Stay-up, thigh high stockings

Abstract

A two-part, stay-up, thigh-high, stocking with means to conceal personal items until such time as the concealed item is ready for use, wherein the stocking comprises: a lower section that extends to the borders of an upper section; and wherein the upper section is tensioned by an elastic material sufficient to hold the stocking in place about the thigh area above the knee; the elastic material in the upper section having a pocket integral therein to conceal a personal item.

Description

The present hosiery relates to stay-up, thigh-high stockings with means to facilitate the practice of safe sex and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/906,878 filed Mar. 10, 2005.

BACKGROUND

Stockings are a type of clothing which cover the legs only and have been in existence for an untold length of time. Stockings have been held up by various means, including straps extending from girdles or panties. Also, some stockings have been held up by elastic tension, either by way of the material which the stockings are made or through a ribbing-elastic section that constitutes the upper portion of the stocking.

Panty hose (which sometimes constitutes the combination of stockings and underpants as a unitary item) are different from stockings in that the latter needs to be removed preparatory to coitus.

Accordingly, while women's undergarments range from stockings, panties, pants, panty girdles, traditional girdles, and more recently, panty hose that is a combination of underpants and stockings in unitary form, there is a difference between panty hose and stockings.

This difference is even more distinct in the recent vintage of stay-up stockings-particularly stay-up, thigh high stockings that contain elastic ribbing to keep the stockings suspended around the thigh to eliminate the need for a garter, which is an antiquated piece of clothing that is uncomfortable to wear and creates a bulge which can be seen in the contour of an outer garment, such as slacks or address, when present.

Further, the stay-up, thigh high stockings, unlike panty hose which generally cover the body from the waist down, do not necessitate the wearer removing the stay-up, thigh high stockings as a precondition for coitus. Nevertheless, while the stay-up, thigh high stockings enables the wearer to more easily participate in sexual acts without removing the stockings, it also lacks means to enable the wearer to easily or conveniently engage in safe sex by the use of readily available condoms.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,188 disclose a permanently sealed metallized or plastic condom package adapted to be attached to clothing such as an elasticized waistband undergarment or other surface and containing a condom sealed therewithin, the metallized or plastic package being provided with a pressure-release-adhesive coated on the outside surface of the metallized or plastic package itself along an external region thereof to enable ready attachment to and removal from such clothing, the adhesive coating being normally covered with a release strip removable to expose the adhesive and permit attachment to the clothing along the adhesive coating, and the metallized or plastic package being detachable from the clothing by pulling the package along the adhesive attachment and being tearable to break the seal and enable its opening for withdrawal of the condom.

A panty-type garment with security pocket is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,188. The panty-type garment comprises a pocket formed in the panty portion at the waistband for defining an enclosure for security storage of valuables, the pocket being open at the extent of the enclosure along the waistband of the panty portion and closed along the remaining extent of the enclosure, the pocket having a flap extending inwardly within the enclosure along the open extent of the pocket for retaining stored valuables within the enclosure, one of the waistband and the flap including means for generally adhering to the other for generally closing the pocket, the adhering means including an uncovered elastomer yarn partially exposed at a surface of the one of the waistband and the flap facing the other thereof for adhering contact therewith.

SUMMARY

The present hosiery is a stay-up, thigh high stocking with a utilitarian pocket, that is sewn, knitted or attached at the time of manufacturing, and last the life time of the stocking. The pocket in the stocking may carry personal items, such as, but not limited to, condoms, monies, a single key, identification, etc. The stocking not only covers the wearer's legs, but also provides the benefit of concealing and carrying personal items in the pocket of the thigh portion until the time of use. When the pocket in the stocking is carrying a prophylactic article, the stocking facilitates easy retrieval of the prophylactic article or condom from the thigh portion, thereby promoting the practice of safe sex.

THE BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the reference figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting.

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the stay up, thigh high stocking with an integral pocket in the outside thigh portion of the uppermost part of the stocking.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the stay-up, thigh high stocking showing a rolled-back section to reveal an interior pocket in the thigh portion.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the stay-up thigh high stocking showing the interior pocket (scored lines) in the uppermost or thigh portion of the stocking.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a view in perspective showing the stay-up, thigh high stocking 10 on a portion of a leg, wherein the uppermost elastic portion 11 of the stocking has an exterior pocket 12 suitable for concealing items such as condoms, monies, a single key or some form of identification. The utilitarian pocket 12 may be sewn, knitted, attached or otherwise made an integral part of the stocking at the time of manufacturing. The position of the pocket on the uppermost elastic portion 11 is not limited to the outside or exterior of the upper most elastic part, as can be best be seen in FIG. 2, which is a view in perspective of the stay-up, thigh high stocking depicting a rolled-back section 13 that reveals the use of an interior pocket 21 on the inside portion of the uppermost elastic section 11.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the stay-up thigh high stocking showing the upper most elastic portion 11 of the stocking rolled-up, in concealment of the interior pocket 12, as shown by the scored lines.

While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.

Claims

1. A two-part, stay-up, thigh-high, stocking with means to conceal personal items until such time as the concealed item is ready for use, wherein said stocking comprises:

a lower section that extends to the borders of an upper section; and wherein said upper section is tensioned by an elastic material sufficient to hold the stocking in place about the thigh area above the knee; said elastic material in said upper section having a pocket integral therein to conceal a personal item.

2. The stay-up, thigh-high, stocking of claim 1 wherein said pocket is stitched to the elastic material.

3. The stay-up, thigh-high, stocking of claim 1 wherein said pocket is knitted to the elastic material.

4. The stay-up, thigh-high, stocking of claim 1 wherein the pocket is weaved into the elastic material.

5. The stay-up, thigh-high, stocking of claim 1 wherein said pocket is attached to the interior side of the elastic material.

6. The stay-up, thigh high stocking of claim 1 wherein said pocket is attached to the exterior side of the elastic material.

7. The stay-up, thigh-high stocking of claim 1 wherein said pocket is disposed as an opening in the top of two layers of the elastic material.