Wearable carrier for holding a personal item

Abstract

The present invention provides a device that enables the user to flexibly position and hold in place an item of personal property for which the user desires to have frequent and immediate access. The device includes a strap that extends diagonally along the front of the user over one shoulder of the user and diagonally across the back of the user, wherein the strap has end portions that come together near the person's waste and attach, via a mechanism, to an item of apparel worn by the user. A carrier slideably engages the strap for example at a portion of the strap along the front side of the user. The carrier houses one or more personal items, such as a cell phone.

The invention is claimed as follows:  
     
         1 . A device for carrying a personal item comprising: 
 a strap sized to extend from a first side of a person, along the front of the person, over the shoulder on a second side of the person, and return along the back of the person to the first side;    an assembly connected to end portions of the strap, the assembly including an attachment mechanism that connects the assembly to an item of apparel substantially at the person's waste; and    a carrier supported by the strap, the carrier sized to hold the personal item.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is slideably held by the strap.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier defines at least one aperture that receives the strap.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier includes at least one fold that holds the carrier frictionally against the strap.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the folds include an attachment device that attaches the folds to one another.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is sized and structured to hold a plurality of personal items.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier includes a portion that opens and closes to enable insertion and removal of the personal item.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the portion includes an attachment device that holds removably the portion to the remainder of the carrier.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the personal item is selected from the group consisting of: a cell phone, a pager, a wallet, a passport, an airline ticket, a compact disk player, a compact disk, makeup, medicine, a credit/debit card, a cigarette package, an address book, a digital music player, a hand-held email access device, a hand held internet access device and any combination thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism is selected from the group consisting of: a spring clip, a lock, a hook and any combination thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism is removable from the assembly.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the strap is made from a material selected from the group consisting of: leather, suede, cowhide, fur, fabric, a polymer, a polymer weave, a meshed material, a woven material and any combination thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the strap is adjustable.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly includes a link portion connected to the end portions of the strap.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the end portions is removably connected to the link portion.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein link portion and the attachment mechanism are separated by a section.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the section is made, at least partially, from a material used to make at least a part of a strap.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the attachment mechanism is removable from the section.  
     
     
         19 . A device for carrying a personal item comprising: 
 a strap sized to extend from a first side of a person, along the front of a person, over the shoulder on a second side of the person, and return along the back of the person to the first side;    means for securing end portions of the strap to an item of apparel worn at the person's waist; and    a caddy supported by the strap, the caddy sized to hold the personal item.    
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the securing means includes a first portion attached to the ends of the straps and a second portion that attaches to the item of apparel.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second portions are formed from the same structure.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second portions are separated by a section.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second portions connected removably to one another.  
     
     
         24 . A device for carrying personal items comprising: 
 a strap sized to extend from a first side of a person, along the front of the person, over the shoulder on a second side of the person, and return along the back of the person to the first side;    an assembly connected to end portions of the strap, the assembly including a spring-loaded clip that connects the assembly to an item of apparel worn by the person; and    a caddy supported by the strap, the caddy sized to hold the personal item.    
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the clip defines an aperture, the aperture receiving a portion of a section, the section connected a link portion of the assembly, the link portion connected to the end portions of the strap.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the clip is coupled moveably to the assembly.  
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the clip is coupled removably to the assembly.  
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the strap is adjustable.  
     
     
         29 . A method of manufacturing a device for carrying a personal item comprising the steps of: 
 preparing a strap sized to extend from a first side of a person, along the front of the person, over the shoulder on a second side of the person, and return along the back of the person to the first side;    connecting an assembly to the end portions of the strap, the assembly including an attachment mechanism that attaches to an item of apparel worn by the person; and    attaching a carrier onto the strap, the carrier sized to hold the personal item.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , which includes the step of sizing the strap differently for differently sized users.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , which includes the step of structuring the strap so that the strap is adjustable for different sized users.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , which includes preparing different straps using different materials.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , which includes the step of preparing different carriers and allowing the different carriers to be used with the same strap.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , which includes the step of structuring the carrier so that the person can slide the carrier to a desired position along the strap, and so that the carrier remains stationary when released from the person's grasp.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , which includes the step of structuring the carrier so that the carrier is removable from the strap.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , which includes the step of structuring the assembly so that the assembly is removable from the strap.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 29 , which includes the step of structuring the assembly so that the attachment mechanism is removable from the assembly.