Item of Apparel

Abstract

An item of apparel includes an upper tubular member and a lower tubular member. A hinge pivotally connects the upper tubular member with the lower tubular member and enables relative rotation of the upper tubular member with respect to the lower tubular member about a pivot axis defined by the hinge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An item of apparel comprising:
 an upper tubular member, a lower tubular member, and a hinge pivotally connecting the upper tubular member and the lower tubular member, the hinge defining a pivot axis, each of the upper and lower tubular members having a tubular portion;   the upper tubular member being pivotally movable with respect to the lower tubular member about the pivot axis, the upper tubular member being pivotal away from the lower tubular member from a first position wherein the hinge is in a closed position to a second position; and   when the hinge is in the closed position the upper and lower tubular members surround a common longitudinal axis and are spaced adjacent to one another along the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . The item of apparel of  claim 1  wherein the first tubular member and the second tubular member are adjacent to one another along the longitudinal axis without overlap when the hinge is in the closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The item of apparel of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second tubular members comprise an outer tubular surface and in inner tubular surface, the hinge being disposed on the outer tubular surfaces of the first and second tubular members. 
     
     
         4 . The item of apparel of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second tubular members comprise an outer tubular surface and in inner tubular surface, the hinge being disposed on the inner tubular surfaces of the first and second tubular members. 
     
     
         5 . The item of apparel of  claim 1  wherein each of the upper and lower tubular members comprise an inner tubular wall and an outer tubular wall, and the hinge is disposed inside of or between the said walls of the tubular members. 
     
     
         6 . The item of apparel of  claim 1  wherein each of the upper and lower tubular members comprise a respective tubular portion, the tubular portions and the hinge each being respective portions of a single piece of material. 
     
     
         7 . The item of apparel of  claim 1  wherein one or both of the upper and lower tubular members includes overlapping portions releasably fastened together by a fastener. 
     
     
         8 . The item of apparel of  claim 1  wherein the hinge releasably connects the upper and lower tubular members. 
     
     
         9 . The item of apparel of  claim 1  wherein the upper tubular member has a closed end. 
     
     
         10 . The item of apparel of  claim 1  wherein the upper tubular member comprises an ear flap formed as a convex bulge or widening of the upper tubular member. 
     
     
         11 . The item of apparel of  claim 1  wherein the upper tubular member has an interior tubular wall and the ear flap is foldable to be selectively inside of the interior tubular wall. 
     
     
         12 . The item of apparel of  claim 1  wherein the upper and lower tubular members have an outer circumference, the outer circumferences of the upper and lower tubular members being equal to one another. 
     
     
         13 . The item of apparel of  claim 1  wherein each of the upper and lower tubular members has a circumference of between about sixteen inches and twenty-eight inches. 
     
     
         14 . The item of apparel of  claim 1  wherein each of the upper and lower tubular members extends along a respective axis, each of the upper and lower tubular members extending between about two inches and six inches along the respective axis. 
     
     
         15 . The item of apparel of  claim 1  comprising a draw string at least partially disposed within the lower tubular member. 
     
     
         16 . The item of apparel of  claim 1  wherein the lower tubular member comprises a partially conical flap foldable into and out of the lower tubular member.