Protective cases and methods for making the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to durable yet lightweight cases for objects. When in use, the cases of the present invention are wrapped around the outer perimeter of an object. The top sides and the bottom sides of the cases meet or overlap when the cases are wrapped around the outer perimeter of an object and can be secured to one another with a fastening device. The right and left sides of the cases can then be drawn taut around the remaining sides (i.e. the right and the left side) of the object with drawstrings. When not in use, the cases can be stacked in flat sheets or can be rolled up and stored in an alternatively space-efficient manner.

1 . A case for an object having an outer perimeter, a left side and a right side, wherein said case comprises a rectangular flexible material having a front side, a back side, a top side, a bottom side, a right side, a left side, a drawstring associated with said right side, and a drawstring associated with said left side, each said drawstring comprising one cord, wherein when said case surrounds said object said back side faces towards said object, said front side faces away from said object, said top side and said bottom side meet around the outer perimeter of said object and are fastened together with a fastening device and wherein when said top side and said bottom side meet, said right side of said case extends beyond said right side of said object and said left side of said case extends beyond said left side of said object and wherein said drawstrings are used to pull said right side of said case and said left side of said case down over said right side and said left side of said object toward the center of said object's right side and the center of said object's left side respectively.  
   
   
       2 . The case of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more loops along said right side of said case wherein said drawstring associated with said right side of said case is threaded through said loops.  
   
   
       3 . The case of  claim 2 , further comprising one or more loops along said left side of said case wherein said drawstring associated with said left side of said case is threaded through said loops.  
   
   
       4 . The case of  claim 3 , wherein said loops are affixed to said right side of said case and said left side of said case respectively or are a continuous portion of said right side of said case and said left side of said case respectively.  
   
   
       5 . The case of  claim 3 , wherein said loops are disposed along said right side of said case and said left side of said case respectively along said back side of said case, and wherein one end of each drawstring is threaded from the back side to the front side of said case through a hole in said case.  
   
   
       6 . The case of  claim 5 , wherein said drawstrings are threaded through said loops and affixed to at least one loop located about midway between said top side and said bottom side.  
   
   
       7 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein when said top side and said bottom side meet, said top side overlaps said bottom side.  
   
   
       8 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein said fastening device is selected from one or more of the group consisting of a hook and loop fastener, a magnetic fastener, one or more buttons, one or more snaps, one or more peg and hole fasteners, one or more peg and loop fasteners and tying mechanisms.  
   
   
       9 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein said case comprises an outer layer, a middle layer and an inner layer.  
   
   
       10 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein said object is selected from the group consisting of a drum, a barrel, a keg, a tank and a box.  
   
   
       11 . A method for making a case for an object having an outer perimeter, a right side and a left side, wherein said method comprises providing a rectangular flexible material having a front side, a back side, a top side, a bottom side, a right side, a left side, a drawstring associated with said right side of said case, and a drawstring associated with said left side of said case, each said drawstring comprising one cord, wherein when said case surrounds said object said back side faces towards said object, said front side faces away from said object, said top side and said bottom side meet around the circumference of said outer perimeter of said object and are fastened together with a fastening device and wherein when said top side and said bottom side meet, said right side of said case extends beyond said right side of said object and said left side of said case extends beyond said left side of said object and wherein said drawstrings are used to pull said right side of said case and said left side of said case down over said right side of said object and said left side of said object toward the center of said object's right side and the center of said object's left side respectively.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising one or more loops along said right side of said case wherein said drawstring associated with said right side of said case is threaded through said loops.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising one or more loops along said left side of said case wherein said drawstring associated with said left side of said case is threaded through said loops.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said loops are affixed to said right side of said case and said left side of said case respectively or are a continuous portion of said right side of said case and said left side of said case respectively.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said loops are disposed along said right side of said case and said left side of said case respectively along said back side of said case, and wherein one end of each drawstring is threaded from the back side to the front side of said case through a hole in said case.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said drawstrings are threaded through said loops and affixed to at least one loop located about midway between said top side and said bottom side.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein when said top side and said bottom side meet, said top side overlaps said bottom side.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said fastening device is selected from one or more of the group consisting of a hook and loop fastener, a magnetic fastener, one or more buttons, one or more snaps, one or more peg and hole fasteners, peg and loop fasteners and tying mechanisms.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said case comprises: an outer layer, a middle layer and an inner layer.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said object is selected from the group consisting of a drum, a barrel, a keg, a tank and a box.