A wristband play-call system includes a wristband with one or more wristband connection points along an external surface of the wristband. The wristband play-call system further provides an insert display a space for receiving and retaining an insert between a first surface and a second surface of the insert display. The first surface has a transparent layer, and the second surface has a one or more display connection points configured to removably associate with the one or more wristband connection points. Whereby the insert display can be selectively removed from the wristband.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sports accessories and, more particularly, a separable play-call wristband system.

A play calling system in sports is the specific language and methods used to call offensive plays. A play caller, say, the quarterback in American football, frequently will wear a sheet of play calls on their wristband, aptly named a “play-call wristband”, to reference in the huddle and/or before running the play.

Prior art play-call wristbands provide a wristband and a play-call sheet that are inseparable. It is made up of a sweatband (wristband) integrated with a clear insert display, wherein play-call sheets are inserted for the athlete to reference during games. After the game, the play-call wristband needs to be cleaned to remove odors and kill germs prior to the next use. Being inseparable, current play-call wristbands need to be washed in their entirety, after removing all the insertable play-call sheets. This is very time-consuming because one must not only remove all the play-call sheets in the plastic but also re-insert them prior to their subsequent use. Also, the dryer can cause the plastic of the clear insert display to melt and become sticky and distorted, making them very hard to clean and, in turn, more and more difficult to read through each subsequent use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a wristband play-call system includes a wristband having one or more wristband connection points along an external surface of the wristband; and an insert display sleeve having a transparent layer and a connection layer, wherein the transparent layer and the connection layer are joined to define open end for receiving end an insert between the transparent layer and the connection layer whereby play-call indicia provided by the insert is visible through the transparent layer, wherein the connection layer has a one or more display connection points configured to removably connect with the one or more wristband connection points.

In another aspect of the present invention, the wristband play-call system further includes wherein the transparent layer and the connection layer are substantially coextensive and align when joined, wherein opposite said open end is a closed end, wherein the connection layer has a first surface facing the transparent layer and a second surface facing away from the transparent layer, and the one or more display connection points are only on the second surface, wherein the wristband has an external surface comprising a first half and a second half, wherein the one or more wristband connection points is a singular wristband connection area that covers at least three-fourths of the firs half of the external surface, wherein the one or more display connection points is a singular display connection area substantially coextensive with the singular wristband connection area, and wherein the one or more display and wristband connection points are hook and loop fasteners or snaps.

In the wristband play-call system further includes wherein the transparent layer and the connection layer are pivotable joined along a shared edge so that the transparent layer is movable between an open position for receiving the insert and a closed position for retaining the insert, wherein the transparent layer and the connection layer are joined along three shared edges so as to provide one open end for receiving the insert, wherein the connection layer has a first surface facing the transparent layer and a second surface facing away from the transparent layer, and the one or more display connection points are only on the second surface, wherein the wristband is a sleeve having an external surface comprising a first half and a second half, wherein the one or more wristband connection points is a singular wristband connection area that covers at least three-fourths of the first half of the external surface, wherein the one or more display connection points is a singular display connection area substantially coextensive with the singular wristband connection area; further including complementary fasteners on the transparent layer and the connection layer that are dimensioned and disposed to form a locked engagement in the closed position; a connection pocket and associated pocket opening along the first surface of the connection layer; and a transparent pocket and associated pocket opening along an inward surface of the transparent layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a wristband play-call system providing a wristband with one or more wristband connection points along an external surface thereof. The wristband play-call system provides an insert display defining a space for receiving and retaining an insert therein wherein the insert display has a transparent layer through which the insert is substantially visible therethrough. The insert display screen provides one or more display connection points configured to removably connect with the one or more wristband connection points. As a result, the insert display can be selectively removed from the wristband when needed; for example, when a user just wants to wash the wristband and not the insert display.

Referring now toFIGS.1through3, the present invention may include a separable play-call wristband system100comprising an insert display portion10and a wristband portion20which are dimensioned and adapted to removable attach to each other. The insert display portion10may be a sleeve with one closed end14and an opposing open end16for slidably received or sheathing one or more inserts. At least one surface of the insert display portion10is transparent so that the insert is visible when sheathed in the insert display portion10. The remaining surface of the insert display portion10may be non-transparent. The wristband portion20may be a sleeve with two open ends for slidably received a hand and forearm through.

The insert display portion10may provide an upper surface18that is substantially transparent, thereby providing a window into the sheathed insert. The opposing lower surface19of the insert display portion10provides one or more display connectors12. The wristband portion20provides one or more wristband connectors22, wherein the display and wristband connectors12and22are dimensioned, adapted, sized and configured to removable attach to each other, forming the attached condition. Likewise, the display and wristband connectors12and22are configured so that the insert display portion10and the wristband portion20can each be moved to a separated condition. The separated condition would allow the insert display portion10to be moved to another wristband portion20, thereby enabling the wristband portion20to be washed separate from the insert display portion10.

Referring toFIG.4, the insert display portion10may have an alternative configuration, where only one of its four edges are joined so that the upper surface18can pivot away from the lower surface19, relative that joined edge13, much like a page of a book is movably relative to an adjacent page. As a result, there is need to slidably insert the insert between the upper and lower surfaces18and19. Complementary fasteners15A and15B may be present along, say, an edge opposing the joined edge13, so that when the upper surface19is moved to sandwich the insert, the upper and lower surfaces are removable connected. Accordingly, in this embodiment, there is no closed end14and an opposing open end16with two closed/joined side/longitudinal edges, as only one longitudinal edge is joined (joined edge13) while the other ends/edges are not joined.

The lower surface19may provide a transparent pocket32accessible by way of a pocket opening30for enabling a user to slide an insert into the pocket32, thereby providing two methods of retaining, possibly differently valued inserts, between the upper and lower surfaces18and19—i.e., (a) inserted into the pocket32and (b) outside the pocket32but otherwise retained by the upper surface18being closed over the lower surface19and secured by the complementary fasteners15A and15B. Note, the upper surface18may also have a pocket with an opening, as shown inFIG.4.

The first and second connectors12and22may be male and female buttons or any type of removable fastener (e.g., hook and loop fasteners, adhesives, zippers, etc.) that can removably connect one object to another so that the invention functions are herein disclosed.

Accordingly, the separable play-call wristband system100can be used by athletes to keep track of play calls from their coach, with the above-mentioned advantages. Play-call wristbands are commonly used in tackle and flag football but can be used in any sport that could benefit from a cheat sheet for relaying and quickly comprehending play calls. And, unlike current play-call wristbands, a user would not have to wash the entire wristband and time-consumingly remove all the play-call sheets in the clear insert display.

As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number. And the term “substantially” refers to up to 80% or more of an entirety. Recitation of ranges of values herein are not intended to be limiting, referring instead individually to all values falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated, and each separate value within such a range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “aligned” means parallel, substantially parallel, or forming an angle of less than 35.0 degrees. For purposes of this disclosure, the term “transverse” means perpendicular, substantially perpendicular, or forming an angle between 55.0 and 125.0 degrees. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “length” means the longest dimension of an object. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “width” means the dimension of an object from side to side. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “above” generally means superjacent, substantially superjacent, or higher than another object although not directly overlying the object. Further, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “mechanical communication” generally refers to components being in direct physical contact with each other or being in indirect physical contact with each other where movement of one component affect the position of the other.

The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (“e.g.,” “such as,” or the like) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the embodiments or the claims. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosed embodiments.