US20090220177A1

US20090220177A1 - Gym Buddy

Info

Publication number: US20090220177A1
Application number: US12/039,967
Authority: US
Inventors: Yvette W. Andreu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-02-29
Filing date: 2008-02-29
Publication date: 2009-09-03

Abstract

A device for holding gym articles may include a mounting sheet, a first pocket sheet adapted to be mounted on the mounting sheet and a second pocket sheet adapted to the mounted on the mounting sheet. The first pocket sheet may include a first pocket with a first opening along the traverse edge of the mounting sheet, and first pocket sheet may include a second pocket with the second opening along the traverse edge of the mounting sheet. The first pocket sheet may include a third pocket with a third opening along the longitudinal edge of the mounting sheet, and the second pocket sheet may include a fourth pocket with a fourth opening along the longitudinal edge of the mounting sheet. The second pocket sheet may include a fifth pocket with the fifth opening along the traverse edge of the mounting sheet, and the mounting sheet may be formed from flexible material. The mounting sheet may be formed from terrycloth.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to gym equipment and more particularly to an apparatus to store personal equipment while at the gym.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Over the years, patrons have been going to a gymnasium in increasing numbers. Correspondingly, the incidences of theft have been increasing. There have been various instances of individuals stealing personal objects from patrons of a gym. Car keys have been stolen, and the car has been identified from the stolen car keys. The cars have been entered and valuable contents have been stolen from the car. The lockers at the gym are not the answer to the problem of theft. In other instances, wallets, purses, cell phones and other items have been stolen from lockers in the gym.
Cameras operating in the gym have provided some degree of security to prevent these items from being stolen. However, it is difficult for cameras to cover all of the areas of the gymnasium, and consequently it is difficult to prevent personal items from being stolen from lockers and other areas within the gymnasium.
Most gymnasiums prohibit gym bags from the exercise area of the gymnasium because of safety reasons.
Certain personal items are necessary to be used while at the gymnasium. Consequently, the personal items such as gym membership cards, licenses, cash, water, magazines, workout gloves, keys, radios, cell phone and towel are items that are usually required to use in the gymnasium. When moving from one machine to another, it can take a significant amount of time in order to gather these items up and move them to the next exercise machine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,866 to Pelavin discloses a multi-compartmented carrying case or sport bag for carrying clothing and equipment for playing sports. The sport bag is provided with a racquet compartment which is positioned exteriorly of the bag. A hanging compartment, or first clothing compartment, is suspended within the sport bag for carrying shorts, T-shirts, or the like. A second clothing compartment is formed below this hanging compartment, and it is especially adapted to carry shoes. A moisture-proof compartment is positioned within the hanging compartment for holding wet clothing such as a swim suit or wet towel. Separate zippered openings are provided for introducing articles into each compartment.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,102 to Norton discloses an especially adapted sport bag having a carrying strap which is capable of supporting the bag in either one-, two- or three-point contact and thus permits the bag to be utilized as either a waist-, shoulder-, or back-pack, respectively. The bag/strap configurations are readily converted by a user one to another so that it is “universally” adapted for various modes of transport.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,635 to Hirshberg discloses a sports bag which is defined to include any carrying bag such as a duffel bag, backpack, gym bag or other bag which is used to carry articles such as sports equipment, a thermos, sports clothing etc, which includes a mat which is conveniently stored inside the sports bag when not in use and can be removed through an opening in the sports bag to permit the mat to be extended transverse to the sports bag so that it provides a flat surface on which the user may rest or place articles. The mat can be permanently affixed to the sports bag or it can be removably affixed and attached by means of fasteners such as male and female mating hook and loop fasteners, snaps, etc. The mat can be rolled up and stored within the sports bag when not in use and unrolled and laid flat adjacent the sports bag when in use.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,222,705 to Guza discloses a carrying bag accessory featuring a mat that is externally affixed to a bag or any variant bag designs such as a gym bag, duffle bag, rucksack, backpack, etc., and conveniently stored in a folded configuration when not in use and deployed in an unfolded configuration adjacent to the bag when in use to provide a flat clean surface upon which a user can rest or place items on. The mat is comprised of a multiplicity of rigid or semi-rigid hinged panels carefully configured to fold in such a manner as to preserve the cleanliness of surfaces that come into contact with the user. The mat is retained in a folded configuration by means of magnetic or other types of fasteners allowing the deployment and storage of the mat by the user with minimal contact and effort.

SUMMARY

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a first pocket sheet of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a folded first pocket sheet of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates pockets formed with the first pocket sheet of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates the first pocket sheet mounted on a mounting sheet;

FIG. 5 illustrates a second pocket sheet of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a folded second pocket sheet of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates formed pockets in the second pocket sheet of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates the first pocket sheet and the second pocket sheet mounted on the mounting sheet of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 illustrates a pocket sheet 100 for forming a first pocket of the gym buddy. Around the periphery of the pocket sheet 100 is a hemline 110 to hem the outer edges of the first pocket of the gym buddy. Additionally in approximately the center of the pocket sheet is 100 is a fold line 112 for folding the pocket sheet 100 which extends in the longitudinal direction. Along a longitudinal edge of the pocket sheet 100 is a first fastening device 102 and a second fastening device 104 and along the opposing longitudinal edge of the pocket sheet 100 is a third fastening device 106 and the fourth fastening device 108.
Before the pocket sheet 100 has been folded, the pocket sheet 100 is attached to the mounting sheet along the top longitudinal edge adjacent to the first fastening device 102 and the second fastening device 104.
When the pocket sheet 100 has been folded along the fold line 112, the first fastening device 102 cooperates with the fourth fastening device 108, and the second fastening device 104 cooperates with the third fastening device 106 to provide a detachable connection for an opening which opens and closes when the pocket sheet 100 is in a folded state along the fold line 112. The first fastening device 102, the second fastening device 104, the third fastening device 106 and the fourth fastening device 108 may be Velcro which is a material which includes hooks and loops or other types of fastening devices such as buttons, hooks, snaps, zippers etc.
FIG. 2 illustrates that the pocket sheet 100 has been folded along the fold line 112, and the first fastening device 102 has been detachably connected to the fourth fastening device 108 to allow for an opening that can be opened and closed and the second fastening device 104 has been detachably connected to the third fastening device 106 to allow for another opening that can be opened and closed.
FIG. 2 additionally illustrates a sewing line 230 which extends along the traverse edge and the longitudinal edge of the pocket sheet 100 to seal these edges of the pocket sheet 100. The opposing traverse edge and the opposing longitudinal edge of the pocket sheet 100 remain unattached to the mounting sheet in order to provide for a future storage compartment.
A fifth fastening device 216 which is fastened to the back side of the pocket sheet 100 and a sixth fastening device 218 which is fastened to the mounting sheet are shown on opposing traverse edges of the pocket sheet 100. Both the fifth fastening device 216 and the sixth fastening device 218 may be Velcro, but any of the fastening devices described in the present invention could be buttons, sippers, hooks, snaps or other appropriate devices.
FIG. 2 additionally illustrates a sew line 214 which is sewn to form to pockets which extends from the longitudinal edges of the folded pocket sheet 100 and is approximately centered. When the pocket sheet 100 is sown along the traverse sew line 214, two pockets are formed.
FIG. 3 illustrates the pocket configuration of the pocket sheet 100 which includes a first pocket opening 320 for a first pocket 321, a second pocket opening 322 for a second pocket 323 and a third pocket opening 324 for a third pocket 325 which is along the traverse edge of the pocket sheet 100.
FIG. 4 illustrates the pocket configuration of FIG. 3 placed on a mounting sheet 300 which may be formed from a flexible material such as terrycloth or other suitable material.
FIG. 5 illustrates a second pocket sheet 500 for a second pocket. FIG. 5 illustrates a hemline 510 which extends around the periphery of the second pocket sheet 500 adjacent to the edges of the second pocket sheet 500 to hem the second pocket sheet 500. FIG. 5 illustrates a fifth fastening device 502 and a sixth fastening device 504 along the longitudinal edges of the second pocket sheet 500 and a fold line 506 which extends along the approximate center of the second pocket sheet 500 in the longitudinal direction. FIG. 5 additionally illustrates a seventh fastening device 512 which is attached to the back side of the pocket sheet and eighth fastening device 514 which is attached to the mounting sheet and cooperates with the seventh fastening device 512 to form a closable opening for a pocket along the traverse edge of the second pocket sheet 500.
FIG. 6 illustrates the second pocket sheet 500 after the second pocket sheet 500 has been folded along the fold line 506. The fifth fastening device 502 and the sixth fastening device 504 form a detachable connection for an opening in the second pocket sheet 500 which can be opened and closed along the longitudinal edge of the second pocket sheet 500. Similarly, the seventh fastening device 512 and the eighth fastening device 514 are detachedly connected to form an opening along the traverse edge of the second pocket sheet 500.
FIG. 6 additionally illustrates a sewing line 510 which extends along the traverse edge and the longitudinal edge of the pocket sheet 500 to seal these edges of the pocket sheet 500. The opposing traverse edge and the opposing longitudinal edge of the pocket sheet 500 remain unattached to the mounting sheet in order to provide for a future storage compartment.
FIG. 7 illustrates the formed pockets from the pocket sheet 500 and illustrates a fourth pocket opening 630 which can be opened and closed in accordance with the fifth fastening device 502 and the sixth fastening device 504 to access a fourth pocket 631 in the longitudinal direction. FIG. 7 additionally illustrates a fifth pocket opening 632 which can be opened and closed in accordance with the seventh fastening device 512 and the eighth fastening device 514 to access a fifth pocket 633 in the traverse direction.
FIG. 8 illustrates the fourth pocket 631 and the fifth pocket 633 which has been mounted on the mounting sheet 300 as well as the first pocket 321, the second pocket 323 and the third pocket 325.

ADVANTAGES

Typically, items which people may take to the gym include bottled water, magazines, a cell phone, a wallet, keys, iPod, a hand sanitizer, and workout gloves. These items fit easily into the gym buddy by allowing the user to just open the pocket of the gym buddy and these items are at your fingertips. You never have to worry about someone picking them up or losing them at the gym. The gym buddy allows you to go to the gymnasium and focus on your workout. The present invention keeps these personal items from the unsanitary surfaces at the gym.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.

Claims

1) A device for holding gym articles, comprising:

a mounting sheet;

a first pocket sheet adapted to be mounted on the mounting sheet;

a second pocket sheet adapted to the mounted on the mounting sheet.

2) A device for holding gym articles as in claim 1, wherein the first pocket sheet includes a first pocket with a first opening along the traverse edge of the mounting sheet.

3) A device for holding gym articles as in claim 2, wherein the first pocket sheet includes a second pocket with the second opening along the traverse edge of the mounting sheet.

4) A device for holding gym articles as in claim 3, wherein the first pocket sheet includes a third pocket with a third opening along the longitudinal edge of the mounting sheet.

5) A device for holding gym articles as in claim 1, wherein the second pocket sheet includes a fourth pocket with a fourth opening along the longitudinal edge of the mounting sheet.

6) A device for holding gym articles as in claim 5, wherein the second pocket sheet includes a fifth pocket with the fifth opening along the traverse edge of the mounting sheet.

7) A device for holding gym articles as in claim 1, wherein the mounting sheet is formed from flexible material.

8) A device for holding gym articles as in claim 7, wherein the mounting sheet is formed from terrycloth.