Abstract:
A carrying apparatus and method for a wireless device. The apparatus has a first mating portion coupled to a wireless device case and a second mating portion coupled to a personal item, such as a belt. The first and second mating portions are coupled to each other by the positioning of a magnet proximate the surface of at least one—and preferably both—of the first and second mating portions. Bringing the first and second mating portions into sufficient proximity causes them to be coupled, and permits the use of the apparatus for carrying. When the wireless device needs to be removed for use, a pulling action will separate the first and second mating portions.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to wireless devices and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for carrying a wireless device on a belt, purse, bag, or the like.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Wireless devices, including telephones, beepers, pda&#39;s, and the like, are often carried in a manner that will facilitate ready access to the device when needed. Thus, there are a variety of apparatuses that permit the attachment of a case for a wireless device to a belt, purse, bag, or the like. A typical such apparatus consists of a case for the wireless device, which case has a clip on a rear side thereof to be attached to a belt or the like.  
           [0003]    It is preferred that an apparatus of this type provide for secure coupling to the user&#39;s personal property (e.g., belt, bag or the like), while also permitting ready, relatively quick, and relatively easy removal of the wireless device for use. The coupling apparatus should permit both secure attachment to the user&#39;s personal property, while also allowing for quick and easy removal of the wireless device without disturbing the attachment to the personal property. The coupling apparatus should also be adaptable, so as to be useable with a different types of personal property. The present invention satisfies these needs and provides other, related, advantages.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a coupling apparatus and method for a wireless device that permits relatively quick removal of the wireless device for use, without disturbing the attachment of the coupling apparatus to the user&#39;s personal property.  
           [0005]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a coupling apparatus and method for a wireless device that permits relatively easy removal of the wireless device for use, without disturbing the attachment of the coupling apparatus to the user&#39;s personal property.  
           [0006]    It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a coupling apparatus and method for a wireless device, that may be coupled to a variety of types of personal property.  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
         [0007]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a wireless device carrying apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises, in combination: a first mating portion having a first end and a second end; a second mating portion having a first end and a second end; a first magnet located proximate one of the first end of the first mating portion and the first end of the second mating portion; a first attachment mechanism adapted to be coupled to each of the second end of the first mating portion and a case for a wireless device; and a second attachment mechanism adapted to be coupled to each of the second end of the second mating portion and a personal item.  
           [0008]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a wireless device carrying apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises, in combination: a first mating portion having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the first mating portion is concave; a second mating portion having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the second mating portion is convex; a first magnet located proximate the first end of the first mating portion; a second magnet located proximate the first end of the second mating portion; a first attachment mechanism adapted to be coupled to each of the second end of the first mating portion and a case for a wireless device; and a second attachment mechanism adapted to be coupled to each of the second end of the second mating portion and a personal item.  
           [0009]    In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method for carrying a wireless device is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing a first mating portion having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the first mating portion is concave; providing a second mating portion having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the second mating portion is convex; providing a first magnet located proximate the first end of the first mating portion; providing a second magnet located proximate the first end of the second mating portion; providing a first attachment mechanism adapted to be coupled to each of the second end of the first mating portion and a case for a wireless device; providing a second attachment mechanism adapted to be coupled to each of the second end of the second mating portion and a personal item; attaching the first attachment mechanism to each of the second end of the first mating portion and the case; attaching the second attachment mechanism to each of the second end of the second mating portion and the personal item; and bringing the first magnet into sufficient proximity to the second magnet so as to cause coupling of the first end of the first mating portion to the second end of the second mating portion.  
           [0010]    The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a side, cut-away view of the coupling apparatus of FIG. 1.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of one component portion of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a component portion of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a side, cross-sectional view of an embodiment of one component portion of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a side, cross-sectional view of an embodiment of one component portion of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is an end view of an embodiment of one component portion of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of one component portion of the coupling portion of the present invention in position on a wireless device case.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a side, cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an attachment mechanism portion of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 is a side, cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an attachment mechanism portion of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11 is a side view of an embodiment of the mating portion components of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment of one mating portion component of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 13 is a side, cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the mating portion components of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 14 is a side view of an embodiment of an attachment mechanism portion of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 15 is a side view of an embodiment of an attachment mechanism portion of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 16 is a side view of an embodiment of an attachment mechanism portion of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a fully-assembled coupling apparatus of the present invention, in use. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]    Referring first to FIGS.  1 - 2  and  17  an embodiment of a coupling apparatus  10  is shown. The coupling apparatus generally comprises the following: a first mating portion  12 , a second mating portion  14 , a first attachment mechanism  16 , and a second attachment mechanism  18 . The first mating portion  12  is coupled via the first attachment mechanism  16  to a wireless device case  20  or, alternatively, directly to the wireless device (not shown) contained therein. (The term “case” as used herein is intended to include either a removable case positioned over the exterior of a wireless device, or the outside of the wireless device itself.) The second mating portion  14  is coupled via the second attachment mechanism  18  to an item of personal property, such as a belt  22 . (While a belt  22  is shown as an example of an item of personal property to which the second attachment mechanism  18  may be secured, it should be understood that it may be desirable to secure the second attachment mechanism  18  to other property, such as waist-band, a purse (including a purse strap), a pocket, etc.)  
         [0029]    Referring now to FIGS.  2 ,  5 - 6 ,  8 , and  11 - 13 , attention is directed to the first and second mating portions  12  and  14 . These portions are adapted to be coupled to each other about exposed surfaces  13  and  15 , respectively. It is preferred, as shown herein, that exposed surface  13  be concave, and that exposed surface  15  be convex, so as to provide for more secure coupling therebetween. A magnet  24  is present on at least one surface  13  or  15 . The other surface  13  or  15  has either a magnet  24  thereon (of opposite polarity to the one located on the opposing surface), or a metal surface of a type that is capable of being attracted to a magnet  24 . When exposed surfaces  13  and  15  are brought into sufficient proximity with one another, attraction of the magnet  24  to either the second magnet  24  or the opposing metal surface will cause the first and second mating portions  12  and  14  to be coupled at exposed surfaces  13  and  15 — as shown by way of example in FIGS. 2 and 17. Conversely, pulling on at least one of the first and second mating portions  12  and  14 , typically caused by pulling away the case  20  from the belt  22  or other object to which the second mating portion  14  is coupled, will cause de-coupling of the first and second mating portions  12  and  14 —and permit use of the wireless device in the case  20 .  
         [0030]    Referring now to FIGS.  1 - 6  and  8 - 17 , attention is now directed to first attachment mechanism  16  and second attachment mechanism  18 . In one embodiment, as shown by way of example in FIGS.  8 ,  11 - 13  and  17 , a transverse opening  30  is provided through a rear portion of each attachment mechanism  16  and  18 . Insertable through each transverse opening  30  is, optionally, a ring  26 . (The ring  26  may, by way of example, be of the split ring type (see, e.g., FIG. 4), of the D-ring type, or of another desired type).  
         [0031]    As shown in FIG. 1- 2 ,  8  and  17 , and as noted above, it is preferred that the first mating portion  12  is coupled via the first attachment mechanism  16  to a case  20 , and that the second mating portion  14  is coupled via the second attachment mechanism  18  to an item of personal property, such as a belt  22 . (it should be apparent that the positions of the first and second mating portions  12  and  14  could be reversed.) Referring now to FIGS.  2 ,  3 - 6 ,  8 - 10 , and  14 - 17 , the first and second attachment mechanisms  16  and  18  are described in greater detail.  
         [0032]    First, it should be noted that the purpose of the first attachment mechanism  16  is to couple the first mating potion  12  to the case  20 . First, as shown in FIGS.  2 ,  5 - 6  and  9 - 10 , it will be preferred to insert a pin  28  through the case  20 . In one embodiment, the end of the pin  28  is inserted into the rear of the first mating portion  12  through longitudinal opening  29 , where a transverse opening  32  in the pin  28  is aligned with the transverse opening  30 , and the pin  28  is then secured by the insertion and secure coupling of a transverse pin  34  therein. See FIGS.  5 - 7 . In another embodiment, the end of the pin  28  is inserted into the rear of a base member  36 , which base member  36  is then securely coupled to the rear of the first mating portion  12 . See FIG. 2. These configurations permit a relatively rigid positioning of the case  20  relative to the belt  22  or other item upon which the case  20  is worn, and limits movement of the case  20 .  
         [0033]    In another embodiment, the pin  28  is securely coupled to an O-type ring  38 . See FIG. 8. In yet another embodiment, the pin  28  is securely coupled to a D-type ring  40 . See FIG. 9. In this embodiments, coupling to the rear of the first mating portion  12  is accomplished by coupling a ring  26  to each of the O-type ring  38  or D-type ring  40  and through the transverse opening  30 . See FIGS. 8 and 17. These configurations permit relatively freer movement of the case  20  during use.  
         [0034]    Referring now to FIGS.  3 - 4  and  16 , in another configuration, the first mating portion  12  receives an eye-bolt  42  into the longitudinal opening  29 , with the eye-bolt  42  being secured thereto with the insertion of transverse pin  34  through transverse opening  32  and through transverse opening  33  in the eye-bolt  42 . The eye-bolt  42  has coupled to the ring portion thereof a ring  26  or a spring clip  44 .  
         [0035]    Referring now to FIGS.  1 - 2 ,  14 - 15  and  17 , embodiments of the second attachment mechanism  18  are shown. In one embodiment, a belt clip  46  has an eyelet  48  thereon. The belt clip  46  may be clipped to a belt  22  or other personal item. In another embodiment, a loop  50  has an eyelet  52  thereon, and the loop  50  further has a snap assembly  54  to permit opening and closing of the loop  50  about a belt  22  or other personal item. (As shown in FIG. 2, instead of the eyelet  52 , it would be possible to secure a pin  56  through the loop  50  and into the rear of the second mating portion  14 .)  
         [0036]    It should be understood that, while different embodiments of the first and second attachment portions  16  and  18  are shown, each configuration could equally be used as a first attachment portion  16  or second attachment portion  18 . For example, while FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an embodiment of a first attachment portion  16  coupled to a case  20 , they could also illustrate a second attachment portion  18  coupled to a belt clip  46  or loop  50 . The same would be accurate with respect to the embodiments shown in FIGS.  2 - 4  and  9 - 10 .  
         [0037]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.