Magnetic Wrist Band Apparatus

Abstract

A magnetic sleeve apparatus intended to be wrapped around the wrist of the wearer includes an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve configured to vary in length and joined with each other at their respective edges to form a continuous seamless cylindrical sleeve body. A magnetic sleeve apparatus further includes one or more lengths of magnetic material disposed in communication with the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve. A magnetic sleeve further includes an elastic band configured to admit to a plurality of configurations and one or more material pockets configured to contain the one or more lengths of magnetic material.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of prior U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/065,740, filed Feb. 14, 2008.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a means for securing metallic working materials to a wrist band, and in a specific though non-limiting embodiment, to a magnetic band intended to be wrapped around the wrist of a wearer (or alternatively, the wrist portion of a glove) in order to secure metal fasteners, or the like, in a manner such that a wearer of the band has easy and reliable access to working materials without having to interrupt work flow.

BACKGROUND

There have been many attempts to realize different methods to improve efficiency while working on an assignment that requires small metal tools. There is the traditional toolbox, which eventually became burdensome to carry around for someone who was in need of only a handful of nails. There is also the tool belt, which offers great accessibility to larger items such as a hammer or wrench. However, nails and smaller tools often have the propensity to fall out of a tool belt while working in an environment that requires a lot of movement.

There is often a need to carry certain small metallic items, such as pins, nails, screws, clips, etc., when working on an assembly line, doing odd jobs around the house, employed in an office environment, etc. The inventive subject matter allows those items to be easily accessible by using their magnetism to keep them on a person at all times while performing a task for which they are needed.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of a magnetic sleeve apparatus intended to be wrapped around the wrist of the wearer include an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve configured to vary in length and joined with one another at their respective edges to form a continuous seamless cylindrical sleeve body. Embodiments further include one or more lengths of a magnetic material disposed in communication with the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve. In still other embodiments, a magnetic sleeve further includes an elastic band configured to admit to a plurality of configurations and one or more material pockets configured to contain the one or more lengths of magnetic material. Several embodiments of a magnetic sleeve apparatus include an elastic band configured to admit to a plurality of configurations. In some embodiments, the elastic band is disposed between the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve.

In still other embodiments, the one or more lengths of magnetic material are configured to admit to a plurality of configurations. In one embodiment the one or more material pocket is disposed with the outer sleeve while in yet another embodiment, the one more material pocket is disposed with the inner sleeve. In some embodiments, the one more material pocket is disposed between the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve

Embodiments of the one or more lengths of magnetic material are often disposed around the perimeter of the magnetic sleeve apparatus. In one embodiment, the one or more lengths of magnetic material are disposed between the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a illustrates an exploded view of a magnetic wrist band, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 1b illustrates a cylindrical view of a magnetic wrist band, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 2a depicts a cylindrical exploded view of a single strip of a magnetic material disposed within a magnetic wrist band, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 2b depicts a cylindrical exploded view of equal portions of a magnetic material disposed within a magnetic wrist band, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 2c depicts a cylindrical exploded view of equal portions of a magnetic material disposed within a magnetic wrist band, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a fully assembled magnetic wrist band, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a fully assembled magnetic wrist band, according to example embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

The description that follows includes exemplary systems, methods, and techniques that embody techniques of the presently inventive subject matter. However, it is understood that the described embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known manufacturing equipment, protocols, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order to avoid obfuscation in the description.

As seen in attached FIG. 1a, an exploded view of a magnetic wrist band 1 is provided, comprising an inner sleeve portion 2 and an outer sleeve portion 3, with a length of elastic band 4 and one or more lengths of magnetic material 5 disposed there between. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1b, the inner and outer sleeve surfaces 2, 3 are sewn together at their edges to form a continuous, seamless cylindrical sleeve body 6, and are made of a pliable though durable cloth material, with an elastic band sewn within so that the circumference of the cylindrical sleeve body 6 is elastically deformable, and adjustable to the combined size of both the wearer's wrist and a wrist portion of a glove worn thereupon. In another embodiment, the sleeve portions 2, 3 are themselves formed from an elastic material, and the need for elastic band 4 is obviated.

Since the purpose of the elastic band (when used) is to admit to variable sizing, it follows that the lengths of the inner and outer sleeve portions 2, 3 should initially be longer than the elastic band, so that comfortable and reliable sizing is achieved. In some embodiments, inner and outer sleeves 2, 3 begin the fabrication process having an approximately identical length; however, in other embodiments, the inner and outer sleeve lengths are not identical in length, with the outer sleeve 3 comprising the longer portion, as more material is required for the band's outer diameter than for its inner diameter.

As seen in FIGS. 2a-2c, said one or more lengths of magnetic material can be configured in a number of ways. In FIG. 2a, for example, the magnetic wrist band is shown in an assembled state, with inner and outer sleeves 2, 3 comprising a flexible, elastic material that has been sewn or otherwise joined at its edges into a single, continuous, cylindrical sleeve body 6. In order to conform the sleeve body as closely as possible to the dimensions likely to be required in actual practice without creating an undesirable bunching of material along the greater circumferential region along the outer sleeve surface, outer sleeve 3 was formed slightly longer than inner sleeve 2 prior to assembly. A single, continuous length of magnetic material 5 disposed around the perimeter of the band is inserted prior to closing the longitudinal seam, its length breaking only once, thereby creating a pair of opposing terminus portions 5a, 5b.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2b, magnetic material 5 is broken into quartered portions 5a-5d, or into another set of portions having convenient geometries, and sewn into a plurality of pockets 7a-7d created by creating a corresponding set of cross-seams 8a-8d disposed along the longitudinal length of cylindrical sleeve body 6. In some embodiments, seams 8a-8d are spaced approximately equally along the length of cylindrical sleeve body 6; however, in certain other embodiments (such as the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2b) seams 8a-8d are not evenly spaced, so that pockets 7a-7d are of differing lengths in order to accommodate differing lengths of magnetic material 5.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2c, an integrated approach is adopted in which inner and outer sleeves 2, 3 comprise a flexible, elastic material that has been sewn or otherwise joined at its edges into a single, continuous, seamless cylindrical sleeve body 6. In order to avoid an undesirable bunching of material along the greater circumferential region along the outer sleeve surface, outer sleeve 3 was formed slightly longer than inner sleeve 2 prior to assembly.

Two pockets 7a and 7b, one disposed on the top portion of the wrist and the other on the bottom, are formed by sewing a plurality of cross-seams 8a-8d oriented perpendicular to the length of the sleeve cylinder, with relatively broad, flat portions of magnetic material 5a, 5b having been inserted into the pockets prior to closing. As a general proposition, broad, flat portions of magnetic material are more desirable than shorter, curved portions because of the increased surface area available to accommodate a secure magnetic field useful for holding metallic objects or object groups (for example, a readily accessible plurality of nails) during use.

In alternative embodiments, only a single pocket and encapsulated magnetic portion is employed, disposition of which would preferably be located on either the top of bottom portion of the wrist.

Finally, FIG. 3 shows the proposed embodiment of FIG. 2d as fully assembled and employed in conjunction with a glove. In the depicted embodiment, the wearer has temporarily secured a plurality of nails to a magnetic portion by means of magnetic attraction for use in practice. Since the magnetic wrist band disclosed herein comprises a single, unified sleeve with a significant degree of functional elasticity, the band can also be used in the absence of a glove, used with a number of different gloves by the same wearer in succession, and/or removed and transferred to another wearer for subsequent use in another application.

In the currently preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, a continuous length of elastic material 6 is fitted with a single pocket 7 sewn on to the top of the material in order to accommodate a magnetic member 5 disposed therein. In the depicted embodiment, the magnet 5 is fitted into the pocket 7 in a longitudinal fashion, so that the longer side of the magnet runs parallel to the wearer's wrist, but obvious variations would include sewing the pocket and encapsulating the magnet in such a manner that the magnet is thereafter disposed perpendicular to the wearer's wrist, and/or encapsulation of a plurality of magnets, any one or more of which may be disposed in differing angles of inclination or declination measured relative to the longitudinal disposition of the depicted embodiment.

The foregoing description is provided for illustrative purposes only, and is not intended to describe all possible aspects of the present invention. While the invention has been depicted and described in detail with respect to several exemplary embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the pertinent arts will appreciate that minor changes to the description, and various other modifications, omissions and additions may also be made without departing from either the spirit or scope thereof.

Claims

1. A magnetic sleeve apparatus intended to be wrapped around the wrist of the wearer comprising:

an outer sleeve configured to vary in length;

an inner sleeve configured to vary in length, wherein said inner sleeve is joined with said outer sleeve at their respective edges to form a seamless cylindrical sleeve body;

one or more lengths of magnetic material; and

one or more of a material pocket configured to contain said one or more lengths of magnetic material.

2. The magnetic sleeve apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an elastic band configured to admit to a plurality of configurations.

3. The magnetic sleeve apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more lengths of magnetic material are configured to admit to a plurality of configurations.

4. The magnetic sleeve apparatus of claim 2, wherein said elastic band is disposed between said outer sleeve and said inner sleeve.

5. The magnetic sleeve apparatus of claim 1, wherein said material pocket is disposed in a direction perpendicular to a wrist of a wearer.

6. The magnetic sleeve apparatus of claim 1, wherein said material pocket is disposed with said outer sleeve.

7. The magnetic sleeve apparatus of claim 1, wherein said material pocket is disposed with said inner sleeve.

8. A magnetic sleeve apparatus comprising:

an outer sleeve configured to vary in length;

an inner sleeve configured to vary in length, wherein said inner sleeve is joined with said outer sleeve at their respective edges to form a seamless cylindrical sleeve body;

an elastic band configured to admit to a plurality of configurations; and

one or more lengths of magnetic material disposed in communication with said outer sleeve and said inner sleeve.

9. The magnetic sleeve apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

one or more of a material pocket configured to contain said one or more lengths of magnetic material, wherein said pockets are disposed between said outer sleeve and said inner sleeve.

10. The magnetic sleeve apparatus of claim 8, wherein said one or more lengths of magnetic material are disposed between said outer sleeve and said inner sleeve.

11. The magnetic sleeve apparatus of claim 8, wherein said one or more lengths of magnetic material are disposed around the perimeter of said magnetic sleeve.

12. The magnetic sleeve apparatus of claim 8, wherein said one or more lengths of magnetic material are disposed between said outer sleeve and said inner sleeve in equal lengths.

13. A magnetic sleeve apparatus intended to be wrapped around the wrist of the wearer comprising:

an outer sleeve configured to vary in length;

an inner sleeve configured to vary in length, wherein said inner sleeve is joined with said outer sleeve at their respective edges to form a seamless cylindrical sleeve body;

an elastic band configured to admit to a plurality of configurations, wherein said elastic band is disposed between said outer sleeve and said inner sleeve; and

one or more lengths of magnetic material configured to admit to a plurality of configurations.

14. The magnetic sleeve apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a plurality of material pockets disposed in communication with said outer sleeve, wherein said material pocket contains one or more lengths of magnetic material.

15. The magnetic sleeve apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a plurality of material pockets disposed in communication with said inner sleeve, wherein said material pocket contains one or more lengths of magnetic material.

16. The magnetic sleeve apparatus of claim 13, wherein said one or more lengths of magnetic material are disposed between said outer sleeve and said inner sleeve in equal lengths.