Foldable garment with stowage bag

Abstract

A foldable garment with stowage bag is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment a foldable garment with stowage bag comprises a front side connected to a back side by a substantially straight seam. A top portion is connected to both the front side and the back side by a substantially straight seam. A stowage bag is formed on the back side. A user folds the front side over the back side along the substantially straight seam connecting the front side to the back side, and the user further folds the top portion over the front side along the substantially straight seam connecting the top portion to both the front side and the back side to neatly fold the garment into the stowage bag.

1 . A foldable garment with stowage bag comprising:
 a front side connected to a back side by a substantially straight seam;   a top portion connected to both the front side and the back side by a substantially straight seam; and   a stowage bag formed on the back side, wherein a user folds the front side over the back side along the substantially straight seam connecting the front side to the back side, and the user further folds the top portion over the front side along the substantially straight seam connecting the top portion to both the front side and the back side to neatly fold the garment into the stowage bag, the seams serving as a guide to the user for folding the garment within the stowage bag so that any reflective material on the garment is preserved as a flat plane and therefore serves as a better reflective surface when used as a safety vest.   
   
   
       2 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein a closure mechanism for the storage bag, the closure mechanism being only one of the following: Velcro® or other hook-and-loop closure, a single zipper, at least one button, at least one snap. 
   
   
       3 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the garment is neatly folded into the stowage bag with minimal wrinkles when the garment is removed from the stowage bag. 
   
   
       4 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the garment is a safety vest. 
   
   
       5 . The garment of  claim 4  wherein the garment is neatly folded into the stowage bag while preserving a flat reflective plane of the safety vest, wherein the flat reflective plane includes substantially rectangular surfaces which are parallel to at least one of the seams. 
   
   
       6 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the garment stored in the stowage bag fits readily within an automobile glove compartment while still leaving space in the automobile glove compartment for other items to fit within the automobile glove compartment. 
   
   
       7 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the stowage bag is sized to receive only the garment itself. 
   
   
       8 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the stowage bag is free from any loose handles and straps. 
   
   
       9 . A method comprising:
 storing a safety vest within a stowage bag formed in the safety vest itself;   folding a front side of the safety vest over a back side of the safety vest along a substantially straight seam connecting the front side to the back side: folding a top portion of the safety vest over the front side along a substantially straight seam connecting the top portion to both the front side and the back side to neatly fold the safety vest into the stowage bag; and   maintaining substantially flat surfaces of the safety vest and reflective material on the safety vest with minimal wrinkles during storing of the safety vest within the stowage bag, the seams indicating to a user a desired method for folding the safety vest.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising aligning at least one substantially straight seam between opposite sides of a safety vest when a user folds the safety vest. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising aligning at least one substantially straight seam between a top portion of the safety vest and the opposite sides of the safety vest when the user folds the safety nest. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising securing the stowage bag shut with only one closure mechanism. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising sizing the stowage bag to fit readily within a standard automobile glove compartment. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising sizing the stowage bag to receive only the safety vest itself. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising providing the stowage bag without any handles or straps. 
   
   
       16 . A garment system comprising:
 means for storing a garment within in the garment itself; and   means for maintaining substantially flat surfaces of the garment with minimal wrinkles when the garment is stored within the garment itself, the means including:   guide means for folding a front side of the garment over a back side of the garment along a substantially straight seam connecting the front side to the back side; and   guide means for folding a top portion of the garment over the front side along a substantially straight seam connecting the top portion to both the front side and the back side to neatly fold the garment into the stowage bag; and   wherein substantially flat surfaces of the garment and reflective material on the garment are maintained with minimal wrinkles during storing of the garment within the stowage bag, the seams indicating to a user a desired method for folding the garment.   
   
   
       17 . The garment system of  claim 16  further comprising means for aligning the garment for storage.