SPORT POUCH
The embodiments described herein provide in one aspect a cylindrical carrying case comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a side panel, a graphic display cover and a strap. The top, bottom and side panels can be configured to define an interior volume and an outer surface of the carrying case. The top, bottom and side panels are substantially inflexible and the top panel is releasably attached to the side panel to define a top opening for inserting items in, or removing items from, the interior volume of the carrying case. The graphic display cover comprises a continuous, transparent panel and is conformable to the shape of the outer surface of the carrying case. The graphic display cover is releasably coupled to the outer surface of the carrying case to form a pocket having at least one opening. The strap has a length and first and second ends attached to the carrying case.
The described embodiments relate to containers for carrying items. More particularly, embodiments described herein relate to containers for carrying items that can be customized using interchangeable graphic elements to assist with personal dating, socializing and advertising.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPreviously known containers for carrying items include knapsacks and cases. However, there remains a need for improved carrying devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe embodiments described herein provide in one aspect a cylindrical carrying case comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a side panel, a graphic display cover and a strap. The top, bottom and side panels can be configured to define an interior volume and an outer surface of the carrying case. The top, bottom and side panels are substantially inflexible and the top panel is releasably attached to the side panel to define a top opening for inserting items in, or removing items from, the interior volume of the carrying case. The graphic display cover comprises a continuous, transparent panel and is conformable to the shape of the outer surface of the carrying case. The graphic display cover is releasably coupled to the outer surface of the carrying case to form a pocket having at least one opening. The strap has a length and first and second ends attached to the carrying case.
The embodiments described herein provide in another aspect a kit comprising a carrying case, a graphic display cover, a graphic substrate and a strap. The carrying case comprises a top panel, a bottom panel and a side panel that define an interior volume and an outer surface of the carrying case. The top, bottom and side panels are substantially inflexible, and the top panel is releasably attached to the side panel to define a top opening for inserting items in, or removing items from, the interior volume of the carrying case. The graphic display cover comprises a continuous, transparent panel, that is conformable to the shape of the outer surface of the carrying case. The graphic display cover is releasably coupled to the outer surface of the carrying case to form a pocket. The pocket has at least one opening for at least partially receiving the graphic substrate. The graphic substrate comprises a graphic image. The strap has a length and first and second ends attached to the carrying case.
The embodiments described herein provide in another aspect a carrying case comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a side panel, a graphic display cover and a strap. The top, bottom and side panels define an interior volume and an outer surface of the carrying case. The graphic display cover comprises a continuous, transparent panel and is conformable to the shape of the outer surface of the carrying case. The graphic display cover is releasably coupled to the outer surface of the carrying case to form a pocket having at least one opening. The strap has a length and first and second ends attached to the carrying case.
For a better understanding of the embodiments described herein and to show more clearly how they may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings which show at least one exemplary embodiment, and in which:
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, 20 elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONSpecific details of the embodiments are set forth, by way of example, in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, this description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein in any way, but rather as merely describing possible implementations of the various embodiments described herein.
In the drawings and in the description, like reference numerals will be used to indicate like elements, functions or features as between the drawings and the described embodiments.
Reference is first made to
In one embodiment, the sport pouch 100, is a cylindrical carrying case that comprises a side panel 102, a top panel 106 and a bottom panel 108 that are configured to define an interior volume of the sport pouch 100 and an outer surface 104. The panels 102, 106 and 108 can be made from nylon, polyvinylchloride (PVC), ABS plastic, acrylic, fiberglass, carbon fiber, steel, aluminum, titanium, wood, any other plastic or metal, or any other material known in the art that can be formed into the desired shape and possesses the necessary material properties. The panels 102, 106 and 108 can be made from the same material, or the panels 102, 106 and 108 can be made from different materials. For example, the panels 102, 106 and 108 can all be made from fiberglass. Alternatively, the side panel 102 and bottom panel 108 can be made from carbon fiber while the top panel 106 is made from aluminum.
The side panel 102 and the bottom panel 108 can be fixedly coupled together such that bottom panel 108 can support the weight of the contents of the sport pouch 100 without detaching from the side panel 102. The bottom panel 108 may be coupled to the side panel 102 using any mechanical or chemical fastening techniques known in the art that can provide the desired connection strength. For example, the side panel 102 and the bottom panel 108 may comprise threaded sections such that the bottom panel 108 can be secured to the top panel 106 using a threaded coupling. The bottom panel 108 may also be connected to the side panel 102 using mechanical fasteners such as rivets, screws, bolts and nails. Alternatively, the bottom panel 108 may be pressure fit to the side panel 102, such that the connection between panels 102 and 108 is maintained by the friction forces between the panels 102 and 108.
In another embodiment, the bottom panel 108 can be attached to the side panel 102 using a chemical adhesive compound such as glue or an epoxy resin. The bottom panel 108 may also be attached to side panel 102 using a combination of fasteners, such as a threaded coupling that is reinforced with glue. The type of fastener used can be based on user preference, manufacturer preference, cost, physical requirements (such as minimum tensile strength or water impermeability) or other selection criteria known in the art.
The top panel 106 can be releasably attached to the side panel 102 such that the top panel 106 can be removed from the side panel 102 allowing access to the interior volume of the sport pouch 100 via the top opening 107, shown in
The sport pouch 100, or a kit comprising the sport pouch 100, further comprises a graphic display cover 110 that can be releasably attached to the outer surface 104 of the side panel 102 by fasteners 122. The graphic display cover 110 is attached to the side panel 102 such that it forms a pocket, with at least one opening, between the graphic display cover 110 and the outer surface 104. The graphic display cover 110 can be conformable to the contour of the outer surface 104 such that curvature of the graphic display cover 110 substantially matches the curvature of the outer surface 104 of the side panel 102. Alternatively, the graphic display cover 110 can be rigid and formed during manufacture to match the curvature of the outer surface 104.
The graphic display cover 110 is substantially transparent, such that an observer can easily see through the graphic display cover 110. The graphic display cover 110 can be formed from a plastic film, lexan, acrylic, a fine mesh screen, glass or any other suitably transparent material. The graphic display cover 110 may be colourless, or it may be made of a coloured, transparent material such as coloured plastic.
In
In
The graphic substrates 112 can be configured with a variety of text and graphic information and inserted into the pocket formed between the graphic display cover 110 and the outer surface 104 such that the text and graphic information is visible to an observer. Using a plurality of graphic substrates 112, the user of the sport pouch 100 can communicate with a plurality of observers. For example, the graphic substrate 112 shown in
The graphic substrate 112 can be formed from any material that can carry a textual or graphic image and can be at least partially received within the pocket formed between the graphic display cover 110 and the outer surface 104. That is, the graphic substrate 112 can be formed from paper, cardboard, plastic, fabric, leather, vinyl, a photograph, metal foil or any other suitable material. In addition, the textual or graphic information can be applied to the graphic substrate 112 in any known process that is suitable for the particular graphic substrate 112 material selected. That is, the text and graphic application process can be printing, handwriting, silk screening, thermography, embossing, photography, developing, painting, engraving, carving, cutting, stamping, and letter pressing.
The sport pouch 100 can be portable, and can comprise a strap 114 that can be used to carry the sport pouch 100. For example, a user may place the strap 1 14 over her shoulder such that she can carry the sport pouch 100 and still have her hands free for other purposes. The length of the strap 114 may be adjustable such that the length of the strap 114 can be varied to accommodate a variety of user preferences or plurality of different users. The strap 114 can be a woven nylon strap, a leather strap, a flexible plastic strap or any other type of carrying strap known to those skilled in the art with the desired mechanical properties. The strap 114 may be connected to the side panel 102 of the sport pouch 100 using strap anchors 116.
The strap anchors 116 can be rotatably attached to the side panel 102 such that the sport pouch 100 lies in a comfortable position against the body of the user when the sport pouch 100 is being carried by the strap 114. The strap anchors can be made from nylon, polyvinylchloride (PVC), steel, aluminum, titanium, any other plastic or metal, or any other material known in the art that can be formed into the desired shape and possesses the necessary material properties. The strap anchors 116 can be rotatably attached to the side panel 102 using any type of rotating fastener known in the art. For example, the strap anchors 116 may be attached to the side panel 102 using rivets, nails, nuts and bolts or pins or other suitable rotating fasteners.
Spacers 118 can be installed between the side panel 102 and the strap anchors 116 to increase the distance between the side panel 102 and the strap anchors 116, thereby allowing the strap anchors 116 to rotate without contacting, or interfering with, the top panel 106. The spacers 118 can be configured to receive the fastener used to attached the strap anchors 116 to the side panel 102 and to keep the strap anchors 116 at a predetermined distance from the outer surface 104 of the side panel 102. The spacers 118 may comprise a single spacing element, such as a hollow cylinder or tube of the desired length surrounding the fastener connecting the side panel 102 and the strap anchors 116. Alternatively, the spacers 118 may comprise a plurality of thin spacing elements that can be combined to create the desired spacing distance. For example, the plurality of spacing elements can be a plurality of washers, a plurality of o-rings or any other relatively thin elements. The spacers 118 can be made from nylon, PVC, steel, aluminum, titanium, any other plastic or metal, or any other material known in the art that can be formed into the desired shape and possesses the necessary material properties.
The graphic display cover 110 shown in
Although not shown in
The customizable section 132 of the graphic substrate 112 may be a one-time use or multi-use feature. If the customizable section 132 is of a one-time use configuration, a user can decorate the graphic substrate 112 with a first user-created design and the user-created design can be unchangeable and fixed on the graphic substrate 112. However, if the customizable section 132 is of a multi-time use configuration, a user can decorate the graphic substrate 112 with a first user-created design, remove the first user-created design (by erasing or similar process) and create a second user-created design on the same graphic substrate 112. These steps can be repeated multiple times, such that a single, multi-use customizable section 132 of a graphic substrate 112 can be re-used a plurality of times.
A sport pouch 100 user may also carry a plurality of individual graphic substrates 112 that can be interchangeably placed behind the graphic display cover 110 over a period of time. Using a plurality of graphic substrates 112, a user can update the information shown on her sport pouch 100 to reflect her current feelings and to be appropriate for a plurality of social situations. The plurality of graphic substrates 112 may comprise pre-decorated sections 130 and both single-use and multi-use customizable sections 132.
While the above description provides examples of the embodiments, it will be appreciated that some features and/or functions of the described embodiments are susceptible to modification without departing from the spirit and principles of operation of the described embodiments. Accordingly, what has been described above has been intended to be illustrative of the invention and non-limiting and it will be understood by persons skilled in the art that other variants and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.
Claims
1. A cylindrical carrying case comprising:
- a top, a bottom and a side panel configured to define an interior volume and an outer surface, wherein the top, bottom and side panel are substantially inflexible and the top panel is releasably attached to the side panel to define a top opening for inserting items in and removing items from, the interior volume of the carrying case,
- a graphic display cover comprising a continuous, transparent panel, wherein the graphic display cover is conformable to the shape of the outer surface of the carrying case and the graphic display cover is releasably coupled to the outer surface of the carrying case to form a pocket having at least one opening, and
- a strap having a length and a first and a second end attached to the carrying case, and the length of the strap is adjustable such that the strap can be lengthened or shortened.
2. The carrying case of claim 1 wherein the top, bottom and side panel are formed from a material chosen from a plurality of materials, the plurality of materials consisting of nylon, polyvinylchloride (PVC), ABS plastic, acrylic, fiberglass, carbon fiber, steel, aluminum, titanium, wood, plastic and metal, and the graphic display cover is formed from a clear plastic film.
3. The carrying case of claim 1 wherein the graphic display cover is releasably coupled to the outer surface of the carrying case using a hook and loop fastener.
4. The carrying case of claim 3 further comprising a cover panel for covering the hook and loop fastener when the graphic display cover is not coupled to the carrying case.
5. A kit comprising:
- a carrying case comprising a top, a bottom and a side panel configured to define an interior volume and an outer surface, wherein the top, bottom and side panel are substantially inflexible and the top panel is releasably attached to the side panel to define a top opening for inserting items in and removing items from, the interior volume of the carrying case,
- a graphic display cover comprising a continuous, transparent panel, wherein the graphic display cover is conformable to the shape of the outer surface of the carrying case and the graphic display cover is releasably coupled to the outer surface of the carrying case to form a pocket having at least one opening configured to at least partially receive a graphic substrate comprising a graphic image, and
- a strap having a length and a first and a second end attached to the carrying case, and the length of the strap is adjustable such that the strap can be lengthened or shortened.
6. The kit of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of graphic substrates configured to be interchangeably receivable in the pocket.
7. The kit of claim 5 wherein the graphic substrate is formed from a material chosen from a group consisting of paper, vinyl, cardboard, fabric, plastic, and metal.
8. The kit of claim 5 wherein the graphic substrate is configured to fit entirely between the outer surface of the chamber and the graphic display cover.
9. The kit of claim 5 wherein the graphic substrate comprises a plurality of graphic images.
10. The kit of claim 5 wherein the graphic substrate is configured to be reusable such that a first graphic image can be applied to the graphic substrate and then the first graphic image can be removed from the graphic substrate and replaced by a second graphic image.
11. The kit of claim 5 wherein the graphic image is formed on the graphic substrate using a technique chosen from a plurality of techniques, the plurality of techniques consisting of printing, handwriting, silk screening, thermography, embossing, photography, developing, painting, engraving, carving, cutting, stamping, and letter pressing.
12. The kit of claim 5 wherein the graphic substrate comprises at least one of a text and a graphic information, and the text and graphic information is, at least one of black and white, grayscale and colour.
13. The kit of claim 5 wherein the graphic substrate comprises a pre-formed image portion and a customizable portion wherein the customizable portion can be modified by a user.
14. The kit of claim 5 wherein the graphic display cover is releasably coupled to the outer surface of the carrying case using a hook and loop fastener.
15. The kit of claim 14 further comprising a cover panel for covering the hook and loop fastener when the graphic display cover is not coupled to the carrying case.
16. A carrying case comprising:
- a top, a bottom and a side panel configured to define an interior volume and an outer surface,
- a graphic display cover comprising a continuous, transparent panel, wherein the graphic display cover is conformable to the shape of the outer surface of the carrying case and the graphic display cover is releasably coupled to the outer surface of the carrying case to form a pocket having at least one opening, and
- a strap having a length and a first and a second end attached to the carrying case, and the length of the strap is adjustable such that the strap can be lengthened or shortened.
17. The carrying case of claim 16 wherein the top, bottom and side panels are formed from a substantially inflexible material and the top panel is releasably attached to the side panel to define a top opening in the carrying case for inserting items in, or removing items from, the interior volume of the carrying case.
18. The carrying case of claim 16 wherein the container is cylindrical.
19. The carrying case of claim 16 wherein the top, bottom and side panels are formed from a material chosen from a plurality of materials, the plurality of materials consisting of nylon, polyvinylchloride (PVC), ABS plastic, acrylic, fiberglass, carbon fiber, steel, aluminum, titanium, wood, plastic and metal, and the graphic display cover is releasably coupled to the outer surface of the container using hook and loop fasteners.
20. The carrying case of claim 1 further comprising a mirror mounted to an inner surface of the top panel.
Type: Application
Filed: May 8, 2008
Publication Date: Nov 12, 2009
Applicant: PATTER MANUFACTURING (Scarborough)
Inventor: Michael Patterson (Scarborough)
Application Number: 12/117,108
International Classification: A45C 3/08 (20060101); A45C 13/30 (20060101); A45C 3/00 (20060101);