US20140026292A1

US20140026292A1 - Modular Scarf

Info

Publication number: US20140026292A1
Application number: US13/949,660
Authority: US
Inventors: Uchechi WOSU
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-07-27
Filing date: 2013-07-24
Publication date: 2014-01-30

Abstract

A modular scarf includes a sleeve, an insulation body, and a fastening mechanism. An internal compartment of the sleeve, which houses the insulation body, is accessed through an internal compartment access mechanism. The fastening mechanism brings together a first end and a second end of the modular scarf so that the modular scarf can be secured around a wearer's neck. The modular scarf provides warmth to the wearer while allowing the wearer to either interchangeably changes the sleeve or the insulation body according to the wearer's preference, where the thickness of the insulation body controls the warmth and the different textural and decorative sleeve provides a fashion statement.

Description

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/676,421 filed on Jul. 27, 2012.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a piece of apparel. More particularly to a multifunctional scarf that provides a user with the ability to substitute the external and internal portions of the scarf to better accommodate a change in climate or their personal preference in design style or warmth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditionally, scarves are long rectangular pieces of fabric constructed from various materials designed to wrap around a wearer's neck to provide an insulating barrier that protects the wearer in colder climates. In addition to serving a functional role, scarves have also become a fashionable accessory, such is the case that scarves offered on the market come in a plurality of dimensions, are made from various fabrics, include numerous print designs, and vary in shape from rectangular to square. While consumers have a plurality of choices when it comes to selecting a scarf, currently available scarves suffer from several disadvantages that are inherent to their design.
Currently available scarves suffer from various drawbacks, one of which is related to the manner a wearer secures the scarf around their neck. Traditionally scarves are tied around a wearer's neck using various knots, and while this is an effective technique there are several disadvantages. For instance, if an individual with long hair is not careful, they can potentially tie their hair into the knot. In another situation, if the wearer ties a knot that is too tight, the wearer may be unable to remove the scarf without damaging it. Still in another situation, depending on the material a wearer's scarf may be become deformed after repeated tie of the scarf in the same place. While these disadvantages are associated with tying a knot, traditional scarves still have several other disadvantages. For instance traditional scarves are fabricated to have only a single design or shape. Currently, the only way to change the design of a scarf is to permanently alter the scarf or purchase another scarf. Still another disadvantage associated with available scarves is their inability to adjust the amount of insulation provided to a user. Traditional scarves only serve as a layer over themselves to provide insulation to a wearer. To provide additional insulation, scarves must sacrifice the way that they secure themselves to a user.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a modular scarf that utilizes a fastening system to secure itself to a wearer's neck, utilizes interchangeable external sleeves that provide a facilitated method for substituting the pattern or design of a particular scarf, and additionally utilizes an interchangeable insulating section that provides users with the ability to replace the piece of insulation for another dependent on the personal preference of the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention displaying a fastening mechanism, wherein the fastening mechanism is opened.

FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the present invention displaying an internal compartment access mechanism and an insulation body.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a sleeve and the insulation body of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a back perspective view of the sleeve and the insulation body of the present invention, wherein an internal compartment and the internal compartment access mechanism are illustrated.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the present invention displaying the fastening mechanism, wherein the fastening mechanism is closed.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the present invention within a traditional scarf.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view an additional embodiment of the present invention with a hood.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is a modular scarf that provides the wearers with a facilitated means to secure the scarf around their neck, accommodates the wearers the ability to substitute the external design of the scarf for a design that better matches their outfit, and allows the wearers ability to adjust the thickness of the insulation material to adapt the garment for various climates. The modular scarf comprises a sleeve 1, an insulation body 7, and a fastening mechanism 8. The present invention is designed to be worn by users around their neck, similar to traditional scarves, but provides solutions to the several disadvantages associated with scarves currently available on the market.
In reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 4, the sleeve 1 of the present invention comprises a sleeve body 2, a first end 3, a second end 4, an internal compartment access mechanism 5, and an internal compartment 6. The first end 3 and the second end 4, which are the side extremities of the sleeve 1, are linearly and oppositely positioned from each other along the sleeve body 2. The sleeve 1 functions as the housing for the present invention while providing a decorative aspect to the present invention. Since the present invention is made to position around wearers' neck, the sleeve 1 is manufactured from a plurality of flexible fabrics and materials that include, but is not limited to, water-resistant materials, animal furs, synthetic, rayon, polyester, wool, linen, nylon, cotton, acrylic, or any combination thereof. The internal compartment access mechanism 5 is positioned on the sleeve body 2 in such way that the internal compartment access mechanism 5 is linearly positioned in between the first end 3 and the second end 4. The internal compartment access mechanism 5 can be any kind of access methods, includes, but is not limited to, zipper, a plurality of snap buttons, a magnetic fastener, and a hook-and-loop fastener strip. The internal compartment 6 is positioned within the sleeve body 2, where the internal compartment 6 provides storage space for the insulation body 7. The internal compartment access mechanism 5 provides access to the internal compartment 6 of the present invention when it is at the open-position and restricts access into the internal compartment 6 when it is at the close-position. As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, the insulation body 7, which adjacently positioned with the sleeve 1 within the internal compartment 6, provides the wearers with the need for warmth. The insulation body 7 can be manufactured from a plurality of flexible materials, includes, but is not limited to, various commercial textiles such as cotton, wool, nylon, synthetic materials such as Gore-Tex, various animal fibers such as fur or goose down, various composites, as well as any combination thereof.
When the wearers need to prioritize the decorative aspect of the modular scarf, the wearers can interchange the sleeve body 2 of the present invention. More specifically, when the wearers concentrate on the appearance of the present invention, the sleeve body 2 of the present invention is interchangeably positioned around the insulation body 7 so that the wearers would be able to match the appearance of the present invention with their outfit. When the sleeve body 2 is positioned around the insulation body 7, the first end 3 and the second end 4 are linearly positioned along the insulation body 7 in order to keep the traditional appearance of a scarf. Even though the wearers prioritize the decorative appearance of the present invention, the insulation body 7 of the present invention is able to provide the necessary warmth to the wearers.
When the wearers need to prioritize the various climate changes, the wearers can interchange the insulation body 7 of the present invention. More specifically, when the wearers concentrate on the climate changes, the insulation body 7 of the present invention is interchangeably positioned within the internal compartment 6 so that the wearers are able to change the warmth according to the climate changes. When the insulation body 7 is positioned within the internal compartment 6, the insulation body 7 is linearly positioned in between the first end 3 and the second end 4 in order to protect the traditional appearance of a scarf. For example, the wearers can substitute thicker insulation body 7 for colder climates or substitute thinner insulation body 7 for cooler climates, where the thickness of the insulation body 7 determines the warmth created within the present invention. Even though the wearers prioritize the various climate changes, the sleeve body 2 of the present invention is able to provide the decorative appearance for the present invention.
In reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, the fastening mechanism 8 that allows the modular scarf the ability to secure itself around a wearers' neck, comprises a first fastening member 9 and a second fastening member 10. The fastening mechanism 8 of the present invention provides a simple and an adjustable fastener, and the fastening mechanism 8 is positioned on the sleeve 1. More specifically, the first fastening member 9 is adjacently connected with the first end 3 while the second fastening member 10 is adjacently connected with the second end 4. The first fastening member 9 and the second fastening member 10 secure the present invention around the wearers neck area as the first fastening member 9 and the second fastening member 10 are removably attached to each other. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fastening mechanism 8 is a button and buttonhole attachment, where the buttonhole is the first fastening member 9 and the button is the second fastening member 10. The buttonhole and the button respectively combine the first end 3 and the second end 4 so that the present invention can be secured around wearers' neck area. Even though the button and buttonhole attachment is used within the preferred embodiment, the present invention can use different fastening methods, including, but is not limited to, zipper, a plurality of snap buttons, a magnetic fastener, a hook-and-loop fastener strip, a snap clips, and any combination thereof.
In reference to FIG. 6, the present invention can also be configured to work with existing scarves, where the present invention is retrofitted to a traditional scarf 11. Additional fasteners would be arranged to provide a way to secure the present invention onto the traditional scarf 11. The present invention is positioned on the center portion of the traditional scarf 11, at which point the additional fasteners secure it in place. The wearers orient the present invention adjacent to their neck, and the wearers are not able to use the fastening mechanism 8 to secure the present invention. The wearers would require the traditional scarf 11 to be secured using a knot. The wearers would able to take advantage of the sleeve 1 and the insulation body 7 since the sleeve 1 and the insulation body 7 function as the insulation materials within the traditional scarf 11 to meet their warmth needs.
In reference to FIG. 7, the present invention can be configured in a manner that provides the wearers with a hood 12. In an additional embodiment of the present invention, the modular scarf comes with an integrated hood that provides the wearers with additional protection from external conditions in colder climates. The components of the present invention would remain the same, but the additional embodiment provides an additional component to the sleeve 1 in the form of the hood 12. The hood 12 is connected to the sleeve 1 within the internal compartment 6, and the hood 12 can also potentially be stored within the internal compartment 6 to provide the wearers with the ability to use the hood 12 in case of sudden inclement weather while the hood 12 itself can be used as additional insulation material. The hood 12 can potentially be opened or closed by the fastening mechanism 8 of the present invention so that the additional embodiment of the present invention can be worn by the wearers.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A modular scarf comprises:

a sleeve;

an insulation body;

a fastening mechanism;

the sleeve comprises a sleeve body, a first end, a second end, an internal compartment access mechanism, and an internal compartment;

the fastening mechanism comprises a first fastening member and a second fastening member;

the insulation body being adjacently positioned with the sleeve; and

the fastening mechanism being positioned on the sleeve.

2. The modular scarf as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the first end and the second end being linearly and oppositely positioned from each other along the sleeve body;

the internal compartment access mechanism being positioned on the sleeve body;

the internal compartment access mechanism being linearly positioned in between the first end and the second end;

the internal compartment being positioned within the sleeve body; and

the internal compartment being accessed through the internal compartment access mechanism.

3. The modular scarf as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the insulation body being interchangeably positioned within the internal compartment; and

the insulation body being linearly positioned in between the first end and the second end.

4. The modular scarf as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the sleeve body being interchangeably positioned around the insulation body; and

the first end and the second end being linearly positioned along the insulation body.

5. The modular scarf as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the first fastening member being adjacently connected to the first end;

the second fastening member being adjacently connected to the second end; and

the first fastening member and the second fastening member being removably attached to each other.

6. The modular scarf as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the sleeve being flexible and decorative.

7. The modular scarf as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the insulation body being flexible.

8. A modular scarf comprises:

a sleeve;

an insulation body;

a fastening mechanism;

the internal compartment access mechanism being positioned on the sleeve body;

the internal compartment being positioned within the sleeve body;

the internal compartment being accessed through the internal compartment access mechanism;

the insulation body being adjacently positioned with the sleeve; and

the fastening mechanism being positioned on the sleeve.

9. The modular scarf as claimed in claim 8 comprises:

10. The modular scarf as claimed in claim 8 comprises:

11. The modular scarf as claimed in claim 8 comprises:

the first fastening member being adjacently connected to the first end;

the second fastening member being adjacently connected to the second end; and

12. The modular scarf as claimed in claim 8 comprises:

the sleeve being flexible and decorative.

13. The modular scarf as claimed in claim 8 comprises:

the insulation body being flexible.

14. A modular scarf comprises:

a sleeve;

an insulation body;

a fastening mechanism;

the internal compartment access mechanism being positioned on the sleeve body;

the internal compartment being positioned within the sleeve body;

the first fastening member being adjacently connected to the first end;

the second fastening member being adjacently connected to the second end;

the first fastening member and the second fastening member being removably attached to each other; and

the insulation body being adjacently positioned with the sleeve.

15. The modular scarf as claimed in claim 14 comprises:

16. The modular scarf as claimed in claim 14 comprises:

17. The modular scarf as claimed in claim 14 comprises:

the sleeve being flexible and decorative.

18. The modular scarf as claimed in claim 14 comprises:

the insulation body being flexible.