Patent Description:
Document <CIT> describes a jacket adapted to encircle the torso of a user, the jacket having a neck opening and a pair of arm openings and including a back portion continuous with a pair of front portions separably connected at the front of the jacket. The back and front portions consist of two superposed layers of moisture-resistant fabric material secured together at their marginal edges. Lines of stitching extending through the superposed material layers define therebetween a plurality of fully closed pockets occupying a substantial area of the back and front portions of the jacket.

Document <CIT> describes a flexible storage bag including overlaying first and second sidewalls defining an internal volume that can be accessed from an open top edge. To evacuate air from the internal volume after the open top edge has been closed, the bag includes a one-way valve element attached to the first sidewall and communicating with the internal volume. To prevent the one-way valve element from becoming clogged by the opposing second sidewall, the bag also includes a clearance member that maintains at least a partial clearance between the first and second sidewalls proximate the valve element. The clearance member can take many forms such as a textured portion on the second sidewall that includes evacuation passages which provide air in the internal volume access to the valve element, a permeable element covering the valve element, and a rigid or compressible structure that spaces the second sidewall from the valve element.

Document <CIT> describes a protective apparatus for an article, the apparatus including a surrounding sidewall having a first end portion and an opposing second end portion, the sidewall also having a perpendicularly oriented first margin portion and an opposing second margin portion, also with a primary interior. The interior includes a plurality of flexible longwise channels that are attached in a juxtapose position to one another. In addition, included is a plurality of particulate items loosely disposed within each of the flexible longwise channels and a structure for removable engagement positioned adjacent to the first and second margins. The removable engagement structure facilitates the first and second margins to be removably engaged allowing the surrounding sidewall to envelope the article. The primary interior can be evacuated, thus removing the air spaces between the particulate items and in the interior resulting in rigidifying the surrounding sidewall partially encompassing the article to protect the article.

The present invention generally provides a device or apparatus that provides a vacuum pouch for athletics. Particularly, the claimed invention is defined by the features set forth in the appended independent claim. Additional embodiments are defined by the dependent claims.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings.

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which:.

Further, it is to be understood that the drawings may represent the scale of different components of one single embodiment; however, the disclosed embodiments are not limited to that particular scale.

Aspects of this disclosure relate to a pouch or pocket as a container that may be used to securely hold objects (e.g., cell phone, keys, wallet, etc.) during athletic activity, such as when working out (e.g., running). The pouch may be a standalone item or integrally formed as part of other items, such as an article of clothing, a belt (e.g. a fanny pack-type belt), a bag, etc. The pouch or pocket may be desired to hold the object to be stored in place within the pouch or pocket. The pouch or pocket may be desired to provide some cushioning or impact force attenuation to protect the object being held within the pouch or pocket. Additionally, the pouch or pocket may be attached to a garment, such as running clothes. The pouch or pocket may be desired to keep the object from bouncing around while running or otherwise working out and moving. The pouch includes an outer envelope sealable by a closure and a one-way valve. One or more foam layers are included inside the pouch. After the object is placed in the pouch, the closure is closed, and the air within the pouch is expelled via the one-way valve by compressing the foam layers from the outside. The compressed foam holds the object in place within the pouch.

In the following description of various example structures according to the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration various example devices, systems, and environments in which aspects of the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other specific arrangements of parts, example devices, systems, and environments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, while the terms "top," "bottom," "front," "back," "side," "rear," and the like may be used in this specification to describe various example features and elements of the invention, these terms are used herein as a matter of convenience, e.g., based on the example orientations shown in the figures or the orientation during typical use. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three dimensional orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of this invention. Also, the reader is advised that the attached drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

In the following description of the various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, various embodiments in which aspects of the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention as defined by the appended claims.

<FIG> depicts an example vacuum pouch <NUM> according to one or more aspects described herein. Specifically, <FIG> depicts a top view of the pouch <NUM>. <FIG> depicts a cross-section view of the pouch <NUM> in an inflated configuration. <FIG> depicts a cross-section view of the pouch <NUM> in a deflated configuration.

As illustrated in <FIG>, aspects of this invention are directed towards a pouch <NUM> that includes an outer flexible envelope <NUM>, one or more foam components <NUM> located within the outer flexible envelope <NUM>, an openable/closable resealable opening <NUM>, and a one-way valve <NUM>. Any one-way valve <NUM> may be utilized as the one-way valve <NUM>, such as for example duck-bill valves (such as Vernay Duckbill Check Valves, valves of the types shown in <CIT> etc.). The outer flexible envelope <NUM> defines an interior chamber <NUM> that has a first major surface <NUM> and a second major surface <NUM> opposite the first major surface <NUM>. The resealable opening <NUM> is located on an exterior or the outer flexible envelope <NUM>. The resealable opening <NUM> provides an opening for an object <NUM> to be inserted into the interior chamber <NUM> and allows the object <NUM> to be inserted inside the interior chamber <NUM>. The resealable opening <NUM> may sealed many different times and is not a one-time sealed closure. The resealable opening <NUM> may include many different closure systems known and used in the art, such as a zippered closure, a pressure-resealable closure, or a sliding device closure.

The one or more foam components <NUM> may be, for example, an open cell foam. The foam components <NUM> may provide a first foam layer <NUM> adjacent the first major surface <NUM> and a second foam layer <NUM> adjacent the second major surface <NUM>. The foam components <NUM> may be an open cell foam material with high rebound characteristics. Additionally the foam components <NUM> may include a plurality of lasered holes for zonal compression.

The pouch <NUM>, the outer envelope <NUM>, and the foam components <NUM> may be a rectangular shape as illustrated in <FIG>. Additionally, the pouch <NUM>, the outer envelope <NUM>, and the foam components <NUM> may be other shapes without departing from this invention. For example, the pouch <NUM>, the outer envelope <NUM>, and the foam components <NUM> may be a square shape, circular shape, or oval shape. Additionally, the pouch <NUM>, the outer envelope <NUM>, and the foam components <NUM> may be a <NUM>-sided, <NUM>-sided, or <NUM>-sided polygon without departing from this invention. The pouch <NUM>, the outer envelope <NUM>, and the foam components <NUM> may be irregularly shaped also. In another embodiment without departing from the invention, the pouch <NUM>, the outer envelope <NUM>, and the foam components <NUM> may be different shapes as part of the same system, for example, the pouch <NUM> and the outer envelope <NUM> may be rectangular-shaped with the foam components <NUM> that are oval-shaped.

In use, an object <NUM> to be stored in the pouch <NUM> can be inserted through the resealable opening <NUM> and between the foam components <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> illustrates the pouch <NUM> in the inflated configuration. Once the object <NUM> is inserted into the pouch <NUM>, the resealable opening <NUM> is closed using the closure system, which seals the outer envelope <NUM>. Then, the user can compress the foam components <NUM> from the outside of the pouch <NUM>, for example, by using his/her hand to compress the foam components <NUM>. This compression of the foam components <NUM> expels the air from the interior chamber <NUM> of the outer envelope <NUM> via the one-way valve <NUM> that is in communication with the interior chamber <NUM>. Because the valve <NUM> is a one-way valve, air can leave the interior chamber <NUM> by the valve <NUM> but not get back in. This compresses the pouch <NUM> to the deflated configuration as illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate a second pouch assembly <NUM> according to one or more aspects described herein. Specifically, <FIG> depicts a cross-section view of the pouch <NUM> in an inflated configuration. <FIG> depicts a cross-section view of the pouch <NUM> in a deflated configuration. The pouch <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> is the same as the pouch <NUM> as described above and illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, except that the pouch <NUM> includes a plate <NUM> located between the first major surface <NUM> of the outer envelope <NUM> and the first foam layer <NUM>. The plate <NUM> may be a semi-rigid plate that serves as a moderator to more evenly spread the compression force over the area of the foam components <NUM>. The plate <NUM> may also help to expel the air and more evenly compress the foam components <NUM> against the object <NUM> being held.

<FIG> illustrates the different components of the pouch <NUM>, <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the components of the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> may include the foam components <NUM>, which include both the first foam layer <NUM> and the second foam layer <NUM>. The components of the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> also may include the "hotmelt up" component which defines a layer of the flexible envelope <NUM> with the one-way valve <NUM>. The components of the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> also may include the "Skin" component which defines a layer of the flexible envelope <NUM> with the resealable opening <NUM>. The components of the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> also may include the "hotmelt" component which defines a rim or boundary <NUM> of hot melt that may be applied to the flexible envelope <NUM> to secure the pouch <NUM> to another object, such as a garment <NUM>. The "wax paper" component <NUM> may be utilized between the facing interior edges of the foam layers <NUM>, <NUM>, for example to help the object <NUM> slide into and out of the interior pocket more easily and to prevent the foam layers <NUM>, <NUM> from sticking together.

According to the claimed invention, the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> is attached to a garment <NUM>, such as a shirt, vest, shorts, pants, socks, hat, etc. Particularly, the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> is fixedly attached to the garment <NUM>, for example, by a hot melt adhesive, or by a plurality of sewn seams, etc. <FIG> illustrates a pouch <NUM>, <NUM> attached to a garment <NUM>. The garment <NUM> may include a garment base material <NUM>, such as a one or more fabric materials or fabric components. The pouch <NUM> may be fixedly attached to the garment base material <NUM>. Further, the pouch <NUM> may include a mechanism for permanently connecting the pouch <NUM> to another object, such as a garment <NUM>. The mechanism may include a hook-and-loop fastener, hot melt adhesive, adhesive with release paper covering, snaps, button, magnetic connectors, etc..

In another embodiment of this invention relates to a system for compression the flexible envelope <NUM>, for example, if the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> is mounted on a back-side of the garment <NUM>. A back-side mount is useful for a pouch <NUM>, <NUM>, for example, for running or other workouts, because it generally keeps the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> out of the way of the running and other movements required while working out. However, if the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> is mounted on the back of the garment <NUM>, the object <NUM> may need to be inserted into the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> before the garment <NUM> is donned (as the wearer may not be able to reach the resealable opening <NUM> at his/her back). While the foam layers <NUM>, <NUM> could be compressed before the garment <NUM> is donned, this may cause undesired non-conformance of the shape of the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> with respect to the wearer's body, which may make the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> uncomfortable.

Therefore, in accordance with some aspects of this invention, the object <NUM> may be inserted into a back-side-mounted pouch <NUM>, <NUM> before the garment <NUM> is donned and the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> may be sealed by the resealable closure <NUM>. But, the foam layers <NUM>, <NUM> may not be compressed until after the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> is donned. The pouch <NUM>, <NUM> may be engaged with/include structures to enable to foam layers <NUM>, <NUM> to be compressed by the wearer after the garment <NUM> is donned. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an example compression structure <NUM> to compress the foam layers <NUM>, <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a set of straps <NUM> may wrap around the flexible envelope <NUM>. A finger trap strap configuration of the straps <NUM> may allow for the squeezing of the pouch <NUM> on both sides of the pouch <NUM>. The finger trap strap configuration may be similar to a cylindrical, helically wound braid, usually the common biaxial braid, wherein pulling the straps <NUM> lengthens and narrows the strap configuration, thereby tightening around the pouch <NUM>. The more the straps <NUM> are pulled, the more the envelop <NUM> shrinks and the straps <NUM> tightens around the envelope <NUM> and the pouch <NUM>. By pulling on a free end <NUM> of the straps <NUM> (which the user can do from the front of the garment <NUM>), the foam layers <NUM>, <NUM> can be compressed, thereby expelling the air from the interior chamber <NUM> of the outer envelope <NUM> via the one-way valve <NUM>. This compression action can also help allow the flexible envelope <NUM> of the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> to better conform to the shape of the wearer's back. Additionally, the plate <NUM> as described in <FIG> and <FIG> may help with this embodiment, for example, to help more evenly compress the foam layers <NUM>, <NUM> within the flexible envelope <NUM>. Other types of structure may be utilized to create the compression force on the foam layers <NUM>, <NUM> from a pulling action, without departing from this invention.

In another embodiment, <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate a compression structure <NUM> to compress the foam layers <NUM>, <NUM> that includes a set of lacing or cables <NUM> that can be used to pull at wider and more rigid set of bands <NUM> that when compressed against the foam components <NUM>, expels the air from the interior chamber <NUM> of the outer envelope <NUM> via the one-way valve <NUM>. The set of bands <NUM> may wrap partially or fully around or cover the flexible envelope <NUM>. The set of bands <NUM> may not be part of the pulling structure but rather coupled to the set of lacing or cables <NUM>. By pulling on a free end <NUM> of the straps <NUM> (which the user can do from the front of the garment <NUM>), the set of bands <NUM> are tightened around the outer envelope <NUM> and the foam layers <NUM>, <NUM> can be compressed, thereby expelling the air from the interior chamber <NUM> of the outer envelope <NUM> via the one-way valve <NUM>. This compression action can also help allow the flexible envelope <NUM> of the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> to better conform to the shape of the wearer's back. Additionally, the plate <NUM> as described in <FIG> and <FIG> may help with this embodiment, for example, to help more evenly compress the foam layers <NUM>, <NUM> within the flexible envelope <NUM>.

The flexible envelope <NUM> or "skin" may be made from a material that provides some desired level of stretchability, particularly for pouches <NUM>, <NUM> that are attached to a garment <NUM> and are located in close proximity to the wearer's body. The stretchable skin may allow the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> to better "move" with the body as necessary, for example, to increase comfort and lessen undesirable impact on performance. Additionally, the stretchable skin of the flexible envelope <NUM> may be seal-proof, such that water or air cannot get inside the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> and its stretch/skin-like properties without tearing or having any elongation. One suitable skin material is a lined-thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) film available from San Fang under the name Desol Lining. Other materials that provide stretchability may be utilized without departing from this invention.

The pouch <NUM>, <NUM> may be utilized for various applications other than attaching to apparel or garments. For example, as another option, this pouch system <NUM>, <NUM> may be used as a containment for a protective plate in sports apparel. One specific example may be used with a soccer sock for containing a shin guard. A pouch-system <NUM>, <NUM> of this type could be incorporated into a soccer sock. The shin guard could be placed into the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> and the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> could be closed and compressed. This pouch-system <NUM>, <NUM> might help to keep the shin guard in place during use and play. The shin guard could then be removed from the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> as needed. Other applications of this pouch system may be utilized without departing from this invention.

The pouch <NUM>, <NUM> has the advantage of that the compression of the flexible envelope <NUM>, the foam layers <NUM>, <NUM>, and the relative vacuum pressure formed within the interior chamber <NUM> generally hold the object <NUM> to be stored in place. When the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> is attached to a garment <NUM> (e.g., running clothes), the pouch <NUM>, <NUM> can help keep the object <NUM> from bouncing around while running or otherwise working out/moving. Although compressed, the foam layers <NUM>, <NUM> can also provide some cushioning/impact force attenuation to protect the object <NUM> being held, such as a cell phone.

Claim 1:
A pouch (<NUM>, <NUM>) for securely holding objects during athletic activity, the pouch (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
an outer envelope (<NUM>) that defines an interior chamber (<NUM>) that has a first major surface (<NUM>) and a second major surface (<NUM>);
one or more foam components (<NUM>) located within the outer envelope (<NUM>);
a resealable opening (<NUM>) located on an exterior of the outer envelope (<NUM>) providing an opening for an object to be inserted into the interior chamber (<NUM>); and
a one-way valve (<NUM>) in communication with the interior chamber (<NUM>),
wherein once the object (<NUM>) is inserted into the pouch (<NUM>, <NUM>), the resealable opening (<NUM>) is closed and sealed and the one or more foam components (<NUM>) are compressed, wherein the compression of the one or more foam components (<NUM>) expels the air from the interior chamber (<NUM>) of the outer envelope (<NUM>) via the one-way valve (<NUM>), and
wherein the pouch (<NUM>, <NUM>) is fixedly attached to a garment.