Key-ring pouch for rescue medication

Abstract

A key-ring pouch for means for holding and carrying vital rescue medications comprises a pouch (14), preferably nylon, a key ring (10) and a belt clip (24). A user of the key-ring pouch can attach his or her keys to the key ring, thereby marrying their keys to their medication pouch reducing the chance of leaving their medication behind. A user of the key-ring pouch has the option of affixing the pouch to their clothing with the attached belt clip as an added convenience. Thus a considerably more convenient means of carrying vital medication is provided.

Description

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0001] Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

[0002] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

[0003] 1. Field of Invention

[0004] This invention relates to a key-ring pouch for carrying rescue medication.

[0005] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0006] As is well known in the medical industry, it is imperative that asthmatics, diabetics, and anaphylactic shock sufferers have immediate access to their rescue medications at all times of the day. When needed, said medications are often difficult to locate if not stored or kept in a convenient place. Unfortunately, it is often the case that when an ailing person needs his or her rescue medications, they are not immediately within reach. Time and again a person may leave his or her home forgetting about their rescue medication. Often this results in unnecessarily severe attacks and avoidable trips to the hospital emergency room. If one's rescue medication were in a pouch connected to one's key ring, a person would always have his or her medicine on hand, thus avoiding possible dangerous and costly situations. Several attempts have been made to keep medications easily accessible. Some of those are as follows:

[0007] In U.S. Pat. Des. No. 377,861 to Jacober a top zippered inhaler case is depicted which has a belt attachment on its backside. The disadvantage to this invention is that in an emergency situation the zipper teeth on this top zippered inhaler holder could easily jam, denying access to vital medication. On the other hand, the entry on our invention utilizes a hook and a loop fastener, which provides easy access to medication inside and ensures a secure closure. Moreover, the owner of Jacober's invention may fail to remember to clip this case to his belt or pant edge, thus leaving his important medication behind. My invention's key chain attachment assures my customer that if they have their keys, they also have their medicine.

[0008] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,307 to Biddick, et al. an inhaler holster is strapped around a user's wrist. This, we contend, is not the most convenient and practical way of carrying medication. If the owner of this device fails to attach it to his or her wrist, it could easily be forgotten.

[0009] In U.S. Pat. Des. No. 293,857 to Stout, et al., depicts a holster for pharmaceutical bottle that has a belt engaging loop and an open pocket for mounting the bottle. U.S. Pat. 5,833,093 to Honaker, et al., illustrates a protection cover for small spray dispensers, yet offers no other features which reduces its worth to being only a protective cover and nothing else. This device could easily be forgotten, and not be in close proximity to the carrier when an emergency arises.

[0010] Additionally, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,106,698 to Lin; 4,023,712 to Babiak, et al.; and 5,730,118 to Hermanson; all depict carriers that are meant to be worn around the neck. Said carriers could bring about discomfort, causing their owner to take off the device and leaving it somewhere. This device may not be appropriate for wear around one's neck regarding all activities and events in the owner's everyday life.

Objects and Advantages

[0011] In the above mentioned patents, the medication holding devices are required to be worn around a person's neck, or strapped to the wrist or clipped to an item of clothing. These are examples of carriage that need to be thought out or there is a chance that they may be forgotten and left behind. The carrier of any one on the above devices must make a conscious effort to remember to take the holder along with him or her when on the go in order to have vital medicine on hand. Our invention offers the convenience of marrying one's keys with the medication holder. To most people, keys are a vital everyday necessity, which the owner need not make an additional conscious effort to remember to take along the medication pouch as it is conveniently attached to their keys. If medication is contained in a pouch on one's key ring, odds are that medicine goes wherever you go.

[0012] Besides the objects and advantages of the key-ring pouch for rescue medication described in my above patent, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:

[0013] (a) The key ring attachment assures our customers that if they have their keys, they also have their medicine.

[0014] (b) The pouch has a hook and loop fastener to ensure easy access. If the pouch had a zipper closure, it could jam, thus preventing the ailing person from getting his required medication.

[0015] (c) The clip can be easily attached to a belt, pocket or backpack.

SUMMARY

[0016] In accordance with the present invention the key-ring pouch provides a convenient means for holding vital rescue medications. The key ring assures the carrier that if they have their keys, they also have their medication. The hook and loop fastener ensures easy access to medication held inside the pouch. The belt clip provides hands free means for carriage of the key-ring pouch.

DRAWINGS

[0017] Drawing Figures

[0018] FIG. 1 shows the front view of the closed key-ring pouch for rescue medication.

[0019] FIG. 2 shows the closed back view of the clipped, key-ring pouch for rescue medication.

[0020] FIG. 3 shows the open front view of the key-ring pouch for rescue medication.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

[0021] 1 10 key ring 12 reinforced key ring tab 14 pouch 16 hook strip of hook and loop fastener 18 loop strip of hook and loop fastener 20 gusset 22 interior gusset flap 24 belt clip 26 rivet 28 belt clip sleeve 30 exterior back wall 32 base of pouch 34 nylon lining 36 interior compartment 38 top flap 40 bottom flap

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] FIG. 1—Front View

[0023] The front view of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The illustration depicts the pouch 14. The key ring 10 is attached to the gusset 20 of the pouch by means of a reinforced key ring tab 12. The pouch and reinforced key ring tab 12 are made of rip-stop nylon with machine stitching. The key ring 10 is made of metal. The illustration shows the pouch with the hook 16 and loop 18 fasteners in a closed position.

[0024] FIG. 2—Closed Back View

[0025] The closed back view of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 2. A durable plastic clip 24 is partially concealed within a belt clip sleeve 28 and riveted 26 to the rear exterior back wall of the pouch 30. The rivet 26 is made of metal. The belt clip 24 allows the carrier the option of hands free transportation of the pouch. The illustration shows the base of the pouch 32.

[0026] FIG. 3—Open Front View

[0027] The open front view of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 3. The hook side of the hook and loop fastener 16 is located on the topside of the bottom flap 40. The loop side of the hook and loop fastener 18 is located on the underside of the top flap 38. Interior gusset flaps 22 fold down to ensure that interior medications stay in place. The interior compartment 36 is lined with a nylon lining 34.

[0028] Advantages

[0029] From the description above, a number of advantages of my key-ring inhaler holder become evident:

[0030] (a) The key ring attachment assures our customers that if they have their keys, they also have their medicine.

[0031] (b) The pouch has a hook and loop fastener to ensure easy access.

[0032] (c) The hook and loop fastener ensure secure closure.

[0033] (d) The nylon materials of both the exterior and interior of the pouch are durable.

[0034] (e) The belt clip can be easily attached to a belt, pocket or backpack.

[0035] Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope

[0036] Accordingly, the reader will see that the key-ring pouch invention can be used to hold and carry rescue medication easily and conveniently, can be attached to one's keys, and can be clipped to one's belt. In addition, the pouch is constructed with a hook and loop fastener, which affords easy access to interior contents as well as secure closure. Although the description above contains a number of specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the pouch can have other dimensions, enabling it to hold larger or smaller medications such as an epinephrine pen, glucose tablets, etc.

[0037] Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

Claims

1.) In a key-ring pouch, comprising a pouch for use of storing and carrying rescue medications,

2.) The key-ring pouch of claim 1 wherein said pouch has a key ring attachment on one side of said pouch.

3.) The key-ring pouch of claim 1 wherein said pouch has a belt clip riveted to the back wall of said pouch.

4.) The key-ring pouch of claim 1 wherein said pouch has a double flap closure with hook and loop fasteners.

5.) The key-ring pouch of claim 1 wherein an interior gusset flap is located on each side of said pouch.

whereby, (a) to most people, keys are a vital everyday necessity, which said user of said pouch need not make an additional conscious effort to remember to take along their medication pouch as it is conveniently attached to their keys. (b) said user of said pouch has the option of attaching said pouch to their clothing by means of said belt clip resulting in freedom of hand usage for said carrier.