Device and method for hands-free carrying and/or use of items intended for hand-held use

Abstract

Devices and methods for securing items to a supportive substrate comprising: (1) an elongated band formed into or formable into an at least partially closed loop around the supportive substrate for secure attachment to said substrate, said elongate band comprising a front side surface; and (2) a retaining band attached to or attachable to said elongate band so as to be capable of forming a channel adaptable to elastically retain said item against at least a portion of said front surface.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An armband for holding an electronic device comprising:
 (a) a elongate band sized to encircle an arm, said elongate band extending from a first end to a second end to define a length with a midpoint equidistant from both said ends, said elongate band being formed integrally in one piece of a flexible elastic material, and said elongate band comprising a front side surface and a back side surface;   (b) an attachment point integrally connected to said back side surface near the first end of the elongate band, said attachment point is removably attached to said front side surface near the second end of the elongate band to form a loop;   (c) a generally rectangular shaped friction patch attached to said front side surface at a location between said first end of said elongate band and the midpoint of said elongate band, said friction patch extending from a first end to a second end to define a friction patch length, wherein said first end of said friction patch is located at a position closer to the first end of the elongate band than said second end of said friction patch; and   (d) an elastic band coupled to the front side surface of the elongate band, said elastic band comprising a first attachment end, a second attachment end, and a middle portion, wherein said first attachment end is attached to the front side surface of the elongate band at a location in between said first end of said elongate band and said first end of said friction patch, and said second attachment end is attached to the front side surface of the elongate band at a location between said second end of said elongate band and said second end of the friction patch to create a channel between said friction patch and said middle portion of the elastic band, wherein said channel is sized to receive an electronic device.   
     
     
         2 . The armband of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible elastic material comprises neoprene. 
     
     
         3 . The armband of  claim 1 , wherein front side surface comprises a plurality of loop cells along the length of the strap, and said attachment point comprises a plurality of hook cells. 
     
     
         4 . The armband of  claim 1 , wherein said back side surface comprises a fabric material. 
     
     
         5 . The armband of  claim 4 , wherein said fabric material comprises nylon. 
     
     
         6 . The armband of  claim 1 , wherein a substantially rectangular shaped cushioning insert is integrally attached to the back side surface near or at said midpoint of said elongate band. 
     
     
         7 . The armband of  claim 6 , wherein said cushioning insert is formed from a material comprising foam rubber. 
     
     
         8 . The armband of  claim 1 , wherein said friction patch is formed from a rubber comprising sufficient tackifier to produce a high friction surface. 
     
     
         9 . The armband of  claim 1 , wherein said elastic band is formed from a rubber comprising sufficient tackifier to produce a high friction surface. 
     
     
         10 . The armband of  claim 1 , wherein said first attachment end of said elastic band is removably attachable to said front side surface. 
     
     
         11 . The armband of  claim 1 , wherein said second attachment end of said elastic band is removably attachable to said front side surface. 
     
     
         12 . The armband of  claim 1 , wherein said first attachment end and said second attachment end of said elastic band is removably attachable to said front side surface. 
     
     
         13 . The armband or  claim 1 , wherein said length of said elongate band is from about 12 inches to about 20 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The armband of  claim 1 , wherein said length of said elongate band is from about 14 inches to about 18 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The armband of  claim 1 , wherein said length of said elongate band is about 21 inches. 
     
     
         16 . The armband of  claim 1 , wherein said friction patch length is from about 2 inches to about 5 inches. 
     
     
         17 . The armband of  claim 1 , wherein said friction patch length is from about 3 inches to about 4 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The armband of  claim 1 , wherein said friction patch length is from about 3.5 inches. 
     
     
         19 . A device for securing item(s) to a supportive substrate comprising:
 (a) an elongate band formed into or formable into an at least partially closed loop around the supportive substrate for secure attachment to said substrate, said elongate band comprising a front side surface; and   (b) a retaining band attached to or attachable to said elongate band so as to be capable of forming a channel adaptable to elastically retain said item against at least a portion of said front surface.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the retaining band is formed at least partially from elastic material. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20  wherein said retaining band is attached or attachable at two points or regions to the front face of the elongate band to form said channel. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the elasticity of said material of said retaining band provides a channel of variable dimensions and provides at least a portion of the retaining force holding the item to the elongate band when the device is in use. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 21  wherein a first portion or end of said retaining band is permanently attached to said elongate band and a second portion or end is releasably attached to said elongate band and said channel is comprised of the portion of said retaining band between said first and second portions or ends. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 19  wherein said item(s) comprise a personal electronic device. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 21  further comprising a friction surface or pad located between about said two points or regions to the front face of the elongate band. 
     
     
         26 . A method of attaching a personal electronic item to a substrate comprising: (a) providing an attachment device comprising (1) a flexible elongate band having a first end, a second end, a front side surface, a back side surface, and (2) optionally a friction patch on at least a portion of the front side surface of said first end of said band; (b) attaching said elongate band to said substrate by forming said elongate band into an at least partial loop around said substrate; and (c) attaching said item to said loop by placing the item on the front side surface of the band, optionally at least partially on said friction patch, and securing said item to said elongate band by closing a channel over said item with an elastic retaining band to press said item against said front side surface, and optionally against said friction patch 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said loop is formed by looping said band around said substrate with said front side surface facing outward and closing said loop securely on said substrate by releasably attaching said first end of said elongate band to said second end of said elongate band. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the retaining band is an elastic retaining band removably attached or attachable at at least one end or portion thereof along a plurality of points to the front side surface of the elongate band, and wherein said attaching step (c) comprises (i) forming a channel between the elastic retaining band and the elongate band; (b) placing said item in said channel; and reducing the size of said channel to provide tight encircling engagement of said item between said elongate band and said retaining band.