Upper Body Covering Garment Internal Pocket Weight Redistribution Hip-Waist Area Bandlike Device

ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION

[0001]People often wear upper body covering garments when doing activities that require them to carry items. Said items are often either placed within an internal pocket of the upper body covering garment or in a hip pack. Each of these approaches can have substantial disadvantages concerning possible substantial discomforting weight distribution of the items within the internal pocket(s) of the upper body covering garment or the friction and heat that can be associated with a hip pack.

[0002]The inventors of the present invention conducted an exhausting search for a product to solve the long felt but unsolved need for a device that distributes the weight of item(s) placed within the internal pocket(s) to the hips of the wearer of an upper body covering garment without needing a separate hip pack. However, the inventors of the present invention could not identify a substantial solution. Therefore, the inventors of the present invention conceived and created the present invention to solve the said long felt but unsolved need.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003]Upper body covering garments include but are not exclusively t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, dress shirts, casual shirts, workout shirts, work shirts, button-up shirts, zipper shirts, jerseys, cycling jerseys, and jackets. Furthermore, said upper body covering garment may have but not exclusively short sleeves, long sleeves, or be sleeveless.

[0004]Upper body covering garments can have internal pockets to carry items on the wearer. However, said items can weigh down the said upper body covering garment, which can place discomforting weight on the wearer in upper body areas such as but not exclusively the shoulders, arms, and back of the said wearer.

[0005]Hip packs that can be placed on the outside or on the inside of an upper body covering garment. A substantial benefit of the hip pack is that it places the weight of the items stored in the hip pack on the waist-hip area of the wearer as opposed to the upper body covering garment as the two entities are not permanently connected to each other.

[0006]However, hip packs can have disadvantages such as but not exclusively discomforting friction and hot spots in contact spots with the wearer and being misplaced when not on the wearer substantially due to the hip pack not being permanently connected to the upper body covering garment.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0007]The present invention relates generally to substantial weight redistribution of internal pockets of an upper body covering garment to the waist-hip area of the wearer of said upper body covering garment.

PRIOR ART

[0009]U.S. Pat. 2017/0013886 A1 Towfigh (Jan. 19, 2017) is an integrative support device that provides support specifically for the abdomen of the wearer and is therefore not applicable to the internal pocket weight redistribution utility of the present invention.

[0010]U.S. Pat. D978,528 S Birdwell (Feb. 21, 2023) is an example of a hip pack that is worn separately from an upper body covering garment and is therefore not applicable to the internal pocket weight redistribution utility of the present invention.

[0011]U.S. Pat. No. 11,497,265 B2 Wenkman (Nov. 15, 2022) is a suspender device for holding down an upper body garment during motion associated with riding a motorcycle and is therefore not applicable to the internal pocket weight redistribution utility of the present invention.

[0012]US Pat. 2011/0197335 A1 Handy (Aug. 18, 2011) is a suspender shirt device for the wearer's pants and is therefore not applicable to the internal pocket weight redistribution utility of the present invention.

[0013]U.S. Pat. No. 7,845,024 B2 Hill (Dec. 7 2010) is a suspension system for a peace officers'shirt to hold up a duty belt and is therefore not applicable to the internal pocket weight redistribution utility of the present invention.

[0014]U.S. Pat. No. 9,554,637 B2 Marx et al. (Jan. 31, 2017) is a load bearing/suspension system that entails shoulder suspension, and a belt is therefore not applicable to the internal pocket weight redistribution utility of the present invention.

[0015]U.S. Pat. No. 7,874,019 B2 Woolcott et al. (Jan. 25, 2011) is a powder skirt zipper system that zips a powder skirt (also known as a snow skirt) to a jacket and trousers with the utility of keeping snow on the outside of the garments and is therefore not applicable to the internal pocket weight redistribution utility of the present invention.

[0016]Women's Dragline Jacket by The North Face (https://www.thenorthface.com/en-us/womens-c211718/womens-dragline-jacket-pNF0A87XD viewed Jan. 2025) features a powder skirt (also known as a snow skirt) consisting of elastic with a coupling member that are common features of ski jackets to provide the utility of keeping out snow. However, the powder skirt does not redistribute weight from an internal pocket and is therefore not applicable to the internal pocket weight redistribution utility of the present invention.

[0017]Stoney HS Thermo Hooded Jacket Menrt look by Mammut (https://www.mammut.com/us/en/products/1010-31060-50592/stoney-hs-thermo-hooded-jacket-men viewed Jan. 2025) features a removable snow skirt (also known as a powder skirt) consisting of a band with a coupling member that are common features of ski jackets to provide the utility of keeping out snow. However, the snow skirt does not redistribute weight from an internal pocket and is therefore not applicable to the internal pocket weight redistribution utility of the present invention.

[0018]Women's Powder Town Jacket by Patagonia (https://www.patagonia.com/product/womens-powder-town-ski-snowboard-jacket/31635.html viewed Jan. 2025) features a powder skirt (also known as a snow skirt) considering of a band with a coupling member that are common features of ski jackets to provide the utility of keeping out snow. However, the snow skirt does not redistribute weight from an internal pocket and is therefore not applicable to the internal pocket weight redistribution utility of the present invention.

[0019]Heather Grey Fanny Pack T-Shirt by Petit Rack (viewed Jan. 2025) features a fanny pack (also known as hip pack) in a configuration on the outside of an upper body covering garment and is therefore not applicable to the internal pocket weight redistribution utility of the present invention.

[0020]There appears to be no known prior art that provides a substantially comparable utility to the present invention. Nor does any combination of prior art seem to be an obvious comparison to the present invention from the perceived perspective of an ordinary person with skill in the art because the present invention would exist if it were obvious due to the utility that the present invention provides. This lack of prior art with substantially comparable utility validates the original utility provided by the present invention in solving the long felt but unsolved need in a nonobvious manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0021]The present invention provides substantial weight redistribution of an internal pocket(s) of an upper body covering garment to the waist-hip area of the wearer of said upper body covering garment.

[0022]The permanent connection of the bandlike device to the internal pocket(s) of an upper body covering garment is a novel utility considering the advantages. The advantages are but are not exclusively: substantially redistributing weight from an internal pocket(s) of an upper body covering garment from the upper body covering garment to the waist-hip area of the wearer; a substantial lack of constraint of the portion of the upper body covering garment starting at the point of connection of the internal pocket(s) that are connected to the bandlike device to the upper body covering garment and commencing at the lower end of the upper body covering garment; a substantial lack of independent movement of the internal pocket(s) of an upper body covering garment in respect to the bandlike device; potentially not having to wear a separate common hip pack to carry items that are able to be carried in an internal pocket(s) on an upper body covering garment; a potentially substantial reduction in friction and heat transfer when compared to a common hip pack considering the novel configuration of the present invention.

[0023]The present invention solves a long felt but unsolved need that is applicable to a substantial array of upper body covering garments. Furthermore, the lack of substantially applicable prior art or combination of prior art indicates that the present invention has original utility and is nonobvious to a person skilled in the art. Therefore, the present invention has original utility to solve the long felt but unsolved need.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0024]One object of the present invention is substantially redistributing weight from an internal pocket(s) of an upper body covering garment from the upper body covering garment to the waist-hip area of the wearer.

[0025]Another object of the present invention is a substantial lack of constraint of the portion of the upper body covering garment starting at the point of connection of the internal pocket(s) that are connected to the bandlike device to the upper body covering garment and commencing at the lower end of the upper body covering garment.

[0026]A further object of the present invention is a substantial lack of independent movement of the internal pocket(s) of an upper body covering garment in respect to the bandlike device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0027]The advantages and features of the various embodiments of the present invention will be more clearly comprehended in respect to the following drawings and descriptions:

[0028]FIG. 1 is an example but not exclusively of the top or bottom perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The bandlike device is illustrated with a coupled coupling member connected to a single internal pocket, said internal pocket is connected to the upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines. The orientation of the coupling member is an example but not exclusively of either the front or back of an upper body covering garment as each side is a mirror for the utility of the present invention.

[0029]FIG. 2 is an example but not exclusively of the top or bottom perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The bandlike device is illustrated with an uncoupled coupling member connected to a single internal pocket, said internal pocket is connected to the upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines. The orientation of the coupling member is an example but not exclusively of either the front or back of an upper body covering garment as each side is a mirror for the utility of the present invention.

[0030]FIG. 3 is an example but not exclusively of the top or bottom perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The bandlike device is illustrated with a coupled coupling member connected to a single internal pocket, said internal pocket is connected to the upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines. The orientation of the coupling member is an example but not exclusively of either side of an upper body covering garment as each side is a mirror for the utility of the present invention.

[0031]FIG. 4 is an example but not exclusively of the top or bottom perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The bandlike device is illustrated with an uncoupled coupling member connected to a single internal pocket, said internal pocket is connected to the upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines. The orientation of the coupling member is an example but not exclusively of either side of an upper body covering garment as each side is a mirror for the utility of the present invention.

[0032]FIG. 5 is an example but not exclusively of the top or bottom perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The bandlike device is illustrated with a coupled coupling member connected to six internal pockets, said internal pockets are connected to the upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines. The orientation of the coupling member is an example but not exclusively of either the front or back of an upper body covering garment as each side is a mirror for the utility of the present invention.

[0033]FIG. 6 is an example but not exclusively of the top or bottom perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The bandlike device is illustrated with an uncoupled coupling member connected to six internal pockets, said internal pockets are connected to the upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines. The orientation of the coupling member is an example but not exclusively of either the front or back of an upper body covering garment as each side is a mirror for the utility of the present invention.

[0034]FIG. 7 is an example but not exclusively of the front or back perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The outer opening of one horizontally oriented internal pocket is connected to the upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines. Not illustrated are the internal pockets or bandlike device or coupling member as these embodiments are hidden in this perspective by the upper body covering garment.

[0035]FIG. 8 is an example but not exclusively of the front or back perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The outer opening of one horizontally oriented internal pocket is connected to the upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines, said upper body covering garment is partially lifted to expose a perspective of the internal pocket and bandlike device. The coupling member is not illustrated in this perspective and is under a non-exposed area of the said upper body covering garment.

[0036]FIG. 9 is an example but not exclusively of the front or back perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines is partially lifted to expose a perspective of the bandlike device and a coupled coupling member. Not illustrated are any internal pockets or internal pocket openings as these embodiments are under a non-exposed area of the said upper body covering garment.

[0037]FIG. 10 is an example but not exclusively of the front or back perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines is partially lifted to expose a perspective of the bandlike device and an uncoupled coupling member. Not illustrated are any internal pockets or internal pocket openings as these embodiments are under a non-exposed area of the said upper body covering garment.

[0038]FIG. 11 is an example but not exclusively of the front or back perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines is partially lifted to expose a perspective of the bandlike device with a coupled coupling member that is connected to an internal pocket, said internal pocket is connected to the upper body covering garment via the horizontally oriented internal pocket opening.

[0039]FIG. 12 is an example but not exclusively of the front or back perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines is partially lifted to expose a perspective of the bandlike device with an uncoupled coupling member that is connected to an internal pocket, said internal pocket is connected to the upper body covering garment via the horizontally oriented internal pocket opening.

[0040]FIG. 13 is an example but not exclusively of the front or back perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines is an example but not exclusively of an upper body covering garment with a full split, said upper body covering garment is partially lifted to expose a perspective of the bandlike device with a coupled coupling member that is connected to an internal pocket, said internal pocket is connected to the upper body covering garment via the horizontally oriented internal pocket opening.

[0041]FIG. 14 is an example but not exclusively of the front or back perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines is an example but not exclusively of an upper body covering garment with a full split, said upper body covering garment is partially lifted to expose a perspective of the bandlike device with an uncoupled coupling member that is connected to an internal pocket, said internal pocket is connected to the upper body covering garment via the horizontally oriented internal pocket opening.

[0042]FIG. 15 is an example but not exclusively of the left or right-side perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines is partially lifted to expose a perspective of the bandlike device with a coupled coupling member that is connected to an internal pocket, said internal pocket is connected to the upper body covering garment via the horizontally oriented internal pocket opening.

[0043]FIG. 16 is an example but not exclusively of the left or right-side perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines is partially lifted to expose a perspective of the bandlike device with an uncoupled coupling member that is connected to an internal pocket, said internal pocket is connected to the upper body covering garment via the horizontally oriented internal pocket opening.

[0044]FIG. 17 is an example but not exclusively of the front or back perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The outer openings of three internal pockets are connected to the upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines. Not illustrated are the three internal pockets or bandlike device or coupling member as these embodiments are hidden in this perspective by the upper body covering garment.

[0045]FIG. 18 is an example but not exclusively of the front or back perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The outer openings of three horizontally oriented internal pockets are connected to the upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines, said upper body covering garment is partially lifted to expose a perspective of the three internal pockets and bandlike device. The coupling member is not illustrated in this perspective and is under a non-exposed area of the said upper body covering garment.

[0046]FIG. 19 is an example but not exclusively of the front or back perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The outer openings of two horizontally oriented internal pockets are connected to the upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines. Not illustrated are the two internal pockets or bandlike device or coupling member as these embodiments are hidden in this perspective by the upper body covering garment.

[0047]FIG. 20 is an example but not exclusively of the front or back perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The outer openings of two horizontally oriented internal pockets are connected to the upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines, said upper body covering garment is partially lifted to expose a perspective of the two internal pockets and bandlike device. The coupling member is not illustrated in this perspective and is under a non-exposed area of the said upper body covering garment.

[0048]FIG. 21 is an example but not exclusively of the front or back perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The outer opening of one vertically oriented internal pocket is connected to the upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines. Not illustrated are the internal pockets or bandlike device or coupling member as these embodiments are hidden in this perspective by the upper body covering garment.

[0049]FIG. 22 is an example but not exclusively of the front or back perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The outer opening of one vertically oriented internal pocket is connected to the upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines, said upper body covering garment is partially lifted to expose a perspective of the internal pocket and bandlike device. The coupling member is not illustrated in this perspective and is under a non-exposed area of the said upper body covering garment.

[0050]FIG. 23 is an example but not exclusively of the front or back perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The outer opening of one diagonally oriented internal pocket is connected to the upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines. Not illustrated are the internal pockets or bandlike device or coupling member as these embodiments are hidden in this perspective by the upper body covering garment.

[0051]FIG. 24 is an example but not exclusively of the front or back perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The outer opening of one diagonally oriented internal pocket is connected to the upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines, said upper body covering garment is partially lifted to expose a perspective of the internal pocket and bandlike device. The coupling member is not illustrated in this perspective and is under a non-exposed area of the said upper body covering garment.

[0052]FIG. 25 is an example but not exclusively of the front or back perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The outer openings of two vertically oriented internal pockets are connected to the upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines. Not illustrated are the internal pockets or bandlike device or coupling member as these embodiments are hidden in this perspective by the upper body covering garment.

[0053]FIG. 26 is an example but not exclusively of the front or back perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The outer openings of two vertically oriented internal pockets are connected to the upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines, said upper body covering garment is partially lifted to expose a perspective of the internal pockets and bandlike device. The coupling member is not illustrated in this perspective and is under a non-exposed area of the said upper body covering garment.

[0054]FIG. 27 is an example but not exclusively of the front or back perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The outer opening of two vertically oriented internal pockets and one horizontally oriented internal pocket are connected to the upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines. Not illustrated are the internal pockets or bandlike device or coupling member as these embodiments are hidden in this perspective by the upper body covering garment.

[0055]FIG. 28 is an example but not exclusively of the front or back perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The outer opening of two vertically oriented internal pockets and one horizontally oriented internal pocket are connected to the upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines, said upper body covering garment is partially lifted to expose a perspective of the internal pockets and bandlike device. The coupling member is not illustrated in this perspective and is under a non-exposed area of the said upper body covering garment.

[0056]FIG. 29 is an example but not exclusively of the front or back perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines is partially lifted to expose a perspective of the bandlike device with a coupled coupling member that is connected to an internal pocket, said internal pocket is connected to the upper body covering garment via the horizontally oriented internal pocket opening.

[0057]Additionally, there is a lower body covering garment as illustrated by broken lines to substantially exemplify how the present invention is separate from a lower body covering garment and how the present invention wraps around the waist-hip area of the wearer, said waist-hip area is illustrated by the grey area.

[0058]FIG. 30 is an example but not exclusively of the top or bottom perspective of the present invention as each perspective is a mirror of the other concerning the utility of the present invention. The bandlike device is illustrated with a coupled coupling member connected to a single internal pocket, said internal pocket is connected to the upper body covering garment as illustrated by the broken lines. The orientation of the coupling member is an example but not exclusively of either side of an upper body covering garment as each side is a mirror for the utility of the present invention. The hip-waist area of the wearer is illustrated by a grey area to illustrate how the bandlike device wraps around the waist-hip area of the wearer.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0059]It is preferred to design the form of the present invention by utilizing computer aided design software (also known as CAD) or by hand drawing.

[0060]It is preferred for the bandlike device of the present invention to be comprised of elastic, bungie cord, threaded cord, or fabric.

[0061]It is preferred for the coupling member of the bandlike device of the present invention to be comprised of plastic, composites, metal, wood, or grass (such as but not exclusively bamboo), elastic, bungie cord, threaded cord, or fabric.

[0062]It is preferred to manufacture the bandlike device of the present invention by machine sowing, hand sowing, or gluing (also known as adhesive) the bandlike device.

[0063]It is preferred to manufacture the coupling member of the bandlike device of the present invention manufacture the present invention via 3D printing, molding, stamping, carving, sawing, machine sowing, hand sowing, or gluing (also known as adhesive).

[0064]It is preferred to permanently connect the bandlike device to the coupling member by machine sowing, hand sowing, or glue (also known as adhesive).

[0065]It is preferred to permanently connect the bandlike device to an internal pocket of an upper body covering garment by machine sowing or hand sowing, or glue (also known as adhesive).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0066]The present invention consists of a bandlike device 1 and a coupling member 2 that are permanently connected to internal pocket(s) 3 of an upper body covering garment 4. Furthermore, the bandlike device 1 is not connected to the upper body covering garment 4. The internal pocket(s) opening 5 is connected to the upper body covering garment 4 and the bandlike device 1 is connected to the internal pocket(s) 3.

[0067]The bandlike device 1 of the present invention wraps around the waist-hip area of the wearer 6 and substantially redistributes the weight of an internal pocket(s) 3 from the upper body covering garment 4 to the waist-hip area of the wearer 6. The present invention is not connected to a lower body covering garment 7.

[0068]The coupling member 2 of the present invention serves the function of tightening or loosening the bandlike device 1 substantially to the waist-hip area of the wearer 6 for ease of putting on and taking off the upper body covering garment 4.