Apparel – Body garments
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-22
2001-04-24
Hale, Gloria M. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Body garments
C002S069500, C002S080000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219847
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to garments.
2. Prior Art
People like to wear warm, comfortable garments at home in cold weather. Instead of bulky clothes, some people prefer to wrap themselves in a blanket when reading, watching television, or lounging around. Although blankets are comfortable, they are cumbersome to handle, and they tend to uncover parts of the body or fall off when the wearer shifts or stands up. Wearers must constantly struggle with them.
One-piece lounging garments are known in the prior art for covering most of the body without falling off. They typically include front closures with fasteners, such as zippers, buttons, or snaps. Some have separate side pockets for warming the hands, and some have holes at the feet end for the feet to stick out. However, the front closures require the wearer to stand up to put them on or take them off. This is at least inconvenient for able and healthy people, and quite difficult for elderly, wheelchair bound, or bedridden people. They cannot be worn backward because the collars are cut higher at the back than at the front, which makes the collars uncomfortable to wear in a reversed position. Even if they are worn backward with the front closure on the back, the fasteners on the closure would be difficult to reach and operate, especially for the elderly or disabled. Hair can snag on the fasteners, and sitting or lying on the fasteners is uncomfortable. The garments without leg holes must be removed from the legs for walking, and the wearer must hold the lower end of the garment to avoid tripping.
OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the objectives of the present cocoon garment are:
to provide warmth to the whole body while reading, watching television, or lounging around;
to not uncover the body or fall off when the wearer shifts or walks;
to be easy to put on or take off while sitting or lying down;
to be comfortable to sit on or lie on;
to warm the hands;
to enable the wearer to walk while still wearing it;
to enable the wearer to walk without having to hold the lower end of it;
to be storable within its own pouch or foot pocket when not being worn; and
to be usable as a decorative pillow for a bed or couch when rolled up.
Further objectives of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present cocoon garment is comprised of a tubular body continuously extending between a shoulder end and a feet end for fully covering the torso and legs. A neck opening is provided at the center of the shoulder end, and is cut lower at the front than at the back for comfort. A pair of sleeves are attached to opposite sides of the shoulder end for covering the arms. A center pocket is provided at the front of the tubular body, and includes openings on opposite sides for receiving the hands. A longitudinal slit is provided on the back of the tubular body for entry and exit, even when sitting or lying down. The slit is completely free of fasteners for comfort when sitting or lying on it. Since a person would be mostly sitting or lying down when wearing the garment, the slit does not need to be closed with fasteners anyway. The feet end is removed from the legs for walking. The loose feet end can be raised to avoid tripping by tying it to a higher portion of the garment with cords.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2478239 (1949-08-01), Chinn
patent: 2562061 (1951-07-01), Peterson
patent: 2579276 (1951-12-01), Schworm
patent: 2723398 (1955-11-01), Tuteur
patent: 2967306 (1961-01-01), Fabanich
patent: 3812539 (1974-05-01), Muehlberg et al.
patent: 4083064 (1978-04-01), Schneider
patent: 4240159 (1980-12-01), Wrightson
patent: 4507805 (1985-04-01), Calutoiu
patent: 4759082 (1988-07-01), Mulligan
patent: 4901371 (1990-02-01), Christians
patent: 4932077 (1990-06-01), Dobbs
patent: 5560043 (1996-10-01), Armstrong
patent: 5611082 (1997-03-01), Bull
patent: 5621917 (1997-04-01), Howsden
patent: 5970542 (1999-10-01), Mays
patent: 6061831 (2000-05-01), Rudolph et al.
patent: 6076186 (2000-06-01), Grose
“One Piece Polartec Lounger” on p. 47 of the Lands End catalog, Christmas 1998.
“Body Quilt” on p.116 of the Lillian Vernon catalog, Christmas 1998.
Hale Gloria M.
Lo Jack
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