Uniform with optionally concealed/deployed visual panels for display about a 360 degree periphery

• US 5,588,154 A
• Filed: 10/07/1994
• Issued: 12/31/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blauer Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Blauer Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Blauer, Stephen, Mordechai, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Crowder, C. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HALE, GLORIA M
• Application Number:
  US08/319,876
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 2/69, 2/1, 2/74, 2/75, 2/79, 2/80, 2/94, 2/105, 2/106, 2/108, 2/115, 2/121, 2/122, 2/227, 2/228, 2/238, 2/244, 2/246, 2/247, 2/249, 2/250 , 2/251, 40/586
• US Class Current: 2/69
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/06 Trousers
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/01 with reflective or luminous safety means visible signalling arrangements G08B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/04 Removable linings
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 29/00 Uniforms; Parts or accessories of uniforms

Abstract

A uniform comprising a shirt and trousers. The shirt has a back body section and split front body sections which cooperate with a yoke that extends across the shoulders from arm to arm and over the shoulders and about the collar between the back body section and front body sections. The front body sections have breast pockets, the tops of which are open and overlapped by free edges of the yoke. An inverted pocket at the back section has a bottom opening defined between the back body section and a free edge of the yoke. Display panels are detachably secured within the shirt pockets such that they can be concealed in or extended from the pockets. The trousers have a pair of side patch pockets. Display panels are detachably secured within the patch pockets such that they can be concealed in or extended from the pockets. When the display panels of both the shirt and trousers are extended, they are available for viewing about a substantially 360-degree periphery. Optionally, the display panels are retroreflective. Optionally, the trousers have a removable, wind resistant lining.

Claims

1. A uniform for a human wearer, said uniform comprising matching shirt and trouser constructions:

(a) said shirt construction including a back body section, right and left front body sections, pairs of arms and sleeves, a collar, and a selectively secured, selectively free yoke that extends across said wearer'"'"'s shoulders from arm to arm and over said shoulders and about said collar between said back body section and said front body sections;

(b) said front body sections having breast pockets, said breast pockets having tops that are open and overlapped by free edges of said yoke;

(c) an inverted pocket at said back body section, with a bottom opening defined between said back body section and a free edge of said yoke;

(d) shirt display panels detachably secured within said breast pockets and said inverted pocket, said shirt display panels being adapted to be confined within said breast pockets and said inverted pocket out of sight or extended outwardly from said breast pockets and said inverted pocket for viewing;

(e) said trouser construction including a riser, a pair of legs, slant side pockets in said riser and side patch pockets under said slant side pockets at the sides of said legs;

(f) trouser display panels detachably secured within said side patch pockets, said trouser display panels being adapted to be confined within said side patch pockets out of sight or extended outwardly from said side patch pockets for viewing; and

(g) whereby, when all of said display panels of said breast pockets, said inverted pocket and said side patch pockets are deployed, the summation of said panels are available for viewing substantially throughout a 360-degree periphery about said wearer.

2. The uniform of claim 1 wherein said pocket for each display panel is provided with:

(a) a detachable connector for securing an edge of said display panel while it is flipped into or out of said pocket, and (b) an outwardly located connector for keeping said pocket closed when said panel is retained therewithin.

3. The uniform of claim 2 wherein said connectors are in the form of detachable microhook/microloop patches, said connectors being adapted to securely retain said panel for alternate concealed and unconcealed use, and also to permit detachment of said panels from said pockets when said uniform is to be washed or said panels are to be transferred to another uniform.

4. The uniform of claim 1 wherein, when said panels are concealed within their associated pockets, the smooth continuum of said yoke and said pockets provide a visual impression of uncluttered simplicity.

5. The uniform of claim 1 wherein said shirt and trouser constructions are composed of a blended polyester-cotton fabric.

6. The uniform of claim 1 wherein said panels are retroreflective.

7. The uniform of claim 1 wherein said panels are diffusely reflective.

8. The uniform of claim 1 wherein said panels contain visual information.

9. A shirt construction for a human wearer, said shirt comprising:

(a) a back body section, right and left front body sections, pairs of arms and sleeves, a collar, and a yoke having selectively secured, selectively free lower edges, said yoke extending across said wearer'"'"'s shoulders from arm to arm and over said shoulders and about said collar between said back body section and said front body sections;

(b) said front body sections having breast pockets, said breast pockets having tops that are open and overlapped by certain of said free edges of said yoke;

(c) an inverted pocket at said back body section, with a bottom opening defined between said back body section and a free edge of said yoke; and

(d) display panels detachably secured within said pockets, said panels being adapted to be concealed within said pockets or to be extended outwardly from said pockets.

10. The shirt construction of claim 9 wherein said pocket for each display panel is provided with:

(a) a detachable connector for securing an edge of said display panel while it is flipped into or out of said pocket, and (b) an outwardly located connector for keeping said pocket closed when said panel is retained therewithin.

11. The shirt construction of claim 10 wherein said connectors are in the form of detachable microhook/microloop patches, said connectors being adapted to securely retain said panel for alternate panel-concealed and panel-deployed use, and also to permit detachment of said panel from said pocket.

12. The shirt construction of claim 11 wherein, when said panels are concealed within their associated pockets, said associated pockets are closed by certain of said connectors.

13. The shirt construction of claim 12 wherein said shirt construction is composed primarily of a polyester-cotton blend.

14. A trouser construction comprising:

(a) a riser, a pair of legs, opposed slant side pockets in said riser, and opposed patch pockets under said side pockets at the sides of said legs;

(b) display panels detachably secured within said patch pockets, said panels being adapted to be concealed within said patch pockets out of sight or extended outwardly from said patch pockets for viewing; and

(c) each display panel being provided with a detachable connector for securing an edge of said display panel while it is flipped into or out of said pocket and an outwardly located connector for keeping said pocket closed when said panel is retained therewithin.

15. The trouser construction of claim 14 wherein said connectors are in the form of detachable microhook/microloop patches, said connectors being adapted to securely retain said panel for alternate concealment and deployment of said panel from said pocket.

16. The trouser construction of claim 15 wherein, when said panels are concealed within their associated pockets, said associated pockets are closed by certain of said connectors.

17. The trouser construction of claim 14 wherein said trouser construction is composed primarily of a polyester-cotton blend.

18. A uniform for a human wearer, said uniform comprising matching shirt and trouser constructions:

(a) said shirt construction including a back body section, right and left front body sections, pairs of arms and sleeves, a collar, and a selectively secured, selectively free yoke that extends across said wearer'"'"'s shoulders from arm to arm and over said shoulders and about said collar between said back body section and said front body sections;

(b) said front body sections having breast pockets, said breast pockets having tops that are open and overlapped by free edges of said yoke;

(c) an inverted pocket at said back body section, with a bottom opening defined between said back body section and a free edge of said yoke;

(d) shirt display panels detachably secured within said breast pockets and said inverted pocket, said shirt display panels being adapted to be concealed within said breast pockets and said inverted pocket out of sight or extended outwardly from said breast pockets and said inverted pocket for viewing;

(e) said trouser construction including a riser, a pair of legs, slant side pockets in said riser and side patch pockets under said slant side pockets at the sides of said legs;

(f) trouser display panels detachably secured within said side patch pockets, said trouser display panels being adapted to be concealed within said side patch pockets out of sight or extended outwardly from said side patch pockets for viewing;

(g) whereby, when said display panels of said breast pockets, said inverted pocket and said side patch pockets are deployed, said panels are available for viewing substantially throughout a 360-degree periphery about said wearer;

(h) each of said breast pockets and said side patch pockets being defined by a body section and a patch section, a pair of microcatch elements being affixed to opposed faces of said patch section and complementary microcatch elements being affixed to said panel and said body section associated therewith; and

(i) said inverted pocket being defined by a body section and a yoke section, a pair of microcatch elements being affixed to the same face of said body section, and a pair of complementary microcatch elements being affixed to said panel and said yoke.

19. A shirt construction for a human wearer, said shirt comprising:

(a) a back body section, right and left front body sections, pairs of arms and sleeves, a collar, and a yoke having selectively secured, selectively free lower edges, said yoke extending across said wearer'"'"'s shoulders from arm to arm and over said shoulders and about said collar between said back body section and said front body sections;

(b) said front body sections having breast pockets, said breast pockets having tops that are open and overlapped by certain of said free edges of said yoke;

(c) an inverted pocket at said back body section, with a bottom opening defined between said back body section and a free edge of said yoke;

(d) retroreflective panels detachably secured within said pockets, said panels being adapted to be concealed within said pockets or to be extended outwardly from said pockets;

(e) each of said breast pockets being defined by a body section and a patch section, a pair of microcatch elements being affixed to opposed faces of said patch section and complementary microcatch elements being affixed to said panel and the closure associated therewith; and

(f) said inverted pocket being defined by a body section and a yoke section, a pair of microcatch elements being affixed to the same face of said body section, and a pair of complementary microcatch elements being affixed to said panel and said yoke.

20. The shirt construction of claim 19 wherein said panels contain visual graphics.

21. The shirt construction of claim 19 wherein said panels are diffusely reflective.

22. The shirt construction of claim 19 wherein said panels are specularly reflective.

23. The shirt construction of claim 19 wherein said panels are retroflective.

24. A trouser construction comprising:

(a) a riser, a pair of legs, opposed slant side pockets in said riser, and opposed patch pockets under said slant side pockets at the sides of said legs;

(b) retroreflective panels detachably secured within said patch pockets, said panels being adapted to be concealed within said patch pockets or extended outwardly from said patch pockets; and

(c) each of said patch pockets being defined by a body section and a patch section, a pair of microcatch elements being affixed to opposed faces of said patch section and complementary microcatch elements being affixed to said panel and said body section associated therewith.

25. The trouser construction of claim 24 wherein said panels contain visual graphics.

26. The trouser construction of claim 24 wherein said panels are diffusely reflective.

27. The trouser construction of claim 24 wherein said panels are specularly reflective.

28. The trouser construction of claim 24 wherein said panels are retroflective.

29. A uniform for a human wearer, said uniform comprising matching shirt and trouser constructions:

(a) said shirt construction including a back body section, right and left front body sections, pairs of arms and sleeves, a collar, and a yoke having selectively secured, selectively free lower edges, said yoke extending across said wearer'"'"'s shoulders from arm to arm and over said shoulders and about said collar between said back body section and said front body sections;

(b) said front body sections having breast pockets, said breast pockets having tops that are open and overlapped by free lower edges of said yoke;

(c) an inverted pocket at said back body section, with a bottom opening defined between said back body section and a free lower edge of said yoke;

(d) retroreflective shirt display panels detachably secured within said breast pockets and said inverted pocket, said shirt display panels being adapted to be concealed within said breast pockets and said inverted pocket or extended outwardly from said breast pockets and said inverted pocket;

(e) said trouser construction including a shell having a riser, a pair of legs, slant side pockets in said riser and side patch pockets under said slant side pockets at the sides of said legs;

(f) retroreflective trouser display panels detachably secured within said side patch pockets, said trouser display panels being adapted to be concealed within said side patch pockets or extended outwardly from said side patch pockets;

(g) each of said breast pockets and said side patch pockets being defined by a body section and a patch section, a pair of microcatch elements being affixed to opposed faces of said patch section and complementary microcatch elements associated therewith to secure each of said breast pockets and said side patch pockets;

(h) said inverted pocket being defined by a body section and a yoke section, a pair of microcatch elements being affixed to the same face of said body section, and complementary microcatch elements associated therewith to secure said inverted pocket;

(i) whereby when said breast pockets, said inverted pocket, and said side patch pockets are deployed, said display panels present retroreflectively substantially throughout a 360-degree periphery about said wearer;

(j) said trouser construction having a waist band and a rib enveloping said riser;

(k) said waist band having a stretchable flank sewn to said shell and a skirt;

(l) spaced buttons about said skirt between said skirt and said shell; and

(m) a liner having button holes at the waist thereof for receiving said buttons.

30. A uniform for a human wearer, said uniform comprising matching shirt and trouser constructions:

(a) said shirt construction including a back body section, right and left front body sections, pairs of arms and sleeves, a collar, and a yoke having selectively secured portions and selectively free portions, said yoke extending across the shoulders of said wearer from arm to arm and over said shoulders and about said collar between said back body section and said front body sections;

(b) said front body sections having breast pockets, said breast pockets having tops that are open and overlapped by said free portions of said yoke;

(c) an inverted pocket at said back body section, with a bottom opening defined between said back body section and a free portion of said yoke;

(d) shirt display panels adapted to be confined within said breast pockets and said inverted pocket out of sight or to be extended outwardly from said breast pockets and said inverted pocket for viewing, said shirt display panels being retroreflective;

(e) said trouser construction including a riser, a pair of legs, and side pockets at the sides of said legs;

(f) trouser display panels adapted to be confined within said side pockets out of sight or extended outwardly from said side pockets for viewing, said trouser display panels being retroreflective; and

(g) whereby, when all of said display panels are deployed outside of said breast pockets, said inverted pocket and said side pockets, the summation of said display panels are available for viewing substantially throughout a 360-degree periphery about said wearer.

31. A uniform for a human wearer, said uniform comprising matching shirt and trouser constructions:

(a) said shirt construction including a back body section, right and left front body sections, pairs of arms and sleeves, a collar, and a yoke having selectively secured portions and selectively free portions, said yoke extending across the shoulders of said wearer from arm to arm and over said shoulders and about said collar between said back body section and said front body sections;

(b) said front body sections having breast pockets, said breast pockets having tops that are open and overlapped by said free portions of said yoke;

(c) an inverted pocket at said back body section, with a bottom opening defined between said back body section and a free portion of said yoke;

(d) shirt display panels adapted to be confined within said breast pockets and said inverted pocket out of sight or to be extended outwardly from said breast pockets and said inverted pocket for viewing, said shirt display panels being diffusely reflective;

(e) said trouser construction including a riser, a pair of legs, and side pockets at the sides of said legs;

(f) trouser display panels adapted to be confined within said side pockets out of sight or extended outwardly from said side pockets for viewing, said trouser display panels being diffusely reflective; and

(g) whereby, when all of said display panels are deployed outside of said breast pockets, said inverted pocket and said side pockets, the summation of said display panels are available for viewing substantially throughout a 360-degree periphery about said wearer.

32. A uniform for a human wearer, said uniform comprising matching shirt and trouser constructions:

(a) said shirt construction including a back body section, right and left front body sections, pairs of arms and sleeves, a collar, and a yoke having selectively secured portions and selectively free portions, said yoke extending across the shoulders of said wearer from arm to arm and over said shoulders and about said collar between said back body section and said front body sections;

(b) said front body sections having breast pockets, said breast pockets having tops that are open and overlapped by said free portions of said yoke;

(c) an inverted pocket at said back body section, with a bottom opening defined between said back body section and a free portion of said yoke;

(d) shirt display panels detachably secured within said breast pockets and said inverted pocket by microcatch elements, said shirt display panels being adapted to be confined within said breast pockets and said inverted pocket out of sight or to be extended outwardly from said breast pockets and said inverted pocket for viewing;

(e) said trouser construction including a riser, a pair of legs, and side pockets at the sides of said legs;

(f) trouser display panels detachably secured within said side pockets by microcatch elements, said trouser display panels being adapted to be confined within said side pockets out of sight or extended outwardly from said side pockets for viewing; and

(g) whereby, when all of said display panels are deployed outside of said breast pockets, said inverted pocket and said side pockets, the summation of said display panels are available for viewing substantially throughout a 360-degree periphery about said wearer.

33. A shirt construction for a human wearer, said shirt comprising:

(a) a back body section, right and left front body sections, pairs of arms and sleeves, a collar, and a yoke having selectively secured portions and selectively free portions, said yoke extending across the shoulders of said wearer from arm to arm and over said shoulders and about said collar between said back body section and said front body sections;

(b) said front body sections having breast pockets, said breast pockets having tops that are open and overlapped by said free portions of said yoke;

(c) an inverted pocket at said back body section, with a bottom opening defined between said back body section and a free portion of said yoke; and

(d) shirt display panels adapted to be confined within said breast pockets and said inverted pocket out of sight or to be extended outwardly from said breast pockets and said inverted pocket for viewing, said shirt display panels being retroreflective.

34. A shirt construction for a human wearer, said shirt comprising:

(a) a back body section, right and left front body sections, pairs of arms and sleeves, a collar, and a yoke having selectively secured portions and selectively free portions, said yoke extending across the shoulders of said wearer from arm to arm and over said shoulders and about said collar between said back body section and said front body sections;

(b) said front body sections having breast pockets, said breast pockets having tops that are open and overlapped by said free portions of said yoke;

(c) an inverted pocket at said back body section, with a bottom opening defined between said back body section and a free portion of said yoke; and

(d) shirt display panels adapted to be confined within said breast pockets and said inverted pocket out of sight or to be extended outwardly from said breast pockets and said inverted pocket for viewing, said shirt display panels being diffusely reflective.

35. A shirt construction for a human wearer, said shirt comprising:

(a) a back body section, right and left front body sections, pairs of arms and sleeves, a collar, and a yoke having selectively secured portions and selectively free portions, said yoke extending across the shoulders of said wearer from arm to arm and over said shoulders and about said collar between said back body section and said front body sections;

(b) said front body sections having breast pockets, said breast pockets having tops that are open and overlapped by said free portions of said yoke;

(c) an inverted pocket at said back body section, with a bottom opening defined between said back body section and a free portion of said yoke; and

(d) shirt display panels detachably secured within said breast pockets and said inverted pocket by microcatch elements, said shirt display panels being adapted to be confined within said breast pockets and said inverted pocket out of sight or to be extended outwardly from said breast pockets and said inverted pocket for viewing.