US20080235848A1

US20080235848A1 - Body comforter garment inside a pillow-bed in a pillow

Info

Publication number: US20080235848A1
Application number: US12/077,836
Authority: US
Inventors: Gwendolyn Wilder; Danette Josephine Wilder
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-22
Filing date: 2008-03-22
Publication date: 2008-10-02

Abstract

A body comforter garment, consisting of three layers, that converts to a pillow (48) comprising a front portion (32) and a back portion (46) that extends from an upper shoulder edge (22) to a feet edge (44). The sleeves (25) have a hand pouch (26) for receiving hands of a wearer, with a hand pouch opening (28) for removing the hands. There is a hood (20) attached to a neck opening (24) of the garment. A foot pouch (42) is attached to lower end of the garment for receiving feet of the wearer with a foot pouch opening (40) for removing the feet. A front zipper (30), or other attachment means, is attached to the center front portion (32) of the garment to allow for entering and exiting the garment. A lower portion of the garment can be raised and attached to a higher portion of the garment to allow the wearer to walk around. When the garment is not being worn, it can be rolled into the foot pouch (42) and used as a pillow (48).

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 60/919,790 filed 2007 Mar. 22 by the present inventors.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of garments used for comfort and warmth, and more particularly pertains to convertible garments for men, women, children and infants.
2. Prior Art
Blankets or throws have been used for a number of years for the obvious, for warmth and also for security and comfort. Native Americans not only used blankets as a protection for themselves, but also as gifts, warmth for their horses, and for bartering. Native Americans would use their blankets or throws to also purchase equipment from cowboys or the military. They would also trade their blankets for weapons. So it can be concluded that Native Americans had what others wanted. The blankets were then made from wool or animal hide and were quite warm. Blankets were used by Native Americans as wraps to keep infants, children and adults warm and today they are still used for that purpose.
The function of a blanket is not just for warmth. There are the conventional uses that one thinks of right away down to uses that are not your day to day uses. The function of the blanket is dependent upon the individual. There may be a function that is needed or desired, but the blanket cannot be located in the marketplace. Therefore, a functional blanket or garment to fit the need would have to be created.
There are a number of garments that exist in the prior art that were designed with the comfort and warmth of the wearer in mind. Blankets tend to serve as a quick remedy for a chill or a cozy atmosphere, and yet they present a hassle to the wearer because parts of the body are frequently exposed to the air and the wearer has to continually adjust the blanket for comfort. The majority of convertible garments in the prior art have attempted to provide a remedy to the issues that blankets present. The basic parts of the convertible garments consist of a body portion, sleeves, and a pocket for storing the garment for convenience or converting to some other apparatus. However, in the prior art, convertible garments, although they may fulfill their respective objectives, have failed to provide the personal coziness, security and full body warmth of a comforter wrapped around the wearer's body versus the wearer's bed. The hands and feet are the parts of the body that get cold the quickest, but most warmth from the body is lost from the head. Most prior art have not compensated for this fact in their design. Most of these garments are not children friendly. The majority do not cover the body from head to toe, or provide an option of releasing the hands and or feet from the garment without removing the garment.
Previous convertible garments do not attract the wearer with their physical design or appearance. An attraction, whether physical or emotional must exist so that not only does the wearer want it, but also feels as though it is a need.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,219,847 there is shown a garment with the basic features of a bodice, sleeves, and a center pocket for receiving the hands. The garment when not being worn can be stored in a foot pocket. There is no covering to keep the head or hands warm. There is a slit at the back of the garment for entering and exiting the garment. However, there is no means for closing the slit. Therefore, air enters the garment presenting the same problem as your everyday blanket.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,375, the garment, which comprises a rectangular piece of fabric and pockets, is transformed into a pillow, cushion, blanket or hooded wrap by folding or unfolding the contents of the garment. While this design is simple and may fulfill its objective requirements, the appearance of comfort, security and warmth is lacking and there are a number of steps involved to transform the garment from one utility to another, which may prove frustrating to the wearer.
In U.S. Pat. No. 20060200906, the apparatus comprises a blanket, foot pocket and a pair of sleeves. The garment was designed to keep a person warm, yet exposes the hands and the head. Nearly forty percent of a human's body heat escapes through the head. If the head is uncovered, more blood is moved to the head in order to keep the brain warm; therefore, less blood circulates to the hands and feet.
Garments have been invented to provide warmth to the wearer, but have not incorporated all of the physical aspects of the design and therefore may require additional accessories or layers to keep warm. The convertible feature of such garments is noteworthy; however, the garment in its entirety must be attractive and serve a beneficial purpose to the wearer. The benefits of the blanket can definitely be seen and has many uses. However, there is a need for a garment that incorporates the blanket, a comforter, and a sleeping bag. With such a garment, you keep the concept of the blanket, while eliminating the hassle of the blanket, extract from the design of the comforter and expand on the art of the sleeping bag and your final utility is a very functional product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, the body comforter garment, consisting of three layers, converts from a body comforter garment to a pillow comprising an elongated body with a front portion that has two pieces that connect at a center, a back portion, a pair of sleeves on opposite sides of the garment, a hand pouch attached to the sleeves with an opening that allows hands of the wearer to be removed, a foot pouch attached to lower portion of the garment with an opening that allows feet of the wearer to be removed, and a hood attached along a neck opening of the garment. The garment can be raised from a lower portion of the garment and attached to a higher portion of the garment using snaps, buttons, Velcro, or a similar attachment means, to allow the wearer to walk around. The garment can be converted into a pillow by rolling the garment inside the foot pouch.
An object of the present invention is to provide a garment that provides security, comfort, and warmth to the body from head to toe and when not being worn, easily converts to another apparatus designed for comfort, a pillow. Further objectives of the present invention are:

- (a) to provide a garment that can be used by practically everyone and in a number of industries;
- (b) to provide a garment that is easily transformable for walking so that the garment does not have to be removed;
- (c) to provide a garment that can be worn for lounging and used as a decorative accessory, in this case a pillow;
- (d) to provide an attractive, multi-use garment that can be personalized for both adults and children;
- (e) to provide a convertible, all-in-one garment that is compact and ideal for traveling;
- (f) to provide a garment that eliminates the hassle of wrapping up in an ordinary blanket;
- (g) to provide a garment that creates a cozy atmosphere while watching television, playing video games, reading a book, studying for a test, listening to music, camping, traveling, flying, or attending sporting events;
- (h) to provide a garment that eliminates the need for multiple layers of clothing; and
- (i) to provide a garment that will help to conserve energy.

Further objectives of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1A is a front view of the present preferred body comforter garment.

FIG. 1B is a front view thereof the foot pouch of the present preferred body comforter garment.

FIG. 1C is a back view thereof the present preferred body comforter garment.

FIG. 1D is a back view thereof the present preferred body comforter garment showing the three layers of the garment.

FIG. 2A is a front view thereof transforming from body comforter garment to pillow.

FIG. 2B is a front view thereof transforming from pillow to body comforter garment.

FIG. 3A is a front view of an alternative embodiment thereof with a detachable foot pouch.

FIG. 3B is a back view of an alternative embodiment thereof with a detachable foot pouch.

FIG. 4A is a front view of an alternative embodiment thereof with a detachable hood.

FIG. 4B is a back view of an alternative embodiment thereof with a detachable hood.


Drawing- Reference Numerals

	18. elongated body	20. hood
	22. upper shoulder edge	24. neck opening
	25. sleeves	26. hand pouch
	28. hand pouch opening	30. front zipper
	32. front portion	34. pockets
	36. snaps	40. foot pouch opening
	42. foot pouch	44. feet edge
	46. back portion	48. pillow
	50. strap	52. pouch zipper
	53. detachable foot pouch	54. detachable hood
	55. hood zipper	56. top layer
	57. middle layer	58. bottom layer

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this specification and in the accompanying drawings, I have shown and described preferred embodiments of my invention and have suggested various alternatives and modifications thereof; but it is to be understood that these are not intended to be exhaustive and that many other changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the invention. The suggestions herein are selected and included for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art will more fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and will thus be enabled to modify it in a variety of forms, each as may be suited to the conditions of a particular use.

FIGS. 1A-1D

A preferred embodiment of the present body comforter garment is shown in front view in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1C, and FIG. 1D. It is comprised of an elongated body 18 with a front portion 32 and a back portion 46 that extends from an upper shoulder edge 22 to a feet edge 44 to fully cover the upper and lower body of a wearer. The front portion 32 is two pieces and is attached at upper center of front portion 32 using a zipper 30 or a similar attachment, while lower center of front portion 32 is closed with a stitch. The elongated body 18 has a neck opening 24 along the upper shoulder edge 22 of the front portion 32 and the back portion 46. A hood 20 is attached along the neck opening 24. A pair of sleeves 25 that are cut as part of the front portion 32 and back portion 46 is on opposite sides of elongated body 18 and a hand pouch 26 is attached at a lower end of each pair of sleeves 25 for receiving the hands of the wearer. The hand pouch 26 has a hand pouch opening 28 at the upper edge of the hand pouch 26 for releasing the hands. A foot pouch 42 is attached to lower part of front portion 32 for receiving feet of the wearer. The foot pouch has a foot pouch opening 40 at an upper edge of the foot pouch 40 to allow the feet of the wearer to be removed from the garment. The bottom edge of the foot pouch 40 is attached to the bottom edge of the back portion 46 to form the feet edge 44 which is closed. There are snaps 36, or a similar attachment means, attached along the side seams of the elongated body 18, along the center bottom edge of the front portion 32, along the center seam of the front portion 32, and inside the foot pouch 42 along the left and right edge as shown in FIG. 1B. The snaps 36 will allow a lower portion of the elongated body 18 to be connected to a higher portion of the elongated body 18 so that the wearer can walk around. There are pockets 34 attached to the front of the garment to hold items of the wearer.
In FIG. 1D, a back view of the present preferred body comforter garment is shown with a view of the three layers of the body comforter garment that comprise a top layer 56 made of fabric material, a middle layer 57 made of polyester fiber, or a similar insulation, and a bottom layer 58 made of fabric material.

FIGS. 2A-2B

In FIG. 2A, the garment is being transformed from a body comforter garment to a pillow 48 in the direction of the arrows. In FIG. 2B, the garment is being transformed from a pillow 48 to a body comforter garment 48 in the direction of the arrows. The pillow has a strap 50 for carrying the pillow.

FIGS. 3A-3B

An alternative embodiment of the body comforter garment is shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B. It includes a detachable foot pouch 53 that is attached to the elongated body 18 with a pouch zipper 52, or a similar attachment, that encircles the front portion 32 and the back portion 46 of the elongated body 18. The foot pouch 53 can be removed so that the wearer can walk around. The foot pouch 53 is closed along bottom edge to form the feet edge 44.

FIGS. 4A-4B

An alternative embodiment of the body comforter garment is shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B. It includes a detachable hood 54 that is attached along the neck opening 24 with a hood zipper 55, or similar attachment, and circles the neck opening 24 of the front portion 32 and the back portion 46.

Operation of the Preferred Embodiment

The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. The body comforter garment, as shown in FIG. 3A-3B, is comprised of an elongated body 18 with a front portion 32, a back portion 46, a pair of sleeves 25 on opposite sides of the garment that are cut as part of the front portion 32 and the back portion 46 of the garment, a hand pouch 26 at the lower end of each sleeve 25 for receiving the hands of the wearer, a hood 20 for covering the head of the wearer, and a foot pouch 42 at the lower end of the garment for receiving the feet of the wearer.
The garment's top layer 56 and bottom layer 58, as shown in FIG. 1D, are made of a fabric material and the middle layer 57 is made of polyester fiber and the layers are held together with a quilting stitch. This gives the garment a quilted, comforter-type look and provides warmth.
As seen in FIG. 1A, the garment extends from the upper shoulder edge 22 to the feet edge 44, covering the upper and lower body of the wearer. A front zipper 30 is attached along the upper center of the front portion 32 of the garment to allow entering and exiting the garment. The hand pouch 26 that is attached at the end of the sleeves has a hand pouch opening 28 at the top of the hand pouch 26 that will allow the hands to be removed from the garment. There are two large pockets 34 attached to the front of the garment on the left and right side of the zipper 30 to store items of the wearer.
The bottom of the front portion 32 of the garment is cut slightly shorter than the back garment to allow easy removal of the feet. The foot pouch 42 opening is secured to the front garment with a Velcro strip. The first part of the Velcro strip is attached at a lower portion of the front portion 32 of the garment and the second part of the Velcro strip is attached to the underside top edge of the foot pouch 42. The top of the foot pouch 42 can be opened by detaching the first part of the Velcro strip from the second part of the Velcro strip. The feet can then be removed from the garment. To walk around in the garment, after detaching the two parts of the Velcro strip and feet have been removed from the garment, raise the garment and use the hands to hold the garment to walk. For longer periods of walling in the garment, turn the foot pouch 42 inside out and connect the snaps 36 at the tip of both the right and left bottom edges of the foot pouch 42, to the snaps 36 located on the right and left sides of the garment along the seam line, raise the front portion 32 of the garment and connect the snap 36 that is located in the center of the bottom edge of the front portion 32 of the garment to the snap 36 that is located in the center of the front portion 32 of the garment on the seam line and beneath the zipper 30. The wearer of the garment can freely walk around and the feet are clear of the garment to avoid tripping over the garment.
When the garment is not being used, as shown in FIG. 2A, the garment can be conveniently rolled up, starting the roll from the hood 20 of the garment and rolled into the foot pouch 42 of the garment, which forms a pillow 48. The pillow 48 can be used as a decorative accessory for your couch or bed and to use as a garment, simply unroll the garment and zip up inside for head to toe body comfort.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

While the above description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The invention may be embodied with other variations without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. For example: (a) a draw string enclosure may also be attached to the full waist of the garment for raising the garment for walking purposes; (b) a draw string enclosure may also be attached to the hood of the garment for drawing the hood to the face; (c) the garment can be customized for school sports teams, professional sports teams, organizations, etc. to display emblems, mascots, logos, etc.; (d) a water-repellant material can be used to make the garment for outdoor use; (e) incorporating wearable electronics, a feature where a connection for an electronic wearable device (i.e. remote, I pod or other device) is sewn within some part of the garment, like the hood, or an electronic device is sewn on some part of the garment, like the sleeve; (f) a flame resistant material can be used to make the garment; and (f) air vents in areas of the garment for more comfort control.
The preferred attachment means for garment front closure is a zipper; however, other similar attachment means, such as snaps, buttons, Velcro, or others could likewise be used.
The preferred attachment means for securing the foot pouch opening to the front portion of the garment is strips of Velcro material; however, other similar attachments means, such as snaps, buttons, zippers, or others could likewise be used.
The preferred attachment means for securing the garment to walk around in is snaps; however, other similar attachment means, such as buttons, cords, or others could likewise be used.
The preferred insulation is polyester fiber; however, other similar insulation means could likewise be used.
The body comforter garment comes in various sizes from infant to adult and a variety of colors. The present invention makes it possible for anyone to be cozy and warm from head to toe while reading, watching television, traveling, attending sporting events, flying, hunting, camping, etc. Localities that may find this invention useful are college dorms, hospitals, airlines, winter sporting resorts, etc. Uses of the body comforter garment can be therapeutic, used as a bed accessory, a bath accessory, sporting gear, which may also include a flame retardant fabric. These are only examples. Due to the versatility of the garment, the uses are unlimited and innumerable and should therefore not be restricted to the examples given. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiment(s) illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. A body comforter garment that converts from a body comforter garment to a pillow or vice versa by rolling said garment into a foot pouch, the body comforter garment comprising:

(a) an elongated body with a front portion and a back portion that extends from an upper shoulder edge to a feet edge to fully cover an upper body and lower body of a wearer, wherein said front portion is two pieces, the elongated body further having a neck opening along said upper shoulder edge of said front portion and said back portion, wherein said feet edge is closed and a bottom edge of said front remains unattached from said feet edge;

(b) a pair of sleeves on opposite sides of said elongated body for receiving arms of the wearer;

(c) a hand pouch attached at a lower end of each pair of said sleeves for receiving hands of the wearer, wherein said hand pouch has a hand pouch opening at an upper edge of said hand pouch that will allow the hands of the wearer to be removed from said garment;

(d) a foot pouch attached to lower portion of said front portion for receiving feet of the wearer, wherein said foot pouch has a foot pouch opening at an upper edge of said foot pouch that will allow the feet of the wearer to be removed from said garment and a bottom edge of said foot pouch is attached to a bottom edge of said back portion to form said feet edge, said foot pouch opening is secured to said front portion with a zipper, buttons, Velcro, snaps, or similar attachment means;

(e) means for attaching said two pieces of said front portion along an upper center using a zipper, buttons, Velcro, snaps, or similar attachment means, to allow for entering and exiting said garment, while a lower center of said front portion is closed with a stitch; and

(f) means for attaching a lower portion of said garment to a higher portion of said garment using snaps, Velcro, hooks, buttons, elastic cord, or similar attachment means, to permit the wearer of said garment to walk around,

2. The garment as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a hood attached to said garment along said neck opening of said front portion and said back portion for covering the head of the wearer;

3. The garment as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hood is attached to said garment with a zipper, buttons, Velcro, snaps, or similar attachment means, and can be detached from said garment;

4. The garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sleeves are cut as part of a bodice of said front portion and said back portion;

5. The garment as claimed in claim 1, further comprising three layers, a top layer made of fabric material, an inner layer of polyester fiber, a polyester fiber with resins, a micro fiber, or similar insulation means, and a bottom layer made of fabric material;

6. The garment as claimed in claim 5, wherein said layers are kept in close proximity to each other through a form of quilted stitching;

7. The garment as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pockets stitched to said garment for holding items of the wearer;

8. The garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said garment can be conveniently rolled into said foot pouch when said garment is not being worm, thereby forming said pillow; and

9. The garment as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a means for carrying said garment after converting to said pillow using cord, straps, or similar carrying means attached to an end of said pillow.

10. A body comforter garment that converts from a body comforter garment to a pillow or vice versa by rolling said garment into a foot pouch, the body comforter garment comprising:

(a) an elongated body with a front portion and a back portion that extends from an upper shoulder edge to a feet edge to fully cover an upper body and lower body of a wearer, wherein said front portion is two pieces, the elongated body further having a neck opening along said upper shoulder edge of said front portion and said back portion;

(d) a detachable foot pouch connected to a lower portion of said garment for receiving the feet of the wearer; and

(e) means for attaching said two pieces of said front portion along upper center using a zipper, buttons, Velcro, snaps, or similar attachment means, to allow for entering and exiting said garment, while a lower center of said front portion is closed with a stitch.

11. The garment as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a hood attached to said garment along said neck opening of said front portion and said back portion for covering the head of the wearer;

12. The garment as claimed in claim 11, wherein said hood is attached to said garment with a zipper, buttons, Velcro, snaps, or similar attachment means, and can be detached from said garment;

13. The garment as claimed in claim 10, wherein said sleeves are cut as part of a bodice of said front portion and said back portion;

14. The garment as claimed in claim 10, wherein said foot pouch is attached to said garment with a zipper, buttons, Velcro, snaps, or similar attachment means, and can be detached to allow the feet of the wearer to be removed from said garment to permit the wearer of said garment to walk around, said foot pouch is closed along bottom edge to form said feet edge;

15. The garment as claimed in claim 10, further comprising three layers, a top layer made of fabric material, an inner layer of polyester fiber, a polyester fiber with resins, a micro fiber, or similar insulation means, and a bottom layer made of fabric material;

16. The garment as claimed in claim 15, wherein said layers are kept in close proximity to each other through a form of quilted stitching;

17. The garment as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a plurality of pockets stitched to said garment for holding items of the wearer;

18. The garment as claimed in claim 10, wherein said garment can be conveniently rolled into said foot pouch when said garment is not being worn, thereby forming said pillow; and

19. The garment as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a means for carrying said garment after converting to said pillow using cord, straps, or similar carrying means attached to an end of said pillow.

20. A method for raising a body comforter garment to allow a wearer to walk around, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a body comforter garment with a front portion and a back portion that extends from an upper shoulder edge to a feet edge, wherein the feet edge is closed and a bottom edge of the front portion remains unattached from the feet edge, a hood attached along the neck opening of the garment, a pair of sleeves on opposite sides of the garment, a hand pouch attached at a lower end of each pair of sleeves, wherein the hand pouch has a hand pouch opening at an upper edge of the hand pouch, a foot pouch attached to a lower portion of the front portion, wherein the foot pouch has a foot pouch opening at an upper edge of the foot pouch and a bottom edge of the foot pouch is attached to a bottom edge of the back portion to form the feet edge, snaps, buttons, or a similar attachment means, is attached at the bottom right and left edges of the inner foot pouch, an attachment means is attached at a higher portion of the garment along the left and right side seams of the garment, an attachment means is attached at a higher portion of the garment along the center seam and an attachment means is attached at the bottom center of the front portion of the garment;

(b) reconfiguring the foot pouch by turning the foot pouch inside out;

(c) folding the foot pouch towards the back of the garment and connecting the snaps, or similar attachment means, located at the edge of the foot pouch to the snaps, or similar attachment means, located on the left and right side of the garment; and

(d) bringing the bottom edge of the front portion of the garment up towards the center of the garment and connecting the snaps, or similar attachment, located at the bottom center of the front portion to the snaps, or similar attachment, located at the center seam of the front portion.

whereby said body comforter garment provides comfort, warmth and security to the wearer's full body and it can be easily transformed from a body comforter garment to a pillow or vice versa.