Jacket with belt arrangement for carrying at least a portion of the jacket or item around a user's person and method of use

Abstract

A jacket includes a belt arrangement that allows the jacket to be held around a user's waist, to carry items on a user's back, or to gather a portion of the jacket around the user's person to reduce its overall length. A method of holding the jacket around a user's waist, to carry items on a user's back, or to gather a portion of the jacket around the user's person to reduce its overall length uses the belt arrangement of the jacket.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A jacket comprising:
 a jacket body having a pair of sleeves; and   at least one belt attached to the jacket body and adapted to be extended from the jacket body with belt ends connectable together so that at least a part of the jacket body can be held around a user's body.   
     
     
         2 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the belt is attached to the jacket body at at least one portion of the belt. 
     
     
         3 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the belt is hidden in the jacket body and each end of the belt is extended from the jacket body through an opening in the jacket body. 
     
     
         4 . The jacket of  claim 3 , wherein the openings are in an outer or inner surface of the jacket. 
     
     
         5 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the belt is attached to the jacket at at least a mid portion of the belt. 
     
     
         6 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the belt is elastic. 
     
     
         7 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the belt is held by loops attached to the jacket body or held in a channel formed in the jacket body. 
     
     
         8 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the belt ends have buckles for connecting the belt ends together. 
     
     
         9 . The jacket of  claim 3 , wherein each opening is located on a waist side portion or a bottom portion of the jacket. 
     
     
         10 . The jacket of  claim 9 , wherein each opening is located in an armpit area of the jacket. 
     
     
         11 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein a pair of belts are employed, with an end of each belt being connectable together. 
     
     
         12 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one belt is mounted to the jacket so that ends thereof are accessible from an inside of the jacket. 
     
     
         13 . The jacket of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one belt is mounted to an inside of the jacket with at least a portion hidden from view and at least ends of the at least one belt being exposed. 
     
     
         14 . The jacket of  claim 12 , comprising a pair of belts with an end of each belt adapted to be connected together to hold the jacket. 
     
     
         15 . A method of carrying a jacket around a mid section of a user comprising extending each end of the belt or belts from the jacket body of the jacket of  claim 1  and connecting the ends of the belt or belts together around the midsection of the user or an item being carried by the user. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein arms of the user are in the jacket prior to the extending step or the arms are removed from the sleeves of the jacket before the extending step. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the arms of the user are in the sleeves of the jacket and the belt or belts are extended around an item positioned at a back of the user with the belts ends being connected together to carry the item around a user's back.