Garment with submersible waterproof pocket

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment of a waterproof submersible pocket for attachment to a garment includes a top layer of a flexible plastic or plastic-coated material impervious to water, and a bottom layer of a flexible plastic or plastic-coated material impervious to water. The top layer and the bottom layer are welded together along a weld seam defining all or part of a pouch for holding items, the weld seam being sufficiently wide for receiving stitching for attachment to the garment without the stitching invading the pouch. The pouch includes a closable opening for passing the items into the pouch or removing the items from the pouch. A waterproof closure structure is provided for the opening to preventing water from passing through the closure structure in a closed condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A waterproof submersible pocket for attachment to a garment, comprising:
 a top layer of a flexible plastic or plastic-coated material impervious to water;   a bottom layer of a flexible plastic or plastic-coated material impervious to water;   wherein the top layer and the bottom layer are welded together along a weld seam defining all or part of a pouch for holding items, the weld seam being sufficiently wide for receiving stitching for attachment to the garment without the stitching invading the pouch;   the pouch including a closable opening for passing the items into the pouch or removing the items from the pouch;   a waterproof closure structure for the opening to preventing water from passing through the closure structure in a closed condition.   
     
     
         2 . The pocket of  claim 1 , wherein the waterproof closure structure comprises a waterproof zipper. 
     
     
         3 . The pocket of  claim 2 , further comprising first and second pull tabs attached to the bottom layer adjacent respective first and second ends of the zipper to assist in manipulating the zipper. 
     
     
         4 . The pocket of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is a flap opening defined in a foldable flap formed by the top and bottom layers. 
     
     
         5 . The pocket of  claim 4 , wherein the closure structure comprises a first press seal structure disposed at an interface area between the pouch and the flap, and a second press seal structure disposed adjacent the flap opening. 
     
     
         6 . The pocket of  claim 5 , wherein the flap is foldable onto itself, and the closure structure further comprises a hook structure and a loop structure disposed on the respective top and bottom layers and positioned to be brought into contact with the flap in a folded configuration so that the hook and loop structures maintain the folded configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The pocket of  claim 1 , wherein the waterproof closure structure is configured to prevent water leakage for a period of at least thirty minutes with the pocket submerged in water to a depth of one meter. 
     
     
         8 . A garment with an integrated waterproof submersible pocket, comprising:
 a garment panel;   a waterproof submersible pocket configured for attachment to the garment panel, the pocket including:
 a top layer of a flexible plastic or plastic-coated material impervious to water; 
 a bottom layer of a flexible plastic or plastic-coated material impervious to water; 
 wherein the top layer and the bottom layer are welded together along a weld seam defining all or part of a pouch for holding items, the weld seam being sufficiently wide for receiving stitching for attachment to the garment panel without the stitching invading the pouch; 
 the pouch including a closable opening for passing the items into the pouch or removing the items from the pouch; 
 a waterproof closure structure for the opening to preventing water from passing through the closure structure in a closed condition; and 
   wherein the pocket is secured to the garment panel by stitching though the weld seam.   
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 8 , wherein the weld seam has a width of 0.5 inch. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 8 , wherein the top layer defines a bellowed pouch layer, the opening is formed in the bellowed pouch layer, and the waterproof closure structure comprises a waterproof zipper. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 10 , further comprising first and second pull tabs attached to the bottom layer adjacent respective first and second ends of the zipper to assist in manipulating the zipper. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 8 , wherein the opening is a flap opening defined in a foldable flap formed by the top and bottom layers and extending from the pouch. 
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 12 , wherein the closure structure comprises a first press seal structure disposed at an interface area between the pouch and the flap, and a second press seal structure disposed adjacent the flap opening. 
     
     
         14 . The pocket of  claim 13 , wherein the flap is foldable onto itself, and the closure structure further comprises a hook structure and a loop structure disposed on the respective top and bottom layers and positioned to be brought into contact with the flap in a folded configuration so that the hook and loop structures maintain the folded configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The pocket of  claim 8 , wherein the waterproof closure structure is configured to prevent water leakage for a period of at least thirty minutes with the pocket submerged in water to a depth of one meter. 
     
     
         16 . The garment of  claim 8 , wherein the garment is a pair of shorts, and the garment panel defines a portion of one leg of the pair. 
     
     
         17 . A garment with an integrated waterproof submersible pocket, comprising:
 a garment panel;   a waterproof submersible pocket configured for attachment to the garment panel, the pocket including:
 a top layer of a flexible plastic or plastic-coated material impervious to water; 
 a bottom layer of a flexible plastic or plastic-coated material impervious to water; 
 wherein the top layer and the bottom layer are welded together along a weld seam defining a part of a pouch for holding items, the weld seam being sufficiently wide for receiving stitching for attachment to the garment panel without the stitching invading the pouch; 
 the top layer and the bottom layer further defining a flap portion extending from the pouch and including a closable opening for passing the items into the pouch or removing the items from the pouch; 
 a waterproof closure structure to prevent water from passing through the closure structure in a closed condition, the closure structure comprising a first press seal structure disposed at an interface area between the pouch and the flap, and a second press seal structure disposed adjacent the flap opening; and 
 wherein the pocket is secured to the garment panel by stitching though the weld seam. 
   
     
     
         18 . The garment of  claim 17 , wherein the flap is foldable onto itself, and the closure structure further comprises a hook structure and a loop structure disposed on the respective top and bottom layers and positioned to be brought into contact with the flap in a folded configuration so that the hook and loop structures maintain the folded configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The garment of  claim 17 , wherein the pouch has a width dimension, and the flap has a width dimension smaller than the pouch width dimension. 
     
     
         20 . The garment of  claim 17 , further comprising a strip extending across the flap and attached to the garment panel at first and second ends of the strip, the flap being passed under the strip, the strip guiding folding of the flap.