Carrying case with backbone

This Application claims priority to US Provisional Application No. 60/992,005 filed on Dec. 3, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Hand-held electronic apparatus, such as GPS devices, cell phones, digital cameras, and digital binoculars, have become a ubiquitous device in modern society. The quantity and variety of hand-held electronic apparatus have increased exponentially due to practicality, cost effectiveness, and convenience of use.

Many hunters, campers, and hikers may employ a variety of hand-held electronic devices. These devices vary in durability, and even those devices that are more durable may still become scratched when unprotected. Such devices may include rangefinders, night-vision goggles, cameras, spotting scopes, GPS devices, and communication devices (including two-way radios, cell phones, and satellite phones). It may be desirable to carry such devices in carrying cases when not in use.

Carrying cases may be used in a variety of other areas as well, and users of carrying cases desire protection for the items they carry inside. Fabrication costs for carrying cases may vary with the complexity and features of carrying cases. Producers of carrying cases may desire fabrication techniques that will economize the production process, while at the same time retaining or improving the usability of the carrying case.

Carrying cases frequently are constructed to provide protection to those items carried inside. Many present carrying cases have padding; however, there may be creases in the padding where the device may be unprotected. Impact along these creases may damage the device carried inside. Furthermore, the assembly of carrying devices offering the pockets and protection can be complicated by requiring multiple fabric panels which require multiple sewing steps. Additionally, carrying cases with horizontally-oriented zippers may not remain open when unzipped. Those that remain open may open too far and items may fall out of the carrying cases. Furthermore, the zippers of such carrying cases also may be difficult to grasp, resulting in muscle fatigue.

There exists a need for a carrying case that offers seamless protection and further allows for reduced fabrication costs and time.

Embodiments of a carrying case with a backbone solve many of the problems and/or overcome many of the drawbacks and disadvantages of the prior art by providing padding for the electronic device inside that is seamless, thereby preventing damage to the device. Furthermore, some embodiments provide for streamlined fabrication, requiring fewer panels and fewer sewing steps.

In particular, embodiments of the carrying case with backbone accomplish this by providing apparatus and methods for storing electronic devices utilizing a backbone panel that serves as the bottom and back of the carrying case. Since the seam surrounding the backbone panel may be sewn in one step, fabrication costs may be reduced, while fabrication speed may be increased.

One embodiment of a carrying case for carrying a handheld device includes a backbone panel, forming a back and base for the carrying case; at least one panel interconnected with the backbone panel, such that an enclosure is formed by the at least one panel backbone panel combination; a zipper, oriented in relation to the backbone panel and the at least one panel, such that the enclosure may be opened and closed; and a stiffener, sandwiched with the backbone panel forming a stiffener-backbone panel sandwich, formed in a curved L-like shape, such that the stiffener-backbone panel sandwich retains the curved L-like shape.

A feature includes that the zipper is oriented at an angle between 10-50 degrees from the vertical. A feature includes that the zipper is oriented at an angle between 15-35 degrees from the vertical. A feature includes that the zipper is oriented at an angle of approximately 25 degrees from the vertical. A feature includes that the stiffener has contours formed on its surface. A feature includes that the contours are essentially linear and parallel to an edge of the backbone panel. A feature includes that the zipper includes a puller, the puller formed by a loop and a tab. A feature includes that wherein the tab has a flattened S-shape.

Another embodiment of a carrying case includes a backbone panel forming a back and base for the carrying case. A rear-top panel is connected to the backbone panel forming at least a portion of the sides and top of the carrying case. A left side and a right side panel are connected to the backbone panel forming a portion of the left and right sides of the carrying case, respectively. A mid-top panel is connected to the left side and right side panels, forming a portion of the sides and top of the carrying case. A mid-front panel is connected to the mid-top panel, the left side and right side panels, and the backbone panel, the mid-front panel forming the front of the carrying case. A first zipper is connected to the rear-top panel and the mid-top panel. The backbone panel, rear-top panel, left side and right side panels, mid-top panel, mid-front panel, and zipper form a first pocket in the carrying case.

An additional feature may include, a foam piece (or stiffener), fitted with the backbone panel and substantially covering the area of the backbone panel. The foam piece may be EVA foam. A single seam may be used to connect the rear-top panel, the left side and right side panels, and the mid-front panel to the backbone panel. This single seam is sewn in one step.

Furthermore, the carrying case may include a second pocket. A low-front panel is connected to the backbone panel and the left side and right side panels. A front-top panel is connected to the mid-top panel and low-front panel. A high-front panel is connected to the low-front panel. A second zipper is connected to the high-front panel and the front-top panel. The low front-panel, front-top panel, high-front panel, second zipper, and mid-front panel form the second pocket.

An additional feature includes that the first zipper of the carrying case may be oriented to the rear-top panel and mid-top panel connection at an angle to the vertical, such that the first pocket tends to rest slightly open while the zipper is in an open position. The carrying case may include a clip attached to the backbone panel.

Another addition feature include that the clip may include a rotator, oriented between the clip and the backbone panel. The rotator enables the clip to rotate, and the clip and rotator form a clip-rotator combination. The clip-rotator combination has a plurality of set points at which the clip-rotator combination is set, allowing the clip to be oriented and held at a plurality of angles. The rotator has a plurality of dimples and the clip has a plurality of protrusions. The plurality of protrusions fit into the plurality of dimples, allowing the clip to be oriented and held at a plurality of angles.

An alternative embodiment of the carrying case includes a backbone panel forming a back and base for the carrying case. A mid-top panel is connected to the backbone panel and forms the side and top of the carrying case. A front panel is connected to the backbone panel forming the front of the carrying case. A zipper interconnects the mid-top panel and the front panel, enabling the case to be unzipped into an open state and zipped into a closed state. The carrying case may also include a foam piece, fitted with the backbone panel, substantially covering the area of the backbone panel. The foam piece may be EVA foam. A single seam connects the backbone panel, the mid-top panel, and the front panel. The single seam may be sewn in one step.

An embodiment of a method for forming a carrying case includes continuously sewing a first seam, the first seam connecting a front panel, a mid-top panel, and a backbone panel, and sewing a zipper connecting the front panel and the mid-top panel. The method may include using a sewing machine. The sewing machine only needs to be set to sew the first seam once.

An embodiment of a method of fabricating a carrying case for carrying a handheld device includes sewing a first seam, the first seam connecting a body panel and a backbone panel; cutting the body panel to accommodate a zipper; inserting the zipper into a gap formed by the cutting; and sewing the zipper into the gap. One feature of the method may include that the backbone panel forms at least a portion of the back and bottom of the carrying case. Another feature of the method may include that the body panel forms at least a portion of the top, sides, and front of the carrying case. Another feature of the method may include that the cutting of the panel and the inserting and sewing of the zipper are performed before the attachment to the back bone panel. Another feature of the method may include that a combination of the body panel, the backbone panel, and the zipper form a pocket. Another feature of the method may include that the gap is cut such that it is entirely within the perimeter of the body panel. Another feature of the method may include attaching a front panel to the body panel and backbone panel