Wearable personal item carrier

• US 20040155084A1
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cellkeeper Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cellkeeper Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Brown, Worth
• Granted Patent: US 7,334,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/623
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/30 Straps; Bands
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2001/086 with additional compartments for storing other kinds of objects
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2003/144 Pack-carrying waist or torso belts
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/006 comprising a suspension strap or lanyard
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/02 Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of one strap passing over the shoulder
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/14 Carrying-straps; Pack-carrying harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping

Abstract

An assembly that enables a person to flexibly position and hold in place an item of personal property for which the user desires to have frequent and immediate access is provided. The assembly includes a strap that extends diagonally along the front of the user, over one shoulder of the user, and diagonally across the back of the user, wherein the strap has end portions that come together near the person'"'"'s midsection and attach, via a mechanism, to an item of apparel worn by the user. The strap can also be opened to extend around a person'"'"'s waist or midsection. A carrier slideably engages the strap for example at a portion of the strap along the front side of the user. The carrier houses one or more personal items, such as a cell phone.

Claims

1. A personal item carrying device comprising:

a strap configured to be placed over a person and to extend from a first side of the person, along the front of the person, over the shoulder on a second side of the person, and return along the back of the person to the first side;

the strap also including an opener that enables the strap to be opened and thereafter be placed around the person'"'"'s midsection; and

a carrier supported by the strap, the carrier sized to hold a personal item.

2. The personal item carrying device of claim 1, which includes an assembly connected to end portions of the strap, the assembly including an attachment mechanism that connects the assembly to an item of apparel located substantially at the person'"'"'s midsection.

3. The personal item carrying device of claim 2, wherein the opener is located between the end portions of the strap.

4. The personal item carrying device of claim 2, wherein the attachment mechanism is selected from the group consisting of:

a spring clip, a lock, a hook and any combination thereof.

5. The personal item carrying device of claim 2, wherein the attachment mechanism is removable from the assembly.

6. The personal item carrying device of claim 1, wherein the opener includes an apparatus selected from the group consisting of:

a buckle, a snap-fitting apparatus, a button, a magnetic device, a clip, a frictionally securing device and any combination thereof.

7. The personal item carrying device of claim 1, wherein the carrier is slideably held by the strap.

8. The personal item carrying device of claim 1, wherein the carrier defines at least one aperture that receives the strap.

9. The personal item carrying device of claim 1, wherein the carrier includes a plurality of folding members that hold the carrier frictionally against the strap.

10. The personal item carrying device of claim 9, wherein the folding members include an attachment device that attaches the members to one another.

11. The personal item carrying device of claim 1, wherein the carrier is sized and structured to hold a plurality of personal items.

12. The personal item carrying device of claim 1, wherein the carrier includes a portion that opens and closes to enable insertion and removal of the personal item.

13. The personal item carrying device of claim 1, wherein the personal item is selected from the group consisting of:

a cell phone, a pager, a wallet, a passport, an airline ticket, a compact disk player, a compact disk, makeup, medicine, a credit/debit card, a driver'"'"'s license, an airline card, an insurance card, a retail card, cash, a cigarette package, an address book, a digital music player, an internet access device, a camera, a small television, an email access device, an electronic apparatus and any combination thereof.

14. The personal item carrying device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the strap and the carrier is made from a material selected from the group consisting of:

leather, suede, cowhide, fur, fabric, a polymer, a polymer weave, nylon, a meshed material, a woven material and any combination thereof.

15. The personal item carrying device of claim 1, wherein the strap is adjustable to fit over the person'"'"'s shoulder and around the person'"'"'s midsection.

16. The personal item carrying device of claim 1, wherein the strap is adjustable via a loop made by the strap.

17. The personal item carrying device of claim 1, wherein the strap is adjustable via a member fixed to the strap at a first strap position and slidingly engaged to the strap at a second strap position.

18. A personal item carrying device comprising:

a strap sized to extend from a first side of a person, along the front of a person, over the shoulder on a second side of the person, and return along the back of the person to the first side;

the strap adjustable and operable to fit over the person'"'"'s shoulder and around the person'"'"'s midsection; and

a caddy moveably supported by the strap, the caddy sized to hold a personal item.

19. The personal item carrying device of claim 18, which includes means for securing end portions of the strap to an item of apparel worn at the person'"'"'s midsection.

20. The personal item carrying device of claim 19, wherein the securing means includes a first portion attached to the ends of the straps and a second portion that is attached to the item of apparel.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein the strap is adjustable via a loop made by the strap.

22. The device of claim 18, wherein the strap is adjustable via a member fixed to the strap at a first strap position and slidingly engaged to the strap at a second strap position.

23. A personal item carrying device comprising:

a strap sized to extend from a first side of a person, along the front of the person, over the shoulder on a second side of the person, and return along the back of the person to the first side; and

a caddy including a folding member that opens and closes around the strap to moveably secure the caddy to the strap, the member when unfolded exposing a first side having a plurality of compartments sized to hold personal items, the caddy including at least one other compartment located on a second side of the member.

24. The personal item carrying device of claim 23, wherein at least one of the compartments located on the first side of the member are slots sized to hold items selected from the group consisting of:

credit/debit cards, retail cards, cash, insurance cards and a driver'"'"'s license.

25. The personal item carrying device of claim 23, wherein the personal items are selected from the group consisting of:

a cell phone, a pager, a wallet, a passport, an airline ticket, a compact disk player, a compact disk, makeup, medicine, a credit/debit card, a driver'"'"'s license, an airline card, an insurance card, a retail card, cash, a cigarette package, an address book, a digital music player, an internet access device, a camera, a small television, an email access device, an electronic apparatus and any combination thereof.

26. The personal item carrying device of claim 23, which includes a plurality of personal item holding compartments located on the second side of the folding member.

27. The personal item carrying device of claim 23, wherein the second side compartment is sized to hold a cellular phone.

28. A personal item carrying device comprising:

a foldable member operable to fold around and couple to a strap;

an inside of the member including multiple card holding slots; and

an outside of the member including a compartment sized to securely hold a cellular phone.

29. The personal item carrying device of claim 28, wherein at least one of the compartments of the foldable member includes an attachment device selected from the group consisting of:

a button, a magnetic device, a frictionally securing device and any combination thereof.

30. The personal item carrying device of claim 28, which includes a plurality of personal item holding compartments located on the outside side of the foldable member.