Abstract:
A garment having compartments for holding objects. Some compartments are operable to permit waste to pass out of the compartments. Others are attached to the garment on the thigh or other location to permit access where a standard hip pocket would be blocked by a toolbelt. Others have apertures in addition to the normal hip pocket opening which may permit access to the pocket where the opening to the hip pocket would be blocked by a toolbelt. The garment may be used by a worker, such as a carpenter, with knee pads in compartments in a knee area of the garment, the compartments having apertures operable to permit sawdust and other waste to empty from the compartment. Additionally, a thigh pocket may have a cover preventing waste from entering the pocket, and can provide storage where a hip pocket would be blocked by a toolbelt or rendered inaccessible by kneeling.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to garments, and more specifically, to a garment with compartments. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to garments, and more specifically, to a garment with compartments. In some embodiments, a garment may be a pair of pants, the pair of pants having a compartment at the knee area of the pair of pants, a thigh pocket at the thigh area of the pair of pants, and a hip pocket at the hip area of the pair of pants. 
         [0003]    In some embodiments, the compartment at the knee area of the pair of pants may be operable to hold a kneepad. In some embodiments, the compartment at the knee area of the pair of pants may have one or more apertures disposed along one or more edges or corners of the compartment. In some embodiments, the one or more apertures may be operable to permit waste to pass from the compartment. 
         [0004]    In some embodiments, a thigh pocket at the thigh area of the pair of pants may have a flap covering the opening to the thigh pocket, the flap operable to reduce waste that might otherwise enter the thigh pocket. In some embodiments, the thigh pocket may have an aperture operable to permit waste to pass from the thigh pocket. 
         [0005]    In some embodiments, a hip pocket at the hip area of the pair of pants may have an aperture in the hip pocket, the aperture in the hip pocket being longer than the opening of the hip pocket, the aperture in the hip pocket running in a substantially perpendicular orientation to the opening of the hip pocket, running along the leg instead of transversely across the leg. In some embodiments, an aperture in a hip pocket may be closed with a zipper or other fastener. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a garment with compartments, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a garment with compartments, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b  and  3   d  are front views and  FIG. 3   c  is a side view of a garment with compartments, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  are a front view and a side view of a garment with compartments, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  are a front view and a side view of a garment with compartments, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  are a front view and a side view of a garment with compartments, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  are a front view and a side view of a garment with compartments, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  are a front view and a side view of a garment with compartments, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 9   a  and  9   c  are front views and  FIG. 9   b  is a side view of a garment with compartments, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a front view of a garment with compartments, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a side view of a garment with compartments, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    This invention relates generally to garments, and more specifically, to a garment with compartments. Specific details of certain embodiments of the invention are set forth in the following description,  FIGS. 1-11  and in the APPENDIX to provide a thorough understanding of such embodiments. The present invention may have additional embodiments, may be practiced without one or more of the details described for any particular described embodiment, or may have any detail described for one particular embodiment practiced with any other detail described for another embodiment. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a garment with compartments, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, a garment with compartments may be a pair of pants. In different embodiments, a garment with compartments may be another type of garment. For example, in some embodiments, a garment with compartments may be a shirt, a jacket, or overalls. Those with skill in the art will understand that the compartments disclosed herein have functionality useful for more than just a pair of pants. The present disclosure uses a pair of pants as an exemplary, non-limiting embodiment only. 
         [0020]    In some embodiments, a garment with compartments  1  in the exemplary embodiment of a pair of pants may include a knee area of the pants  2 , a thigh area of the pants  3 , and a hip area of the pants  4 . In some applications, it may be advantageous for the knee area of the pants  2  to have padding. Consequently, in the exemplary embodiment, the knee area of the pants  2  may have a compartment  10 , the compartment  10  operable to accommodate a knee pad. 
         [0021]    In some applications, it may be advantageous for the thigh area of the pants  3  to have a pocket, for example, for availability of storage when a tool belt is worn which blocks access to the top opening of hip pockets, or when the wearer is kneeling, restricting access to the opening of a hip pocket. Consequently, in the exemplary embodiment, the thigh area of the pants  3  may have a thigh pocket  30 . A thigh area may be defined as an area approximately at a midpoint below the waist and above the knee. However, upon familiarization with this disclosure, it will be realized by those with skill in the art that a thigh pocket may be disposed other than at the thigh. For example, a thigh pocket may be disposed along the arm of a jacket, for example at a location between the bicep and tricep. A thigh pocket may be disposed on a pair of pants on the rear of the pants. Many locations for a thigh pocket as defined herein exist and all are within the grasp of those with skill in the art. 
         [0022]    In some applications, it may be advantageous for the hip area of the pants  4  to have a hip pocket with a zipper, for example, for access to the hip pocket when a tool belt is worn which blocks access to the top opening of a hip pocket, or for insertion into the hip pocket of an object larger than the opening of the hip pocket, or when the wearer is kneeling, restricting access to the opening of the hip pocket. Consequently, in the exemplary embodiment, the hip area of the pants  4  may have a hip pocket  40  with a zipper. A hip area may be defined as an area approximately below the waist and to the side. However, upon familiarization with this disclosure, it will be realized by those with skill in the art that a hip pocket may be disposed other than at the hip. For example, a hip pocket may be disposed along the arm of a jacket, for example at a location between the bicep and tricep. A hip pocket as defined herein may be disposed on a pair of pants on the rear of the pants. Many locations for a hip pocket as defined herein exist and all are within the grasp of those with skill in the art. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a garment with compartments, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, a garment with compartments  1  may have a compartment  10  over the knee area  2 , the compartment  10  operable to accommodate a knee pad  50 , for example. Those with skill in the art will understand that a compartment  10  at the knee area  2  of the garment with compartments  1  may accommodate other objects, such as a differently shaped knee pad than depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0024]      FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b  and  3   d  are front views of a garment with compartments, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 3   c  is a side view of a garment with compartments, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, a compartment  10  is attached to the pair of pants at the knee area of the pants  2 . In some embodiments, a compartment  10  is comprised of a front panel  11 , the front panel  11  attached to the garment at least along one or more edges of the front panel  11  to define a compartment  10 , with an interior of the compartment  10  disposed between the front panel  11  and the garment. 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, a front panel  11  may be attached at the knee area of the pants  2  to form the compartment  10 , the front panel  11  being attached along at least a portion of one or more edges of the front panel  11 . For example, the front panel  11  may have portions of the right edge  12  of the front panel  11 , the bottom edge  13  of the front panel  11 , and the left edge  14  of the front panel  11  all attached to the garment. In a particular embodiment, at least a portion of the top edge of the front panel  11  is not attached to the garment, defining an opening  15  configured for access to the interior of the compartment  10 . That is, one can slide a hand or an object through the opening  15  to have access to the interior of the pocket, the interior defined by the front panel  11  being attached to the garment along the three edges as described above, the interior of the compartment being disposed between the front panel  11  and the garment. Particularly, access to the compartment  10  through the opening  15  that is disposed along the top of the compartment  10  ensures objects such as a knee pad  50  do not fall out of the compartment  10  when the wearer of the garment is standing or kneeling. 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, a compartment  10  has a bellows construction permitting the compartment  10  to expand. For example, the front panel  11  may be constructed in sections, where the sections comprise a right bellow  17 , a left bellow  18 , and a center section  19 . The bellows  17  and  18  and center section  19  may have a substantially perpendicular alignment to the opening  15  of the compartment  10 . The bellows  17  and  18  may slightly overlap the center section  19 , permitting the compartment  10  to expand when an object is inserted into the compartment  10  as the front panel  11  bows out from the garment. 
         [0027]    In a particular embodiment, a compartment  10  has at least one aperture  16  configured for permitting waste to empty from the compartment  10 . In some embodiments, the at least one aperture  16  of the compartment  10  is defined by at least a portion of one or more edges of the front panel  11  that are not attached to the garment. For example, an aperture  16  disposed in the lower right corner of the compartment  10  may be defined by portions of the right edge  12  of the front panel  11  and the bottom edge  13  of the front panel  11 , the portions of the edges not being attached to the garment. In some embodiments, there may be a corresponding cutout of the front panel  11 , reducing the size of the front panel  11 , the cutout further defining the aperture  16 . The aperture  16  may, for example, be operable to permit waste such as sawdust to empty from the compartment  10 . In some embodiments, a compartment  10  may have an aperture  16  at each bottom corner of the compartment  10 . In different embodiments, a compartment  10  may have one or more apertures  16  disposed in the bottom edge  13  of the compartment  10 . In other embodiments, a compartment  10  may have apertures  16  disposed along any edge of the compartment  10 . In different embodiments, a compartment  10  may have apertures  16  disposed in the front panel  11  away from the edges of the front panel  11 . 
         [0028]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  are a front view and a side view of a garment with compartments, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, a compartment  10  attached to a garment with compartments  1  at a knee area of the garment  2  may have a third aperture  16  and a fourth aperture  16 , the third and fourth apertures  16  disposed along the left and right sides of the compartment  10 . 
         [0029]      FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  are a front view and a side view of a garment with compartments, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, a compartment  10  attached to a garment with compartments  1  at a knee area of the garment  2  may have a first aperture  16  and a second aperture  16 , the first and second apertures  16  disposed along the left and right sides of the compartment  10 . Particularly, in this embodiment, no apertures are disposed along the bottom side  13  of the front panel  11 . That is, the bottom side  13  of the front panel  11  is fully attached to the garment. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  are a front view and a side view of a garment with compartments, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, a compartment  10  attached to a garment with compartments  1  at a knee area of the garment  2  may have a first aperture  16  and a second aperture  16 , the first and second apertures  16  disposed along the left and right sides of the compartment  10 . Particularly, in this embodiment, no apertures are disposed along the bottom side  13  of the front panel  11 . That is, the bottom side  13  of the front panel  11  is fully attached to the garment. In some embodiments, a garment may have an elastic band  20  attached to the garment, the attachment points disposed outside the front panel  11 , with the elastic band running through the interior of the compartment  10  through at least two apertures  16 . The elastic band  20  may, for example, be operable to secure a pad inserted into the compartment  10 . In some embodiments, the elastic band  20  has attachment points attaching the elastic band  20  to the garment inside the interior of the compartment  10 , such that no portion of the elastic band extends outside the compartment  10 . 
         [0031]      FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  are a front view and a side view of a garment with compartments, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, a compartment  10  attached to a garment with compartments  1  at a knee area of the garment  2  may have a first aperture  16  and a second aperture  16 , the first and second apertures  16  disposed at the left and right bottom corners of the compartment  10 . Particularly, in this embodiment, the size of the apertures  16  is expanded, the apertures  16  being defined by a significant portion of the left and right sides of the front panel  11  being cut away. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  are a front view and a side view of a garment with compartments, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The compartment  10  of  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  is partially depicted. Particularly, in this embodiment, a garment may have an elastic band  20  attached to the garment, the attachment points disposed outside the front panel  11 , with the elastic band running through the interior of the compartment  10  through at least two apertures  16 . The elastic band  20  may, for example, be operable to secure a pad inserted into the compartment  10 . In some embodiments, the elastic band  20  has attachment points attaching the elastic band  20  to the garment inside the interior of the compartment  10 , such that no portion of the elastic band extends outside the compartment  10 . 
         [0033]      FIGS. 9   a  and  9   c  are front views and  FIG. 9   b  is a side view of a garment with compartments, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. In some embodiments, a thigh pocket  30  is attached to the garment at the thigh area of the pants  3 . In some embodiments, a thigh pocket  30  is comprised of a front panel  31 , the front panel  31  attached to the garment at least along one or more edges of the front panel  31  to define the thigh pocket  30 , with an interior of the thigh pocket  30  disposed between the front panel  31  and the garment. 
         [0034]    In some embodiments, a thigh pocket  30  has a bellows construction permitting the thigh pocket  30  to expand. For example, the front panel  31  may be constructed in sections, where the sections comprise a right bellow  34 , a left bellow  35 , and a center section  36 . The bellows  34  and  35  and the center section  36  may have a substantially perpendicular alignment to the opening of the thigh pocket  30 . The bellows  34  and  35  may slightly overlap the center section  36 , permitting the thigh pocket  30  to expand when an object is inserted into the thigh pocket  30  as the front panel  31  bows out from the garment. 
         [0035]    In some embodiments, a thigh pocket  30  has a flap  32  that covers the opening of the thigh pocket  30 . A flap  32  may have a tab  33  that is disposed immediately below the flap  32 , the tab  33  in some embodiments being narrower than the flap  32 , the tab  33  permitting the flap  32  to be opened and closed over the opening at the top of the thigh pocket  30 . In some embodiments, a fastener  37  is used to securably fasten the tab  33  to the front panel  31  of the thigh pocket  30 . In some embodiments, the fastener  37  may be a hook-and-loop fastener, wherein a hook portion of the hook-and-loop fastener may be disposed on an inside portion of the tab  33 , and a loop portion of the hook-and-loop fastener may be disposed on an outside portion of the front panel  31 . In some embodiments, the loop portion of the hook-and-loop fastener may be disposed on the center section  36  of the front panel  31 . Other fasteners may be used as a fastener  37 . For example, a fastener  37  may be a snap, a button, a zipper, or other such fastener. A flap  32  and tab  33  may be operable to cover the opening to the thigh pocket  30 , for example, to prevent waste from accumulating within the interior of the thigh pocket  30 . 
         [0036]    In some embodiments, a thigh pocket  30  may have one or more apertures  38 , the apertures  38  operable to permit waste to empty from the interior of the thigh pocket  30 . Construction of the apertures  38  of the thigh pocket  30  is similar to the construction of the apertures  16  as disclosed with regards to  FIGS. 3-8 . 
         [0037]      FIGS. 10 and 11  are a front view and a side view of a garment with compartments, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, a thigh pocket  40  is attached to a thigh area  4  of the garment. In some embodiments, a thigh pocket  40  is comprised of a front panel  41 , the front panel  41  attached to the garment at least along one or more edges of the front panel  41  to define a thigh pocket  40 , with an interior of the thigh pocket  40  disposed between the front panel  41  and the garment. In some embodiments, a thigh pocket  40  is not attached to the garment along a top edge of the front panel  41  defining an opening  42 , the opening  42  operable to permit access to the interior of the thigh pocket  40 . 
         [0038]    In some embodiments, a thigh pocket  40  has a bellows construction permitting the thigh pocket  40  to expand. For example, the front panel  41  may be constructed in sections, where the sections comprise at least a first bellow  45  coupled with the front panel  41 . The bellow  45  may slightly overlap the front panel  41 , permitting the thigh pocket  40  to expand when an object is inserted into the thigh pocket  40 , as the front panel  41  bows out from the garment. 
         [0039]    In some embodiments, a front panel  41  of a thigh pocket  40  has an aperture  43 , the aperture  43  configured for providing additional access to the interior of the pocket. The aperture  43  may have a length that is longer than the opening  42 . In some embodiments, the aperture  43  may be substantially perpendicular to the opening  42 , running along the leg rather than transversely across the leg. In some embodiments, the aperture  43  may be closed with a fastener. In some embodiments, the fastener is a zipper  44 , the zipper  44  operable to close the aperture  43  of the front panel  41 . In different embodiments, a fastener may be a snap, a button, a hook-and-loop fastener, or other such fastener. 
         [0040]    While preferred and alternative embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of these preferred and alternate embodiments. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.