Waterproof Pocket

Abstract

A waterproof garment pocket, and a method of making the same, that is submersible and protects the contents of the pocket, such as handheld electronic devices, against exposure to water. The waterproof garment pocket incorporates a waterproof zipper and is made from fabric that is impervious to water.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of my U.S. Patent Application No. 61/307,958, filed on Feb. 25, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to specialized garment pockets and more particularly to garment pockets that are waterproof.

2. Background Discussion

Many handheld electronic devices, such as cellular telephones and music players, are sized to fit in jacket pockets and pants pockets. However, electronic devices may be susceptible to damage from exposure to, in particular, water and similar liquids. The risk of damage is heightened for individuals who carry such devices while participating in watersports or other activities that may cause electronic devices to be exposed to, for example, precipitation. Accordingly, a need exists for a pocket with a suitable closure system that can be incorporated in a garment and that will keep devices contained in the pocket dry even when the pocket is submerged in water.

Pockets found in casual apparel are made of fabrics and other materials that are not impervious to water, and such pockets incorporate closures, such as buttons or snaps, that do not provide a seal against intrusion of water. Although clothing designed for use in outdoor activities is often made from fabrics that are resistant, or even impervious, to water, pockets featured in such clothing commonly incorporate zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners and similar closures that do not provide a seal against intrusion of water.

Information relevant to attempts to address the need described above can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,336 to Gootrad and U.S. Pat. Appin. Pub. No. 2005/0114988 to Dow. However, these references teach pocket closure systems that do not seal and will leak if submerged in water.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An object of the present invention is a pocket that is made of waterproof fabric and that incorporates a waterproof zipper. Items such as handheld electronic devices may be deposited in the pocket enclosure and will be protected against exposure to water when the waterproof zipper is in a closed position.

The waterproof pocket comprises an enclosure formed from a first layer of waterproof fabric and a second layer of waterproof fabric that is attached to the first layer. The first layer and second layer of waterproof fabric are proximate and adjacent, and an interstice is defined between the first layer and second layers. A continuous, waterproof seam is formed around the periphery of the interstice. An opening is formed in the first layer, and a waterproof zipper is attached to the first layer over the opening. The waterproof zipper is operable between an open position, in which an item may be deposited through the opening into the enclosure, and a closed position, in which the enclosure is hermetically sealed.

Another object of the present invention is a method of forming a waterproof pocket comprising the steps of attaching a first layer of a waterproof fabric having an opening to a second layer of a waterproof fabric, such that an interstice is formed between the first layer and the second layer and a continuous, waterproof seam is formed around the periphery of the interstice; and attaching a waterproof zipper to the opening formed in the first layer.

In certain embodiments, the waterproof fabric comprises rubber, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, a silicone elastomer, polytetrafluoroethylene, a fluoropolymer or wax.

In certain embodiments, the waterproof zipper comprises a female mating zipper half and a male mating zipper half.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of this invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 shows a garment that incorporates a waterproof pocket in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a waterproof zipper assembly;

FIG. 3A shows a cross-sectional view of a waterproof zipper assembly;

FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional view of a female mating portion of a waterproof zipper assembly;

FIG. 3C shows a cross-sectional view of a male mating portion of a waterproof zipper assembly;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective exploded view of an end portion of a waterproof zipper assembly;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a slider component of a waterproof zipper assembly;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a waterproof zipper assembly;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a waterproof pocket that is incorporated in a garment in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective exploded view of a waterproof pocket in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows a plan view of a waterproof pocket in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 shows a garment that incorporates a waterproof pocket in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A waterproof pocket in accordance with certain embodiments is made using fabrics of natural or synthetic fibers that are inherently impervious to penetration by water or have been treated to make the fabrics waterproof. One of skill in the art will understand that suitable fabrics may be laminated to, or coated with, a waterproofing material such as rubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), silicone elastomer, fluoropolymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene, or wax. In a preferred embodiment, the waterproof pocket incorporates a polyurethane laminate fabric. A suitable polyurethane laminate fabric is sold by Eastex Products, Inc. In certain embodiments, suitable waterproof fabrics will have at least 1,000 millimeters of water resistance.

A waterproof pocket 11 in accordance with certain embodiments is shown in FIG. 1. The waterproof pocket 11 is attached to a garment 10 by sewing, gluing, taping, RF welding, stitching, bonding or other suitable means. The edges 12 of the waterproof pocket 11 are sealed so as to prevent water from leaking into the waterproof pocket 11. The waterproof pocket 11 includes an opening 13 through which small items, such as handheld electronic devices, may be placed into the waterproof pocket 11.

A waterproof zipper assembly 20, as shown in FIG. 2, may be attached to the waterproof pocket 11. A suitable waterproof zipper assembly 20 is disclosed by U.S. Pat. Appin. Pub. No. 2009/0307880 to Brightman, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and is sold under the name SubZip™ by SubZipper™.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3A, 3B and 3C, the waterproof zipper assembly 20 comprises a female mating zipper half 30 and a male mating zipper half 31, which interlock and form a hermetic seal when pressed together. The waterproof zipper assembly 20 further comprises end sections 40, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Terminal portions of the female mating zipper half 30 and male mating zipper half 31 are disposed within the end section 40 in an interlocked configuration.

The female mating zipper half 30, male mating zipper half 31 and end sections 40 may be made from any suitable soft elastomer-like material. Suitable materials include thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) and PVC. In certain embodiments, the hardness of the material is 80-90 Shore A.

A user may place the waterproof zipper assembly 20 in a closed position by pressing together the full length of the female mating zipper half 30 and the full length of the male mating zipper half 31 to form an interlocking configuration that is hermetically sealed. A user may place the waterproof zipper assembly 20 in an open position by pulling apart the female mating zipper half 30 and the male mating zipper half 31 so that all, or portions, of the lengths of the female mating zipper half 30 and the male mating zipper half 31 are not interlocked. The waterproof zipper assembly 20 may be attached to the waterproof pocket 11 in a manner such that the opening 13 is hermetically sealed when the waterproof zipper assembly 20 is in the closed position.

As shown in FIGS. 5-8, the waterproof zipper assembly 20 may comprise a slider 50 to provide mechanical assistance in pressing together the female mating zipper half 30 and male mating zipper half 31. As shown in FIGS. 7-10, the waterproof zipper assembly 20 may comprise pull tabs 21 attached to the waterproof zipper assembly 20 to provide mechanical assistance in pulling apart the female mating zipper half 30 and male mating zipper half 31.

FIG. 8 shows components of the waterproof pocket 11, which include a back layer 15 and a front layer 16 of waterproof fabric, the opening 13 and the waterproof zipper assembly 20 mounted over the opening 13 so that the opening 13 is accessible when the waterproof zipper assembly 20 is in the open position and is not accessible when the waterproof zipper assembly 20 is in the closed position. FIG. 9 shows the finished, assembled version of the components shown in FIG. 8. In FIG. 9, the back layer 15 and the front layer 16 of waterproof fabric are bonded or otherwise attached to each other so as to form an interstice between the back layer 15 and the front layer 16 and a continuous, waterproof seam 17 around the periphery of the waterproof pocket 11. The opening 13 is formed in the front layer 16 within the area circumscribed by the seam 17, and the waterproof zipper assembly 20 is attached to the front layer 16 at an inner seam 18 such that the waterproof zipper assembly 20 covers the opening 13. The waterproof zipper assembly 20 may be attached to the front layer 16 by any means suitable to preserve the structural integrity and waterproof nature of the waterproof pocket 11.

FIG. 10 shows the waterproof pocket 11 of FIG. 9 as incorporated in a garment 100. The back layer 15 may be partially or fully bonded to the fabric of the garment 100. Alternatively, fabric of the waterproof pocket 11 outside the seam 17 may be stitched to the fabric of the garment 100.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained therein.

Claims

1. A waterproof pocket comprising

an enclosure formed from a first layer of a waterproof fabric and a second layer of a waterproof fabric that is attached to the first layer, wherein the first layer and second layer are proximate and are separable to define an interstice between the first layer and second layer, wherein a continuous, waterproof seam is formed around the periphery of the interstice and wherein an opening is formed in the first layer; and

a waterproof zipper attached to the first layer at the opening, the waterproof zipper being operable between an open position in which an item may be deposited through the opening into the enclosure and a closed position in which the enclosure is hermetically sealed.

2. The waterproof pocket of claim 1, wherein the waterproof fabric comprises rubber, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, a silicone elastomer, polytetrafluoroethylene, a fluoropolymer or wax.

3. The waterproof pocket of claim 1, wherein the waterproof zipper comprises a female mating zipper half and a male mating zipper half.

4. A method of making a waterproof pocket comprising

attaching a first layer of a waterproof fabric having an opening to a second layer of a waterproof fabric such that an interstice is formed between the first layer and the second layer and a continuous, waterproof seam is formed around the periphery of the interstice; and

attaching a waterproof zipper to the opening formed in the first layer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the waterproof fabric comprises rubber, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, a silicone elastomer, polytetrafluoroethylene, a fluoropolymer or wax.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the waterproof zipper comprises a female mating zipper half and a male mating zipper half.