GB2417410A

GB2417410A - Arm band carrier

Info

Publication number: GB2417410A
Application number: GB0419032A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Martin Paget
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-26
Filing date: 2004-08-26
Publication date: 2006-03-01
Also published as: GB0419032D0

Abstract

A carrier device (1) in the form of a band of material configured for fitting about a limb (10) of a person (12), the band of material being formed and arranged to bind an object (2) such as, for example, a mobile phone, to the limb in use of the device. In the described embodiment the band of material has a lower folded portion (3) for enclosing a first portion of the phone so as to hold the phone therein, and an upper folded portion (4) for enclosing the rest of the phone.

Description

ARM BAND CARRIER

The present invention relates to a method and device for carrying an article. In particular, though not exclusively, the invention concerns a device for carrying a mobile telephone about a user's person.

Mobile telephones (hereinafter referred to as mobile phones) are now used by a large proportion of the general population, with many people carrying their mobile phone with them everywhere. To date, for the user this has generally meant carrying their phone either in their hand, in the pocket of a garment they are wearing, in a handbag, or in a specially- designed cover or pouch (into which the phone is designed to snugly fit) which is provided with either a loop-type handle for carrying by hand or a loop for mounting the pouch to the user's belt. These methods of carrying the phone have various disadvantages, including the fact that a phone is easily lost or stolen from a pocket or handbag, or must be deposited somewhere if the user needs their hand to perform another task. Also, if the phone is being carried in a pocket, handbag or pouch the ringing tone, or vibration of a ringing phone (where the phone is set in soundless mode), may not be properly heard by the user.

Moreover, if the phone is carried in a tight or full pocket, or a full handbag, it may not be easily and quickly accessible to the user.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid or minimise one or more of the foregoing disadvantages.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a device for carrying an object, for example a mobile telephone, the device comprising a band of material configured for fitting about a limb of a person, the band of material being formed and arranged to bind the object to said limb in use of the device, wherein the band of material comprises a lower portion for holding at least a first portion of the object and an upper portion for enclosing at least a second portion of the object.

The band of material may be folded around at least a portion of the object. The object is preferably enveloped by the band of material.

Conveniently, the band of material may be provided as an endless band, preferably made of a flexible and resilient material (for example natural or synthetic rubber) or flexible and stretchable cloth (for example LYCRA@, or a similar material). It will be appreciated that the diameter of the band, and resilience and/or stretchability of the band will be chosen to suit the limb diameter about which the device is intended to be used. For l example, the band may be designed to be worn by the user as an arm band which fits tightly about an upper portion of the user's arm. Alternatively, the band may be designed to fit tightly about the user's thigh (or any other suitable portion of the user's leg or arm).

Alternatively, the band may have first and second ends provided with means for fastening these ends together such that the band encloses tightly the desired portion of the user's limb. For example the fastening means may be in the form of string ties, VELCRO tabs or a buckle arrangement. In this embodiment the band is preferably still made of a resilient material (for example natural or synthetic rubber) or stretchable cloth (for example LYCRA@, or a similar material), but could be made of a less flexible and/or less resilient/flexible material than the "endless band" embodiment.

Preferably, the band of material comprises a lower folded portion formed and arranged to enclose at least a first portion of the object whereby the object is held therein, and an upper folded portion formed and arranged to enclose at least a second portion of the object. The lower folded portion may conveniently be formed by folding a lower edge of the band outwardly, away from the user's limb, to form an upwardly extending lip.

Similarly, the upper folded portion may conveniently be formed by folding an upper edge of the band outwardly, away from the user's limb, to form a downwardly extending lip. Desirably, the width of the downwardly extending lip is larger than the width of the upwardly extending lip and, most preferably, is sufficiently large that the downwardly extending lip overlaps the upwardly extending lip in use of the device, whereby the object is completely enclosed within the band of material.

The band of material may be stitched so that said lower and upper portions are permanently held in their folded shapes. The lower portion may, optionally, further include a pocket for holding at least said first portion of the object. The pocket may, for example, be formed by stitching down a portion of the upwardly extending lip formed by the lower folded portion of the band so as to form a more enclosed space for holding the object in the lower portion of the band.

Alternative embodiments of the band of material are also possible. For example, instead of holding the object in a lower folded portion of the band, a lower portion of the band may simply be provided with a pocket, for example in the form of a flap of material stitched or otherwise fixed to a flat surface of the band so as to form a pocket, for holding at least a portion of the object. In this case, the upper edge of the band is preferably still folded over so as to form a lip which encloses the object held in said pocket.

Instead of being designed to be worn in the form of an arm or leg band, the band of material may alternatively be designed to be worn as a head band. Thus, according to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for carrying an object, for example a mobile telephone, the device comprising a band of material configured for fitting about the head of a person, the band of material being formed and arranged to bind the object to the person's head, in use of the device, wherein the band of material comprises a lower portion for holding at least a first portion of the object and an upper portion for enclosing at least a second portion of the object.

It will be appreciated that the terms "upper" and "lower" are used above with reference to the orientation of the band of material in use of the device when it is being worn by a person who is standing generally upright. However, it will be appreciated that the device may be worn by a user who is in other orientations, is moving or is stationary. In fact, the device may be particularly attractive for use by joggers, cyclists, party goers, tourists, sun bathers/sun worshippers, and persons working in many different working environments.

Also, the device may be particularly convenient for carrying a mobile phone when a user wishes to use the phone in "hands-free" mode.

Preferably, the device is configured for carrying a mobile phone. However, it will be readily appreciated that the device may equally be designed for carrying other (relatively lightweight) objects such as, for example, a set of keys. s

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an arm band-like device according to one embodiment of the invention being worn by a user to carry a mobile phone; Figure 2 is a front view of the phone being inserted into the carrier of Figure 1, by the user's hand; Figure 3 is a side view of the phone being inserted into the carrier of Figure 1, by the user's hand; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the carrier of Figure 1, not in use; Figure 5 is a perspective schematic view of the device of Figure 1 (not in use) with a portion cut-away to illustrate in detail folds in the device; and Figure 6 is a schematic view of a string tie fastening arrangement for use in a device according to a modified embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a mobile phone carrier device 1 being worn about the arm 10 of a person 12. The carrier 1 holds a mobile phone 2 against the person's arm 10 in a manner which will be described in more detail hereinbelow. The carrier 1 is made out of a band of a light and stretchable material such as hydras which is folded and sewn so as to form a lower outside lip 3 and a larger upper outside lip 4. The structure of the carrier 1 is illustrated in more detail in Figs. 4 and 5. As seen in Figure 5, a strip S of light and stretchable material is folded in a particular manner to form the lower and upper lips 3, 4. A lower edge portion of the strip of material is folded, along the length of the strip, upwardly and outwardly so as to form the flap or lip 3. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5 this edge portion is in fact then folded outwardly and back down on itself to form a second fold 6 above the first fold 5, to provide extra strength in the lower lip 3. The upper portion of the strip of material is also folded, this time downwardly and outwardly so as to form the upper lip 4. Again, to provide extra strength in the upper lip, in the embodiment of Figure 5 the upper portion is further folded back up on itself (and outwardly) to form a second fold 8 at the lower edge of the lip 4, generally opposing the opposite fold 7 at the upper edge of the upper lip 4. The strip of material S is then stitched (as indicated schematically by the needles and thread 12, 13, 14) to hold the various folds in place so that the upper and lower lips 3, 4 are permanently formed in the material. If desired, further smaller folds 20 can be introduced in the vicinity of the main folds 5, 6, 7 or 8 in order to further strengthen the carrier. The opposite ends 18, 19 of the strip S of material are then stitched together, as indicated schematically by needle and thread 15, so as to form an endless band as shown in Figure 4. In this described embodiment the carrier 1 is designed to be worn as an armband which the user puts on by simply slotting their hand through the endless band. As shown in Figures 4 and the width of the upper lip 4 (in the direction generally parallel to the user's arm) is larger than the width (in the same direction) of the lower lip 3 and is sufficiently large that the upper lip 4 overlaps the upper edge of the lower lip 3, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The way in which the carrier device 1 is used to carry the mobile phone 2 will now be described. Once the user 12 has placed the (empty) carrier device 1 at the desired position on their arm 10, so that it fits tightly about their arm, the user then lifts up at least a portion of the upper lip 4 so as to reveal the upper edge 16 of the lower lip 3 (in the illustrated embodiment this upper edge 16 is formed by the second fold 6 in the lower edge portion of the band). The user then pulls out a corresponding portion of the lower lip 3 and places (with the hand 25 of the user's other arm 30) the mobile phone 2 in to the carrier 1 to be held therein by the lower lip 3. The phone is positioned so that an upper portion of the phone protrudes from the lower lip 3. This process is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

The user then releases the upper lip 4 so as to allow it to - 9 - again overlap the lower lip 3, so as to enclose the portion of the phone 2 which was protruding from the lower lip 3, whereby the mobile phone 2 is completely enveloped within the carrier 1.

Carrier 1 therefore in effect binds the mobile phone closely to the user's arm 10. The mobile phone can be easily removed simply by reversing the above-described procedure.

It will be appreciated that the material from which the carrier 1 is made needs to be sufficiently resilient/stretchy to hold the phone 2 firmly in place in the carrier 1 but without restricting the blood supply to the user's arm 10. The diameter D of the carrier 1 is generally designed to fit a particular arm width, or range of widths, but it will be appreciated that the carrier 1 may be sold in various different sizes to suit different arm widths.

In alternative possible embodiments instead of permanently stitching the strip of material to form an endless band 1 the opposite ends 18, 19 of the strip of material used to form the carrier 1 may be provided with fastening means for enabling the user 12 to adjust the carrier to fit their arm 10 comfortably.

For example, the fastening means may be in the form of a string tie arrangement 40 as illustrated schematically in Figure 6, or Velcro tabs provided on each end 18, 19 of the strip of material, or even by providing a buckle arrangement. Where such a string tie, Velcro or buckle fastening arrangement is provided it will be appreciated that the armband could be made of alternative less flexible materials such as leather or plastic, or cloth which is less flexible than Lycra-type materials. Different materials may suit different tastes and fashions.

In another possible embodiment, the band of material may be manufactured in a circular (i.e. endless) "sock type" shape, such that the carrier is manufactured directly in the shape of to an endless armband, whereby there are therefore no opposite ends 18,19 which require to be stitched together.

Also, although the carrier 1 in the above-described embodiments is an armband, the carrier could equally be designed for use as a legband to be worn, for example, about the user's thigh. The carrier could also be extended into more eccentric designs that may, for example, cover a complete arm or leg. In a further possibility the carrier 1 could be designed to be worn as a headband. In this case the carrier 1 would be constructed and operate in the same manner as the carrier of Figures 1 to 5 but would be designed to have a much larger diameter suited to fit an intended head size.

It will be appreciated that further modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the width of the upper outside lip 4 may be made even larger, so as to overlap the lower lip even further, in order to reduce the chance of a large telephone 2 falling out of the carrier 1.

Additionally, one or more Velcrotabs may be provided on the overlapping edges of the upper and lower lips 3, 4 in order to further reduce the chance of the lips separating to allow the phone 2 to fall out of the carrier.

The carrier 1 can easily be concealed under a loose-fitting short sleeved shirt, for those persons concerned by the possibility of theft of their phone 2. Additionally, if desired, a wire mesh could be sown into the carrier 1, or otherwise provided in the material of the carrier itself, to provide a further defence against more determined thieves.

As indicated in Figure 3, two parallel lines of stitches 17 may be provided at spaced positions on the lower lip 3, the stitches extending down the width of the lower lip 3, in order to form a pocket 21 in the lower lip 3 for more securely holding the phone 2 therein. In a further alternative possible embodiment (not illustrated) the carrier 1 may be formed without the lower lip 3 but instead may have a dedicated pocket 21 provided on the strip of materials for holding the phone 2, the upper lip 4 still being provided to overlap and enclose the phone 2 when it is held in this pocket.

Claims

1. A device for carrying an object, the device comprising a band of material configured for fitting about a limb of a person, the band of material being formed and arranged to bind the object to said limb in use of the device, wherein the band of material comprises a lower portion for holding at least a first portion of the object and an upper portion for enclosing at least a second portion of the object.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the band of material is folded around at least a portion of the object.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the band of material comprises a lower folded portion formed and arranged to enclose at least a first portion of the object whereby the object is held therein, and an upper folded portion formed and arranged to enclose at least a second portion of the object.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the band of material is formed and arranged to envelope the object, in use of the device.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, for carrying a mobile phone.