Patent Application
20100078452
The present invention generally relates to a portable retainer apparatus for holding an article on a person or any other object wherein access to the article for article removal and article replacement is facilitated for one hand use while the portable retainer apparatus is engaged to the person or object. More particularly, the present invention is a portable thermal apparatus that is adapted to be adjacent to a part of human anatomy with a pocket to secure an article, i.e. a heat pack or cooling pack, thus helping the individual to maintain comfortable body temperature while exposed to uncomfortable environmental conditions. Furthermore, the present invention allows an individual to replace the pocketed article with a single hand while the device is engaged to the person or object being useful for replacing the article in the pocket while participating in a sports activity or if the retainer apparatus is engaged to the wrist for instance, thus the user only having a single hand available for quick “on-the-fly” article replacement in the pocket which could be facilitated by the present invention.
For individuals engaging in work, exercise, and other activities, a convenient place to store various articles is advantageous. Whether occupational or leisurely, maintaining a comfortable body temperature can be problematic because of uncomfortable environmental conditions. To combat this problem, many people either increase or decrease the layers of clothing depending on the outside temperature and the individual's personal preference. Although gloves and mittens help protect the user's hands from the outdoor elements, occupational hazards, etc., the user loses their sense of touch. When portions of the anatomy are exposed to temperatures colder than the body's temperature, the blood vessels constrict and decrease in diameter prohibiting them from carrying more blood. This restriction lowers the temperature in the body's extremities, such as the ears, nose, feet, and hands. A highly overlooked remedy for assisting a person's body temperature is the heating and cooling of an individual's wrists. With a thin layer of skin covering veins, wrists are a highly regarded location for improving a person's body temperature. By applying a heating or cooling means to the wrists, a person's body temperature can be regulated. The present invention responds to these issues.
The present invention relates to a pocket created having a primary panel, a secondary panel, and a tertiary panel. The primary panel is preferably made of a thermo-transferable material while the secondary and tertiary panels are preferably made of a thermo-insulating material. The panels are affixed together at their edges while leaving two free edges that overlap one another. The tertiary panel overlaps the secondary panel and further two straps are affixed to the edges of the panels to preferably removably engage one another by a hook and loop fastener, thus facilitating removably engagement of the portable retainer apparatus to the body part. The partially overlapping edges are created by the marginal difference in the edges helping to simplify the user's ability to open and close the pocket for the purpose of replacing the article, which eliminates the need for fasteners of any type to secure the free overlapping edges of the panels and the need to remove the portable retainer apparatus from the body part when replacing the article. Thus, as fasteners in the overlap area (snaps, zipper, and the like) would most likely require both of the user's hands to facilitate article replacement which would inconveniently require removal of the portable retainer apparatus form the body part, whereas in the present invention without fasteners in the overlap area, single hand article replacement in the pocket is possible not requiring the portable retainer apparatus to be removed from the body part, allowing for a quick and easy article replacement “on-the-fly” while the user is participating n a sports activity for instance. The user spreads apart the overlap with one or more fingers gaining immediate access to the inside of the pocket where the user may add or remove an article for storing. While the invention is worn by the user, the straps pull the panel edges away from one another applying additional tension force along a longitudinal axis that is operational to help close the overlap and furthermore helping to secure the article in the pocket. A wide variety of articles may be stored inside the pocket such as keys, money, identification, dog treats, heating pads, cooling pads, etc. When carrying a heating or cooling pad in the housing, the primary panel being preferably made of a thermo-transferable material that promotes an increase in the heating or cooling that is transferred from the pad to the user or vice versa, while the secondary and tertiary panel being preferably made of a thermo-insulating material helps contain the heating or cooling inside the pocket.
In looking at the prior art, several patents teach a wristband with a housing such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,893,455 to Rafferty et al. that discloses a cooling band of elongated fabric with a pocket having a flap for folding over an elongated cooling pack with the flap being provided with a fastening means for securing the flap. The cooling pack in Rafferty et al., is inserted in the pocket and retained in the pocket by the flap, see column 1, lines 53-58, further a hook and loop fastener may be utilized to seal the flap of the pocket and also at the ends of the band to provide the adjustable closed loop and the fabric of the headband or wristband is made of terry cloth, see column 2, lines 15-17 and 38-39, thus requiring that the cooling band be removed from the user for cooling element replacement of which the present invention does not require removal of the cooling band of the portable retainer apparatus for cooling element (article) replacement. Unlike Rafferty, the present invention does not seal the flap by a hook and fastener or by any other fastener means. Continuing, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,342,692 to Hart et al. disclosed is a thermal device for maintaining the temperature of body extremities. The Hart et al., device includes a pocket adapted to receive a heating element and a strap attached to the pocket such that the device is adapted to encircle and be secured around a portion of the human body. The pocket of Hart et al., has a tri-fold configuration formed from a rear panel, a front panel, and an intermediate panel positioned atop one another, the intermediate panel being positioned between the front panel and the rear panel. Each of the three panels is connected along their vertical side edges. The first horizontal edges of the Hart et al., front panel and the rear panel are fixedly attached forming a first open space between the front panel and the intermediate panel and the second horizontal edges of the rear panel and the intermediate panel are fixedly attached forming a second open space there between. In operation for Hart et al., a heating element is inserted into the first open space and maneuvered around the first horizontal edge of the intermediate panel until it rests within the second opening space of the pocket between the rear and intermediate panels. The device in Hart et al., is then placed on the user with the rear panel of the pocket positioned on the interior surface of the wrist and secured in place with the strap (Abstract). While each of the three panels in Hart et al., is of approximately equal size, in the preferred embodiment, the first and second vertical side edges of the intermediate panel are of shorter vertical length than the first and second vertical side edges of the rear panel. It is preferred in Hart et al., that the first and second vertical side edges of the intermediate panel are about 25-50% shorter than the respective vertical side edges of the rear panel. More preferably, in Hart et al., the first and second vertical side edges of the intermediate panel are about 30% shorter than the vertical side edges of the rear panel. In the preferred embodiment in Hart et al., the first vertical side edges of each of the three panels are fixedly attached to one another, at least partially, by any suitable means, for example, stitching, to form a first side junction. Likewise, in Hart et al., the second vertical side edges of each of the three panels are fixedly attached to one another, at least partially, by any suitable means to form a second junction. It is to be understood, however, that the scope of the present invention overlap free edges of the panels are not fixedly attached as in Hart et al., see column 4, lines 48-67. Hart et al., requires that the device be completely removed from the body part for the purpose of replacing the article and when the article is replaced that the open side of the pocket be mounted and faced against the user's body part to secure the article in the pocket, see column 3, lines 1-17.
While the device disclosed in Hart et al. recognizes the advantage of securing a heating element without additional fastening means such as snaps, buckles, zippers or the like, it can be difficult time consuming, and cumbersome to maneuver larger, or rigid articles around the first horizontal edge of the intermediate panel until it rests within the second opening space of the pocket between the rear and intermediate panels. The complications of the device disclosed in Hart et al. increase substantially while the device is on a portion of the user's body and the user is attempting, with a single hand, to maneuver the article around the first horizontal edge of the intermediate panel until it rests within the second opening space of the pocket between the rear and intermediate panels being a virtually impossible move, as Hart et al., relies upon the retention force of pulling the pocket opening against the user's body part while attached to the user to secure the article in the pocket as previously discussed. Also, the article, i.e. chemical warming pads, are typically replaced frequently thus furthers the need for easy one handed replacements described. In addition, the device disclosed in Hart et al., is constructed from a single length of continuous material, and is void of heat conductive material, thus restricting the transfer of heat from the device to the user's skin, as a result hinders its effectiveness, and requiring more frequent changes in warming elements.
The present invention, not only retains the advantage of securing a heating element or article without the use of additional fastening means as disclosed in Hart et al., but also adds improvements. The present invention presents a smaller overlap between the secondary panel and the tertiary panels, allowing for easier access to the pocket between the primary and secondary panels. This design in the present invention also allows the user to secure an article inside the pocket while the device is simultaneously engaged to a part of the user's body part as the pocket overlap (opening) faces away from the user's body part (which Hart et al., requires the opening to face the user's body part for securing the article in the pocket). Further, the present invention has the overlap co-incident to the force from the attachment strap, thus the attachment strap pulling force helps to close the overlap, whereas in Hart et al., the overlap panel free edges are not co-incident to the attachment strap closing force, thus Hart et al., does not utilize the strap force to help secure the article in the pocket and furthermore teaches away from using the strap force to close the pocket as the overlap opening is required to be placed against the user's body part to secure the article in the pocket. In addition, the present invention pocket is created with two or more pieces of material, in which the primary panel can be made of a thermo-transferable material while the secondary and tertiary panels can be made of a thermo-insulating material. The two different materials allow for an improved heat or cooling transfer between the pad and the user, as well as containing the heat or cooling inside the pocket.
Other wristband and sweatband patents include U.S. Pat. No. 6,425,137 to Fakhrai discloses a wristband having at least one pocket configured so that the pocket is accessible to the user while the user is wearing the apparatus, the pockets could be closed with a hook and loop fastener, a button, a snap, a zipper, or a resilient member—such as elastic bands. In Fakhrai, the invention may have a cylindrical body portion which can be slid onto an extremity of a user, with no attachment means, see column 1, lines 30-33 and lines 45-47, also see column 2, lines 26-29 and lines 46-47. Continuing, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,481 to Giard disclosed is a folding sweatband with an interior compartment, the fabric material is cut, sewed, and folded to a shape adapted to provide an interior portion for carrying small articles and/or for cleaning or drying other articles. In Giard as in Hart et al., previously discussed the interior portion of has a laterally-opening pocket which is folded longitudinally when in use and faces inward toward the user's body part to secure the article within the pocket, thus severely restricting access to the article unless the entire sweatband device is removed from the user's body part, further, hook-and-loop fastener strips connect the ends to make a closed loop to fit various wrist sizes, see column 2, lines 41-45 and lines 53-56.
Next, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,630 to Richard discloses a sweatband comprising a removable package for holding granular moisture absorbing material capable of being regenerated after absorbing liquid with the removable package being configured to fit within a pocket. A second embodiment of Richard illustrates the removable package with strings and secured to the first and second ends and of the removable package with an adjustable band that is moveable upon the strings and to secure the removable package to the head of the wearer, see column 2, lines 59-66 and column 6, lines 26-28 and lines 39-44. Thus as in Hart et al., and Giard, in Richard there is no access to the article pocket while the band is attached to the user as these wristbands and sweatband are designed for the user to slide an article in between two adjoined layers. Continuing, U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,638 to Hansen et al. discloses a protective wristband with inner and outer layers of absorbent, stretchable material, of a cushioned shield disposed between the layers of the band such that the cushioned shield is concealed to provide the appearance of a conventional, unprotective wristband. The cushioned shield in Hansen et al., is housed in a pocket and the pocket is secured to the inner layer of the band, see column 1, lines 44-49 and lines 62-65. A couple differences between Hansen and the present invention are Hansen's wristband is designed in a cylindrical manner as to slide over the user's hand onto their wrist, and also the cushioned shield housed in the pocket is sealed and the shield cannot be removed.
Additional wristband and sweatband patents include, but not limited to, U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,513 to McKay and U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,963 to Lerner. McKay discloses a sports band for absorbing perspiration and for cooling the wearer comprised of a band of elastic absorbent material, generally toroidal in shape and is configured to be worn upon a person's head or wrist. The sports band in McKay has a slit formed upon its inner surface (again restricting article pocket access like Hart et al., Giard, and Richard), such that a flexible cold pack may be received thereby and disposed within the band (Abstract), also the bands are preferably comprised of a terry cloth or terry cloth-like material having elastic properties, see column 3, lines 17-20. Lerner discloses a relief for hot flash symptoms of menopause and body overheating by providing a wrist cooler, wherein the cooler preferably includes chemical cooling pellets that remain in a solid state until broken. In Lerner, a woman experiencing symptoms such as menopausal hot flashes carries the cooler in her purse, when hot flashes occur, the cooler is removed from her purse, the pellets are broken and the cooler is slid onto her wrist and once the flashes have subsided, the cooler is discarded. The Lerner invention is easily transportable and provides for immediate relief, as there are no reusable cooling elements to be frozen or chilled (Abstract). In Lerner, the preferred material of the wristband is a fabric material which is slightly stretchable to conform to the wrist; alternatively, the material may be a flannel material, in which case the strips are adhesive. Also, in Lerner, the wristband may be a metallic wristband with elastic inserts for giving the appearance of a decorative wide bracelet while aiding the conduction of heat away from the body temporary relief of symptoms without pharmaceuticals, see column 2, lines 25-33. Both the McKay and Lerner patents demonstrate the accountability of regulating a person's body temperature by applying a cooling pad to a person's wrists and forehead, the same application can be implemented in the present invention by placing a cooling pad in the housing and worn at a person's wrists. As seen with the some of the patents previously mentioned, McKay's wristband and headband is designed in a cylindrical shape for sliding over a user's wrist or head. McKay's band receives a flexible cold pack by feeding the cold pack through a slit opening on the inner surface (again restricting article pocket access like Hart et al., Giard, and Richard) of the band when not worn by the user. Whereas the present invention allows the user to access and interchange the article enclosed in the pocket while the user is wearing and not wearing the device. Dissimilar to Lerner, the present invention allows for more uses than the initial use and therefore does not need to be disposed with each use.
Despite the prior art pertaining to a band carrying an article, none of the prior art cited addresses the need for a pocket created with two or more pieces of material having a primary panel made of a thermo-transferable material, with a tertiary and secondary panels made of a thermo-insulating material. In addition the prior art does not provide for a convenient means to secure the pocked article without the use of additional fasteners, such as hook loop fasteners, snaps, buckles, or zippers, and while the apparatus is in use. Accordingly, it can be appreciated that there is a continuing need for and interest in improvements to helping regulate a user's body temperature, and in this respect, the present invention addresses this need and interest.
Broadly, the present invention is a portable retainer apparatus and method of use for retaining an article, wherein the retainer apparatus removably engages a body part. The retainer apparatus includes primary, secondary, and tertiary flexible panels. The secondary flexible panel is positioned adjacent to a portion of the primary flexible panel, wherein the secondary flexible panel forms a secondary partial pocket as against the primary flexible panel. The tertiary flexible panel is positioned adjacent to both a portion of the primary flexible panel and a portion of the secondary flexible panel, wherein the combination of the primary, secondary, and tertiary flexible panels form a combination pocket. Further included is a structure for removable engagement to the body part, wherein operationally the combination pocket allows an unobstructed single hand access to the article disposed within the pocket for article replacement while the retainer apparatus is engaged to the body part.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention when taken together with the accompanying drawings.
With initial reference to
Yet further,
Broadly, in focusing on
Continuing, on the portable retainer apparatus 50, also included a tertiary flexible panel 70 having a fifth end portion 71 and a sixth end portion 72, the tertiary flexible panel 70 also having a fifth margin portion 73 and a sixth margin portion 74, the tertiary flexible panel 70 is positioned adjacent 76 and 77 to a part of the primary flexible panel 52 and positioned adjacent 78 to a part of the secondary flexible panel 60 such that the fifth end portion 71 is affixed 155 to a part of the first end portion 55 and a part of the third end portion 61. The sixth end portion 72 is affixed 155 to a part of the second end portion 56 and a part of the fourth end portion 62, and the fifth margin portion 73 is affixed 155 to the second margin portion 58 and the sixth margin portion 74 is free similar to a cantilever. Wherein the tertiary flexible panel 70 and the primary flexible panel 52 define a tertiary partial pocket 75, a combination of the primary flexible panel 52, the secondary flexible panel 60, and the tertiary flexible panel 70 define a combination pocket 59. Further the tertiary flexible panel 70 and the secondary flexible panel 60 have a defined partial overlap 80 to one another, all as best shown in
Next, also included in the portable retainer apparatus 50, is a means 81 for removable engagement 160 between the portable retainer apparatus 50 and the body part 103, wherein operationally the primary flexible panel 52, the secondary flexible panel 60, and the tertiary flexible panel 70 form the combination pocket 59 allowing a single hand 105 free access 145 to the combination pocket 59 facilitating replacement of the article 94 disposed within the combination pocket 59 with the single hand 105 while the portable retainer apparatus 50 is engaged to the body part 103, see
Further on means 81 for removable engagement that is preferably the substantially planar band 83 it is affixed 155 adjacent to the first end portion 55 and on an opposing end portion 84 of the band 83 to the second end portion 56, as best shown in
To further enhance the previously mentioned overlap 80 closing, alternatively the primary flexible panel 52 can be constructed of a material having a higher elasticity than both the secondary flexible panel 60 and said tertiary flexible panel 70, wherein operationally the previously mentioned force 150 force along the longitudinal axis 53 will apply to a greater degree to the secondary flexible panel 60 and the tertiary flexible panel 70 than the primary flexible panel 52 that is more elastic, resulting in a further increase in the closed overlap 80 in going from the open state 18 as shown in
Further options on the materials of construction for the primary flexible panel 52 is preferably constructed from an enhanced thermo-transferable material to enhance the heat transfer from the article 94 to the body part 103 and also optionally the secondary flexible panel 60 and the tertiary flexible panel 70 are preferably constructed from an enhanced thermo-insulating material to help preserve the heat transfer to mostly occur as between the article 94 and the body part 103 and not be lost to the external environment 205.
Another alternative, for the portable retainer apparatus 50 the secondary flexible panel 60 further includes a first semi rigid element 91 adjacent to the fourth margin portion 64, wherein the first semi rigid element 91 is disposed substantially along the longitudinal axis 53 and is operational to further retain the article 94 in the apparatus 50, as best shown in
Alternatively, as shown in
The preferred the materials of construction for the portable retainer apparatus 50 being specifically the flexible panel 52, secondary flexible panel 60, and tertiary flexible panel 70 would be micro-fleece, though any intermediately elastic material could be used. The primary flexible panel 52, secondary flexible panel 60, and tertiary flexible panel 70 could be configured from a single piece of fabric for ease of manufacture, see
In an alternative embodiment the preferred optional material of construction for the primary flexible panel 52 will be of a flexible thermal conducting material. The preferred type of thermal conducting material useful in forming the primary flexible panel 52 is commonly available under the registered trade name X-STATIC®. Such X-STATIC® are silver fibers with a layer of pure silver permanently bonded to the surface of a textile fiber, and retains traditional textile and tactile characteristics. The silver bonded to the textile fiber is highly thermally conductive and thus will quickly and evenly transfer heat throughout the fiber. In addition, the silver bonded to the textile fiber contains low emissivity ratings, allowing it to sustain its warm or cool temperature longer.
In the alternative embodiment, the preferred optional material of construction for the secondary flexible panel 60 and tertiary flexible panel 70 can be a flexible thermal insulating material. Thermal insulating materials may include, but are not limited to: wool, felt, polypropylene, or any other synthetic that may have a low thermal conductivity rating and a low emissivity rating. Notable that the preferred method of affixing 155 materials, wherein affixing 155 was previously described is by conventional sewing, however, other methods such as rivets, staples, adhesives, and the like may also be employed that are essentially weatherproof.
Referring to
Accordingly, the present invention of a portable thermal apparatus 50 has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the embodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated, though; that the present invention is defined by the following claims construed in light of the prior art so modifications of the changes may be made to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention without departing from the inventive concepts contained therein.
