Carrying bag with a holder for hand-held electronic devices

Abstract

A panel of a carrying bag incorporates an HED holder that includes a top hook member having a U-shaped receptacle portion for receiving the upper end of the HED in nested relation and a bottom hook member having a U-shaped receptacle portion for receiving the lower end of the HED in nested relation. The top hook member is affixed to the panel. The bottom hook member is connected to the panel by a band of elastic material, which biases the bottom hook member toward the top hook member so that the HED is forcibly gripped between the top and bottom hook members. A cover panel is fastened to the panel and forms with the panel a pocket that receives the band of elastic material.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A carrying bag, comprising 
 a panel, and    an HED holder, the HED holder including 
 a top hook member having a U-shaped receptacle portion adapted to receive an upper portion of the HED in nested relation,  
 a bottom hook member having a U-shaped receptacle portion adapted to receive a lower portion of the HED in nested relation,  
 a fastener affixing the top hook member to the panel, and  
 a band of elastic material having one end fastened to the panel and the other end fastened to the bottom hook member, the band being oriented relative to the hook members and the panel such that the band biases the bottom hook member toward the top hook member so that the HED is forcibly gripped by the top and bottom hook members, and  
   a cover panel of sheet material fastened to the panel and forming with the panel a pocket that receives the band of elastic material.    
     
     
         2 . The carrying bag according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the hook members is formed of a spring metal.  
     
     
         3 . The carrying bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle portion of each of the hook members is at least partly lined with a non-slip insert for enhanced gripping of the HED.  
     
     
         4 . The carrying bag according to  claim 3 , wherein each insert is of a soft polymeric material that is deformable so as to self-adjust to the shape of the HED.  
     
     
         5 . The carrying bag according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the inserts has a boss portion with a peripheral groove along its edge and a retaining rib that is sized and shaped to permit the insert to be press-fit into a receiving hole in the receptacle portion of the hook member.  
     
     
         6 . The carrying bag according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the inserts is adhered to the hook member by a contact adhesive.  
     
     
         7 . The carrying bag according to  claim 1 , wherein each hook member is generally J-shaped in profile and includes a base leg portion joined to the receptacle portion.  
     
     
         8 . The carrying bag according to  claim 7 , wherein the base leg portion of the bottom hook member is joined to the band of elastic material.  
     
     
         9 . The carrying bag according to  claim 8 , wherein the band of elastic material is joined to the base leg portion of the top hook member.  
     
     
         10 . The carrying bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover panel is formed of a non-slip material that inhibits sliding of the HED.  
     
     
         11 . The carrying bag according to  claim 10 , wherein each hook member is generally J-shaped in profile and includes a base leg portion and the cover panel overlies parts of the base leg portions of the hook members.  
     
     
         12 . A carrying bag, comprising 
 a panel, and    an HED holder affixed to the panel, the HED holder including 
 a top hook member of J-shape in lateral profile and having a base leg portion and a U-shaped receptacle portion adapted to receive an upper portion of the HED in nested relation,  
 a bottom hook member of J-shape in lateral profile having a base leg portion and a U-shaped receptacle portion adapted to receive a lower portion of the HED in nested relation,  
 a fastener affixing the base leg portion of the top hook member to the panel, and  
 a band of elastic material having one end fastened to the panel and the other end fastened to the base leg portion of the bottom hook member, the band being oriented relative to the hook members and the panel such that the band biases the bottom hook member toward the top hook member so that the HED is forcibly gripped by the top and bottom hook members, and  
   a cover panel of sheet material fastened to the panel and forming with the panel a pocket that receives the band of elastic material and at least part of the leg portion of each hook member.    
     
     
         13 . The carrying bag according to  claim 12 , wherein each of the hook members is formed of a spring metal.  
     
     
         14 . The carrying bag according to  claim 12 , wherein the receptacle portion of each of the hook members is at least partly lined with a non-slip insert for enhanced gripping of the HED.  
     
     
         15 . The carrying bag according to  claim 14 , wherein each insert is of a soft polymeric material that is compressible so as to conform to the shape of the HED.  
     
     
         16 . The carrying bag according to  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the inserts has a boss portion with a peripheral groove along its edge and a retaining rib that is sized and shaped to permit the insert to be press-fit into a receiving hole in the receptacle portion of the hook member.  
     
     
         17 . The carrying bag according to  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the inserts is adhered to the hook member by a contact adhesive.  
     
     
         18 . The carrying bag according to  claim 12 , wherein the band of elastic material is joined to the base leg of the top hook member.  
     
     
         19 . The carrying bag according to  claim 12 , wherein the cover panel is formed of a non-slip material that inhibits sliding of the HED.