Performance duty uniform for law enforcement and other uniformed personnel

Abstract

For uniformed personnel a shirt having a concealed belly pocket which overlies the inside surface of one of said front left and right panels of the shirt, this pocket being closed at the top, bottom and one end, and having an opposite open end which can be closed with a zipper that is located along the seam between one front panel and the back panel and extending generally vertically downward from beneath the arm to an area near the waist of the shirt.

1 . A shirt comprising:
 a. a back panel with top and bottom parts, side edges and a central longitudinal axis extending between said top and bottom parts,   b. left and right front panels, each having top and bottom parts and opposite inner and outer side edges, said outer side edges of said front panels respectively being attached to one of said side edges of said back panel forming attachment areas, where each of said attachment areas is a longitudinal zone generally parallel to said central longitudinal axis, said front panels' inner edges adapted to overlie and be releasably secured to each other,   c. an arm part attached between and to each of said front panels and said back panel near said top parts thereof,   d. at least one of said attachment areas including a longitudinal opening at an elevation below said arm part and above said bottom part of said back and front panels, said opening defined by front and rear edges of said front and back panels respectively,   e. a concealed belly pocket formed of front and rear sheets, said belly pocket closed at the top and bottom and having one end closed and an opposite end that is open and defined by front and rear lips of said front and rear sheets respectively, said pocket having a central longitudinal axis extending between its ends generally transversely of said central longitudinal axis of said back panel,   f. said belly pocket situated to lie adjacent a first of said front panels, with said closed end of said belly pocket attached to said inner edge of said first front panel intermediate the top and bottom thereof, and said open end of said belly pocket attached to said attachment area associated with said first front panel and with said front and rear lips of said belly pocket attached to said front and rear edges of said opening respectively of said opening, and   g. closure means for releasably joining said front and rear lips of said pocket.   
     
     
         2 . A shirt according to  claim 1  wherein said closure means is a zipper comprising adjacent toothed strips engageable to each other, each of said strips fixed to one of said lips of said belly pocket. 
     
     
         3 . A shirt according to  claim 1  wherein said attachment area is a seam, and in said attachment area said side edge of said back panel and said outside edge of said front panel each have a flap folded inwardly away from said seam, and said closure means is a zipper comprising a set of adjacent engageable strips attached respectively to said flaps, and said belly pocket's front and rear lips are attached to said zipper strips, whereby closure of the zipper closes said belly pocket. 
     
     
         4 . A shirt according to  claim 3  wherein said attachment area in the vicinity of said belly pocket comprises:
 A. a first laminate of (1) said flap of one of said front panels, (2) a first of said zipper strips, and (3) one of said lips of said belly pocket, and 
 B. a second laminate of (1) said flap of said back panel, (2) the other of said zipper strips, and (3) the other of said lips of said belly pocket. 
 
     
     
         5 . A shirt according to  claim 1  wherein said closure means is a zipper comprising adjacent toothed strips engageable to each other, each of said strips fixed to one of said edges of said back and front panels joined at said attachment area. 
     
     
         6 . A shirt comprising:
 a. a back panel with top and bottom parts, side edges and a central longitudinal axis extending between said top and bottom parts,   b. left and right front panels having inside surfaces which overlie said back panel, each of said front panels having top and bottom parts and opposite inner and outer side edges, said outer side edges of said front panels respectively being attached to one of said side edges of said back panel forming an attachment area, where each attachment area is a longitudinal zone generally parallel to said central longitudinal axis, said front panels' inner edges being adapted to overlie and be releasably secured to each other, each of said front panels having an inside surface facing said back panel,   c. an arm part attached between and to each of said front panels and said back panel near said top parts thereof,   d. said inner edge of a first of said front panels having a terminal margin and including a longitudinal opening situated between said top and bottom parts of said front panel and situated inward of said terminal edge, said opening defined by left and right lips,   e. a belly pocket formed of front and rear sheets, said belly pocket closed at the top and bottom and having one end closed and an opposite end that is open and defined by front and rear lips of said front and rear sheets respectively, said pocket having a central longitudinal axis extending between its ends generally transversely of said central longitudinal axis of said back panel,   f. said belly pocket situated to overlie said inside surface of said first front panel, with said closed end of said belly pocket attached to said attachment area intermediate the top and bottom thereof, and said open end of said belly pocket attached to said attachment area with said front and rear lips of said belly pocket attached to said inner edge of said front panel front and rear lips of said belly pocket attached to said left and right edges of said opening respectively, and   g. closure means for releasably joining said front and rear lips of said pocket.   
     
     
         7 . A shirt comprising:
 a. a back panel with top and bottom parts, side edges and a central longitudinal axis extending between said top and bottom parts,   b. left and right front panels, each having a top part joined to a top part of said back panel, a bottom part, and opposite inner and outer side edges, said outer side edges of said front panels respectively being attached to one of said side edges of said back panel in a seam junction, said front panels' inner edges adapted to overlie and be releasably secured to each other,   c. an arm part attached between and to each of said front panels and said back panel near said top parts thereof,   d. at least one of said seams including a longitudinal opening at an elevation below said arm part and above said bottom part of said back and front panels, said opening defined by front and rear edges of said front and back panels respectively,   e. a concealed belly pocket formed of front and rear sheets, said belly pocket closed at the top and bottom and having one end closed and an opposite end that is open and defined by front and rear lips, said pocket having a central longitudinal axis extending between its ends generally transversely of said central longitudinal axis of said back panel,   f. said belly pocket situated to lie adjacent a first of said front panels, with said closed end of said belly pocket attached to said inner edge of said first front panel intermediate the top and bottom thereof, and said open end of said belly pocket attached to said seam with said first front and rear lips of said belly pocket attached to said front and rear edges of said opening respectively, and   g. closure means for releasably joining said front and rear lips of said pocket.