US20220039544A1

US20220039544A1 - Adjustable wrist band facemask holder

Info

Publication number: US20220039544A1
Application number: US17/396,175
Authority: US
Inventors: Elizabeth Negrete
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-08-07
Filing date: 2021-08-06
Publication date: 2022-02-10

Abstract

Embodiments herein are directed to an assembly that includes an elongated member portion and a holder portion. The holder portion is coupled to the elongated member portion. The holder portion includes a body, a cavity, an opening, and a resilient member. The body extends from the elongated member portion and has an upper surface and a base surface. The cavity is positioned within the body to form a pocket. The opening is formed at the upper surface. The opening permits access to the cavity of the body. The resilient member is positioned to circumferentially surround the opening of the cavity. The resilient member is moveable between an expanded position where the resilient member enlarges the opening for a pouch to be positioned within the holder portion and a retracted position where the resilient member returns to a normal state.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/062,861 filed on Aug. 7, 2020, and entitled “Adjustable Wrist Band Facemask Holder” the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present specification generally relates to systems and methods for external audio range indication for a vehicle and, more specifically, to systems and methods for displaying an external audio range.

BACKGROUND

It is known to use a facemask to cover a user's nose and mouth so to filter germs and/or particulates. Some facemasks are reusable while others are a one time use. Typically, the reusable facemasks use at least one strap that circumferentially surrounds a head of a user to hold the facemask in position over the nose and mouth of the user. Other reusable facemasks have a pair of loops on each side of the mask that are positioned to circumferentially surround the ears of the user to hold the mask in place. Once a user does not need the facemask, often times the facemask is placed into a pocket, set down, or placed somewhere also not on the user. As such, many times, masks are forgot and/or lost. Typically young children and young adults lose or misplace their facemask when not in use. Further, many times, people forgot to grab the facemask and have to return to an originating place to pick up a facemask or buy another one at the destination.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a facemask holder that is conveniently located, that is easily to attach and detach, that is easy to insert and remove the facemask, and that can easily travel with the user.

SUMMARY

An assembly that includes an elongated member portion and a holder portion. The holder portion is coupled to the elongated member portion. The holder portion includes a body, a cavity, and an opening. The body extends from the elongated member portion. The body has an upper surface and a base surface. The cavity is positioned within the body to form a pocket. The opening is formed at the upper surface. The opening permits access to the cavity of the body. The resilient member is positioned to circumferentially surround the opening of the cavity. The opening is moveable between an expanded position where the resilient member enlarges the opening for a pouch to be positioned within the holder portion and a retracted position where the resilient member returns to a normal state in which the opening is smaller than that of when the resilient member is in the enlarged position.
These and additional features provided by the embodiments described herein will be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to limit the subject matter defined by the claims. The following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:

FIG. 1 schematically depicts a perspective view of a facemask holder with a holder portion in an empty state and an elongated member portion in an extended position according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

FIG. 2 schematically depicts a perspective view of the facemask holder of FIG. 1 with the holder portion in the empty state and the elongated member portion in a use position according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

FIG. 3 schematically depicts an isolated top-down view of the facemask holder of FIG. 1 with the holder portion in the empty state and the elongated member portion in the extended position according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

FIG. 4 schematically depicts an isolated side view of the facemask holder of FIG. 1 with the holder portion in the empty state and the elongated member portion in the extended position according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

FIG. 5 schematically depicts an isolated bottom view of the facemask holder of FIG. 1 with the holder portion in the empty state and the elongated member portion in the extended position according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

FIG. 6 schematically depicts an isolated view of the other side the facemask holder of FIG. 4 with the holder portion in the empty state and the elongated member portion in the extended position according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

FIG. 7 schematically depicts an isolated front to rear view of the facemask holder of FIG. 1 with the holder portion in the empty state and the elongated member portion in the extended position according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

FIG. 8 schematically depicts an isolated rear to front view of the facemask holder of FIG. 1 with the holder portion in the empty state and the elongated member portion in the extended position according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

FIG. 9 schematically depicts an isolated cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 taken from line 9-9 with the holder portion in the empty state and the elongated member portion in the extended position according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

FIG. 10 schematically depicts an isolated cross-sectional view of FIG. 7 taken from line 10-10 with the holder portion in the empty state and the elongated member portion in the extended position according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

FIG. 11 schematically depicts a perspective view of the facemask holder of FIG. 1 with the a pouch being inserted and the opening in an expended position according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; and

FIG. 12 schematically depicts a perspective view of the facemask holder of FIG. 1 with the holder portion in a pouch state and the elongated member portion in a use position according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments described herein are generally directed to a facemask holder assembly that fits on or around any size wrist. The facemask holder assembly includes a holder portion and an elongated member portion. The holder portion is coupled, attached, connected, and the like to the elongated member portion. The holder portion includes a resilient member positioned to circumferential surround an opening. The resilient member may be annular shaped and that is moveable between an enlarged position where the resilient member enlarges the opening for a pouch to be positioned within the holder portion and a resting position where the resilient member returns to a normal state in which the opening is smaller than that of when the resilient member is in the enlarged position. Further, the holder portion is moveable, or changes shape based on whether a pouch is positioned within. The elongated member portion is moveable between an extended position where the elongated member is extending in a longitudinal direction and a use position where the elongated member portion is radiused around an object, such as a wrist of a user.
Now referring to FIGS. 1-12, a facemask holder assembly 10 is schematically depicted. The facemask holder assembly 10 may be positioned and held onto a wrist 12, arm, and the like, of a user and stores a facemask 14 when the facemask 14 is not in use. As such, the facemask holder assembly 10 described herein provides a convenient storage place for the facemask 14 when not in use to reduce and/or eliminate lost and/or misplaced facemasks. Further, the facemask holder assembly 10 ensures that the user always has access to the facemask 14 and that the facemask 14 is with them when it is needed or required.
The facemask holder assembly 10 includes an elongated member portion 16 and a holder portion 18. The elongated member portion 16 includes a first end 20 a and a second end 20 b with a body 22 positioned therebetween. The body 22 includes an exterior surface 24 a and an opposite interior surface 24 b. The interior surface 24 b is configured to make contact with the wrist 12, arm and/or other appendage of the user, as described in greater detail herein.
In some embodiments, the first end 20 a may be symmetrical or uniform in shape with the second end 20 b. In other embodiments, the first end 20 a may be unsymmetrical or in a non-uniform shape with the second end 20 b. That is, the first end 20 a may taper while the second end 20 b may be rounded, and/or vice versa.
The elongated member portion 16 is movable between an extended position, such as schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 and indicated by the arrow A2, and a use position, such as schematically illustrated in FIG. 2 and indicated by the arrow A2, where the elongated member portion 16 may be wearable. In the extended position, the first and second ends 20 a, 20 b are spaced apart and/or separated by the body 22 and may extend axially in opposite directions from one another. As such, in the extended position, the elongated member portion 16 does not retain, hold or position the holder portion 18 of the facemask holder assembly 10 onto the wrist 12, arm or other appendage of the user. In the use position, portions of the body 22 of the elongated member portion 16 become arcuate or curvilinear to form a semi-continuous shape, such as a circle, square, rectangle and the like. As such, a portion of the first end 20 a and a portion of the second end 20 b may overlap with one another and/or come within a close proximity to one another when compared to the first and second ends 20 a, 20 b in the extended position, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 1.
In the use position, the first and second ends 20 a, 20 b are no longer spaced apart by the body 22 and may be in contact with one another, in contact with other portions of the elongated member portion 16 (e.g., the body 22), and/or in close proximity to one another. That is, a diameter and/or circumference size of the wrist 12, arm, and/or other appendage of the user will influence whether the first and second ends 20 a, 20 b will be in contact with one another in the wearable position, in contact with the body 22, and/or come within a close proximity to one another.
In some embodiments, the elongated member portion 16 is a flexible spring band. The flexible spring band may be a metal 24, such as steel. The flexible spring band may be wearable or sealed within a covering 26 that may be a material, such as fabric, silicone, plastic, and the like. In this embodiment, the elongated member portion 16 may include features that allow the metal 24 of the flexible spring band to move independently from the extended position to the useable position, but require intervention to be moved from the wearable position to the extended position. For example, the user may apply the elongated member portion 16 to the wrist 12, arm and/or other appendage of the user by tapping the elongated member portion 16 on the area to be applied, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The elongated member portion 16 will then independently move from the extended position into the wearable position, as illustrated in FIG. 2. To remove the elongated member portion 16, or place the elongated member portion 16 back into the extended position, the user may have to physically move the first and second ends 20 a, 20 b into the extend position. It should be appreciated that the elongated member portion 16 will maintain the extended position until the user taps the elongated member portion 16 on the area to be applied. As such, the elongated member portion 16 provides a comfortable band on or around the wrist, arm and/or other appendage of the user while maintaining a connection to the wrist, arm and/or other appendage of the user.
In other embodiments, the body 22 of the elongated member portion 16 is a band and the first and second ends 20 a, 20 b include a coupling mechanism, such as a hook and clasp and a plurality of bores that receive the hook, a Velcro® attachment, hook and loop, and the like, to hold or maintain the elongated member portion 16 in the wearable position. As such, the band may be leather, plastic, cloth, a resilient member, and the like.
The holder portion 18 is positioned on the exterior surface 24 a of the body 22 between the first and second ends 20 a, 20 b. The holder portion 18 includes a pocket body 28 that extends from the exterior surface 24 a in a direction opposite of the interior surface 24 b of the body 22. In some embodiments, the pocket body 28 is coupled to the covering 26 of the body 22 of the elongated member portion 16. In some embodiments, the pocket body 28 may be removably or releasably coupled to the covering 26 of the body 22 via a fastener such as a clip, hook and loop, and the like. In other embodiments, the pocket body 28 may be coupled to the covering 26 of the body 22 via stitching, adhesive, and the like. In other embodiments, the pocket body 28 may be a monolithic structure with the covering 26 of the body 22.
In some embodiments, the pocket body 28 is a generally a conical shape with an opening 30 for a cavity 32 at an apex 34. That is, a circumference of the pocket body 28 is larger at a base 36, near the exterior surface 24 a of the body 22 of the elongated member portion 16 than at the apex 34 of the pocket body 28. In other embodiments, the pocket body 28 may be a plurality of uniform and/or irregular shapes. For example, the pocket body 28 may be a rectangular shape, a spherical shape, a hexagonal shape, an octagonal shape and the like.
The pocket body 28 includes an outer layer 38 a and an opposite inner layer 38 b and a base layer 38 c of material. In some embodiments, the material may be a fabric, cloth, leather, and/or the like. In other embodiments, the material may be a metal, an elastic, a lace, and the like. Further, in some embodiments, the material of the outer layer 38 a, the inner layer 38 b and the base layer 38 c is the same, while in other embodiments, the material of the outer layer 38 a, the inner layer 38 b and the base layer 38 c are different. Further, the material may be patterned, be any color, and the like. Further, the outer layer 38 a and the inner layer 38 b may be spaced apart to form a gap or void area 39.
The opening 30 of the pocket body 28 is formed by a member 40 positioned within the gap or void area 39 between the outer layer 38 a and the inner layer 38 b to define the opening 30. The member 40 may be annular in shape. In some embodiments, the member 40 is formed from a metal material such as steel, aluminum, and the like. In other embodiments, the member 40 is formed from an elastic material. In other embodiments, the member 40 is formed from a fabric material, a plastic material, and the like. As such, the member 40 may be a resilient member that moves or changes shapes as needed, as discussed in greater detail herein.
The holder portion 18 includes the cavity 32 that is configured to receive the facemask 14. That is, the cavity 32 is a pouch holder or receptacle. The cavity 32 extends from the opening 30 to the base 36 along a length of the pocket body 28 in a vertical direction (i.e., in the +/−Z direction). The cavity 32 provides enough space for any traditional facemask. In some embodiments, a flap or other covering portion may be affixed to, coupled to, releasably attached and/or integrally formed with the pocket body 28 at or near the apex 34 to cover the opening 30 and the cavity 32. In some embodiments, the flap or other covering portion may be moved between an opened position, where access is permitted into the cavity 32, and a closed position, where access to the cavity 32 is prohibited, by using a clasp, a button, a string, an elastic member, a zipper, Velcro® and/or a plurality of other types of fasteners. Further, the flap or other covering portion may attach or couple to the pocket body via the clasp, button, zipper, string, elastic member, Velcro® and/or the plurality of other types of fasteners.
In operation, the user may attach the body 22 of the elongated member portion 16 to the wrist 12, arm and/or other appendage to move the elongated member portion 16 from the extended position into the wearable position. The user may add the facemask 14, through the opening 30 of the pocket body 28, and into the cavity 32 or remove the facemask 14 from the cavity 32 of the pocket body 28 of the holder portion 18 via the opening 30. It should be appreciated that opening 30 may become larger when the facemask 14 is inserted into or removed from the cavity 32. That is, the member 40 of the opening 30 is a resilient member that expends to allow inserting or removal of the facemask 14 and may also act as a closure member such that the member 40 assists in retaining the facemask 14 within the cavity 32.
For instance, the member 40 may be a resilient member that allows the opening 30 to be movable between a retracted position, as best seen in FIG. 11, and an expanded position, as best seen in FIG. 12. That is, when the facemask 14 is being inserted and/or removed into the holder portion 18, the member 40 expands or enlarges the opening 30 to allow the facemask 14 to be inserted into the cavity 32 of the holder portion 18 and then, reduces its diameter, in the retracted position, such that the member 40 retracts the opening 30 to assist in retaining the facemask 14 within the cavity 32 of the holder portion 18.
That is, the opening 30 is moveable between an expanded position where the member 40 increases a diameter of the opening 40 by enlarging the opening 40 for a pouch 14 to be positioned within the holder portion 18 and a retracted position where the member 40 decreases the diameter of the opening 30, into a normal state, in which the diameter or circumference of the opening 30 is smaller than that of when the member 40 is in the enlarged position.
It should also be appreciated that the shape of the pocket body 28 may be flexible and change or vary depending on whether the facemask 14 and/or other objects are inserted into the cavity 32, the size of the facemask 14, and the like. If included, the user may then close the opening via the flap or other covering.
Thus disclosed is a facemask holder assembly that is configured to be positioned and held onto a wrist, arm, and/or other appendage of a user and stores a facemask when the facemask is not in use. Further, the novel facemask holder assembly provides a convenient storage place that is easily accessible, easy to travel with, comfortable to wear, is easy to attach and detach, and is easy to insert and remove the facemask on demand. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other variations and modifications of what is detailed herein are within the scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly comprising:

an elongated member portion; and

a holder portion coupled to the elongated member portion, the holder portion includes:

a body that extends from the elongated member portion, the body having an upper surface and a base surface,

a cavity positioned within the body to form a pocket, and

an opening formed at the upper surface, a resilient member is positioned to circumferentially surround the opening of the cavity, the opening that permits access to the cavity of the body,

wherein the opening is moveable between an expanded position where the resilient member enlarges the opening for a pouch to be positioned within the holder portion and a retracted position where the resilient member returns to a normal state in which the opening is smaller than that of when the resilient member is in the expanded position.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongated member portion is moveable between an extended position and a use position, the extended position is where the elongated member portion is extending in a longitudinal direction and the use position is where the elongated member portion is radiused around a wrist of a user.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is generally an annular shape.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the body is generally a conical shape.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongated member portion includes a covering that circumferentially surrounds the elongated member portion.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the base surface of the holder portion and the covering are coupled together.

7. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the holder portion and the covering are a monolithic structure.

8. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the holder portion and the covering are releasably coupled together.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the body includes an interior surface and a spaced apart exterior surface.

10. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the body further comprises:

a void area that circumferentially surrounds the opening near the upper surface and positioned between an inner layer and an outer layer.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the resilient member is positioned within the void area.