Carrying Case

Abstract

A system for maintaining a large number of Handheld Electronic Devices is implemented as a carrying case having circuitry configured to connect to the Handheld Electronic Devices to enable the HEDs to be charged and synchronized. The carrying case has a central area configured to hold the circuitry for charging and synchronizing the HEDs, and a pair of divider structures optionally made of foam on either side of the central area to hold the HEDs in a protective manner while stored in the carrying case.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A carrying case for charging, synchronizing, and storing a large number of similar Handheld Electronic Devices, comprising:
 an outer shell having a top portion and a bottom portion that are hinged together to enable the top and bottom portions to be selectively opened, to enable access to the interior, and closed, to restrict access to the interior;   a divider structure to hold and cushion the large number of similar handheld electronic devices within the interior of the carrying case to prevent the large number of similar handheld electronic devices from contacting each other while stored within the carrying case;   circuitry for charging and synchronizing the large number of similar handheld electronic devices while stored within the carrying case;   wherein the divider structure is formed of foam padding.   
     
     
         15 . The carrying case of  claim 14 , wherein the outer shell is formed from PVC. 
     
     
         16 . The carrying case of  claim 15 , further comprising a foam padding layer on an interior area of the top portion of the carrying case. 
     
     
         17 . The carrying case of  claim 15 , further comprising a foam padding layer on an interior area of the bottom portion of the carrying case. 
     
     
         18 . The carrying case of  claim 14 , wherein the circuitry is located in a central area of the bottom portion of the carrying case. 
     
     
         19 . The carrying case of  claim 14 , wherein the circuitry is a USB hub. 
     
     
         20 . The carrying case of  claim 14 , wherein the divider structure includes a first divider on a first side of the circuitry and a second divider on the second side of the circuitry, to enable handheld electronic devices to be stored and plugged into the circuitry from both sides of the circuitry 
     
     
         21 . The carrying case of  claim 14 , wherein the top portion of the outer shell and the bottom portion of the outer shell are designed to mate to create a watertight seal when the top and bottom portions are closed. 
     
     
         22 . A carrying case for charging, synchronizing, and storing a large number of similar Handheld Electronic Devices, comprising:
 an outer shell having a top portion and a bottom portion that are hinged together to enable the top and bottom portions to be selectively opened, to enable access to the interior, and closed, to restrict access to the interior;   a divider structure to hold and cushion the large number of similar handheld electronic devices within the interior of the carrying case to prevent the large number of similar handheld electronic devices from contacting each other while stored within the carrying case;   circuitry for charging and synchronizing the large number of similar handheld electronic devices while stored within the carrying case;   wherein the divider structure includes a first divider on a first side of the circuitry and a second divider on the second side of the circuitry, to enable handheld electronic devices to be stored and plugged into the circuitry from both sides of the circuitry.   
     
     
         23 . The carrying case of  claim 22 , wherein the outer shell is formed from PVC. 
     
     
         24 . The carrying case of  claim 23 , further comprising a foam padding layer on an interior area of the top portion of the carrying case. 
     
     
         25 . The carrying case of  claim 23 , further comprising a foam padding layer on an interior area of the bottom portion of the carrying case. 
     
     
         26 . The carrying case of  claim 22 , wherein the circuitry is located in a central area of the bottom portion of the carrying case. 
     
     
         27 . The carrying case of  claim 22 , wherein the circuitry is a USB hub. 
     
     
         28 . The carrying case of  claim 22 , wherein the top portion of the outer shell and the bottom portion of the outer shell are designed to mate to create a watertight seal when the top and bottom portions are closed.