Carrier with universal pocket for telecommunications device
A general purpose carrier having a clear pocket to retain a telecommunication device in a usable orientation. One panel of a plurality of panels that form the sides of a general purpose carrier has a transparent region. A pocket is formed having the transparent region as one side. One or more elastic members retain an arbitrarily sized telecommunication device inserted within the pocket against the transparent region to permit viewing of the display of the device as well as manipulation of its controls through the transparent region.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/018,491 filed Jan. 1, 2008 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/103,883 filed Oct. 8, 2008, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by this reference
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field
The embodiments of the invention relate to storage of telecommunication devices. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to carriers with a pocket to hold arbitrarily sized telecommunication devices.
2. Background
Telecommunication devices, such as cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDA's) and personal music players, such as MP3 players and iPods™ have become ubiquitous in society. These devices come in widely different shapes and sizes. Many such devices have cases uniquely designed to fit the particular device to allow it to be protected and still used. These cases are limited to a single model or a few models having a substantially identical form factor. Moreover, such cases are solely for the retention of the device rather than being a general purpose carrier, such as a purse or a briefcase. Commonly, if telecommunication device resides in a general purpose carrier, such as a purse or briefcase, it can be difficult to find within the general purpose internal volume and generally must be found and removed from the general purpose carrier for use.
The invention is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.
An internal panel 122 in conjunction with a transparent region 112 of panel 102 defines a pocket 120 in which a telecommunication device 110 may reside. Internal panel 122 may be fabric, leather, plastic, laminated cardboard or other suitable material consistent with the type of carrier. Transparent region 112 effectively forms a window in panel 102 and may be clear plastic or other suitable flexible transparent material.
One or more elastic members 124 may be coupled in tension with panel 102 to bias the device 110 into contact with transparent region 112 of panel 102. As used herein, “telecommunication device” 110 may be a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, e.g. a BlackBerry™ available from Research in Motion Limited of Ontario, Canada, a portable music player, such as an iPod™ available from Apple Computer from Cupertino, Calif., and the like.
By “coupled in tension” it is meant that the elastic members 124 are, before introduction of device 110, stretched to some degree such that introduction of device 110 will further stretch the elastic members independent of the size of device 110. Thus, introduction of an iPod Nano™ would further stretch elastic members 124 and such small sized device would be biased into contact with transparent region. Similarly, introduction of e.g., a personal digital assistant, such as a BlackBerry™ would also stretch members 124, but to a larger degree and would still cause the BlackBerry™ (device 110) to be biased into contact with transparent region 112.
In some embodiments, a fabric panel 126 may reside between internal panel 122 and panel 102. In some embodiments, fabric panel 126 may be made of a slick fabric, such as silk, a microfiber, nylon, etc. The slick fabric results in relatively little friction between the fabric panel 126 and device 110 to allow device to easily slide into pocket 120. In some embodiments, internal panel 122 has a raised and/or pleated upper edge 130 to facilitate grasping by a user to permit the pocket to be easily opened for insertion of device 110. In one embodiment, pulling upper edge 130 internally stretches elastic members 124 to allow device 110 to be more easily inserted between transparent region 112 and elastic members 124. In an alternative embodiment, pulling upper edge 130 internally opens the space between fabric panel 126 and panel 102 and the user inserts the device with pressure to wedge the device between elastic members 124 and transparent region 112.
In the shown embodiment, elastic members 124 are shown as two substantially horizontally disposed elastic straps. Elastic members may be of any material having suitable elasticity and strength. In some embodiments elastic fabric such as Lycra™ may be used. In other embodiments, garden variety elastic, rubber, rubberized material, elastomeric materials or the like may be used. In some embodiments, a single elastic strap may be used. A desirable width and number of straps may vary depending on the size of the pocket 120 and the weight of telecommunication device expected to be used. Elastic material with a suitable spring constant may be selected based on the expected maximum weight of a device expected to be placed in the pocket. For example, the elastic member 124 should be selected such that the weight of the device 118 does not cause the members 126 to sag such that the device regresses from the transparent region when gravity is acting normal to that region. Because the straps are coupled in tension an arbitrary sized device e.g., any device that fits within the pocket can be retained in contact with the transparent region. As is described in more detail below with respect to
When device 210 is held against transparent region 212, the screen is readily viewable without removing device 210 from the pocket 220. Additionally, the buttons, controls and/or touch screen of the device may be actuated through the transparent region 212 without removing the device 210 from the pocket 220.
In this embodiment, elastic members 224 run vertically along the sides of the pocket and do not make direct contact with device 210. In some embodiments as shown, transparent region 212 is substantially coextensive with the dimensions with pocket 220. In such an embodiment, the internal panel 222 prevents visibility of the contents of the internal volume (not shown in
A second pocket 240 may be provided either externally or internally to the carrier 200 and adjacent to pocket 220. A second pocket may be used to, for example, hold wired headphones to be used in conjunction with device 210. Pocket 240 may include a closure of flap 242 and a cooperative closure device 244, such as, snaps, hook and loop material, e.g., Velcro™, mechanical hooks, buckles, zippers or the like. Second pocket 240 may define a through hole 246 into pocket 220 to permit, for example, headset cord to pass between second pocket 240 and pocket 220. This facilitates usability of a wired headset with device 210.
In one embodiment, a window cover flap 260 may be included. Window cover flap 260 may be made of the same kinds of materials as the panel 202. Cover flap 260 may either fixedly or removably coupled on one side of the transparent region 212. For example, cover flap may be sewn to the panel 202 adjacent to the right side of transparent region 212 or may coupled there with e.g., hook and loop material. An opposing side of the cover flap 260 may be provided with one of hook or loop material 262 with the opposing side of the transparent region may be provided with the other of Loop or hook material so the different moieties may engage to close the flap to occlude the transparent region if desired. In some embodiments, the cover flap 260 may attach at the top and bottom of the transparent region instead of the sides.
The invention has been described using exemplary embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and equivalents. The scope of the claims, therefore, should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications, similar arrangements and equivalents.
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of panels coupled together to define an internal volume;
- a first panel of the plurality having a transparent region;
- an internal panel coupled to the first panel to define a first pocket within the internal volume, an external side of the first pocket defined by the transparent region; and
- at least one elastic member to bias an arbitrarily sized device residing within the first pocket into contact with the transparent region.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
- a second pocket defined adjacent to the first pocket, a wall of the second pocket defining a through hole to permit access from the second pocket to the first pocket.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:
- a closure flap coupled adjacent to the second pocket; and
- a cooperating closure device having one member on the closure flap and a cooperative member on a wall of the second pocket.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
- a fabric panel between the first panel and the internal panel and wherein the elastic member resides between the fabric panel and the internal panel.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the internal panel comprises:
- a raised edge to provide a grip point to permit the internal panel to be pulled away from the first panel.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the internal panel comprises:
- a pleated upper edge.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transparent region comprises:
- a flexible transparent plastic material.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transparent region is substantially coextensive with a length and width dimension of the first pocket.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the internal panel prevents visibility of the internal volume through the transparent region.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
- a window cover of an opaque material detachably coupled adjacent to at least one edge of the transparent region.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pocket has an externally accessible opening further comprising:
- a detachable pocket affixed upwardly adjacent to the first pocket.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the detachable pocket comprises:
- an opaque panel;
- a transparent panel; and
- an elastic member coupled in tension to bias a device within the detachable pocket into contact with the transparent panel.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 22, 2008
Publication Date: Jul 2, 2009
Inventor: Renee Michelle Cleary (Manhattan Beach, CA)
Application Number: 12/341,278
International Classification: A45C 3/00 (20060101); A45C 13/00 (20060101);