POCKET SYSTEM
A pocket system including a pocket inside the leg portion of a boot, wherein the leg portion provides an interior space between the leg portion of the boot and a leg of a wearer of the boot suitable for tucking-in a leg of a trouser, and the pocket is so constructed and arranged to receive insertion and removal of a PDA, and to surround the same for safekeeping. An embodiment of the pocket system comprises a removable lining serving as a purse or wallet.
The present invention relates to a pocket system, and more particularly, to a pocket system combined with a boot as an article of footwear.
BACKGROUNDAs is known in the art, a boot places a pocket on the outside of the boot, as disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 3,663,796; U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,095 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,772. Further, US 2010/0018076 A1 discloses a removable attachment for a sandal. However, the pocket on the sandal or on the outside of a boot would detract from any fashion appearance of a boot and would cover and interfere with the exterior of a boot designed to repel water. Further the contents of the pocket would be unprotected from weather elements, such as, rain and snow and earth elements, such as, mud and puddles of water, which constitute incentives for wearing boots.
US 2010/0018076 A1 refers to an extensive list of additional patents that disclose a pocket exposed on the exterior of an article of wearing apparel. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,878 discloses a carrier for a cell phone to be attached to suspender straps, luggage straps, handbags, etc. An arm band and bracelets having pockets are disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. D536,867 S; U.S. Pat. No. D487,844 S and U.S. Pat. No. D496,155 S.
U.S. 2009/004979 A1 discloses a combination of a pocket and a detachable cover, wherein the pocket may be found in any type of accessory, such as, for example, hats, backpacks, umbrellas, ties, luggage, purses, bags, briefcases, computer carriers, etc. The pocket may also be found in other items, such as, for example, shoes, boots, party supplies, etc. The pocket may be of any shape, size, or construction, as is known in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention is useful in combination with a boot intended for footwear. Particularly fashion conscious boots are commercially available under the UGG™ brand boots and the TEVA™ brand boots of the Deckers Outdoor Corporation.
The invention combines a boot with an inside pocket adapted for receiving a personal digital assistant, PDA, which includes a cellular telephone, also referred to as a cell phone, and any other apparatus of similar size and enabling them to be used as mobile phones (smart phones), web browsers, or portable media players in voice and data communications systems including, but not limited to CMDA, Universal Mobile Telephone Communications System, GPS and the Internet.
It has been observed that school children tend to wear boots of a certain brand and fashion appearance, which has established high demand for boot sales. Further, they have established a habit of inserting their PDAs inside their boots. In view of the patents that disclose a pocket exposed on the exterior of a boot, sandal or another article of wearing apparel, these patents lack satisfaction of a long existing need for a pocket for receiving and storing PDAs inside a boot, wherein the utility and fashion appearance of the boot is unaffected by the location and visual appearance of the pocket, due to the pocket being hidden inside the boot.
The invention relates to a pocket system for a boot adapted for footwear and having a foot portion and an ankle portion and a leg portion, the pocket system comprising: a pocket inside the leg portion of the boot, wherein the leg portion provides an interior space between the leg portion of the boot and a leg of a wearer of the boot suitable for tucking-in a leg of a trouser; and the pocket is so constructed and arranged to receive insertion and removal of a PDA, and to surround the same for safekeeping.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the pocket has an opening adjacent to an opening of the leg portion for ease of insertion of the PDA.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the pocket is permanently attached to the boot.
According to a still further embodiment of the invention, the pocket is permanently attached to a lining inside the boot.
According to a still further embodiment of the invention, the pocket is permanently attached between a lining inside the boot and an outer layer of the boot.
According to another embodiment of the pocket, the pocket comprises a thin flexible web to surround the PDA and to collapse and lie flat when the pocket is empty.
According to another embodiment of the pocket, the pocket comprises a removable lining serving as a purse having an open top to line an open top of the pocket and the purse conforms to the volume and shape of the pocket to measure contents that will fit inside the pocket.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings,
With reference to
Resiliency to allow bending of the boot 100 is advantageous in the foot portion 106 of the boot 100 and in the ankle portion 108 of the boot 100. These portions of the boot 100 are resilient to allow flexure of the boot 100 in response to flexure of a foot and ankle of a wearer of the boot 100. Resiliency is not essential in the leg covering portion of the boot 100 that encircles essentially an unbending leg portion of a wearer of the boot 100. It would be advantageous that placement of the pocket 122 hidden inside the leg portion of the boot 100 would not interfere with the utility for resilience and flexure of the boot 100. Further, placement of the pocket 122 hidden inside the boot 100 would not interfere with the water repellant utility of the boot 100 or its fashion conscious appearance.
With reference to
According to an embodiment of the invention, the wall 130 of the pocket 122 comprises a thin flexible web to surround the PDA 124 and to collapse and lie flat when the pocket 122 is empty. The thin flexible web has a material construction including, but not limited to plastic film, cloth, mesh, woven fibers, bonded fibers, or a combination thereof.
According to an embodiment of the pocket system 120 in
This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description, relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”, “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.
Patents and patent applications referred to herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. Although the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claims should be construed broadly, to include other variants and embodiments of the invention, which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention.
Claims
1. A pocket system for a boot adapted for footwear and having a leg portion, the pocket system comprising:
- a pocket inside the leg portion of the boot, wherein the leg portion provides an interior space between the leg portion of the boot and a leg of a wearer of the boot suitable for tucking-in a leg of a trouser; and
- the pocket is so constructed and arranged to receive insertion and removal of a PDA, and to surround the same for safekeeping.
2. The pocket system of claim 1, wherein the pocket has an opening adjacent to an opening of the leg portion for ease of insertion of the PDA.
3. The pocket system of claim 1, wherein the pocket is permanently attached to the boot.
4. The pocket system of claim 1, wherein the pocket is permanently attached to a lining inside the boot.
5. The pocket system of claim 1, wherein the pocket is permanently attached between a lining inside the boot and an outer layer of the boot.
6. The pocket system of claim 1, wherein the pocket comprises a thin flexible web to surround the PDA and to collapse and lie flat when the pocket is empty.
7. The pocket system of claim 1, wherein the pocket comprises a removable lining serving as a purse or wallet having an open top to line an open top of the pocket and the purse or wallet conforms to the volume and shape of the pocket as a measure contents that will fit inside the pocket.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 16, 2010
Publication Date: Sep 22, 2011
Inventor: CHRISTOPHER P. ZUBYK (Malvern, PA)
Application Number: 12/724,559
International Classification: A43B 23/00 (20060101);