U.S. patent application number 12/881133 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-17 for duty uniform for law enforcement and other uniformed personnel.
This patent application is currently assigned to I. SPIEWAK & SONS, INC.. Invention is credited to Sol N. JACOBS, Michael I. SPIEWAK, Roy J. Spiewak.
Application Number | 20110061146 12/881133 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37892051 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110061146 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Spiewak; Roy J. ; et
al. |
March 17, 2011 |
DUTY UNIFORM FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER UNIFORMED PERSONNEL
Abstract
For uniformed personnel a shirt and pants Class A dress uniform
having one or more Class B work uniform type of structural features
which render it more functional, more comfortable and more
attractive. More specifically, this new uniform includes a
shirttail retainer, a microphone sling and an internal hidden and
secure cargo pocket on each leg or combinations of one or more of
these features. The shirttail retainer utilizes spaced apart
silicone rubber friction strips on the outer surface near the waist
which cooperate with a friction strip on the inner surface of the
pants waistband. The microphone sling hangs from a button on the
shoulder hidden beneath the shoulder epaulet. The internal cargo
pocket is on the inner surface of the outer leg wall.
Inventors: |
Spiewak; Roy J.; (Teaneck,
NJ) ; SPIEWAK; Michael I.; (New Hope, PA) ;
JACOBS; Sol N.; (New York, NY) |
Assignee: |
I. SPIEWAK & SONS, INC.
|
Family ID: |
37892051 |
Appl. No.: |
12/881133 |
Filed: |
September 13, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11233860 |
Sep 23, 2005 |
7793359 |
|
|
12881133 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/227 ;
2/247 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 29/00 20130101;
A41D 27/20 20130101; A41F 5/00 20130101; A41D 1/002 20130101; A41F
9/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/227 ;
2/247 |
International
Class: |
A41D 1/06 20060101
A41D001/06; A41D 27/20 20060101 A41D027/20 |
Claims
1-41. (canceled)
42. A pair of pants formed of fabric cloth, comprising: a. a top
part including a waistband, b. left and right legs extending
downward from said top part, each leg having a top portion, a
bottom edge and an intermediate portion between said top portion
and said bottom edge, each of said legs including front and rear
walls which are joined along their side edges as inner and outer
seams respectively, one of said outer seams extending from said
bottom edge upward to said top portion of each of said legs, and c.
an internal cargo pocket formed by inner and outer panels that
define an enclosure open at the top, said panels having top edges
that define said open top, said cargo pocket located inside one of
said legs at the intermediate portion thereof with said outer panel
of said pocket adjacent said outer seam of said leg, said leg
having a slit-like opening defined by two edges extending
transversely across said outer seam with said two edges of said
slit-like opening secured to said top edges of said panels of said
pocket, whereby said slit-like opening in the leg allows access to
said pocket which is positioned to hang downward in said leg, said
inner and outer panels of said pocket having top and bottom regions
and a main portion between said top and bottom regions, said main
portion of said pocket being unattached to and free from said outer
seam and from said front and rear walls of said pants leg joined at
said outer seam, said main portion and bottom region having a
normal position adjacent said outer seam and being displaceable to
a customization position displaced away from said outer seam.
43. A pair of pants according to claim 42, further comprising,
closure means for releasably joining said top edges of said panels
of said cargo pocket to each other to close and open said cargo
pocket.
44. A pair of pants according to claim 43, wherein said closure
means comprises a zipper having releasably connectible strips
joined to said top edges respectively of said panels of said cargo
pocket.
45. A pair of pants according to claim 42, further comprising
coupling means for releasably attaching said bottom region of said
pocket to said outer seam.
46. A pair of pants according to claim 42, further comprising an
elongated stripe fixed to each of said legs, covering said outer
seam and extending from said bottom edge upward to said top portion
of said leg.
47. A pair of pants according to claim 42, having one of said
internal cargo pockets attached to each of said legs.
48. A pair of pants according to claim 45 where said coupling means
comprises a button on said bottom portion of said pocket, and a tab
fixed to said outer seam of pants leg, said tab includes a button
hole dimensioned to receive said button.
49. A pair of pants according to claim 48 where said tab is sewn to
said outer seam.
50. A pair or pants according to claim 48 where said tab has a
proximal part sewn to said outer seam and a distal part extending
generally perpendicularly from said proximal part with said button
hole in said distal part.
51. A pair of pants according to claim 48 where said button hole is
transversely offset from said outer seam.
52. A pair of pants according to claim 45 wherein said coupling
means comprises a first coupling element on said bottom of said
cargo pocket and a second coupling element having a proximal part
fixed to said inside seam and a distal part extendable transversely
therefrom and being releasably coupleable to said first coupling
element.
53. A pair of pants according to claim 42 further comprising a
zippered front fly opening extending from the waistband downward a
predetermined distance, and said hidden cargo pocket's slit-like
opening is located at an elevation below said fly.
54. A pair of pants made of fabric, comprising: a. a top part
including a waistband, b. left and right legs extending downward
from said top part, each of said legs having a top portion, a
bottom edge and an intermediate portion between said top portion
and said bottom edge and including outer and inner seams extending
from said bottom edge upward to said top portion, and c. an
internal cargo pocket formed by inner and outer panels that define
an enclosure open at the top, said pocket located inside one of
said legs at the intermediate portion thereof, with said outer
panel of said pocket adjacent said outer seam, said inner and outer
panels having respectively top edges separate from each other and
defining said open top of said pocket, said leg having a slit-like
opening defined by two edges extending transversely across said
outer seam with said two edges of said slit-like opening secured to
said top edges of said panels of said pocket, whereby said
slit-like opening allows access to said pocket which is positioned
to hang downward in said leg.
55. A pair of pants according to claim 54 further comprising,
closure means for releasably joining said top edges of said panels
of said pocket to each other to close and open said pocket.
56. A pair of pants according to claim 54, wherein said closure
means comprises a zipper having releasably connectible strips
joined to said top edges respectively of panels of said cargo
pocket.
57. A pair of pants according to claim 54, further comprising
coupling means for releasably attaching said bottom region of said
cargo pocket to said outer seam.
58. A pair of pants according to claim 54, further comprising an
elongated stripe fixed to each of said legs, covering said outer
seam and extending from said bottom edge upward to said top portion
of said leg.
59. A pair of pants according to claim 54 having one of said cargo
pockets attached to each of said legs.
60. A pair or pants according to claim 57 where said coupling means
comprises a tab has a proximal part sewn to said outer seam and a
distal part extending generally perpendicularly from said proximal
part with said button hole in said distal part and said pocket has
a button at the bottom part thereof for coupling with said button
hole.
61. A pair of pants formed of fabric cloth, comprising: a. a top
part including a waistband, b. left and right legs extending
downward from said top part, each leg having a top portion, a
bottom edge and an intermediate portion between said top portion
and said bottom edge, each of said legs including front and rear
walls which are joined along their side edges as inner and outer
seams respectively, said outer seam extending from said bottom edge
upward to said top portion of each of said legs, and c. an internal
cargo pocket formed by inner and outer panels that define an
enclosure open at the top, said panels having top edges that define
said open top, said cargo pocket located inside one of said legs at
the intermediate portion thereof with said outer panel of said
pocket adjacent said outer seam of said leg, said leg having a
slit-like opening defined by two edges extending transversely
across said outer seam with said two edges of said slit-like
opening secured to said top edges of said panels of said pocket,
whereby said slit-like opening in the leg allows access to said
pocket which is positioned to hang downward in said leg, said inner
and outer panels of said pocket having top and bottom regions and a
main portion between said top and bottom regions, said main portion
of said pocket being unattached to and free from said outer seam
and from said front and rear walls of said pants leg joined at said
outer seam.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation on which priority is
claimed from applicant's copending Ser. No. 11/233,860 having
filing date Sep. 23, 2005, U.S. Pat. No. 7,793,359 and issue date
of Sep. 14, 2010.
A. BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention is in the field of uniforms worn by law
enforcement, fire and other uniformed personnel, and particularly
by persons who need to carry special equipment such as a two-way
radio, a weapon, a bullet-proof vest or other body armor inside or
on the uniform. This invention pertains to both Class A "Dress" or
"Appearance" uniforms and Class B "Utility" or "Work" uniforms.
[0004] 2. Background of the Invention
[0005] In police departments across the country police personnel
Class A or "dress" uniforms are the standard for normal workdays,
whereas Class B or "work or utility" uniforms are usually limited
in use for tactical functions, SWAT team, search, rescue and
emergency service units and the like. The Class B "work" uniforms
tend to be more comfortable and more functional, in contrast to the
Class A "dress" uniforms that obviously need to provide an official
and neat appearance. In actual use, however, Class A uniforms must
also accommodate numerous items of special equipment which basic
Class A shirt-and-pants uniforms were never intended to hold or
hide. For example, a bulletproof vest, of necessity, is thick,
bulky and somewhat stiff, so that shirttails of a uniform shirt
covering such vest will tend to pull out from the pants' waistband.
There are many circumstances where a policeman is wearing a Class A
uniform without special equipment, but where the policeman is
physically active, by running, squatting and/or bending, where
normal shirt tails tend to come out. These uniforms will not only
appear sloppy, which is inconsistent with typical police or
military philosophy, but it may interfere with a policeman's
ability to carry out his duties with his weapons, communication or
other equipment. For many, shirttails even partially hanging out of
a waistband are annoying, uncomfortable, and/or aesthetically
displeasing.
[0006] Class A uniforms become further distorted by the equipment
carried on or in the uniforms, such as a heavy belt around the
waist for a gun, a nightstick or billy club, a two-way radio and a
ticket pad. Many devices and shirt and/or pants constructions have
been developed in efforts to try to retain shirttails neatly within
pants' waistbands, examples being disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,088,831; 5,123,120; and 3,298,036. Still further but less
relevant prior art patents include: U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,223,621;
3,590,390; 3,638,658; 3,930,090; 5,515,544; and Japan
10-130-901.
[0007] Obviously, a pants-and-shirt uniform will have numerous
pockets, but there are practical limits. In shirts, for example,
pockets are essentially limited to the upper front area, with the
back, waist and collar being impractical areas for pockets and the
sleeves being too small" for useful pockets and also impractical
for pockets if an outer jacket will be worn. Uniform pants have the
usual front and rear pockets which are internal and essentially not
visible except for the conventional access slits. Rear patch
pockets, as seen on typical dungarees, are not considered
acceptable dress for Class A uniforms, and furthermore have very
limited capacity, because they lie flat and close to the seat
portion of the pants.
[0008] A pocket invention that has been used with military "field"
uniforms, where appearance obviously defaults to utility, is an
external cargo pocket which, due to side gussets or pleats, may
have the ability to expand to hold very large capacity. Such cargo
pockets have been positioned along the outside surface of each pant
leg side, positioned near the thigh, the knee and/or the calf.
[0009] External cargo pockets not only have great utility, but have
become immensely popular in casual non-military clothing and in
Class B utility uniforms. These cargo pockets may in fact not even
have side gussets or pleats, but are still known as cargo pockets
due to their large storage capacity and positioning on the side of
the pant leg. However, such external cargo pockets are not
acceptable for use in Class A uniforms for police departments and
for many other governmental or business organizations or military
dress uniforms.
[0010] Many prior art shirt and/or pants construction have been
developed in efforts to provide additional or different pocket
spaces, examples being disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,977,602;
4,464,798; 4,498,200; 4,561,124; 5,669,078; 6,175,966; 6,253,379;
US2003/0150042; and Japan 0221003.
[0011] A third problem area with current Class A uniforms is the
conventional but awkward attachment of a microphone to a shirt
collar or front breast pocket. Placement on collars and pockets is
often not optimum for voice communication, and such placement with
conventional clips eventually damages the fabric and thus damages
the appearance of these most visible portions of the shirt. A
number of prior art microphone attachment means have been developed
in efforts to provide quick, easy and good functional attachment,
examples being disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,641,760; 3,940,039;
5,111,981; 5,886,739; 5,915,609; US2003/0019015; and
US2004/0187183.
[0012] In summary, the present invention addresses three problem
areas:
[0013] a. shirttails coming out of waistbands because of active
running, bending or squatting, or because of body armor and/or
other equipment pulling or protruding,
[0014] b. dress pants having insufficient large capacity pockets
for the greater amount of hidden utility equipment required to be
carried, and
[0015] c. awkward and fabric damaging attachment of microphones to
shirt collars and/or front pockets.
B. OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE NEW INVENTION
[0016] This invention is an improved uniform that provides both
Class A appearance and Class B functionality in a new dress uniform
for law enforcement and other uniformed personnel who need to
carry, on or inside the uniform, special equipment such as a
two-way radio, a weapon, a bullet-proof vest or other body armor
and miscellaneous other items. This uniform invention comprises
pants and shirts alone or in combination, having new structural
features that address anyone or any combination of the three
problem areas described above. More specifically, a first feature
to restrain shirttails neatly within a wearer's waistband is a
pants-and-shirt shirttail retainer combination which includes a set
of mating soft silicone (or other sticky or textured, friction
producing material) strips of particular size, shape and location
on the internal surface of the pants' waistband and on the external
surface of the shirttail, respectively. Preferably, the strips lie
horizontally on the waistband and vertically on the shirttail,
where pressure contact of one strip on the other creates a friction
force that effectively bars the shirttail from rising from the
waistband. This shirttail retainer functions passively, in that no
awareness or action of the user is required for it to function as
intended. Thus, there is no need for a user to join or separate
coupling means or to even think about them.
[0017] The second feature of this invention is a hidden cargo
pocket situated on the inside surface of the pants' outseam in the
area extending from the thigh to the calf, or possibly lower. In
one preferred embodiment the new hidden internal cargo pocket will
be located on the inside of the pants, generally opposite the
location of a common external cargo pocket. Such a hidden internal
cargo pocket will provide capacity generally similar to that of a
conventional external cargo pocket and will be accessible from the
outside, but will be essentially not visible except for the access
slit at the top (upper lip). The pocket may employ guesets along
the side edges for expansion purposes and may employ a zipper or
other closure means at the top. If the pocket is filled, there
might be a bulge but due to its internal button securing the pocket
to the outseam, as the pocket is filled it expands to the inside of
the wearer's leg, and not to the outside, creating minimal visible
bulge. And either way, the outside seam will still be neat and
uninterrupted by a conventional visible external pocket
[0018] A third feature of this invention, in summary, is a
microphone sling designed to replace conventional spring clips for
attachment of a microphone to a collar or to a shirt pocket. The
new microphone cling is an elongated strap having a proximal
portion adapted to engage a microphone and a distal portion adapted
to releasably engage a button or other coupling means situated
beneath a shoulder epaulet. The coupling means could be a button
sewn to the shoulder of the shirt beneath the epaulet for coupling
to a button hole in the distal end of the sling, or the coupling
means could be mating snap buttons or mating Velcro.TM. elements.
In all cases, the coupling means beneath the epaulet, when not in
use, is either not visible or is essentially not noticeable. When
the microphone sling is used, its proximal end positions the
microphone to be laterally spaced from the collar and at an
elevation above the breast pocket, this location being functionally
and aesthetically better than attachment to the collar or to the
pocket. As indicated above, when the sling is not needed, it can be
easily removed, leaving an official dress uniform appearance of the
shirt.
[0019] It is thus an objective of this invention to provide a Class
A duty uniform that has improved functionality and performance in
any or all of the above-described three features, while maintaining
a neat and official dress appearance. Since a police officer, for
example, may wear a bullet proof vest and wear a microphone and
carry so much equipment that a cargo pocket is needed, all the
novel features of this invention are included and coordinated with
the shirt and pants combinations; however, these three features
could be employed in different combinations or separately. In all
cases, an official and neat appearance can now be better
maintained. Excellent appearance of the uniform helps maintain
respect from the community and self-respect and pride by the
wearer.
[0020] The new hidden and secure internal cargo pocket will avoid
the interruption of the smooth line along the outside seam of a
pants leg that occurs with a conventional external cargo pocket,
and more significantly will allow a neater, uninterrupted external
stripe down the outside seam of many uniforms which until now was
achievable only with pants having no cargo pockets. Securing this
internal pocket with a button to a buttonhole loop inside the pant
outseam not only allows for post-production customization of the
external stripe, but also allows the pocket to expand to the inside
of wearer's leg instead of seeing a visible bulge on the outside,
and secures the pocket from flopping about when the wearer walks or
runs and from sagging down when the wearer sits.
[0021] The new shirttail retainer is particularly useful to
overcome the problem of shirttails pulling out due to the body
armor and other equipment worn inside the shirt or on the shirt or
on the pants hanging from the waist.
[0022] The new microphone sling will avoid the prior art procedure
where a microphone is clipped onto a collar, or an epaulet, or a
pocket which causes the look of patchwork or "jerry rigging" with
unsightly pulling on one of these attachment points, as opposed to
an official uniform appearance.
[0023] The new duty uniform of this invention provides the comfort
and functionality of a Class B uniform with the neat and
professional appearance of a traditional Class A dress uniform.
[0024] A preferred embodiment of the shirttail retainer portion of
this invention includes a shirt worn with pants,
[0025] a. wherein said shirt includes front and rear panels, each
said panel having an upper portion, an opposite shirttail portion
and a waist portion between said upper and shirttail portions, said
waist portion having an outward facing surface, and
[0026] b. said pants include a waistband at the top with a radially
inward facing surface adapted to contact said shirt waist portion
when it is worn within said pants waistband, said shirttail
retainer comprising: [0027] i. a friction strip fixed to and
extending around at least part of said inward facing surface of
said pants waistband, and [0028] ii. a plurality of friction
elements circumferentially spaced around and fixed to said outward
facing surface of said waist portion of said shirt, said friction
strip and said friction elements each comprising a thin layer of
silicone rubber, said friction elements, when pressed into contact
with said friction strip, as a result of said pants waistband being
urged radially inward against said waist portion of said shirt,
establishing a frictional force that resists movement of said shirt
waist portion upward relative to said pants waistband.
[0029] A preferred embodiment of the microphone sling portion of
this invention is a shirt and microphone sling combination for
releasably holding a microphone having an attachment clip,
comprising:
[0030] a. a shirt having: [0031] i. front and rear, right and left
fabric panels, each panel having a top portion, [0032] ii. a right
shoulder between said top portions of said right front and rear
panels and a left shoulder between said left front and rear panels,
and [0033] iii. a collar between said shoulders,
[0034] b. an epaulet affixed atop each of said shoulders,
[0035] c. a first coupling means affixed atop at least one of said
shoulders and beneath said epaulet thereon, and
[0036] d. a microphone sling formed as a strip having top and
bottom parts, said top part having a second coupling means
attachable to said first coupling means with said strip hanging
downward therefrom to lie adjacent and against said shirt's front
panel, and said bottom part adapted to be engaged by said
microphone clip for releasably attaching said microphone to said
sling.
[0037] A preferred embodiment of the internal cargo pocket portion
of this invention which comprises a pair of pants including an
internal cargo pocket comprises:
[0038] a. a pair of pants having an upper portion with a waistband,
and left and right leg portions extending downward from said upper
portion, each leg portion having a top part, a bottom cuff part and
an intermediate part, each leg portion formed by front and rear
panels which are joined along their side edges as inner and outer
seams respectively, said seams extending from said cuff part upward
to said upper portion of said pants, said inner seams of said two
leg portions being adjacent each other, and said outer seams being
remote from each other, and b. at least one internal cargo pocket
formed by inner and outer panels, said panels having respective
bottom and side edges joined together respectively as closed sides
and a closed bottom of said cargo pocket, said panels having
respectively top edges separate from each other and defining a top
opening of said cargo pocket, each of said top edges extending
transversely across said outer seam of said leg portion and
overlying and joined to parts of said front and rear panels
adjacent said outer seam.
C. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a shirt of the new
shirt-and-pants combination with a shirttail retainer.
[0040] FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the shirt of FIG. 1.
[0041] FIG. 3 is a top front perspective view of the pants of the
new shirt-and-pants combination with the new internal cargo
pocket.
[0042] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the pants of FIG. 3.
[0043] FIG. 4A is a fragmentary detail of FIG. 4 showing the
outseam, stripe and buttonhole tab.
[0044] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in section taken along line 5-5
in FIG. 4, showing the internal cargo pocket.
[0045] FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the internal cargo pocket
alone.
[0046] FIG. 7 is a top front perspective view of the cargo pocket
of FIG. 6.
[0047] FIG. 8 is a side elevation exploded view of a
shirt-and-pants combination.
[0048] FIG. 9 is a fragmentary detail view of the shirt-and-pants
combination.
[0049] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of an epaulet and microphone
sling as seen in FIG. 1.
[0050] FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view in section taken along line
11-11 in FIG. 10.
D. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
1. Shirttail Retainer Feature
[0051] For convenience and clarity in describing these embodiments,
similar elements or components appearing in different figures will
have the same reference numbers.
[0052] The shirttail retainer feature 10 is illustrated in FIGS.
1-3 and 8-10. This feature functions by the cooperation of vertical
friction strips 12 on the shirttail 14 of shirt 15 and a horizontal
friction strip 16 on the inside surface of the pants waistband
17.
[0053] FIGS. 1, 2, 9 and 10 show the four vertical strips 12 on the
front and rear, right and left portions of shin tail 14. Each strip
12 is about 3 inches long and Y, inch wide and is comprised of soft
silicone rubber about 11/32 to 1/16 inch thick, with the four edges
of each strip sewn to the shirttail.
[0054] The shirt is constructed typically of right and left front
panels 16R, 16L, right and left rear parts 17R, T 7L formed as a
single rear panel, and various other component parts for the
sleeves, cuffs, collar 20, pockets, epaulets 22, buttons, stitching
and optional ornamentation.
[0055] The friction strips 12 are located generally in the middle
of each front panel 16L,16R on each of rear panel 17L,17R and at an
elevation intended for them to lie generally adjacent the inside
surface of waistband 19 of pants 20 waist as seen in FIGS. 9 and
10. The number and placement and sizes of these strips 12 can vary,
so long as there is enough frictional surface to effectively engage
the pants waistband friction strip 18 for retention of the
shirttail.
[0056] As seen in FIG. 3 and FIG. 8, the pants friction strip 18
extends around substantially the entire circumference, except for
the break at the fly. Thus, this pants friction strip is
essentially continuous; however, a strip of spaced-apart segments
could be used. FIGS. 8 and 9 show conventional external belt loops
19 A.
[0057] FIGS. 9 and 10 show the juxtaposition of vertical strips 12
of the shirttail with the horizontal strip 18 of the pants
waistband, when such shirt and pants are worn by a person in a
conventional way. Since the length dimension shirt strips 12 is
considerably greater than the height dimension of pants strip 18,
the shirt-and-pants strips will become coupled even though there
may be substantial variations in the dimensions of torsos, waists,
chests, stomachs, etc.
[0058] The nature of these silicone rubber (or other sticky or
textured substance) strips 12 and 18 is that with even mild
surface-to-surface pressure contact, which will vary with the
tightness or fit of the pants, frictional forces will develop, and
the shirttail 14 will be retained from being pulled upward from
waistband 19. Similarly, these frictional forces will help restrain
the pants from slipping downward away from the shirt, even when the
pants are urged downward by the weight of a gun belt, or a utility
belt for other equipment, or by the weight of heavy objects in the
pants pockets. They will likewise serve to keep the shirt tucked
into the pants even while running or squatting or bending during
work.
[0059] FIG. 10, dimensioned not necessarily to scale shows
schematically, the engagement of waistband friction strip 18 with a
shirttail friction strip 12. In FIG. 1 a the strip 18 is shown with
a slightly accurate exposed surface pressing into a shirttail strip
12; however, strip 18 might be flat or have another contour, so
long as it contacts the exposed surfaces of shirttail-12-vertical
strips 12. Additional dimensional and shape variations are possible
for strips 12, which may vary from the rectangular shape
illustrated herein. With a shirttail so restrained, the result will
be more comfortable attire for the benefit of the wearer, and a
neater and more professional appearance, likely to please both the
wearer and observers. Also, with this shirttail retainer, shirts
can be made with shorter shirttails, which fit better and are more
comfortable in warm weather. A still further benefit is that the
cooperating shirt and pants of this invention have use not limited
to being used together. The shirt of this invention can be used
with any pants, and the pants of this invention can be used with
any shirt, obviously without the full benefit of the shirttail
retaining invention.
2. Hidden Cargo Pocket Feature
[0060] The new hidden cargo pocket may be constructed in a variety
of ways. FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 show aspects of one embodiment
of the new hidden cargo pocket 36 in pants formed of opposite front
and rear walls whose corresponding opposite longitudinal edges are
joined respectively as the inner and outer seams. As seen, pocket
36 is generally rectangular and formed of outer and inner fabric
panels 37,38 joined at the sides 38S and bottom 39 and open at the
top. The pocket has top and bottom lips 40,41 defining the pocket
opening 42. The pocket is closable by zipper 43 which is attached
to the top and bottom strips 40A,40B. Zipper is covered by pocket
flap or welt 45. In the pocket shown each of the inner and outer
panels has top and bottom regions and between them a main portion,
with said main portion and closed sides 38S and bottom 39 being
unattached to and free from said outer seam and from said front and
rear walls of said pants leg. This pocket is located intermediate
said top and bottom cuff parts of said leg portion. As indicated
above, the pocket and its attachment to the pants may vary.
[0061] FIGS. 3, 5 and 9 show how cargo pocket 36 hangs downward.
FIGS. 3, 5, 6 and 9 show a button 44 at the lower outside surface
of pocket 36 for attachment into slot in tab 46 sewn to the inside
surface of leg seam 48. By this feature cargo pocket 36 can be
secured from flopping about when the wearer walks or runs,
especially if the pocket contains one or more heavy objects, and
from sagging down when the wearer sits.
[0062] Decoupling of button 44 obviously allows the pocket to be
flipped away from its normal position lying adjacent seam 48 to its
customization position so that during initial manufacture or
post-manufacture customization, a uniform or identifying stripe 50
can be easily sewn onto the outside surface of the seam from the
cuff upward to the pocket opening 42 and a second stripe segment is
sewn from the waist down to the pocket opening and onto pocket flap
45. Without the releasable button 44, conventional sewing of a
uniform stripe would either: (a) cause the pocket to be captured
during the sewing and sewn flat and close to the seam, or (b) cause
extremely impractical manipulation of the pocket to avoid being
sewn closed. Placement of the tab 46 with button slot perpendicular
to the outseam with the buttonhole extending beyond the outseam
toward the pant front, as seen in FIG. 4A, allows for unimpeded
sewing of the stripe (traditionally placed over the outseam
slightly off-center toward the pant back), while still permitting
ease of buttoning to re-secure the pocket. Also seen in FIG. 4A,
the stripe 50 is offset slightly to the rear from the outseam.
[0063] The practical aspect of manufacture and post-manufacture
customization of these uniforms cannot be disregarded, because
without highly efficient manufacture (cutting, assembling and
sewing) and post-manufacture customization by dealers/distributors,
these uniforms cannot be customized and sold at a reasonable
cost.
[0064] It is particularly common and usually required, by tradition
and/or function, that these types of uniforms for law enforcement
and other activities include stripes to identify the wearers as
being authentic and professional, and sometimes being to identify
rank and authority.
[0065] It has been determined that cargo pockets are extremely
useful, favored and/or demanded by many wearers who must carry an
excessive amount of equipment. However, conventional external and
externally visible cargo pockets have been objected to by many law
enforcement officials, where overall good appearance, including
striping along the outer leg seam is mandatory. A cargo pocket that
is hidden, internally restrained and/or allows for leg striping
constitutes a novel and very useful construction.
3. Microphone Sling Feature
[0066] As seen in FIGS. 1, 11 and 12, the new microphone sling 60
is a generally elongated fabric strip whose top end 61 is removably
positioned beneath epaulet 24 by attachment of the buttonhole 62
onto button 63 which is sewn onto the shoulder of 15 beneath
epaulet 24. This is a conventional epaulet that lies atop the shirt
shoulder, and in this case has outer end 64 sewn to the shoulder
and inner end 65 buttoned down (or secured with snap or Velcro') to
the shoulder by button 66. Thus, button 63 is essentially hidden by
epaulet 24, whether this button stands alone or is coupled to the
top end 61 of microphone sling 60. The bottom part 67 of microphone
sling includes a short horizontal strip 68 having its ends sewn to
sling 60, thus leaving its top and bottom edges 70 unattached to
the sling. Accordingly, a clip or other attached element can be
easily connected to strip 68. In practice, a small microphone 71
(see FIG. 1) would include a clip for attachment to strip 68.
[0067] Many variations for attachment of the microphone to the
sling are possible, but the objects here are:
[0068] a. to removably attach the microphone to the shirt without
clipping to and damaging (or pulling for unsightly appearance) the
collar, lapel, pocket or epaulet,
[0069] b. to position the microphone in a functionally preferable
location adjacent the collar, below the epaulet and above the
pocket,
[0070] c. to provide a coupling means (the sling) where the
attachment means to the shirt is invisible (button hidden beneath
epaulet), the sling may be totally removable when not needed with
no residual evidence of its coupling, and may be replaced if and
when damaged. The pants and shirt of this invention can be made of
any conventional fabric, but in a preferred embodiment are made of
a colorfast, breathable, comfortable, durable, wrinkle resistant
fabric utilizing nano technology to provide water and stain
resistance and/or moisture management. One further option with the
microphone sling and with the hidden cargo pocket is to replace the
button connections with Velcro.RTM. or other fastener means.
[0071] While the invention has been described in conjunction with
several embodiments, it is to be understood that many alternatives,
modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in
the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this
invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives,
modifications, and variations which fall within the spirit and
scope of the appended claims.
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