Waterproof Pocket

Abstract

A waterproof garment pocket is provided. The pocket consists of a front sheet and a rear sheet. Attached to the inner side of the front sheet is a resealable bag such as, for example, a ZIPLOC® bag. The front sheet contains at least two creases across its width to allow the sheet to fold over itself, and the resealable bag with it, at least three times. After the front sheet is folded over, it is secured by a waterproof closure mechanism such as, for example, three pairs of corresponding VELCRO® strips. This provides extra barriers to the infiltration of water when the user is in the water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A waterproof pocket integrated into a swimming garment, the waterproof pocket comprising:
 an overlying front sheet and a rear sheet of a waterproof material connected together at three of four edges, and defining an opening at the fourth edge, wherein the pocket is integrated into the swimming garment by attaching the front sheet to the second sheet, the rear sheet being integrated directly into a fabric of the swimming garment;   a resealable bag attached to the front sheet and positioned within the opening defined by the first and second sheets, the bag comprising a closure mechanism forming a waterproof seal when in a closed position and being open when in an open position;   at least three creases across the width of the front sheet configured to form folds; and   a pair of interfacing hook and loop connector strips on the first sheet configured to connect together when the first sheet and the bag from the folds, and a second pair of hook and loop connector strips comprising one strip on an outer surface of the front sheet and the corresponding strip on the rear sheet, the second pair of hook and loop connector strips connectable together when the second sheet extends over the folded first sheet and bag when the first hook and loop connector pair are connected.   
     
     
         2 . The pocket of  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises at least two pairs of mating halves of a waterproof zipper assembly having a plurality of interconnecting grooves. 
     
     
         3 . The pocket of  claim 2 , wherein the front sheet can be folded. 
     
     
         4 . The pocket of  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism of the resealable bag is opened and closed by a sliding clamp. 
     
     
         5 . The pocket of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the first and second hook and loop connector pairs is at least greater than a width of the resealable bag. 
     
     
         6 . The pocket of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first and second sheets is inwardly concave. 
     
     
         7 . The pocket of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first and second sheets are transparent. 
     
     
         8 . The pocket of  claim 7 , wherein the resealable bag is air and water impermeable when sealed. 
     
     
         9 . A method of using the waterproof pocket integrated into the garment of  claim 1  comprising the steps of:
 placing at least one item into the resealable bag; 
 forming a watertight seal between a mating and sealing groove of the closure mechanism of the resealable bag; 
 folding the bag and first sheet at least three times, each fold being over one of the at least three creases, forming a folded assembly; 
 securing the folded assembly by bringing the first pair of hook and loop connector strips on the first sheet into contact with each other and securing the entire pocket by bringing the second pair of hook and loop connector strips on the outer surface of the first sheet into contact with the corresponding strip on the second sheet; and 
 entering the water, submerging the item in the water with the waterproof pocket immovably secured to the garment. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first pair of interfacing hook and loop connector strips are integrated into an inner surface of the first sheet and the second pair of hook and loop connector strips comprise one strip on an outer surface of the first sheet and the corresponding strip on the second sheet. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises at least two pairs of mating halves of a waterproof zipper assembly having a plurality of interconnecting grooves and wherein the sealing step comprisies urging the mating halves into mating connection. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the resealable bag is opened and closed by a sliding clamp. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the width of the first and second hook and loop connector pairs is at least greater than the width of the resealable bag. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising forming least one of the front surface and the rear surface to be contoured to substantially match a bodily region of a wearer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the front and rear sheets are transparent. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the resealable bag is air and water impermeable when sealed.