Wearable personal item carrier having expandable closures

Abstract

An assembly that enables a person to flexibly position and hold in place an item of personal property for which the user desires to have frequent and immediate access is provided. The assembly 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 midsection and attach, via a mechanism, to an item of apparel worn by the user. The strap can also be opened to extend around a person's waist or midsection. A carrier slideably engages the strap for example at a portion of the strap along the front side of the user. The carrier includes at least one expandable or stretchable tongue that enables differently sized personal items and varying amounts of personal items to be housed snugly.

1 . A personal item carrier comprising: 
 a foldable member including first and second foldable flaps;    at least one slot adapted to receive a first personal item located on an inside of at least one of the flaps;    a compartment located on an outside of the first flap, the compartment sized to hold a second personal item; and    a tongue disposed between the compartment and the first flap, the tongue configured to extend over the second personal item and be secured to an outside of the compartment, the tongue expandable to securely retain a larger personal item within the compartment.    
   
   
       2 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the flaps are configured to fold around and couple to a strap worn by a person, the strap carrying the carrier.  
   
   
       3 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the tongue is: (i) secured at a first end between the compartment and the first flap; and (ii) free at a second end to be moved and secured to the outside of the compartment.  
   
   
       4 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the tongue includes an expandable portion and a non-expandable portion.  
   
   
       5 . The carrier of  claim 4 , wherein the non-expandable portion is disposed between the between the compartment and the first flap and the non-expandable portion is free to be moved and secured to the outside of the compartment.  
   
   
       6 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the tongue is secured to the outside of the compartment via a device selected from the group consisting of: a buckle, a snap-fitting apparatus, a button, a magnetic device, a clip, a frictionally securing device and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the outside of the compartment includes an outer wall, the tongue configured to extend over the second personal item and be secured to the outer wall.  
   
   
       8 . The carrier of  claim 1 , which includes a clip acceptor coupled to one of the first and second flaps, the clip acceptor enabling the carrier to be clipped to a carrying device.  
   
   
       9 . The carrier of  claim 1 , which includes a see-through member associated with the slot, the see-through member enabling user information to be displayed when the flaps are opened.  
   
   
       10 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable tongue is a first expandable tongue, and which includes a second expandable tongue configured and arranged to hold the flaps together in a folded position.  
   
   
       11 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the second personal item is selected from the group consisting of: a cell phone, a pager, a compact disk player, a compact disk, a digital music player, an internet access device, a camera, a small television, an email access device, an electronic apparatus and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the first personal item is selected from the group consisting of: an airline ticket, makeup, medicine, a credit/debit card, a driver's license, an airline card, an insurance card, a retail card, cash, a cigarette package, an address book, and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       13 . A personal item carrier comprising: 
 a foldable member including first and second foldable flaps;    a first tongue configured and arranged to hold the flaps together in a folded position, first tongue expandable to hold the flaps together when a larger personal item or larger amount of personal items is placed between the flaps;    a compartment located on an outside of the first flap, the compartment sized to hold a personal item; and    a second tongue disposed between the compartment and the first flap, the second tongue configured to extend over the personal item and be secured to an outside of the compartment.    
   
   
       14 . The carrier of  claim 13 , wherein, the second tongue is expandable to securely retain the personal item within the compartment.  
   
   
       15 . The carrier of  claim 13 , wherein the personal item is a first personal item, and which includes at least one slot adapted to receive a second personal item, the slot located on an inside of at least one of the flaps.  
   
   
       16 . The carrier of  claim 13 , wherein the second tongue is secured to an outside of the first flap and releasably securable to an outside of the second flap.  
   
   
       17 . 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 attachment mechanism connected to the strap; and    a carrier connected to the attachment mechanism, the carrier including 
 a foldable member including first and second foldable flaps;  
 a compartment located on an outside of the first flap, the compartment sized to hold a personal item, and  
 a tongue disposed between the compartment and the first flap, the tongue configured to extend over the personal item and be secured to an outside of the compartment.  
   
   
   
       18 . The carrier of  claim 17 , wherein the attachment mechanism is selected from the group consisting of: a spring clip, a lock, a hook and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       19 . The carrier of  claim 17 , wherein the tongue is expandable to securely retain the personal item within the compartment.  
   
   
       20 . The carrier of  claim 17 , wherein the personal item is a first personal item, and wherein the foldable member is configured to hold at least one second personal item between the first and second foldable flaps.