Abstract:
The present disclosure relates generally to wallets and support braces, and more particularly to wrist wallets, wrist support braces, and combined wrist straps featuring pockets.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to wallets and support braces, and more particularly to wrist wallets and wrist support braces. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Various designs previously have been used to provide a mechanism for carrying items about a person&#39;s body. In particular, various devices have been used to secure small items about an individual&#39;s person, including to an individual&#39;s wrist. These designs generally suffer from several significant flaws. 
         [0003]    First, the closure mechanism or mechanism used to secure a wrist band to a user&#39;s wrist frequently wears out through use. Further, the closure mechanism is liable to become detached, causing the wrist band to separate from or fall off of the user&#39;s wrist. In particular, individuals wearing a wrist band while engaging in physical activity such as running or climbing risk having the wrist strap loosen during use. For example, an elastic wrist band will loosen over time and eventually become too loose to remain on a person&#39;s wrist. 
         [0004]    Similarly, a wrist band could become separated from a person&#39;s wrist when the closure mechanism fails entirely, thereby potentially losing the wrist band and any items secured by or to it. For example, a wrist strap secured through a hook and loop fastener may become detached when the terminal portion of the band brushes against or snags on an object. One example of this is the wrist band disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,972 filed on Aug. 12, 1993 to R. Benton Jacks (the “&#39;972 Patent”), the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The &#39;972 Patent teaches a wrist band design employing either one or two sets of hook and loop fasteners. Should the end of the band snag on another object, the hook and loop fasteners will become detached, causing the band to detach from the user&#39;s wrist. 
         [0005]    Second, existing designs generally require that the wrist band be removed from the user&#39;s wrist in order to access any item(s) secured by the wrist band. For example, the &#39;972 Patent requires that the band be entirely removed from the user&#39;s wrist in order to access the longitudinally extending main pocket. This increases the likelihood that a user will lose the band, such as by setting it down after removing an item from the pocket. Further, removing and reattaching the band to access the pocket requires an excessive amount of time. For some activities, such as where the band is worn while exercising, removing the band may not be an option, thereby requiring the user to forego use of the pocket altogether until the activity is completed. 
         [0006]    Third, many existing wrist bands fail to adequately support or restrain a user&#39;s wrist. Frequently, it is desirable to immobilize the wrist of an individual who has suffered a wrist injury such as a sprain or trauma resulting in inflammation. Immobilizing the wrist joint in such circumstances may facilitate faster recovery and rehabilitation. Further, a supportive wrist band may be used protectively during activities that risk putting a great deal of strain on an individual&#39;s wrist joint. By putting pressure around the wrist during an exercise such as weightlifting, an individual may greatly reduce the risk of suffering a wrist sprain or strain. However, many existing wrist bands are not capable of immobilizing the joint or applying sufficient pressure to provide a meaningful reduction in the risk of injury. 
         [0007]    For at least these reasons, a new design is needed which resolves these problems at an affordable cost. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a wrist wallet is provided comprising: an elongated strap for encircling the user&#39;s wrist, the elongated strap comprising a substantially rectangular body that extends longitudinally from a rectangular end to a tapered end; a cord for securing the elongated strap about the user&#39;s wrist attached to the tapered end; and a pocket located on the elongated strap proximate to the tapered end, wherein the pocket comprises a longitudinal opening stretching between two lateral sides. 
         [0009]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a strap for a wrist support is provided that is made by folding a strip of material longitudinally, such that an upper portion is substantially flush with a lower portion; applying overlock stitching along the perimeter of the strip of material to attach the upper portion to the lower portion; and applying a support stitch longitudinally between the rectangular end and the pocket to attach the upper portion to the lower portion. 
         [0010]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a pocket for a wrist wallet is formed by: cutting a tab in a lower portion proximate a tapered end; folding the tab longitudinally against an interior side of a lower portion; attaching the tab to the lower portion via hem stitching; and attaching the upper portion to the lower portion proximate the tapered end with two parallel construction stitches that extend perpendicularly from the tab and run laterally across the elongated strap. 
         [0011]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a strap for a wrist support is provided that is made by attaching a piece of material to the upper portion proximate the tapered end with two parallel construction stitches running laterally across the elongated strap and one longitudinal construction stitch that runs longitudinally between the two parallel construction stitches. 
         [0012]    These and other embodiments are disclosed or are obvious from and encompassed by the following Detailed Description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0013]    The following detailed description, given by way of example, but not intended to limit the invention solely to the specific embodiments described, may best be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wrist support in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a top elevation view of the wrist support of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a bottom elevation view of the wrist support of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a wrist support of  FIG. 1  secured around a user&#39;s wrist. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a top elevation view of a partially disassembled wrist support in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a top elevation view of a partially disassembled wrist support in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    For the purposes of promoting and understanding the principles disclosed herein, reference is now made to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language is used to describe the same. It is nevertheless understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is hereby intended. Such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices and such further applications of the principles disclosed and illustrated herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure relates. 
         [0021]    Embodiments of the present invention relate to providing a wrist wallet comprising an elongated strap configured to encircle a user&#39;s wrist. In an embodiment, the elongated strap includes a hidden pocket to hold and conceal small items, including but not limited to cards (such as credit cards, debit cards, RFID-type access cards, and/or business cards), paper currency, coins, and keys. The hidden pocket may be rectangular in shape. The elongated strap is configured to encircle a user&#39;s wrist and be secured thereto using a fastening device. In an embodiment, the fastening device is a cord which may be wrapped around a user&#39;s wrist and secured with a knot, thereby securely fastening the wrist wallet to the user&#39;s wrist. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , in an embodiment, a wrist support  100  (also referred to herein as a “wrist wallet”) comprises a main strap  102  configured to be wrapped around an individual&#39;s wrist. The main strap  102  is elongated and runs longitudinally between a rectangular end  102   a  and a tapered end  102   b.  In an embodiment, the tapered end  102   b  narrows laterally, such that the width of the tapered end  102   b  at the terminal portion of the main strap  102  is less than the width of the rectangular end  102   a.  The main strap  102  may be constructed from a flexible material such as nylon or neoprene. Alternatively, the main strap  102  may be comprised of a blend of 65% polyester and 35% cotton. In an embodiment, the strap  102  is inelastic. In an alternative embodiment, the strap  102  is elastic. 
         [0023]    A cord  104  is attached to the tapered end  102   b.  In an embodiment, a secured end  104   a  of the cord  104  is attached to the tapered end  102   b  of the strap  102  via stitching. In an embodiment, the secured end  104   a  is attached to the inner side  106   a  of the strap  102  via two parallel stitches that extend laterally across the cord  104 . In an embodiment, the free end  104   b  of the cord  104  includes an enlarged portion  108 . In an embodiment, the enlarged portion  108  is created by tying a knot in the cord  104 . In an alternative embodiment, the enlarged portion  108  is created by folding the free end  104   b  back over the cord  104  and attaching the free end  104   b  to the cord  104  via stitching. In another alternative embodiment, the enlarged portion  108  is formed by attaching an object to the cord  104 . 
         [0024]    In an embodiment, the cord  104  is elongated and rectangular in cross section, such that the length of cord  104  is greater than its width which in turn is greater than its height. In an embodiment, the cord  104  is manufactured from a plurality of cords which are woven together. The cord  104  may be comprised of cotton, another suitable natural material, or one or more synthetic materials. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , in an embodiment, a pocket  110  is formed on the inner surface  106   a  of the strap  102  proximate the tapered end  102   b.  In an embodiment, the pocket  110  is formed by attaching a strip of material to the inner surface  106   a  of the strap  102  via stitching. In an embodiment, the two lateral sides and one of the longitudinal sides of the pocket  110  are attached via stitching, leaving the remaining longitudinal side open. 
         [0026]    In an embodiment, a support stitch  112  runs longitudinally along the central portion of the strap  102  between the rectangular end  102   a  and the pocket  110 . As discussed in greater detail below, this support stitch  112  may serve to increase the integrity of the strap  102 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  provides a top-down elevation view of the interior side  106   a  of an embodiment of a wrist wallet  100 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , in an embodiment, the opening  202  of the pocket  110  runs longitudinally along an edge of the strap  102 . The opening  202  may be offset from the edge of the strap  102 , such that the strap  102  overhangs the pocket  110  at least proximate the opening  202 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , in an embodiment, the pocket is offset from the edges of the strap  102  both proximate the opening  202  and on the side of the pocket  110  opposite the opening  204 . 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , in an embodiment, the cord  104  is attached to an interior side  106   a  of the strap. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  provides a top-down elevation view of the exterior side  106   b  of an embodiment of a wrist wallet  100 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , in an embodiment, the edges of the pocket  110  are formed with two parallel, laterally extending construction stitches  302   a,    302   b  with a single longitudinally extending construction stitch  304  extending therebetween. The side of the pocket  110  opposite the longitudinally extending construction stitch  304  comprises the opening  202  of the pocket  110 . 
         [0030]    In an embodiment, the cord  104  is attached to the strap  102  via two parallel attachment stitches  306   a,    306   b  which run laterally across the strap  102 . 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the strap  102  is configured to encircle a user&#39;s wrist. The strap  102  may be secured around a user&#39;s wrist by first placing the rectangular end  102   a  of the strap  102  against the user&#39;s wrist. Then, the length of the strap  102  is wrapped around the user&#39;s wrist. The placement of the strap  102  may be adjusted to provide a desired amount of support to a particular portion of the user&#39;s wrist. By supporting the wrist joint, the wrist support  100  may be used to ensure the wrist remains aligned during physical activity such as weight lifting or other exercises. For example, by wrapping the strap about the wrist joint, a user may prevent his or her hand from deflecting too far back towards his or her arm, thereby reducing the risk of sustaining an injury to the wrist joint while lifting weights. 
         [0032]    The wrist support  100  may be secured in place by wrapping the cord  104  one or more times around the strap  102 . In an embodiment, the cord  104  may be tied to itself to hold the cord in place. In an alternative embodiment, cord  104  may be wrapped around itself one or more times and held in place by the pressure of the cord  104  on the enlarged portion  108 . 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , in an embodiment the wrist support  100  is formed from a strip of material  500 . The strip of material  500  includes an upper portion  502   a  and a lower portion  502   b.  The strap  102  is formed by folding the upper portion  502   a  against the lower portion  502   b  along a longitudinal fold line  504 . The upper portion  502   a  is attached to the lower portion  502   b  by placing overlock stitching along the perimeter  506  of the strip of material  500 , thereby forming an overlock closure seam. In an embodiment, the upper portion  502   a  is further attached to the lower portion  502   b  through the support stitch  112 . 
         [0034]    In an embodiment, the pocket  110  is formed by sewing a separate piece of material  508  onto the upper portion  502  of the strip of material  500  proximate the tapered end  102   b.  In this embodiment, the pocket is formed in the space between the separate piece of material and the upper portion  502   a.  In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the separate piece  508  is attached to the lower portion  502   b.    
         [0035]    As shown, the piece of material  508  is attached using two parallel, laterally extending construction stitches  302   a,    302   b.  These construction stitches  302   a,    302   b  form the lateral walls of the pocket  110  and are placed along the longitudinal edges of the piece  508 . A longitudinally extending construction stitch  304  is placed along one lateral edge of the piece  508  so as to extend between the lateral construction stitches  302   a,    302   b,  thereby forming the longitudinal wall of the pocket  110 . The piece  508  is thus secured to the upper portion  502   a  along three separate edges, with the fourth edge forming the opening of the pocket. The fourth edge may be hemmed. As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, the piece  508  may be rectangular, triangular, rounded or any other desired two-dimensional shape so as to form the desired shape of pocket. 
         [0036]    In an embodiment, multiple pockets are formed along the length of the strap  102 . In an embodiment, a pocket is formed with a lateral opening proximate the rectangular end  102   a  of the strap  102 . In another embodiment, a pocket is formed with a lateral opening proximate the tapered end  102   b  of the strap  102 . 
         [0037]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , a strip of material  600  includes an upper portion  602   a  and a lower portion  602   b  which further includes a tab  604 . The tab  604  extends laterally away from the lower portion  602   b.  The strap  102  is formed by folding the upper portion  602   a  against the lower portion  602   b  along a longitudinal fold line  606 . The upper portion  602   a  is attached to the lower portion  602   b  by placing overlock stitching along the perimeter  612  of the strip of material  600 , thereby forming an overlock closure seam. In an embodiment, the upper portion  602   a  is further attached to the lower portion  602   b  through the support stitch  112 . 
         [0038]    The pocket  110  is formed by folding the tab  604  against the lower portion  602   b.  The end of the tab  604  is then attached to the lower portion  602   b  using a stitch such as a hem. In an embodiment, the material of the lower portion  602   b  may be cut proximate the tab  604  so as to enable the tab  604  to be folded further from the edge of the lower portion  602   b.  The lateral walls of the pocket  110  are formed by placing two parallel, laterally extending construction stitches  302   a,    302   b  proximate the tapered end  102   b  securing the upper portion  502   a  to the lower portion  502   b.  An additional longitudinally extending construction stitch  304  may be placed so as to extend between the lateral construction stitches  302   a,    302   b,  thereby forming the longitudinal wall of the pocket  110 . The pocket  110  thus exists in the space between the upper portion  502   a  and the lower portion  502   b.  The opening of the pocket  110  may be offset from the edge of the strip of material  600 . 
         [0039]    In an embodiment, a plurality of lateral and/or longitudinal stitches are made in the piece of material  600  so as to increase the strength of the material. 
         [0040]    It is to be understood, having thus described in detail preferred embodiments of the present invention, that the invention defined by the above paragraphs is not to be limited to the particular details set forth in the above description, as many apparent variations thereof are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.