Patent Application
20080178977
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to watch bands and wrist wallets and, more particularly, to a wrist wallet that also carries a metering device such as a timepiece, a pedometer, a heart rate monitor or a calorie consumption monitor. Specifically, the present invention relates to a wrist watch and wallet combination device particularly useful for sports participants.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A wide variety of devices have been used over the years for carrying personal items and money on one's person. For example, wallets and purses have been utilized for decades to carry relatively small personal items, cash, credit cards and change. Such wallets and purses are typically carried by hand, carried with a strap, or placed in slack or skirt pockets. However, a major disadvantage with such typical wallets and purses is that one may easily lose them through negligence or because they have been stolen.
In addition, there are many situations when it is desirable to be able to carry a wallet but lack the pockets in which to carry it, or when it is not practicable to carry a purse or other case with a handle or strap. Such situations are typically encountered when a person participates in a sporting event such as jogging, snow skiing, basketball, and the like. In many such sporting activities, a participant lacks the type of clothing having pockets in which to carry a wallet, yet the participants would still like to be able to safely and conveniently carry credit cards, cash, change, car keys and the like. As a result of the aforementioned problems, a number of wallet cases have been designed for attachment to the wrist or ankle of a person. Examples of these include U.S. design Pat. No. 255,509, No. 371,675, and No. 373,900, U.S. utility Pat. No. 4,601,418, No. 4,763,821, and No. 6,443,341, and U.S. patent publication No. 2006/0201595.
While the above wallet wraps address the general need for carrying credit cards, cash and the like while participating in sports, such participants also frequently desire to have easy access to a number of different types of metering devices such as wrist watches, stop watches, pedometers, heart rate monitors, calorie consumption monitors and the like. Typically, such metering devices are separately attached to the wrist or ankle of the sports participant. As a result, sports participants end up wearing numerous items around their wrists or ankles, which situation is cumbersome and inconvenient. Several items have been previously created in an attempt to combine a wristwatch and a wrist wallet wrap into one device to overcome this inconvenience. Examples of such devices include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,400,222, U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,972 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,876.
Unfortunately, these devices have several drawbacks. First, their design requires removal of the wrap device from the wrist or ankle of the individual user in order to access the wallet case portion and the contents thereof. This is both inconvenient as well as can lead to possible loss or theft of the device once it is removed from the user's wrist or ankle. Moreover, the carrying pouch of the wallet case is incorporated into the main body of the wristwatch band itself. Consequently, when cash, coins, credit cards and the like are placed therein, the wristband gets quite bulky and thick and can cause significant inconvenience and discomfort to the person wearing it.
Consequently, there remains a need for a simple and effective metering device band and wallet combination which is easily adapted to be worn by a sports participant, which device can carry cash, coins and keys, which can be easily accessed while remaining in place around the wrist or ankle of the participant, and which can be adapted to be utilized with a variety of different metering devices as selected by the user. The present invention addresses and solves this particular problem in the art.
Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide a combination metering band and wallet device adapted to be worn about the wrist or ankle of a user.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a wristwatch band and wallet device that is adapted to be easily accessed while remaining in place about the wrist or ankle of the wearer.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a wristwatch wallet combination device that is adapted to carry cash, coins, credit cards and keys without creating bulkiness in the band.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a wristwatch wallet that is particularly useful by participants in sporting activities.
To achieve the foregoing and other objects and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a combination metering band and wallet device is disclosed. The device includes an elongate band sized to extend about an appendage of a user. The band has first and second end portions disposed opposite each other, a first outer surface adapted for outward orientation when the band is in position about the appendage of a user, and a second inner surface adapted for inward orientation adjacent the skin of a user. An attachment mechanism is disposed at the first and second band end portions for selectively securing the band about the appendage of a user. A fastening mechanism is disposed on the band first outer surface for securing a metering device thereto. A wallet case is secured to the band first end portion and includes a plurality of at least two pocket elements. Each pocket element defines an interior pouch and has an end opening for providing access to the interior pouch, the end openings and pouches being accessible when the band is attached about the appendage of a user. The interior pouch of one pocket element is sized and shaped for carrying credit cards, identification cards, cash and change, and the interior pouch of the other pocket element is sized and shaped for carrying an ipod, an MP3 player and other various personal items. The second pocket element is positioned proximate the first pocket element with each of the first and second pocket elements having a closure mechanism at their end openings to selectively secure items therein.
In one application of the invention, the material of the band is flexible and may be preferably selected from woven cloth, non-woven cloth, waterproof cloth, rubber, plastic and vinyl. In another aspect, the band attachment mechanism may include first and second attachment members secured, respectively, at the band first and second end portions, the second attachment member being selectively securable at variable positions to the first attachment member in order to provide variable adjustment of the length of the band about the appendage of a user.
In another application of the invention, the metering device which may be used may be a timepiece, a pedometer, a pulse rate monitor, a calorie counter, or combinations thereof.
In another aspect of the invention, the wallet case includes a third pocket element which has an end opening and defines at least one narrow interior pouch sized and shaped to secure the shank of a key therein. In one application, the second pocket element closure mechanism is in the form of a zipper closure, and the first pocket element closure mechanism is in the form of a flap adapted to fold over the end openings of the first, second and third pocket elements and includes a connecting member to selectively secure it to the outer surface of the wallet case.
In yet another application of the invention, the second pocket element is substantially superimposed over the first pocket element, and the third pocket element is substantially superimposed over the second pocket element. In one aspect of this, the end openings of the first, second and third pocket elements are substantially parallel to each other as well as the longitudinal axis of said band. In an alternate aspect, the end opening of at least one pocket element is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the band.
In yet a further application, the wallet case is movable along the length of the band to selectively vary the position of the wallet case along the band first end portion.
In another modification of the invention, a wrist watch band and adjustable wallet carrier device is disclosed. The device includes an elongate band sized to wrap around the wrist of a user. The band has first and second end portions disposed opposite each other, an outer surface adapted to carry a wrist watch thereon, and an inner surface adapted for positioning against the skin of a user. An attachment mechanism is disposed at the first and second band end portions for selectively securing the band about the wrist of a user. A fastening mechanism is disposed on the band outer surface for securing a wrist watch thereto. A wallet carrier is disposed along the band first end portion and includes a mechanism for adjustably securing its position therealong. The wallet carrier includes a plurality of at least a first and a second pocket element each defining an interior pouch and each having an end opening for providing access to said interior pouch, the second pocket element being positioned proximate the first pocket element. Finally, a closure mechanism is disposed at each pocket end opening to selectively secure items within the pocket element pouches. The interior pouch of one pocket element is sized and shaped for carrying credit cards, identification cards, cash and change, and the interior pouch of the other pocket element is sized and shaped for carrying an ipod, an MP3 player, and other various personal items.
Still another modification of the invention is in the form of a wristwatch wallet. In this modification, a band is provided and sized to wrap around the wrist of a user. The band has first and second end portions disposed opposite each other, an outer surface adapted to carry a wrist watch thereon, and an inner surface adapted for positioning against the skin of a user. Band attachment members are disposed on the first and second band end portions for selective attachment and length adjustment of the band about the wrist of a user. A wristwatch fastening mechanism is disposed on the band outer surface and a wristwatch is secured by the fastening mechanism to the band outer surface. A wallet is secured along the band first end portion. The wallet includes a plurality of pocket elements each defining an interior pouch and each having an end opening for providing access to an interior pouch when the band is secured to the wrist of a user. Finally, a closure mechanism is disposed at each pocket element end opening to selectively secure items within the pocket element pouches.
The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with a description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:
Referring first to
In one form, the device 10 is preferably adapted to be positioned about the wrist 24 of a user as illustrated in
The metering device 22 may be any type of device appropriate to the needs of the user. In most instances, the device 22 is a timepiece such as a wristwatch. The wristwatch may be a simple timepiece or it may be in the form of a sports watch which includes a stopwatch as well. In addition, the metering device 22 may be a pedometer designed to measure and keep track of the distance covered by a person who is walking or jogging. Alternatively, the metering device 22 may be a calorie consumption monitor for use during any form of exercise, or a pulse rate monitoring device. Moreover, the device 22 may be any combination of these above-described meters depending on the needs or desires of a user.
The metering device 22 may be permanently affixed to the outer surface 14 of the band 12. Alternatively, it may be mounted to the surface 14 in such manner that it can be removed and replaced as desired. In the illustrated embodiment, a fastening mechanism 28 is disposed on the outer surface 14 for purposes of attaching and securing the metering device 22 thereto. While the fastening mechanism 28 may be any appropriate type of connecting element for the metering device 22, one preferred form of the fastening mechanism 28 is a strap 30 which may be threaded through the mounting pins 32 typically found on a watch or other type of metering device 22.
As previously indicated, the band 12 may be selectively and removably attached about the wrist 24 or ankle 26 of a user. To accomplish this, an attachment mechanism 34 is disposed at the first and second band end portions 18, 20, respectively. In one preferred form of the invention, a set of hook and loop connector pads 36, 38 are disposed, respectively, on the inner surface of the band first end portion 18 and the outer surface of the band second end portion 20. In a more preferred form, each connector pad 36, 38 preferably includes several strips of connection material to provide sufficient width thereto in order to attach the band 12 to variably sized user wrists and ankles. In an alternative form of the invention, a set of connector buttons 40, 42 may be disposed, respectively, on the inner surface of the band first end portion 18 and the outer surface of the band second end portion 20. While the hook and loop connector pad embodiment is preferred, any type of appropriate attachment mechanism 34 may be utilized.
A carrier element preferably in the form of a wallet-like case 44 is disposed at the band first end portion 18. In one preferred form, the wallet case 44 includes a first pocket element 46 and a second pocket element 48. The first pocket element 46 includes an interior pouch sized and shaped preferably for carrying various personal items, and includes an end opening 50 for access thereto. Likewise, the second pocket element 48 includes an interior pouch having an end opening 52 for access thereto and is preferably sized and shaped for personal items. The second pocket element 48 is preferably positioned or stacked on top of the first pocket element 46 and includes a closure mechanism at the end opening 52 thereof. The personal items which may typically be carried in pocket elements 46 and 48 include credit cards, identification cards such as a driver's license, business cards, cash, change, an ipod, an MP3 player, and other such personal things.
In one form of the invention, the closure mechanism for the end opening 52 is preferably a zipper closure, although any appropriate and known closure mechanism may be used. In the instance when a zipper closure is utilized at the end opening 52 of the second pocket element 48, the interior pouch is preferably sized and shaped to carry identification cards, credit cards and cash, the zipper closure providing affirmative security for these items. The end opening 50 of the first pocket element 46 also preferably includes a closure mechanism. In one form of the invention, the closure mechanism for the end opening 50 of the first pocket element 46 is in the form of a closure flap 56 which is adapted to fold back across the wallet case 44. Hook and loop connector elements 58, 60 are preferably disposed, respectively, on the inner surface 62 of the flap 56 and on the front outer surface 64 of the wallet 44. The connector elements 58, 60 selectively secure the flap 56 against the surface 64 so ask to overlap and close both first and second pocket element end openings 50, 52. In an alternate embodiment, the first pocket element end opening 50 may also include a waterproof plastic press-fit seal.
The wallet case 44 may also include a third pocket element 66. The pocket element 66 is preferably disposed on top of the second pocket element 48 so as to provide a plurality of stacked pocket elements 46, 48, 66, although this particular arrangement while preferred is nonetheless not required. In preferred form, the third pocket element 66 includes an end opening 68. At least one and preferably a pair of narrow interior pouches 70, 72 are defined within the third pocket element 66 and accessed through the end opening 68. Each interior pouch 70, 72 is preferably sized and shaped so as to readily receive the shank of a door or car key 74 as illustrated in
In the embodiment illustrated in
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
As previously described above, the device 10 includes a metering device 22 of desired function. It has also been indicated that the device 22 may incorporate multiple functions into one unit, such as a sports watch which includes both time indication as well as stop watch functions. Moreover, and as illustrated in
As can be seen from the above, the present invention provides a combination metering band and wallet device that is adapted to be worn around the wrist or ankle of an individual user. The device of the invention allows a person to incorporate a wide variety of metering devices and most preferably a timepiece such as a wristwatch. Moreover, the device of the invention provides easy access to the wallet case while the device remains attached to the individual user, thus preventing accidental loss or theft of the wristwatch wallet while gaining access to credit cards or cash therein. Additionally, the invention enables a person to easily keep a timepiece, credit cards, cash, coins and needed keys on their person while participating in an active outdoor sporting event. Finally, the invention provides all of the above features without creating bulky and uncomfortable pressure on the wrist or ankle of the user from the items kept in the device as is the case of many prior art devices. The invention also provides an attractive yet convenient mechanism for an active sportsman to be able to combine their wristwatch and wallet container needs into one single device which is easy to use and comfortable to wear.
The foregoing description and the illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail in varying modifications and alternate embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the foregoing description of the present invention is exemplary only, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited to the claims as interpreted in view of the prior art. Moreover, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.
