Holder for VCR and TV remote controls

A holder (10) for VCR and TV remote controls is disclosed as including an elongated panel (12) of a cushioned sheet-like construction having a front side (14) and a back side (16). The panel (12) includes holder and cover portions (18,20) having first ends connected to each other and also having second spaced ends (26,28). The front side (14) of the holder portion (18) includes retainers (30) for detachably securing VCR and TV remote controls in a side-by-side relationship. A pocket (36) of the holder portion (18) receives the VCR and TV remote controls to cooperate with the retainers (30) in providing detachable securement of the remote controls on the holder portion. Fasteners (38) of panel (12) secure the cover portion (20) to the front side (14) of the holder portion (18) for storage or to the back side (16) of the holder portion to permit access to the remote controls for use.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates to a holder for VCR and TV remote controls of the 
type used with home entertainment devices. 
BACKGROUND ART 
Remote controls for VCRs and TVs have recently become increasingly popular. 
Typically, remote controls for both VCRs or TVs comprise hand held, 
plastic or metal cased transmitters. Although these controls provide a 
convenient means for controlling VCRs and TVs, the controls are often 
misplaced and can scratch household furniture. 
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
An object of the present invention is to provide a holder for VCR and TV 
remote controls in order to protect furniture from being scratched and to 
also maintain the VCR and TV remote controls together for convenience of 
use without being misplaced. 
In carrying out the above object and other objects of the invention, a 
holder for VCR and TV remote controls constructed in accordance with the 
invention comprises an elongated panel of a cushioned sheet-like 
construction having front and back sides. The panel has holder and cover 
portions including first ends connected to each other and second ends that 
are spaced from the first ends and define opposite ends of the panel. The 
front side of the holder has retainers for detachably securing VCR and TV 
remote controls in a side-by-side relationship with respect to each other, 
and the second end of the holder includes a pocket for receiving the VCR 
and TV remote controls in cooperation with the retainers. Fasteners of the 
panel secure the cover portion to the front side of the holder over the 
controls for storage or to the back side to permit access to the controls 
for use. 
Such a cushioned holder prevents the stored VCR and TV remote controls from 
scratching furniture surfaces. By maintaining both the VCR and TV remote 
controls together, the chance of losing one or both is reduced since the 
two are larger than either one and the holder can be made of a colorful 
material for easier perception. Also, the securement of the remote 
controls by the holder creates a central control center for operating both 
a VCR and a TV. 
In the preferred construction, the retainers for attaching the controls to 
the holder are embodied by two pairs of elastic loops. The pocket 
connected to the second end of the holder is provided by a flap folded 
over the front side of the holder portion of the panel and has elastic 
straps that secure the flap to the holder portion. Preferably, the 
fasteners for securing the cover are embodied by pieces of Velcro secured 
to the opposite ends of the panel on the front and back sides to provide 
the securement of the cover over the remote controls for storage or to the 
back side of the holder portion so the remote controls can be used. The 
panel preferably comprises a foam rubber insert and a cloth-like covering 
that receives the foam rubber insert. 
The above object and other objects, features, and advantages of the present 
invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of 
the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with 
the accompanying drawings.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a VCR and TV remote control holder 
constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally 
indicated by reference numeral 10 and is used for detachably securing a 
VCR and/or TV remote control. As is hereinafter more fully described, the 
holder 10 provides a common control source for both a VCR and a TV. The 
holder 10 also protects household furnishings from being scratched by the 
remote controls and reduces the possibility of misplacing either remote 
control. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the holder 10 comprises an elongated panel 12 of a 
cushioned sheet-like construction having a front side 14 and a back side 
16. The holder panel 12 has a holder portion 18 and cover portion 20 
including first ends 22 and 24 connected to each other by a hinge 
connection 25. Holder and cover portions 18 and 20 also have second ends 
26 and 28 spaced from the first ends adjacent the hinge connection 25. The 
front side 14 of the holder portion 18 of the panel 12 includes retainers 
30 for detachably securing a VCR remote control 32 and/or a TV remote 
control 34 in a side-by-side relationship with respect to each other. On 
the second end 26 of the holder portion 18 a pocket 36 is provided for 
receiving the adjacent ends of the VCR remote control 32 and TV remote 
control 34. The pocket 36 cooperates with the retainers 30 to detachably 
secure the remote controls to the holder portion 18. Fasteners 38 of the 
panel 12 secure the cover portion 20 to the front side of the holder 
portion 18 over the remote controls for storage or to the back side 16 to 
permit access of the remote controls for use as is hereinafter more fully 
described. 
FIG. 2 illustrates the holder 10 in the storage position with the cover 
portion 20 folded over the front side 14 of the holder portion 18 and over 
the remote controls. The pair of fasteners 38 on the front side of panel 
12 secure cover portion 20 to the front of the holder portion 18 in this 
storage position. 
FIG. 3 illustrates the holder 10 in its use position where the VCR and TV 
remote controls 32 and 34 are accessible for use. In this use position, 
the cover portion 20 is folded over the back side 16 of the holder portion 
18 and is secured thereto by the pair of fasteners 38 on the back side of 
panel 12. 
In the preferred embodiment, the retainers 30 comprise two pairs of elastic 
loops that have stiched connections 30a to the front side of panel 12 at a 
generally central location as shown in FIG. 1. Also, the pocket 36 
comprises a flap 39 connected to the second end 26 of the holder portion 
18. This flap is folded over the front side 14 of the holder portion 18 
and is fastened thereto by elastic straps 40. The fasteners 38 that secure 
the cover portion 20 to the front side 14 of the holder portion in the 
storage position and to the back side 16 of the holder portion in the 
exposed use position of the remote controls comprise pieces of Velcro 
secured to the opposite ends of the elongated panel 12 on the front and 
back sides. 
FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the preferred construction of the 
elongated panel 12 wherein the panel comprises a foam rubber insert 42 and 
a cloth-like covering 44 that receives the foam insert. 
Also, the hinge connection 25 of panel 12 is preferably provided by a pair 
of adjacent stitchings 25a and 25b that extend through the foam insert 42 
and covering 44 shown in FIG. 4. These hinge stitchings 25a and 25b extend 
from one side to the other side of the panel 12 to facilitate the folding 
of cover portion 12 between the storage and use positions. 
While the best mode for carrying out the invention has been described in 
detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will 
recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the 
invention as defined by the following claims.