REFERENCE TO CROSS-RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/435,742, entitled UPPER GARMENT WITH POCKETS, filed May 5, 2009 and claims benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/136,713, entitled DETACHABLE TRAVEL POUCH, filed on Sep. 26, 2008, which applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention is in the field of pockets for garments and more particularly to detachable pockets for upper garments and other clothing items.
BACKGROUND Pockets have been traditionally provided on garments to enable the wearers to store items conveniently on their person. The use of pockets helps free up the hands of the wearer and may dispense with the need to carry a handbag or a purse. As is known in the art, the pockets on the garments have been used to carry small and/or valuable items on the person of the wearer. Such items may include keys, money, credit and debit cards, wallets, passports. There is a risk of such items falling out of a pocket. There is also a risk that a pick-pocket may steal such valuable items from the wearer. Alternatives are desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to an embodiment of the invention, an upper garment includes a generally tubular panel having first and second openings opposite one another along a longitudinal axis of the garment and covering at least a waist section of a wearer s body. The panel is adapted to be tucked into a lower garment worn at least along a waist line of the wearer. A first fastener is disposed on an interior surface of the panel facing the body of the wearer and is positioned generally adjacent to the waist line of the wearer. The garment further includes a pouch having a second fastener adapted to releasably mate with the first fastener. When the second fastener is mated with the first fastener, the pouch is coupled to the garment and generally overlaid by the panel. The pouch is positioned to be tucked, along with the panel, into the lower garment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Understanding of the present invention will be facilitated by consideration of the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts and in which:
FIG. 1A is a front view of a detachable travel pouch attached to an interior surface of an upper garment, according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 1B is a view of the interior surface of the upper garment of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the first, second, and third panels of the detachable travel pouch of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3 illustrates a first sub-assembly of the pouch of FIG. 1 wherein the first and second panels of FIG. 3 are coupled with a first sealing mechanism, according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4 illustrates a second sub-assembly of the pouch of FIG. 1, wherein the third panel of FIG. 3 is coupled with a second sealing mechanism, according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 shows a fourth sub-assembly of the pouch FIG. 1, wherein the third panel of the second sub-assembly of FIG. 4 is attached to the first and second panels of the first sub-assembly of FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 illustrates a fourth panel onto which the first, second, and third panels of the fourth sub-assembly of FIG. 5 are attached to, according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a front view of a fourth sub-assembly of the detachable travel pouch formed by attaching the first, second, and third panels of the third sub-assembly of FIG. 5 to the fourth panel of FIG. 6, according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 8 illustrates the fourth sub-assembly of FIG. 8 with a first fastener mechanism, thereby forming the detachable travel pouch of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 9 illustrates a detachable travel pouch, according to another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, many other elements found in typical garments and other clothing items. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein. The disclosure herein is directed to all such variations and modifications known to those skilled in the art.
Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, an upper garment 100 with a detachable travel pouch 120 is illustrated, according to a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1A illustrates upper garment 100 with its bottom edge (170 of FIG. 1B) folded up to reveal travel pouch 120 underneath garment 100. FIG. 1B illustrates an interior surface 112 of upper garment 100. In the illustrated embodiment, upper garment 100 is a T-shirt or an under-shirt. However, it will be clear to one of ordinary skill in the art that upper garment 100 may also include clothing articles such as a tank-top, thermal wear, tube-top, long underwear, golf shirt, and any other clothing article which covers at least a section of the trunk downward of the mid-riff of a wearer and which may be tucked into a lower garment such as a trouser or a skirt. Upper garment 100 has a generally tubular, closed panel 110, which covers at least the section of trunk downward of the mid-riff of a wearer. Tubular, closed panel 110 generally has a first opening 114 and a second opening 116 opposite to first opening 114. First and second openings 114, 116 are along a longitudinal axis L of upper garment 100. In the illustrated embodiment, first opening 114 is an upper opening for accommodating the head of the wearer and second opening 116 is a lower opening for accommodating the waist of the wearer. In other configurations, first opening 114 may be sufficiently large to accommodate the torso of the wearer, for example, in a tube-top. In an exemplary embodiment, upper garment 100 may have further openings (for example, with or without sleeves) for receiving arms of the wearer, which openings are offset from longitudinal axis L and may be along a horizontal axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L.
At least a section 115 of panel 110 is generally tucked into, or adapted to be tucked into, a lower garment such as a pair of trousers, shorts, or a skirt, for example, by the wearer, which section will be referred to hereafter as a waist section 115. Upper garment 100 does not extend significantly below the torso of the wearer, thereby adapting waist section 115 of upper garment 100 to be tucked into the lower garment. In an embodiment of the invention, upper garment 100 includes only waist section 115. In other embodiments, upper garment 100 further includes an upper section which generally covers the body section upward of the mid-riff of the wearer and may optionally include sleeves. An upper garment 100 is a garment which is generally pulled over the wearer s head as opposed to a buttoned shirt that has a generally vertical opening which permits the wearer to wear the shirt through the vertical opening
Referring still to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a waist-line 140 of a wearer is generally illustrated by a parallel dashed line, denoted by letter W. Waistline 140 generally designates an imaginary line on upper garment 100 beyond which upper garment 100 is generally tucked into the lower garment. Waist-section 115 includes generally at least the portion of upper garment lying between waist-line 140 and a bottom edge 170 of upper garment 100, and may further include a portion above waist-line 140. Generally, waist section 115 is tucked, or adapted to be substantially tucked, in a lower garment such a pair of trousers or a skirt, for example. If upper garment 100 is a T-shirt, by way of non-limiting example only, waist section 115 would have a length generally about 20% to 35% of the total length of upper garment 100, as measured longitudinally from bottom edge 170 of upper garment 100 towards first opening 114. Waist-line 140 may also coincide with a top edge of a lower garment such as a pair of trousers or shorts or a skirt.
Referring still to FIG. 1B, interior surface 112 of upper garment 100 has a first fastener mechanism 150 fixedly attached thereon. In the illustrated embodiment, fastener mechanism 150 is generally parallel to and above waist-line 140. In one configuration, fastener mechanism 150 is generally adjacent to waist-line 140, i.e., within about two inches of waist-line 140. In the illustrated embodiment, fastener mechanism 150 is positioned generally about front center of waist section 115. In other embodiments, fastener mechanism 150 may be disposed at any other position within waist section 115, for example, along the sides or along the back of the wearer s body. First fastener mechanism 150 is covered by a flap 160 such that flap 160 is interposed between first fastener mechanism 150 and the skin of the wearer. In one embodiment, flap 160 may be fabricated from the same fabric as that of upper garment 100. In other embodiments, other materials may be used to fabricate flap 160. In one configuration, first fastener mechanism 150 may take the form of a single track of a zipper or a slide fastener, for example, and adapted to couple to a complementary second track of zipper. By way of non-limiting example only, first fastener mechanism 150 may be similar to slide fasteners used on jackets wherein the two tracks of the slide fastener may be easily separated from or coupled to each other.
Referring now to FIGS. 2′ 8, there are illustrated various panels for fabricating detachable pouch 120, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 2 and 6 illustrate a first panel 210, a second panel 220, a third panel 230, and a fourth panel 610, from which pouch 120 is fabricated. FIGS. 3′ 5 and 7′ 8 show various successive sub-assemblies of panels 210, 220, 230, and 610 during the fabrication of pouch 120 as described herein. In particular, FIGS. 3′ 5 illustrate, as described herein, the formation of a first pocket 520 (see FIG. 5) of pouch 120, which first pocket 520 is formed between second panel 220 and third panel 230. FIGS. 7′ 8 further illustrate, as described herein, the formation of a second pocket 720 (see FIG. 7) of pouch 120, which second pocket 720 is formed between second panel 220 and fourth panel 610. The various steps and intermediate subassemblies for the fabrication of pouch 120 are described in further detail below.
Referring now to FIG. 2, there are illustrated second panel 220 and third panel 230 which form first pocket 520 (see FIG. 5) therebetween of pouch 120. Also illustrated in FIG. 2 is first panel 210 which defines a mouth or opening 340 (see FIG. 3) of first pocket 520. Second panel 220 has an upper edge 225, a bottom edge 227, a left edge 221 and a right edge 223. Similarly, third panel 230 has an upper edge 235, a bottom edge 237, a left edge 231 and a right edge 233. In the illustrated embodiment, first, second, and third panels 210, 220, 230 have generally the same width W, in which case the width of first pocket 520 (see FIG. 5) will be the same the width of second panel 220 and third panel 230. In other embodiments, third panel 230 may have a width less than the width of second panel 220, in which case the width of first pocket 520 (see FIG. 5) will be the same as the width of third panel 230. It will be understood that more than one panel 230 may be affixed to second panel 220 to correspondingly define more than one pocket 520. In one configuration, panels 210, 220, 230 may be fabricated from the same material as that for upper garment 100. In other configurations, panels 210, 220, 230 may be fabricated from a different material such as cotton cloth, synthetic cloth, silk, and plastic, by way of non-limiting examples only.
Now referring to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a first sub-assembly 300 including first and second panels 210, 220. First and second panels 210, 220 cooperate to define mouth or opening 340 of first pocket 520 (see FIG. 5) between an upper edge 225 of second panel 220 and a bottom edge 215 of first panel 210. In the illustrated embodiment, a sealing mechanism 320 is disposed along upper edge 225 and bottom edge 215, thereby reversibly sealing mouth or opening 340 of first pocket 520 (see FIG. 5). In one configuration, sealing mechanism 320 may take the form of a slide fastener or a zipper, wherein one track of sealing mechanism 320 is affixed to upper edge 225 and a complementary or mating track of sealing mechanism 320 is affixed to bottom edge 215. By way of non-limiting example only, sealing mechanism 320 may be a slide fastener or a zipper with a closed end to prevent the two tracks from separating from each other. In other configurations, sealing mechanism 320 may take the form of a hook and loop fasteners (such as those available under trademark VELCRO®), one or more pairs of snap-buttons, and other sealing mechanisms known in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, the tracks of fastener mechanism 320 are attached to the respective edges 225, 215 using first and second stitches 310, 330 respectively.
Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a second sub-assembly 400 including third panel 230 and at least one component of a sealing mechanism 410 attached to an upper edge 235 (see FIG. 2) of third panel 230. In the illustrated embodiment, sealing mechanism 410 may take the form of a slide fastener or a zipper and the at least one member may be a first track of the slide fastener. By way of non-limiting example only, sealing mechanism 410 may be a slide fastener or a zipper with a closed end to prevent the two tracks from separating from each other. In other configurations, sealing mechanism 410 may take the form of a hook and loop fasteners (such as those available under trademark VELCRO®), one or more pairs of snap-buttons, and other sealing mechanisms known in the art.
Referring to FIG. 5, a third sub-assembly 500 formed from first sub-assembly 300 and second sub-assembly 400 is illustrated. Third sub-assembly 500 includes combination 400 (see FIG. 4) overlaying combination 300 (see FIG. 3), thereby forming a pocket 520 therebetween. In one configuration, combination 400 overlays combination 300 such that bottom edge 237 (see FIG. 2) of third panel 230 (see FIG. 2) aligns with bottom edge 227 (see FIG. 2) of second panel 220 (see FIG. 2) and left and right edges 231, 233 (see FIG. 2) of third panel 230 (see FIG. 2) align with left and right edges 221, 223 (see FIG. 2) of second panel 220 (see FIG. 2). In other configurations, third panel 230 may have a smaller width than second panel 220. Third panel 230 of sub-assembly 400 and second panel 220 of first sub-assembly 300 define pocket 520 therebetween wherein upper edge 235 of third panel 230 defines a mouth 530 of pocket 520 in conjunction with second panel 220. Sealing mechanism 410 reversibly seals mouth 530 and pocket 520 between second and third panels 220, 230. A complementary or mating member of sealing mechanism 410 may be attached along upper edge 225 of second panel 220. The complementary member cooperates with the at least one member (see FIG. 4) to form sealing mechanism 410. In the illustrated embodiment, stitches 510 divide pocket 520 between the second and third panels 220, 230 into three compartments. It will be understood that more than three or less than three compartments may be formed in the pocket defined by second and third panels 220, 230.
Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is illustrated a fourth panel 610 and fourth sub-assembly 700 formed from third sub-assembly 500 and fourth panel 610. In particular, fourth sub-assembly 700 is formed by overlaying third sub-assembly 500 (see FIG. 5) on fourth panel 610. A second pocket 720 is defined between second panel 220 of fourth sub-assembly 700 between combination 500 and fourth panel 610 wherein upper edge 225 (see FIG. 2) and bottom edge 215 (see FIG. 2) defines mouth or opening 530 (see FIG. 5) of second pocket 720. Sealing mechanism 320 (see FIG. 3) reversibly seals mouth 720 of second pocket 720 defined between third sub-assembly 500 and fourth panel 610. Fourth panel 610 has an upper edge 615, a bottom edge 617, a left edge 611 and a right edge 613. In one configuration, upper edge 615 aligns with upper edge 211 (see FIG. 2), bottom edge 617 aligns with bottom edges 227, 237 (see FIG. 2), left edge 611 aligns with left edges 221, 231 (see FIG. 2) and right edge 613 aligns with right edges 223, 233 (see FIG. 2).
Referring now to FIG. 8, detachable pouch 120 is illustrated. In the illustrated embodiment, detachable pouch 120 may be fabricated from fourth sub-assembly 700. A second fastener mechanism 810 is affixed to upper edge 615 (See FIG. 6) of fourth panel 610 (see FIG. 6) as well as upper edge 211 (see FIG. 2) of first panel 210 (see FIG. 2). Second fastener mechanism 810 cooperates or releasably mates with first fastener mechanism 150 (see FIG. 1B) to releasably or detachably couple detachable pouch 120 to upper garment 100. In one configuration, first and second fastener mechanisms 150, 810 take the form of two tracks of a slide fastener in which both the tracks of the slide fastener may be completely separated. Such first and second fastener mechanisms 150, 810 facilitate easy attachment and detachment of detachable pouch 120 to upper garment 100.
Referring now to FIG. 9, a detachable travel pouch 900 is illustrated, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A panel 910, for example a fabric panel, may be folded about a top edge 912 and a bottom edge 914 to form a mouth 920. In one configuration, stitches 930 at least along the sides of panel 910 define a pocket with mouth 920. A sealing mechanism 940 is schematically illustrated, which reversibly seals mouth 920. A first fastener mechanism 950, also schematically illustrated, is fixedly attached to top edge 912 of pouch 900. In one configuration first fastener mechanism 950 may take the form of a track of slide fastener or a zipper. First fastener mechanism 950 is adapted to cooperate with fastener mechanism 150 (see FIG. 1) to releasably couple pouch 900 to garment 100.
An advantage of the detachable travel pouch as described herein is that the pouch may be discreetly and inconspicuously attached underneath an upper garment, generally in the waist section. Furthermore, when such an upper garment is tucked into a lower garment worn by the wearer, a pair of trousers or a skirt, for example, the travel pouch is substantially tucked into the lower garment. When so tucked, the travel pocket is less likely to attract a pick-pocket s attention, thereby increasing the safety of the contents placed therein. In one configuration, waist-line 140 generally coincides with a belt line of a lower garment such as a pair of trousers or shorts worn by the wearer. In one embodiment, the fastening mechanism members 150 (see FIG. 1B) and 810 (see FIG. 8) are generally positioned about one to two inches above waist-line 140. Such positioning ensures that travel pouch 120 is substantially tucked into the lower garment along with upper garment 100 and that travel pouch 120 is generally inconspicuous, as pouch 120 is overlaid by upper garment 100 as well as the lower garment. Travel pouch 120 may be appropriately dimensioned to hold items such as passports, currencies, traveler s checks, credit and debit cards, driver s licenses and other valuable items.
Fastener mechanisms 150 and/or 810 may be abrasive to the skin of the wearer. Therefore, contact between fastener mechanisms 150 and/or 810 may cause discomfort to a wearer. An advantage of the present invention is that flap 160 reduces such undesirable contact between fastener mechanisms 150 (see FIG. 1B) and/or 810 (see FIG. 8) with the skin of the wearer in instances when travel pouch 120 is detached from upper garment 100 as well as when travel pouch 120 is attached to upper garment 100.
It will be understood that travel pouch 120 may be fabricated in a manner different than one described herein, without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, various embodiments of the pockets described and illustrated in parent application Ser. No. 12/435,742, may be adapted to form a detachable travel pouch as described herein. The number of the pockets, the type of sealing mechanisms, the number of compartments in one or more pockets may all be varied according to a given requirement without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Although the detachable travel pouch has been described in conjunction with an upper garment, such a pouch may also be adapted to be removably coupled to a lower garment, particularly in the waist section of a lower garment. For example, a short or a skirt may have a first fastener mechanism affixed to the lower garment, which first fastener mechanism is adapted to cooperate with a second fastener mechanism to releasably couple the pouch to the lower garment.
While the foregoing invention has been described with reference to the above-described embodiment, various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, all such modifications and changes are considered to be within the scope of the appended claims.
