Multifunctional sun protection articles and methods

A method comprising:

• assembling a multi-functional article into a garment,
• wherein the multi-functional article has:
• a body with a bottom edge, a top edge, a rear panel, and side panels attached to side edges of the rear panel,
• with the body having an interior surface that operates as an interior of the garment and as an interior of the shelter structure, and
• with the side panels extending from the bottom edge to the top edge, and further comprising
• a first side panel having a first side panel attached edge, which is attached to a first side edge of the rear panel, and a first side panel front edge opposite to the first side panel attached edge,
• wherein the first side panel front edge extends from the top edge of the multi-functional article to the bottom edge of the multi-functional article, and
• wherein the first side panel has a first side panel front bottom corner disposed between the first side panel front edge and the bottom edge of the multi-functional article, and
• a second side panel having a second side panel attached edge, which is attached to a second side edge of the rear panel, and a second side panel front edge opposite to the second side panel attached edge,
• wherein the second side panel front edge extends from the top edge of the multi-functional article to the bottom edge of the multi-functional article, and
• wherein the second side panel has a second side panel front bottom corner disposed between the second side panel front edge and the bottom edge of the multi-functional article;
• an invertible rear pocket extending along at least a portion of the top edge that operates as a collar of the garment, as the rear pocket for the shelter structure, and, when inverted, as a carrying case for storing the multi-functional article when the multi-functional article is not in use as the shelter structure or the garment;
• a top strap secured to the first side panel along the top edge, wherein the top strap has a first top strap end that is attached to a first top transition location positioned on the top edge and extends freely away therefrom, and a second top strap end that is attached to a second top transition location positioned on the top edge and extends freely away therefrom;
• and
• length adjustment straps having:
• a first bottom strap secured to the first side panel at the bottom edge of the multi-functional article, the first bottom strap having a first bottom end permanently or releasably attachable to the first side panel front bottom corner and extending freely away therefrom, and
• a second bottom strap secured to the second side panel at the bottom edge, the second bottom strap having a second bottom end permanently or releasably attachable to the second side panel front bottom corner of the second side panel and extending freely away therefrom;
• and
• wherein the assembling the multi-functional article into the garment further comprises:
• forming a belt with the top strap by extending the first top strap end and the second top strap end around a wearer of the garment near a waist of the wearer, and securing the first top strap end to the second top strap end;
• and
• adjusting a distance from the ground of at least one of the side panels by lifting the first side panel front bottom corner upward from the ground;
• assembling the multi-functional article into a shelter structure, further comprising:
• when the multi-functional article is being worn as the garment by a user, removing the multi-functional article from the user's body, or when the multi-functional article is being stored in the invertible rear pocket, removing the multi-functional article from the invertible rear packet;
• constructing a peak on the interior surface of the body at a desired location near or along the bottom edge, wherein the constructing further comprises
• selecting the desired location to ensure that the shelter structure has tensional integrity when the shelter structure is assembled and counteracting forces applied by components of the shelter structure and by weather conditions are in balance;
• and
• forming the peak with a flat, planar construction and of a first stretchable and cushioning material to ensure that a pole is firmly but flexibly positioned within the peak at the desired location when the multi-functional article is in use as the shelter structure and to ensure that the peak lays generally flat on the interior surface of the body when the multi-functional article is not in use in an assembled shelter structure;
• holding items within the shelter structure in the rear pocket;
• and
• securing the shelter structure to the ground with the garment belt and the length adjustment straps, and
• inverting the rear pocket to form the carrying bag for storing the multi-functional article when the multi-functional article is not in use as the shelter structure or not being worn as the garment.

A shelter system comprising an assembly of at least one shelter structure arranged to shelter at least one individual, with the shelter structure constructed from a multi-functional article that is also capable of being worn as a garment, wherein the multi-functional article has:

• a bottom edge, a top edge, and a rear panel extending from the bottom edge to the top edge, the rear panel formed from a first stretchy material;
• a pair of side panels further comprising a pair of side curtains and extending from the bottom edge to the top edge, further comprising:
• a first side panel having a first side panel attached edge, which is attached to a first side edge of the rear panel, and a first side panel front edge opposite to the first side panel attached edge,
• wherein the first side panel front edge extends from the top edge of the multi-functional article to the bottom edge of the multi-functional article, and
• wherein the first side panel has a first side panel front bottom corner disposed between the first side panel front edge and the bottom edge of the multi-functional article, and
• a second side panel having a second side panel attached edge, which is attached to the second side edge of the rear panel, and a second side panel front edge opposite to the second side panel attached edge,
• wherein the second side panel front edge extends from the top edge of the multi-functional article to the bottom edge of the multi-functional article, and
• wherein the second side panel has a second side panel front bottom corner disposed between the second side panel front edge and the bottom edge of the multi-functional article;
• a peak disposed on the multi-functional article near or along the bottom edge, wherein the peak has a gusset and a cushioned socket formed from a second stretchy material and arranged to lay flat on an interior surface of the multi-functional article, and to receive a pole for supporting the multi-functional article when the multi-functional article is assembled into a shelter structure;
• an invertible rear pocket sized to operate as a collar of the garment, as the rear pocket for the shelter structure, and, when inverted, as a carrying case for storing the multi-functional article when the multi-functional article is not in use as the shelter structure or the garment,
• a top strap arranged and sized to secure the multi-functional article to the ground when the multi-functional article is erected into the shelter structure,
• wherein the top strap is secured to the first side panel, the rear panel, and the second side panel at the top edge of the multi-functional article, and
• wherein the top strap has a first top strap end that is attached to a first top transition location positioned on the top edge and extends freely away therefrom, and a second top strap end that is attached to a second top transition location positioned on the top edge and extends freely away therefrom;
• and
• a pair of bottom straps arranged and sized to secure the multi-functional article to the ground when the multi-functional article is erected into the shelter structure, wherein the pair of bottom straps has:
• a first bottom strap secured to the first side panel at the bottom edge, the first bottom strap having a first bottom end permanently or releasably attachable to the first side panel front bottom corner and extending freely away therefrom, and
• a second bottom strap secured to the second side panel at the bottom edge, the second bottom strap having a second bottom end permanently or releasably attachable to the second side panel front bottom corner and extending freely away therefrom.