Multi-use article with quick release closure

Abstract

A multi-use article having a blanket having inward-facing and outward-facing sides and a cover mounted to the inward-facing side of the blanket. The cover may be worn by a wearer by being placed onto and covering at least a portion of a torso of the wearer and, when worn, to carry the blanket. A head opening permits a head of the wearer to extend out of the cover when the cover is placed onto the torso of the wearer. Arm openings allow arms of the wearer to extend out of the cover when the cover is placed onto the torso of the wearer. Shoulder contact portions are located adjacent opposing sides of the head opening. Each shoulder contact portion contacts a shoulder of the wearer when the cover is placed onto the torso of the wearer such that the cover is carried on the shoulders of the wearer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A jacket comprising:
 a back panel having an inward-facing side configured for placement adjacent a back of a wearer and an opposing outward-facing side;   left and right chest panels, each chest panel configured for placement adjacent a chest of the wearer and joined together with the back panel;   a front opening formed between the left and right chest panels;   a pair of arm openings;   a plurality of first closure halves that each include a ball portion having a width and that is disposed on one of the left chest panel or the right chest panel; and   a plurality of corresponding second closure halves that include an elastic loop having an opening with a width that is less than the width of the ball portion when the elastic loop is un-stretched and is greater than the width of the ball when the elastic loop is stretched, the plurality of second closure halves disposed on the other one of the left chest panel or right chest panel, wherein the left and right chest panels are removably secured together by passing the ball of the first closure half through the opening formed in the elastic loop of the corresponding second closure half such that ball is removably retained by the loop,   wherein the back panel and each of the left and right chest panel are formed using a material that includes a first fabric layer, a second fabric layer, and a batting layer disposed between the first and second fabric layers.   
     
     
         19 . The jacket of  claim 18  further comprising:
 a split formed in a bottom end of the back panel and extends vertically upwards along a lower portion of the back panel to provide first and second overlapping and independently-moving divided panel portions, 
 wherein, when viewing the outward-facing side of the back panel, the split extends vertically along a vertical midline of the back panel, and 
 wherein, when viewing the inward-facing side of the back panel, the split extends vertically along a vertical axis that is laterally offset from the midline of the back panel. 
 
     
     
         20 . The jacket of  claim 19  further comprising;
 an abutting section where the first divided panel portion overlaps and abuts the second divided panel portion; 
 an abutting face provided on an outer surface of the first divided panel that contacts a corresponding abutting face provided on an inner surface of the second divided panel when the first and second divided panels are overlapped and in contact with one another; and 
 a friction surface material provided on at least one of the abutting faces and configured to contact the other one of the abutting faces, wherein the friction surface material is formed from a material that is different from a material used in forming the abutting faces, and wherein the friction surface material provides a higher degree of resistance to sliding between the abutting faces compared to a degree of resistance to sliding provided between the abutting faces without the friction surface material. 
 
     
     
         21 . The jacket of  claim 20  wherein the friction surface material is leather, fleece, felt, or hook and loop fastener material. 
     
     
         22 . The jacket of  claim 20  wherein the back panel is sized and configured to extend below a knee of the wearer. 
     
     
         23 . The jacket of  claim 18  further comprising first and second sleeves located proximate each arm opening, respectively, the first and second sleeves being configured to cover a respective one of the arms of the wearer. 
     
     
         24 . The jacket of  claim 23  wherein the sleeves are long sleeves that are each configured to cover substantially an entirety of the arm, a top end of each respective sleeve attached to the jacket at the respective arm openings and a bottom end of each sleeve terminated with a respective hand opening through which a respective hand of the wearer may extend out of the respective sleeve. 
     
     
         25 . A multi-use article comprising:
 a back panel having an inward-facing side configured for placement adjacent a back of a wearer and an outward-facing side;   left and right chest panels, each chest panel configured for placement adjacent a chest of the wearer and joined together with the back panel;   a front opening formed between the left and right chest panels;   a pair of arm openings;   a head opening configured to permit a head of the wearer to extend out of the article when the article is placed upon the wearer;   a plurality of first closure halves that each include a ball portion having a width and that is disposed on one of the left chest panel or the right chest panel; and   a plurality of corresponding second closure halves that include an elastic loop having an opening with a width that is less than the width of the ball portion when the elastic loop is un-stretched and is greater than the width of the ball when the elastic loop is stretched, the plurality of second closure halves disposed on the other one of the left chest panel or right chest panel, wherein the left and right chest panels are removably secured together by passing the ball of the first closure half through the opening formed in the elastic loop of the corresponding second closure half such that ball is removably retained by the loop,   wherein the back panel and each of the left and right chest panel are formed using a material that includes a first fabric layer, a second fabric layer, and a batting layer disposed between the first and second fabric layers.   
     
     
         26 . The article of  claim 25  further comprising:
 a split formed in a bottom end of the back panel and extends vertically upwards along a lower portion of the back panel to provide first and second overlapping and independently-moving divided panel portions, 
 wherein, when viewing the outward-facing side of the back panel, the split extends vertically along a vertical midline of the back panel, and 
 wherein, when viewing the inward-facing side of the back panel, the split extends vertically along a vertical axis that is laterally offset from the midline of the back panel. 
 
     
     
         27 . The article of  claim 26  further comprising;
 an abutting section where the first divided panel portion overlaps and abuts the second divided panel portion; 
 an abutting face provided on an outer surface of the first divided panel that contacts a corresponding abutting face provided on an inner surface of the second divided panel when the first and second divided panels are overlapped and in contact with one another; and 
 a friction surface material provided on at least one of the abutting faces and configured to contact the other one of the abutting faces, wherein the friction surface material is formed from a material that is different from a material used in forming the abutting faces, and wherein the friction surface material provides a higher degree of resistance to sliding between the abutting faces compared to a degree of resistance to sliding provided between the abutting faces without the friction surface material. 
 
     
     
         28 . The article of  claim 27  wherein the back panel is sized and configured to extend below a knee of the wearer. 
     
     
         29 . The article of  claim 28  further comprising a hood located proximate the head opening that is configured to cover the head of the wearer when the article is placed onto the wearer and the head of the wearer extends out of the head opening. 
     
     
         30 . The article of  claim 29  further comprising first and second sleeves respectively located proximate the arm openings that are each configured to cover at least a portion of a respective one of the arms of the wearer. 
     
     
         31 . The article of  claim 30  wherein the sleeves are long sleeves that are each configured to cover substantially an entirety of the arm, a top end of each respective sleeve attached to the article at the respective arm openings and a bottom end of each sleeve terminated with a respective hand opening through which a respective hand of the wearer may extend out of the respective sleeve. 
     
     
         32 . The article of  claim 31  wherein the friction surface material is leather, fleece, felt, or hook and loop fastener material. 
     
     
         33 . The article of  claim 28  further comprising a high collar extending upwards from the head opening configured to cover a neck of the wearer when the article is placed onto the wearer and the head of the wearer extends out of the head opening. 
     
     
         34 . The article of  claim 33  further comprising first and second sleeves respectively located proximate the arm openings that are each configured to cover at least a portion of a respective one of the arms of the wearer. 
     
     
         35 . The article of  claim 34  wherein the sleeves are long sleeves that are each configured to cover substantially an entirety of the arm, a top end of each respective sleeve attached to the article at the respective arm openings and a bottom end of each sleeve terminated with a respective hand opening through which a respective hand of the wearer may extend out of the respective sleeve. 
     
     
         36 . The article of  claim 35  wherein the friction surface material is leather, fleece, felt, or hook and loop fastener material.