Multi-functional holster for electronic device

Abstract

A multi-purpose holster attaches to surfaces/objects, to retain an electronic device in a desirable position for hands-free use as a camera or video recorder. An elastic first strap extends transversely from a main body of the holster, wraps around the electronic device and fastens to itself to capture the device in portrait orientation. An elastic second strap extends parallel to the main body and around the electronic device, and fastens to the rear of the main body or to a portion of the first strap to capture the device in landscape orientation. The holster may include suction cup, loop and/or other suspension mechanisms to suspend the holster from the vertical surface of other object, and/or the first and second straps may be used to strap the holster to the surface/object.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A holster for an electronic device, the holster comprising:
 A main body having a first end and a second end, and a longitudinal axis between said first end and said second end, and a width transverse to the longitudinal axis;   A transverse strap having a proximal end connected to the main body and an opposing distal end, the transverse strap extending from the main body in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main body, the transverse strap being adapted in length to wrap around the width of the main body at least once, and the distal end being adapted to removably fasten to a portion of the transverse strap between the proximal end and the distal end for wrapping around an electronic device to capture the electronic device in the holster;   A longitudinal strap having a proximal end connected to the main body and an opposing distal end, the longitudinal strap extending from the main body in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the main body, and the distal end adapted to removably fasten to a rear side of the main body to define a space between the longitudinal strap and the main body for capturing an electronic device in the holster;   A suspension mechanism connected to the main body, for suspending the holster from an object or surface.   
     
     
         2 . The holster as in  claim 1 , wherein the suspension mechanism is selected from the group consisting of one or more suction cups, one or more loops, and one or more hooks. 
     
     
         3 . The holster as in  claim 1 , wherein the transverse strap and the longitudinal strap are both elastic. 
     
     
         4 . The holster as in  claim 1  wherein the suspension mechanism comprises both a suction cup and a loop at opposite ends of the main body. 
     
     
         5 . The holster as in  claim 4 , wherein the main body is formed of material folded at said first end and said second end, so that the main body comprises two layers at said first end and said second end, and said loop is received between said two layers at one of the first end or the second end. 
     
     
         6 . The holster as in  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the transverse strap and said portion of the transverse strap between the proximal end and the distal end each comprise cooperating hook-and-loop fastener for said removable fastening of the distal end to said portion. 
     
     
         7 . The holster as in  claim 1 , wherein a rear side of the distal end of the longitudinal strap and the rear side of the main body each comprise cooperating hook-and-loop fastener for said removable fastening of the distal end of the longitudinal strap to said rear side of the main body. 
     
     
         8 . The holster as in  claim 1 , wherein a flap extends generally perpendicularly from the transverse strap and comprises hook-and-loop fastener, and wherein a front side of the distal end of the longitudinal strap comprises a hook-and-loop fastener for removable fastening of the distal end of the longitudinal strap to said flap. 
     
     
         9 . The holster as in  claim 8 , wherein the longitudinal strap distal end removably fastens to the flap at the same time the transverse strap is wrapped around the width of the main body and is removably fastened to said portion of the transverse strap. 
     
     
         10 . The holster of  claim 1 , wherein a front side and a back side of the distal end of the longitudinal strap each comprise hook-and-loop fastener for removable fastening of the longitudinal strap to multiple locations on the holster. 
     
     
         11 . A cellular phone holster comprising:
 a) A generally flat main body having a top end and a bottom end, a front side and a rear side, and a longitudinal axis between said top and said bottom end;   b) A first strap for cellular phone retention, wherein said first strap extends generally horizontally from the main body;   c) A second strap for cellular phone retention having a proximal end attached to a central region of the main body, the second strap extending unattached from the main body generally vertically downwards from the main body past the bottom end of said main body;   d) Wherein the first and second straps each comprise a distal end having hook-and-loop fastener, the main body comprises a hook-and-loop fastener on the rear side, and the first strap comprises hook-and-loop fastener at a location part way along the length of the first strap;   e) Wherein said first strap is elastic and wrapped around the cellular phone, the first strap stretching to become tensioned circumferentially around the cellular phone, so that said cellular phone is secured to the holster.   
     
     
         12 . The holster of  claim 11 , further comprising loops of elastic cording, one at each of the top end and the bottom end of the main body, and wherein one of said loops is connected to a suction cup. 
     
     
         13 . The holster as in  claim 12 , wherein said main body comprises multiple layers, and each of the loops is retained between said multiple layers 
     
     
         14 . The holster of  claim 11 , wherein the main body is 1.5-3 inches wide and about 5-6 inches long, the first strap is about 1-2 inches wide and about 7-9 inches long, and the second strap is about 1-2 inches wide and about 4.5-6 inches long. 
     
     
         15 . The holster as in  claim 11 , wherein said main body is formed of an elongated piece of material with two ends and a central region, the two ends folded toward and sewn to the central region, said folding forming two folds that are said top end and said bottom end so that said top end and said bottom end comprise two layers of said piece of material with a fold space between said two layers, wherein the holster comprises at least one loop of cording extending through at least one of the fold spaces for hanging on a hook or for attachment to a suction cup or other fastening device. 
     
     
         16 . The holster as in  claim 11 , wherein the hook-and-loop fastener on the distal end of the first strap removably fastens to said hook-and-loop fastener at a location part way along the length of the first strap, when the first strap is wrapped and tensioned around the cellular phone. 
     
     
         17 . The holster as in  claim 16 , wherein the second strap comprises hook-and-loop fastener on both front and rear sides of the distal end of the second strap, so that the distal end of the second strap is adapted to fasten to both the rear side of the main body and to the hook-and-loop fastener at said location part way along the length of the first strap. 
     
     
         18 . The holster as in  claim 17 , wherein said first strap comprises a depending flap comprising hook-and-loop fastener so that the distal end of the second strap is attachable to said depending flap. 
     
     
         19 . The holster of  claim 11 , wherein said first strap is wrapped 360-540 degrees around the main body. 
     
     
         20 . A method of securing an electronic device to surfaces and objects for hands-free photos and video, the method comprising:
 a) Providing a holster having a generally rectangular main body, an elastic horizontal strap connected to the main body and comprising multiple hook-and-loop fasteners along the length of the horizontal strap, an elastic vertical strap connected to a front mid-region of said main body and comprising a rear hook-and-loop fastener on the rear side of the vertical strap, and a suspension mechanism selected from a group consisting of a suction cup, a strap, a loop, a hook, a tie, a wire, a eyelet, string, cord, and a combination of these suction mechanisms, connected to one end of the main body;   b) Placing an electronic device in a first position against the upper half of the main body, wrapping the horizontal elastic retention strap around the main body and the electronic device, and fastening a distal end of the horizontal strap to another portion of the horizontal strap by hook-and-loop fastening, whereby the horizontal strap is stretched and held around the electronic device to capture it against the main body;   c) Suspending the holster, and the electronic device captured therein, from a vertical surface by connecting the suspension mechanism to the vertical surface.   
     
     
         21 . A method as in  claim 20 , further comprising placing the electronic device in a second location in the holster by placing the electronic device against the lower half of the main body, wrapping the vertical strap around the electronic device and the lower end of the main body, and fastening a distal end of the vertical strap to a rear side of the main body by hook-and-loop fastening, whereby the vertical strap is stretched to capture the electronic device against the main body.