Patent Publication Number: US-9414631-B2

Title: Upper body apparel with concealed pouches

Description:
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/604,587 filed on Feb. 29, 2012. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for a hooded or non-hooded sweatshirt. More specifically, the present invention is an apparatus for a hooded or non-hooded sweatshirt with a concealed pouch which is accessible through a front pouch. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Currently, a wearer of a hooded or non-hooded sweatshirt has no place to carry a concealed weapon or electronics devices such as a cell phone, etc. The wearer can place the items in the front pouch of the hooded or non-hooded sweatshirt, but the wearer is in great risk of those items falling out because they are not secured within the front pouch. In addition, the items inside the front pouch can bounce around when the wearer is performing any sort of athletic activity because the front pouch does not contain any compartments to more securely hold items. This can be especially dangerous when the object being carried is a concealed weapon. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a hooded or non-hooded sweatshirt that has concealed inner pouches to place items, such as a weapon, cell phone, etc., so that the items can be firmly secured within the hooded or non-hooded sweatshirt. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a back view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of a right-handed version of present invention, wherein the smaller vertical dash line illustrates an opening and the longer vertical dash line illustrates a center line. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of a left-handed version of present invention, wherein the smaller vertical dash line illustrates the opening and the longer vertical dash line illustrates the center line. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the right-handed version of the present invention, wherein the dash lines illustrate the opening and a concealed section. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the left-handed version of the present invention, wherein the dash lines illustrate the opening and the concealed section. 
         FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of the concealed section, wherein the dash lines illustrate hidden components within a quilted front panel and a quilted back panel of the concealed section. 
         FIG. 8  is a back perspective view of the concealed section, wherein the dash lines illustrate hidden components within the quilted front panel and the quilted back panel of the concealed section. 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of the concealed panel, wherein the dash lines illustrate components positioned behind the quilted front panel. 
     
    
    
     DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION 
     All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     The present invention comprises an upper body garment  1 , an opening  2 , and a concealed section  3 . The concealed section  3  is positioned within the upper body garment  1  so that valuable components, such as a wallet, a mobile phone, a flash light, a gun or any other related components, can be securely stored away. All of the stored components of the present invention are easily accessible through the opening  2 . The positioning of the opening  2  and the concealed section  3  differ from a right-handed version of the present invention to a left-handed version of the present invention. 
     In reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the upper body garment  1  is very similar to traditional sweatshirts, where the upper body garment  1  comprises a front portion  11 , a back portion  12 , a waist band  13 , and a front pouch  14 . The front portion  11  and the back portion  12  are adjacently positioned from each other, and the waist band  13  is positioned below the front portion  11  and the back portion  12 . The waist band  13  is perimetrically connected to the front portion  11  and the back portion  12 , and the waist band  13  is preferably made from elastic materials or ribbing so that the waist band  13  can closely position around the waist of the wearer. The front pouch  14  is centrally positioned on the front portion  11  adjacent to the waist band  13 , and the front pouch  14  is connected to the front portion  11  from a top edge and a bottom edge. The wearer of the present invention can access the front pouch  14  from either a left side breach or a right side breach of the front pouch  14 , where the left side breach and the right side breach oppositely positioned from each other along the top edge and the bottom edge. The front portion  11  and the back portion  12  may comprise a pair of sleeve sections and a hooded section or a collared section. When the upper body garment  1  is worn by the users, the front portion  11  and the back portion  12  are positioned around the upper body of the wearers, the pair of sleeve sections is positioned around the arms of the wearers, and the hooded section or the collared section is positioned around the neck area of the wearers. A right sleeve and a left sleeve of the pair of sleeve sections are connected with an arm ribbing band, where the arm ribbing band contains the pair of sleeve sections around the arms of the users while retaining the required length for the pair of sleeve sections. 
     In reference to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the opening  2  is perpendicularly positioned with the waist band  13 , where the opening  2  is positioned on the front panel  31  and within the front pouch  14 . Since the opening  2  is positioned within the front pouch  14 , the opening  2  is not visible to the outside and can only access within the front pouch  14  through the left side breach or the right side breach. In reference to  FIG. 3 , the opening  2  of the right-handed version of the present invention is slightly closer toward the left side breach. In reference to  FIG. 4 , the opening  2  of the left-handed version of the present invention is slightly closer toward the right side breach. 
     In reference to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the concealed section  3  comprises a quilted front panel  31 , a quilted back panel  32 , a fastener connection flap  33 , a first releasable fastener  34 , at least one accessory pouch  35 , a second releasable fastener  36 , a holster pocket  37 , a headphone wire hole  38 , a loop  39 , a securing strip  40 , and a plurality of connecting edges  41 . The quilted front panel  31  and the quilted back panel  32  complete the main body of the concealed section  3 , where the quilted front panel  31  is adjacently positioned with the quilted back panel  32 . The quilted back panel  32  preferably comprises a rectangular shape, and the quilted front panel  31  preferably comprises general trapezium shape, although any other desired shapes can be used. The quilted front panel  31  is positioned in between the quilted back panel  32  and the front portion  11 , where the quilted back panel  32  is perimetrically connected with the quilted front panel  31 . 
     In reference to  FIG. 9 , the concealed section  3  is connected to the front portion  11  and the front pouch  14  through the plurality of connecting edges  41  where the plurality of connecting edges  41  comprises a shoulder edge  411 , an arm edge  412 , a rib edge  413 , a waist edge  414 , a linear edge  415 , a pouch edge  416 , and an angular edge  417 . Since the plurality of connecting edges  41  is perimetrically positioned around the concealed section  3 , the plurality of connecting edges  41  determines the shape of the concealed section  3 . The linear edge  415  is positioned parallel with the opening  2 . The rib edge  413  is oppositely positioned from the linear edge  415 , where both the rib edge  413  and the linear edge  415  are perpendicularly positioned from the waist edge  414 . The waist edge  414  extends from the linear edge  415  to the rib edge  413 . The pouch edge  416 , which extends from the linear edge  415 , is positioned in between the linear edge  415  and the rib edge  413  and positioned opposite from the waist edge  414 . The angular edge  417  is angularly extends toward the rib edge  413  from the linear edge  415 . The shoulder edge  411  is oppositely positioned with the waist edge  414  and extends from the angular edge  417 , where the shoulder edge  411  is positioned parallel with the waist edge  414 . The arm edge  412  is a concave edge that is positioned in between the shoulder edge  411  and the rib edge  413 . The shoulder edge  411 , the arm edge  412 , the rib edge  413 , the waist edge  414 , and the linear edge  415  are perimetrically connected to the front portion  11  while the pouch edge  416  connects with the front pouch  14  along the top edge. The angular edge  417  is freely positioned within the upper body garment  1 , where the angular edge  417  does not connect with either the front portion  11  or the back portion  12 . In reference to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the concealed section  3  of the right-handed version of the present invention is adjacently positioned behind the left side breach, and the concealed section  3  of the left-handed version of the present invention is adjacently positioned behind the right side breach. The concealed section  3  of the present invention is 100% cotton and lined with waffle fabric, although any desirable materials can be used. Dimensions of the waist edge  414  and the linear edge  415  of a preferred embodiment of the present invention are respectively 12.5″ and 8.5″, although any desired dimensions can be used. 
     In reference to  FIG. 7 , the fastener connection flap  33  is positioned in between the opening  2  and the quilted back panel  32 . The fastener connection flap  33  is perimetrically connected to the waist edge  414 , the linear edge  415 , and the pouch edge  416 . 
     In reference to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , the first releasable fastener  34  is positioned in between the fastener connection flap  33  and the quilted front panel  31 , where the first releasable fastener  34  centrally aligns with the opening  2 . The first releasable fastener  34  is connected to the quilted front panel  31  and the fastener connection flap  33 . A gap is located in between the quilted front panel  31  and the fastener connection flap  33  at each extremity of the first releasable fastener  34 . The gap allows the wearers to easily open the first releasable fastener  34  as the wearers can separate the two surfaces from their fingers. In the preferred embodiment, the dimensions of the gap are preferably 1″×3.25″, although any desired dimensions can be used. The second releasable fastener  36  is positioned parallel with the first releasable fastener  34  where the second releasable fastener  36  is positioned in between the quilted front panel  31  and the quilted back panel  32 . A holster gap, which extends from the pouch edge  416  to the second releasable fastener  36 , is located in between the quilted front panel  31  and the quilted back panel  32 . The holster gap allows access to the wearers so that the wearers can easily open the second releasable fastener  36 . In the preferred embodiment, the dimensions of the holster gap are preferably 1″×3.25″, although any desired dimensions can be used. Only a top half of the second releasable fastener  36  opens through the holster gap, as a bottom half of the second releasable fastener  36  is permanently connected to the quilted front panel  31  and the quilted back panel  32  combining the quilted front panel  31  and the quilted back panel  32  together. The first releasable fastener  34  and the second releasable fastener  36  include, but not limited to, hook and loop fasteners, zippers, magnetic fasteners, or any other easily operated fasteners. 
     In reference to  FIG. 7 , the at least one accessory pouch  35  is positioned on the quilted back panel  32  in between the first releasable fastener  34  and the second releasable fastener  36 . The at least one accessory pouch  35  comprises a first pouch  351 , a second pouch  352 , and a third pouch  353 . The first pouch  351  is adjacently positioned with the first releasable fastener  34  and connected to the quilted back panel  32 . The third pouch  353  is adjacently positioned with the second releasable fastener  36  and connected to the quilted back panel  32 . The second pouch  352  is positioned in between the first pouch  351  and the third pouch  353  and connected to the quilted back panel  32 . The first pouch  351 , the second pouch  352 , and the third pouch  353  are linearly positioned next to each other along the waist edge  414 . In the preferred embodiment, the first pouch  351  has a width of 1.5″, and the second pouch  352  and the third pouch  353  have a width of 3.5″, although any desired dimensions can be used. The preferable length of the first pouch  351 , the second pouch  352 , and the third pouch  353  of the preferred embodiment is 5″, although any desired dimensions can be used. The headphone wire hole  38  is traversed through the quilted back panel  32 , where the headphone wire hole  38  is adjacently positioned above the second pouch  352  and the third pouch  353 . The distance between the headphone wire hole  38  and the second pouch  352  of the preferred embodiment is ½″, although any desirable distance may be used. The first pouch  351 , the second pouch  352 , and the third pouch  353  can be used to store items such as the wallet, the mobile phone, portable music and video players, the flash light, and other essential components. When a headphone set of the mobile phone or the portable music player is inserted within the ears of the wearers, the headphone set can be redirected though a neck opening of the hooded section or the collared section and the headphone wire hole  38  so that dangling wires of the headphone set can be hidden with the present invention. The first pouch  351 , the second pouch  352 , and the third pouch  353  are made from elastic materials in order to accomplish secure storage for the stored items, as the elastic properties of the elastic materials restrict the movement of the stored items. 
     In reference to  FIG. 9 , the holster pocket  37  is adjacently positioned with the second releasable fastener  36  and oppositely positioned from the at least one accessory pouch  35 . The holster pocket is created within the quilted front panel  31  and the quilted back panel  32  as the holster pocket  37  extends from the second releasable fastener  36  to the waist edge  414  and to the rib edge  413 . The bottom half of the second releasable fastener  36  separates the holster pocket  37  from the at least accessory pouch  35 . The holster pocket  37  allows the wearers of the present invention to conceal a gun or any other type of weapon within the present invention. Since the access to the holster pocket  37  is closed through the second releasable fastener  36 , the wearers of the present invention have to open the second releasable fastener  36  to access the holster pocket  37 . 
     In reference to  FIG. 8 , the loop  39  is positioned on the quilted back panel  32  opposite from the holster pocket  37 . The loop  39  is connected to the quilted back panel  32  and the rib edge  413 , where the loop  39  is positioned parallel with the waist edge  414 . The securing strip  40 , which comprises hooks and loops attachment mechanism or any other type of attachment mechanisms, is movably inserted through the loop  39 . The securing strip  40  is positioned within the loop  39  so that the securing strip  40  can be attached around a belt of wearer&#39;s pants, where the securing strip  40  reduces the vertical movement, the horizontal movement, and the angular movement of the stored items. 
     The present invention also comprises a main tag, a first informational tag, and a second information tag. The main tag can be stitched, printed or silk screened to the back portion  12  adjacent with the hooded section or the collared section. In the preferred embodiment, the main tag is preferably positioned ¼ ″ from the hooded section or the collared section. For each different sizes of the present invention, such as small, medium, large, and etc., the size of the main tag is slightly different. The main tag may include information such as the exact size of the present invention, the brand name, and other user related information. A front side and a reverse side of the first informational tag comprises material information, material caring information, a color code, a reference code, and other related information so that the consumers can be well educated about the present invention. The first information tag can be connected to an inside surface of the waist band  13  or within the front portion  11  or the back portion  12 . The second information tag, which is doubled sided and comprises information regarding the layout and the functionally of the concealed section  3 , is anchored on the arm ribbing band of the left sleeve or the right sleeve by an anchor. In the preferred embodiment, the second information tag hangs 1″ from the left sleeve or the right sleeve, where the second information tag is preferably 2″ and the anchor is preferably 3″. 
     Even though the present invention comprises only one concealed section  3  within the upper body garment  1 , an alternative embodiment of the present invention may comprise two concealed sections  3  within the upper body garment  1  so that the alternative embodiment provides extra storage and comfort suit for ambidextrous wearers. When the alternative embodiment comprises two concealed sections  3 , the opening  2  is centrally positioned within the front pouch  14  and, the opening  2  may comprise a left opening and a right opening for each of the concealed sections  3 . 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.