Patent Publication Number: US-10757992-B2

Title: Jacket pocket arrangement

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method related to an improvement in cold weather apparel. In order to improve warmth and comfort, apparel has tended to become bulkier and less comfortable. Therefore, there is a need to improve warmth of apparel without adding bulk or weight. 
     SUMMARY 
     A jacket includes a body portion having an exterior surface and a first edge for mating with an opposing second edge. A first pocket opening extends through the exterior surface of the body portion. A first pocket member at least partially defines a first pocket cavity in communication with the first pocket opening and the first pocket member at least partially defines a pocket mating opening. A second pocket opening extends through the exterior surface of the body portion and a second pocket member at least partially defines a second pocket cavity in communication with the second pocket opening. The second pocket member at least partially defines a pocket mating insert that is moveable between a retracted position spaced inward from the first edge and an extended position extending outward from the second edge. The pocket mating insert is configured to be received by the pocket mating opening. 
     These and other features of the disclosed examples can be understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings, which can be briefly described as follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an example jacket. 
         FIG. 2  is a back view of the jacket of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partially open view of the jacket of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is another partially open view of the jacket of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a first pocket cavity. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a second pocket cavity. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the first pocket cavity jointed with the second pocket cavity. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a ring for forming a pocket mating insert. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates the steps for incorporating the disclosure into an existing jacket. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a jacket  10  including a body portion  12 , sleeves  14 , and a collar  16 . The sleeves  14  attach to the body portion  12  at arm openings  18  in the body portion  12 . In another example, the jacket  10  does not include sleeves  14  and the body portion  12  is open at the arm openings  18 . 
     The body portion  12  includes a first edge  20  for mating with a second edge  22  to enclose the body portion  12 . In the illustrated example, the first edge  20  and the second edge  22  form a zipper  24  having teeth along the first edge  20  that mate with corresponding teeth along the second edge  22 . The zipper  24  includes a slider  26  adjacent a top stop  24 A when in a fully closed position. A detachable connection  24 B, such as a box and pin connection, is located at an opposite end of the zipper  24  from the top stop  24 A to allow the first and second edges  20 ,  22  of the body portion  12  to separate when the slider  26  is located at the detachable connection  24 B. Alternatively, the first edge  20  and the second edge  22  are joined together with buttons or snaps extending along one of the first and second edges  20 ,  22  for mating with a corresponding receptacle located along the other of the first and second edges  20 ,  22 . 
     The jacket  10  includes first and second chest pockets  28 A,  28 B adjacent the first edge  20  and the second edge  22 , respectively. The first and second check pockets  28 A,  28 B include first and second zippers  30 A,  30 B with first and second sliders  32 A,  32 B located adjacent first and second top stops  34 A,  34 B when in a closed position and adjacent first and second bottom stops  36 A,  36 B when in a fully open position. 
     The jacket  10  also includes first and second hand pockets  38 A,  38 B on adjacent the first and second edges  20 ,  22 , respectively, and a bottom edge  40  of the body portion  12 . The first and second hand pockets  38 A,  38 B include a first and second zipper  42 A,  42 B with first and second sliders  44 A,  44 B located adjacent a top stop  46 A,  46 B when in a closed position and adjacent a bottom stop  48 A,  48 B, respectively when in a fully open position. 
     In the illustrated example, the top stops  46 A,  46 B are spaced a first distance B 1  from the bottom edge  40  and the bottom stops  48 A,  48 B are located a second distance B 2  from the bottom edge with the first distance being greater than the second distance. Furthermore, the first and second top stops  46 A,  46 B are located a first distance E 1  from the first and second edges  20 ,  22  and the first and second bottom stops  48 A,  48 B are located a second distance E 2  from the first and second edges  20 ,  22 , respectively, and the second distance E 2  is greater than the first distance E 1 . Therefore, a length of the zippers  42 A,  42 B are transverse to both the bottom edge  40  and the first and second edges  20 ,  22 . Moreover, because the zippers  42 A,  42 B move downward toward the bottom edge  40 , a size of the zipper openings can be reduced to reduce air leaking into the first and second hand pockets  38 A,  38 B. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a rear of the jacket  10  includes a central back pocket  50  accessible through first and second rear zippers  52 A,  52 B. The first and second zippers  54 A,  54 B include first and second sliders  56 A,  56 B located adjacent first and second top stops  58 A,  58 B when in a closed position and adjacent first and second bottom stops  60 A,  60 B when in a fully open position. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1,3, and 4 , the first and second zippers  42 A,  42 B define first and second pocket openings  62 A,  62 B extending through an exterior surface  12 A of the body portion  12  into a first and second pocket cavities  64 A,  64 B, respectively. In the illustrated example, the first and second pocket cavities  64 A,  64 B are at least partially defined by the body portion  12  and a first and second pocket member  66 A,  66 B, respectively, attached to an inner surface  12 B of the body portion  12 . Alternatively, the first and second pocket cavities  64 A,  64 B are defined by the first and second pocket member  66 A,  66 B without the body portion  12 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , an edge  68  of the first pocket member  66 A is located adjacent the first edge  20  of the body portion  12 . The first pocket cavity  64 A is retained in a closed position by an outer sealing member  70 A adjacent the interior surface  12 B of the body portion  12  and an inner sealing member  70 B adjacent an inner cavity  72  of the jacket  10 . In the illustrated example, the outer sealing member  70 A includes one of a hook or loop closure and the inner sealing member  70 B includes the other of the hook or loop closure. The inner and outer sealing members  70 A,  70 B allow the first edge  68  of the first pocket cavity  64 A to form a pocket mating opening  74  for joining the first and second pocket cavities as described below. Alternatively, a zipper or magnets could be used in place of the hook and loop closure of the inner and outer sealing members  70 A,  70 B. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , an edge  76  of the second pocket member  66 B is located adjacent the second edge  22  of the body portion  12 . The second pocket cavity  64 B is retained in a closed position by an outer sealing member  78 A and an inner sealing member  78 B when the edge  76  is retracted into the second pocket cavity  64 B. The inner and outer sealing members  78 A,  78 B are located on an exterior surface of the second pocket member  66 B and on an opposite side of the second pocket member  66 B from the second pocket cavity  64 B. The second pocket member  66 B also extends past the second edge  22  of the body portion  12  when in an extended position as shown in  FIG. 6  and can be retracted into the second pocket cavity  64 B such that the second pocket member  66 B does not extend beyond the second edge  22  of the body portion. 
     In the illustrated example, the outer sealing member  78 A includes one of a hook or loop closure and the inner sealing member  78 B includes the other of the hook or loop closure. The inner and outer sealing members  78 A,  78 B allow the edge  76  of the second pocket cavity  64 B to form a pocket mating insert  80  that is accepted within the pocket mating opening  74  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Alternatively, a zipper could be used in place of the hook and loop closure of the inner and outer sealing members  78 A,  78 B. 
     The first and second pocket cavities  64 A,  64 B can be joined by opening the pocket mating opening  74  with one hand and opening the second pocket member  66 B and deploying the pocket mating insert  80  with another hand, such that the pocket mating insert  80  extends into the pocket mating opening  74 . The hook and loop closure of the outer sealing members  70 B,  78 B corresponding with the hook and loop closure of the inner sealing members  70 A,  70 B to join the first and second pocket cavities  64 A,  64 B. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7  illustrating the connection between the pocket mating insert  80  and the pocket mating opening  74 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the outer sealing member  70 A on the body portion  12  is connected to the outer sealing member  78 A on the second pocket member  66 B. Alternatively, the outer sealing member  70 A could be attached to the first pocket member  66 A if the first pocket member  66 A is used to define inner and outer sides of the first pocket cavity  64 A. A spacing exists between the inner surfaces of the second pocket member  66 B to allow the first pocket cavity  64 A to be in communication with the second pocket cavity  64 B. This connection between the first and second pocket cavities  64 A,  64 B allows a person to keep his or her hands warmer by allowing both hands to share the same insulated space by being able to quickly connect the first and second pocket cavities  64 A,  64 B. Also, the overlap between the pocket mating insert  80  and the pocket mating opening  74  reduces air leakage into the insulated space. 
     The ability to have a shared space for both hands can also be incorporated into an existing jacket. The above described shared pockets can be created in existing jackets by forming a pocket mating opening as described above in a first pocket cavity of the existing jacket. (Step  150 ,  FIG. 10 ). 
     A pocket mating insert can be formed in communication with a second pocket cavity as described above. (Step  160 ,  FIG. 10 ). When attaching the pocket mating insert to the second pocket cavity, the pocket mating insert can be formed in the shape of a ring  100  ( FIG. 9 ) with an interior  102  of the ring  100  being in communication with the second pocket cavity. The inner and outer sealing members  78 A,  78 B are located on an exterior  104  of the ring  100 . The ring  100  can be retracted into the second pocket cavity and sealed closed with the inner and outer sealing members  78 A,  78 B because the ring  100  is turned inside out when retracted such that the inner and outer sealing members  78 A,  78 B can engage each other. When in the extending position, the ring  100  can be used to joint first and second pocket cavities. 
     The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this disclosure. The scope of legal protection given to this disclosure can only be determined by studying the following claims.