Restraining and protection device for neckstrap-suspended equipment

An apparatus for restraining and protecting neckstrap-suspended equipment, the apparatus comprising:

• covering means for encasing a portion of the equipment, the covering means being flexible and conformable to the shape of the equipment, the covering means having an extremity portion;
• elastomeric means for biasing the extremity of the covering means toward itself so that the extremity of the covering means gathers toward itself and forms a pocket capable of receiving the equipment;
• and
• means for maintaining positional location of the covering means on a user as the equipment hangs from the user by the neckstrap and as the equipment is held within the pocket formed by the covering means such that the user can readily remove the equipment from the pocket formed in the covering means to use the equipment and such that the user can readily insert the equipment into the pocket formed by the covering means such that at least a substantial portion of the equipment is covered by the covering means and any swinging motion of the equipment is at least partially restrained.

An apparatus for restraining and protecting binoculars which are hanging from a user's body by a neckstrap, the apparatus comprising:

• covering means for encasing at least a portion of the binoculars which is facing away from the user's body when hanging by the neckstrap, the covering means being flexible and conformable to the shape of the binoculars, the covering means having an extremity portion;
• elastomeric means, provided adjacent to and about substantially all of the extremity of the covering means, for biasing the extremity of the covering means toward itself so that the extremity of the covering means gathers toward itself and forms a pocket capable of receiving and holding the binoculars, the elastomeric means comprising a material which is different than the covering means and which is attached to the covering means;
• and
• means for maintaining positional location of the covering means on a chest of the user as the binoculars hang from the user by the neckstrap and as the binoculars are held within the pocket formed by the covering means such that the user can readily remove the binoculars from the pocket formed in the covering means to bring the binoculars up to an eye of the user and such that the user can readily again insert the binoculars into the pocket formed by the covering means such that at least a the portion of the binoculars which faces away from the user's body when suspended by the neckstrap is covered by the covering means and protected from ambient precipitation and any swinging motion of the binoculars as the user moves is at least partially restrained.