Abstract:
A pocket system or pocket band comprises a basic band made of a flat material on which at least one pocket is disposed, wherein its ends are connected into a closed loop or can be connected into an easily releasable loop whose circumference can be adjustable. The pocket band may, e.g., be worn under and/or over clothing on the abdomen or a limb for conspicuous or inconspicuous transport and carry of a vast variety of objects such as, e.g., cell phones, money, etc.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
       [0001]     This application claims priority of German Application for Utility Model Registration Serial No. 202004011 262.0, filed Jul. 17, 2004, now issued as German Utility Model Registration No. 202004011 262.0 on Dec. 23, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The innovation relates to a pocket band, e.g., a pocket band that may be worn in particular on the body and specifically on the arm or the thigh.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     It is the object of the innovation to disclose a pocket band which allows for the easily accessible safekeeping of a variety of objects. To accomplish this object, a pocket band is disclosed.  
         [0004]     The pocket system or pocket band according to the invention comprises a basic band made of a flat material on which at least one pocket is disposed, wherein its ends are connected into a closed loop or can be connected into an easily releasable loop. The basic band is thus provided on both ends with means that make possible the releasable connection of these ends, such as, a Velcro® closure, a zipper, snap fasteners, hooks and eyes or by tying with at least one string.  
         [0005]     The releasable connective means are designed such that the diameter of the loop formed by the basic band is adjustable and thus adaptable to the thighs of the respective wearer.  
         [0006]     The pocket band may, e.g., be worn under and/or over clothing on the abdomen or on the arm or thigh and with the correct color design may be a fashionable and, in particular, a useful clothing accessory.  
         [0007]     The pocket band according to the innovation in general is particularly suitable for the safe and easily accessible keeping of a vast variety of objects such as, e.g., cell phones, money, etc.  
         [0008]     The pocket band is suitable for personal use, e.g., for the safekeeping of a vast variety of objects while swimming, particularly of valuables that thus may be taken along to, e.g., a beach or into the water. In particular, in these cases, at least the pockets of the pocket band are waterproof.  
         [0009]     The length of the basic band of the pocket band according to the invention is, e.g., adjustable. The basic band furthermore is elastic in at least a partial area between its two ends to thus provide the best possible fit after fastening the pocket band.  
         [0010]     The pocket band is, preferably, washable and, for fashion reasons, or, also to provide an additional safety feature, may be at least partially implemented with reflectors in a manner generally known from fluorescent strips on jackets, back packs etc. Materials suitable for the basic band and/or the storage pockets single or multiple layer flat material are include, e.g., leather, woven fabrics, foils, in particular, also elastic materials such as silicones and other stretch materials.  
         [0011]     The storage pockets, e.g., are sealable at their pocket openings, that is, water resistant and preferably absolutely waterproof. For sealing, the storage pockets are, for example, provided with a waterproof zipper or, with a foldable pocket flap that is fixable in its closed position by means of releasable fixing means, e.g.; Velcro® closures or snaps.  
         [0012]     The pocket band according to the invention is also suitable for other purposes, such as, e.g., for craftsmen for the storage of tools or other utensils.  
         [0013]     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inside of the basic band that is next to the user&#39;s body when worn is provided with at least one storage pocket where objects may stored in a particular safe manner.  
         [0014]     The invention is explained in detail in the following with reference to exemplary embodiments depicted in the drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein.  
         [0016]      FIGS. 1-3  show an exemplary embodiment of the pocket band according to the innovation in front view, top view and back view;  
         [0017]      FIGS. 4-5  show the pocket band of  FIGS. 1-3  attached to the thigh of a user;  
         [0018]      FIGS. 6-8  in views similar to  FIGS. 1-3  show another possible embodiment of the pocket band according to the invention;  
         [0019]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show in a side view as well as in a top view another embodiment of the pocket band according to the invention;  
         [0020]      FIGS. 11 and 12  show use of the pocket band of  FIGS. 9 and 10  on the thigh of a user;  
         [0021]      FIGS. 13-15  in views similar to  FIGS. 1-3  show another possible embodiment of the pocket band according to the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]     The pocket band generally designated  1  in  FIG. 1-5  includes a strip or band  2  made of a flat material. On the outside  2 . 1  of the band  2  storage pockets  3  and  4  made of the flat material used for the band or any other suitable flat material are provided. On the other surface side of the band, i.e., on the back side  2 . 2  of the exemplary embodiment depicted, a corresponding pocket  5  is provided. All pockets  3 - 5  form, in each case, on a side facing a common longitudinal side  2 . 3  of the band, a pocket opening, which, in the exemplary embodiment depicted, can be closed by means of a zipper  6 . Furthermore, the pockets  3 - 5  are provided longitudinally offset from each other on the band  2  such that the pockets  3  and  4  are located of the front side  2 . 1 , at a point where there is no pocket on the back side  2 . 2 , and, vice versa, the pocket  5  is provided on the back side  2 . 2  at a point where the front side  2 . 1  has no pocket. Both ends of the band  2  have elements  7  and  8  of a Velcro® closure. This Velcro®, closure allows for the releasable connection or attachment of the two ends of the band  2  for the wearing of the pocket band  1 , e.g., on the thigh  9  as depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5 .  
         [0023]     The flat material used for the band  2  and the pockets  3 - 5  is an elastic or stretchable material, or the band  2  is designed elastic or stretchable in at least partial areas such that it may be fastened slightly stretched on a thigh  9  or another limb, such as, e.g., an upper arm, etc., in conformity therewith. The pocket band  1  is worn, for example, such that the back side  2 . 2  is adjacent to the thigh  9  with the pocket  5  located there, whereas pockets  3  and  4  are located on the front side  2 . 1  facing away from the thigh  9 .  
         [0024]     The smaller pocket  3  serves, e.g., for the storage of keys  10 . The larger pocket  4  may accommodate a cell phone  11 , and the pocket provided on the back side  2 . 2  of the band  2  may accommodate cash in the from of coins  12 . Obviously, the pocket band  1  or its pockets  3 - 5  are also suitable for the storage of other objects.  
         [0025]     As mentioned above, the flat material used for the band  2  and possibly also for the pockets  3 - 5  is elastically shapeable and, for instance, made of an appropriate woven material. Single or multiple layer material, in particular waterproof material, is suitable as a flat material. Furthermore, the possibly exists to make the band  2  and the pockets  3 - 5  from a different flat material, to make, e.g., the band  2  from a single or multiple layered elastic stretchable material and the pockets  3 - 5  from a single or multiple layered flat material, etc. The attaching of pockets  3 - 5  on the band  1  may be realized in a vast variety of manners, such as, e.g., sewing, gluing, welding, etc.  
         [0026]      FIG. 6-8  depict a pocket band la which is distinguished from the pocket band  1  in that instead of the Velcro® closure formed by elements  7  and  8  at the two ends of the band  2 , elements  13 ,  14  and  15  are provided for a zipper whereby element  15  on one end of the band  2  has the slider of the zipper and can be selectively used to connect the ends of the band with the elements  13  or  14 , whereby element  14  is located at the other end of the band  2  and element  13  is spaced at a distance such that loop diameters of various sizes are possible when connecting the ends of the band  2 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 9-12  depict another possible embodiment of a pocket band Ib, which is distinguished from the pocket band  1  in that only on the front side of the band  2 , in this case somewhat wider, two pockets  3  and  4  are provided that each are somewhat larger than pockets  3  and  4  of the pocket band  1  and suitable to accommodate tools  16 . The pocket band  1   b  may again be fastened, e.g., to the thigh, with the elements  7  and  8  of the Velcro® closure.  
         [0028]     And finally,  FIG. 13-15  depict another embodiment of a pocket band  1   c,  which is distinguished in that, instead of the Velcro® closure formed by elements  7  and  8 , a strip of hooks  17  is provided on one end of the band  2  and strips of eyes  18  and  19  are provided on the other end of the band  2  for a hook closure.  
         [0029]     For coarse adjustment of the closed pocket band  1   c,  the two strips of eyes  18  and  19  are again provided longitudinally offset relative to each other on the band  2 , i.e., as the strip of eyes  18  at the edge of the band and the strip of eyes  19  at a distance from this edge.  
         [0030]     In place of the pockets  3 ,  4  and  5  with zipper  6 , in this embodiment, pockets  20 ,  21  and  22  are provided, i.e., the two pockets  20  and  21  on the front side  2 . 1  of the band  2  and the pocket  22  on the backside  2 . 2 . The arrangement of the pockets  20 - 22  on the band  2  corresponds to the arrangement of the pockets  3 - 5 . At least pockets  20  and  21  have a flap  20 . 1  and  21 . 1 , respectively, for the closing of the pocket opening. The flaps are fixable in their closed position by suitable means, e.g., Velcro® closures.  
         [0031]     The manufacturing of the respective pocket band  1 ,  1   a,  or  1   c  take place, e.g., in that on a strip shaped band material forming the band  2  pulled from a supply, e.g., from a roll, first, pockets  3 , 4  and  5 , or pockets  20 , 21  and  22  are, for example, sewn or attached by any other suitable means, and, preferably, the connecting means, that is, the elements  7  and  8  of the Velcro® closure, the elements  13 ,  14  and  15  of the zipper, or the elements  17 ,  18  and  19  of the hook-and-eye closure are likewise attached, e.g., by means of sewing or any other suitable manner, such as, e.g., gluing or welding, even laser welding, and that, subsequently, the band material is separated into the lengths forming the respective band  2 .  
         [0032]     The invention was described in various exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. Obviously, numerous additional changes as well as variations are possible without leaving the inventive idea upon which this invention is based.