Article of Apparel with Storage System

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward an article of apparel including a storage system. In an embodiment, the article of apparel is an athletic brassiere (sports bra) including cups and lateral wings that wrap along the sides of the user. At least one of the wings defines a pocket adapted to receive an object for storage. The pocket includes a tension closure member that applies increasing pressure across the pocket opening as the load on the member increases. The storage system may further include an envelope adapted to be received by the pocket. The envelope, which may be water resistant, includes a tension closure member operable to apply increasing pressure along the envelope opening as load across the member increases.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A sports bra configured to be worn on a torso, the article comprising:
 a forward portion including a first cup and a second cup, the forward portion configured to be oriented along a front of the torso;   a rearward portion configured to be oriented along a rear of the torso; and   a lateral portion configured to be oriented along a side of the torso, wherein the lateral portion comprises a compartment including an opening and a closure member spanning the opening, the closure member being operable to apply increasing force with increasing load across the closure.   
     
     
         2 . The sports bra according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the compartment includes a pocket including an interior wall and an exterior wall, the first and second walls cooperating to define a cavity accessed via the opening; and   the closure member overlaps the exterior wall to cover the opening.   
     
     
         3 . The sports bra according to  claim 2 , wherein the pocket is formed of a textile operable to stretch from a normal state to a stretched state. 
     
     
         4 . The sports bra according to  claim 3 , wherein the closure member is formed of a textile operable to stretch from a normal state to a stretched state. 
     
     
         5 . The sports bra according to  claim 4 , wherein the pocket walls possess a first stretch or recovery value and the closure member possesses a second, different stretch or recovery value. 
     
     
         6 . The sports bra according to  claim 1 , wherein the bra further comprises a first strap configured to span a first shoulder of the torso and a second strap configured to span a second should of the torso. 
     
     
         7 . The sports bra according to  claim 6 , wherein the bra is formed of a first textile layer and a second textile layer, the second textile layer possessing higher breathability than the first textile layer. 
     
     
         8 . A sports bra comprising:
 a forward portion including a first cup and a second cup;   a first lateral portion coupled to a first side of the forward portion proximate the first cup;   a second lateral portion coupled to the forward portion proximate the second cup; and   a storage system disposed within the side portion, the storage system comprising a pocket defined by an outer layer and an inner layer of the side portion and a storage pouch removably housed within the pocket.   
     
     
         9 . A sports bra according to  claim 8 , wherein the pouch includes an opening and a closure member spanning the opening, the closure member being operable to apply increasing force with increasing load across the closure. 
     
     
         10 . The sports bra according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the storage pouch includes a first wall and a second wall, the first and second walls cooperating to define a cavity accessed via the opening; and   the closure member is coupled to the first wall and overlaps the second wall such that it spans the opening.   
     
     
         11 . The sports bra according to  claim 10 , wherein the pouch is formed of a textile operable to stretch from a normal state to a stretched state. 
     
     
         12 . The sports bra according to  claim 11 , wherein the closure member is formed of a textile operable to stretch from a normal state to a stretched state. 
     
     
         13 . The sports bra according to  claim 12 , wherein the pocket walls possess a first stretch or recovery value and the closure member possesses a second, different stretch or recovery value. 
     
     
         14 . The sports bra according to  claim 1 , wherein the bra further comprises a first strap configured to span a first shoulder of the torso and a second strap configured to span a second should of the torso. 
     
     
         15 . The sports bra according to  claim 14 , wherein the bra is formed of a first textile layer and a second textile layer, the second textile layer possessing higher breathability than the first textile layer.