WO2006027766A2

WO2006027766A2 - Device and method for supporting weight in a breast pocket of a garment

Info

Publication number: WO2006027766A2
Application number: PCT/IL2004/000828
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shay David Zohar; Elena Brusilovski; Elisha Avraham Tal; Ester Efroni; Oded Sapir; Shlomo Moran; Raz Moheban; Mordechay Kimchi; David Anolik
Original assignee: Bagir Co 1961 Ltd
Current assignee: Bagir Co 1961 Ltd
Priority date: 2004-09-09
Filing date: 2004-09-09
Publication date: 2006-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 2007-03-09
Also published as: JP2008512578A; GB0705770D0; GB2432777A; WO2006027766A3

Abstract

A device and method for using straps sewn into a garment to support the weight of an object held in a pocket such as a breast pocket of a garment so that the garment is not deformed when worn on a body. A carrying case may be used to hold the object in a pocket of a garment so that the carrying case may be securely held and easily detached from a breast pocket.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SUPPORTING WEIGHT IN A BREAST

POCKET OF A GARMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Men's outerware such as for example shirts, suits, jackets, coats and other garments may include a pocket situated for example, on the front, and generally contiguous to the chest of a wearer. This pocket, which may be a breast pocket, may typically be sufficiently large to securely hold for example a wallet, pen, keys, personal digital assistant, cellular phone or other device that may be carried on the person of a wearer. The placement of such relatively large and heavy items in a breast pocket, while convenient and secure, may create unsightly bulges and sags in a shirt, jacket, coat or other garment worn on a body.

Upon removing or storing a jacket, coat or other garment, a wearer may typically reach into the breast pocket of such garment to take out personal items such as a wallet, phone, keys, passport or credit cards. Usually the wearer will restore these items in a pants pocket or other case before storing the garment. Such restoring is inconvenient, clumsy and time consuming, and reduces the desirability of using a breast pocket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objects of the invention describe a device including a strap attached to a breast pocket of a garment, such strap extending upwards to a shoulder of such garment.

Objects of the invention also describe a device with a first fastener attached to an inside of a garment proximate to a breast pocket of such garment, and a carrying case having a second fastener for removably attaching such carrying case to the first fastener.

Further objects of the invention describe storing a carrying case in a breast pocket of a garment; and detachably linking a first side of a fastener attached to such carrying case to a second side of such fastener attached to such garment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Figs. 1A and 1 B depict a garment with a breast pocket support in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a flow chart of a method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 depicts a garment with an attachable carrying case stored in a pocket in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 depicts an attachable carrying case that may be stored in a pocket in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a drawing of two carrying cases attached together and held by a strap in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a flow chart of a method of storing a carrying case in a garment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following description, various aspects of the present invention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details presented herein. Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the present invention. Various examples are given throughout this description. These are merely descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is not limited to the examples given.

Reference is made to Figs.1 A and 1B, drawings of a garment with a pocket support in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Strap 100 may be attached to pocket 102, for example a breast pocket (pocket 102 may be other types of pockets), of garment 104. Strap 100 may extend upwards to a shoulder 106 of garment 104 and may be attached to a seam or other portion of fabric on or near shoulder 106 of garment 104. In some embodiments, strap 100 may support breast pocket 102 to minimize or avoid sagging or deforming of garment 104 when objects such as for example heavy objects are stored inside breast pocket 102.

In some embodiments, strap 100 may be sewn or otherwise attached to one or more points on a lining or seam of breast pocket 102. For example strap 100 may be sewn, glued or woven into an upper part of breast pocket 102 or to a lower part of half 103 of breast pocket 102 and/or an upper part of breast pocket 102. In some embodiments strap 100 may wrap around a ventral and dorsal side of breast pocket 102 so that both sides of the pocket are supported. Strap 100 may be held in place by for example loops 105 along the front or back of garment 104 and through which straps may pass, to, for example, keep strap 100 from moving around inside garment 104. In some embodiments, strap 100 may be woven or otherwise included as part of a lining 112 of garment 104.

In some embodiments strap 100 may be made of or include cloth such as for example a swatch of lining, collar lining or other cloth. In some embodiments strap 100 may be a filament or thread, string or polymer ribbon. Other fabrics or materials may be used or included in strap 100.

In some embodiments, strap 100 may be situated between a lining 112 of garment 104 and an outer shell 107 of garment 104 so that strap 100 is not visible from inside or from outside of the garment 104. In some embodiments strap 100 may be outside or partially outside of the lining 112 of garment 104. Other placements of strap 100 are possible.

Referring to Fig. 1 B, strap 100 may extend up towards shoulder 106 and over shoulder 106 towards a back portion of garment 104, and may be attached at a point along a back portion of garment 104. For example, in some embodiments, strap 100 may, after passing over a shoulder 106, be attached along a back or side seam 108 of garment 104. Other or additional points at which strap 100 may be attached to garment 104 are possible.

In some embodiments, a plurality of straps 100 may be attached to a breast pocket 102 and to various points on garment 104. For example, a first strap 100A may extend upwards toward shoulder 106, continue over shoulder 106 and be attached for example to a side seam 108 of garment 104. A second strap 100B may extend upwards toward shoulder 106, and laterally across a back of garment 104 and be attached for example to a seam or for example an area on the opposing shoulder 110. Other combinations of straps 100 and points on a garment 104 where such straps 100 may be attached are possible as may be desired to support a weight of an object in breast pocket 102 and to keep garment 104 from deforming as a result of such weight.

In some embodiments a lining 112 of garment 104 may be configured with additional fabric than would ordinarily be used in a jacket or coat to so that the sway of a weighted pocket 102 as it is supported by strap 100 does not pull on the lining 112 that is close to the body of the wearer. In some embodiments such extra lining 112 constructed into garment 104 may allow the pocket 102 to move relatively freely from the lining 112. Reference is made to Fig. 2, a flow chart of a method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In block 200 a wearer of a garment may store an object in a breast pocket of a garment. In block 202, a wearer of a garment may support the weight of the item stored in a breast pocket of the garment with for example one or more of a strap, string, ribbon or fabric that may be attached to one or more points on or around such breast pocket and to one or more other points on the garment. The strap may be attached to for example a seam or other portion of the shoulder part of the garment. In some embodiments the support provided by the strap may prevent a weighted object in a breast pocket from deforming the garment as it is worn on a body. In some embodiments a strap may extend over a shoulder area and be attached to a point for example on the back of the garment or elsewhere on the garment. In some embodiments the strap may also be held in place by for example loops attached to the garment located between the lining and the outer shell of the garment and through which the strap may pass and be loosely held so that the strap does not move around the inside of the garment as it is worn. In some embodiments more than one strap may be attached to a breast pocket. In some embodiments more than one of the breast pockets of a garment may be attached to for example a support strap. In an embodiment with two straps, one strap may extend over a shoulder portion of the garment and be attached for example to a point on a back portion of the garment, and another strap may extend laterally across a back of the neck portion of the garment and be attached to for example an opposing shoulder of said garment. Other numbers of support straps are possible and other number and points at which such straps may be attached to the inside of a garment are possible.

Reference is made to Fig. 3, a drawing of a garment with an attachable carrying case that may be stored in a pocket of a garment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments one or more fasteners such as clasps, fasteners or hooks 300 may be woven, sewn or otherwise attached to an upper lip of a breast pocket 102 or other portion of a garment contiguous or proximate to a breast pocket 102A. Other kinds of fasteners such as hook and loop connectors (e.g., Velcro™ connectors), snaps, zippers, button holes, etc. may be used. In some embodiments one or more hook(s) 300 may be sewn or otherwise attached through a lining of a garment 104 or through the garment itself to strap 100 that may for example extend upward towards a shoulder 106 of a garment 104, and may be attached for example to a seam on for example a back side of such garment 104 so that strap 100 extends over a shoulder of a wearer of garment. Strap 100 may also be supported as described elsewhere herein. Strap 100 may thereby support the weight of case 302 that may be hung from or otherwise attached to (e.g., snapped on to, attached by hook and loop connectors, etc) hooks 300. In some embodiments, a similar set of straps 100 and hooks 300 may be sewn or otherwise attached to the other breast pocket 102B so that each breast pocket 102 is fitted with a set of hooks 300. In some embodiments, strap 100 may be sewn between an inner lining and an outer shell of a garment so that strap 100 is not visible either from the inside or outside of the garment. Hooks 300 may have structures other than hooks, e.g., snaps, etc. Removable and attachable carrying case 302 may be constructed to fit into breast pocket 102. Case 302 may in some embodiments be a soft, flexible pouch that may be similar in appearance to an unfolded wallet. Case 302 may be made of fabric, leather, plastic or other suitable material. Case 302 may include one or more compartments 305, suitable for holding items such as bills, pens, credit cards, passports, cellular phone, PDA or other items, respectively, that may be typically worn or carried on a person or otherwise easily accessible to a person. Case 302 may be rectangular in shape or otherwise shaped to fit easily into a breast pocket 102. Case 302 may be foldable at for example a mid-point so that when removed from a breast pocket 102, it may be folded approximating the shape of a wallet.

At the top of case 302 may be fitted for example a female side of a fastener that fits hooks 300. In some embodiments such female side may be a snap, a clasp, a button hole, eye or loop 304. Other fasteners such as a zipper, Velcro, etc. may be used. In some embodiments carrying case 302 may be fitted with a male end of a fastener, and breast pocket 102 may be fitted with a female end of a fastener.

Reference is made to Fig. 4, a drawing of an attachable carrying case that may be stored in a pocket in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments loop 304 or a plurality of loops 304 may be sewn or otherwise attached directly to case 302. In some embodiments, loops 304 may be built into a shaft 306 that may be threaded through loops or through a hollow seam in one end of case 302. Shaft 306 may be constructed of metal, wood, hard plastic or other rigid or partially rigid material that may for example keep case 302 extended in a flat position inside of breast pocket 102.

In operation, personal items such as bills, cards, a phone, a pen, etc. may be inserted into the various compartments 305 of case 302. Case 302 may be inserted into breast pocket 102 such that loops 304 are hooked into or fitted into hooks 300, or such that a male and female fastener on case 302 and breast pocket 102, respectively, are joined together. Case 302 may be securely carried as so fastened into breast pocket 102. A user who wishes to remove case 302 from breast pocket 102, may unhook the fasteners such as for example loops 304 from hooks 300, and remove case 302 from pocket 102. In some embodiments, case 302 may be soft and flexible so that it may be folded like a wallet. In some embodiments one or more narrow sides of case 302 may have fasteners such as for example Velcro™ hook and loop strips that may hold the case 302 in a folded wallet-shape when it is removed from a pocket 102 and folded for example in half or in thirds. Case 302 may be folded into other shapes, and other fasteners may be used to keep it so folded.

Reference is made to Fig. 5, a drawing of two carrying cases attached together and held by a strap in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments a case 302A may be fitted into and carried in a first breast pocket 102A, and a second case 302B may be fitted into and carried in a second breast pocket 102B, such as for example a breast pocket on an opposing side of a garment. In some embodiments each of cases 302A and 302b may be fitted with a set of matching fasteners 308, such as for example, snaps, a zipper, or Velcro™ strips. Such fasteners 308 may be positioned for example so that when case 302A is pressed or otherwise connected to case 302B, such two cases may be held together by fasteners 308 to form a single unit. The joined cases 302A and 302B may be carried by hand, in a brief case or elsewhere when cases 302A and 302B are removed from a garment. The garment from which cases 302A and 302B may have been removed may then be stored without removing each individual item that was held in the breast pocket.

In some embodiments, one or more of cases 302a or 302b may be constructed with a foldable or retractable strap 310 that may be extended for example after case 302 is removed from a breast pocket 102. Ends of strap 310 may be attached to sides 312 of case 302, and strap 310 may be worn over a shoulder or around a neck of a user, such that case 302 or both of cases 302A and 302B when joined together as a single unit, may be worn over a shoulder or neck like a purse or handbag. Reference is made to Fig. 6, a flow chart of a method of removably attaching a carrying case to a pocket of a garment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In block 600 a carrying case may be stored in a breast pocket of a garment such that one or more fasteners attached to such case face or are contiguous to one or more fasteners attached to the garment in an area of such breast pocket. In block 602, the fasteners attached to the case may be linked, hooked or otherwise connected to the fasteners attached to the garment so that the case is detachably held by fasteners inside of a breast pocket of the garment. The case may be removed from a breast pocket by detaching the fasteners. In some embodiments, the case may be folded so that for example one end is brought into contact with another end and so that the case assumes a wallet shape. The folded case may be detachably held in a folded position by another set of fasteners at for example the ends of the case. In some embodiments a first case may be detachably joined to a second case by a set of fasteners on each of such cases to form a single unit that may be conveniently carried outside of a breast pocket of a garment.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that embodiments of the invention are not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of at least one embodiment of the invention is defined by the claims below.

Claims

CLAIMSWe claim:

1. A device comprising a strap attached to a breast pocket of a garment, said strap extending upwards to a shoulder of said garment.

2. The device as in claim 1, wherein said strap is situated between an inner lining and an outer shell of said garment.

3. The device as in claim 1 , wherein said strap is to support a weight of an object placed inside said breast pocket.

4. The device as in claim 1 , wherein said strap is attached to an upper half of said breast pocket.

5. The device as in claim 1 , wherein said strap is attached to said shoulder of said garment.

6. The device as in claim 1 , wherein said strap extends over said shoulder of said garment and is attached to a point on a back portion of said garment.

7. The device as in claim 1 , comprising at least two straps, one of which extends over said shoulder of said garment and is attached to a point on a back portion of said garment, and another of which extends laterally across a back of said garment and is attached to an opposing shoulder of said garment.

8. The device as in claim 1 , wherein said strap comprises a filament.

9. The device as in claim 1 , wherein said strap comprises a fabric strip that is not part of an inner or outer shell of said garment.

10. A method of supporting a breast pocket of a garment comprising supporting a breast pocket with a strap, said strap extending upwards to a shoulder of said garment.

11. The method as in claim 10, wherein said strap is attached to said shoulder of said garment.

12. The method as in claim 10, wherein said strap extends over said shoulder of said garment and is attached to a point on a back portion of said garment.

13. The method as in claim 10, comprising supporting said breast pocket with at least two straps, one of which extends over said shoulder of said garment and is attached to a point on a back portion of said garment, and another of which extends laterally across a back of said garment and is attached to an opposing shoulder of said garment.

14. The method as in claim 10, wherein said strap comprises a single filament.

15. A device comprising: a first fastener attached to an inside of a garment proximate to a breast pocket of said garment; and a carrying case having a second fastener for removably attaching said carrying case to said first fastener.

16. The device as in claim 15, wherein said first fastener is attached to a strap extending upwards to a shoulder of said garment.

17. The device as in claim 16, wherein said strap is situated between an inner lining and an outer shell of said garment.

18. The device as in claim 15, wherein said first fastener comprises a hook, and said second fastener comprises an eye.

19. The device as in claim 15, wherein said carrying case fits into a breast pocket of said garment.

20. The device as in claim 15, comprising: a first side of a third fastener attached to a first end of said carrying case; and a second side of the third fastener attached to a second end of said carrying case, wherein when said third fasteners are joined together, said third fasteners hold said carrying case in a folded position.

21. The device as in claim 15, comprising a third fastener to detachably join said carrying case to another carrying case.

22. A method comprising: storing a carrying case in a breast pocket of a garment; and detachably linking a first side of a fastener attached to said carrying case to a second side of said fastener attached to said garment.

23. The method as in claim 22, comprising: folding said carrying case; and detachably linking a first end of said folded carrying case to a second end of said folded carrying case.

24. The method as in claim 22, comprising detachably linking said carrying case to another carrying case.