SMART PHONE POCKETS
The present invention provides secure storage while at the same time providing useable access to the typical touch functions of a smart phone. By combining the use of materials that allow the smart phone touch screen to work while in a storage pocket and enabling the pocket to be securely closed on all sides when attached to a commercial product, the present invention provides fingertip access to all smart phone functionality while proving secure storage.
The role of the cell phone has changed dramatically in the past decade. The cell phone has graduated to be a smart phone, which is a multipurpose devices whose functions include clock, calendar, e-reader, email, social media delivery device, reminder-list-keeper, alarm, and music player, just to name a few of its capabilities. These functions are used all day and at night, both at work and at play. Whether working or relaxing, smart phone users feel the need to be connected and to constantly access their smartphone if only to check the time, the weather, or just to listen to music. No one can doubt that these new smart devices are changing the way we communicate, work, play, conduct routine tasks and our chores. These devices now play an integral part of our daily lives, affecting productivity, livelihood, security and our sense of well-being. Many feel compelled to be in constant contact with the touch screen of their smart phone. Most of us feel unsettled when we mistakenly leave our smart phones at home. The smart phone has become an integral part of daily life for many users. Simply put, the user's relationship is so much closer and intimate than in the past, and the user expects wherever they go, their smartphone needs to be close at hand.
The principal current problem is that not all locations, activities and conditions are safe for a smart phone.
At night, for example, a large number of smart phone users actually sleep with their smart phones in bed. The digital alarm clock is being replaced by the alarm feature on the smart phone. Thus many people fall asleep with their smart phone either under their pillow, on their bedside table, or in some cases holding it in their hand. Furthermore, there are people who use their smart phone to fall asleep by listening to music through ear buds. There are also smart phone applications that gauge the sleeper's movements to determine the optimal time in their sleep cycle to wake them. The troubling issue is that once asleep, the smart phone can be dropped or be lost under the covers. The touch screen, when dropped is easily broken and is expensive to replace. College students and others who use loft or bunk beds do not have a nightstand and they are at increased risk for dropping and breaking their smart phones. Also, if a smart phone is left on a bedside table, it can be inadvertently dropped when reaching for it in the middle of the night or when turning off its actuated alarm.
During the day, we all want to be able to answer quickly our smart phones. Who wants to be the annoying person whose phone continuously rings when out in public? Men usually have pants pockets but women tend to keep their smart phones in their purses. At work, women carry them into meetings frequently juggling their coffee, their notebook, and pens at the same time. Usually it is the phone that ends up being dropped.
At play, we still want to have our smart phone close. There are applications that help our golf game, provide music for relaxing, and provide the general fun of social medias. However, our play environment might be hazardous to our smart phones. At the beach, the smart phone is close to sand and water which can significantly damage the device. Where does one put their smart phone when going to the beach? Not in their purse or in pants pockets, since that these are usually locked in the trunk of a car or left at home. Probably in the beach bag pocket, along with keys, suntan lotions and hairbrushes. The smart phones stay there waiting for wet and sandy hands to reach for it. If removed and placed on a patio table or on a beach towel, it is at risk, and the smart phone owner constantly frets about it safety. The same is true for the golfer who does not want to keep the smart phone in his/her pocket in case a swing is interrupted by a silent ring or vibration. Yet, the golf bag pocket or the cup holder of a golf cart is even less than ideal and could be more hazardous to the smart phone. The beach/pool or golf are two examples of many leisure situations where smart phone users need safe locations to access to the functionality of their smart phones.
In summary, where ever the smart phone user is, they want their smart phones to be available for use. Today's and tomorrow's smart phone user expects to have continuous close physical proximity to their smart phones while at the same time wanting them to be safe and secure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention has been developed to accommodate the changing relationship that we have with our smart phones. The present invention provides secure storage while at the same time providing access to the typical touch functions of the smart phone. By combining the use of materials that allow the smart phone touch screen to work while in a pocket and enabling the pocket to be securely closed on all sides, the present invention provides fingertip access to all smart phone functionality while it is being securely stowed.
Three specific examples of the present invention include the following.
At the beach, the smart phone pocket of the present invention on a beach towel shields a smart phone from sand and water while still providing fingertip access to the touch screen though a thin plastic film.
On the golf course, smart phone pocket of the present invention on a golf towel holds the smart phone at the top of the golf towel while firmly attached to the golf bag.
While in bed, the cell phone pocket of the present invention on a pillow case keeps the smart phone close by and secure while in bed.
In each case, the smart phone is viewable, accessible, operable and secure in the cell phone pockets of the present invention.
The smart phone pockets of the present invention are made up of two components that work together to form a secure, accessible space to keep a smart phone: a transparent top and a bottom base.
The first component is a rectangular, transparent top. This is a four sided piece (or double layer pieces) of transparent fabric or plastic film. If it is fabric, polyester organza or similar fabric is preferred. If it is thin plastic film, PVC, much like a clear shower curtain is preferred. The important feature of the fabric or film is that it allows for touch transmissions to the screen of the smart phone, it is smooth, and it has a high degree of transparency. The dimensions of the transparent top may vary as smart phones vary in size, but they are generally as small as 3.5 inches wide to 5.5 inches long to as large as 7 inches wide by 9 inches long. The size must accommodate for the average smartphone in a protective case like an “Otter box.” The larger size must accommodate a mini e-reader or pad. The fabric, or plastic rectangle is bounded on each edge by fabric, which is sewn on or attached by another means. The purpose of the bounded edge is threefold. First it protects the edge of the transparent fabric or film from fraying or being snagged. The second, it creates dimensional stability. Third, it gives the product a finished look. The bounded edge can very in width from ½ inch to an inch. Further, in two of the smart phone pocket versions, the bounded edge has the added purpose of holding together a double layer of fabric or film.
To the back side of transparent top's bounded edge, a closure system, such as hook and loop fasteners is attached, usually by sewing. The closure system can be on one, two, three or all of the bounded edges, or partially on any. The type of closure system that is used must permit wires fore earphones, ear buds or chargers to exit from the formed pocket and still be used without interfering with the pockets ability to keep the smart phone security in the pocket.
Some of the preferred versions have a small fabric tab that is sewn on to the transparent top, which makes it easy for the user to pull to open the closure system of the smart phone pocket of the present invention.
The bottom is constructed from a fabric or another substrate that is part of the product on which the smart phone's user may want to be able to access their smart phone when the product is in its customary use. The substrate can be cotton sheeting, terry or micro fiber towel fabric, to name just a few. Attached to the bottom base, either by sewing or other similar means, is a matching closure system product to that on the transparent top. Specifically, it will be attached to the bottom base so that the removably interlocking closure parts (hook and loop fasteners, for example) of the transparent top will match once laid flat on top on the bottom base. Then the transparent top and the bottom base can pressed together and will removably interlock.
If the transparent top has one bounded edge with a closure system on the backside, the bottom base will have one line of a matching closure system product that will match that of the transparent top. The same is true if the top has 2, 3 or 4 bounded edges with a closure system.
For several of the preferred versions, the transparent top is secured to the bottom base by sewing or other similar means on one, two, or three of the edges of the transparent top.
The transparent top and bottom base components removably interlock together to form the smart phone pocket of the present invention.
The smart phone pockets of the present invention work when the user inserts their smart phone into the pocket area created by the matching edges of the top and the bottom being joined. The user places the smart phone in the smart phone pocket with the smart phone screen visible through the transparent top. The user then closes the smart phone pocket opening by pressing on the closure system so that the interlocking element of the closure system removably interlock. The user can then run their smart phone effectively by operating the touch screen through the thin transparent fabric or film of the transparent top by touch swiping, pressing or tapping of the transparent top's fabric or film. The shiny surface of organza allows light from the phone to easily be seen and it has a similar feel to the smooth surface of the screens of typical smart phones.
Furthermore, if the user wants to listen to music using earphones, they simply remove their smart phone by separating the closure system and extracting their phone. They plug in their earphone and put the smart phone back in the smart phone pocket. The wires for earphones will come out of the opening but due to the flexible nature for closure system, the sides of the pocket opening will close snuggly around the wires. This allows the user to wear their earphones while their smart phone remains secure in their smart phone pocket.
Essentially, all the functions of the smart phone are operable despite being secure the smart phone pocket of the present invention.
The smartphone pockets of the present invention have six different preferred versions, currently. A description of each of attributes of each along with a specific example of how each version of the smart phone pocket of the present invention is constructed and together a listing of other differing product applications for that version of the smart phone pocket of the present invention, follow.
(1) the Four-Sided Smart Phone Pocket
Referring now to
This version of the smart phone pocket of the present invention has been applied to a pillow case. The bottom vase is sewn onto the top or bottom corner of a pillow case, and the smart phone pocket of the present invention can be used to provide quick smart phone access while in bed. The four hook and loop fastener sides provide ultimate flexibility for earphone cords access, as well.
There are multiple applications for this version of the smart phone pocket of the present invention. Other applications include putting the four-sided version on throws, blankets, Snuggles, sleeping bags, and clothing, such as down vests and parkas. The four-sided version works particularly well if users want to remove the pocket completely before washing the underlying product.
Example 1 Construction of the Four-Sided Smart Phone Pocket Materials List:(1) 4″×6¾″ organza panel
(2) 1¾×6″ 100% cotton fabric
(2) 1¾×6¾″ 100% cotton fabric
(2) ¾×7½″ strips iron-on interfacing and (2) ¾×5″ strips iron-on interfacing
(2) 6″ and (2) 4⅞″ strips of ¾″ hook fastener
(2) 6″ and (2) 4⅞″ strips of ¾″ loop fastener double-sided tape
Cut (1) 4″×6¾″ organza window panel. Cut (2) 1¾×6¾″ strips of 100% cotton fabric. Lay one fabric strip with decorative side facing down on front side of organza panel and stitch a ¼″ straight seam along the outside edge to form the left side of the frame.
Lay second fabric strip with decorative side facing down along the right hand edge of the organza panel and stitch a ¼″ straight seam along the edge.
Open the frame edges and finger press to the sides keeping the organza window flat and turning both seam allowances toward the frame fabric. Using a hot iron, press front side of frame panel, carefully avoiding touching the organza with the iron.
Cut (2) 1¾×6″ strips of 100% cotton fabric.
Lay one fabric strip decorative side down along top edge of front of frame. Stitch a ¼″ straight seam along the top edge. Lay second fabric strip with decorative side facing down along bottom edge of front side of frame. Stitch a ¼″ straight seam along the bottom edge to form the front face of the frame. Open the top and bottom frame edges and finger press keeping the organza window flat and turning both seam allowances toward the frame fabric. Using a hot iron, press front side of frame panel, carefully avoiding touching the organza with the iron.
Cut (2) ¾×7½″ strips of iron-on interfacing.
Lay interfacing strips with adhesive side facing down along the long wrong side edges of organza next to the rows of stitching, covering the seams to prevent fraying of organza edges. Press with a hot iron to secure adhesive, carefully avoiding touching organza panel with iron. Cut (2) ¾×5″ strips iron-on interfacing and lay adhesive side down along the top and bottom wrong side edges of organza panel next to the row of stitching overlapping corners of interfacing on the sides and covering the seams. Press with hot iron to secure adhesive, carefully avoiding the organza panel.
Lay the organza window upside down and using a hot iron, carefully press raw edges of decorative fabric around outside edges of interfacing to form creases in the fabric that will become the outside edge of the pocket frame.
Lay a one inch length of double-sided tape diagonally across interfacing strips in each corner on wrong side of pocket frame and adhere fabric frame corners to tape to secure, matching creases on both sides of corner. Repeat for remaining 3 corners.
Using a hot iron, carefully apply heat to corners, folding raw edges over the top, bottom and sides of interfacing and sides to shape frame, always carefully avoiding touching the iron to the organza window.
With the back side of organza window facing up, lay a 7½″ length of double-sided tape along the long side edges of pocket, taping down raw fabric edge and providing an adhesive to attach the hook and loop fastener frame to the back side of window pocket.
Cut 4 strips of ¾″ hook fastener: (2) 6″ strips and (2) 4⅞″ strips.
Center 4⅞″ strips of hook along the top and bottom edges of frame, overlapping taped corners and pressing firmly with fingers to secure in place for sewing. Center 6″ strips of hook along side edges between top and bottom pieces of hook forming the hook and loop fastener frame and pressing firmly into double-sided tape to secure.
With window pocket facing upwards, maneuvering carefully to hold hook and loop fastener strips into place on the back side, top-stitch ⅛″ from outside edge of window pocket, stitching through all layers and securing hook and loop fastener pieces to fabric frame all around the outside edge. Repeat for inside edge of fabric frame, making sure to catch the hook and loop fastener layer underneath.
Sew a third row of topstitching centered between the first two rows.
To Attach the Smart Phone Pocket to any Fabric:Cut 4 strips of ¾″ loop fastener: (2) 6″ strips and (2) 4⅞″ strips.
Cut a 3¼×6″ rectangular cardboard guide to use for placement of inside edge of organza window frame. Determine placement on fabric and mark around edge of guide using a washable fabric marker.
Center 4⅞″ strips of loop fastener along the top and bottom outside edges of marked outlines. Center 6″ strips of loop fastener along left and right outside edges of marked outline between top and bottom pieces of loop abutting ends to corners and forming the loop fastener frame.
Carefully keeping hook and loop fastener alignment, start at one corner and using a zigzag stitch to overlap hook and loop fastener edges, sew in a continuous line all around the outside edge of hook and loop fastener frame. Repeat for the inside edges of frame, zigzag stitching joints securely at each corner.
Match and connect hook and loop fastener frames for secure smart phone window pocket completion.
(2) Two-Sides-Attached Smart Phone Pocket
Referring now to
This version has also be used for pillowcases. Like the four-sided version, this allows the user significant flexibility for cord access but has the advantage that the permanently transparent top will not be misplaced or lost.
There are multiple applications for this version as well. It can be applied to blankets, throws, bulletin boards. It can also be used on the top of e-reader covers, or on the flaps of school or messenger bags. Because a smart phone can be placed into the pocket by either the top or the bottom, this version of the smart phone pocket of the present invention is ideal when access to the pocket is needed from two sides.
Example 2 Construction of the Two-Sides-Attached Smart Phone Pocket Materials Cut List:25½″×42″ 100% cotton decorative fabric for pillowcase body
6½″×42″ 100% cotton fabric for outside band
7½″×42″ 100% cotton fabric for inner band
1⅞″×42″ 100% cotton fabric trim (optional)
(2) 4″ strips of ⅜″ loop fastener and (2) 4″ strips of ⅜″ hook fastener
1⅞″×16″ strip 100% cotton fabric made into double fold binding
6½″×7½″ organza window panel
(2) 6″×¾″ strips iron-on interfacing
Cut (1) 1⅞″×16″ strip of fabric on straight of grain.
Using a 2″ bias tape maker, insert fabric into wide opening and pull through, pressing the folded edges with a hot iron as the fabric is folded when pulled from the binder. Fold creased strip in half along the entire 16″ length and press.
From folded ½″ wide binding, cut (2) 1¾″ strips and (2) 6½″ strips,
Create pocket tab from a 1¾″ strip by sewing three equally spaced lines of topstitching on one side of the double folded strip. Repeat for the second tab.
Cut (2) ¾″×6″ strips of iron-on interfacing.
Open each 6½″ length of double-folded binding. Center interfacing strips lengthwise and width-wise in interior folds of binding. With a hot iron, press interfacing to center of binding strips and then refold on creases with interfacing creased providing stiffening for pocket binding.
Cut a 6½″×7½″ piece of organza for window.
Open folds of double-fold binding and insert 6½″ side of organza panel into one side of the binding so that when refolded, it catches under the edge and folds back on itself to prevent organza edge from fraying. Refold and press.
Mark the center of binding edge for tab placement. Fold the tab in half lengthwise and pin or hold the tab in place. Sew one row of topstitching down the center length of double-folded edge, catching the raw ends of the tab to lock in place.
Center hook fastener length under double-fold edging, covering raw edges of tab on the underside. Sew a second row of topstitching ⅛″ from top edge of binding, sewing through binding, hook fastener and tab. Sew a third row of topstitching ⅛″ from inner binding edge, sealing tab under hook and loop fasteners and securing hook and loop fasteners to back of binding.
Cut a 6½″×42″ width of fabric that will become the outside face of the pillowcase band. Place band face up.
From 6½″ edge, measure a 2″ space from raw edge of fabric. Place a 6½″×6½″ cardboard guide on the 2″ line and mark top and bottom edges of the guide for loop fastener placement.
Cut (2) 4″ strips of ⅜″ loop fastener.
Center one piece of loop fastener under the top marked line and between the 6½″ raw edges of the band and sew into position using a zigzag stitch to over-edge both long sides of the ⅜″ loop fastener strip. Repeat with second loop fastener strip, centering it above the bottom marked line.
Matching hook and loop fastener strips, attach prepared organza window to face band fabric to form pocket.
To secure the smart phone pocket in place and to prevent the edges from raveling, stitch a ¼″ seam along both side edges of organza window, straight stitching through organza and face band fabric from the top row of double fold binding to the bottom row of double fold binding.
Fold the organza seam allowance back on itself and zigzag the raw edge on top of sewn seam to prevent fraying.
Cut a 7½″×42″ width of fabric that will become the inside of the pillowcase band. Lay the inside band decorative face up on work surface lengthwise. Place the outside band decorative side down on top of the inside band so that both decorative sides of the fabric are facing each other with the attached pocket positioned toward the left. Align the top outside edges and straight stitch a ½″ seam connecting the inner band to the outer band along the aligned raw edges.
When sewing the edges of the organza pocket from the wrong side of fabric, make sure to contain the zigzagged edge of the organza into the seam allowance.
Open the joined band fabrics with seam allowances facing up. Using a hot iron, press the long seam allowances toward the outside band fabric.
Fold the wrong sides of band together along the entire 42″ length, align raw edges and press into finished alignment. There will be a ½″ edge of the inner band that laps over the outer band.
Cut a 1⅞″×42″ strip of fabric for the optional trim. Fold in half along the entire 42″ length to create a 15/16″×42″ single fold trim, aligning the raw edges, decorative side facing out. With a hot iron, press the trim along the entire length.
Cut the 25½″×42″ fabric for the main body of the pillowcase. Pin raw edges of the prepared trim to one 42″ raw edge of the main body fabric.
Baste trim into place with a long straight stitch.
Open up the band on the work surface decorative side up with the outside band toward the top and the pocket to the left with the long connecting seam running lengthwise on the surface. Lay main body of fabric, decorative side facing down, on top of the band fabrics, with the row of basted trim at the top. Align the top raw edges of the outer band fabric and the main body fabric. Pin into place.
Beginning at the bottom edge of the main body fabric, roll the pillowcase fabric up until it is in a neat roll along the seam line of the band fabrics. Fold the bottom edge of the band fabrics up and around the pillowcase roll and align the edge with the pinned band/fabric edge.
Pin all three raw edges together, the trimmed edge of the pillowcase body sandwiched between the raw edges of the band fabrics.
Sew a ½″ straight stitch seam the full length of the edge, creating a long tube with the pillowcase body rolled up inside.
Trim stiff ends of double-fold edging from the organza window pocket out of both side seams. There will be two ends in each seam allowance.
Using an overlocker, serge the seam allowances ⅛″ from stitched seam along both sewn edges of band.
Reach into the tube of fabric and pull the rolled fabric from the tube opening to turn right side out. Using a hot iron, press the seams of the band open and flat from both the inside and the outside of the band.
Fold pillowcase into a 31″×20½″ rectangle, matching the band seams and raw edges of the fabrics. Using the hot iron, press the band fabrics and the pillowcase into final alignment along the seams and folds.
With fabrics turned decorative sides out, serge the long side edge of pillowcase, making sure to line up seams in the band area. Using a hot iron, press the seam open and turn wrong sides out. Press fabrics along the seam flat together with the serged seam allowance sandwiched between the two layers.
Sew ½″ straight seam down the long edge, sealing serged edge inside the new seam allowance.
With the pillowcase still wrong side out and pressed flat, sew a ½″ straight stitch seam along the bottom edge of the pillowcase. With an overlocker, serge ⅛″ from the stitching along the bottom edge. Turn pillowcase right side out and press.
Finished, folded smart phone pocket pillowcase.
Refer to Figure for the finished product in use.
(3) Splash-Resistant Smart Phone Pocket
Referring now to
This version of the smart phone packet of the present invention operates with the transparent top matched to the bottom, and the hook and loop fasteners, or other similar closure system, pressed to interlock removably. The smart phone then can be place into the pocket that is formed by the two layers of plastic film. This can be opened by pulling on the top edge of the longer piece of film which will allow access to the pocket. Fabric tabs attached onto the top layer can be added to make opening and closing easier.
This version allows the smart phone user to have their phone at a beach safely free from water contamination in this version of the smart phone pocket of the present invention. The smart phone can be used with wet and sandy fingers with the smart phone safely behind the plastic film. Furthermore, the hook and loop fasteners, or other similar closure system, allows earphones to be used with the smart phone while at the beach as the pocket can still be closed around the earphone cord.
This version of the smart phone pocket of the present invention be used in other settings where there is significant water splash activities. Examples include on a raincoat or even on a shower curtain.
Example 3 Construction of the Splash-Resistant Smart Phone Pocket Materials List:8″×20″ clear plastic material
50″ of ½″ double-fold binding
42″ of ⅜″ hook fastener
28″ of ⅜″ loop fastener
7″ of ¾″ loop fastener
Cut two 1¾″ strips of double-fold binding for pocket tabs. With binding folded flat, raw seams tucked inside, topstitch ⅛″ from each edge along the length of the strip. Add a third row of topstitching in between the first two, creating a row of three lines of stitching.
Cut two 8″ strips of double-fold binding. Cut one 8″×20″ rectangle of clear plastic window fabric.
Lay double fold binding lengthwise on work surface. Open the top edge of binding strip and insert one 8″ edge of clear plastic into the length of double-fold binding, aligned with the top fold. Fold binding around plastic edge and then refold binding into its double-folded original shape. Center machine needle on the end of the narrow binding strip and sew a straight topstitching line the full 8″ length of the binding.
Cut two 7″ strips of ⅜″ hook fastener.
Center one strip of hook fastener on the underside of the double-fold binding.
Straight stitch two more rows of topstitching onto the binding fabric, sewing ⅛″ from each edge and sewing through the hook and loop fastener to secure.
Lay a second piece of double-fold binding lengthwise on ad work surface. Open the top edge and insert remaining 8″ edge of window into the length of the binding, making sure the previously applied binding/hook and loop fastener edge is facing hook and loop fastener side up. Fold the edge of binding around the plastic and then refold the binding into its original double-folded shape. Mark the center of the 8″ wide binding strip for tab placement. Fold one prepared tab in half lengthwise to form a loop. Place loop fastenerunder binding strip on the marked placement guide.
Center machine needle on the end of the narrow binding strip and sew a straight topstitching line the full 8″ length of the binding, this time making sure to catch the raw edges of the tab under the stitching. Center remaining strip of hook fastener on the underside of the double-fold binding. Straight stitch two more rows of topstitching onto the binding fabric, sewing ⅛″ from each edge and sewing through the hook and loop fastener and the tab to secure.
Lay the plastic flat on the workspace with the tabbed binding edge facing hook and loop fastener side up and the non-tabbed edge topstitch side up.
Fold the tabbed edge so that it laps over the non-tabbed edge. Turn folded plastic over to back side with both strips of hook fastener facing up.
Cut ¾″ squares of loop fastener.
Apply loop fastener squares 2″ from each side to temporarily join edges of the hook fastener. These two rows of hook and loop fastener edging will form the opening of the splash resistant pocket.
Cut a 30″ length of double fold binding. Arrange the plastic window on the sewing table with the temporarily secured topstitched bindings toward the top. Sandwich the right-hand plastic pocket edge between the double-fold binding edges, wrapping ½″ of binding around behind the previously bound edges to conceal the raw seams at the top of the pocket. Center the sewing machine needle at the beginning of the strip and sew a couple of stitches, then backstitch to secure stitching and leave needle in the lowered position while completing the following step.
Fold the remaining 1¾″ tab length in half to form a loop and place under the binding strip in line with the non-tabbed row of the pocket hook and loop fastener closure to form the side tab that will lift the entire pocket once completely assembled. With the tab held in place, continue sewing a straight topstitch centered down the 10″ length of the pocket right side.
When approaching the corner, stop the sewing machine, needle down and miter the binding around the corner before continuing. Turn the pocket and continue straight stitching down the center of the binding with the plastic pocket sandwiched between the folds of the binding. Stop the sewing needle down prior to the next corner and repeat the miter process at the corner. Turn the corner to the left-hand pocket edge and continue the centered straight stitch along the 10″ length, back to the top of the pocket, stopping the machine, needle down about 2″ before the top edge.
Wrap a ½″ section of the binding behind the top edge of the previously bound edges to conceal the raw seams. Continue sewing to the end of the binding. Backstitch to secure threads.
Using the same technique, begin at the right hand top edge again, with the pocket facing up and lay the hook fastener strip underneath the topstitched binding. Topstitch in a straight line ⅛″ from the outside edge, sewing through the hook and loop fastener to secure along the 10″ side length, stopping the sewing machine with the needle down. Cut the hook and loop fastener strip at the bottom edge and turn the pocket under the sewing needle, realigning the remaining hook and loop fastener strip under the bottom edge. Continue topstitching ⅛″ from the edge along the bottom 8″ length, securing hook and loop fastener to the binding, stopping again with the needle down at the corner and cutting the hook and loop fastener at the edge of the pocket. Turn again, realign remaining hook and loop fastener under the left side binding and topstitch ⅛″ from the edge the full 10″ length of binding.
Turn the pocket at the corner and stitch across the ½″ end of binding to with ⅛″ of inside binding edge. Topstitch ⅛″ from edge along the interior edge of binding, turning at corners and stitching through the hook and loop fastener to secure.
The resulting finished pocket features a full hook and loop fastener attachment around the edges.
To Attach the Smart Phone Pocket to a Beach Towel:Cut 8″ strip of ¾″ loop fastener
Cut (2) 9″ strips of ⅜″ loop fastener
Cut one 7″ strip of ⅜″ loop fastener
Use a cardboard guide sided 7″×8½″ to mark the interior edge for loop fastener placement on the towel.
With the towel laying face up, with the border toward the top and any tags positioned toward the bottom, align the cardboard guide, 3″ from top edge of towel and 3″ from right hand side edge of towel. Use a fabric marking pen or chalk to mark the boundary of the cardboard guide edges. Center the 8″×¾″ hook and loop fastener strip along the bottom edge of the guidelines, with the hook and loop fastener on the outside perimeter of the markings. Using a zigzag stitch, over edge the hook and loop fastener strip around each side.
Arrange the ⅜″ hook and loop fastener strips in a frame around the marked perimeter, abutting the side strips to the bottom of the sewn hook and loop fastener strip. Zigzag stitch along all sides of the hook and loop fastener to over-edge and secure frame to the towel.
Press the prepared smart phone pocket onto loop fastener frame.
(4) Top Only Opening Smart Phone Pocket
Referring now to
This version of the smart phone pocket of the present invention has been incorporated into the U-shaped travel pillows that wrap around ones neck, providing support and comfort while travelling. On one of the pillow ends, the smart phone pocket for the smart phone allows the traveler to keep their smart phone secure and still useable by the touch screen and ear phones. With the smart phone nestled in this version of the smart phone pocket of the present invention, a traveler is no longer at risk of inadvertently dropping a smart phone between seats in and airplane or bus, or even a car.
This version has also been included on a tote bag. This version also has many other applications, including on a wallet or a small purse.
Example 4 Construction of the Top Only Opening Smart Phone Pocket Materials List:Double-fold binding
Iron-on interfacing
Organza mesh fabric
Hook and loop fasteners
Cut window panel
Cut window fabric to 8″×12″ panel.
From folded length of binding, cut (2) 1¾″ pieces and (1) 8″ long piece. Create pocket tab from a 1¾%″ strip by sewing three equally spaced lines of topstitching on one side of the double folded strip. Fold in half lengthwise to form a loop.
Cut a 7″×¾″ strip of iron-on interfacing.
Open the 8″ length of double-folded binding. Center the interfacing strip lengthwise and width-wise in interior folds of binding. With a hot iron, press interfacing to center of binding strips and then refold into original double-folded shape and press.
Open fold of double-fold binding and insert 8″ side of organza fabric panel into the top fold of the binding overlapping the other folded edge so that when refolded, it catches under the fabric edge and folds back on itself to prevent organza edge from fraying. Refold and press.
Mark tab placement on the binding, either centered or offset depending on application. Fold tab in half lengthwise and pin or hold in place. Sew one row of topstitching down the center length of double-folded edge, catching the raw edges of the tab to lock in place.
Cut a 1¾″ strip of loop fastener. Center the hook and loop fastener under the tab and binding, covering raw edges of tab. Sew a second row of topstitching ⅛″ from top edge of binding, sewing through binding, hook and loop fastener and tab. Sew a third row of topstitching ⅛″ from inner binding edge, sealing tab under the hook and loop fastener and securing the hook and loop fastener to back of binding.
This completes assembly prior to attachment to a product. The three remaining edges are enclosed in seams, depending on the application.
For Application in the Travel Pillow Cover: Material List:Pattern for travel pillow cover
½ yard (18 inches) soft flannel
15¾″ of ⅜″ hook fastener
15¾″ of ⅜″ loop fastener
(2) 15″ strips of ¾″ iron-on interfacing
(1) 9″ strip
8″×12″ organza panel
11″×1¾″ flannel strip for double-fold binding
Liquid seam sealant (Fray check)
Cut flannel pieces according to pattern, one front U shaped piece approximately 14″×17″, two back pieces—lower U-shaped approximately 12″×17″, upper back piece approximately 5″×17″.
Front Construction:With the organza window vertical on work surface, cut a 45 degree angle across the upper left-hand corner from 6″ down to 6″ across.
Cut both ⅜″ hook and loop fastener strips (hook and loop) into 1¾″ and 14″ lengths.
Prepare the 11×1¾″ flannel strip as double-fold binding using a 2″ binding maker tool. Cut the binding into one 1¾″ strip for the tab and one 9¾″ strip for the pocket binding. Prepare the pocket according to top entry smart phone pocket instructions, above, using the diagonally cut edge as the top of the pocket.
Align the prepared pocket with lower right-hand leg of decorative side of pillow front (inverted U). Mark placement of tab/hook and loop fastener on pocket for 1¾″ hook fastener pocket closure. Zigzag edges of hook and loop fastener strip onto marked guideline on decorative face of pillow front.
Press the hook and loop fasteners together to interlock. Pin organza window in place on pillow face and beginning at the top right-hand corner, zigzag ¼″ from edge around the curvature of the pocket as aligned with the front shape. Trim organza to match pattern front. Coat the zigzagged edge with liquid seam sealant and allow liquid to dry before continuing.
Back Construction:With back fabric pieces face down on ironing board, using a hot iron, press the iron-on interfacing strips to the lower edge of the upper back and the upper edge of the lower back. Fold the ¾″ interfacing in half along the full length of both edges and press then fold entire interfaced edge under ½″ and press.
Center the 14″ hook fastener strip along the interfaced decorative edge of upper back and secure the hook and loop fastener to the edge topstitching ⅛″ from each side of hook and loop fastener strip.
Center the 14″ loop fastener strip along the interfaced wrong side edge of lower back and secure the hook and loop fastener to the edge topstitching ⅛″ from each side of the hook and loop fastener strip. Press hook and loop fastener lengths together to form the U-shape that aligns with the prepared front face.
With front and back aligned, decorative sides facing, trim back panel to match the front panel if there is any overlapping extra fabric. Pin around perimeter of pillow cover pieces.
Sew a ½″ straight stitch seam along the complete outside perimeter of pillow cover. Clip the fabric along inside curve of the U to allow the seam to stretch into a straight line.
Using an overlocker, serge around the perimeter, trimming and binding the outside seam allowance.
Pull hook and loop fastener closure apart and turn the pillow case right side out.
Insert travel pillow form into case and close hook and loop fastener strip again to seal.
(5) Hinged Smart Phone Pocket
Referring now to
The top includes two layers of film or fabric that are nearly identical in size. Again, one of the layers will be approximately ¼ inch shorter that the other. The top layer must be transparent film or fabric, but the bottom piece, can be decorative and not transparent. The longer top piece will be on top of the shorter piece. Then the two pieces are joined together by sewing and bonding the edges around 3 sides, but not the side where the sides do not exactly match. This will be the opening on the top of the hinged pocket. On the edges that will be the opening, each of the layers with have a thin strip of hook and loop fasteners attached to the bottom edge. That is, each of the two layers will have thin hook and loop fastener strips that are parallel and face down. At the bottom two corners of the transparent pocket, small pieces of hook and loop fasteners are sewn, each less than one square inch. On the bottom base, a horizontal strip matching the outline of the hook and loop fasteners is sewn to an apron or other substrate. Below that are matching squares of hook and loop fasteners. When the transparent top is laid flat of the bottom base, the hook and loop fasteners line up and match. The user then presses along the top edge which is the hinge, and presser the spots where the small patches of hoop and loop fasteners hold the bottom edges in placed.
This works by the placing the smart phone in the pocket and then presses the top edge to close the smart phone pocket. The user can then lean over and not worry about the smart phone falling out. When the smart phone rings, the user can simply pull up on the bottom of the pocket, which will pull away from the bottom attachment points but which will remain attached at the hinged top. Because the top is transparent, the user can rotate the smart phone within the pocket to see and operate the smart phone screen. To be more specific, if the user is wearing an apron, while standing, the smart phone will be hanging vertically within the smart phone pocket. For the user to read the smart phone screen, the user simple detaches the bottom corner attachment points and rotates smart phone pock upward so the smart phone is at an angle at which the smart phone screen can be seen. This application allows the apron wearer to speak on the phone while cooking, or moving around the kitchen using either earphones or the hands-free features of the smart phone.
This hinged version can be used on other pieces of clothing, or other items that hang, such as a bed buddy or cargo pants.
Example 5 Construction of the Hinged Smart Phone Pocket Materials List:8″×15″ organza mesh panel
43″ of ½″ double-fold binding
13″ of ⅜″ hook fastener
8½″ of ¾″ loop fastener
1½″ of ¾″ hook fastener
Assembly Instructions:
Cut one 1¾″ strip of double-fold binding for pocket tab. With binding folded flat, raw seams tucked inside, topstitch ⅛″ from each edge along the length of the strip. Add a third row of topstitching in between the first two, creating a row of three lines of stitching.
Cut two 8″ strips of double-fold binding. Cut one 8″×15″ rectangle of organza fabric.
Lay double fold binding lengthwise on work surface. Open the top edge of binding strip and insert one 8″ edge of organza into the length of double-fold binding, aligned with the top fold. Fold binding around organza edge and then refold binding into its double-folded original shape. Center machine needle on the end of the narrow binding strip and sew a straight topstitching line the full 8″ length of the binding.
Cut two 7″ strips of ⅜″ hook fastener.
Center one strip of hook fastener on the underside of the double-fold binding.
Straight stitch two more rows of topstitching onto the binding fabric, sewing ⅛″ from each edge and sewing through the hook and loop fastener to secure.
Lay second piece of double-fold binding lengthwise on work surface. Open the top edge and insert remaining 8″ edge of organza panel into the length of the binding, making sure the previously applied binding/hook and loop fastener edge is facing hook and loop fastener side up. Fold edge of binding around organza and then refold binding into its original double-folded shape. Mark the center of the 8″ wide binding strip for tab placement. Fold prepared tab in half lengthwise to form a loop. Place raw edges of loop under binding strip on the marked placement guide.
Center machine needle on the end of the narrow binding strip and sew a straight topstitching line the full 8″ length of the binding, this time making sure to catch the raw edges of the tab under the stitching. Center remaining strip of hook fastener on the underside of the double-fold binding. Straight stitch two more rows of topstitching onto the binding fabric, sewing ⅛″ from each edge and sewing through the hook and loop fastener and the tab to secure.
Lay the organza panel flat on the workspace with the tabbed binding edge facing hook and loop fastener side up and the non-tabbed edge topstitch side up.
Fold the tabbed edge so that it laps over the non-tabbed edge and aligns with the top edge. Turn folded organza over to back side with both strips of hook fastener facing up.
Cut ¾″ squares of loop fastener. Apply loop fastener squares 2″ from each side to temporarily join edges of hook fastener. These two rows of hook and loop fastener edging will form the opening of the hinged pocket.
With the tabbed edge of the organza pocket toward the top, sew a ¼″ seam through both layers of organza along the right hand edge of pocket. Repeat for the left hand edge. Trim the seam allowance along the outside of the rows of stitching of the double bound edges leaving a 7½″ top edge width.
Fold the organza seam allowances back over the straight stitched seam and zigzag along the entire length of the folded edge to prevent organza from fraying.
Cut a 25″ length of double fold binding. Arrange organza pocket on the sewing table with the temporarily secured topstitched bindings toward the top. Sandwich the right-hand zigzagged organza pocket edge between the double-fold binding edges, wrapping ½″ of binding over and behind the previously bound edges to conceal the raw seams at the top of the pocket. Center the sewing machine needle at the beginning of the strip and sew a couple of stitches, then backstitch to secure topstitching. Continue sewing a straight topstitch centered down the 7½″ length of the pocket right side.
When approaching the corner, stop the sewing machine, needle down and miter the binding around the corner before continuing. Turn the pocket under the needle and continue straight stitching down the center of the binding with the organza pocket sandwiched between the folds of the binding. Stop the sewing needle down prior to the next corner and repeat the miter process at the corner. Turn the corner to the left-hand pocket edge and continue the centered straight stitch along the 7½″ length, back to the top of the pocket, stopping the machine, needle down about 2″ before the top edge.
Wrap a ½″ section of the binding over and behind the top edge of the previously bound edges to conceal the raw seams. Continue sewing to the end of the binding. Backstitch to secure threads.
Cut two ¾″ squares of hook fastener. Use a piece of double-sided tape to secure a square of hook and loop fastener to each bottom corner of the pocket. Beginning at the top, right hand side of pocket again, topstitch ⅛″ from the outside edge all the way around the binding edge, sewing through hook and loop fastener squares in the corners to secure. Sew a second row of topstitching along the inner edge of the binding, next to the organza window, along all three sides, stitching through hook and loop fasteners at the corners.
For Applications on Aprons:
Cut a 7″ strip of ¾″ loop fasteners. Place loop fastener strip at least one inch below top of apron bib and centered side to side. Using a zigzag stitch, sew into place, over-edging hook and loop fasteners around all outside edges. Remove temporary loop fastener squares from the pocket opening and reserve for use on the next step. Align ¾″ loop fastener strip with the two ⅜″ hook and loop fastener strips that make up the pocket opening and press together to secure.
Lay the pocket into final position on the front of an apron, centered side to side and mark the corners of the pocket on the apron for the reserved square loop fastener placement. Zigzag stitch hook and loop fastener squares to the apron on markings all around the edges of the square. Press hook squares on pocket to loop squares on apron for finished product.
(6) Diagonal Opening Smart Phone Pocket
Referring now to
This version of the smart phone pocket of the present invention is used on a golf bag towel where the pocket is at the top of the towel just below the bag attachment point, and the golfer would clean golf balls at the bottom of the towel. This version has many other uses. Because the opening is diagonal, it is easier to extract the smart phone. This helps if the golfer has a golf glove on. The diagonal opening version can be put on tote bags and other sports towels of all sorts. Fabric tabs can also be attached to the top layer to make opening and closing of the smart phone pocket easier.
Example 6 Construction of a Diagonal Opening Smart Phone Pocket Materials List:5″×8″ sheet of clear plastic fabric or organza
30″ double-fold binding
7″¾″ loop fastener
5″⅜″ hook fastener
Cut window fabric to 5″×8″ panel.
Cut a 1¾″ strip of double-fold binding for tab. Straight stitch three evenly spaced lines of thread on the double-folded tab. Fold tab in half to form a loop.
Cut a 9″ strip of double-fold binding for diagonal pocket opening.
With the plastic panel positioned vertically, begin at the top left-hand corner of the plastic window and position plastic between the layers of the binding, folding plastic ¼″ along edge inside the binding. Center the sewing machine needle in the middle of binding strip and top-stitch the 5″ length stopping just before the corner and folding a ¼″ border along the plastic edge. At the top right-hand corner, tuck the prepared tab under the binding, slanted toward the right and continue to sew to the edge of plastic. Miter the binding around the corner and continue sewing to the last one inch of binding. Pull binding tail off the edge and sew off the strip. Clip the tail of the binding even with the plastic edge.
Cut two 2½″ strips of hook fastener. Start again at top left-hand corner and begin a top-stitch ⅛″ from outside edge of binding. Align one strip of hook and loop fastener under the binding and flush with the right-hand corner. Sew through the binding and the hook and loop fastener to secure, stopping at the corner.
Turn the panel under the needle, align the second hook and loop fastener strip under the binding, abutted into the first piece of hook and loop fastener in the corner, forming an L shape of loop fastener. Topstitch ⅛″ from outside edge, securing hook and loop fastener to bound plastic. Sew to the end of the 3″ binding strip then turn the binding under the needle and top-stitch back down the binding, ⅛″ from the inside binding edge, through the hook and loop fastener and to the corner. Turn panel under the needle and continue sewing along the binding back to the starting point in the left-hand corner.
Cut a 17″ strip of double fold binding to finish pocket frame. With diagonal opening toward the top of plastic, start on the right-hand side and wrap the unbound portion of the plastic between the double-fold binding, turning binding under ½″ at the start and covering raw edges of previously applied binding. Topstitch down the center of the binding to the corner, miter around the corner, folding bottom edge of plastic in ¼″ and wrapping in the length of binding. Stitch to the corner and repeat, folding the plastic edge ½″ and mitering the corner then turning the panel and sewing down the center of the binding to the end. Cut binding ½″ longer than plastic and wrap end over and around the end of the corner to encase raw edges and finish the row of top-stitching.
For Application to a Golf Towel:Measure 2″ down from the top edge of the towel and center the diagonal opening smart phone pocket widthwise on the towel to mark the pocket placement.
Cut one 3¾″ section of ¾″ loop fastener and one 3¼″ strip of ¾″ loop fastener. Create an upside down L shape of hook and loop fastener in the upper right-hand corner of pocket marking, abutting the 3¼″ strip at the edge of the corner vertically with the 3¾″ strip horizontally aligned to form a 4¼″×3¼″ pocket closure corner. Zigzag stitch around all edges of the hook and loop fastener strips, securing then to the towel.
Align the diagonal opening smart phone pocket window hook fastener corner with the loop fastener corner. Press together to secure and pin corners of pocket to towel along the markings. Beginning at the top left hand corner, topstitch ⅛″ from the inside edge of binding down the side of the window panel, sewing through binding, plastic and towel to secure. Sew to the lower left hand corner, turn pocket and continue sewing along the inside edge of binding along the bottom of the pocket. Sew to the lower right-hand corner, turning pocket to sew up the right hand side binding to the end of the binding strip just before the diagonal opening begins.
Topstitch across the end of the binding to ⅛″ from the outside edge then turn the pocket and finish the topstitching by sewing ⅛″ from edge along the pocket bindings along the lower right-hand, bottom and left-hand edges. Topstitch across the vertical binding in the upper left hand corner and back stitch to secure and complete pocket formation.
Claims
1. A smart phone pocket, comprising,
- a transparent top selected from the group consisting of organza, other transparent fabrics, and thin plastic films, all of which providing touch transmissions to the screens of smart phones that underlying them, the transparent top being bound about its entire periphery by a fabric that has attached on its back side a closure system about the entire periphery of the transparent top; and
- a bottom base selected from the group consisting of a fabric and a product substrate upon which secure smart phone access is desired, and attached to the bottom base is a matching closure system to that present on the transparent top whereby when the transparent top is overlaid flat and pressed against the bottom base, they are removably interlocked about their entire peripheries, but with the closure system allowing wires associated with smart phones placed under the transparent top to pass through the interlock.
2. A smart phone pocket, comprising,
- a transparent top selected from a single layer selected from group consisting of organza, other transparent fabrics, and a thin plastic film, all of which providing touch transmissions to the screens of smart phones that underlying them, the transparent top being bound about its entire periphery by fabric that has attached on its back side a closure system on just two opposing sides of the periphery of the transparent top; and
- a bottom base selected from the group consisting of a pillowcase and a product substrate upon which secure smart phone access is desired, with the two opposing sides of the transparent top without a closure system thereon being permanently attached to the bottom base, and bottom base having a matching closure system to that present on the transparent top correspondingly placed whereby when the transparent top is overlaid flat and pressed against the bottom base, they are removably interlocked only where they have corresponding closure systems, but with the closure systems allowing wires associated with smart phones placed under the transparent top to pass through the interlock.
3. A smart phone pocket, comprising,
- a transparent top of two overlapping thin plastic films, with one of the plastic films being slightly short than the other, and with the longer piece of plastic film being on top of the shorter piece of plastic film, with each plastic film providing touch transmissions to the screens of smart phones that underlying them, and with the transparent top being bound with fabric and fastened together about its periphery where the plastic films overlay each other exactly, with a closure system applied to the back side of the transparent top where it has been bound, but not where the overlaying plastic films are of different sizes, each of which mismatched sides being are separately bound with fabric with a closure system applied to the backside of each whereby each of the two layers has parallel closure system across their mismatches edges that are faced downwardly; and
- a bottom base selected from the group consisting of a beach towel and other water prone substrates having a matching patterned closure system to that of the transparent except at that portion of the bottom base corresponding to the mismatched sides of the transparent top at which point the matching closure system on the bottom base will be wide enough to accept the two parallel closure systems on the two mismatched sides of the transparent top whereby when the transparent top is overlaid flat and pressed against the bottom base, they are removably interlocked about the periphery of the transparent top, but with the only opening to the interior of the two overlapping thin plastic films joined together to form the transparent top being where the longer of the two plastic films slightly overlays the shorter of the two plastic films, with their closure systems removably interlocking the opening to the transparent top, and allow wires associated with smart phones placed under the transparent top to pass through the interlock.
4. A smart phone pocket, comprising,
- a transparent top selected from a single layer selected from group consisting of organza, other transparent fabrics, and a thin plastic film, all of which providing touch transmissions to the screens of smart phones that underlying them, the transparent top being bound about its entire periphery by fabric that is affixed on three of its four sides directly to a bottom base selected from the group consisting of a U-shaped travel pillow, and another product substrate upon which secure smart phone access is desired, with unattached sides of the transparent top and bottom base having matching systems, whereby when the unattached sides of the transparent top and bottom base are overlaid one on the other, they are removably interlocked by their corresponding closure systems, with the closure systems allowing wires associated with smart phones placed under the transparent top to pass through the interlock.
5. A smart phone pocket, comprising,
- a transparent top of two overlapping plastic films, with one of the plastic films being slightly short than the other, and with the longer piece of plastic film being on top of the shorter piece of plastic film, with this longer plastic film being thin and providing touch transmissions to the screens of smart phones that underlying it, with the shorter film not requiring transparency, and with the transparent top being bound with fabric and fastened together about its periphery where the plastic films overlay each other exactly, with a closure system applied to the back side of the transparent top where it has been bound at its two lowest corners, but not where the overlaying plastic films are of different sizes, each of which mismatched sides being are separately bound with fabric with a closure system applied to the backside of each whereby each of the two overlapping mismatched layers having parallel closure system across their mismatches edges that are faced downwardly; and
- a bottom base selected from the group consisting of an apron and other substrates having a matching patterned closure system to that of the transparent except at that portion of the bottom base corresponding to the mismatched sides of the transparent top at which point the matching closure system on the bottom base will be wide enough to accept the two parallel closure systems on the two mismatched sides of the transparent top whereby when the transparent top is overlaid flat and pressed against the bottom base, they are removably interlocked only minimally at the lowest two corners of the transparent top and then more substantially across the top of the transparent top, but with the only opening to the interior of the two overlapping plastic films joined together to form the transparent top being where the longer of the two plastic films slightly overlays the shorter of the two plastic films, with their closure systems removably interlocking the opening to the transparent top, but allows wires associated with smart phones placed within the transparent top to pass through the interlock.
6. A smart phone pocket, comprising,
- a rectangular transparent top selected from the group consisting of organza, other transparent fabrics, and thin plastic films, all of which providing touch transmissions to the screens of smart phones underlying them, the transparent top being bound about its entire periphery by a fabric that has attached on its back side a closure system about just two contiguous sides forming L-shape on the back side of the transparent top; and
- a bottom base selected from the group consisting of a golf bag towel and a another product substrate upon which secure smart phone access is desired, and attached to the bottom base is a matching closure system to that present on the transparent top whereby when the transparent top is overlaid flat and pressed against the bottom base, they are removably interlocked in an L-shape, the closure systems allowing wires associated with smart phones placed under the transparent top to pass through the interlock, and with the remainder of the transparent top periphery being directly attached to the bottom base.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 19, 2014
Publication Date: Aug 21, 2014
Inventor: Jennifer Ponski (Carmel, IN)
Application Number: 14/184,038
International Classification: A45C 11/00 (20060101);
