US20210251320A1

US20210251320A1 - Wearable article with a watertight inner pocket

Info

Publication number: US20210251320A1
Application number: US17/251,827
Authority: US
Inventors: Alexander FERNANDEZ-FREITAS; Ahmet-Selcuk Bakan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Bfs Waterproof Patent Ug
Priority date: 2018-06-20
Filing date: 2019-06-14
Publication date: 2021-08-19
Also published as: DE102018114806A1; WO2019243205A1; EP3809899A1; AU2019289611A1; CA3102213A1

Abstract

A wearable article having at least one water-tight inner pocket made of at least one water-tight material and which can be closed by a water-tight closure. Securing elements attach the water-tight inner pocket to wearable material of the wearable article. An outer surface of the water-tight inner pocket faces inside the wearable article and is at least partially received in an inner material layer.

Description

The present invention relates to a wearable article and in particular a wearable article with a watertight inner pocket.
Wearable articles, such as pieces of clothing or backpacks, are known from the prior art in a variety of variations. For many specific applications, pieces of clothing or backpacks are required which are specifically designed for the application. For example, it is advantageous to provide watertight clothing for the practice of sports involving water or snow. Even for non-sporting activities, storage of non-watertight valuables in watertight clothing is of advantage.
However, in most cases it is necessary that the entire piece of clothing or the entire backpack is watertight; rather, it is sufficient if parts of the clothing, such as an inner pocket, are configured to be watertight.
Watertight pockets are known from the prior art, but they are often bulky and uncomfortable, in particular when in contact with the skin. Watertight outer pockets, which are arranged on the outside of a piece of clothing, for example, are not visually appealing and are subject to constant wear.
Based on this prior art, it is an object of the present invention to at least partially eliminate the disadvantages known from the prior art.
The object is achieved by a wearable article with a watertight inner pocket according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the article are subject of the respective subclaims.
The wearable article according to the invention consists of a textile or non-textile material or combinations thereof and comprises at least one watertight inner pocket.
The inner pocket can be made of at least one watertight material and can be closed in a water- and dirttight manner by means of a watertight closure.
On the surface of the closure situated on the outside with respect to the inner pocket, securing means are arranged by means of which the watertight inner pocket is arranged on the wearable article.
The outer surface of the watertight inner pocket is at least partially received in a material layer.
The wearable article may be made of any watertight or non-watertight material; combinations of different materials are also possible and are within the meaning of the present invention.
Furthermore, the wearable article has at least one watertight inner pocket, which can be arranged at any place on the article but preferably at the usual places provided for inner pockets. According to the invention, one, a plurality or even all of the inner pockets can be watertight; however, in the case of pieces of clothing, it is preferred that no more than four inner pockets are configured to be watertight in order to increase the wearing comfort.
The inner pocket can be small and configured to hold only credit-card-sized objects, such as a key, or it can be at least large enough to hold a cell phone. The shape of the inner pocket is arbitrary.
Any material which is watertight is suitable as watertight material for the inner pocket; however, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the material of the inner pocket is selected from a group comprising thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyamides (PA), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene, polystyrene cellulose acetate, elastollan and combinations thereof.
The material of the inner pocket has, according to another embodiment, at least one material that is selected from a group that includes acrylonitrile butadiene acrylate, acrylonitrile butadiene acrylate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene/polyvinyl chloride, blend of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and polyurethane, acrylonitrile chlorinated polyethylene styrene, acrylonitrile ethylene-propylene-diene styrene, acrylate maleic anhydride terpolymer, acrylonitrile methyl methacrylate, amorphous polyolefin, acrylonitrile styrene, acrylonitrile styrene acrylate, blend of acrylonitrile styrene acrylate and polycarbonate, bulk molding compound, bismaleimide, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose acetate propionate, cresol formaldehyde, carboxylmethyl cellulose, cellulose nitrate (celluloid), cyclo olefin copolymer, copolyester thermoplastic elastomer, cellulose propionate, chlorinated polyethylene, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, casein formaldehyde, cellulose triacetate, chlorotrifluoroethylene, diallyl phthalate (thermoset), ethylene butyl acetate, ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene, ethylene ethyl acrylate, ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer, ethylene methacrylic acid, ethylene propylene, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, ethylene acrylic acid copolymer, ethyl cellulose, ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer, ethylene n-butyl acetate, ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber, ethylene propylene copolymer rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, expandable polystyrene, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl alcohol, fluorinated ethylene propylene, furan formaldehyde, fiber-reinforced plastic, general purpose polystyrene, high-density polyethylene, high-impact polystyrene, high-strength molding compound, high-molecular weight high-density polyethylene, ionomer, interpenetrating polymer network, liquid crystal polymer, low-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, linear polyethylene, maleic anhydride, methylmethacrylate acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, methacrylate butadiene styrene, methyl cellulose, medium-density polyethylene, melamine formaldehyde, melamine phenolic, melamine phenol-formaldehyde, nitrile butadiene rubber, olefin modified styrene acrylonitrile, phenolic, polyamide (nylon), polyamide/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyamide 11, polyamide 12, polyamide 46, polyamide 6, polyamide 6/ethylene vinyl alcohol, polyamide 6/polyamide 12, polyamide 6/polyamide 66, polyamide 6/polyamide 69, polyamide 6/polyamide 6t, polyamide 610, polyamide 612, polytrimethylene hexamethylene terephthalamide, polyamide 66, polyamide 66/polyamide 6, polyamide 66/polyamide 610, polyamide 68, poly-xylylene adipamide, blend of polyamide and polyphenylene ether, polyarylamide, polyacetic acid, polyacryletherketone, polyaryletherketone, polyamide-imide, polyester alkyd, polyanaline, polyacrylonitrile, polyarylate, polyaryl amide, polyarylsulfone, polyarylsulfone, polybutylene, polybutylacrylate, polybutadiene acrylonitrile, polybutadine, polybenzimidazole, polybutylene napthalate, polybutadiene styrene, polybutylene terephthalate, blend of polybutylene terephthalate and acrylonitrile styrene Acrylate, blend of polybutylene terephthalate and polycarbonate, polycarbonate, polycarbonate/polybutylene terephthalate, polycarbonate/polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene blend, polycaprolactone, polycyclohexylene terephthalate. Furthermore, thermoplastic material is of advantage which is selected from a group advantageously comprising acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyamides (PA), polylactate (PLA), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), TPA, TPC, TPO, TPS, TPU, TPV, TPZ and the like.
It is an advantage that such a material is very flexible, stretchable, very robust and can be welded relatively easily by heat and pressure. Ideally, the joint is airtight and watertight and extremely strong. Furthermore, the joint is preferably very thin, easy to process despite its robustness, has a high tensile strength, repels dust and dirt particles and is windproof and/or watertight.
Advantageous possibilities for closing the pocket are the use of hot-melt adhesive, bonding agent, glass fiber reinforced materials, chalk filled polyolefins, fluoropolymers, stitching, welding, vulcanizing, galvanizing.
Attaching the pocket is advantageously carried out during the manufacturing process of the pocket, wherein next to the zipper flaps are created which are made of excess material and which are used to attach the respective pocket to a wearable article. Even without the flaps, the bag can be attached directly to the wearable article. This can be done, e.g., by gluing, welding and much more.
Advantages of the zipper are weather resistance, suitability for fresh and salt water applications, oil and gasoline resistance, hydrolysis resistance and resistance to humidity, water, air and dirt.
The click closure can theoretically be explained as follows: For a better use, the zipper is equipped with a safety mechanism that automatically locks into place when the pocket (the zipper) is completely closed. To reopen the pocket, an active action of the user is required to release this safety mechanism.
It is particularly advantageous if the watertight inner pocket is at least partially permeable to air, and in particular if it is a membrane, because this allows the skin in contact with the inner pocket to breathe and prevents, among other things, the formation of a bad smell inside the inner pocket in a humid environment. Such membranes, which allow air to pass through to the outside but do not allow water to pass through from the outside to the inside, could be made of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) which has micropores, or could also be made of perfluoroalkoxyl alkane material.
The inside of the watertight inner pocket can be made of any material, in particular, according to another exemplary embodiment, it can be made of a non-watertight material or fabric, such as mesh fabric, woven fabric, warp-knitted fabric, knitted fabric or similar.
According to another advantageous embodiment, the inside of the watertight inner pocket is made of a water-repellent material or fabric.
The combination of watertight material as the outer layer of the inner pocket and non-watertight material as the inner layer of the inner pocket results in a reduction of the weight of the inner pocket and thus of the entire wearable article since thermoplastic polyurethanes, for example, are heavier compared to conventional non-watertight materials. Thus, the result is a wearable article that is lighter to wear and the wearing comfort of which is significantly improved.
If, on the other hand, the inside of the inner pocket is water-repellent, the feeling when inserting a wet hand is more pleasant and adhesion of the fabric to the skin is minimized. This makes it easier to remove valuables from the inner pocket with wet or damp hands.
In order to configure the inner pocket in a watertight manner, not only a waterproof material is required but also a watertight closure. It is particularly advantageous if the closure type can be opened easily with one hand and shows low wear and tear when in contact with water, in particular salt water.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the wearable article, a watertight zipper is chosen as closure, but it can also be a hook and loop fastener, sealing, flip hook and loop fastener, magnetic closure, zip closure, screw closure, click closure, snap closure, clamp closure or a combination thereof.
The advantage of using a zipper as a closure type is that in contrast to some other closure types, such as a magnetic closure, it shows lower wear and tear when in constant contact with water, and in particular salt water. Furthermore, opening a zipper with one hand is easier than with other types of closure, such as a clamp closure.
The closure can be connected to the inner pocket by stitching, gluing, welding or the like, the main aim being a watertight connection.
In order to attach the watertight inner pocket to the wearable article, it has securing means with regard to the outside of the closure. These can be, for example, flaps that have a dual function: as securing means to secure the inner pocket to the wearable article, and as a further sealing element to cover the closure again and protect it from water penetration and wear.
It is particularly advantageous if the securing means are made of the same watertight material as the inner pocket or are made of a different but at least water-repellent material.
According to the invention, the securing means of the watertight inner pocket are stitched, glued or welded to the wearable article or connected thereto by a combination thereof. However, the inner pocket can also be connected to the wearable article at other places by means of one of the above-mentioned types of connection in order to ensure a special stability of the inner pocket in the wearable element.
By further attaching the inner pocket to the wearable item—not only to the securing means, but also to other points—the impact of force on the securing means is minimized and the lifespan of the pocket is maximized.
In particular, it can be advantageous, and is also within the meaning of an embodiment of the present invention, that the watertight inner pocket is detachably connected to the wearable article.
Thus, it would be possible to attach the watertight inner pocket to the wearable article only when needed. If, for example, a watertight inner pocket is not needed when using the wearable article, the pocket can then be easily removed and used, for example, as an independent watertight storage method.
This is further advantageous in that the watertight inner pockets can be exchanged and replaced when purchasing and using various wearable articles according the invention.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the detachable attachment of the inner pocket to the wearable article can be detachably connected to the wearable article by means of at least one zipper or at least one hook and loop fastener.
This type of detachable connection is very advantageous as it allows the inner pocket to be detached from the wearable article quickly and easily if necessary, while at the same time guaranteeing a firm and stable attachment, which is particularly advantageous during sports activities. However, other alternative possibilities of detachably connecting the inner pocket to the wearable article are also within the meaning of the present invention.
According to an embodiment according to the invention of the present invention, the wearable article also has a material layer which at least partially accommodates the watertight inner pocket.
If, for example, the wearable article is a piece of clothing, the use of a material layer between the outer surface of the inner pocket and, in this case, the skin of the wearer, is advantageous as this further increases the wearing comfort. Watertight Materials, as used for the inner pocket, have an unpleasant structure that is often perceived as scratchy; this scratchy feeling is minimized by the arrangement according to the invention of the material layer in the wearable article.
Furthermore, by using a material layer which at least partially receives the inner pocket, increased stability of the inner pocket is ensured. If the wearable article is a piece of clothing, the arrangement of the material layer according to the invention minimizes loose swinging or oscillating of the inner pocket; if, however, the wearable article is a backpack, the additional stability makes it easier to remove items from the inner pocket.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the material layer is secured to the inner pocket by at least one connection point in order ensure this stability. However, it is also advantageous to provide a multi-point attachment, for example at the corners of the inner pocket.
In this regard, the material layer can be connected only to the inner pocket or directly to the wearable article by further connection points. This prevents unwanted entangling or reveling of the inner pocket inside the wearable article. According to another embodiment according to the invention, the inner pocket is therefore supported and/or delimited by the material layer.
The surface area of the material layer can be larger than the surface area of the inner pocket, so that it is substantially completely received by the material layer. The shape of the material layer is arbitrary and can either match the shape of the inner pocket or be different. For example, if the wearable article is a pair of swimming trunks, the material layer can also be an inner slip.
In order to provide further stability to the arrangement of the inner pocket and the material layer, the material layer can be formed in one piece with the watertight inner pocket and form the outermost layer of the inner pocket.
This embodiment ensures a comfortable contact of the inner pocket with the skin of the wearer. If, in addition to this, the inner pocket is detachably connected to the wearable article, the visual perception of the inner pocket through the outer material layer is also more appealing.
An alternative that can be used in addition to or instead of the shaping of the material layer in one piece with the inner pocket is the flocking of the outside of the watertight inner pocket, which further improves the wearing comfort and the feeling of the inner pocket on the skin.
The material layer therefore plays an essential role in the overall arrangement of the inner pocket on the wearable article. The material layer ensures an increased wearing comfort which enables a more stable attachment of the inner pocket to the wearable article.
In order to further facilitate the removal and insertion of items into the inner pocket and in particular to facilitate opening and closing of the closure it is provided according to another embodiment that a holding device, which serves as an opposite holding point when using the closure, is arranged at least at one end of the closure of the watertight inner pocket.
Various alternatives are suitable as holding devices: For example, the holding device could be a counterweight which is connected to the inner pocket and additionally stabilizes the closure when opening the closure.
For example, if the closure is a zipper, it is advantageous if the holding device is attached to the lower tape of the zipper so that when using the zipper slider, the tension of the tape of the zipper is maintained and using the slider can be facilitated. The lower tape of a zipper is referred to as the portion in the region of which the slider is located when the zipper is open.
The holding device can also be configured as a reinforcement of the individual tape sizes, which further stabilizes the zipper.
According to another exemplary embodiment, another smaller inner pocket can be arranged on the inside of the watertight inner pocket. The smaller inner pocket can be closable and/or watertight.
The wearable article can be, for example, a piece of clothing and can be, in particular, pants or swimming trunks, bikinis and swimsuits for women, wetsuits, jackets, sweaters, T-shirts, mountain clothes or similar.
However, the wearable article can also be a backpack, handbag, shoulder bag, fanny pack, side pocket, sports bag, purse or similar.

Further aspects of the invention arise from the following detailed description of a possible embodiment of the invention in connection with the drawing and the claims. It is to be noted that this example also comprises modifications or additions as they are directly obvious for the person skilled in the art. Furthermore, the preferred exemplary embodiments do not constitute a limitation of the invention so that modifications and additions are also within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a wearable article according to the invention with a watertight inner pocket;

FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of an exemplary embodiment according to the invention of the watertight inner pocket from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows another exemplary embodiment according to the invention of the watertight inner pocket, in particular with respect to the arrangement of the material layer;

FIG. 4 shows another exemplary embodiment according to the invention of the wearable article;

FIG. 5 shows another exemplary embodiment according the invention of the wearable article;

FIG. 6 shows another exemplary embodiment according to the invention of the wearable article.

In the exemplary embodiment of the wearable article 10 in FIG. 1, the wearable article is a pair of short swimming trunks 10 with two laterally arranged watertight inner pockets 20, wherein in FIG. 1 the inner pocket 20 is only shown on the right side of the wearable article, seen from the front.
In FIG. 1, the watertight inner pocket 20 is rectangular in shape, but it can have any shape, such as square, round, oval, trapezoid or similar.
The watertight inner bag 20 in the present exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is made of a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and does not have any flocking.
As can be seen in FIG. 1, the outer surface of the watertight inner pocket 20, thus the outward-facing surface inside the wearable article, is received by a material layer 50. In the case of the present exemplary swimming trunks 10, the material layer 50 is arranged between the inner pocket 20 and the leg of a wearer, so that the skin of the wearer comes into contact with the material layer 50 and not with the watertight material of the inner pocket 20, thus improving the wearing comfort.
The material layer 50 in FIG. 1 has a larger surface area than the inner pocket 20 and, in contrast to the rectangular inner pocket 20, is oval in shape.
In this exemplary embodiment, the material layer 50 is attached to the inner pocket 20 at four different connection points 52 a, 52 b, 52 c, 52 d, so that the inner pocket 20 is delimited and supported by the material layer 50. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the connection points 52 c and 52 d of the material layer 50 are connected at the corners of the inner pocket 20 to give the inner pocket 20 a certain degree of robustness. In this exemplary embodiment, the material layer is connected at the connection points 52 a and 52 b to the inner pocket as well as to the wearable article.
Attaching the material layer 50 to the inside pocket 20 can be carried out using conventional attachment methods, the connection in this example being a stitched connection.
In FIG. 2, a more detailed view of an inner pocket 20 according to the invention is shown.
As in FIG. 1, the inner pocket 20 has a rectangular shape. The inner pocket 20 has an edge 40 at its circumference to which the material layer 50 from FIG. 1 can be connected.
A watertight zipper 30 is arranged on one of the sides of the inner pocket 20. The zipper 30 has been stitched to the inner pocket 20 by means of a seam 33 to make it closable and completely watertight. Instead of stitching the zipper to the inner pocket 20, it can also be welded, glued or similar. The connection of the inner pocket 20 with the zipper 30 is done at the lateral tapes (not shown) of the zipper 30.
Furthermore, the zipper 30 has a slider 34, which has a slider handle 35 to facilitate the use thereof. To ensure easy operation even with gloves, the slider handle 35 can be equipped with a larger loop (not shown).
On the sides of the zipper 30 and above the side tapes thereof, there are two lateral securing means 32 a, 32 b, which at least partially cover the zipper 30. The securing means in this example are flaps 32 a, 32 b, which serve both as means for attaching the entire inner pocket 20 to the wearable article and also as further water protection for protecting the zipper 30 against water. The flaps 32 a, 32 b are preferably made of the same material as the inner pocket 20, or at least of a similar watertight material. The flaps 32 a, 32 b can be stitched, glued, welded to the wearable article or connected thereto by a combination thereof.
In FIG. 3, another embodiment of a wearable article 10 according to the invention is shown. This relates again to a pair of swimming trunks 10 which has at least one watertight inner pocket 20. In this exemplary embodiment, the material layer 50 has the same square shape as the inner pocket 20 but is connected to the inner pocket 20 only at the connection points 52 a, 52 b. However, the connection points 52 c-d are directly connected to the wearable article.
FIG. 4 shows the same embodiment according to the invention as FIG. 3, with a holding device 60 being attached to the lower tape end of the zipper.
In FIG. 5, another embodiment of the wearable article similar to the one in FIG. 4 is shown, with the watertight inner pocket 20 being vertically attached to one side of the swimming trunks 10. In particular in this embodiment, the holding device 60 is important for making opening of the closure easier.
In such an embodiment, the material layer 50 prevents the leg pieces from sliding upwards and the inner pocket 20 from loosely facing outwards.
FIG. 6 shows another embodiment according to the invention of the wearable article. In this example too, the wearable article is a pair of swimming trunks 10, in which, however, an inner slip is arranged, as is often the case with swimming trunks. In this embodiment, this inner slip serves at the same time as a material layer 50, so that the inner pocket 20 is connected to the material layer 50 or to the inner slip, at the connection points 52 a-d and is received by the inner slip.

REFERENCE LIST

10 wearable article
20 watertight inner pocket
25 outer surface of watertight pocket
30 watertight zipper
32 a, b securing means
33 seam
34 slider
35 slider handle
50 material layer
40 edge
52 a, b, c, d connection points
60 holding device

Claims

1. A wearable article comprising wearable material, an inner material layer, and at least one water-tight inner pocket,

wherein the inner pocket is formed of at least one water-tight material and can be closed in a water-tight and dirt-resistant manner by a water-tight closure;

wherein, on the surface of the closure situated on the outside with respect to the inner pocket, securing elements arrange the water-tight inner pocket on the wearable material of the wearable article; and

wherein an outer surface of the water-tight inner pocket faces inside the wearable article and is at least partially received in the inner a material layer.

2. The wearable article according to claim 1, wherein the inner pocket is at least one of stitched, glued, and/or welded to the wearable article.

3. The wearable article according to claim 1, wherein the water-tight inner pocket is detachably connected to the wearable article.

4. The wearable article according to claim 3, wherein the water-tight inner pocket is detachably connected to the wearable article by at least one zipper or by at least one hook and loop fastener.

5. The wearable article according to claim 1, wherein the material of the inner pocket is selected from a group comprising thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyamides (PA), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene, polystyrene cellulose acetate, Elastollan and combinations thereof.

6. The wearable article according to claim 1, wherein the water-tight inner pocket is at least partially permeable to air.

7. The wearable article according to claim 1, wherein the inside of the water-tight inner pocket is formed from a non-water-tight material.

8. The wearable article according to claim 1, wherein the inside of the water-tight inner pocket is formed from a water-repellent material.

9. The wearable article according to claim 1, wherein the water-tight closure is a zipper.

10. The wearable article according to claim 1, wherein the water-tight closure is a hook and loop fastener, a sealing, a flip hook and loop fastener, a magnetic closure, a zip closure, a screw closure, a click closure, a snap closure, a clamp closure or a combination thereof.

11. The wearable article according to claim 1, wherein the inner material layer is attached to the inner pocket by at least one connection point.

12. The wearable article according to claim 1, wherein the inner material layer supports and/or delimits the water-tight inner pocket.

13. The wearable article according to claim 1, wherein the inner material layer is formed in one piece with the water-tight inner pocket and forms the outermost layer of the inner pocket to come in contact with skin of a wearer.

14. The wearable article according to claim 1, wherein at least at one end of the closure of the water-tight inner pocket, a holding device is arranged which serves as an opposite holding point for operating the closure.

15. The wearable article according to claim 1, wherein a further smaller inner pocket is arranged on the inside of the water-tight inner pocket.

16. The wearable article according to claim 1, wherein the outside of the water-tight inner pocket is flocked with a further material to increase the wearing comfort.

17. The wearable article according to claim 1, wherein the wearable article is a pair of pants or a pair of swimming trunks, a bikini, a swimsuit, a wetsuit, a jacket, a sweater, or a T-shirt.

18. The wearable article according to claim 1, wherein the wearable article is a backpack, a handbag, a shoulder bag, a fanny pack, a side bag, a sports bag, a purse, or a toiletry bag.

19. The wearable article according to claim 12, wherein the inner material has a surface area that is larger than a surface area of the water-tight inner pocket and comes in contact with skin of a wearer.