Abstract:
A holder for a removable memory component of a portable electronic device. The holder includes an electro-statically protective and securely closable pocket removably attachable to the device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a holder for a removable memory component of a portable electronic device. 
     2. Description of the Invention Background 
     Many handheld or portable electronic devices, such as, for example, digital cameras, digital audio players, handheld games, puzzles, dictionaries, personal assistants, microcomputers and the like, are provided with additional memory components or chips that enhance their memory size and performance or provide other capabilities, such as a different game, a foreign language dictionary, a map of a different area and so on. 
     These memory components, which come in a variety of sizes and shapes, but are commonly small and lightweight, are susceptible to damage by electrostatic discharges or to breakage by careless handling. Yet, they are meant to be carried around with the devices for which they are intended and need to be easily accessible. Because of their size, such memory components can be easily misplaced, squeezed in a carrying case for the device or fall out from a person&#39;s pocket. They may also be exposed to harmful electrostatic discharges. 
     There remains, therefore, a need for a holder for a memory component of a device that can easily and inexpensively protect and transport the memory component with the device without the shortcomings associated with other arrangements. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment of the invention provides a holder for a removable memory component of a device. The holder includes a body having a pocket therein. The pocket is sized to receive at least one memory component through a pocket opening in the body. The holder also includes a reclosable pocket closure attached to the pocket and completely covering the pocket. The holder also includes a retainer for removably attaching the body to a portion of the device. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the accompanying Figures, there are shown present embodiments of the invention wherein like reference numerals are employed to designate like parts and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a memory holder according to the present invention showing the memory holder in a closed position; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of he holder of FIG. 1, showing the memory holder in an open position to receive a memory component; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear view of an embodiment of a memory holder according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a rear view of another embodiment of embodiment of a memory holder according to the present invention showing the memory holder attached to a device strap; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of another embodiment of a memory holder according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of an embodiment of a memory holder according to the present invention, wherein the memory holder is shown apart from a device to which it is attachable; 
     FIG. 7 is a front view of an embodiment of a memory holder according to the present invention; and 
     FIG. 8 is a side view an embodiment of a memory holder according to the present invention, wherein the memory holder is shown attached to a device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings for the purpose of illustrating the invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same, it is to be understood that standard components or features that are within the purview of an artisan of ordinary skill and do not contribute to the understanding of the various embodiments of the invention are omitted from the drawings to enhance clarity. 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a holder for a memory component of an electronic device according to the present invention, hereinafter “the memory holder  20 ”. The memory holder  20  includes a body  19  which forms a pocket  22  that is sized to receive at least one memory component  100  therein. The body  19  has at least one opening  25  through which the memory component  100  may be inserted. See FIG.  2 . The memory components  100  may be, for example, flash memory cards, memory sticks or a smart media cards of the type that are removably used with a device  50  shown in FIG.  6 . 
     The device  50  may be, for example, a hand-held or portable electronic equipment, such as a digital camera, an audio player, an electronic dictionary, an electronic game or puzzle, etc. Accordingly, the memory holder  20 , and in particular the pocket  22  and the opening  25 , are sized and shaped to accommodate the size and shape of a variety of memory components  100 , and are not restricted to the sizes and shapes shown in FIG. 1, which is merely illustrative. 
     The body  19  of the memory holder  20  may be made of a durable anti-static material, such as polyethylene, to avoid static discharges that may be potentially harmful to the memory components  100 . The body  19  can also be made from other materials, such as leather, fabric, vinyl, etc. Such alternative embodiments may be lined with an anti-static protective lining  21  to form an electro-static shield for any component or object placed into the pocket  22 . 
     Additionally, resistance to damage through breakage and protection from adverse environmental and weather conditions including humidity, rain, undesirable fluctuations in temperature and so on, may be provided inherently by the material of the body  19  or by adding a conventional padding or insulation material  23  contained within the body  19 . See FIG.  2 . 
     The memory holder  20  may also include a pocket closure  24  to cover the opening  25 . The pocket closure  24  may be, for example, an integral flap or a similar lid that may be retained in a “closed” position, illustrated in FIG. 1 by a conventional male and female snap  26 . The pocket closure  24  could conceivably comprise a zipper  62  attached to the periphery of the opening  25 , as shown in FIG. 7 or any other closure that prevents the memory component(s) from inadvertently falling out of the opening  25 , thus securing the memory component(s) in the pocket  22 . The opening  25  may be aligned along a side of the body  19  or may be located anywhere on the body  19 , such as, for example, on a front surface  30 . See FIGS. 2 and 7. 
     In one embodiment, the memory holder  20  may be provided with a retainer  28  for coupling the memory holder  20  to a portion of a device  50 , such as a camera neck strap  38  or similar structure. See FIG.  3 . More particularly, and with reference to FIG. 4, the retainer  28  may comprise an elongate member  29  that is attached to the rear surface  32  of the body  19 . In embodiments wherein the body  19  is formed from a polymeric material, it is conceivable that the strap may be integrally formed into the rear surface  32  of the body  19  to define a strap-receiving opening  33  through which a strap  38  or similar structure may be inserted. See FIG.  4 . 
     In other embodiments, the elongate member  29  may be formed from polymeric materials, cloth, canvas, leather, etc., attached to the rear surface  32  of the body  19  by fastening means  34 , such as, for example, adhesive, snaps, screws, rivets, hook and loop material, etc. See FIG.  3 . 
     In yet another embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a first piece of hook and loop material  64  may be attached to a portion of a device  50 , such as a camera, a device carrying case, etc., and a second piece  66  may be attached to the rear surface  32  of the body  19  to enable the memory holder  20  to be removably attached to the device  50  by mating the first and second pieces of hook and loop material  64 ,  66 . 
     Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, the retainer  28  may be a clip  36 , which removably attaches to a strap  38  or to some other surface, of the device  50  or a device-carrying case. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the memory holder  20  may be provided with a conventional male/female snap member  46  to removably mate with a corresponding snap member  48  affixed to the device strap  38  or similar structure or to the device  50  itself to enable the memory holder  20  to be removably affixed thereto. Other fastener arrangements may also be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Other embodiments of the memory holder  20  may include identifying indicia  72 , such as logos, trademarks, part numbers, etc. on the body  19 . The indicia  72  may also include memory size, i.e. storage capacity, designations, such as, for example, 2 MB, 64 KB, etc. Color indicia  74  covering a portion or the entire body  19  may also be used to code for memory size. See FIG.  7 . 
     It should appreciated from the foregoing that the memory holder  20  provides an convenient, inexpensive and secure method of removably attaching one or more memory components or similar parts to a device for which they are intended, while providing protection against electrostatic discharges, accidental breakage, the weather, etc. 
     Whereas particular embodiments of the invention have been described herein for the purpose of illustrating the invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous variations of the details, materials and arrangement of parts may be made within the principle and scope of the invention without departing from the spirit invention. The preceding description, therefore, is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather the scope of the invention is to be determined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.