Package and article carriers – Carried by animate bearer – Article held by receiver
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-02
2001-02-06
Cronin, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Carried by animate bearer
Article held by receiver
C224S604000, C224S623000, C224S236000, C224S901400, C224S901600, C224S930000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182878
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains generally to carrying devices for portable phones, pagers, and similar appliances, and more particularly to a carrier that is adapted to retain a cellular phone in a readily accessible position on the body of the user.
2. Prior Art
In order to insure that a cellular phone is readily accessible to receive in-coming calls, and to place out-going calls that maximize the effectiveness of the phone, the user frequently carries the phone on his, or her, person, in a purse, pocket or briefcase. However, in order to respond to an incoming call, the user has to locate, and extract, the phone from its normal resting place before the in-coming call is terminated.
Consequently, pouches, holsters, “fanny-packs”, and other holders worn about the waist of the cell phone user became widespread in usage. Other holders are clipped to the belt of the wearer.
As cellular phones diminished in size and weight, and were manufactured in an array of eye-catching colors, smaller carriers that might be secured to the strap of a woman's hand bag, shoulder bag, or back pack, were envisioned. The smaller carriers might also be secured to a man's suspenders, or belt, and would be accessible at all times. Also, the smaller carriers would enable one to extend the antenna on the phone, if necessary, without removing the phone from the carrier, and without contacting the body of the wearer.
Several carriers, of different configurations, are shown in the patented U.S. prior art.
To illustrate, U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,927, granted Sep. 20, 1988 to Mario A. Ventura, discloses a phone holder (
10
), connectable around the mid-portion of a cordless telephone handset (H), including an elongated flexible strap (
12
) having mating Velcro-type interconnecting members (
16
,
18
) at each end for retaining the strap securely in place around the handset. A support clip (
14
) is connected to the strap for retaining the handset to the user's waistband, as shown in FIG.
2
.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,336, granted Aug. 5, 1997, to Erik Buonaiuto et al, discloses embodiments of an upwardly opening receptacle (
10
) for holding a cellular phone.
FIGS. 1 and 3
show the receptacle with slots (
20
,
22
) in the rear face to allow the receptacle to be positioned on suspender strap (
48
), as shown in FIG.
5
. Loop (
24
), and fasteners (
26
,
28
), enable the receptacle to be secured to the clothing of the wearer; and the receptacle may be sealed by folding flap (
36
) on top cover panel (
34
) over the open, upper end of the receptacle, as shown in
FIG. 4. A
side assembly (
39
), including a horizontal strap (
40
) cooperates with the suspender assembly, and positions the receptacle (
10
), as shown in FIG.
6
.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,357, granted Sep. 28, 1999, to Robert Kallman, discloses a receptacle (
1
) for holding objects, such as a cellular phone (
8
). The receptacle opens upwardly, and is retained in vertical position on a belt (
7
), by a split V-shaped strap (
4
), an encircling strap (
5
), and a rear strap (
10
).
U.S. Design Pat. No. Des 284,372, granted Jun. 24, 1986 to Lowell Carpenter, depicts an upwardly opening carrying case for a cellular phone. Slots are formed in the surface of the case, and a clip is situated between the slots. The carrying case can be secured to the belt of the wearer, or user.
While the foregoing carriers functioned satisfactorily for their intended purposes, certain shortcomings were observed. For example, some of the carriers assumed the form of upwardly opening receptacles; thus, the cellular phones could easily fall out of the carrier, or the phone could be pilfered.
Conventional carriers are of fixed dimensions, and thus are not suitable for use with different phones with different shapes and dimensions. Additionally, known carriers are operational in only one particular orientation, either horizontally or vertically oriented, and, in some instances, are bulky, rigid, and uncomfortable when worn on the body.
The present invention is directed to a versatile carrier for portable cellular phones, such carrier being secured to the body of the user in either a horizontal or vertical orientation. The carrier can be worn on a belt, on a pair of suspenders, on the strap of a hand bag, travel bag, garment carrier, knapsack, or the like. The carrier is formed with an expandable panel or band, so that telephones, or other appliances of different sizes and shapes can easily be accommodated. Also, the carrier utilizes an elongated tongue with cooperating hook and eye fasteners, such as Velcro® fasteners, to securely retain the phone or other appliance, within the receptacle, regardless of the orientation of the carrier.
SUMMARY
In order to obviate the deficiencies attributable to known carriers for cellular phones and similar appliances, the instant invention provides a versatile, inexpensive carrier, capable of retaining cellular phones, or the like, in two operative position(s) on the body of the user. The carrier is formed of fabric components sewn together along with an expandable panel, that yields to accommodate cellular phones of different dimensions from diverse manufacturers. The fabric is washable, easily cleaned, durable, and odor-free.
The instant invention contemplates a carrier with an integrally formed elongated locking tongue that fits over the open, upper end of the body of the carrier. A strip of resealable fasteners on the underside of the tongue cooperates with a complementary strip of fasteners on the front of the carrier to secure the cellular phone therewithin. The carrier has reinforced seams for increased strength. An access opening in the lower face of the carrier allows the phone to be plugged into a re-charger and other accessories, when necessary.
The instant invention further envisions a carrier comprising an upwardly opening body, of generally rectangular configuration, with a first strip of resealable fasteners on its back surface, or panel, and a second, parallel strip of resealable fasteners on its adjacent side panel. A pivotable closure flap, is sewn to one edge of the back surface of the carrier. Third and fourth strips of resealable fasteners, are situated near the free end of the closure flap, on its interior surface.
The closure flap is pivoted about its fixed edge, or axis, so that the third and/or fourth strips of resealable fasteners engages either the first and/or the second strips thereby pressing the supporting strap against the rear surface of the carrier. Hook and loop fasteners, such as those sold under the mark VELCRO®, are preferred for use as the complementary resealable fasteners.
The closure flap may be pivoted about a belt, suspender strap, or a shoulder strap on a hand bag, shoulder bag, garment bag, knapsack, or the like, to fixedly secure the carrier to such item. The selective engagement of the fastener strips on the underside of the closure flap with the first, and/or the second, strip of resealable fasteners on the expandable side panel and the rear panel of the body of the carrier, allows the carrier to be oriented in a horizontal or vertical orientation. The closure flap, once secured, locks the carrier in a fixed position, regardless of the width of the supporting strap, so that the carrier does not slide along the suspender, belt, strap, etc., to which it is attached. The closure flap may include a fold used between the pair of fastener strips, so that the closure flap closely conforms to the shape of the body of the carrier, and enhances the locking action.
Other advantages attributable to the versatile instant carrier will become apparent to the skilled artisan when the appended drawings and ensuing specification are construed in harmony.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 284372 (1986-06-01), Carpenter
patent: 4164308 (1979-08-01), Gautier
patent: 4771927 (1988-09-01), Ventura
patent: 4896805 (1990-01-01), Klaczak et al.
patent: 5009346 (1991-04-01), Butler
patent: 5318084 (1994-06-01), Jackson
patent: 5354131 (1994-10-01), Mogil
patent: 5526924 (1996-
Cronin Stephen K.
Hoffman Wasson & Gitler PC
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