Abstract:
Clothing garments having detachable, interchangeable pocket panels or pockets are disclosed. The pocket panels or pockets can have a variety of different designs and/or color schemes. The pocket panels or pockets may be removably attached to one or more pocket regions of garments such as shirts or pants. Thus, a variety of different clothing designs and color schemes can be obtained from a single garment.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    In today&#39;s fashion-conscious world, it is desirable for a person to have a variety of garments of different designs and colors. People often purchase matching sets of clothes and accessories, and many times clothing garments and accessories are not interchangeable with other garments or accessories because of conflicting designs and/or colors. Therefore, people often have to purchase many different clothing items in order to obtain a wide variety of different looking outfits. Obtaining and maintaining a diverse wardrobe can therefore be very expensive. 
         [0002]    In view of the above, it is desirable to provide clothing garments that can be modified to provide different color and design schemes, thereby reducing the need to buy many different sets of clothing and accessories. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Various embodiments of clothing garments having interchangeable pocket panels or pockets are disclosed. The pocket panels or pockets can have a variety of different designs and/or color schemes. The pocket panels or pockets may be removably attached to one or more pocket regions of garments such as shirts or pants. According to certain embodiments, the pocket panels or pockets may be attached by hook-and-loop (Velcro®) closures, snap closures, button closures or zipper closures. 
         [0004]    Because the pocket panels or pockets can be quickly and easily detached from the pants and replaced with different pocket panels or pockets, various color schemes and designs can be provided to a single garment. Thus, different clothing appearances can be obtained at less expense compared to purchasing multiple sets of garments. Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a rear view of a pair of pants including removable pocket panels according to one embodiment. 
           [0006]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  show front and rear views, respectively, of a collection of interchangeable pocket panels for the pants of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged cut-away view showing a pocket panel partially attached to the pants of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged cut-away view showing a pocket panel partially attached to a pair of pants according to another embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged cut-away view showing a pocket panel partially attached to a pair of pants according to yet another embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged cut-away view showing a pocket panel partially attached to a pair of pants according to still another embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a rear view of a pair of pants including removable pockets. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  show perspective and rear views, respectively, of a collection of interchangeable pockets for the pants of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged cut-away view showing a pocket partially attached to the pants of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0014]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate how removable pocket panels or pockets can be attached to the side portions of pants. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 10C and 10D  illustrate how removable pocket panels or pockets can be attached to the front portions of pants. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  show how removable pocket panels or pockets can be attached to a shirt. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Various embodiments of the inventive concept are described below with reference to the drawings. Reference characters shared between multiple embodiments indicate similar features and components. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 1-3  show a pant assembly  10  including a pair of pants  20  and a collection of interchangeable pocket panels  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 . The pants  20  and pocket panels  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  may be constructed of denim, cotton, polyester, nylon, or other materials or combinations of materials, so as to form jeans, khakis, cargo pants, sweat pants or other types of pants, as desired. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 2A , pocket panels  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  each have a unique color and/or decorative design, as is indicated by the variations in shading shown on the pocket panels. Variations in the overall shape of the pocket panels  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  are also possible. It is noted that the assembly  10  is shown to have four types of pocket panels, including two of each pocket panel  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 , such that a pair of matched or mixed pocket panels may be attached to the pants. However, any number and combination of pocket panels may be provided, as desired. 
         [0020]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , pants  20  include rear pocket regions  22  having a first fastening arrangement  50  provided at portions of the outer periphery of the pocket regions  22 . As shown in  FIG. 2B , each of the pocket panels  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  includes a second fastening arrangement  60  corresponding to the first fastening member  50 , and disposed at portions of the outer periphery of the pocket panel  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 . Thus, the pocket panels  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  can each be attached to the rear pocket regions  22  by fastening the fastening arrangements  50  and  60  to each other ( FIG. 3 ), thereby forming pockets  70  having an opening  72  ( FIG. 1 ) that provides a fashionable appearance and are suitable for holding various items. The pocket panels  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  can be easily removed from the rear pocket regions  22  by unfastening the fastening arrangements  50  and  60  from each other. As shown in  FIGS. 2B and 3 , the fastening arrangements  50  and  60  may include, respectively, hook-type fasteners and corresponding loop-type fasteners (or, vice-versa), which form a hook-and-loop (i.e., Velcro®) fastening system. 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  shows an alternate embodiment of a pant assembly  10   a  including a first fastening arrangement  50   a  and a second fastening arrangement  60   a . According to this embodiment, the fastening arrangements  50   a  and  60   a  include female snap members and corresponding male snap members (or, vice-versa), respectively. 
         [0022]    Another embodiment is shown in  FIG. 5 , wherein a pant assembly  10   b  includes a first fastening arrangement  50   b  and a second fastening arrangement  60   b . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the first fastening arrangement  50   b  includes buttons, while the second fastening arrangement  60   b  includes corresponding button holes. 
         [0023]    Yet another embodiment is shown in  FIG. 6 , wherein a pant assembly  10   c  includes first and second fastening arrangements  50   c  and  60   c  comprising matching zipper elements. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 7-9  illustrate a pant assembly  100  according to another embodiment. The assembly  100  is similar to the assembly  10  described above, except that instead of having pants with interchangeable pocket panels, the assembly  100  includes a pair of pants  20  and a collection of interchangeable pockets  130 ,  132 ,  134 ,  136 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 8A , pockets  130 ,  132 ,  134 ,  136  each have a unique color and/or decorative design, which is indicated by the different shading shown on the pockets. Variations in the overall shape of the pockets  130 ,  132 ,  134 ,  136  are also possible. For purposes of example only, the assembly  100  is shown to have four types of pockets, including two of each pocket  130 ,  132 ,  134 ,  136 , such that a pair of matched or mixed pockets may be attached to the pants. However, various numbers and combinations of pockets may be provided. Still referring to  FIG. 8 , the pockets  130 ,  132 ,  134 ,  136  have a front panel  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146  and rear panel  141 ,  143 ,  145 ,  147  defining a pocket opening  131  for holding various items. 
         [0026]    As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , pants  120  include rear pocket regions  122  having a first fastening arrangement  150  provided at portions of the outer periphery of the pocket regions  122 . Each of the pockets  130 ,  132 ,  134 ,  136  includes a second fastening arrangement  160  corresponding to the first fastening arrangement  150 , and disposed at portions of the outer periphery of the pocket  130 ,  132 ,  134 ,  136 . Therefore, the pockets  130 ,  132 ,  134 ,  136  can each be attached to the rear pocket regions  122  by fastening the fastening arrangements  150  and  160  to each other. When the pockets  130 ,  132 ,  134 ,  136  are attached to the pants  120 , an additional pocket opening  72  can be formed between the rear panels  130 ,  132 ,  134 ,  136  and the pocket region  122  of the pants  120  ( FIG. 7 ), thereby providing two possible openings for storing items. The opening  131  is particularly secure, as it is closed by a permanent connection between the front panels and the rear panels. 
         [0027]    The pockets  130 ,  132 ,  134 ,  136  can be easily removed from the rear pocket regions  122  by unfastening the fastening arrangements  50  and  60  from each other. In the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , the fastening arrangements  150  and  160  are shown to include, respectively, hook-type fasteners and corresponding loop-type fasteners, which form a hook-and-loop (i.e., Velcro®) fastening system. Alternatively, fastening members including snap members, buttons and holes or zipper elements may also be used, in similar fashion to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 4-6 . 
         [0028]    Although the above embodiments show interchangeable pocket panels/pockets in the rear pocket regions of pants, it should be understood that similar pocket panels and pockets can be arranged at the side or front portions of pants, as shown in  FIGS. 10A-10D , or at various pocket regions of other garments, such as a shirt  220 , as shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B . 
         [0029]    The inventive concept having now been described in various embodiments, it should be understood that it may be embodied in other specific forms or variations without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Accordingly, the embodiments described above are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.