CLOTHING WITH CLEAR POCKET FOR HOLDING PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Abstract

A clothing item for retaining, displaying, and allowing operation of a portable electronic device. The clothing item includes an article of clothing, such as a shirt, formed of a material. A generally rectangular clear plastic front is permanently affixed along two sides edges and a bottom edge to the material of the article of clothing by permanent means, such as by stitch lines, to form a pocket, the clear plastic front having a front facing surface and a rear facing surface, wherein at least one of the rear facing surface of the clear plastic front and the material of the shirt in the vicinity of the pocket have an anti-slip surface texture or property. Indicia, such as images and/or text are preferably located on the article of clothing in the vicinity of the pocket, which indicia is at least partially viewable through the clear plastic front.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/380,086, filed Sep. 3, 2010, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to clothing items, and more particularly a shirt or other piece of clothing that has a clear pocket sized to fit a portable electronic device with audio and/or video playback features, such as a device with a touch screen, control panel, and/or control buttons, which allows the touch screen, control panel, and/or control buttons to be accessed and activated while the device is in the pocket, and which further allows the device, and any image on the device, to be seen while retained in the pocket.

The use of portable audio and/or video players, such as the popular line of Apple® brand of iPod®, iPod Touch®, and even iPad® devices, etc., and like compressed file (e.g., MP3 (audio) and MP4 (video), etc.) players, and cellular phones, e.g., iPhone® with touch screens and audio and video playback and live playback and streaming features have grown dramatically in recent years. There are currently numerous holders for these device. Some of these holders include a strap which is wrapped around a user's arm for holding these electronic devices. Other holders have clips or straps for holding the device to belt, etc. Some users simply place the device in a pocket of their clothing, and if they wish to access the device, e.g., to control the device or show the device to others, they must first remove the device from his/her pocket. Other users will simply opt to hold the device in their hands so that they can readily access the device's controls and show the device (e.g., to share photos or a video) to others. This is inconvenient since the hands are occupied, and device can be dropped or lost.

There accordingly remains a need for a holder that allows a portable electronic device to be readily accessed and also seen by third parties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a shirt or other clothing item to be worn that has a clear pocket sized to fit a portable electronic device with audio and/or video playback features, such as a device with a touch screen, control panel, and/or control buttons, which allows the touch screen, control panel, and/or control buttons to be accessed and activated while the device is in the pocket, and which further allows the device, and any image on the device, to be seen while retained in the pocket.

The clear pocket comprises a section of clear plastic material that is attached to the shirt or other clothing item to be worn with stitching or is otherwise permanently attached, e.g., with adhesive, sonic welding, rivets, etc. The clear pocket may be completely open at its top, or can include a snap or other closure to prevent the portable electronic device from inadvertently falling out of the clear pocket

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a first exemplary embodiment of a detail of a shirt with a clear pocket of the invention for holding a portable electronic device.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a exemplary embodiment of a detail of a shirt with a clear pocket of the invention for holding a portable electronic devices.

FIG. 3 is a detail showing a snap for retaining an open top of the pocket closed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning first to FIG. 1, there is shown a first exemplary embodiment of a clothing item 10 of the invention. In FIG. 1, it is in the form of an article of clothing, such as a shirt 12 with a clear pocket front 14 for holding a portable electronic device 20. The clear pocket front 14 is preferably formed of a clear or at least partially transparent plastic material that is safe in a clothes washer and dryer and will not harden, curl, yellow, discolor, or rip. The clear pocket front will preferably be generally rectangular in shape to accommodate the portable electronic device 20, but could have other shapes. Pocket materials such as heat resistant vinyl will function well. The clear pocket front 14 will allow a screen and touchpad of the portable electronic device to be seen and operated, and will allow the electronic device, as well as any image appearing thereon, e.g., photographs, videos, etc., to be seen through the clear pocket front 14. The clear pocket front 14 is attached to the article of clothing 12 by stitch lines at two sides 16a and 16b and a bottom edge 16c attaching the pocket front 14 to the front of the article of clothing 12. Alternately, other attachments means can be used to affixed the clear pocket front 14 to the front of the shirt, such as adhesive, sonic welding, rivets, and the like. The material of the article of clothing 12 behind the clear pocket front 14 in combination with the clear pocket front 14 form an open pocket 24 for holding the portable electronic device 20. The clear pocket front 14 is open at a top edge 18 to allow the electronic device 20 to be deposited in the pocket 24. In order to help prevent the electronic device 20 from inadvertently falling out of the pocket 24, e.g., when a wears bends over, the material of the clear pocket front 14 preferably has an anti-slip surface texture or property, at least on its inside surface. In addition to or alternatively, the front of the shirt that is behind the clear pocket face 14 can also have an anti-slip surface texture or property. Also, the clear pocket 14 may preferably be sized to snuggly receive the electronic device to further prevent the electronic device from fall out of the pocket 24. The cables of earphones 26 exit the open pocket 24. If desired, a detachable attachment 50, such as snaps, clips, zippers, hook and loop materials, etc., (a snap 50 being shown in the detail of FIG. 3) may optionally be placed near the open top edge 18 of the pocket 24 to further help prevent the electronic device 20 from inadvertently falling out. As shown, the clothing item 10 preferably has indicia (words and/or images), and in FIG. 1, an image of a fire alarm box 22A with the words “BREAK IN CASE OF EMERGENCY appearing thereon, with the image of the alarm box 22A extending outside of the region of the pocket 24 and with the words “IN CASE OF EMERGENCY” appearing as indicia 22B located on the front of the shirt behind the clear pocket 14, which indicia 22B can be seen through and in the vicinity of the clear pocket front 14. The indicia 22A and 22B can comprise printing on the surface of the article of clothing 12, decals, embroidery, separate items attached thereto, and the like. Thus, whether or not a user has an electronic device 20 in the pocket 24, the indicia 22B and/or the portable electronic device 20 can be seen through the clear pocket front 14. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the pocket 24 is shown located in approximately a mid-line of the front of the article of clothing (a shirt) 12 just below the shirt's collar 28, but the pocket 24 can be located at any location on the article of clothing 12, although preferably on a front of the article of clothing 12. It is also possible for the pocket 14 to be placed on a sleeve of the shirt 12 if desired.

Turning next to FIG. 2, there is shown a second exemplary embodiment of a clothing item 100 of the invention, being in the form of a shirt 12 with a clear pocket front 14 for holding a portable electronic device 20. The clothing item 100 is similar to the clothing item of FIG. 1, and the same reference numerals are used as in FIG. 1 where applicable. The clear pocket front 14 is preferably formed of a clear or at least partially transparent plastic material that is safe in a clothes washer and dryer and will not harden, curl, yellow, discolor, or rip. The clear pocket front will preferably be generally rectangular in shape to accommodate the portable electronic device 20, but could have other shapes. Pocket materials such as heat resistant vinyl will function well. The clear pocket front 14 will allow a touchpad and/or screen and/or controls of the electronic device 20 to be seen and operated, and will allow the image of the electronic device, as well as any image appearing thereon, e.g., photographs, videos, etc., to be seen through the clear pocket front 14. The clear pocket front 14 may be attached to the shirt 12 by stitch lines at two sides 16a and 16b and a bottom edge 16c attaching the pocket front 14 to the front of the shirt 12. Alternately, other attachments means can be used to affixed the clear pocket front 14 to the front of the shirt, such as adhesive, sonic welding, rivets, and the like. The pocket front 14 is not stitched at a top edge 18 to allow the electronic device 20 to be deposited in the pocket 24 formed by the pocket front 14 and the material of the shirt 12 behind the pocket front 14. In order to help prevent the electronic device 20 from inadvertently falling out of the pocket 14, e.g., when a wears leans over, the material of the pocket front 14 preferably has an anti-slip surface texture or property, at least on its inside surface thereof. In addition to or alternatively, the front of the shirt that is behind the clear pocket face 14 can also have an anti-slip surface texture or property. Also, the pocket 24 may preferably be sized to snuggly receive the electronic device to further prevent the electronic device from fall out of the pocket 24. If desired, snaps, clips, zippers, hook and loop materials, etc., (not shown) can be placed at the open top edge 18 of the pocket 24 to further help prevent the electronic device 20 from inadvertently falling out. As shown, in this embodiment, the clothing item 100 preferably has indicia (words and images, in this case, an image of headphones 30 that will straddle an image of an electronic device 32, with the image of the electronic device 32 being behind the clear pocket front 14 and the image of the headphones 30 partially extends outside of the area of the pocket 24. The indicia behind the pocket front 14 can be seen through the clear pocket front 14. The indicia 30 and 32 can comprise printing on the surface of the shirt 12, decals, embroidery, separate items attached thereto, and the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the image of an electronic device 32 will clearly visible through the clear pocket 14, giving the impression that an actual electronic device is being carried in the pocket 24 and headphones 30 are supported on the front of the shirt. However, when a user inserts an actual electronic device into the pocket 24 of the clothing item 100, the user can share any actual images being displayed on the electronic device 20 with other while the electronic device is securely held in the pocket 24.

Turning to FIG. 3, there is shown a detail view of an optional attachment for holding the open top 18 of the pocket 24 closed. Here, a snap 50 with one component fixed to the clear plastic front and another (not shown) affixed to the article of clothing 12. When the snap 50 is closed, the portable electronic will be prevented from falling out of the pocket 24.

With either exemplary embodiments of clothing items 10 or 100, if desired, the clear pocket front 14 can have printing thereon, which printing can be part of the design or indicia in areas behind or surrounding the pocket front 14, or can be independent indicia formed in the area around the pocket 24. Such printing on the pocket front 14 will preferably not cover much of the surface area of the pocket front 14, and if it does, be preferably be transparent or translucent so that a view of the electronic device in the pocket 24 is will not be substantially impeded. Also, while the article of clothing is shown as being a T-shirt 12, the invention will work with any kind of article of clothing, including a shirt, such as long sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, button up shirts, or other articles of clothing, including dresses, coats, jackets, jumpsuits, and other clothing items as may be desired.

Having thus described the exemplary embodiments of the clothing items of the present invention, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the above disclosures are exemplary only and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. The presently disclosed embodiment is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A clothing item for retaining, displaying, and allowing operation of a portable electronic device, comprising:

an article of clothing formed of a material;

a clear plastic front which is permanently affixed along two sides edges and a bottom edge to the material of the clothing item to form a pocket; and

indicia located on the clothing item in the vicinity of the pocket, which indicia is at least partially viewable through the clear plastic front.

2. The clothing item of claim 1, further comprising a closure at a top of the pocket, which closure is operable to open and close an open top of the pocket.

3. The clothing item of claim 1, wherein the clear plastic front is permanently affixed to the material of the article of clothing by stitch lines.

4. The clothing item of claim 1, wherein the clear plastic front has a front facing surface and a rear facing surface, and at least one of the rear facing surface of the clear plastic front and the material of the article of clothing in the vicinity of the pocket have an anti-slip surface texture or property.

5. The clothing item of claim 1, wherein the indicia comprises at least one of images and text.

6. The clothing item of claim 1, wherein the clear plastic front is generally rectangular and when affixed to the material of the clothing article forms the pocket which is sized to snugly receive a portable electronic device.

7. The clothing item of claim 1, wherein the article of clothing comprises a shirt.

8. A clothing item for retaining, displaying, and allowing operation of a portable electronic device, comprising:

an article of clothing formed of a material;

a generally rectangular clear plastic front which is permanently affixed along two sides edges and a bottom edge to the material of the article of clothing by stitch lines to form a pocket, the clear plastic front having a front facing surface and a rear facing surface, wherein at least one of the rear facing surface of the clear plastic front and the material of the article of clothing in the vicinity of the pocket have an anti-slip surface texture or property; and

indicia comprising at least one of images and text located on the article of clothing in the vicinity of the pocket, which indicia is at least partially viewable through the clear plastic front.

9. The clothing item of claim 8, further comprising a closure at a top of the pocket, which closure is operable to open and close an open top of the pocket.

10. The clothing item of claim 8, wherein the pocket is sized to snugly receive a portable electronic device.

11. The clothing item of claim 8, wherein the article of clothing comprises a shirt.