ARMBAND FOR CARRYING ENERGY GELS

Abstract

An armband for carrying gel packets is provided. The armband may include a plurality of stretchable elastic members secured to the outer surface forming a looped space in between. The armband may be placed over a user's hand and onto the user's arm. Gel packets may be inserted into the looped space of the stretchable elastic members and thereby may be secured to the armband. The user may then exercise with the gel pouches secured to their armband. When the user is ready to consumer a gel, the user may continue their exercise and easily access the gel pouches.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/856,114, filed Jul. 19, 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to armbands and, more particularly, to an armband, particularly useful for runners, for carrying energy gels.

For a runner and multisport athletes, carrying energy gels during training and racing is challenging. Conventionally, energy gels are carried in a zippered or Velcro® holder or a hand-held container. These pouches are often carried around the waist and can be challenging to access due to having to unzip or un-Velcro® the holder. Often, this requires the runner to stop completely just to get access to the energy gel. In addition, these conventional gel-carrying pouches tend to bounce and be quite an annoyance during running.

As can be seen, there is a need for a device for conveniently carrying energy gels that allows the user quick and easy access thereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an armband comprises: a tubular material comprising an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end and a second end, wherein the first end and the second end each form an opening leading into a hollow center portion formed by the inner surface of the tubular material, wherein the tubular material is sized to secure around a user's arm; and at least one stretchable elastic member having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side and the second side are attached to the outer surface of the tubular material forming a looped space in between, wherein the looped space is sized to secure a gel pouch within.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of carrying gel packets comprises: providing an armband comprising at least one stretchable elastic member attached to an outer surface forming a looped space in between; placing the armband over a user's hand and onto the user's arm; and inserting at least one gel packet within the looped space and thereby attaching the at least one gel packet to the armband.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention, and

FIG. 4 is a section view of the present invention, taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an armband that enables athletes to easily carry and access energy gels during training and racing without having to hold anything in their hands or reach into a closed container. The energy gels, stored in the arm band of the present invention, can be accessed during training or running, without having to slow or stop running to get access. The armband can be made of an elastic material having a plurality of elastic bands attached thereto and positioned to retain energy gels to the armband. The armband can include two of the elastic materials for each energy gel to be carried, and, typically, up to 3 or more energy gels can be carried on a single armband. The armband can be made of various materials, typically a soft material such as cotton.

While the present invention is described with respect to running, the armband can be used by various athletes, such as cyclists, stand-up paddle board athletes, mixed martial art (MMA) athletes, hikers, and the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4, the present invention includes an armband 10. The armband 10 may be formed of a tubular material 12 having an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end each form an opening leading into a hollow center portion 18 formed by the inner surface of the tubular material 12. The tubular material 12 is sized to secure around a user's arm 20. The tubular material 12 may be made of liquid absorbent material, such as cotton and may be embedded with an elastic material. Therefore, the armband 10 may be a sweatband.

The present invention may include at least one stretchable elastic member 14 having a first side and a second side. The first side and the second side are attached to the outer surface of the tubular material 12 forming a looped space in between. The looped space is sized to secure a gel pouch 16 within. In certain embodiments, the stretchable elastic member 14 may include two open ends. However, the stretchable elastic member 14 may include a closed end, thereby forming a stretchable pocket on the armband 10.

In certain embodiments, the at least one stretchable elastic member 14 may include a pair of stretchable elastic members 14. Each pair of stretchable elastic members 14 may include a first stretchable elastic member 14 and a second stretchable elastic member 14 attached to the outer surface of the tubular material 12. In such embodiments, the looped spaces are aligned with each other so that a gel pouch 16 is secured to the armband by a pair of stretchable elastic members 14.

In certain embodiments, the first elastic member 14 is attached to the tubular material 12 near the first end, and the second elastic member 14 is attached to the tubular material near the second end. Therefore, the gel pouches 16 may be secured to the armband 10 from the first end to the second end. In certain embodiments, the present invention may include a plurality of pairs of stretchable elastic members 14 attached circumferentially around the tubular material 12. Therefore, more than one gel pouch 16 may secured to one armband. As illustrated in the Figures, there may be two pairs of stretchable elastic members 14 formed to secure two gel pouches 16. However, the present invention may include more than two pairs.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the elastic members 14, instead of being disposed substantially parallel to each other, as described above, can be disposed in an X-shape, where each X-shape set of elastic members 14 can hold at least two gel pouches 16. The armband 14 can include one or more of these X-shaped elastic members 14. For example, two or three X-shaped elastic members 14 may be spaced apart along the outer surface of the armband 12.

The present invention may further include a method of carrying gel packets. The method may include providing the armband that has been described above. The armband may be placed over a user's hand and onto the user's arm. Gel packets may be inserted into the looped space of the stretchable elastic members and thereby may be secured to the armband. The user may then exercise with the gel pouches secured to their armband. When the user is ready to consumer a gel, the user may continue their exercise and easily access the gel pouches.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. An armband comprising:

a liquid absorbent tubular material comprising an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end and a second end, wherein the first end and the second end each form an opening leading into a hollow center portion formed by the inner surface of the tubular material, wherein the tubular material is sized to secure around a user's arm; and

at least one stretchable elastic member having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side and the second side are attached to the outer surface of the tubular material forming a looped space in between, wherein the looped space is sized to secure a gel pouch within.

2. The armband of claim 2, wherein the material is cotton.

3. The armband of claim 1, wherein the material is embedded with an elastic material.

4. The armband of claim 1, wherein the at least one stretchable elastic member comprises a pair of stretchable elastic members comprising a first stretchable elastic member and a second stretchable elastic member attached to the outer surface of the material, wherein the looped spaces are aligned with each other.

5. The armband of claim 5, wherein the first elastic member is attached to the material near the first end, and the second elastic member is attached to the material near the second end in a substantially parallel position relative to one another.

6. The armband of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of pairs of stretchable elastic members attached circumferentially to the material.

7. A method of carrying gel packets comprising:

providing an armband comprising at least one stretchable elastic member attached to an outer surface forming a looped space in between;

placing the armband over a user's hand and onto the user's arm; and

inserting at least one gel packet within the looped space and thereby attaching the at least one gel packet to the armband.