Abstract:
A general purpose carrier having a clear pocket to retain a telecommunication device in a usable orientation. One panel of a plurality of panels that form the sides of a general purpose carrier has a transparent region. A pocket is formed having the transparent region as one side. One or more elastic members retain an arbitrarily sized telecommunication device inserted within the pocket against the transparent region to permit viewing of the display of the device as well as manipulation of its controls through the transparent region.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/018,491 filed Jan. 1, 2008 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/103,883 filed Oct. 8, 2008, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by this reference 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The embodiments of the invention relate to storage of telecommunication devices. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to carriers with a pocket to hold arbitrarily sized telecommunication devices. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    Telecommunication devices, such as cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDA&#39;s) and personal music players, such as MP3 players and iPods™ have become ubiquitous in society. These devices come in widely different shapes and sizes. Many such devices have cases uniquely designed to fit the particular device to allow it to be protected and still used. These cases are limited to a single model or a few models having a substantially identical form factor. Moreover, such cases are solely for the retention of the device rather than being a general purpose carrier, such as a purse or a briefcase. Commonly, if telecommunication device resides in a general purpose carrier, such as a purse or briefcase, it can be difficult to find within the general purpose internal volume and generally must be found and removed from the general purpose carrier for use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The invention is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a carrier of one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a front plan view of a carrier of one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a carrier in one embodiment of the invention and open orientation. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of an alternative embodiment of the invention suitable for use with a flip type phone. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a carrier of one embodiment of the invention. A plurality of panels  102 ,  104 ,  106  define an internal volume  108  in which articles of a general nature may be carried. Panels  102 ,  104 ,  106  may be made of leather, plastic, or other suitable materials from which a carrier  100  may be constructed. General purpose carrier  100  may be a purse, a briefcase, a computer case, a handbag, a duffel bag, a backpack, a valise, laptop sleeve, padfolio. etc., generically a carrier  100 . 
         [0012]    An internal panel  122  in conjunction with a transparent region  112  of panel  102  defines a pocket  120  in which a telecommunication device  110  may reside. Internal panel  122  may be fabric, leather, plastic, laminated cardboard or other suitable material consistent with the type of carrier. Transparent region  112  effectively forms a window in panel  102  and may be clear plastic or other suitable flexible transparent material. 
         [0013]    One or more elastic members  124  may be coupled in tension with panel  102  to bias the device  110  into contact with transparent region  112  of panel  102 . As used herein, “telecommunication device”  110  may be a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, e.g. a BlackBerry™ available from Research in Motion Limited of Ontario, Canada, a portable music player, such as an iPod™ available from Apple Computer from Cupertino, Calif., and the like. 
         [0014]    By “coupled in tension” it is meant that the elastic members  124  are, before introduction of device  110 , stretched to some degree such that introduction of device  110  will further stretch the elastic members independent of the size of device  110 . Thus, introduction of an iPod Nano™ would further stretch elastic members  124  and such small sized device would be biased into contact with transparent region. Similarly, introduction of e.g., a personal digital assistant, such as a BlackBerry™ would also stretch members  124 , but to a larger degree and would still cause the BlackBerry™ (device  110 ) to be biased into contact with transparent region  112 . 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, a fabric panel  126  may reside between internal panel  122  and panel  102 . In some embodiments, fabric panel  126  may be made of a slick fabric, such as silk, a microfiber, nylon, etc. The slick fabric results in relatively little friction between the fabric panel  126  and device  110  to allow device to easily slide into pocket  120 . In some embodiments, internal panel  122  has a raised and/or pleated upper edge  130  to facilitate grasping by a user to permit the pocket to be easily opened for insertion of device  110 . In one embodiment, pulling upper edge  130  internally stretches elastic members  124  to allow device  110  to be more easily inserted between transparent region  112  and elastic members  124 . In an alternative embodiment, pulling upper edge  130  internally opens the space between fabric panel  126  and panel  102  and the user inserts the device with pressure to wedge the device between elastic members  124  and transparent region  112 . 
         [0016]    In the shown embodiment, elastic members  124  are shown as two substantially horizontally disposed elastic straps. Elastic members may be of any material having suitable elasticity and strength. In some embodiments elastic fabric such as Lycra™ may be used. In other embodiments, garden variety elastic, rubber, rubberized material, elastomeric materials or the like may be used. In some embodiments, a single elastic strap may be used. A desirable width and number of straps may vary depending on the size of the pocket  120  and the weight of telecommunication device expected to be used. Elastic material with a suitable spring constant may be selected based on the expected maximum weight of a device expected to be placed in the pocket. For example, the elastic member  124  should be selected such that the weight of the device  118  does not cause the members  126  to sag such that the device regresses from the transparent region when gravity is acting normal to that region. Because the straps are coupled in tension an arbitrary sized device e.g., any device that fits within the pocket can be retained in contact with the transparent region. As is described in more detail below with respect to  FIG. 2 , this retention of the device in contact with the transparent region  112  is important to the usability of the device  110  within the pocket  120 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a front plan view of a carrier of one embodiment of the invention. Panel  202  has a transparent region  212  forming a part thereof. An internal panel  222  in conjunction with transparent region  212  defines a pocket  220  within carrier  200 . Elastic members  224  are coupled in tension between internal panel  212  and panel  202  such that a device  210  inserted into pocket  220  is biased into contact with transparent region  212 . Device  210  may be any arbitrary size that fits within the pocket and is retained in contact by pressure from internal panel  222  as a result of tension in elastic members  224 . 
         [0018]    When device  210  is held against transparent region  212 , the screen is readily viewable without removing device  210  from the pocket  220 . Additionally, the buttons, controls and/or touch screen of the device may be actuated through the transparent region  212  without removing the device  210  from the pocket  220 . 
         [0019]    In this embodiment, elastic members  224  run vertically along the sides of the pocket and do not make direct contact with device  210 . In some embodiments as shown, transparent region  212  is substantially coextensive with the dimensions with pocket  220 . In such an embodiment, the internal panel  222  prevents visibility of the contents of the internal volume (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) of the carrier  200 . 
         [0020]    A second pocket  240  may be provided either externally or internally to the carrier  200  and adjacent to pocket  220 . A second pocket may be used to, for example, hold wired headphones to be used in conjunction with device  210 . Pocket  240  may include a closure of flap  242  and a cooperative closure device  244 , such as, snaps, hook and loop material, e.g., Velcro™, mechanical hooks, buckles, zippers or the like. Second pocket  240  may define a through hole  246  into pocket  220  to permit, for example, headset cord to pass between second pocket  240  and pocket  220 . This facilitates usability of a wired headset with device  210 . 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, a window cover flap  260  may be included. Window cover flap  260  may be made of the same kinds of materials as the panel  202 . Cover flap  260  may either fixedly or removably coupled on one side of the transparent region  212 . For example, cover flap may be sewn to the panel  202  adjacent to the right side of transparent region  212  or may coupled there with e.g., hook and loop material. An opposing side of the cover flap  260  may be provided with one of hook or loop material  262  with the opposing side of the transparent region may be provided with the other of Loop or hook material so the different moieties may engage to close the flap to occlude the transparent region if desired. In some embodiments, the cover flap  260  may attach at the top and bottom of the transparent region instead of the sides. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a carrier in one embodiment of the invention and open orientation. Carrier  300  defines an internal volume  308 . A plurality of general purpose internal pockets  350  are defined within the internal volume  308 . Handles  334  permit the carrier, in this case a purse, to be easily carried by a user. Telecommunication device pocket  320  may retain a telecommunication device  310  so that the biased into contact with a clear region (not shown) of an external panel (also not shown) consistent with the description above in connection with  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Internal panel  322  defines one side of pocket  320  and may have a pleated or raised upper edge  330  to permit a user to grasp and open the pocket for easy insertion with the telecommunication device  310 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of an alternative embodiment of the invention suitable for use with a flip type phone. Panel  402  includes a transparent region  412 , which in conjunction with internal panel  422  defines a pocket  420  that may receive at least a portion of a telecommunication device (not shown). In one embodiment, pocket  420  receives the lower portion of a flip type telecommunication device which is biased into contact with transparent region  412  by at least one elastic member  424 . Opening  480  of pocket  420  is external to the carrier rather than within the internal volume as in several of the previously described embodiments. An additional pocket  470  may be removably coupled upwardly adjacent to pocket  420  via a coupling member  462 , which may, for example, be snaps, Velcro™, or the like. Pocket  470  may be generally composed of two panels; transparent panel  472  and an opaque panel  476  and elastic member  474  to bias the top portion of a flip type telecommunications device into contact with the transparent panel  472  when inserted within pocket  470 . When the flip telecommunication device is not residing within pockets  470  and  420 , pocket  470  may close down to occlude the transparent region  412 . Similarly, when the flip phone is in a closed orientation, pocket  470  folds down to occlude transparent region  412 . 
         [0024]    The invention has been described using exemplary embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and equivalents. The scope of the claims, therefore, should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications, similar arrangements and equivalents.