Detachable Waterproof Pocket and System

Abstract

A detachable waterproof pocket may include front and rear surfaces made from an impermeable material and forming a receptacle having an open top portion. Interlocking elements, on the front and rear surfaces, may engage with each other to close the top portion of the receptacle with a watertight seal. A first attachment element, above the interlocking elements on one of the surfaces forming the receptacle, may engage with a complimentary second attachment element on a garment in order to attach the waterproof pocket to the garment. The interlocking elements may comprise complimentary tongues and grooves. The complimentary first and second attachment elements may comprise complimentary zipper chains of an open-ended zipper. The garment may be a swimsuit and the complimentary second attachment element may be located on an inner surface of the swimsuit. The swimsuit may include a waistband and the second attachment element may be sewn into said waistband.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/711,399, filed on Jul. 27, 2018, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a waterproof pocket for smaller personal items. More specifically the disclosure relates to a waterproof pocket that may be attached/detached from a garment, such as a swimsuit.

BACKGROUND

Engaging in water-based activities may sometimes require that an eye be kept on personal items that have been left behind (e.g., hidden in a towel or sandal on a beach), unless someone is willing to stay behind and watch over the personal items. In fact, vacationers may have to split “water time” because of a fear of having said personal items taken or lost while they engage in water sports.

While a waterproof pouch may simply be strapped around a swimmer's waist, this may not be a desirable choice for the casual swimmer or water sports enthusiast. This is because a cumbersome and unseemly means to carry personal items around one's waist may not be desirable while engaging in water-based activities for personal enjoyment.

Therefore, enthusiasts of water-based activities (e.g., swimming or other water sports) may desire a more comfortable and attractive (e.g., hidden) way to carry their personal belongings while engaging in water-based activities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar components. Some embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a waterproof pocket, consistent with some embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2 shows the components of a detachable waterproof pocket, consistent with some embodiments described herein.

FIG. 3 shows a swimsuit, consistent with some embodiments described herein, with the detachable waterproof pocket attached to an inner surface of the swimsuit.

FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram illustrating a method, consistent with some embodiments, for carrying items in a detachable waterproof pocket while engaging in water-based activities.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments described herein provide a lightweight waterproof pocket that may be attached to a garment (e.g., a swimsuit) for the storage of personal items, so that a wearer of the garment may enjoy any water-based activities without having to worry about the possible theft of said personal items (e.g., cash, watch, credit cards, or wallet) if the items are left unattended on land. In an embodiment, the waterproof pocket may be attached to an inner surface of the garment so that it remains hidden from view while the garment is being worn and the wearer may enjoy a safe and aesthetically pleasing (e.g., hidden) way to store their personal items while engaging in water-based activities.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a waterproof pocket 100, consistent with some embodiments described herein.

In an embodiment, the waterproof pocket 100 may include first and second surfaces 102 and 104 (e.g., front and rear sheets or walls) made of a flexible and impermeable (e.g., non-porous) material or a waterproofed material (e.g., a fabric coated with an impermeable material). The flexible and impermeable material may be a plastic, a silicone, polyurethane, a polyvinyl or any other synthetic, artificial and/or natural material which is sufficiently flexible and impermeable.

In an embodiment, the first and second surfaces 102 and 104 of waterproof pocket 100 may be joined to each other by means of a heat sealing technique or a high frequency heat sealing technique. High frequency heat sealing may prevent any water from getting between the first and second surfaces 102 and 104 since it uses a field of electromagnetic waves to heat the flexible and impermeable material, of the first and second surfaces 102 and 104, from within causing less degradation of the material's flexible and impermeable qualities. Therefore, the more standard heat sealing technique may be used if a water resistant seal (e.g., a seal that resists water up to two meters depth) is needed.

In an embodiment, the first and second surfaces 102 and 104 of waterproof pocket 100 may form a receptacle having an open top portion for receiving items, such as such as any electronics, smart phones, car keys, cash, valuables, wallets, room keys, watches, cameras, jewelry, prescription drugs, or passports. For example, the first and second surfaces 102 and 104 may be joined to each other along three sides (e.g., bottom and two sides of waterproof pocket 100), leaving an open fourth side (e.g., top portion of waterproof pocket 100) for receiving the items. In an embodiment, the waterproof pocket 100 may be formed from a single surface of flexible and impermeable material folded on itself to obtain the first and second surfaces 102 and 104. The bottom of the waterproof pocket 100 would already be sealed, leaving the two sides of the folded material to be sealed in order to form the receptacle with an open third side (e.g., top of waterproof pocket 100).

In an embodiment, the first and second surfaces 102 and 104 of waterproof pocket 100 may comprise interlocking elements 106 configured to engage with each other to close the top portion of the formed receptacle with a watertight seal. The interlocking elements 106 may be configured to form any type of watertight or water resistant seal where opposing elements on the first and second surfaces 102 and 104 of waterproof pocket 100 engage each other to from the seal.

In an embodiment, the interlocking elements 106 may comprise a plurality of complimentary tongues and grooves configured to engage with each other to form the watertight seal. The complimentary tongues and grooves may be formed as extensions at the tops of the first and second surfaces 102 and 104 of waterproof pocket 100. The plurality of complimentary tongues and grooves may be formed on the inner sides of the first and second surfaces 102 and 104 of waterproof pocket 100, so that the top portion of waterproof pocket 100 may be closed based on the engagement of the complimentary tongues and grooves with each other.

In an embodiment, the first and second surfaces 102 and 104 of waterproof pocket 100 may be of any shape and size (e.g., based on the garment for which it will serve as a pocket), and may be of any color and/or may be decorated with any type of design. In an embodiment, the first and second surfaces 102 and 104 of waterproof pocket 100 may be transparent or translucent so that the contents of the waterproof pocket 100 can be easily identified by a user of waterproof pocket 100.

FIG. 2 shows the components of a detachable waterproof pocket 200, consistent with some embodiments described herein.

The detachable waterproof pocket 200 may include a first attachment element 202A above the interlocking elements 106 on one of the first and second surfaces 102 and 104 of waterproof pocket 100. The first attachment element 202A may be configured to engage with a complimentary second attachment element 202B on a garment (not shown in FIG. 2) in order to attach the waterproof pocket 100 to the garment. The complimentary attachment elements 202A and 202B may comprise any type of complimentary attaching or fastening elements which may serve to attach the detachable waterproof pocket 200 to the garment based on their engagement with each other.

In an embodiment, the complimentary first and second attachment elements 202A and 202B of the detachable waterproof pocket 200 may comprise complimentary zipper chains of an open-ended zipper. Open-ended zippers use a box and pin mechanism to lock the two separate sides of the zipper (e.g., first and second attachment elements 202A and 202B) into place.

In an embodiment, the components of the zipper chains of the first and second attachment elements 202A and 202B may include a fabric part (e.g., nylon and/or polyester) that supports the other elements of the zipper chains. In an embodiment, this fabric part of complimentary first and second attachment elements 202A and 202B may be secured to the detachable waterproof pocket 200 and the garment respectively via sewing or gluing (e.g., sewing shown in FIG. 2).

In an embodiment, the components of the zipper chains of the first and second attachment elements 202A and 202B may include top stops 204 (e.g., affixed to the top end of the zipper chains, to prevent the slider 206 (that moves up and down the zipper chain to open or close the zipper) from coming off the chain 210 (e.g., the continuous piece formed when both halves of a zipper are engaged). In an embodiment, the slider 206 may comprise a pull tab 208 that may be used to move the slider up or down the zipper chains.

In an embodiment, the components of the zipper chains of the first and second attachment elements 202A and 202B may include an insertion pin 212 that may be used to join the two zipper chains. A pin box 214 may be used to correctly align the insertion pin 212 for joining of the zipper chains. A reinforcement film 216 may be fused to the fabric portion of each zipper chain so that a manufacturer may secure the zipper chains onto a garment without sewing or stitching.

In an embodiment, the complimentary first and second attachment elements 202A and 202B of the detachable waterproof pocket 200 may comprise complimentary Velcro tabs (not shown in FIG. 2). The complimentary Velcro tabs may respectively comprise complimentary components: a lineal fabric strip with tiny hooks that could “mate” with another fabric strip with smaller loops, attaching temporarily, until pulled apart by sufficient force.

In an embodiment, the complimentary first and second attachment elements 202A and 202B of the detachable waterproof pocket 200 may comprise complimentary button elements (not shown in FIG. 2). Buttons on the first attachment element 202A may serve as fasteners by slipping through a fabric or thread loop of complimentary second attachment element 202B, or by sliding through a buttonhole of complimentary second attachment 202B (or vice versa).

In an embodiment, the complimentary first and second attachment elements 202A and 202B of the detachable waterproof pocket 200 may comprise complimentary magnets (not shown in FIG. 2). Magnets on the first attachment element 202A may serve as fasteners by attracting opposing magnets on the complimentary second attachment element 202B with sufficient force to attach to each other temporarily, until pulled apart by sufficient force.

In an embodiment, the first and second surfaces 102 and 104 of detachable waterproof pocket 200 may comprise connected lanyard holes 218, near a side portion of the receptacle formed by the first and second surfaces 102 and 104, configured to allow a lanyard (e.g., cord or strap not shown in FIG. 2) to pass through them to attach the lanyard to the waterproof pocket 200. The attached lanyard may then be used to tether the waterproof pocket 200 to a user's appendage (e.g., neck, shoulder, wrist, etc.)

FIG. 3 shows a swimsuit 300, consistent with some embodiments described herein, with the detachable waterproof pocket 200 attached to an inner surface 302 of the swimsuit 300.

In an embodiment the garment may be a swimsuit 300 and the complimentary second attachment element 202B may be located on an inner surface 302 of the swimsuit 300. In an embodiment the swimsuit 300 may comprise a waistband and the complimentary second attachment element 202B may be sewn into said waistband 304.

In an embodiment, a system for carrying items in a detachable waterproof pocket 200 may comprise the swimsuit 300. The system may comprise a receptacle having front and rear surfaces made of an impermeable material and an open top portion for receiving the items (e.g., an open top portion of a receptacle formed by the first and second surfaces 102 and 104 of waterproof pocket 200).

In an embodiment, the system may further comprise interlocking elements, on the front and rear surfaces, configured to engage each other to close the top portion of the receptacle with a watertight seal (e.g., the interlocking elements 106 of detachable waterproof pocket 200).

In an embodiment, the system may further comprise a first attachment element 202A above the interlocking elements 106 on one of the surfaces of the receptacle (e.g., first and second surfaces 102 and 104 of waterproof pocket 200).

In an embodiment, the system may further comprise a garment (e.g., swimsuit 300) with a complimentary second attachment element 202B, wherein the complimentary first and second attachment elements 202A and 202B are configured to engage with each other to attach the detachable waterproof pocket 200 to the swimsuit 300. As noted above, the complimentary second attachment element 202B may be located on an inner surface 302 of the swimsuit 300 in order to remain hidden from view while the swimsuit 300 is being worn.

FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram illustrating a method 400, consistent with some embodiments, for carrying items in a detachable waterproof pocket 200 while engaging in water-based activities.

At a step 402, items (e.g., keys, wallet, smartphone, etc.) may be received through an open top portion of a receptacle formed by front and rear surfaces made of an impermeable material (e.g., an open top portion of a receptacle formed by the first and second surfaces 102 and 104 of detachable waterproof pocket 200).

At a step 404, interlocking elements 106 on the front and rear surfaces may be engaged to close the top portion of the receptacle with a watertight seal (e.g., the interlocking elements 106 on the first and second surfaces 102 and 104 of detachable waterproof pocket 200).

At a step 406, a first attachment element 202A, above the interlocking elements 106 on one of the first and second surfaces 102 and 104 of detachable waterproof pocket 200, may engage a complimentary second attachment element 202B, on a garment (e.g., swimsuit 300), to attach the detachable waterproof pocket 200 to the swimsuit 300.

At a step 408, the swimsuit 300 and the attached waterproof pocket 200 may be submerged (e.g., swimming) while engaging in water-based activities.

At a step 410, it may be determined that water-based activities have finished (e.g., the user has finished swimming and come out of the water).

At a step 412, the waterproof pocket 200 may be detached from the swimsuit 300 by disengaging the complimentary first and second attachment elements 202A and 202B.

At a step 414, the still dry and safe items may be removed from the detached waterproof pocket 200.

Language

In the foregoing descriptions, numerous details are set forth. It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art, that the present disclosure may be practiced without all of these specific details.

The words “example” or “exemplary” are used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “example’ or “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. As used in this disclosure, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or”. That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X includes A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X includes A; X includes B; or X includes both A and B, then “X includes A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. Moreover, use of the term “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” or “an implementation” or “one implementation” throughout is not intended to mean the same embodiment or implementation unless described as such.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other implementations will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading and understanding the above description. The scope of the disclosure should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to said claims.

Claims

1. A detachable waterproof pocket comprising:

front and rear surfaces made of an impermeable material and forming a receptacle having an open top portion for receiving items;

interlocking elements, on the front and rear surfaces forming the receptacle, configured to engage with each other to close the top portion of the receptacle with a watertight seal; and

a first attachment element above the interlocking elements on one of the surfaces forming the receptacle, wherein the first attachment element is configured to engage with a complimentary second attachment element on a garment in order to attach the waterproof pocket to the garment.

2. The waterproof pocket of claim 1, wherein the impermeable material of the front and rear surfaces is transparent or translucent.

3. The waterproof pocket of claim 1, wherein the impermeable material comprises a plastic, a silicone or a polyurethane material.

4. The waterproof pocket of claim 1, wherein the front and rear surfaces are joined together via heat sealing.

5. The waterproof pocket of claim 4, wherein the interlocking elements comprise a plurality of complimentary tongues and grooves configured to engage with each other to form the watertight seal.

6. The waterproof pocket of claim 1, wherein the complimentary first and second attachment elements comprise complimentary Velcro tabs.

7. The waterproof pocket of claim 1, wherein the complimentary first and second attachment elements comprise complimentary zipper chains.

8. The waterproof pocket of claim 7, wherein the complimentary zipper chains comprise an open-ended zipper.

9. The waterproof pocket of claim 1, wherein the complimentary first and second attachment elements comprise complimentary button elements.

10. The waterproof pocket of claim 1, wherein the complimentary first and second attachment elements comprise complimentary magnets.

11. The waterproof pocket of claim 1, wherein the complimentary first and second attachment elements are secured to the waterproof pocket and garment respectively via sewing or gluing.

12. The waterproof pocket of claim 1, wherein the front and rear surfaces comprise connected lanyard holes, near a side portion of the receptacle, configured to allow a lanyard to pass through them to attach the lanyard to the waterproof pocket.

13. The waterproof pocket of claim 1, wherein the garment is a swimsuit.

14. The waterproof pocket of claim 13, wherein the complimentary second attachment element is located on an inner surface of the swimsuit.

15. The waterproof pocket of claim 14, wherein the swimsuit comprises a waistband and the complimentary second attachment element is sewn into said waistband.

16. The waterproof pocket of claim 1, wherein the watertight seal is water resistant to a specified water depth.

17. The waterproof pocket of claim 16, wherein the specified water depth is between one and three meters.

18. A system for carrying items in a detachable waterproof pocket, the system comprising:

a receptacle having front and rear surfaces made of an impermeable material and an open top portion for receiving the items;

interlocking elements, on the front and rear surfaces, configured to engage each other to close the top portion of the receptacle with a watertight seal;

a first attachment element above the interlocking elements on one of the surfaces of the receptacle; and

a garment with a complimentary second attachment element;

wherein the complimentary first and second attachment elements are configured to engage with each other to attach the pocket to the garment.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the garment comprises a swimsuit and the second attachment element is located on an inner surface of the swimsuit.

20. A method for carrying items in a detachable waterproof pocket while engaging in water-based activities, the method comprising:

receiving items through an open top portion of a receptacle formed by front and rear surfaces made of an impermeable material;

engaging interlocking elements, on the front and rear surfaces, to close the top portion of the receptacle with a watertight seal;

engaging a first attachment element, above the interlocking elements on one of the surfaces forming the receptacle, and a complimentary second attachment element, on a garment, to attach the pocket to the garment;

submerging the garment and the attached pocket while engaging in water-based activities;

determining that water-based activities have finished;

detaching the pocket from the garment by disengaging the complimentary first and second attachment elements; and

removing the items from the detached pocket.