Abstract:
A go pocket system and method. A front panel and attachable fastening means provides on-the-go individuals with receptacle storage.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to the field of articles of clothing and more specifically to articles of clothing for forming pocket systems and methods. 
         [0002]    Exercise enthusiasts such as runners, hikers, bikers, etc., typically carry smart phones so they can communicate and/or listen to music while they exercise. If the clothing worn during exercise includes a pocket, the smart phone is inserted therein for storage until the exercise activity is completed. If the clothing has no pocket, users simply hold the smart phone in hand for the duration of the exercise. 
         [0003]    After a few minutes of holding the device, however, the user&#39;s hand may become either sweaty or uncomfortable and may even begin to cramp causing the user to either drop or damage the smart phone or to prematurely shorten the duration of exercise that the user is engaged in. 
         [0004]    Similarly, during a shopping activity, a shopper without a pocket might hold a credit card in hand to pay for purchased products or services. Holding a credit card in hand would become uncomfortable after a prolonged shopping duration. 
         [0005]    It is within the aforementioned context that a need for the present invention has arisen. Thus, there is a need to address one or more of the foregoing disadvantages of conventional systems and methods, and the present invention meets this need. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Various aspects of a pocket system and method can be found in exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, the pocket system includes a front panel; and a fastening means that is attachable to a flat surface such as a clothing material or interior of a reusable shopping bag. The fastening means may have two tacky surfaces that attach to both the front panel and the clothing material to form a receptacle for receiving items for storage. 
         [0008]    Among other advantages, the pocket system is strong yet temporary; it provides a relatively simple and easy way of storage for on-the-go individuals. With the present pocket system, an exercise enthusiast can remain hands-free and avoid possible cramps that can result from holding smart phones or the like for the duration of an exercise activity. With the present pocket system, a shopper without a pocket can also avoid the discomfort of holding a credit card in hand to pay for purchased products or services. 
         [0009]    A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention herein may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the attached drawings. Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with respect to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a pocket system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a front panel according another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a pocket system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a single pocket system on a shirt according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a multiple pocket system on a shirt according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a fastening means of  FIG. 1A  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4B  illustrate a plan view of the fastening means of  FIG. 4A  when viewed from position F of  FIG. 4A . 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  illustrates a fastening means attached to the interior of a front panel in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the one embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as to not unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1A  illustrates pocket system  100  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0020]    In  FIG. 1A , pocket system  100  might be used to carry items during the course of an activity where the user wishes to remain hands-free. As an example, user  106  may be an exercise enthusiast wishing to carry a smart phone or mp3 player during an exercise activity. 
         [0021]    Of course, one skilled in the art will realize that pocket system  100  may be used in other type activities consistent with the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, during a shopping activity, user  106  may use pocket system  100  in conjunction with a reusable shopping bag to carry a credit card or similar type items. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 1A , pocket system  100  comprises front panel  102 A and fastening means  104  that attaches along the interior periphery of front panel  102 A. In  FIG. 1A , front panel  102 A itself might be a mesh fabric, elastic material, polyethylene material or any suitable material that forms the exterior of a receptacle or pocket. Fastening means  104  might be a double-sided adhesive strip or other comparable fastening means sized and configured to align with the size and shape of front panel  102 A. 
         [0023]    In operation, user  106  begins by pulling the liner off the exposed side of fastening means, possibly with use of a pull tab along the interior sides and bottom periphery of front panel  102 A. A second exposed side of fastening means  104  is then fixedly attached to user  106 &#39;s clothing (or other material) creating a receptacle with opening  105  for receiving smart phones, iPods™, credit cards, etc. Pocket system  100  is shown attached to a shirt in  FIG. 3A ; the pocket system will be further described with reference to  FIG. 1B  to  FIG. 5  below. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1B  illustrates front panel  102 B according another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0025]    In  FIG. 1B , front panel  102 B is U-shaped similar to front panel  102 A of  FIG. 1A . Here, front panel  102 B may incorporate intricate designs such as flower design  108 . In fact, front panel  102 B may also incorporate company logos such as GOPOCKET logo  110 . 
         [0026]    As in  FIG. 1A , front panel  102 B may be mesh fabric, elastic material, a polyethylene material or any suitable material for use as an exterior or shell of a receptacle or pocket. Preferably, front panel  102 B is mesh fabric to prevent excess moisture from reaching items stored within pocket system  100 . 
         [0027]    The dimensions of front panel  102 B may vary and might depend upon items stored within pocket system  100 . As an example, length y of front panel  102 B might be about 7″ while width x may be substantially 4″, said dimension being configured to store an iPhone 6.0 smart phone, for example. The thickness of front panel  102 B is sufficient to avoid tearing or dislodgement of items within the pocket particularly after prolonged use. 
         [0028]    User  106  may place front panel  102 B on different materials depending upon use. Front panel  102 B may be placed on athletic tops or T-shirts preferably about two inches below the breast area for women; placement may also be on a user&#39;s hip or other convenient areas. 
         [0029]    Other examples of placement areas are the interior of reusable shopping bags to hold change and receipts; on the side of amplifiers for musicians to hold picks and business cards, etc. One of ordinary skill in the art will realize that front panel  102 B may be placed on a variety of materials, different areas of the body or different articles and the like. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  illustrates pocket system  200  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0031]    In  FIG. 2 , unlike the pocket system of  FIG. 1A , pocket system  200  is rectangular shaped with pointed corners  201 . Here, pocket system  200  is adapted to hold items such as credit cards, business cards and the like. Pocket system  200  includes front panel  202 A having opening  204  for receiving items for storage. Unlike front panel  102 A ( FIG. 1A ), front panel  202 A is attached onto clothing along its entire periphery namely edges  207 A,  207 B,  207 C and  207 D. 
         [0032]    Specifically, the interior of edges  207 A,  207 B,  207 C and  207 D includes adhesive strips (not shown) for attaching front panel  202 A onto a clothing or accessory. This configuration has the advantage that upper front panel area  205 A above opening  204  operates as a cover to securely retain items within pocket system  200 . Although not shown, front panel  202 A may have a second opening above opening  204  via which an earphone wire may be connected to a media device in pocket system  200 . Lower front panel area  205 B receives a substantial portion of any item that is stored. 
         [0033]      FIG. 3B  illustrates multiple pocket system  300  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0034]    In  FIG. 3B , multiple pocket system  300  is shown attached to a shirt. Here, multiple pocket system  300  includes at least two front panels namely front panel  310  and front panel  312 . Front panel  310  forms an opening  311  with material  313  to which front panel  310  is attached. A first item for storage can then be received via opening  311 . 
         [0035]    An advantage of this embodiment is that multiple pocket system  300  includes at least two pockets. Thus, second front panel  312  forms another opening  314  with front panel  310  to which front panel  312  is attached. A second item for storage may then be received via opening  314 . In this manner, the present embodiment allows different items to be compartmentalized for storage in different pockets. 
         [0036]      FIG. 4A  illustrates fastening means  104  of  FIG. 1A  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4B  also illustrates fastening means  104 , but shows a plan view of the fastening means when viewed from position F of  FIG. 4A . 
         [0037]    In  FIGS. 4A and 4B , fastening means  104  is U-shaped, although other shapes consistent with the spirit and scope of the present invention are possible. Fastening means  104  is double-sided, with first side  412  and second side  414 . In one embodiment, the width of fastening means  104  is no more that 1 inch. 
         [0038]    In one embodiment, first side  412  comes attached to the interior surface of front panel  102 A,  102 B. Second side  414  has removable liner  422  that is removable by user  106  to expose tacky surface  420  for attaching the front panel to a flat surface material to form a receptacle or pocket. This flat surface material may be a user&#39;s clothing or reusable shopping bag, for example. The receptacle or pocket once formed can receive and store various user items including iPods™, credit cards or the like. 
         [0039]    In an alternate embodiment, first side  412  does not come attached to the interior surface of front panel  102 A,  102 B. First side  412  is adapted for attachment by user  106  to the interior surface of front panel  102 A,  102 B. Second side  414  is adapted to attach to a flat surface material to form a receptacle or pocket. This flat surface material may be a user&#39;s clothing or reusable shopping bag, for example. The receptacle or pocket once formed can receive and store various user items including iPods, credit cards or the like. 
         [0040]    First side  412  may have adhesive or tacky surface  416 , which is itself covered by liner  418 . Removing liner  418  exposes the adhesive or tacky surface  416 , which is highly sticky to the touch and is capable of adhering to and creating a strong but temporary bond with another surface. This temporary bond will hold for a few washes, where the pocket system is attached to clothing. 
         [0041]    Second side  414  ( FIG. 4B ) of fastening means  404  may have adhesive or tacky surface  420 , which is itself covered by liner  422 . Removing liner  422  exposes the adhesive or tacky surface  420 , which is also sticky to a user&#39;s touch and is configured to adhere to and create a non-detachable bond with another surface. 
         [0042]    Thus, fastening means  104  is sized and configured to align with the size and shape of front panel  102 A. An example of fastening means  104  is 3M Double Coated Tape 9795 obtainable from 3M™ of St. Paul, Minn. Although not shown, each fastening means for each of the embodiments of the present invention may include a pull tab for dislodging the respective fastening means. 
         [0043]      FIG. 5  illustrates fastening means  104  attached to the interior of a front panel in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0044]    Attachment of fastening means  104  and front panel  102 A (of  FIG. 1A ) and formation of pocket system  100  (of  FIG. 1A ) will now be described. 
         [0045]    In operation, in the embodiment where first side  412  of fastening means  104  (see  FIG. 4 ) comes pre-attached to the interior surface of front panel  102 A (or  102 B or  310 ), user  106  ( FIG. 1 ) simply peels off liner  422  to expose adhesive or tacky side  420  ( FIG. 4 ). Front panel  102 A is then picked up such that the outside of front panel  102 A is on user  106 &#39;s palm and the exposed adhesive or tacky side  420  is applied to a clothing or accessory as shown in  FIG. 1A . 
         [0046]    In the alternate embodiment where first side  412  of fastening means  104  does not come pre-attached to the interior surface of front panel  102 A (or  102 B or  310 ), user  106  begins by placing front panel  102 A,  102 B or  310  on a flat surface as shown in  FIG. 5 . Specifically, the exterior of front panel  102 A is placed downwards on a flat surface. User  106  next removes liner  418  ( FIG. 4B ) to expose adhesive or tacky side  416  ( FIG. 4B ). 
         [0047]    This exposed adhesive side  416  is then aligned with the periphery of the interior of front panel of  102 A as shown in  FIG. 5 . That is, exposed adhesive side  416  is pressed against the interior edges of front panel  102 A. Pressure is then applied on lining  422  of second side  414  ( FIG. 4 ) and along the edges of front panel  102 A so that fastening means  104  is fixedly attached to front panel  102 A. 
         [0048]    After fastening means  104  has been fixedly attached to front panel  102 A, the second lining  422  is then removed exposing adhesive or tacky side  420  ( FIG. 4 ). Front panel  102 A is then picked up such that the outside of front panel  102 A is on user  106 &#39;s palm and the exposed adhesive or tacky side  420  is applied to a clothing or accessory as shown in  FIG. 1A . 
         [0049]    In this manner, user  106  can use pocket system  100  to carry articles or items such as a smart phone, credit card, etc. when the user  106  is on-the-go. Pocket system  100  is strong but temporary and can withstand a few washes on any clothing or accessory. Without limitation, user  106  may be an exercise enthusiast, such as a runner, or a shopper carrying a reusable shopping for use with pocket system  100 . 
         [0050]    While the above is a complete description of exemplary specific embodiments of the invention, additional embodiments are also possible. Thus, the above description should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.