Convertible Garment

This invention relates to an article useful as outerwear. It is often necessary to remove outer garments as the ambient temperature increases. In most cases, there is no place to store the garment removed so that one has to carry it along, that is, a hand is inevitably tied up by the garment. Also, there is a possibility that the garment may be lost. Moreover, when it is also necessary to carry other items, one has his hands already full.

A primary object of the invention, accordingly, is to provide a convertible article useful as outwear and a carrying bag or knapsack by putting some of it into the rest.

A second object of the invention is to provide a convertible garment, which can be used as a bag or knapsack to carry small-sized goods in it.

A third object of the invention is to provide a convertible garment, which can be carried along on the back in the form of a knapsack with its fastening strings passed round the shoulders.

The above and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description when the same is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are respectively front and back views showing an embodiment of the convertible garment of the invention unfolded;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A--A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of fastening strings retained along the lower edge of the garment;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the garment folded to form a knapsack; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views showing the garment converted into a knapsack.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, a convertible garment 1 capable of being used both as a jacket and as a knapsack according to the invention essentially comprises a trunk portion 2, sleeve portions 3 and a hood portion 4. The trunk portion 2 is provided along its lower edge with a string retainer portion 19. Two fastening strings 5 and 6 are inserted and retained in the string retainer tube 19 in a looped form as shown in FIG. 4. End portions 7 and 8 of the fastening strings 5 and 6 protrude from the string retainer portion 19 to the outside. The opposite end portions 7 and 8 of the respective fastening strings 5 and 6 are tied by short bars 9 so that they can be readily pulled out.

In the trunk portion 2, a fastener track 12 is provided to extend transversely across the front part 10 of the trunk portion 2. Also, a second fastener track 13 is provided to extend transversely across the back part 11 of the trunk portion 2. These first and second fastener tracks 12 and 13 are provided on the trunk portion 2 slightly below the sleeve portions 3. The first and second fastener tracks 12 and 13 constitute a fastener which can be fastened and released with a slider 14. The trunk portion 2 is further provided in its back part 11 and near the opposite ends of the second fastener track 13 with hooks 15 and 16, on which the ends 7 and 8 of the fastening strings 5 and 6 can be hooked. A breast portion 20 of the garment 1 is provided with a fastener 16 which can be fastened and released. The front part 10 of the garment 1 is provided with a pocket 18 which can be opened and closed with a fastener 17.

The convertible garment as described above can be worn as a jacket in the form shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 when going on a hike. When the garment 1 is no longer worn, it can be converted to a bag or knapsack. FIG. 5 shows the garment 1 folded by putting the sleeve portions 3, the hood portion 4 and the breast portion 20 of the trunk portion 2, i.e., the portion of the garment 1 above the fastener tracks 12 and 13, into the rest of the trunk portion 2 and then fastening together the fastener tracks 12 and 13 with slider 14. FIGS. 6 and 7 show a knapsack that is obtained by subsequently pulling out the end portions 7 and 8 of the fastening strings 5 and 6 and hooking them on the hooks 15 and 16. In the knapsack thus formed, an opening 21 is constituted by the lower edge of the trunk portion 2, along which the fastening strings 5 and 6 are retained. Small-sized goods can be put into this knapsack and carried along with it. This knapsack can be carried on the back with the strings 5 and 6 passed round the shoulders. Further, the knapsack can be carried along without the fastening strings 5 and 6 hooked on the hooks 15 and 16 but with the strings 5 and 6 gripped by hand.