Convertible outerwear garment with thermal insulation

Abstract

A garment for use by outdoors persons permits mobility and includes an integral foot and leg warming tubular bag section that is readily deployed without requiring removal of the garment. The garment including integral foot and leg warming tubular bag section may be carried initially in a bundle at the small of the back using straps in much the same manner as a fanny pack. The user unfastens and then drops the foot and leg warming tubular bag section of the garment to the floor, where a closure is provided to enable the bottom of the bag to be sealed around the legs and the feet. Once deployed and sealed, the bottom portion of the bag works much like a sleeping bag to conserve the body's heat.

1 . A convertible outerwear garment, comprising: 
 (a) a suit body having an upper collar opening for surrounding the neck of the wearer with the suit body extending downwardly from the collar opening to a generally horizontal open bottom or distal edge of the suit body for surrounding the legs of the wearer;    (b) said suit body having left and right arm openings each on a respective side of the suit body below said collar opening and carrying left and right sleeves or suit arms sewn into said arm openings at seams each surrounding a respective one of the arm openings;    (c) wherein said convertible garment is a one piece garment including an integral, unitary leg warming bag having an open distal end; said integral leg warming bag dimensioned to be extendable for surrounding and enveloping the feet and legs of a wearer;    (d) said integral unitary leg warming bag's open distal end including a closure, fastener or zipper that is conveniently closed when the wearer's feet and legs are enveloped within said leg bag;    (e) wherein said leg bag's closure is arranged such that the lower or distal end of the leg bag is closable or openable to define a distal tubular opening or flap with the bottom edge extending to a position depending from the bottom edge of garment, and    (f) wherein said bag's opening is operable to permit the bag's bottom edge to be bunched or rolled and moved to a stored position around the wearer's waist.    
   
   
       2 . The convertible outerwear garment of  claim 1 , further comprising an insulated hood, said hood being attached to and carried by said collar opening to be engageable over the head of a wearer.  
   
   
       3 . The convertible outerwear garment of  claim 2 , wherein said suit body, suit arms and hood comprise an insulating fleece, down, or other high-loft fiber material.  
   
   
       4 . The convertible outerwear garment of  claim 3 , wherein said suit body preferably has a front opening extending distally from the proximal collar opening toward the bottom edge; said front opening being closable by a manually operable closure member.  
   
   
       5 . The convertible outerwear garment of  claim 1 , wherein said integral foot and leg warming tubular bag section is readily deployed without requiring removal of said garment's suit body.  
   
   
       6 . The convertible outerwear garment of  claim 1 , wherein said integral foot and leg warming tubular bag section is carried initially in a bundle around the waist using straps in the same manner as a fanny pack.  
   
   
       7 . The convertible outerwear garment of  claim 1 , wherein said suit body includes an opening in a rear portion thereof for receiving a harness, a strap or other apparatus.  
   
   
       8 . The convertible outerwear garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a protective face shield, said face shield being attached to and carried by said collar opening to be engageable over the face, head and neck of a wearer.  
   
   
       9 . The convertible outerwear garment of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of said integral foot and leg warming tubular bag section comprises a planar configuration for allowing standing or movement thereon by a wearer.  
   
   
       10 . The convertible outerwear garment of  claim 1 , wherein said left and right suit arms are flared or oversized for increasing circulation of warm air to a wearer's appendages.  
   
   
       11 . The convertible outerwear garment of  claim 1 , wherein said garment is bunched or rolled and stored in a pocket proximate the bottom edge of said integral foot and leg warming tubular bag.  
   
   
       12 . The convertible outerwear garment of  claim 11 , wherein said stored garment is carried in a bundle at the small of the back using straps in the same manner as a fanny pack.  
   
   
       13 . The convertible outerwear garment of  claim 1 , wherein said integral foot and leg warming tubular bag section includes a drawstring, an elastic strap or other adjustable closure member adapted to be fitted over hips, knees, legs or feet of a wearer.  
   
   
       14 . The convertible outerwear garment of  claim 1 , wherein said integral foot and leg warming tubular bag section includes a compartment having retractable material for adding length to the garment to provide a modified fit for a wearer.