Waist-supported Writing Surface

Abstract

A Waist-supported Writing Surface in the short term clipped or clamped by hand to clothes or material about a person's waist line, preferred location or equivalent bodily structure. Hand operated and body having hingedly collapsible surface(s) for holding working papers and the like is connected hingedly to a support member, primarily to be used when collapsible planar horizontal surface(s) are open and support member is used, to read and write while walking, sitting, standing and talking on phone. Supporting and or storing utensils, accessories and numerous forms of writing and reading media one's self, including, but not limited to paper, a notebook, a book, or a combination thereof.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to a small and compact, Waist-supported Writing Surface for temporary attachment by hand to a portion of wearing apparel generally present at and positioned about a person's waist or equivalent bodily structure, hand-operated and primarily to be used when planar horizontal surface(s) are open to read and write while walking, sitting, standing and talking on phone. Supporting numerous forms of writing and reading media on one's self, including, but not limited to, paper, a notebook, a book, or a combination thereof. Additionally, configuration of the waist-supported work surface or equivalent bodily structure for use and operation requires minimal effort of the individual user, which is particularly useful to individuals characteristically considered disabled or physically challenged.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Writing one's thoughts or ideas onto an acceptable form of media, such as paper, quintessentially serves as a vehicle by which a person communicates with another. Written words on paper further serve to capture the essence of one's expression of thoughts and ideas in tangible form, perhaps being directed for archival purposes and review by the writer or others at a later time. Individuals belonging to a designated occupational field, such as a medical doctor, a lawyer, or an architect, for example, commonly accept writing as supplementary means for communicating concepts and ideas to another to effectuate their daily duties and documenting events and activities most meaningful to their respective profession.

It is widely understood in an educational setting that a teacher or an educator may equally engage in written communication with his or her students to particularized a concept or an idea that surmounts to the development of a student's mind, for example.

In elementary form, one's pursuit to engage in an act of writing may simply involve taking a writing utensil, such as a pen or a pencil, and transcribing onto acceptable media his or her thoughts and ideas. One factor contributing to the overall effectiveness of one's expression of thoughts and ideas on paper may stem from the use of a hard, smooth planar surface, such as a desk or table, that sufficiently allows one to firmly press downward with the writing utensil and transcribe about the surface of the paper a meaningful collection of written words, perhaps with clarity. However, there may be instances where a desk or table is unavailable to fully accomplish the foregoing, notably where one works onsite or in the field, such as a land surveyor whom may be involved in taking site measurements of a parcel and transcribing the resultant measurements on paper.

In this instance, the land surveyor may resort to usage of a handheld clipboard of the type commonly known and available in the art or utilize nearby, available planar surfaces, perhaps the surfaces of a vehicle to effectuate or perform the act of writing. The art fully recognizes the need and desire for one to effectuate an act of writing away from one's desk or table. The art, for example, offers supplementary, portable writing devices adequately serving to accommodate one's desire or requirements to write firmly into acceptable media when planar horizontal surface(s) are open to read and write while walking, sitting, standing and talking on phone, generally without the undue requirement of supporting or holding onto the writing device with one's hand or hands to permit freedom of use thereof for other related and non-related tasks and activities. An example of a portable writing device strictly directed for use while one stands about a designated area is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,125,825 issued to Gaudette, which discloses a collapsible portable table comprising in part a flat top having an arcuate end portion substantially conforming to a person's body and an attaching member or flap hingedly connected to the arcuate end portion wherein the flap is selectively shaped in a like arcuate manner to fit interiorly within an upper portion of a pair of trousers or inside a wearable belt. In yet another example, a portable writing desk is offered under U.S. Pat. No. D357,035 issued to Toles, which is generally described as comprising a clipboard having a bottom surface affixed with a pair of vertical supports each having an end fitted with a planar surface element generally orientated in a perpendicular manner relative to each support to engage or abut up against a person's thigh or waist; a lengthened strap member sufficiently serves as means to secure the portable writing desk to a person's body.

Commonly associated with the foregoing portable writing devices, as well as others generally available in the art, is the inadequate nature of their design to fully collapse while in a state of nonuse while permitting continued wear on one's self, possibly to the extent of making the writing device immediately available on short-term notice.

Accordingly, there remains a need for a Waist-supported Writing Surface for temporary attachment to a portion of wearing apparel generally present at and positioned about a person's waist, sufficiently of which supports reading and writing media on one's self readily collapses in a compact manner on or off the wearer, and aids in the comfort of the wearer during prolong use and operation thereof in a personal, professional or an educational setting.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome the numerous drawbacks apparent in the prior art, a Waist supported Writing Surface has been devised for temporary attachment to a portion of wearing apparel generally present at and positioned about a person's waist or equivalent bodily structure, sufficiently serving as means for supporting numerous forms of writing and reading media on one's self, including, but not limited to, paper, a notebook, a book, or a combination thereof.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a Waist-supported Writing Surface that requires minimal effort of the individual user to assemble and configure for use and operation, which is particularly useful and advantageous to individuals characteristically considered disabled or physically challenged.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a Waist-supported Writing Surface that offers freedom of use of one's hand or hands to engage and accomplish other tasks or activities besides that of supporting a work surface.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a Waist-supported Writing Surface that can be fabricated from a piece of flattened material, such as from plastic sheeting or an equivalent light-weighted material, using stamping or molding technology.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a Waist-supported Writing Surface that is solidly and rigidly constructed to offer reliable, long-term performance.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a Waist-supported Writing Surface that can operably function while positioned on a wearer, primarily to be used when planar horizontal surface(s) are open to read and write while walking, sitting, standing and talking on phone.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible, waist supported work surface that can be positioned on the wearer at a variety bodily locations to accommodate one's preferences and desires for writing and/or reading.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a Waist-supported Writing Surface that comprises hingedly-connected components to achieve compactness thereof while in a state of nonuse, whether it be positioned on or off the wearer.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a Waist-supported Writing Surface that comprises a lesser number of components and moving parts which collectively equate to a lesser cost of manufacture and reduced susceptibility to failure while in use in a professional or an educational setting.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a Waist-supported Writing Surface that can be fabricated from an assortment of light weighted materials to offer comfort while being used and positioned alongside a person's waist or equivalent bodily structure.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a Waist-supported Writing Surface that requires no continued or repeated adjustments to retain sufficient support of numerous forms of writing and reading media.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a Waist-supported Writing Surface which accomplishes the foregoing and other objects and advantages and which is economical, durable, and fully effective in performing its intended functions without unduly compromising the comfort of the wearer.

In accordance with the present invention a Waist-supported Writing Surface has been devised for temporary attachment to a portion of wearing apparel generally present at and positioned about a person's waist or equivalent bodily structure, the Waist-supported Writing Surface principally comprising a support assembly hingedly connected to a work platform having at least one planar element for accepting and resting thereon paper, a notebook, a book, or a combination thereof while in a cantilevered position, the support assembly comprising a main support member having a pair of integral extended members each including a primary leading edge hingedly connected along a shortened edge of the planar element; a recessed flange situated in between the integral extended members and having a sideward edge hingedly connected to the shortened edge of the planar element and a front side face for receiving and mounting thereon a clip configurably adapted to engage and firmly grasp a select portion of the wearing apparel; a moveable brace in the form of a triangular planar member having an inward leading edge hingedly connected to a sideward peripheral edge of the main support member to permit pivotal travel thereof outward below the planar element and behind the main support member, the triangular planar member being temporarily held thereat by a hook and loop fastener; and a stability bar having first, second and third elongate sections each being selectively manipulated and arranged to yield an overall triangular configuration that extends outwardly from the support assembly and angularly positions the main support member away from the person's waist or equivalent bodily structure within a range of 13-23 degrees, the stability bar being further associated with a hook and loop fastener to retain its shape and position atop the main support member.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals depict the same parts in the various views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating a work platform supported by a support assembly comprising a stability bar;

FIG. 2 is a back elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating a stability bar affixed to a main support member collectively positioned below a planar element constituting a work platform;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating a support assembly positioned below a planar element constituting a work platform;

FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating a support assembly hingedly connected to a work platform held in a cantilevered position;

FIG. 5 is a left side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating a support assembly hingedly connected to a work platform held in a cantilevered position;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present Invention illustrating a planar element supported by a moveable brace positioned therebelow;

FIG. 7 is a backside view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating a work platform and a support assembly comprising a stability bar mounted atop a main support member having a recessed flanged affixed with a clip;

FIG. 8 is a right side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating a work platform and a support assembly in a collapsible, non-useable position;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a first alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrating a work platform comprising first and second planar elements and a support assembly comprising a stability bar;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the first alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrating a support assembly comprising a moveable brace positioned and mounted below first and second planar elements while in a collapsible state;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a second alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrating a work platform comprising first and second planar elements in an open, useable position and positionally re-orientated to a support assembly included in the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a left side elevational view of the second alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrating a work platform comprising first and second planar elements in a collapsible, non-useable position and supported by a support assembly comprising a moveable brace positioned below the work platform;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a third alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrating a work platform comprising first, second and third planar elements in a collapsible, non-useable position and a support assembly comprising a stability bar extending from a main support member;

FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view of the third alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrating a work platform comprising first, second and third planar elements in a collapsible, non-useable position and supported therebelow by a moveable brace positioned specifically below the first planar element;

FIG. 15 is a right side elevational view of the third alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrating a work platform comprising first, second and third planar elements in a collapsible, non-useable position and supported by a support assembly comprising a moveable brace positioned below the work platform and a stability bar extending outwardly from a main support member;

FIG. 16 is a front elevational view of the third alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrating a support assembly comprising a moveable brace positioned and mounted below first, second and third planar elements while in a collapsible state; and;

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the first alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrating a work platform and a support assembly in a laid out, open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible of being embodied in many different forms, the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in detail hereinafter with the understanding that the present disclosure purposefully exemplifies the principles of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated and presented herein. The present invention has particular utility as a Waist-supported Writing Surface that is adaptably suited to engage and attach to a select portion of wearing apparel generally available at and positioned about a person's waist or equivalent bodily structure, primarily of which serves to support numerous forms of writing and reading media on one's self, including, but not limited to, paper, a notebook, a book, or a combination thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown generally at 10 a Waist-supported Writing Surface comprising a support assembly 12 hingedly connected to a work platform 14 having at least one planar element 16 for accepting and resting thereon paper, a notebook, a book, or a combination thereof while in a cantilevered position. In particular, the support assembly 12 is further shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to comprise a main support member 18 having a pair of integral extended members 20 each including a primary leading edge 20a hingedly connected along a shortened edge 16a of the planar element of the work platform to permit limited pivotal movement thereabout and allow a bottom face 16b of the planar element 16 to move or collapse downwardly toward and surficially engage an outward side 18a of the main support member, a structural mechanism particularly useful and suited to effectuate compactness of the collapsible, bodily supported work surface 10 during a state of nonuse. The main support member 18 is further shown in FIG. 2 with a recessed flange 22 having a front side face 22a for receiving and mounting thereon a clip 24 configurably adapted to engage a select portion of wearing apparel generally available at and positioned about a person's waist or equivalent bodily structure. As further disclosed in FIG. 2, the recessed flange 22, like that of the integral extended members 20, is hingedly connected along a sideward edge 22b to a mid-sectional portion of the shortened edge 16a with the remaining sides thereof being freely positioned to permit limited pivotal movement thereabout, which effectuates adjustability thereof apart from the main support member 18 and permits the clip to adaptably reach and engage the select portion of the wearing apparel for effective attachment therewith. The clip 24, as illustrated in FIG. 4, is of the particular type generally offered in the art to structurally include a base member 26 to engage the front side face of the recessed flange 22 for attachment therewith and a biasing member 28 generally predisposed to bias or spring inward toward the base member to firmly grasp and hold therein between the select portion of the wearing apparel. The recessed flange with its associated clip, as shown in FIG. 5, generally defines the geometric configuration of the integral extended members 20 and is preferentially situated to lay flush with the main support member 18 and located equal distance in between the pair of integral extended members 20 to evenly distribute and balance the overall weight of the Waist-supported Writing Surface 10 while in use on the wearer.

In further association with the support assembly 12 is a moveable brace 30, particularly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to comprise in form a triangular planar member 32 having an inward leading edge 32a hingedly connected to a sideward peripheral edge 18b of the main support member 18, preferentially of which is positioned in a perpendicular manner to the primary leading edge 20a of each of the integral extended members 20. This structural configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 6, allows the triangular planar member 32 to pivotally travel outward below the planar element and behind the main support member to engage along its upper support edge 32b the bottom face 16b of the planar element 16 and simultaneously support the work platform 14 in a cantilevered position to carry and rest thereon paper, a notebook, a book, or a combination thereof alongside one's waist or equivalent bodily structure. In order to temporarily station the moveable brace 30 below the planar element or prevent its movement while allowing for detachment thereof at a later time, primarily to achieve compactness of the collapsible, waist supported work surface 10 during nonuse thereof, a hook and loop fastener 34a, 34b is applied to the bottom face of the planar element and outer and inner facing sides 2c, 32d straddling the upper support edge 32b, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, to engagingly mate with one another with hook and loop fasteners. Of similar usefulness, the outer facing side 32c of the triangular planar member 32 and a backside face 22c of the flange 22, oppositely positioned from the clip 24, each receives a hook and loop fastener 36a, 36b to engagingly mate with one another, sufficiently serving to lock the triangular planar member 32 to that of main support member 18 while the Waist-supported Writing Surface 10 is in a state of nonuse and positioned on or off the wearer.

Further associated with the support assembly 12 is a stability bar 38 of the type shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 to comprise first, second and third elongate sections 40, 42, 44 each being selectively manipulated and arranged to yield an overall triangular configuration that angularly positions the main support member 18 away from the person's waist or equivalent bodily structure within a range R of 13-23 degrees as depicted in FIG. 8, generally as the Waist-supported Writing Surface 10 is attached to the wearer by means of the clip 24. As preferentially illustrated in FIG. 5, the second elongate section 42 is bounded in between and hingedly connected along its first and second longitudinal edges 42a, 42b to first longitudinal edges 40a, 44a of the first and third elongate sections 40, 44, respectively. A second longitudinal edge 40b of the first elongate section 40 is shown in FIG. 5 to be hingedly connected to a secondary leading edge 18c of the main support member 18, preferentially being positioned opposite and parallel to the primary leading edge 20a of each of the integral extended members 20. The resultant structure of the stability bar 38 is principally achieved by manipulating and arranging each of the three elongate sections 40, 42, 44 along their respective longitudinal edges to arrive at a cross-sectional configuration most resembling a triangle, particularly of the form depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5. A hook and loop fastener 46a, 46b of the type used for the triangular planar member 32 and the flange 22 is applied to a backside portion 44b of the third elongate section 44 and a lower, mid-sectional portion 48a of an inward side 48 of the main support member 18, near the secondary leading edge thereof, to engagingly mate with one another and temporarily lock together the third elongate section's position atop the main support member, sufficiently forming the overall structure of the stability bar 38 for engagement with the person's waist or equivalent bodily structure to further stabilize the work platform during use thereof and supplementary provide a storage compartment for writing utensils and the like. In furthering the position of stability bar 38 about the wearer, particularly while it abuts and engages a portion of the wearing apparel below the position of the clip 24, backside portions 40c, 42c of the first and second elongate sections 40, 42 are partially and surficially affixed with a layer of rubberized material 49 or an equivalent non-slip material, substantially in the manner and location shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Referring now to FIGS. 9-14, the Waist-supported Writing Surface 10 may be represented in three additional alternative embodiments where the work platform comprises more than one planar element positioned in a side by-side arrangement.

In a first alternative embodiment of the Waist-supported Writing Surface 50, as particularly shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the work platform 14 incorporates a second planar element 52 having a first lengthened edge 52a hingedly connected to a first lengthened edge 16c of the first planar element 16 of the preferred embodiment. The first lengthened edge of each planar element is illustrated in FIG. 9 to generally extend perpendicular to the first shortened edge 16a and primary leading edges 20a of the integral extended members 20 and parallel to the sideward peripheral edge 18b of the main support member 18. The side-by-side arrangement of the first and second planar elements 16, 52 and hinged connection along their respective first lengthened edges allows a top surface 52b of the second planar element to pivotally move thereabout and collapse or fold onto and surficially engage a top surface 16d of the first planar element. Hook and loop fasteners 54a, 54b of the type previously noted herein are applied to the top surfaces, near the second lengthened edges 16e, 52c of the first and second planar elements 16, 52 to secure their position while the collapsible, waist-supported work surface 10 is in a state of nonuse and positioned on or off the wearer.

In a second embodiment of the Waist-supported Writing Surface 56, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the work platform 14 is re-arranged about the main support member 18, where in particular the second lengthened edge 16e of the first planar element 16 is hingedly connected to the primary leading edge 20a of integral extended members 20 and the sideward edge 22b of the recessed flange 22. Similar to that shown for the first embodiment of the present invention, the first and second planar elements 16, 52 of the second embodiment are hingedly connected along their respective first lengthened edges 16c, 52a and held together while in a collapsible state with the hook and loop fastener 54a, 54b, as suitably applied to their respective top surfaces, near the second lengthened edges 16e, 52c.

In a third embodiment of the Waist-supported Writing Surface 58, as illustrated in FIGS. 13-16, the work platform 14 is orientated to the likes of that shown for the preferred embodiment, but comprises three planar elements arranged in a side-by side manner. In particular, substantially in the manner shown in FIG. 13, first and second lengthened edges 16c, 16e of the first planar element 16 are hingedly connected to the first lengthened edge 52a of the second planar element 52 and to a first lengthened edge 60a of a third planar element 60, respectively. The arrangement of the hinged connection along the lengthened edges of the planar elements noted for this embodiment allows for pivotal movement of the second and third planar elements 52, 60 and placement of each in succession atop the first planar element 16, where in particular, during a state of nonuse of the Waist-supported Writing Surface 58, a top surface 60b of the third planar element 60 surficially engages the top surface 16d of the first planar element 16 and the top surface 52b of the second planar element 52 surficially engages a bottom surface 60c of the third planar element, typically in the order and manner shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. Like the previous alternative embodiments, notably in terms of purpose, hook and loop fasteners 62a, 62b are applied to the top surface 52b, near the second lengthened edge, of the second planar element and to the bottom surface 60c, near the first lengthened edge, of the third planar element 62.

It is obvious that the components comprising the preferred and alternative embodiments of the Waist-supported Writing Surface 10, 50, 56, 58 may be fabricated from a variety of materials, providing such selection or use of materials possess the capacity to withstand the anticipated weight loads and forces acting thereon throughout its duration of use in a professional or an educational setting. Accordingly, it is most desirable, and therefore preferred, to construct the entire Waist-supported Writing Surface as a unified structure from plastic sheeting or equivalent, a material of which is considered as having a moderate strength-to-weight ratio while offering a reduced susceptibility of failure possibly due to the anticipated weight loads from varies forms of reading and writing media. To lessen the cost and simplify construction, the Waist-supported Writing Surface 10, 50, 56, 58 is stamped from a single sheet of plastic or an equivalent material to the likes represented in FIG. 17, with the components comprising the work platform 14 and support assembly 12 being selectively held intact to form a live hinge 64 (not shown in detail), which concurrently serves as means for hinging together and limiting pivotal travel of the various components of the present invention delineated herein. Although it is noted herein that the live hinge may meet the conditions specified for the preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention, other forms of hinging mechanisms, such as a piano hinge or equivalent, may be appropriate for this strict application, particularly where heavier loads must be adequately supported by the Waist-supported Writing Surface 10, 50, 56, 58. In the instance where heavier loads are likely to be present, the hinged connection situated in between each of the planar elements 52, 60 of the alternative embodiments of the present invention may receive a supplementary support in the form of a stop (not shown), which sufficiently serves to assist the live hinge formed thereat in supporting each of the planar elements while in a cantilevered position and ensuring limited pivotal travel thereof. Although it is noted herein that the preferred and alternative embodiments of the Waist-supported Writing Surface 10, 50, 56, 58 preferentially incorporate usage of hook and loop fasteners as means for temporary attachment of the components identified herein, other forms of connection technologies generally available and offered in the art may be appropriate for this strict application, including snaps, buttons, sleeves, guided inserts, and semi-permanent glue or adhesive, to name a few. In further regard to the planar elements constituting the work platform 14, as particularly described and shown herein as having a general rectangular configuration, the present invention contemplates usage of other geometric configurations therefore, including those that comprise an overall shape resembling a square or half-circle, for example.

In furthering compactness of the Waist-supported Writing Surface during a state of nonuse, substantially of the form shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the inner facing side 32d of the triangular planar member 32, adjacent to the inward leading edge 32a, may be supplemented with a hook and loop fastener 66 to correspond in particular with the hook and loop fastener 34a positioned on the bottom face 16d of the planar element 16.

A decorative fabric or material, such as patterned cloth or leather, may be supplementary applied to the plastic substrate of the Waist-supported Writing Surface to highlight its presence and increase its decorative appeal while in use in a professional or an educational setting. Alternatively, the collapsible, waist-supported work surface may receive a surface coating such as paint to correspond with the wearer's discretionary tastes and preferences.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and alterations can be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and alterations which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

SUMMARY

In summary, the art teaches a Waist-supported Writing Surface comprising one or more collapsible planar members each hingedly connected to one another and generally supported and orientated in a horizontal manner by means of a collapsible hingedly-connected support member, the base affixed with a collapsible hingedly attached by hand clamp or clip to engage preferably in front of a person's waist, such as a wearable belt or an upper portion of a pair of trousers, the main support member further comprising at its end a connected stability bar.

Claims

1. Waist-supported Writing Surface comprising of hingedly connected members, constructed out of light weighted rigid material comprising of collapsible work surface support member hingedly attached to the comprising main base hingedly connected to collapsible clamp or clip, for freedom of wearers movements to temporarily attach work surface to the wearer preferably in the general area of the front of the persons waist clipping on by hand to belt, top of pants or other preferred area and is easily removed by unclipping by hand, within arm's reach.

2. Waist-supported Writing Surface comprising of media, accessory and utensil storage within base stability bar and collapsible horizontal planar surface(s).

3. Waist-supported Writing Surface comprising of collapsible horizontal hingedly connected planar surface(s) to accommodate small or large sized media or a larger work area preferably attached to front of a wearers waist line clipping by hand on to belt, top of pants or other preferred area, within arm's reach for ease of use.