WEARABLE POUCH SYSTEMS

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 63/733,550, filed Dec. 13, 2024 which application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of sports equipment and more specifically relates to mouthguard accessories.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many people play sports in modern society for entertainment and for personal fitness. In certain instances, contact may be made between players which can cause potential injury. Further, injuries may be caused by contact from the ball, puck, stick, or other play piece. Eye protection and teeth protection are often worn to prevent serious injury. Mouthpieces may become dirty and hold germs which are not sanitary for the user-player. This is not desirable.

Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in U.S. Pub. No. 2007/0101479 to John Turner. This art is representative of storage means. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed.

Ideally, a mouthguard accessory should provide for storage of a mouthguard when it is not present in the mouth. What is desired is to provide clean, germ-free storage of a mouthpiece when it is not in the player's mouth and, yet would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable wearable pouch system to avoid the above-mentioned problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known mouthguard accessories art, the present invention provides a novel wearable pouch system. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to provide germ-free storage for mouthguards when not in use. Various embodiments are provided for use.

The wrist pouch of the wearable pouch system may comprise a sleeve-like structure, in certain embodiments, preferably made of stretchy fabric (spandex made of knit, polyester or nylon): approximately 7″-14″ in length; with a pouch made of the same fabric, intended to securely store a standard size mouth guard when not being used inside the mouth. The pouch provides increased sanitary use and storage of mouthguards. Other materials and shapes may be used. Certain embodiments may comprise a wing (shaped) pocket. Other embodiments may comprise a 2D rectangular shape and others may comprise other shapes.

In a preferred embodiment the present invention comprises a wearable pouch system (also referred generally to here within as wrist pouch system) comprises: a wearable garment having a sleeve-like structure including a body with an outer surface, an inner surface, and an inner volume, and an exterior pocket; wherein the exterior pocket is located adjacent to and is attached on the outer surface forming an accessible cavity therebetween suitable for removably containing at least one protective device for teeth (wherein the protective device for teeth preferably comprises a mouthguard). In these embodiments the wearable garment comprises fabric and the fabric preferably comprises stretchy polyurethane (such as sold under the tradename SPANDEX). The body is configured for removable coupling about an upper arm and alternately about a wrist, and alternately about a lower arm and alternately about a forearm and alternately about an upper leg and alternately about a lower leg and alternately about a calf and alternately about the calf and an ankle and wherein the exterior pocket may comprise a 2D rectangular shape and alternately a 2D wing shape and alternately a non-2D wing shape, thus embodying various versions of the product described herein.

A kit is also disclosed including: at least one of the wearable garment(s) having the sleeve-like structure including the body with the outer surface, the inner surface, and the inner volume, and the exterior pocket, and a desired combination of the wearable garment(s) having the exterior pocket comprising the 2D rectangular shape, the 2D wing shape and the non-2D wing shape, and a set of user instructions. The version(s) that the user-wearer wishes to wear can be included in whatever amount is desired i.e.—a wrist wearable version and a lower leg version or any possible combination of the embodiments mentioned herein.

A method of using a wearable pouch system is also described comprising the steps of: providing the wearable pouch system, donning the wearable pouch system, and wearing the wearable pouch system during (and/or before and after) sporting events. The wearable pouch system may further include the step of removably inserting a mouthpiece during play of the sporting events to keep the mouthpiece effectively sanitary (as stored) and easy to retrieve as needed.

The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a wrist pouch system. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, wrist pouch systems, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a top view illustrating a wearable pouch system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the wearable pouch system (wrist pouch system embodiment) as worn on a user-wearer's wrist according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view illustrating a forearm embodiment of the wearable pouch system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the forearm embodiment of the wearable pouch system as worn according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a bicep embodiment of the wearable pouch system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view illustrating the bicep embodiment of the wearable pouch system according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating a shin and calf embodiment of the wearable pouch system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a thigh embodiment of the wearable pouch system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the thigh embodiment of the wearable pouch system with an exterior pocket comprising a 2D wing shape according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating an ankle embodiment of the wearable pouch system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view illustrating the ankle embodiment of the wearable pouch system in an in-use condition as worn by a user-player according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 10.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to sports equipment and more particularly to mouthguard accessories and storage thereof as used to improve the sanitary storage of mouthpieces.

Generally speaking, the wearable pouch system of the present invention may be worn on the wrist, arm, ankle, calf, or thigh (leg) area. Other versions may be envisioned to be worn on other body parts. Mouth guards provide safety equipment for the mouth covering the teeth and gums to prevent and reduce the risk of injury to the teeth, arches, lips, and gums. They are usually used in sports such as football, lacrosse, ice hockey, field hockey, boxing, water polo, fencing sports, wrestling, skiing, basketball, and others. Obviously when an athlete is in competition, their mouth guard should be worn in the mouth. When the athlete takes out their mouth guard, they now have a place to store it safely and comfortably instead of shoving it in their sock, thigh or waistband area by using the present invention.

Referring now to safety, sports-related dental injuries are effectively entirely preventable, and sports mouthguards play an essential role in preventing these injuries, particularly orofacial and maxillofacial injuries. According to the National Youth Sports Foundation for Safety, an athlete is nearly 60 times more likely to sustain an orofacial injury during sports activities without a protective mouthguard. The ability of the sports mouthguard to reduce dental injuries is expected to increase consumer adoption. Advances in mouthguard technology to improve fitness and durability are expected to boost demand for these products. Numerous companies are making technological advancements to develop the next generation of sports mouthguards. Consequently, the increased adoption of somewhere to store the mouth guard; that is fashionable, easy to use, quick and conveniently will only help the mouth guard safety. Further, use of the present invention promotes public health.

Generally speaking a wrist pouch system (alternately referred to as wearable pouch system, sometimes interchangeably) comprises: a wearable garment having a sleeve-like structure including a body with an outer surface, an inner surface, and an inner volume, and an exterior pocket; wherein the exterior pocket is located adjacent to and is attached on the outer surface forming an accessible cavity therebetween suitable for removably containing at least one protective device for teeth.

The protective device for teeth preferably comprises a mouthguard, but it may comprise other items suitable for storage. The wearable garment preferably comprises fabric, more specifically the fabric preferably comprises stretchy polyurethane. Other suitable equivalent fabrics may be used. The invention may comprise non-fabric in alternate embodiments.

The body may be configured for removable coupling about an upper arm or it may be configured for removable coupling about a wrist and hand comprising holes for fingers and a thumb to extend therefrom. Alternately, the body may be configured for removable coupling about a lower arm and/or may be configured for removable coupling about a forearm. In still other embodiments the body may be configured for removable coupling about an upper leg and/or be configured for removable coupling about a lower leg. In certain embodiments the body may be configured for removable coupling about a calf and/or may be configured for removable coupling about a calf and ankle; wherein the body in this version is configured for the removable coupling about the calf and the ankle allowing for extension of toes therefrom.

To further describe the possible versions and thus enable them, the exterior pocket may comprise a 2D rectangular shape (or square). Alternately, the exterior pocket may comprise a 2D wing shape and/or a non-2D wing shape.

As previously mentioned, in a preferred embodiment the present invention comprises a wearable pouch system comprising: a wearable garment having a sleeve-like structure including a body with an outer surface, an inner surface, and an inner volume, and an exterior pocket; wherein the exterior pocket is located adjacent to and is attached on the outer surface forming an accessible cavity therebetween suitable for removably containing at least one protective device for teeth (wherein the protective device for teeth preferably comprises a mouthguard). In these embodiments the wearable garment comprises fabric and the fabric preferably comprises stretchy polyurethane (such as sold under the tradename SPANDEX). The body is configured for removable coupling about an upper arm and alternately about a wrist, and alternately about a lower arm and alternately about a forearm and alternately about an upper leg and alternately about a lower leg and alternately about a calf and alternately about the calf and an ankle and wherein the exterior pocket may comprise a 2D rectangular shape and alternately a 2D wing shape and alternately a non-2D wing shape (2D rectangular, square or other), thus embodying various versions of the product described herein. Exterior pocket may or may not comprise a means for closing the exterior pocket via suitable means such as clips, snaps, VELCRO (hook and loop) or the like, however preferred embodiments do not comprise a closing means other than how the exterior pocket flattens out against the body thus closing the opening.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in FIGS. 1-11, a wrist pouch system including various embodiments thereof comprising the following: Wrist sleeve 1 which covers the wrist area; Wrist Mouthpiece pouch 2 comprises container for the mouthpiece guard; Forearm sleeve 3 covers the forearm area; Forearm Mouthpiece pouch 4 comprises a container (containing means) for the mouthpiece guard; Bicep Mouthpiece pouch container for the mouthpiece guard; Bicep sleeve 6 covers the bicep (arm) area; Shin/Calf Mouthpiece pouch 7 comprises a container for the mouthpiece guard; Shin/Calf Mouthpiece pouch sleeve 8 covers the shin/calf area; Thigh Mouthpiece pouch 9 has a container for the mouthpiece guard; Thigh Mouthpiece pouch sleeve 10 covers the thigh area; Ankle Mouthpiece pouch 11 comprises a container for the mouthpiece guard; and Ankle Mouthpiece pouch sleeve 12 is designed to cover the ankle area. 2D rectangular shape is referenced in FIG. 9.

The wrist pouch comprises a sleeve-like structure, preferably made of stretchy fabric (SPANDEX made of knit, polyester or nylon): approximately 7″-14″ in length; with a pouch made of the same fabric, intended to securely store a standard size mouth guard when not being used inside the mouth.

The preferred use and respectively market is athletes and parent of athletes, who participate in football, lacrosse, ice hockey, field hockey, boxing, water polo, fencing sports, wrestling, skiing, basketball, and other such sports and activities. The primary age group ranges from 8- to 60-year-olds; those who participate in sports.

The material preferably comprises a sleeve-like structure, made of stretchy fabric (SPANDEX made of knit, polyester or nylon). This material may come in virtually any shade of color, or blends of colors. In addition, there is room in/on the pouch reserved for team logo and branding.

A kit may comprise the various embodiments mentioned previously; and at least one set of user instructions. The kit has instructions such that functional relationships are detailed in relation to the structure of the invention (such that the invention can be used, maintained, or the like in a preferred manner). The kit may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different color/logo combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.

A method of using a wearable pouch system may comprise the steps of: providing the wearable pouch system, donning the wearable pouch system, and wearing the wearable pouch system during (and/or before and after) sporting events. The wearable pouch system may further include the step of removably inserting a mouthpiece during play of the sporting events to keep the mouthpiece sanitary and easy to retrieve as needed.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.