Lower torso athletic apparel with built in mobile device carrying panel

Abstract

The present invention provides pants/short/skirts (10) having a panel (12) attached to the front outer wall of the athletic pants/shorts/skirts waistband or waistband area for retaining a mobile device in line of sight view and allowing both visibility to and use of the touch screen functions without removing the device from the panel. The panel (12) extending around the entire or part thereof of the waistband. Apertures (40) (42) are formed in the panel providing access to the panel sections (28) for inserting and removing the mobile device. The apertures (40) (42) are the same width or narrower than the width of the panel (12). The panel is elastically deformed and sized to snugly retain mobile device(s) in the panel sections (28).The material of the upper surface of the panel is such that the buttons, functions and touch screen of a mobile device are clearly visible and fully functional.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to lower torso athletic apparel and in particular running pants, shorts and or skirts, having a waistband panel structure for storing mobile devices and for facilitating the access to and use of touch screen mobile phones, i-phones, I-pods and other mobile devices while exercising.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Many athletes like to carry mobile phones, i-phones, I-pods and similar devices when exercising. However, it is difficult and inconvenient to use and access such devices when they are placed in the traditional side or back pocket(s) of conventional exercise pants. Some pocket structures have been implemented in athletic apparel for housing personal items and mobile devices. Also separate structures that attach around the waist such as belt packs, fanny packs and bum bags have been implemented to address this need. However these solutions generally encase the items in material and/or structure that does not allow visibility to the function keys of the device or use of the touch screen while the device is in the pocket/holder. These non integrated structures also tend to move causing some discomfort. For convenient usage of mobile devices stored in athletic pants/shorts/skirts the buttons and touch screens of the mobile devices need to be in line of sight view and this is not the case when the device is located inside the traditional pocket structures mentioned above. In addition for full functionality the device needs to be securely restrained such that the touch screen or buttons can be used without having to remove the device and physically hold it. The material encasing the mobile also needs to provide visibility to the screen of the device and allow use of the touch screen through its surface.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages, or to provide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention provides:

[0005] A rectangular shaped panel of shear elastically deformed material overlaying the waistband of the athletic pants/shorts/skirts attached horizontally by stitching lines at the top and bottom of the panel to form a space between the attached panel and original waistband of the athletic pants/shorts/skirt for carrying and snugly retaining a mobile device. Multiple carrying spaces can be formed by the addition of vertical stitching lines forming end points Each carrying space having an aperture on one edge of each panel section to provide access to the panel for insertion and removal of a mobile device or other devices, the aperture being the same width or narrower than the width of the panel, in which case the aperture being elastically deformed to stretch to the width of the panel to enable easy removal and insertion of the mobile device. The aperture may be left open or closed by a zipper, Velcro or other fastening method.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the panel is substantially rectangular when laid flat and the width dimensions substantially corresponding to those of common mobile devices such as, the I-phone or Blackberry, such that when inserted into the panel sections, the device is retained snugly in the space created. Panel sections are of lengths suitable for snugly holding mobile devices.

[0007] Preferably, The fabric of the upper surface of the panel being formed from shear elastically deformed material the properties of which allow the transmission of both electrical impulses (for capacitive touch screens) and pressure (for resistive touch screens) from the finger to the touch screen and also provide greater than 50% visibility to the device screen enabling use without removing the device from the panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of specific examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of athletic pants in accordance with the present invention and

[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of FIG. 1 with a mobile device being inserted into one of the carrying spaces created by the present invention; and

[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 and

[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention

[0013] FIG. 6 a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention

[0014] FIG. 7 a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention

[0015] FIG. 8 a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] As depicted in FIG. 1-8, athletic pants/shorts/skirts 10 having a waistband carrying panel 12, with one or more elastically deformed apertures 40 and/or apertures with opening and closing fastening 42 via a zipper 51, Velcro or similar The waistband carrying panel 12 is attached to the outer wall of waist band 5 of the athletic pants/shorts/skirts 10. The panel 12 is typically formed of synthetic sheer see through material enabling use of the functionality of the touch screen of capacitive and resistive mobile devices. Other stretch fabrics (e.g. cotton, polyester, wool, Lycra, cotton-polyester) may also be used if they are sufficiently sheer to allow transmission of electrical impulse for capacitive touch screens and pressure for resistive touch screens and also greater than 50% visibility to the screen of mobile devices. The panel 12 is positioned horizontally on the waistband and is stitched or seamed around its top outer periphery 16 and bottom outer periphery 14 to create a carrying space. The panel 12 is generally rectangular and may be intersected by vertical stitching lines 50, in which case each section includes one or more apertures 40 and/or 42, the vertical stitching lines 50 extend between the top periphery 16 and the bottom periphery 14 or part thereof. The panel sections 28 have a generally constant width extending between the top periphery 16 and the bottom periphery 14. The length of the panel sections 28 can be varied but at least one substantially corresponds to the length of the common mobile devices such as the I-phone and Blackberry.

[0017] The aperture(s) 40 are the same size or narrower than the width of the panel 12 and are elastically deformable to allow the size of the aperture 40 to be stretched to allow the insertion of the mobile device into the carrying space 13. The aperture 42 is substantially the same width as the panel 12.

[0018] The stretch fabric of the panel retains the mobile device snugly in the carrying space 13 to restrict the movement of the device during exercising and the sheerness of the panel enables good visibility of the screen of the mobile device.

[0019] As depicted in FIG. 7 the apertures 40/42 may be formed on horizontal edges of the panel section 12.

[0020] As depicted in FIG. 8 the panel 12 may extend for a portion of the waistband 5 area of the athletic pants/shorts/skirts 10.

[0021] In use, the mobile device 7 is inserted into the panel section 28 by stretching the aperture 40, or opening the panel section 42. Once inserted the mobile device grips snugly with the stretch fabric of the panel 12 and is snugly restrained in the carrying space 13 by the panel 12. The location of the panel 12 at the waistband area position places the mobile device in the waist line area of the user, this being an area that generally remains fairly stable during most activities and likely to be less bulky and restrictive than in other areas. The panel 12 location also enables convenient use of the touch screen and buttons of mobile devices.

[0022] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims

1. Athletic pants/short/skirts having a rectangular shaped panel of shear elastically deformed fabric attached horizontally to the outside of the waistband area, creating a space for snugly restraining a mobile device in line of site view while enabling greater than 50% visibility to the screen and use of the touch screen functions of the device through the fabric without removing the device from the panel. The panel extending around the entire waistband or part thereof including the front section of the waist band from the right side to the left side and being substantially the width of standard mobile devices such as the i-phone and the Blackberry. The panel having one or more apertures for the insertion/removal of a mobile device(s).

2. A system of claim 1, where multiple carrying sections in the panel are defined by a vertical stretching line(s) extending fully or partially between the upper and lower periphery of the panel aperture rim, defining sections for carrying multiple items; having an aperture on one or more edges of each section.

3. A system of claim 1, where the aperture is opened or closed shut by a fastening mechanism, such as a zipper, Velcro fastening or similar.