Hooded garment having a multifunctional riding hood

Abstract

A hooded garment having a multifunctional riding hood to be worn by a wearer (e.g., a rider or passenger) during operation of a two-, three-, or four-wheeled vehicle. During operation of the vehicle in which the multifunctional riding hood is in a deployed or engaged riding position on the head of the wearer the multifunctional riding hood will provide enhanced protection against outdoor elements such as rain, snow, debris, wind, etc. Alternatively, during operation of the vehicle in which the multifunctional riding hood is in a stowed or disengaged riding position off the head of the wearer, the multifunctional riding hood prevents the entry of airflow into a front hood cavity of the riding hood.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment to be worn by a wearer during operation of a vehicle, the garment comprising:
 a hood member having a collar member and a flap member collectively forming a front seam to facilitate access into a front hood cavity of the hood member; and   a fastening mechanism connected to the collar member and the flap member for selective movement between:
 an unfastened state that at least partially opens the front seam in a manner that at least partially exposes the front hood cavity to thereby permit wearing of the hood member by the wearer, and 
 a fastened state that closes the front seam in a manner that restricts airflow into the front hood cavity. 
   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a zipper arrangement. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the zipper arrangement comprises a first plurality of teeth extending on an exposed, upper edge of a collar region, a second plurality of teeth extending on an exposed, lower edge of the hood member, and a zipper slider member. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 3 , wherein the zipper slider member is selectively moveable between:
 a zipped position to connect the first plurality of teeth and the second plurality of teeth in a manner that closes the seamed opening, and   an unzipped position to disconnect the first plurality of teeth and the second plurality of teeth in a manner that opens the seamed opening.   
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a hook-and-loop fastener. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 5 , wherein the hook-and-loop fastener comprises a first hook material strip extending on an upper edge of the collar member, the first hook material strip being selectively connectable to a second loop material strip extending on a lower edge of the hood member. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the flap member comprises a multi-layered structure having a wind-resistant/wind-blocking outer layer. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the flap member is oriented in a horizontal direction across the width of the front hood cavity. 
     
     
         9 . A garment to be worn by a wearer during operation of a vehicle, the garment comprising:
 a hood member having a left flap member and a right flap member collectively forming a front seam to facilitate access into a front hood cavity of the hood member; and   a fastening mechanism connected to the left flap member and the right flap member for selective movement between:
 an unfastened state that at least partially opens the front seam in a manner that at least partially exposes the front hood cavity to thereby permit wearing of the hood member by the wearer, and 
 a fastened state that closes the front seam in a manner that restricts airflow into the front hood cavity. 
   
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a zipper arrangement. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 10 , wherein the zipper arrangement comprises a first plurality of teeth extending on an exposed edge of the left flap member, a second plurality of teeth extending on an exposed edge of the right flap member, and a zipper slider member. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 11 , wherein the zipper slider member is selectively moveable between:
 a zipped position to connect the first plurality of teeth and the second plurality of teeth in a manner that closes the seamed opening, and   an unzipped position to disconnect the first plurality of teeth and the second plurality of teeth in a manner that opens the seamed opening.   
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a hook-and-loop fastener. 
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 13 , wherein the hook-and-loop fastener comprises a first hook material strip extending on an exposed edge of the left flap member, the first hook material strip being selectively connectable to a second loop material strip extending on an exposed edge of the right flap member. 
     
     
         15 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the flap member comprises a multi-layered structure having a wind-resistant/wind-blocking outer layer. 
     
     
         16 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the left flap member and the right flap member are respectively oriented in a vertical direction across the length of the front hood cavity. 
     
     
         17 . A riding hood to be worn by a wearer during operation of a vehicle, the riding hood comprising:
 a hood member having a collar member and a flap member collectively forming a front seam to facilitate access into a front hood cavity of the hood member; and   a fastening mechanism connected to the collar member and the flap member for selective movement between:
 an unfastened state that at least partially opens the front seam in a manner that at least partially exposes the front hood cavity to thereby permit wearing of the hood member by the wearer, and 
 a fastened state that closes the front seam in a manner that restricts airflow into the front hood cavity. 
   
     
     
         18 . The riding hood of  claim 17 , wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a zipper arrangement. 
     
     
         19 . The riding hood of  claim 18 , wherein the zipper arrangement comprises a first plurality of teeth extending on an exposed, upper edge of a collar region, a second plurality of teeth extending on an exposed, lower edge of the hood member, and a zipper slider member. 
     
     
         20 . The riding hood of  claim 19 , wherein the zipper slider member is selectively moveable between:
 a zipped position to connect the first plurality of teeth and the second plurality of teeth in a manner that closes the seamed opening, and   an unzipped position to disconnect the first plurality of teeth and the second plurality of teeth in a manner that opens the seamed opening.