Overarching Membrane Garment

Abstract

Personal-size instantly-facile light-weight apparatus, configured without umbrella-typical eye-and-face injuring protrusions, the apparatus includes quasi-equatorial membrane structure capable of resting on a person's shoulders, when an attached-thereto arching tensile-supported membrane structure is over the person's head and torso. For use, apparatus unfolds from metastable-flat storage configuration to extended tensile-arched configuration, and user passes his/her head through quasi-equatorial membrane's opening; thereby covering user by overarching membrane structure. Material for overarching membrane may be for rain-shelter, sun-shade, UV-filter, and/or according to heat reflection, absorption, and insulation characteristics. For improved pedestrian safety, apparatus trim is preferably retro-reflective, or fluorescent colored; thus providing proximate motor-vehicle drivers with contrast enhanced visibility of apparatus-wearing children, pedestrians, road workers, traffic officers, and bicycle riders. Other apparatus sizes and uses are also disclosed.

1 . Overarching Membrane Garment, a facile pseudo-umbrella-parasol function-emulating apparatus, comprising: (A) a tensile hoop which is capable of having (a) a metastable folded flat state, (b) an open arching state, (c) a rapid pop-open transition from the metastable flat state to the arching state, and (d) an easy-to-fold transition from the arching state to the metastable flat state; (B) a first membrane (a) which is substantially shaped like a surface defined by the hoop in the arching state, (b) which is substantially evenly holding many locations along the hoop, and (c) which is capable of accepting respective predetermined tension between most pairs of these locations when the hoop (i) is in each of the states and (ii) during each of the transitions; (C) a second membrane (a) which is substantially connected to the hoop at about four locations on the hoop, wherein these locations define a quasi-equatorial plane of the hoop when said hoop is in the arching state, (b) which is capable of restraining the hoop to about the arching state, and (c) which has an opening that is centrally located substantially between the about four locations; and (D) wherein, in the hoop's arching state, (a) the first membrane is of sufficient size to cover a standing person's head and torso, and (b) the second membrane's opening is of sufficient size to allow the person's head to easily pass therethrough. 
     
     
         2 . The Overarching Membrane Garment of  claim 1 , wherein the hoop's arching state is substantially about half way between the metastable folded flat state and a stable no-fold flat state of the hoop. 
     
     
         3 . The Overarching Membrane Garment of  claim 1 , wherein the tensile hoop is a buckle-folding over-curvature loop. 
     
     
         4 . The Overarching Membrane Garment of  claim 1 , wherein the tensile hoop is a twist-folding loop. 
     
     
         5 . The Overarching Membrane Garment of  claim 4 , wherein the loop is half-twisted into a figure “8” shape; and further including a constrictor holding the loop at the half-twist of the figure “8”. 
     
     
         6 . The Overarching Membrane Garment of  claim 1 , wherein the tensile hoop is a pair of tensile hoops that are held together in a figure “8” shape by a tensile constrictor. 
     
     
         7 . The Overarching Membrane Garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a hand-hold continuous-belt which is substantially attached to the hoop, and the belt is arranged for poloidal-like inversion over the metastable flat state folded hoop; thereby keeping the hoop in the metastable flat state. 
     
     
         8 . The Overarching Membrane Garment of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one suspender-like strap which is respectively substantially attached to the hoop; and, as measured when the person's head is passed through the opening, the strap is long enough (a) to attach to the person's clothing, or (b) to pass under the person's armpit and to attach to the second membrane. 
     
     
         9 . Overarching Membrane Garment including: (A) an arching tensile member supported first membrane structure that is capable of covering a person's head and standing torso;
 and attached thereto, (B) a quasi-equatorial second structure that is capable of resting on the person's shoulders.   
     
     
         10 . The Overarching Membrane Garment of  claim 9 , wherein the member is easily foldable from arching to a flat configuration, and is easily pop-open from the flat configuration to the arching.