Garment having a combination jacket and vest

Abstract

A garment having a jacket and a removable vest is provided. The vest includes first and second front vest panels, each having proximal and distal side edges, with each distal side edge being joined to a respective side edge of a rear vest panel. A pair of openings to be called armholes are formed through the vest. The jacket includes first and second front jacket panels, each having proximal and distal side edges, with each distal side edge being joined to a respective side edge of a rear jacket panel. A pair of sleeves are joined to the jacket such that the vest may be worn over the jacket, with the pair of sleeves projecting through the pair of openings. Releasable fasteners are provided for both jacket and vest, arrayed so that the vest and jacket may be closed either by securing the opposing edges of vest to one another and the opposing edges of the jacket to one another, or by attaching jacket to vest by securing one edge of the jacket to the opposite edge of the vest so that the vest is wrapped across the front of the ensemble before the arms of the wearer are inserted trough the armholes of the vest.

1 . A garment having a combination jacket and vest, comprising:
 a vest, comprising:
 a rear vest panel having opposed side edges; and, 
 first and second front vest panels, each having a proximal side edge and a distal side edge, each said distal side edge being joined to a respective one of the side edges of said rear vest panel, a pair of sleeve-receiving openings being formed through said vest; 
   a jacket, comprising:
 a rear jacket panel having opposed side edges; 
 first and second front jacket panels, each having a proximal side edge and a distal side edge, each said distal side edge being joined to a respective one of the side edges of said rear jacket panel; and, 
 a pair of sleeves, whereby said vest is adapted to be releasably worn over said jacket, the pair of sleeves of said jacket removably projecting through the pair of sleeve-receiving openings; 
   and means for releasably sealing the proximal edge of one of the said front jacket panels to the proximal edge of the opposite front vest panel.   
   
   
       2 . The garment having a combination jacket and vest as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said jacket and said vest are formed as a single unit, one proximal vest panel being permanently joined or integrally woven to the opposite proximal jacket panel. 
   
   
       3 . A garment having a combination jacket and vest, comprising:
 a vest having first and second free, front side edges;   a first set of zipper teeth being mounted to said first free, front side edge of said vest;   a second set and a third set of zipper teeth each being mounted to said second free, front side edge of said vest;   a jacket having first and second free, front side edges, whereby said vest is adapted to be releasably worn over said jacket;   a fourth set and a fifth set of zipper teeth each being mounted to said first and second free, front side edges of said jacket, whereby the wearer may engage the third set of zipper teeth to the fifth set of zipper teeth to secure the vest to the jacket so that the vest may be wrapped about the wearer either with the vest crossing the opening of the front of the jacket so that the arm opposite of the point of attachment my be inserted through the vest armhole nearest the point of attachment, or with the vest wrapping away from the front opening so that the wearer's arm closest to the point of attachment may be inserted through the armhole of the vest that is closest to the point of attachment.   
   
   
       4 . A garment having a combination jacket and vest, comprising:
 a vest having first and second free, front side edges;   a set of male zipper teeth being mounted to said first free, front side edge of said vest;   a set of female zipper teeth being mounted to said second free, front side edge of said vest;   a jacket having first and second free, front side edges, whereby said vest is adapted to be releasably worn over said jacket;   male and female sets of zipper teeth each being respectively mounted to said first and second free, front side edges of said jacket, whereby the user may selectively, adjustably and releasably engage the female zipper teeth of said vest to the male zipper teeth of said jacket, said female zipper teeth of said vest being positioned adjacent said male zipper teeth of said jacket when said vest is worn over said jacket.