Patent Publication Number: US-2013227764-A1

Title: Portable pocket to encase an auto injector

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates to auto injectors, specifically an improved way of carrying them. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Many individuals need to carry auto injectors due to medical reasons. Individuals having food and/or bee sting allergies need to carry epinephrine filled auto injectors. Many individuals having diabetes carry insulin filled auto injectors. 
     Auto injector carriers currently on the market are handbags, fanny packs, carriers that fasten to the body with belts or straps, or carriers that fasten to garments with straps. Some children and adults resort to carrying auto injectors in their hands. Many individuals who need to carry auto injectors due to medical reasons may forgo carrying them because, in most cases, their pockets, especially children&#39;s, are not large enough (they lack sufficient depth, width, and/or length) to accommodate auto injectors. Epinephrine filled auto injectors measure approximately 6 inches long, 1¼ inches wide, and 1 inch deep. Insulin filled auto injectors measure approximately 6¼ inches long, ¾ of an inch wide and ¾of an inch deep. 
     Pocket Prior Art 
       
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
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     Medical Device Holder Prior Art 
       
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
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     Some specific disadvantages to auto injector carriers currently on the market, prior art, and holding in one&#39;s hand are as follows:
         (a) Fanny packs are bulky, cumbersome, and obvious. They attract attention and are not discrete.   (b) Carriers that attach by a strap to a belt loop are uncomfortable when the user is moving around due to the carrier slapping and hitting against the body of the user. Additionally, carriers that attach by a strap to a belt loop can become unattached, thus allowing the carrier to fall off the user&#39;s belt loop. Also, wearing a carrier that attaches by a strap to a belt loop is not discrete and attracts attention.   (c) Holding an auto injector in one&#39;s hand is cumbersome, uncomfortable, and obvious. If a person holding an auto injector stops holding the auto injector and sets the auto injector down, the individual greatly increases the risk of forgetting or losing the auto injector.   (d) Handbags are gender specific. There is also an increased risk of forgetting or losing a handbag when the user stops wearing or holding the handbag.   (e) Pouches with straps (U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,164 issued Oct. 2, 2001) are cumbersome to wear and are obvious. They also hinder the movement of the user and have a greater chance of getting lost or misplaced if not attached with the strap.   (f) Carriers that strap to the waist (U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,391 issued Jan. 21, 2003) are bulky, uncomfortable, and obvious unless worn with an article of clothing covering it.   (g) Pouches that strap to directly to the leg or thigh (Patent #20060011687 issued January, 2006) may cause skin irritation due to the material of the pouch being in direct contact with, and in some cases rubbing against, the skin.       

     Certain pockets included in the above list of patents are not of sufficient size to accommodate auto injectors. They lack sufficient depth, width, and/or length to accommodate an auto injector. Others are composed, in part, of pressure sensitive adhesives, which are sticky and can cause possible folding or crumpling of the pocket resulting in an inability to use the pocket, time wasted in trying to fix the problem of folding or crumpling, or possible irreparable damage to the pocket. Furthermore, pressure sensitive adhesives are not washable, creating limitations on reuse. 
     Children and adults who have life threatening allergies to foods and/or bee stings should always carry an auto injector of epinephrine. The difference between being without and having an auto injector of epinephrine available may literally be a matter of life or death. Many children and adults who are insulin-dependent diabetics carry insulin filled auto injectors (insulin pens). When blood sugars rise, insulin is needed to bring sugar levels back to a normal range. In a case where an insulin pen is not carried and sugar levels rise uncontrolled, the high sugar levels can lead to multiple long-term health issues, including organ damage. 
     Imagine an eight year old boy playing outside with friends. The boy is trying to run around unrestricted, but he can&#39;t because he is saddled with a cumbersome case hanging from his waist or belt loop. Imagine a girl at camp having to constantly wear a bulky fanny pack around her waist. Not only are these auto injector carriers a physical hassle, they also bother children psychologically by pointing out their differences to others. 
     Imagine a factory worker, police officer, or nurse, who has to carry an auto injector, but their work pants and/or uniform pockets are not big enough to accommodate an auto injector. Imagine not having any pockets on your required clothing for work or school. Wearing a fanny pack, or other previously mentioned auto injector carriers, to a place of work could be hazardous and/or prohibited by workplace regulations. Additionally, it may be bothersome or cause inconvenience to the wearer. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     Several objects and advantages of a portable pocket to encase and carry an auto injector are:
         (a) to provide an auto injector carrier that can be attached, detached, and repositioned, allowing the user versatility;   (b) to provide an auto injector carrier that can be offered in various colors and fabric, lending itself to blend with the color and fabric of the wearer&#39;s garment;   (c) to provide an auto injector carrier that will hold an auto injector in place; and   (d) to provide an auto injector carrier that is reusable and washable.       

     Further objects and advantages will present themselves through consideration of the drawings and forthcoming descriptions. 
    
    
     
       DRAWING FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  shows separated and attached parts of a portable pocket. 
         FIG. 2  shows a separated view of a secondary back panel and an inner pocket front panel. 
         FIG. 3  shows an inner pocket attached to a secondary back panel. 
         FIG. 4  shows the parts of a two-layer thick back panel along with a cover. 
         FIG. 5  shows a front view of a portable pocket. 
         FIG. 6  shows loose magnets attached to secured magnets, thus attaching a portable pocket to a pair of shorts. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
       
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 10 
                 back panel 
                 12 
                 secondary back panel 
               
               
                 14 
                 front panel 
                 16 
                 secured magnets 
               
               
                 18 
                 inner pocket front panel 
                 20 
                 inner pocket 
               
               
                 22 
                 inner pocket opening 
                 24 
                 two-layer thick back panel 
               
               
                 26 
                 cover 
                 28 
                 portable pocket opening 
               
               
                 30 
                 loose magnets 
                 32 
                 portable pocket 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Description—FIGS.  1  to  6   
       FIG. 1  shows separated and attached parts of a portable pocket  32  (see  FIG. 5  for a front view of a portable pocket  32 ).  FIG. 1  shows a back panel  10  which is preferably made of fabric. A back panel  10  is large enough in width and height to accommodate an inner pocket  20 , which is large enough in height, width, and depth to hold an auto injector of approximately 6¼ inches long, 1¼ inches wide, and 1 inch deep. A flap or cover  26  is attached, preferably by sewing means, to the top of a back panel  10 . A cover  26  is preferably made of fabric. A cover  26  is preferably unenhanced, but may be enhanced with hook and loop, buttons, or other fastening means. A secondary back panel  12  is preferably made of fabric and is the same size and shape as a back panel  10 . An inner pocket front panel  18  (see  FIG. 2  for a view of an inner pocket front panel  18 ) is attached to a secondary back panel  12 , preferably by sewing means, along the bottom and sides, leaving the top open, to form an inner pocket  20 . An inner pocket  20  is preferably made of fabric. An inner pocket front panel  18  (See  FIG. 2  for a view of an inner pocket front panel  18 ) must be of sufficient size, so that after it is sewn to a secondary back panel  12  forms an inner pocket  20  large enough in height, width, and depth to accommodate an auto injector. An inner pocket  20  is shorter in width than the width of a secondary back panel  12  to which it is attached. An auto injector would be held inside an inner pocket  20 , entering through an inner pocket opening  22  and down into an inner pocket  20 . Secured magnets  16  are positioned between a back panel  10  and a secondary back panel  12  and are secured, preferably by sewing, around secured magnets  16 . A secondary back panel  12  is attached, preferably by means of sewing, along the top, bottom, and sides to a back panel  10 , forming a two-layer thick back panel  24  (see  FIG. 4  for a view of a two-layer thick back panel  24 ). A front panel  14 , preferably made of fabric, is attached, preferably by sewing means, to a two-layer thick back panel  24  along the bottom and sides and open at the top. A front panel  14  is the same width as a back panel  10  and a secondary back panel  12 . Loose magnets  30  attach to secured magnets  16  by magnetic force. Loose magnets  30  and secured magnets  16  are the means by which a portable pocket  32  (see  FIG. 5  for a front view of a portable pocket  32 ) attaches to a garment. Secured magnets  16  and loose magnets  30  can be of various shapes, sizes, and magnetic strength, and be placed in various areas of a portable pocket  32  (See  FIG. 5  for a front view of a portable pocket  32 ). 
     A separated view of a secondary back panel  12  and an inner pocket front panel  18  are shown in  FIG. 2 . An inner pocket front panel  18  is attached, preferably by sewing means, along the bottom and sides and open at the top, to a secondary back panel  12 , forming an inner pocket  20  (See  FIG. 3  to view an inner pocket  20  attached to a secondary back panel  12 ). 
     An inner pocket  20  is shown attached to a secondary back panel  12  in  FIG. 3 . An auto injector will fit inside an inner pocket  20  when an individual pushes the auto injector into and down an inner pocket opening  22 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a view of a back panel  10  separated from a secondary back panel  12 . A secondary back panel  12  is attached, preferably by sewing means, to the top, bottom, and sides of a back panel  10 , forming a two-layer thick back panel  24 .  FIG. 4  also shows the previously mentioned and described cover  26 , secured magnets  16 , inner pocket  20 , and inner pocket opening  22 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a front view of a portable pocket  32 .  FIG. 5  shows an inner pocket  20  positioned on the inside of a portable pocket  32 . A portable pocket opening  28  allows access to an inner pocket  20 . An auto injector enters in and down an inner pocket opening  22  where it is housed inside an inner pocket  20 . Loose magnets  30  will attach to secured magnets  16  by means of magnetic force when attaching a portable pocket  32  to a garment. Also shown is the previously described front panel  14 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a side view of a portable pocket  32  (see  FIG. 5  for a front view of a portable pocket  32 ) demonstrating the attachment of loose magnets  30  to secured magnets  16 . Loose magnets  30 , shown placed inside the material on the inside of the pant leg of the shorts, are attached to secured magnets  16  by means of magnetic force, thus securing a portable pocket  32  to the shorts. Also shown are a portable pocket cover  26 , an inner pocket  20 , and an inner pocket opening 22. 
     OPERATION OF INVENTION 
     A portable pocket  32  is a convenient and versatile means to carry an auto injector. A portable pocket  32  consists of front panel  14 , a back panel  10 , a secondary back panel  12 , a cover  26 , an inner pocket  20 , secured magnets  16 , and loose magnets  30 . A cover  26  is attached, preferably by sewing means, to the top of a back panel  10 . An inner pocket front panel  18  is attached, preferably by sewing means, along the bottom and sides and open at the top, to a secondary back panel  12  forming an inner pocket  20 . Secured magnets  16  are positioned between a back panel  10  and a secondary back panel  12 , and are secured by sewing around the shape of secured magnets  16 . A secondary back panel  12  is then attached along the top, bottom, and sides, preferably by sewing means, to a back panel  10 , forming a two-layer thick back panel  24 . A front panel  14  is attached along the bottom and sides to a two-layer thick back panel  24 , preferably by sewing means. Loose magnets  30  attach to secured magnets  16 , by means of magnetic force. When all of the aforementioned reference numeral parts are joined together in the manner listed, a portable pocket  32  is created. The user of a portable pocket  32  will place a portable pocket  32  on the outside of a garment. While holding a portable pocket  32  on said garment, the user will then place loose magnets  30  on the inside material of said garment. The user will place loose magnets  30  in a position so that loose magnets  30  attach to secured magnets  16 , by magnetic force, thus securing a portable pocket  32  to said garment. 
     SUMMARY, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
     Accordingly, the reader will see that an inner pocket encases an auto injector. A portable pocket encases an inner pocket, effectively hiding an auto injector. Loose magnets attached to hidden secured magnets allow the wearer to place a portable pocket on a garment. Furthermore, a portable pocket has additional advantages in that:
         (a) a portable pocket can be manufactured in various colors, materials, shapes, and sizes, lending itself to blend with the wearer&#39;s garment;   (b) a portable pocket is washable and reusable; and   (c) a portable pocket can be attached and unattached and placed in various areas of a garment.
 
The above specificities should not be construed as limiting the scope of a portable pocket, but merely presenting preferred embodiments.