Abstract:
A portable mountable storage pouch enables convenient storage, organization, and access of documents and utensils. The storage pouch can be mounted to an armrest of a chair, a transport or mobility chair, or a mobility scooter, to a handle of a walker or a rollator, or to a bedrail among other locations. The storage pouch is provided with straps for mounting to an arm of the chair, and with pockets and compartments for holding documents and utensils. The storage pouch is made from a light and flexible yet sturdy material for ease of use and durability.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to portable storage means and, more particularly, to portable storage means mountable to chairs. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Many people spend their working days either reviewing and writing documents while sitting in a chair at a desk in a cubicle, or talking with other people about documents while sitting in a chair at a conference table. At times one may also find oneself in a waiting room, physician&#39;s exam room, hair salon or barbershop passing time with a magazine or other reading material. In addition, people with limited mobility who require a motorized scooter, transport chair, or other means of conveyance frequently have no practical or convenient apparatus for carrying personal and medical items that is easily portable, adaptable, and close at hand whether at home, work, or in transit. Documents, books and magazines, digital and medical devices, entertainment devices and hobby supplies are only a few of the many items commonly found and seen close at hand during either work or leisure time. 
         [0003]    Frequently, people who work at desks and at conference tables must move with documents between a desk and a conference table. In so doing, portions of documents or of files may be left on the desk or on the conference table. Additionally, conference tables generally lack drawers or other storage means. Thus, when several people bring multiple portions of documents or files to a conference table for common discussion, it is common for each person to spread out their documents or files on the table. In so doing, there is a potential for portions of each person&#39;s documents or files to mix with those belonging to another person. Similarly, people having limited mobility nonetheless need to move from one place to another at least for social, recreational, educational, or medical reasons. In so doing, people having limited mobility may wish to transport useful objects such as magazines and other reading material, cordless phones, recreational supplies, and medical and electronic devices. While carrying such objects on the lap may be an option for those confined to a sitting or supine position, this option can lead to discomfort or inconvenience as carried objects weigh on the legs or slip to the floor. For those relying on a walker or rollator to move about, objects cannot be carried on the lap. However, attempts to hand-carry objects while using a walker or rollator can compromise the user&#39;s grip on their mobility device, contributing to injurious and potentially fatal falls. 
         [0004]    People experiencing chronic conditions resulting from awkward and unnatural repetitive motion in the workplace or at home would also benefit from such an ergonomically designed, universal fit, portable storage apparatus, minimizing unnecessary movement, keeping work, medical, hobby, or recreational materials close to the person. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, an apparatus is needed for conveniently organizing files, documents, notepads, pens, and pencils close at hand without cluttering a desk surface or requiring a user to open and close drawers. An apparatus also is needed for storing and organizing documents while seated at a conference table and for conveniently moving with documents between a desk and a conference table, or from work to home and back. Additionally, an apparatus is needed for conveniently storing, organizing, and carrying books, newspapers, letters, entertainment devices, television remote controls, and similar useful objects close at hand without cluttering a hospital bed or compromising the user&#39;s mobility. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, a portable chair-mountable storage pouch comprises a plurality of walls defining a main compartment, a hanging flap having an edge attached to one of the plurality of walls, first and second straps, each having an end attached to the hanging flap, and means for removably attaching a free end of at least the first strap to one of the plurality of walls. The strap arrangement of the present invention provides for a universal fit/application on/easy transfer between chair armrests, whether for the wide variety of spindled styles (such as Mission style furniture), for “T” style armrests (such as computer task chairs), for standard style “open” armrests, or for the afore-mentioned mobility devices. 
         [0007]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, the storage pouch also includes an outer pocket, an inner pocket, and cover flaps for the main compartment and for at least one of the outer pocket and the inner pocket. 
         [0008]    These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in light of the detailed description of the best mode embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a partial-cutaway generally rear perspective view of a storage pouch installed over an arm of a chair, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a generally rear perspective view of a storage pouch in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a generally front perspective view of a storage pouch according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment a chair-mountable storage pouch  10  includes a front wall  12 , side walls  14 , and a back wall  16  defining a main compartment  18  and an opening  20 . The back wall  16  has a free edge  22  and an outer surface  24 . A hanging flap  26  flexibly connects fixed ends of first and second straps  28  to the free edge  22  of the back wall  16 . Desirably, a non-slip coating  30  is provided on a side of the hanging flap  26  adjacent to the outer surface  24 . Desirably, the first and second straps  28  are disposed approximately six to eight inches (6″-8″) apart between their closest edges, as measured across the hanging flap  26 , so as to provide a universal fit for chair armrests and mobility devices. A detachable strap fastener  32  is provided at a free end of each of the first and second straps  28 , and a mating or complementary detachable body fastener  34  is disposed at a corresponding location on the back wall  16 . The detachable strap fastener  32  and the detachable body fastener  34  may be any of hook-and-loop fabric patches, magnets, snaps, buckles, or other detachable fasteners known in the art. In use, the detachable fasteners  32  and  34  co-operate to detachably fasten at least the first strap  28  to the back wall  16 , thereby securing the storage pouch  10  over an arm of a chair (shown in phantom lines). In one embodiment, the strap fasteners  32  may be weighted so that, when the hanging flap  26  is placed over a chair arm or over a rail of a mobility device, the strap fasteners  32  fall into place against the complementary body fasteners  34 . Hook-and-loop fabric patches or magnets are particularly suitable fasteners for use in the weighted-fastener embodiment, as these types of fastener may require no additional effort to secure the straps to the body of the pouch. 
         [0013]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , stiffening plates  36  preferably are provided within the side walls  14  and within one of the front wall  12  and the back wall  16 , so as to define the shape of the pouch and to protect its contents. The other of the front wall  12  and the back wall  16  is not provided with a stiffening plate, and accordingly provides for expansion of the main compartment  18  so as to accommodate bulky objects. However, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , a dowel rod  38  or similar linear stiffener is provided at a free edge  40  of the wall not provided with a stiffening plate, so as to provide a consistent shape to the opening  20 . Optimally, the dowel rod  38  is captured in a seamed loop of fabric as shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , a closure flap  42  can cover the opening  20 . An outer pocket  44  can be attached to the front of the pouch  10 , and is provided with a cover flap  46 . The cover flap  46  can be provided with buttons, with snaps, or with other fasteners including the hook-and-loop fabric strips shown in  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a floor  48  can be provided opposite the opening  20 , joining the front wall  12  and the back wall  16 . Alternatively, the front wall  12  can be of one piece with the back wall  16 . 
         [0014]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , a female side-release buckle part  50  is provided on the closure flap  42  and a male side-release buckle part  52  is provided on the front wall  12 . The buckle parts  50  and  52  co-operate for to securely close the closure flap  42 . Also as shown in  FIG. 3 , an inner pocket  54  is provided between the main compartment  18  and the front wall  12 . A sheet or web of material (not shown) separates the inner pocket  54  from the main compartment  18 . The inner pocket  54  is accessible by an opening  56  in the front wall. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the opening  56  can be closed by a zipper closure  58 , or by any of snaps, a flap, hook-and-loop fastener strips, or similar closure devices. A flexible shoulder strap  60  also is provided so that ambulatory users can carry the portable storage pouch  10  in typical shoulder-strapped fashion. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16 , the straps  28 , and the hanging flap  26  are constructed of a flaccid yet sturdy material. A flaccid material is preferred for permitting the storage pouch  10  to accommodate objects of awkward size or shape; a sturdy material is preferred for enhancing the durability of the storage pouch  10 . Woven and non-woven fabrics are excellent materials for use in constructing the storage pouch  10 . In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the front wall  12 , the side walls  14 , the back wall  16 , the hanging flap  26 , and the straps  28  are edge-stitched from multiple layers of one-thousand (1000) denier woven nylon fabric in what is known in the art as multi-ply construction. Alternatively, vegetable- or animal-fiber fabrics, or leather, may be used for the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16 . Preferably, an inner surface of each of the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  comprises a smooth material such as non-woven nylon fabric, so that the main compartment  18  has a low-friction lining for easy insertion and removal of objects. The non-slip coating  30  may be any of butyl rubber, polyvinyl chloride, miniature suction cups, or another durable and substantially tacky material or structure. Preferably, the non-slip coating  30  comprises a polyvinyl chloride fabric. The stiffening plates  36  are formed from a sturdy and moderately light and flexible material such as cardboard, light wood, or polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, acetal, nylon, or other polymer sheet stock or castings. The stiffening plates  36  can be placed between the plies  44  of the side walls  14  and between the plies  44  of the back wall  16 , during or prior to stitching the plies together at the edges. In an exemplary embodiment, the stiffening plates  36  are cut to size from thermoplastic sheet stock such as any of Texon® T505/T516/T888 Cellulose Solutions or Texon® T249/T250/T251, 87 series, X8R, Rite, or Aquiline™ Non-woven Solutions for leather goods and furniture reinforcement. 
         [0016]    In an exemplary embodiment, the chair-mountable storage pouch  10  is used in a physician&#39;s exam rooms for holding magazines and health education materials for the convenience of patients, and for keeping work surfaces clear of non-essentials. In another exemplary embodiment, the chair-mountable storage pouch  10  can be used in a Hair Salon/Spa for holding popular magazines at styling chairs, dryer chairs, shampoo chairs, pedicure chairs or in the waiting area. 
         [0017]    One advantage of the present invention is that the storage pouch can be mounted to an arm of a chair, enabling a user to have useful objects close at hand while seated in the chair. 
         [0018]    Another advantage of the present invention is that the storage pouch is portable, enabling a user easily to transport useful objects from one chair to another chair. 
         [0019]    Another advantage of the present invention is that the storage pouch may be mounted not only to an arm of a traditional (stationary) chair, but also to a mobility or transport chair, hospital bed, walker, rollator, scooter, or other device or furniture having a convenient rail, thereby enhancing the ability of a user to move about with useful objects, despite the user&#39;s limited mobility. 
         [0020]    A further advantage of the present invention is that the storage pouch has stiffened sides protecting fragile objects placed therein. 
         [0021]    Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the storage pouch has stiffened sides for maintaining a general shape of the storage pouch when empty, thereby easing the insertion of an object in the empty pouch. 
         [0022]    A further advantage of the present invention is that the opening of the storage pouch has a stiffener for maintaining a consistent shape of the opening, thereby easing the insertion of an object in the pouch. 
         [0023]    Yet a further advantage of the present invention is that the storage pouch is easily removed from a chair and carried and attached to another chair, enabling convenient transport of documents in an organized manner from a desk to a conference table. 
         [0024]    Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to the detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. For example, the storage pouch may be constructed from unitary blow-molded polyvinyl chloride, from cotton or wool cloth, from leather, or from other flaccid yet sturdy materials. The closure flap of the main compartment may be zippered rather than buckled. The inner compartment may be provided between the back wall and the main compartment. The free ends of the straps may be removably attachable to the side walls, to the front wall, or to the floor of the main compartment. The closure flap may be omitted. A flexible shoulder strap may be mounted to the side walls or to the front or back wall of the main compartment. Other variations will occur to those having skill in the art.