Dual purpose scarf accessory and outer protective garment

Abstract

A dual purpose garment is wearable as a neck scarf accessory or as an outer protective garment covering at least a portion of the shoulders and arms. First and second arm-covering sections extend equally from a centrally located section of the garment, wherein the centrally located section and arm-covering sections can protect the shoulders and arms when worn in an outer protective garment configuration. However, the arm-covering sections extend only to end sections which remain open in a neck scarf accessory configuration to allow the garment to resemble an ordinary neck scarf.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dual purpose garment positionable as a neck scarf accessory or as an outer protective garment covering at least a portion of the shoulders and arms of a person wearing the garment, the dual purpose garment comprising:
 an elongated fabric member having:
 a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge; 
 a centrally-located section located midway along a length of the elongated fabric member; 
 first and second arm-covering sections extending equally from the centrally-located section and longitudinally along the length of the elongated fabric member, the first arm-covering section having longitudinal edges connected at a first longitudinal connection to form a first tubular sleeve, the second arm-covering section also having longitudinal edges connected at a second longitudinal connection to form a second tubular sleeve; and 
 first and second end sections extending outward equally from the first and second arm-covering sections, respectively; 
 wherein the centrally-located section extends in a continuous uninterrupted manner from the first longitudinal edge to the second longitudinal edge between the first longitudinal connection and the second longitudinal connection. 
   
     
     
         2 . The dual purpose garment of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated fabric member is rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         3 . The dual purpose garment of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the elongated fabric member is greater at the center than at the end sections. 
     
     
         4 . The dual purpose garment of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the elongated fabric member is about 30 to about 90 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The dual purpose garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second longitudinal connections comprise sewn or glued seams. 
     
     
         6 . The dual purpose garment of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second fasteners positioned adjacent a first and second end edge of the first and second end sections, respectively, for releasably securing the end edges of the first and second end sections about the wrists of a person wearing the garment as an outer protective garment. 
     
     
         7 . A method of making a dual purpose garment positionable as a neck scarf accessory or as a protective garment covering at least a portion of the shoulders and arms of a person wearing the garment, the method comprising:
 using an elongated fabric member having first and second longitudinal edges and first and second end edges, sewing or gluing portions of the first longitudinal edge to opposing portions of the second longitudinal edge to provide first and second longitudinal connections thereby forming first and second tubular arm-covering sections, wherein the first and second longitudinal connections extend equally from a centrally-located section toward a nearest end edge, each of the first and second longitudinal connections leaving first and second end sections extending equally from the first and second longitudinal connection respectively, the first and second end sections having unconnected longitudinal edges, wherein the centrally-located section is located midway along a length of the elongated fabric member and extends in a continuous uninterrupted manner from the first longitudinal edge to the second longitudinal edge between the first longitudinal connection and the second longitudinal connection;   attaching first fasteners adjacent the first end edge such that when fastened, the first end edge is securable about a first wrist of a wearer; and   attaching second fasteners adjacent the second end edge such that when fastened, the second end section is securable about a second wrist of a wearer.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the elongated fabric member is rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the width of the elongated fabric member is greater at the center than at the end edges.