Abstract:
An improved security pocket assembly is disclosed for the secure storage of conventional items such as a cellular phone, a personal data assistant and different forms of currency and identification. The pocket assembly includes a front panel attached to a rear panel to form a pocket for retaining items and optionally may include a flap with a closure or a pleated pocket for additional storage. Furthermore, the flap contains a pocket on the underside for the storage of identification. Finally, a slit may be cut into the garment and flap for storage of a writing instrument.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 29/131,978, filed Nov. 1, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention is directed generally to a security assembly for concealing items in garments, more particularly in a shirt. Specifically, the invention relates to an improvement in a security pocket assembly located on the exterior or interior surface of the garment under the armpit where it is accessible only to the wearer.  
           [0004]    2. Related Art  
           [0005]    Several different designs and types of pockets which are incorporated into various articles of clothing are known. Concealed pockets or pouches formed from normal components of the garment itself, notably, the hem, are disclosed. Some pockets are not concealed; on the other hand, some pockets are designed to be concealed in order to hide valuable personal property. Inventions pertaining to pants pocket structures providing a hidden chamber to conceal valuable objects such as billfolds are known in the art. Many pockets are formed in garments such as jackets or vests with openings positioned in different locations, usually the front area. Pockets in swim-wear have solved the problem of storing articles while at the pool, on a cruise ship or at the beach. In attempting to secure valuables from theft, several inventions disclose a means for providing the valuable itself, such as a wallet, with its own loss prevention means. For instance, a wallet may have a removable clip which permits the wallet to be attached to the person&#39;s belt or waistband. Furthermore, garments exist where two pockets at each side of a garment are accessible at or near the sides at a common entry seam.  
           [0006]    These pocket arrangements have a number of undesirable features, such as creating a visible pocket line, or are considered non-functional for today&#39;s small valuables, such as cell phones—personal data assistants—, pens, keys and key-cards as well as different forms of identification and money. Travelers must carry a number of different types of articles which are of considerable value including passports, an additional form of identification, airline tickets, hotel reservations and different currencies. Usually, it is preferable to have these items at hand, rather than packed away since it is necessary to access these items often. Therefore, a continuing need exists for a new and improved security pocket assembly for the retaining of articles in garments which can be used to insure that the contents of a garment pocket are secure from theft and accessible only to the wearer.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved security pocket assembly that is adapted for attachment to the side of a garment such as a shirt, underneath the armpit in order to assure safe keeping of articles. The location of the present invention allows for one&#39;s upper arm to constantly be in contact with the articles in the pocket of the garment.  
           [0008]    According to the present invention, the pocket assembly is attached to the exterior surface of a garment underneath an armpit and includes a rear panel and a front panel which are preferably sewn together to form a space between so as to form a pocket. A flap is attached to cover the pocket and slits and additional panels may be secured to the pocket to create an assembly of pockets for additional storage of items.  
           [0009]    Another embodiment of the invention is a pocket assembly attached to the interior surface of a garment underneath an armpit and includes a rear panel and front panel which are preferably sewn together to form a space between so as to form a pocket. Optionally, no flap or additional pleated pocket panel is attached in order to ensure a clean, polished and less cumbersome look to the apparel.  
           [0010]    For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appending claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a front view of a garment having a pocket assembly underneath the armpit in accordance with the invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a side view of the pocket assembly shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a side view of the pocket assembly shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the pocket assembly shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is an exploded front view of the underside of the flap of the pocket assembly shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is an exploded side view of the additional pocket shown on the pocket assembly in FIG. 1.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a front view of a garment having a pocket assembly in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a side view of the pocket assembly shown in FIG. 7.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a front view of a garment having a pocket assembly in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 is a side view of the pocket assembly shown in FIG. 9. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    This invention comprises an improvement in garment security pockets. Referring in more detail to the drawings, particularly FIG. 1., a garment  1  is disclosed which includes a security pocket in accordance with the present invention. The security pocket assembly is located underneath the armpit region of the garment. As a result of this location, one&#39;s upper arm is in constant contact with the stored articles. In a preferred embodiment, the garment  1  is a shirt. The shirt may be any kind of shirt such as, for example, a work shirt, a dress shirt, a golf shirt, a t-shirt, a uniform shirt or the like. The garment  1  includes a pocket assembly  2  which preferably includes a front panel  3  and a rear panel  5  sewn together on all sides except for the top side to form a space in between or a pocket  6 , so as to enable one to secure articles within the pocket  6 . Generally, articles to be carried in the pocket  6  include any suitably small items such as, for example, loose change, bills, travelers checks, a comb, business cards, credit cards, but are not limited to these articles. A flap  7  optionally may cover the opening of the pocket  6 . The flap  7  is sewn to the garment panel thereby covering the edges of the pocket  6 . Depending on the type of garment, a flap  7  provides the garment with a more casual look where the absence of a flap  7  provides a polished, neat and less-cumbersome appearance. A closure means  9  for securing the flap  7  to the pocket  6  is also provided and may include, but is not limited to, buttons, velcro closures, snaps and zippers and the like. The pocket  6  may optionally include a pleated pocket  11  which enables expansion to include larger items such as, for example, a cellular telephone or eyeglasses case.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a side view of the pocket assembly  2  shown in FIG. 1 and further illustrates the preferable location of the pocket assembly  2  at a side region of the shirt and, most preferably, under the section of a garment where a sleeve is attached to the garment, e.g., the armpit region of the garment. FIG. 2 further illustrates that the front panel  3  of the pocket  6  includes a pleated pocket  11 . The front panel may optionally include a second slit  13  which is secured on all sides except for the top side  23  in order to provide a pocket for securing a writing instrument  29  such as, for example, a pen or pencil, as shown in FIG. 4. This optional second slit  13  can be accessed from the flap  7  so it is possible to obtain the writing instrument without opening the flap  7 . In this particular embodiment, the flap  7  preferably has a velcro-closure to secure the flap  7  to the pocket  6 .  
         [0023]    In FIGS. 3 and 5, the flap  7  is illustrated in an open position enabling access to a pocket  31  where a first slit  15  is cut into the underside of the flap  7  and extends from the bottom edge  17  of the flap  7  to the top edge  19  of the flap  7 . All sides except for the top side  21  of the first slit  15  are sewn to construct a pocket and enable entry of an article such as, for example, a driver&#39;s license, a state identification card, a military identification card and the like. Furthermore, the second slit  13  may be accessed from the closed flap  7  if it is necessary to access writing instruments quickly without opening the flap  7 .  
         [0024]    The pocket assembly  2  is preferably constructed having suitable dimensions to carry items having a wide variety of sizes and shapes. In one embodiment, the pocket assembly  2  is approximately 3 inches in length and approximately 2 inches in width and can conceal smaller items of interest such as loose change, currency, travelers checks, a comb, business cards, credit cards and the like. In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the pocket assembly  2  has an overall rectangular shape in the range of 7 to 9 inches in length and approximately 4 to 6 inches in width in order to conceal larger items such as, for example, a standard cellular phone  25  or eyeglasses case to fit in the expandable pleated pocket  11 . A side view of the pocket assembly including the pleated pocket  11  is illustrated in FIG. 6.  
         [0025]    As can be seen in FIG. 5, the exploded view of the underside of the flap  7  illustrates the first slit  15  having dimensions preferably in a range of approximately two to four inches in length and two to three inches in width in order to secure a military identification, a driver&#39;s license  27 , a college or university identification card and/or a state issued identification card. Of course, the slit  15  can be constructed having larger or smaller dimensions to accommodate particular items of interest.  
         [0026]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate garment  1  including a pocket assembly wherein the front panel  3  and rear panel  5  are sewn to the interior surface of the garment  1  preferably located underneath the armpit. Since the pocket assembly is located preferably underneath the armpit region, this allows for a person&#39;s arm to be in contact with the items, thereby assuring security, a characteristic of all embodiments of the present invention. This particular pocket assembly  2  may also include a pleated pocket  11  as described above. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the front panel  3  and rear panel  5  are sewn together on all sides except the top side to form a space between on the interior of the garment  1 . This enables storage of articles such as a ball-marker, golf tees, and even a rule book.  
         [0027]    As illustrated in FIG. 8, the flap  7  is visible from the outside of the garment  1 , but the pocket assembly is not visible from the outside. Rather, the pocket assembly  2  is formed on the inside of the garment  1 .  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 9 depicts another embodiment of the present invention, preferably a shirt worn in the military. The garment  1  includes a pocket assembly which preferably includes a front panel  3  and a rear panel  5  attached together on all sides except for the top side so as to form a space thereby creating a pocket  6 . Preferably, no flap is attached to the pocket  6  in order to ensure the garment  1  maintains a flat appearance with minimal stitching. Optionally, as in FIG. 10, the pocket assembly  2  is located underneath the left armpit since a member of the armed forces salutes with his or her right hand. Generally, articles to be carried in this particular embodiment include military identification, currency, photographs, but are not limited to these articles.  
         [0029]    The pocket assembly  2  as illustrated in FIG. 1 is preferably manufactured onto a garment  1  in the following manner. A particular garment  1  is supplied. The pocket assembly  2  is formed by sewing a rear panel  5  to a front panel  3  on all sides except for the top side in order to create a space in between which forms a pocket  6 . A flap  7  is sewn onto the garment  1  so that it provides coverage over the top edge of the pocket  6 . A closure  9  is a means for securing the flap  7  to the pocket  6 . Another means for securing an article to the underside of the flap  7  is assembled by making a slit  15  into the fabric of the underside of the flap  7 . A space is created. The slit  15  optionally may extend from the top edge  19  of the flap  7  to the bottom edge  17  of the flap  7 . An additional panel may optionally be sewn on three sides except for the top side to the exterior of the front panel  3  of the pocket  6  forming an additional pocket. This pocket may be pleated  11  in order for expansion in size. Another slit  13  may be cut through the flap  7  and front panel  3  in order to create another pocket of sufficient dimension to store a writing instrument  29 . The completed security pocket assembly  2  is sewn to the exterior of a garment  1  on the side of the garment  1  underneath the armpit. This particular pocket assembly manufactured as above may be sewn to the interior surface of a garment  1  for a more clean, polished appearance where only the flap  7  is on the exterior of the garment  7  but the pocket is inside the garment  1 .  
         [0030]    While there have been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the true scope of the invention.