Utility Pouch Having a Self-Sealing Closure

Abstract

In one embodiment, a pouch includes a body that defines an interior space of the pouch in which items can be stored, an opening that provides access to the interior space, and a self-sealing closure associated with the opening that prevents that items from failing out of the pouch, the closure being adapted to enable a user to pass a hand through the closure and into the interior space and to automatically seal after the user withdraws the hand.

1 . A utility pouch comprising:
 a body that defines an interior space of the pouch in which items can be stored;   an opening that provides access to the interior space; and   a self-sealing closure associated with the opening that prevents the items from falling out of the pouch, the closure being adapted to enable a user to pass a hand through the closure and into the interior space and to automatically seal after the user withdraws the hand.   
     
     
         2 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the body is made of a fabric material. 
     
     
         3 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the body is made of polymeric sheet material. 
     
     
         4 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the opening includes a structural member that maintains the opening in an open orientation. 
     
     
         5 . The pouch of  claim 4 , wherein the structural member comprises a cylindrical cord. 
     
     
         6 . The pouch of  claim 5 , wherein the cylindrical cord comprises a length of rope. 
     
     
         7 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the self-sealing closure comprises a resilient member. 
     
     
         8 . The pouch of  claim 7 , wherein the resilient member is made of a neoprene material. 
     
     
         9 . The pouch of  claim 7 , wherein the resilient member comprises an open end and a closed end, wherein the closed end opens when the user's hand is passed through the closed end and recloses when the user's hand is withdrawn. 
     
     
         10 . The pouch of  claim 9 , wherein the resilient member comprises two opposed pieces of resilient material, each piece comprising a top edge and a bottom edge, the top edges forming the open end and the bottom edges forming the closed end, wherein the bottom edges contact each other in a natural, closed orientation of the closure. 
     
     
         11 . The pouch of  claim 10 , wherein the pieces of resilient material are pieces of neoprene material. 
     
     
         12 . A utility pouch comprising:
 a body that defines an interior space of the pouch in which items can be stored;   an opening that provides access to the interior space; and   a self-sealing closure associated with the opening, the closure comprising two opposed pieces of resilient material, each piece comprising a first edge and a second edge, the first edges forming an open end of the closure and the second edges forming a closed end of the closure, wherein the second edges contact each other in a natural, closed orientation of the closure to seal the pouch and wherein the second edges separate when a hand is passed between them and automatically close to contact each other again after the hand is withdrawn.   
     
     
         13 . The pouch of  claim 12 , wherein the body is made of a fabric material. 
     
     
         14 . The pouch of  claim 12 , wherein the body is made of polymeric sheet material. 
     
     
         15 . The pouch of  claim 12 , wherein the opening includes a structural member that maintains the opening and the open end of the self-sealing closure in an open orientation. 
     
     
         16 . The pouch of  claim 15 , wherein the structural member comprises a cylindrical cord. 
     
     
         17 . The pouch of  claim 12 , wherein the pieces of resilient material are pieces of neoprene material. 
     
     
         18 . The pouch of  claim 12 , wherein the first edges are top edges of the pieces of resilient material and the second edges are bottom edges of the pieces of resilient material. 
     
     
         19 . A self-sealing closure for use with a container comprising:
 two opposed pieces of resilient material, each piece comprising a first edge and an opposed second edge, the first edges forming a open end of the closure and the second edges forming a closed end of the closure, wherein the second edges contact each other in a natural, closed orientation of the closure and wherein the second edges open when an object is passed through the second edges of the closed end and automatically close when the object is withdrawn.   
     
     
         20 . The closure of  claim 19 , wherein the pieces of resilient material are flat pieces of neoprene material.