US20110101062A1

US20110101062A1 - Pouch and pouches to carry personal items and lights on a belt

Info

Publication number: US20110101062A1
Application number: US12/612,228
Authority: US
Inventors: Benjamin Franklin Roberts; SaBrea LaRee Cowan; Genessa Lynn Roberts; Charles Deane Roberts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-11-04
Filing date: 2009-11-04
Publication date: 2011-05-05

Abstract

A pouch to carry personal items and lights on a belt includes: a sheet having a first surface, a second surface, and a side; a container on the first surface, adapted to retain the personal item; a first lighting element on the second surface, directed generally away from the sheet; a second lighting element on the second surface, directed generally toward the side; and a lateral aperture in the sheet adapted to retain the device on the belt, thereby carrying the personal items.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to containers, and more specifically, to a pouch and pouches to carry personal items and lights on a belt.
Outfits worn by joggers, walkers, or people doing physical exercise don't contain convenient places to hold personal items, ID, keys, cell phone, and music player. Also they don't contain safety lights for night time use.
As can be seen, there is a need for a system of pouches to carry personal items and lights on a belt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a device for carrying a personal item utilizing a belt includes: a sheet having a first surface, a second surface, and a side; a container on the first surface, adapted to retain the personal item; a first lighting element on the second surface, directed generally away from the sheet; a second lighting element on the second surface, directed generally toward the side; and a lateral aperture in the sheet adapted to retain the device on the belt, thereby carrying the personal items.
In another aspect of the present invention, a pouch includes: a plurality of containers; a safety light; a directional light; and a belt loop.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of an outer surface of a right side pouch according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of an inner surface of a right side pouch according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of an outer surface of a left side pouch according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of an inner surface of a left side pouch according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment of a flap cover according to the present invention; and

FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment of a belt according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.
Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally provides a device to hold personal items, ID, keys, and cell phone, IPod(R), MP3 player, or other personal media player, and display night and safety lights for joggers and walkers.
An embodiment includes side pouches providing compartments to hold ID, keys, credit cards or currency, cell phone, and IPod(R), MP3 player, or other personal media player and display front and side flashing lights for joggers and walkers. It may be convenient for joggers or walkers. The inside contents may not loosely bounce around.
As depicted in FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention may include a right side pouch 10, a left side pouch 40, front lights 22, 52, safety lights 20, 50, pouch flap covers 60, and a belt with snap buckle.
An embodiment of a right side pouch may be made of water repellent material and may contain multiple compartments to hold identification (ID), house and car keys, and credit cards or currency. Inside the pouch, space is also available to hold small personal items such as candy, gum, nail clippers, etc.
As depicted in the embodiment of FIG. 2, a right side pouch 10 includes a sheet of material 12, with a border 14. The border may be approximately ¼″ wide. A belt loop 16 is an aperture near the top. The outer surface 18 of the pouch 10 includes safety lights 20 and directional front lights 22. The lights 20, 22 are lighting elements that may have on/off switches, batteries, and switches for options (e.g. flash/steady).
As depicted in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the right side pouch 10 also has an inner surface 24 having multiple containers 26, 28, 30 to store personal items. For example, container 26 might be approximately 2¼″ wide to fit a driver's license, container 28 might be 1″ wide fit house and car keys, and container 30 might be 2¼″ wide to fit credit cards.
An embodiment of a left side pouch may be made of water repellent material and may contain multiple compartments to hold cell phone and I-pod, MP-3 player, or other music player. Inside the pouch, space is also available to hold small personal items. The outside of the left side pouch may be nearly a mirror-image of the outside of the right side pouch, so that when the pouches are worn on the hips, both forward-facing lights face forward.
As depicted in the embodiment of FIG. 4, a left side pouch 40 includes a sheet of material 42, with a border 44, and a belt loop 46 aperture near the top. The outer surface 48 is includes safety lights 50 and directional front lights 52.
As depicted in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the left side pouch 40 also has an inner surface 54 having multiple containers 56, 58 to store personal items. For example, container 56 might be approximately 2¼″ wide by 3″ tall to fit a cell phone, and container 58 might be the same size to fit an IPod(R), MP3 player, or other personal media player.
In an embodiment, both right and left pouches may contain front and side lights. The front lights may be lightweight 3 or 5 bulb LED lights. The LED lights may be ultrabrite and provide many hours of use. The side lights may be red or white lights which may be set to steady or flashing mode.
In an embodiment, both pouches may contain water repellent flap covers with hooks-and-loops such as Velcro(R) fasteners to keep contents securely inside the pouches. The covers may be 6½″ wide, and may extend down approximately ½″ before slanting down to a point.
As depicted in the embodiment of FIG. 6, a flap cover 60 includes a piece of material 62 and a fastener 64, which may be hooks-and-loops.
In an embodiment, both pouches contain 1¼″ belt loops and may come with a 1″ wide belt with a snap buckle. The belt length may be adjusted from very small sizes (10 inches) to very large sizes (50+inches).
As depicted in the embodiment of FIG. 7, a belt 70 has a strap 72, a snap buckle 74, and a buckle receiver 76.
In an embodiment, the front and side lights are lightweight, and may be removed when using the pouches to hold ID cards, keys, cell phone, music player, and other small personal items during daylight hours.
In an embodiment, the right side pouch and the left side pouch have 1¼″ belt loops at the top for a belt to thread through the loops and are worn around a person's waist. Both the right and left side pouches contain front LED 3 or 5 bulb lights. The front lights are contained in specifically made pockets located in the front of the pouches. The front lights are clipped securely inside the pockets located in the front of the pouches. This allows the front lights to be conveniently removed and replaced. The side flashing lights are clipped onto specifically made pockets located on the side panel of each of the pouches. This allows the side flashing lights to be conveniently removed and replaced.
Inside the right side pouch are compartments that are sized to snugly hold ID cards, house and car keys, and credit cards or currency. Inside the left side pouch are compartments which are sized to snugly hold a cell phone and IPod(R), MP3 player, or other personal media player. An earphone may be attached to the music player with the wire running inside or outside a person's shirt or blouse to his or ear. Both of the pouches contain water repellent flap covers with hooks-and-loops such as Velcro(R) or other fasteners to keep the contents securely inside the pouches.
In an embodiment, the right side pouch is placed on a 1″ wide belt along with the left side pouch worn around a person's waist. The right side pouch is displayed on the person's right hip and the left side pouch is displayed on the person's left hip. When a person is walking of jogging during darkness or nighttime hours, the front light and the side flashing lights may be turned on using a toggle switch located on the light components. The pouches along with the safety lights provides convenient compartments to snugly hold the person's ID, car keys credit cards, currency, cell phone and music player while at the same time proving safety from vehicle traffic when the person is walking or jogging during darkness.
To make an embodiment, a person could sew fabric material together, possibly using sewing patterns. The front and side lights may be purchased.
To reconfigure an embodiment, the front and side lights may be removed when using the pouches to hold ID, cards, keys, cell phone, music player, and other small personal items during day light hours. This may provide for convenient use of the pouches while sightseeing or visiting amusement parks.
To use an embodiment, a person could place the right and left side pouches on a belt and wear them around their waist with a pouch on each side of their hips. The pouches could be placed on the belt with the front lights facing towards the front side of the body. To place items inside the pouches the person would lift the flap covers and slide the items inside the specific compartments. During darkness or nighttime hours, the person would need to push the toggle on/off switch on each of the front lights. To turn on the side flashing lights, the person would need to toggle switch to place the lights in the flashing or steady on mode. During an electrical power outage in a residential of commercial building, the side pouch may be worn with the front light in the on position. This would allow the person hands free operation for performing tasks around the home or business. The side pouches may be worn by a motorist during roadside break-downs or when fixing flat tires during darkness or nighttime hours. The pouches may be worn by safety officers while directing traffic or assisting motorist during darkness or nighttime hours.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A device for carrying a personal item utilizing a belt, comprising:

a sheet having a first surface, a second surface, and a side;

a container on the first surface, adapted to retain the personal item;

a first lighting element on the second surface, directed generally away from the sheet;

a second lighting element on the second surface, directed generally toward the side; and

a lateral aperture in the sheet adapted to retain the device on the belt, thereby carrying the personal items.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first lighting container on the second surface to releasably retain the first lighting element; and

a second lighting container on the second surface to releasably retain the second lighting element.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more lighting containers on the second surface to releasably retain the first lighting element and the second lighting element.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a belt;

wherein the lateral aperture is proximate to a top of the sheet, so that when the device is worn on the belt by a user, the device hangs from the belt and the second lighting element faces generally forward.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of containers on the first surface, adapted to retain a plurality of personal item, said items selected from the group consisting of: identification cards; house keys; car keys; credit cards; currency; mobile telephones; personal media players; and data equipment.

6. The device of claim 1, the material comprising a water-repellant material, the device further comprising:

a cover comprising the water-repellant material, the cover adapted to protect the personal item retained by the container.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second sheet;

a second container on the second sheet, adapted to retain a second personal item;

a third lighting element on the second sheet, directed generally away from the second sheet;

a fourth lighting element on the second sheet, directed generally in the same direction as the second lighting element on the first sheet; and

a second lateral aperture in the second sheet adapted to retain the device on the belt.

8. A pouch comprising:

a plurality of containers;

a safety light;

a directional light; and

a belt loop.

9. The pouch of claim 8, wherein the pouch retains the directional light so that, when the pouch is worn on the belt of a user, the directional light is forward-facing.

10. The pouch of claim 8, further comprising:

a second pouch having a second plurality of containers, a second safety light, a second directional light, and a second belt loop;

wherein the pouch and second pouch cooperate to provide a system for carrying personal items from a belt.