Garment design for use with knife

Abstract

Garment designs are provided that facilitate ready access to a knife. The garments are particularly adapted for wear and use in connection with outdoor-related activities, e.g., fishing, hiking, climbing and the like. Ready access to the knife is facilitated by a releasable pocket flap that retains and covers the knife, while permitting instantaneous access and removal of such knife therefrom. The pocket flap is secured with respect to a garment surface along at least one edge of the flap. However, the pocket flap is not secured with respect to the garment surface along the lower edge thereof which features a releasable engagement mechanism, e.g., hook-and-loop fastener elements. The releasable engagement mechanism secures the knife below the pocket flap until needed and permits ready removal of the knife through a substantially downward motion relative to the pocket flap, thereby disengaging the releasable engagement mechanism and allowing withdrawal of the knife therefrom.

1 . A garment, comprising:
 (a) at least one garment surface;   (b) a pocket flap mounted with respect to said at least one garment surface along or adjacent to a portion of at least one pocket flap edge, said mounting being along or adjacent to an edge other than a bottom edge of said pocket flap; and   (c) a releasable engagement mechanism positioned adjacent the bottom edge of said pocket flap, said releasable engagement mechanism being configured and dimensioned to releasably secure a knife relative to said at least one garment surface and said pocket flap.   
   
   
       2 . A garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one garment surface is associated with a garment selected from the group consisting of a shirt, sweatshirt, vest, jacket, windbreaker, overalls, pants, shorts and skirt. 
   
   
       3 . A garment according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second pocket flap and a second releasable engagement mechanism positioned on said at least one garment surface. 
   
   
       4 . A garment according to  claim 1 , further comprising a knife positioned between said pocket flap and said at least one garment surface. 
   
   
       5 . A garment according to  claim 4 , wherein said knife includes a handle that defines at least one aperture or opening that cooperates with the releasable engagement mechanism. 
   
   
       6 . A garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the pocket flap is secured with respect to the at least one garment surface along at least a portion of a top edge thereof. 
   
   
       7 . A garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the pocket flap is mounted with respect to the at least one garment surface by stitching. 
   
   
       8 . A garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one garment surface includes water repellant functionality. 
   
   
       9 . A garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the releasable engagement mechanism includes hook-and-loop fasteners. 
   
   
       10 . In combination:
 (a) a garment that includes: (i) at least one garment surface; (ii) a pocket flap mounted with respect to said at least one garment surface along or adjacent to a portion of at least one pocket flap edge, said mounting being along or adjacent to an edge other than a bottom edge of said pocket flap; and (iii) a releasable engagement mechanism positioned adjacent the bottom edge of said pocket flap, said releasable engagement mechanism being configured and dimensioned to releasably secure a knife relative to said at least one garment surface and said pocket flap; and   (b) a knife releasably engaged by said releasable engagement mechanism   
   
   
       11 . A combination according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one garment surface is associated with a garment selected from the group consisting of a shirt, sweatshirt, vest, jacket, windbreaker, overalls, pants, shorts and skirt. 
   
   
       12 . A combination according to  claim 10 , further comprising a second pocket flap and a second releasable engagement mechanism positioned on said at least one garment surface. 
   
   
       13 . A combination according to  claim 10 , wherein said knife includes a handle that defines at least one aperture or opening that cooperates with the releasable engagement mechanism. 
   
   
       14 . A combination according to  claim 10 , wherein the pocket flap is secured with respect to the at least one garment surface along at least a portion of a top edge thereof. 
   
   
       15 . A combination according to  claim 10 , wherein the pocket flap is mounted with respect to the at least one garment surface by stitching. 
   
   
       16 . A combination according to  claim 10 , wherein the knife is a line-cutting knife adapted for fishing applications.