Wearable garment for carrying electronic device

Abstract

A generally rectangular, flexible fabric, strap-on garment has a pocket for protectively enclosing and transporting a small electronic device at locations on the body of a wearer of the garment where the device can be viewed and operated. Closure features are provided adjacent an opening into the pocket that prevent moisture from entering the pocket, and strap features are provided that enhance the versatility and adjustability of the holder.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This utility application is a continuation-in-part of two pending applications, namely:

1) Utility application Ser. No. 13/986,514 filed May 9, 2013 (Docket No. 6-801); and,

2) Design application Ser. No. 29/442,760 filed May 9, 2013 (Docket No. 6-802).

CROSS-REFERENCE BACKGROUND & HISTORY

The aforementioned Utility application Ser. No. 13/986,514 (Docket No. 6-801) was filed as a continuation-in-part of two applications, namely:

• • 1) Utility application Ser. No. 12/584,292 filed Sep. 1, 2009 (Docket No. 6-406); and,
  • 2) Design application Ser. No. 29/421,455 filed Jul. 30, 2012 (Docket No. 6-409).

The aforementioned Design application Ser. No. 29/442,760 (Docket No. 6-802) was filed as a continuation-in-part of two applications, namely:

• • 1) Utility application Ser. No. 12/584,292 filed Sep. 1, 2009 (Docket No. 6-406); and,
  • 2) Design application Ser. No. 29/421,455 filed Jul. 30, 2012 (Docket No. 6-409).

The aforementioned Utility application Ser. No. 12/584,292 (Docket No. 6-406) claimed the benefit of the filing date of Provisional application Ser. No. 61/093,525 filed Sep. 2, 2008 (Docket No. 6-405).

The aforementioned Design application Ser. No. 29/421,455 (Docket No. 6-409) was a division of Design application Ser. No. 29/370,825 filed Sep. 10, 2010 (Docket No. 6-408).

The aforementioned Design application Ser. No. 29/370,825 (Docket No. 6-408) also was filed as a continuation-in-part of two applications, namely:

• • 1) Utility application Ser. No. 12/584,292 filed Sep. 1, 2009 (Docket No. 6-406) and,
  • 2) Design Application Ser. No. 29/316,223 filed Sep. 1, 2009 (Docket No. 6-407).

A subject-matter-related Design application Ser. No. 29/421,289 filed Jun. 26, 2012 (Docket No. 6-715) was a continuation-in-part of two applications, namely:

• • 1) Utility application Ser. No. 12/584,292 filed Sep. 1, 2009 (Docket No. 6-406); and,
  • 2) Design application Ser. No. 29/370,825 filed Sep. 10, 2010 (Docket No. 6-408).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS

The aforementioned Design application Ser. No. 29/316,223 filed Sep. 1, 2009 (Docket No. 6-407) issued Sep. 29, 2011 as Design Patent No. D-649,718.

The aforementioned Design application Ser. No. 29/421,289 filed Jun. 26, 2012 (Docket No. 6-715) issued Mar. 5, 2013 as Design Patent No. 667,252.

The aforementioned Design application Ser. No. 29/370,825 filed Sep. 10, 2010 (Docket No. 6-408) issued Sep. 11, 2012 as Design Patent No. D-677,172.

The aforementioned Design application Ser. No. 29/421,455 filed Jul. 30, 2012 (Docket No. 6-409) issued Sep. 10, 2013 as Design Patent No. D-689,477.

INCORPORATIONS BY REFERENCE

Incorporated herein by reference are the disclosures of all related applications and all patents that issue therefrom and may have already issued therefrom, including, but not limited to, the items listed above, which are referred to herein as the “Baum/Gardner Patents.”

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to improvements and enhancements in flexible fabric, strap-on, garment-type holders that are designed to protectively enclose, shield, contain, carry and conveniently position for use a variety of small, portable, electronic devices such as communication units that are sold by manufacturers such as Apple, Inc. that have viewable screens and interactive displays enabling users to observe and create on-line content, to text, talk, take and transmit photos, and to perform many other functions that small electronic devices are increasingly being equipped to perform.

As is explained in several of the referenced Baum/Gardner Patents, persons who participate and engage in physical activities often appreciate the convenience afforded by a flexible fabric, strap-on, garment-type holder that is thoughtfully designed to provide a generally rectangular pocket that is well suited to protectively carry, transport, contain and position for use a small portable electronic device at various locations on the hands and arms (and, sometimes even on other body portions) where the device can be viewed and operated with reasonable ease, often without any need to pause, break stride or otherwise interrupt ongoing physical activities.

Although specialized, flexible fabric, garment-type holders are known and have been proposed for carrying water bottles, exercise equipment, weights, towels and a wide variety of other items at various locations on a person's body, little heed was paid (during previous years) to the growing need for flexible fabric garments specifically designed to support small, generally rectangular, electronic devices for operation at locations on the hands and arms of those engaged in exercise—until, that is, the inventors named herein began offering such flexible garment-type holders during the years 2008 and 2009.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides sets of features that can be utilized separately or in combination to enhance, improve and/or add versatility to flexible fabric, strap-on, garment-type holders that each provide an opening into a pocket suited to contain and position a small electronic device for use—preferably holders of the Baum-Gardner type. In particular, three needs are addressed, as is explained the the three paragraphs that follow.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a flexible fabric, strap-on holder (preferably of the generally rectangular Baum/Gardner type) has a pocket for carrying a small electronic device, and has a pair of closure components configured to cooperate in closing a pocket opening in a way that minimizes moisture passage through the opening even when an electrical cable extends therethrough. Improved moisture resistance with a capability to accommodate an electrical cable has been needed.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a flexible fabric, strap-on holder of the generally rectangular Baum/Gardner type has a main strap defining a size-adjustable thumb-receiving opening. An auxiliary strap provided on the rear of the holder slidably carries a ring through which an end region of the main strap is looped. By sliding the ring along the auxiliary strap, the main strap is given a capability to encircle hands of a wide range of sizes. Adjustability to accommodate hands and hand portions of a variety of sizes has been needed.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, an electrically energizable illumination strip or the like encircles at least a major part of the periphery of a window through which a display of a pocket-carried electronic device is visible. When energized, the illumination strip provides light to aid viewing the display. Supplemental display illumination has been needed.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a flexible fabric, strap-on holder (such as a holder that is primarily intended to nestle a small electronic device in the palm of one's hand) is provided with two pairs of strap components that can be pivoted between retracted, out-of-the-way positions and extended, operational positions where the strap components can be used to support the holder on an upper arm region of a wearer. Providing a flexible fabric holder with strap components that permit optional, yet secure, upper arm positioning of the holder is a much desired capability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A fuller understanding of various features and enhancements provided by the present invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a flexible fabric, strap-on, garment-type holder for a small, portable, electronic device, with the holder having a generally rectangular pocket for protectively enclosing and transporting a small electronic device, with the view showing a transparent window on a front side of the holder through which a changeable display of a pocket-carried electronic device can be viewed, with a main strap of the holder being seen to loop upwardly and rearwardly to define a thumb-receiving opening, with broken lines depicting a foreshortened secondary strap that optionally can be used (in place of, or in addition to the main strap) to connect the holder to a selected body part;

FIG. 2 is a left end view of the holder of FIG. 1, with only a part of the main strap being visible;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the holder, with the main strap foreshortened;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the holder, with the main strap foreshortened as in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a right end view of the holder that shows a zipper closure and an small closure strap that cooperate to close an end opening into a pocket the holder;

FIG. 6 is a right end view similar to FIG. 5, but with the small closure strap open, and with the zipper closure partially open to permit one to look thru the end opening into the pocket of the holder, and with a ring that can be slided along an auxiliary strap having an end region of the main strap that is looped therethrough;

FIG. 7 is a right end view similar to FIG. 5 but showing how the small closure strap and the zipper closure can snuggle against opposite sides of an electrical cable (that may be electrically connected to a small electronic device carried in the pocket of the holder) extending through the end opening of the pocket of the holder;

FIG. 8 is a top view similar to FIG. 4 but showing a second holder embodiment that incorporates features of the present invention, with the view showing a main strap looped through a ring that is slidably carried on an elongate, rail-like auxiliary strap, and showing a backwall passage through which a secondary strap (shown by broken lines in FIG. 1) can extend;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the second holder embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a right end view of the second holder embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a rear view of a third holder embodiment, with foreshortened, pivotally mounted strap portions shown by solid lines in extended positions, and shown by broken lines in retracted positions; and,

FIG. 12 is a rear view of a fourth holder embodiment that has pivoted strap portions such as are found in the third holder embodiment of FIG. 11, and that may have other strap portions such as are found in the second holder embodiment of FIGS. 8-10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A first preferred embodiment of a generally rectangular holder 100 is shown in FIGS. 1-7. The holder 100 is a flexible fabric, strap-on, garment of the general type disclosed in the Baum/Gardner Patents referenced above.

Referring to FIG. 1, the holder 100 has a transparent front window 120 that looks into a generally rectangular pocket 110 capable of carrying a small, generally rectangular electronic device (not shown) such as the communications devices being sold by Apple, Inc. and other manufacturers. The transparent material from which the window 120 is formed is sufficiently flexible to enable a small electronic device carried in the pocket 110 to be operated by touching or depressing appropriate portions of the window 120.

A feature of the holder embodiment 100 is the provision of a strip or band of electrically energizable material 195 that surrounds, encircles or extends along at least a major part of the periphery of the window 120. When energized, the material 195 provides illumination that may not only aid in viewing through the window 120 of the holder a display of a small electronic device carried within the pocket 110 of the holder 100, but will also provide a safety feature inasmuch as the holder 100, when carried on one's upper arm or elsewhere will enhance the night time visibility of the wearer—diminishing the likelihood that the wearer will be accidentally struck by a motor vehicle or other moving object. A suitable source of electrical energy such as a 3-volt coin-shaped battery (not shown) can be provided at a suitable location (not shown) in the holder 100, as those who are skilled in the art will readily understand.

Shown by broken lines in FIG. 1 is a transversely extending secondary strap 190 that can optionally be provided to extend transversely of the length of the holder 100 and optionally can be used to support the holder 100 on an arm or other body portion of a wearer. The transversely extending secondary strap 190 has a metal or plastic ring 191 at one end region thereof, and is preferably provided with hook and loop fastening material (not shown) near an opposite end region 192 thereof. In FIG. 4, a transversely extending passage 194 is shown that can receive a portion of the secondary strap 190. A similar transversely extending passage 1194 is shown in FIG. 8 on the rear of a second holder embodiment 1100.

The holder 100 is of the Baum/Gardner type—which means that it has a main wearer attachment strap 130 (or simply a main strap 130) that parallels the length of the generally rectangular holder 100. The main strap 130 (parts of which are best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4) has a thumb encircling part 140 that loops upwardly (or downwardly, as the case may be, depending on whether the holder 100 is intended for left or for right handed wear) to define a thumb-receiving opening 145.

An enhancement feature of the holder 100 resides in the provision of an extensible-retractable elastic portion 150 (which can be seen in each of FIGS. 1 through 6) near one end region of the thumb-encircling part 140 of the main strap 130. The elastic portion 150 provides a degree of expandability and adjustability that enables the thumb-encircling part 140 of the main strap 130 to accommodate thumb regions of wearer's hands that range from small to quite large in size.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a lengthy reach 141 of the main strap 130 has a substantially uniform cross-section that extends from the thumb encircling part 140 to an end region 138 of the main strap 130. Hook and loop material indicated by the numeral 146 is provided at various locations along the length of the main strap 130 to enable portions of the main strap 130 to overlie and adhere one to another.

The lengthy reach 141 of the main strap 130 is of sufficient length to enable the end region 138 to be looped through a metal or plastic tie-down ring 135 that is connected to an end region of the holder 100 (which is located to the right as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 4, and to the left as viewed in FIG. 3). After being extended through the tie-down ring 135, the end region 138 of the main strap 130 is reverse-turned to permit the hook-and-loop material 146 to overlie and engage itself (for example in a manner depicted adjacent the numeral 1147 in FIG. 8) so the main strap 130 can be tightened and secured in place as it encircles a hand portion (not shown) of a wearer of the holder 100—and in a manner that is disclosed in various ones of the referenced Baum/Gardner patents.

Referring to FIG. 5, a unique moisture proofing feature of the holder embodiment 100 is its provision of a pair of closure members 500, 510 that are configured to cooperate, when in closed positions, to minimize passage of moisture through an end opening 111 into the display carrying pocket 110 of the holder 100. The closure members 500, 510 also serve to prevent the entry of dust and other contaminants into the pocket 110.

As can best be seen in FIG. 6, the closure member 500 is a zipper that extends along the end opening 111 of the pocket 110. The closure member 510 is a small strap that has one end region which is connected to material that forms the pocket 110, and has an opposite end region connected to hook and loop fastener material 511 that can overlie and securely engage other hook and loop fastener material 512 that is carried by the material that forms the pocket 110.

When the zipper 500 is fully closed (as shown in FIG. 5), the small strap 510 can also be closed (as shown in FIG. 5). By this arrangement, the closure members 500, 510 can be seen to cooperate in fully closing the pocket opening 111, and in thereby minimizing passage of moisture through the pocket opening 111.

When the zipper 500 is partially open (as shown in FIG. 6), an electrical cable 600 (such as is shown in FIG. 7) can extend through the pocket opening 111 into the pocket 110—and, even so, the small strap 510 can be closed (as shown in FIG. 7). By this arrangement, the closure members 500, 510 can be seen to cooperate in minimizing passage of moisture through the pocket opening 111.

A variety of other features such as are disclosed in various other ones of the Baum/Gardner Patents may be incorporated into the holder embodiment 100—such as a liftable flap 155 shown in FIG. 4 that provides access to an auxiliary pocket (not shown) provided adjacent a rear wall of the holder 100 for retaining such items as a latch key, a driver's license, or other objects that a jogger or other person engaged in exercise might wish to carry while performing exercise.

A second preferred embodiment (illustrating other features and aspects of the present invention that may be incorporated in a variety of holder embodiments such as are disclosed in the referenced Baum/Gardner patents) of a generally rectangular holder 1100 is shown in FIGS. 8-10. The holder embodiment 1100 is a flexible fabric, strap-on, garment of the general type disclosed in the Baum/Gardner Patents referenced above. To avoid a need to repeat various explanations of features that the first and second embodiments 100, 1100 have in common, such features of the second embodiment 1100 as correspond to already-described features of the first holder embodiment 100 are designated by numerals that have a magnitude greater by a value of one thousand than such numerals as are used to designate features of the first embodiment 100. Likewise, corresponding features of the third and fourth embodiments 2100, 3100 that appear in FIGS. 11 and 12, respectively, are designated by numerals that differ by magnitudes of one, two or three thousand in comparison with the numerals used with other holder embodiments.

As can immediately be seen by comparing FIG. 8 (which shows the holder 1100) with FIG. 4 (which shows the holder 100), a principal difference between the holders 100, 1100 resides in how a main strap tie-down ring 1135 (of the holder 1100) is slidably mounted in comparison to how the corresponding tie-down ring 135 (of the holder 100) is immovably mounted in a fixed position.

Whereas the ring 135 of the holder 100 is connected in a fixed manner to an end region of the material forming the pocket 110, the ring 1135 of the holder 1100 is slidable along a rail-like auxiliary strap 1175 that permits the ring 1135 to assume a variety of positions such as are shown by broken lines in FIG. 8. The rail-like auxiliary strap 1175 extends along a rear face of the holder 1100 near an end region of the holder 1100 opposite from where the main strap 1130 is connected to an end region of the holder 1100.

Whereas the main strap 130 of the holder 100 can ONLY be adjusted to accommodate hands of different sizes by tightening and loosening how the strap end region 138 engages the fixed-position ring 135, the main strap of the holder 1100 can be adjusted to accommodate hands of different sizes BOTH BY tightening and loosening how the strap end region 1138 engages the ring 1135, and by varying the position of the ring 1135 along the rail-like auxiliary strap 1175. This improvement greatly enhances how the pocket structure 1110 of the holder 1100 can be positioned comfortably on a hand of a wearer, in comparison with how the pocket structure 110 of the holder 100 can be positioned on a hand of a wearer.

A third preferred embodiment of a generally rectangular holder 2100 has its rear portion shown in FIG. 11. Those who are skilled in the art will readily understand that front portions of the holder 2100 can take a variety of forms (such as are disclosed in various ones of the Baum/Gardner Patents)—and that what is significant about the holder 2100 is NOT the material that defines the front portions of the holder 2100 which typically provides a windowed pocket within which an electronic device can be carried.

Rather, what distinguishes the holder 2100 is the inclusion on rear portions of the holder 2100 of four pivotally mounted strap components 2811, 2812, 2813, 2814 that are movable between extended, operational positions that are shown by solid lines, and retracted, nested or stowed positions that are shown by broken lines—which call for the strap components 2811, 2812, 2813, 2814 to reside in pockets 2840, 2850 that extend beneath opposite sides regions of the of a generally rectangular piece of flexible fabric material indicated by the numeral 2830.

The strap components are individually pivotally mounted by double-headed Chicago screws 2821, 2822, 2823, 2824 (or other appropriate post-defining fasteners) that extend through the fabric material 2830 (and through at least portions of the material that defines front portions of the holder 2100) which permit the strap components 2811, 2812, 2813, 2814 to pivot about axes of the Chicago screws 2821, 2822, 2823, 2824.

When the strap components 2811, 2812, 2813, 2814 are extended as shown by solid lines in FIG. 11, two of the strap components 2811, 2812 can be wrapped about an upper arm region of a wearer and connected by looping the strap component 2811 through a buckle 2832 carried by the strap component 2812. Similarly, the other two of the strap components 2813, 2814 can be wrapped about an upper arm region of a wearer and connected by looping the strap component 2813 through a buckle 2834 carried by the strap component 2814. By this arrangement, the holder 2100 can be securely positioned on an upper arm of a wearer where the holder 2100 will be retained in position while the wearer is engaged in a variety of activities. Actually, depending on the length and character of the strap components 2811, 2812, 2813, 2814, holders that include the strap components can be positioned on other parts of one's arms, or on substantially any desired part of one's body. Moreover, if desired, selected portions of the strap components 2811, 2812, 2813, 2814 can be formed from extensible-retractable elastic materials that will accommodate movements and activities of the wearer.

The holder embodiment 3100 shown in FIG. 12 will be understood to be substantially identical to the holder embodiment 2100 shown in FIG. 11—except that the holder embodiment 3100 is provided with additional features such as an openable rear pocket 3600 into which keys and other items (not shown) that a jogger might want to carry can be inserted.

To illustrate that such features as are disclosed earlier herein can be used singly or in combination, the holder embodiment 3100 is shown including a rail-like auxiliary strap 3175 that corresponds to the rail-like auxiliary strap 1175 (shown in FIG. 8). Other strap portions such as the main strap 130 or the main strap 1130 shown in FIGS. 1-6 or FIG. 8, respectively, can also be added to the holder embodiment 3100.

Other holder features that are disclosed in others of the Baum/Gardner Patents can also be added to or used with the features described in conjunction with the holder embodiments 100, 1100, 2100, 3100. For example, a flexible fabric holder having symmetrically positioned, thumb-receiving openings that enable any of the holders 100, 1100, 2100, 3100 to be worn interchangeably on either of the left and right hands can be provided, as is disclosed in design application Ser. No. 29/442,760 filed May 9, 2013 (Dkt. No. 6-802), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, and is included in subject matter embraced by the term “Baum/Gardner Patents.”

As those who are skilled in the art will readily appreciate, there are many durable and resilient, flexible fabric materials that are well suited to form specialized wearable garments of the type described herein. A flexible fabric material sold under the registered trademark LYCRA is preferred, but no claim is made herein to the use of any particular flexible fabric material to form part or all of the holders 100, 1100, 2100, 3100.

If desired, portions of the holders described herein may also be formed at least in part from leather or other durable materials that are flexible to wrap about the hand, arm or other body portion, but are not especially resilient, in which case, one or more fasteners such as a buckle or what is known as hook-and-loop type fasteners such as are sold under the registered trademark Velcro may be employed to permit ease of installation of the one of the holders 100, 1100, 2100, 3100 on the hand of a wearer.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended to protect whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

Claims

1. A flexible-fabric holder for protectively enclosing and transporting a small, portable, electronic device, comprising an elongate main strap portion of sufficient length to encircle a hand, and alternatively an upper arm of a wearer, a generally rectangular pocket portion connected to the main strap portion and configured to removably receive and to substantially fully enclose a small, portable, generally rectangular electronic device, with the pocket portion providing a transparent window through which a changeable display of a pocket-inserted electronic device can be viewed, with the transparent window being depressible to enable force applied thereto by a wearer of the holder to operate the pocket-inserted electronic device, with the generally rectangular pocket portion having an end region defining an elongate opening capable of being closed by two closure members connected to the pocket portion and having portions thereof that are movable between closed and open positions, and that cooperate when in the closed position to retain the pocket-inserted electronic device within the pocket portion.

2. The flexible-fabric holder of claim 1 with the closure members being cooperative when in the closed position to minimize moisture passage through the elongate opening.

3. The flexible-fabric holder of claim 1 with each of the closure members being configured to extend quite near to a different one of two opposite sides of an electrical cable that is electrically connected to the pocket-inserted electronic device.

4. The flexible-fabric holder of claim 3 with one of the closure members taking the form of a zipper that extends along and is capable of closing a majority of the elongate opening.

5. The flexible-fabric holder of claim 4 with the other of the closure members taking the form of a small strap that is capable of closing a minority of the elongate opening.

6. The flexible-fabric holder of claim 3 with one of the closure members including a strap configured to overlie and close a part of the elongate opening, and with the other of the closure members including a zipper capable of closing a major portion of the elongate opening that the strap is not configured to overlie and close.

7. The flexible-fabric holder of claim 1 with the window through which the display is visible extending along a length of the holder, and with the elongate main strap having an end region configured to reverse turn and adhere to itself after extending through a ring-like clip member that is slidably movable along an elongate rail-like auxiliary strap that extends along a rear face of the holder paralleling the length of the holder.

8. The flexible holder of claim 1 additionally including an energizable source of illumination extending around at least a portion of the window through which the display can be viewed.

9. The flexible-fabric holder of claim 1 additionally including strap portions pivotally connected to the pocket structure and being movable between an extended position for surrounding an upper arm portion of a wearer to support the holder on the upper arm of the wearer, and a retracted position located behind the pocket structure.

10. A flexible holder for protectively enclosing and transporting a small, portable, electronic device, comprising an elongate main strap for encircling a hand, and, alternatively, an upper arm, of a wearer, a pocket structure defining a generally rectangular pocket connected to the main strap and configured to removably receive and to substantially fully enclose therein a small, portable, electronic device, with the pocket portion providing a transparent window that defines a front face of the holder and through which a changeable display of a pocket-inserted electronic device can be seen and operated, with the main strap having an end region configured to execute a reverse turn and to adhere to itself after extending through a ring-like clip member that is carried on and slidably movable along an elongate, auxiliary rail-like strap that extends along a rear face of the holder, with opposite end regions of the auxiliary strap being connected to the pocket structure.

11. The flexible-fabric holder of claim 10 additionally including strap portions pivotally connected to the pocket structure and being movable between an extended position for surrounding an upper arm portion of a wearer to support the holder on the upper arm of the wearer, and a retracted position located behind the pocket structure.

12. The flexible-fabric holder of claim 10 additionally including an energizable source of illumination extending around at least a portion of the window through which the display can be viewed.

13. The flexible-fabric holder of claim 10 with the pocket structure having an end region defining an elongate opening capable of being closed by two closure members connected to the pocket structure and having portions thereof that are movable between closed and open positions, and that cooperate when in the closed position to retain the electronic device within the pocket portion.

14. The flexible-fabric holder of claim 13 with the closure members being cooperative when in the closed position to minimize moisture passage through the elongate opening.

15. The flexible-fabric holder of claim 14 with each of the closure members being configured to extend quite near to a different one of two opposite sides of an electrical cable that is electrically connected to a the electronic device contained within the pocket portion.

16. The flexible-fabric holder of claim 15 with one of the closure members including a strap configured to overlie and close only a minor portion of the elongate opening, and with the other of the closure members including a zipper capable of closing a major portion of the elongate opening that the strap is not configured to overlie and close.

17. A flexible-fabric holder for protectively enclosing and transporting a small, portable, electronic device, comprising a flexible-fabric elongate main strap configured to encircle, one at a time, a hand or an upper arm of a wearer of the holder, a flexible-fabric pocket of generally rectangular configuration connected to the main strap and capable of protectively containing and substantially fully enclosing the electronic device, with the pocket providing a flexible, transparent window through which a changeable display of the electronic device can be viewed and operated while inserted into the pocket, with the holder further including an energizable source of illumination extending around at least a major portion of the window through which the display can be viewed.