Convertible garment

Abstract

A convertible garment is selectively configurable for use in a variety of situations. The garment includes a panel and a plurality of handles. The panel includes a first section having a first outer edge portion that defines a first space, a second section having a second outer edge portion that defines a second space, and a body section between the first section and the second section. The body section has an inner edge portion that defines a head opening. The handles extend mediolaterally between a first side of the panel and a second side of the panel such that one or more first handles coupled to the first outer edge portion include a first medial portion exposable at the first space and one or more second handles coupled to the second outer edge portion include a second medial portion exposable at the second space.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment comprising:
 a panel including a first section having a first outer edge portion that defines a first space, a second section having a second outer edge portion that defines a second space, and a body section between the first section and the second section, the body section having an inner edge portion that defines a head opening; and   a plurality of handles including one or more first handles coupled to the first outer edge portion and one or more second handles coupled to the second outer edge portion, the plurality of handles extending mediolaterally between a first side of the panel and a second side of the panel such that the one or more first handles include a first medial portion exposable at the first space and the one or more second handles include a second medial portion exposable at the second space.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first outer edge portion is movable to at least partially expose the first medial portion at the first space, and the second outer edge portion is movable to at least partially expose the second medial portion at the second space. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of handles are symmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the panel. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of handles are within a footprint of the panel. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising one or more cords, each cord of the one or more cords extendable through a handle opening defined by at least one handle of the plurality of handles. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising:
 one or more cords; and 
 one or more retaining mechanisms, each retaining mechanism of the one or more retaining mechanisms configured to retain at least one cord of the one or more cords. 
 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising:
 one or more cords; and 
 one or more sleeves defining one or more channels, each channel of the one or more channels sized to receive at least one cord of the one or more cords therein. 
 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of sleeves including one or more first sleeves at a first side of the panel and one or more second sleeves at a second side of the panel, the plurality of sleeves arranged such that the one or more first sleeves and the one or more second sleeves interleave when the first side of the panel and the second side of the panel are aligned. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the panel has a first side edge portion at the first side and a second side edge portion at the second side, the garment further comprising a plurality of coupling mechanisms configured to couple the first side edge portion to the second side edge portion. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising a hood having a lower edge portion coupled to the inner edge portion of the body section. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a hood; and 
 a plurality of securing mechanisms configured to secure the hood in a stowed configuration. 
 
     
     
         12 . A convertible garment comprising:
 a panel having a first side edge portion at a first side of the panel, a second side edge portion at a second side of the panel, a plurality of outer edge portions extending between the first side of the panel and the second side of the panel, and an inner edge portion defining a head opening, the plurality of outer edge portions defining at least a first space and a second space;   a plurality of handles coupled to the plurality of outer edge portions and extending between the first side and the second side, the plurality of handles including at least a first handle exposable at the first space and a second handle exposable at the second space; and   a hood having a lower edge portion coupled to the inner edge portion of the panel, the convertible garment convertible between a poncho configuration and a stretcher configuration.   
     
     
         13 . The convertible garment of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of outer edge portions are movable to at least partially expose the first handle at the first space and the second handle at the second space. 
     
     
         14 . The convertible garment of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of handles are within a footprint of the panel and symmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the panel. 
     
     
         15 . The convertible garment of  claim 12  further comprising:
 one or more cords; and 
 one or more retaining mechanisms, each retaining mechanism of the one or more retaining mechanisms configured to retain at least one cord of the one or more cords. 
 
     
     
         16 . The convertible garment of  claim 12  further comprising:
 one or more cords; and 
 a plurality of sleeves defining a plurality of channels, each channel of the plurality of channels sized to receive at least one cord of the one or more cords therein, the plurality of sleeves including one or more first sleeves at the first side edge portion and one or more second sleeves at the second side edge portion, the plurality of sleeves arranged such that the one or more first sleeves and the one or more second sleeves interleave when the first side of the panel and the second side of the panel are aligned. 
 
     
     
         17 . The convertible garment of  claim 12  further comprising a plurality of coupling mechanisms configured to couple the first side edge portion to the second side edge portion. 
     
     
         18 . The convertible garment of  claim 12  further comprising a plurality of securing mechanisms configured to secure the hood in a stowed configuration. 
     
     
         19 . A method of fabricating a convertible garment, the method comprising:
 providing a panel that has a first outer edge portion defining a first space, a second outer edge portion defining a second space, and an inner edge portion defining a head opening;   coupling one or more first handles to the first outer edge portion such that the one or more first handles are exposable at the first space and extend mediolaterally between a first side of the panel and a second side of the panel;   coupling one or more second handles to the second outer edge portion such that the one or more second handles are exposable at the second space and extend mediolaterally between the first side of the panel and the second side of the panel; and   coupling a hood to the inner edge portion of the panel.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 coupling a plurality of sleeves to the panel including one of more first sleeves along a first side edge portion at the first side of the panel and one or more second sleeves along a second side edge portion at the second side of the panel such that the one or more first sleeves and the one or more second sleeves interleave when the first side of the panel and the second side of the panel are aligned; and 
 coupling a plurality of coupling mechanisms to the panel along the first side edge portion and along the second side edge portion such that the plurality of coupling mechanisms are configured to couple the first side edge portion to the second side edge portion.