SUN PROTECTIVE GARMENT

Abstract

A protective garment that can be interchangeably positioned is provided for covering and protecting selected portions of a wearer's head, neck and upper body from direct exposure to the sun. The garment includes a torso portion, left and right sleeve portions, and a head and neck portion that may be interchangeably positioned to cover different portions of a wearer's head and face, including the wearer's nose, mouth, ears, chin, as well as the top of the wearer's head, while leaving the eyes of the wearer unblocked. Preferred configurations of the head and neck portion include covering the wearer's nose, mouth, and ears; covering the wearer's ears and head top; covering the wearer's nose, mouth, ears, and head top; and covering only the wearer's neck. In a preferred embodiment, the wearer's neck remains covered and protected from sun exposure at all times.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to sun protective garments and, more particularly, to a protective garment that can be interchangeably positioned to cover and protect selected portions of a wearer's head, neck and upper body from the sun.

[0003] 2. Discussion of the Related Art

[0004] Individuals who are outside in the sun for extended periods of time are at a risk of exposing their skin to potentially harmful UV radiation. Fishermen, for example, can be working on a boat for several hours during the day and are exposed to natural sunlight as well as the reflection of sunlight off the water. Applying sun screen can be a cumbersome process and leaves a residue on an individual's skin after application. Therefore, individuals often prefer to wear clothing or other materials, such as shirts and hats or visors, for preventing direct exposure of sun light to skin. While some articles of clothing for preventing exposure of sun light to particular areas of a wearer's face have been developed, the majority of these articles do not permit a user to selectively cover and protect different portions of the wearer's head while also protecting the wearer's neck and upper body.

[0005] Considering the shortcomings of presently available sun protective garments, there exists a need for a protective garment that can be interchangeably positioned to cover and protect selected portions of a wearer's head, neck and upper body from the sun.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Considering the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a garment that protects selected parts of the wearer's body from the sun.

[0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a garment that can be interchangeably positioned for covering selected portions of a wearer's head.

[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a garment that can be easily interchanged from one configuration to another by the wearer in response to different weather conditions.

[0009] It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a garment that includes a shirt for protecting a wearer's torso and arms from the sun.

[0010] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent with reference to the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention is directed to a protective garment that can be interchangeably positioned to cover and protect selected portions of a wearer's head, neck and upper body from direct exposure to the sun. The garment includes a torso portion, left and right sleeve portions, and a head and neck portion that may be interchangeably positioned to cover different portions of a wearer's head and face, including the wearer's nose, mouth, ears, chin, as well as the top of the wearer's head, while leaving the eyes of the wearer unblocked. Preferred configurations of the head and neck portion include covering the wearer's nose, mouth, and ears; covering the wearer's ears and head top; covering the wearer's nose, mouth, ears, and head top; and covering only the wearer's neck. In a preferred embodiment, the wearer's neck remains covered and protected from sun exposure at all times. The garment may be made from materials suitable to be worn by a user and sufficient to protect a user from potentially harmful UV rays.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the sun protective garment of the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the sun protective garment of the present invention being worn on a user and positioned according to one embodiment;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the sun protective garment of the present invention being worn on a user and positioned according to one embodiment;

[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the sun protective garment of the present invention being worn on a user and positioned according to one embodiment; and

[0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the sun protective garment of the present invention being worn on a user and positioned according to one embodiment.

[0018] Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] Referring the several views of the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1, the sun protective garment of the present invention is shown and is generally indicated as 10.

[0020] The sun protective garment 10 includes a torso portion 12 for covering a wearer's torso, left and right sleeve portions 14A and 14B for covering a wearer's arms, and a head and neck portion 16 having an opening 18 that may be interchangeably positioned to cover and protect selected portions of a wearer's head and neck. The head and neck portion 16 of the sun protective garment 10 may be made from any material that is suitably elastic to be interchangeably worn about different portions of a wearer's neck and head without producing an excessive amount of slacking material when being worn in any particular configuration.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 2-5, the preferred configurations of the head and neck portion 16 on a wearer are illustrated, each covering a select combination of the wearer's nose, mouth, ears, chin and head top, while leaving the eyes of the wearer unblocked. The elastomeric properties of the head and neck portion 16 permit the user to easily interchange the garment 10 from one configuration to another. Specifically, FIG. 2 illustrates the sun protective garment 10 being worn by a user, wherein the head and neck portion 16 has been stretched into position for covering the wearer's nose, mouth, ears, chin and neck. FIG. 3 illustrates the sun protective garment 10 being worn by a user, wherein the head and neck portion 16 has been stretched into position for covering the wearer's chin and ears. FIG. 4 illustrates the sun protective garment 10 being worn by a user, wherein the head and neck portion 16 has been stretched into position for covering the wearer's nose, mouth, ears, chin, head top and neck. FIG. 4 illustrates the sun protective garment 10 being worn by a user, wherein the head and neck portion 16 is left around the wearer's neck such that no portion of the wearer's face is covered. Such a configuration may be desirable in a number of circumstances, such as after the sun goes down, during heavy cloud coverage, or if the wearer enters a location with roof coverage. In a preferred embodiment, the neck of a wearer remains covered in any particular configuration.

[0022] Configurations not illustrated in the drawings are permissible as well for covering different combinations of selected portions of the wearer's head and face.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the head and neck portion 16 is made out of an elastomeric material that conforms to the portions of the wearer's neck and head that the head and neck portion 16 is stretched around.

[0024] The sleeves 14A and 14B may be long-sleeved (as shown in FIG. 1) or short-sleeved. The torso portion 12 and left and right sleeve portions 14A and 14B may be made from any suitable material for covering and protecting the wearer's torso and arms from potentially harmful UV rays.

[0025] While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with several preferred and practical embodiments thereof, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are fully contemplated within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A garment for protecting a wearer from sun exposure, and said garment comprising: a torso member, a left sleeve member, and a right sleeve member; a head and neck member having an open bottom end fixed to said torso member and an open top end, said head and neck member being structured and disposed for being interchangeably positionable between a plurality of operative positions for covering selected portions of the wearer's neck and head; whereby a first of said plurality of operative positions protects the wearer's neck; whereby a second of said plurality of operative positions protects the wearer's neck, chin and ears; whereby a third of said plurality of operative positions protects the wearer's neck, chin, mouth, nose and ears; and whereby a fourth of said plurality of operative positions protects the wearer's neck, chin, mouth, nose, ears and head top.

2. The garment for protecting a wearer from sun exposure as recited in claim 1 wherein said head and neck member is elastomeric.

3. The garment for protecting a wearer from sun exposure as recited in claim 2 wherein said elastomeric head and neck member conforms to the selected portion of the wearer's neck and head said elastomeric head and neck member is stretched around.

4. The garment for protecting a wearer from sun exposure as recited in claim 1 wherein said left and right sleeve members are short-sleeved.

5. The garment for protecting a wearer from sun exposure as recited in claim 1 wherein said left and right sleeve members are long-sleeved.

6. A garment for protecting a wearer from sun exposure, and said garment comprising: a torso member, a left sleeve member, and a right sleeve member; an elastomeric head and neck member having an open bottom end fixed to said torso member and an open top end, and said elastomeric head and neck member being structured and disposed for being interchangeably positioned to cover selected portions of the wearer's neck and head; and whereby said elastomeric head and neck member is interchangeably positionable such that the open top end of said elastomeric head and neck member is stretched around a portion of the wearer's neck and head, and wherein said elastomeric head and neck member conforms to the selected portion of the wearer's neck and head said elastomeric head and neck member is stretched around.

7. The garment for protecting a wearer from sun exposure as recited in claim 6 wherein said left and right sleeve members are short-sleeved.

8. The garment for protecting a wearer from sun exposure as recited in claim 6 wherein said left and right sleeve members are long-sleeved.

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