Abstract:
A pair of pants ( 1 ) having an invisible quick access opening ( 2 ) along a center seam ( 10 ) of the pants. The opening extends along the center seam between a right leg ( 5 ) and a left leg ( 6 ) of the pants. The opening can be opened or shut preferably using an elongated zipper ( 12 ). When the zipper is in a closed position, it is not visible on the exterior surface ( 4 ) of the pants, thereby creating the appearance of a sewn center seam from the outside of the pants.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to pant designs, more particularly, pants having a zipper located along a center seam that allows wearers, particularly females, to go to the bathroom without having to unfasten and lower the waist of the pants. 
         [0002]    Many law enforcement officers and military personnel, especially females, are required to wear uniforms as part of their jobs. A current problem many of these females face is being able to quickly and easily remove their pants with all of the gear they are carrying so that they can use the bathroom. For example, law enforcement officers wear gear belts around their waists. Gear belts serve a functional purpose of storing and carrying items, such as a gun, handcuffs, ammunition, radio, etc., while in the field. Gear belts are worn around the waist and held in place using “keepers,” which attach the gear belt to the pants, thereby preventing the gear belt from sliding side to side around the waist of the wearer. When a female officer is in the field and needs to go to the bathroom, she must remove the gear belt and all of the keepers, store the gear belt, pull down her pants, go to the bathroom, pull up her pants, tuck in a body armor vest and shirt into the pants, put the gear belt back around her waist and finally re-attach the keepers to the gear belt. This process can be time consuming, thereby taking away from the officer&#39;s time on the job. This process can also pose a danger considering that female officers are often forced to use public bathroom stalls to relieve themselves. When a female officer removes her gear belt she has to find a place to store the gear belt. She cannot hang it on a door or place the gear belt on the floor because she has to keep her firearm secure. Thus, she is forced to throw the gear belt over her shoulder while using the bathroom which can be very awkward. The same problem exists with male officers who find themselves having to use a bathroom in some situations 
         [0003]    Therefore, a need exists for a pair of pants having an invisible opening that will allow a person to go to the bathroom without having to lower the pants and/or remove any gear from the pants. 
         [0004]    The relevant prior art includes the following references: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Pat. No. 
                   
                   
               
               
                 (U.S. unless stated otherwise) 
                 Inventor 
                 Issue/Publication Date 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 2006/0191059 
                 Smith 
                 Aug. 31, 2006 
               
               
                 2006/0174399 
                 Nikolayev et al. 
                 Aug. 10, 2006 
               
               
                 6,928,661 
                 Lewis et al. 
                 Aug. 16, 2005 
               
               
                 6,192,522 
                 Schreib 
                 Feb. 27, 2001 
               
               
                 6,161,223 
                 Andrews 
                 Dec. 19, 2000 
               
               
                 5,983,401 
                 Ohara 
                 Nov. 16, 1999 
               
               
                 5,010,595 
                 Stradley 
                 Apr. 30, 1991 
               
               
                 4,578,828 
                 Smith, Sr. et al. 
                 Apr. 01, 1986 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The primary object of the present invention is to provide a pair of pants that allow a wearer to use the bathroom without having to remove the pants. 
         [0006]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a pair of pants having an opening along the center seam that is invisible. 
         [0007]    An even further object of the present invention is to provide a pair of pants that conform to uniform standards for police and military personnel. 
         [0008]    The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing an invisible quick access opening along the center seam of a pair of pants. The opening extends from the front waistband of the pants along the center seam of the front of the pants, the center seam of the crotch and up the center seam of the rear of the pants towards the rear waistband. The opening can be opened or shut using an elongated zipper. An additional feature of the pants is that the zipper is not visible when it is an a closed position. When the zipper is in a closed position, it has the appearance of a normal seam from the outside of the pants. A zipper flap located on the front of the pants further gives the appearance of a normal pair of pants. To use the quick access opening, a wearer simply unzips the opening as needed and commences with using the restroom. Then, the wearer simply zips the opening shut. 
         [0009]    The present invention may also be in the form of shorts and may utilize other fastening means, such as a hook and loop fastener, snaps, etc., instead of a zipper. The pants may also be used by individuals other than police and military personnel, such as hunters, boaters and so forth. 
         [0010]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a pair of pants of the present invention having a quick access opening in a closed position; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of a pair of pants of the present invention having a quick access opening in an open position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a pair of pants of the present invention having a quick access opening in an open position and a waistband in an open position; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of a pair of pants of the present invention having a quick access opening in a closed position. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered accessories in the drawings is as follows:
     1 . pants     2 . opening     3 . interior surface     4 . exterior surface     5 . right leg     6 . left leg     7 . upper edge     8 . front section     9 . rear section     10 . center seam     11 . fastening means     12 . zipper     13 . waist band     14 . exterior flap     15 . stitches     16 . interior flap   
 
         [0033]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a front perspective view of a pair of pants  1  of the present invention having a quick access opening  2  in a closed position is shown. The pants  1  have an interior surface  3  and an exterior surface  4 . A right leg  5  having an upper edge  7 , a front section  8  and a rear section  9  is attached to a left leg  6  having an upper edge  7 , a front section  8  and a rear section  9  along a center seam  10  via an fastening means  11 , such as a zipper  12  (as shown here), a hook and loop fastener, snaps, etc. The right leg  5  and left leg  6  are also attached to a waist band  13  along the upper edges  7 . When in the closed position, the zipper  9  is not visible on the exterior surface  4  of the pants  1 , thereby creating the appearance that the center seam  10  is a sewn seam creating the appearance of a normal pair of pants  1 . The zipper  9  allows a wearer to create an opening  2  along the center seam  7 , as shown further in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . An exterior flap  14 , which may be created by placing stitches  15  on the front section  8  of the pants  1 , further creates the appearance of a normal pair of pants  1 . 
         [0034]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , a front perspective view of a pair of pants  1  of the present invention having a quick access opening  2  in an open position is shown. The pants  1  have an interior surface  3  and an exterior surface  4 . A right leg  5  having an upper edge  7 , a front section  8  and a rear section  9  is attached to a left leg  6  having an upper edge  7 , a front section  8  and a rear section  9  along a center seam  10  via an fastening means  11 , such as a zipper  12  (as shown here), a hook and loop fastener, snaps, etc. The right leg  5  and left leg  6  are also attached to a waist band  13  along the upper edges  7 . The zipper  9  allows a wearer to create an opening  2  from the front section  8  of the pants  1  to the rear section  9  of the pants  1  along the center seam  7 . 
         [0035]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , a front perspective view of a pair of pants  1  of the present invention having a quick access opening  2  in an open position and a waistband  13  in an open position is shown. The pants  1  have an interior surface  3  and an exterior surface  4 . A right leg  5  having an upper edge  7 , a front section  8  and a rear section  9  is attached to a left leg  6  having an upper edge  7 , a front section  8  and a rear section  9  along a center seam  10  via an fastening means  11 , such as a zipper  12  (as shown here), a hook and loop fastener, snaps, etc. The right leg  5  and left leg  6  are also attached to a waist band  13  along the upper edges  7 . The zipper  9  allows a wearer to create an opening  2  from the front section  8  of the pants  1  to the rear section  9  of the pants  1  along the center seam  7 . An interior flap  16  is located on the pants  1  so that when the zipper  9  is in a closed position, the interior flap  16  is between the wearer and the zipper  9 , thereby reducing any chaffing that may be caused by the zipper  9 . 
         [0036]    Finally, with reference to  FIG. 4 , a rear perspective view of a pair of pants  1  of the present invention having a quick access opening  2  in an open position is shown. The pants  1  have an interior surface  3  and an exterior surface  4 . A right leg  5  having an upper edge  7 , a front section  8  and a rear section  9  is attached to a left leg  6  having an upper edge  7 , a front section  8  and a rear section  9  along a center seam  10  via an fastening means  11 , such as a zipper  12  (as shown here), a hook and loop fastener, snaps, etc. The right leg  5  and left leg  6  are also attached to a waist band  13  along the upper edges  7 . When in the closed position, the zipper  9  is not visible on the exterior surface  4  of the pants  1 , thereby creating the appearance that the center seam  10  is a sewn seam creating the appearance of a normal pair of pants  1 . The zipper  9  allows a wearer to create an opening  2  along the center seam  7 , as shown previously in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0037]    It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.