Patent Publication Number: US-2009220177-A1

Title: Gym Buddy

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to gym equipment and more particularly to an apparatus to store personal equipment while at the gym. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Over the years, patrons have been going to a gymnasium in increasing numbers. Correspondingly, the incidences of theft have been increasing. There have been various instances of individuals stealing personal objects from patrons of a gym. Car keys have been stolen, and the car has been identified from the stolen car keys. The cars have been entered and valuable contents have been stolen from the car. The lockers at the gym are not the answer to the problem of theft. In other instances, wallets, purses, cell phones and other items have been stolen from lockers in the gym. 
     Cameras operating in the gym have provided some degree of security to prevent these items from being stolen. However, it is difficult for cameras to cover all of the areas of the gymnasium, and consequently it is difficult to prevent personal items from being stolen from lockers and other areas within the gymnasium. 
     Most gymnasiums prohibit gym bags from the exercise area of the gymnasium because of safety reasons. 
     Certain personal items are necessary to be used while at the gymnasium. Consequently, the personal items such as gym membership cards, licenses, cash, water, magazines, workout gloves, keys, radios, cell phone and towel are items that are usually required to use in the gymnasium. When moving from one machine to another, it can take a significant amount of time in order to gather these items up and move them to the next exercise machine. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,866 to Pelavin discloses a multi-compartmented carrying case or sport bag for carrying clothing and equipment for playing sports. The sport bag is provided with a racquet compartment which is positioned exteriorly of the bag. A hanging compartment, or first clothing compartment, is suspended within the sport bag for carrying shorts, T-shirts, or the like. A second clothing compartment is formed below this hanging compartment, and it is especially adapted to carry shoes. A moisture-proof compartment is positioned within the hanging compartment for holding wet clothing such as a swim suit or wet towel. Separate zippered openings are provided for introducing articles into each compartment. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,102 to Norton discloses an especially adapted sport bag having a carrying strap which is capable of supporting the bag in either one-, two- or three-point contact and thus permits the bag to be utilized as either a waist-, shoulder-, or back-pack, respectively. The bag/strap configurations are readily converted by a user one to another so that it is “universally” adapted for various modes of transport. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,635 to Hirshberg discloses a sports bag which is defined to include any carrying bag such as a duffel bag, backpack, gym bag or other bag which is used to carry articles such as sports equipment, a thermos, sports clothing etc, which includes a mat which is conveniently stored inside the sports bag when not in use and can be removed through an opening in the sports bag to permit the mat to be extended transverse to the sports bag so that it provides a flat surface on which the user may rest or place articles. The mat can be permanently affixed to the sports bag or it can be removably affixed and attached by means of fasteners such as male and female mating hook and loop fasteners, snaps, etc. The mat can be rolled up and stored within the sports bag when not in use and unrolled and laid flat adjacent the sports bag when in use. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,222,705 to Guza discloses a carrying bag accessory featuring a mat that is externally affixed to a bag or any variant bag designs such as a gym bag, duffle bag, rucksack, backpack, etc., and conveniently stored in a folded configuration when not in use and deployed in an unfolded configuration adjacent to the bag when in use to provide a flat clean surface upon which a user can rest or place items on. The mat is comprised of a multiplicity of rigid or semi-rigid hinged panels carefully configured to fold in such a manner as to preserve the cleanliness of surfaces that come into contact with the user. The mat is retained in a folded configuration by means of magnetic or other types of fasteners allowing the deployment and storage of the mat by the user with minimal contact and effort. 
     SUMMARY 
     A device for holding gym articles may include a mounting sheet, a first pocket sheet adapted to be mounted on the mounting sheet and a second pocket sheet adapted to the mounted on the mounting sheet. 
     The first pocket sheet may include a first pocket with a first opening along the traverse edge of the mounting sheet, and first pocket sheet may include a second pocket with the second opening along the traverse edge of the mounting sheet. 
     The first pocket sheet may include a third pocket with a third opening along the longitudinal edge of the mounting sheet, and the second pocket sheet may include a fourth pocket with a fourth opening along the longitudinal edge of the mounting sheet. 
     The second pocket sheet may include a fifth pocket with the fifth opening along the traverse edge of the mounting sheet, and the mounting sheet may be formed from flexible material. 
     The mounting sheet may be formed from terrycloth. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a first pocket sheet of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a folded first pocket sheet of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates pockets formed with the first pocket sheet of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the first pocket sheet mounted on a mounting sheet; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a second pocket sheet of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a folded second pocket sheet of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates formed pockets in the second pocket sheet of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates the first pocket sheet and the second pocket sheet mounted on the mounting sheet of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1  illustrates a pocket sheet  100  for forming a first pocket of the gym buddy. Around the periphery of the pocket sheet  100  is a hemline  110  to hem the outer edges of the first pocket of the gym buddy. Additionally in approximately the center of the pocket sheet is  100  is a fold line  112  for folding the pocket sheet  100  which extends in the longitudinal direction. Along a longitudinal edge of the pocket sheet  100  is a first fastening device  102  and a second fastening device  104  and along the opposing longitudinal edge of the pocket sheet  100  is a third fastening device  106  and the fourth fastening device  108 . 
     Before the pocket sheet  100  has been folded, the pocket sheet  100  is attached to the mounting sheet along the top longitudinal edge adjacent to the first fastening device  102  and the second fastening device  104 . 
     When the pocket sheet  100  has been folded along the fold line  112 , the first fastening device  102  cooperates with the fourth fastening device  108 , and the second fastening device  104  cooperates with the third fastening device  106  to provide a detachable connection for an opening which opens and closes when the pocket sheet  100  is in a folded state along the fold line  112 . The first fastening device  102 , the second fastening device  104 , the third fastening device  106  and the fourth fastening device  108  may be Velcro which is a material which includes hooks and loops or other types of fastening devices such as buttons, hooks, snaps, zippers etc. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates that the pocket sheet  100  has been folded along the fold line  112 , and the first fastening device  102  has been detachably connected to the fourth fastening device  108  to allow for an opening that can be opened and closed and the second fastening device  104  has been detachably connected to the third fastening device  106  to allow for another opening that can be opened and closed. 
       FIG. 2  additionally illustrates a sewing line  230  which extends along the traverse edge and the longitudinal edge of the pocket sheet  100  to seal these edges of the pocket sheet  100 . The opposing traverse edge and the opposing longitudinal edge of the pocket sheet  100  remain unattached to the mounting sheet in order to provide for a future storage compartment. 
     A fifth fastening device  216  which is fastened to the back side of the pocket sheet  100  and a sixth fastening device  218  which is fastened to the mounting sheet are shown on opposing traverse edges of the pocket sheet  100 . Both the fifth fastening device  216  and the sixth fastening device  218  may be Velcro, but any of the fastening devices described in the present invention could be buttons, sippers, hooks, snaps or other appropriate devices. 
       FIG. 2  additionally illustrates a sew line  214  which is sewn to form to pockets which extends from the longitudinal edges of the folded pocket sheet  100  and is approximately centered. When the pocket sheet  100  is sown along the traverse sew line  214 , two pockets are formed. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the pocket configuration of the pocket sheet  100  which includes a first pocket opening  320  for a first pocket  321 , a second pocket opening  322  for a second pocket  323  and a third pocket opening  324  for a third pocket  325  which is along the traverse edge of the pocket sheet  100 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the pocket configuration of  FIG. 3  placed on a mounting sheet  300  which may be formed from a flexible material such as terrycloth or other suitable material. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a second pocket sheet  500  for a second pocket.  FIG. 5  illustrates a hemline  510  which extends around the periphery of the second pocket sheet  500  adjacent to the edges of the second pocket sheet  500  to hem the second pocket sheet  500 .  FIG. 5  illustrates a fifth fastening device  502  and a sixth fastening device  504  along the longitudinal edges of the second pocket sheet  500  and a fold line  506  which extends along the approximate center of the second pocket sheet  500  in the longitudinal direction.  FIG. 5  additionally illustrates a seventh fastening device  512  which is attached to the back side of the pocket sheet and eighth fastening device  514  which is attached to the mounting sheet and cooperates with the seventh fastening device  512  to form a closable opening for a pocket along the traverse edge of the second pocket sheet  500 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the second pocket sheet  500  after the second pocket sheet  500  has been folded along the fold line  506 . The fifth fastening device  502  and the sixth fastening device  504  form a detachable connection for an opening in the second pocket sheet  500  which can be opened and closed along the longitudinal edge of the second pocket sheet  500 . Similarly, the seventh fastening device  512  and the eighth fastening device  514  are detachedly connected to form an opening along the traverse edge of the second pocket sheet  500 . 
       FIG. 6  additionally illustrates a sewing line  510  which extends along the traverse edge and the longitudinal edge of the pocket sheet  500  to seal these edges of the pocket sheet  500 . The opposing traverse edge and the opposing longitudinal edge of the pocket sheet  500  remain unattached to the mounting sheet in order to provide for a future storage compartment. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the formed pockets from the pocket sheet  500  and illustrates a fourth pocket opening  630  which can be opened and closed in accordance with the fifth fastening device  502  and the sixth fastening device  504  to access a fourth pocket  631  in the longitudinal direction.  FIG. 7  additionally illustrates a fifth pocket opening  632  which can be opened and closed in accordance with the seventh fastening device  512  and the eighth fastening device  514  to access a fifth pocket  633  in the traverse direction. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the fourth pocket  631  and the fifth pocket  633  which has been mounted on the mounting sheet  300  as well as the first pocket  321 , the second pocket  323  and the third pocket  325 . 
     ADVANTAGES 
     Typically, items which people may take to the gym include bottled water, magazines, a cell phone, a wallet, keys, iPod, a hand sanitizer, and workout gloves. These items fit easily into the gym buddy by allowing the user to just open the pocket of the gym buddy and these items are at your fingertips. You never have to worry about someone picking them up or losing them at the gym. The gym buddy allows you to go to the gymnasium and focus on your workout. The present invention keeps these personal items from the unsanitary surfaces at the gym. 
     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.