Wearable elastic band with carrying pouch

Abstract

A wearable elastic band including at least one pouch for holding an article. The band may be formed of a length of elastic material that is folded to have a first portion forming a rear pouch wall and a second portion forming a front pouch wall, the space between the first and second portions defining a pouch opening, and a third portion forming a flap that overlaps the pouch opening. The pouch has left and right sides defined by a tack stitch on each side. The pouch may be accessed by lifting the flap, which is stretchable. After a user places an item in the pouch, the flap is released to regain its initial configuration to form a cover over the opening and protect the item from inadvertently leaving the pouch.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An elastic band including at least one pouch for holding an article, the elastic band comprising:
 a) a length of material, at least a portion of which is elastic, and having
 i) a first end portion, 
 ii) a second end portion, the first and second end portions being associated with each other, 
 iii) a first face, 
 iv) a second face, 
 v) a top edge, 
 vi) a bottom edge; and, 
   b) a pouch formed by
 i) a first portion of the elastic material forming a rear pouch wall, 
 ii) a second portion of the elastic material forming a front pouch wall, the top edge of the first portion and the top edge of the second portion forming an opening, 
 iii) the pouch further including a third portion of the elastic material forming a flap covering at least a portion of the first portion and second portion, whereby the bottom edge of the first portion is associated with the second portion and the top edge of the second portion is associated with the top edge of the third portion, 
 iv) the pouch further including a first fixation means for forming a first side pouch portion and a second fixation means for forming a second side pouch portion, 
   whereby at least a portion of the flap is adapted to stretch under tension to enable access to the pouch opening which can removably receive and hold an article and whereby when the tension on the flap is released, the flap regains substantially its original configuration forming a cover over the top opening and preventing unintentional removal of the article.   
     
     
         2 . The elastic band of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second fixation means each comprise a tack stitch associated with the first, second and third portions. 
     
     
         3 . The elastic band of  claim 1 , wherein elastic material comprises a compression fabric. 
     
     
         4 . The elastic band of  claim 1 , wherein elastic material comprises a blend of at least one polyester fiber and at least one elastic fiber. 
     
     
         5 . The elastic band of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the elastic band further comprises a water resistant material. 
     
     
         6 . The elastic band of  claim 5 , wherein the water resistant material is selected from the group comprising a lining, coating, laminate, or adhered layer of material. 
     
     
         7 . The elastic band of  claim 5 , wherein the water resistant material is a fluid or particulate material that is applied to the elastic material either by spraying, coating, rolling or painting. 
     
     
         8 . The elastic band of  claim 1 , further comprising a slip resistant material that is associated with at least a portion of the elastic material. 
     
     
         9 . The elastic band of  claim 8 , wherein the slip resistant material is associated with the first portion of elastic material by coating, spraying, adhering, or impregnating. 
     
     
         10 . The elastic band of  claim 1 , wherein the band is formed of a plurality of strips of material. 
     
     
         11 . The elastic band of  claim 1 , wherein the band is formed of a plurality of layers or plies of elastic material. 
     
     
         12 . The elastic band of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic material comprises a seamless band of elastic material. 
     
     
         13 . The elastic band of  claim 1 , wherein the material comprises at least one portion of an elastic material and at least one portion of either a less elastic or inelastic material. 
     
     
         14 . The elastic band of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one secondary pouch, each secondary pouch formed by a fourth portion of the elastic material and including a flap and a third fixation means and a fourth fixation means, the third and fourth fixation means forming side pouch portions. 
     
     
         15 . The elastic band of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second end portions are detachably associated with each other by detachable fastening mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The elastic band of  claim 15 , wherein the detachable fastening mechanism is at least one mechanism selected from the group comprising hook and loop fasteners, clips, snaps, string, laces, buttons, eye hooks and loops, detachable adhesive, and combinations of the foregoing. 
     
     
         17 . The elastic band of  claim 1 , wherein the band is configured to be worn around a user's waist, arm or leg. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus attachable to an item of clothing or other item and adapted for holding an article, the apparatus comprising:
 a) a length of material, at least a portion of which is elastic, and having
 i) a first end portion, 
 ii) a second end portion, 
 iii) a first face, 
 iv) a second face, 
 v) a top edge, 
 vi) a bottom edge; and, 
   b) a pouch formed by
 i) a first portion of the elastic material forming a rear pouch wall, 
 ii) a second portion of the elastic material forming a front pouch wall, the top edge of the first portion and the top edge of the second portion forming an opening, 
 iii) the pouch further including a third portion of the elastic material forming a flap covering at least a portion of the first portion and second portion, whereby the bottom edge of the first portion is associated with the second portion and the top edge of the second portion is associated with the top edge of the third portion, 
 iv) the pouch further including a first fixation means for forming a first side pouch portion and a second fixation means for forming a second side pouch portion, 
   whereby at least a portion of the flap is adapted to stretch under tension to enable access to the pouch opening which can removably receive and hold an article and whereby when the tension on the flap is released, the flap regains substantially its original configuration forming a cover over the top opening and preventing unintentional removal of the article.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a means for attaching the pouch to an article. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  19 , wherein the attaching means is selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, clips, snaps, string, laces, buttons, eye hooks and loops, detachable adhesive, and combinations of the foregoing.