Body-worn apparatus for carrying an electronic device

Abstract

A body-worn apparatus for carrying an electronic device may include a shoulder harness having interconnected first and second portions configured to be supported by first and second shoulders respectively of a wearer. An electronic device support pouch configured to removably receive the electronic device therein may be attached to the first portion of the shoulder harness such that it extends under one arm and along one side of the wearer when the shoulder harness is worn by the wearer. An accessory support unit configured to removably receive one or more accessory items therein may be attached to the second portion of the shoulder harness such that it extends under an opposite arm and along an opposite side of the wearer when the shoulder harness is worn by the wearer.

1 . A body-worn apparatus for carrying an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
 a shoulder harness having interconnected first and second portions configured to be supported by first and second shoulders respectively of a wearer,   an electronic device support pouch attached to the first portion of the shoulder harness, the electronic device support pouch extending under one arm and along one side of the wearer when the shoulder harness is worn by the wearer, the electronic device support pouch configured to removably receive the electronic device therein, and   an accessory support unit attached to the second portion of the shoulder harness, the accessory support unit extending under an opposite arm and along an opposite side of the wearer when the shoulder harness is worn by the wearer, the accessory support unit configured to removably receive one or more accessory items therein.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the electronic device support pouch is releasably attached to the first portion of the shoulder harness and the accessory support unit is releasably attached to the second portion of the shoulder harness. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the electronic device support pouch and the accessory support unit are both releasably attachable to either of the first and second portions of the shoulder harness,
 and wherein the accessory support unit is releasably attached to the second portion of the shoulder harness when the electronic device support pouch is releasably attached to the first portion of the shoulder harness such that the electronic device support pouch is carried by the shoulder harness along the one side of the wearer and the accessory support unit is carried by the shoulder harness along the opposite side of the wearer, 
 and wherein the accessory support unit is releasably attached to the first portion of the shoulder harness when the electronic device support pouch is releasably attached to the second portion of the shoulder harness such that the accessory support unit is carried by the shoulder harness along the one side of the wearer and the electronic device support pouch is carried by the shoulder harness along the opposite side of the wearer. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a first connector connected to the first portion of the shoulder harness and extending downwardly away from the first portion, 
 a second connector connected to the second portion of the shoulder harness and extending downwardly away from the second portion, 
 a third connector attached to the electronic device support pouch and configured to releasably connect to either of the first connector and the second connector, and 
 a fourth connector attached to the accessory support unit and configured to releasably connect to the other of the first connector and the second connector. 
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising:
 a fifth connector connected to the first portion of the shoulder harness and extending downwardly away from the first portion, 
 a sixth connector connected to the second portion of the shoulder harness and extending downwardly from away from the second portion, 
 a seventh connector attached to the electronic device support pouch and configured to releasably connect to either of the fifth connector and the sixth connector, and 
 an eighth connector attached to the accessory support unit and configured to releasably connect to either of the fifth connector and the sixth connector. 
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising:
 a first adjustable length strap positioned between the first portion of the shoulder harness and the first connector or integral with the first portion of the shoulder harness and operatively connected to the first connector, 
 a second adjustable length strap positioned between the first portion of the shoulder harness and the fifth connector or integral with the second portion of the shoulder harness and operatively connected to the fifth connector, 
 a third adjustable length strap positioned between the second portion of the shoulder harness and the second connector or integral with the second portion of the shoulder harness and operatively connected to the second connector, and a fourth adjustable length strap positioned between the second portion of the 
 shoulder harness and the sixth connector or integral with the second portion of the shoulder harness and operatively connected to the sixth connector. 
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a connector for releasably interconnecting the first portion of the shoulder harness with the second portion of the shoulder harness. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the electronic device support pouch defines an opening between a top and a bottom thereof, the opening oriented toward a front of the wearer when the apparatus is worn by the wearer. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the electronic device defines a width,
 and wherein the opening defines a length, 
 and wherein the length of the opening is sized to receive the width of the electronic device therein. 
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of any of  claim 8  wherein the electronic device defines a length,
 and wherein the electronic device support pouch defines a depth between the opening and an end of the electronic device support pouch opposite the opening, 
 and wherein the depth of the electronic device support pouch is less than the length of the electronic device such that one end of the electronic device protrudes from the opening of the electronic device support pouch when the electronic device is received completely within the electronic device support pouch with an opposite end of the electronic device in contact with the end of the electronic device support pouch opposite the opening. 
 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising a closure strap attached at one end to one side of the electronic device support pouch and having an opposite free end configured to engage a locking structure of the electronic device support pouch, the closure strap sized to extend across the opening from the one side of the electronic device support pouch to an opposite side of the electronic device support pouch over and in contact with one end of the electronic device which protrudes from the opening when the electronic device is received within the electronic device storage pouch, the closure strap thereby retaining the electronic device within the electronic device storage pouch. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the opening is biased to a partially open position. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the electronic device support pouch comprises one of a rigid, semi-rigid and flexible interior cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the electronic device support pouch is supported by the shoulder harness such that the opening defines an angle of approximately  15 - 20  degrees relative to vertical. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the accessory support unit comprises a storage pouch. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the storage pouch comprises a flap that is extendable over the storage pouch and a closure mechanism configured to selectively secure the flap to the storage pouch. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the accessory support unit comprises a strip or pouch configured to store and carry therein at least one of a battery charging apparatus associated with the electronic device, one or more writing utensils or stylus devices, one or more paper tablets, one or more rolls of coins or one or more batteries, one or more camera accessories, one or more medical accessories, and at least one hand-held electronic device. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the at least one hand-held electronic device comprises at least one of one of a cellular telephone, a personal data assistant, a wireless communication device, an audio storage and playback device, a calculator, a GPS unit, a camera, a video recorder, a medical device and a flashlight. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the one or more camera accessories comprise at least one of one or more camera lenses, one or more flash packs, one or more batteries and one or more data storage devices. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the one or more medical accessories comprises at least one of a stethoscope, a thermometer, an ear, nose and throat illumination device, tissue paper and one or more sets of sterile gloves. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one clip attached to the accessory support unit, the at least one clip configured to releasably engage at least one portable structure. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a strap having one end attached to the accessory support unit and a free end, the strap configured to engage clothing worn by the wearer of the apparatus to anchor the accessory support unit to the clothing. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is constructed from at least one of one or more washable materials and one or more recycled materials. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the electronic device is one of a tablet computer and an e-reader. 
     
     
         25 . A body-worn apparatus for carrying an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
 a shoulder harness having interconnected first and second portions configured to be supported by first and second shoulders respectively of a wearer,   an electronic device support pouch configured to releasably attach to either of the first and second portions of the shoulder harness with the electronic device support pouch extending downwardly along one or an opposite side respectively of the wearer when the shoulder harness is worn by the wearer, the electronic device support pouch configured to removably receive the electronic device therein, and   an accessory support unit configured to releasably attach to either of the first and second portions of the shoulder harness with the accessory support unit extending downwardly along the one or the opposite side respectively of the wearer when the shoulder harness is worn by the wearer, the accessory support unit configured to removably receive one or more accessory items therein,   wherein the accessory support unit is releasably attached to the second portion of the shoulder harness when the electronic device support pouch is releasably attached to the first portion of the shoulder harness such that the electronic device support pouch is carried by the shoulder harness along the one side of the wearer and the accessory support unit is carried by the shoulder harness along the opposite side of the wearer,   and wherein the accessory support unit is releasably attached to the first portion of the shoulder harness when the electronic device support pouch is releasably attached to the second portion of the shoulder harness such that the accessory support unit is carried by the shoulder harness along the one side of the wearer and the electronic device support pouch is carried by the shoulder harness along the opposite side of the wearer.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the electronic device is one of a tablet computer and an e-reader. 
     
     
         27 . A body-worn apparatus for carrying an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
 a shoulder strap configured to be supported by a shoulder of a wearer,   an electronic device support pouch attached to the shoulder strap, the electronic device support pouch defining an opening configured to removably receive within the electronic device support pouch the electronic device, the electronic device support pouch having a flap sized to extend over the opening when the electronic device is received within the electronic device storage pouch, and   a closure mechanism configured to selectively secure the flap to the electronic device support pouch.   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the electronic device defines a length,
 and wherein the electronic device support pouch defines a depth between the opening and an end of the electronic device support pouch opposite the opening, 
 and wherein the depth of the electronic device support pouch is less than the length of the electronic device such that one end of the electronic device protrudes from the opening of the electronic device support pouch when the electronic device is received completely within the electronic device support pouch with an opposite end of the electronic device in contact with the end of the electronic device support pouch opposite the opening, 
 and wherein the flap is sized to extend over and in contact with the one end of the electronic device when the electronic device is received within the electronic device storage pouch. 
 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the apparatus is constructed from at least one of one or more washable materials and one or more recycled materials. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the electronic device is one of a tablet computer and an e-reader.