Multi-functional convertible garment

#Particularly in the case of furs, it would be desirable to have the capacity of employing the same basic garment for a variety of in-use applications, particularly in the field of outer clothing worn for evening or winter use. Since, so far as known to me, available garments are not convertible to different use situations, it is necessary to have at the present time a single garment for each class of use. For examples, a jacket cannot be used as a maxi or full length coat, and a stole cannot be used as a street length or car coat. If a single garment construction could be employed for a variety of different use situations, not only would clothing costs for a wardrobe be reduced, but also fewer items of clothing could be employed for a greater number of end use applications. In addition, since contemporary styles display a tendency to change relatively rapidly, an item of apparel, such as a coat, which could be converted to a different style rapidly, would be a very practical addition to a wardrobe since it would avoid early obsolesence.

#More particularly, the present invention provides a multi-functional convertible human garment which is particularly well adapted for furs and the like. The garment comprises a sleeve equipped jacket member, a first extension member circumferentially joinable to the jacket member, if desired, a second extension member circumferentially joinable to the first extension member, if desired, and a belt member circumferentially joinable, if desired, to either the lower circumferential portion of the first extension member or to the upper circumferential portion of the second extension member, if desired. Alternatively, such belt member may also serve in its own right as a waist girdling belt member if desired. Various combinations of such jacket member, such first extension member, such second extension member, and such belt member with one another, as more fully hereinafter explained, can be used to provide a jacket, a stole, a maxi or full length coat, or a street length or car coat.

#Thus, by the present invention, a plurality of garment components are assemblable into various types of wearing apparel members. Such garment components can thus be used to provide clothing of different styles and shapes avoiding thereby problems of style change and permitting the user to have a single garment system for use in a variety of end-use applications. Particularly in the case of furs, which are expensive, the need for a multiplicity of separate fur garments may thus be avoided. The invention, however, is well adapted for use generally with coats, whether of a fabric or fur exterior, as desired.

#In the drawings:

#FIG. 1 is a back elevational view of one assembled configuration for one garment embodiment of the present invention shown being worn by a model;

#FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical enlarged sectional view taken along the line II--II of FIG. 1 showing constructional details of the garment embodiment;

#Referring to FIG. 1, there is seen one assembled configuration for a multi-functional convertible human garment of this invention, the assembled configuration shown being that for a maxi or full length coat 10 being worn by a model 11. The full length coat 10 incorporates a jacket 12 equipped with sleeves 13 and 14. The jacket member 12 overlies upper portions of the model's torso 20 and is provided with vertically extending front opening mating flaps 16 and 17 (not shown in FIG. 1 but see FIG. 4). Jacket member 12 as here shown is a fur piece having an external fur portion 18 and an internal lining 19 functionally associated therewith by stitching (not detailed but conventional). The fur can be natural or synthetic, as desired.

#Depending downwardly from a lower region of lining 19 circumferentially about the bottom edge portion 15 of jacket member 12 is one side of a zipper-type slide fastener member 21 which is mounted to lining 19 by means of stitches 22, or the like, as desired. Preferably, and as shown, the lower portion of slide fastener 21 generally terminates approximately equally with the lower circumferential edge portions of the jacket 12.

#If desired, the jacket member 12 can have its flaps 16 and 17 equipped with a closure means (not detailed), such as a combination of button and button holes, clips, hook and eyes, zippers, or the like, as desired, as those skilled in the will readily appreciate.