Patent Application
20080047045
For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The pocket 10 of the present invention can be used with any reversible, single-ply garment 12. For convenience, the two sides of the garment 12 are referred to as the first side 14 and the second side 16. Since the garment 12 is reversible, in one configuration, the first side 14 is outside and the second side 16 is inside. When the garment 12 is reversed, the second side 16 becomes the outside and the first side 14 becomes the inside.
A single-ply garment 12 is produced from one layer of fabric 20. The fabric 20 may be a single fabric material or it may be a laminate of two or more materials, both cloth and non-cloth. The pocket 10 of the present invention may be used on garments 12 that are composed of waterproof, windproof, breathable laminates. Contemplated laminates are comprised of a pair of outer cloth layers 22, 24 and a medial membrane layer 26. Examples of laminate constructions are sold under the trade designations CROSSTECH and GORETEX by W.L. Gore and Associates, Inc. The water resistance performance of the laminates is primarily a function of medial membrane layer 26, which consists of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) that is optionally impregnated with an oleophobic polymer. The ePTFE membrane contains billions of pores per square inch, each being thousands of times smaller than a water droplet but hundreds of times larger than a water vapor molecule. This composition passes perspiration vapor from the inside, but blocks water and wind from the outside. The impregnated oleophobic polymer provides resistance against blood-borne pathogen and common chemical liquid penetration.
Generally, a garment will have more than one pocket. For example, a jacket will have a pair of pockets, one for each hand. The present specification describes the construction of a single pocket 10, but it is understood that any number of pockets of the present invention can be designed into a garment 12. It is also understood that the size, shape, and location of the pocket 10 is not an element of the present invention. The pocket 10 can have any size, shape, and location that is desirable.
As shown in
The fabric panel 34 is attached to the first side 14, as at 30, by whatever means is adequate for the particular usage. Example attachments include sewing, adhesives, and heat sealing.
As shown in
The present invention contemplates various forms for the closure 38. The preferred closures are zippers 40, shown in
If the garment 12 is to maintain water resistance, the closure 38 is designed to be waterproof. Water resistant and waterproof zipper designs are well-known in the art.
To use the present invention, when the garment 12 is worn with the first side 14 out, the pocket space 28 is accessible through the opening 36, just like any typical pocket. When the garment 12 is reversed so that the second side 16 is out, the pocket space 28 is accessible after opening the closure 38.
Thus it has been shown and described a pocket for a reversible garment which satisfies the objects set forth above.
Since certain changes may be made in the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the present invention, it is intended that all matter described in the foregoing specification and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
