Garment with compression concealment compartment

Abstract

A compression concealment compartment for concealing an article between a portion of a garment and a body of a wearer includes a concealment panel having a peripheral edge. The concealment panel has at least two layers and includes an outer panel constructed of a first material having at least one of a weight and a drape configured to reduce a silhouette of an article and having a peripheral edge. An inner panel is constructed of a second material and is joined to the outer panel along a portion of the peripheral edge, wherein together they define the peripheral edge of the concealment panel. A liner has an outer surface in opposed relationship with the inner surface of the inner panel, and an inner surface for facing the body of the wearer. The liner is joined to the concealment panel along a portion of the peripheral edge to define the compartment having an interior space for containing the article.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A compression concealment compartment for concealing an article between at least a portion of a garment and a body of a wearer of the garment, said compartment comprising:
 a concealment panel having a garment facing surface, a body facing surface, and a peripheral edge, the concealment panel being of at least two-layer construction comprising:
 an outer panel having an outer surface defining the garment facing surface of the concealment panel and an inner surface, said outer panel being constructed at least in part of a first material having at least one of a weight and a drape configured to reduce a silhouette of the article, and having a peripheral edge; 
 an inner panel having an outer surface in opposed relationship with the inner surface of the outer panel and an inner surface defining the body facing surface of the concealment panel, the inner panel being constructed at least in part of a second material and being joined to the outer panel along at least a portion of the peripheral edge thereof to together define the peripheral edge of the concealment panel; and 
 a liner having an outer surface in opposed relationship with the inner surface of the inner panel and an inner surface for facing the body of the wearer of the garment, the liner being joined to the concealment panel along at least a portion of the peripheral edge thereof to define together with the concealment panel the compartment having an interior space for containing the article. 
   
     
     
         2 . The compression concealment compartment in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising an opening formed through said outer surface of said outer panel, said opening configured to enable access to said interior space through said outer panel. 
     
     
         3 . The compression concealment compartment in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said opening is formed as a welt pocket opening. 
     
     
         4 . The compression concealment compartment in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said opening is trapezoidal in shape. 
     
     
         5 . The compression concealment compartment in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said first and said second materials comprise a foam material having opposite first and second surfaces. 
     
     
         6 . The compression concealment compartment in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein said foam material comprises neoprene sheet material. 
     
     
         7 . The compression concealment compartment in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein said foam material comprises a fabric laminated to said first and second surfaces. 
     
     
         8 . The compression concealment compartment in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein said fabric comprises one of a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, and a knitted fabric. 
     
     
         9 . The compression concealment compartment in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said first and said second material has a thickness between about ¾ millimeter and about 3.75 millimeter. 
     
     
         10 . A compression concealment garment system for carrying and concealing an article against a portion of a wearer, said system comprising:
 a garment adapted to enclose a portion of the wearer, said garment comprising a compression material configured to confirm to the portion of the wearer;   a concealment panel coupled to said garment, said concealment panel having a garment facing surface, a body facing surface, and a peripheral edge, said concealment panel being of at least two-layer construction comprising:
 an outer panel having an outer surface defining said garment facing surface of said concealment panel and an inner surface, said outer panel being constructed at least in part of a first material having at least one of a weight and a drape configured to reduce a silhouette of the article, and having a peripheral edge; and 
 an inner panel having an outer surface in opposed relationship with said inner surface of said outer panel and an inner surface defining said body facing surface of said concealment panel, said inner panel being constructed at least in part of a second material and being joined to said outer panel along at least a portion of said peripheral edge thereof to together define said peripheral edge of said concealment panel, said outer and inner panel together defining a compartment having an interior space for containing the article; and 
   a liner having an outer surface in opposed relationship with said inner surface of said inner panel and an inner surface for facing the body of the wearer, said liner being joined to said garment, said liner enclosing said concealment panel between said liner and said garment, said liner configured to engage the portion of the wearer.   
     
     
         11 . The system in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein said compression material of said garment comprises at least one of elastane, polyester, and nylon. 
     
     
         12 . The system in accordance with  claim 10  further comprising an opening formed through said garment and said outer panel of said concealment panel, said opening configured to enable access to said interior space. 
     
     
         13 . The system in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein said opening is formed as a welt pocket opening. 
     
     
         14 . The system in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein said first and said second materials comprise a foam laminate material comprising a fabric laminated to a first surface and a second surface of a foam material. 
     
     
         15 . A method of fabricating a compression concealment garment having a compression concealment compartment, said method comprising:
 joining an outer panel face-to-face to an outer surface of a compression garment, the outer panel including a first material having at least one of a weight and a drape configured to reduce a silhouette of an article;   forming an opening through the outer panel and the compression garment;   inserting the outer panel through the opening such that it is flush against a body facing surface of the compression garment; and   joining an inner panel to the outer panel along at least a portion of a peripheral edge thereof to form the compression concealment compartment having an interior space for containing an article, the inner panel including a second material.   
     
     
         16 . The method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein joining the outer panel face-to-face to the outer surface of the compression garment comprises stitching the outer panel to the outer surface of the compression garment, wherein the stitch defines a closed perimeter of the opening. 
     
     
         17 . The method in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein forming the opening through the outer panel and the compression garment comprises removing the first material of the outer panel and the outer surface of the compression garment enclosed within the closed perimeter defined by the lockstitch. 
     
     
         18 . The method in accordance with  claim 16  further comprising joining a liner to the compression garment, the liner enclosing the outer panel and the inner panel between the compression garment and the liner. 
     
     
         19 . The method in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein joining the liner to the compression garment comprises stitching the liner to the compression garment such that the stitching extends through the outer panel and the inner panel along at least a portion of the peripheral edge thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein joining the inner panel to the outer panel along at least a portion of a peripheral edge thereof comprises joining the inner panel to the outer panel along at least a portion of a peripheral edge thereof to form a shape suitable for enclosing a firearm in an easily accessible position within the compression concealment compartment.