Abstract:
A waterproof garment pocket, and a method of making the same, that is submersible and protects the contents of the pocket, such as handheld electronic devices, against exposure to water. The waterproof garment pocket incorporates a waterproof zipper and is made from fabric that is impervious to water.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of my U.S. Patent Application No. 61/307,958, filed on Feb. 25, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to specialized garment pockets and more particularly to garment pockets that are waterproof. 
         [0004]    2. Background Discussion 
         [0005]    Many handheld electronic devices, such as cellular telephones and music players, are sized to fit in jacket pockets and pants pockets. However, electronic devices may be susceptible to damage from exposure to, in particular, water and similar liquids. The risk of damage is heightened for individuals who carry such devices while participating in watersports or other activities that may cause electronic devices to be exposed to, for example, precipitation. Accordingly, a need exists for a pocket with a suitable closure system that can be incorporated in a garment and that will keep devices contained in the pocket dry even when the pocket is submerged in water. 
         [0006]    Pockets found in casual apparel are made of fabrics and other materials that are not impervious to water, and such pockets incorporate closures, such as buttons or snaps, that do not provide a seal against intrusion of water. Although clothing designed for use in outdoor activities is often made from fabrics that are resistant, or even impervious, to water, pockets featured in such clothing commonly incorporate zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners and similar closures that do not provide a seal against intrusion of water. 
         [0007]    Information relevant to attempts to address the need described above can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,336 to Gootrad and U.S. Pat. Appin. Pub. No. 2005/0114988 to Dow. However, these references teach pocket closure systems that do not seal and will leak if submerged in water. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0008]    An object of the present invention is a pocket that is made of waterproof fabric and that incorporates a waterproof zipper. Items such as handheld electronic devices may be deposited in the pocket enclosure and will be protected against exposure to water when the waterproof zipper is in a closed position. 
         [0009]    The waterproof pocket comprises an enclosure formed from a first layer of waterproof fabric and a second layer of waterproof fabric that is attached to the first layer. The first layer and second layer of waterproof fabric are proximate and adjacent, and an interstice is defined between the first layer and second layers. A continuous, waterproof seam is formed around the periphery of the interstice. An opening is formed in the first layer, and a waterproof zipper is attached to the first layer over the opening. The waterproof zipper is operable between an open position, in which an item may be deposited through the opening into the enclosure, and a closed position, in which the enclosure is hermetically sealed. 
         [0010]    Another object of the present invention is a method of forming a waterproof pocket comprising the steps of attaching a first layer of a waterproof fabric having an opening to a second layer of a waterproof fabric, such that an interstice is formed between the first layer and the second layer and a continuous, waterproof seam is formed around the periphery of the interstice; and attaching a waterproof zipper to the opening formed in the first layer. 
         [0011]    In certain embodiments, the waterproof fabric comprises rubber, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, a silicone elastomer, polytetrafluoroethylene, a fluoropolymer or wax. 
         [0012]    In certain embodiments, the waterproof zipper comprises a female mating zipper half and a male mating zipper half. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of this invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a garment that incorporates a waterproof pocket in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a waterproof zipper assembly; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  shows a cross-sectional view of a waterproof zipper assembly; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3B  shows a cross-sectional view of a female mating portion of a waterproof zipper assembly; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3C  shows a cross-sectional view of a male mating portion of a waterproof zipper assembly; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective exploded view of an end portion of a waterproof zipper assembly; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a slider component of a waterproof zipper assembly; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a waterproof zipper assembly; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a waterproof pocket that is incorporated in a garment in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective exploded view of a waterproof pocket in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  shows a plan view of a waterproof pocket in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  shows a garment that incorporates a waterproof pocket in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    A waterproof pocket in accordance with certain embodiments is made using fabrics of natural or synthetic fibers that are inherently impervious to penetration by water or have been treated to make the fabrics waterproof. One of skill in the art will understand that suitable fabrics may be laminated to, or coated with, a waterproofing material such as rubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), silicone elastomer, fluoropolymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene, or wax. In a preferred embodiment, the waterproof pocket incorporates a polyurethane laminate fabric. A suitable polyurethane laminate fabric is sold by Eastex Products, Inc. In certain embodiments, suitable waterproof fabrics will have at least 1,000 millimeters of water resistance. 
         [0027]    A waterproof pocket  11  in accordance with certain embodiments is shown in  FIG. 1 . The waterproof pocket  11  is attached to a garment  10  by sewing, gluing, taping, RF welding, stitching, bonding or other suitable means. The edges  12  of the waterproof pocket  11  are sealed so as to prevent water from leaking into the waterproof pocket  11 . The waterproof pocket  11  includes an opening  13  through which small items, such as handheld electronic devices, may be placed into the waterproof pocket  11 . 
         [0028]    A waterproof zipper assembly  20 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , may be attached to the waterproof pocket  11 . A suitable waterproof zipper assembly  20  is disclosed by U.S. Pat. Appin. Pub. No. 2009/0307880 to Brightman, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and is sold under the name SubZip™ by SubZipper™. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 A,  3 B and  3 C, the waterproof zipper assembly  20  comprises a female mating zipper half  30  and a male mating zipper half  31 , which interlock and form a hermetic seal when pressed together. The waterproof zipper assembly  20  further comprises end sections  40 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . Terminal portions of the female mating zipper half  30  and male mating zipper half  31  are disposed within the end section  40  in an interlocked configuration. 
         [0030]    The female mating zipper half  30 , male mating zipper half  31  and end sections  40  may be made from any suitable soft elastomer-like material. Suitable materials include thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) and PVC. In certain embodiments, the hardness of the material is 80-90 Shore A. 
         [0031]    A user may place the waterproof zipper assembly  20  in a closed position by pressing together the full length of the female mating zipper half  30  and the full length of the male mating zipper half  31  to form an interlocking configuration that is hermetically sealed. A user may place the waterproof zipper assembly  20  in an open position by pulling apart the female mating zipper half  30  and the male mating zipper half  31  so that all, or portions, of the lengths of the female mating zipper half  30  and the male mating zipper half  31  are not interlocked. The waterproof zipper assembly  20  may be attached to the waterproof pocket  11  in a manner such that the opening  13  is hermetically sealed when the waterproof zipper assembly  20  is in the closed position. 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIGS. 5-8 , the waterproof zipper assembly  20  may comprise a slider  50  to provide mechanical assistance in pressing together the female mating zipper half  30  and male mating zipper half  31 . As shown in  FIGS. 7-10 , the waterproof zipper assembly  20  may comprise pull tabs  21  attached to the waterproof zipper assembly  20  to provide mechanical assistance in pulling apart the female mating zipper half  30  and male mating zipper half  31 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 8  shows components of the waterproof pocket  11 , which include a back layer  15  and a front layer  16  of waterproof fabric, the opening  13  and the waterproof zipper assembly  20  mounted over the opening  13  so that the opening  13  is accessible when the waterproof zipper assembly  20  is in the open position and is not accessible when the waterproof zipper assembly  20  is in the closed position.  FIG. 9  shows the finished, assembled version of the components shown in  FIG. 8 . In  FIG. 9 , the back layer  15  and the front layer  16  of waterproof fabric are bonded or otherwise attached to each other so as to form an interstice between the back layer  15  and the front layer  16  and a continuous, waterproof seam  17  around the periphery of the waterproof pocket  11 . The opening  13  is formed in the front layer  16  within the area circumscribed by the seam  17 , and the waterproof zipper assembly  20  is attached to the front layer  16  at an inner seam  18  such that the waterproof zipper assembly  20  covers the opening  13 . The waterproof zipper assembly  20  may be attached to the front layer  16  by any means suitable to preserve the structural integrity and waterproof nature of the waterproof pocket  11 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 10  shows the waterproof pocket  11  of  FIG. 9  as incorporated in a garment  100 . The back layer  15  may be partially or fully bonded to the fabric of the garment  100 . Alternatively, fabric of the waterproof pocket  11  outside the seam  17  may be stitched to the fabric of the garment  100 . 
         [0035]    Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained therein.