Apparel – General structure – Pockets
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-09
2002-04-02
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
General structure
Pockets
C002S238000, C002S094000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06363538
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an article of wearing apparel, and more particularly to a pocket for carrying items.
2. Description of the Background Art
It is well known that pockets on clothing are useful for carrying items such as medicines, keys, money, sunglasses, tools, etc. Pockets have been attached to several articles of clothing, such as pants, shorts, shirts, dresses, overalls, coats, etc.
Various pocket designs are shown in the prior art which are useful for a variety of purposes, the pocket configuration being designed around the particular area of interest. These attempts have not been able to provide a pocket that is as durable as that of the present invention.
For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,034 entitled “Garment Waistband Structures” discloses a trousers waistband structure employing a two-part elastic band with an elastic reinforcement strip attached to the two-part elastic band such that the lower linear edge of the reinforcement strip depends freely from the band.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,369 entitled “Exercise Suit” discloses an exercise suit which includes a jacket and pants having numerous pockets. To permit automatic adjustment for different body sizes, the sleeves and legs of the suit are longitudinally slit and an elastic strap draws the opposite edges of each slit toward one another thus maintaining the suit and its dynamic load in proximate contact with the user's limits.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,427 entitled “Athletic Garment or Protecting Genital Area” discloses an athletic garment particularly suitable for hockey players protects the genital area of the wearer. The garment comprises a waistband which is supported at the wearer's waist elastically and with a drawstring.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,356 entitled “Dropseat Jumpsuit” discloses a jumpsuit with an improved, utilitarian dropseat having a bodice attached to pants at the front waist seam. The pants have hidden, in-seam side pockets that facilitate the opening of the dropseat area.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,726 entitled “Sports Pants with Protective Pads” discloses a sports pant with protective pads including a trunk and legs formed of elastically stretchable material with pockets in at least the hip and knee areas, and legs terminating in stirrup ends.
None of the above-identified patents teach the combination of structural elements disclosed and claimed herein which cooperate in a unique manner to provide a pocket for an article of clothing that has increased durability and can be easily manufactured.
It would, therefore, be advantageous to have a pocket that can be incorporated into the seams of the article of clothing thereby providing increased strength and durability to the pocket. Also, the pocket could be easily attached to the article of clothing during manufacturing since the pocket would be joined at the seam of the article of clothing thereby reducing the costs of manufacturing.
It would also be advantageous to have a pocket that allows for easy, convenient retrieval of items, particularly while performing athletic activities.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvement which overcomes the aforementioned inadequacies of the prior art and provides an improvement which is a significant contribution to the advancement of the art of pockets.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a pocket which is attached to an article clothing by opposing longitudinal seams.
Another object of the present invention is to increase the strength of the pocket.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved pocket which can be attached to different articles of clothing.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pocket that can be easily accessed by the wearer of the article of clothing.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved pocket that allows the longitudinal seams of the pocket to expand in conjunction with the longitudinal seams of the article of clothing.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pocket which employs a transverse seam across the lower end of the pocket between a pair of opposing seams.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a pocket that employs a serge stitch as a transverse seam across the lower end of the pocket between a pair of opposing seams.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pocket for an article of clothing comprising a pair of opposing seams on the article of clothing, the opposing seams of the pocket attaching to the opposing seams of the article of clothing, and the pocket further having a transverse seam positioned across the opposing seams of the pocket and the opposing seams of the article of clothing, the transverse seam comprising an expandable stitch, whereby, the pocket may expand as the opposing seams of the pocket and the opposing seams of the article of clothing expand, thereby providing an expandable and durable pocket for the article of clothing.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a pocket for an article of clothing that comprises at least one front panel having a first end and a second end, at least one back panel having a first end and a second end, at least one pocket having a first end and a second end and a lower end, a first longitudinal seam along the first end of the front panel, along the first end of the back panel, and along the first end of the pocket, a second longitudinal seam along the second end of the front panel, along the second end of the back panel, and along the second end of the pocket, and the pocket further having a transverse seam at the lower end of the pocket positioned between the first longitudinal seam and the second longitudinal seam, the transverse seam comprising an expandable stitch, whereby, the lower end of the pocket can expand in conjunction with the first longitudinal seam and the second longitudinal seam, thereby providing an expandable and durable pocket for the article of clothing.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pocket for a pair of shorts that comprises a plurality of seams comprising in combination a waistband, a front left panel having a left edge portion and a right edge portion extending downwardly from the waistband, an inner front right panel having a left edge portion and a right edge portion extending downwardly from the waistband an outer front right panel having a left edge portion and a right edge portion extending downwardly from the waistband, a back left panel having a left edge portion and a right edge portion extending downwardly from the waistband, a back right panel having a left edge portion and a right edge portion extending downwardly from the waistband, at least one pocket having a left edge portion, a right edge portion, an upper end and a lower end, an outer left seam along the left edge portion of the front left panel and along the left edge portion of the back left panel, an inseam along the right edge portion of the front left panel, along the left edge portion of the inner front right panel, along the right edge portion of the back left panel and along the left edge portion of the back right panel, an inner front right seem along the right edge portion of the inner front right panel, along the left edge portion of the outer front right panel and along the left edge portion of the pocket, an outer right seam along the right edge portion of the outer front right panel, along the right edge portion of the back right panel and along the right edge portion of the pocket, and the pocket further having a transverse seam positioned at the lower end of the pocket from the left edge portion of the pocket to the right edge portion of the pocket and from the left edge portion of the outer front right panel to the right edge portion of the outer front right panel, the transverse seam comprising an expandable stitch, whereby, the lower end of the pocket can expand in conjunction with the inner front right seam and the outer right seam, thereby pr
Calvert John J.
Holland & Knight LLP
Patel Tejash
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