Athletic apparel outer garment

Abstract

An athletic apparel outer garment is provided for use with a portable electronic device. The outer garment has a waistband formed from elastically deformable material and a carrying space formed between the waistband and an at least partially sheer outer panel. The carrying space has an aperture and is located at a front portion of the waistband. The carrying space is adapted to receive, via the aperture, the portable electronic device, with a display of the portable electronic device facing outwardly, such that the display of the portable electronic device is viewable and operable by a user through the outer panel, e.g., during exercise,

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An athletic apparel outer garment for use with a portable electronic device, the outer garment comprising:
 a waistband formed at least partially from elastically deformable material; and   a carrying space formed between the waistband and an at least partially sheer outer panel, the carrying space having an aperture and being located at a front portion of the waistband,   wherein the garment is configured such that the portable electronic device is insertable into the carrying space via said aperture, with a display of the portable electronic device facing outwardly, such that the display of the portable electronic device is viewable and operable by a user through the outer panel during exercise.   
     
     
         2 . The athletic apparel outer garment of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is formed on the outside of the waistband and is accessible from outside the outer garment. 
     
     
         3 . The athletic apparel outer garment of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is elastically deformable and in an undeformed state, the aperture is smaller than a width of the carrying space, to retain the portable electronic device within the carrying space, and in a deformed state, the aperture expands in size to allow the portable electronic device to be inserted into and removed from the carrying space. 
     
     
         4 . The athletic apparel outer garment of  claim 1 , wherein the outer panel is sufficiently sheer to allow direct contact between a user's finger and the display of the portable electronic device, so as to allow operation of a capacitive touchscreen of the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         5 . The athletic apparel outer garment of  claim 1 , wherein the outer panel is sufficiently sheer to provide 50% visibility of the display panel of the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         6 . The athletic apparel device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer panel has linear fiber density of about 30 denier or less. 
     
     
         7 . The athletic apparel outer garment of  claim 1 , wherein the carrying space is generally rectangular, with a longest dimension extending in a circumferential direction of the waistband, and formed by seaming the outer panel to the waistband along a top edge, a bottom edge and opposing side edges, the aperture being provided at or near one of the side edges. 
     
     
         8 . An athletic apparel outer garment and a portable electronic device designed to be used in combination, the garment comprising:
 a waistband formed from elastically deformable material; and   a carrying space formed between the waistband and an at least partially sheer outer panel, the carrying space having an aperture and being located at a front portion of the waistband.   wherein the portable electronic device is insertable into the carrying space via said aperture, with a display of the portable electronic device facing outwardly, such that the display of the portable electronic device is viewable and operable by a user through the outer panel during exercise.   
     
     
         9 . The athletic apparel outer garment and portable electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the aperture is formed on the outside of the waistband and is accessible from outside the outer garment. 
     
     
         10 . The athletic apparel outer garment and portable electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the aperture is elastically deformable and in an undeformed state, the aperture is smaller than a width of the portable electronic device, enabling the portable electronic device to be retained within the carrying space, and in a deformed state, the aperture is able to expand to a sire sufficient to allow the portable electronic device to be inserted into and removed from the carrying space. 
     
     
         11 . The athletic apparel outer garment and portable electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the outer panel is sufficiently sheer to allow direct contact between a user's finger and the display of the portable electronic device, so as to allow operation of a capacitive touchscreen of the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         12 . The athletic apparel outer garment and portable electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the outer panel is sufficiently sheer to provide 50% visibility of the display panel of the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         13 . The athletic apparel device and portable electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the outer panel has linear fiber density of about 30 denier or less, 
     
     
         14 . The athletic apparel outer garment and portable electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the carrying space is generally rectangular, with a longest dimension extending in a circumferential direction of the waistband, and formed by seaming the outer panel to the waistband along a top edge, a bottom edge and opposing side edges, the aperture being provided at or near one of the side edges. 
     
     
         15 . An outer garment, comprising:
 a waistband configured to fit around a waste of a user; and   an outer panel secured to the waste band, wherein the outer panel comprises a sheer portion, wherein the outer panel and the waistband together define a carrying space therebetween and an aperture communicating with the carrying space, the aperture being configured to receive a portable electronic device therethrough to the carrying space, and wherein the sheer portion of the outer panel is configured to allow viewing of a display of the portable electronic device through the outer panel.   
     
     
         16 . The garment of  claim 15 , wherein the carrying space has a circumferential dimension, extending along the waistband, and a vertical dimension extending generally perpendicular to the waistband, wherein the circumferential dimension is greater than the vertical dimension. 
     
     
         17 . The garment of  claim 15 , wherein the sheer portion of the outer panel is configured to allow operation of a capacitive touchscreen of the display of the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         18 . The garment of  claim 17 , wherein the sheer portion has a linear fiber density of less than about 30 denier. 
     
     
         19 . The garment of  claim 15 , wherein the sheer portion allows about 50% visibility of a display of the portable electronic device, when a portable electronic device is received in the carrying space.