AU2008265514A1 - A garment - Google Patents

Description

WO 2008/154696 PCT/AU2008/000896 1 A GARMENT Technical Field The present invention relates to a garment and in particular to a garment having a multi-purpose flap member that is visible in a use position and substantially hidden from 5 view when in a stored position. Background of the Invention Garments such as shirts and pants typically include pockets of various shapes and sizes. Garments designed specifically to be used as tradesman's workwear, include strengthened pockets, oversized belts, straps, flap members or the like suitable for 10 retaining tools or other equipment. Tradesmen have also been known to attach a tool belt or the like around their waist to carry more equipment. After work, tradesmen often socialise away from their work. Tradesman are not permitted to enter some establishments due to the appearance of their workwear. Accordingly, there is a need to provide workwear that includes a built-in tool 15 belt style pocket or flap member that is suitable as workwear while able to pass as a casual garment when socialising away from work. Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to at least provide a useful 20 alternative. Summary of the Invention In a first aspect, there is disclosed herein a garment preferably including: a body of fabric material to be worn by a user, the body having an inner surface intended in use to lie adjacent to or in contact with a user's skin, and an outer surface; 25 a flap member having a fixed end attached to the body and a free end remote from the fixed end; and an aperture in said body adjacent said fixed end to permit movement of the free end between a stored position, where said flap member is located adjacent said inner surface so as to be substantially concealed by said body, and a use position where said 30 flap member is located adjacent said outer surface so as to be exposed. Preferably, the garment further includes a pocket, and wherein the flap member when in said stored position is concealed by said pocket.

WO 2008/154696 PCT/AU2008/000896 2 Preferably, the fixed end of the flap member is detachably connected to the body. Preferably, the inner surface is a surface of the garment to be positioned closest to the user's skin, and the member in the stored position extends through the aperture to about the inner surface. 5 Preferably, said flap member includes means to retain one or more tools. Preferably, said means includes a strap or loop of material. Preferably, said garment is a pair of pants. Preferably, said garment is a shirt or jacket. Brief Description of the Drawings 10 A preferred form of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is partial front view of a garment with the flap member of an embodiment of the invention shown in a stored position; Figure 2 is partial front view of a garment with the flap member of an is embodiment of the invention shown moving from a stored to use position; Figure 3 is partial front view of a garment with the flap member of an embodiment of the invention shown in a use position; and Figure 4 is a partial front view of a garment of another embodiment of the invention. 20 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments There is disclosed herein a garment 1 including a body 5 to be worn by a user. The body 5 has an inner surface (not shown) intended in use to lie adjacent to or in contact with a user's skin, and an outer surface 10. A flap member 15 has a fixed end 20 to be attached to the body 5 and a free end 25 remote from the fixed end 20. An aperture 25 30 in a preferred embodiment extends through the body 5. The aperture 30 is to be located adjacent the fixed end 20 of the flap member 15 to permit movement of the free end 25 of the flap member 15 between a stored position (as shown in Figure 1) where the flap member 15 is located adjacent the inner surface of the body 5 and a use position (as shown in Figure 3) where the flap member 15 is located adjacent the upper surface 10 of 30 the body 5. The garment 1 can further include a pocket 35. The flap member 15 extending over and above the pocket 35 in the use position and extending in one embodiment through the aperture 30 in the stored position to be positioned behind the WO 2008/154696 PCT/AU2008/000896 3 pocket 35. In one embodiment, the aperture 30 is the gap between the outside of the pocket 35 and pant/jacket. In a preferred form, the garment 1 is a pair of pants, shirt or jacket. The garment 1 can be manufactured of any suitable material. However it should be appreciated that 5 the garment 1 could be any suitable garment worn by a user. As best seen in Figure 3, the flap member 15 preferably includes one or more pockets 40 and/or means in the form of straps, loops of material or the like to retain one or more tools. In this way, the flap member 15 forms a "tool belt" type device. In one form, the flap member 15 is sewn or stitched to the body 5. In an alternate form and as best seen in Figure 4, the flap member 10 15 is detachably connected to the body 5 by hook and loop type fasteners 45, studs 46, buckles, buttons or other like fastening devices. This embodiment advantageously allows the flap member 15 to detach if the flap member 15 is caught in machinery or the like. Thus, the flap member 15 includes a safety device to be released by force in an emergency. 15 In a preferred form, the aperture 30 is a 17cm long slit running horizontally just below the belt line of a pair of pants. However, the aperture 30 could be any size or shape and be located in many different locations on the body 5 to suit the style of garment 1 and size and shape of the flap member 15. As mentioned, the aperture 30 could also be the gap between the outside of the pocket and the pant/jacket. 20 In use, a user such as a tradesman when working would place the flap member 15 in the use position shown in Figure 3. The flap member 15 can then be utilised like a tool belt, a user filling the additional pockets 40 with nails, tools or the like. When the user desires to hide the flap member 15 from view, such as when attending a meeting, entering a socialising establishment, travelling between locations or the like, the user 25 moves the pocket 15 through the aperture 30 (or just behind the pocket in one embodiment) so that the flap member 15 is substantially adjacent the inner surface of the body 5 and hidden by the pocket 25. In this way, the flap member 15 would be hidden from view. Accordingly, the garment 1 would have been changed from a simple garment 1 to multi-purpose work wear. 30 In an alternate embodiment, the flap member 15 is integrally formed with the pocket 35. Alternatively, the flap member 15 and/or aperture 30 could be incorporated into a belt line, pair of pants, pockets, liners or the like. Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it would be appreciated by those secured in the art that invention may be an embodiment of 35 the form.

Claims (6)

1. A garment including: a body of fabric material to be worn by a user, the body having an inner surface intended in use to lie adjacent to or in contact with a user's skin, and an outer surface; 5 a flap member having a fixed end attached to the body and a free end remote from the fixed end; and an aperture in said body adjacent said fixed end to permit movement of the free end between a stored position, where said flap member is located adjacent said inner surface so as to be substantially concealed by said body, and a use position where said 10 flap member is located adjacent said outer surface so as to be exposed.

2. The garment of claim 1 further including a pocket, and wherein said flap member when in said stored position is concealed by said pocket.

3. The garment of claim 1, wherein said fixed end of said flap member is detachably connected to said body. 15

4. The garment of claim 1, wherein the flap member is detachably connected to the body by use of a press stud.

5. The garment of claim 1, wherein said inner surface is a surface of the garment to be positioned closest to the user's skin, and said member in said stored position extends through said aperture to about said inner surface. 20

6. The garment of claim 2, wherein said aperture is a gap between the outer surface located on the pocket remote the user's skin and the inner surface adjacent the user's skin. WO 2008/154696 PCT/AU2008/000896 AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 13 October 2008 (13.10.08). 1. A pant type garment including: a body of fabric material to be worn by a user, the body having an inner surface intended in use to lie adjacent to or in contact with a user's skin, and an outer surface; s a waistband, a flap member having a fixed end attached to the body, and a free end remote from the fixed end, the fixed end having a major direction of extension extending along said waistband; and an aperture in said body adjacent said fixed end to permit movement of the free 10 end between a stored position, where said flap member is located adjacent said inner surface so as to be substantially concealed by said body, and a use position where said flap member is located adjacent said outer surface so as to be exposed. 2. The garment of claim 1 further including a pocket, and wherein said flap member when in said stored position is concealed by said pocket. 1s 3. The ganment of claim 1, wherein said fixed end of said flap member is detachably connected to said body. 4. The garment of claim 1, wherein said inner surface is a surface of the garment to be positioned closest to the user's skin, and said member in said stored position extends through said aperture to about said imner surface.