Money belt

Abstract

An improved, secure money holder comprising a flat pouch, no wider than a belt, adapted to attach to the inside of the belt with a zipper incorporated in the inner layer of the flat pouch. The preferred means of attachment is adhesive backed hook and loop fastener.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The Applicant claims the benefit of his Provisional Application, Serial No. 60/367,038, filed Mar. 25, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of protecting valuables and particularly to the field of waist worn money belts.

[0003] Travelers frequently carry cash, travelers' checks and other valuable documents with them. In order to safeguard these items from pickpockets and thieves, they frequently carry them in a waist worn money belt. The typical money belt has an internal pouch which is accessible via a zipper on the inside, back of the belt. Thus, when worn, it is impossible for criminals to secretly obtain access to the zipper and thus remove the valuables. However, for reasons of practicality and cost, such money belts are available in only a few colors and very plain designs. No belts are available in fashionable designs and in colors to match various outfits.

[0004] What is needed is a money belt that is fashionable, able to go with various outfits and of reasonable cost. Development of such a belt represents a great improvement in the field of valuable protection and satisfies a long felt need of the traveling public.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention is a flat pouch, with a zipper on one side, which removably attaches to the inside of any belt typically at the rear. The pouch comprises an inner layer and an outer layer fastened together at their edges. The preferred method of attachment is one or more segments of hook and loop fastener. The pouch is the same width as regular belts and has one or more portions of hook or loop fastener attached with double sided adhesive to its front side, i.e. the side without the zipper. The pouch is preferably supplied in a kit with extra portions of adhesive backed hook or loop fastener. If the pouch is supplied with hook portions adhered to it, the extra portions are loop portions and vice versa. The extra portions are adhered by the user to the rear of one or more belts using the double sided adhesive so that their spacing matches that of the portions already adhered to the pouch. Thus the pouch can be attached to and removed from any belt. Use of this invention satisfies the traveler's desire for a money belt that is fashionable, able to go with various outfits and of reasonable cost.

[0006] The present invention is conveniently fabricated by the following steps.

[0007] 1. Cutting the inner layer for the pouch out of a sheet of material, the inner layer being no wider than the belt the pouch will eventually attach to.

[0008] 2. Cutting the outer layer for the pouch out of a sheet of material, the outer layer being the same size as the inner layer.

[0009] 3. Cutting a medial opening in the inner layer.

[0010] 4. Fastening a zipper into the medial opening.

[0011] 5. Fastening the inner layer to the outer layer other around their edges to form a zippered pouch.

[0012] 6. Attaching the outer layer to the inside of the belt. Preferably this is accomplished with adhesive backed hook and loop fastener.

[0013] An appreciation of the other aims and objectives of the present invention and an understanding of it may be achieved by referring to the accompanying drawings and description of a preferred embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is an exploded view from the rear of this invention.

[0015] FIG. 2 is an exploded view from the front of this invention.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a view from the rear showing this invention detached from a belt.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a view from the rear showing this invention attached to a belt.

[0018] FIG. 5 is an expanded cross sectional view at the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the present invention would be of significant utility.

[0020] FIG. 1 is an exploded view from the rear of this invention 10. At the rear or of this invention is the first layer of material 14. Fastened in a medial opening 18 in this first layer 14 is a zipper 22. Next is the second layer of material 26. Both layers 14, 26 are the same size, approximately rectangular with a width no greater than the width of a standard belt. Finally, there are one or more segments of adhesive backed, hook and loop fastener 30. The hook and loop fastener 30 is shown separated on FIG. 1. Whether the hook 34 or loop 38 portion is outermost or innermost is, obviously, immaterial. However, it is important that the portions 34, 38 are installed in alignment. On FIG. 1 one can see the adhesive 42 on one portion and the loop face 46 on the other portion of the fastener 30.

[0021] FIG. 2 is an exploded view from the front of this invention. At the front of the invention are one or more segments of adhesive backed, hook and loop fastener 30. The hook and loop fastener 30 is shown separated on FIG. 2. Whether the hook 34 or loop 38 portion is outermost or innermost is, obviously, immaterial but again, the portions 34, 38 must be in approximate alignment. On FIG. 2 one can see adhesive 42 on one portion and the loop face 46 on the other portion of the fastener 30. Next is the second layer of material 26. Finally there is the first layer of material 14 with the zipper 22 fastened in the opening 18.

[0022] This invention 10 can be made with any kind of material such as leather, nylon, cotton, etc. The layers of material 14, 26 can be fastened together around their edges 50, 54 in any fashion such as by welding, gluing and sewing. Once fastened together, they form a flat pouch 58 (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 5). The interior 62 (see FIG. 5) of the pouch 58 is only accessible through the zipper 22. The hook and loop fastener 30 is sold under the trade name Velcro®. It can be procured without adhesive but is typically supplied with double sided adhesive on the rear of each portion.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a view from the rear showing the pouch 58 fully assembled but detached from a belt 66. In this figure one can see the rear 70 of the pouch 58 and the portions of hook or loop 48 adhered to the rear 74 of the belt 66.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a view from the rear showing the pouch 58 attached to a belt 66. The pouch 58 will usually be supplied with several extra portions of adhesive backed hook or loop fastener 30 so that the pouch 58 can be attached to several different belts 66 that the purchaser already owns.

[0025] FIG. 5 is an expanded cross sectional view at the line 5-5 of FIG. 4. What can be seen on FIG. 5, starting at the front, are the belt 66, the first layer of double sided adhesive 42, a segment of hook and loop fastener 30, the second layer of double sided adhesive 42, and the flat pouch 58. The segment of hook and loop fastener 30 is comprised of a portion of hook fastener 34 and a portion of loop fastener 38. Again, their exact order is immaterial but it will be noted that they are in alignment so that then can co-operate and make a fastener 30 when the portions 34, 38 are pressed together. The pouch 58 is comprised of the second layer of material 26 attached around the edges 50, 54 to the first layer of material 14 with he zipper 22 fastened into the opening 18.

[0026] It can be appreciated from FIG. 5 that when the pouch 58 is attached to a belt 66 and the belt 66 is fastened around the user's waist, the pouch 58 is hidden from view and the zipper 22 is inaccessible.

[0027] The following reference numerals are used on FIGS. 1 through 5:

[0028] 14 First layer of material

[0029] 18 Opening in first layer

[0030] 22 Zipper

[0031] 26 Second layer of material

[0032] 30 Hook and loop of fastener

[0033] 34 Hook portion

[0034] 38 Loop portion

[0035] 42 Layer of adhesive

[0036] 46 Loop face

[0037] 48 Hook or loop face

[0038] 50 Edge of first layer of material

[0039] 54 Edge of second layer of material

[0040] 58 Pouch

[0041] 62 Interior of pouch

[0042] 66 Belt

[0043] 70 Rear of pouch

[0044] 74 Rear of belt

[0045] Thus, the present invention has been described herein with reference to a particular embodiment for a particular application. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the present teachings will recognize additional modifications, applications and embodiments within the scope thereof.

[0046] It is therefore intended by the appended claims to cover any and all such applications, modifications and embodiments within the scope of the present invention

Claims

1. An improved, secure money holder comprising:

a) a pouch, no wider than a belt adapted to attach to the inside of said belt and including an inner layer; and

b) a zipper incorporated in said inner layer.

2. An improved, secure money holder comprising:

a) a pouch including an inner layer and an outer layer fastened together at their edges; said inner layer having a medial opening; said pouch being no wider than said belt;

b) a zipper fastened to said medial opening; and

c) means for attaching said outer layer to said inside of said belt.

3. A money holder as claimed in claim 2 in which said means for attaching is adhesive backed hook and loop fastener.

4. A method of making an improved, secure money holder comprising the steps of:

a) providing an inner layer for a pouch; said inner layer being no wider than a belt;

b) providing an outer layer for a pouch; said outer layer being the same size as said inner layer;

c) cutting a medial opening in said inner layer;

d) providing a zipper adapted to fit in said medial opening;

e) fastening said zipper into said medial opening;

f) fastening said inner layer to said outer layer around their edges whereby a zippered pouch is created;

g) providing means for attaching said outer layer to said inside of said belt; and

h) affixing said means for attaching to said outer layer and said inside of said belt.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 in which said means for attaching is adhesive backed hook and loop fastener.

6. A kit for providing a secure money container for a belt comprising:

a) providing a pouch, no wider than said belt including an inner layer and a zipper incorporated in said inner layer; and

b) providing means for attaching said outer layer to said inside of said belt.

7. A kit as described in claim 6 in which said means for attaching is adhesive backed hook and loop fastener.