Personal Support System for a Mobile Electronic Device

Abstract

A personal support system for a mobile electronic device includes a strap to be worn around the neck of the user and a holder for the device which includes an arrangement for securing the holder to each end of the strap. The holder is adjustable to receive and hold devices of varying sizes.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention which is the subject matter of this application for a patent is to a personal support system for a mobile electronic device such as a cell phone, notebook, iPod or the like. The system includes a strap adapted to be worn around the neck of the user, and a device holder which is detachably connected to both ends of the strap.

2. Description of Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 7,416,099 discloses a neck strap for a mobile electronic device that includes a compartment for wires attached to ear plugs. The electronic device is attached to a connector 3 which is connected to a flexible loop 2. The details of construction for the connector are not disclosed. U.S. Pat. No. 7,174,196 discloses a strap which also includes a compartment for the ear plug wires. The electronic device is secured to the strap via a connecting string. U.S. Pat. No. 7,458,489 discloses a carrying assembly for a mobile electronic device that includes a carrying assembly for clipping the device to a user's belt or waist of the user's pants. The carrying assembly has a fixed geometry so that it is not adjustable to accommodate different sized electronic devices. The carrying assembly also requires a locking button that is permanently secured to the electronic device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is for a personal support system for a mobile electronic device that includes an adjustable holder for the device such that it is adaptable for different size devices. A neck strap attaches to either side of the holder so that in use when the device is supported by the neck strap, the device is conveniently located above a user's waist so that it can be easily held and manipulated as necessary. The user can easily grasp the device and rotate it so that the finger operated controls and any display screen is visible to the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the holder for the mobile electronic device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the holder according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention showing the neck portion of the holder.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the strap connections of the embodiment of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of an additional embodiment of the strap connection to the holder shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the strap shown in FIG. 14 is a second operating position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the personal support system 10 of the invention includes a u-shaped flexible strap having portions 11, 12, 13 and 14 adapted to fit around the neck of a user. Portions 11 and 14 may be padded with an additional padding layer 15 at the portion of the strap that engages the user's neck. Lower portions 12 and 13 are tubular so as to receive the ear plug wires 25. A zipper 26 and 27 is provided on tubular portion 13 for access to the interior of the tubular strap portion. Ear plug wires 25 extend through tubular portion 13 and then exit portion 14 via an aperture 29. Individual earphone wires 24 separate from wire 25 at 18 and are connected to earphones 23. A clip 28 may be used to secure earphone wire 25 to the upper portion 14 of the strap.

An attachment strap 16 is secured to the lower end of strap portions 12 and 13 as shown in FIG. 1. Each attachment strap 16 has a strip of detachable material such as hooks or loops 21.

An embodiment of a holder 30 for the mobile electronic device is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 11. The holder comprises a flexible strip of material 38 having a u-shaped profile as shown in FIG. 11. A strip of detachable material such as hooks or loops 39 is secured to flexible strip 38. At one end of strip 38, a second flat strip of detachable material 34 is provided having detachable material on the inside of the flat strip. In this manner, the flexible strap can be placed around the periphery of the electronic device in a tight holding fashion as the hooks and loops on surfaces 34 and 36 engage each other.

With the adjustable holder 30 positioned around and holding the electronic device, attachment straps can now be connected to the sides 36 of holder 30 so that the assembly can now be placed around the users neck with the mobile electronic device suspended from strap portions 12 and 13 approximately at the users chest.

FIG. 3 is an embodiment of the invention similar to FIG. 3. The upper portions 11 and 14 of the strap are formed as tubulars with an internal chamber through which the earphone wires pass. Earphone wire 25 exits through a hole 16 provided in the upper portion 15 of the strap. The construction is otherwise the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a second embodiment for the holder of the mobile electronic device according to the invention. According to this embodiment, the holder includes a sheet of flexible material which may be transparent. The flexible material includes a cover flap portion 52, a front face 55, and rear wall 56, a top portion 58 and a bottom portion 57. The material is formed so as to create an internal cavity suitable for receiving the mobile electronic device.

A strip of an attachment material 53 having complimentary attachment means such as hooks and loops is secured to the flexible material along its sides as shown in FIG. 5. In this manner, cover flap can be secured to front face 55 forming the pocket for the mobile electronic device. Also, strips 53 permit the lower ends 16 of the strips 12 and 13 to be releasably attached to holder 51.

In this embodiment the electronic device is positioned in a “landscape” orientation with the major axis of the electronic device in a horizontal orientation. In this situation, the user may hold the sides of the holder with his/her fingers and rotate the holder upwards so as to view the top screen of the electronic device through flap 55 and front fact 55.

As shown in FIG. 12, strips 53 may comprise a first band 81 having loops on its outer surface and a second band 82 having hooks on its outer surface with flap 52 located between them. Bands 81 and 82 are secured to flap 52 as shown in FIG. 12.

Another embodiment of applicant's invention is disclosed in FIGS. 6-10. In this embodiment the neck strap 61 is formed by a long and narrow piece of material for example cloth or leather that is folded at 75 to form a front portion 63 and a back portion 62. Complementary attachment strips 67 are secured on the inner surfaces of portions 62 and 63 to form an inner space adapted to receive ear plugs 25. A zipper 83 is located at the neck portion of the strap 61 to provide access to chamber 84. Zipper 83 includes zipper tracks on support fabric 72 which is sewed into strap fabric 73.

Holder 80 of the embodiment of FIG. 7 is shown in more detail in FIG. 6 and is similar to that shown in FIG. 5 but in a vertical orientation as opposed to a horizontal orientation. As shown in FIG. 6, holder 80 includes a flexible sheet of material 65 that may be transparent. Sheet 65 is folded so as to form an interior chamber 68 for receiving the mobile electronic device. The interior chamber is formed by front portion 84, rear portion 85 and side portions 87 and 86. A flap portion 88 extends over rear portion 83.

Complimentary attachment straps 66 and 67 are secured to flap 88 and rear portion 85 of holder 80 back at the top and bottom so that flap 88 overlaps rear wall 85 to form compartment 68. Likewise one or more attachment straps 91 are located on the back portion of flap 88 to engage complimentary attachment straps 64 attached to neck strap 61. A tab 69 can be positioned to extend between the front and rear wall portions of the holder at a bottom location as sown in FIG. 7 to prevent the mobile electronic device from falling through chamber 68. Thus strap 61 can be placed around the neck of a user with holder 80, carrying the electronic mobile device, attached thereto as shown in FIG. 7.

A further embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 12-15. The top or neck portion of the apparatus 100 includes a pouch 101 having a support 122 around which ear plug wire 104 can be wound. Top portion 100 also includes a foldable piece of material having two portions 102 and 103 and a fold line 104. A surface of portion 103 has an elongated attachment strip 115 as shown in FIG. 13 which cooperates with complimentary attachment strips 114 located at the top portion of flexible straps 112 and 113 so that the straps 112 and 113 are releasably attached to neck portion 100. Straps 112 and 113 have an attachment strips 120 on an surface thereof which cooperates with a complimentary attachment strip 121 and 116 on portion 102 so that straps 113 and 114 can be releasably attached to strip 115 and then portion 102 can be folded along fold line 104 so that attachment strips 121 and 116 mate with strips 120 to securely but releasably capture straps 112 and 113 within neck portion 100 as shown in FIG. 12. Pouch 101 may also include a zipper 123 as shown in FIG. 12.

The lower portions of straps 113 and 112 include a first attachment strip 131 and a second attachment strip 132 on one side of the strap 113 so that the electronic device holder 80 can be attached to strap 113 via attachment strip 119 at different locations along the strap.

If attachment strap 131 is utilized as shown in FIG. 14, then strap 113 is folded as shown at 118 and attachment strips 133 and 134 can be secured to complimentary attachment strip 139 provided on a second side of strap 113. Thus the position of the electronic device can be adjusted relative to the chest of the user by selecting attachment strips 131 or 132 for connection to the holder 80.

As in the previous embodiment, the attachment strips can be of strips of hook or loop material commonly known as Velcro.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to specific details, it is not intended that such details should be regarded as limitations on the scope of the invention, except to the extent that they are included in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. Apparatus for supporting a mobile electronic device around the neck of a user comprising:

a flexible strap adapted to be positioned around the neck of a user, the strap having first and second ends;

first means for securing the strap to a holder for the device, said means being located at the first and second ends of the strap;

a holder for carrying the mobile electronic device, the holder capable of encircling the device; and

second means on the holder engaging the first means for securing the strap to the holder for suspending the device around the neck of a user.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second means include hook and loop elements respectively.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the holder includes a band of flexible material.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the band of flexible material includes a generally flat portion and two extending side portions that form a u-shaped channel in which the perimeter of the device is adapted to be located.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the band includes an aperture for allowing an ear plug set connector to be connected to the mobile electronic device.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the strap has an interior chamber for receiving ear plug wires and an exit aperture for the wires.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the holder includes a flexible sheet of material bent so as to form a compartment for holding the mobile electronic device.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the holder further includes a front portion, a rear portion, a top portion and a bottom portion and a flap overlying the front portion, whereby the holder can be rotated to a generally horizontal position and a top screen of the electronic device is visible to the user.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the flexible sheet of material is transparent.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the holder is formed from a folded flexible sheet so as to include side walls, front and rear walls thereby forming a compartment having an open top and bottom.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein a tab extends between the front and rear walls at a location near the bottom of the compartment to keep the mobile electronic device from falling through the compartment in use.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including a neck portion including a pouch for storing for an earphone assembly.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the flexible strap includes two straps, each strap having a first end secured to the holder and a second end releasably attached to the neck portion.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the second end of each strap includes a plurality of attachment means for attaching the electronic device holder to different vertical locations on the second end of each strap.