WAIST MOUNTABLE ARTICLE CARRYING BELT ATTACHABLE ABOUT A JUG

Abstract

A waist mountable article carrying belt is also attachable about a jug. Two separate components combine together to create the belt, a base which includes a variety of compartments, slots, bands, and other devices designed to facilitate the carrying of various items, and a separate band with adjustable features allowing adjustment of its length. The band also includes fasteners at each end that are complementary to the fasteners on the ends of the base so that the band may be coupled to the base. The preferred jug includes an integrally molded handle and includes an opening between the handle and jug body that allows the band to be passed through the opening when fastening the base and band to the periphery of the jug.

Claims

1. An article carrier configured to fit about a waist of a wearer as well as a container, comprising: a) a base with first and second ends; b) between said first and second ends, a plurality of article holding devices, including at least one compartment and at least one loop; c) at said first end, a first fastener is provided; d) at said second end, a second fastener is provided; e) a band having an adjustable length and first and second ends; f) said band having a third fastener at said first end and a fourth fastener at said second end; g) said first and third fasteners being connectable together to releasably attach said first end of said base to said first end of said band; h) said second and fourth fasteners being connectable together to releasably attach said second end of said base to said second end of said band; i) said length of said band may be adjusted to secure said base and band, as interconnected, around a waist of a wearer; and j) a container having a circumference, said base and band, when attached together, being securable about said circumference to support said base and band on said container.

2. The article carrier of claim 1, wherein said first and third fasteners comprise complementary halves of a side release buckle.

3. The article carrier of claim 2, wherein said second and fourth fasteners comprise complementary halves of a side release buckle.

4. The article carrier of claim 1, wherein said at least one compartment has a transparent front.

5. The article carrier of claim 4, wherein said at least one compartment is sized to receive a smartphone.

6. The article carrier of claim 1, wherein said at least one compartment includes a closure flap.

7. The article carrier of claim 1, wherein said at least one compartment has an opening closeable with a zipper.

8. The article carrier of claim 1, wherein said band is made of a plurality of straps interconnected together, at least one of said straps having an adjustable length.

9. The article carrier of claim 8, wherein two of said straps have an adjustable length.

10. The article carrier of claim 1, wherein said at least one loop comprises a plurality of axially aligned loops.

11. The article carrier of claim 10, wherein said loops are sized to releasably receive an elongated thin object.

12. The article carrier of claim 11, wherein said elongated thin object is chosen from the group consisting of a pen and a pencil.

13. The article carrier of claim 1, wherein said base has at least one grommet with an opening configured to receive an elongated tether.

14. The article carrier of claim 1, wherein said container comprises a jug with an interior volume for receiving a liquid and a closure closing an opening allowing access to said interior.

15. The article carrier of claim 14, wherein said jug has a generally cylindrical body with an integrally molded handle and an opening between said body and said handle, said closure comprising a cap.

16. The article carrier of claim 15, wherein said band is insertable through said opening with said band and base placed in surrounding relation to said jug to fasten said base and band, as interconnected, about said jug.

17. An article carrier configured to fit about a waist of a wearer as well as a drinking container, comprising: a) a base with first and second ends; b) between said first and second ends, a plurality of article holding devices, including a plurality of compartments and at least one loop; c) at said first end, a first fastener is provided; d) at said second end, a second fastener is provided; e) a band having an adjustable length and first and second ends; f) said band having a third fastener at said first end and a fourth fastener at said second end; g) said first and third fasteners comprising halves of a side release buckle and being connectable together to releasably attach said first end of said base to said first end of said band; h) said second and fourth fasteners being connectable together to releasably attach said second end of said base to said second end of said band; i) with fasteners interconnected as recited in paragraphs g) and h), said length of said band may be adjusted to secure said base and band around a waist of a wearer; and j) a drinking container having a generally cylindrical circumference, said base and band, when attached together, being securable about said circumference to support said base and band on said container.

18. The article carrier of claim 17, wherein at least one of said compartments has a transparent front and is sized to receive a smartphone, and at least one further compartment includes a closure flap.

19. The article carrier of claim 17, wherein said band is made of a plurality of straps interconnected together, at least two of said straps having an adjustable length.

20. The article carrier of claim 17, wherein said drinking container comprises a jug with an interior volume for receiving a liquid and a cap closing an opening allowing access to said interior, said jug having an integrally molded handle and an opening between said body and said handle wherein said band is insertable through said opening with said band and base placed in surrounding relation to said jug to fasten said base and band, as interconnected together, about said jug.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a view of the base and band of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of an example of a side release buckle usable in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the base of the present invention with various objects secured thereon as an example.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the base of the present invention showing the possible depth of various compartments.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the structure shown in FIG. 4.

[0034] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the base and band during the process of securing them on a jug.

[0035] FIG. 7 shows a view of the base and band being secured about a jug from a different perspective than that of FIG. 6.

[0036] FIG. 8 shows a side view of a jug with the inventive base and band secured thereabout.

[0037] FIG. 9 shows a view rotated from the view of FIG. 8 showing the band extending through the opening between the handle and body of the jug.

[0038] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view partially in cross-section showing the materials of the base and band.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] With reference, first, to FIG. 1, the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and is seen to include a band 20 and a base 40. The band 20 includes straps 21, 23, and 25. Buckle halves 27 and 29 are at the extreme ends of the band 20. A clip 31 with slots 33 and 35 allows interconnection of the strap 21 and the strap 23. A further clip 22 includes openings 24 and 26 that allow interconnection of the straps 23 and 25. As seen in FIG. 1, the strap 21 includes a portion 28 that loops through the opening 33 in the clip 31 and folds back upon itself. The surface 30 of the strap 21 is covered with one-half of a hook and pile fastening means best known by the registered trademark VELCRO®. The other side of the portion 28 holds the other half of the hook and pile fastening means so that the portion 28 can be pulled through the opening 33 and fastened to enable adjustment of the length of the strap 21.

[0040] Similarly, the strap 25 has its surface 32 covered with one-half of a hook and pile fastening means while the portion 34 of the strap 25 has an underside covered with the other half of the hook and pile fastening means so that the portion 34 of the strap 25 can be pulled through the opening 26 and fastened to allow adjustment of the effective length of the strap 25.

[0041] Additional adjustment means 36 and 38 allow further length adjustment.

[0042] The base 40 includes a generally rectangular body 41 with a plurality of article holding devices. They include a plurality of compartments attached thereto. Thus, the compartment 43 includes a transparent front portion 45 so that it can receive a smartphone with the front of the smartphone visible through the surface 45. Another compartment 47 has a flap 49 that may be moved to the position shown in FIG. 1 to cover a top opening of the compartment (not shown) within which to store various objects.

[0043] A further compartment 51 includes an opening that is opened and closed by the provision of a zipper 53.

[0044] Other article holding devices include the following. Grommets 55 are provided to allow attachment of a tether made of string, bungee cord or any suitable material to allow attachment of another object which could include a drink container. Loops 57 are provided between the compartments 51 and 47 to allow attachment of other objects. The loops 57 may be made of an elastic material allowing them to be stretched to accommodate to objects of differing sizes. The loops 57 may also be used to attach other objects such as key rings.

[0045] Additionally, a series of aligned loops 59 are provided which allow receipt of, for example, a pen or pencil, or other elongated thin object.

[0046] At either end of the base 40, a half of a fastening means is provided. These are designated by the reference numerals 61 and 63. These are first and second fasteners. As should be understood from FIG. 1, these fastener halves are respectively coupled to the fastener halves 27 and 29 also described as third and fourth fasteners employed to couple the band 20 to the base 1.

[0047] With reference to FIG. 2, a side release buckle is generally designated by the reference numeral 70 and may comprise the fasteners designated by the reference numerals 27, 29, 61 and 63 in FIG. 1. The buckle 70 includes complementary halves comprising a first half 71 and a second half 73. The first half 71 includes an opening 75 allowing attachment of a strap that can be extended therethrough. It also includes two flexible tangs 77 and 79 which are received within a slot 81 in the fastener half 73. As should be understood, the tangs 77 and 79 are squeezed toward one another, whereupon the half 71 is pushed into the half 73 until the shoulders 76 and 78 of the tangs 77 and 79, respectively, pass through the slot 81 and allow the tangs 77 and 79 to spring away from each other in the recesses 83 and 85. The half 73 also includes an opening 87 allowing attachment of a strap extended therethrough. When the halves 71 and 73 are fastened together and it is desired to release them, typically, the thumb and forefinger of the user squeeze the tangs 77 and 79 together until the shoulders 76 and 78 are inward of the recess 81, whereupon the halves 71 and 73 can be pulled apart.

[0048] With reference to FIG. 3, the base 40 is seen with several objects loaded therein including a smartphone 1 loaded into the compartment 45, a pencil 2 received within the loops 59, strings 3 attached to the grommets 55, and, if desired, the compartment 47 holding a pack of gum (not shown).

[0049] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, different views of the base 40 are shown which illustrate the depth of the compartments 45, 47 and 51. The grommets 55 and the loops 59 are also clearly shown.

[0050] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the preferred design for the container or jug is generally designated by the reference numeral 100 and is seen to include a generally cylindrical body 101 with a circumference, a cap 103 comprising a closure for an opening (not shown) allowing access to the interior of the jug 100, a handle 105 integrally formed with the jug 100, and an opening 107 between the handle 105 and the body 101 of the jug. The interior of the jug is intended to receive and store a liquid, preferably, for drinking.

[0051] The strap 20 of the band 20 is seen extended through the opening 107 between the handle 105 and the body 101 of the jug 100. The base 40 is seen suspended in front of the jug 100 in the view of FIG. 6. FIG. 7 shows a view from the other side of the jug 100 showing an end of the band 20 and the base 40 suspended as shown for ease of understanding.

[0052] FIG. 8 shows the jug 100 with the base 40 and strap 20 (not shown in FIG. 8) attached about the circumference of the jug 100. FIG. 9 shows an end of the band 20 extending through the opening 107 between the handle 105 and the body 101 of the jug 100.

[0053] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the device 10, partially in cross-section, including the band 20 and the base 40. As shown in FIG. 10, the base 40 has plural layers of thickness including a layer 110 made of a gripping material such as, for example, rubber or synthetic rubber with a surface 111 which faces the jug 100 when the device 10 is mounted therearound. This rubber or synthetic rubber surface 111 assists in gripping the jug 100 to prevent the device 10 from slipping up or down when the band 20 is tightened in the manner explained supra to affix the device 10 to the jug 100. Another layer 113 of the base 40 can be comprised of a textile material such as cotton, polyester or the like, and provides the underpinning for the compartments best seen with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3.

[0054] In the preferred manner of use of the present invention, the various compartments and loops and grommets are employed to place whatever desired objects can be placed therewithin or attached thereto. The device 10 may then be attached about the waist of the user in the manner explained supra by attaching the band to the base using fasteners such as that which is illustrated in FIG. 2 which are clipped together with the straps 28 and 34 being suitably adjusted to tightly affix the device 10 in place. When it is desired to remove the device 10 from the wearer, it may be affixed about the circumference of a jug 100, as explained above, by attaching the band to the base and then activating the clips, such as the clip 70 shown in FIG. 2, in the manner described supra to attach the device 10 about the jug 100. The strap portions 28 and 34 may be adjusted to tighten the device 10 about the jug 100.

[0055] Any desired materials can be employed for the different components of the inventive device 10. For example, the grommets 55 can be made of metal or plastic, the clear front of the compartment 43 can be made of any desired transparent material such as plastic and the like, the fasteners 70 as well as the clips 22 and 31 can be made of any desired material, and any desired elastic material can be used for the loops 59 as well as those designated by the reference numeral 57.

[0056] Accordingly, an invention has been disclosed in terms of preferred embodiments thereof, which fulfill each and every one of the objects of the invention as set forth hereinabove, and provide a new and useful waist mountable article carrying belt attachable about a jug of great novelty and utility.

[0057] Of course, various changes, modifications, and alterations in the teachings of the present invention may be contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof.

[0058] As such, it is intended that the present invention only be limited by the terms of the appended claims.