Insulated Pocket System

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to beverage insulators and more particularly pertains to a new beverage insulator for holding and insulating a beverage container within a pocket of a garment.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to beverage insulators. For example, the prior art relates to koozies, or cozies, that generally comprise fabric or foam sleeves for insulating beverage containers to keep them cool. People may use these beverage insulators when working or relaxing outdoors in warm temperatures. Having a cool, refreshing beverage can provide the user with increased energy. When working in very warm temperatures, having a cool beverage can also help the user to avoid heat exhaustion. However, the prior art koozies do not facilitate the user in carrying the beverage along with them. Thus, particularly when working outdoors with their hands, the user may set the beverage down and walk away from the beverage. Being physically separated from the beverage can make it harder for the user to drink the beverage and use the cooled contents to avoid heat exhaustion. Thus, there is a need in the art for a beverage insulating system that can facilitate the user in keeping the beverage on their person as the user moves or walks around a space.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a beverage container. A garment has an outer surface. A pocket is coupled to the outer surface of the garment. The pocket has an interior space. The interior space has a size that is complementary to a size of the beverage container wherein the beverage container is positionable within the pocket. A liner is positioned in the interior space. The liner covers an interior surface of the pocket. The liner comprises an insulated material that is configured to insulate contents of the beverage container from outside temperatures when the beverage container is positioned within the pocket.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric in-use view of an insulated pocket system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 9 thereof, a new beverage insulator embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 9, the insulated pocket system 10 generally comprises a beverage container 12. The beverage container 12 may include one of a bottle 14 and a can 16.

A garment 18 has an outer surface 20. The garment 18 may also have a front side 22. For example, the garment 18 may comprise a shirt, as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 8. The shirt may be sleeveless wherein the shirt comprises a vest. The shirt may alternatively comprise a tank top. As shown in FIG. 8, the shirt may have sleeves, for example comprising a jacket or sweatshirt. Alternatively, the garment may comprise a pair of pants, such as the cargo shorts shown in FIG. 5, or a bag, such as the backpack shown in FIG. 6 or the tote bag shown in FIG. 9.

A pocket 24 is coupled to the outer surface 20 of the garment 18. The pocket 24 has an interior space 30. The interior space 30 has a size that is complementary to a size of the beverage container 12 wherein the beverage container 12 is positionable within the interior space 30 of the pocket 24.

For example, the pocket 24 may comprise a bottom wall 26 and a peripheral wall 28 that is coupled to and extends upwardly from the bottom wall 26 to define the interior space 30. The peripheral wall 28 may have an upper edge 32 defining an opening 34 that is distal to the bottom wall 26. The opening 34 facilitates access to the interior space 30. The bottom wall 26 may extend perpendicularly outward from the outer surface 20 of the garment 18. The peripheral wall 28 may extend perpendicularly upward from the bottom wall 26. The bottom wall 26 may have a quadrilateral shape that is configured to receive a base surface 36 of the beverage container 12. The peripheral wall 28 may have a height 38 exceeding a length 40 of the bottom wall 26.

Alternatively, the pocket 24 may comprise a panel having a bottom edge and opposing side edges that are each coupled to the garment 18 to define the interior space 30. Free ends of the opposing side edges may define the opening 34 that is distal to the bottom edge.

A liner 42 is positioned in the interior space 30. The liner 42 comprises an insulated material that is configured to insulate contents of the beverage container 12 from outside temperatures when the beverage container 12 is positioned within the pocket 24. The liner 42 may cover an interior surface 44 of the bottom wall 26 and the peripheral wall 28 of the pocket 24. The liner 42 may also cover a portion 46 of the outer surface 20 of the garment 18. The portion 46 of the outer surface 20 of the garment 18 is generally positioned within the interior space 30. The liner 42 may be coupled to the outer surface 20 of garment 18, to the interior surface 44 of the bottom wall 26 and/or the peripheral wall 28 of the pocket 24, or to both the garment 18 and the pocket 24.

The pocket 24 may be positioned on the front side 22 of the garment 18 such that the beverage container 12 is configured to be accessible to a user 52 when the user 52 is wearing the garment 18. Alternatively, the pocket 24 may be positioned on a lateral side of the garment 18. In such alternative embodiments, the beverage container 12 may still be configured to be accessible to the user 52 when the user 52 is wearing the garment 18.

A band 50 may be coupled to at least one of the pocket 24 and the liner 42. The band 50 is generally positioned between the pocket 24 and the liner 42. The band 50 may be positioned between the bottom wall 26 and the opening 34 of the pocket 24. The band 50 may comprise a resiliently compressible material that is configured to secure the beverage container 12 within the pocket 24. For example, the band 50 may expand to accommodate the beverage container 12 that is positioned within the pocket 12 and contract around the beverage container 12 once the beverage container is inserted within the pocket 12. The band 50 may be thereby configured to inhibit the beverage container 12 from tipping within the pocket 24 and to inhibit contents of the beverage container 12 from spilling out of the beverage container 12.

The peripheral wall 28 of the pocket 24 may further comprise a front surface 54, and a pair of opposing lateral surfaces that are coupled to and extend between the front surface and the outer surface 20 of the garment 18. Each of the pair of opposing lateral surfaces 58 may have a side fold 60 that extends from the bottom wall 26 to the upper edge 32 of the peripheral wall 28 thereby facilitating each of the pair of opposing lateral surfaces 58 to be collapsible along the side fold 60. The bottom wall 26 may have a bottom fold 62 that extends along the length 40 of the bottom wall, for example from a first surface of the pair of opposing lateral surfaces 58 to a second surface of the pair of opposing lateral surfaces 58, thereby facilitating the bottom wall 26 to be collapsible along the bottom fold 62.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the garment 18 may comprise the backpack 64. The backpack 64 generally includes a shoulder strap 66. The pocket 24 may be coupled to, or releasably securable to, the shoulder strap 66. The peripheral wall 28 of the pocket 24 may include the front surface 54, a back surface 56, and the pair of opposing lateral surfaces 58 that are coupled to and extend between the front surface 54 and the back surface 56.

The pocket 24 may comprise a flap 68 that is coupled to the back surface 56 of the peripheral wall 28. Alternatively, the flap 68 may be coupled to the outer surface 20 of the garment 18 and positioned adjacent to the upper edge 32 of the pocket 24. The flap 68 is generally foldable over the upper edge 32 for selectively closing the opening 34. The flap 68 may be releasably couplable to an exterior surface the front surface 54 of the peripheral wall 28 when the flap 68 is folded over the upper edge 32.

A flap coupler 70 may releasably fasten the flap 68 to the exterior surface of the front surface 54 of the peripheral wall 28. For example, the flap coupler 70 may comprise a first mating member 72 that is attached to the exterior surface of the front surface 54 of the peripheral wall 28. A second mating member 74 may be releasably engageable with the first mating member 72. The second mating member 74 may be attached to an inner surface of the flap 68 and is generally alignable with the first mating member 72 when the flap 68 is folded over the upper edge 32. Each of the first mating member 72 and the second mating member 74 may comprise a hook and loop material, or another suitable fastener such as a snap, a button, or a magnet.

A handle 76 may be coupled to the back surface 56 of the peripheral wall 28. The handle 76 may extend between the upper edge 32 and the bottom wall 26. The handle 76 may be removably couplable to the shoulder strap 66 of the backpack 64 to releasably secure the pocket 24 to the shoulder strap 66.

A handle fastener 78 may releasably couple the handle 76 to the shoulder strap 66. For example, the handle fastener 78 may comprise a primary coupling piece 80 that is attached to the handle 76. A secondary coupling piece 82 may be releasably engageable with the primary coupling piece 80. The secondary coupling piece 82 may be attached to the shoulder strap 66. The secondary coupling piece 82 is generally alignable with the primary coupling piece 80 when the pocket 24 is coupled to the shoulder strap 66. Each of the primary coupling piece 80 and the secondary coupling piece 82 may comprise a hook and loop material, or another suitable fastener such as a snap, a button, or a magnet.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show an alternative embodiment wherein the pocket 24 is configured to hold two beverage containers 12. As shown, the pocket 24 may include an interior wall 84 that separates the interior space 30 into a first chamber 86 and a second chamber 88. For example, the interior wall 84 may be coupled to and extend upwardly from the bottom wall 26. The interior wall 84 may also be coupled to and extend between opposing edges of the peripheral wall 28. The interior wall 84 may have a top edge 90 that is spaced from the bottom wall 26. The top edge 90 may be offset from the upper edge 32 of the peripheral wall 28, as shown in FIG. 10. Alternatively, the top edge 90 may be aligned or coplanar with the upper edge 32 of the peripheral wall 28. The flap 68 may be folded over both the top edge 90 of the interior wall 84 and upper edge 32 of the peripheral wall 28 to selectively close the opening 34. The flap coupler 70 may releasably fasten the flap 68 to the front surface 54 of the peripheral wall 28 to keep the flap 68 closed over the opening 34.

In use, the user 52 can position the beverage container 12 within the interior space 30 of the pocket 24. With the embodiments shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the user 52 may position a first beverage container 12 within the first chamber 86 and a second beverage container 12 within the second chamber 88. The pocket 24 may be positioned on any garment 18, so that the user 52 can easily carry the beverage container 12 along with them in the pocket 24. The insulated material of the liner 42 will insulate contents of the beverage container 12 from outside temperatures, for example so that the contents of the beverage container 12 remain cool when the user 52 is working outdoors in warm temperatures. The band 50 can retain the beverage container 12 within the pocket 24, inhibiting the beverage container 12 from tipping over or falling out of the pocket 24 as the user 52 works. The flap 68 can be folded over the upper edge 32 of the peripheral wall 28 of the pocket 24 to provide further insulation and to further inhibit the beverage container 12 from falling out of the pocket 24 as the user 52 works.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.