HAND WEAR STORAGE POCKET

Abstract

An article of clothing for at least partly covering a human torso, the article including a hand wear storage pocket extending from a front opening disposed along a front edge to a rear edge, the hand wear storage pocket including a top edge and a bottom edge, a rear portion of the hand wear storage pocket being disposed in a side area of the jacket below an armhole and above a waist band, the front opening and a height between the top and bottom edges adapted for insertion of a wearer's hand into the side area wherein the hand and an arm crosses the wearer's front torso, the hand being covered in a hand wear item, and wherein the side area is adapted to be compressed by an opposing arm of the wearer.

Claims

1. An article of clothing for at least partly covering a human torso, the article including a hand wear storage pocket extending from a front opening disposed along a front edge to a rear edge, the hand wear storage pocket including a top edge and a bottom edge, a rear portion of the hand wear storage pocket being disposed in a side area of the jacket below an armhole and above a waist band, the front opening and a height between the top and bottom edges adapted for insertion of a wearer's hand into the side area wherein the hand and an arm crosses the wearer's front torso, the hand being covered in a hand wear item, and wherein the side area is adapted to be compressed by an opposing arm of the wearer.

2. The article according to claim 1 wherein the hand wear storage pocket includes a high friction grip material on an internal surface of the rear portion.

3. The article according to claim 2 wherein a remaining portion of the hand wear storage pocket has a low friction material on an internal surface.

4. The article according to claim 1 wherein the hand wear storage pocket has a water resistant internal surface.

5. The article according to claim 1 wherein the hand wear storage pocket includes a removable liner.

6. The article according to claim 1 wherein the hand wear storage pocket includes a top and/or rear edge fastener disposed along the top edge and the rear edge defining a flexible front cover flap adapted to be rotated downward about the bottom edge, when the top and/or rear edge fastener is in an open position, to expose an internal surface of the hand wear storage pocket.

7. The article according to claim 6 wherein the top and/or rear edge fastener comprises one of: a zip fastener; and a hook-and-loop fastener.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] In order that the invention may be readily understood, one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a front-left view of jacket with left and right hand wear storage pockets extending rearwardly from a front edge opening with an optional top and/or rear edge zipper fastener that allows the front cover flap of the pocket to be rotated downward about the bottom edge for cleaning and repairing of the pocket interior surfaces as seen in FIG. 5.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a front view of the jacket of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a left side view of the jacket of FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the jacket of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a right side view of the jacket of FIGS. 1-4 with the right arm raised to expose the optional feature of a front cover flap of the pocket rotated downward about the bottom edge of the pocket for access to the pocket interior surfaces.

[0016] FIG. 6 is a front view of the jacket where the user, with a right hand raised, has inserted a left hand wearing a glove into the right side pocket opening.

[0017] FIG. 7 is front view of the jacket where, with a right elbow clamping the fingers of the left hand and glove, the user slides the left hand from within the glove while the glove is stowed in the right side pocket.

[0018] FIG. 8 is a female version showing front-left view of women's jacket with left and right hand wear storage pockets similar to the jacket of FIG. 1 but with the pockets located lower on the torso.

[0019] FIG. 9 is a left side view jacket of FIG. 8.

[0020] Further details of the invention and its advantages will be apparent from the detailed description included below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] FIGS. 1 and 8 show a jacket as an example of an article of clothing which can include a hand wear storage pocket 1, for removing and holding a glove or mitten. It will be understood that any article of clothing that at least partly covers a human torso can be adapted to include the hand wear storage pocket 1, such as a coat, overalls, a shirt, or a vest.

[0022] The hand wear storage pocket 1 includes a front opening 2 along a front edge of the pocket 1 that in the examples illustrated is closed with a zipper fastener 3. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 9, the pocket 1 is defined between the front edge 4, the rear edge 5, a top edge 6, and a bottom edge 7 and an. Other shapes of pockets 1 can include an arcuate or crescent shape, or include a rounded top edge 6 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0023] A rear portion 6 of the hand wear storage pocket 1 is disposed in a side area of the jacket below the armhole or sleeve 8 and above the waist band 9. The side area is adjacent the inner arm and elbow. The front opening 2 and a height of the pocket between the top and bottom edges 6, 7 are relatively large compared to a traditional pocket and are selected to allow insertion of a gloved or mittened hand.

[0024] The use of the hand wear storage pocket 1 is as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. To remove and store a glove in the pocket 1, the wearer inserts one hand (as shown the left hand) while wearing a glove into the opening 2 (of the right pocket 1). The wearer slides the gloved hand until at least the fingers of the gloved hand are within the rear portion in the side area between the armhole or sleeve 8 and the waist band 9 as shown in FIG. 6. The wearer then moves the right arm and elbow towards the torso to squeeze the hand, glove and pocket 1 as shown in FIG. 7 with the opposing right arm. While the glove is squeezed, the wearer withdraws the left hand from the glove and pocket 1. The glove remains within the pocket 1 in the side area. The opposite process is carried out for the right hand and left pocket 1.

[0025] Advantageously, the wearer can remove the gloves without using both hands. The right hand can remain gripped to a tool or ladder for example while the left hand glove is removed.

[0026] The hand wear storage pocket 1 can include a high friction grip material on an interior surface to aid in gripping and removal of the glove. FIG. 5 shows the pocket opened with high friction grip material 10. The hand wear storage pocket 1 may have a remaining portion with a low friction material on an inside surface to aid in inserting and removing the glove from the front portion of the pocket 1. Alternatively, the entire interior surface of the hand wear storage pocket can be covered with a high friction grip material or surface layer or coating. For use in wet sporting activities or wet/oily working environments, the hand wear storage pocket 1 can have a water resistant inside surface or a removable waterproof liner.

[0027] The high friction grip material aids in gripping the fingers of the glove as the side portion of the pocket 1 is squeezed between the arm, elbow and the torso when the hand is removed from the glove and also when the glove is squeezed during re-insertion of the hand. The high friction grip material also assists in retaining the removed glove within the pocket 1. Vigorous movement during sporting, climbing or working activities could dislodge a glove from the pocket 1 if the inside lining and/glove were smooth or slippery. The combination of a high friction grip material on the inside surface of the pocket 1 and a rearward downward orientation of the pocket 1 is preferred to retain the glove in the pocket 1 using friction and gravity.

[0028] Since the pocket 1 may be easily soiled when used in farming, sporting or mechanic environments the pocket 1 can optionally include a top and/or rear edge fastener 11 along the top edge 6, and the rear edge 5 such as a zip fastener, a hook-and-loop fastener, or other releasable fastening means. As shown in FIG. 5, the optional top and/or rear edge fastener 11 disposed along the top edge 6 and the rear edge 5 defines a flexible front cover flap 12 that can be rotated downward about the bottom edge 7, when the top and/or rear edge fastener 11 is opened, to expose an internal surface of the hand wear storage pocket 1. The flap 12 in the open position of FIG. 5 permits easy cleaning in a washing machine for example and access for repairs when necessary. A removable or disposable pocket liner can be provided to easily deal with the accumulation of dirt or grease.

[0029] As described above, some benefits of the hand wear storage pocket 1 are as follows:

[0030] the pocket 1 is dedicated to the storage of gloves together with the jacket, coat or other clothing so that gloves are readily available and not misplaced or forgotten;

[0031] the pocket 1 is ergonomically aligned with a natural movement of the hand and arm to and from the side underarm area such that a wearer can remain attentive to a task occupying the opposite hand;

[0032] the pocket 1 is unobtrusive and the storage of bulky hand wear under the arm does not interfere substantially with body movements; and

[0033] the underarm location of the pocket 1 adjacent the torso ensures that the gloves and particularly the finger areas remain warm.

[0034] Although the above description relates to a specific preferred embodiment as presently contemplated by the inventor, it will be understood that the invention in its broad aspect includes mechanical and functional equivalents of the elements described herein.