CA1140337A

CA1140337A - Athletic shoe pocket

Info

Publication number: CA1140337A
Application number: CA000351796A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Robert J. Gamm
Original assignee: Envoys USA Inc
Current assignee: Envoys USA Inc
Priority date: 1979-12-26
Filing date: 1980-05-13
Publication date: 1983-02-01
Also published as: DE3046015A1; ES254132Y; DE8016130U1; JPS6036082Y2; AU552158B2; JPS56162009U; CA1212537A; ZA808100B; GB2067384A; GB2067384B; US4547982A; KR840006057U; US4296559A; NL190803C; ES254132U; FR2472352A3; AU6411480A; DE3046015C2; AU542839B2; KR840000704Y1

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure In an athletic shoe having a pocket, generally disposed laterally amd mounted upon the quarter portion for the shoe, the pocket comprises a liner of material, or a pair of the same, each stitched or otherwise fastened to the side of the shoe, so that the front and back edges of the pocket are confiningly affixed to the shoe, while the bottom edge of the pocket may be stitched to the quarter panel upwardly of the sole, or the same may be secured with the shoe through the effort of the stitching that holds the sole shank to the shoe quarter portion. Proximate the upward edge of the formed pocket, in one embodiment, is stitched to the shoe near the location of its eyestay, and having a zipper provided through the pocket, or at least its front liner, to attain access into the pocket and wherein miscellaneous personal items may be located for safe keeping, particularly during shoe usage, as when jogging. In another embodiment the upper edge of the pocket remains open, is formed as a slot, and into which the items may be inserted into the pocket. In another embodiment, a flap may secure also with the shoe along its eyestay, and capable of being folded over into contiguity upon the pocket, and held thereat by means of a fastener, such as Velcro, so as to provide further closure for the formed pocket, and in addition add to the attractiveness of the shoe during usage.

Description

~l~U~3~7 This invention relates generally to athletic shoes, and more particularly pertains to a formed pocket arranged laterally of the shoe and having utility for temporary storage of personal items during shoe usage, as when employed for jogging.
Safety of personal items has always been foremost in one's thoughts, and in the earlier days, when vandalism and theft from the person were more widespread, various means were employed for assuring the safety of one's personal items particularly where some wealth was involved. For example, in the early United States patent to Diemer, Patent No. 654,388, upon a shoe, a means for securing valuables concealingly within the calf portion of the shoe, and more specifically upon its internal portion that rest against the leg, was given consideration. Thus, the shown embodiment provided means for securing one's valuables, such as money, and in addition to furnishing concealment of the same in the event that one was personally accosted, as by a thief. Various other forms of similar type pocket structures used in association particularly with boots ~"~ c~

3'7 are also shown in the earlier Unitetl States patents to Wirsching, No. 1,233,3LIl, ~lc~uslin, ~o. 1,100,758, in addition to the patent to Avis~ ~o. 1,342,149.
More contemporary inventors have given thought to various types of structures for forming pocket structures within s'noes and boots, and such is shown in the United States patent to Corley, No. 2,908,982. In adtlition3 the concept of adding decorativeness to the shoe through the addition of a purse or the like, as by attaching the same upon the frontal shoe upper, is shown in the United States patent to Bliese, No. 3,018,570, in addition to the United States patent to Solomon, 'lo. 2,712,700. F'urthermore, adding a holding means having some utility to the shoe, as by securing the same through its laces to the shoe, is shown in the golf tee holder as devised by Perry in his United States patent i~o. 2,662,677.
All of the foregoing embodiments have utll:Lty for holding some component or personal item, such as rnoney, in a concealed fashion upon its wearer, while the current invention, to the contrary, intends to provide a pocket part that can be built structurally integrally of the quarter part of portion or the shoe, so as to hold smaller personal iterns such a; keys and money, wh:lle further incorporating, in certain instances, a flap means t~lat protectingly covers the pocket antl further enhances the ability of the shoe to prevent untilnely loss of such items.

133~7 The invention provides in a pocket for an athletic shoe and designed to hold smaller size personal items such as keys, coins, or the like as during jogging, comprising, said shoe having a quarter portion stitched to the sole shank at i-ts lower extent, a pocket being provided on the shoe on said quarter portion, there being a pocket slot formed proximate the upper edge of the formed pocket, with said slot being capable of being pulled open for insertion of the aforementioned items therein, and including a cover flap stitched to the shoe along its upper edge approximately along the shoe eyestay and capable of folding over into contiguity upon the said pocket and pro-viding its opening slot with coverage, and fastening means pro-vided upon both the cover flap and the exterior of the pocket and cooperating to hold the said flap against the said pocket during shoe usage.
The pocket preferably incorporates a zipper so as to assure that personal items such as keys and money will not be inadvertently lost by the wearer, and particularly a jogger, during a running session.
The fastening means may be in the form of hook and loop fasteners such as Velcro (Trademark), or the like, and assure adherence of the covering flap upon and -to the shoe pocket and to obviate its loosening or flapping as while the wearer participates in jogging, or other related sports that entail intensive running.

`03;~7 These and other features will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the summary of this invention, and upon undertaking a study of the description of its preferred embodiment in view of the drawings.
The pocket may be formed through the addition of a layer of material to the shoe side, being stitched thereto as along its front and back edges, along its lower edge, and as in the principal embodiment, by also stitching the upper edge of the liner of material directly to the eye-stay of the formed shoe. In this embodiment, a zipper or other means for forming closure is arranged preferably within the upper region of the pocket liner, and when opened, forms an entrance into the pocket part and into which the aforesaid type of personal items may be inserted. And, the zipper may then be closed to assure safe confinement of such items while the shoe is employed in usage, and subjected to rather impacting forces and movement.
A flap may be provided for forming coverage upon the liner formed pocket, with the flap along its upper edge being also stitched or otherwise fastened by the eyestay stitching to the shoe, so such flap may be folded over into an overlying relationship contiguously against the shoe pocket, and held thereto by means of some form of fastening means, such as Velcro, or the like.

, ~

3~7 This ~nvention includes various modiricatiorls to the basic poc~et structure as previously explained, and lncludes the fabrication of the pocket ~`rom either one or a pair of liner material, which are stitched directly to the shoe quarter~
and wherein a sin~ular liner may be employed, it forms the outer surface Or the pocket, with the shoe side then providing the back side of the pocket upon its interior. And, another embodiment may utilize a pair of liners, wherein the outer liner naturally forms the outer portion of the pocket, while the inner liner forms its back side and which rests contiguously against the surface of the shoe quarter. ~ither embodiment may incorporate the zipper type of closure in its upper region, as previously explained, or in the alternative, the upper portion of the outer liner, or individual liner, may be formed as an open slot, and through Which the personal items may be inserted for safe keeping. Where this slot form of openin is furnished, it is desirable to include some stitching partially along the upper rorward and back edges of this liner~ -so as to provide some closure at these locations, an(l to prevent the inadvertant release, or easing free, of any keys or coins that may be located within the pocket. And, one of the aforesaid types Or flap also may be stitched to the shoe at the location Or its eyestay, particularly where the slot forrn of pocket opening is furnished, with this flap then be~ng folded over into contifruity afrainst the pocket, havlng its I`asteninl~r )337 means connected~ such as through attachment by the use of ~elcro, and furnish closure for trle slotted pocket, or in the instance whe~re a ~ipper form of closure is provided, at least to form an overlying relationship upon the pocket for symmetry and enhancement of its appearance.
In the drawings, Figure 1 provides a side view of a shoe pocket with flap f'ormed upon the quarter portion of an athletic shoe;
Figure 2 furnishes a similar side view to that shown in Figure 1, with the closure flap being raised upwardly so as to disclose fully the pocket and its fastening Means;
Figure 3 provides a frontal oblique view of' the athletic shoe with pocket;
Figure 4 furnishes a side view of a modified type of' shoe pocket with flapj Figure 5 discloses a similar side view to that of the athletic shoe disclosed in Figure 11, with the closure f'lap being raised so as to show the pocket with its upper slot;
Figure 6 discloses a similar view to that shown in Figure 5, with keys in thepprocess of being inserte~ into the shoe pocket;
Figure 7 discloses a f'urther modification to the shoe pocket as applied to an athletic shoe;

33~7 Flgure ~ discloses the sarne athletic shoe with pocl~et as revealeA in ~'igure 7, with its closure flap being raised so as to fully disclose the pocket; and ~ igure 9 shows the same athletic shoe as disclosed in Figure ~, with personal items such as keys in the process of being inserted therein.
In the drawlngs, and in particular in Fi~ures 1 through 3, there is shown in both side and front views an athletic shoe A of the usual construction and having a sole portion B stitched at its shank C to the shoe quarter D, the vamp E, and shoe upper as normally constructed into an assembled shoe. In addition, an eyestay 1 is also stitched to the shoe quarter at its upper margin, and useful for securing laces ~ that hold the emplaced shoe upon the foot. In this particular invention, a liner of material, as at 2, and cornprising therein a singular or pair of liners, is also stitched along its reinforced front and rear seams 3 and 4, respectively~
and has its upper edge, as at 5, also held by rneans of the stitching 6 that secures the e~yestay and said pocket formin,g liners 2 securely within the shoe construction. 'rhe lower edge of the liner 2 is turned under with the shoe quarter D, as at 7, and is stretched alon~ the shank for adherence wlth the sole B of the disclosed shoe.

1~33~7 i~ith the attachment of` the pocket linings to the shoe quarter, or its sides~ and with either a sing,lllar or double lining being ernployed, the shoe pocket is thus rormei and secured with the side of the shoe. Provided preferably within the upper region of the formed pocket is a closure means, such as the zipper 8 as shown, and the zipper is provided through the outerrnost pocket lining, in those instances where a pair of linings form the pocket, so that the space between said linin~s form the desired pocket. l,y simply manipulating the zipper frorn front to back, or vice versa, for providing its opening, personal items such as keys or coins may be inserted into the pocket for safe keeping as during participation within an athletic event, such as while one is Jogging and running. The pocket, in this formation, ls adequate for providing safe keeping for such items, but the usual Jogging paraphernalia, such as shorts, or a sweat suit, ordinarily do not contain pockets, and if they do, it is very likely that coins or keys may be easily lost due to the quick rnotions encountered during ~ogging. To further add to the structure of the showrl invention, a flap 3 also secures upwardly Or t}le shoe quarter or side, being stitched by means of the stitching f, at the location of the eyestay, and ~aid fla~) may be conveniently folded over into contilruity aga1rlst the formed shoe pocket~ so as to provide coverage upon the same and to insure l;he s~lf`ety Or any items contained within the F~ocket, and likewise, to ~l~U33'7 add to the pleasing appearance of the s~loe aesthetics by covering the closure means such as the zipper as shown. Such a flap is not essential to the shoe construction for insuring the proper operation and usaKe of its pocket~ but it does add to the safe keeping of the pocketed items, and in addition, adds to the overall attractlveness of the shoe. In addition, fastening means, such as the Velcro 10, or other fastening means, as shown, may be provlded upon the downWard inner surface of the flap 9, in addition to being provided in alignment upon the pocket 2, as can be seen, so that when the flap 9 is folded over into an overlying relationship with the formed pocket~
such fastening means conveniently folds the flap contiguous with the shoe, and assures its retention thereat so as to prevent its flapping, as when the athletic shoe is being used.
When the pocket 2 is formed from a single liner of material, then obviously that single liner forms the outer surface for the formed pocket, while the shoe side or quarter ltself acts as the inner surface for the constructed pocket.
As shown in Figures 4 through 6, there is provlded various side views of a modified form of athletic shoe with pocket for use in holding miniscule personal items. As can be seen, the shoe A also incorporates a formed pocket 11, which in this instance, also can be formed to be either of a single or double layer of liner material. The outer liner 12 is herein shown as being stitched by means of the threading 13 around 33~7 the pocket's reinforced periphery 14. More specifically, in this particular instance, the pocket through both its liners, is formed havin~ its front and rear edges 15 and 16, respecti~Jely, ~leing stitched directly to the shoe quarter, and in this particular embodiment, the bottom edge 17 of the pocket is also stitched to the shoe side, and not turned inwardly between the sole and shoe quarter, as aforesaid, to be stitched along the shoe shank as described in the previously identified embodiment. The upper edge of this pocket, as at 18, is formed as an open slot, with the front and back edges 19 and 20 being stitched to the shoe quarter, at this location, so as to provide some closure at least at these ends for the said formed slot 18. The pocket ls cut slightly lower, as at 21, at its central location, so as to facilitate its openin~ and the insertlon of keys or other items therein, such as shown in Figure 6, for their safe keepin~. In addition, and specifically in this particular embodiment, it is rather necessary that a flap 22 be provicled for formin~ coverage over the identified pocket, with the flap having generally the same shape or outline as its underlyin~ pocket, as ~lhen it ls folcletl over into closure.
Furthermore, the rlap, and the underlyin~ pocket, once again, may contain a type of fastening Ineans ~ SUC}l as the ~elcro 23 as shown, and it can be releasably fastened agairlst the pocket;
and prevented from movement when the shoe is employetl in usage.
The flap can be securetl to the 5hoe ~uarter by being stitc~lecl along with the eyestay 24 stitching, as at 25, so that it can be appended to the athletic shoe during its initial assembly.

33~7 Still another modification to this invention is shown in Figures 7 thlough 9 7 with the shoe pocket 26 be:Lrlg constructed very similarly to that pocket 12 previousl.y described in Figures 4 through 6. I))Ut, in this particula.
instance, the pocket will yet be stitched with its flap 27 through the usage of the eyestay stitching 28~ with said flap then providirl~ overlapping coverage upon the pocket 26 during usage. And, said pocket is also stitched around its back, bottom, and front edges through the effort of the stitching

2~. In this particular instance, the pocket is formed having a single liner, and this can be seen through the partial cut away 30 as disclosed in Figure 7, so that when the sing liner s attached to the shoe quarter, it forms the outer surface for the pocket, with the side of the shoe forming the interior of the assembled pocket. But, as previously explained, it is ~ust as llkely that a pair of liners may be used for forming this pocket, with the outer liner serving the purpose of the outer surface of the pocket, as at 2G, as shown in the drawings, with the inner liner forming the back side of the pocket as secured to the side of the shoe.
As can also be seen in this modification for the shoe pocket, a.s identified in these drawings, other attri es of the shoe pocket formed as shown in Figure 2 are also incorporated in this Inodified deslgn, and it can be seen that a closure means, such as the zlpper 31, is formed within the 33t7 upper region of the pocket 26~ and when opene(l, allow for the ir.sertion of any personal items, such as the keys as shown in Figure 9, within the pocket for safekeeping after the zipper is once again urged into closure. And, once again, fastening means may be used for holding the flap 27 upon the pocket 26, and fastening such as the Velcro 32 has been found useeul for this purpose.
In view of this description Or the preferred embodiment, and in its various modifications, it can be seen lQ that a conveniently disposed pocket for holding rather necessary items can be formed directly onto the shoe structure, which items are essential to even the athlete when he may be undertaking his daily exercise. Obviously some money may be required for personal usage while out jogging, and certainly, when one returns to his place of residency, a key is required for entrance. Thus, the shoe pocket Or this lnvention adds significantly to the convenience of the Jogger in providing a safe and secure location where such items rnay be temporarily stored, without fear Or their loss even while being subJected to repeated alternating motlons such as encountered by the foot during participatlon ln athletics, and partlcularly ~hile runnin or jogging.

t~33~7 The descrlp-t;ion of the preferred and modified eilluodiments defined herein r~lay be slightly varied in their constrluction in light of the foregoin~ specification. T1'or example, the zipper means may be arrarlged at a lower location.
Any such modification or varlations, if within the spirit of the invention defined herein, are intended to be encompassed within and protected by any claims to patent protection issuing upon this invention. The analysis of the invention as herein made is set forth for illustrative purposes only.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. In a pocket for an athletic shoe and designed to hold smaller size personal items such as keys, coins, or the like as during jogging, comprising, said shoe having a quarter portion stitched to the sole shank at its lower extent, a pocket being provided on the shoe on said quarter portion, there being a pocket slot formed proximate the upper edge of the formed pocket, with said slot being capable of being pulled open for insertion of the aforementioned items therein, and including a cover flap stitched to the shoe along its upper edge approximate-ly along the shoe eyestay and capable of folding over into con-tiguity upon the said pocket and providing its opening slot with coverage, and fastening means provided upon both the cover flap and the exterior of the pocket and cooperating to hold the said flap against the said pocket during shoe usage.

2. The invention of claim 1 and wherein said pocket is formed of a singular layer of cloth material.

3. The invention of claim 1 and wherein said pocket com-prises a double layer of cloth material, the inner layer of said pocket lying contiguously against the shoe quarter and functioning as the inner portion for the formed pocket, the other layer acting as the outer portion of the pocket and having the fastening means affixed thereto.

4. The invention of claims 1, 2 or 3 and wherein said fastening means comprises Velcro.

The invention of claim 1 and wherein the upper edge of the pocket is partially stitched to the shoe quarter for a short distance from both its front and back edges.

6. The invention of claim 5 and wherein the pocket slot being arranged slightly below the stitched upper edges of the said formed pocket.

7. The invention of claim 1 and wherein the upper edge of said pocket is stitched to the shoe quarter approximately along its formed eyestay, said slot being formed within said pocket just downwardly of said upper edge stitching, a zipper means provided approximately longitudinally of the shoe within the upper region of the formed pocket and along its pocket slot and extending approximately from its front to its back edges thereof, whereby upon opening of said zipper means the identified type of items may be inserted therein for safekeeping during shoe usage.

8. The invention of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the pocket has front, rear and lower edges stitched to said shoe quarter portion, the lower edge being proximate the connection of the quarter portion to the sole shank.

9. In a pocket for an athletic shoe and designed to hold smaller size personal items such as keys, coins, or the like as during jogging, comprising, said shoe having a quarter portion stitched to the sole shank at its lower extent, a pocket being stitched to the shoe along its front and back edges, being stitched along its lower edge to the quarter portion of the shoe proximate its connection with the sole shank and being stitched along its upper edge to the eyestay of the shoe, there being a pocket slot formed proximate the upper edge of the formed pocket and being substantially free of connection with the shoe quarter, zipper means provided upon the shoe within the region of said pocket slot and extending approximately from one edge to another edge thereof, whereby upon opening of said zipper means said slot is capable of being pulled open for insertion of the aforementioned items therein.

10. The invention of claim 9 and wherein said zipper means being provided approximately longitudinally of the shoe within the upper region of the said pocket and extending approximately from its front to its back edges thereof.

11. The invention of claim 10 and including a cover flap, such flap at its upper edge being stitched approximately along the eyestay to the athletic shoe, said flap capable of folding over into contiguity overlying upon the pocket and providing it and its zipper means with coverage, and fastening means provided upon both the cover flap and the pocket and cooperating to hold the said flap against the said pocket during shoe usage.

12. The invention of claim 11 and wherein said pocket comprises a singular layer of cloth material.

13. The invention of claim 11 and wherein said pocket comprises a double layer of cloth material, an inner layer of said pocket lying contiguously against the shoe quarter and functioning as the inner portion for the formed pocket, the other layer acting as the outer layer for the pocket and having the fastening means affixed thereto.

14. The invention of claims 11, 12 or 13 and wherein said fastening means comprises Velcro.