Belts with concealed pockets

Claim 1

Belt apparatus comprising a decorative facial shell of soft pliable material having similarly curved upper and lower edges and having inward tapered first and second opposite ends, thereby forming a general crescent shape, the belt having parallel stitches extending between the first and second opposite ends generally parallel to upper and lower edges and closer to the upper edge than the lower edge for preventing stretching of a mid-portion of the belt and promoting desired drape of the belt when worn, a pocket having curvilinear upper and lower edges curved similar to upper and lower edges of the belt and having opposite first and second lateral edges generally perpendicular to upper and lower curvilinear edges at positions of intersection therewith, whereby the lateral edges generally lie along radii of the curvilinear upper and lower edges, the pocket being formed of an outer face and a backing of similar size and shape stitched together along opposite lateral edges, the outer face of the pocket having an elongated opening therein spaced slightly downward from the upper edge thereof, and a side fastener positioned inside the opening and stitched to the opening along edges thereof, whereby the opening is selectively closed and opened by moving a slide on the slide fastener along the opening, the upper and lower edges of the belt being rolled inward about upper and lower edges of the pocket and stitches securing the inward rolled position of the edges of the belt and securing upper and lower edges of the pocket within the inward rolled upper and lower edges of the belt, a buckle having first and second openings separated by a cross-piece, the buckle being secured to the belt by passing one tapered end out through one opening in the buckle, around the cross-piece and back through the second opening in the buckle and securing the tapered end to an inside of the belt, whereby the second end may be secured to the buckle by passing the second tapered end outward through the second opening in the buckle, around the cross-piece and inward through the first opening in the buckle.