Jacket Gaiter and Storage Apparatus

Abstract

The present invention comprises a garment, such as, for example, a jacket, having an attached, storable gaiter. The gaiter is stored in a storage space disposed about the hem of the garment and between the interior side and exterior side of the garment. When un-deployed, the gaiter resides in the storage space. When deployed, the gaiter extends from the storage space towards the hem of the garment to be secured about the wearer and inhibit the elements from entering the garment.

1 . A garment, comprising: 
 an interior side, an exterior side, and a lower hem;    an opening disposed in the interior side of the garment;    a closure mechanism coupled to the opening to allow opening and closing the opening;    a storage space disposed between the interior side and the exterior side of the garment and accessible through the opening;    a gaiter, the gaiter having a left side and a right side comprising a first end coupled to the storage space and a second, free end; and    the gaiter having an un-deployed state wherein the gaiter is contained within the storage space and the closure mechanism is closed to inhibit access to the storage space, and a deployed state wherein the gaiter extends from the storage space towards the hem and the closure mechanism is opened to provide access to the storage space, wherein    the gaiter is deployed to inhibit elements from entering the interior side of the garment.    
   
   
       2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the second, free end comprises an elastic.  
   
   
       3 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the left side has a part of a closure device and the right side has a corresponding part of the closure device such that the gaiter can be secured about the wearer.  
   
   
       4 . The garment of  claim 3 , wherein the closure device comprise hook and loop material.  
   
   
       5 . The garment of  claim 3 , wherein the closure device comprises a zipper.  
   
   
       6 . The garment of  claim 3 , wherein the closure device comprises a plurality of snaps.  
   
   
       7 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism is selected from the group of closure mechanisms consisting of: a zipper, hook and loop material, snaps, or adhesives.  
   
   
       8 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment is a jacket.  
   
   
       9 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the storage space disposed between the interior side and the exterior side comprises a back wall coupled to the exterior side to prevent the gaiter from folding over and hanging down when in the un-deployed state.  
   
   
       10 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the storage space comprises a front wall, a back wall, and a cover extending from the front wall to the back wall to prevent the gaiter from folding over and hanging down when in the un-deployed state.  
   
   
       11 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the opening extends substantially across a length of the interior side.  
   
   
       12 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the opening extends across less than an entire length of the interior side.  
   
   
       13 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the left side and the right side comprise corresponding closure flaps coupled to the gaiter.  
   
   
       14 . A method of deploying a gaiter comprising the steps of: 
 opening an opening in an interior of a garment;    accessing a storage space through the opening;    extending a gaiter stored in the storage space from a first end coupled to the storage space to a second, free end; and    securing the gaiter about a wearer.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the extending the gaiter step comprises extending the gaiter to substantially about a hem of the garment.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the securing the gaiter step comprises releasably coupling corresponding closure devices.  
   
   
       17 . The method of storing a gaiter comprising the steps of: 
 un-securing a gaiter from about a wearer;    folding the gaiter from a free end to a secured end in a storage space;    disposing the gaiter in the storage space;    closing an opening in the interior of a garment to retain the gaiter in the storage space.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the steps of: 
 un-securing the gaiter from about the wearer;    folding the gaiter from the second, free end to the first end coupled to the storage space;    disposing the gaiter in the storage space;    closing an opening in the interior of a garment to retain the gaiter in the storage space.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the opening step comprises releasably separating a closure mechanism.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the closing step comprises releasbly coupling the closure mechanism.