Patent Publication Number: US-2013227761-A1

Title: Reversible-pocket scarf

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
     The present disclosure relates to apparel and, more particularly, to a scarf having pockets which are reversible and may be layered. 
     BACKGROUND  
     Whether attending an outdoor sporting event such as a football game or engaged in some other cold-weather activity, individuals usually have a strong desire (and need, in the case of a medical condition) to stay as warm as possible. An important part of this is covering exposed areas of skin such as one&#39;s neck and hands. The use of a scarf to keep one&#39;s neck warm, or for concealment purposes, and the use of gloves or mittens to keep hands warm are well-known, but have disadvantages. Gloves and mittens are easily lost, and a person may find herself in a position where she has misplaced one or both of a set. There is also a considerable fashion aspect to scarves and gloves, and present options are limited in the number of patterns or colors they may present. Moreover, given the increasing number of personal items which individuals carry with them, such as mobile phones and other electronic devices, the need for a secure way to carry those items is on the rise. 
     Scarves having pockets are known in the art, including, but not limited to, the multi-purpose scarf disclosed in U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2005/0039242 of Edmondson, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
     The present invention may comprise one or more of the following features and combinations thereof. 
     In one illustrative embodiment, a scarf comprises an elongated body having two distal ends. Each end has two opposing sides and a bottom portion. At least one pocket is configured on a side of an end of the body, with the pocket having a first, initially exterior, face with a pattern or color. The pocket also has a second, initially interior, face with a pattern or color which differs from that of the first face, and an opening distal from the bottom portion of the end. The pocket is reversible, meaning that it may be turned inside out to reveal the pattern or color on the second face and turned inside out again to display the pattern or color on the first face. Even when reversed, the pocket remains capable of serving as a place to put one&#39;s hands or items for which storage is needed. Multiple reversible pockets may be included on a single scarf, with one embodiment having four such pockets by placing one on each opposing side of the two body ends. One or more additional pockets may be incorporated along the length of the scarf, including placement of one or more pockets on or in the body sides or edges. Given the great number of possible pocket face designs and combinations, the scarf presents the fashion-conscious individual with many options. 
     At least one of the scarf pockets may include one or more middle layers of material positioned and fixed between the body and the pocket such that it creates one or more additional pockets. These pockets will be similarly reversible and thus allow the scarf to offer even more pocket colors and/or patterns while providing an insulating layer for increased hand warmth and divided storage space in the scarf With regard to the storage space, the various pockets, particularly those created by the middle layers, will provide an inconspicuous way of carrying important personal items. 
     Means known in the apparel art may be used to manufacture the scarf, including mechanized and hand stitching. While elongated and generally rectangular in shape, the length of the scarf may vary and may be cut to a relatively-short length to serve as a neck wrap while still including at least one reversible pocket on its exterior. Many types of textiles may be used to construct the scarf, including, but by no means limited to, wool, cotton, silk, or synthetic textiles. The scarf pockets may incorporate fasteners such as snaps, buttons, zippers, and/or hook-and-loop means to ensure that contents do not escape the pockets. Ornamentation such as tassels or fringes may be added to the scarf ends. 
     Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent to individuals skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a end-perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a reversible-pocket scarf; 
         FIG. 2  is a side-perspective view of a portion of the scarf of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the scarf of  FIG. 1  being worn by an individual; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a pocket on the scarf of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     For the purposes of promoting and understanding the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to one or more embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , an illustrative reversible-pocket scarf  10  is shown. The scarf  10  comprises an elongated body  20  having two distally-spaced ends  30 . Each end  30  has two opposing sides  40  as well as a bottom portion  50 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . In one embodiment, at least one pocket  60  is located on a side  40  of an end  30 .  FIG. 3  depicts the scarf  10  being worn by a user, with the pockets  60  being filled with the wearer&#39;s hands. As may be seen in detail in  FIG. 4 , the pocket  60  has a first, initially exterior, pocket face  70  bearing a material, pattern, design, or color  80 . The pocket  60  also features a second, opposing pocket face  90  which bears a material, pattern, design, and/or color  100  that differs from the material, pattern, design, and/or color  80  of the first pocket face  70 . The pocket  60  is capable of being reversed by turning it inside out to reveal the material, pattern, design, and/or color  100  on the second, initially interior, pocket face  90 . The pocket  60  reversal process essentially is a pushing of an end  30  through the pocket opening  110 . Even when reversed, the pocket  60  remains capable of serving as a place for the wearer to put his or her hands or items for which storage is needed. Using differing material, patterns, designs, and/or colors on the pocket faces  70  and  90  provides the scarf  10  wearer with a wide variety of fashion options and compatibility with multiple outfits. 
     Multiple pockets  60  may be included on a single scarf  10 . In one illustrative embodiment, the scarf  10  includes four reversible pockets  60 , with one located at each side  40  of each end  30 . As shown, the openings  110  defined by the pockets  60  are distal from their respective pocket bottom portions  50 , but the openings  110  could be placed in alternate locations such as a pocket side  120  and not necessarily be reversible. It is envisioned that the pockets  60  could be separate members affixed to the scarf body  20 , by means known in the art such as stitching or adhesion, or could be integral with the piece of fabric that is cut to comprise the body  20 . Additional, non-reversible pockets could be placed along the body  20  as desired, for supplemental storage space or simply for aesthetic reasons. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , in one embodiment, the scarf  10  may include one or more middle layers  130  positioned between a pocket  60  and its respective side  40  of the body  20 . In addition to dividing the space within the pocket  60 , the layers  130  may be suitably sized and attached to the body  20  and/or the pocket  60  to create added compartments for storage or more options as to where the wearer may place his or her hands. In regards to the latter feature, the middle layers  130  serve as an insulator that will keep a wearer&#39;s hands even warmer. Advantageously, the compartments created by the middle layers  130  are pockets that are reversible in the same inside-out manner as the pockets  60 . The surface of each middle layer  130  may bear a material, pattern, design, and/or color  140  that differs from that of the pocket faces  70  and  90 , providing the wearer with even more style options. Although not necessary to use the scarf  10  and not required for any pocket  60 , these middle layers  130  may be used in connection with only one pocket  60 , multiple pockets  60 , or all of the pockets  60  on the scarf  10 . 
     While the body  20  is elongated and generally rectangular in shape, the length of the scarf  10  is not limited and may vary considerably. In one illustrative embodiment, the scarf  10  may be cut to be a relatively-short length to serve as a neck wrap while still including at least one reversible pocket  60  on a side  40  of an end  30 . 
     The scarf  10  may be manufactured by looms and other machinery and methods known in the apparel art, such as by machine and hand stitching. With respect to materials, many types of textiles may be used to construct the scarf  10 , including, but by no means limited to, wool, cotton, silk, or synthetic textiles. Particular illustrative fabrics include chiffon, cashmere, pashmina, silk, and rayon viscose; it is entirely possible that differing textiles may be utilized for different pockets  60  or that the body  20  fabric may differ from the pocket  60  fabric. 
     The pockets  60  may incorporate fasteners such as snaps, buttons, zippers, or hook-and-loop means, such as that offered under the VELCRO® brand, to ensure that contents do not escape the pockets  60 . Ornamentation such as tassels or fringes may be added to the scarf ends  30 . The pockets  60 , any middle layers  130 , and any ornamentation may be affixed to the scarf  10  by a number of means, such as stitching and/or the use of an adhesive, preferably one which is commercial grade. Affixing the pocket  60  and middle layers  130  to the body  20  is more particularly accomplished by stitching and/or adhesion along the pocket  60  periphery, save for the opening  110 . The means affixing the pockets  60  and/or layers  130  may differ from that used to attach scarf  10  ornamentation. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the foregoing drawings and description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications which are within the scope of the claimed subject matter are desired to be protected.