Abstract:
The disclosure describes a pouch assembly attachable to an animal or a person, The pouch assembly has a containment pouch having an openable and closable opening to allow a material to be placed inside the pouch. The pouch assembly has an adjustable strap attachable to the pouch and to a body part or an accessory of an animal or a person. The pouch assembly has a first fastener on one end of the strap and a second fastener on another end of the strap, the pair of fasteners releasably coupled to securely attach the pouch assembly to the animal or the person and to keep the material from falling out. The material held in the pouch can be any one of cooling elements, warming elements and elements to repel insects. The pouch is easily opened and closed and unhooks easily.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present utility patent application claims priority to the United States provisional application for patent Ser. No. 61/357,046 and patent pending No. 61/357,046 SG and entitled “Chilly Ice Pouch for Pets &amp; People”, filed on 21 Jun. 2010 under 35 U.S.C. 119 (e). The contents of this related provisional application are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER LISTING APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0004]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0006]    The present invention relates to a pouch that holds cold material, warm material and elements that repel insects. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pouch that holds cold material that can be attached to an animal or person to help prevent the person or animal from getting overheated, warm material that can be attached to an animal or person to help keep the person or animal warm and a pouch that can be attached to an animal or pet to ward off insects. 
         [0007]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0008]    An owner of a dog or other animal conventionally wants to provide relief for their animal when that animal is exposed to heat and hot weather, especially when the animal is exercising or exerting himself. Typically relief should be provided as soon as the animal starts to pant due to the heat, or too much exercise since an animal can die of heat exhaustion if exposed for too long. The owner himself or other persons such as athletes or medical patients who are exposed to heat or hot weather may also want relief to help prevent heat exhaustion or even heat stroke. Pouches or packs that hold cold material are usually used to cool a person or animal that has been exposed to heat and hot weather and is suffering or is experiencing heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Prior uses for cooling pets and people is with the use of beads which are placed in material and wrapped around a dog&#39;s neck, back or people&#39;s necks. The material has to be soaked in cool water for approximately 15 to 30 minutes to retain the cold. The pouch only needs ice which is then placed in the pouch, placed on pets and people and and they start cooling immediately. There is no need to put the pouch in water, because the ice is placed inside the pouch so the pouch is already cold and ready to go on people and pets. This said pouch also holds but is not limited to any warming material to keep people and pets warm from the cold. Warming pouches placed within the pouch and attached to anything on the animal or person will warm them up so they won&#39;t freeze. Finally this said pouch may hold cedar, or any other material, to keep pets and people free of bugs. The cedar wards off bugs. 
         [0009]    In view of the foregoing, what is needed is a pouch that holds ice or other cooling material that can be easily attached and removed from a person or animal or animal collar that keeps the person or animal cool in the heat or hot weather, warming material to keep the person or animal warm, and cedar material to ward off bugs and that can be easily attached and removed from a person or animal. It would be desirable if at least some of the foregoing limitations of the prior art are overcome for pouches that hold cooling material, warming material, and elements that repel insects that are attached to a person or an animal or collar of an animal. It is further desirable that a pouch that holds cooling material, warming material, and elements that repel insects is made of conventional materials for improved cooling, improved warming, and improved warding off of insects with ease of use. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The pouch part of the invention is a closed and open sac-made of typical back pack materials such as webbing, mesh, Velcro, nylon and elastic materials, that, without limitation, fits securely to any pet or person in all shapes and sizes. The hook and loop fastener, nylon and elastic materials can fit securely to any pet or person. The open part of the invention provides for putting the ice, cooling material, warming material, or elements that repel insects inside the pouch. A user of the invention for cooling the pet or person can go for a walk or run with his dog and either put the pouch on before going out, during the outing or after the walk to keep her cool. The ice goes in the webbed pouch, and then you take a stretchy material and wrap it around the dog&#39;s collar enclosing the ice in the pouch, and if warming material is used, and/or an element that repels insects is used, then the same is true on how to put the pouch on the pet. The ice in the pouch will keep pets and humans from overheating in the hot summer months and all throughout the year, the warming material will keep pets and humans from getting too cold, and the elements that repel insects will keep the insects away. The Velcro keeps the stretchy material latched so the material within the pouch won&#39;t fall out. The Ice Pouch can also be placed on people&#39;s wrists, arms, hands, legs, feet, ankles, forehead, waist, and neck to cool them, warm them or help ward off bugs too. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0011]    The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a front open pouch representation of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a back open pouch representation of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1C  illustrates a front closed pouch representation of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1D  illustrates a back closed pouch representation of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0016]    Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The present invention is best understood by reference to the detailed figures and description set forth herein. 
         [0018]    Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the Figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, there are many modifications and variations of the invention that are to voluminous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive. 
         [0019]    It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a reference to “a step” or “a means” is a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
         [0020]    Some preferred embodiments of the present invention provide means and methods for providing a cooling pouch, a warming pouch, or a pouch which wards off bugs and that can be attached to a person or a pet on any part of the body. The pouch for some preferred embodiments can be made of, but not limited to, mesh material, webbing, flannel, vinyl, elastic, rope, plastic, a plastic bag, reflective material, insulation, Nylon™, a hook and loop fastener, such as, without limitation, Velcro™, string or elastic material or any combination thereof. The pouch is attached to pet collar, around the pet leg, torso, stomach, abdomen, person&#39;s head, neck, arms, wrists, hands, legs, ankles, feet, stomach, and waist and holds cold material, cooling elements, warming elements, elements that repel insects is in the pouch. Cold materials for some preferred embodiments include, but are not limited to, cold water, ice chips, ice cubes, ice packs, and anything frozen. Warming elements include, but are not limited to, hand warmers, warm water. Elements that repel insects include, but are not limited to, cedar, lemongrass or citronella. Cold materials keep pets and people cool so pets and people do not overheat. Warming elements keep pets and people warm. Elements that repel insects keep pets and people free from bugs. When the pouch is secured on the pet and/or person it allows cold material such as ice to melt on the pet and keep the pet cool, but is not limited to ice. An example of how the pouch goes on the pet&#39;s collar is described here. Elastic material goes under pet&#39;s collar and securely attaches to the front of the pouch so cold material doesn&#39;t slip out, or come out of the pouch for any reason, warming elements and cedar elements can also be placed on the pet&#39;s collar. The pouch can be made of any shape, size or color as long as hook and loop fastener, elastic material, Nylon™, string or mesh of any size are used to close the pouch. 
         [0021]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention, and at least some variations thereof, allows for persons and pets to place cooling, warming or elements that repel insects in the pouch and place the pouch on a person&#39;s arms, wrists, hands, legs, ankles, feet, head, neck, waist, etc. to cool, warm or ward off bugs and placed on pet&#39;s collar, neck, and body to cool, warm, or ward off bugs. The pouch with cooling elements lowers person&#39;s and pet&#39;s body temperature to generally prevent heat exhaustion and/or heat stroke. Cooling pouch is great for people who walk, run, play or do any sport outside or inside where they get hot and need to be cooled down. The pouch with warming elements keeps pets and people warm from being cold. The pouch with elements that repel insects keeps pets and people free of bugs, which is great for being outside or inside. 
         [0022]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention, and at least some variations thereof, allows for pets of all sizes and weights to benefit from the cooling material in the pouch. Example: the webbed mesh material is placed on the dog&#39;s neck and conforms to the shape of the dog&#39;s neck as the ice slowly melts out of the pouch onto the dog&#39;s body. The dog feels the body cooling enabling the dog to cool down and not overheat. 
         [0023]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention, and at least some variations thereof, include a containment pouch made of mesh material with a piece of elastic disposed across mesh material with the loop portion of the hook and loop fastener disposed on the middle portion of elastic. Containment pouch is then placed under the dog collar and the hook portion of the hook and loop fastener is brought around to connect to the loop portion of the hook and loop fastener. Containment pouch is put on the person&#39;s body, an animal&#39;s or pet&#39;s body, preferably the nape of the pet&#39;s neck to start with, but then can move around the collar. Cooling material slowly melts on neck, therefore cooling down person or pet. When cooling, warming, or insect-repelling elements that repel insects pouch is placed on a pets collar it allows the material to stay in one place and not fall off of collar or allow other pets to remove the material since it is secured in a set position. The pouch can be placed on different body parts of both pets and people. 
         [0024]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention, and at least some variations thereof, include people who are hot or could become hot taking the containment pouch and fill it with ice chips, ice cubes or other cooling material and place containment pouch around their body parts. The containment pouch also holds warming elements and cedar elements, and is not limited to such elements. The hook portion of the hook and loop fastener disposed on a distal end of a strap portion attached to containment pouch is brought around the body parts to connect to the loop portion of the hook and loop fastener disposed on a piece of elastic disposed across containment pouch to form a secure attachment. 
         [0025]    One aspect of the present invention is the identifying and solving problems attendant to prior art approaches is to discover approaches that provide a cooling pouch that holds cooling material that can better cool a person or animal, a warming pouch that holds warming material that can better warm a person or animal, and a elements that repel insects that holds cedar to ward off bugs for a person or pet. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a front open representation of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0027]    In  FIG. 1A  the pouch includes a containment pouch  10  with a front side of pouch  20  and an adjustable strap  30  that includes a proximal end loop  50  and a distal end  70  with distal end hook  40 , with an open cavity  60  which holds cooling elements, warming elements, elements which repel bugs, but is not limited to these elements. 
         [0028]    As viewed in  FIG. 1A , containment pouch  10  has an adjustable strap  30  which is used to keep elements inside the cavity of said pouch when the adjustable strap  30  attaches with the distal end  40  to the proximal end  50 . Those skilled in the art, in light of the teachings of the present invention, will readily recognize how to adapt and configure at least some embodiments of present invention to effectively provide utility to the following applications: proximal end  50  is sewn together, glued together, stapled together, snapped together, attached by a hook and loop fastener, such as, without limitation, Velcro™, zippered together, tied together or melted together to containment pouch. 
         [0029]    The hook portion  40  of the hook and loop fastener is disposed on distal end  70  of adjustable strap  30 . Those skilled in the art, in light of the teachings of the present invention, will readily recognize how to adapt and configure at least some embodiments of present invention to effectively provide utility to the following applications: the hook portion  40  of the hook and loop fastener is sewn together, glued together, stapled together, snapped together, attached by the hook and/or loop of hook and loop fastener, zippered together, tied together or melted together to distal end  70  of adjustable strap  30 . 
         [0030]    The pouch includes a multiplicity of edges that form a perimeter  80  around the containment pouch  10 . Those skilled in the art, in light of the teachings of the present invention, will readily recognize how to adapt and configure at least some embodiments of present invention to effectively provide utility to the following applications: perimeter  80  is made of mesh, webbing, flannel, vinyl, elastic, plastic, a plastic bag or reflective material. Those skilled in the art, in light of the teachings of the present invention, will readily recognize how to adapt and configure at least some embodiments of present invention to effectively provide utility to the following applications: containment pouch  20  is sewn together, glued together, stapled together, snapped together, attached by the hook and/or loop of the hook and loop fastener, zippered together, tied together or melted together to perimeter  80 . 
         [0031]    A piece of elastic  90  is disposed across the widths of containment pouch  20  that include the loop portion  50  of the hook and loop fastener. Those skilled in the art, in light of the teachings of the present invention, will readily recognize how to adapt and configure at least some embodiments of present invention to effectively provide utility to the following applications: the loop portion  50  of the hook and loop fastener is sewn together, glued together, stapled together, snapped together, attached by the hook and/or loop of the hook and loop fastener, zippered together, tied together or melted together to piece of elastic  90 , but the elastic  90  is not needed many times it is sturdy without elastic piece  90 . 
         [0032]    To attach pouch  20  to a person or pet the adjustable strap  30  is wrapped around a collar or body part and the hook portion  40  of the hook and loop fastener is pressed onto the loop portion  50  of the hook and loop fastener to secure pouch  10  to person, animal, whether the pouch  10  is placed on a collar, body part or any type of accessory on a pet or person. The hook portion  40  of the hook and loop fastener can be easily pulled off and separated from the loop portion  50  of the hook and loop fastener to release pouch from person and/or animal. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a back open representation of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0034]    As viewed in  FIG. 1B , back side of pouch  100  includes back side of containment pouch  150 , back side of perimeter  110 , back side of adjustable strap  120 , back side of distal end of adjustable strap  130 , back side of the loop portion  140  of the hook and loop, and back side of open cavity  160 . 
         [0035]    Adjustable strap  120  can be attached to front side of containment pouch  20  or back side of containment pouch  150  for added versatility and ease of attachment and removal. 
         [0036]      FIG. 1C  illustrates a front closed representation of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0037]    Front closed pouch  200  with elastic piece  120  folded over so distal end  40  hook is attached to proximal end  50  loop. Open cavity  60  is filled with cooling elements, warming elements, elements which repel bugs, but is not limited to such and when distal end  40  is attached to proximal end  50  the cavity  60  becomes a somewhat closed cavity to not let the elements slip out of the closed pouch  200 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 1D  illustrates a back closed representation of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0039]    Back closed pouch  300  has elastic piece  120  folded over front of pouch  20 . 
         [0040]    The front of the pouch  10 , the back side of the pouch  100  and all of their respective features are made of waterproof, durable material. 
         [0041]    Those skilled in the art, in light of the teachings of the present invention, will readily recognize how to adapt and configure at least some embodiments of present invention to effectively provide utility to the following applications: 
         [0042]    Ice containment mesh provides cool relief for pets and humans alike. 
         [0043]    Fill the containment mesh with ice elements, cooling elements, warming elements, elements that would repel insects, but is not limited to these items. 
         [0044]    Sleeves the pet collar, the pet neck, torso, stomach, abdomen, legs and/or the head, neck, or any part of the person&#39;s body and any accessories on a person or pet. 
         [0045]    Adjustable strap with a metal snap on one end and a snap on the front of the ice containment pouch, a button hole and button, Velcro, any type of materials which connect to make something close. 
         [0046]    Adjustable strap made up of any of the following material: mesh, webbing, flannel, fleece, vinyl, elastic, plastic, rope. 
         [0047]    Containment pouch is made up of any of the following material: mesh, webbing, flannel, vinyl, elastic, rope, plastic, plastic bag, insulation. 
         [0048]    The edges are made up of any of the following material: mesh, webbing, flannel, vinyl, elastic, plastic, insulation. 
         [0049]    The strap can be connected or attached to the collar with: a snap, Velcro, button, zipper, mesh, webbing, shoe laces, string, elastic, rope 
         [0050]    The containment pouch can be filled with: ice, ice chips, ice pack(s), anything frozen, cold water, warming elements, elements which repel bugs, but is not limited to these elements. 
         [0051]    The containment pouch can be all shapes and all colors 
         [0052]    The pieces are sewn together, glued together, stapled together, snapped together, pressed together, zippered, tied, melted, ironed, and held together. 
         [0053]    The containment pouch can be of any size, shape or color, and can be attached to the animal by the collar, the neck, the legs, or the abdomen, the stomach, and attached to the person on the head, neck, or body. 
         [0000]    Examples of different uses:
 
Keeps pets cool, warm, and bug free.
 
Keeps pets from overheating, from being cold and warding off bugs.
 
Pets can wear the pouch inside and/or outside, people can wear the pouch inside and/or outside.
 
The pouch can be put on the pet and person when they are walking, running, sitting, lying down, sleeping, standing, but is not limited to these positions.
 
Keeps people cool, warm and bug free
 
Keeps athletes cool, warm and bug free
 
Emergency medical technicians can keep their patients cool, warm and bug free
 
Hospitals can use the containment pouch for their patients so they don&#39;t overheat, to keep them warm, or to ward off bugs.
 
         [0054]    Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
         [0055]    From reading the present disclosure, other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features which are already known in the art, and which may be used instead of or in addition to features already described herein. 
         [0056]    Although claims have been formulated in this application to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalization thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the present invention. 
         [0057]    Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination. The applicants hereby give notice that new claims may be formulated to such features and/or combinations of such features during the prosecution of the present application or of any further application derived there from. 
         [0058]    Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. 
         [0059]    It is to be understood that any exact measurements/dimensions or particular construction materials indicated herein are solely provided as examples of suitable configurations and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Depending on the needs of the particular application, those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in light of the following teachings, a multiplicity of suitable alternative implementation details. 
         [0060]    Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention, other equivalent or alternative methods of holding cold materials that can be attached to an animal or person according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention has been described above by way of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. The invention is thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims. 
         [0061]    Claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered and/or lettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding. Any such numbering and lettering in itself is not intended to and should not be taken to indicate the ordering of elements and/or steps in the claims.