Garment for play cape safety

Abstract

Described herein are garments comprising systems or mechanisms for allowing cape-breakaway. The garments can comprise a body portion with a flexible band attached thereto. The flexible band has two unconnected ends that form an aperture. The aperture expands with sufficient force is applied to the body portion causing the band to slip from the wearer's neck. Such garments and features promote cape-breakaway to prevent choking, strangulation, or entrapment by a cape.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A garment comprising
 a body portion having a bottom edge and a top edge; and   a flexible band having two unconnected ends   wherein the flexible band is adapted to connect to the body portion, and the two unconnected ends form an aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the flexible band is connected to the body portion by a channel sized such that the flexible band can fit within the channel. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 2  wherein the channel is connected proximate the top edge of the body portion. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 2  wherein the channel is connected to the top edge of the body portion. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 2  wherein the channel is detachably connected to the body portion. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 3  wherein the channel is composed of at least two loops wherein the loops are sewn into the body portion. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture in its unexpanded position is less than approximately 25% the linear distance around the band. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture in its unexpanded position is less than approximately 10% the linear distance around the band. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the aperture expands by at least 1.5 times its original size. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the aperture expands by at least 2 times its original size. 
     
     
         11 . A play cape comprising
 a cape portion having a bottom edge and a top edge;   a flexible band with two unconnected ends; and   a channel sized such that the flexible band can be inserted within the channel.   
     
     
         12 . The play cape of  claim 11  wherein the cape portion is sized so as to extend proximate a wearer's feet. 
     
     
         13 . The play cape of  claim 11  wherein the flexible band is sized so as to fit substantially around the wearer's neck. 
     
     
         14 . The play cape of  claim 11  wherein the flexible band is inserted within the fabric channel. 
     
     
         15 . A system to prevent choking, strangulation, or entrapment by a cape, the system comprising
 a band and a cape portion attached thereto, the band having an aperture and a flexibility such that force applied to the cape portion causes the aperture to expand in size.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the aperture expands by at least 1.5 times its original size. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the aperture expands by at least 2 times its original size. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the aperture in its unexpanded position is less than approximately 25% the linear distance around the band. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the aperture in its unexpanded position is less than approximately 10% the linear distance around the band. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the aperture in its unexpanded position is less than approximately 5% of the linear distance around the band.