Thank you for your help with this. I REALLY like funny and I'd like to just put out there that all of this stuff is to use AFTER you dirty, icky, wet, adventures. No one would need my stuff if you are in the house, on the couch, reading a book (or watching TV). This stuff is sturdy, and ready to handle the wear and tear for a person who goes out and PUTS wear and tear on things.
While all of my stuff is geared toward scuba divers and water sports, just about everyone i talk to says they could use it in another place.
Changing Cape Description
Not done....
People ask about why I don't make the capes is other fun colors. Truth is, you're naked under there, you'll want dark fabric, really.
Pockets are on the inside - for your underclothes. No one wants you to lift up your cape to grab your skibbies.
Just think about all of the good this product gives, not only you, but so many others. No more accidental walking up and talking to you while your undressing, no more accidental "moons" coming out early
You'll never see a group shot of a bunch of us wearing our capes, because, well, we're all naked under there.
Where you can use these (1) to change on a boat (or to keep warm) (2) to cover up if you need to sit on the "bucket facilities" on the boat, (3) after a long, dirty bike ride and you want to change out of your icky clothes before you get in the car (4) at the beach, and while you can't change your dog out of his wet fur, you can change your kids out of their clothes to make sure they don't carry in any of the interesting beach life they have accumulated in their shorts or pockets
For the girls - you know you need to pull on things over your head - here is your solution. You can actually lift the cape up over your head (so you're totally inside of the cape) and can pull items on over your head all hidden inside of your cape. It's even long enough to NOT be too short when you pull it up to be over your head
World's best changing poncho option for women.
We are actually less expensive than boat coats, beach ponchos, etc. A good one will cost $200. While that's great, and the company will love making that much money, we'd rather everyone have one by keeping it affordable and spreading decorum and privacy around the world.
Spell out why we are different from regular ponchos. Let's face it ladies, we need our arms INSIDE the cape so we can work the straps and clips. Guys have it easier...they can go topless. Our capes have TONS of room inside, PLUS pockets to put you underclothes in - whatever they are - we don't judge (or really even want to know - lol). Our capes are roomy. Elbow room, bending room, arms outstretched room, pull up over your head room, Just lots of room to move, maneuver, and put yourself together, while standing right there where others are.
Spell out why we are different from regular ponchos. Let's face it ladies, we need our arms INSIDE the cape so we can work the straps and clips. Guys have it easier...they can go topless. Our capes have TONS of room inside, PLUS pockets to put you underclothes in - whatever they are - we don't judge (or really even want to know - lol).
What are the inventive and non-obvious steps in coming up with the new invention?
This one is kind of tough for me to answer because about 2 weeks into scuba diving, the need for this product was pretty obvious to me. Seriously, why hasn't anyone thought of this before... But, let me try...
I came up with the invention because the current products on the market didn't cover me up enough to change my underclothes, including a shirt under. I'd have to use a (usually very VERY disgusting & unclean) bathroom to change in. Having this changing cape, I can change right outside next to my vehicle without needing to go anywhere. That means, no waiting for someone in front of me in the bathroom. No dropping my clothes on disgusting floors, etc.
Additionally, the changing capes are made entirely of cotton and that gives it an added bonus of drying you off as you are changing. No need to bring a towel.
There are two pockets INSIDE of the changing cape for your under clothes. That way, you don't need to pick up the cape to grab your under clothes if you just put them in one of the pockets instead. Since there is room for your arms inside of the changing cape, you have room to move and room to dress, without worrying about privacy or arm holes or size.
Speaking of size, these are large area changing capes. For example, if you were as wide as you were tall, it would still fit you - that's how much room you have to move. There are two small holes for your hands if you wanted to reach outside of your cape but small enough to not expose anything if your hands are inside of the cape and then a neck hole, which is large enough to pull on and off of your head as you're changing out of a wet (or dirty) shirt and into dry (and clean) clothes.
What is the practical purpose?
I'm just going to be a little funny here - sorry. Here were the problems.... 1) You've just had a great dive and there is no place to change, and all of your friends diving with you also need to change. Who needs and open area changing area where you and all of your friends are chaning in the open. 2) Okay, so you don't want to change in the open - you can do the backseat twister idea and try to take off your wet clothes, dry off, and then put on your dry clothes, while laying in your back seat. omg, seriously, maybe 30 years ago when I was in my teens. 3) Okay, no open air, community changing, no back seat twister, how about opening both of your car doors on one side and making a little two-sided shield. lol, there are windows still - and - hahahaha, someone can now see you from the two sides of the car where to doors are WIDE open. 4) okay, so, how do you have privacy when 1-3 are just not options... Guys can wrap a towel around their waist, but really, no one wants to see guys half naked while they are getting dressed. and forget about trying to put on women's under clothes using a towel. hahahahaha, no way. 5) okay, the honor method, just look away. okay, that works. that totally works, and totally happens in the movies.
Ground Cover Description
Things you can use this for (1) to put on the ground so you're not getting dirt, leaves, sand on your feet or clothes when you change (2) to cover your car seat when you want to drive to a new location and don't want to change out of your dirty/wet clothes (3).
Drawstring closure to keep your wet clothes inside and waterproof bottom so it won't make everything wet when you put it in your car
This is the BEST ground cover you'll ever use. Not only is it super cool looking that all of your friends will want yours, but it's also completely functional. Keeps the wet in, so your car seat doesn't get wet. You know, because who wants to sit on a wet seat. hahahaha, sorry, stupid jokes coming to mind here.
When the guys are putting on their dry suits, they spread out their gear on the ground cover to check things before they start gearing up in it.
I have this stupid personal challenge every time I use this to not get a speck of sand, grass, dead leaves, dirt, etc. on it. lol, I plan out how to do this so i don't transfer a speck of any dirt on my clean feet. hahahaha.
Okay, going to do just some brainstorming (watching NCIS Hawaii) for you to hack through. Sorry... Soooooo, ground covers, what can i say about them.... well, they are vinyl backed canvas which makes them strong and waterproof. you can literally use them on just about any surface to keep whatever you put on top of them clean and dry (assuming you haven't walked all over the top to make it dirty). Small detail, the ground covers match the changing cape. not sure there is anything interesting there but since i'm brainstorming, it's coming out...
The ground covers are about the size of a truck tailgate so they are sizable. plenty of room to stand on and still have plenty of room to set your gear on to keep it debris clear. if you saw some of the dive locations we frequented, you'd NEVER want to step foot in those bathrooms to use, let alone change in - have you ever tried to change clothes, with your shoes on, while trying to keep your clothes off of the dirty floor at the same time trying to prevent the bottom of your shoes from touching your clean clothes. it's impossible from standing. It's great using the ground cover, out there in the open (assuming you have a changing cape on) and keeping your feet, clean clothes, gear and everything as clean as the top of the ground cover is.
Another thought - sometime the bathrooms at dive site, if not a porta pot, is usually very small (and omg SO stinking (literally) dirty). It's nearly impossible to stand in a very small bathroom stall, while being aware of a disgusting floor (and open toilet you don't want to drop anything in) and not having any place to hang or set down your clothes AND try to change out of your wet clothes and into dry ones - all while standing.
Also, there is a drawstring closure for the ground cover. pile as much stuff as you want on it, then just pull the strings up. they are even long enough to carry your ground cover "bag" over your shoulder like a bag once you have all of your wet gear in it. And, once you get back to your vehicle, you can put your wet clothes, wrapped all snuggly in your ground cover, right on your vehicle seat. Your seat will stay dry and clean by keeping all of the wet inside it's tidy little bundle.
Also, there have been a few times where we use the ground cover to cover the truck seat if we are going from one dive location to another and don't want to take off our wetsuit, etc. You can cover the seats with it, taking comfort in knowing that it will keep your truck seat dry, while you're sitting on it with soaking wet clothes. we use the draw strings to secure the ground cover around our seat. Most people who have to put a wetsuit back on, while it's soaking wet knows it's impossible. Putting it on dry is like wrestling into full body spanks in the first place so, putting one on when it's soaking wet is a nearly impossible feat.
Hmmm, so, what else can I say??? They are really kinda cool looking. and sturdy. You can carry a heavy load of wet clothes. They are sturdy enough to carry just about anything you need to keep covered and clean. But, back to them looking cool. even cooler with a matching cape. We get looks when we use them (but no one is ever bold enough to walk up and say, where'd you get that) which bugs my bank account. but I digress... They look cool and as all scuba divers are, we love the cool stuff. and we love the cool looking stuff. Our gear usually comes in cool colors, why wouldn't our changing gear.
Okay, one more push to put something out there... digging in deep here. The ground cover is cool looking, smartly designed, functional beyond belief, and will make you the envy of all of your dive friends. they'll all want to use your ground cover, but tell them to go get their own. Granted, buying a cheap plastic tarp is cheap. Cheap is the key word. these ground covers can go right in the washer (hand dry though). A plastic tarp doesn't have a drawstring closure. plus, a plastic tarp is just cheap looking and will tear far more easily than our ground covers
So, I think that's all i've got in me. Good luck!!!! I'm excited to see what you can pull together from this mess.... AND, THANK YOU!!!!!! You can't imagine how helpful you are!!!!! :)
About Description
Not done.... This what we are about - Why we are here. Some people go to my site and they honestly don't know WHAT we are about.
Who wants to change in a small, dirty, gross bathroom.
Pockets are inside of the cape so you have your underclothes handy and don't need to pick up your cape
We are spreading the joys of privacy and making sure there are no accidental flashing (since, well, not just to protect my eyes but also the kids, dogs, birds, etc.
We are all about the gear you'll need for diving but, gear for when you are OUT of the water.