Apparatus and method for carrying and supporting a media tablet

Abstract

An apparatus for carrying and supporting a media tablet has a panel assembly adapted to be secured to the media tablet, and a support strap affixed to the media tablet. The support strap is adapted to extend around a portion of the user's body such that the panel assembly is supported in a desired orientation away from eyes of the user. The panel assembly includes a first panel adapted to be affixed to the media tablet and a second panel rotatably mounted to the first panel. The support strap is affixed to the second panel. The first panel includes hooks that are elastically connected to the first panel so as to extend outwardly so as to engage edges and sides of the media tablet.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for carrying and supporting a media tablet, the apparatus comprising:
 a panel assembly adapted to be secured to the media tablet; and   a support strap affixed to said panel assembly, said support strap adapted to extend around a portion of the user's body such that said panel assembly is supported in a desired orientation away from eyes of the user.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said panel assembly adapted to be rotatable relative to an orientation of the media tablet. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said panel assembly comprising:
 a first panel adapted to be affixed to the media tablet; and   a second panel rotatably mounted to said first panel, said support strap affixed to said second panel.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , said first panel having at least a pair of connecting elements extending therefrom, each of the connecting elements adapted to receive an edge of the media tablet. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , each of the connecting elements comprising:
 a band extending outwardly of said first panel; and   a hook element connected to an end of said band opposite said first panel.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , said band being an elastic band. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , the connecting elements comprising:
 a first band extending outwardly of one side of said first panel; and   a second band extending outwardly of an opposite side of said first panel.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , the connecting elements further comprising:
 a third band extending outwardly of an edge of said first panel between the sides thereof; and   a fourth band extending outwardly of an opposite edge of said first panel between the sides thereof.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , said second panel being in parallel planar relationship to said first panel. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , said second panel having a first fastener affixed to said second panel and a second fastener affixed to said second panel, said support patent strap engageable with said first and second fasteners. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , said first fastener comprising:
 a first clasp; and   a second clasp arranged in parallel planar relationship to said first clasp, said support strap having first and second complementary clasps respectively removably engageable with said first and second clasps.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , said second fastener comprising:
 a first hook-and-loop material strip affixed to said second panel; and   a second hook-and-loop material stripped affixed to said second panel, said support strap having first and second complementary hook-and-loop material strips removably engageable with said first and second hook-and-loop material strips.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said support strap having a tilt adjustment strap extending therefrom, said tilt adjustment strap engageable with said panel assembly so as to vary an orientation of the media tablet with respect to the eyes of the user. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , said tilt adjustment strap comprising:
 a first tilt adjustment strap affixed to said support strap in spaced relation to an end of said support strap; and   a second tilt adjustment strap affixed to said support strap in spaced relation to said first tilt adjustment strap and in spaced relation to the end of said support strap.   
     
     
         15 . A method of supporting an orienting a media tablet relative to eyes of the user, the method comprising:
 affixing a rotatable panel assembly to the media tablet;   extending the support strap around a portion of the body of the user so as to have ends of the support strap extending outwardly thereof; and   engaging the ends of the support strap with the panel so as to fix the media tablet in a desired orientation.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , said rotatable panel assembly having a first fastener and a second fastener thereon, the step of engaging comprising:
 affixing a connector at an end of one of said ends of said support strap to said first fastener; and   attaching a connector at an end of another of said ends of said support strap to said second fastener.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , said second fastener being a strip of hook-and-loop material, said connector at said end of said another of said ends of said support strap being a strip of complementary hook-and-loop material, the step of attaching comprising:
 placing the complementary strip of hook-and-loop material against said strip of hook-and-loop material in a desired location.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , the step of affixing comprising:
 extending books outwardly of said panel assembly; and   engaging the hooks with edges of the media tablet.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , said panel assembly having a first panel and a second panel rotatably mounted to said first panel, the method further comprising:
 rotating the second panel with respect to the first panel relative to an orientation of the media tablet.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 adjusting a length of said support strap so as to set the desired orientation of the media tablet.