Dress Protector

Abstract

A protective garment having a top portion defining a waistband, material depending therefrom, and a lower portion. At least one tab is affixed to the protective garment proximate the lower portion. The tab is an elongate strip having a first end portion, a second end portion folded over and affixed to the first end portion, and having a pull portion defined by the portion of the tab depending from the protective garment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective garment configured to protect an outer garment that is worn by a user, the protective garment comprising:
 a tubular body sized to be worn around a user and underneath the dress, the body having a top portion and a bottom portion;   a plurality of tabs connected to the body at the bottom portion, each of the tabs constructed from an elongated strip with opposing first and second ends that are each connected to the body with an intermediate portion between the ends being free and positioned away from the body;   the body being constructed of flexible material and movable between a first position with the bottom portion and the tabs positioned away from the top portion of the body and a second position with the tabs raise upward in proximity to the top portion and the material between the top portion and the lower portion define a radial trough retention cavity enveloping at least a portion of the outer garment.   
     
     
         2 . The protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion further comprises a waistband and the lower portion further comprises a hem. 
     
     
         3 . The protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the elongated strip of each tab is folded over onto the first end and defines a loop. 
     
     
         4 . The protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein each of the tabs is removably affixed to the body. 
     
     
         5 . The protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the tabs comprises a slit that extends through the body proximate the lower portion and a pull portion positioned between the slit and the lower portion. 
     
     
         6 . A method of protecting an outer garment that is being worn by a user, the method comprising:
 positioning a protective garment underneath the outer garment with a waistband of the protective garment positioned in proximity to the user's waist and a lower portion of the waistband position in proximity to a bottom of the outer garment;   positioning tabs that are attached to the outer side of the protective garment underneath the outer garment and in proximity to the bottom of the outer garment;   positioning the protective garment in a first position that is completely underneath the outer garment;   lifting the tabs towards the waistband and positioning the protective garment in a second position and forming a retention cavity around the user; and   positioning the lower end of the outer garment into the retention cavity.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising positioning a first one of the tabs on a first lateral side of the user and positioning a second one of the tabs on a second lateral side of the user. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising positioning the protective garment on the user prior to the outer garment. 
     
     
         9 . A method of protecting an outer garment that is being worn by a user, the method comprising:
 positioning a protective garment underneath the outer garment, the protective garment having a tubular shape with a top portion and a bottom portion;   positioning the bottom portion of the protective garment in proximity to a bottom edge of the outer garment;   positioning the protective garment in a first position that is completely underneath the outer garment;   positioning the protective garment in a second position by grasping tabs that are on the protective garment and lifting the bottom portion upward towards the top portion;   forming a retention cavity with the protective garment around the user with the bottom portion of the outer garment forming an upper edge of the retention cavity; and   positioning the lower end of the outer garment into the retention cavity.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising positioning the top portion of the protective garment at a waist of the outer garment. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising positioning tabs on the outer garment in proximity to the bottom of the outer garment. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising positioning the tabs above the bottom portion of the protective garment in the second position.