Garment with waistband pocket

Abstract

A garment made includes at least a waist portion, a first leg portion, and a second leg portion. The waist portion further includes a pocket on the front of the garment, where the pocket is defined by at least the waist portion and a backing panel. The backing panel may be constructed from a resilient material and is reconfigurable between an empty configuration and an expanded configuration. When in the empty configuration, the backing panel may include a plurality of folded panels and may be aligned with the waist portion. When in the expanded configuration, the backing panel may be stretched to extend beyond the waist portion. The backing panel is reconfigured from the empty configuration and the expanded configuration when an object is disposed within the pocket. The pocket is sized and shaped to receive small personal items, such as smartphones, keys, money, credit carts, identification, etc.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of clothing comprising:
 a first leg portion;   a second leg portion;   a waist portion coupled to the first leg portion and the second leg portion, the waist portion having an interior surface and an exterior surface; and   a backing panel coupled to the interior surface of the waist portion, wherein the backing panel and waist portion define a pocket.   
     
     
         2 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the backing panel and the waist portion are constructed of fabrics that include an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         3 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first flap coupled to the backing fabric and disposed on the exterior surface of the waist portion; and   a second flap coupled to the waist portion on the exterior surface of the waist portion, wherein the backing panel, the first flap, the second flap, and the waist portion collectively define the pocket, and the first flap and the second flap are repositionable between a closed position, where the first flap at least partially covers a portion of the second flap, and an open position, where the first flap is spaced apart from the second flap to provide access to an interior of the pocket.   
     
     
         4 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the backing panel includes a first configuration and a second configuration, the backing panel in the first configuration contains a plurality of folded panels. 
     
     
         5 . The article of clothing of  claim 4 , wherein the waist portion includes a top edge and a bottom edge, and the backing panel includes a top edge and a bottom edge. 
     
     
         6 . The article of clothing of  claim 5 , wherein, when the backing panel is in the first configuration, the top edge of the backing panel aligns with the top edge of the waist portion and the bottom edge of the backing panel aligns with the bottom edge of the waist portion. 
     
     
         7 . The article of clothing of  claim 5 , wherein, when the backing panel is in the second configuration, the top edge of the backing panel extends above the top edge of the waist portion and the bottom edge of the backing panel extends below the bottom edge of the waist portion. 
     
     
         8 . An article of clothing comprising:
 a lower portion configured to be positioned around the legs of a person wearing the article of clothing; and   an upper portion coupled to the lower portion and configured to be oriented around the waist of the person wearing the article of clothing, the upper portion including:
 an exterior surface; 
 an interior surface opposite the exterior surface; and 
 a backing panel coupled to the interior surface, wherein the backing panel and the interior surface define a pocket. 
   
     
     
         9 . The article of clothing of  claim 8 , wherein the upper portion further includes a top edge and a bottom edge. 
     
     
         10 . The article of clothing of  claim 9 , wherein the backing panel includes a top edge, and a bottom edge. 
     
     
         11 . The article of clothing of  claim 10 , wherein the backing panel is reconfigurable between a first configuration, where the top edge of the backing panel aligns with the top edge of the upper portion and the bottom edge of the backing panel aligns with the bottom edge of the upper portion, and a second configuration, where the top edge of the backing panel extends above the top edge of the upper portion and the bottom edge of the backing panel extends below the bottom edge of the upper portion. 
     
     
         12 . The article of clothing of  claim 11 , wherein the backing panel is in the first configuration when the pocket is empty and is in the second configuration when an object is disposed within the pocket. 
     
     
         13 . The article of clothing of  claim 10 , wherein the backing panel is reconfigurable between a first configuration, where the backing panel includes a first number of folded panels, and a second configuration, where the backing panel includes a second number of folded panels, the second number of folded panels being less than the first number of folded panels. 
     
     
         14 . The article of clothing of  claim 10 , wherein an interior of the pocket is accessible when the top edge of the backing panel is separated from the top edge of the upper portion. 
     
     
         15 . An article of clothing comprising:
 a lower portion configured to be positioned around the legs of a person wearing the article of clothing; and   an upper portion coupled to the lower portion and configured to be oriented around the waist of the person wearing the article of clothing, the upper portion including:
 a waist portion having a top edge, and a bottom edge; and 
 a backing panel coupled the waist portion, the backing panel having a top edge and a bottom edge, wherein the backing panel and waist portion define a pocket, and the backing panel is reconfigurable between a first configuration and a second configuration. 
   
     
     
         16 . The article of clothing of  claim 15 , wherein the backing panel and the waist portion are constructed from a fabric that includes an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         17 . The article of clothing of  claim 16 , wherein the backing panel and the waist portion are reconfigurable between an open position, where the top edge of the backing panel is spaced from the top edge of the waist portion, and a closed position, where the top edge of the backing panel abuts the top edge of the waist portion. 
     
     
         18 . The article of clothing of  claim 17 , wherein when the upper portion is oriented around the waist of the person wearing the article of clothing, the waist stretches the upper portion outwardly, which creates tensile forces that retains the backing panel and the waist portion in the closed position. 
     
     
         19 . The article of clothing of  claim 17 , wherein when the backing panel is in the first configuration, the top edge of the backing panel aligns with the top edge of the waist portion, and when the backing panel is in the second configuration, the top edge of the backing panel extends above the top edge of the waist portion. 
     
     
         20 . The article of clothing of  claim 15 , wherein the backing panel reconfigured from the first configuration to the second configuration when an object is disposed within the pocket.