Patent Application
20240081512
The present invention generally relates to devices that hold and display maps. More specifically, the present invention relates to a pouch for holding a ski map with a mechanism to secure the pouch on a wearer.
Skiers, snowboarders, and other winter sports enthusiasts (collectively called “winter sports participants” or merely “participants”) commonly travel to winter sports resorts and attractions that those participants may have not previously visited. Further, year after year, some of these winter sports resorts and attractions may change start and intersection locations and/or reroute their trails. Therefore, a ski map is desirable for the participants to know their location and plan their route from their start point to their end point. However, carrying a ski map or using a mobile device to determine the participant's location on a trail presents many problems.
First, ski maps and mobile devices can be cumbersome or difficult to retrieve and store in a pocket or otherwise carry while participating in winter sports. Second, participants usually wear gloves that may further that difficulty. Third, participants may desire quick access to a map to determine their whereabouts while continuing down a trail. Fourth, there are concerns for mobile devices regarding whether a particular device has signal to a mobile network, if the device works while the user wears their gloves (because users typically are not fond of removing their gloves in cold temperatures), and whether the cold temperatures affect the device.
Therefore, there exists a need for an apparatus that provides winter sports participants with quick, convenient access to a ski map. Further, currently available apparatuses fail to meet the demands of the market either by being cumbersome themselves, aesthetically displeasing, not able to provide sufficient protection for the map, and so on.
The following presents a simplified summary of the present invention to provide a basic understanding of the invention's concepts. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify critical elements or to limit the scope of this disclosure. The sole purpose of this summary is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the detailed description of the invention.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in some embodiments of the present invention, relates to an attachable map holding apparatus comprising a pouch for housing and displaying at least one map, the pouch being comprised of a front surface and a back surface, the pouching having an interior and an exterior, the pouch being flexible but substantially flat, the pouch being foldable between an open position and a closed position, and the pouch being configured to fold at least once along a fold line into the closed position; the front surface having at least one region that is made of transparent material to allow vision of some portion of the contents inside the interior of the pouch; the back surface having a means for attaching a coupling structure to a wearer; at least one opening on the exterior of the pouch to allow the wearer to place at least one map inside the interior of the pouch; at least one means for securing the apparatus in the closed position placed on the back surface and between the wearer's arm and the back surface; and the pouch having at least one coupling tab that folds underneath the pouch and couples with the at least one means for securing the apparatus in the closed position.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative of only a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals may refer to similar elements.
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein reference numerals are used to refer to elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It may be evident that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As mentioned above, there are many concerns when using a ski map or mobile device when participating in winter resort activities. Further, available technologies do not adequately address the desires of some winter sports participants. Therefore, there is need for an improved attachable map holding apparatus that is convenient, provides durable protection for its contents, allows quick access to a ski map and/or other contents, is comfortable and nonintrusive, and remains secured to a wearer during winter sports activities.
In some embodiments, the front surface and the back surface 110 are coupled and may be given further durability and support for the structure by the perimeter piece 114. In some embodiments, those skilled in the art may find it desirable for the front surface and the back surface 110 to be substantially rectangular because most maps are also rectangular or square. In some embodiments, the front surface and the back surface 110 may only be attached to one another on three of the four sides of their rectangular shape, leaving room for at least one map to be placed within the pouch through the unattached side of the front surface and the back surface 110. In further embodiments, the perimeter piece 114 may have an opening on one side to allow at least one map or other materials to be placed within the interior of the pouch that is created by the coupling of the front surface and the back surface 110. In alternative embodiments, the front surface or the back surface 110 may have an additional slot or entry point to allow the insertion of the at least one map. Any opening in the pouch and/or perimeter piece 114 may include a fastening mechanism such as a zipper or hook and loop connectors which prevents the map inserted within the pouch from undesirably escaping out through said opening.
The back surface 110 and the perimeter piece 114 may be made of durable and shape holding but flexible materials commonly used in clothing, sporting equipment, and the like, such as cloth, canvas, nylon, wool, hemp, flannel, and similar materials. Regardless of the material selected, the material should be somewhat hydrophobic or be treated with a chemical or spray giving it that property. This is because winter sports and activities will likely involve the apparatus coming into contact with, at least partially, snow, ice, or water. In order to protect the contents of the pouch, the exterior should be at least somewhat water repellent, or the interior of the pouch or some interlayer should contain a layer of hydrophobic material that assists in keeping the contents of the interior of the pouch dry.
The front surface, the back surface 110, and the perimeter piece 114 should be flexible, but substantially flat. Further, the front surface, the back surface 110, and the perimeter piece 114 should be configured in such a way that they allow the attachable map holding apparatus 100 to fold at least once along at least one fold line. In some embodiments, the at least one fold line is between the middle of one side of the attachable map holding apparatus 100 and the middle of the opposite side, creating two sections that are folded on top of each other about the fold line and each section being about the same size. In further embodiments, at least one hinged structure may be attached to the attachable map holding apparatus 100 and aligned with the fold line. Adding this hinged structure provides support for the apparatus. Further, the at least one hinged structure may, in even further embodiments, include a locking mechanism that keeps the attachable map holding apparatus 100 in the open position and/or the closed position. The hinged structure may be made of harder material, such as metal or plastic, to provide adequate support to the structure when it is transitioned between being folded and unfolded. In some embodiments, the hinged structure may be the means for securing the apparatus in a closed position 118.
In some embodiments, the means for attaching 112 the coupling structure 120 may be comprised of known techniques such as a set of loops for receiving straps, snap fasteners (or snaps), directly sewing the coupling structure 120 onto the back surface 110, hook and loop connectors, and so on so long as the means for attaching 112 provides adequate support and security to prevent the attachable map holding apparatus 100 from undesirably being removed from the wearer. In some embodiments, if the means for attaching 112 and coupling structure 120 use similar coupling mechanisms (such as hook and loop connectors), then it is ideal for the means for attaching 112 have a weaker coupling than the coupling structure 120. This allows the wearer to more easily remove the pouch without removing the coupling structure 120 from the wearer.
In some embodiments, the coupling structure 120 may be comprised of straps or specialized coupling mechanisms that directly attach to the wearer's cloth having corresponding coupling mechanisms. For example, the coupling structure 120 on the attachable map holding apparatus 100 may have a plurality of one piece of snap fasteners (such as the studs) and the wearer's jacket may have the corresponding pieces of snap fasteners (such as the sockets). This embodiment would require a specially designed piece of winter sports wear that is adapted to receive the attachable map holding apparatus 100. Any coupling structure 120 should desirably be configured to have enough coupling strength to prevent the attachable map holding apparatus 100 from dislodging from the wearer. Further, in some embodiments, the coupling structure 120 of the attachable map holding apparatus 100 is secured snuggly enough to the wearer that the apparatus does not rotate around or slide up and down on the wearer (such as rotating about the wearer's forearm or sliding up and/or down said forearm). Alternatively, in the case of hook and loop connectors, the connection should be resistant to being undesirably peeled away if the wearer has some sort of accident where the wearer is touching the apparatus to the ground, a tree, an arm of a ski lift, or other areas which could conceivably contact the apparatus at a winter sports resort.
If the means for attaching 112 is comprised of loops, there should be, in ideal embodiments, at least one loop for each strap comprising the coupling structure 120. However, wearers and those skilled in the art may appreciate the stability provided by having at least two loops per strap, better keeping the attachable map holding apparatus 100 in the same position on the wearer and preventing the perimeter of the pouch from undesirably bending or moving while the wearer participates in a winter sports activity. Alternative means for attaching 112 include snaps, hook and loop connector pairs, zippers, directly sewing the coupling structure 120 onto the attachable map holding apparatus 100, and similar methods known in the apparel and sporting equipment arts.
The depicted embodiment shows a design having two coupling structure 120 straps with one strap being longer than the other. This is because the depicted attachable map holding apparatus 100 is designed to be worn on the right arm of the wearer, so having the strap that would be attached near the wrist is smaller, leaving less excess strap. Likewise, the strap closer to the wearer's elbow is longer as to provide adequate space to secure the device around the largest part of the wearer's forearm. Further, in the depicted embodiment, the attachable map holding apparatus 100 may be configured in a left-handed version by switching the two straps to each straps opposite means for attaching 112. Alternative embodiments may include straps of the same length.
In some embodiments, the coupling tab 116 and the means for securing the apparatus in the closed position 118, are coupled after the attachable map holding apparatus 100 is folded from the open position to the closed position. This coupling locks the apparatus in the closed position so that it does not undesirably open while the wearer is participating in a winter sport or activity such as skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and so on. In some embodiments, the coupling tab 116 comprises a piece of fabric, such as the same fabric that comprises the back surface 110, and part of a coupling mechanism that secures the apparatus in the closed position. For example, the coupling tab 116 may have one part of a hook and loop connector and the means for securing the apparatus in the closed position 118 that is attached to the back surface 110 may have the other part of the hook and loop connector.
In some embodiments, the back surface 110 may include at least one opening 122. This at least one opening may be secured by common techniques such as a zipper, hook and look connectors, snaps, buttons, etc. The at least one opening 122 on the back surface 110 may allow the user to place the map inside the pouch or the map may be placed within an opening in the perimeter piece 114. In further embodiments, the at least one opening 122 on the back surface 110 may allow the wearer to place other items within the interior of the pouch such as a cellular phone, identification card, money, pen and paper, or other useful items for participants in winter sports and activities. In alternative embodiments, there may be a plurality of openings such as pockets, card slots, etc. that provide access and protection for the map or ancillary items within the pouch.
In some embodiments, the back surface 110 (of
In some embodiments, the perimeter piece 114 may include form-keeping substrates. These form-keeping substrates may comprise firm pieces of substrate (such as additional canvas material) or small rods of plastic or metal that aid the attachable map holding apparatus 100 to keep its substantially squared or rectangular shape.
In some embodiments, the back surface 110 may include transparent or semi-transparent pieces to allow the wearer to view the contents of the pouch while the attachable map holding apparatus 100 is in the closed position. These transparent or semi-transparent pieces may be made of the same materials that were previously mentioned regarding the front surface 124.
In some embodiments, alternative means for securing the apparatus in the closed position 118 may include a zipper or other fasteners that is placed along the perimeter piece 114. Ideal embodiments should include means for securing the apparatus in the closed position 118 which are easily usably while wearing gloves due to the nature of winter sports activities.
In an exemplary embodiment, an attachable map holding apparatus 100 is configured as described in
It should be understood that any of the examples described herein may include various other features in addition to or in lieu of those described above. By way of example only, any of the examples described herein may also include one or more of the various features disclosed in any of the various references that are incorporated by reference herein.
It should be understood that any one or more of the teachings, expressions, embodiments, examples, etc. described herein may be combined with any one or more of the other teachings, expressions, embodiments, examples, etc. that are described herein. The above-described teachings, expressions, embodiments, examples, etc. should therefore not be viewed in isolation relative to each other. Various suitable ways in which the teachings herein may be combined will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.
It should be appreciated that any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in whole or in part, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein is incorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated material does not conflict with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth in this disclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein will only be incorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between that incorporated material and the existing disclosure material.
Having shown and described various versions of the present invention, further adaptations of the methods, systems, and apparatus described herein may be accomplished by appropriate modifications by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. Several of such potential modifications have been mentioned, and others will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For instance, the examples, versions, geometrics, materials, dimensions, ratios, steps, and the like discussed above are illustrative and are not required. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be considered in terms of the following claims and is understood not to be limited to the details of structure and operation shown and described in the specification and drawings. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
