Abstract:
A series of vertically overlapping pockets is attached to the fabric of the trousers adjacent the knee. The open ends of pairs of pockets face each other and a foam or other resilient kneepad is partially inserted through the open ends into a selected pair of facing pockets. Using different pairs of facing pockets selectively positions the kneepads on the trousers at selected vertical locations. The panels forming the pockets may be positioned on the inside or on the outside of the trousers adjacent the knee, and may be preassembled to form a separate structure for attachment to the trousers.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The trousers have knee pads therein and are particularly useful for those who have work or who have a hobby which requires them to kneel. The knee pads are adjustable in position with respect to the trousers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many persons must kneel in performance of their work. For example, carpet installers must kneel when attaching nail strips around the periphery of the area to be carpeted. They must also kneel when the carpet sections are joined and when the carpet is stretched. This kneeling is hard on the knees unless they are protected. Other occupations also require kneeling. For example, plumbers must kneel to do plumbing work near the floor. Carpenters must kneel to do carpentry at low levels. This is particularly true in finish carpentry for the installation of baseboards, trim and cabinets. 
     In addition, there are non-work situations where kneeling is helpful. With any long term effort near the ground, kneeling is preferable to bending. Thus, garden work often requires kneeling for attention to plants or planting. There are pads which can be carried along and put in position for kneeling. There are foam kneepads which can be strapped around the leg so that they are presumably in position when the user wants to kneel. However, such kneepads are inconvenient, or do not remain in position. Thus, there is a need for structure which properly positions the kneepad and holds it in place. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to aid in the understanding of this invention, it can be stated in essentially summary form that it is directed to a kneepad structure which is configured to be permanently attached to the interior or exterior of the trouser leg. The kneepad structure comprises multiple panels and combinations of panels which permit selectable positioning of the kneepad. 
     It is thus a purpose and advantage of this invention to provide a structure which can be attached to the trouser leg, either inside or outside, which permits the selectable positioning of a soft knee pad. 
     It is another purpose and advantage of this invention to provide trousers which have in association therewith a knee pad structure which includes selectable positioning of a soft knee pad, such as a foam knee pad. 
     It is another purpose and advantage of this invention to provide a structure which has a plurality of spaced and facing pockets and a foam knee pad, with the pockets and knee pad being configured so that the knee pad can be inserted into associated pairs of pockets to be releaseably retained therein. 
     The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a man wearing a pair of trousers having associated therewith the adjustable location knee pad structure of this invention, with parts broken away. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the knee pad structure. 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the knee pad structure, with a knee pad placed in a selected position. 
     FIG. 4 is a section taken generally along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the knee pad structure preassembled for attachment to the outside of the trouser leg. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows a pair of trousers  10  positioned as if they would be on a wearer who is kneeling on his right knee. The trousers  10  have a right leg  12  and a left leg  14 . In conventional trousers the legs are made up of front and back panels. The front panel  16  and back panel  18  of the left trouser leg  14  are specifically identified. In the finished trousers they are secured together by an inseam  20  and a conventional outseam. The trousers are made up of a suitable fabric for trousers in which the person is going to be kneeling, such as chino or denim. 
     Attached to the inside of each front panel is a knee pad assembly. The knee pad assembly  22  is shown in the left leg  14  in FIG. 1. A similar knee pad assembly  24  can be installed on the inside of the front panel of the right leg  12 , as also seen in FIG.  1 . The knee pad assemblies are identical, and the knee pad assembly  22  will be described in detail in FIGS. 2,  3  and  4 . 
     The knee pad assembly  22  is formed of six panels  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  36 . These panels are each of flexible material, such as cloth, and they are secured to the interior of the trouser leg&#39;s front panel  16 , as shown in FIGS. 2,  3  and  4 . The upper panels  26 ,  28  and  30  are sewn upon the interior of the front panel as downward-facing pockets. The lower panels  32 ,  34  and  36  are arranged in line with the upper panels and are sewn in as upward-facing pockets. They are secured to the front panel by left and right stitch lines  38  and  40 , which are seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Each pocket panel is sewn across to form an inside termination or bottom of the pocket. In the case of panels  26 ,  28  and  30 , these pockets are facing down so that the upward end of those panels form the “bottom” of the pockets. Stitch lines  42 ,  44  and  46  respectively close the pockets formed by the first, second and third panels  26 ,  28  and  30 , respectively. These stitch lines form downwardly open pockets. It is also to be noted that the panels slightly overlap each other so that at the open edge the panel  28  overlaps panel  30  and panel  26  overlaps panel  28 . The stitch lines are just beyond the free edges of the panel where the pockets are formed. Stitch lines  48 ,  50  and  52  close the bottoms of the pockets formed by panels  32 ,  34 , and  36 , respectively. These panels thus form upwardly open pockets. These pockets are well-seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. The overlap is best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. The distance between the open edges of the first panel and fourth panel is equal to the distance between the open edges of the second panel and fifth panel and is also equal to the distance between the open edges of the third panel and the sixth panel. Since each of the pockets has the same depth, then the distances between the bottoms of the corresponding pockets is also the same. 
     Knee pad  54  is substantially rectangular and is of substantially uniform thickness. It is made of resilient material such as synthetic polymer composition foam, such as polyurethane foam. The foam should be resilient enough to be soft under the knees but not so soft that it completely crushes under the weight of the knee. The thickness of the knee pad can be related to the firmness thereof. While the knee pad is of substantially uniform thickness, it preferably has a dome therein. The concave side of the dome is shown at  56  in FIG. 2, while the convex side is shown at  58  in FIG.  3 . The length of the knee pad  54  from its top edge  60  to its bottom edge  62  is slightly less than the distance from the bottom  42  of the first pocket to the bottom  48  of the fourth pocket. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the knee pad  54  can be slipped into the first and fourth pockets and retained therein. In order to position the knee pad in accordance with the desires of the particular user, the knee pad  54  can be alternatively positioned in the second and fifth pockets or the third and sixth pockets. As illustrated, the distance between the bottoms of the second and fifth pockets, and between the bottoms of the third and sixth pockets, is effectively he same distance as between the bottoms of the first and fourth pockets. Thus, there are three locations, up and down the trouser leg, in which the knee pad can be positioned at the choice of the user. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the structure bends at the knee pad. In order to facilitate the bending of the knee pad  54  at the right place, it is configured with curved-in sides  64  and  66  at about the middle of the knee pad  54  so as to reduce the amount of bending force required. 
     The trousers  10  with the adjustable location knee pad structure  22  shown in FIGS. 1-4 is clearly more easily installed before the trousers are assembled. The panels  26 - 36  are better installed when the front panel  16  of the trouser leg is in the flat condition and is accessible from the inside. Thus, the panels are preferably installed before the trousers are sewn up. 
     FIG. 5 teaches a similar knee pad assembly  68  which is more easily secured to the trousers after the trousers are sewn up. The knee pad assembly  68  is thus a preassembled structure which can be sewn onto the interior or the exterior of the trouser legs after the trousers are assembled. In the same manner as the knee pad assembly  22 , in the knee pad assembly  68  the three panels  70 ,  72  and  74  are positioned so that they overlap each other in the downward direction to form pockets having downwardly facing open edges. The lower panels  76 ,  78  and  80  are overlapped and positioned and have upwardly open pockets. The panels are attached by seam lines  82  and  84  to backing layer  86 . The backing layer  86  is a fabric layer which holds the panels in position. The backing layer is slightly wider and slightly longer than the assembly structure of panels  70 - 80 . The assembly is thus ready to receive the knee pad  88 , which is the same as knee pad  54 . The knee pad  88  is sized so that it can be inserted into the first and fourth pockets, into the second and fifth pockets or the third and sixth pockets, similarly to the knee pad assembly structure  22  shown in FIGS. 1-4. 
     The knee pad assembly  68  is ready to be installed on the exterior of the trousers at the knee. Fabric panel  90  represents the front of the trouser leg at the knee. When the user is ready he can attach the knee pad assembly to the exterior surface. This is accomplished by sewing the backing layer  86  to the trouser panel along seam lines  92  and  94 . In this way, the knee pad  88  can be attached to the exterior of trousers which are already sewn up. The backing layer  86  permits the knee pad assembly to be merchandised separately from the trousers and sewn on after the completion of trouser assembly. However, it should be noted that the preassembled structure  68  can be sewn onto the interior panel surface of the trousers, if desired. 
     This invention has been described in its presently contemplated best modes and it is clear that it is susceptible to numerous modifications, modes and embodiments within the ability of those skilled in the art and without the exercise of the inventive faculty. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is defined by the scope of the following claims.