Concealed pocket assembly for clothing article

Abstract

A clothing article generally includes a posterior panel and two anterior panels, at least one of which contains a breast panel and a concealed pocket assembly. The concealed pocket assembly is attached to the lower hem of the breast panel to form the anterior panel. The concealed pocket assembly generally includes a pocket flap, an inner pocket panel and an outer pocket panel. The pocket flap is positioned over the outer pocket panel to conceal the upper hem of the outer pocket panel. The pocket flap is integrated into the concealed pocket assembly at the lateral and medial seams. A closure mechanism attaches to the medial edge of both anterior panels to releasably fasten the clothing article together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A clothing article adapted to surround an upper body portion, the clothing article comprising:
 a posterior panel having an upper edge, a lower edge, and first and second lateral edges;   a first anterior panel assembly having a medial edge, the first anterior panel including:
 a breast panel connected to the posterior panel along a first portion of the upper edge to define a neck opening and connected to the posterior panel along at least an upper portion of the first lateral edge to define a first arm opening; 
 a concealed pocket assembly having:
 a pocket flap and an inner pocket panel connected along a lower hem formed on the breast panel; and 
 an outer pocket panel connected to along a lower perimeter to the inner pocket panel, the outer pocket panel having an upper hem; 
 a lateral seam interconnecting the pocket flap, the inner pocket panel and the outer pocket panel to the posterior panel along a lower portion of the first lateral edge; 
 a medial seam interconnecting the pocket flap, the inner pocket panel and the outer pocket panel to each other along a lower portion of the medial edge of the first anterior panel such that the inner and outer pocket panels define a pocket wherein the upper hem is concealed behind a portion of the pocket flap; 
 
   a second anterior panel assembly connected to a second portion of said upper edge of the posterior panel opposite said neck opening and connected to the posterior panel along said second lateral edge to define a second arm opening opposite said first arm opening; and   a closure mechanism interposed between the first medial edge of said first anterior panel and a second medial edge of said second anterior panel to releasably interconnect the first and second anterior panel assemblies.   
     
     
         2 . The clothing article of  claim 1  wherein said lateral seam extends upward to interconnect the breast panel and posterior panel along the upper portion of the first lateral edge. 
     
     
         3 . The clothing article of  claim 1  wherein said medial seam interconnects the medial edge of first anterior panel assembly to the closure mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The clothing article of  claim 1  wherein said closure mechanism comprises a zipper. 
     
     
         5 . The clothing article of  claim 1  further comprising a hook and loop fastener affixed to the interior of the pocket flap and the exterior of the outer pocket panel for releasably securing the pocket opening. 
     
     
         6 . The clothing article of  claim 1  wherein a superior seam interconnects the pocket flap, the inner pocket panel and the lower hem of the breast panel. 
     
     
         7 . The clothing article of  claim 1  wherein said pocket flap comprises a folded, two-layer construction. 
     
     
         8 . The clothing article of  claim 1  further comprises a bias trim secured along the neck opening and medial edges. 
     
     
         9 . The clothing article of  claim 8  further comprises a bias trim circumscribing the lower edges of the anterior and posterior panels. 
     
     
         10 . The clothing article of  claim 1  wherein a bias trim is secured around the arm openings. 
     
     
         11 . The clothing article of  claim 1  wherein said second anterior panel assembly has a medial edge and further comprises:
 a second breast panel connected to the posterior panel along a second portion of the upper edge to define a neck opening and connected to the posterior panel along an upper portion of the second lateral edge to define a second arm opening; 
 a second concealed pocket assembly having: 
 a pocket flap and an inner pocket panel connected to a lower hem formed on the breast panel; 
 an outer pocket panel connected to along a lower perimeter to the inner pocket panel, the outer pocket panel having an upper hem; 
 a lateral seam interconnecting the pocket flap, the inner pocket panel and the outer pocket panel to the posterior panel along a lower portion of the second lateral edge; and 
 a medial seam interconnecting pocket flap, the inner pocket panel and the outer pocket panel to each other along a lower portion of the medial edge of the second anterior panel such that the inner and outer pocket panels define a pocket wherein the upper hem is concealed behind a portion of the pocket flap. 
 
     
     
         12 . The clothing article of  claim 1  wherein said clothing article comprises a vest. 
     
     
         13 . The clothing article of  claim 1  wherein said clothing article is fabricated with meshed material. 
     
     
         14 . The clothing article of  claim 1  wherein said inner pocket panel connects to the upper hem of the outer pocket panel to subdividing the pocket. 
     
     
         15 . The clothing article of  claim 1  wherein said clothing article further comprises a badge holder provided in one of the first and second anterior panel assemblies. 
     
     
         16 . A method for fabricating an article of clothing comprising:
 laying up a posterior panel having an upper edge and a first and second lateral edge, and a first and second anterior panel assembly having a medial edge, said first anterior panel having a breast panel and a concealed pocket assembly;   stitching a lateral seam to interconnect a pocket flap, an inner pocket panel and an outer pocket panel to the posterior panel along a lower portion of the first lateral edge;   stitching a medial seam to interconnect the pocket flap, the inner pocket panel and the outer pocket panel to each other along a lower portion of the medial edge of the first anterior panel;   stitching along an upper edge of the inner pocket panel to connect said inner pocket panel and the pocket flap along a lower hem of breast panel;   stitching a lower perimeter of the inner and outer pocket panel to connect the outer pocket panel to the inner pocket panel such that the inner and outer pocket panels define a pocket wherein an upper edge of the outer pocket panel is concealed behind a portion of the pocket flap;   stitching the upper edge of the posterior panel along an upper periphery of each respective breast panel of the first and second anterior panel of the article of clothing to define a neck opening;   stitching a lateral edge of the breast panel of the first anterior panel along a corresponding upper portion of the first lateral edge of the posterior panel to define a first arm opening;   stitching a lateral edge of the breast panel of the second anterior panel along a corresponding portion of the second lateral edge of the posterior panel to define a second arm opening opposite said first arm opening; and   securing a closure mechanism interposed between a first medial edge of said first anterior panel and a second medial edge of said second anterior panel to releasably interconnect the first and second anterior panel assemblies.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 laying up said second anterior panel with a breast panel and a concealed pocket assembly opposite the breast panel and concealed pocket assembly of the first anterior panel; 
 stitching a lateral seam to interconnect a pocket flap, an inner pocket panel and an outer pocket panel to the posterior panel along a lower portion of the second lateral edge; 
 stitching a medial seam to interconnect the pocket flap, the inner pocket panel and the outer pocket panel to each other along a lower portion of the medial edge of the second anterior panel; 
 stitching along an upper edge of the inner pocket panel to connect said inner pocket panel and the pocket flap to a lower hem of breast panel; and 
 stitching a lower perimeter of the inner and outer pocket panel to connect the outer pocket panel to the inner pocket panel such that the inner and outer pocket panels define a pocket wherein an upper edge of the outer pocket panel is concealed behind a portion of the pocket flap. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising stitching a hook and loop fastener to a lower internal edge of the pocket flap and a corresponding upper external edge of the outer pocket panel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising stitching a first side of the closure mechanism along said first medial edge of said first anterior panel; and
 stitching a second side of the closure mechanism along said second medial edge of said second anterior panel to provide a closure mechanism integrated into the clothing article. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising stitching a bias trim circumscribing the neck opening, the arm openings, and the medial and lower edges of the anterior and posterior panels.