GB2585174A

GB2585174A - Pocket for shooting jacket

Info

Publication number: GB2585174A
Application number: GB1900438.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Golan Liraz
Original assignee: Le Chameau Uk Ltd
Current assignee: Le Chameau Uk Ltd
Priority date: 2019-01-11
Filing date: 2019-01-11
Publication date: 2021-01-06
Also published as: GB201900438D0; WO2020144663A1

Abstract

A pocket for a garment, such as might be used to store ammunition cartridges in a shooting jacket, comprises a front wall 102, left and right side walls 104, an opening 106 defined by the top edges 102a, 104a of the front and side walls, and one of a front wall stiffening element 120 or a side wall stiffening element 122. Preferably, the stiffening elements are in the form of flat wires, and extend across both side walls’ and the front wall’s edges, but are not connected at the corners, but rather separate. This allows the stiffening elements to hold the pocket open more widely to improve access (especially for a user wearing gloves) to retrieve the shells, without putting a large amount of stress on any bends in the wires. The front wall might further comprise a stiffening web (208, fig. 4), or all the walls might comprise such webs, in the form of wire mesh (figure 6). The side wall might comprise a fold down vertically to form a bellows type pocket, and only the front part in this case would comprise a stiffening element (see figure 2). Preferably the pocket is closed by a flap 108.

Description

POCKET FOR SHOOTING I ACK ET

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present i nventi on relates generally to pockets for garments, i n part cular bellows pockets, and to garments (especially jackets) incorporating the pockets. Embodiments of the invention are especially suited to be used as cartridge pockets in shoot ng jackets.

BACKGROUND

Shooting jackets are a well-known form of outdoor jacket specifically designed for shoot ng, including for example hunting, clay shooting and other shooting sports. T hey tend to be made from durable (and somet mes waterproof) materials, including traditi onal wool fabrics such as tweed, waxed cottons and man-made materials such as nylons, polyesters, etc, or fabrics comprising blends of such materials. The jackets may be lined and insulated.

Shooting jackets differ from standard outdoor jackets in a number of ways, most notably by the presence of large front pockets for storing cartridges. These cartridge pockets general ly have a flap closure and are typi cal I y deep, to reduce the risk of cartridges inadvertently fall ing out T hey also have wide openings for easy access with a gloved hand, when the flap is open, to reach in a take out a cartridge.

Cartridge pockets on shooting jackets often have a bellows construction; a pocket with an expansion pleat on one or both sides that allows the wall of the pocket to expand away from the jacket to provide a larger pocket cavity and a larger pocket opening. This type of pocket is referred to as a pleated or bel I ows pocket However, even with a large, deep, bellows pocket it can be awkward for a user to reach in to the pocket to access its contents (e.g. cartridges) when the pocket opening collapses in on itself against the outer shell of the jacket.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention are generally aimed at providing a pocket that has an opening with a propensity to gape open to make it easier to reach in with a hand to access the -1 -contents of the pocket but that can still be col lapsed back towards a garment the pocket is on and closed (e.g. with a flap closure) when not being accessed.

In a first aspect, the invention provi des a pocket for a garment (e.g. a shooting jacket), the pocket comprising: a front wall, a left-side wall and a right-si de vval I, a pocket opening being defined by upper edges of the front wall and two side walls; and at I east one of: a) a front wal I stiffening element extending across the front wall of the pocket and b) a first side wall stiffening element extending across one of the side walls of the pocket The pocket may comprise both the front wall stiffening el ement extending across the front wall of the pocket and the first side wall stiffening element extending across one of the side walls of the pocket The pocket may further comprise a second side wall stiffening element extending across the other of the side walls of the pocket Stiffening one or more walls of the pocket in the manner proposed herein helps to stop the top of the pocket folding i n when the pocket is in its open state as the users hand moves i n and out of the pocket, enabling a more unrestricted access to the pocket contents. In some cases, for example where the pocket is used to hold cartridges, the weight of the pocket contents may hel p to hold the pocket open. In such cases, less stiffening may be requi red of, for example, it may be sufficient to stiffen only the front wall of the pocket to help prevent the front wall folding in as the user pushes their hand into the pocket The front wall and si de wall stiffening elements are separate from one another -that is, 25 they are separate elements that are not physically connected to one another other than by the pocket fabric. The stiffening elements may be retained within or against the pocket walls, for example by seams stitched in the fabric walls.

In some embodiments the front wal I stiffening element is a wire, for example a flat wire.

The term 'wi re_ used herein includes metal wires (whether sheathed or not) and also i nc I udes wi res formed from other materials, for example plastics and fabric composites. Other -2 -shapes of wire are also possi bl e (for the front wal I stiffening element and the side wal I stiffening elements), for example round, oval, square and triangular, i n addition to flat wires.

In some embodiments the front wal I stiffening element (e.g. wire) extends across substantially the full width of the front wall. The front wall stiffening element may extend along the top edge of the front wall. Alternatively, the front wall stiffening element may extend across the front wal I displaced below the top edge of the front wal I. In some embodiments the stiffening element is between about 1cm and 8cm below the top edge of the front wall, for example about Scm below the top edge.

W here the stiffening element is below the top edge of the front wal I of the pocket, in some embodiment an additi onal stiffening structure i n the form of a stiffening web ( e.g. a wire mesh) is included in the front wall extending from the top edge of the front wal I down towards the front wal I stiffening element T his stiffening web may extend down to or beyond the front wall stiffening element In another embodiment, the front wall stiffening element may itself be a stiffening web 15 extending from the top edge of the front wal I down towards the bottom of the front wal I. Whether used alone or i n combination with a front wal I stiffening element (e.g. wire), the stiffening web, i n some embodi rnents, extends at I east Scm down the front wal I of the pocket It may also extend across substantially the full width of the front wall. The stiffening web may, for example, be a wire mesh. The stiffening web may be formed from any suitable material, including metal, plastics and composite fabrics for exampl a In some embodiments, for example, the stiffening web may be a thicker region (e.g. formed from multiple layers) of the same fabric from which the front wal I of the pocket is formed.

Similarly to the front wal I stiffeni ng element, the si de wall stiffeni ng elements may be wires. In the case of the side wal I stiffening elements, round wires, flat wires or wires of other cross-sectional shapes may be used. Some embodiments may use stiffening webs i n the side walls as the stiffening elements or to supplement wire stiffening elements. The side wal I stiffening elements, i n some embodiments, extend al ong the top edge of the si de wal I s.

In some embodiments the si de wal I stiffening elements extend across only a front portion of the respective side wall (i.e. a portion of the side wal I closest to the front wall). In other embodiments, the side wall stiffening elements extend across only a rear portion of the respective side wall ( i.e. a portion of the side wal I closest to a back edge of the pocket). In yet further embodiments, each of the side walls (or only one of the si de walls) includes two, separate stiffening elements, one in the front portion of the wall and the other i n the rear porti on of the wall.

In some embodiments, one or both of the side walls has a bellows construction with a fold that extends from a top edge of the side wall towards the bottom of the side wall to form an expansion bellows. In this case, the stiffening element in the at least one side wall may extend across only a front pord on of the side wall between the fold and the front wall. T his helps to ensure that the stiffeni ng element does not unduly hinder the bell ows action of the pocket A I ternativel y, the at least one side wall may include two separate stiffening el ements: one that extends across only a front pord on of the side wall between the fold and the front wal I and another that extends across only a rear port on of the si de wal I between the fold and the rear edge of the pocket As with known cartridge pockets, pocket of some embodiments of the present invention include a flap closure. The flap closure may be secured with appropriate fasteners, for example, with one or more press stud fasteners. In some embodi ment, press stud fasteners (or other suitable types of fastener) may also be provided to hold the bellows side wal I in a closed (contracted) configuration.

In another aspect the i nvend on provi des a garment comprising at least one pocket as set forth in the first aspect above. Pockets in accordance with the first aspect are particularly suited for jackets, especially as cartridge pockets on shooting jackets. There may for example be two such pockets, with one pocket on a front I eft side of the jacket towards the bottom of the jacket and one pocket on a front right side of the jacket, also towards the bottom of the jacket Pockets i n accordance with the present invention and jackets (or other garments) incorporating such pockets can be manufactured using conventional techniques and can employ conventional materials typically used for shooting jackets for example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 shows a front perspective view of a pocket i n accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2 shows a si de perspective view of the pocket of fig. 1; FIGURE 3 shows a front perspective view of a pocket i n accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 4 shows a side perspective view of the pocket of fig. 3 FIGURE 5 shows a front perspective view of a pocket i n accordance with another 5 embodiment of the present invention; and FIGURE 6 shows a side perspective view of the pocket of fig. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments are described below by way of example with reference to the 10 accompanying drawings.

Whilst pockets in accordance with the invention can be used with various different forms of garment, embodi merits of the invention are particularly suited for use as pockets for jackets, for example as cartridge pockets on shooting jackets. The term 'jacket_ used herein includes sleeveless jackets (often referred to as 'vests_) as well as jackets with sleeves.

It should be understood that terms such as 'front_, 'back _, 'I eft_, 'right_, 'top_, bottom, 'vertical etc used herein define relative positions / orientations of parts of the pockets and garments they are incorporated in, and do not necessarily define absolute positions / orientations.

Figures 1 and 2 i II ustrate a first example of a pocket in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

T he pocket 100 includes a front wall 102 and two side walls 104. T op edges (102a, 104a) of the side walls 104 and front wall 102 define the pocket opening 106 to provide access to the interior of the pocket to access the pocket contents. The bottom of the pocket is closed either by a bottom end of the front wal I or, in some example, by a bottom wall that is joined to the bottoms of the front and side wal Is.

Back edges 104b of the side walls, along with the bottom edge of the front wall (or back edge of a bottom wall when present) are fixed to the outer shell of a jacket (not shown), for example by stitching.

A flap closure 108 is also attached to the outer shell of the jacket e.g. by stitching, just above the top of the pocket 100. T his flap closure can be folded down over the pocket opening 106 to close the pocket The flap is secured closed with two press stud fasteners 112, one towards either side of the pocket.

The side walls have a bellows construction, each side wall having a front portion 104c and a rear portion 104d either side of a verti cal fold 110. The front and rear portions 104c, 104d of each side wal 1104 can col lapse towards one another about the fold I i ne 110 to al low the pocket to contact back against the outer shell of the jacket and to allow the flap closure 108 to be more easily folded down over the pocket opening 106. The two portions of each bellows side wall 104 can be held in their contracted configuration with a press stud fastener 114.

Once the flap closure 108 is opened and the press stud fasteners on the bel lows side walls 104 released, the pocket opening 106 can be expanded to al I ow easy access for a hand into the interior of the pocket The flap closure 108 can be tucked into internal pocket 116, within the jacket's outer shell, to keep it out of the way when the pocket is being accessed.

The pocket i n this example has three distinct stiffening wires around the pocket opening.

A first stiffening wire 120 is retained i n a seam along the top edge 102a of the front wall 102 and extends the full width of the front wall 102 of the pocket. The second and third stiffening wires 122 are retained i n seams i n the top edges 104a of the front portions 104c of respective side walls 104 (only one stiffening wire is seen i n the figures -see fig. 2 -the other side wall stiffening wire is in a corresponding location on the other side wall). Each of these si de wall stiffening wires 122 extends from adjacent the front end of the side wal I 104 (where it joins the front wall 102) to adjacent the fold 110.

The side wall stiffening wires 122 are not joined to the front wall stiffening wire 120 (other than by the pocket fabric). This, in combi nazi on with the side wall stiffening wires 122 not extending beyond the fold 110, mini mi z es the amount of bending of the wires as the pocket bel lows are expanded and contracted, which might otherwise I ead to fatigue fai I ures i n the wires.

By stiffening the top edges of the pocket i n this way, the pocket tends to gape open, as seen i n the figures, once the flap closure is opened and the side wall press stud fasteners released. This helps enable easy and repeatable access to the contents of the pocket for example 30 cartridges.

Figures 3 and 4 i I I ustrate a second example of a pocket according to an embodiment of the invention.

The pocket of figs. 3 and 4 is of si mi lar general construction to the pocket of figs. 1 and 2 and the same reference numerals are used for corresponding parts.

The pocket 200 of this second example differs in the configuration of the stiffening elements. The stiffening elements in the side wal Is generally correspond to those in the first example, being round wires 122 that extend i n a seam along the top edge 104a of a front portion 104c of the si de wall 104. In this example, the ends of the wire 122 preferably have protective cover ends to prevent the wire piercing the pocket fabric. Bar tacks 202 are also used to strengthen the ends of the seam i n which the wire 122 is secured.

The biggest difference in the pocket 200 of this second example is in the form of the stiffening applied to the front wall 102 of the pocket. In this example, a stiffening wire 204 extends across the full width of the front wall 102 of the pocket, as in the first example, but in this case the wire is I ocated about 5cm below the top edge 102a of the pocket. The wire 204 in this example is a flat wi re (as opposed to the round wi re of the fi rst example). As in the first example, the wire is secured within a seam 206.

Additionally, a wire mesh 208 is fixed within a top portion 102b of the front wall 102. This wire mesh 208 extends to the full width of the front wall 202 of the pocket and from the top edge 102a of the pocket down to the seam 206 on the front wal l of the pocket adjacent the flat wire stiffener 204.

The combination of the flat wire stiffener 204 and wire mesh 208 have been found to be particularly effective in retaining the pocket 200 open to all ow good access to the pocket interior.

Figures 5 and 6 i I I ustrate a third example of a pocket according to an embodiment of the 25 invention.

The pocket of figs. 5 and 6 is of si mi lar general construction to the pocket of figs. 3 and 4 (and the pocket of figs. 1 and 2) and the same reference numerals are used for corresponding parts.

In this example the pocket 300 differs from the other examples in the configuration of both the front-wal l and side-wall stiffening elements.

Looking fi rst at the front-wall stiffening elements, i n this third example a flat wire 302 extends the full width of the pocket front wall 102 at the top edge 102a of the wall. As i n the second example, the wire stiffener is supplemented with a wire mesh 304, although in this example the mesh is not as deep, extending only about 1 to 1 A< cm (e.g. 1.2cm) down the front wall 102 of the pocket 300.

In the third example the side wall stiffening elements also comprise a combination of wires 306, 308 (in this case flat wires) and wire mesh elements 310, 312. More specifically, in each side wall 104 includes a fi rst flat wire 306 i n the front portion 104c of the wall and a second flat wire 308 i n the rear portion 104d of the wall. Both of these wires 306, 308 are at a top edge 104a of the side wal 1104.

Each of the side wall wires 306, 308 is supplemented with a wire mesh, specifi cal I y as first side-wall wire mesh 310 i n the front portion 102c of the wall and a second side-wall wire mesh 312 i n the rear portion 102d of the wall. In this example the side-wall wire meshes 310, 312 are the same depth as the wire mesh 304 in the front wall 102.

The meshes 304, 310 and 312 may be fixed to the pocket walls (e.g. the i nsi de of the pocket wal Is) using stitched seams for example. Conveniently, the wire stiffeners 302, 306, 308 may be trapped between the pocket wall and the meshes to secure them i n place.

In this example, both ends of each of the wire stiffeners 302, 306, 308 have end covers applied, to help avoid otherwise sharp wire ends from piercing the fabric of the pocket Bar tacks 314 are also sewn into the pockets at the fold 110 i n each si de wall 104. As an alternative to bar tacks (or i n addition to them), a I i ne of stitches may be formed along the fold from the top edge 104a of the si de wall 104 to the bottom of the meshes 310, 312.

The stiffening wires and meshes i n the examples described above (and i n other embodiments) may be formed from a variety of suitable materials and be of a variety of suitable forms to provide the desired stiffening to hold the pocket open and resist folding over of the front wall of the pocket as a user pushes their hand i n, whi 1st sti II providing some flexi bi I ity. Suitable materials include metals, plastics and fabric composites. For example, flat (or other shape) wires formed from a polyolefi n (e.g. polypropylene) may be used. As another example, stiffening meshes may be formed from a polyester such as PET (polyethylene terephthal ate), e.g. from a polyester (PET) monofi lament yarn.. T he mesh will typi cal I y have a lattice form, e.g. a regular square or diamond lattice for instance.

The ski I I ed person wi II understand that vari ous modifications and additions can be made to the examples descri bed above without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

For example, in some cases the inherent stiffness of the fabric chosen for the pocket walls may mean that separate side-wall stiffening elements are not requi red, the front-wal I stiffening element al one being adequate to provide the desi red non-col lapse of the pocket when it is open. In other cases it may be sufficient to include only si de-wal I stiffening elements. In other cases, a mesh stiffening element may be used i n the front wal I without also having a wire stiffening element in that wal I. Alternative wire shapes to those specifically described may also be used; for instance, flat wires may replace the round wires i n the first example. V ari ous other modifications are possible.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A pocket for a garment, the pocket comprising: a front wall, a left-side wall and a right-si de wal I, a pocket opening being defined by upper edges of the front wal I and two side walls; and at least one of: a) a front wall stiffening element extending across the front wal I of the pocket and b) a first side wall stiffening element extending across one of the side wal Is of the pocket 2. A pocket according to clai m 1, further comprising both the front wall stiffening element extending across the front wal I of the pocket and the first si de wal I stiffening el ement extending across one of the side walls of the pocket 3. A pocket according to clai m 1 or claim 2, further comprising a second side wal I stiffening element extending across the other of the side wal Is of the pocket.4. A pocket according to c I ai m 2 or clai m 3, wherein the front wall and side wall stiffening elements are separate from one another.5. A pocket according to any one of the preceding clai ms, wherein the stiffening elements are retained within or against the pocket wal Is.6. A pocket according to clai m 5, wherein the pocket wal Is are formed from a fabric and the stiffening elements are retained by seams stitched in the fabric.7. A pocket according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the front wall stiffening element is a wire.8. A pocket according to clai m 7, wherein the front wall stiffening element is a flat wire.-10 - 9. A pocket according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the front wall stiffening element extends across substantially the ful I width of the front wal I. 10. A pocket according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the front wall stiffening element extends across the top edge of the front wall.11. A pocket according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the front wall stiffening element extends across the front wall displaced bel ow the top edge of the front wall.12. A pocket according to claim 11, wherein the front wall stiffening element is displaced below the top edge of the front wal I by between 1cm and 8cm.13. A pocket according to claim 12, wherein the front wall stiffening element is displaced below the top edge of the front wall by about 5cm 15 14. A pocket according to any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising a stiffening web i n the front wal I extending from the top edge of the front wal I down towards the front wal I stiffening element 15. A pocket according to claim 14, wherein the stiffening web extends down to or beyond the front wall stiffening element 16. A pocket according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the front wall stiffening element is a stiffening web extending from the top edge of the front wall down towards the bottom of the front wall.17. A pocket according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the stiffening web extends at I east 1cm down the front wal I of the pocket 18. A pocket according to claim 17, wherein the stiffening web extends at I east 5cm down the front wal I of the pocket. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.A pocket according to any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein the stiffening web extends across substantially the ful I width of the front wal I. A pocket according to any one of claims 14 to 19, wherein the stiffening web is a wire mesh.A pocket according to any one of the preceding clai ms, wherein the or each side wal I stiffening element is a wire.A pocket according to clai m 21, wherein the or each side wal I stiffeni ng element is a round wire.A pocket according to any one of the preceding clai ms, wherein the or each si de wal I stiffening element extends across only a front portion of the side wal I. A pocket according to any one of the preceding clai ms, wherein at I east one of the side walls includes a fold that extends from a top edge of the side wall towards the bottom of the side wall to form an expansion bellows, the stiffening element i n the at least one side wall extending across only a front portion of the side wall between the fold and the front wall.A pocket according to clai m 24, wherein both sides walls each include a fold that extends from a top edge of the side wall towards the bottom of the side wall to form an expansion bel lows, the stiffening element i n each si de wal I extending across only a front portion of the side wall between the fold and the front wal I. A pocket according to any one of claims 1 to 22, comprising two side wall stiffening elements i n at least one of the side walls, one i n a front portion of the si de wall and one i n a rear portion of the side wal I, the two stiffening elements i n each side wal I being separate from one another.A pocket according to clai m 26, wherein said at least one side wal Is having two stiffening elements i ncl udes a fold that extends from a top edge of the side wall towards -12 -the bottom of the side wal I to form an expansion bel lows, one of the stiffening elements i n the at least one si de wal I extending across only a front portion of the side wal I between the fold and the front wall and the other of the stiffening elements extending across only a rear portion of the side wall between the fol d and a back edge of the pocket 28. A pocket according to clai m 27, wherein both sides walls each include a fold that extends from a top edge of the side wall towards the bottom of the side wall to form an expansion bellows, one of the stiffening elements in each side wall extending across only a front portion of the side wal I between the fold and the front wal I and the other of the stiffening elements i n each side wal I extending across only a rear pord on of the si de wal I between the fold and a back edge of the pocket 29. A pocket according to any one of the preceding clai ms, wherein the or each side wal I stiffening element extends along a top edge of the side wall. 15 30. A pocket according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a flap closure.31. A garment comprising at least one pocket according to any one of the preceding clai ms.32. A jacket comprising at least one pocket according to any one of the preceding claims.33. A jacket according to claim 32, wherein the pocket is fixed to the outer shell of the jacket.34. A jacket according to claim 32 or claim 33, comprising at least two pockets according to any one of clai ms 1 to 30, with at least one of said pockets on a front left side of the jacket towards the bottom of the jacket and at I east one of said pockets on a front right side of the jacket towards the bottom of the jacket 35. A jacket according to any one of clai ms 32 to 34, wherein the jacket is a shooting jacket -13 -