Abstract:
A holster for an electronic device may have a pair of flexible hollow cushions that may hold the device in the holster. The cushions may be flexible enough to allow the device to be held in the holster both with and without a protective cover over the device. The cushions may have a hollow portion that collapses when compressed during insertion of the device. The cushion material may be a molded silicone that may have a nonslip surface finish. In some embodiments, the cushion may protrude through a bottom surface of the holster to provide a nonslip foot when the holster is used as a stand support for the device.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Portable electronic devices such as cellular telephones and music players are ubiquitous. Users often like to carry their devices in holsters that may be mounted on a belt or may place the devices in holders on a bicycle, car, or desk. 
     SUMMARY 
     A holster for an electronic device may have a pair of flexible hollow cushions that may hold the device in the holster. The cushions may be flexible enough to allow the device to be held in the holster both with and without a protective cover over the device. The cushions may have a hollow portion that collapses when compressed during insertion of the device. The cushion material may be a molded silicone that may have a nonslip surface finish. In some embodiments, the cushion may protrude through a bottom surface of the holster to provide a nonslip foot when the holster is used as a stand support for the device. 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective illustration of an embodiment showing a holster. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective illustration of an embodiment showing the holster of  FIG. 1  with an electronic device installed. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective illustration of an embodiment showing the holster of  FIG. 1  from the rear. 
         FIG. 4A  is a lower perspective view of an embodiment showing a cushion. 
         FIG. 4B  is an upper perspective view of an embodiment showing a cushion. 
         FIG. 4C  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment showing a cushion. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of an embodiment showing a holster with a device in a stand position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A holster for an electronic device may have one or more collapsible cushions that flex during installation and removal of the device from the holster. The cushions may have a large amount of flex such that the holster may hold multiple sizes of devices or devices with or without additional protective cases. 
     The cushions may have a nonslip surface that helps hold the device securely while in the device. In many embodiments, the cushions may be molded of thermoplastic elastomer, silicone, or other moldable material that may or may not contain silicone. Some embodiments may have the cushions extend outside of the holster cavity such that the portion of the cushions outside the cavity may act as nonslip feet when the holster is used in a stand position. 
     Throughout this specification, like reference numbers signify the same elements throughout the description of the figures. 
     When elements are referred to as being “connected” or “coupled,” the elements can be directly connected or coupled together or one or more intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when elements are referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled,” there are no intervening elements present. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment  100  showing a holster assembly  102 .  FIG. 1  is not to scale. 
     The holster assembly  102  is composed of a holster body  118 , cushions  104  and  106 , and a belt clip  110 . 
     The holster body  118  may be a rigid component that has a cavity  108  into which a device may be stored. The device may be held on top by upper lips  112  and  114 , and held on the bottom by a lower trough  116 . 
     Within the lower trough  116  may be two cushions  104  and  106 . The cushions may conform or deflect to provide a spring-like effect to hold a device in the holster. The cushions may be hollow on the inside and may be made from a silicone or thermoplastic elastomer material. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment  200  showing the holster assembly  102  with a device  202 .  FIG. 2  is not to scale. 
     In embodiment  200 , a device  202  is shown installed into the holster assembly  102 . The cushions  104  and  106  are shown. 
     The device  202  may be a cellular telephone, music player, camera, or other device. 
     The device  202  may be installed by first placing the device  202  against the cushions  104  and  106 , then pressing down to deflect the cushions  104  and  106  until the top of the device  202  fits underneath the upper lips  112  and  114 . The device may then be rotated into the holster cavity and released, allowing the cushions  104  and  106  to raise the device  202  against the upper lips  112  and  114 . 
     When the device  202  is in the holster cavity as shown in embodiment  200 , the spring force of the cushions  104  and  106  may force the device  202  against the upper lips  112  and  114 , holding the device  202  in the holster in a secure fashion. The upper lips  112  and  114  may have a lip that contains the device  202  from falling forward (as viewed in the figure). Further, the device  202  may be oriented in the lower trough  116  such that the device  202  is within the lower trough. In such an orientation, the lower trough may contain the device  202  within the holster, as the lower edge of the device  202  may be lower than the upper edge of the lower trough. 
     Because the cushions  104  and  106  may have a large amount of deflection while still providing a return spring force, the holster assembly  102  may be able to accommodate several different sized devices. Some embodiments may be able to securely hold a device  202  both with and without a protective case assembled onto the device  202 , or with a variety of protective cases. 
     The holster assembly  102  is shown in the position where the upper lips  112  and  114  are at the top of the illustration. The holster assembly  102  may hold the device  202  in any orientation, including upside down from the illustration, rotated ninety degrees from the illustration, or any other configuration. In some embodiments, the holster may be oriented such that the belt clip is facing upwards, such as if the belt clip  110  were attached to a sun visor in a user&#39;s car, for example. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment  300  showing the holster assembly  102  from the rear. 
     The holster assembly  102  is illustrated showing the belt clip  110 , upper lips  112  and  114 , and the cushion  104 . The belt clip  110  may be rotatable  360  degrees with respect to the holster body, allowing the user to configure the belt clip to mount on a variety of applications while holding the holster in a variety of orientations. 
       FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C  illustrate three views of a typical cushion.  FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C  are not to scale. 
       FIG. 4A  shows an embodiment  400  of a cushion from a lower perspective view. 
       FIG. 4B  shows an embodiment  402  of a cushion from an upper perspective view. 
       FIG. 4C  shows an embodiment  404  of a cross-sectional view of a cushion. 
     The cushion  406  may be a hollow component that is manufactured from a flexible material. In many embodiments, the cushion  406  may be molded from a thermoplastic elastomer, silicone, or some other flexible material. 
     The cushion  406  may have a hollow area  412 . The hollow area  412  may collapse when crushed, but may return to the normal position, thus acting as a spring. The hollow area  412  may allow the cushion  406  to collapse to approximately 10-20% of its overall height. 
     The cushion  406  may have a post  408  and tab  410  that may be used to attach the cushion  406  to a holster. The post  408  and tab  410  may be inserted into an opening or hole in the holster that corresponds with the shape of the post  408 . The tab  410  may protrude fully or partially from the hole in the holster. 
     The thickness  422  may be the approximate thickness of the top and walls of the cushion  406 . The thickness  422  may be 0.010 in, 0.020 in, 0.050 in, 0.070 in, 0.100 in, or larger. 
     The post  408  may have dimensions of a height  414  and width  416 . In some embodiments, the width  416  may be the same as the thickness  422 . The width  416  may be various sizes, including 0.010 in, 0.020 in, 0.050 in, 0.070 in, 0.100 in, or larger, depending on the embodiment. Similarly, the height  414  may be various sizes, including 0.010 in, 0.020 in, 0.050 in, 0.070 in, 0.100 in, or larger, depending on the embodiment. In many embodiments, the height  414  may be the same thickness as the thickness of a holster body into which the cushion  406  may be attached. 
     The tab  410  may have dimensions of a height  418  and width  420 . The height  418  may be selected to provide a nonslip foot for a holster when the holster is placed in a stand position. The height  418  may be the same as thickness  422 . The height  418  may be various sizes, including 0.010 in, 0.020 in, 0.050 in, 0.070 in, 0.100 in, or larger, depending on the embodiment. 
     The tab width  420  may be larger than the post width  416  and may serve as a mechanism to keep the cushion  406  attached to the holster. The tab width  420  may be various sizes, including 0.010 in, 0.020 in, 0.050 in, 0.070 in, 0.100 in, or larger, depending on the embodiment. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of an embodiment  500  showing the holster assembly  102  in a stand position.  FIG. 5  is not to scale. 
     The holster assembly  102  is shown with a belt clip  110  in an open position and with the device  202  installed into the holster assembly  102 . The cushion  106  protrudes from the holster assembly  102  and may serve as a nonslip foot for the assembly. 
     The foregoing description of the subject matter has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the subject matter to the precise form disclosed, and other modifications and variations may be possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include other alternative embodiments except insofar as limited by the prior art.