US20150250297A1

US20150250297A1 - Deformable Storage Compartment

Info

Publication number: US20150250297A1
Application number: US14/202,529
Authority: US
Inventors: Michelle Danner Schrier
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-03-10
Filing date: 2014-03-10
Publication date: 2015-09-10

Abstract

A deformable storage compartment has a primary pocket with an offset opening with at least one side having a recess forming a foldable lip, a secondary pocket having an opening located on a surface of the primary pocket, and an attaching element that connects the deformable storage compartment to a garment such as a bra. The pocket opening is great enough in size to secure a cell phone. The pocket opening includes an offset orientation with a layer having a length longer than another layer. A cell phone can be inserted into the pocket opening more easily when the deformable lip is folded over, creating a larger opening.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, generally, to a deformable storage compartment. More particularly, it relates to a securing pocket having at least two layers having an opening adapted to receive at least one personal belonging. An attaching element is configured to connect the storage compartment to a portion of a user's garment.
2. Background Art
Currently, individuals store personal belongings in carrying containers, including but not limited to, a hand carried purse, a hand carried briefcase, a hand carried bag, a fanny pack secured to the waist of a user, a back pack, or a satchel secured to a user's torso. It can be time consuming and a hassle when locating personal belongings that are frequently used. More particularly, when a mobile phone is receiving an incoming call, a user will often fumble through many other personal belongings in a purse trying to locate their mobile phone. This can result in damage to the mobile device and missed calls. There is a need for a storage compartment that will secure personal belongings to a location that is readily accessed by a user.
Additionally, it would be burdensome, uncomfortable, or impossible for a user to hand carry a carrying container or for a user to have a bulky carrying container secured to their waist or torso while exercising, swimming, jogging, walking a dog, dancing, or operating equipment. There is a need for a storage apparatus having a size small enough to allow a user to be able to quickly access personal belongings in situations where it would be inconvenient to use a carrying container.
Currently, when an individual is not using a purse or does not have pockets, personal belongings can be secured close to a user's body. Personal belongings are often placed inside a garment including, but not limited to, a pant pocket, a bra pocket, or a shirt pocket. These personal belongings have a difficult time being secured to individuals who do not have storage pockets incorporated into their clothing. Individuals also wedge personal belongings inside their undergarments such as a bra or underwear. These personal belongings can easily become dislodged and lost, resulting in costly expenses to replace them. Additionally, when placed inside a garment the personal belongings can come into contact with a user's bodily excretions such as sweat. The exposure of personal belongings to sweat is unsanitary and may cause damage to the personal belongings. There is a need for a sanitary storage compartment that securely contain personal belongings close to a user's body.
There are several challenges to overcome with storing personal belongings in a storage compartment. One challenge being the need for the storage compartment to have an opening configured to allow a user to quickly and easily access an item. The problem with allowing a user to quickly and easily access an item is determining how to configure the opening. Thus, there is a need for an improved storage compartment to allow personal belongings to be efficiently removed from and inserted into the storage compartment.
Currently, prior art storage compartments are seen to incorporate two attaching elements, a loop of fabric and an attaching method, to one side of the open end of a pouch as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. D683,135. This configuration of the two attaching elements being located on the open end of the pouch can lead to both of the attaching elements obstructing access to items within the pouch. Additionally, this poor placement of the attaching elements located on one side of the open end can result in a user having to maneuver around both of the attaching elements to remove and insert items into the pouch. Also, the pouch is more bulky and more costly to manufacture with having two attaching elements. There is a need for an improved attaching mechanism that does not require two attaching elements.
U.S. Pat. No. D683,135 additionally shows and describes a surface of the pouch having a single smaller rectangular pouch located thereon. It is more desirable to be able to organize a plurality of personal belongings in a plurality of differing openings that are separate from each other to maximize organization and retrieval efficiency of the personal belongings.
It is shown in U.S. Pat. No. D683,135 that the pouch has an opening with a first layer and a second layer having the same length. This design does not facilitate a quick and easy removal and insertion of personal goods into the pouch. A user is limited to remove and insert items vertically over the pouch opening. More particularly, a user is prevented by an upper portion of the pouch blocking access to the opening from a horizontal movement of items into and out of the pouch. Additionally, the pouch opening does not have a recess forming a lip. This recess is more desirable to allow the lip to fold over to accommodate items being more easily removed from or inserted into the pocket opening.
However, in view of the prior art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made; it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how the identified needs could be fulfilled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The long-standing but heretofore unfulfilled need for a deformable storage compartment having a primary pocket with an offset opening with at least one side having a recess forming a foldable lip, a secondary pocket having an opening located on a surface of the primary pocket, and having an attaching element that connects the deformable storage compartment to a garment and which also includes improvements that overcome the limitations of prior art storage compartments is now met by a new, useful, and non-obvious invention.
The novel deformable storage compartment includes a primary layer located opposite a secondary layer. The primary layer and the secondary layer are connected on a primary side, a secondary side, and a tertiary side forming a pocket having an opening. The opening has a primary layer being between 0.25 inches and 1.00 inch longer than the secondary layer. It is a preferred embodiment for the storage compartment to be of a water resistant material including, but not limited to, neoprene. This pocket is adapted to contain a cell phone.
In a preferred embodiment, the deformable storage compartment has at least one side having a recess being between 0.25 inches and 1.00 inch. The recess forms a lip that is foldable when the pocket opening is receiving items or having items removed from the pocket opening.
An attaching element is connected to a surface of at least one layer. The attaching element is adapted to attach to a portion of a user's garment.
In a preferred embodiment, the deformable storage compartment has a tertiary layer connected to at least one layer. The tertiary layer and at least one layer are connected on a primary side, a secondary side, and a tertiary side forming a secondary pocket having an opening. This additional pocket is smaller than the other pocket and is adapted to contain small, flat items.
In an alternate embodiment, a plurality of layers are connected to at least one layer. The plurality of layers and at least one layer are connected on a primary side, a secondary side, and a tertiary side forming a plurality of pockets having a plurality of openings. There can be several smaller pockets adapted to contain small, flat items. More particularly, to contain and individually separate multiple credit cards.
This novel invention also includes a deformable storage compartment having at least one layer with a surface thereon that allows for an image including, but not limited to, a logo or a picture. A company can put branding information on the front of the pocket. A company could use these pockets as promotional items and put their company information on the pocket.
This novel invention also includes a deformable storage compartment having at least one layer with a surface thereon that allows for text including, but not limited to, a brand, a name, or instructions for use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the novel deformable storage compartment;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the novel deformable storage compartment with lip folded over;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the novel deformable storage compartment having a secondary pocket;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the novel deformable storage compartment having a secondary pocket; and,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the novel deformable storage compartment attached to a user's bra.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and within which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments by which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
In a general embodiment the novel deformable pocket has an opening great enough in size to secure a cell phone. The pocket opening includes an offset orientation with a layer having a length longer than another layer. Additionally, the two sides of the pocket opening have a recess which forms a lip. A cell phone can be inserted into the pocket opening more easily when the deformable lip is folded over, creating a larger opening.

Construction of the Novel Deformable Pocket

It will now be seen, referring to FIGS. 1-3, the novel deformable storage compartment includes primary layer 2 located opposite secondary layer 3. Primary layer 2 has a length of including, but not limited to, approximately 0.5 inches longer than secondary layer 3. Primary layer 2 and secondary layer 3 are connected on primary side 4, secondary side 5, and tertiary side 6 to form a pocket. The primary pocket has opening 7A. In a preferred embodiment, primary side 4 and tertiary side 6 each have recess 8 to allow lips 10 to be foldable. It is within the scope of this invention for at least one side of deformable storage compartment 1 to have recess 8. Recess 8 has a length of including, but not limited to, approximately 0.75 inches. In a preferred embodiment, attaching element 9 is connected to secondary layer 3. It is within the scope of this invention for attaching element 9 to be connected to at least one layer including, but not limited to, a portion of primary layer 2 or a portion of tertiary layer 11.
FIGS. 3 and 4 best illustrate tertiary layer 11 being attached to primary layer 2 on primary side 4, secondary side 5, and tertiary side 6 forming a secondary pocket having opening 7B. In another embodiment, tertiary layer 11 can be attached to at least one layer including, but not limited to, secondary layer 3 on primary side 4, secondary side 5, and tertiary side 6 forming a secondary pocket having opening 7B.
It is also envisioned that a plurality of layers (not shown) are connected to at least one layer. The plurality of layers are connected to at least one layer on a primary side, a secondary side, and on a tertiary side forming a plurality of pockets having a plurality of openings.
It is within the scope of this invention for primary and secondary pocket openings 7A and 7B to accommodate personal belongings including, but not limited to, a mobile phone, money, a credit card, a driver's license, an identification card, a key, or any other substantially flat item.
FIG. 5 depicts a preferred embodiment of user 13 with deformable storage compartment 1 having attaching element 9 connected to bra strap 12. A surface of primary layer 2 is configured to contact a user's skin and a surface of secondary layer 3 is configured to contact a user's bra.
In another embodiment, attaching element 9 can attach to a portion of a user's garment including, but not limited to, a shirt, a pant, a pant belt loop, a swim suit, a belt, a purse, a bra, or a sports bra. It is a preferred embodiment that attaching element 9 can attach to the shoulder straps of a garment. At least one layer of deformable storage compartment 1 is adapted to come into contact with a user's skin or clothing when deformable compartment 1 is attached to a portion of a user's garment with attaching element 9. It is also envisioned that deformable storage container 1 is attached to another storage container including, but not limited to, a purse or a briefcase and at least one layer does not come into contact with a user's skin or clothing.
In addition to the aforesaid embodiments of deformable storage compartment 1, the pocket includes multiple additional improvements as well.
FIG. 2 shows an improved deformable storage compartment 1 having primary layer 2 located opposite secondary layer 3. Primary layer 2 has a length that is approximately 0.5 inches longer than secondary layer 3. This offset opening 7A allows a user to more easily and more quickly remove and insert personal belongings into primary pocket opening 7A.
Another improvement of deformable storage compartment 1 is at least one side of deformable storage compartment 1 has recess 8 having a length of approximately 0.75 inches. This recess allows pocket lips 10 to be foldable to more efficiently place personal belongings into and remove personal belongings from primary pocket opening 7A.
A third improvement of deformable storage compartment 1 includes tertiary layer 11 being attached at least one layer forming a secondary pocket having opening 7B. This secondary pocket allows for the increased organization for secure storage of more personal belongings in the secondary pocket that is separate from the primary pocket.
These and other important objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become clear as this description proceeds.
An important object of this invention is to provide at least one attaching element 9 connected to a surface of at least one layer.
Another important object is to provide a secondary pocket connected to at least one layer having secondary opening 7B.
Additional objects include, but are not limited to, the provision of deformable storage compartment 1 having the following: a plurality of pockets having a plurality of openings connected to at least one layer; at least one layer having a surface thereon that allows for an image being including, but not limited to, printed, embossed, or embroidered; and at least one layer having a surface thereon that allows for text being including, but not limited to, printed, embossed, or embroidered.
In all of these exemplary configurations, it should be understood that the specific attaching elements disclosed herein may take many forms that are well-known in the deformable storage compartment art and all of such alternative forms are within the scope of this invention. For example, snaps, magnets, buttons, or a series of hooks and loops may be used to form the needed coupling connections.
It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained. Since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.
Now that the invention has been described,

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. A deformable storage compartment, comprising:

a first layer located opposite a second layer;

said first layer and said second layer connected on a first side, a second side, and a third side, whereby, said first layer and said second layer forming a pocket;

said pocket having an opening; and,

said opening comprising said first layer being between 0.25 inches and 1.00 inch longer than said second layer.

2. The deformable storage compartment of claim 1, wherein at least one side having a recess being between 0.25 inches and 1.00 inch, said recess forming a lip.

3. The deformable storage compartment of claim 1, wherein an attaching element is connected to a surface of at least one layer.

4. The deformable storage compartment of claim 1, wherein a third layer is connected to at least one layer, said third layer is connected to said at least one layer on a first side, a second side, and a third side, whereby, said third layer and said at least one layer forming a second pocket, said second pocket having an opening.

5. The deformable storage compartment of claim 1, wherein a plurality of layers is connected to at least one layer, said plurality of layers is connected to said at least one layer on a first side, a second side, and a third side, whereby, said plurality of layers and said at least one layer forming a plurality of pockets, said plurality of pockets having a plurality of openings.

6. The deformable storage compartment of claim 1, wherein said at least one layer having a surface thereon that allows for an image.

7. The deformable storage compartment of claim 1, wherein said at least one layer having a surface thereon that allows for text.