Abstract:
A trouser garment with an integral deployable security blanket formed in a reversible pocket, the trouser garment having at least one garment wall adapted to support the reversible pocket; said reversible pocket having opposed pocket walls secured about peripheral edges leaving an accessible pocket opening; an edge portion of the reversible pocket being graspable to invert the pocket for deployment exteriorly of the garment wall; said trouser garment having elongated legs with a selectively openable gusset disposed in a “fly” formed at the bottom of at least one leg whereby said gusset having predetermined graphic material in combination with the reversible pocket forms an elongated display.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/238,063, filed Sep. 21, 2011. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to security structures known generally to parents and child caregivers as “security blankets” or “blankies” integrated into articles of clothing. Specifically, “security blankets” are articles known to, carried by, and fondled by children (and some adults) for their particular characteristics such as textures, shapes, colors, and/or scents, and include dolls or toys as well as the more common blanket, the physical, manual contact with which “security blanket” provides comfort and a sense of security to the user. The new and improved security structure of the present invention is directly incorporated into a pocket of a garment which may be reversed to expose the security structure—“blankie.” The reversed or inverted pocket will have tactile and/or visual characteristics comparable to those found in “security blankets” or “blankies,” namely a familiar look or feel, and, in some cases, scent. In an alternative embodiment, the structure may be in the form of a hand puppet or plaything. In a further alternative embodiment, the head element of the hand puppet is disposed in an upper pocket of trousers which include a coordinated foot portion in a zippered gusset at the bottom of the trouser leg. When the head is deployed and the gusset is exposed, the unique appearance of an elongated doll or object (snake, animal skeleton) is created. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The primary object of the invention is to provide a garment which has been provided with an integrated “blankie-like” security structure or plaything in a pocket of the garment. 
         [0004]    In its simplest and most fundamental form, the pocket security structure is comprised of panels of comfortable, soothing fabric having a texture and tactile feeling duplicative of a security blanket or security toy. Thus, a child might find the security of touching his or her security blanket or security toy by simply reaching into a pocket constructed of comfortable and soothing security blanket/toy fabric. Further incorporation of a familiar security image or pattern on the panels will enhance the derivable security feeling of the child when the pocket is deployed by reversing it to expose both the familiar comforting imagery and/or the comforting tactile feeling of the security fabric. 
         [0005]    In an alternative embodiment, the pocket structure is shaped as a plaything and supplemented by one or more plaything elements to give the reversed pocket a toy or doll shape. The toy or doll shape provided by the reversed pocket, in a further embodiment, may be accessed through a separate garment opening as a hand puppet. In a further embodiment, the pocket structure is deployed in trousers having a zippered gusset which may be selectively opened to reveal elements coordinating with the deployed pocket elements to establish an elongated plaything appearing to extend downwardly from the pocket to the bottom of the trouser legs. 
         [0006]    For a better appreciation of the multiple advantages of the new and improved pocket security blanket invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sweatshirt incorporating the integral security blanket construction of the invention with first and second “security blankets” deployed by reversing the pockets; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of the sweatshirt of  FIG. 1  with the first and second pockets in non-reversed status; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a schematic exterior view of a preferred embodiment of a first reversible security blanket pocket of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a schematic interior view of a preferred embodiment of a first reversible security blanket pocket of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a schematic exterior view of a preferred embodiment of a second reversible security blanket pocket of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a schematic interior view of a preferred embodiment of a second reversible security blanket pocket of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a sweatshirt incorporating the integral security blanket construction of the invention with third and fourth “security blankets” deployed by reversing the pockets; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a schematic perspective view of the sweatshirt of  FIG. 7  with the third and fourth pockets in non-reversed status; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a schematic exterior view of a preferred embodiment of a third reversible security blanket pocket of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a schematic interior view of a preferred embodiment of a third reversible security blanket pocket of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a front elevational view of a pair of trousers with pockets at the waist and zippered gussets at the bottom of the pant legs; and 
           [0018]      FIGS. 12 and 13  are front elevational views of the trousers of  FIG. 11  having integral head elements deployed from the pockets and having coordinated foot or tail elements exposed when the gussets are unzippered. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the integral security blanket construction of the invention may be formed as reversible pocket  10  in the form of a “mini-blanket” or reversible pocket  11  in the form of a mini-toy or mini-toy head which is incorporated into a garment G.  FIG. 2  illustrates the pocket in normal condition with the opposed pocket walls  12 ,  13  and  14 ,  15  disposed within the garment G (shown as a hooded sweatshirt for the purpose of illustration but any garment whatever which includes pockets such as, for example, shorts, trousers and vests may include the invention). 
         [0020]    In accordance with the principles of the invention, the pocket  10  is formed from opposed panels or pocket walls  12 ,  13  having a very particular and distinctive recognizable tactile quality or feel provided by the inherent nature of the particular material chosen, e.g., terry cloth, velour, plush, silk, satin, mohair, cashmere or the like. The opposed panels (which may be formed by a single sheet folded in two) are attached by a generally U-shaped line of stitching  14  extending about the periphery of the panels  12 ,  13 . Advantageously, a folded U-shaped trim strip  15  of contrasting tactile material may be attached to the edges of the panels  12 ,  13  by the stitching  15  providing a pull-tab for inverting the pocket  10  from its internal position in  FIG. 2  to its deployed position in  FIG. 1 . A child user may obtain the comfort of the security blanket by simply inserting her hand into the pocket or by reversing the pocket to expose the mini-blankie. As a more specific aspect of the invention, the panels may have a predetermined color or design similar to that of a full-sized blankie. Additionally, the one or more of the panels  12 ,  13  may be impregnated with a predetermined soothing aromatic scent (vanilla, spice, evergreen, or the like) to provide a further degree of comfort. 
         [0021]    The pocket  10  is attached to the garment G by any suitable means such as a circumscribing collar  16  fastened both to the top of the pocket  10  by stitching  18  and to an opening  17  in the garment G by stitching  19 . 
         [0022]    An alternative form of the mini-blankie  10  is a toy head  11  shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5  and  6 . In this form of the invention, the opposed pocket panels  20 ,  21  are of tactile fabric, e.g., terry cloth, and are shaped to generally represent a head. The panel  20  is provided with eye, nose and mouth graphics  22 ,  23 ,  24  by embroidery to provide a distinctive look and feel. As with the mini-blankie of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the doll head may be specially colored and scented. 
         [0023]    An opening pull-tab in the form of a crest or mohawk crown  25  of contrasting tactile material to that of the panel  20  (e.g., satin contrasted to terry cloth) is attached to the head by a generally U-shaped line of stitching  26 . 
         [0024]    The head  11  is attached to the garment G by the collar  27  attached by adhesive or stitching  28  to the head and by stitching  29  to the open end of the pocket and to an opening in the garment G. 
         [0025]    Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8  where the reversed security objects  10 ,  11  are formed as hand puppets  30 ,  31  which when reversed from pocket mode of  FIG. 8  to deployed mode of  FIG. 7 , may be accessed by hand. In accordance with the invention, the garment G is provided with a dual opening to accommodate access to the garment interior as well as access to the reversible pockets  30 ,  31 . 
         [0026]    Specifically, the pockets  30 ,  31  are formed in the manner of the previously described pockets  11 ,  12 . They have tactile panels and contrasting pull tabs, for example, in the form of a tail fin (for a shark puppet) or mohawk crown (for a doll head puppet) as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0027]    As with the pockets  10 ,  11 , the puppet pockets are attached to a pocket opening in the garment G by collar  32  and comparable stitching  33 ,  34 . However, in accordance with the invention, the garment G is provided with an auxiliary extra opening  35  adjacent the collar  32  to provide access into the garment G and into the reversed pocket puppets  30 ,  31 . The reversed pocket puppets, in addition to providing blankie comfort, may be readily manipulated by the insertion of the user&#39;s hand. 
         [0028]    Further embodiments of the invention are illustrated in  FIGS. 11-13 . In these embodiments, trousers  40  having upper pockets  41 ,  42  formed at the waist portions house reversible head elements in the form of a skeleton head  43  ( FIG. 12 ) or shark head  44  ( FIG. 13 ) or any other head element. The head elements may be constructed in the manner described hereinabove, the most important feature being its reversal from a concealed position to an exposed and visible position when deployed. 
         [0029]    In accordance with the invention, a simple triangular gusset  44  is sewn or otherwise attached to the edges  46 ,  47  of a selectively openable, vertical “fly”  45  by a zipper  48  having opposed tracks  49 ,  50  and a pull  51 . The zipper tracks  49 ,  50  and the gusset edges may be secured to the trouser legs  39  by lines of stitching  52 . In lieu of zipper tracks  49 ,  50 , marked and looped fastening tapes (Velcro®) may be substituted. 
         [0030]    The gusset  44 , which folds in upon itself when the zipper  48  is closed, includes graphics and/or construction features such as described above in connection with the doll&#39;s head, for a “foot” or “tail” or other “bottom” element which coordinates with the deployed “head” to establish an elongated figure which appears to extend from the pocket through the trouser leg to the bottom exposed gusset. The completed figure can be a human, a cartoon, an animal, a dinosaur, a skeleton, a fish, a snake, virtually any elongated figure desired. In  FIG. 12 , the “foot” graphic is that of skeletal feet  53  which match the skeletal head  43 . In  FIG. 12 , the “foot” graphic is that of a tail  54  which coordinates with the shark head  44  to establish a shark extending for the length of the trouser leg. 
         [0031]    It will be appreciated that other types of objects than security products may be incorporated into the reversible pockets and trousers such as tactile cartoon characters, tactile college mascots, tactile corporate logos, and other specific, deployable, three-dimensional imagery. 
         [0032]    It should be understood, of course, that the specific form of the invention herein illustrated and described is intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.