US20120160858A1

US20120160858A1 - Leash Pocket

Info

Publication number: US20120160858A1
Application number: US12/977,828
Authority: US
Inventors: Erik Michael Vossman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-12-23
Filing date: 2010-12-23
Publication date: 2012-06-28

Abstract

The present invention is an article holder tailored to the needs of surfers and bodyboarders such that the invention can be easily connected to an already existing surf leash, or permanently connected to the surf leash. The article holder may contain a hook and loop material for secure fastening to either end of the surf leash. The article holder contains a hollow member which will allow the passage of the leash through the center providing an alternate means to ensure secure mating to the surf leash. The article holder allows for secure storage during activity through a closure device on the outer side of the hollow member. The article holder being made of flexible material can a mechanical toggle on an elastic piece to tighten the ends of the hollow member around the surf leash.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention generally relates to a means for securing one or more objects in a protective pouch along a leash.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bathers, swimmers, and particularly surfers and bodyboarders, who drive to the beach frequently lock all of their valuables in their car. Naturally the only item of value that it is not practical to lock in the car is the key. Although some bathing suits and some wetsuits have provision for holding a key many do not and those that do exist are not necessarily secure. The loss of a key can cause considerable inconvenience.
For this reason, many surfers and beachgoers have in the past resorted to hiding the key somewhere on the vehicle, such as over the tire in one of the rear tire wells. However, increasingly, thieves, especially young thieves, who may be concealed in the parking lot or adjacent brush waiting for someone to hide the key on the vehicle. Once the hapless driver has entered the water and is out of sight, inasmuch as on large beaches there is a general anonymity and no one knows whose car belongs to whom, the thieves are free to retrieve the key and pilfer the inside of the car or even the car itself.
Surfers and bodyboarders who don't drive to the beach also may have a need to store items larger than keys such as ID cards, credit cards, lip balm, and sun screen. If left on the beach unattended, these items have a high probability of getting stolen, and are often insecurely stored in pockets or bands in most bathing suits or wetsuits. Female surfers and bodyboarders, who often wear tightly fitting bathing suits don't have room to store anything let alone a key. If they do store a key, it is often insecurely tied to a bikini strap that can come undone, causing the key or other item to fall loose.
There is a need, therefore, for a very simple, inexpensive, and foolproof key holder and/or pocket that will safely retain a key and/or other items in a way so as to not interfere with the recreational experience, preferably attached to the surf board, surfing leash, wrist, ankle, or wetsuit of a surfer, jogger, swimmer, or anyone else not having a pocket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention fulfills the above stated need by providing a simple and yet foolproof means of attaching a pocket to any portion of hook and loop fastener material (preferably Velcro® brand) on the strap of a surfboard or body boarding leash. The pocket includes a contiguous hollow member, a pocket coupled to the contiguous hollow member, the pocket having a closure device attached thereto for closing the pocket, and a double sided hook and loop strap on one end of the contiguous hollow member for securing to the hook and loop fastener material commonly found on surf and body board leashes.
The pouch can be made from any flexible material and is preferably made of a tightly woven fabric-like material. Preferably the fabric will be lightweight, relatively waterproof and sturdy. Particularly suitable materials include lightweight and quick drying fabrics such as those sold under the trademarks NYLON® and TASLYN®.
The pouch contains a means to tighten the contiguous hollow member around the rope, such as the surf or body board leash while allowing the pocket to remain expanded to contain objects such as keys, an identification card, credit card, lip balm, and sun screen. The means of tightening should be elastic material to allow the pocket to be stretched over either side of the leash. The tightening of the contiguous hollow member should be secure enough to hold the pocket and the contents tightly to the leash not allowing the pocket to move easily.
The main object of the invention is to provide a pocket which attaches to any rope, preferably a surf or body boarding leash which has a hook and loop fastener strap at one end that attaches to the wrist or ankle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the main embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a second perspective view, from a different angle, of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the hollow member and two pieces of fabric forming the pocket contained in the contiguous hollow member, with illustrative items contained within.

FIG. 4 shows the invention in one of its uses, with the contiguous hollow member around a surfboard leash.

FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows the alternate embodiment of FIG. 5 with the contiguous hollow member around a surfboard leash and connected at one point on the ankle strap of the leash.

FIG. 7 shows the main embodiment with the contiguous hollow member around a surfboard leash and connected to the board end of the leash.

FIG. 8 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention with the contiguous hollow member around a surfboard leash and permanently fixed to the leash.

FIG. 9 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention without the length of material containing the hook and loop extended beyond the contiguous hollow member.

FIG. 10 shows the alternate embodiment of FIG. 9 with the length of material containing the hook and loop extended beyond the contiguous hollow member which is around a surfboard leash and connected to two points on the ankle strap of the leash.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. It consists of a length of hook and loop material, length 1, Velcro, preferably with a hook material on one side and a loop material on the other side. This will allow the length of material to easily be fastened between two other pieces of material, one being hook, and the other loop (preferably Velcro® brand).
This length of material is to be attached to contiguous hollow member 2 that is made up of at least two pieces of fabric 4 and sealed off at both ends creating a pouch or pocket 5. Each end 6 and 7 having an elastic material which serves to bunch and contain the ends of the contiguous hollow member around an object like a surfboard leash 11 running through the hollow member. These elastic ends can have mechanical toggles 10 in addition to or instead of the elastic ends to enable the user to adjust the opening size of these ends.
The contiguous hollow member made up of at least two pieces of fabric 4 creating a pouch or pocket has a closure device 3 for providing access and closing off the pocket. The closure device is preferably a zipper or hook and loop fastener which can remain closed under stress caused by water, wave or other motion.
The pocket preferably contains within it a loop 8 of strong rope or material such as nylon thread which is attached to a seam in the pocket at both ends to form the loop.
It is preferred that the length of hook and loop backed material run the entire length of the invention such that the contiguous hollow member is attached to this length of material along the entire hollow member. This will make it easiest to create a pocket out of two pieces of material 9, closed at the other ends that are not attached to the length of material, running the length of the invention.
FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention which includes a piece of material 12, preferably elastic material that is able to stretch around and secure the contiguous hollow member to another object such as the ankle strap 14 of a surfboard leash as in FIG. 6. FIGS. 9 and 10 show an alternate embodiment of the invention which includes two pieces of material 12, preferably elastic material that is able to stretch around and secure the contiguous hollow member to another object such as the ankle strap of a surfboard leash as in FIG. 10.
FIG. 8 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention which creates a single unit by permanently connecting 13 the contiguous hollow member to the ankle strap of the surfboard leash. Although not pictured, this alternate embodiment could fix the contiguous hollow member to the other end of the leash connected to the surfboard.

Claims

1. A means for securing at least one object within a protective pocket attached to a leash comprising:

a contiguous hollow member, including a protective pocket, for encasing at least a portion of said leash;

a securing member for securing said contiguous hollow member along said leash; and

said contiguous hollow member functionally attached to said securing member.

2. The means for securing at least one object within a protective pocket along a leash of claim 1 wherein said securing member comprises a hook material on one side and a loop material on the other side.

3. The means for securing at least one object within a protective pocket along a leash of claim 1 wherein said contiguous hollow member is made of fabric.

4. The means for securing at least one object within a protective pocket along a leash of claim 2 wherein said contiguous hollow member is made of expandable fabric.

5. The means for securing at least one object within a protective pocket along a leash of claim 1 wherein said contiguous hollow member being attached to said securing member running the full length of said hollow contiguous member.

6. The means for securing at least one object within a protective pocket along a leash of claim 1 wherein said contiguous hollow member being attached to said securing member at only an end of said securing member.

7. The means for securing at least one object within a protective pocket along a leash of claim 1 wherein said contiguous hollow member comprises an expandable pouch.

8. The means for securing at least one object within a protective pocket along a leash of claim 7 wherein said expandable pouch comprises a means to tighten the pouch at various locations.

9. The means for securing at least one object within a protective pocket along a leash of claim 7 wherein said expandable pouch comprises of multiple layers of fabric closed off at the ends, containing a closeable access port.

10. The means for securing at least one object within a protective pocket along a leash of claim 7 wherein said expandable pouch comprises a loop of material or rope for attaching and securing objects.

11. The means for securing at least one object within a protective pocket along a leash of claim 7 wherein said expandable pouch comprises a closure device made of a zipper.

12. The means for securing at least one object within a protective pocket along a leash of claim 7 wherein said expandable pouch comprises a closure device made of hook and loop material.