Abstract:
A wearable sports wallet comprises a lightweight washable band which may be worn around a wrist or ankle during recreational and athletic activities. The band comprises a compartment for receiving and storing small personal items therein and closure means for securing items within the compartment.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application claims priority of prior provisional Application Ser. No. 60/677,404 filed May 3, 2005, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to sporting apparel, and more particularly to a wearable sports wallet providing a sealable compartment for storage of personal items.  
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Persons engaging in recreational and athletic activities often need to carry identification, a key, money, and/or other personal items. For example, a jogger or cyclist may carry a house key, a driver&#39;s license, and a small amount of money while out jogging or cycling. Similarly, a person working out at a health club may need to carry a locker key or access card while working out. In addition to sporting activities, persons participating in recreational activities at a park or on a beach often need a place to store and carry personal items. Heretofore the options available for carrying and storing such items include placing the items in a clothing pocket, placing the items in a belt-like accessory commonly called a “fanny pack”, placing the items in a container attached to a lanyard and wearing the container around the neck, attaching a container to a piece of sporting equipment, placing the item(s) in a sock, or pinning a key or similar item to an article of clothing.  
         [0004]     Each of the aforementioned options has disadvantages. Placing items inside clothing pockets or socks often causes discomfort and can result in loss or displacement of the item. Wearable accessories such as a fanny pack or a lanyard provide more security and cause less discomfort but often contribute undesirable bulk and weight. Containers secured to items other than the athlete or the athlete&#39;s clothing such as a bicycle or towel are easily displaced or lost during athletic or recreational activities.  
         [0005]     The present invention comprises a wearable sport wallet which overcomes the foregoing and other difficulties which have long since characterized the prior art. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, the sports wallet comprises a sealable compartment enclosed in a band which may be worn around a wrist or ankle.  
         [0006]     In accordance with more specific aspects of the invention, the sports wallet of the present invention comprises a band fabricated from a lightweight, washable material which may be worn around a wrist or ankle during sports or recreational activities. Fasteners located on each end of the band secure the band in place around either the wrist or ankle. A pocket compartment located near the center of the band provides storage and security for small personal items such as a key or money. A zipper or other closure seals the compartment preventing items from being lost or displaced once secured therein. The band is worn around a wrist or ankle, eliminating the need to carry or wear any additional containers for securing small items.  
         [0007]     The sports wallet of the present invention may also comprise additional features and accessories such as a timepiece secured on the outside of the band and the like. An additional closure means may also be provided as a safety latch thereby preventing the wallet from being disengaged from a wearer&#39;s arm or ankle in the event that the if the primary fasteners are unintentionally disengaged. The additional closure means may also be used in lieu of the primary fastenings means.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, wherein:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sports wallet comprising a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the sports wallet shown in  FIG. 1  being worn around a wrist;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the sports wallet shown in  FIG. 1  being worn around an ankle;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a sports wallet shown in  FIG. 1  utilizing an alternative closure mechanism;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the sport wallet shown in  FIG. 1  comprising an additional component;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the sports wallet shown in  FIG. 1  comprising an additional fastening means; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is view similar to  FIG. 6  illustrating the sports wallet having an alternative embodiment of the additional fastening means.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     Referring now to the Drawings, and particularly to  FIGS. 1 through 4  thereof, there is shown a sports wallet  10  comprising one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  illustrates the sports wallet  10  being worn around a wrist  12  and  FIG. 3  illustrates the sports wallet  10  being worn around an ankle  14 .  
         [0017]     The wallet  10  comprises a band  16  which wraps around the wrist  12  or ankle  14  and secures together at each end by fasteners  18  located on opposite sides of the ends thereof. The band includes a pocket compartment  20 . Items are placed inside the compartment  20  which comprises a closure mechanism  22  thereby keeping the enclosed items secure. The closure mechanism  22  may be a zipper as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3  or a hook-and-loop fastener of the type sold under the trademark “VELCRO”® as shown in  FIG. 4 . Other suitable fasteners known to those skilled in the art of manufacturing athletic apparel may also be used in the practice of the invention.  
         [0018]     The band  16  is shown constructed from two pieces of material sewn together along the edges thereof. Alternatively, the band  16  may be constructed using one solid piece of material folded over and sewn together along each edge thereof. The band  16  may fabricated from a lightweight, machine washable textile such as nylon, cotton, or other textile material known to those skilled in the art of manufacturing athletic apparel.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  illustrates the sports wallet  10  further comprising a timepiece  30  fastened thereto.  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  illustrates the sports wallet  10  further comprising a safety latch  40  providing an additional fastening means for the sports wallet  10 . The safety latch  40  comprises a buckle  42  which receives a strap  44  having a plurality of apertures  46  therein. The buckle  42  is secured to the band  16  by a loop  48  which surrounds the proximal end of the buckle  42  and is thereafter sewn onto the band  16 . The buckle may be fabricated from metals, plastics, and other suitable materials known to those skilled in the art of manufacturing sports wear. The loop  48  and strap  44  may be fabricated from textiles, plastics, leathers, synthetic materials, and other suitable materials known to those skilled in the art of manufacturing sports wear.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  illustrates the sport wallet  10  further comprising an alternative safety latch  50 . The alternative safety latch comprises a male connecting member  52  which is received by a female connecting member  54 . The male connecting member  52  is secured to the band  16  by a loop  56  which surrounds the proximal end of the male connecting member  52  and is thereafter sewn onto the band  16 . The female connecting member is secured to the band  16  by an adjustable strap  58  sewn thereon. A buckle  60  is slidably secured around the strap  58  such that the strap  58  may be adjusted to different lengths thereby facilitating the adjustment of the sports wallet  10  for a tighter or looser fit around the wrist  12  or ankle  14 .  
         [0022]     Alternative to the sports wallet  10  comprising both the fasteners  18  and either the safety latch  40  or the alternative safety latch  50  as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the sports wallet may also be configured utilizing only the safety latch  40  or the alternative safety latch  50  as the means for securing the sports wallet around a wrist or ankle.  
         [0023]     The sports wallet of the present invention has been illustrated with one compartment incorporated therein. The sports wallet of the present invention may also be configured to comprise multiple compartments. The sports wallet may also be configured to incorporate other accessories such as a small light source or radio and ornaments such as a logo or other similar ornamentation.  
         [0024]     Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.