US20120266360A1

US20120266360A1 - Sleeved Wrist Pouch

Info

Publication number: US20120266360A1
Application number: US13/448,311
Authority: US
Inventors: Caitlin McElrath
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-04-21
Filing date: 2012-04-16
Publication date: 2012-10-25

Abstract

Purses can be a great inconvenience due to their pendulous nature. Therefore, it is important that women have an alternative product that is equally as convenient as pockets are for men. The Sleeved Wrist Pouch holds small essential personal items such as Driver's License, ATM/debit/credit cards, keys, and a phone. It does so by securing it firmly to the wrist under the disguise of looking like a piece of jewelry. Previous patents were not designed to account for wearing bulkier items on the wrist, such as a phone, nor were they designed to consider women's fashion. The Sleeved Wrist Pouch considers both.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to fashion apparel that allows a person to keep a small number of critical items to be held securely but conveniently on their lower arm or wrist.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Provisional Patent Application:

Title: Wallet Sleeve
Date Filed: Apr. 21, 2012
Application Number: 61/477,603

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Men's fashion has generally evolved to include pockets in pants, shirts and coats. These pockets allow men to carry keys, phones, and wallets that include personal items such as driver's license, credit cards, cash and ATM cards. Women's fashion as embodied in dresses and skirts evolved to exclude the use of pockets. Consequently, women carry purses to hold personal effects that men keep in their pockets. The use of purses results in both inconvenience and higher risk of theft. The inconvenience is exemplified by the dilemma women face at dances regarding where to leave their purse securely while they dance. The strong and sometimes quick movement involved in dancing makes dancing with a purse awkward and encumbering. Even the simple motion of walking can cause tension in the shoulders from the attempt to keep the purse from sliding off. Therefore, there is a need particularly for women to have a fashion apparel that is equivalent in convenience and security to men having wallets in their pockets while not detracting from the aesthetics of current day women's fashions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR-RELATED ART

The two most general and important distinctions between my creation and the prior patents I have listed below, is aesthetic appeal and the successful addressing of the need to carry a phone, a much bulkier item than a Driver's License, money, or ATM/debit/credit cards.
Women do not wear fabric on their wrists or lower arms. They do wear jewelry, however. This product is taking a cultural norm and turning it into a more practical custom. The beaded bands distract and mask the fact that one is holding personal items on one's wrist. The use of the plastic sheet aids in this disguising by creating a smooth curve around the wrist so the shape of the phone is not obvious on the wrist.
Phones have become such an integral part of our culture that most people do not go anywhere without them. Therefore, it is essential that a product take this into account in its design. Further distinctions between my creation and the prior patents are discussed below.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,571
Title of Invention: Wrist Wallet and Carrying Pouch
Inventor: Charles Mazzo

This patent is a fully functional wallet attached to the wrist by straps. My creation is a single compartment pocket that is wrapped around the wrist by numerous tiny elastic bands that are adorned with beads. His patent exposes the pouch(es), while mine hides under an integrated jewelry piece.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,366
Title of Invention: Wrist and Leg Wallet
Inventor: Charles Mazzo

This patent is similar to the above patent. It is a pouch secured by straps. As stated above, my creation is a pocket that is wrapped around the wrist by numerous tiny elastic bands that are adorned with beads. His patent exposes the pouch, while mine hides it under an integrated jewelry piece.
Also, in these prior patent cases, fabric is the only visual impression. This is especially true for the second, which wraps fabric all the way around the wrist or leg. My creation is designed so that jewelry is to be the only visual impression, and the fabric only serves the purpose of holding the necessary contents and holding the plastic shaper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention can be described as a beaded elastic sleeve that contains a pocket for small essential personal items such as a driver's license, credit, debit and/or ATM card, money, phone, and keys. The three main components of the invention are the pocket, a plastic sheet (such as Mylar), and the elastic bands of beads. The pocket will have enough length and width to carry personal effects such as Driver's License, ATM/debit/credit cards, keys, and a phone. The pocket will be closed by means of a securing device. This may include snaps, zippers, buttons, magnets, or Velcro. Small loops of fabric or elastic may be sewn inside the pocket to keep keys securely inside. The pocket is sewn on to a piece of fabric that holds a plastic sheet. This plastic sheet serves the purpose of creating a smoothed curved surface around the contents of the pocket for the beaded band to wrap neatly around. This pocket component is sewn inside the circumference of the bands of beads. The elasticity of the bands allows for quick and convenient on and off application. There will be a few variances of wrist sleeve lengths in order to more closely fit variances in phone lengths. Carrying personal contents on the wrist allows for more free movements of the body since one doesn't have to worry about holding onto a pendulous purse.
Everything is secured firmly to one's wrist. The beaded bands hide the secured contents and integrate themselves into the woman's outfit, as a whole, by looking like a piece of jewelry.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the view looking along the width of the invention.

- A—One of the beads strung through the elastic bands
- B—The fabric piece that holds the plastic sheet
- C—The fabric pocket

FIG. 2 illustrates the view looking along the length of the invention.

- A—One of the beads strung through the elastic bands

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section through the beaded bands with the pocket closed.

- A—One of the beads strung through the elastic bands
- B—The fabric pocket
- C—The flap for the fabric pocket

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section through the beaded bands with the pocket open.

- A—One of the beads strung through the elastic bands
- B—The fabric pocket
- C—The flap for the fabric pocket
- D—Two opposite ends of Velcro

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section through the beaded bands and pocket. (In other words, the view inside the pocket.)

- A—One of the beads strung through the elastic bands
- B—The backside of the pocket
- C—Elastic loops

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Process of Making:

Create a latticework of elastic bands that include bands running to make circles and bands running perpendicular to the circles in order to hold them together. The beads will be strung on these elastic bands throughout the process of the latticework creation. The pocket is sewn together with a flap containing a securing device. A plastic sheet is sewn between two pieces of fabric. The pocket is sewn onto the plastic-fabric piece. The pocket component is then sewn into the inside of the beaded latticework.

Procedure for Using the Sleeved Wrist Pouch:

Insert desired contents into pocket and close. Slide the Sleeved Wrist Pouch up the wrist. Contents can be removed from Sleeved Wrist Pouch while on the wrist or it can be taken off and opened for access.

Distinction:

The earlier inventions consist primarily of strapping an either literal wallet to the wrist, or strapping wrapped fabric around the wrist with a pocket. This new invention creates a concealed and modest pocket made inconspicuous by the use of plastic as a shaper and beaded bands as camouflage.

Subject Matter Claimed as Invention

The prototype illustrated in the figures is one example of the described invention. It is not intended that the invention be limited to this example and those skilled in the art of manufacturing fashion accessories will understand that many variations in materials, color, texture, size and decorations are possible. The following claims are not meant to be limiting but to include such variations and substitutions.

Claims

1. A beaded elastic sleeve with a fabric enclosed plastic that has a pocket and securing device for holding small items such as a driver's license, ATM/debit/credit cards, keys, and phone.

2. The beaded elastic sleeve of claim 1 wherein the inside of the pocket contains loops of fabric or elastic to secure keys.

3. The beaded elastic sleeve of claim 1 wherein the pocket's securing device consists of opposing magnets sewn into the pocket at separate ends.

4. The beaded elastic sleeve of claim 1 wherein the pocket's securing device consists of a Velcro fastener.

5. The beaded elastic sleeve of claim 1 wherein the pocket's securing device consists of a conventional button and button hole.

6. The beaded elastic sleeve of claim 1 wherein the pocket's securing device consists of a conventional zipper.

7. The beaded elastic sleeve of claim 1 wherein the pocket's securing device is a conventional metal snap and socket.

8. The beaded elastic sleeve of claim 1 wherein the pocket's securing device is a contemporary snap system such as Style Snaps.