Adaptable coat

Abstract

An adaptable coat or coat insert with three different modes of use: the first allows the coat to be worn by a pregnant woman, the second allows the wearer of the coat to carry an infant secured to the chest, and the third allows the coat to be worn as a standard coat by a non-pregnant person.

1 . An adaptable coat, comprising:
 an upper-body garment with a substantially vertical front seam defined by a right edge and a left edge, both edges having fastening means adapted to fasten to each other or to an edge of an insert; and   an insert having fastening means at its left and right edges adapted to be fastened to the edges of the front seam of the garment.   
   
   
       2 . The adaptable coat of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is characterized by a wide end and a narrow end. 
   
   
       3 . The adaptable coat of  claim 2 , said coat being adapted to be worn with the insert's narrow end at the top, with the left edge of the insert fastened to the left seam edge, and with the right edge of the insert fastened to the right seam edge. 
   
   
       4 . The adaptable coat of  claim 3 , said coat being further adapted to be worn with the insert's wide end at the top, with the left edge of the insert fastened to the left seam edge, and with the right edge of the insert fastened to the right seam edge. 
   
   
       5 . The adaptable coat of  claim 4 , said coat being further adapted to be worn without the insert, and with the two edges of the front seam fastened to each other. 
   
   
       6 . The adaptable coat of  claim 1 , wherein said fastening means comprise zippers. 
   
   
       7 . The adaptable coat of  claims 3 , wherein said insert, when worn with the wide end at the top, is adapted to enclose and support an object carried against the wearer's torso. 
   
   
       8 . The adaptable coat of  claim 7 , wherein said object comprises an infant. 
   
   
       9 . The adaptable coat of  claim 8 , wherein said insert is adapted to be worn, when carrying an infant, with the top end folded over and the insert edges partially detached from the seam edges in their topmost portions. 
   
   
       10 . The adaptable coat of  claims 5 , wherein said insert further comprises a means for making itself wider or narrower. 
   
   
       11 . The adaptable coat of  claim 10 , wherein said means for making the insert wider or narrower comprises a drawstring. 
   
   
       12 . An insert for a coat, comprising a piece of fabric with a left edge and a right edge, said edges having fastening means allowing them to be fastened to the edges of the front seam of a coat. 
   
   
       13 . The insert of  claim 12 , wherein the insert is characterized by a wide end and a narrow end. 
   
   
       14 . The insert of  claim 13 , said insert being adapted to be worn with the narrow end at the top, with the left edge of the insert fastened to the left edge of a front coat seam, and with the right edge of the insert fastened to the right edge of a front coat seam. 
   
   
       15 . The insert of  claim 14 , said insert being adapted to be worn with the wide end at the top, with the left edge of the insert fastened to the left edge of a front coat seam, and with the right edge of the insert fastened to the right edge of a front coat seam. 
   
   
       16 . The insert of  claims 12 , wherein said fastening means comprise zippers. 
   
   
       17 . The insert of either of  claims 15 , wherein said insert, when worn with the wide end at the top, is adapted to enclose and support an object carried against the wearer's torso. 
   
   
       18 . The insert of  claim 17 , wherein said object comprises an infant. 
   
   
       19 . The insert of  claim 18 , wherein said insert is adapted to be worn, when carrying an infant, with the top end folded over and the insert edges partially detached from the coat seam edges in their topmost portions. 
   
   
       20 . The insert of any of  claim 12 , wherein said insert further comprises a means for making itself wider or narrower. 
   
   
       21 . The insert of  claim 20 , wherein said means for making the insert wider or narrower comprises a drawstring.