Abstract:
An apparatus for efficiently securing and transporting multiple hand-held implements for individuals completing assorted projects. Wonderband is a small, stylish wristband or armband designed to hold necessary tools for makeup artists, hair stylists, painters, and the like. Through its comfortable design, this innovative product conveniently holds a wide variety of tools on a user&#39;s wrist or arm for quick and easy access. Wonderband may simply be strapped onto a user&#39;s wrist or arm like a watch, and one or more tools may be secured to the band by silicone rubber grips. Individuals in hair styling and makeup artistry fields, painters, or virtually anyone needing access to multiple tools while working will appreciate the convenience and accessibility that this product affords.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 61/446,525, filed Feb. 25, 2011 which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0002]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
       1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates generally to the field of tool-securing armbands and more specifically relates to tool-securing armbands for securely storing and transporting various types of hand-held implements. 
       2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0005]    Many individuals in modern society use multiple hand-held implements when working to complete a project for either work or play. Hair stylists utilize various combs and scissors when styling a customer&#39;s hair. Similarly, makeup artists alternate makeup brushes depending on the area of the face being tended. 
         [0006]    A person who passes leisure time as a painter employs brushes of varying size and shape to create different styles and textures in a painting. Each of these implements plays a vital role in completing an undertaken project. Easy access to these tools is important in maintaining a person&#39;s efficiency and good humor when working on a project. An individual&#39;s efficiency is affected not only by easy access of required implements, but also by the number of locations in which these implements are stored. A single storage space minimizes the time spent looking for a desired tool and maximizes a person&#39;s efficiency. Storing several implements in one area for easy access can be a challenge when workspace is limited. Holding several tools in hand while working often increases a person&#39;s frustration and causes tools to be fumbled and dropped. 
         [0007]    Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in U.S. Pat. Nos. and Pub. Nos. 2011/0108589; 2003/0230606; 2006/0016841; 2004/0173484; 2006/0166720; 6,629,628; and D496,155. This prior art is representative of tool-securing armbands. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. 
         [0008]    Ideally, a tool-securing armband for securely storing and transporting various types of hand-held implements should be lightweight, versatile, user friendly and, yet, would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable tool-securing armband system to increase efficiency of individuals utilizing multiple hand-held implements when completing projects and to avoid the above-mentioned problems. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known tool-securing armband art, the present invention provides novel Wonderband systems. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to provide an efficient bodily-worn means of securing and transporting multiple hand-held implements. 
         [0010]    Wonderband systems includes a small, stylish wristband or armband able to hold necessary tools for makeup artists, hair stylists, painters, and the like. Through its comfortable design, this innovative product conveniently holds a wide variety of tools on a user&#39;s wrist or arm for quick and easy access. With a multitude of implements held in the Wonderband systems, a user isn&#39;t interrupted to search their worktable each time a need arises to exchange tools. Wonderband systems may simply be strapped onto a user&#39;s wrist or arm like a watch. One or more tools may be secured to the band by silicone rubber grips. 
         [0011]    A tool-securing armband for efficiently storing and transporting multiple hand-held implements is disclosed herein preferably comprising: a band having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a plurality of tool-grip-holders. The tool-grip-holders of the present invention are preferably affixed to the outer surface of the band while the inner band surface may be worn adjacent to the skin of a user. Though the band may be constructed as a single uninterrupted unit, the band of the present embodiment includes a first end and a second end capable of removably coupling one with the other. The first end comprises attachment means while the second end comprises a receiver for the attachment means. The attachment means in this case takes the form of a hook-and-loop fastener for the easy attachment and release of the first end and second end coupling. 
         [0012]    Tool-grip-holders are designed to be used to retain the multiple implements employed by a user of the Wonderband systems. The tool-grip-holders may consist of silicone rubber grips with various sized grooves for holding different types of instruments. These grooves are formed of a cylindrically-shaped ring made up of an outer circumference and an inner circumference, where the inner circumference defines an inner volume that may be occupied by a hand-held tool such as a comb, scissors, brush, or writing instrument in a friction-fit manner. 
         [0013]    A method of using the bodily-worn tool-securing armband for efficiently storing and transporting multiple hand-held implements is disclosed herein preferably comprising the steps of: attaching at least one tool-grip-holder to a band; securing the band around a wrist or an arm; inserting one or more implements in at least one of the tool-grip-holders located about the outer periphery of the band; removing a tool from its tool-grip-holder and using the implement; and finally re-inserting the tool in an empty tool-grip-holder. When the project is complete, the user may remove the Wonderband system and store it until its next use. 
         [0014]    The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a tool-securing armband system. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, Wonderband system, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  show perspective views illustrating a tool-securing armband system for securing and transporting multiple hand-held implements in an in-use condition according to embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view illustrating the tool-securing armband system with a plurality of tool-grip-holders molded together in a single unit for securing and transporting brushes according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
           [0018]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view illustrating the tool-securing armband system with cone-shaped-tip-holders and a sleeve-slit-holder in a single molded unit for securing and transporting styling utensils according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
           [0019]      FIGS. 3A-3E  are perspective views illustrating sliding individual tool-grip-holders of the tool-securing armband system including: a small tool-grip-holder ( FIG. 3A ) in profile, a medium tool-grip-holder ( FIG. 3B ) in profile, a large tool-grip-holder ( FIG. 3C ) in profile, a cone-shaped-tip-holder ( FIG. 3D ) in profile, and an individual tool-grip-holder unit in plan view according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
           [0020]      FIG. 3F  is a perspective view illustrating a band of the tool-securing armband system with an attacher and a receiver of a hook-and-loop design according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
           [0021]      FIG. 3G  is a perspective view illustrating the band of the tool-securing armband system with an attacher and a receiver of a frame-and-prong buckle design according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the tool-securing armband system with individual tool-grip-holder units such as a cone-shaped-tip-holder, a small tool-grip-holder, a medium tool-grip-holder, and a large tool-grip-holder according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  3 A- 3 G. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a method of use for the tool-securing armband system according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1A-3G . 
       
    
    
       [0024]    The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a tool-securing armband device and more particularly to Wonderband systems as used to improve the efficiency of storing and transporting multiple hand-held implements when completing projects. 
         [0026]    Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , perspective views illustrating tool-securing armband system  100  for securing and transporting multiple hand-held implement(s)  105  in an in-use condition according to embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0027]    Tool-securing armband system  100  preferably comprises: at least one band  110  made up of outer surface  112  and inner surface  111 ; and at least one tool-grip-holder  140 , wherein tool-grip-holder  140  is attached to band  110  preferably extending from outer surface  112  while inner surface  111  is worn adjacent a skin surface of user-wearer  180 . Within this particular embodiment, tool-securing armband system  100  may be worn by user-wearer  180  and is adapted to hold hand-held implement(s)  105  in tool-grip-holder(s)  140  such that user-wearer  180  may easily access hand-held implement(s)  105  during at least one wearing period. 
         [0028]    Within the present embodiment, tool-securing armband system  100  may provide convenient access to styling utensil(s)  120 , brush(es)  125 , writing instrument(s)  126  and the like, via band  110  secured around the wrist or arm of user-wearer  180 . Alternate versions of tool-securing armband system  100 , however, may be attachable to other body members of a user-wearer  180 , such as a leg or hip. Band  110  may support silicone rubber grip(s)  130 , or tool-grip-holder(s)  140 , into which user-wearer  180  may insert at least one hand-held implement  105  necessary to complete a project. The size, shape, and placement of the silicone rubber grip(s)  130  may vary depending on the use of band  110 . For hair stylists, band  110  may support at least one sleeve-slit-holder  142  capable of retaining at least one comb  121  and at least one cone-shaped-tip-holder  141  capable of retaining at least one scissors  122 . Sleeve-slit-holder  142  may comprise a rounded arch with a cutout in the center. In preferred embodiments, tool-grip-holder(s)  140  may be raised from band  110  for easy gripping. One or more tool-grip-holder(s)  140  may be affixed to a hair stylist band  110  for various other necessary tools. For makeup artists, tool-grip-holder(s)  140  may be placed around band  110  to retain assorted brush(es)  125  of varying sizes. Tool-securing armband system  100  may be manufactured in a variety of colors and designs to suit user-wearer  180  preferences. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 2A , a perspective view illustrating tool-securing armband system  100  with a plurality of tool-grip-holder(s)  140  molded together in a single molded unit  150  for securing and transporting brush(es)  125  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
         [0030]    Tool-securing armband system  100 , in a preferred embodiment, may retain myriad types of hand-held implement(s)  105  such as writing instrument(s)  126 , scissors  122 , comb(s)  121 , and brush(es)  125  (those for make-up application, painting, etc.). To accommodate these hand-held implement(s)  105 , tool-grip-holder(s)  140  of the present invention are preferably manufactured in one of two forms: single molded unit(s)  150  or individual tool-grip-holder unit(s)  151 . A plurality of tool-grip-holder(s)  140  may be produced in single molded unit  150  in which at least one inner volume  164  is formed that may be capable of retaining at least one hand-held implement  105 . Individual tool-grip-holder unit(s)  151  may be produced with only one inner volume  164 , one cone-shaped-tip-holder  141 , or one sleeve-slit-holder  142 , making each individual tool-grip-holder unit  151  capable of being used by user-wearer  180  alone or in conjunction with other various tool-grip-holder(s)  140 . User-wearer(s)  180  may slide at least one tool-grip-holder  140  onto band  110  to construct tool-securing armband system  100  customized to user-wearer  180  preferences. Alternately, at least one tool-grip-holder  140  may be permanently connected to outer surface  112  of band  110  during manufacture. Those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that upon reading this specification and by their understanding the art of connecting materials during manufacture as described herein, methods of material connecting/binding/joining will be understood by those knowledgeable in such art. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 2B , a perspective view illustrating tool-securing armband system  100  with cone-shaped-tip-holder(s)  141  and sleeve-slit-holder  142  in a single molded unit  150  for securing and transporting styling utensil(s)  120  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
         [0032]    Tool-securing armband system  100  of the present embodiment contains at least one sleeve-slit-holder  142  and at least one cone-shaped-tip-holder  141  for removably securing at least one comb  121  and at least one scissors  122 , respectively. Sleeve-slit-holder  142  may preferably constitute an arch-shaped member profile raise-offset from outer surface  112  of band  110 . In preferred embodiments, tool-grip-holder(s)  140  may be formed of silicone rubber utilizing injection molding to create a desired shape and size. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc., other component arrangements such as, for example, plastic, foam, metal, etc., may be sufficient. Those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that upon reading this specification and by their understanding the art of molding or casting as described herein, methods of molding or casting will be understood by those knowledgeable in such art. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3A-3E , perspective views illustrating sliding individual tool-grip-holder unit(s)  151  of tool-securing armband system  100  including: small tool-grip-holder  143  ( FIG. 3A ) in profile, medium tool-grip-holder  144  ( FIG. 3B ) in profile, large tool-grip-holder  145  ( FIG. 3C ) in profile, cone-shaped-tip-holder  141  ( FIG. 3D ) in profile, and individual tool-grip-holder unit  151  in plan view according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
         [0034]    In certain embodiments, tool-grip-holder(s)  140  may be comprised of at least one cylindrically-shaped ring  161  with outer circumference  162  and inner circumference  163 . Inner circumference  163  defines inner volume  164  in which various hand-held implement(s)  105  may be secured in a friction-fit manner within the confines of inner volume  164  abutting inner circumference  163 . Tool-securing armband system  100  may comprise tool-grip-holder(s)  140  with inner volume  164  of varying sizes. At least one (but allowing for combinations of) small tool-grip-holder  143 , and/or medium tool-grip-holder  144 , and/or large tool-grip-holder  145  may be assembled to securely retain hand-held implement(s)  105  of varying sizes and profiles. While cylindrically-shaped ring  161  and inner circumference  163  are circular in this embodiment, inner circumference  163  may be formed in any other shape conducive to securely retaining hand-held implement(s)  105  (rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, etc.). 
         [0035]    Tool-grip-holder  140  of the preferred embodiment, when in the form of individual tool-grip-holder unit  151 , comprises at least one notch  160 , preferably in the form of a rectangular void. In other embodiments, notch  160  may take the shape of an elliptical, circular, etc. void. Band  110  may be placed through notch  160  of at least one tool-grip-holder  140  in this embodiment, and tool-grip-holder  140  may be placed along band  110  at a desired location in conjunction to any other tool-grip-holder(s)  140  attached to band  110 . In this way, tool-securing armband system  100  may be customized with the number, type, size, shape, color, etc. of tool-grip-holder(s)  140  user-wearer  180  chooses to attach to band  110 . 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3F and 3G  perspective views illustrating band  110  of tool-securing armband system  100  with attacher  170  and receiver  171  of hook-and-loop  175  design and that of a frame-and-prong buckle  174  design, respectively, according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
         [0037]    Tool-securing armband system  100  of the present embodiment preferably consists of band  110 , which comprises at least one length of hook-and-loop fastener  175 , nylon, leather, canvas, woven fabric or the like. Within this particular embodiment, band  110  may comprise first end  113  and second end  114  (as shown), and in other variations band  110  may comprise an uninterrupted loop design. First end  113  preferably comprises attacher  170  and second end  114  preferably comprises receiver  171 . First end  113  and second end  114  may be removably coupleable to each other. In the present embodiment, first end  113  comprises hook(s)  172  and second end  114  comprises loop(s)  173 , creating hook-and-loop fastener  175 . In certain embodiments, frame-and-prong buckle  174  may be used as fastening means for first end  113  and second end  114 . Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc., other fastening arrangements such as, for example, snaps, buttons, clasps, etc., may be sufficient. 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating tool-securing armband system  100  with individual tool-grip-holder unit(s)  151  such as cone-shaped-tip-holder  141 , small tool-grip holder  143 , medium tool-grip-holder  144 , and large tool-grip holder  145  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  3 A- 3 G. 
         [0039]    Individual tool-grip-holder unit(s)  151  of the present embodiment are preferably slide-mounted to band  110 . This allows user-wearer  180  to arrange, securely attach, and easily detach each tool-grip holder  140  in order to achieve the most efficient arrangement to meet the needs of user-wearer  180 . Though notch(es)  160  allow for the slide-mounting of individual tool-grip-holder unit(s)  151  in the preferred embodiment, other securing means may be employed. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc., other securing arrangements such as, for example, clips, snaps, etc., may be sufficient. 
         [0040]    Tool-securing armband system  100  may be sold as kit  240  comprising the following parts: at least one band  110  at least one tool-grip-holder  140 ; and at least one set of user instructions. Tool-securing armband system  100  may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient. 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a method of use  500  for tool-securing armband system  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1A-3G . 
         [0042]    A method of using (at least hereby enabling method of use  500 ) a tool-securing armband system  100  preferably comprising the steps of: step one  501  attaching at least one tool-grip-holder  140  to band  110 ; step two  502  securing band  110  about a wrist or arm of user-wearer  180 ; step three  503  inserting at least one hand-held implement  105  in at least one tool-grip-holder  140 , tool-grip-holder  140  located about an outer periphery of band  110 ; and step four  504  removing, using, and re-inserting at least one hand-held-implement  105  while working on at least one project. Method of use  500  preferably further comprises the step of: step five  505  removing band  110 . 
         [0043]    It should be noted that steps  501  and  504  are optional steps and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method  500  are illustrated using dotted lines in  FIG. 5  so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method  500 . 
         [0044]    It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient. 
         [0045]    The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.