Equipment cover and method of use

Abstract

An insulated equipment cover combined with a glove-like extension for use with various types of equipment enables use in cold temperatures and adverse weather elements. The equipment cover generally conforms to the shape of the equipment and is made of flexible insulated material. The equipment cover provides sufficient room for an operator's hand to operate the equipment within the interior of the equipment cover. The equipment cover also extends down to the operator's wrist and a portion of the forearm, providing insulation and protection from adverse weather elements. The equipment cover is formed from a custom sewn sheet of insulated material with one or more elastic or cinching openings to allow access to, or for parts of the equipment to, extend out of, the equipment cover. Various equipment specific openings allow the operator to view and access equipment controls and displays. Interior pockets may hold chemical heat packs.

1 .- 45 . (canceled)  
   
   
       46 . An equipment cover assembly for covering a piece of camera equipment, the equipment cover comprising: 
 a flexible insulating cover configured to cover the piece of camera equipment while allowing a user to operate the piece of camera equipment, wherein the cover insulates the piece of camera equipment from cold temperatures while permitting normal operation of the piece of camera equipment by the operator; and    at least one interior pocket located on an interior surface of the cover, the interior pocket being sized and configured to removably contain a temporary heating pack.    
   
   
       47 . The assembly of  claim 46  wherein the insulating cover is shaped to match the general shape of the piece of camera equipment.  
   
   
       48 . The assembly of  claim 46  wherein the insulating cover is made from a flexible weatherproof and waterproof material having a firm foam core having a semi-rigid form fitting effect.  
   
   
       49 . The assembly of  claim 46 , further comprising a temporary heating pack removably disposed in the interior pocket.  
   
   
       50 . The assembly of  claim 46 , further comprising a disposable, self contained chemical heat pack removably positioned in the interior pocket.  
   
   
       51 . The assembly of  claim 46 , further comprising at least one exterior pocket located on an outer surface of the insulating cover, wherein the at least one exterior pocket is configured for storing at least one item.  
   
   
       52 . The assembly of  claim 46  wherein the insulating cover has an opening for viewing or accessing one or more controls of the piece of camera equipment.  
   
   
       53 . The assembly of  claim 52  wherein the insulating cover has a see-through covering over the opening, wherein the see-through covering protects the one or more controls of the piece of camera equipment from adverse weather elements.  
   
   
       54 . The assembly of  claim 46 , further comprising a securing strap configured to be cinched to secure the insulating cover to a portion of the operator.  
   
   
       55 . The assembly of  claim 46  wherein the piece of camera equipment is a video camera and the insulating cover is configured to enclose the video camera.  
   
   
       56 . The assembly of  claim 46  wherein the interior pocket is a first interior pocket, and further comprising at least a second interior pocket configured to removably receive a temporary heating pack.  
   
   
       57 . The assembly of  claim 46  wherein the piece of camera equipment is battery operated, and the insulating cover is configured to retain heat within the cover to prolong a life expectancy of the battery in cold temperatures.  
   
   
       58 . The assembly of  claim 46 , further comprising an adjustable toggle positioned to secure a portion of the insulating cover to an operator.  
   
   
       59 . The assembly of  claim 46  wherein the insulating cover has a vent openable to allow heat to escape, and cooler air to enter into the equipment cover.  
   
   
       60 . The assembly of  claim 46  wherein the insulating cover has a zippered vent openable to allow heat to escape, and cooler air to enter into the equipment cover.  
   
   
       61 . A method for protecting and using a piece of equipment in cold temperatures and in adverse weather elements, the method comprising the steps of: 
 inserting the piece of equipment into an equipment cover made from a flexible sheet of insulating material;    enclosing the piece of equipment within the equipment cover;    inserting a hand of an operator into an opening in the equipment cover, wherein at least the hand of the operator is covered whereby the equipment cover insulates the piece of equipment and the hand of the operator from the cold temperatures while permitting normal operation of the piece of equipment by the operator; and    inserting at least one temporary heating element within an interior pocket on an interior surface of the equipment cover.    
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising the step of providing at least one exterior pocket on an exterior surface of the equipment cover.  
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising the step of viewing or accessing one or more controls of the piece of equipment through a second opening in the equipment cover, wherein the second opening provides an unobstructed view of or access to the one or more controls.  
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising cinching a securing strap connected to the equipment cover to the operator.  
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising the step of opening a vent located on the equipment cover to allow heat to escape and cooler air to enter into the equipment cover.  
   
   
       66 . An equipment cover assembly for covering a camera, comprising: 
 a flexible insulating cover configured to cover the camera, the cover having an opening for inserting a hand of an operator into the equipment cover so that the hand can operate the camera, wherein the cover insulates the camera and the hand of the operator from cold temperatures and protects the camera and the hand of the operator from adverse weather elements while permitting normal operation of the camera by the operator;    a plurality of interior pockets located on an interior surface of the cover and configured to removably receive at least one temporary, self contained chemically activatable heating pack.    
   
   
       67 . The equipment cover assembly of  claim 66  wherein the insulating cover is made from a flexible weatherproof and waterproof material having a firm foam core having a semi-rigid form fitting effect.  
   
   
       68 . The equipment cover assembly of  claim 66  wherein the insulating cover has a vent openable to allow heat to escape, and cooler air to enter into the equipment cover.  
   
   
       69 . The equipment cover assembly of  claim 66  wherein the insulating cover has a zippered vent openable to allow heat to escape, and cooler air to enter into the equipment cover.  
   
   
       70 . An equipment cover assembly for covering camera equipment, the equipment cover comprising: 
 a flexible insulating cover configured to removably cover the camera equipment, wherein the cover insulates the piece of camera equipment from cold temperatures;    at least one interior pocket located on an interior surface of the cover; and    a temporary heating pack removably contained in the interior pocket.