Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
POCKET FOR A GARMENT
FIELD OF THE APPLICATION
[0001] This application relates to the field of sports apparel, and more
specifically, to a pocket for a
waistband of a garment such as a pair of shorts or pants.
BACKGROUND OF THE APPLICATION
[0002] Consumers are demanding high performance activewear and sportswear.
This is especially so
for garments used for running and yoga such as shorts and pants. Such garments
should be as snug as
possible but must still provide adequate room for holding personal items such
as smart phones and
keys. Moreover, such garments should remain flexible to keep a wearer
comfortable during
stretching, exercising, and other athletic performance.
[0003] One problem with existing shorts and pants is that they often have
pockets located in
positions that interfere with a wearer's movements. In addition, such pockets
often do not adequately
secure valuable personal items, such as smart phones and keys, when the wearer
is engaged in
stretching, exercising, and athletic performance.
[0004] A need therefore exists for an improved pocket for a garment.
Accordingly, a solution that
addresses, at least in part, the above and other shortcomings is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION
[0005] According to one aspect of the application, there is provided a pocket
structure for a
waistband of a garment, comprising: an outer pocket panel attached to an inner
pocket panel along
respective first side edges, second side edges, and bottom edges thereof
forming a pocket
therebetween and a back portion of the waistband; wherein respective
unattached top edges of the
outer and inner pocket panels are narrower than the respective bottom edges
thereof.
[0006] According to another aspect of the application, there is provided a
waistband for a garment,
comprising: an outer pocket panel attached to an inner pocket panel along
respective first side edges,
second side edges, and bottom edges thereof forming a pocket therebetween and
a back portion of
the waistband; and, a front portion of the waistband attached to the back
portion of the waistband
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along respective first side edges and second side edges thereof; wherein
respective unattached top
edges of the outer and inner pocket panels are narrower than the respective
bottom edges thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Features and advantages of the embodiments of the present application
will become apparent
.. from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the
appended drawings, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a garment having a pocket formed in
the waistband thereof
in accordance with an embodiment of the application;
[0009] FIG. 2 is rear view thereof;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a left side view thereof;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a right side view thereof;
[0012] FIG. 5 is front perspective view thereof;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view thereof;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a rear environmental view thereof illustrating the
positioning of the garment on a
wearer's body and with a smart phone partially inserted into the pocket;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a top view thereof with the pocket shown in a closed
position;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a top view thereof with the pocket shown in an opened
position;
[0017] FIG. 10 is a front inside-out view thereof;
[0018] FIG. 11 is a rear inside-out view thereof
[0019] FIG. 12 is a left side inside-out view thereof;
[0020] FIG. 13 is a right side inside-out view thereof; and,
[0021] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional detail view of the pocket thereof taken
along line A-A in FIG. 9.
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[0022] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features
are identified by like
reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0023] In the following description, details are set forth to provide an
understanding of the
application. In some instances, certain structures, techniques, and methods
have not been described
or shown in detail in order not to obscure the application.
[0024] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a garment 100 having a pocket 500
formed in the waistband
200 thereof in accordance with an embodiment of the application. FIG. 2 is
rear view thereof. FIG. 3
is a left side view thereof FIG. 4 is a right side view thereof FIG. 5 is
front perspective view
thereof FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view thereof FIG. 7 is a rear
environmental view thereof
illustrating the positioning of the garment 100 on a wearer's body 700 and
with a smart phone 710
partially inserted into the pocket 500. FIG. 8 is a top view thereof with the
pocket 500 shown in a
closed position 501. FIG. 9 is a top view thereof with the pocket 500 shown in
an opened position
502. FIG. 10 is a front inside-out view thereof. FIG. 11 is a rear inside-out
view thereof FIG. 12 is a
left side inside-out view thereof. FIG. 13 is a right side inside-out view
thereof. And, FIG. 14 is a
cross-sectional detail view of the pocket 500 thereof taken along line A-A in
FIG. 9.
[0025] According to one embodiment of the application, a garment 100 such as a
sports garment,
shorts, pants, skirt, or skort is provided. The garment 100 includes a
waistband 200 having a pocket
500 formed therein and first and second or left and right legs 800, 900
attached or connected (e.g.,
glued, sewn, etc.) to the waistband 200. The pocket 500 is suitable for
holding and securing items
such as a wireless device, mobile device, cellular telephone, or smart phone
710 as shown in FIG. 7.
[0026] The waistband 200 includes: an elongate front portion 300 positioned at
the front 101 of the
garment 100 and wrapping around the left and right sides 103, 104 of the
garment 100; an elongate
back portion 400 positioned at the back 102 of the garment 100; and, an
optional drawstring or
drawcord 350 for tightening the waistband 200 of the garment 100 against the
waist of a wearer 700.
The left side edge 303 of the front portion 300 is attached to the right side
edge 404 of the back
portion 400 and the right side edge 304 of the front portion 300 is attached
to the left side edge 403
of the back portion 400 to complete the waistband 200. The top edges of the
left and right legs 800,
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900 of the garment 100 are attached to the bottom edges 302, 402 of the front
and back portions 300,
400 of the waistband 200.
[0027] According to one embodiment, the front portion 300 of the waistband 200
may include an
outer panel (or fabric panel) 310 attached to an inner panel (or fabric panel)
320 along respective top
edges 311, 321, bottom edges 312, 322, left (or first) side edges 313, 323,
and right (or second) side
edges 314, 324. According to one embodiment, the front portion 300 may consist
of one piece of
fabric that is folded over along the top edges 311, 321 to form the outer
panel 310 and the inner
panel 320.
[0028] According to one embodiment, the pocket 500 is formed in the back
portion 400 of the
waistband 200. In particular, the back portion 400 of the waistband 200 may
include an outer pocket
panel (or fabric panel) 410 attached to an inner pocket panel (or fabric
panel) 420 along respective
bottom edges 412, 422, left (or first) side edges 413, 423, and right (or
second) side edges 414, 424.
At least a portion of the respective top edges 411, 421 of the outer and inner
pocket panels 410, 420
are not attached thus forming an opening 510 for the pocket 500 in the back
portion 400 of the
waistband 200. The outer pocket panel 410 and the inner pocket panel 420 thus
form a pocket bag,
assembly, or structure 520 providing a pocket 500 in the waistband 200 of the
garment 100.
[0029] According to one embodiment, the front and back portions 300, 400 of
the waistband 200
may be made from or include a stretchable, elastic fabric such as LycraTM,
LuxtremeTM, LuonTM,
spandex, elastane, or the like. When the garment 100 is worn, stretching of
the front and back
portions 300, 400 of the waistband 100 around the wear's waist introduces
lateral tension in the
waistband 200 which operates to draw or stretch the top edges 411, 421 of the
outer and inner pocket
panels 410, 420 of the back portion 400 of the waistband 200 together to
maintain the pocket 500 in
a closed position 501 as shown in FIG. 8. Advantageously, the pocket 500 may
be maintained in the
closed position 501 when worn without the need for a fastening device such as
zipper, VelcroTM, or
buttons.
[0030] According to one embodiment, the garment includes an optional
drawstring or drawcord 350
for tightening the waistband 200 of the garment 100 against the waist of a
wearer 700. The drawcord
350 may be positioned or encased in fabric on the inside of the garment 100
below the upper edge
321 of the inner panel 320 of the front portion 300 of the waistband 200 as
shown in FIGS. 10 to 13.
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According to one embodiment, the drawcord 350 does not extend through the back
portion 400 of
the waistband 200. As such, when the drawcord 350 is tightened by a wearer,
the drawcord 350
further increases lateral tension in the waistband 200 which again operates to
draw or stretch the top
edges 411, 421 of the outer and inner pocket panels 410, 420 of the back
portion 400 of the
waistband 200 together to maintain the pocket in the closed position 501.
[0031] According to one embodiment, the widths of the top edges 411, 421 of
the outer and inner
pocket panels 410, 420, and hence the width of the opening 510 of the pocket
500, is less than the
widths of the bottom edges 412, 422 of the outer and inner pocket panels 410,
420. As such, and
advantageously, items such as an elongate smart phone 710 may be more securely
held in the pocket
500. For example, the opening 510 of the pocket 500 may be sized to receive
the end of a smart
phone 710 and hold the smart phone in a vertical (or approximately vertical)
position as shown in
FIG. 7. The wearer may angle the smart phone 710 and fully insert the smart
phone into the pocket
500 to rest in a horizontal (or approximately horizontal) position as shown in
FIG. 11.
[0032] According to one embodiment, the pocket 500 and/or the back portion 400
of the waistband
.. 200 and its outer and inner pocket panels 410, 420 are isosceles
trapezoidal (or approximately
isosceles trapezoidal) in shape. That is, the widths of the top edges 411, 421
of the outer and inner
pocket panels 410, 420 are less than the widths of the bottom edges 412, 422
of the outer and inner
pocket panels 410, 420, the left side edges 413, 423 of the outer and inner
pocket panels 410,420 are
inclined, the right side edges 414, 424 of the outer and inner pocket panels
410,420 are inclined, and
the angles between the left side edges 413, 423 and the top edges 411, 412 of
the outer and inner
pocket panels 410, 420 are equal (or approximately equal) to the angles
between the right side edges
414, 424 and the top edges 411, 412 of the outer and inner pocket panels 410,
420. For example, the
ratio between the widths of the top edges 411, 421 of the outer and inner
pocket panels 410, 420 to
the bottom edges 412, 422 of the outer and inner pocket panels 410, 420 may be
approximately 1:2.
.. [0033] According to one embodiment, the pocket 500 may include a pocket
liner 530. The pocket
liner 530 may include an outer pocket liner panel (or fabric panel) 531 and an
inner pocket liner
panel (or fabric panel) 532 attached to and lining the outer side of the inner
pocket panel 420 and the
inner side of the outer pocket panel 410, respectively, on the inside 503 of
the pocket 500. The
pocket liner 530 may be made from a moisture-wicking technical fabric such as
CoolmaxTM.
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[0034] According to one embodiment, when the garment 100 is worn, the outer
pocket panel 410 is
moveable from a closed position 501 in which the opening 510 into the pocket
500 is collapsed or
closed to an opened position 502 in which the opening 510 into the pocket 500
is expanded or
opened by a wearer inserting an item (e.g., a smart phone 710) or finger into
the pocket 500 between
the upper edges 411, 421 of the outer and inner pocket panels 410, 420 and
pulling or stretching the
upper edge 411 of the outer pocket panel 410 away from the upper edge 421 of
the inner pocket
panel 420. In the opened position 502, at least a portion of the inner side of
the upper edge 411 of the
outer pocket panel 410 is separated from the outer side of the upper edge 421
of the inner pocket
panel 420 expanding the opening 510 through which items (e.g., 710) may be
inserted into the
pocket 500.
[0035] The outer pocket panel 410 is moveable from the opened position 502 in
which the pocket
opening 510 is expanded or opened 502 to the closed position 501 in which the
pocket opening 510
is collapsed or closed 501 by a wearer removing an item (e.g., a smart phone
710) or finger from the
pocket 500 between the upper edges 411, 421 of the outer and inner pocket
panels 410, 420 and
allowing the upper edge 411 of the outer pocket panel 410 to move toward and
contact the upper
edge 421 of the inner pocket panel 420 to close the opening 510 into the
pocket 500. In the closed
position 501, at least a portion of the inner side of the upper edge 411 of
the outer pocket panel 410
is adjacent to or in contact with the outer side of the upper edge 421 of the
inner pocket panel 420
closing the opening 510 into the pocket 500.
[0036] According to one embodiment, the pocket 500 may be located on the front
101, left side 103,
or right side 104 of the waistband 200 of the garment 100. According to one
embodiment, the
garment 100 may include two or more pockets 500.
[0037] In operation, a wearer puts on the garment 100 by inserting his or her
legs into the legs 800,
900 of the garment 100, pulling the waistband 200 up to their waist, and
tightening the optional
drawcord 350. Lateral tension within the waistband 200 when the garment 100 is
worn functions to
draw or stretch the top edges 411, 421 of the outer and inner pocket panels
410, 420 of the back
portion 400 of the waistband 200 together to close the opening 510 into the
pocket 500 and maintain
the pocket 500 in a closed position 501. Items may be inserted into or removed
from the pocket 500
by the wearer inserting an item or finger into the opening 510 and pulling the
top edge 411 of the
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outer pocket panel 410 away from the top edge 421 of the inner pocket panel
420 to expand the
opening 510 into the pocket 500.
[0038] Thus, according to one embodiment, there is provided a pocket structure
520 for a waistband
200 of a garment 100, comprising: an outer pocket panel 410 attached to an
inner pocket panel 420
along respective first (or left) side edges 413, 423, second (or right) side
edges 414, 424, and bottom
edges 412, 422 thereof forming a pocket 500 therebetween and a back portion
400 of the waistband
200; wherein respective unattached top edges 411, 421of the outer and inner
pocket panels 410, 420
are narrower than the respective bottom edges 412, 422 thereof.
[0039] In the above pocket structure 520, the outer pocket panel 410 and the
inner pocket panel 420
may be trapezoidal or approximately trapezoidal in shape. The outer pocket
panel 410 and the inner
pocket panel 420 may be isosceles trapezoidal or approximately isosceles
trapezoidal in shape. The
respective unattached top edges 411, 421 of the outer and inner pocket panels
410, 420 may form an
opening 510 into the pocket 500. The back portion 400 of the waistband 200 may
be attached to a
front portion 300 of the waistband 200 along respective first (or left) side
edges 403,304 and second
.. (or right) side edges 404, 303 thereof. The waistband 200 may be made of an
elastic material. Lateral
tension developed in the waistband 200 by stretching of the elastic material
when the garment 100 is
worn may maintain the opening 510 into the pocket 500 in a closed position
501. The waistband 200
may include a drawcord 350 for tightening the waistband 200 when the garment
100 is worn and
thereby increasing the lateral tension in the waistband 200. The drawcord 350
may extend around the
front portion 300 of the waistband 200 only. And, the respective unattached
top edges 411, 421 of
the outer and inner pocket panels 410, 420 may be unattached for at least a
portion of their respective
widths.
[0040] According to another embodiment, there is provided a waistband 200 for
a garment 100,
comprising: an outer pocket panel 410 attached to an inner pocket panel 420
along respective first
(or left) side edges 413, 423, second (or right) side edges 414, 424, and
bottom edges 412, 422
thereof forming a pocket 500 therebetween and a back portion 400 of the
waistband 200; and, a front
portion 300 of the waistband 200 attached to the back portion 400 of the
waistband 200 along
respective first (or left) side edges 403, 304 and second (or right) side
edges 404, 303 thereof;
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wherein respective unattached top edges 411, 421of the outer and inner pocket
panels 410, 420 are
narrower than the respective bottom edges 412, 422 thereof.
[0041] In the above waistband 200, the outer pocket panel 410 and the inner
pocket panel 420 may
be trapezoidal or approximately trapezoidal in shape. The outer pocket panel
410 and the inner
pocket panel 420 may be isosceles trapezoidal or approximately isosceles
trapezoidal in shape. The
respective unattached top edges 411, 421 of the outer and inner pocket panels
410, 420 may form an
opening 510 into the pocket 500. The front portion 300 of the waistband 200
may be one of:
trapezoidal or approximately trapezoidal in shape; and, isosceles trapezoidal
or approximately
isosceles trapezoidal in shape. The waistband 200 may be made of an elastic
material. Lateral
tension developed in the waistband 200 by stretching of the elastic material
when the garment 100 is
worn may maintain the opening 510 into the pocket 500 in a closed position
501. The waistband 200
may include a drawcord 350 for tightening the waistband 200 when the garment
100 is worn and
thereby increasing the lateral tension in the waistband 200. The drawcord 350
may extend around the
front portion 300 of the waistband 200 only. And, the respective unattached
top edges 411, 421 of
the outer and inner pocket panels 410, 420 may be unattached for at least a
portion of their respective
widths.
[0042] The above embodiments may contribute to an improved pocket 500 for a
garment 100 and
may provide one or more advantages. First, items such as a smart phone 710 may
be secured in the
pocket 500 without the need for fasteners such as zippers or buttons due to
the trapezoidal-like shape
.. of the pocket 500. Second, as the opening 510 of the pocket 500 is formed
along the upper edge of
the back portion 400 of the waistband 200 of the garment 100, the pocket 500
is not readily apparent
to an observer of the garment 100 when the pocket 500 is not in use by a
wearer. Third, the pocket
500 adequately secures valuable personal items, such as smart phones 710 and
keys, when the
wearer is engaged in stretching, exercising, and athletic performance. Fourth,
the presence of the
pocket 500 does not hinder articulation, mobility, or flexibility of the
garment 100.
[0043] The embodiments of the application described above are intended to be
examples only.
Those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications of detail
may be made to these
embodiments, all of which come within the scope of the application.
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