US20150101098A1

US20150101098A1 - Multi-purpose cover garment

Info

Publication number: US20150101098A1
Application number: US14/050,970
Authority: US
Inventors: Leah Mcneill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-10-10
Filing date: 2013-10-10
Publication date: 2015-04-16

Abstract

A multi-purpose garment cover comprising a generally rectangular body with a centrally disposed aperture. The rectangular body is a thin, flexible, waterproof structure sized to cover the entire upper body of a user when the multi-purpose garment cover is worn by the user. The aperture is defined by an arcuate shape at a first side and an angled shape at a second side. The aperture is the portion of the multi-purpose garment cover through which a user's head passes when the multi-purpose garment cover is put on or taken off by a user. The distinct shapes of the opposing first side and second side allow the aperture to be aligned on a user in a plurality of distinct positions on a user.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to wearable utilities and, more particularly, to a multi-purpose cover garment for protecting a user's clothing from spills.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As eating is a part of everyone's life, spilling food being eaten on one's clothing is something that touches everyone's life. Other activities, such as applying makeup, coloring hair, and cutting/styling hair also commonly result in an individual staining or otherwise soiling their clothing in an undesirable manner. Many solutions to the threat of staining or soiling one's clothing often involve a placing some form of temporary covering over clothing during certain activities. Bibs, a common covering for the young and the elderly though not widely used by people of most ages, provide a basic form of protection which typically spans from the area beneath a wearer's chin vertically down to the wear's midsection. A problem which still exists, however, is that common coverings such as bibs fail to provide protection over a wearer's entire upper body. Furthermore, larger, more complete coverings, such as barber capes, utilize fasteners which often makes it difficult for a user to put them on correctly without assistance. Thus, there remains a need for a multi-purpose cover garment which would provide cover a wearer's entire upper body and protect it from staining or soiling while the user ate or performed other activities. It would be helpful if such a multi-purpose cover garment eliminated the need for assistance to put on correctly. It would be additionally desirable for such a multi-purpose cover garment to be foldable so as to be stored in a pocket sized container.
The Applicant's invention described herein provides for cover garment adapted to cover a user's entire upper body during activities which may result in staining or soiling of the user's clothing. The primary components of Applicant's multi-purpose cover garment is a rectangular sheet having a centrally disposed aperture. When in operation, the multi-purpose cover garment allows a user put it on and align it by simply sliding her head through the aperture and rotating it until the aperture is oriented in the desired location. As a result, many of the limitations imposed prior art structures are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A multi-purpose garment cover for covering the upper body of a user and protecting the user's clothing from staining or soiling during certain activities. The multi-purpose garment cover comprises a generally rectangular body with a centrally disposed aperture. The rectangular body is constructed of a thin, flexible material which is impervious to liquids and can be folded in half a plurality of times. The rectangular body is sized to cover the entire upper body of a user when the multi-purpose garment cover is worn by the user. As such, the rectangular body provides a body means for covering. The aperture is defined by its arcuate shape at a first side and its angled shape at its second side. The aperture is the portion of the multi-purpose garment cover through which a user's head passes when the multi-purpose garment cover is put on or taken off by a user. In this way, the aperture serves as a means for receiving a users head. The distinct shapes of the opposing first side and second side allow the aperture to be aligned on a user in a plurality of distinct positions on a user. In some embodiments, the rectangular body includes a collar portion which is a fabric material adapted to add comfort to the area of the aperture which touches the user's skin. The collar portion thus provides a collar means for softening edges.
It is an object of this invention to provide an extension bar for a multi-purpose cover garment which would provide cover a wearer's entire upper body and protect it from staining or soiling while the user ate or performed other activities.
It is another object of this invention to provide a multi-purpose cover garment which eliminates the need for assistance to put on correctly.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a multi-purpose cover garment which is foldable so as to be stored in a pocket sized container.
These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a multi-purpose garment cover built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a multi-purpose garment cover built in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 and 2, a multi-purpose garment cover 10 is shown having a generally rectangular body 11 with a centrally disposed aperture 12. The rectangular body 11 is constructed of a thin, flexible material which is impervious to liquids and can be folded in half a plurality of times. In one embodiment, the rectangular body 11 can be folded in half seven times. The rectangular body 11 is sized to cover the entire upper body of a user when the multi-purpose garment cover 10 is worn by the user. As such, it is contemplated that the rectangular body 11 can be constructed in a plurality of sizes so as to be suitable to be worn by user's of all sizes.
The aperture 12 is defined by its arcuate shape at a first side 13 and its angled shape at its second side 14. The aperture 12 is the portion of the multi-purpose garment cover 10 through which a user's head passes when the multi-purpose garment cover 10 is put on by a user and is sized to allow the user's head pass through to allow the rectangular body 11 to rest on the user's shoulders. The distinct shapes of the opposing first side 13 and second side 14 allow the aperture 12 to be aligned on a user in a plurality of distinct positions and direct maximum coverage in a desired direction without requiring the multi-purpose garment cover 10 to fit snugly around the entirety of the user's neck. In this regard, maximum the multi-purpose garment cover 10 is configured to provide maximum coverage to the area covered by the first side 13 and allow for some ventilation and air flow to a user's neck and body by way of the second side 14. For example, when a user desires to use the multi-purpose garment cover 10 while eating or breastfeeding, the user will align the multi-purpose garment cover 10 so that the first side 13 is under the user's chin, directing maximum coverage toward the front of the user's body while still allowing for some ventilation and air flow at the back of the user's neck. In contrast, when a user desires to use the multi-purpose garment cover 10 while coloring, cutting, or styling their hair, the user will align the multi-purpose garment cover 10 so that the first side 13 is at the back of the user's neck or one of the sides of the user's neck, depending on where on the head the coloring, cutting, or styling is taking place. It is understood that as the multi-purpose garment cover 10 is constructed in a plurality of sizes so as to be suitable to be worn by user's of all sizes, the aperture 12 will vary in size (but not in shape) to allow for different size heads to fit.
In one embodiment, the rectangular body 11 includes a collar portion 15 around the aperture. The collar portion 15 is a fabric material adapted to soften the edges so as to add comfort to the area of the aperture 12 which touches the user's skin.
It is understood that the multi-purpose garment cover 10 can also serve as a substitute for jackets or overcoats due to its nature as a waterproof upper body cover.
It is contemplated that the multi-purpose garment cover 10 can also serve as a privacy cover for nursing mothers or others desiring to cover portions of their upper body while in public. When nursing, the aperture 12 can be aligned with the front side next to the baby to reduce or eliminate the risk of suffocation.
It is further contemplated that by not having any fasteners, slits, compartments (such as a hood portion) or aperture for other limbs, the multi-purpose garment cover 10 is adapted to be easier to put on and take off than know structures.
The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-purpose garment cover, comprising a cover body having a centrally disposed head aperture sized to allow a human user's head pass through to allow the cover body to rest on the user's shoulders, said head aperture defined by a first side having an arcuate shape and a second side having an angled shape.

2. The multi-purpose garment cover of claim 1, wherein the cover body is defined by a rectangular shape.

3. The multi-purpose garment cover of claim 1, wherein the cover body is constructed of a thin, flexible material.

4. The multi-purpose garment cover of claim 3, wherein the material of which the cover body is constructed is adapted to be able to fold in half at least seven times.

5. The multi-purpose garment cover of claim 1, wherein the cover body includes a collar portion defined as a fabric material which is adapted to soften the edges of the area of the head aperture which touches the user's skin.

6. The multi-purpose garment cover of claim 1, wherein the cover body is free from any fasteners, slits, compartments (such as a hood portion) or apertures other than said head aperture.

7. A multi-purpose garment cover, comprising a body means for covering having a means for receiving a users head.

8. The multi-purpose garment cover of claim 7, wherein the body means for covering includes a collar means for softening edges.