Garment design for use with knife

Abstract

Garment designs are provided that facilitate ready access to a knife. The garments are particularly adapted for wear and use in connection with outdoor-related activities, e.g., fishing, hiking, climbing and the like. Ready access to the knife is facilitated by a releasable pocket flap that retains and covers the knife, while permitting instantaneous access and removal of such knife therefrom. The pocket flap is secured with respect to a garment surface along at least one edge of the flap. However, the pocket flap is not secured with respect to the garment surface along the lower edge thereof which features a releasable engagement mechanism, e.g., hook-and-loop fastener elements. The releasable engagement mechanism secures the knife below the pocket flap until needed and permits ready removal of the knife through a substantially downward motion relative to the pocket flap, thereby disengaging the releasable engagement mechanism and allowing withdrawal of the knife therefrom.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Technical Field[0002]The present disclosure is directed to an advantageous garment design that facilitates ready access to a knife and, more particularly, to a garment design that includes a pocket-like feature for releasably securing a knife. The disclosed garment design has particular application for outdoors-related activities, e.g., fishing, mountain climbing or the like.[0003]2. Background Art[0004]Specialized garments for outdoor-related activities are commonplace. Many garments are designed with water repellant functionality, with reinforced zones, and with enhanced “breathability”. For certain outdoor activities, tight fitting garments are preferred, whereas in other applications, loose fitting garments are desired. In certain instances, bright colored garments are prominent, e.g., for safety reasons, whereas in other instances camouflage styling is preferred. Thus, as is readily apparent, garment manufacture is highly specialized in the outdoor industry, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The present disclosure provides advantageous garment designs that facilitate ready access to a knife. The disclosed garments are particularly adapted for wear and use in connection with outdoor-related activities, e.g., fishing, hiking, climbing and the like. In exemplary implementations of the disclosed garment design, ready-knife access is facilitated by a releasable pocket flap that retains and covers the knife, while permitting instantaneous access and removal of such knife therefrom. The disclosed pocket flap is advantageously secured with respect to an underlying garment surface along (or in proximity to) at least one edge of the flap. However, the pocket flap is not secured with respect to garment surface along the lower edge thereof. Rather, the lower edge advantageously features a releasable engagement mechanism, e.g., hook-and-loop fastener elements (e.g., a Velcro fastening mechanism). The releasable engagement mechanism defines the releasable aspect of the disclosed pocket flap and serves two principal functions: first, it secures the knife below the pocket flap until needed, and second, it permits ready removal of the knife through a substantially downward motion relative to the pocket flap, thereby disengaging the releasable engagement mechanism and allowing withdrawal of the knife therefrom.

[0011]When an individual requires the knife, he / she grasps the exposed handle and pulls substantially downward and / or outward relative to the garment. In response to such pulling force, the releasable engagement mechanism, e.g., hook-and-loop fasteners, are disengaged and the knife comes free of the garment. Convenient positioning of the pocket flap facilitates ready access to the knife, e.g., an unsheathed line-cutting knife. Moreover, by associating the releasable pocket with a garment that is particularly suited to the outdoor activity of interest, e.g., offshore fishing, the individual is assured of having access to a knife without any required forethought on his / her part. In this way, enhanced safety is offered to users of the disclosed specialty garment(s).

Problems solved by technology

Indeed, in offshore salt water fishing, an inability to quickly cut a line can pose a safety issue for the fisherman.

However, current practice allows for a risk that a line-cutting knife will not be within reach when needed, thereby placing the fisherman at risk of being pulled overboard by a strong fish.

However, the pocket flap is not secured with respect to garment surface along the lower edge thereof.

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