Weatherproof cover

Abstract

A protective garment, such as a raincoat or windbreaker has an attached accessory extending from the shoulder region between backpack straps for covering the backpack and shedding precipitation such as snow and rain. The garment accessory includes a flexible planar material coupled in a water shedding engagement with a rear facing portion (back) of the garment, such that the flexible planar material is adapted to shed water over a created void adjacent the rear facing portion, the void resulting from a backpack or other load suspended from straps extending over a shoulder portion of the outerwear above the coupling. A slot in the rear facing portion is adapted to receive the deformed flexible planar material when not deployed over the void, and a zippered receptacle or pouch on an opposed side of the rear facing portion is in communication with the slot for receiving the deformed flexible planar material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective garment, comprising:
 a flexible planar material coupled in a water shedding engagement with a rear facing portion of an outerwear garment, the flexible planar material adapted to shed water over a created void adjacent the rear facing portion, the void resulting from a load suspended from straps extending over a shoulder portion of the outerwear above the coupling;   an aperture in the rear facing portion adapted to receive the deformed flexible planar material when not deployed over the void; and   a receptacle on an opposed side of the rear facing portion, the receptacle in communication with the aperture for receiving the deformed flexible planar material.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the coupling is a water repelling seam adapted to receive water from a hooded region and the shoulder region and direct the water along the outer surface of the flexible planar material. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 2  further comprising a vent in the receptacle for permitting airflow and evaporation of moisture from the flexible planar material. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the aperture is an elongated slot extending horizontally across an upper portion of the deployed garment and defining a width of the void. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 4  wherein the width is based on a width of a backpack defining the load. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 4  further comprising a pocket on an opposed side of the elongated slot, the pocket having an interior accessible through the elongated slot and adapted to receive the flexible planar material when deformed into a folded shape. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising a closure along the elongated slot for providing a sealing engagement of a deformed flexible planar material following retraction into the storage pocket. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising resilient tethers attached to the flexible planar material, the resilient tethers adapted for elastic engagement around the load. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising a vent disposed in the region obscured by the flexible planar material and adapted for permitting airflow. 
     
     
         10 . A method for shielding a back-mounted load from precipitation, comprising:
 attaching a flexible planar material coupled in a water shedding engagement to a rear facing portion of an outerwear garment, the flexible planar material adapted to shed water over a created void adjacent the rear facing portion, the void resulting from a load suspended from straps extending over a shoulder portion of the outerwear above the coupling;   removing the flexible planar material from an aperture in the rear facing portion adapted to receive the deformed flexible planar material when not deployed over the void, the aperture providing passage to a receptacle on an opposed side of the rear facing portion, the receptacle in communication with the aperture for receiving the deformed flexible planar material; and   extending the flexible planar material around the suspended load.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the coupling is a water repelling seam adapted to receive water from a hooded region and the shoulder region and direct the water along the outer surface of the flexible planar material. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the aperture is an elongated slot extending horizontally across an upper portion of the deployed garment and defining a width of the void. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the width is based on a width of a backpack defining the load. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising extending resilient tethers attached to the flexible planar material, the resilient tethers adapted for elastic engagement around the load.