Garment with magnetic clasp and methods of using the same

Abstract

The present invention provides a hooded garment having a device to maintain a position of the hood on the wearer's head. In some embodiments, the hood may have one or more magnets positioned in a superior aspect of the hood that is operable to magnetically clasp to a ferrous metal object in headwear worn by the wearer. The one or more magnet clasps may be positioned at or near a seam location at the top medial aspect of the hood.

1 . A hooded garment comprising:
 a. a hood extending upward from a neck region;   b. a space formed in an upper area of the hood;   c. at least one magnetic element positioned in said space, wherein said magnetic element is operable to magnetically engage with a ferrous metal positioned on an upper portion of a wearer's head.   
     
     
         2 . The hooded garment according to  claim 1 , wherein said hood includes an inner lining material and an outer hood material, forming adjacent layers. 
     
     
         3 . The hooded garment according to  claim 2 , wherein the space is located between the inner lining material and the outer hood material in the upper area of the hood. 
     
     
         4 . The hooded garment according to  claim 3 , wherein the space is located along a seam running along the top upper portion of the hood. 
     
     
         5 . The hooded garment of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one magnetic includes a plurality of magnets that are positioned along a medial area of the upper area of the hood. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The hooded garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a second magnetic element connected to an anchoring element that is attached to headgear, headwear, or other items present on the head of the wearer, wherein said at least one magnetic element is operable to magnetically connect with the second magnet when the hood is positioned over the head. 
     
     
         10 . A hooded garment comprising a hood extending upward from a neck region having at least one magnetic element embedded therein, wherein said magnetic element is operable to magnetically engage with a ferrous metal positioned on an upper portion of a wearer's head. 
     
     
         11 . The hooded garment according to  claim 10 , wherein said hood includes an inner lining material and an outer hood material, forming adjacent layers, and a space is formed in an upper area of the hood between said inner lining material and said outer hood material. 
     
     
         12 . The hooded garment according to  claim 12 , wherein the space is located along a seam running along the top upper portion of the hood. 
     
     
         13 . The hooded garment of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one magnetic includes a plurality of magnets that are positioned along a medial area of the upper area of the hood. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The hooded garment of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one magnetic element is a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         16 . The hooded garment of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one magnetic element is an electromagnet. 
     
     
         17 . The hooded garment of  claim 10 , further comprising a second magnetic element that includes either ferrous metal or a permanent magnet, wherein said second magnetic element is connected to an anchoring element that is attached to headgear, headwear, or other items present on the head of the wearer, wherein said at least one magnetic element is operable to magnetically connect with the second magnet when the hood is positioned over the head. 
     
     
         18 . A method of using a hooded garment, comprising:
 a. placing a garment or device on a wearer's head, said garment or device having a magnetic element that includes either ferrous metal or a permanent magnet; and   b. placing a hood of said hooded garment over said garment or device having a hood magnet therein, and aligning said hood magnetic element in an upper area of the hood with the magnetic element of said garment or device such that said hood magnetic element and said magnetic element of said garment or device are magnetically engaged.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said hood includes an inner lining material and an outer hood material, forming adjacent layers. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the hood includes a space located between the inner lining material and the outer hood material in the upper area of the hood located along a seam running along the top upper portion of the hood. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one magnetic includes a plurality of magnets that are positioned along a medial area of the upper area of the hood. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said plurality of magnets may include magnets having various shapes. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one magnetic element is a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one magnetic element is an electromagnet.