Article of Manufacture with Quick Access Feature
An article of manufacture with a quick access feature designed to assist users for rapidly accessing an object in an enclosed container. The access feature may be attached to a pouch, a bag, a pocket or another item designed to carry objects, including apparel that has built-in pockets or attached pockets, such as those on shirt or pants. An article of manufacture may include an access panel attached to a base member defining a pocket. The access panel includes an access opening or eyelet. A carrier member is configured for carrying an object therein and in the pocket. In one arrangement, the carrier member is movably disposed within the pocket so that the access opening exposes a portion of the carrier member for movement between a holding position and a retrieving position responsive to a force being applied via the access opening. The base member may have a ribbed structure.
This present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/891,049, filed on Jul. 14, 2004; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/391,958, filed on Mar. 19, 2003, which is a non-provisional application of U.S. Application No. 60/406,381 filed on Aug. 28, 2002, the contents therein are incorporated by references herein.
FIELD OF INVENTIONThe present invention relates to article of apparel for fashions, in particular to article of apparel with a pocket having an access feature for retrieving objects.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTIONCurrently designed containers, especially those for mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDA) and similar objects, require some level of attentiveness and dexterity from the user to access the object in the container. Also, with existing container designs, users have to compromise between accessibility and security of a contained object.
Thus, there is a need to assist users in the process of accessing objects in their containers or other articles of manufacture.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONThe invention pertains to an article of manufacture with a quick access feature designed to assist users access an object in an enclosed container body.
In one aspect, a quick access feature may be attached to a pouch, a bag, a pocket or another item designed to carry objects, including apparel that has built-in pockets or attached pockets.
In one aspect, there is provided an article of manufacture including an access panel attached to a base member defining a pocket. The access panel includes an access opening or eyelet. A carrier member is configured for carrying an object and in the pocket. In one arrangement, the carrier member is movably disposed within the pocket so that the access opening exposes a portion of the carrier member for movement between a holding position and a retrieving position responsive to a force being applied via the access opening. In this way, the holding position of the carrier member holds an object in the pocket and the retrieving position allows an object to be removed from the pocket. In one aspect, the holding position is formed after release of a force at the retrieving position.
In yet another aspect, the carrier member is biased towards the holding position in response to the force. In a further aspect, the carrier member is composed of a shape recovery material.
In another one aspect, there is provided an article of manufacture including an access panel attached to a base member defining a pocket. The access panel includes an access opening or eyelet. A carrier member is configured for carrying an object therein and in the pocket. In one arrangement, the carrier member is movably disposed within the pocket so that the access opening exposes a portion of the carrier member for movement between a holding position and a retrieving position responsive to a force being applied via the access opening and a biasing member is includes for biasing the carrier member towards the holding position in response to the force.
In yet another aspect, there is provided an article of manufacture including a pocket having an opened top end and a bottom end and the pocket has a front face with an access opening therein. A carrier for retaining an object is disposed inside of the pocket. In one arrangement, the carrier has a top end stationary with the opened top end of the pocket and the carrier has a movable end configured for movement towards the opened top end of the pocket responsive to a force being applied thereto through the access opening. In one aspect, the access opening includes a geometry indicative of a linear application of the force to the movable end of the carrier. In yet another aspect, the movable end is biased towards the bottom end of the pocket in response to the force. The biasing may be provided by a biasing element configured for biasing the movable end of the carrier towards bottom end of the pocket.
In one aspect, an article of manufacture may include an access opening with a top end and a bottom end in the front face. The movable end of the carrier may be disposed at predetermined distance from the bottom end of the access opening so as to define and an insertion gap of sufficient size for insertion of a finger or other object for application of the force to the movable end of the carrier.
In another aspect, there is provided an article of manufacture includes a pocket having an elongated access eyelet for exposing an interior of the pocket. An inner pocket carrier is configured for holding and retrieving object from within. An inner pocket carrier is disposed within the pocket and has an exposed movable end via the elongated access eyelet so that the movable end travels along a length of the access eyelet responsive to a force.
In another aspect, an article of manufacture includes a pocket having an opened top end and a closed bottom end. The pocket includes a front face with an access opening therein and on opposing base structure to the front face and the base structure generally conforms to a body shape of an object in the pocket.
In another aspect, the article of manufacture has the base structure including a plurality of spaced rib members attached to a resilient material. In another aspect, the article of manufacture includes a compartment for holding objects therein and the base structure forming a portion of the compartment. In yet another aspect, the article of manufacture includes a rear panel with a locking opening for a handle. In yet a further aspect, the rear panel is pivotably held in place with a plurality of mechanical closures. In a further aspect, the article of manufacture includes a retractable handle for being disposed in the locking opening of the rear panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 7A-D illustrate alternative profile shapes of an access opening according to one or more aspects of the present invention;
In the following description of the various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration various embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The pockets 20, 21 comprise an opened top end 22 in which objects 11, 12 such as shown in
With reference to
With continued reference to
With reference to
As used herein a “shape recovery fabric” is a fabric that can be placed in tension and upon release, the fabric springs back to its original shape. In one case, a shape recovery fabric may be stretched linearly 50%-100% along a planar axis and return to its original shape. In other arrangements, a shape recovery fabric may be stretched 60%-90% and 70%-80% along a planar axis and return to the original shape. Nevertheless, other ranges are possible. In one arrangement, a shape recovery fabric may be implemented which has a blend of substantially inelastic material and elastic fibers. For example, the inelastic material may comprise cotton or leather. Nevertheless, other inelastic fibers may be implemented in the shape recovery fabric. The elastic fibers may comprise material sold under the LYCRA™ brand. LYCRA™ is a trademark of the DuPont Corporation for its brand of a family of premium elastane fiber.
The carrier member 40 may be constructed of a wide variety of materials. In one arrangement, the carrier member 40 may constructed of a resilient material preferably made from a woven sheet material. The elastic behavior may be accomplished by using woven elastic fibers. The material may be constructed from synthetic elastic fibers chiefly made from polyurethane, e.g., spandex. Suitable synthetic fibers can include LYCRA™ by the DuPont Co., CLEERSPAN™ by the Globe Manufacturing Co. or another type of commercially available spandex fiber. Nevertheless, the carrier member 40 may also include other types of fibers to achieve desired characteristics for movement or may be constructed of a shape recovery material. Alternatively, the carrier member 40 may be constructed from a range of weave and knit patterns that vary the direction of stretch. For example, an opened mesh material can stretch a longitudinal direction and enable visual communication for a user to see the object within the pocket 20, 21 by way of the access opening 30.
In one construction, an article of manufacture may have an attached feature that assists a user to access a contained object with a pocket allowing quick-draw of a contained object. In one arrangement, the attached features may include one or more long narrow eyelets 30 having sufficient size allowing a finger of user to access a contained object. A carrier member is configured for carrying an object therein and in the pocket. In one arrangement, the carrier member is movably disposed within the pocket so that the access opening exposes a portion of the carrier member for movement between a holding position and a retrieving position responsive to a force being applied via the access opening.
The pockets 120, 121 comprise an opened top end 22 in which objects 12 such as shown in
Referring to
The resilient member 145 may be constructed of a wide variety of materials. In one arrangement, the member 145 may constructed of a resilient material preferably made from a woven sheet material. The elastic behavior may be accomplished by using woven elastic fibers. The material may be constructed from synthetic elastic fibers chiefly made from polyurethane, e.g., spandex. Suitable synthetic fibers can include LYCRA™ by the DuPont Co., CLEERSPAN™ by the Globe Manufacturing Co. or another type of commercially available spandex fiber. Nevertheless, the resilient member 145 may also include other types of fibers to achieve desired characteristics for movement or may be constructed of a shape recovery material. Alternatively, the resilient member 145 may be constructed from a range of weave and knit patterns that vary the direction of stretch.
The ribs 143 may be sewn to the resilient member 145 or attached to the resilient member 145 by adhesive bonding or other methods. Threading 149 is provided on the surface of the rib 143 through the rib 142 to the abutting resilient member 145. The threading 149 also provides a benefit of reducing surface friction between the object 12 in the pocket 121 and base structure 141. In operation, when the object 12 is removed from the pocket 121, it readily slides on threading 149 to the top of the pocket for ease of removal of the object 12. Referring to
With reference to
Referring to
While the present invention has been described with reference to preferred and exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. An article of manufacture, comprising:
- a pocket having an opened top end and a closed bottom end, the pocket having a front face with an access opening therein; and
- a carrier for retaining an object, the carrier being disposed inside of the pocket, the carrier having a top end being stationary with the opened top end of the pocket and the carrier having a movable end configured for movement towards the opened top end of the pocket responsive to a force being applied thereto through the access opening.
2. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 1, in which the access opening includes a geometry indicative of linear application of the force to the opposing end of the carrier.
3. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 1, in which the movable end is biased towards the bottom end of the pocket in response to the force.
4. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a biasing element configured for biasing the movable end of the carrier towards bottom end of the pocket.
5. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 4, in which the biasing member comprises an elastic material.
6. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 1, in which the access opening is rigid along a periphery thereof.
7. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 1, in which the access opening includes a top end and a bottom end in the front face, the movable end of the carrier being disposed at distance from the bottom end of the access opening so as to define and an insertion gap of sufficient size for inserted of a finger or other object for application of the force to the movable end of the carrier.
8. An article of manufacture, comprising:
- a pocket having an opened top end and a closed bottom end, the pocket having a front face with an access opening therein and on opposing base structure to the front face; the base structure generally conforms to a body shape of an object in the pocket.
9. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 8, wherein the base structure further comprises a plurality of spaced rib members attached to a resilient material.
10. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 8, in which the access opening is rigid along a periphery thereof.
11. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 8, in which the resilient material is a shape recovery material.
12. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a compartment for holding objects therein and the base structure forming a portion of the compartment.
13. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a rear panel with a locking opening for a handle.
14. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 13, wherein the rear panel is pivotably held in place with a plurality of mechanical closures.
15. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 13, further comprising a retractable handle for being disposed in the locking opening of the rear panel.
16. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 9, wherein the ribs extend to an interior face of the access panel creating a free end adjacent to a bottom panel of the article of manufacture.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 6, 2007
Publication Date: Jan 31, 2008
Inventor: Thai Christie (Fairfax, VA)
Application Number: 11/834,326
International Classification: A45C 13/00 (20060101);