Jacket liner with openings for jacket accessories

Abstract

A liner for a jacket includes a body portion and at least one opening formed in the body portion wherein at least one accessory attached to the jacket is positioned through the at least one opening.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/645,838, entitled “Jacket Liner with Openings for Jacket Accessories”, filed Jan. 21, 2005 by Lisa Tengbom, Kristine Hien, Kathleen Whalen and Matt Thompson.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a jacket including user accessories thereon, and more particularly, to a removable jacket liner for accommodating use of the accessories.

Jackets are generally known and commonly used by motorcycle riders to protect themselves while riding or by others under other circumstances. Such jackets often include accessories for the use and convenience of a wearer. One example of a jacket accessory is a jacket-to-pants connector attached to an inner surface of the jacket that connects a wearer's jacket and pants. The jacket-to-pants connector zips to the wearer's pants and prevents the wearer's jacket from riding up and pants from falling down, in particular while operating a motorcycle, which thereby protects the wearer from exposure to environmental elements. Another example of a jacket accessory is a kidney belt attached to the inner surface of the jacket to support a wearer's lower back.

Some jackets include a removable liner to provide additional warmth. Such liners can impede the wearer's use of jacket accessories, such as those discussed above. Therefore, a need exists for a jacket liner that facilitates proper use of the jacket accessories when the liner is attached to the jacket.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a jacket liner that includes openings for receiving jacket accessories within an inner shell defined by the liner. Examples of jacket accessories for use with the openings include a jacket-to-pants connector attached to the jacket and portions of a kidney belt attached to the jacket. When a user is wearing the jacket and liner together, the jacket accessories are pulled through the openings and positioned within the liner adjacent the user. The positioning of the jacket accessories internal to the jacket liner, rather than external to the liner, facilitates appropriate use of the accessories. Preferably, the liner includes one opening for receiving the jacket-to-pants connector and a pair of openings for receiving opposite free ends of the kidney belt.

In one embodiment, the invention provides for a jacket including a torso portion having an inner surface. A jacket-to-pants connector is attached to the inner surface of the torso portion. A jacket liner is positioned adjacent to the inner surface of the torso portion and at least one opening is formed in the liner, wherein the jacket-to-pants connector is positioned through the opening.

In another embodiment, the invention provides for a jacket including a torso portion having an inner surface. A kidney belt is attached to the inner surface of the torso portion. A jacket liner is positioned adjacent to the inner surface of the torso portion and a pair of openings are formed in the liner, wherein the kidney belt includes first and second ends, each end positioned through a respective one of the pair of openings.

In still another embodiment, the invention provides a liner for a jacket. The liner includes a body portion and at least one opening formed in the body portion wherein at least one accessory attached to the jacket is positioned through the at least one opening.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an inner surface of a jacket, including a jacket-to-pants connector and a kidney belt.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a jacket liner embodying the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the liner attached to the jacket showing the jacket-to-pants connector pulled through an opening in the liner and attached to a pair of pants.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the liner attached to the jacket showing ends of the kidney belt pulled through openings in the liner.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates ajacket 10, typically for a motorcycle rider, that includes accessories for the use and convenience of a wearer. The jacket 10 includes an outer surface 14 and an inner surface 18. The jacket 10 includes a body portion having a torso portion 22 and sleeves 26A, 26B. The torso portion 22 of the jacket 10 includes a back section 30 and two side sections 34, 38 at opposite ends of the back section 30, as well as an upper edge 42 defining a neck band and a lower edge 46 defining a waistband. The jacket 10 includes a main zipper (not shown) that extends along the front of the jacket to facilitate attaching and detaching the side sections 34, 38 at the front of the jacket. The inner surface 18 of the jacket also includes an inner zipper 40 (only the portion at the second side section 38 is shown) adjacent the front of the jacket for attaching a liner (see FIG. 2) to the jacket.

Referring to FIG. 1, jacket accessories are attached to the inner surface 18 of the jacket 10. A jacket-to-pants connector 50 is attached to the back section 30 of the jacket 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the jacket-to-pants connector 50 is spaced equidistantly from the side sections 34, 38 of the jacket 10 and closer to the lower edge 46 of the jacket 10 as compared to the upper edge 42. Although the jacket-to-pants connector 50 is shown pulled up in FIG. 1, the jacket-to-pants connector 50 typically lies flat against the inner surface 18 behind a kidney belt. In other embodiments, the jacket-to-pants connector 50 can be positioned elsewhere on the torso portion 22 of the jacket 10 and may be oriented any number of ways. A free end 54 of the jacket-to-pants connector 50 includes a zipper 58, or other known fastener (e.g., snaps, hook and loop, buckle, buttons, etc.), for attaching the jacket-to-pants connector 50 to a pair of pants (see FIG. 3). The jacket-to-pants connector 50 prevents the wearer's jacket from riding up and pants from falling down and thereby protects the wearer from exposure to environmental elements.

Another jacket accessory illustrated in FIG. 1 is a kidney belt 70 for supporting a wearer's lower back. The kidney belt 70 includes a central, support portion 74 and two end portions 78, 82 attached to opposite ends of the support portion 74. The kidney belt 70 is removably attached to the inner surface 18 of the jacket 10, although in other embodiments, the kidney belt 70 may be permanently attached to the jacket 10. The kidney belt 70 is positioned along the torso portion 22 of the jacket 10 adjacent the waistband 46 and is oriented substantially parallel to the waistband 46. Typically, the kidney belt 70 is located on the jacket 10 such that the belt 70 is positioned adjacent a wearer's waist to facilitate appropriate use. Free ends 78, 82 of the kidney belt 70 include a hook and loop type closure, or other closure mechanism (e.g., snaps, zipper, buckle, buttons, etc.), for connecting the kidney belt 70 around a wearer's waist (not shown). It should be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that other jacket accessories may be attached to the inner surface 18 of the jacket 10, such as cellular phone pocket, a cord holder for an earphone, or a goggle holder.

FIG. 2 illustrates a removable liner 90 for use with the jacket 10. The liner 90 includes an outer surface 94, an inner surface 98, a body portion having a torso portion 102 and sleeves 106A and 106B, an upper edge 10 defining a neckband, and a lower edge 114 defining a waistband. The torso portion 102 of the liner 90 includes a back section 118 and two side sections 122 and 126 at opposite ends of the back section 118. The liner 90 includes a main zipper (not shown) that extends along the front of the liner 90. The main zipper facilitates attaching the liner 90 to the jacket 10 at the inner zipper or putting the liner 90 on and off if the liner 90 is worn separate from the jacket 10. In a further embodiment, the liner 90 may be permanently attached to the jacket 10.

While the garments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 include sleeves, it should be apparent that either the jacket or the liner could also be in the form of a vest, in which case the sleeves would be eliminated, and still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the liner 90 includes an opening 130 for receiving the jacket-to-pants connector 50. The opening 130 is positioned in the back section 118 of the liner 90 and is oriented substantially parallel to the lower edge 114 of the liner. The opening 130 is selectively opened and closed by a zipper 134, or other known closure means. Further, the opening 130 is positioned in the liner 90 proximate the location of the jacket-to-pants connector 50 attachment to the jacket 10.

In use, the jacket-to-pants connector 50 is drawn through the opening 130 such that the jacket-to-pants connector 50 lies adjacent to the inner surface 98 of the liner 90. The free end 54 of the jacket-to-pants connector 50 is attached to a pair of pants 138 (see FIG. 3) at a connector 142 attached to the pants 138. Pulling the jacket-to-pants connector 50 through the liner 90 prevents the liner 90 from riding up while the jacket-to-pants connector 50 is attached to the pants 138, which often occurs if the jacket-to-pants connector 50 is not pulled through the liner 90. In a further embodiment, the positioning of the opening 130 in the torso portion 102 of the liner 90 varies and the opening 130 may be oriented any number of ways to accommodate the jacket-to-pants connector 50.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the liner 90 includes a pair of belt openings 150, 154 for receiving the free ends 78, 82 of the kidney belt 70. In the illustrated embodiment, the first belt opening 150 is positioned between the back section 118 and the first side section 122 of the liner 90, and the second belt opening 154 is positioned between the back section 118 and the second side section 126 of the liner 90. Each belt opening 150, 154 is aligned substantially perpendicular to the lower edge 114 of the liner 90. Each belt opening 150, 154 is selectively opened and closed by a zipper 158, or other known closure means. In a further embodiment, the belt openings 150, 154 are positioned elsewhere in the torso portion 102 of the liner 90 and may be oriented any number of ways to accommodate the kidney belt 70.

In the illustrated embodiment, the belt openings 150, 154 are positioned in the liner 90 proximate the location of the kidney belt's position to the jacket 10 adjacent the lower edge 46. In use, the first free end 78 of the kidney belt 70 is pulled through the first belt opening 150 and the second free end 82 of the kidney belt 70 is pulled through the second belt opening 154. The free ends 78, 82 of the kidney belt 70 are wrapped around a wearer's torso and attached together adjacent the wearer's stomach to provide support to the wearer's lower back. In use, the support portion 74 of the kidney belt 70 is positioned adjacent the wearer's lower back. Pulling the free ends 78, 82 of the kidney belt 70 through the belt openings 150, 154 of the liner 90 to connect the kidney belt 70, rather than connecting the kidney belt 70 around the liner 90, positions the kidney belt 70 closer to the wearer's body to better support the wearer's lower back.

The standard zipper used for the jacket 10, liner 90, the opening 130 for the jacket-to-pants connector 50 and the belt openings 150, 154 includes joinable rows of zipper teeth and a zipper closure that may be used to engage and disengage rows of zipper teeth, selectively converting the openings between the opened and closed configurations. Although each closure for the openings described herein has been in the form of a zipper, it should be apparent that other known closure means may be utilized in combination with or in place of the zippers. For example, the use of other closure mechanisms incorporating various combinations of hook and loop type closures, buttons, buckles, snaps, and the like are also contemplated.

The constructions and aspects described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitation upon the concepts and principles of the present invention. As such, it will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art, that various changes in the elements and their configuration and arrangement are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the description above, the drawings and the following claims.

Claims

1. A jacket comprising:

a jacket including a torso portion having an inner surface;

a jacket-to-pants connector attached to the inner surface of the torso portion of the jacket;

a jacket liner positioned adjacent to the inner surface of the torso portion; and

at least one opening formed in the liner, wherein the jacket-to-pants connector is positioned through the opening.

2. The jacket of claim 1 wherein the at least one opening includes a closure that can be opened or closed.

3. The jacket of claim 1 wherein the liner includes a back portion and first and second side portions attached to opposite ends of the back portion, the at least one opening being positioned in the back portion of the liner.

4. The jacket of claim 1 wherein the jacket-to-pants connector comprises one end attached to the inner surface of the jacket and an opposite, free end adapted for connection to a pair of pants.

5. The jacket of claim 4 wherein the at least one opening is positioned proximate the attachment end of the jacket-to-pants connector.

6. The jacket of claim 1 wherein the at least one opening is positioned substantially parallel to a lower edge of the liner.

7. The jacket of claim 1 wherein the liner is removably attached to the jacket.

8. A jacket comprising:

a jacket including a torso portion having an inner surface;

a kidney belt attached to the inner surface of the torso portion;

a jacket liner positioned adjacent to the inner surface of the torso portion; and

a pair of openings formed in the liner, wherein the kidney belt includes first and second ends, each end positioned through a respective one of the pair of openings.

9. The jacket of claim 8 wherein each opening includes a closure that can be opened or closed.

10. The jacket of claim 8 wherein the liner includes a back portion and first and second side portions attached to opposite ends of the back portion, and further wherein one of the openings is positioned between the back portion and the first side portion and another of the openings is positioned between the back portion and the second side portion.

11. The jacket of claim 8 wherein the kidney belt includes a central, support portion and two end portions attached to opposite ends of the support portion.

12. The jacket of claim 11 wherein each opening receives one of the two end portions of the kidney belt.

13. The jacket of claim 8 wherein each opening is positioned substantially perpendicular to a lower edge of the liner.

14. The jacket of claim 8 wherein the liner is removably attached to the jacket.

15. A liner for a jacket, the liner comprising:

a body portion; and

at least one opening formed in the body portion wherein at least one accessory attached to the jacket is positioned through the at least one opening.

16. The liner of claim 15 wherein the liner includes a back portion, the at least one opening including an opening positioned in the back portion.

17. The liner of claim 16 wherein the at least one opening is positioned substantially parallel to a lower edge of the liner.

18. The liner of claim 1 wherein the liner includes a back portion and first and second side portions attached to opposite ends of the back portion, the at least one opening including a first opening positioned between the back portion and the first side portion and a second opening positioned between the back portion and the second side portion.

19. The liner of claim 18 wherein the first and second openings are positioned substantially perpendicular to a lower edge of the liner.

20. The liner of claim 15 wherein the at least one opening includes a closure that can be opened and closed.