US20070028349A1

US20070028349A1 - Travel garment

Info

Publication number: US20070028349A1
Application number: US11/497,609
Authority: US
Inventors: James Watson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-08-03
Filing date: 2006-08-02
Publication date: 2007-02-08

Abstract

A travel garment includes a body portion, a waistband, a first leg member, a second leg member and at least one pocket. The waistband is connected to the body portion. The waistband is sized to be positioned about an individual. The first leg member is connected to the body portion and has a proximal end, a distal end and an outer surface. The second leg member is connected to the body portion and has a proximal end, a distal end and an outer surface. The at least one pocket is removably connected on the outer surface of at least one leg member. The at least one pocket has an access opening such that the access opening is selectively positioned relative to the waistband.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present patent application claims priority to the provisional patent application identified by U.S. Ser. No. 60/705,244, filed Aug. 3, 2005, entitled “Travel Garment”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a travel garment and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an improved travel garment containing at least one pocket for use by individuals for carrying and accessing various items while seated and traveling in a vehicle.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Many passengers of airplanes, trains, automobiles and other vehicles carry various items such as, a personal digital assistant (pda), a wallet, a pen, a pair of glasses, a cell phone, a camera, or other such items in a pocket on their trousers while traveling. Usually an individual utilizes the front or back pockets for storing such items. While normal pant pockets function well in storing such items while standing, accessing such items is quite difficult when seated in a vehicle, such as an airplane, due to confined space and armrests.
To this end, although travel garments having pockets are available, further improvements are desirable to enhance the ease of accessibility and storage of such items when an individual is seated. It is to such a travel garment that the present invention is directed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a travel garment having at least one pocket constructed in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a fragmental pictorial representation of a seated person wearing the travel garment of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of at least one pocket of the travel garment of FIG. 1 in an open condition.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the at least one pocket removed from the travel garment of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, shown therein is a travel garment 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention supported about the lower portion 12 and legs 14 of an individual 16. The travel garment 10 may be configured and constructed to fit individuals of various sizes. Overall dimensions of the travel garment 10 can vary widely and will generally be dependent upon the size of the person wearing the travel garment 10. For example, if the person wearing the travel garment 10 is an adult, the size of the travel garment 10 may be larger than if the travel garment 10 is worn by a teenager or a child.
The travel garment 10 is shown as a typical pair of trousers having a basic fabric structure preferably constructed from a washable material. Although trousers are shown as the preferred embodiment, it should be understood that the travel garment 10 may be shorts, a skirt, other types of pants (e.g. dress slacks, sweat pants, jeans, form-fitting pants, loose-fitting pants, pants having detachable leg portions, or the like) or any other such garment used for covering the lower portion or legs of an individual. Further, it should be understood that the fabric material utilized for the travel garment 10 may be woven, non-woven, or flexible plastic film materials such as vinyl. The travel garment 10 may also be constructed in any of a variety of colors.
The travel garment 10 is provided with a waistband 18, a body portion 19, a first leg member 20, a second leg member 22, a crotch area 24, a fly 26, and conventional hand pockets 28 and 30. The waistband 18 may be elastic or non-elastic. The first leg member 20 is constructed by a front panel 32 and a back panel (not shown). The front panel 32 and the back panel extend from the waistband 18 to an ankle end 36 of the first leg member 20. The front panel 32 and the back panel are joined along their side edges at an inseam 40 extending from the ankle end 36 to the crotch area 24 and an outer seam 42 extending from the ankle end 36 upwardly to the waistband 18. The second leg member 22 is constructed by a front panel 44 and a back panel (not shown). The front panel 44 and the back panel extend from the waistband 18 to an ankle end 48 of the second leg member 22. The front panel 44 and the back panel are joined along their side edges at an inseam 50 extending from the ankle end 48 to the crotch area 24 and an outer seam 52 extending from the ankle end 48 upwardly to the waistband 18. The travel garment 10 has an exterior surface 54 and an interior surface 56.
Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the first and second leg members 20 and 22, respectively, are shown provided with at least one pocket 60, respectively, positioned between the waistband 18 and the ankle ends 36 and 48, respectively. However, it should be understood that at least one pocket 60 may be positioned only on one of the body portion 19, the first leg member 20, and the second leg member 22. Also, although only one pocket is shown on the first leg member 20 and the second leg member 22, multiple pockets may be utilized for various uses. In addition, the at least one pocket 60 may vary in size dependent upon objects stored therein. For example, one pocket may be utilized for larger items like a camera, wallet, pda, or cell phone; separate pocket for pen/pencil with an elastic strip; and a deep pocket for glasses.
The at least one pocket 60 has a generally square shape and is preferably made from a heavy-duty cotton. However, it should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the pocket may be constructed in various shapes such as, rectangular, circular, triangular, trapezoidal, or the like. Further, it should be understood that the at least one pocket 60 may be constructed of any variety of materials such as woven and non-woven material, plastic material, or the like. Additionally, although may be positioned in various orientations on the first or second leg members 20 and 22 of the travel garment, such as straight, angled, or the like.
The at least one pocket 60 has a sidewall 62, an access opening 64, and a closed lower end 66. The sidewall 62 is characterized as having an outer surface 68 and an inner surface 70 and includes a first side 72 and a second side 74. The at least one pocket 60 is shown in an open condition (FIGS. 1 3, and 4) and a closed condition (FIG. 2). In the open condition, an item such as a personal digital assistant (pda), a wallet, a pen, a pair of glasses, a cell phone, a camera, or the like may be disposed in an object receiving space 76 of the at least one pocket. The object receiving space 76 is surrounded by the inner surface 70 of the sidewall 62 and is accessible through the access opening 64 of the at least one pocket 60. The at least one pocket 60 is positioned so as to permit easy access to the contents of the at least one pocket 60. For example, the pocket 60 is shown in FIG. 3 having a pen 78 therein for permitting easy access to the pen 78. The orientation of the access opening 64 is substantially perpendicular to the waistband 18. In the open condition, the at least one pocket 60 may be straight, tapered, or may assume various shapes and configurations, such as cylindrical, frusto-conical, coniform, and combinations thereof, so long as the at least one pocket 60 functions in accordance with the present invention in the manner described herein. The at least one pocket 60 may be provided with multiple access openings. For example, access openings may be positioned to be used both when the individual is standing and sitting.
The at least one pocket 60 may be provided with various shaped corners such as round, square, or the like. The rounded corners may be provided on pockets for smaller items, such as change (money) so as to prevent the change from being buried in the at least one pocket 60.
A closure member 80-is positioned about the access opening 64 of the at least one pocket 60 to permit the at least one pocket to be selectively opened and closed. The closure member 80 is shown to be a hook and loop type closure, however, the closure member 80 may also be a button, a snap, a zipper, adhesive, ties, a combination thereof, or the like.
The at least one pocket 60 may be removably connected to the travel garment 10. Although the at least one pocket 60 is shown removably connected to the travel garment 10 by hook and loop material 82, it should be understood that a zipper, a button, a snap, combinations thereof, or the like may be used to removably connect the at least one pocket 60 to the travel garment 10. The at least one pocket 60 may also be permanently connected to the travel garment 10 with glue, thread, or the like. The at least one pocket 60 may be removably connected or permanently connected so that a longitudinal axis of the at least one pocket 60, defined by the access opening 64 and the closed lower end 66 of the at least one pocket 60, is perpendicular with the vertical axis of the first leg member 20 and/or the second leg member 22. The at least one pocket 60 may be connected to one of the body portion 19, the first leg member 20 and the second leg member 22.
One use of the at least one pocket 60 being removably connected to the travel garment 10 is that the pocket 60 may be removed from the travel garment 10 when the individual is going through a security check at the airport. The individual can place all metal items in the at least one pocket 60 and remove the entire pocket 60 from the travel garment 10 for inspection with the entire content of items intact without having to remove the metal items from the at least one pocket 60.
From the above description, it is clear that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and to attain the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the invention. While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the spirit of the invention disclosed.

Claims

1. A travel garment, comprising:

a body portion having an outer surface;

a waistband connected to the body portion, the waistband sized to be positionable about an individual;

a first leg member connected to the body portion, the first leg member having a proximal end, a distal end and an outer surface;

a second leg member connected to the body portion, the second leg member having a proximal end, a distal end and an outer surface; and

at least one pocket connected on the outer surface of at least one leg member, the at least one pocket having an access opening such that the access opening is selectively positioned relative to the waistband.

2. The travel garment of claim 1 wherein the orientation of the access opening is substantially perpendicular to the waistband.

3. The travel garment of claim 1 wherein the at least one pocket is connected to the outer surface of the body-portion.

4. The travel garment of claim 1 wherein the at least one pocket has a plurality of access openings.

5. The travel garment of claim 1 wherein the at least one pocket is provided with rounded corners.

6. The travel garment of claim 1 wherein a closure member is positioned about the access opening of the at least one pocket to permit the at least one pocket to be selectively opened and closed.

7. The travel garment of claim 6 wherein the closure member is selected from the group consisting of hook and loop material , buttons, snaps, zippers, adhesives, ties, and/or combinations thereof.

8. A travel garment, comprising:

a body portion;

a first leg member connected to the body portion, the first leg member having a proximal end, a distal end and -an outer surface;

at least one pocket detachably connected on the outer surface of at least one leg member, the at least one pocket having an access opening such that the access opening is selectively positioned relative to the waistband.

9. The travel garment of claim 8 wherein the orientation of the access opening is substantially perpendicular to the waistband.

10. The travel garment of claim 8 wherein the at least one pocket is connected to the outer surface of the body portion.

11. The travel garment of claim 8 wherein the at least one pocket has a plurality of access openings.

12. The travel garment of claim 8 wherein the at least one pocket is provided with rounded corners.

13. The travel garment of claim 8 wherein a closure member is positioned about the access opening of the at least one pocket to permit the at least one pocket to be selectively opened and closed.

14. The travel garment of claim 13 wherein the closure member is selected from the group consisting of hook and loop material , buttons, snaps, zippers, adhesives, ties, and/or combinations thereof.