Cycling shell or vest with pocket access

Abstract

A cycling outer shell worn over a cycling jersey comprises a torso portion made of panels. Front and back surfaces of the torso portion cover the front and back of the wearer, respectively. A cutout in the lower portion of the back surface is in alignment with the jersey pockets, and has a peripheral edge with opposite lateral edge portions, and bottom and top edge portions. The width between the lateral edge portions of the cutout and the height between the bottom and top edge portions are generally corresponding to those of the jersey pockets, thereby.

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; and   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, 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.   
     
     
         2 . The outer shell according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom edge portion of the cutout is defined by a strip of material, the strip of material being an elastic. 
     
     
         3 . The outer shell according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the peripheral edge comprises a border of material sown onto the material of the back surface of the torso portion. 
     
     
         4 . The outer shell according to  claim 1 , wherein upper corners of the cutout are rounded. 
     
     
         5 . 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. 
     
     
         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 removable cover panel, and fastener means between the removable cover panel and a periphery of the cutout for releasably securing the removable cover panel to the torso portion to cover the cutout.