Carrying bag with a holder for hand-held electronic devices

Abstract

A panel of a carrying bag incorporates an HED holder that includes a top hook member having a U-shaped receptacle portion for receiving the upper end of the HED in nested relation and a bottom hook member having a U-shaped receptacle portion for receiving the lower end of the HED in nested relation. The top hook member is affixed to the panel. The bottom hook member is connected to the panel by a band of elastic material, which biases the bottom hook member toward the top hook member so that the HED is forcibly gripped between the top and bottom hook members. A cover panel is fastened to the panel and forms with the panel a pocket that receives the band of elastic material.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a carrying bag having a holder that securely holds hand-held electronic devices of various sizes and shapes in a manner that allows them to be inserted and removed quickly and easily.

[0002] As used herein, the term "carrying bag" refers broadly to personal leather goods, such as handbags, tote bags, portfolios, briefcases and the like, travel luggage items, and travel accessories. The terms "hand-held electronic devices" and "HED's" are used herein to refer broadly to cell phones, hand-held computers, hand-held E-mail terminals, Palm.RTM. personal data assistants ("PDS's"), and devices similar to PDA's in which data of all sorts can be input and stored electronically, viewed, and exchanged with other devices, such as computers, by hard communication conduits or wireless communication channels.

[0003] HED's ordinarily are sold with a case or holster, which often has a hook or spring clip that allows the case or holster to be attached to the edge of a divider panel of a carrying bag, a user's belt, or part of a garment. Many carrying bags do not have divider panels suitable for a case or holster, thus making them unsuitable for inserting the case or holster. Often, the cases or holsters are open at the top so that the user can readily place the HED into and remove the HED from the case or holster. Cases and holsters with open tops present a risk of the HED falling out if the case or holster is inverted. Cases with closure flaps avoid the problem of having the HED fall out but are less convenient to use than open-topped cases and holsters.

[0004] There are some portfolios currently being marketed that have PDA holder accessories, which include interchangeable clips of different sizes to permit the holder accessory to be used with PDA's of different sizes but only by removing one clip and replacing it with another. The provision of multiple clips adds to the cost of the product and requires the user to select and install the proper clip for his or her PDA.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a carrying bag having an HED holder that is constructed so that it can receive and securely hold HED's of various types, sizes and shapes. Another object is to provide an HED holder that is suitable for use universally in a wide variety of carrying bags. It is also an object to provide an HED holder that is constructed so that a user can easily insert and remove the HED and so that the HED is securely held.

[0006] The foregoing objects are attained, in accordance with the present invention, by a carrying bag having a panel and an HED holder incorporated into the panel. The HED holder includes a top hook member having a U-shaped receptacle portion adapted to receive an upper portion of the HED in nested relation, a bottom hook member having a U-shaped receptacle portion adapted to receive a lower portion of the HED in nested relation, a fastener affixing the top hook member to the panel, and a band of elastic material having one end fastened to the panel and the other end fastened to the bottom hook member. The band is oriented relative to the hook members and the panel such that the band biases the bottom hook member toward the top hook member so that the HED is forcibly gripped by the top and bottom hook members. A cover panel of sheet material is fastened to the panel and forms with the panel a pocket that receives the band of elastic material.

[0007] One important aspect of the present invention is that the bottom holder member is biased by the elastic band toward the top holder member. In addition to forcibly gripping the HED to retain it in place in the holder, the elastic band allows the holder to accept HED's of different heights by self-adjusting to the height between the top and bottom edges of a particular HED. Thus, the user of a carrying bag incorporating a holder according to the present invention can insert various makes and types of HED's in the holder. The holder is, moreover, fastened to the panel of the carrying bag and cannot become dislodged and possibly misplaced. The holder retains the HED securely by forcibly gripping it at the top and bottom ends, so that the HED cannot become dislodged, even if the carrying bag is inverted. The manner in which the HED is gripped also leaves the control buttons and screen exposed at the front. Therefore, with some forms of carrying bags, such as portfolios, the HED can be operated without removing it from the holder. The holder is constructed such that it can be incorporated in any desired panel of a carrying bag, such as on the inside of an outer wall, on a divider panel that forms compartments or pockets, or on a panel that forms an envelope. Although the holder can be installed on the outside of a wall panel, it will generally not be desirable to do so, lest the HED be easily stolen.

[0008] The holder is easy to use--the user nests the bottom edge of the HED in the receptacle portion of the bottom hook member, applies a downward force to the HED to move the bottom hook member downwardly against the bias of the elastic band until the top of the HED clears the front lower edge of the receptacle portion of the top hook member, tilts the top of the HED into position directly below the receptacle portion of the top hook member, and releases the HED so that the elastic band can pull the bottom hook member upwardly and forcibly engage the top of the HED in the receptacle portion of the top hook member. The HED is removed by pushing it down, tilting the upper end outwardly so that the upper end is clear of the receptacle portion of the upper hook member, and lifting it from the lower hook member.

[0009] Each of the hook members is, preferably, formed of a spring metal, such as spring stainless steel, so that the receptacle portions can elastically enlarge to receive thicker HED's. Metal hook members can be produced economically, are durable, and are of light weight. It is, however, entirely possible to make the hook members of a rigid, durable polymeric material.

[0010] The receptacle portion of each of the hook members is at least partly lined with a non-slip insert for enhanced gripping of the HED. The inserts can be molded of a polymeric material having a high coefficient of friction and moderate compressibility, which permits the surface to deform and mate intimately with the surface of the HED that it engages. Inserts of a moderately soft polymeric material also inhibit scratching of the HED. Compressible ribs or bosses can be provided on the surface of the insert that engages the HED. The inserts may be molded with a peripheral groove that permits them to be snapped into receiving holes in the receptacle portion of the hook members.. The inserts can, alternatively, be adhered to the hook members by a contact adhesive, which may be applied to the back surfaces of the inserts where they are produced and covered with a release film for shipping and handling.

[0011] Each hook member may be generally J-shaped in profile and include a base leg portion. The base leg portion of the bottom hook member is joined to the band of elastic material. It is desirable, though not necessary, that the band of elastic material be joined to the base leg of the top hook member, thus forming a subassembly that can be joined to the cover panel before the cover panel is assembled to the panel of the carrying bag.

[0012] The cover panel may be formed of any durable sheet material, such as a fabric, leather, PVC, PU or SANTOPRENE.RTM.. A non-slip material that inhibits sliding of the HED in any direction and augments the forcible gripping of the upper and lower edges of the HED in retaining the HED against dislodgment and displacement from the proper position is desirable, though not essential. The cover panel should overlie at least parts of the base legs of the hook members so that direct contact between the hook members and the back of the HED is avoided or minimized.

[0013] For a better understanding of the invention and its advantages, reference may be made to the following description of an exemplary embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the holder members and elastic band of the embodiment;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the embodiment;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a generally schematic left side elevational view of the embodiment, and is a mirror image of the right side;

[0017] FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the embodiment, showing an HED received in the holder;

[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a non-slip insert for the top hook member; and

[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a non-slip insert for the bottom hook member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

[0020] The embodiment includes a panel 10, which forms part of a carrying bag (as broadly defined above), and an HED holder 12 that is incorporated into the carrying bag by being attached to the panel 10. The panel 10 will ordinarily be a fabric or natural or synthetic leather, but it can also be of a semi-rigid plastic sheet or any other material that is part of the carrying bag. When the panel is an outer wall of the carrying bag or of a pocket on the exterior of the carrying bag, the HED holder will ordinarily be attached on the inside of an exterior panel so as to be concealed and protected within the bag or pocket. The panel 10 may also be a divider panel or a panel that forms a pocket or envelope located within the carrying bag. Among the advantages of the present invention are the ability to associate the HED holder with a variety of panels of carrying bags and to provide an HED holder in carrying bags of all sorts. As mentioned above, the HED holder is constructed to receive HED's of various sizes and shapes. Thus, a user of a carrying bag according to the present invention can insert various types and makes of HED's in his or her carrying bag.

[0021] The HED holder 12 has a top hook member 14 that includes a U-shaped receptacle portion 16 that is shaped and dimensioned to receive an upper portion of an HED in nested relation and a bottom hook member 18 having a U-shaped receptacle portion 20 that is shaped and dimensioned to receive a lower portion of the HED in nested relation. The hook members may be made from spring stainless steel sheet material, which permits the U-shaped receptacle portions 16 and 20 to be deformed elastically to accept the upper and lower edge portions of HED's of various thicknesses and to forcibly grip the edge portions of the HED. The hook members can be made of other materials, such as rigid polymeric materials, if desired.

[0022] The top hook member 14 is affixed to the panel 10. The bottom hook member 18 is joined to the panel 10 by a band 22 of elastic material having one end 22a fastened to the panel 10 and the other end 22b fastened to the bottom hook member. The band 22 is oriented relative to the hook members and the panel such that the band biases the bottom hook member 18 toward the top hook member so that the HED is forcibly gripped by the top and bottom hook members. The band 22 may, for example, be a strip of an elastic fabric or webbing.

[0023] In the embodiment, the top hook member 14 is joined indirectly to the panel 10. Similarly, the end 22a of the band 22 is joined indirectly to the panel 10. In that regard, manufacture of the HED holder is facilitated by producing a subassembly in which the hook members 14 and 18 are joined to the elastic band 22. In particular, the top hook member 14 has a base leg portion 24 having a slot 26; the bottom hook member 18 has a base leg portion 28 having a slot 30. The end portions 22a and 22b of the band 22 are inserted through the slots 26 and 30 and are folded back to form loops. The loops are closed by stitches 32 and 34.

[0024] A cover panel 36 of sheet material is fastened to the elastic band 22 by stitches 38 that are located proximate to the end of the base leg portion 24 of the top hook member 12 and extend crosswise of the band. The cover panel may be of a material that has a high coefficient of friction, which helps keep the HED from sliding relative to the holder 12. The cover panel 36 is fastened to the panel 10 of the carrying bag by stitches 40 and 42 that extend longitudinally along the sides of the band 22 so as to form a pocket between the cover panel 36 and the panel 10 that receives the band 22 of elastic material and parts of the leg portions 24 and 28 of the hook members 14 and 18. Perimeter stitches 46 join the cover panel 36 to the panel 10 of the carrying bag along the perimeter of the cover panel (except along the opposite ends of the pocket formed by the stitches 42 and 44).

[0025] At any suitable stage during the assembly of the HED holder 12, a top non-slip insert 48 (see FIG. 5) is installed in the receptacle portion 16 of the top hook member 14, and a bottom non-slip insert 50 (see FIG. 6) is installed in the receptacle portion 20 of the bottom hook member 18. The inserts may be molded from a soft elastomeric polymeric material having a high coefficient of friction. Suitable materials for the inserts 48 and 50 include TPE and TPR synthetic elastomers. Ribs or bosses, which may be of various sizes, shapes and/or patterns, allow for selective compression of the inserts so that they present surfaces that self-conform closely to the shapes of the upper and lower ends of the HED. Each of the inserts 48 and 50 has a boss portion with a peripheral groove 48g, 50g along its edge and a retaining rib 48r, 50r that is sized and shaped to permit the insert to be press-fit into a receiving hole in the receptacle portion of the hook members. Alternatively, the inserts may be adhered to the hook members by a contact adhesive, which may be applied to the inserts and then covered by a release film by the supplier of the inserts. The release film is removed from the inserts at the time of installation on the hook members.

[0026] An HED (see FIG. 4) is inserted into the holder 12 by first positioning the lower end of the HED in the receptacle portion 20 and then pushing the HED downwardly until the upper edge is clear of the front, lower lip of the receptacle portion 16 of the top hook member 14. The upper end of the HED is then tipped back toward the cover member 36 so that it lies directly below the receptacle portion 16 of the top hook member 14. The user then stops pushing downwardly so that the HED is allowed to be pushed upwardly by the elastic band 22 to seat the upper edge of the HED in nested relation in the receptacle portion 16 of the upper hook member 14. Thereafter, the elastic force of the band 22 biases the bottom hook member 18 toward the top hook member 14 so that the HED is forcibly gripped by the hook members 14 and 18. The non-slip inserts 48 and 50 and the non-slip cover panel 36 enhance the frictional forces acting between the HED and the holder 12 afforded by the forcible gripping of the HED by the hook members and also protect the HED from being marred by the holder 12. When the user desires to remove the HED, he or she grips the sides of the HED, pushes it down until the upper edge is clear of the lower front lip of the top hook member 14, and lifts it out of the lower hook member 18.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A carrying bag, comprising a panel, and an HED holder, the HED holder including a top hook member having a U-shaped receptacle portion adapted to receive an upper portion of the HED in nested relation, a bottom hook member having a U-shaped receptacle portion adapted to receive a lower portion of the HED in nested relation, a fastener affixing the top hook member to the panel, and a band of elastic material having one end fastened to the panel and the other end fastened to the bottom hook member, the band being oriented relative to the hook members and the panel such that the band biases the bottom hook member toward the top hook member so that the HED is forcibly gripped by the top and bottom hook members, and a cover panel of sheet material fastened to the panel and forming with the panel a pocket that receives the band of elastic material.

2. The carrying bag according to claim 1, wherein each of the hook members is formed of a spring metal.

3. The carrying bag according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle portion of each of the hook members is at least partly lined with a non-slip insert for enhanced gripping of the HED.

4. The carrying bag according to claim 3, wherein each insert is of a soft polymeric material that is deformable so as to self-adjust to the shape of the HED.

5. The carrying bag according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the inserts has a boss portion with a peripheral groove along its edge and a retaining rib that is sized and shaped to permit the insert to be press-fit into a receiving hole in the receptacle portion of the hook member.

6. The carrying bag according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the inserts is adhered to the hook member by a contact adhesive.

7. The carrying bag according to claim 1, wherein each hook member is generally J-shaped in profile and includes a base leg portion joined to the receptacle portion.

8. The carrying bag according to claim 7, wherein the base leg portion of the bottom hook member is joined to the band of elastic material.

9. The carrying bag according to claim 8, wherein the band of elastic material is joined to the base leg portion of the top hook member.

10. The carrying bag according to claim 1, wherein the cover panel is formed of a non-slip material that inhibits sliding of the HED.

11. The carrying bag according to claim 10, wherein each hook member is generally J-shaped in profile and includes a base leg portion and the cover panel overlies parts of the base leg portions of the hook members.

12. A carrying bag, comprising a panel, and an HED holder affixed to the panel, the HED holder including a top hook member of J-shape in lateral profile and having a base leg portion and a U-shaped receptacle portion adapted to receive an upper portion of the HED in nested relation, a bottom hook member of J-shape in lateral profile having a base leg portion and a U-shaped receptacle portion adapted to receive a lower portion of the HED in nested relation, a fastener affixing the base leg portion of the top hook member to the panel, and a band of elastic material having one end fastened to the panel and the other end fastened to the base leg portion of the bottom hook member, the band being oriented relative to the hook members and the panel such that the band biases the bottom hook member toward the top hook member so that the HED is forcibly gripped by the top and bottom hook members, and a cover panel of sheet material fastened to the panel and forming with the panel a pocket that receives the band of elastic material and at least part of the leg portion of each hook member.

13. The carrying bag according to claim 12, wherein each of the hook members is formed of a spring metal.

14. The carrying bag according to claim 12, wherein the receptacle portion of each of the hook members is at least partly lined with a non-slip insert for enhanced gripping of the HED.

15. The carrying bag according to claim 14, wherein each insert is of a soft polymeric material that is compressible so as to conform to the shape of the HED.

16. The carrying bag according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the inserts has a boss portion with a peripheral groove along its edge and a retaining rib that is sized and shaped to permit the insert to be press-fit into a receiving hole in the receptacle portion of the hook member.

17. The carrying bag according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the inserts is adhered to the hook member by a contact adhesive.

18. The carrying bag according to claim 12, wherein the band of elastic material is joined to the base leg of the top hook member.

19. The carrying bag according to claim 12, wherein the cover panel is formed of a non-slip material that inhibits sliding of the HED.