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 .- 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A garment comprising:
 an outer shell of a pair of pants, a skirt, a skort, or a pair of shorts, wherein the outer shells defines a top waist opening and an exterior pocket opening;   interior, elastic shorts comprising first and second leg panels-designed to be worn around the legs of a wearer; and   a tunnel pocket system comprising a single layer of elastic material attached to the exterior pocket opening and an outer surface of one of the first or second leg panels of the interior elastic shorts,   wherein the single layer of elastic material and the outer surface of the interior elastic shorts adjacent to the single layer define a tunnel extending from the exterior pocket opening of the outer shell and terminating on the outer surface of one of the first or second leg panels of the inner elastic shorts.   
     
     
         25 . The garment of  claim 24 , wherein the interior, elastic shorts are connected to the outer shell at the waist opening of the outer shell. 
     
     
         26 . The garment of  claim 24 , wherein the tunnel pocket system is positioned on the first leg panel of the interior, elastic shorts. 
     
     
         27 . The garment of  claim 24 , wherein the garment comprises two tunnel pocket systems, wherein a first tunnel pocket system is positioned on the first leg panel of the interior, elastic shorts and a second tunnel pocket system is positioned on the second leg panel of the interior, elastic shorts. 
     
     
         28 . The garment of  claim 24 , wherein the pair of pants, the skirt, the skort, or the pair of shorts are an integral portion of an upper body garment. 
     
     
         29 . The garment of  claim 28 , wherein the upper body garment is a dress, pair of overalls, or jumpsuit. 
     
     
         30 . The garment of  claim 24 , wherein the outer shell is a skirt. 
     
     
         31 . The garment of  claim 24 , wherein the outer shell is a skort. 
     
     
         32 . The garment of  claim 24 , wherein the outer shell is a pair of pants. 
     
     
         33 . An athletic short comprising:
 an outer shell defining a top waist opening, an exterior pocket opening, and a pair of leg panels having bottom leg openings;   a compression short comprising an elastic material, and comprising first and second leg panels designed to be worn around the legs of a wearer, wherein the compression short is connected to the outer shell at the waist opening of the outer shell; and   a tunnel pocket system comprising a single layer of elastic material attached to the exterior pocket opening and an outer surface of one of the first or second leg panels of the compression short,   wherein the single layer of elastic material and the outer surface of the compression short adjacent to the single layer define a tunnel extending from the exterior pocket opening of the outer shell and terminating on an outer surface of one of the first or second leg panels of the elastic material of the compression short.   
     
     
         34 . The athletic short of  claim 33 , wherein the garment comprises two tunnel pocket systems, wherein a first pocket tunnel system is positioned on the first leg panel of the compression short and a second pocket tunnel system is positioned on the second leg panel of the compression short. 
     
     
         35 . A method of storing an item in a garment of  claim 24 , the method comprising:
 wearing the garment; and   storing an item in the tunnel of the tunnel pocket system of the garment,   wherein said storing provides for retention of the item against a leg of the wearer, thereby reducing movement of the item when the wearer moves.   
     
     
         36 . A method of storing an item in the athletic short of  claim 33 , the method comprising:
 wearing the athletic short; and   storing an item in the tunnel of the tunnel pocket system of the athletic short,   wherein said storing provides for retention of the item against a leg of the wearer, thereby reducing movement of the item when the wearer moves.