Fold and Wrap Storage Device for Body Part Object of the Invention:

The objective of the invention is the provision of a device for the storing, safekeeping and transport of small objects on a person by the device holding the object and wrapping a body part. Background to the Invention:

Small objects can be difficult or worrying to transport if the items are not secure or if the person transporting the objects does not consider them to be secure. For example objects are known to be lost from a persons pocket by a number of means such as holes forming in the pockets or by objects being pulled from the pocket by a means such as the removal of a handkerchief pulling the object from the pocket without the knowledge of the person so that the object can become lost.

In certain circumstances clothing may not have suitable pockets or means to hold a small required object. An example of this could be running or exercise clothes where a person may need to have a key to gain or regain entry to a house or automobile. Additionally, agitation and stress can be caused in some persons by them not knowing or remembering where an item is stored, say for example in which pocket a ticket was stored and transported.

Also, as a large amount of data is able to be stored on small data storage devices, and as these devices are increasingly reduced in size, a practical and safe way of storing small objects has the potential to become of greater importance. Prior Art:

Prior art searches show that there are other patents and designs referring to holding and storage devices that wrap around parts of the body. An example of this prior art is given in US patent number 4,461,030 which discloses a device for the holding of objects. While a holding device is disclosed that wraps around part of the body, the holding and containment of object or objects inserted in the device is facilitated or achieved by addition of attachments to the edges of the openings. This disclosure differs from the current invention in the method of holding and restraining the object and in that the addition of the attachments to the openings would increase the difficulty and cost of manufacture and has the potential to add to the bulk of the holding device and decrease the comfort of the wearer. Description of the Invention:

The basic embodiment of the invention is a device designed to hold, store or transport an object close to the body. The device holds the object and wraps around the body part to enable the

securing of the object to a persons body. The said device is comprised of at least three effective layers of flexible material arranged in a way so that:

1. Effective layers (which may themselves be made of layered material) have a length that fully or partly goes around a part of the body, and so; 2. the first effective layer of the material that rests on the skin on a persons body, or on clothing or cloth or other material on a person's skin, and;

3. a second effective layer of material rests on all or part of the first effective layer and contacts and restricts all or part of an object (or objects) placed fully or partly between the first and second layers, and so; 4. the first effective layer and the second effective layer are connected together in a manner along one side of their length so that the connection stops the object moving past the connection in one direction along the body, and so; 5. the third effective layer rests on all or part of the second layer and may rest on part of the first layer and/or part of the object not covered by the second layer, and so; 6. the first layer and the third layer are connected together along the sides of their length opposite to the connection of the first and second layers in a manner so that the connection stops the object moving past the connection along the body so that the opposing connections stop movement in either direction along the body, and so that;

7. the object is stopped from moving around the body in the direction of the wrap by one or more of the following ways; by friction in the layer material, by curvature of the body part, by pressure exerted by the layers, by a connection or connections between the first and second layers, and so that;

8. at one or more points, the first, second and third layers are connected together so that the layers are restricted and held in the same relative position. The invention can be applied in practice in a number of ways, some of which are described here and in the accompanying drawings and descriptions.

The simplest embodiment of the application of the invention may be the folding of a length of cloth into the three layers as so described and the wrapping of the length around the body and the fastening of the layers by means of a device such as a safety pin. Objects can be inserted between the layers prior to, or subsequent to, the fastening of the device to the body part. In practice it is likely that it will be most practical for the layers to be held in their relative position by a means such as by sewing the layers together at the required location.

Overall the device could be long with, for example, a number of wraps of material being made around the wrist before the three layer holding section contacts the wrapped layers and the other end of the device wrapping a number of additional times around the body part and over the section where the object is contained. In this embodiment the end of the device could be pinned or hooked or the tail of the material could be poked under the wrap to hold the wrap in position. Suitable connection devices could be safety pins or small hooks attached to elastic straps that hook into the material or loop and hook technology such as is commonly known as Velcro or other methods that may be used to connect sections of cloth or flexible material with these methods of attachment applicable to a number of embodiments of the invention. Alternatively the device could be short with an interconnecting section of material connected to the ends of the three layers to complete the wrap around the body part. The interconnecting material could be stretchy to facilitate the snug and effective fitting of the device to the body part and the holding and securing of the object in the device. A simple sewn embodiment would involve the use of a single length of stretchable material folded according to the invention and sewn at one point to form a continual loop which is then slid over the body part with the elasticity of the material holding the device firmly wrapped around the body part. The elasticity of the material would allow the object to be easily inserted, secured and removed as required when the device was on the body. Particular connections could be made to facilitate the storage of particular objects. For example an opening could be made or allowed to remain in the connection between the first and second layer or the first and third layers to allow the notched section of a key to protrude to facilitate the comfortable storage of the key. The first and second layers could be connected at certain points to make separation pockets. Connections could be along the line of the body part and could make individual areas for storing objects such as tickets, identification, bank cards and data storage cards. An example of the benefit of this could be for travelers and photographers where they can securely store photographs away from valuable cameras and other valuables that may be lost or stolen.

Several other structural and or aesthetic additions and or variations can be made to the device to suit other applications. Moisture absorbent material such as a stretch toweling could be used for one or all of the layers to serve as a sweatband. Water tolerable or water proof fabrics could be used for each of the layers so the device could be used to store items while in wet and/or moist environments such as a swimming pool. The device could also be used as a safety device to improve visibility of the user with the incorporation of illuminated areas on one or all of the

layers by such means as reflective paints or fabrics. Straps could be incorporated into the structure of the device to provide an alternative means of securing items such as the wrist strap of a mobile phone or a set of keys on a key ring. Additional layers, loops, hooks or other fastening devices such as clips attached to or between any of the effective layers could also be incorporated for additional security of a stored item. Either or all of the effective layers could be made from rectangular sections or cut and/or folded and constructed- in other shapes. Fabrics with different material properties and/-or colors and patterns and/or logo branding could be used for one or all of the effective layers and additional features. To insert and or remove objects when the device is in use one method would be to pull back the third effective layer which will be under tension and held in its relative position at a certain point (or points). The object is then inserted and/or removed from between the first and second effective layers with the first and second effective layers also under tension. The third layer would then be returned to its original position. Description of Drawings of Various Embodiments of the Invention and Best Modes for Carrying Out the Invention:

Figure 1 shows a cross section of three effective layers and an object with the large crosshatched area (10) representing a limb or other body part, (15) representing the first effective layer close to the limb or other body part, (20) representing the second effective layer resting on an object (25) and (30) showing the connection area where the first and second layers are connected fully or partly along their length which restricts movement of the object in the direction of the arrow (35). (40) represents the third effective layer resting on part of the object (25) and part of the second layer (20). (45) shows the connection area on the opposite edge of the first layer (15) to the second layer connection (30) where the first layer and the third layer are connected fully or partly along their length which restricts movement of the object in the direction of the arrow (50). Connections (30) and (45) can be produced by a fold in the fabric or by joining the two meeting pieces of fabric either by sewing or some other means.

The term connection in the context of certain aspects of the invention should be taken as a definition term only. In certain embodiments the word connection simply defines a change between effective layers. For example, in an embodiment of the invention in which a single piece of material is folded to effect the invention, the fold points, which effectively creates the first, second and third layers are still referred to as a connection or connection area despite the fact that the connection could move depending on the exact manner in which the material is folded, and that, if the material was laid flat, no physical connection point would be evident.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a cylinder (55) representing a limb or other body part with a band (60) wrapped around the periphery of the limb or body part. Arrows (65) and (70) represent the direction of travel along the body. Arrow (75) represents the direction of wrap of the device. A summary of key aspects of the invention as they relate to Figures 1 and 2 is given by the following:

The device that wraps around part of the body to hold and secure objects with the device being comprised of at least three effective layers of flexible material arranged in a way so that:

A. the effective layers (which may themselves be made of layered material) have a length that fully or partly goes around a part of the body, and so ;

B. the first effective layer of the material rests on the skin on a persons body, or on clothing or cloth or other material on a person's skin, and so:

C. a second effective layer of material rests on all or part of the first effective layer and contacts and restricts all or part of an object (or objects) placed fully or partly between the first and second layers, and so:

D. the first effective layer and the second effective layer are connected together in a manner along one side of their length so that the connection stops the object moving past the connection in one direction along the body, and so;

E. a third effective layer rests on all or part of the second layer and may rest on part of the first layer and/or part of the object not covered by the second layer, and so;

F. the first layer and the third layer are connected together along the sides of their length on the opposite edge to the connection of the first and second layers in a manner so that the connection stops the object moving past the connection along the body so that the opposing connections stop movement in either direction along the body, and so that; G. the object is stopped from moving around the body in the direction of the wrap by one or more of the following ways; by friction in the layer material, by curvature of the body part, by pressure exerted by the layers, by a connection or connections between the first and second layers, and so that;

H. at one or more points, the first, second and third layers are connected together so that the layers are restricted and held in the same relative position.

Figure 3 shows a front view of the device (80) wrapped around a wrist (85). (90) shows a house key and two coins (95) to be stored.

Figure 4 shows a thumb (100) lifting the third effective layer (40) to expose the opening of the pocket (105) between the first effective layer (15) and the second effective layer (20). Figure 5 shows the items to be stored (90) and (95) being inserted through the opening (105). Figure 6 shows the items being held between the first layer (15) and the second layer (20) by the tension created in the layers by the wrap of the device, and the connection (30) between the first layer (15) and the second layer (20).

Figure 7 shows the third layer (40) returned to its restricted position and the items (90) and (95) further secured by the overlap of the second and third layers, the connection (45) between the first and third (40) layers and the additional tension of the third layer (40) . Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a preferred construction method of the three effective layers. A single piece of fabric folded to form the connection (30) between the first layer (15) and the second layer (20) and the connection (45) between the first layer (15) and the third layer (40). Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the restricted ends (110) being held relative to each other by sewing or some other fastening method.

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of another construction method of the three effective layers. Three individual pieces of fabric are cut to form the three layers: the first layer (15), second layer (20) and the third layer (40) of the device. As an alternative there may be embodiments of the invention where it may be material or construction characteristics wehere it makes it desirable to make the construction of the device by forming two effective layers by folding one piece of material and the attachment of another piece to form a third layer.

Figure 11 shows a perspective view of the assembled pieces with sewing or another fastening method creating the connection (30) of the first (15) and second (20) layers and the connection (45) of the first (15) and third (40) layers. (110) shows a join suitable for restricting the ends of the layers relative to each other.

Figures 12 to 22 show embodiments of the device and variations that could be applied to the device in manufacture and use.

Figure 12 shows a front view of the device (80) wrapped around a wrist (85).

Figure 13 shows a back view of the three layer construction of the device (80) wrapped around a wrist (85) and the ends of the layers held relative to each other by a line of sewing or what could be another fastening method (115).

Figure 14 shows a front perspective view of the device (85) with an interconnecting section of material (120) connected to the ends (125) of the three layers to complete the wrap/loop around

the body part. While one section of interconnecting material is shown here, the interconnecting material could be made up of multiple strips of any required number. In certain circumstances multiple strips of elastic material providing tension to the layers could provide increased wearer comfort relative to a single elastic strap interconnection. Figure 15 shows a back perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 14.

Figure 16 shows a front view of the device with the third layer (40) lifted and the first layer (15) and second layer (20) connected in several places (130) to make separated pockets (135) to carry general or specific items such as a camera memory card (140) or a key (90). In this embodiment, the connections (130) are made from a line of stitching or alternate fastening method along the direction of the body part.

Figure 17 shows a front view of an embodiment of the device with the connection (130) of the first layer (15) and the second layer (20) created on an angle to form the separated pockets (135). Figure 18 shows a front view of the device with the third layer (40) constructed on an angle. Similarly, and while it is not shown, the second layer could also be constructed on an angle. Figure 19 shows a perspective view of the device with the third layer (40) constructed on an angle.

Figure 20 shows a perspective view of the device with three straps (145). In this embodiment the straps overlap the interconnecting section of material (120) and are fastened between the interconnecting section of material and the second layer (20) and/or between the interconnecting section of material (120) and the third layer (40). The second layer (20) is fastened between the interconnecting section (120) and part of the third layer (40).

Figure 21 shows aback view of the device with straps (145) containing a bunch of keys (150) on a key ring (155). The key ring (155) is threaded around the top strap and the keys are contained close to the body and against the interconnecting section of material (120) by the elasticized straps (145).

Figure 22 shows a front view of the device with a provision for the storage of a large key (160) such as a car key, or other large item. An opening (165) in the connection (30) between the first layer (which is not shown) and the second layer (20) enables a portion of the key (160) to protrude if the item does not fit wholly inside the three layers of the device.