Lower body garments with secured tunnel pocket system

Abstract

The invention provides a lower body garment comprising an interior layer comprising an elastic material to be worn around a wearer's leg, an outer shell, and a tunnel pocket system positioned between the outer shell and interior layer. The tunnel pocket system defines a tunnel extending from the exterior pocket of the outer shell and terminating in an interior pocket positioned in or on the elastic material of the interior layer. In use, the wearer can access the interior pocket through the exterior pocket. The elastic material of the interior layer facilitates retention of items stored in the pocket against the wearer's leg, thereby reducing movement of items when the wearer moves. Retention of items stored in the pocket against the wearer's leg can be further enhanced by providing that the pocket be of elastic material.

1 . A garment comprising:
 an outer shell of a lower body garment defining a top waist opening and an exterior pocket;   an interior layer adapted to be worn around a leg of a wearer and comprising an elastic material; and   a tunnel pocket system positioned between the outer shell and the interior layer, wherein the tunnel pocket system defines a tunnel extending from the exterior pocket of the outer shell and terminating in an interior pocket positioned in or on the elastic material of the interior layer.   
   
   
       2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein interior pocket is composed of an elastic material. 
   
   
       3 . The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the interior pocket is attached on an outer surface of the interior layer. 
   
   
       4 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the interior pocket is contiguous with the material of the interior layer such that the interior pocket is defined by first and second layers of the interior layer. 
   
   
       5 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the interior layer is an undershort comprising first and second legs. 
   
   
       6 . The garment of  claim 5 , wherein the interior layer is connected to the outer shell at the waist opening of the outer shell. 
   
   
       7 . The garment of  claim 5 , wherein the pocket tunnel system is positioned on a left leg of the garment. 
   
   
       8 . The garment of  claim 5 , wherein the garment comprises two pocket tunnel systems, wherein a first pocket tunnel system is positioned on a right leg of the garment and a second pocket tunnel system is positioned on a left leg of the garment. 
   
   
       9 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the interior layer is in the form of a sleeve and the tunnel pocket system comprises a tube of material extending from the exterior pocket of the outer shell to the interior layer. 
   
   
       10 . The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the sleeve is a continuous band. 
   
   
       11 . The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the sleeve is a discontinuous band and comprises at least one fastener for fastening the sleeve around a wearer's leg. 
   
   
       12 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the pocket tunnel system is positioned on a left leg of the garment. 
   
   
       13 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the garment comprises two pocket tunnel systems, wherein a first pocket tunnel system is positioned to be worn on a right leg of the garment and a second pocket tunnel system is positioned to be worn on a left leg of the garment. 
   
   
       14 . An athletic short comprising:
 an outer shell defining a top waist opening, an exterior pocket, and a pair of bottom leg openings;   an interior layer adapted to be worn around a leg of a wearer and comprising an elastic material; and   a tunnel pocket system positioned between the outer shell and the interior layer, wherein the tunnel pocket system defines a tunnel extending from the exterior pocket of the outer shell and terminating in an interior pocket positioned in or on the elastic material of the interior layer.   
   
   
       15 . The athletic short of  claim 14 , wherein interior pocket is composed of an elastic material. 
   
   
       16 . The athletic short of  claim 14 , wherein the interior pocket is attached on an outer surface of the interior layer. 
   
   
       17 . The athletic short of  claim 14 , wherein the interior layer is a compression short comprising first and second legs. 
   
   
       18 . The athletic short of  claim 17 , wherein the tunnel of the tunnel pocket system is defined by an outer surface of the undershort and a layer of material attached to the outer surface of the undershort. 
   
   
       19 . The athletic short of  claim 17 , wherein the interior layer is connected to the outer shell at the waist opening of the outer shell. 
   
   
       20 . The athletic short of  claim 14 , wherein the garment comprises two pocket tunnel systems, wherein a first pocket tunnel system is positioned on a right leg of the garment and a second pocket tunnel system is positioned on a left leg of the garment. 
   
   
       21 . The athletic short of  claim 14 , wherein the interior layer is in the form of a sleeve and the tunnel pocket system comprises a tube of material extending from the exterior pocket of the outer shell to the interior layer. 
   
   
       22 . The athletic short of  claim 21 , wherein the sleeve is a continuous band. 
   
   
       23 . The athletic short of  claim 21 , wherein the sleeve is a discontinuous band and comprises at least one fastener for fastening the sleeve around a wearer's leg.