Abstract:
A system for holding an electronic device comprising a first substrate, a pocket assembly, and a fastener system comprising first, second, third, fourth, and fifth fasteners. The first substrate is adapted to be supported by a wearer. The pocket assembly is adapted to hold the electronic device. The first and second fasteners are rigidly connected to the pocket assembly, while the third, fourth, and fifth fasteners are rigidly connected to the substrate. In a first mode, the first fastener engages the third fastener and the second fastener engages the fourth fastener to attach the pocket assembly to the first substrate. In a second mode, the first fastener engages the third fastener and the second fastener engages the fifth fastener to attach the pocket assembly to the first substrate.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/357,420, which was filed on Feb. 14, 2002. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to systems and methods for carrying electronic devices and, more specifically, to systems and methods that allow small items such as two-way radios to be carried during strenuous physical activities. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   People performing strenuous physical activities often carry small devices such as electronic devices, water bottles, and the like. These devices often allow or require human interaction during normal operation. Desirably, these devices can be used while performing the strenuous physical activity without the need for using hands. For example, a person may drink from the water bottle while performing a biking. As another example, a person may wish to listen and/or talk to portable electronic devices such as a radio transceiver. 
   The present invention is of particular significance in the context of a two-way radio transceiver and will be described below in that context. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the present invention may also be used with other portable devices such as water bottles, food canisters, cellular telephones, portable radio receivers, portable audio devices, and the like. 
   Radio transceivers that allow two-way communications have long been used by police, firefighters, ski patrol, and others. In addition, a new class of two-way radio transceivers has recently gained broad acceptance by the general public for recreational use. Modern radio transceivers are small and light-weight enough to be carried and even used during physical activities such as walking, biking, and skiing. 
   The present invention relates to holders for small devices such as radios that allow these devices to be used during strenuous physical activities. The present invention is particularly suited for use during physical activities, such as mountain biking or skiing, in which the device may interfere with the activity or that require use of the hands. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention may be embodied as a system for holding a device comprising a first substrate, a pocket assembly, and a fastener system comprising first, second, third, fourth, and fifth fasteners. The first substrate is adapted to be supported by a wearer. The pocket assembly is adapted to hold the device. The first and second fasteners are rigidly connected to the pocket assembly, while the third, fourth, and fifth fasteners are rigidly connected to the substrate. In a first mode, the first fastener engages the third fastener and the second fastener engages the fourth fastener to attach the pocket assembly to the first substrate. In a second mode, the first fastener engages the third fastener and the second fastener engages the fifth fastener to attach the pocket assembly to the first substrate. The present invention may further be embodied as a method of holding a device during a strenuous physical activity. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a radio pocket assembly of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the radio pocket assembly of  FIG. 1  in a first configuration; 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of the radio pocket assembly of  FIG. 1  in the first configuration shown in  FIG. 2  being used in a first mode in which it is attached to a belt; 
       FIG. 4  is a rear elevation view of the radio pocket assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a front elevation view of the radio pocket assembly of  FIG. 1  in a second configuration being used in a second mode in which it is attached to a chest harness; 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded view depicting the formation of the radio pocket system of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIGS. 7   a  and  8   a  are perspective views of a backpack that may be used as part of the radio pocket system with the present invention in a third mode; 
       FIGS. 7   b  and  8   b  are perspective views of the radio pocket system of the present invention in its third mode; 
       FIGS. 9   a  and  10   a  are front and rear views of a vest that may form a portion of the radio pocket system of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 9   b  and  10   b  are views similar to  9   a  and  10   a  depicting the entire radio pocket system in its third mode. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Depicted at  20  in the drawing is a radio pocket system constructed in accordance with, and embodying, the principals of the present invention. The radio pocket system  20  may exist or be used in several different modes of operation. In particular, the radio pocket system  20  may be used in a first mode  20   a  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , and a second mode  20   b  is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , and/or in a third mode as shown in  FIGS. 7   b ,  8   b , and  10   b.    
   The radio pocket system  20  comprises a radio pocket assembly  22 , a fastener system  24 , and a substrate  26 . The radio pocket assembly  22  is adapted to hold a radio  28 . The fastener system  24  is adapted to secure the radio pocket assembly  22  to the substrate  26 . 
   The substrate  26  can take one or more of many different forms. Four different exemplary forms of the substrate will be described herein. The fastener system  24  may also take different forms depending on the substrate  26 . In addition, the radio pocket assembly  22  exists in one of two different configurations depending on the particular substrate  26  and form of the fastener system  24 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1–4 , it can be seen that the radio pocket assembly  22  comprises a pocket rear panel  30  and a pocket front panel  32 . These panels  30  and  32  are connected together to form a radio cavity  34  in which the radio  28  is supported. The exemplary radio pocket assembly  22  further comprises a retainer strap system  36  as will be described in further detail below. The details of construction of the pocket rear and front panels  30  and  32  and the retainer strap system  36  are not important to the present invention. The radio pocket assembly  22  will thus be described herein only to the extent necessary for complete understanding of the present invention. 
   As perhaps best shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4 , a male fastener  40  (first fastener) and a female fastener  42  (second fastener) are secured to the pocket rear panel  30 . The example fasteners  40  and  42  are snap fasteners conventionally available on the market place. These snap fasteners are riveted into holes formed in the rear panel  30  in a conventional manner to prevent relative movement between the panel  30  and the fasteners  40  and  42  under normal conditions. 
   Fasteners other than snap fasteners may be used to form the male and female fasteners  40  and  42 . For example, a hook and loop type fastener may be used under some circumstances. In this case, the hook portion may take the place of one of the male or female fasteners  40  and  42 , and the loop portion will take the place of the other of the fasteners  40  and  42 . In another situation, buttons and buttonholes may be substituted for these example snap fasteners  40  and  42 . The fasteners  40  and  42  may also be replaced by buckles and other means of fastening straps or fabric together. 
   It is also not essential that the male and female snap fasteners  40  and  42  be located on the panel  30  exactly as shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the positions of these fasteners  40  and  42  may be reversed. The relative position and location of fasteners used in connection with the substrates  26  described in further detail below should correspond to the relative positions and locations of the fasteners  40  and  42 . 
   The three modes in which the system  20  may be used will now be discussed in further detail. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2  the male and female snap fasteners  40  and  42  allow the radio pocket assembly  22  to be placed into a first configuration in which it defines a belt opening  44 . In this configuration, the radio pocket system  20  is in its first mode  20   a  and can be used to suspend the radio  28  from a belt  46  defining a first substrate  26   a.    
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , depicted therein is a second example substrate  26   b  on which are formed a male fastener  50  (third fastener) and a female fastener  52  (fourth fastener). With this second exemplary substrate  26   b , the radio pocket system  20  may be embodied in a second mode  20   b  in which the male fastener  40  is connected to the female fastener  52  and the female fastener  42  is connected to the male fastener  50  to define a fastener system  24   b . When the system  20  is in this second mode  20   b , the pocket rear panel  30  is in a generally flat configuration. The locations of the male and female fasteners  50  and  52  on the second substrate  26   b  are not critical, but the distance between the fasteners  50  and  52  is generally the same as the distance between the first male and female fasteners  40  and  42  when the pocket rear panel  30  is flat. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 7   a  and  8   a , depicted therein is yet another exemplary substrate  26   c  to which the radio pocket system  20  may secure the radio  28 . Secured to the third example substrate  26   c  are a male fastener  60   a  (third fastener), a front female fastener  62   a  (fourth fastener), and a rear female fastener  64   a  (fifth fastener). The exact locations of these fasteners  60   a ,  62   a , and  64   a  are somewhat arbitrary. However, the distance between the male fastener  60   a  and the female fasteners  62   a  and  64   a  should be approximately the same as the distance between the fasteners  40  and  42  when the pocket rear panel  30  is flat. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 7   b  and  8   b , the radio pocket system  20  may exist in a third mode  20   c  in which it secures the radio  28  to the third substrate  26   c . In addition, the radio pocket system  20  allows the radio  28  to be located in one of first and second secured positions as can be seen by comparison in  FIGS. 7   b  and  8   b.    
   More specifically, when the radio pocket system  20  is in the third mode  20   c  and the radio  28  is in its first position ( FIG. 7B ), a fastening system  24   c  is formed by the engagement of the male fastener  40  (first fastener) with the front female fastener  62   a  (fourth fastener) and of the female fastener  42  with the male fastener  60   a  (third fastener). When the system  20  is in the third mode  20   c  and the radio  28  is in its second position ( FIG. 8B ), the fastener system  24   c  is formed by the engagement of the male fastener  40  (first fastener) with the rear female fastener  64   a  (fifth fastener) and of the female fastener  42  (second fastener) with the male fastener  60   a  (fourth fastener). 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 9   a  and  10   a , depicted therein is yet another example substrate  26   d  that may form a part of the radio system  20 . A male fastener  60   b  (third fastener), front female fastener  62   b  (fourth fastener), and rear female fastener  64   b  (fifth fastener) are secured to the example substrate  26   d . Again, the locations of these fasteners  60   b ,  62   b , and  64   b  are somewhat arbitrary but should correspond fairly closely to the spacing of the first male and female fasteners  40  and  42  from each other on the pocket rear panel  30  when this panel  30  is laid flat. 
   With the exemplary substrate  26   d , the radio pocket system  20  may exist in yet another mode  20   d  similar to the third mode  20   c  described above. In particular, the radio  28  can be attached to the substrate  26   d  in one of two positions. In a first position as shown in  FIG. 10   b , the male fastener  40  (first fastener) engages the front female fastener  62   b  (fourth fastener) and the female fastener  42  engages the male fastener  60   b  (third fastener) to form a fastener system  24   d . When the radio  28  is in its second position as shown in  FIG. 9   b , the fastener system  24   d  is formed by the engagement of the male fastener  40  (first fastener) with the rear female fastener  64   b  (fifth fastener) and the female fastener  42  (second fastener) with the male fastener  60   b  (third fastener). 
   The radio pocket system  20  described herein thus provides significant flexibility to the user as to how and where the pocket assembly  22  is attached to different types of substrates  26 . Further, with some of these substrates, it is desirable to locate the radio  28  in different positions depending on how the substrate  26  itself is being used. The radio pocket system  20  of the present invention allows the radio to be located in these different positions as well. 
   With the foregoing basic understanding of the present invention, the exemplary radio pocket system  20  and exemplary substrates  26  to which the system  20  attaches the radio  28  will now be described in further detail. 
   Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the exemplary retainer strap system  36  will now be described in further detail. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the retainer strap system  36  comprises a first strap assembly  70 , a second strap assembly  72 , and a loop panel  74 . The loop panel  74  is secured to the side of a pocket rear panel  30  opposite the pocket front panel  32  and radio cavity  34 . 
   The first strap assembly  70  comprises a first strap member  80 , a first strap male fastener  82 , and a first hook panel  84 . The second strap assembly  72  comprises a second strap member  90 , a strap female fastener  92 , and a second hook panel  94 . The fasteners  82 ,  92  and hook panels  84 ,  94  are secured to opposite ends of the strap members  80 ,  90 , respectively. 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , the hook panels  84  and  94  are adapted to engage the loop panel  74  to form a hook/loop fastener system  76  that inhibits movement of the strap members  80  and  90  relative to the pocket rear panel  30 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the strap members  80  and  90  extend around the pocket rear panel  30  such that the strap fasteners  80  and  92  can be joined together just above the radio cavity  34 . Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the exemplary retainer strap  36  may engage an upper portion of the radio  28  to secure the radio  28  with at least partly within the radio cavity  34 . 
   The retainer strap system  36  is not necessary to practice the present invention in its broadest form. The retainer strap system  36  may thus be omitted, or other similar systems may be used in conjunction with and/or instead of the exemplary system  36 . 
   Referring now for a moment back to  FIG. 6 , it can be seen that the exemplary substrate  26   b  shown therein is formed on a chest harness  120 . The chest harness  120  defines a front portion  122  and shoulder portion  124 . The male fastener  50  and second female fastener  52  are located at the chest harness shoulder portion  124  and chest harness front portion  122 , respectively. Accordingly, when the chest harness  120  is properly worn and the radio pocket assembly  22  is attached thereto using the fastener system  24   b , the radio  28  is located conveniently on the chest of a person wearing the chest harness  120  as shown in  FIG. 5 . This location of the radio  28  allows the wearer of the chest harness  120  to perform an activity such as skiing or bicycling and still use the radio  28  with minimal or no use of hands. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 7   a  and  8   a , it can be seen that the exemplary substrate  26   c  disclosed therein is a backpack  130 . The backpack  130  comprises a front portion  132 , a shoulder portion  134 , and a rear portion  136 . The third male fastener  60   a  is located at the shoulder portion  134 , the front female fastener  62   a  at the backpack front portion  132 , and rear female fastener  64   a  is located at the backpack rear portion  136 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 7   b  and  8   b , the backpack front portion  132  will typically be a strap that extends across the chest of the wearer of the backpack  130 . Accordingly, when the radio  28  is in the first position as shown in  FIG. 8   b , the radio  28  is conveniently located for use by the wearer of the backpack  130 . 
   However, in some situations the wearer may desire to have the radio  28   b  arranged away from the wearer&#39;s chest region. For example, the user may wish the radio to be in the second position is when the user is mountain biking and does not want any unnecessary equipment arranged in the chest area. In this case, the wearer may simply detach the male fastener  40  (first fastener) from the female fastener  62   a  (fourth fastener), swing the radio pocket assembly  22  from the first position into the second position without disconnecting the fasteners  42  and  60   a  (second and third fasteners) from each other, and then connect the male fastener  40  (first fastener) to the rear female fastener  64   a  (fifth fastener) to secure the radio  28  in its second position. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 9   a  and  10   a , it can be seen that the fourth exemplary substrate  26   d  may be formed by a vest  140 . The vest  140  defines a front portion  142 , a shoulder portion  144 , and a rear portion  146 . The exemplary vest  140  is adapted to contain a hydration system that allows the user to carry a supply of water on the back and drink the water from a tube arranged in the wearer&#39;s chest area. Other types of vests  140  may be used with the principals of the present invention, however. 
   The system  20  may be placed in a third mode  20   d  in which the user locates the radio  28  either in front adjacent to the user&#39;s chest area or in back in a location adjacent to the user&#39;s shoulder blade. 
   In the first position, with the radio  28  located in front, the male fastener  40  (first fastener) is connected to the front female fastener  62   b  (fourth fastener) and the female fastener  42  (second fastener) is connected to the male fastener  60   b  (third fastener) located on the shoulder portion  144  of the vest  140 . The radio  28  may be moved into its second position by detaching the male fastener  40  (first fastener) from the front female fastener  62   b  (fourth fastener), rotating the radio pocket assembly  22  from the first to the second position with the female fastener  42  (second fastener) engaging the male fastener  60   b  (fourth fastener), and then attaching the male fastener  40  (first fastener) to the rear female fastener  64   b  (fifth fastener). 
   From the foregoing, it should be clear that the radio pocket system  20  of the present invention provides the designer of the substrate  26  and the user of the radio  28  with significant flexibility in how the radio  28  may be positioned. In the first mode, the radio may be hung from any type of belt, belt loop, strap, or the like in a manner that is generally conventional. In the second mode, the radio pocket system  20  may be used with an article like the chest harness  120  that defines two fixed locations where the male fastener  50  and second female fastener  52  may be located. The exemplary chest harness  120  does not, however, define a third location that is conveniently fixed relative to the locations of the male and female fasteners  50  and  52 , and thus does not allow the radio pocket assembly  22  to be moved into two different positions. 
   The backpack  130  and vest  140  described herein are examples of substrates  26  that define three fixed locations where the third male fastener  60  and front and rear female fasteners  62  and  64  may be located. Accordingly, the substrates  26  defined by the backpack  130  and vest  140  allow the radio pocket assembly  22  to be placed into either of two positions. 
   One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the exact details of construction of the substrates  26  are not important to the principals of the present invention. While the exemplary substrates  26   a–d  described herein are articles of clothing, the principles of the present invention may be applied to other types of substrates as well. For example, the substrate  26  may be formed by a surface on a toolbox, golf bag, automobile interior, or the like where a radio  28  is conveniently and temporarily stored. In addition, while the present invention was shown in first and second modes that allowed the radio to be in only one position and a third mode that allowed the radio  28  to be in two positions, additional fasteners as appropriate may be located to allow even more positions of the radio  28  relative to a given substrate  26 . 
   Given the foregoing, it should be clear that the principals of the present invention may be applied to other environments, and the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the exemplary pocket assembly  22 , substrates  26 , radio  28  and retainer strap system  36  described herein.