Wearable garment with interchangeable wetness indicator

Abstract

Embodiments include a wearable garment for recreational water shooting games. The wearable garment has a first surface, and a first target block removably coupled to the first surface. The first target block has a reticulated porous body and a coating. The coating can be opaque when the first target block is dry. The coating can become transparent to visible light when the first target block is exposed to water, and reveal an indicia underneath the coating. Embodiments also include a method of using the wearable garment for playing recreational water shooting team game between two teams.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wearable garment for recreational water shooting games, comprising:
 a first surface; and   a first target block removably coupled to the first surface, the first target block comprising
 a back surface, 
 a reticulated porous body supported by the back surface, and 
 a front surface comprising a coating, 
   the coating being opaque when the front surface is dry, the coating adapted to become transparent to visible light when the front surface is exposed to water, in order to reveal an indicia underneath the coating.   
     
     
         2 . The wearable garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a mesh pocket coupled to the first surface, wherein the mesh pocket is adapted to enclose the first target block such that the front surface of the first target block is adjacent a mesh layer of the mesh pocket. 
     
     
         3 . The wearable garment of  claim 1 , wherein the back surface of the first target block includes a hook portion of a hook-and-loop fastener, the hook portion removably coupled to a loop portion, the loop portion coupled to the first surface. 
     
     
         4 . The wearable garment of  claim 1 , wherein the reticulated porous body of the first target block comprises a plurality of open cellular pores adapted to retain water by capillary action. 
     
     
         5 . The wearable garment of  claim 1 , wherein the reticulated porous body of the first target block is transparent to visible light to reveal an indicia positioned on the back surface when the coating becomes transparent to visible light. 
     
     
         6 . The wearable garment of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of open cellular pores are interconnected with each other such that the plurality of open cellular pores form passageways for water retained in the plurality of open cellular pores. 
     
     
         7 . The wearable garment of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of open cellular pores are adapted to transport water held therein through the passageways by diffusion. 
     
     
         8 . The wearable garment of  claim 6 , wherein the reticulated porous body of the first target block is adapted to retain water for a duration between about 15 minutes and about 50 minutes when exposed to standard atmospheric conditions. 
     
     
         9 . The wearable garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of sleeves coupled to the first surface, the pair of sleeves removably coupled to a second target block and a third target block. 
     
     
         10 . The wearable garment of  claim 9 , further comprising a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface coupled to the pair of sleeves, the second surface including a fourth target block. 
     
     
         11 . The wearable garment of  claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises a pigment with hydrochromic properties. 
     
     
         12 . The wearable garment of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia may be applied on one of the front surface of the reticulated porous body, the back surface of the reticulated porous body, and a first layer placed on the front surface of the reticulated porous body and coated with the coating. 
     
     
         13 . The wearable garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first target block has an initial shape, the first target block adapted to retain the initial shape when exposed to water. 
     
     
         14 . A method of using a wearable garment for playing recreational water shooting team game between two teams, wherein each player in a team aims to shoot a player of an opposite team with a water squirt gun, the method comprising:
 providing each player with the wearable garment, the wearable garment comprising:
 a first surface, 
 a first target block removably coupled to the first surface, the first target block comprising
 a back surface, 
 a reticulated porous body supported by the back surface, and 
 a front surface comprising a hydrochromic coating, the hydrochromic coating being opaque when the front surface is dry and transparent to visible light when the front surface is wet, the hydrochromic coating revealing an indicia when the front surface is wet; 
 
   commencing the water shooting team game;   determining if the first target block has been exposed to water from the water squirt gun;   removing the first target block exposed to water; and   replacing the first target block exposed to water with a second target block, the second target block having identical properties as the first target block, the second target block being dry when replaced.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising, providing the wearable garment with four target blocks. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising, allowing the water shooting team game to continue without interruption when the first target block has been exposed to water. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first target block is replaced by the second target block without interrupting the water shooting team game. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising, ending the water shooting team game, and determining a number of target blocks of each team exposed to water. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each target block of the number of target blocks exposed to water show the visual indicator until the water shooting team game is ended. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising,
 deducting points from a first team or a second team for each target block of the number of target blocks of the first team or the second team that has been exposed to water; and 
 awarding points to the first team or the second team for one or more target blocks of the first team or the second team that has not been exposed to water.