Integrated And Convertible Garment And Portable Storage System

Abstract

An integrated garment and storage unit system can include a storage unit, one or more carrying straps attached to the storage unit, a garment body configured to be worn on a user's torso, a first fastener attached to the garment body proximate to the waist opening, and a second fastener attached on the exterior surface of the garment body on the back side. the first and second fasteners can be positioned such that when the garment body is folded or rolled two or more times onto itself the second fastener is positioned proximate to the first fastener such that the first and the second fasteners can be joined to secure the garment body for storage on the first side of the storage unit so that the folder or rolled garment body fits at least approximately within the first area. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.

1 . A device comprising
 a storage unit comprising at least one interior compartment that is accessible through a reversibly closable opening, the storage unit having a first exterior surface with a first side configured to be positioned adjacent to a user's body, the first side having a first height and a first width;   one or more carrying straps attached to the storage unit, the one or more carrying straps having sufficient length to be securable around a human waist or over a human shoulder;   a garment body configured to be worn on a user's torso, the garment body comprising a front side disposed opposite a back side and a waist opening disposed opposite a neck opening, the garment body comprising a second exterior surface, the second exterior surface of the garment body being joined to the first side of the storage unit at a joining location;   a first fastener attached to the garment body proximate to the waist opening; and   a second fastener attached to the exterior surface of the garment body on the back side and positioned such that when the garment body is folded or rolled two or more times onto itself along an axis between the waist opening and the neck opening the second fastener is positioned proximate to the first fastener such that the first and the second fasteners can be joined to secure the garment body for storage on the first side of the storage unit so that the folded or rolled garment body fits at least approximately within the first height and the first width.   
   
   
       2 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the storage unit further comprises a zipper that is operable to close the at least one compartment. 
   
   
       3 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second fastener comprise matched halves of a zipper. 
   
   
       4 . A device as in  claim 1 , further comprising a stowage compartment for each of the carrying straps, the stowage compartment allowing the carrying strap to be stowed away, extended on the outside of the garment body, and extended on the inside of the garment body. 
   
   
       5 . A device as in  claim 4 , wherein the joining location for the storage unit is positioned on the back side of the garment body proximate the waist opening. 
   
   
       6 . A device as in  claim 1 , further comprising a hood attached at the neck opening and configured to cover a user's head while leaving a face opening. 
   
   
       7 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the face opening is covered by a mesh sized to prevent insects from passing through the face opening. 
   
   
       8 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the garment body further comprises:
 two opposing sleeves each configured to accept human arms; and   a reversible closure beginning underneath each sleeve that is operable to provide perspiration venting.   
   
   
       9 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the second fastener is positioned on the back side of the garment body approximately two thirds of a distance between the waist opening and the neck opening and approximately even with a location of a wearer's armpits. 
   
   
       10 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the first fastener is attached on an inside region of the garment body proximate to the waist opening. 
   
   
       11 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the first fastener is attached to the storage unit proximate to a bottom edge of the first side. 
   
   
       12 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the first height of the first side of the storage unit is approximately 33% of a distance from the waist opening to the neck opening of the garment body. 
   
   
       13 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the first height of the first side of the storage unit is approximately 25% of a distance from the waist opening to the neck opening of the garment body. 
   
   
       14 . A method comprising:
 reducing a presented width of a garment body of an integrated and convertible garment and portable storage system that comprises a storage unit attached to the garment body, the storage unit having opposed lateral sides and a vertical dimension in a direction aligned with a vertical axis connecting a waist opening and a neck opening of the garment body, the reducing comprising laterally folding one or more elements of the garment body toward a front chest area of the garment body such that the presented width is less than a horizontal dimension of the storage unit between the two opposed lateral sides;   folding or rolling the garment body over on itself one or more times along the vertical axis; the folding or rolling reducing a presented height of the garment body to approximately the vertical dimension of the storage unit; and   joining a first fastener proximate the waist opening and a second fastener on a back side of the garment body to retain the garment body in a stored position against a contact side of the storage unit that is configured to be worn against a user's body.   
   
   
       15 . A method as in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 deploying one or more carrying straps attached to the storage device at the opposed lateral sides, the deploying comprising removing the one or more carrying straps from one or more stowage compartments built into the garment body.   
   
   
       16 . A method as in  claim 15 , wherein the deploying comprises extending the one or more carrying straps from the one or more stowage compartments so that the carrying straps extend inside of the garment body. 
   
   
       17 . A method as in  claim 16 , further comprising securing the one or more carrying straps around a user's waist to support the storage unit. 
   
   
       18 . A method as in  claim 17 , wherein the deploying comprises extending the one or more carrying straps from the one or more stowage compartments so that the carrying straps extend outside of the garment body. 
   
   
       19 . A method as in  claim 18 , further comprising securing the one or more carrying straps around a user's waist to support the storage unit. 
   
   
       20 . A method as in  claim 14 , wherein the vertical dimension of the storage unit is approximately 25% or approximately 33% of a distance from the waist opening to the neck opening of the garment body.