Garment with tension closure pocket

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11224258-B2
Application number	US-201916527831-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2019
Priority date	Feb 22, 2016
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

Abstract

A garment or article of clothing made of a resilient/elastomeric material includes at least a waist portion, a first leg portion, and a second leg portion. The waist portion further includes a pocket on the rear of the garment, where the pocket is defined by a backing panel, a first flap, and a second flap. The first flap is at least partially disposed over the second flap to secure contents between the backing panel and the second panel, and thus, within the pocket. When the waist portion is stretched, the tensile forces imparted onto the waist portion by the resilient/elastomeric material causes the first flap to at least partially overlie the second flap. The pocket is sized and shaped to receive smartphones and other small personal items, such as keys, money, credit cards, identifications, etc.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An article of clothing comprising:
a lower portion configured to be positioned around at least one leg of a person wearing the article of clothing; and
an upper portion coupled to the lower portion and configured to be oriented around a waist of the person wearing the article of clothing, the upper portion including:
a backing panel;
a first flap coupled to the backing panel, the first flap containing a top edge and an opposite arcuate bottom edge; and
a second flap coupled to the backing panel, wherein the first flap is at least partially disposed over the second flap such that the arcuate bottom edge is disposed over the second flap, and the backing panel, the first flap, and the second flap define a pocket.

2. The article of clothing of claim 1 , wherein the backing panel, the first flap, and the second flap comprise fabrics that include an elastomeric material.

3. The article of clothing of claim 2 , wherein the first flap and the second flap are repositionable between a closed position and an open position, the first flap is at least partially disposed over the second flap in the closed position, and the first flap is at least partially spaced from the second flap in the open position to provide access to the pocket.

4. The article of clothing of claim 3 , wherein stretching the upper portion in a lateral direction that opposes a lengthwise direction of the article of clothing creates tensile forces that retain the first flap and the second flap in the closed position.

5. The article of clothing of claim 1 , further comprising an inner pocket disposed within the pocket.

6. The article of clothing of claim 1 , wherein the upper portion includes a top edge and a bottom edge, and the second flap includes a top edge and a bottom edge.

7. The article of clothing of claim 6 , wherein the bottom edge of the second flap is coupled to the bottom edge of the upper portion while the top edge of the second flap is disposed proximate to the top edge of the upper portion, and the top edge of the first flap is coupled to the top edge of the upper portion while the arcuate bottom edge of the first flap is disposed over the second flap so that the arcuate bottom edge of the first flap is disposed between the top edge and the bottom edge of the second flap.

8. An article of clothing comprising:
a lower portion configured to be positioned around legs of a person wearing the article of clothing; and
an upper portion coupled to the lower portion and configured to be oriented around a waist of the person wearing the article of clothing, the upper portion including:
a backing panel;
a first flap coupled to the backing panel, the first flap having an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge, and an arcuate bottom edge; and
a second flap coupled to the backing panel, the second flap having an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the first flap abuts at least a portion of the exterior surface of the second flap, and the backing panel, the first flap, and the second flap define a pocket.

9. The article of clothing of claim 8 , wherein the upper portion defines an opening configured to receive the waist of the person wearing the article of clothing.

10. The article of clothing of claim 9 , wherein the upper portion is constructed from a fabric that includes an elastomeric material.

11. The article of clothing of claim 10 , wherein the first flap and the second flap are repositionable between a closed position and an open position, the interior surface of the first flap abuts the exterior surface of the second flap when in the closed position, and the interior surface of the first flap being at least partially spaced from the exterior surface of the second flap when in the open position to provide access to the pocket.

12. The article of clothing of claim 11 , wherein stretching the upper portion in a lateral direction that opposes a lengthwise direction of the article of clothing creates tensile forces that retain the first flap and the second flap in the closed position.

13. The article of clothing of claim 8 , wherein the lower portion comprises:
a first leg portion configured to receive a first leg of the person wearing the article of clothing; and
a second leg portion configured to receive a second leg of the person wearing the article of clothing.

14. The article of clothing of claim 13 , wherein the first leg portion and the second leg portion are constructed from fabrics that include an elastomeric material.

15. An article of clothing comprising:
a lower portion configured to be positioned around legs of a person wearing the article of clothing; and
an upper portion coupled to the lower portion and configured to be oriented around a waist of the person wearing the article of clothing, the upper portion including:
a backing panel;
a first flap coupled to the backing panel, the first flap having a top edge and an opposite arcuate bottom edge; and
a second flap coupled to the backing panel, wherein the backing panel, the first flap, and the second flap collectively define a pocket, and the first flap and the second flap are configurable between a closed position, where the first flap at least partially covers a portion of the second flap, and an open position, where the first flap is spaced apart from the second flap to provide access to the pocket.

16. The article of clothing of claim 15 , further comprising an inner pocket disposed within the pocket.

17. The article of clothing of claim 15 , wherein the upper portion is constructed from a fabric that includes an elastomeric material.

18. The article of clothing of claim 17 , wherein when the upper portion is oriented around the waist of the person wearing the article of clothing, the waist stretches the upper portion outwardly, creating tensile forces that retain the first flap and the second flap in the closed position.

19. The article of clothing of claim 15 , wherein the upper portion includes a top edge and a bottom edge, and the second flap includes a top edge and a bottom edge.

20. The article of clothing of claim 19 , wherein the bottom edge of the second flap is coupled to the bottom edge of the upper portion while the top edge of the second flap is disposed proximate to the top edge of the upper portion, and the top edge of the first flap is coupled to the top edge of the upper portion while the arcuate bottom edge of the first flap is disposed over the second flap so that the arcuate bottom edge of the first flap is disposed between the top edge and the bottom edge of the second flap.

Assignees

• Under Armour Inc

Inventors

• Berns Jason
• Miller Merida

Classifications

• A41B9/001

  Underpants or briefs (specially adapted for men A41B9/02; specially adapted for ladies A41B9/04) · CPC title

• A41F9/00

  Belts, girdles, or waistbands for trousers or skirts · CPC title

• A41D27/205 Primary

  Pockets adapted to receive a mobile phone or other electronic equipment · CPC title

• A41B9/023

  with separate spaces for genitals · CPC title

• A41D27/207

  with drop-proof features · CPC title