded out of the object of use while walking and without requiring any outside help, and also stowed away in the item of use, whereby the entire contents finding room in this item of use has to be quickly accessible at any time to the person wearing it, even while such a person is walking, and without any outside help.

The invention comprises a wearing apparel having two front components connectable with each other, and an object of use preferably worn together with the wearing apparel. A slide-in aperture extending from the hem up into the area of the armhole of the wearing apparel is arranged in a connection area of the front components with the back component, on one or both sides of the wearing apparel, or is offset sideways on the front or back components of the wearing apparel, so that at least one of the two halves of the front component of the wearing apparel forms a wing in its lower region. The object of use worn together with the wearing apparel is equipped with a shoulder strap to be worn on the body. The object of use to be worn together with the wearing apparel and equipped with a shoulder strap can be a shoulder bag, a shopping pouch, a photo camera, a laptop or a similar article. The shoulder strap preferably has a strap extension in the form of a quick-action extension.

The opening connecting the two front components is preferably covered by a storm trimming, and a slide-in trimming is preferably arranged along the slide-in aperture. A slide-in apron is preferably arranged along the slide-in aperture.

A closing element in the form of a button with a button hole, a snap fastener, a hook and loop type closure, a magnetic button and/or a tab with such a closing element, or other suitable closing element, connects the two front components together above the passage opening provided for passing through the shoulder strap.

Alternatively, the closing element can be disposed in the region of the hip and/or the hem on the two components of the wearing apparel forming the slide-in aperture. On the side of the wearing apparel disposed opposite the slide-in opening, a gusset extending upwards from the hem is arranged in the area of connection between the half of the front component located there and the back component; on the front component; or on the back component.

At least one longitudinal side of the slide-in apron is preferably provided with one or more closing elements in the form of zippers. Preferably, the wedge is also provided with one or more closing elements also in the form of zippers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. [0020]
In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views: [0021]
FIG. 1 shows the wearing apparel as defined by the invention in the form of a simple embodiment without flaps while it is being put on or removed, with the shoulder bag slung over the shoulder; [0022]
FIG. 2 shows the wearing apparel according to FIG. 1 with a shoulder bag in the condition it is carried; [0023]
FIG. 3 shows the wearing apparel by a more advanced embodiment with trimmings, and a front view of the shoulder bag slung over the shoulder in the condition it is carried; [0024]
FIG. 4 shows a back view of the wearing apparel according to FIG. 1; [0025]
FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the wearing apparel as defined by the invention with a slide-in apron, as the shoulder bag slung over the shoulder is being accessed; [0026]
FIG. 6 shows the wearing apparel as defined by the invention according to FIG. 5 with the slide-in apron and the object of use in the carried condition, and the shoulder bag being slung over the shoulder; [0027]
FIG. 7 shows the wearing apparel according to FIGS. 1 and 2, with a photo camera carried on a shoulder strap; and [0028]
FIG. 8 shows the wearing apparel according to FIGS. 1 and 2, with a laptop carried on a shoulder strap.[0029]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a simple embodiment of the wearing [0030] apparel 3 as defined by the invention without trimmings, as the wearing apparel is being put on or removed, and with shoulder bag 1 being slung over the shoulder.
On both sides of the front components of wearing [0031] apparel 3, in the area where these components are joined with the back part, wearing apparel 3 has a slide-in aperture 8 running from hem 10 up into the area of armhole 7 of wearing apparel 3. This slide-in aperture, when it is opened, causes at least one of the two halves of the front part of wearing apparel 3 to form a wing 4 in its lower area.
Near [0032] hem 10, a tab 15 comprising a closing element 6 in the form of a snap fastener is arranged on the two components of wearing apparel 3 forming slide-in opening 8.
The object (or item) of use itself is in the form of a [0033] shoulder bag 1 provided with a shoulder strap 2. Any item of use fitted with a shoulder strap 2 can be stowed away under wearing apparel 3 in a theft-proof and quickly accessible manner, and, at the same time, permits quick access to any items that may be kept in this shoulder bag. The items may be identification documents, other articles of daily use, food, or any other items required during travels and stowed away in the shoulder bag 1.
For example, during a sightseeing tour in a city, a shopping stroll or during a hike, wearing [0034] apparel 3 can be removed, for example from a separate compartment of shoulder bag 1 and can be put on while walking, with shoulder bag 1 being slung over the shoulder.
While wearing [0035] apparel 3 is still open in the center and while walking, wing 4 is then passed under shoulder strap 2 resting against the chest, and pulled straight under the bag.
The closing element arranged between the two front parts of the wearing apparel is subsequently closed up to near the shoulder strap, as shown in FIG. 1. Wearing [0036] apparel 3 of FIG. 1 with a shoulder bag 1 is shown in FIG. 2 in the condition it is worn. In the carried condition, shoulder bag 1 is pushed through slide-in opening 8 and under the back part of the wearing apparel. On the opening connecting the two front components of wearing apparel 3, a tab 15 is located above the passage for the shoulder strap 2. Tab 15 has a closing element 6 in the form of a snap fastener arranged on said tab. Another tab 15 is located in the area of the hem on slide-in aperture 8 of wearing apparel 3 as well. Closing element 6 is closed when shoulder bag 1 is in the carrying condition.
[0037] Shoulder bag 1 is exactly positioned in this manner and it is assured, at the same time, that the entire contents carried in shoulder bag 1 are stowed away in a manner secured against theft. After closing element arranged on the slide-in aperture 8 has been opened, shoulder bag 1 is quickly accessible, so that wearing apparel 3 can be removed again (in the reversed order of the procedure described above) even while walking, and can be stowed away again in shoulder bag 1 while walking as well, in an uncomplicated manner and without any outside help.
Furthermore, at the same time, the entire contents stowed away in [0038] shoulder bag 1 are quickly accessible to the person wearing it while such person is walking, at any time and without outside help and with just a few manipulations without having to remove wearing apparel 3 for that purpose from the body.
Furthermore, because wearing [0039] apparel 3 is worn on the body, stealing shoulder bag 1 by cutting it off, or any unauthorized removal of items from the shoulder bag is prevented even in densely populated locations.
It is assumed in connection with the variations according to FIGS. 1 and 2 described above that slide-in [0040] apertures 8 can be arranged on wearing apparel 3 on both sides, so that shoulder bag 1 consequently may be worn both on the right and left sides of the body.
FIG. 3 [0041] shows wearing apparel 3 as defined by the invention by a further advanced embodiment with weather protection accessories, by a front view as shoulder bag 3 is being slung over the shoulder and is in the position it is carried. An important feature of this solution consists in that connection opening between the two front components of the apparel is covered by a storm (or bad weather) trimming 5, which, above the opening provided for passing through shoulder strap 2, is provided with a closing element 6 in the form of a snap fastener.
In this embodiment of the invention, the slide-in aperture is usefully arranged on the side of wearing [0042] apparel 3 facing the direction in which the bad-weather trimming 5 is opened. After closing element 6 has been closed, bad-weather trimming 5 permits optimal protection against wind and bad weather.
[0043] Shoulder strap 2 can be provided with a strap extension 13 as shown in FIG. 3. Strap extension 13 permits accessing the contents of shoulder bag 1 in an even more comfortable manner. Strap extension 13 on shoulder strap 2 can be realized in the form of a quick-action extension. Such a quick-action extension, which is preferably arranged in the lower region of the chest, permits a wearing comfort that is raised even more and, at the same time, reduces the access time needed for accessing the contents of the shoulder bag.
FIG. 4 shows the wearing apparel of FIG. 3 as defined by the invention by a view of the back side, with [0044] shoulder bag 1 in the position it is carried. Slide-in aperture 8 is located on the side of wearing apparel 3 facing the direction in which the aperture of the bad-weather fitting is opened. A slide-in trimming element 9 is arranged along slide-in aperture 8. In the area of hem 10, this slide-in trimming element is provided with a closing element 6 in the form of a snap fastener. In addition to weather protection, slide-in trimming element 9 affords additional protection against theft.
On the back side of the wearing [0045] apparel 3, opposing the slide-in aperture 8, a wedge 12 is arranged that extends from hem 10 in the upward direction. Wedge 12 permits enlarging the circumference of wearing apparel 3 in order to be able to carry on the back under wearing apparel 3 even a tightly filled shoulder bag 1 in a comfortable manner. Preferably, wedge 12 is provided along its edges with a zipper. Zipper 11 opens and closes wedge 12 quickly, either completely or partly, and assures a perfect fit of wearing apparel 3 even in the presence of varying volumes of the shoulder bag.
FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the wearing [0046] apparel 3 as defined by the invention, with a slide-in apron 14 shown as shoulder bag 1 slung over the shoulder is being accessed. Slide-in apron 14 is arranged along slide-in aperture 8. Slide-in apron 14 can be joined with the front component of wearing apparel 3 by means of a zipper 11.
Due to this slide-in [0047] apron 14 arranged on wearing apparel 3, the object of use provided with a shoulder strap and to be transported can be carried along with optimal protection.
In FIG. 6, wearing [0048] apparel 3 is shown with slide-in apron 14 in the condition it is carried, and with a shoulder bag carried on the body and provided with a shoulder strap 2.
FIG. 7 [0049] shows wearing apparel 3 as defined by the invention according to FIGS. 1 and 2, with a photo camera carried on shoulder strap 2.
In FIG. 8, wearing [0050] apparel 3 as defined by the invention according to FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown with a laptop 17 carried on shoulder strap 2.
Thus is has been possible by means of the invention to develop a wearing apparel for the upper part of the body that permits quickly stowing away at any time items of use and others required on travels in a manner than can be clearly overseen and is safely secured against theft, so that when the wearing apparel is worn on the body, any items required on travels that are worn on the body as well by means of an object of use can be protected against unauthorized access even in heavily populated location. This object of use need not to be set down either for unfolding or stowing away the wearing apparel, and, to the extent this object of use is used also for transporting the wearing apparel as defined by the invention, this wearing apparel, moreover, not only can be quickly unfolded from the object of use at any time and without needing outside help while the person wearing it is walking, but can also be stowed away again in the object of use. The object of use, and also its entire contents, are available to the person wearing it at any time and quickly accessible without outside help while such a person is walking. [0051]
Accordingly, while only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. [0052]
List of Reference Numerals [0053]
[0054] 1 Shoulder bag
[0055] 2 Shoulder strap
[0056] 3 Wearing apparel
[0057] 4 Wing
[0058] 5 Storm (or bad-weather) flap
[0059] 6 Closing element
[0060] 7 Armhole
[0061] 8 Slide-in aperture
[0062] 9 Slide-in flap
[0063] 10 Hem
[0064] 11 Zipper
[0065] 12 Gusset
[0066] 13 Shoulder strap extension
[0067] 14 Slide-in apron
[0068] 15 Tab
[0069] 16 Photo camera
[0070] 17 Laptop

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A wearing apparel for an upper part of the body comprising:

two front components connectable with each other;

at least one back component;

a hem;

at least one armhole;

a slide-in aperture extending from the hem up toward the armhole and arranged in a connection area of at least one of the two front components with the back component, on one or both sides of the wearing apparel, or in an area offset sideways on the front or back components of the wearing apparel, so that at least one of the two front components forms a wing in its lower region; and

an object of use worn together with the wearing apparel, said object being equipped with a shoulder strap to be worn on the body.

2. The wearing apparel according to claim 1, wherein the object of use is selected from the group consisting of a shoulder bag, a shopping pouch, a photo camera, a laptop computer, or similar items.

3. The wearing apparel according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder strap is provided with a strap extension.

4. The wearing apparel according to claim 1, wherein a connection opening between the two front components is covered by a storm trimming.

5. The wearing apparel according to claim 1, further comprising a slide-in trimming arranged along the slide-in aperture.

6. The wearing apparel according to claim 1, further comprising a slide-in apron arranged along the slide-in aperture.

7. The wearing apparel according to claim 1, further comprising a closing element arranged adjacent an opening between the two front components, for connecting the two front components, above a passage opening provided for passing through the shoulder strap.

8. The wearing apparel according to claim 1, further comprising a closing element arranged on two of the components of the wearing apparel that form the slide-in aperture, in the region of a hip or the hem.

9. The wearing apparel according to claim 1, wherein on a side of the wearing apparel disposed opposite the slide-in opening, a wedge extending upwards from the hem is arranged in an area of connection between a half of the front component located there and the back component; on the front component; or on the back component.

10. The wearing apparel according to claim 3, wherein the strap extension is a quick-action extension.

11. The wearing apparel according to claim 6, wherein at least one longitudinal side of the slide-in apron is provided with at least one closing element in the form of a zipper.

12. The wearing apparel according to claim 9, wherein the wedge is provided along its edges with one or more closing elements in the form of zippers.