Compactable jacket

Abstract

A jacket configured for compact storage, the jacket including a body having a neck opening and a torso opening, the body being configured to transition from an expanded state to a compacted state, a hem comprising pairs of hem openings, an elastic cord extending through the hem and the pairs of hem openings, clamps corresponding to the pairs of hem openings, each clamp dividing the elastic cord protruding from a corresponding pair of hem openings into a first cord portion and a second cord portion, anchors corresponding to the pairs of hem openings, each anchor coupling the portion of the elastic cord protruding from the corresponding pair of hem openings to the body, the first cord portion or second cord portion being configured to apply an elastic tension force to the body when stretched over the body in the compacted state to thereby maintain the body in the compacted state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A jacket configured for compact storage, the jacket comprising:
 a body having a neck opening and a torso opening opposite the neck opening, the body being configured transition from an expanded state, in which the jacket is wearable, to a compacted state, in which the jacket is not wearable;   a hem located on the body proximate to the torso opening and comprising one or more pairs of hem openings, each pair of hem openings comprising two openings in the hem;   an elastic cord extending through the hem and the one or more pairs of hem openings;   one or more clamps corresponding to the one or more pairs of hem openings, each clamp dividing a portion of the elastic cord protruding from a corresponding pair of hem openings into at least a first cord portion protruding from a first hem opening in the pair of hem openings and a second cord portion protruding from a second hem opening in the pair of hem openings; and   one or more anchors corresponding to the one or more pairs of hem openings, each anchor coupling the portion of the elastic cord protruding from the corresponding pair of hem openings to the body;   wherein one or more of the first cord portion and the second cord portion are configured to apply an elastic tension force to the body when stretched over the body in the compacted state to thereby maintain the body in the compacted state; and   wherein one or more of the first cord portion and the second cord portion are configured to apply an elastic tension force to an object when stretched over the object to thereby secure the jacket to the object.   
     
     
         2 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the compacted state comprises a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         3 . The jacket of  claim 2 , wherein the cylindrical shape has a diameter of less than 8 centimeters and a length of less than 25 centimeters. 
     
     
         4 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pairs of hem openings comprise a first pair of hem openings and a second pair of hem openings opposite the first pair of hem openings on the hem. 
     
     
         5 . The jacket of  claim 4 , wherein the first pair of hem openings are located proximate a left side of the body and the second pair of hem openings are locate proximate a right side of the body. 
     
     
         6 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein each clamp divides the portion of the elastic cord protruding from the corresponding pair of hem openings into the first cord portion protruding from the first hem opening in the pair of hem openings, the second cord portion protruding from the second hem opening in the pair of hem openings, and a cord loop protruding from the clamp. 
     
     
         7 . The jacket of  claim 6 , wherein each anchor comprises a loop of material that engages with the cord loop protruding from each clamp. 
     
     
         8 . The jacket of  claim 7 , wherein each anchor extends from and is sewn into the hem. 
     
     
         9 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein each first cord portion is configured to apply an elastic tension force to the body when stretched over the body in the compacted state to thereby maintain the body in the compacted state. 
     
     
         10 . The jacket of  claim 9 , wherein each second cord portion is configured to apply an elastic tension force to the object when stretched over the object to thereby secure the jacket to the object. 
     
     
         11 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first cord portion or the second cord portion is configured to apply an elastic tension force to the body and the object when stretched over the body in the compacted state and the object, to thereby maintain the body in the compacted state and secure the jacket to the object. 
     
     
         12 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein each clamp is configured to lock the cord in place to thereby prevent movement of the cord through the clamp. 
     
     
         13 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein each clamp comprises a spring cord lock including an expansion spring configured to apply pressure to a cord engagement member to thereby prevent movement of the cord. 
     
     
         14 . The jacket of  claim 13 , wherein spring cord lock comprises a toggle button that, when compressed, acts to compress the expansion spring and release the cord engagement member from engagement with the cord. 
     
     
         15 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein each clamp comprises a fastener. 
     
     
         16 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener comprises one or more of: a mechanical fastener, a hook and loop fastener, a latch, or a clip. 
     
     
         17 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a breathable inner lining layer and an outer water resistant layer. 
     
     
         18 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the object comprises a bicycle part. 
     
     
         19 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the bicycle part comprises a handlebar. 
     
     
         20 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic cord comprises an elastic paracord.