US20090151040A1

US20090151040A1 - Wearable storage device

Info

Publication number: US20090151040A1
Application number: US12/337,812
Authority: US
Inventors: Je'Nette Lee-Johnson; Ruby McDonald
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-12-18
Filing date: 2008-12-18
Publication date: 2009-06-18

Abstract

A wearable storage device includes an apron type member manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size. A plurality of storage members are disposed on at least a first side of such apron type member at a plurality of predetermined locations thereon. A first securing mechanism is disposed on such apron type member for securing such apron type member around at least one predetermined part of a user.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/008,091 filed Dec. 18, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to aprons and storage devices and, more particularly, this invention relates to a wearable storage device for housing and storing a plurality of predetermined items in a manner that enables a wearer of such device to easily access such items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, aprons, as are generally well known in the prior art, have been used to cover clothing of a user to protect such clothing from becoming dirty while a user is cooking, painting, sculpting, or exposed to other messy items. Storage devices, such as containers, have been used to store items such as tools, scissors, child care items, medical equipment, and the like, however, often such containers are out of reach when necessary and inconvenient to locate. Furthermore, childcare workers, nurses, doctors, mechanics, cooks, teachers, and others, are often unable to locate the specific item that is needed necessitating leaving their work or persons in their charge in order to retrieve the needed item.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a wearable storage device which includes an apron type member manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size. A plurality of storage members are disposed on at least a first side of such apron type member at a plurality of predetermined locations thereon. A first securing means is disposed on such apron type member for securing such apron type member around at least one predetermined part of a user.
According to another embodiment, a care kit is provided. Such care kit includes a wearable storage device. Such wearable storage device includes an apron type member manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size, a plurality of storage members disposed on such apron type member at a plurality of predetermined locations thereon, and a securing means disposed on such apron type member for securing such apron type member around at least one predetermined portion of a user. Such care kit further includes a plurality of predetermined items related to at least one of caring for and teaching at least one predetermined person in a predetermined manner. Such plurality of predetermined items at least one of fit within such plurality of storage members, hang from such plurality of storage members, attach to such plurality of storage members, and a combination thereof.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a device which is lightweight and can be worn over a user's everyday clothing in a comfortable manner and which includes a plurality of at least one of pockets, compartments, hooks, loops, and a combination thereof such that a plurality of predetermined items may be stored in and on such plurality of at least one of pockets, compartments, hooks, loops, and such combination thereof.
Another object of the present invention is to provide at least one of a full apron and a half apron having a plurality of predetermined pockets and other storage means disposed at predetermined locations thereon.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apron for covering a predetermined part of a user, such apron including a plurality of housing members disposed thereon for receiving and housing a plurality of predetermined objects related to caring for children.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a comfortable device which can be used to store a variety of items such as scissors, pens, pencils, markers, crayons, paper, medical tools, nursing tools, thermometers, cell phones, hand lotion, hand sanitizer, cleaning wipes, baby wipes, stethoscope, clipboards, tissues, nail clippers, gloves, trash, keys, snacks, office supplies, tools, medicine, kitchen utensils, and the like.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide an apron type member which can be worn by a user, such as a nurse, a doctor, a teacher, a daycare worker, a chef, and the like, such apron type member having a plurality of storage members disposed thereon for enabling such user to store various items in and on such storage members such that such various items are close at hand, easily accessible, and out of reach of children and others.
In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which the apron type member includes both a chest covering portion and a lap covering portion.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which the apron type member is worn by a healthcare practitioner and such apron type member includes a loop type member through which a portion of a stethoscope has been threaded.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which a child care worker is depicted wearing such device; pockets on the apron type member are shown housing tissues, scissors, and glue.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which the apron type member includes a lap covering portion.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.
Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-5.
A wearable storage device, generally designated 10, is provided. Such wearable storage device 10 includes an apron type member 12 manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size. It is presently preferred that such first predetermined material is at least one of plastic, fabric, cellulose, and a combination thereof.
A plurality of storage members 14 are disposed on at least a first side 16 of such apron type member 12 at a plurality of predetermined locations thereon.
A first securing means 18 is disposed on such apron type member 12 for securing such apron type member 12 around at least one predetermined part of a user 11.
It is presently preferred that such plurality of storage members 14 are a plurality of pockets 22. It is presently preferred that at least one of such plurality of pockets 22 is insulated.
It is further presently preferred that at least a predetermined number of such pockets 22 include a securing means 24 disposed thereon for securing such predetermined number of such pockets 22 in a closed position. Such securing means 24 may be any type of securing means which facilitates such a purpose. For example, a zipper 17, as illustrated in FIG. 1, may be used.
According to one embodiment, such device 10 further includes such predetermined number of such pockets 22 including a securing means 24 having a first portion 24 disposed on an inside of such pocket 22 and a second portion 26 disposed on such apron type member 12, such first portion 24 and such second portion 26 being engageable with each other such that such pockets 22 may be releasably secured in a closed position. It is presently preferred that such securing means 24 is at least one of a hook and loop type securing means, a snap type securing means, a button and buttonhole type securing means, a zipper type securing means, and a combination thereof. It is presently most preferred that such securing means 24 is a hook and loop type securing means 27.
It is presently preferred that such apron type member 12 further includes at least one loop type member 28 disposed thereon such that a predetermined item 32 may be hung within such loop type member 28. For example, a handle of a tool having a head may be inserted into such loop such that such head of such tool will be supported by such loop. However, the device 10, is not meant to be limited as such and such at least one loop type member 28 may be used for other reasonable purposes, such as securing a portion of a stethoscope 29 as illustrated in FIG. 2.
It is further presently preferred that such apron type member 12 further includes at least one key ring type member 32 operably connected to such apron type member 12 for releasably engaging at least one of at least one key, at least one key ring, and a combination thereof.
It is presently preferred that such apron type member 12 includes at least one of a lap covering portion 34, a chest covering portion 36, and a combination thereof. It is presently most preferred that such apron type member 12 includes such chest covering portion 36 and wherein a second securing means 38 is operably connected to such apron type member 12 closely adjacent such chest covering portion 36 for releasably securing such chest covering portion 36 closely adjacent such user's chest.
It is presently preferred that such second securing means 38 is a strap member 42 of a predetermined length having a first end 44 and a second end 46, such first end 44 being attached to a first portion of such chest covering portion 36 and such second end 46 thereof being attached to a second portion of such chest covering portion 36 creating a substantially circular type opening through which a user's head 13 may be inserted. It is presently preferred that such device 10 further includes an adjustment means (not shown) for selectively adjusting the length of such strap member 42.
According to another embodiment, such second securing means 38 includes a first tie string 52 attached at a first end 54 thereof to such chest covering portion 36 and a second tie string 56 attached at a first end 58 thereof to such chest covering portion 36, each of such first tie string 52 and such second tie string 56 being of sufficient length to be tied around a neck 15 of a user 11.
It is presently preferred that such apron type member 12 includes a lap covering portion 34 and such first securing means 18 is a hook and loop type securing means 62 having a first portion 64 disposed on a first side edge of such apron type member 12 and a second portion 66 disposed on a second side edge of such apron type member 12, such first portion 64 and such second portion 66 being releasably engageable with each other.
According to one embodiment such predetermined portion of such user 11 is such user's waist and such first securing means 18 includes a first tie string 72 attached at a first end 74 thereof to a first side edge of such apron type member 12 and a first end 76 of a second tie string 78 being attached at a second side edge of such apron type member 12, such first tie string 72 and such second tie string 78 being of sufficient length to be tied together.
According to another embodiment, referring to FIG. 5, a care kit, generally designated 20, is provided. Such care kit 20 includes a wearable storage device, generally designated 10, including an apron type member 12, manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size, a plurality of storage members 14 disposed on such apron type member 12 at a plurality of predetermined locations thereon, and a securing means 18 disposed on said apron type member 12 for securing such apron type member 12 around at least one predetermined portion of a user. Such care kit 20 further includes a plurality of predetermined items 82 related to at least one of caring for and teaching at least one predetermined person in a predetermined manner, such plurality of predetermined items 82 at least one of fit within such plurality of storage members 14, hang from such plurality of storage members 14, attach to such plurality of storage members 14, and a combination thereof.
It is presently preferred that such at least one predetermined person is at least one of an infant, a child, a sick person, and injured person, an elderly person, a student, and a combination thereof.
It is further presently preferred that such plurality of storage members 14 include a predetermined number of pockets 22, a predetermined number of loop type members 28 for holding at least one tool selected from the group consisting of a hammer, a wrench, a pair of pliers, a stethoscope, a square, a blood pressure monitoring device, and a combination thereof, and at least one key ring type member 32 operably disposed at predetermined locations thereon.
While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A wearable storage device comprising:

a. an apron type member manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size;

b. a plurality of storage members disposed on at least a first side of said apron type member at a plurality of predetermined locations thereon; and

c. a first securing means disposed on said apron type member for securing said apron type member around at least one predetermined part of a user.

2. A wearable storage device according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of storage members are a plurality of pockets.

3. A wearable storage device according to claim 2 wherein at least a predetermined number of said pockets include a securing means disposed thereon for securing said predetermined number of said pockets in a closed position.

4. A wearable storage device according to claim 2 wherein said device further includes at least a predetermined number of said pockets each including a securing means having a first portion disposed on an inside of said pocket and a second portion disposed on such apron type member said first portion and said second portion being engageable with each other such that said pockets may be releasably secured in a closed position.

5. A wearable storage device according to claim 4 wherein said securing means is at least one of a hook and loop type securing means, a snap type securing means, a button and buttonhole type securing means, a zipper type securing means, and a combination thereof.

6. A wearable storage device according to claim 5 wherein said securing means is a hook and loop type securing means.

7. A wearable storage device according to claim 1 wherein said apron type member further includes at least one loop type member disposed thereon such that a predetermined item may be hung within such loop type member.

8. A wearable storage device according to claim 1 wherein said apron type member further includes at least one key ring type member operably connected to said apron type member for releasably engaging at least one of at least one key, at least one key ring, and a combination thereof.

9. A wearable storage device according to claim 1 wherein said apron type member includes at least one of a lap covering portion, a chest covering portion, and a combination thereof.

10. A wearable storage device according to claim 9 wherein said apron type member includes said chest covering portion and wherein a second securing means is operably connected to said apron type member closely adjacent said chest covering portion for releasably securing said chest covering portion closely adjacent such user's chest.

11. A wearable storage device according to claim 10 wherein second securing means is a strap member of a predetermined length having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to a first portion of said chest covering portion and said second end thereof being attached to a second portion of said chest covering portion creating a substantially circular type opening through which a user's head may be inserted.

12. A wearable storage device according to claim 11 wherein said device further includes an adjustment means for selectively adjusting the length of said strap member.

13. A wearable storage device according to claim 10 wherein said second securing means includes a first tie string attached at a first end thereof to said chest covering portion and a second tie string attached at a first end thereof to said chest covering portion, each of said first tie string and said second tie string being of sufficient length to be tied around a neck of a user.

14. A wearable storage device according to claim 9 wherein said apron type member includes a lap covering portion and said first securing means is a hook and loop type securing means having a first portion disposed on a first side edge of said apron type member and a second portion disposed on a second side edge of said apron type member, said first portion and said second portion being releasably engageable with each other.

15. A wearable storage device according to claim 1 wherein such predetermined part of such user is such user's waist and wherein said first securing means includes a first tie string attached at a first end thereof to a first side edge of said apron type member and a first end of a second tie string being attached at a second side edge of said apron type member, said first tie string and said second tie string being of sufficient length to be tied together.

16. A wearable storage device according to claim 2 wherein at least one of said plurality of pockets is insulated.

17. A wearable storage device according to claim 1 wherein said first predetermined material is at least one of plastic, fabric, cellulose, and a combination thereof.

18. A care kit comprising:

a. a wearable storage device including;

i. an apron type member manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size;

ii. a plurality of storage members, said plurality of storage members being disposed on said apron type member at a plurality of predetermined locations thereon;

iii. a securing means disposed on said apron type member for securing said apron type member around at least one predetermined portion of a user; and

b. a plurality of predetermined items related to at least one of caring for and teaching at least one predetermined person in a predetermined manner, said plurality of predetermined items at least one of fitting within said plurality of storage members, hanging from said plurality of storage members, attaching to said plurality of storage members, and a combination thereof.

19. A care kit according to claim 18 wherein said at least one predetermined person is at least one of an infant, a child, a sick person, and injured person, an elderly person, a student, and a combination thereof.

20. A care kit according to claim 18 wherein said plurality of storage members include a predetermined number of pockets, a predetermined number of loop type members for holding at least one tool selected from the group consisting of a hammer, a wrench, a pair of pliers, a stethoscope, a square, a blood pressure monitoring device, and a combination thereof, and at least one key ring type member operably disposed at predetermined locations thereon.