US20160021991A1

US20160021991A1 - Fashion Article Having a Concealed Storage Cavity

Info

Publication number: US20160021991A1
Application number: US14/871,976
Authority: US
Inventors: Gladys Franco; Mickey Jew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-05-16
Filing date: 2015-09-30
Publication date: 2016-01-28

Abstract

A wrist worn clothing article having a hidden pocket which may be displayed without removal from an elongated body such as a bracelet attached to the wrist or angle of the user. In one mode the pocket is rotatable from a hidden sandwiched engagement between two layers of the bracelet to an exposed position where the user may access it or a third party may view the ID in the pocket. A tactile communication section formed in the body of the article, allows touch and contact communications to the skin of the user from a dance partner while wearing the device.

Description

This application is a Continuation In Part application from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/896,294 filed on May 16, 2013, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/647,988 filed on May 16, 2012, both of which are incorporated herein in their respective entirety by this reference thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fashion articles such as wrist or ankle bracelets and the like. More specifically, the invention relates to a bracelet having a concealed cavity for receiving ID cards, credit cards, and the like which allows the use of only one hand to store and present identification and credit cards and the like. The cavity may be formed in a removably engaged pocket body, such that the pocket body can be engaged with multiple various fashion articles having the properly positioned complementary mating fasteners configured for such an engagement.
2. Prior Art
Women's formal attire has often been known to have little or no pocket space to allow the wearer to hold items such as a phone, makeup, ID card, credit card, bank card, drivers license or other valuable and personal items. As a conventional solution, many women choose to carry purses or handbags as accessories to hold such additional items. Typical handbags and purses vary within a range of sizes from the size of a backpack, to a relatively small coin purse size.
As one could imagine, the size of the handbag chosen greatly depends on the events being attended. However, regardless of size, almost everyone who has been in the company of a women with a purse has been asked “Can you hold my purse?”. This may occur when the woman goes dancing, or needs to visit the powder room, as well as many other reasons.
Although conventional manners dictate that the person being ask will gladly guard the purse, the leaving of one's purse or wallet, laden with identification and credit cards or money, is fraught with peril. The owner of the purse additionally risks the chance of items being lost from the purse, the purse itself getting lost or miss-placed, and must cope with the fact they may have been burdensome to the purse holder.
This can also be a problem for the woman if she is not well acquainted with the purse-sitter, or even if she is should she be in a crowded venue an loose communication with that person. In such an instance she would be left without her identification, and her credit cards and cash which she may need during the evening or to get home later in the evening.
For these and other reasons, some individuals may choose to not carry a purse and instead to carry the bare essentials. This includes generally an identification card (ID), a credit or debit card, and/or some cash. These three items are all that are necessary to enjoy the evening and to drive or take public transportation to and from a venue. Such items may be stored the small confines in a small pocket on one's clothing (if available), a shoe, or the front of a brassiere.
Taking this minimum amount of ID and credit cards and cash, allows the user to be hands free yet access the items as needed unless they are stored in an area where access would not be discreet. However, storing items in such places is often not very secure. First while dancing or walking they can easily become dislodged. In the crowded confines of a nightclub or stadium, that could be catastrophic in that a stranger could easily end up with the ID and money.
Dislodgement is a particular problem for individuals who frequently spend the evening dancing, for example those who partake in salsa dancing or ballroom dancing. Salsa dancing is a Latin dance which is becoming more and more popular for those looking for a challenging yet enthusiastically fun hobby. Much like swing, and rock-and-roll of past years, in salsa, partners dance to fast pace highly energetic music often with quite a bit of hip and body movement. As such, the dancers, especially the women, wear light weight, and often minimal clothing to try to minimize heat and allow them to move freely and further provide a fashion statement. Ballroom dancing has many modes some of which rival Salsa dancing and thus are a risk to dislodgement.
As one can discern, the design of salsa dresses and ballroom dancing attire, does not necessitate the need for a pocket, and such are not widely provided. Therefor, those wishing to entertain a night of dancing, or those who regularly participate in dance classes, must unfortunately deal with the downfalls of conventional methods for carrying and storing their personal items.
The same valuables-storage is a problem for people who attend dance classes, or who participate in swing dancing, or old style rock and roll dancing, or attend a football game in pants without pockets, or other venues where their clothing may not necessitate pockets and will lack them.
As such, there is a continuing unmet need for small wearable clothing item, which will safely house the minimum user necessities for the evening out. Such a fashion article should provide a means to safely store and contain personal items such as ID cards, cash, and credit cards. Such an article should be worn in a manner that is hands-free and not burdensome to the wearer, such as a bracelet or anklet.
Additionally, such a device would be especially helpful for the physically challenged who lack the user of one hand, if they only needed a single hand to store, remove, use, and remount the device on their person. Even for those with both hands employable such a device would be especially useful if it maintained valuables on the user's person and did not require both hands to use since in crowded bars and stadiums, it could easily be dropped when unsecured to the body.
Additionally, such a device should provide a hidden means to securely store such valuables so that others will not be aware of their presence, thereby adding security. Further, such an article should provide means to securely engage personal items, hidden from the view of others, in a manner that they will not dislodge, even during rapid movements by the user, such as dancing. Lastly, such a device would provide exceptional utility if it also were mountable to a plurality of clothing articles to afford the user a plurality of choices of clothing and an easy transfer of the device and its contents each time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device herein disclosed and described provides a solution to the shortcomings in prior art and achieves the above noted goals through the provision of a fashionable bracelet article device having a hidden means to securely store and conceal personal items such as ID cards, credit cards, cash and other small items. The various components of the device disclosed herein can be formed of conventional materials such as leather, fabric, nylon, plastic, or felt, however can be formed of any material suitable for the purposes set forth in this disclosure.
In a particularly preferred mode, the device is formed from a strip or substantially flat elongated portion of material which comprises the opposing sidewall of the device. The sidewall further includes an exterior surface and an interior surface. In use, the device is securely engaged around the users wrist or ankle, with the interior surface adjacent the users skin, in an engaged or as-worn position. The strip or elongated portion of material, includes a distal and proximal end which engage in an overlapped engagement, employing means for secured removable engagement such as hook and loop fasteners, snap fits, or fastener of the like. In the overlapped engaged position, the device appears as and forms a bracelet loop, for securing the device to the wearers body.
The means for storage includes at least one cavity or pocket formed integrally into the sidewall of the article and preferably at or near the distal overlapping end. The pocket can be formed by sewing or otherwise engaging, a foldable or rotationally deployable portion of material to the interior surface of the article on one edge if a pocket is preformed, or on all but one edge to define an entrance aperture. The deployable pocket thus configured with a front wall portion, and a rear wall portion defined by the article sidewall, and an aperture for insertion and removal of articles therein.
The pocket disposed at or near the distal end of the article further comprises a distal portion of the device. In accordance with the current preferred mode, the means for engagement of the device to the users wrist or ankle additionally allows the distal portion to be temporarily disengaged, while keeping the device securely engaged to the user. So disengaged, the distal end may be rotated or flipped-up away from the engaged device, to allow the user better access to the storage pocket, and to display identification to a third party requesting it. All the while the identification is still securely engaged to their person and cannot be dropped or lost before going back to the as worn, engaged position over the users wrist or ankle.
This removable engagement of the distal end, while maintaining engagement around the user's arm or leg, is accomplished by providing a set of fasteners both before and after the disposition of the distal portion and corresponding mating fasteners position on the overlapping surface of the elongated material portion.
Further, in all modes of the device, the pocket is preferably formed and sized to easily receive and remove standard ID-1 format cards. Briefly, ID-1 format cards are most typically employed for ID cards, drivers licenses, ATM cards, credit cards, debit cards, etc. and measure approximately 3.370×2.125 inches. To provide easy insertion and retrieval, the pocket may be formed in the range of 3-5 inches long, and 2-4 inches wide. However, dimensions outside the noted range may also be employed and are anticipated.
It is additionally preferred in the engaged as-worn mode, the longer length or axis of the pocket is parallel with the axis of the users arm or leg. In this mode, a substantially rigid card engaged within the pocket will comfortably fit over the users wrist or ankle without the need for the card to bend or curve over wrist or ankle, which is uncomfortable and may possible damage the card. Further, it may easily be rotated or flipped to a vertical position extending from the arm or leg surface, to display the user's I.D. through a transparent wall.
The device as such allows a wearer to maintain the as-worn engagement of the article to their wrist or ankle, while further allowing access of items to and from the cavity without the need to completely disengaged the article from the wearers body. Such a device is especially well suited for users having limited or no pocket space on their clothing to hold accessories such as identification cards, credit cards, ATM cards, and cash. Further, by providing secured engagement to the users wrist or ankle, the device and items secured therein are continuously maintained in a secured engagement even in the event of rapid or sudden movements of the user, such as those associated with salsa dancing.
Still further, in accordance with at least one preferred mode of the device, the front wall portion of the device is preferably formed of a frame to surround and hold the card for display, or clear or transparent material, such as a transparent plastic. Therefor the user can engage an ID card or drivers license within the pocket such that the picture and other information disposed on the card is visible when the distal portion is flipped up, without the need to remove the card from the pocket.
This flip-up or rotatable display function, without dismounting the bracelet, is especially desirable when there is a need to present the ID card, such as when entering a bar or for other reasons of presenting identification. In addition, the see-through or transparent wall portion may include registration markings to aid the user in properly engaging a typical drivers license into the pocket. For example, with the device engaged to the users wrist, the registration markings will provide the user with a means to engage the ID or other card within the pocket such that when the distal portion is flipped open, the card is positioned in a readable orientation in the presented-position, to a reader standing in front of the user, such as security personnel who greet patrons entering a bar or club, or law enforcement or for instance a bank teller.
In yet another particularly preferred mode of the invention, the storage cavity or pocket may be rendered removably engageable to the respective portion of the article in a manner to allow it to be engaged to multiple articles. As such, the removably engageable pocket can be selectively disengaged to provide the user with unimpeded access to the pocket as needed. The pocket may be formed of rigid plastic or flexible material such as fabric and includes fasteners corresponding to mating fasteners mounted on the bracelet article.
In a particularly preferred mode, the pocket includes at least one cavity which formed with a depth less than the short side or width of a conventional credit card. In this mode, a credit card is rendered positionable within the cavity securely while having its magnetic stripe portion protruding from the aperture of the cavity. This provides a means to position the magnetic stipe portion of the credit card for employment with conventional mag strip card readers, without the need to remove the card from the cavity of the pocket. This is accomplished by flipping up the distal end, and sliding the protruding mag strip through a card reader, all while the bracelet portion of the article is still engaged if desired. It also provides a protruding portion of the credit card which is easily gripped between an opposing finger and thumb for removal and repositioning.
Further, in yet another particularly preferred mode of the invention, the removably engageable storage pocket may be removed and reattached to one or multiple pieces of fashion articles, such as a purse or handbag, having fasteners such as buttons, snaps, hook and loop, or other conventional fasteners mounted in positions corresponding to mating fasteners mounted upon the storage pocket. The removably engageable storage pocket may be removed and remounted to many multiple different pieces of decorative articles as a unit, without disturbing the contents of the storage pocket, thereby allowing the storage pocket to function as a wallet or purse for valuables, while concurrently offering a non obvious hiding place for valuables or other contents while in the as-worn position.
With respect to the above description, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the herein disclosed invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention herein described is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosed device. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
As used in the claims to describe the various inventive aspects and embodiments, “comprising” means including, but not limited to, whatever follows the word “comprising”. Thus, use of the term “comprising” indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory, but that other elements are optional and may or may not be present. By “consisting of” is meant including, and limited to, whatever follows the phrase “consisting of”. Thus, the phrase “consisting of” indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory, and that no other elements may be present. By “consisting essentially of” is meant including any elements listed after the phrase, and limited to other elements that do not interfere with or contribute to the activity or action specified in the disclosure for the listed elements. Thus, the phrase “consisting essentially of” indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory, but that other elements are optional and may or may not be present depending upon whether or not they affect the activity or action of the listed elements.
It is an object of the invention to provide a bracelet having a concealed storage pocket for receiving personal items such as identification cards, drivers license, cash, ATM cards, bank cards, and the like.
Additionally, it is an object of the invention to provide the additional benefit of a storage pocket or pockets which can function as a wallet for valuable storage while concurrently being easily attachable to a multitude of fashion articles having mounting fasteners corresponding to those of the pocket.
It is another object of the invention to provide a bracelet having a concealed pocket which is especially well suited for employment while dancing.
Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive, examples of embodiments and/or features. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a front view depicting the article comprised of a substantially planar strip of material for forming a bracelet having a concealed pocket disposed at a distal end.

FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the device in a first as-used mode wherein the distal pocket portion is disengaged and may be rotated or flipped up, to allow the user to access the pocket, or to show identification without removing it from the device.

FIG. 4 shows the device in another particularly preferred as used mode wherein the article is fully engaged to a users wrist or ankle via an overlapped engagement of the distal and proximal ends of the article.

FIG. 5 shows a front view of another particularly preferred mode of the device having a removably engageable concealed pocket.

FIG. 5 a shows a rear view of the removably engageable pocket of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 shows a front view of another particularly preferred mode of a removably engageable concealed pocket.

FIG. 7 shows a rear view of the removably engageable concealed pocket of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows a cross sectional view of the pocket of FIG. 6 along line A-A of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 shows the removably engageable pocket of FIG. 6 in the as used mode.

FIG. 10 shows the removably engageable pocket of FIG. 9, with the magnetic strip extension end, shown engaged to a bracelet on the wrist but easily disengageable with the other hand for use of the magnetic strip.

FIG. 10 a depicts a preferred mode of the device which may include any or all of the components of the device of FIGS. 1-10, which also includes a tactile communication section, formed of a sheer and highly elastic material such as that used for nylon stockings, situated within an aperture communicating through the body of the device.

FIG. 11 depicts a particularly preferred mode of the device which may include any or all of the components of the device of FIGS. 1-10, and which includes the tactile communication section formed of passages communicating through a central portion of the elongated portion defining the body of the device, which provide tactile communication between dancers during use.

FIG. 12, depicts the device having the tactile communication section formed with an aperture communicating through the central section of the elongated portion or body, which is filled with highly flexible textile fabric, having passages therein.

FIG. 13 depicts the device similar to that of FIGS. 11-12, but having the pocket formed with a side opening, and showing the positioning of the tactile communication section which when the device is engaged to the wrist of one dancer, allows for better touch or tactile communication of dance moves to the wearer by the dancing partner gripping the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Now referring to drawings in FIGS. 1-13, wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 views of a particularly preferred mode of the fashion article device 10. The device 10 is configured to be engaged in an as-worn position as a bracelet engaged upon a users wrist or ankle. So engaged, it concurrently provides a concealed pocket for secured engagement of valuables such as credit cards, ATM cards, bank cards, ID's, drivers license, cash, business cards, and so forth.
The device 10 disclosed herein is generally formed of an elongated body or elongated portion 12 of conventional materials such as one or a combination of leather, fabric, plastic, woven fabrics or felt, however can be formed of any material suitable for the purposes set forth in this disclosure. The body or elongated portion 12 of the device 10 is preferably of a length that will allow the body defined by the elongated portion 12 to completely circumferentially engage over a users wrist in an as-worn mode to be described later. This length may be a universal length known in the art of bracelet fashion articles, however can be customizable sized to fit individual users. Experimentation fitting the device 10 to various users of various physical size, has shown a length of between 8 inches and 14 inches will be sufficient to operatively engage around the wrists of most users. Currently a length between 10 to 11 inches is a particular favorite as such has been found to circumferentially engage around the wrist of most dancers and provide sufficient overlap to form a concealed pocket.
Further, it is additionally preferred that the width of the elongated portion 12 is equal to or slightly larger than the size of a typical ID or drivers license as needed to properly and comfortably conceal the ID or license within the pocket 20 to be described shortly. Currently a width of at least 4 inches has shown to provide sufficient area to be wider than most identification cards and credit cards that might be carried.
Generally, the device 10 has the body or elongated portion 12 has a first end or proximal end 14 opposite a second end or distal end 16. At the distal end 16 there is included a pocket 20 disposed on a first surface 13. If not removably engaged at both sides, the pocket 20 may be formed by sewing or otherwise engaging a portion of material 22 to the first surface 13 of the elongated portion 12 and having closure about a plurality of edges 24 while leaving at least one edge 26 disengaged to form or position an entrance aperture 28.
The pocket 20 includes a cavity defined by a front wall formed from the engaged material 20 and a rear wall defined by the first surface 13 of the elongated portion 12, and an aperture 28 providing access to the cavity therein. The front wall formed of engaged material 20 may be transparent to allow viewing of identification cards through the front wall. The aperture 28 may include means for closure such as additional snap fits, a zipper, or hook and loop fastener, as needed for closure to securely engaged items therein, and is anticipated.
In use, the pocket 20 is configured to receive the user's personal items such as credit cards, ATM cards, bank cards, ID's, drivers license, cash, business cards, and so forth and is therefor preferably sized slightly larger than the conventional dimensions of such items to allow easy insertion and removal of the items through the aperture 28. For example, a conventional drivers license measures approximately 3.370×2.125 inches so the pocket 20 may measure approximately 3.5×2.25 inches. However it is within the scope of the invention that the pocket 20 dimensions may be any size suitable for the intended purpose.
The pocket 20 positioned at or near the distal end 16 of the elongated portion 12 further defines a length of the body which is distal pocket portion 18 of the device 10. In use, the elongated portion 12 of the device 10 is wrapped or otherwise circumferentially engaged about a users wrist or ankle in an overlapped engagement of one or a plurality of mating cooperative fasteners 30, 32, 34, 36 engaged on both the first 13 and second 15 surfaces of the elongated portion 12. It is noted that the fasteners 30, 32, 34, 36 shown currently as snap fit fasteners, may be any fasteners known in the art providing means for removable engagement such as buttons, hook and loop, or the like.
The distal pocket portion 18 of the body or elongated portion, is positioned to overlap the second surface 15 adjacent the first or proximal end 14, a distance past a first engagement point defined by the first set of fasteners 32, on the first surface 13 between a side of said pocket 20 and the distal end 16. The first set of fasteners 32 cooperatively engages a first set of complimentary mating fasteners 36, on the second surface 15 spaced a distance from the proximal end 14, as shown in FIG. 3, providing the engagement point or secured engagement of the device 10 to the user.
As shown in the depiction of FIG. 3, with the first engagement point fasteners so engaged, the distal pocket portion 18 may be flipped up, showing the ability of the device 10 to display the pocket 20 and ID therein, without dismounting the device 10 from the wrist of the user. The distal end 16 has one or a plurality of fasteners 30 in-between one side of the pocket 20 and the proximal end 14, which are engageable to complimentary mating fasteners 34 at a second engagement on the second surface 15 adjacent the proximal end 14, such that the distal pocket portion 18, is positionable to a locked engagement against the second surface 15. Disengagement of the fasteners 34 and 30 forming the second engagement, allows rotation of the pocket portion 18 and pocket 20, allowing viewing of contents of the pocket 20 through a transparent wall thereof, by the user or third party without removing the device 10 from the wrist.
In this first mode the distal pocket portion 18 can be freely manipulated by the user to access the pocket 20 and aperture 28 thereof for inserting or removing personal items, while the device 10 is still securely engaged about a users wrist or ankle. Further, it is of additional preference that the front wall 22 of the pocket 20 is formed from a gap in material forming the surface 13, or of a transparent material forming the front wall 22 of the pocket 20, such as a transparent synthetic polymer, a first item engaged within the pocket 20, can be viewed by third parties or the user, without the need to remove them from the pocket 20 or the device 10 from the wrist.
Further, to be described in more detail below, the provision of a transparent front wall 22 will allow the user to rotate or flip up the pocket on the secured device, and present an ID card or drivers license engaged within the pocket 20 without the need to remove it as well. This is of great advantage because it saves time as well as reduces the risk of losing or damaging the card during a removal and insertion.
Prior to further disclosure it is additionally noted and anticipated that although the device is shown in its most simple form, various components and aspects of the device may be differently shaped or slightly modified when forming the invention herein. As such those skilled in the art will appreciate the descriptions and depictions set forth in this disclosure or merely meant to portray examples of preferred modes within the overall scope and intent of the invention, and are not to be considered limiting in any manner.
FIG. 4 shows a view of the device 10 in another mode with the distal pocket portion 18 securely engaged against the second surface 15 through an additional engagement of the distal set of fasteners 32 on the first surface 13 with the complimentary mating fasteners 34 engaged on the second surface 15. As currently shown, the as used, or as worn mode provides secured and concealed engagement of the distal pocket portion 18 wherein the device 10 further forms a fashionable bracelet.
FIG. 5 shows yet another particularly preferred mode of the device 10 showing the first surface 13 and having a removably engageable pocket in the form of a dismountable pocket 40 body. Hook loop fabric 38 is mounted upon the front surface 13 of the elongated portion 12 in the area of the distal pocket portion 18 in a manner to correspond to mating hook and loop fabric 39 mounted upon the rear exterior surface 44 of the dismountable pocket 40 show in FIG. 5 a.
Further, it is noted that in accordance with the current mode of the device 10 the dismountable pocket 40 can be mounted on other fashion articles such as purses or handbags. So long as the mounting hardware on the other articles are positioned to align with corresponding mounting hardware on the dismountable pocket 40, the pocket 40 can be easily mounted and dismounted from multiple pieces of fashion articles without the need to remove the contents of the dismountable pocket 40 prior to each dismount and remount of the pocket.
This is especially convenient if the user wishes to carry personal items out of sight since the user can easily dismount the pocket 20 from the bracelet device 10 and remount it to the corresponding mounts on a different fashion articles.
Consequently, the user could put the dismountable pocket 40 on the bracelet device 10 for one use, on the corresponding mounts to handbag for a second use and on corresponding mounts on purse for a third use. All such relocations of the pocket can be accomplished without removing the contents of the pocket 40. As such the personal items are hidden out of sight for owner safety and security.
In a first particularly preferred mode, the pocket 40 is formed by sewing or otherwise engaging the edges of a first material 42 to a second material 44, leaving at least one edge free to define an entrance aperture 46. As such the pocket 40 includes a cavity with a front wall defined by the first material 42 and a rear wall defined by the second material 44. As shown in FIG. 5, the front wall material 42 is preferably a clear or transparent plastic, such that contents within the pocket 40 can be viewed therethrough.
Still further, the transparent plastic front wall 42 can include registering markings 48 to aid the user to properly align a drivers license or ID card within. This can include dashed outlines which register with the picture portion and/or the date of birth portion of a conventional drivers license. As such, the registration markings 48 provide great utility to properly situate ID and the like for when the device 10 is in the as used mode (FIG. 4) about a users wrist, and with the distal end 16 overlapping towards the user, and with the drivers license properly engaged within the pocket 40, when the user disengages the distal pocket portion 18 and flips it over to the drivers license to present it to a viewer (FIG. 3), the license will be registered in proper orientation to allow the viewer to read it through the transparent front wall 42.
FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8 show views of another particularly preferred mode of a dismountable pocket body 50. In this mode the pocket 50 is formed from injection molded plastic or other material by suitable forming means, and is intended to engage personal items into one or a plurality of opposing cavities 58, 60 formed therein. Hook loop fabric 54 is mounted upon a first surface 52 of the pocket 50 in a manner to correspond to mating hook and loop fabric 38 mounted upon the first surface 13 of the elongated portion 12 defining the body, of FIG. 5.
Further, also now referring to FIG. 9, the first surface 52 of the pocket 50 preferably has a width equal to or slightly larger than that of a conventional ID, credit card, or drivers license. The second surface 56 and adjacent cavity 58 preferably has a width/depth less than that of a conventional card of the type. As can be clearly seen, the cavities 58, 60 are substantially opposing one another such that the entrance apertures 63, 65 respectively are on opposite sides of the pocket 50. Further, a lip portion 61 of the first surface 52 is provided.
A conventional card 200 engaged within the cavity 60 adjacent the first surface 60 will be concealed within the cavity 60 and have a portion of the card 200 exposed over the lip 61 to allow a user to easily grasp and remove the card as needed. Further, a conventional credit card 100 engaged within the cavity 58 adjacent the second surface 56 will slightly protrude from the entrance aperture 63. The credit card 100 can be positioned such that the conventional magnetic strip portion 102 will protrude as shown. Therefore the user can employ the credit card 100 with conventional card readers without the need to remove the card 100 from the cavity of the pocket 50.
FIG. 10 shows the removably engageable pocket of FIG. 9, with the magnetic strip 102 extending for use. As shown engaged to the elongated portion 12 or body forming a bracelet, it is engaged with the first surface 13. As can be seen, the portion of the credit card 200, or an ID, may easily be pushed by the opposite hand of the user while the pocket is engaged, to expose the magnetic strip 102 on the credit card 100 for use.
Thereafter with the same single hand opposite the one with the mounted elongated portion 12 or body at the wrist, the user can dismount the pocket 50 and remount it without using both hands, or having to fumble with the pocket in one hand while trying to slide the credit card to expose the magnetic strip 102 with the other. In a crowded venue such as a bar or stadium, the ability to leave the pocket 50 engaged, and expose the magnetic strip 102 while engaged, and then remove the pocket with provides great utility in that the user can't drop the pocket, in crowded confines where it might be lost or stolen, as can occur when holding the pocket in one hand like a wallet to expose the magnetic strip 102 with the other.
Additionally, for the physically challenged, with only one good working hand, this mode of the device 10 is also of great utility since only one hand is required for all actions including mounting and dismounting after sliding the credit card or ID.
Shown in FIGS. 10-13 is a particularly preferred mode of the device 10 herein, which includes a tactile communication section 60, formed into and through the body defined by the elongated portion 12. This tactile communication section 60, includes a large area of the body or elongated portion 12 of the device 10, which has either a single layer of highly flexible fabric 61 positioned therein such as in FIG. 10 a, or has multiple apertures, or slots, or passages 63, communicating through the material forming the tactile communication section 60 into the material forming the body or elongated portion 12, such as in FIG. 11. Alternatively, the tactile communication section 60 can have multiple passages 63 communicating through the flexible fabric 61 in different positions throughout the tactile communication section 60, or in the material forming the body or elongated portion 12, such as in FIG. 12 in the tactile communication section 60.
The tactile communication section 60 can be formed as a plurality of passages 63 formed in the body or elongated portion 12 of the device, or using an aperture 64 defining the area of the tactile communication section 60, which is filled with highly flexible or elastic material 61, or with the multiple passages 63 communicating through such material 61. The flexible or elastic material such as that used for pantyhose, is positioned within an aperture 65 within a central area of the body defined by the elongated portion 12 of the device 10, in between the first or proximal end 14 and the second or distal end 16.
As shown in FIGS. 10-13 this tactile communication section 60, should have an area up to 90 percent of the of the width of the body defined by the elongated portion 12, and at a length between 40 to 75 percent of the total length of the body defined by the elongated portion 12, from a first end on the same side of the body as the proximal end 14 to closest to the distal end 16. The tactile communication section 60 is of this length and width to provide a sufficient length of the tactile communication section 60, to wrap around at least one long side surface of the wrist area of the wearer, and thereby provide the partner of the wearer of the device 10, a sufficient area thereof to be able to discern and thereafter communicate fingertip contact with the tactile communication section 60, without having to view such.
The tactile communication section 60 is formed in a fashion such that it will allow the dancer of a couple who are dancing, who is gripping the wrist or arm area covered on the dancer wearing the device 10, to use fingertip contact and grip strength in the tactile communication section 60, to communicate tactile cues or instructions to the dancer wearing the device 10. Such tactile finger or stronger and weaker grip or compression is helpful to communicate upcoming or immediate dance moves the non wearing dancer intends the couple to execute, using fingertips. Such cues are frequently communicated between couples dancing by the fingers of the dancer leading, which may be descried by the partner by contact of fingertips to their wrist, and a stronger or weaker grip thereon. It has been found in experimentation that without this tactile communication section 60, that a pressing or sliding of fingers by the non wearing dancer, on the wrist underneath a wide bracelet such as that provided by the device 10, is not well-perceived by the wearer of the device 10, if the device 10 fully covers the skin and is made of multiple fabric layers of decorative or other textile fabric or stiff fabric such as leather.
The tactile communication section 60, may have a plurality of passages 63 communicating through the elongated portion 12 forming a body of the device 10, which are positioned throughout a formed tactile communication section 60, and allow direct contact through any of the multiple passages 63 or apertures, by the fingers of the dancer not wearing the device 10, upon the skin of the user wearing the device 10, to tacitly communicate therewith. The total aggregate area defining passages 63 through the central section of the body defined by the elongated portion 12 of the device 10, should equal between 25-80 percent of the actual area of the tactile communication section 60, to provide sufficient area for direct communication of the non wearing dancer's fingers to the skin of the wearer of the device 10. However they apertures should be formed in a manner which still maintains sufficient structure to hold the tactile communication section 60 of the elongated portion together during use. It is also preferable because of the high fashion nature of ballroom, and salsa, and other dancing, and because of the extra elasticity provided but with a strong structure, that the passages 63 be formed through the device 10 in elongated areas such that a design is provided, such as the flower design shown in FIGS. 11-12. Further because of the elongated and semi random nature of the passages 63 so formed, it has been found that one or more fingers of the dancer not wearing the device 10 almost always contact the skin of the wearer, so forming the passages 63 in curved elongated shapes such as shown is also preferred. It should be noted that the passages 63 in the tactile communication section 60 also work well when formed as elongated slots running along the long axis of the tactile communication section 60.
If a textile material 61 positioned within the tactile communication section 60, such as shown in FIG. 10 a, it can allow the non wearing dancer to provide tactile communication to the wearer of the device 10, if the textile material is formed of highly elastic or strechable flexible textile material 61 such as a woven or knitted fabric which breaths and will stretch sufficiently to allow the pressure from the fingers of the non wearing dancer, to be communicated to and perceived by the wearer of the device 10, such as the noted material used for hosiery, pantyhose or nylon stockings.
Because the tactile communication section 60 is surrounded by the solid and stiffer material such as leather or multi layered textile fabrics forming the body or elongated portion 12, feeling the plurality of passages 63 through the elongated portion 12 material, or through a single layer of woven or knitted textile fabric 61 engaged within an aperture 65 in the elongated portion 12, allows the non wearing dancer to feel and ascertain their fingers are within the tactile communication section 60, when grasping the arm of their partner, without having to look or view it. Thereafter knowing their hand is properly positioned to communicate, they can subsequently, exert pressure with their fingertips, through the passages 63 or on the fabric 61, as a signal as to user wearing the device 10, as to the next dance step or direction to their partner wearing the device 10.
As noted the plurality of passages 63 may be located in the fabric forming the body or elongated portion 12 of the device itself, or they may communicate through a layer of fabric 61 located in an aperture 65 in the elongated portion 12 defining the body.
Because the passages 63 provide a direct line of contact with the skin of the partner, and because if used, the single layer of textile fabric 61 is much more flexible than the surrounding leather or multiple layers of material forming the body or elongated portion 12, the wearer of the device 10 can feel the pressure exerted by their partner within the tactile communication section 60, whereas such cannot be readily felt if imparted elsewhere on elongated portion 12 defining the body the device 10.
For a particularly sensitive tactile communication section 60, the material 61 can be engaged within an aperture 65 in the elongated portion 12 or body of the device 10 to define the tactile communication section 60, and that material 61 may also have the passages 63 formed therein. Preferably the material 61 is a sheer and single layer of textile fabric such as knitted fabric which is heat cut, or overlain material, such as nylon stocking material, or other textile fabric which is easily pushed and not prone to unraveling. In this fashion the user wearing the device 10 will feel both direct contact of their partner's fingertips on their skin through formed apertures 65, as well as the finger and grasp pressure exerted in areas of the tactile communication section 60, where the non wearing dancer contacts the fabric 61 within the aperture 65.
Finally, FIG. 13 depicts the device 10 similar to that of FIGS. 11-12, but having the pocket 20 formed with a side opening, and showing the positioning of the tactile communication section 60 as it would appear in all modes when the device 10 is engaged around a wrist. This mode of the device 10 takes advantage of the overlapping engagement to change the size of the device 10, while still providing the unique tactile communication section 60 in any of the modes noted above, to give the wearer the ability to hide ID or a credit card, and wear the device 10 without fear of it interfering with hand signals from their partner.
In this description, the directional prepositions of up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right and other such terms refer to the device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only, and they are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation.
While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the invention have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations and substitutions are included within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed:

1. A wrist-worn apparatus, comprising:

an elongated planar body formed of pliable material;

said body having a first side surface opposite a second side surface;

said body having a length running between a proximal edge opposite a distal edge, said length adapted for circumferential engagement around an arm of a user to a mounted position;

a pocket positioned in a pocket portion of said body on said first side of said body adjacent said distal edge;

first cooperative fasteners positioned on said first side surface adjacent a first edge of said pocket closest to said proximal end;

mating fasteners to said first cooperative fasteners, said mating fasteners positioned on said second side surface; and

engagement of said first cooperative fasteners to said mating fasteners forming a first engagement holding said pocket portion and said pocket adjacent to and overlapping said second surface adjacent said proximal end of said body; and

said pocket portion rotatable at said first engagement to expose said pocket.

2. The wrist-worn apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising:

second cooperative fasteners positioned on said first side surface adjacent said distal end;

mating fasteners to said cooperative fasteners, said mating fasteners positioned on said second side surface; and

engagement of said second cooperative fasteners to said mating fasteners to said second cooperative fasteners forming a second engagement, said second engagement holding said pocket portion and said pocket adjacent said second surface and thereby preventing rotation of said pocket portion to expose said pocket.

3. The wrist-worn apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a tactile communication section formed in said body in-between said pocket and said proximal end;

a plurality of passages communicating through said body within said tactile communication section; and

said passages defining areas for fingertip communication through the body of the wrist-worn apparatus for a partner dancer to directly touch the arm of a wearer thereof.

4. The wrist-worn apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

5. The wrist-worn apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

said tactile communication section defined by an aperture communicating through said body;

sheer fabric positioned within said aperture; and

said plurality of passages communicating through said sheer fabric.

6. The wrist-worn apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

sheer fabric positioned within said aperture; and

said plurality of passages communicating through said sheer fabric.

7. The wrist-worn apparatus of claim 3, wherein a length of said tactile communication section between a first end closest to said proximal end of said body, and a second end closest to said distal end of said body, is between 40 to 75 percent of said length of said body.

8. The wrist-worn apparatus of claim 4, wherein a length of said tactile communication section between a first end closest to said proximal end of said body, and a second end closest to said distal end of said body, is between 40 to 75 percent of said length of said body.

9. The wrist-worn apparatus of claim 5, wherein a length of said tactile communication section between a first end closest to said proximal end of said body, and a second end closest to said distal end of said body, is between 40 to 75 percent of said length of said body.

10. The wrist-worn apparatus of claim 6, wherein a length of said tactile communication section between a first end closest to said proximal end of said body, and a second end closest to said distal end of said body, is between 40 to 75 percent of said length of said body.

11. The wrist-worn apparatus of claim 7, wherein a total aggregate area of said passages communicating through the body, is between 25-80 percent of the actual area of the tactile communication section.

12. The wrist-worn apparatus of claim 8, wherein a total aggregate area of said passages communicating through the body, is between 25-80 percent of the actual area of the tactile communication section.

13. The wrist-worn apparatus of claim 9, wherein a total aggregate area of said passages communicating through the body, is between 25-80 percent of the actual area of the tactile communication section.

14. The wrist-worn apparatus of claim 10, wherein a total aggregate area of said passages communicating through the body, is between 25-80 percent of the actual area of the tactile communication section.

15. A wrist-worn apparatus, comprising:

an elongated planar body formed of pliable material;

said body having a first side surface opposite a second side surface;

said body having a length running between a proximal edge opposite a distal edge adapted for circumferential engagement around an arm of a user to a mounted position;

a pocket positioned in a pocket portion of said body between said first side and said second side of said body in a position adjacent said distal edge;

mating fasteners to said first cooperative fasteners, said mating fasteners positioned on said second side surface;

engagement of said first cooperative fasteners to said mating fasteners forming a first engagement holding said pocket portion and said pocket adjacent to and overlapping said second surface adjacent said proximal end of said body;

a tactile communication section formed in said body in-between said pocket portion and said proximal end;