PRODUCTS FOR RELEASABLE ATTACHMENT OF ARTICLES

Abstract

Hand/wrist mounted products suited to releasably mount a variety of articles to a person. In one approach, the device can have a flexible, adjustable and fastenable strap having an article attachment bracket; an article attachment mount that is slidably and releasably mountable to the strap article attachment bracket; and at least one article attached to the article attachment mount. The article attachment bracket can be a tab hingedly attached to an exterior surface of the strap/glove on a first end and having a releasable attachment to the strap at a second opposite end; and the article attachment mount having a passageway to receive a portion of the tab at a first opening and, wherein the tab releasable attachment extends through the passageway beyond a second passageway opening. The tab releasable attachment can be a hook and loop fastener.

Description

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/581,856, filed 30 Dec. 2011, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

FIELD

The present products relate to devices configured for attaching to a person, and particularly to hand/wrist mounted products for releasable attachment of a variety of articles.

BACKGROUND

Devices are known in the art for carrying specific articles on a person, such as the wrist. (See generally, US Pub. 2003/0164389 to Byers and US Pub. 2007/0095871 to Chen) For example, Byers describes a wrist band having a receptacle to receive a “U” shaped bracket that is configured to allow a sleeve to extend down a forearm while holding articles, such as cell phones. Chen also describes a wrist band having a ventilated compartment to hold articles, again such as cell phones.

These devices often are limited to specific articles or applications. Further, they are often uncomfortable and expensive to produce. Advances in the art are desirable to overcome these shortcomings.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, provided herein are embodiments for products that relate to devices configured to releasably attach to a person, such as the arm, wrist, hand, finger(s), combinations thereof, and the like. Particularly hand/wrist mounted products suited to releasably mount a variety of articles are provided.

In one approach, a device for releasable attachment of articles is provided that can have a flexible, adjustable and fastenable strap having an article attachment bracket; an article attachment mount that is slidably and releasably mountable to the article attachment bracket; and at least one article attached to the article attachment mount. This embodiment can provide that the strap is fastenable to a hand/wrist of a person and the article attachment bracket can have a backing plate mounted to the strap and a tab mounted to the backing plate with a protuberance releasably and slidably mountable to the article attachment mount. The article attachment mount can have a receptacle with a passageway for receiving the article attachment bracket and the attachment mount receptacle can have a recess for receiving the tab protuberance at a predetermined mounted position of the tab to the attachment mount receptacle.

In one approach, the device strap can have an inner and outer layer laminate joined at peripheral edges of each layer defining a strap interior cavity having an interior surface wherein the backing plate of the article attachment bracket is disposed and mounted within the interior surface of the cavity, and the article attachment bracket extended through an outer layer opening to an exposed surface of the strap.

In another approach, the device article can be a base having a peripheral wall with an interior surface and an inner lip along a perimeter edge of the cup. The peripheral wall can form an open ended container having a releasable lid to enclose the open ended container. The container can optionally have an interior surface further comprising a recessed area to receive a work tool. The base can have a mounting lip around a periphery of the wall configured to receive a matching mounting groove of an additional attachable article.

In other approaches, the article can be a base attached to a paper palette having a plurality of paper sheets having four corners, wherein the sheets are bound at at least three corners by a pressure sensitive adhesive. The article can also be at least one stackable container, a container lid, a work tool, a cell phone bracket, a paper palette, combinations thereof, and the like.

In another embodiment, the article attachment bracket can be a tab hingedly attached to an exterior surface of the strap on a first end and having a releasable attachment to the strap at a second opposite end; and the article attachment mount having a passageway to receive a portion of the tab at a first opening and, wherein the tab releasable attachment extends through the passageway beyond a second passageway opening. The tab releasable attachment can be a hook and loop fastener.

Other features will become more apparent to persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the products pertain and from the following description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features, as well as other features, will become apparent with reference to the description and figures below, in which like numerals represent like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective bottom view of one of the present embodiments for a hand/wrist mountable device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective top view of one of the present embodiments for a hand/wrist mountable device.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective top view of one of the present embodiments for a hand/wrist mountable device.

FIG. 4 is a side view of one of the present embodiments for a hand/wrist mountable device.

FIG. 5 is an end view of one of the present embodiments for a hand/wrist mountable device.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of one of the present embodiments for a hand/wrist mountable device.

FIG. 7 is a top view of one of the present embodiments for a hand/wrist mountable device.

FIG. 8 is a perspective bottom view of a base for one of the present embodiments for a hand/wrist mountable device.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a clip for one of the present embodiments for a hand/wrist mountable device.

FIGS. 10-12 are perspective top views of alternate covers of the present embodiments for a hand/wrist mountable device.

FIG. 13 is a perspective top view of the present embodiments for a hand/wrist mountable device according to another approach.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective top view of the present embodiments for a hand/wrist mountable device according to another approach.

FIG. 15 is an end view of the present embodiments for a hand/wrist mountable device according to another approach.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the present embodiments for a hand/wrist mountable device according to another approach.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of a strap for the present embodiments for a hand/wrist mountable device according to one approach.

FIG. 18 is a plan view of a strap for the present embodiments for a hand/wrist mountable device according to another approach.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a stacked paper palettes for the present embodiments for a hand/wrist mountable device.

FIG. 20 is a perspective top view of the present embodiments for a hand/wrist mountable device according to another approach.

FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view of the present embodiments for a hand/wrist mountable device taken along section line XXI-XXI of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a perspective top view of a strap for the present embodiments for a hand/wrist mountable device according to another approach.

FIG. 23 is a perspective top view of a strap for the present embodiments for a hand/wrist mountable device according to another approach.

FIG. 24 is a top plan view of the strap embodiment of FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a plan bottom view of the strap embodiment of FIG. 23.

FIG. 26 is a top plan view a strap for the present embodiments for a hand/wrist palette according to another approach.

FIG. 27 is an end view of a base of the present embodiments according to another approach.

FIG. 28 is a bottom view of a base of the present embodiments according to another approach as shown in FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a strap 30iv according to one approach of the present embodiments.

FIG. 30 is a top plan view of a strap 30iv according to one approach of the present embodiments.

FIG. 31 is a partial perspective side view of the assembled embodiment of FIGS. 27-30.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Pursuant to the various embodiments described herein, products configured for mounting on a person, and particularly to hand/wrist mountable products for releasable attachment of a variety of articles, are provided. In some embodiments, hand/wrist mountable systems and products are suited to releaseably mount a variety of articles such as containers, work tools, palettes, cell phones, and the like. The present embodiments can be useful in a variety of applications and professions such as carpenters, tradesman, artists, cosmetologists, health care professionals, dental professionals, tailors, seamstresses, and the like. The present embodiments are more particularly described for cosmetology applications, but it is noted that the systems and products could also be applied to other professions, such as those stated above. For example, carpenters can often benefit from having a variety tools within easy reach. The same is true for artists to be able to reach various color palettes and tools. Further, the present embodiments are illustrated for wrist mounted applications. It is noted though that hand and finger mounted applications are also contemplated within the scope of the present embodiments.

In one approach, a wristband is generally configured to releasably mount a variety of implements, platform bases, tools, and the like. The platform base can provide an attachment point for an additional subset of devices, tools, and the like such as a variety of cup-like containers. For example, in the field of cosmetology, cups, vessels, containers and the like (“cups” or “containers”) are used to hold various liquids, creams, pastes and gels used in hair colors, hair relaxers, or hair gels. The containers can be configured to be various sizes and shapes based on these intended uses. However, holding a container can limit the use of their hands. In one approach of the present embodiments, the wristband provides an attachment means to hold a releasable platform. The releasable platform is further configured to releasably hold a variety of container sizes, shapes and nesting combinations. The container can be configured to have sides high enough so that the container is deep enough to retain product as the user's wrist moves in the ordinary course of their work. Desired container size can consider the viscosity of the product and the range of motion of the user in the normal course of their activity. Snap on lids can also be added to seal the container or to contain its contents.

In other approaches, pockets, such as elastic sleeves, can be added to any of the various device components to hold additional tools, cell phones, note pads, and the like. For dental worker applications, a container can be configured to hold dental polish, bonding materials, etc. For a carpenter, putty or paint can be held in the container. Other supplies, such as nails, screws, bolts, and the like can also be contained in various compartment configurations including the use of magnets on the wristband, base, container, etc. Cell phone pockets can be configured as a see-through mesh fabric or clear plastic window. These additional pockets can be positioned on the wristband or on a container attached to the platform.

Turning now to the figures, for illustrative purposes there is shown in FIG. 1 one approach of a device 20 of the present products to mount articles to a person, preferably using a wristband. As shown, device 20 can have an article that forms a base 22 that can serve as a platform or container to retain work materials, such as gels liquids and the like, or to interchangeably retain a variety of articles, cups, stackable containers, bowls, lids, tools, cell phones, and the like. On a base 22 top side, various configurations and devices are possible for article retention. For illustration of some possible article retention means, some of which are described herein, pressure fitted flanges, clamps using magnetically attractive materials (e.g., a magnetized material plate adjacent to a ferromagnetic plate), various clamps, snaps, hasps and other fastening means are provided. The opposite side of base 22 can have an attachment means, such as an article attachment mount 36 to attach base 22 to a person. In one approach, such as shown in FIG. 1, a bracket 24 (which as described below can be attached to a strap attached to a person) can releasably hold an article attachment mount within an attachment mount 36 through passageway 64 by a receiving tab 37 having tab edges 38 (see e.g., FIGS. 1 and 8-9) within passageway 64. In this approach, article attachment bracket 24 is configured to attach to a wrist band (or a glove or wrist/hand band described below) through attachment bracket slots 40 on a backing plate 58 (see e.g., FIG. 1). It is again noted that although a wrist strap is illustrated, other strap configurations are possible to attach device 20 to a person.

Base 22 can have peripheral wall (sides) to form a container. Base 22 can have an attachable cover 26 and provide for a cavity to retain an optional holder of a work tool 28, such as a spatula. Attachment means of cover 26 can be by a matching perimeter ridge and groove between cover 26 and base 22, to allow snap-in and snap-out. In this instance the materials selected for either the base or the cover are deformable to allow one piece to slide over the ridge to meet the groove to retain the cover.

Other types of pressure fit means are possible. For example, in FIG. 14, there are shown a lip/ridge 23 on an attachment 42 along a peripheral top edge. It is noted though that the ridge can be along a portion of the article and in other orientations, such as along its vertical sides. A matching peripheral grove 25 is provided along a bottom edge of cover 26. Similarly, it is noted that grove 25 can also be along a portion of the cover and in various orientations to allow mating with lip/ridge 23 to retain component parts. Any number of cups, tool attachment pieces 42, or cover configurations are possible so long as equivalent lip/grove portions and orientation are provided. Accordingly, it is preferable that the groove and lip are universal among the article desired to the article attached to the wrist strap 30. Thumb tab 95 can be used to remove the cover. Other embodiments could provide a slidable mechanism to add or remove the cover or other stackable articles to the base. In this instance, the article closest to the wrist strap could have generally parallel straight “L” shaped ridges configured to match reciprocal groves on the article to be attached. Protuberances and recess can also be incorporated to hold the article on the lower article or base. In alternate embodiments, instead of a pressure fit means, magnetic closures may be used such as by placing magnetically attractive materials adjacent each other on respective component parts.

In another approach, such as shown in FIGS. 10-12, base 22 provides a means to mount a cup 48 where cover 26 would attach. Again mounting can include the matching ridges and groves described above. Cup 48 can be a perimeter sleeve or an enclosed cup having a sealed bottom. The top of cup 48 can provide a matching means for attachment of cover 26. Using matching/reciprocal attachment means, various cups can be stacked (see, e.g., FIGS. 13-14). Attachment of cup 48 to base 22 would be by the same ridge or grove configured for cover 26. Further, cup 48 could also allow for cover 26 attachment by positioning the same configuration as found in base 22.

Cup 48 can have several approaches in size and shapes, such as shown in the figures. FIGS. 10-12 show various size cups. FIGS. 20-21 show a cup 48 having angled sides in a parallelogram to be positioned by a user to allow greater tilt of the cup while in use. Cup 48 can be configured and sized for a variety of applications such as chemical hair treatment including a permanent relaxer, pre-base treatment, color treatment, etc. Spa/facial treatment products can also be used. In one approach, cup 48 opening can be of at least 3.25 inches in width or length and can hold at least 8 oz, and hold at least 4 oz while tilted at about 45 degrees. As shown in FIG. 21, this can be aided by the use presence of an inner lip 70 along the perimeter edge of the cup.

Cup 48 can be made from a variety of rigid and flexible materials, such as wood, glass, polymers, rubber, and the like, and in various combinations. Preferably though, cup 48 is made from light-weight and break-resistant materials. Cup 48 can also be configured to be rectangular and in dimensions to match the shape of a user's palm. Other ergonomic shapes are desirable and sharp edges should be avoided. Also, in some embodiments a cup wall toward a user's sleeve can be higher to protect clothing from inadvertent spills of the cup's contents. (See e.g., FIG. 21, dimension 83). Dimension 83 can be in the range of about ¼ inch to 2 inches.

Base 22 can be configured to not only receive a cover 26 or a base 48, but also a variety of other articles. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3, 14 and 19 work tools 28 and paper palettes 46 (FIG. 19) can also be attached. The bottom of base 22 can have a fastening means, such as recesses, adhesives, magnets, buttons, snaps or hook and loop fasteners (such as one sold under the trade name VELCRO). Recesses, such a recessed area 62 in FIG. 14, can also be provided to hold various work tools by friction fit such as spatula 28.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show optional legs 80 that extend downwardly away from base 22 to a point that exceeds the dimension 81 of the article attachment bracket receptacle 36 height. This allows base 22 to stand on its own when not mounted to the wrist strap. Optionally, base 22 could be placed in a receiving cradle (not shown) with an article attachment bracket matching the one on the wrist strap.

In another approach to a base of the present embodiments, a base 22i can be used to retain a work tool of paper pads/palettes 46, such as shown in FIG. 19. Paper pads 46, can be artist disposable palette paper. Individual pad pieces can be bound on one edge by any number of means such as a pressure sensitive adhesive. The bound edge would be best positioned on the pad's edge to the outer edge of the user's hand. It is noted though that the bound side of the pad can be placed at any position on the base, irrespective of where the slots for the wrist strap are oriented. Two bound edges perpendicular to each other could also be used. In one embodiment one side of the palette can be bound along a portion of its length and the perpendicular side can be bound across a portion of its respective length. Preferably one bound side can be bound across its entire length, while the perpendicular bound side is bond at only a portion of its length opposite the end of the bound side. In other words, this would result in at least 3 corners of the palette to be anchored by the pressure sensitive adhesive. This will result in individual sheets of the palette staying secure to the pad while the user is moving the device in the normal course of their work. The bottom of pad 46 can be on a piece of cardboard or other semi-rigid material allowing the pad to be fastened to base 22, such as by two-sided tape. Paper palettes can be about 3×2 inches, and can use a base made of metal or plastic. For example, in FIG. 19, base 22i can be a piece of stamped sheet metal that is bent at position 68 to allow slots 40 to receive a strap 30 for retention on a person. As shown in FIG. 19, slots 40 are placed parallel to the axis of a user's forearm and to allow a wrist strap to be inserted.

As more clearly shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in one approach article attachment mount 36 can be configured to mate with attachment bracket 24. Attachment bracket 24 can removably slide within passage 64 of mount 36. As shown, tab 38 can have a protuberance 32 that can slide between tab 38 and the bottom surface of base 22 facing tab 38 and causes a slight deformation of the tab and/or base to allow bracket 24 to slide until it reaches mount recess 34. Upon reaching mount recess 34, base 22 can be held in place until a force required to deform the mount, base and/or tab is applied to slide attachment bracket 24 back out of the passageway. By way of example, the force required to slide within the passageway can be in the range of about 2-20 pounds of user pressure (effort) and preferably in the range of about 2-6 pounds of user pressure. In another approach shown in FIG. 22, the attachment bracket and receptacle is replaced by a threaded bore 50. In this embodiment, a corresponding mount is a threaded rod secured to the article to the threaded bore bracket could be used to attach the article to the wrist band. A ‘bayonet’ style mount, such as provided for camera lens, can also be used to mount the attachment bracket and mount.

In yet another approach, FIGS. 27-28 illustrate another article attachment mount 36i. In this approach mount 36i has a pair of generally parallel sides 31 attaching a top plate 33 to define a channel 29. Many other configurations are possible, which essentially define a channel suitable to receive a portion of a tab 35 from a strap 30iv (described below).

Wrist strap 30 can be configured in a variety of ways under the present embodiments. For Example, a strap 30 can be formed from a variety of flexible materials such as expandable open-weave mesh, leather, cotton, bamboo and other natural fibers to form fabrics, nylon and other synthetic fibers and fabrics, elastomeric polymers, neoprene, and the like and combinations thereof. Cushions, such as closed or open foam polymers, cotton, and the like can be placed at various points of strap 30 where contact with a user is anticipated. Other breathable materials and ventilated moisture wicking fabric (such as one sold under the trade name GORTEX) can be used. A plurality of ventilation ports (see at 72 in FIG. 23) can also be added. These ports can also provide an additional function to be used as insertion points for tools, if needed and so configured.

Strap 30 can have releasable fasteners 44, such as belt fasteners or hook and loop fasteners (such as sold under the trade name VELCRO). The area of strap 30 covered by fasteners 44 should allow for adjustability in the circumference of the strap while in use to accommodate a variety of user wrist sizes.

In two additional approaches shown in FIGS. 22, 23 and 26, straps 30i, 30ii and 30iii respectively can extend over the back of a user's hand 52 and has an additional attachment point of at least two finger holes 54 (FIG. 22) or a finger strap 54i (FIGS. 23-25). In this embodiment, it is noted that strap 30ii can be a laminate of at least two layers joined at its peripheral edges 78 by joining means such as sewing, heat welding, and the like. In this instance a backing plate 58 is disposed between an upper and lower strap layer and can be held in place at the interior surfaces of the strap layers by sewing, gluing, and the like. The article attachment bracket 24 extends through an opening in the upper strap layer (i.e., the exposed strap layer). The additional strap surface area in these approaches allows the addition of other pockets and compartments, such as pocket 56 to hold a work tool such as a spatula. Also, as shown in FIG. 25, finger strap 54i can be attached to the strap at 60, yet allowed to slide within hollow tubes 66. Finger strap 54i can be configured to be adjustable by the use of attachment points 60 being movably attached to the inner wrist strap layer by a hook and loop fastener. In this embodiment, it is noted that wrist strap 30ii is a laminate of at least two layers joined at its peripheral edges 78 by joining means such as sewing, heat welding, and the like.

In FIG. 26, wrist strap 30iii provides added support by finger holes 91 and thumb-hole 93. This design also provides ease of manufacturing as it could be stamped from a single sheet of material, such as neoprene.

In another approach, FIGS. 29-31 show a strap 30iv, wherein the bracket to attach article attachment mount 36i, as shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, is by a tab 35 that is hingedly attached to strap 30iv by a hinge 41. Bracket tab 35 can be formed from a variety of materials such as the material used to form strap as described herein. The dimensions of bracket tab 35 should be generally equivalent or less than the dimensions of mount channel 29. Alternately, other dimensions are possible so long as the user can insert tab 35 into channel 29 and extend tab 35 out the opposite channel end to a point to expose the fastening means (e.g., hook and loop 44). In some embodiments hinge 41 can be a sown first end of tab 35. Other configurations are possible. At a second end of tab 35, a fastening means to strap 30iv can be provided, such as a hook and loop fastener 44. It is noted that other fastening means, such as adhesives, magnets, buttons, snaps, and the like can be used. An optional loop 39 can be provided to assist in extending tab 35 through channel 29 of FIGS. 27-28. Essentially, loop 39 can help to ‘thread’ tab 35 into and through passageway 29.

An example of the assembled strap 30iv having a tab 35 mounted to an exemplary base mount 22 is shown in FIG. 31. The current illustration shows tab 35 hingedly attached at a distal portion on the strap and extending medially and longitudinally along the axis of the user's arm. It is noted though that the position of the hinge can be oriented to extend distally and transverse to the axis of the user's arm.

While preferred embodiments have been described in detail, variations and modifications can be effected within the scope of the presented embodiments.

Claims

1. A device for releasable attachment of articles, comprising:

a flexible, adjustable and fastenable strap having an article attachment bracket;

an article attachment mount that is slidably and releasably mountable to the strap article attachment bracket; and

at least one article attached to the article attachment mount.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the strap is fastenable on a hand/wrist of a person and the article attachment bracket has a backing plate mounted to the strap and a tab mounted to the backing plate with a protuberance releasably and slidably mountable to the article attachment mount;

the article attachment mount having a receptacle with a passageway for receiving the article attachment bracket; and

the attachment mount receptacle having a recess for receiving the tab protuberance at a predetermined mounted position of the tab to the attachment mount receptacle.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the strap has an inner and outer layer laminate joined at peripheral edges of each layer defining a strap interior cavity having an interior surface and wherein the backing plate of the article attachment bracket is disposed and mounted within the interior surface of the cavity, the article attachment bracket extended through an outer layer opening to an exposed surface of the strap.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the article is a base having a peripheral wall with an interior surface and an inner lip along a perimeter edge of the cup.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the peripheral wall forms an open ended container having a releasable lid to enclose the open ended container.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the container has an interior surface further comprising a recessed area to receive a work tool.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the base has a mounting lip around a periphery of the wall configured to receive a matching mounting groove of an additional attachable article.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the article is a base attached to a paper palette having a plurality of paper sheets having four corners, wherein the sheets are bound at at least three corners by a pressure sensitive adhesive.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the article is mountable and releasable and selected from the group consisting of: at least one stackable container, a container lid, a work tool, a cell phone bracket, a paper palette, and combinations thereof.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein

the article attachment bracket is a tab hingedly attached to an exterior surface of the strap on a first end and having a releasable attachment to the strap at a second opposite end; and

the article attachment mount having a passageway to receive a portion of the tab at a first opening and,

wherein the tab releasable attachment extends through the passageway beyond a second passageway opening.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the tab releasable attachment is a hook and loop fastener.