US20130227761A1

US20130227761A1 - Reversible-pocket scarf

Info

Publication number: US20130227761A1
Application number: US13/409,793
Authority: US
Inventors: Julie Hoskins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-03-01
Filing date: 2012-03-01
Publication date: 2013-09-05

Abstract

A reversible-pocket scarf has at least one pocket on a side of an elongated body end, with the pocket having a first face bearing a pattern or color and a second face bearing a pattern or color which differs from that of the first face. The pocket is reversible and may be turned inside out to reveal the second face pattern or color and turned inside out again to display the pattern and/or color on the first face. Even when reversed, the pocket remains capable of serving as a place to put one's hands or items for which storage is needed. The optional use of layers between the body and the pocket creates additional, similarly-reversible compartments and allows the scarf to offer even more colors and/or patterns while providing an insulating layer for increased hand warmth and divided storage space in the scarf.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to apparel and, more particularly, to a scarf having pockets which are reversible and may be layered.

BACKGROUND

Whether attending an outdoor sporting event such as a football game or engaged in some other cold-weather activity, individuals usually have a strong desire (and need, in the case of a medical condition) to stay as warm as possible. An important part of this is covering exposed areas of skin such as one's neck and hands. The use of a scarf to keep one's neck warm, or for concealment purposes, and the use of gloves or mittens to keep hands warm are well-known, but have disadvantages. Gloves and mittens are easily lost, and a person may find herself in a position where she has misplaced one or both of a set. There is also a considerable fashion aspect to scarves and gloves, and present options are limited in the number of patterns or colors they may present. Moreover, given the increasing number of personal items which individuals carry with them, such as mobile phones and other electronic devices, the need for a secure way to carry those items is on the rise.
Scarves having pockets are known in the art, including, but not limited to, the multi-purpose scarf disclosed in U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2005/0039242 of Edmondson, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention may comprise one or more of the following features and combinations thereof.
In one illustrative embodiment, a scarf comprises an elongated body having two distal ends. Each end has two opposing sides and a bottom portion. At least one pocket is configured on a side of an end of the body, with the pocket having a first, initially exterior, face with a pattern or color. The pocket also has a second, initially interior, face with a pattern or color which differs from that of the first face, and an opening distal from the bottom portion of the end. The pocket is reversible, meaning that it may be turned inside out to reveal the pattern or color on the second face and turned inside out again to display the pattern or color on the first face. Even when reversed, the pocket remains capable of serving as a place to put one's hands or items for which storage is needed. Multiple reversible pockets may be included on a single scarf, with one embodiment having four such pockets by placing one on each opposing side of the two body ends. One or more additional pockets may be incorporated along the length of the scarf, including placement of one or more pockets on or in the body sides or edges. Given the great number of possible pocket face designs and combinations, the scarf presents the fashion-conscious individual with many options.
At least one of the scarf pockets may include one or more middle layers of material positioned and fixed between the body and the pocket such that it creates one or more additional pockets. These pockets will be similarly reversible and thus allow the scarf to offer even more pocket colors and/or patterns while providing an insulating layer for increased hand warmth and divided storage space in the scarf With regard to the storage space, the various pockets, particularly those created by the middle layers, will provide an inconspicuous way of carrying important personal items.
Means known in the apparel art may be used to manufacture the scarf, including mechanized and hand stitching. While elongated and generally rectangular in shape, the length of the scarf may vary and may be cut to a relatively-short length to serve as a neck wrap while still including at least one reversible pocket on its exterior. Many types of textiles may be used to construct the scarf, including, but by no means limited to, wool, cotton, silk, or synthetic textiles. The scarf pockets may incorporate fasteners such as snaps, buttons, zippers, and/or hook-and-loop means to ensure that contents do not escape the pockets. Ornamentation such as tassels or fringes may be added to the scarf ends.
Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent to individuals skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a end-perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a reversible-pocket scarf;

FIG. 2 is a side-perspective view of a portion of the scarf of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the scarf of FIG. 1 being worn by an individual; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pocket on the scarf of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting and understanding the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to one or more embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same.
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, an illustrative reversible-pocket scarf 10 is shown. The scarf 10 comprises an elongated body 20 having two distally-spaced ends 30. Each end 30 has two opposing sides 40 as well as a bottom portion 50, as shown in FIG. 2. In one embodiment, at least one pocket 60 is located on a side 40 of an end 30. FIG. 3 depicts the scarf 10 being worn by a user, with the pockets 60 being filled with the wearer's hands. As may be seen in detail in FIG. 4, the pocket 60 has a first, initially exterior, pocket face 70 bearing a material, pattern, design, or color 80. The pocket 60 also features a second, opposing pocket face 90 which bears a material, pattern, design, and/or color 100 that differs from the material, pattern, design, and/or color 80 of the first pocket face 70. The pocket 60 is capable of being reversed by turning it inside out to reveal the material, pattern, design, and/or color 100 on the second, initially interior, pocket face 90. The pocket 60 reversal process essentially is a pushing of an end 30 through the pocket opening 110. Even when reversed, the pocket 60 remains capable of serving as a place for the wearer to put his or her hands or items for which storage is needed. Using differing material, patterns, designs, and/or colors on the pocket faces 70 and 90 provides the scarf 10 wearer with a wide variety of fashion options and compatibility with multiple outfits.
Multiple pockets 60 may be included on a single scarf 10. In one illustrative embodiment, the scarf 10 includes four reversible pockets 60, with one located at each side 40 of each end 30. As shown, the openings 110 defined by the pockets 60 are distal from their respective pocket bottom portions 50, but the openings 110 could be placed in alternate locations such as a pocket side 120 and not necessarily be reversible. It is envisioned that the pockets 60 could be separate members affixed to the scarf body 20, by means known in the art such as stitching or adhesion, or could be integral with the piece of fabric that is cut to comprise the body 20. Additional, non-reversible pockets could be placed along the body 20 as desired, for supplemental storage space or simply for aesthetic reasons.
As shown in FIG. 4, in one embodiment, the scarf 10 may include one or more middle layers 130 positioned between a pocket 60 and its respective side 40 of the body 20. In addition to dividing the space within the pocket 60, the layers 130 may be suitably sized and attached to the body 20 and/or the pocket 60 to create added compartments for storage or more options as to where the wearer may place his or her hands. In regards to the latter feature, the middle layers 130 serve as an insulator that will keep a wearer's hands even warmer. Advantageously, the compartments created by the middle layers 130 are pockets that are reversible in the same inside-out manner as the pockets 60. The surface of each middle layer 130 may bear a material, pattern, design, and/or color 140 that differs from that of the pocket faces 70 and 90, providing the wearer with even more style options. Although not necessary to use the scarf 10 and not required for any pocket 60, these middle layers 130 may be used in connection with only one pocket 60, multiple pockets 60, or all of the pockets 60 on the scarf 10.
While the body 20 is elongated and generally rectangular in shape, the length of the scarf 10 is not limited and may vary considerably. In one illustrative embodiment, the scarf 10 may be cut to be a relatively-short length to serve as a neck wrap while still including at least one reversible pocket 60 on a side 40 of an end 30.
The scarf 10 may be manufactured by looms and other machinery and methods known in the apparel art, such as by machine and hand stitching. With respect to materials, many types of textiles may be used to construct the scarf 10, including, but by no means limited to, wool, cotton, silk, or synthetic textiles. Particular illustrative fabrics include chiffon, cashmere, pashmina, silk, and rayon viscose; it is entirely possible that differing textiles may be utilized for different pockets 60 or that the body 20 fabric may differ from the pocket 60 fabric.
The pockets 60 may incorporate fasteners such as snaps, buttons, zippers, or hook-and-loop means, such as that offered under the VELCRO® brand, to ensure that contents do not escape the pockets 60. Ornamentation such as tassels or fringes may be added to the scarf ends 30. The pockets 60, any middle layers 130, and any ornamentation may be affixed to the scarf 10 by a number of means, such as stitching and/or the use of an adhesive, preferably one which is commercial grade. Affixing the pocket 60 and middle layers 130 to the body 20 is more particularly accomplished by stitching and/or adhesion along the pocket 60 periphery, save for the opening 110. The means affixing the pockets 60 and/or layers 130 may differ from that used to attach scarf 10 ornamentation.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the foregoing drawings and description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications which are within the scope of the claimed subject matter are desired to be protected.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A reversible-pocket scarf, comprising:

A body having two distal ends, each end having two opposing sides;

At least one pocket on a side of an end, with the pocket having:

A first pocket face bearing a material, pattern, design, and/or color; and

A second, opposing pocket face bearing a material, pattern, design, and/or color which differs from that of the first pocket face,

Wherein the pocket may be reversed by turning it inside out to reveal the material, pattern, design, and/or color on the second pocket face.

2. The scarf of claim 1 wherein the pocket defines an opening that is distal from a bottom portion of the end of the body.

3. The scarf of claim 2 further comprising at least one pocket on each side of each end of the body.

4. The scarf of claim 3 wherein each pocket may be reversed by turning it inside out to reveal the material, pattern, design, and/or color on the pocket's second face.

5. The scarf of claim 3 wherein each pocket further comprises one or more buttons, a snap, a zipper, a hook-and-loop, or other fastening means.

6. The scarf of claim 1 further comprising one or more middle layers between the pocket and the side of the end of the body.

7. The scarf of claim 6 wherein the middle layers are configured to create additional pockets having interiors and defining respective openings that are distal from the ends of the body.

8. The scarf of claim 7 wherein each additional pocket may be reversed by turning it inside out to reveal a material, pattern, design, and/or color on its interior.

9. The scarf of claim 8 wherein each middle layer bears a material, pattern, design, and/or color which differs from that on any other layer or the pocket faces.

10. The scarf of claim 7 wherein one or more of the additional pockets further comprise one or more buttons, a snap, a zipper, a hook-and-loop, or other fastening means.