The embodiments described herein relate generally to sleeves, wraps, and/or coverings and more specifically to sleeves having the capability of providing stand-alone storage capabilities, as well as being sleeves to hold, mount secure, protect, insulate, and/or add storage capabilities to canisters of any type, and to other objects in which storage is needed, including, but not limited to canopies, trailers, vehicles, tables, carts, and tables.
Currently, there is a great lack of beneficial accessories, mounting systems, handles, insulation, and multi-use options for portable canisters such as thermoses, travel mugs, bottle, cans, fuel cans, fire extinguishers, coolers, material handling carts, and similar, as well as, more stationary items such as trash cans, work stations, pallet racking, trade show canopies, tents, tables, truck beds, and tailgates, and spare tires. Such options are needed. For example, fuel cans have metal, typically steel or aluminum, bolt-in holders for floors or for clamps. The small number of available options both fail to keep these items secure at all times, and also force users to carry other items separately from these sometimes bulky, heavy canisters. This can lead to vehicular accidents, burns, spills, stolen or lost items, lack of organization, and multiple unnecessary trips to and from different locations.
As such, there is a need to easily and cost-effectively provide additional storage, mounting options, insulation, carrying options, security options and the ability of sleeve to serve stand-alone storage functions even when not being utilized with a canister/container/stationary item.
In one aspect, sleeve for use with a canister is provided. The sleeve includes a base, a cushioning/insulating material coupled to the base, an outer cover positioned over the base and the cushioning/insulating material. The outer cover includes at least one accessory portion having at least one strap coupled to a seam of the outer cover and a securement component coupling the at least one strap to the outer cover.
Material 104 is configured to provide support, mounting capacity, and in some aspects, insulation to the sleeve of canister 10. In one embodiment, material 104 is rubber. Material 104 can include any type of hook and/or loop (e.g., Velcro™) and/or support including, but not limited to, polyester, nylon, rebond foam, closed-cell foam, neoprene foam, polyurethane cushioning foam, memory foam (viscoelastic polyurethane foam), and/or a viscoelastic polymer gel. Material 104 may be coupled to fabric shell 102 with an adhesive, stitch, or weld, or be positioned against fabric shell 102 in a substantially friction fit. In some embodiments, an additional material, for example, in the illustrated embodiment, rubber 106 can be sewn and positioned next to the laminated materials, 102 and 104 in order to create a non-slip, stretchable surface for mounting, grip, and fitment aid. In some embodiments, coverings 106 and 108 are coupled to fabric shell 102 with a securement component such as stitching, webbing, staple, glue, screw, nail, button, snap, or grommet.
Additionally, other components, such as heating and cooling systems, can be incorporated into the materials to either heat or cool items within sleeve 100.
In some embodiments, at least one grommet, or other mounting or drain hole, including, but not limited to, fasteners, eyelets, hook and loop, magnets, or hooks may be present on the inside of sleeve 102. In this embodiment, grommet hole 108 is present in order to aid in mounting as well as drainage.
Accessory portion 206 is fabricated with polyester. Alternatively, accessory portion 206 can be fabricated with any of the materials that are suitable for use with straps and PALS/MOLLE portions 202 and 204. In the exemplary embodiment, multiple accessory straps 210 extend from accessory seams 212 and are positioned on the polyester covering accessory portion 206. Straps 210 can be oriented in any direction on sleeve 200 including, but not limited to, horizontally or vertically.
In the exemplary embodiment, seams are formed by one material being positioned on another and secured with stitching. For example, seam 213 is formed from one portion of the vinyl being positioned on or over the other portion of vinyl and strap 210 and being secured together with stitching. In some embodiments, seams 212 are secured with bar tack stitching. It should be noted that in addition to bar tack stitching, any type of stitch can be used to secure seams, including a running stitch, backstitch, overcast stitch, cross stitch, buttonhole or blanket stitch, chain stitch, knot stitch, lockstitch, overlock, and cover stitch.
In addition to or alternative to stitching, seams can be secured in any manner that facilitates fabric securement including, but not limited to, ultrasonic welding and gluing. Additionally, the seams can be any type of seam including, but not limited to, plain seams, French seams, flat or abutted seams, or lapped seams. In some embodiments, piping or cording is inserted into or positioned over the seams.
In the exemplary embodiment, straps 210 are not only secured to sleeve 200 by seams 212 but also loop securement components 220. In such an embodiment, loop securement components 220 are stitches arranged in a bar tack stitching pattern. However, components 220 can be any form of securement including stitching using the stitching patterns described above, ultrasonic welding, and gluing. In the exemplary embodiment, straps 210 are polyester however straps 210 can be any material that facilitates securing items to seat 200 including, but not limited to, polypropylene, leather, and nylon. As an alternative to straps 210 extending between seams 212, individual pieces of material can be secured to accessory portion 206 to achieve a substantially similar effect. It should be noted that a locking mechanism can be added in order to keep the straps attached to a device in order to protect the sleeve from theft. Such means of attaching a lock include but are not limited to grommets, d-rings, zippers, and webbing loops. In addition, a cable or similar item can be placed around the canister inside of sleeve 200 and locked or tied to any attachment area of sleeve 200 in order to secure the canister inside of the sleeve and to protect against theft or from falling out of the sleeve.
In the exemplary embodiment, accessory portion 206 is formed to create a Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (MOLLE) system or Pouch Attachment Ladder System (PALS). In some embodiments, straps 210 are fabricated with a height 230 in the range of 0.25 inches to 3 inches. In the exemplary embodiment, straps 210 have a height 230 of approximately 1 inch. Components 220 form sections 232 in straps 210. In one embodiment, components 220 are utilized to form sections 232 having a width of have approximately 1.5 inches. In some embodiments, sections 232 are configured to be in the range of 0.25 inches to 4 inches wide. In some embodiments, the distance 234 between adjacent straps 210 is approximately 1 inch. However, straps 210 can be positioned any distance 234 apart in the range of 0.25 inches to 4 inches. In the exemplary embodiment, sections 232 are configured to enable securement or attachment of items (e.g. straps, clips, or MOLLE stick) by inserting items between strap 210 and the cover. Alternately, accessory portion 206 can have sections 232 and/or straps 210 in any orientation, having any size, with any spacing that facilitates attaching accessories to seat 200.
In addition to the embodiments described above with reference to accessory portion 206, the loops (i.e., sections 232) can be formed in accessory portion 206 by weaving straps through each other to create a loop system similar to section 255. Such system can be secured to sleeve 200 as described by the various securement methods above. It should also be noted that sleeve 200 can be fabricated to be positioned on a floor (including a vehicle or building), and/or into the ground (including dirt, sand, rock, etc.). The sleeve would be positioned as desired and secured to the frame/floor/ground using materials and/or methods described herein including, but not limited to including, stakes, screws, nails, pins, zippers, snaps, magnets, and gluing.
Also, both sections 202 and 208 provide alternative mounting solutions. Portion 202 can be used to secure sleeve 200 around a roll bar, shelving system, other upright structure, by wrapping around the desired mounting base, or by securing it with screws, nails, or other type of fasteners directly through the webbing, or through the use of grommets or eyelets through the webbing strap. Other such mounting options include, but are not limited to hooks, velcro, zippers, pouches, carabiners, and side-release buckles.
Alternatively, and/or in conjunction with section 202, section 208 shows an exemplary grommet hole on the bottom of sleeve 200 that serves as drainage, and/or as a mounting system. Screws, nails, fasteners, stakes, as well as any other mounting device can be placed through these eyelets/grommet holes and in the ground, vehicle floor, building floor, table, shelf, or any other place in order to secure the sleeve for use alone as a receptacle, or for stationary use as a holder for a canister. In addition to grommets, any type of eyelet, magnet, pin, zipper, snap, glue, hook and loop, and/or any other type of fastening system can be used to mount the sleeve to any surface.
It should be noted, that although this example shows a grommet that is used for drainage, some applications may call for grommets or similar at the bottom of sleeve 200, while maintaining a separation, sometimes waterproof, between the interior of sleeve 200 and the mounting points of sleeve 200.
Section 211 is an exemplary non-slip stretchable fabric. This material can help to keep sleeve 200 in place, as well as provide better grip for a user. Material 211 can also be stretchable to more firmly hold container inside of sleeve 200.
Section 207 is an exemplary attachment loop. Uses include, but are not limited to attachment of shoulder straps, handles, buckles, keychains, carabiners, and securement straps to hold the canister into sleeve 200 in case of turbulent conditions.
Although some storage attachments and devices are exemplified, there is no limit to the number of different types of attachments which can include, but are not limited to keychains, water bottles, cups, eating utensils, tongs, spatulas, brooms, dustpans, any type of mounting unit, can openers, bottle openers, and the like.
Accessory 300 examined in
In addition to references above regarding
Similar to the above reference, removable buckle 320 is attached to two portions 207 in order to create a carrying handle 325. Although this exemplifies a handle, any type of strap, or solid mounted object can be mounted in this way, including, but not limited to shoulder straps, accessory straps, buckles, and solid handles.
Another accessory attachment 330 is exemplified and attached to strap 210. Attachment 330 uses a snap to stay in place and has a male side release buckle attached at the end.
Sleeve 400 is fabricated to enable weaving straps through components 210 and/or slots 340 to secure additional storage devices to sleeve 400, such as is described above and shown in
Accessory portion 606 is fabricated with polyester. Alternatively, accessory portion 606 can be fabricated with any of the materials that are suitable for use with straps and PALS/MOLLE portion 604. In the exemplary embodiment, multiple accessory straps 610 extend from accessory seams 612 and are positioned on the polyester covering accessory portion 606. Straps 610 can be oriented in any direction on sleeve 600 including, but not limited to, horizontally or vertically.
In the exemplary embodiment, seams are formed by one material being positioned on another and secured with stitching. For example, seam 612 is formed from one portion of the fabric being positioned on or over the other portion of fabric and strap 610 and being secured together with stitching. In some embodiments, seams 612 are secured with bar tack stitching. It should be noted that in addition to bar tack stitching, any type of stitch can be used to secure seams, including a running stitch, backstitch, overcast stitch, cross stitch, buttonhole or blanket stitch, chain stitch, knot stitch, lockstitch, overlock, or cover stitch.
In addition to or as an alternative to stitching, seams can be secured in any manner that facilitates fabric securement including, but not limited to, hook and loop, zippers, ultrasonic welding or gluing. Additionally, the seams can be any type of seam including, but not limited to, plain seams, French seams, flat or abutted seams, or lapped seams. In some embodiments, piping or cording is inserted into or positioned over the seams.
In the exemplary embodiment, accessory portion 606 is formed to create a Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (MOLLE) system or Pouch Attachment Ladder System (PALS). In some embodiments, straps 610 are fabricated with a height 630 in the range of 0.25 inches to 3 inches. In the exemplary embodiment, straps 610 have a height 630 of approximately 1 inch. Components 620 made using a bar tack stitch in this embodiment, form sections 632 in straps 610. In one embodiment, components 620 are utilized to form sections 632 having a width of have approximately 1.5 inches. In some embodiments, sections 632 are configured to be in the range of 0.25 inches to 4 inches wide. In some embodiments, the distance 634 between adjacent straps 610 is approximately 1 inch. However, straps 610 can be positioned any distance 634 apart in the range of 0.25 inches to 4 inches. In the exemplary embodiment, sections 632 are configured to enable securement or attachment of items (e.g. straps, clips, or MOLLE stick) by inserting items between strap 610 and the cover. Alternatively, accessory portion 606 can have sections 632 and/or straps 610 in any orientation, having any size, with any spacing that facilitates attaching accessories to sleeve 600.
In addition to the embodiments described above with reference to accessory portion 606, the loops (i.e. sections 632) can be formed in accessory portion 606 by weaving straps through each other to create a loop system similar to section 255 as illustrated in
Flanges 904 are configured to slide through the MOLLE straps. In one embodiment, locking tab is integrated with flange 904 to secure system 900 to sleeve 100. Alternatively, flange 904 can include one or more straps that can be woven through the MOLLE straps to secure system 900 to sleeve 100.
Exemplary embodiments of canister sleeves are described above in detail. The systems are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of systems that may be utilized independently and separately from other components described herein. For example, the sleeves described herein may also be used in combination with any canister including but not limited to fire extinguishers, thermoses, growlers, tumblers, bottles, mugs, cups, coolers, fuel cans, and trash cans. One advantage of the systems and methods described herein is that a canister is not limited to a particular storage option provided by the canister manufacturer but rather provides a user the flexibility of quickly removing and/or adding accessories and/or storage that are chosen for a particular trip or secured location.
Although specific features of various embodiments of the invention may be shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. In accordance with the principles of the invention, any feature of a drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62723875 | Aug 2018 | US |