Utility apron

Abstract

A utility apron for use on a support device such as a bucket, a can, and the like, having an interior, an exterior, an opening, a lip at the opening, and a longitudinal axis. The utility apron comprises a shell which may include a lip portion for contacting the lip of the support device, an interior surface for disposition at the interior of the support device and toward the longitudinal axis of the support device, and an exterior surface for disposition at the exterior of the support device and away from the longitudinal axis of the support device. The apron further includes a first pocket disposed upon the interior surface of the shell, and a second pocket disposed upon the exterior surface of the shell. Each of the first and second pockets includes a resilient opening, the size of which is variable depending upon the extent to which the resilient opening is extended.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A utility apron for use on a support device having an interior, an exterior, an opening, a lip at the opening, and a longitudinal axis, the utility apron comprising: 
 a shell having lip portion for contacting the lip of the support device and an exterior surface for disposition at the exterior of the support device; and    a pocket disposed upon the exterior surface of the shell away from the longitudinal axis, the pocket including a resilient opening, the size of the opening being variable depending upon the extent to which the resilient opening is extended.    
     
     
         2 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pocket comprises a pliable material, and the resilient opening comprises a strip of resilient material affixed to the pliable material.  
     
     
         3 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the resilient opening is between about 4 and 7 inches wide in a normal unstretched position.  
     
     
         4 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the resilient opening is about 4.75 inches wide in a normal unstretched position.  
     
     
         5 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pocket is sized to contain an item having a circumference perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of about 7.5 inches when the item is placed in the pocket.  
     
     
         6 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pocket is sized to contain an item having a circumference perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of about 8 inches when the item is placed in the pocket.  
     
     
         7 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pocket is sized to contain an item having a circumference perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of about 8.5 inches when the item is placed in the pocket.  
     
     
         8 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pocket is sized to contain an item having a circumference perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of about 9 inches when the item is placed in the pocket.  
     
     
         9 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the utility apron includes a plurality of pockets disposed upon the exterior surface of the shell away from the longitudinal axis, each of the pockets including a resilient opening, the size of the opening being variable depending upon the extent to which the resilient opening is extended.  
     
     
         10 . A utility apron for use on a support device having an interior, an exterior, an opening, a lip at the opening, and a longitudinal axis, the utility apron comprising: 
 a shell having lip portion for contacting the lip of the support device and an interior surface for disposition at the interior of the support device; and    a pocket disposed upon the interior surface of the shell toward the longitudinal axis, the pocket including a resilient opening, the size of the opening being variable depending upon the extent to which the resilient opening is extended.    
     
     
         11 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the pocket comprises a pliable material, and the resilient opening comprises a strip of resilient material affixed to the pliable material.  
     
     
         12 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the resilient opening is between about 4 and 7 inches wide in a normal unstretched position.  
     
     
         13 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the resilient opening is about 4.75 inches wide in a normal unstretched position.  
     
     
         14 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the pocket is sized to contain an item having a circumference perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of about 7.5 inches when the item is placed in the pocket.  
     
     
         15 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the pocket is sized to contain an item having a circumference perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of about 8 inches when the item is placed in the pocket.  
     
     
         16 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the pocket is sized to contain an item having a circumference perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of about 8.5 inches when the item is placed in the pocket.  
     
     
         17 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the pocket is sized to contain an item having a circumference perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of about 9 inches when the item is placed in the pocket.  
     
     
         18 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the utility apron includes a plurality of pockets disposed upon the exterior surface of the shell away from the longitudinal axis, each of the pockets including a resilient opening, the size of the opening being variable depending upon the extent to which the resilient opening is extended.  
     
     
         19 . A utility apron for use on a support device having an interior, an exterior, an opening, a lip at the opening, and a longitudinal axis, the utility apron comprising: 
 a shell having a lip portion for contacting the lip of the support device, an interior surface for disposition at the interior of the support device and toward the longitudinal axis of the support device, and an exterior surface for disposition at the exterior of the support device and away from the longitudinal axis of the support device;    a first pocket disposed upon the interior surface of the shell, and a second pocket disposed upon the exterior surface of the shell, each of the first and second pockets including a resilient opening, the size of the opening being variable depending upon the extent to which the resilient opening is extended.    
     
     
         20 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 19 , wherein each of the first and second pockets comprises a pliable material, and the resilient opening of each of the first and second pockets comprises a strip of resilient material affixed to the pliable material.  
     
     
         21 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the pocket openings is between about 4 and 7 inches wide in a normal unstretched position.  
     
     
         22 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the pocket openings is about 4.75 inches wide in a normal unstretched position.  
     
     
         23 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the pockets is sized to contain an item having a circumference of about 7.5 inches.  
     
     
         24 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the pockets is sized to contain an item having a circumference of about 8 inches.  
     
     
         25 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the pockets is sized to contain an item having a circumference of about 8.5 inches.  
     
     
         26 . A utility apron as recited in  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the pockets is sized to contain an item having a circumference of about 9 inches.