Abstract:
The present invention provides an interior pocket for a garment such as a shirt that affords an enhanced degree of secrecy and security for articles stored in the interior pocket. The interior pocket affords a greater degree of protection against easy theft compared to an outside pocket by being situated on the inside of the shirt between the shirt and the wearer&#39;s body. Positioning the items in the interior pocket reduces the risk of thievery using the slight of hand by a pickpocket.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a non-provisional application claiming priority to U.S. Ser. No. 60/432,605, filed Dec. 11, 2002, entitled “Interior Pocket for Garment”, the content of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates in general to the construction of a pocket for garments such as shirts, pants, sweaters, shorts, that is designed to facilitate storing items such as glasses, cell phones, calculators, pens, pencils, combs, money, credit cards and the like, without losing, damaging or destroying the articles in the normal wearing of the garment.  
         [0003]     For instance, in the case of an outside shirt pocket, when a wearer simply bends over to pick up an object, reaches up for an item, or jumps up for an article, there is a risk that articles will be dislodged from an outside pocket and cause damage or possibly harm to the articles, to the owner attempting to prevent dislodging of the articles, or to another person. The simple task of bending over to pick up a child could cause articles stored in an outside shirt pocket to fall onto the child. Working on mechanical moving devices with articles carried in an outside pocket could result in some or all of the contents falling into the mechanism and damaging the mechanism or harming the wearer trying in haste to catch the articles falling into the mechanism.  
         [0004]     In addition to accidental dislodgement of articles, an outside pocket is also susceptible to thievery by pickpockets. Articles such as money, credit cards, or check books can be seen by a potential thief and surreptitiously removed from an outside pocket.  
         [0005]     The outer appearance of the garment is also an important aspect in the design of fashionable clothing. Pens, glasses, combs and the like, when stored in an outside pocket can give a cluttered appearance to an otherwise fashionable garment.  
         [0006]     Interior pockets are known for jackets and coats. However, in today&#39;s business environment, casual attire for office workers is more common. Jackets are worn less often. An interior pocket is thus not available to many people during the business day. Additionally, garments for other activities do not typically include jackets and coats where such activities occur in a warm environment such as on a golf course or at the beach. An interior pocket would not be available.  
         [0007]     The present inventor has recognized the desirability of providing an interior pocket for a shirt that was aesthetically pleasing, and afforded a degree of security and secrecy to the contents of the interior pocket.  
         [0008]     The present inventor has recognized the desirability of an interior pocket construction that could be permanently affixed to a garment during manufacture of the garment in a cost effective manner, or which could be applied to a garment post production.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0009]     The invention provides an interior pocket for a garment such as a shirt that affords an enhanced degree of secrecy and security for articles stored in the interior pocket. The interior pocket affords a greater degree of protection against easy theft compared to an outside pocket by being situated on the inside of the shirt between the shirt and the wearer&#39;s body. Positioning the items in the interior pocket reduces the risk of thievery using the slight of hand by a pickpocket.  
         [0010]     The invention may be constructed to provide an interior pocket that enables a more attractive garment, wherein the pocket and the contents of the pocket are not visible to the public.  
         [0011]     The invention may be constructed to provide an interior pocket that can be affixed securely to any garment, the interior pocket constructed through means of outer and inner material attached to the aforementioned garment.  
         [0012]     The invention may be constructed to provide an interior pocket that can be affixed securely to any garment, the interior pocket constructed through means of outer and inner material attached to the aforementioned garment thereby creating an interior pocket using portions of the inner garment.  
         [0013]     The invention may be constructed to provide a simple and effortless means of a fixing the interior pocket through means of outer and inner material attached to the aforementioned garment.  
         [0014]     The invention may be constructed to provide an interior pocket which can be affixed securely to any garment, the interior pocket constructed through means of outer and inner material attached to the aforementioned garment, the outer material camouflaging the interior pocket from any outward look of bulk upon the garment.  
         [0015]     Through the variety of decorations of the outer material, the interior pocket can be less obvious in bulk and therefore when applied to a shirt, can be used to keep the look of a “no pocket”conventional shirt. Such ornamentation might include embroidery, attractive patterns, logos, insignias, coat of arms, badges, shields, emblems, or indicia. The outer material assists in the camouflaging or concealing of the bulk content of the interior pocket, thereby enhancing the image of the wearer to be a trimmer and more fashionable look.  
         [0016]     Easy access to the interior pocket is provided by the design of the garment and location of the decoration/interior pocket. An interior pocket entry is provided through the opening from the V neck design of many golf shirts or “plackets”, from the V neck design of certain sweaters, from the top opened buttons of casual dress shirts, from the design of certain dresses and blouses with button openings, from the design of shorts and pants, from all of the above and more which will contain a myriad of other openings from which the wearer can access the interior pocket with relative ease.  
         [0017]     The invention may be constructed to provide an interior pocket which can be affixed securely to any garment, the interior pocket constructed through means of outer and inner material attached to the aforementioned garment, the interior pocket being portable and thereby usable on many different articles of clothing.  
         [0018]     The invention may be constructed to provide an interior pocket which can be affixed securely to any garment, the interior pocket constructed through means of outer and inner material attached to the aforementioned garment that is permanent to many different articles of clothing.  
         [0019]     The invention may be constructed to provide an interior pocket which can be affixed securely to any garment, the interior pocket constructed through a means of outer and inner material attached to the aforementioned garment by a procedure which can use fastening devices such as buttons, zippers, fasteners, screws and nuts, hooks, Velcro, threads, laces, snaps, pins, clips, magnets, or adhesive tape.  
         [0020]     The invention may be constructed to provide an interior pocket which can be affixed securely to any garment, the interior pocket constructed through means of outer and inner material attached to the aforementioned garment which can be of various sizes, shapes, designs and forms.  
         [0021]     The invention may be constructed to provide an interior pocket which can be affixed securely to any garment, the interior pocket constructed through means of outer and inner material attached to the aforementioned garment which is designed to carry, conceal, secure, and/or protect various items such as money, credit cards, glasses, combs, pens, pencils, and other common articles.  
         [0022]     The invention may be constructed to provide a variably-sized portable or permanent interior pocket for application to garment such a shirts, sweaters, shorts, pants and the like with a construction that encompasses an inner and outer piece of material affixed to the garment through a myriad of fastening devices which seals three sides of the pocket exclusive of the top of the interior pocket, the inner and outer pieces are coordinated with fastening devices to be positioned directly opposite of each other as they are affixed strategically to the garment for ease of access. The outer piece of material holds the interior pocket to the inner side of the garment. The pocket can be a complete pocket or can be a panel that forms a pocket using the inner wall of the garment. The outer piece of material can function to camouflage the contents within the interior pocket.  
         [0023]     The invention may be constructed to provide an interior pocket that can be easily affixed to a garment during manufacture of the garment or post production.  
         [0024]     Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will be become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0025]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view of a shirt with one pocket construction of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the shirt shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment pocket construction;  
         [0028]      FIG. 3A  is a fragmentary enlarged front perspective view of a portion of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment pocket construction;  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment pocket construction;  
         [0031]      FIG. 5A  is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line  5 A- 5 A of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0032]      FIG. 5B  is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line  5 A- 5 A of  FIG. 5  in a further stage of assembly;  
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment pocket construction; and  
         [0034]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment pocket construction. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0035]     While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.  
         [0036]      FIG. 1  illustrates a shirt  20  having a front panel  24  with an outside surface  28  and an inside surface  30  ( FIG. 2 ). A decorative outside panel  34  is carried on a left side of the outside surface  28  (left from a wearer&#39;s perspective). The panel  34  can be placed on either the right or left sides of the front panel  24 . The decorative outside panel  34  can be soft or hard, composed of fabric, plastic, metal or any other compatible material. An interior pocket  40  is carried on the inside surface  30  of the front panel  24 . The outside panel  34  is superimposed over at least a portion of the interior pocket. Preferably the outside panel  34  can include embroidery, attractive patterns, logos, insignias, coat of arms, badges, shields, emblems, or indicia.  
         [0037]      FIG. 2  illustrates the un-assembled interior pocket  40  this time affixed to a right side of the front panel  24 . The pocket  40  comprises an inner panel  42  and an outer panel  44 . The inner panel  42  has a greater length than the outer panel  44  thus forming a rectangular top panel  46  having a height  47  about equal to a height  48  of the decorative outside panel  34 . The inner panel  42  can be a fabric piece with a surrounding hem  52  along its sides and bottom. The outer panel  44  can be a fabric piece and includes hems  54  along its sides. The outer panel  44  is sewn onto the inner panel  42  along the sides and bottom to form a pocket.  
         [0038]     The decorative panel  34 , the garment panel  24 , and the top panel  46  are sewn together around a perimeter of the decorative panel. The pocket  40  thus hangs freely from the affixed top panel  46 . Alternatively, the lower portion of the pocket  40  could be sewn to the shirt panel  24 . The top of the inner panel  42  is not attached to the top of the outer panel  44  to form an access opening or mouth into the pocket  40 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 3  illustrates an alternate embodiment decorative panel  134  and an alternate embodiment pocket  140 , shown unassembled. The decorative panel  134  can be the same size as the pocket  140  to be superimposed over the pocket  140 . The pocket  140  includes a heat-activated two-part epoxy formed in a pattern  142  that is applied onto a pocket panel  144  along the sides and bottom. The top is left unsecured for access into the pocket  140 . The epoxy pattern  142  can be pre-applied to the panel  144  or to the shirt panel  24 . Alternatively, the pattern can be in the form of an adhesive tape that is interposed between the pocket panel  144  and the shirt panel  24 . The pocket panel  144  can have hems  146  all around its perimeter for structural support and reinforcement.  
         [0040]     The decorative panel  134  also can include a heat-activated two-part epoxy pattern  152  for affixing the decorative panel to the shirt panel  24 . In the embodiment shown, the top surface of the panel  134  is left unsecured to serve as an external pocket. Alternatively, the epoxy pattern  152  can be an all-over epoxy coating on the panel  134 , or can be applied to the panel as shown except with the top also having a line of epoxy, i.e., the top being also secured. The pattern  152  can also be in the form of an adhesive tape interposed between the panel  134  and the front panel  24  of the shirt.  
         [0041]      FIG. 3A  illustrates one form of the panel  134  which can be in the form of a decorative crest. As also shown in  FIG. 3A , the crest can be sized and shaped to over fit an existing shirt pocket  140 . Preferably the outside panel  134  can include embroidery, attractive patterns, logos, insignias, coat of arms, badges, shields, emblems, or indicia.  
         [0042]      FIG. 4  illustrates a further embodiment pocket  240  shown assembled and unassembled. The pocket  240  includes a backing panel  242  and an inside bottom or pouch-forming panel  244  secured along its sides and bottom to the panel  242  and having an access opening  246 . The pocket  240  is secured to the panel  24  by use of a plurality of fasteners  252  which penetrate through an outside panel  253 . Each fastened  252  can include male and female clip parts  254 ,  256 . The panel  242  and the panel  244  can have hems around their respective perimeters to rigidify the pocket and reinforced the construction of the pocket and the attachment of the pocket to the garment.  
         [0043]      FIG. 5  illustrates an alternate pocket  340  shown unassembled. The pocket  340  includes a back panel  342  and a floor panel or pouch-forming panel  344  that is sewn around its sides and bottom to the panel  342 . Rivet-like fasteners  348  and an outside panel  350  are used to affix the pocket  340  to the shirt panel  24 . One fastener  348  is used to attach the upper corners of the packet  340  and one is used to attach the bottom of the floor panel  344 . The panels  344 ,  342  can have hems around their respective perimeters to rigidify the pocket and reinforce the construction of the pocket and the attachment of the pocket to the garment.  
         [0044]     Preferably the outside panel  350  can include embroidery, attractive patterns, logos, insignias, coat of arms, badges, shields, emblems, or indicia.  
         [0045]      FIGS. 5A-5B  illustrate the fasteners  348  including a male part  360  and a female part  362  interengaged to clamp the outside panel  350 , the shirt panel  24  and the backing panel  342  (or the floor panel  344 ) together.  FIG. 5A  shows the fastener  348  unassembled and FIG.  5 B shows the fastener  348  assembled. The thickness of the three layers  342 ,  24 ,  350  is shown exaggerated in  FIG. 5A .  
         [0046]      FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment similar to  FIG. 4  but which uses a smaller outside panel  370  for affixing the pocket  240 . Preferably the outside panel  370  can include embroidery, attractive patterns, logos, insignias, coat of arms, badges, shields, emblems, or indicia.  
         [0047]      FIG. 7  illustrates another embodiment pocket assembly  440  that includes a backing panel  442  having an upper panel  444  that is folded over and sewn to form an upper enclosed pocket  443  that encloses a bar magnet  445  also shown outside the enclosed pocket. An inside panel  446  is sewn along its side and bottom to form the interior pocket. The facing surface  447  of the upper panel  444  is sewn to the inside surface  30  of the shirt panel  24 . A decorative metallic plate  460  such as having etched indicia is then pressed to the outside surface  28  of the shirt panel  24  and is held to the shirt panel  24  by magnetic attraction of the bar magnet  445 .  
         [0048]     The outside panels  34 ,  134 ,  253 ,  350 ,  370   460  can all be configured to stylishly decorate the garment, functionally support the interior pocket and/or discreetly conceal the interior pocket or the contents of the interior pocket.  
         [0049]     From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.