Patent Application
20250204626
The present disclosure relates to pocket retention arrangements. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a garment pocket having an retention strap.
Many garments are provided with one or more pockets that allow a wearer of the garment to carry personal items. It can be desirable to facilitate retention of the item(s) within the pocket. In some cases, this can be accomplished by providing the pocket with a relatively substantial length or depth from the open end of the pocket. However, such an arrangement is not always possible or practical. Some pockets are provided with a closure mechanisms, such as a closure flap, a zipper, hook and loop fastener, or a button closure. However, such arrangements often limit the size of item that can be securely retained within the pocket.
Therefore, a need exists for improved pocket retention arrangements that can provide for the secure retention of items within a pocket. In particular, a need exists for a pocket retention arrangement that can provide for retention of items that are longer than the depth of the pocket. The systems, methods and devices described herein have innovative aspects, no single one of which is indispensable or solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the claims, some of the advantageous features will now be summarized.
An aspect of the present disclosure involves a pocket that includes a pocket layer attached to a base layer of an associated object. A pocket space is defined between the base layer and the pocket layer. The pocket layer is connected to the base layer along a portion of a periphery of the pocket layer to define an opening that permits access to the pocket space. A retention arrangement includes a retention strap located within the pocket space and having a first end secured relative to the pocket layer at a first location and a second end secured to the pocket layer at a second location.
In some configurations, the retention strap is elastic such that the retention strap can be stretched to have a length greater than a distance between the first location and the second location.
In some configurations, the second location is closer to the opening than the first location.
In some configurations, the first location is located on a side of the pocket opposite the opening.
In some configurations, the second location is spaced from an edge of the pocket layer that defines the opening.
In some configurations, the pocket is attached to the base layer by a double stitch seam having an outer stitched row and an inner stitched row. The first end of the retention strap is secured by the inner stitched row.
In some configurations, the first end of the retention strap is not secured by the outer stitched row.
In some configurations, the first end of the retention strap is doubled over onto itself at the inner stitched row.
In some configurations, a portion of the periphery of the pocket layer that defines the opening comprises a pair of separate layers. The second end of the retention strap is positioned between the pair of separate layers.
In some configurations, the pair of separate layers and the second end of the retention strap are connected by a stitched connection.
In some configurations, the pocket comprises a closure for the opening.
In some configurations, the closure comprises a button and a cooperating button opening.
In some configurations, the object is a garment and the base layer is a garment layer.
In some configurations, the garment is a shirt.
In some configurations, the retention strap has a width of less than about 10 mm.
In some configurations, a pleat is provided in the pocket layer.
The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings.
Embodiments of systems, components and methods of assembly and manufacture will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals refer to like or similar elements throughout. Although several embodiments, examples and illustrations are disclosed below, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the inventions described herein extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments, examples and illustrations, and can include other uses of the inventions and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. The terminology used in the description presented herein is not intended to be interpreted in any limited or restrictive manner simply because it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific embodiments of the inventions. In addition, embodiments of the inventions can comprise several novel features and no single feature is solely responsible for its desirable attributes or is essential to practicing the inventions herein described.
Certain terminology may be used in the following description for the purpose of reference only, and thus are not intended to be limiting. For example, terms such as “above” and “below” refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Terms such as “front,” “back,” “left,” “right,” “rear,” and “side” describe the orientation and/or location of portions of the components or elements within a consistent but arbitrary frame of reference which is made clear by reference to the text and the associated drawings describing the components or elements under discussion. Moreover, terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” and so on may be used to describe separate components. Such terminology may include the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.
With additional reference to
The retention strap 34 preferably has a width that is significantly less than the original unstretched length 36. In some configurations, the width of the retention strap 34 is less than about 20%, less than about 10%, or less than about 5% of a width of the pocket 20. In some configurations, the width of the retention strap 34 is between about 2%-20% or between about 5%-10% of the width of the pocket 20. In some configurations, the retention strap 34 has a width that is less than or equal to about 20 mm, less than or equal to about 15 mm, less than or equal to about 10 mm, or less than or equal to about 5 mm. In some configurations, the retention strap 34 has a width that is between about 2 mm-20 mm, between about 5-15 mm, or between about 5 mm-10 mm. Other suitable widths can be used depending on the size of the pocket 20 and/or the size of the objects intended to be retained by the retention strap 34. For example, the retention strap 34 could have a width greater than 20 mm.
With reference to
The pocket 20 includes a pocket layer 42. The garment layer 40 and the pocket layer 42 cooperate to define a pocket space 44. The pocket layer 42 is connected to the garment layer 40 on less than an entirety of a periphery of, or on less than all sides of, the pocket layer 42 to create an opening 46 to the pocket space 44. In the illustrated arrangement, the pocket layer 42 is connected to the garment layer 40 along three sides, leaving an unattached upper end that forms the opening 46 to the pocket space 44.
With particular reference to
In the illustrated arrangement, at least a portion of the retention strap 34 is secured to the front layer or the pocket layer 42 of the pocket 20. A first (e.g., lower) end 60 of the retention strap 34 can be secured to a first (e.g., lower) end 62 of the pocket 20. In some configurations, the first end 60 of the retention strap 34 is secured between the garment layer 40 and the pocket layer 42 of the pocket 20. For example, the retention strap 34 can be secured by the same connection that secures the pocket layer 42 of the pocket 20 to the garment layer 40. In the illustrated arrangement, the pocket layer 42 is connected to the garment layer 40 with a sewn connection. In particular, the sewn connection is a double stitched seam 64 having a pair of parallel stitching rows, including a first, relative outer stitched row 66 towards the outside edge of the pocket 20 and a second, relative inner stitched row 68 spaced inward from the outer stitched row 66 relative to the outside edge of the pocket 20.
In the illustrated arrangement, the first end 60 of the retention strap 34 is connected (stitched) by the inner stitched row 68 and is not connected (unstitched) by the outer stitched row 66. Such an arrangement provides for secure connection of the retention strap 34 and a clean appearance of the pocket 20. In the illustrated arrangement, the first end 60 of the retention strap 34 is doubled over onto itself prior to being connected within the pocket 20 by the inner stitched row 68 such that the free end of the retention strap 34 is located within the pocket space 44 relatively inward of the inner stitched row 68. Such an arrangement provides increased strength to the connection of the retention strap 34 with the garment layer 40 and the pocket layer 42. In some arrangements, the edge of at least the first end 62 of the pocket layer 42 can have an inner fold and the first end 60 of the retention strap 34 could be received within the inner fold such that the pocket layer 42 is provided on each of the inside and outside (rearward of and forward of) the first end 60 of the retention strap 34. In any of the suitable arrangements, the retention strap 34 could be connected to the pocket layer 42 of the pocket 20 prior to the pocket layer 42 being secured to the garment layer 40, which may facilitate attachment of the pocket layer 42 to the garment layer 40.
In the illustrated arrangement, a second (e.g., upper) end 70 of the retention strap 34 can be secured to a second (e.g., upper) end 72 of the pocket layer 42 of the pocket 20. Such an arrangement facilitates manufacture of the pocket 20 and reduces or eliminates the likelihood that the retention strap 34 will interfering with objects placed in the pocket space 44 while the retention strap 34 is not in use. In some configurations, the second end 70 of the retention strap 34 can be secured to the second end 72 of the pocket layer 42 at a location spaced below the uppermost portion or uppermost edge of the pocket layer 42. In the illustrated arrangement, the pocket 20 includes a closure button 80 and a cooperating button hole 82. The retention strap 34 is secured to the pocket layer 42 at a location below the button hole 82 and the closure button 80. The illustrated pocket 20 includes an upper fold 86 to create a multi-layer upper or second end 72 of the pocket layer 42. The upper or second end 70 of the retention strap 34 can be secured by the same stitched connection 90, or other suitable connection, that connects the multiple layers of the second end 72 of the pocket layer 42. In the illustrated arrangement, the second end 70 of the retention strap 34 is positioned between the multiple layers of the second end 72 of the pocket layer 42. Such an arrangement can provide for a stronger and/or more robust connection between the retention strap 34 and the pocket layer 42. Such an arrangement can also provide for the benefits noted herein of attaching the retention strap 34 to the pocket layer 42—instead of the garment layer 40—while reducing deformation of the pocket layer 42 when the retention strap 34 is in use by reinforcement of the location at which the retention strap 34 applies force to the second end 72 of the pocket layer 42.
As described previously, in some configurations the retention strap 34 is secured to the pocket 20 in an unstretched condition. Such an arrangement can avoid or reduce buckling or puckering of the pocket layer 42 of the pocket 20 that could otherwise result from the application of force to the pocket layer 42 by the retention strap 34. However, as also previously described, the retention strap 34 could be preloaded to reduce or eliminate excess length of the retention strap 34, which could create a bulge or pucker in the pocket layer 42. If implemented in an environment having stiff base and pocket layers, a greater amount of preloading of the retention strap 34 can be used without causing undesirable bulging or puckering of the pocket layer.
The retention strap 34 can be stretched to receive an object to be retained. The stretching of the retention strap 34 can create a retention force that facilitates retention of the object.
It should be emphasized that many variations and modifications may be made to the herein-described embodiments, the elements of which are to be understood as being among other acceptable examples. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims. Moreover, any of the steps described herein can be performed simultaneously or in an order different from the steps as ordered herein. Moreover, as should be apparent, the features and attributes of the specific embodiments disclosed herein may be combined in different ways to form additional embodiments, all of which fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or states are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or states are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.
Moreover, the following terminology may have been used herein. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to an item includes reference to one or more items. The term “ones” refers to one, two, or more, and generally applies to the selection of some or all of a quantity. The term “plurality” refers to two or more of an item. The term “about” or “approximately” means that quantities, dimensions, sizes, formulations, parameters, shapes and other characteristics need not be exact, but may be approximated and/or larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting acceptable tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like and other factors known to those of skill in the art. The term “substantially” means that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.
Numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also interpreted to include all of the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. As an illustration, a numerical range of “about 1 to 5” should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited values of about 1 to about 5, but should also be interpreted to also include individual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Thus, included in this numerical range are individual values such as 2, 3 and 4 and sub-ranges such as “about 1 to about 3,” “about 2 to about 4” and “about 3 to about 5,” “1 to 3,” “2 to 4,” “3 to 5,” etc. This same principle applies to ranges reciting only one numerical value (e.g., “greater than about 1”) and should apply regardless of the breadth of the range or the characteristics being described. A plurality of items may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. Furthermore, where the terms “and” and “or” are used in conjunction with a list of items, they are to be interpreted broadly, in that any one or more of the listed items may be used alone or in combination with other listed items. The term “alternatively” refers to selection of one of two or more alternatives, and is not intended to limit the selection to only those listed alternatives or to only one of the listed alternatives at a time, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
This application is related to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/613,313, filed Dec. 21, 2023, titled POCKET WITH RETENTION STRAP, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein and made a part of the present disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63613313 | Dec 2023 | US |
