Sports utility garment with angled holder/holster

Abstract

Sports utility garment for carrying articles while swimming, paddling in water or running and walking on land. Garment 10 includes interchangeable holsters 40, attached to a body portion 11 at an angle so that mouth 71 of holster 40 is accessible over wearer's shoulder such as a water bottle or a long article such as a fishing pole extends over wearer's shoulder. Holster 40 includes guide means 70 to hold mouth 71 open and help guide the article into mouth 71. Articles are secured to garment 10 both during carrying and during use.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 401202, filed on Aug. 9, 2010.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates generally to sports apparel for carrying one or more items, and more particularly to a utility garment for wear in an ocean, lake and other activities such as walking, jogging, or hiking.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]People who do activities in the water often need to carry equipment or other articles. This can be a problem for those who enter the water by swimming or by paddling a board with their arms, especially if they transit surf. For those on land it can be uncomfortable when using a camel pack for water, a backpack, or other devices that have to be firmly cinched on the waist, such as a fanny pack[0004]Simply gripping the articles in the hands is neither practical nor comfortable because the hand tires after a short period from holding on to the articles. Slings and packs ca...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]The open mouth of the holster pocket is angled toward the wearer's shoulder when the vest is worn. The angle makes it easy for the wearer to withdraw an item from the pocket or put it back, with one hand and without contortion of the body. The item is preferably still secured to the vest while out of the holster. For example, a fishing pole or spear gun is attached to a flexible leash that is in turn attached to the vest. A water bottle is attached to a small leash that can be secured to the vest, such as by hook-and-loop fastener.

[0018]Because the end of the flap is attached to the front of the wearer's shoulder, it is easy to unhook the flap and throw it over the shoulder to open the holster and remove the item from the holster pocket. So that the flap can easily be brought back over the shoulder to close, the flap is stiff enough that it does not flop vertically down from the mouth of the pocket. This keeps the flap in reach even when open and also pulls the mouth of the pocket open to receive the item back after use. The flap may include other features to help guide the item into the pocket.

[0020]Another feature of the vest is a horizontally disposed pocket for holding an empty game bag until it is needed. When game is caught, the bag is pulled from its storage pocket and the game placed into the bag. The bag is then attached against the lower part of the wearer's back with two attachment points. The bag rides flat against the body and is shielded from drag.

Problems solved by technology

This can be a problem for those who enter the water by swimming or by paddling a board with their arms, especially if they transit surf.

For those on land it can be uncomfortable when using a camel pack for water, a backpack, or other devices that have to be firmly cinched on the waist, such as a fanny pack

Simply gripping the articles in the hands is neither practical nor comfortable because the hand tires after a short period from holding on to the articles.

Slings and packs can impede running, swimming or paddling.

Another problem is that articles should be secured to the person by a device that won't impair their ability to swim or paddle, won't cause accidental injury if buffeted by a wave, and is preferably comfortable and easy to use.

One way to carry a fishing pole is to grip it in the teeth while paddling, but the problems with that should be obvious.

Free diving fishermen often carry a spear gun, or a hand spear, on a sling or in the hand, but loss of the spear is too frequent and the person carrying it may suffer bruises or scrapes if buffeted by rough waves.

Entire game bags are not infrequently lost, and the diver may feel discomfort near the attachment point of the bag.

Bringing collected game to shore can also be difficult for pole fishers on a paddle board.

Open water swimmers are especially prone to dehydration in the water because of their constant exertion and unavoidable intake of small amounts of salt water.

Hydration packs have not been generally accepted by distance swimmers because they are not comfortable during swimming.

Some swimmers attach water bottles to a waist belt, but this is not comfortable, either.

In turbulent water or even fast swimming, the water drags on the pack and the belt puts uncomfortable force on the person's waist.

Another problem with using conventional packs for carrying small articles in the water is that the wearer may have difficulty accessing the pockets.

In chilly salt water, unprotected fingers soon become stiff and clumsy.

Many divers wear gloves, but this decreases dexterity also.

Opening or closing a zipper can be difficult in the water and the carried article itself may be dropped as it is removed from the pocket.

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