Wearable lap blanket allowing movement in seated or standing positions

Abstract

A wearable insulating blanket for the lower body and legs, that when worn permits the use of the feet and also unhindered transition between seated and standing positions. The assembly includes an outer weather- and wear-resistant shell layer, suitably formed of water-resistant nylon fabric, and an inner insulating layer, suitably formed of synthetic fleece. The main panel of the blanket extends substantially continuously across the front of the wearer's legs and lower abdomen, with the edges of the blanket converging at the rear. The blanket is secured to the wearer's waist by an adjustable quick-release waist strap, while an adjustable-length vertical vent at the front of the blanket permits free movement of the legs and feet without excessive exposure and heat loss. The edges of the adjustable vent are optionally attached to the two rear edges of the blanket by detachable leg straps that hold the lower edges of the blanket in place on the legs, e.g., against being blown up by wind. The combination of protection/warmth and freedom of leg movement provided by the blanket is advantageous for persons engaged in activities that require them to be seated in a cold or exposed environment yet still need be free to move their legs/feet and frequently change between seated and standing positions, such as bus and delivery drivers, fishermen, spectators at sporting events, and so on.

1 . A wearable insulating blanket assembly that provides thermal insulation for a wearer's lower abdomen and legs while permitting free movement of said wearer's feet and unencumbered transition between seating and standing positions, said blanket assembly comprising:
 a thermally insulative blanket member having upper and lower ends and first and second edges;   means for securing said blanket member about a wearer's waist so that a panel portion of said blanket member substantially covers said lower abdomen and legs of said wearer, and said first and second edges of said blanket member converge at said wearer's back; and   a vertical vent that extends from said lower edge of said blanket member upwardly into said panel portion at an approximate midpoint between said first and second edges of said blanket member so as to be positioned substantially between said wearer's legs when worn, so that said vent allows substantially free movement of said wearer's legs and feet in both sitting and standing positions.   
     
     
         2 . The wearable insulating blanket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said blanket member comprises:
 a wear-resistant outer shell layer; and   a thermally insulative inner lining layer.   
     
     
         3 . The wearable insulating blanket assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said wear-resistance outer shell layer comprises:
 a layer of wind and rain resistant fabric material.   
     
     
         4 . The wearable insulating blanket assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said wear-resistant outer layer of wind and rain resistant fabric material comprises:
 a layer of nylon fabric material.   
     
     
         5 . The wearable insulating blanket assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said thermally insulating inner lining layer comprises:
 a layer of synthetic fleece material.   
     
     
         6 . The wearable insulating blanket assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said wear-resistant outer shell layer and thermally insulative inner lining layer are joined along said edges of said blanket member. 
     
     
         7 . The wearable insulating blanket assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said panel portion of said blanket member comprises:
 a substantially rectangular panel having an upper edge that forms said upper end of said blanket member and a lower edge that forms said lower end of said blanket member, and first and second side edges that form said first and second edges of said blanket member.   
     
     
         8 . The wearable insulating blanket assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said vertical vent of said blanket member comprises:
 a slot that extends upwardly from said lower edge of said panel member at a substantially central location between said first and second side edges of said panel member.   
     
     
         9 . The wearable insulating blanket assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 means for adjusting a length of said vertical vent opening.   
     
     
         10 . The wearable insulating blanket assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said means for adjusting a length of said vertical vent opening comprises:
 a zipper mounted in said slot extending upwardly from said lower edge of said panel member, said zipper being operable to selectively increase or decrease an open length of said slot extending downwardly from an upper end thereof.   
     
     
         11 . The wearable insulating blanket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said means for securing said upper end of said blanket member about said waist of a wearer comprises:
 a waist strap; and   a detachable buckle member for releasably securing said waist strap about said waist of said wearer.   
     
     
         12 . The wearable insulating blanket assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said detachable buckle member comprises:
 a quick-release buckle.   
     
     
         13 . The wearable insulating blanket assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said quick-release buckle comprises:
 a quick-release buckle attached to ends of said waist strap located intermediate said first and second edges of said blanket member so as to be positioned at a back of said wearer, so that said blanket member will freely fall away from said wearer in response to release of said buckle.   
     
     
         14 . The wearable insulating blanket assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 first and second leg straps that detachably connect first and second edges of said vertical vent opening to said first and second edges of said blanket member proximate said lower end thereof, so as to secure said lower end of said blanket member to said wearer's legs.   
     
     
         15 . The wearable insulating blanket assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said leg straps each comprise:
 means for quick-release attachment of at least one end of said strap to said blanket member.   
     
     
         16 . The wearable insulating blanket assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said means for quick-release attachment of at least one end of each strap to said blanket member comprises:
 at least one press-type stud fastener.   
     
     
         17 . The wearable insulating blanket assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one pocket member mounted to said blanket member.   
     
     
         18 . The wearable insulating blanket assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one pocket member comprises:
 a pocket member that is mounted to a front side of said blanket member in a selected location so as to be positioned proximate a knee of said wearer.   
     
     
         19 . The wearable insulating blanket assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one pocket member that is mounted to a front side of said blanket member comprises:
 an opening that is oriented so as to be angled between vertical and horizontal when a knee of said wearer is raised, so as to be easily accessible by said wearer when in a seated position.