Cycling shell with safety pocket features

Abstract

A cycling outer shell worn over a cycling jersey by a wearer may have at least a torso portion made of panels of at least one material, the torso portion having a back surface adapted to cover a back of the wearer when worn, and a front surface to cover a chest of the wearer when worn. A cutout is defined in a lower portion of the back surface of the torso portion and located in alignment with pockets of the cycling jersey, the cutout having a peripheral edge with opposite lateral edge portions, a bottom edge portion and a top edge portion, the bottom edge portion delimited by a strip extending between the opposite lateral edge portions, with a width dimension between the lateral edge portions of the cutout generally corresponding to a width of the pockets of the cycling jersey, and with a height dimension between the bottom edge portion and the top edge portion of the cutout generally corresponding to a height of the pockets of the cycling jersey. One or two lateral pockets are on a side or sides of the torso portion.

1 . A cycling outer shell worn over a cycling jersey by a wearer comprising:
 at least a torso portion made of panels of at least one material, the torso portion having a back surface adapted to cover a back of the wearer when worn, and a front surface to cover a chest of the wearer when worn;   a cutout defined in a lower portion of the back surface of the torso portion and located in alignment with pockets of the cycling jersey, the cutout having a peripheral edge with opposite lateral edge portions, a bottom edge portion and a top edge portion, the bottom edge portion delimited by a strip extending between the opposite lateral edge portions, with a width dimension between the lateral edge portions of the cutout generally corresponding to a width of the pockets of the cycling jersey, and with a height dimension between the bottom edge portion and the top edge portion of the cutout generally corresponding to a height of the pockets of the cycling jersey; and   at least a lateral pocket on a side of the torso portion.   
     
     
         2 . The outer shell according to  claim 1 , wherein two of the lateral pocket are present, one on each side of the cutout. 
     
     
         3 . The outer shell according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the lateral pocket represents an angular value between 35 degrees and 55 degrees, inclusively, of a periphery of the outer shell. 
     
     
         4 . The outer shell according to  claim 1 , wherein an inward surface of at least a bottom strip of material defining the bottom edge portion of the cutout has a gripping material thereon. 
     
     
         5 . The outer shell according to  claim 1 , wherein a bottom edge portion of the cutout is defined by at least one elongated pocket. 
     
     
         6 . The outer shell according to  claim 1 , further comprising a zip fastener in the front surface of the torso portion. 
     
     
         7 . The outer shell according to  claim 1 , wherein a bottom edge of the torso portion has an elastic member adapted to surround a waist of the wearer. 
     
     
         8 . The outer shell according to  claim 1 , wherein the height dimension between the bottom edge portion and the top edge portion of the cutout is greater than the height of the pockets of the cycling jersey. 
     
     
         9 . The outer shell according to  claim 1 , wherein the cutout is sized and positioned with the back surface of the torso portion to have the top edge portion of the cutout above a top of the pockets of the cycling jersey. 
     
     
         10 . The outer shell according to  claim 1 , further comprising a see-through panel extending across the cutout. 
     
     
         11 . The outer shell according to  claim 1 , wherein the cutout is an unobstructed hole configured to allow access to jersey pockets therethrough. 
     
     
         12 . The outer shell according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lateral pocket is intersected by a frontal plane of the outer shell. 
     
     
         13 . The outer shell according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one lateral pocket has a greater portion thereof located anteriorly of the front plane. 
     
     
         14 . The outer shell according to  claim 1 , wherein the cutout represents an angular value between 140 and 170 degrees, inclusively, of a periphery of the outer shell. 
     
     
         15 . The outer shell according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lateral pocket has a width between 2.0 in and 4.0 in, inclusively. 
     
     
         16 . The outer shell according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lateral pocket has a height between 4.0 in to 8.0 in, inclusively. 
     
     
         17 . The outer shell according to  claim 1 , wherein the strip defines an elongated pocket. 
     
     
         18 . The outer shell according to  claim 17 , wherein the strip has a height between 2.0 in and 3.5 in, inclusively. 
     
     
         19 . The outer shell according to  claim 17 , wherein the strip includes a mesh material. 
     
     
         20 . The outer shell according to  claim 17 , wherein the elongated pocket has a seam separating the elongated pocket in two compartments.