Extra Pocket aka The X-Pocket

Abstract

The Extra Pocket is a hanging, stand-alone holding vehicle which allows a person to store items from their worn apparel pockets/pocketbooks until a later time. This makes for a tidier, neater way of living. The Extra Pocket will also allow one to remember where their items are at all times.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO

Application No. 61/854,964; Filing or 371(c) Date May 6, 2013.

STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

N/A.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Walter Scott Borden; Diane Marie Gilligan; Donna Pritchard; and Wendy Gurdjian.

REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING”

N/A.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Extra Pocket idea came about on Feb. 1, 2013 after watching a television program called “Shark Tank”. The four of us (mentioned in (0004)) tried to think of a new and sellable product.

The Extra Pocket was a solution to an ongoing problem which many of us have to this day. When one is in the process of changing their apparel, or pocketbook, often times the items held n one's pocket, or pocketbook, is not suitable to carry over to their new apparel (e.g. pajamas, weekend wear, etc.). These items are usually placed on a nightstand, or bureau, creating a clutter. This is when the idea of The Extra Pocket came about. Should one have The Extra Pocket hanging from their nightstand, or bureau, they could place the unneeded items in The Extra Pocket alleviating the unwanted clutter.

Another example would be: Each evening, while preparing for bed, instead of cluttering up my bureau, or nightstand, I would choose to leave my pocketed items in the pockets. The clothing would be placed on a Hope Chest located by the foot of the bed. The next morning, after dressing. I would take the items out of the previous day's apparel and place them in the current days apparel. I would then leave for work, and keep the previous days apparel on the Hope Chest.

This would be a daily occurrence. By week's end, there would be a pile of clothing on the Hope Chest (also a clutter). Now, by using a prototype of The Extra Pocket, my current day's apparel is put away each night.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Extra Pocket is a hanging, stand-alone pocket. It is made out of a partial wire hanger, or a mini-belt-loop, or another type of hanging apparatus. It will also include a light-weight material such as a thin piece of plastic. The plastic (or other insert) will be completely covered by a fibred material such as leather, suede, denim, or other fabric. Two pockets will be created in the process, a large pocket, and a small pocket.

The large, main pocket wilt be used to store make-up, keys, work badges, money, or other items usually carried in a pocket that is made on worn apparel, or pocketbook. The small pocket will be used to store one's cell phone, MP3-Player, or other like device, or whatever the user deem fit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1A and FIG. 2B on page 114 in the DRAWINGS section shows 2 types of hanging devices. The uninterrupted bop wired hanger (FIG. 1A) is used to hang from knobs attached to bureaus, nightstands and doors. It will also be able to hang on hooks placed on walls. And lastly, in closets. The interrupted loop wired hangar (FIG. 1B) is used to hang from brackets attached to bureaus and nightstands. It will also be able to hang on hooks placed on door-knobs, hooks and in closets.

Also on page 114, is a plastic insert (FIG. 1C) is to be placed in the inside back of The Extra Pocket. The plastic insert will simulate a part of the body, such as a leg, where front pants pockets are located. It also will keep The Extra Pocket stable.

FIG. 2 on page 214 shows a simulated production of The Extra Pocket. It shows a hanger attachment, an elasticized opening of the large pocket, and the location of the smaller pocket.

FIG. 2 on page 214 also shows a downward slant from left to right on the opening of the large pocket. This angle would be suitable for right-handed people.

FIG. 3 is a depiction suitable for left-handed people. While FIG. 4 would be for everyone.

Claims

1-3. (canceled)

4. The X-Pocket is a stand-alone, hanging extra pocket(s), which will be constructed in a variety of fabrics and styles. Its primary use on a daily basis, is to temporarily hold items which are held in a person's pocket, or pocketbook (such as, but not limited to: cell phones; wallets; keys; and make-up). The purpose of the X-Pocket is to keep all carried items previously held in one's pockets and pocketbook together when the carried items are no longer being held in the aforementioned places. Another benefit in placing pocketed and pocketbook items in the X-Pocket is that one will never forget where those items are located.

5. The X-Pocket as recited in claim 4, is comprised of: one or more pockets with, or without a liner; a permanent, or interchangeable hanging attachment; a bendable, light-weight material such as, but not limited to, a piece of plastic. It will be constructed of a variety of materials such as, but not limited to: denim; leather; plastic; rubber; cotton; and rayon.

6. The X-Pocket as recited in claims 4 and 5, is fashioned after pockets placed on articles clothing (such as, but not limited to: pants/slacks; shirts/blouses; jackets; and coats).

7. The X-Pocket as recited in claim 4, and dependent on the material recited in claim 5, will be hung by a variety of hanging attachments connected to the top of the X-Pocket. Permanent attachments such as a hanger or a loop, will be sewn into the X-Pocket and covered with the same fabric that the X-Pocket is covered with. Nonpermanent, or interchangeable attachments will have be fastened to the X-Pocket by, but not limited to, buttons or snaps.

8. The X-Pocket as recited in claims 4, 5, and 7, can be hung on: door knobs; drawer pulls on bureaus and nightstands (both knob pulls and handle/bracket pulls); hooks; rods in clothes closets; rails of hospital beds; beach chairs; and more.

9. The X-Pocket as recited in claim 4, depending on the size of one's hand, will be constructed of various sizes such as, but not limited to: regular and large (approximately 8 inches by 10 inches, and 10 inches by 12 inches respectively).

10. The X-Pocket as recited in claim 4, will be designed for left-handed people, right-handed people, or designed for the use of either hand.

11. The X-Pocket as recited in claims 4 and 8, have similarities in three of the disclosures of U.S. Pat. No. 2,710,638 to Ford (COMBINED HANGER AND UTILITY BAG Application dated Jul. 1, 1954). The Ford patent discloses: While these disclosures are similar, the design, and purpose of each invention is different.

A) ‘in order that such articles may not be misplaced and forgotten when the guest leaves’;

B) ‘the utility bag is adapted to be hung on a hook or closet door or upon a bar in the closet’;

C) ‘especially the hanging apparatus (garment hanger 17) being covered by the material of the utility bag’.

D) Ford's utility bag is at least 4 to 8 times larger than the X-Pocket. It also folds to place into a piece of luggage or it may be placed upon a shelf when not in use (see 40 on page 2 of Ford's patent). While the X-Pocket can be placed in a piece of luggage, and used at one's destination, it is not designed to fold.

E) The purpose of the X-Pocket is to be a holding vehicle of items usually held in one's pockets or pocketbooks, and is to be used daily. Unlike Ford's patent, which is used for travelers to place articles of clothing and other accessories (2nd and 3rd paragraphs of page 1 in Ford's patent) and to be used upon travel.

F) Ford's invention is a bag with multiple pockets. The X-Pocket is an actual pocket, or a structure of pockets (much like the right front pockets on a pair of blue jeans).

G) In my patent search there have been thousands of existing patents under the search criteria of ‘pockets’. Each item investigated revealed pockets which were built in to the invention. Again, Ford's invention falls under this category, unlike the X-Pocket, which is a hanging extra pocket.

H) The hanger portion of the X-Pocket, shown in the Drawing section on page 114 (FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B), shows only a partial hanger, the curved portion at the top and a straight line at the bottom. Both the curved loop and the straight line will be covered with the fabric used to make the X-Pocket. Ford's invention does not disclose that the loop portion of the hanger was covered, only the bottom lined portion. The same is true of the other cited patents sent with the Office Action Summary Dated Apr. 15, 2015.