Abstract:
A detachable wrist coach has a detachable sheet of football plays in a transparent pocket joined to a sweatband by hook-and-loop fasteners. The detachable sheet can be separated from the sweatband so that the sweatband can be cleaned without degrading the transparent pocket or getting water into it. The hook-and-loop fasteners may have a fold over configuration for greater strength while still retaining the ability to be pealed apart.

Description:
COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK NOTICE 
       [0001]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material to which a claim for copyright is made. 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 reserves all other copyright rights whatsoever. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]      FIG. 1  displays a sports wristband  100  based on US patent application US2011/0167536, “Sports Wristband with Layered Transparent Pockets” (Kellerhals). Said wristband comprises a sweatband  102 , a transparent pocket  104 , and a transparent pocket flap  106 . The transparent pocket is fixedly joined to the sweatband. The transparent pocket flap is hingedly joined  112  to the transparent pocket. Said flap comprises layered transparent windows  114  and a first sheet fastening portion  116 . Said sweatband comprises a second sheet fastening portion  118  which corresponds to said first sheet fastening portion on said flap. Thus said flap can be reversibly closed and opened depending upon if the user does or does not want visual access to said first transparent pocket and/or the bottom of said second transparent pocket. Said sheet fastening portions may comprise Velcro® hook and loop joining cloth. Velcro® is a registered trademark of Velcro Industries B. V. 
         [0003]    Sweatbands similar to Kellerhals&#39; have been used in American football to hold and display cards with different plays imprinted upon them. A “play” is a planned series of movements by the members of a team. The leader of the team, the Quarterback, may consult said wristband and instruct the other members of the team on which play is to be executed next. Sweatbands used in this manner are termed “wrist coaches”. 
         [0004]    American football is a vigorous sport that is often played outdoors and in rainy weather. Thus the sweatbands on wrist coaches can become quite soiled and require frequent cleaning. Unfortunately, the transparent pockets on said wrist coaches are degraded by normal washing. The transparent plastic films of said pockets may become cloudy  122  or may trap water  124  after washing. Thus wrist coaches only last for a few wash cycles and must be replaced frequently. If wrist coaches are not washed frequently, then the soiled sweatbands can become sources of infection. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The summary of the invention is provided as a guide to understanding the invention. It does not necessarily describe the most generic embodiment of the invention. The inventions described herein may be used in any sport or any activity where a user wishes to have a detachable sheet mounted on a sweatband. It may be used, for example, in construction or military applications. The sweatband may be mounted on any appropriate body part, such as a wrist or ankle. 
       Concept 
       [0006]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a Detachable Wrist Coach  200  mounted on a user&#39;s arm  202 . A detachable wrist coach comprises a tubular sweatband  204  and at least one detachable sheet  206 . The sheet may be a transparent pocket. There may also be one or more flaps  207  attached to said sheet. The sweatband comprises at least a first sheet fastening portion  208 , such as a Velcro strip. Said detachable sheet comprises a corresponding second sheet fastening portion  209 . Thus, said sheet may be reversibly attachable to said sweatband such that said sheet can be removed and the sweatband can be washed separately. 
         [0007]      FIG. 2B  shows said detachable wrist coach  200  on said user&#39;s arm with said sheet and flap attached thereto  212 . 
       Construction 
       [0008]      FIG. 3A  shows a top view of an exemplary sweatband  300 . The sweatband comprises a sleeve  302  and one or more first sheet fastening portions  304 ,  305 ,  306 . The sleeve may be tapered or straight. Three fastening portions are illustrated but there may be as few as one or as many as can be conveniently provided, such five, seven or an arbitrarily large number. The sleeve may comprise water absorbing material, such as cotton. The sleeve may comprise elastic material such as spandex. There may be gaps  308  between said first sheet fastening portions. 
         [0009]      FIG. 3B  shows a bottom view of an exemplary detachable sheet  310 . Said sheet comprises one or more second sheet fastening portions  312 ,  313 ,  314 . There may be gaps  316  therebetween. 
         [0010]      FIG. 3C  shows an end view of a detachable wrist coach  320  which comprises the sweatband  300  of  FIG. 3A  expanded to an open shape with a detachable sheet  310  just above it. The open shape of the sweatband may be described by a radius of curvature  322  that corresponds to the radius of curvature of a user&#39;s arm. Said radius of curvature may vary from one end of the sweatband to the other when it is worn by said user according to the relative diameters of different portions of said user&#39;s arm. The first sheet fastening portions  304 ,  305 ,  306  may have an expanded spacing  324  therebetween depending upon how large said user&#39;s arm is along the length of the sweatband. 
         [0011]    The detachable sheet  310  may comprise a transparent pocket  328  and said second sheet fastening portions  312 ,  313 ,  314 . A sheet of paper  326  may be inserted in said transparent pocket. The sheet of paper may have plays imprinted upon it. 
         [0012]      FIG. 3D  shows the detachable wrist coach of  FIG. 3C  after the detachable sheet has been attached to the sweatband. The top of said detachable sheet  332  is then curved when worn by a user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a prior art sports wristband. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a detachable wrist coach. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 3A to 3D  illustrate a detachable wrist coach with a detachable sheet 
           [0016]      FIGS. 4A to 4B  illustrate a detachable wrist coach with recessed fastening portions. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5A to 5D  illustrate a detachable wrist coach with a flap. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 6A to 6D  illustrate a detachable wrist coach with two flaps. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 7A to 7B  illustrated a detachable wrist coach with a recess in the sweatband. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of the wrist coach of  FIGS. 7A and 7B . 
           [0021]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  show a perspective view of a wrist coach with a detachable sheet whose bottom is flush with the top of a sweatband. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    The detailed description describes non-limiting exemplary embodiments. Any individual features may be combined with other features as required by different applications for at least the benefits described herein. As used herein, the term “about” means plus or minus 10% of a given value unless specifically indicated otherwise. 
       Wrist Coach with Recessed Fastening Portions 
       [0023]      FIG. 4A  shows a detachable wrist coach  400  comprising a sweatband  404  and a detachable sheet  402  shown just above it. The construction is similar to the detachable wrist coach  320  of  FIG. 3C . The sweatband in this case has at least the same thickness  406  as the first sheet fastening portions  408 . Furthermore, said first sheet fastening portion may be recessed within said sweatband such that the top of the first sheet fastening portion  412  is below or flush with the top of said sweatband  414 . Thus the detachable sheet  402  will lay flat on said sweatband  404  when joined to said sweatband as shown in  FIG. 4B . 
       Wrist Coach with Flap 
       [0024]      FIGS. 5A through 5D  illustrate an alternative detachable wrist coach where the detachable sheet comprises a flap.  FIG. 5A  shows the top of a detachable sheet  500 . The detachable sheet comprises a pocket with a transparent window  502  for viewing a sheet of paper retained therein. The detachable sheet further comprises a first flap fastening portion  504  mounted on a frame  506 . The frame may be a flexible material, such as a vinyl sheet. The items may be held together by stitching, gluing or other suitable joining means. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5B  shows the bottom of a flap  510 . Said flap is to be hingedly joined to said sheet. Said flap comprises back-to-back transparent windows  512 ,  514  held together in a frame  516  to form a flap pocket. Said flap pocket is transparent therethrough so that sheets held therein can be viewed from one side or the other. Said flap comprises a second flap fastening portion  518  that corresponds to said first flap fastening portion. 
         [0026]      FIG. 5C  shows a detachable wrist coach  520  comprising a sweatband  302 , a detachable sheet  500  and a flap  510 . The detachable sheet is shown above the sweatband. The flap and detachable sheet are joined together by a hinge  526  and said flap fastening portions  504 ,  518 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 5D  shows the detachable wrist coach  520  of  FIG. 5C  with the detachable sheet  500  attached to the sweatband  302  and the flap  510  open. In order for the user to open the flap without removing detachable sheet from the sweatband, the peel strength of the flap fastening portions should be less than the peel strength of the sheet fastening portions. This can be accomplished by having the flap fastening portions have a more narrow width  522  than the width  524  of a sheet fastening portion. The flap fastening portion may also have a smaller area than the sheet fastening portion. The unit peel strength of the flap fastening portions can also be less than the unit peel strength of the sheet fastening portion. Unit peel strength may be expressed as Newtons/cm. 
       Wrist Coach with Two Flaps 
       [0028]      FIGS. 6A through 6D  illustrate an alternative detachable wrist coach which comprises two flaps.  FIG. 6A  shows the top of a first flap  600 . Said first flap is similar in construction to the flap  510  of  FIG. 5B . The top of said first flap comprises back-to-back transparent windows  604  to form a pocket for holding sheets indicating plays therein and a frame  606 . The frame, however, additionally comprises a first top flap fastening portions  608 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 6B  shows the bottom of a second flap  610 . Said second flap is similar in construction to said first flap with second top flap fastening portions  612 . The width  614  of said top flap fastening portions is less than the width of the flap fastening portions  504 ,  518  ( FIG. 5C ) so that the peel strength of the second flap from the first flap will be less than the peel strength of the first flap from the detachable sheet. Hence a user can independently open the first flap and the second flap. 
         [0030]      FIG. 6C  shows a detachable wrist coach  620  with a detachable sheet  500 , a first flap  600  and a second flap  610  all positioned above a sweatband  302 . The second flap is joined to the first flap with a second hinge  622  and said top flap fastening portions  608 ,  612 . The first flap is joined to the detachable sheet with a first hinge  624  and with said flap fastening portions  504 ,  518 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 6D  shows the detachable wrist coach  620  of  FIG. 6C  with the detachable sheet  500  attached to the sweatband  302  and the top flap  610  open. 
       Wrist Coach with Flush Top Leaf 
       [0032]      FIG. 7A  illustrates a wrist coach  700  with a deeply recessed chamber  712  in a tubular sweatband  710 . The depth  714  of the recess is about the same as the depth  704  of the detachable sheet  740  and any flaps  702  that are placed in it. Thus as shown in  FIG. 7B , when a detachable sheet and flap are placed in the recess, the top surface  722  of the flap is about flush with the top surface  724  of the sweatband. The thickness of the sweatband  715  ( FIG. 7A ) does not have to be uniform. It could be narrower, for example, in the back. 
         [0033]      FIG. 7A  also illustrates a laterally conformable hinge  703 . This might be a flexible piece of cloth. Referring to  FIG. 7B , the laterally conformable hinge can shift when the leaf and detachable sheet are bent so that the flap fastening portions  732  can remain aligned. 
         [0034]      FIG. 7A  also illustrates a first fold-over fastening portion  716  attached to the wristband  710  and a second fold-over fastening portion  706  attached to an edge of a detachable sheet  740 . The first fold-over fastening portion comprises a fold-over hinge  718 , such as a flexible section of cloth. It may also simply be a folded portion of the loop fabric of a hook-and-loop fastening cloth. The second fold-over fastening portion comprises a sheet hinge  708 . This might also be a cloth. The second fold-over fastening portion comprises a front and a back side, each of which can join to the first fold-over fastening portion. The front and back sides might be two back-to-back pieces of the hook fabric of a hook-and-loop fastening cloth. Conversely, the first fold-over fastening portion can comprise a hook fabric and the second fold over fastening portion can comprise back to back pieces of loop fabric. Any combination of hook and loop fabrics may be suitable. The wrist band may comprise a first closure portion  744  spaced apart from the first fold-over fastening portion. The detachable sheet may comprise a second closure portion  742  spaced apart from said second fold-over fastening portion and opposite of said first closure portion. The wristband may or may not have a recess  712 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 7B , when the detachable wrist coach is assembled  720 , the first fold-over fastening portion folds over the second fold-over fastening portion to form a sandwich structure  726  which is particularly resistant to being pulled off, but can be relatively easily opened and peeled off by a user. When the detachable sheet  740  is folded against the wrist band, the first closure portion  744  joins with the second closure portion  742 . The first closure portion and second closure portion may be a hook-and-loop fastener. 
         [0036]      FIG. 7A  also illustrates a tab  705  placed on the flap. Referring to  FIG. 7B , the tab may extend over the sweatband to assist a user in peeling open the flap to view the detachable sheet below. 
         [0037]      FIG. 8  illustrates the wrist coach  700  of  FIGS. 7A and 7B  mounted on a user&#39;s arm  802 . The sweatband  804  has a recessed portion  806  and first sheet joining portions attached at the bottom thereof. A first fold-over fastening portion  808  and second fold-over fastening portion  814  are provided. When mounted with said recess, the top of the leaf  812  will be about flush with the top of the sweatband. Similar first and second fold over fastening portions  208  and  209  are shown in  FIG. 2A . 
       Wrist Coach with Lay-Flat Detachable Sheet 
       [0038]      FIG. 9A  illustrates a sweatband  904  mounted on a user&#39;s arm  902  with recessed portions  906  for the first sheet fastening portions. Referring to  FIG. 9B , the first sheet fastening portions  912  fit into said recesses such that the detachable sheet  914  lays flat on top of the sweatband. This provides a very comfortable fit to the user. 
       Example 
       [0039]    A detachable wrist coach was made according to the design described in  FIGS. 3A to 3D and 5A to 5D . The sweatband  300  was made of a smooth cotton/spandex material. When unstretched, it had a uniform circumference of about 20 cm and a length of about 13 cm. When it was fully stretched, the circumference was about 28 cm. The sheet fastening portions  304 ,  305 ,  306 ,  312 ,  313 , and  314  were three Velcro strips. Each strip was about 2 cm wide by about 12.5 cm long. The spacing between the Velcro strips was about 1 cm. The window  502  in the detachable sheet had a width of about 7 cm and a length of about 12 cm. The windows  512  and  514  in the flap were similarly dimensioned. The flap fastening portions  504  and  518  were Velcro strips. The Velcro strips were about 1 cm wide by 12 cm long. 
         [0040]    The detachable wrist coach was worn by a user during an American football practice. The detachable sheet stayed on during practice and said Quarterback could open and close said flap without said detachable sheet coming off the sweatband. After the practice, the sweatband was detached from the sheet and washed. The detachable sheet and flap were wiped clean without the transparent pockets becoming cloudy or water getting trapped between them. 
       Alternative Embodiments 
       [0041]    The sheet fastening portions can be any joining method that is attachable and detachable by hand. Sheet fastening portions, for example, may be snaps, sticky tape, magnetic closures, buttons, interlocking plastic closure strips, such as those found on Ziploc® food storage bags. Ziploc is a registered trademark of S. C. Johnson &amp; Son, Inc. For sheet fastening portions that are either fully closed or fully open, such as snaps, the opening force as opposed to peel strength is the appropriate design parameter to allow, for example, the opening of a flap without removal of a detachable sheet from a sweatband. 
       CONCLUSION 
       [0042]    Having thus described a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims. The disclosures and the description herein are intended to be illustrative and are not in any sense limiting of the invention, defined in scope by the following claims. Any features described herein may be combined with any other feature to provide the benefits indicated for each feature.