Garment

Abstract

Garments having a panel of fabric comprising a first half and a second half joined along a common foldline, a first opening formed proximate the foldline, and at least one cooperating fastener positioned on at least one of the first half and the second half of the panel for securing the first half of the panel to the second half of the panel. The garments may be worn individually by one person, or in multiple interconnecting more than one person.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A garment comprising: 
 a panel of fabric comprising a first half and a second half joined along a common foldline;    a first opening formed proximate the foldline; and    at least one cooperating fastener positioned on at least one of the first half and the second half of the panel for securing the first half of the panel to the second half of the panel.    
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener comprises a male component and a female component, the male component positioned on one of the first half and the second half of the panel and the female component positioned on the other of the first half and the second half of the panel.  
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 2  wherein the panel comprises a material selected from the group consisting of cotton, polyester, rayon, linen, nylon, wool, silk, rubber, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 2  wherein the at least one fastener is selected from the group consisting of a hook, a button, a Velcro tab, a snap, a zipper, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 2  wherein each of the first half and the second half includes opposing longitudinal edges comprising one of the male and female components of the at least one fastener.  
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 5  comprising a plurality of fasteners, wherein the opposing longitudinal edges of the first half comprise al of the male components or all of the female components of the plurality of fasteners.  
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 5  wherein each of the first half and the second half of the panel further comprise a transverse edge opposing the foldline, wherein the transverse edge of the first half comprises one of the male component and the female component of the at least one fastener and the transverse edge of the second half comprises the other of the male component and the female component of the at least one fastener.  
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising a pair of second openings in at least one of the first half and the second half of the panel.  
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising a hood attached to the panel proximate the first opening.  
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the first opening comprises a lining.  
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising at least one image on at least one of the first and the second half of the panel.  
     
     
         12 . A garment comprising: 
 a panel of fabric having a first half, a second half, and a central opening therebetween, the first half and second half comprising opposing longitudinal edges, and having a common foldline proximate the central opening; and    a plurality of fasteners, each fastener comprising a male component and a female component, the male components positioned proximate the longitudinal edges of one of the first half and the second half of the panel and the female components positioned proximate the longitudinal edges of the other of the first half and the second half of the panel, wherein the male components are adapted to attach to the female components for securing the first half of the panel to the second half of the panel.    
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 12  wherein the panel comprises a material selected from the group consisting of cotton, polyester, rayon, linen, nylon, wool, silk, rubber, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 12  wherein the fasteners are selected from the group consisting of a hook, a button, a Velcro tab, a snap, a zipper, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The garment of  claim 12  further comprising at least one image on at least one of the first and the second half of the panel.  
     
     
         16 . The garment of  claim 12  wherein each of the first half and second half of the panel further comprise a transverse edge opposing the foldline, wherein the longitudinal edge of the first and second halves is about 45 inches long and the opposing transverse edges are about 60 inches wide.  
     
     
         17 . The garment of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of fasteners comprise strips of about 36 inches, the strips having thereon one of the male and the female fastener components spaced about two inches apart.  
     
     
         18 . The garment of  claim 17  wherein the fasteners are snaps.  
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing a garment for wear by a person, the method comprising: 
 providing a panel of fabric having a first half, a second half, and a central opening therebetween, the first half and second half comprising opposing longitudinal edges, and having a common foldline proximate the central opening;    providing at least one fastener comprising a male component and a female component, wherein the male component is adapted to attach to the female component; and    positioning the male component on one of the first half and the second half of the panel and the female component on the other of the first half and the second half of the panel for attaching the first half of the panel to the second half of the panel.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising providing instructions for wearing the garment.  
     
     
         21 . A method of providing warmth to a person, the method comprising: 
 providing a garment for placement on the person's shoulders, the garment comprising a fabric panel having a first half, a second half, and a central opening therebetween, and a plurality of fasteners, each fastener comprising a male component and a female component, the male components positioned proximate the longitudinal edges of one of the first half and the second half of the panel and the female components positioned proximate the longitudinal edges of the other of the first half and the second half of the panel, wherein the male components are adapted to attach to the female components for securing the first half of the panel to the second half of the panel; and    instructing the person to place the garment on the person's shoulders and to fasten the male components to the female components for securing the garment around the person thereby providing warmth to the person.