Body conforming textile holder for electronic device

• US 8,099,794 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RUSL LLC
• Original Assignee: RUSL LLC
• Inventors: Carstens, Jerry Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Khoa
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOMPKINS, ALISSA JILL
• Application Number:
  US11/311,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20070139875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,227 Days
• Field of Search: 2 1/6, 231/1, 224/7, 2 6/9, 381/333
• US Class Current: 2/16
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0508 Portable audio devices, e.g. walkman, discman, radio, MP3 player, headphones
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt

Abstract

A body conforming, reusable, washable, textile holder for removably holding at least one electronic device in close bodily contact. The holder may be a wrap or tube constructed to enclose a portion of the body where the electronic device is to be held. The electronic device may be a cellular telephone, a wireless communication device, a personal audio device, a wearable computer, an electronic monitoring device, an electronic identification card, or other electronic device. The invention also relates to a system comprising the body conforming holder and an electronic device for use therewith, and a method for holding such an electronic device in close bodily contact by wearing the holder.

Claims

1. An electronic device holding system comprising:

a) a body conforming, reusable, washable, textile holder for removably holding at least one electronic device in close bodily contact, said holder being a wrap or tube constructed to enclose a portion of the body, and comprising an elastic region comprising elastic woven or knit material suitable for use in a reusable, washable holder, said elastic region having a high stretch in both the lateral and longitudinal directions as measured by having a Holding Force (HF−

4.0) of greater than about 0.1 kgf and a Holding Force (HF-3.0) of less than about 1.0 kgf; and

b) at least one electronic device capable of being removably held in close bodily contact by said holder.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the holder comprises knit material and elastomeric fiber material.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the elastic region of the holder has a Holding Force (HF-4.0) of less than about 1.0 kgf.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the elastic region of the holder has a Holding Force (HF-5.0) of less than about 1.0 kgf.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein the holder is constructed to hold the electronic device in a selected location.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein the holder comprises at least one pocket for receiving and supporting the electronic device.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein the holder is headgear.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein the holder comprises a first fastening material and the electronic device comprises a second fastening material that cooperatively engages the first fastening material and enables the electronic device to be removably affixed to the holder.

9. A system according to claim 8 wherein the first and second fastening materials comprise mechanical fastening material.

10. A system according to claim 1 wherein the holder comprises at least two cooperating fastening materials affixed to opposed surfaces of the holder that can be positioned to removably enclose a portion of the body.

11. A system according to claim 10 wherein the fastening materials comprise mechanical fastening material.

12. A system according to claim 1 wherein the electronic device comprises a cellular telephone, a personal audio device, a body function monitoring device, a personal identification card, a GPS device, a heating device, a wearable computer system, a two-way wireless link system, an integrated circuit, or combinations thereof.

13. A system according to claim 1 wherein the electronic device is flexible so as to conform to body contours.

14. An electronic device holding system comprising:

a) a body conforming, shirt-like, reusable, washable, textile holder for removably holding at least one electronic device in close bodily contact, said holder being constructed to enclose a portion of the body, and comprising an elastic region comprising elastic woven or knit material suitable for use in a reusable, washable holder, said elastic region having a high stretch in both the lateral and longitudinal directions as measured by having a Holding Force (HF-4.0) of greater than about 0.1 kgf and a Holding Force (HF-3.0) of less than about 1.0 kgf; and

b) at least one electronic device capable of being removably held in close bodily contact by said holder.

15. A system according to claim 14 wherein the holder comprises knit material and elastomeric fiber material.

16. A system according to claim 14 wherein the elastic region of the holder has a Holding Force (HF-4.0) of less than about 1.0 kgf.

17. A system according to claim 14 wherein the elastic region of the holder has a Holding Force (HF-5.0) of less than about 1.0 kgf.

18. A system according to claim 14 wherein the holder is constructed to hold the electronic device in a selected location.

19. A system according to claim 18 wherein the holder comprises at least one pocket for receiving and supporting the electronic device.

20. A system according to claim 14 wherein the holder comprises at least two cooperating fastening materials affixed to opposed surfaces of the holder that can be positioned to removably enclose the body.

21. A system according to claim 14 wherein the holder has a vest-like design without arm extensions.

22. An electronic device holding system comprising:

a) a body conforming, reusable, washable, textile holder for removably holding at least one electronic device in close bodily contact in a selected location, said holder comprising at least one pocket for receiving and supporting the electronic device, and said holder being a wrap or tube constructed to enclose a portion of the body, and comprising an elastic region comprising elastic woven or knit material suitable for use in a reusable, washable holder, said elastic region having a high stretch in both the lateral and longitudinal directions as measured by having a Holding Force (HF-4.0) of greater than about 0.1 kgf and a Holding Force (HF-3.0) of less than about 1.0 kgf; and

b) at least one electronic device capable of being removably held in close bodily contact by said holder.

23. A system according to claim 22 wherein the elastic region of the holder has a Holding Force (HF-4.0) of less than about 1.0 kgf.

24. A system according to claim 22 wherein the elastic region of the holder has a Holding Force (HF-5.0) of less than about 1.0 kgf.