Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~L222iO~
The present invention generally relates to novel
wearing apparel and, specifically, to a hand or arm covering
such as a mitt or sleeve of coat.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The difficulties of inserting the hands or arms of
infants or invalids into mitts and coat sleeves are well
known to many people. In the case of mitts, the problem
resides in placing the hand in an open position within the
mitt with the thumb in a thumb stall. In the case of
sleeves, the difficulty resides in maintaining the arm
relatively straight and undersleeves in position as the arm
is moved along the sleeve. The present invention seeks to
provide a construction which considerably facilitates
application of a mitt or sleeve to the hand or arm of the
wearer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aforementioned problems are believed to be
overcome by the present invention. The article of clothing
of the present invention is constructed to assume two
configurations, one of which is substantially planar and open
and the other of which is substantially tubular with a closed
end. Releasable fastening means are provided to maintain the
closed, tubular configuration.
Thus, in the case of a mitt, to apply the mitt to
the hand of a wearer, whether infant, invalid or otherwise,
the mitt is simply laid outside surface down in the planar
configuration on a support surface, such as a table, lap or
the like, the hand is placed centrally of the blank in an
open condition, with the thumb inserted into a thumb stall if
same is provided, and the sides of the blank are wrapped
around the hand and secured together. The forward or free
end of the tubular configuration thus formed is then closed.
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lZ2Z102
Generally, therefore, the present invention provides
an aricle of clothing such as a mitt, sleeve or the like,
which is transformable between a planar, open configuration
and a closed, tubular configuration. The article comprises a
blank of flexible material having a pair of lateral edges, a
forward edge and a rearward edge. Releasable fastening means
are associated with the lateral edges and the forward edge
for releasably securing the lateral edges together after the
blank has been wrapped around an appendage and releasably
closing the forward end.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will
become more apparent from the following description in which
reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the mitt of the
present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the inside surface of the
mitt in an open condition;
FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the outside surface of
the mitt in an open condition;
FIGURE 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the
mitt taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken
along line 5-5 of Figure l;
FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of a mitt formed
with a thumbstall formed in accordance with a further aspect
of the present invention; and
FIGURE 7 is a view illustrating a mitt secured to
each sleeve of a coat.
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~222~02
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention will be described ~ith
reference to a mitt. However, as more fully explained laterl
the present invention is equally applicable to other forms of
5 ! clothing. The mitt 10 of the present invention is comprised
of a generally rectangular blank of flexible material,
preferrably multi-layer as explained later, having a pair of
opposed lateral edges 12 and 14, a forward transverse edge
16, a rearward transverse edge 18, an interior surface 20
(FIGURE 2) and an exterior surface 22 (FIGURE 3). The mitt
further includes releasable lateral edge fastening means 24
and releasable forward transverse edge fastening means 26.
The mitt is thus arranged to be transformed from the
planar or open configuration shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 to the
tubular or closed configuration, shown in FIGURE 1, in which
the lateral and forward edge fastening means have been
fastened.
Lateral edge fastening means 24 are preferrably
comprised of a strip of velcro~ 30 secured to inside surface
20 adjacent and parallel to lateral edge 12 and a strip of
velcro~ 32 secured to outside surface 22 adjacent and
parallel to lateral edge 14 so that, when installing the
mitt, lateral edge 12 is simply brought into parallel
overlapping relation to lateral edge 14 and pressed
thereagainst. However, it is to be understood that fastening
means 24 may alternatively consist of a zipper, snaps,
buttons and the like.
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~Z22102
Fasteniny means 26 serves to close or seal forward
edge 16 onto itself after the mitt has been wrapped around a
hand of the wearer and velcro strips 30 and 32 have been
secured together. Fastening means 26 preferrably comprises a
drawstring 34 which extends through a channel 36 formed
parallel to forward edge 16 by a hem 40 in the forward end of
the blank and held thereat by a line 42 of stitching.
Drawstring 34 emerges from channel 36 via conventional
eyelets 44 and 46 secured to the material in known fashion.
It will be understood that other forms of fastening means 26,
including snaps, zippers, buttons, velcro and the like, may
be utilized if desired without departing from the spirit of
the invention.
As previously mentioned, the mitt may be of
multi-layer construction and may include an outer protective
and water-proofed layer 50 comprising, for example, a
polyester cotton quilting mat, an intermediate, insulating
layer 52 comprising felt, batting or knitted wool, and an
inner layer 54 comprising a synthetic fleece, fur, terry
cloth or knitted wool. The mitt is formed by cutting the
three layers to the appropriate size and shape, folding the
lateral edges inwardly on themselvesl as shown in FIGURE 2,
and sewing in accordance with conventional practice.
Inner layer 54 may be formed such that its rearward
transverse edge extends beyond the corresponding edges of the
outer and intermediate layers so that it may be folded
outwardly on itself and thereby form a cuff 60, as best shown
in FIGURES 1 and 3-5. The forward edge 62 of inner layer 54
may be cut to form three arcuate portions 64, 66 and 68
(FIGURE 2) so as to simulate the shape in plan of a
conventional mitt when the blank is in its tubular
configuration.
~22102
Means is provided for sealing or closing the opening
formed at the forward end of the mitt in the tubular
configuration of the mitt. The means may be comprised of a
tab 70 whose opposed ends are secured together, to form a
tube 72, and which is secured to the mitt at one end of
forward edge 16 as best shown in FIGURE 2. The roll is
filled with material corresponding to that of the inner layer
54 and preferrably a strip of that material is extended into
tube 72. FIGURE ~ illustrates tube 72 closing and sealing
the opening formed at the forward end of the mitt in the
tubular configuration thereof.
While the above described construction is quite
adequate for young children, it is desirable to provide a
thumbstall for older children and adults to permit grasping
of articles. Any suitable thumbstall construction may be
utilized and located at the desired position on the blank
such as that indicated by dotted and dashed line 80. FIGURE
6 is a cross-sectional view of preferred thumbstall
construction. The thumbstall includes outer and intermediate
layers 74 and 75 formed of material corresponding to that of
layers 50 and 52, respectively. Layers 74 and 75 are
constructed in the form of truncated, oblique cones or
frustums whose bases are sewn to the periphery of an opening
76 formed in outer and intermediate layers 50 and 52 of the
mitt but not in inner layer 54. The material of layer 54 is
gently forced and stretched into the interior of the
thumbstall. This construction obviates the need of a seam in
the inner layer and is thus more confortable than
conventional thumbstalls.
.
It will be understood that the above described mitt
may be secured to or made integral with the sleeves of a
coat. As shown, FIGURE 7 illustrates a portion of the length
of the rear transverse edge 18 of a mitt secured to the end
of a sleeve of a coat. It will be understood that the entire
rearward edge of the mitt may be secured to the sleeve about
the periphery of the hand opening.
lZ;2Z~02
A still further modification of the mitt of the
present invention is to provide tabs 82 and 84 at the opposed
ends of rear edge 18 of the mitt so that the remote ends of
the mitt may be secured together in use or so that two mitts
may be secured together by means of a string extending
through the sleeves of a coat as is generally well known.
Alternatively, the aricle of the present invention
may constitute the entire sleeve of a jacket, coat or the
like with rear edge 18 secured to the shoulder portion of the
jacket. The rear edge 18 could be permanently secured to the
jacket or selectively, partially or totally, detachably
secured thereto by means such as velcro strips, zippers,
snaps and like fastening devices. Such arrangements still
further facilitate the dressing of children and invalids.
It will be understood that various other
modifications and alterations may be made to the invention
without departing from the spirit of the invention as set
forth in the appended claims.
