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  Garments with removable attachmentsUSPTO Application #: 20080005825Title: Garments with removable attachments Abstract: Disclosed herein are garments with removable attachments. The removable attachments can be attached to the garment and comprise at least a front and a back panel that can be connected at a location below the shoulders of a user wearing the garment. (end of abstract)
Agent: Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP (formerly Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham) - Boston, MA, US Inventor: Elin Irene Tronvold USPTO Applicaton #: 20080005825 - Class: 002095000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Apparel, Body Garments, Coats, Combined With Vest Or Shirt The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080005825. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/816,886, filed on Jun. 28, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. FIELD [0002] The present invention relates to garments with removable attachments. The removable attachments can be attached to the garment near the shoulders and comprise at least a front and a back panel that can be connected at a location or point below the shoulders of a user wearing the garment. BACKGROUND [0003] There are many instances where individuals are required, or it would be helpful, to carry an additional garment layer in the general form of a vest. By way of non-limiting example, when working near roadways, police officers and road crews are often required to wear reflective vests over their uniforms to provide visibility protection from traffic. Carrying these reflective vests is often not convenient and they can be frequently lost or forgotten. Lost or forgotten reflective vests add operational costs and can decrease individual and group safety. Accordingly, there exists a need for a garment that includes a removable attachment that can be deployed when needed without the user having to bring it separately and/or carry it. [0004] In keeping with this general benefit, U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,838 relates to a jacket with an attached rain poncho. The jacket of this patent has a pocket defined in the back of the jacket with a poncho contained therein. In the event of rain, the poncho can be withdrawn and placed over the head and body of the user. While the jacket described in this patent addresses a need to be protected from rain, ponchos limit movement, especially of the arms, and as a result do not allow free use of the user's arms. Further, loose clothing such as a poncho may become entangled in moving parts of apparatus such as machinery, car doors, and cables/wires and thus may not be suitable in many situations. [0005] Based on the foregoing, there exists a need for a garment with a removable attachment that can be deployed as desired while still allowing free use of the arms when deployed. The present invention addresses this need, among others. SUMMARY [0006] The present invention provides a garment with a removable attachment that can be deployed from an opening in the garment, preferably near the shoulders. The removable attachment comprises at least two panels and in most embodiments, will comprise three panels. When two panels are provided, the first panel is positioned in the front of the user and the second panel is positioned in the back of the user and the two panels can be attached at one or more locations below the shoulders of the user. When three panels are provided, two "half" panels are positioned in the front of the user, each over an opposite shoulder and the third panel is positioned in the back of the user. Each front panel is connected to the back panel at one or more locations below the respective shoulder of the user. These garments allow the creation of, in one embodiment, a vest-type structure that can allow free use of the arms. [0007] Specifically, one embodiment of a garment according to the present invention comprises (or defines) an opening and a removable attachment attached to the garment near the opening, wherein the removable attachment comprises at least two panels and wherein the removable attachment can be inserted through the opening and hidden from view or can be withdrawn through the opening and deployed over the garment. In an embodiment with at least two panels, the two panels can comprise a front panel with an opening through which the head of a user can pass and a back panel. In this embodiment, after being withdrawn through the opening the front panel can be brought over the head of the user so that the head would pass through the opening and the front panel would be positioned across the front of the user and after being withdrawn through the opening the back panel can be dropped into position across the back of the user. In one such embodiment, each of the front panel and the back panel can comprise complementary connecting elements whereby the front panel and the back panel can be connected, preferably in at least one location under the shoulders of the user. [0008] Another embodiment of the removable attachment according to the present invention comprises three panels including one back panel and two front panels. In this embodiment, after being withdrawn through the opening of the garment, one front panel can be brought over one shoulder to the front of a user, the second front panel can be brought over the other shoulder to the front of the user, and the back panel can be dropped into position across the back of the user. In one such embodiment, each of the front panels and the back panel can comprise complementary connecting elements whereby each of the two front panels can be connected to the back panel, preferably in at least one location under the shoulders of the user. In one three panel embodiment of the present invention, the two front panels can comprise complementary connecting elements whereby the two front panels can be connected together. [0009] Panels according to the present invention can comprise a feature selected from the group consisting of a reflective portion, a pouch, a pocket, a clip and combinations thereof. [0010] In one embodiment according to the present invention, the removable attachment comprises a vest or a bib. In another embodiment, the garment is an article of clothing selected from the group consisting of a jacket, a shirt, a sweater, a sweatshirt, a coat, a onesy, and a dress. In a certain embodiment, the garment is a jacket and the removable attachment is a reflective vest. [0011] Garments according to the present invention include garments manufactured to be worn by one or more of, without limitation, a police officer, a sheriff, a deputy, a fireman, a construction worker, a road crew worker, a ski patrol member, a crossing guard, an airport employee, a baby, a toddler, a hunter, a boater, a biker, a soldier, a runner and a member of a team. [0012] The present invention also includes methods of manufacturing and using the described garment embodiments. Specifically, the garment of the present invention can be transformed from one configuration to another. More specifically, in a certain embodiment, if the removable attachment is positioned in the interior of the garment, it can be withdrawn through the opening of the garment, and the panels of the removable attachment can be connected to one another. This operation can also be performed in reverse: if the removable attachment is visible on the exterior of the garment, the panels of the removable attachment can be unconnected, and the removable attachment can be inserted through the opening of the garment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0013] FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of a garment according to the present invention. [0014] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1. [0015] FIG. 3 is another front view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 showing the front of a removable attachment. [0016] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3. [0017] FIG. 5 shows a potential position of a removable attachment when it is not deployed. [0018] FIGS. 6 and 7 depict a front view and a back view respectively of a removable attachment separated from a garment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0019] The present invention is described in relation to individuals requiring reflective vests during working hours, however, as will be evident from the following description, the garments of the present invention have a wide range of useful applications. Continue reading... Full patent description for Garments with removable attachments Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Garments with removable attachments patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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