Race bib protective pocket

Abstract

A protective pocket is provided for a substantially two-dimensional object, such as a race bib. The protective pocket includes cooperating first and second lightweight fabrics, and an opening for receiving the object. The first fabric may be an item of a race participant's apparel or a backing that itself is attached to such an apparel item. The second fabric may be a mesh member having spaced apertures through which the object is visible and exposed to elements. The protective pocket is configured to maintain the object in a substantially vertical planar orientation, and thereby in an “upright” position, such that it that is (a) substantially parallel to the plane defined by the adjacent surface of the race participant's apparel item, and (b) substantially parallel to the plane defined by the adjacent body part of the race participant (e.g., a torso or leg). This positioning also improves the visibility of the indicia printed on the object through the mesh member. In order to facilitate this positioning, the mesh member is tightly secured to the first fabric so as to allow limited movement between open and closed positions.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A protective pocket for use with an item of apparel, comprising:
 a first fabric having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface;   a second fabric having a perimeter including first, second, third and fourth sides, and having a plurality of spaced apertures;   a border member extending along said first, second and third sides of said perimeter, and said border member being secured to one of said first and second surfaces of said first fabric;   wherein said first fabric and said second fabric cooperate to form said protective pocket therebetween, and wherein said protective pocket has an opening adjacent said fourth side of said perimeter, and   wherein said protective pocket is configured to removeably receive a substantially two-dimensional object and maintain the substantially two-dimensional object in a substantially vertical planar orientation, so as to be substantially parallel to said first and second surfaces of said first fabric.   
     
     
         2 . The protective pocket of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of spaced apertures allow the exposure of the substantially two-dimensional object to elements encountered during a race, and said plurality of spaced apertures facilitates visibility of the substantially two-dimensional object therethrough. 
     
     
         3 . The protective pocket of  claim 1 , wherein said first fabric is at least a portion of the item of apparel. 
     
     
         4 . The protective pocket of  claim 1 , wherein said first fabric is a backing, and wherein said backing is attached to the item of apparel. 
     
     
         5 . The protective pocket of  claim 1 , wherein said second fabric is a mesh member. 
     
     
         6 . The protective pocket of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially two-dimensional object is a race bib. 
     
     
         7 . The protective pocket of  claim 1 , wherein said protective pocket is positioned on a front side of the item of apparel. 
     
     
         8 . The protective pocket of  claim 1 , comprising a first compartment, for receiving the substantially two-dimensional object, and further comprising a second compartment. 
     
     
         9 . A protective pocket for use with an apparel item, comprising:
 at least a portion of said apparel item having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface;   a mesh member having a perimeter including first, second, third and fourth sides; and   a border member extending along said first, second and third sides of said perimeter, and said border member being secured to said apparel item;   wherein said mesh member and said apparel item cooperate to form said protective pocket therebetween, said protective pocket having an opening adjacent said fourth side of said perimeter, and   wherein said protective pocket is configured to removeably receive a substantially two-dimensional object and maintain the substantially two-dimensional object in a substantially vertical planar orientation, so as to be substantially parallel to said first and second surfaces of said apparel item.   
     
     
         10 . The protective pocket of  claim 9 , wherein said mesh member includes a plurality of spaced apertures that allow the exposure of the substantially two-dimensional object to elements encountered during a race, and wherein said plurality of spaced apertures facilitates visibility of the substantially two-dimensional object therethrough. 
     
     
         11 . The protective pocket of  claim 9 , wherein said border member is secured to said first surface of said apparel item. 
     
     
         12 . The protective pocket of  claim 9 , wherein the substantially two-dimensional object is a race bib. 
     
     
         13 . The protective pocket of  claim 9 , wherein said apparel item is selected from the group consisting of a shirt, a tank top, shorts, pants, a jacket, a sports bra, yoga pants, yoga shorts, boy shorts, a track and field jersey, a triathlon jersey and a cycling jersey.