Abstract:
A shell or case for holding a cell phone, with a releasable tether attached to the case, for quickly locating and retrieving the cell phone from the depths of a handbag or tote bag. A catch device with a push-button release mechanism is attached to an external surface of the shell. The tether has a post and anchor head that is catchable within the catch device. Pushing the release mechanism opens the catch. A biasing spring ejects the anchor head from the device. The tether may be attached at its other end to a handbag or tote bag strap, so that it is easily and quickly located. Pulling on the tether retrieves the shell with phone or other electronic device from the bag. Pushing the release button automatically releases and ejects the anchor-head end of the tether from the shell, so that the user may used the cell phone or device freely, without any restraint on freedom of movement.

Description:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to the field of article carriers and, particularly, to cases or carriers for handheld electronic devices. More particularly, the invention relates to tethered holders, which facilitate retrieval of such devices from a larger storage area. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Handheld electronic devices are ubiquitous in today&#39;s world. People routinely carry PDAs, cell phones, pagers, and other devices. For the sake of simplicity, reference shall be made to a cell phone hereinafter, although it is understood that this term is also representative of PDAs, pagers, and other handheld electronic devices. Men typically carry such devices, when not in use, in their pants pocket or clipped to their pants belt, so they are generally readily accessible. Women, on the other hand, generally carry such devices in a handbag. When the phone rings, the user then has to quickly locate the cell phone in the handbag and retrieve it before the caller has given up and terminated the call. The problem with storing a cell phone in a handbag is, that the phone, being small and denser than other objects in the handbag, sinks to the bottom of the bag. Depending on the size and contents of the bag, it may take some time to locate and retrieve the device. The same problem applies when carrying the cell phone in a back pack, tote bag, book bag, or other large carrier. 
         [0005]    One solution to the problem above is to attach a tether to the device. Many embodiments of a spooled tether are known. Typically, a case for the handheld electronic device is attached to a belt. Also attached to the belt is a spooled tether case. The end of the tether is attached to the electronic device. The tether is generally spring-biased to retract automatically into its case. This allows the tether to remain on the device during use, yet allow sufficient freedom of movement so that the device can be used comfortably for its intended function. That is, the device can comfortably be raised to the ear or held in the hand. This system also works well for key rings, which are attached to the end of the tether and are carried close to the spooled tether case. 
         [0006]    This type of tether system is not particularly suitable for use with cell phones that are stored in a handbag or other type of bag. If the spooled tether case is attached to some strap or loop in the bag, the user is forced to use or at least respond to a call on the cell phone in close proximity to the bag, and this is not always convenient. 
         [0007]    What is needed, therefore, is a device for tethering a handheld electronic device to a handbag or tote bag for quick retrieval, that will instantly allow untethered use of the device. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The invention is a tethered holster for holding a handheld electronic device. The handheld electronic device may be a cell phone, PDA, pager, or other device that is typically carried in a handbag, back pack, book bag, or tote bag, and that is typically held in the hand of the user during use. The term “cell phone” or “phone” is used hereinafter as representative of handheld electronic devices. The holster is adapted to hold the handheld electronic device securely, while providing ready access to the operational features of the device. A tether is releasably attached to the holster. A cell phone user generally wants to be able to respond to an incoming call quickly and to use the phone without being restrained in freedom of movement. For this reason, the tethered holster according to the invention has a instant-release button that immediately releases the end of the tether from the holster. 
         [0009]    The tethered holster comprises a shell or case that holds the cell phone or electronic device, such that the device may be used while still held in the shell. A tether is used to attach the shell or case to another object, such as the strap or handle of a handbag, backpack, etc. The distal end of the tether is releasably attachable to a catch device on the shell and the proximal end attachable to the object. The user is able to quickly locate the proximal end of the tether and to pull on it to retrieve the shell or case that is attached to the distal end. The distal end of the tether has a post with an anchor head that is releasably restrained within the catch device on the shell. The catch device is spring loaded, so that the catch is biased to a catch position that secures the anchor head within the catch device. A catch release, such as a push-button, works against the spring bias to open the catch. An ejection means forces the anchor head out of the catch device when the catch release is actuated. The ejection means may be a second spring that applies an upward force to the anchor head when it is released from the catch position, or may result from a downward pressure on the push-button, which simultaneously forces the catch open and applies an upward force on the anchor head, so as to eject it from the catch device. In this manner, the tether is quickly released from the shell by the push of a button, so that the user may use the cell phone in the shell, without any restraints on personal movement. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. The drawings are not drawn to scale. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the holster according to the invention, holding an electronic device. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a plane view of the holding area of the holster. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a plane view of the tether post. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is perspective view of the tether catch device, with tether post engaged. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4A  is a top plane view of the tether catch device. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4B  is a first cross-sectional view of the tether catch device, a lengthwise cut through the catch device. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4C  is a second cross-sectional view of the tether catch device, a transverse cut through release button end of catch device. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4D  is a third cross-sectional view of the tether catch device, a transverse cut through tether catch end of the device, showing the tether post in the catch. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the catch-device housing, showing the outer and the inner surfaces. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5A  is a top plane view of the inside of the housing. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the underside of the button. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6A  is an plane elevational view of the button. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view of the button, showing the contour of the slider push block. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6C  is a cross-sectional view of the button, showing the slider push block and the button spring post. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the backplate. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7A  is a top plane view of the backplate. 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the slider. 
           [0028]      FIG. 8A  is a top plane view of the slider. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8B  is a side elevational view of the slider. 
           [0030]      FIG. 8C  is a side view of the leaf spring. 
           [0031]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the catch prong. 
           [0032]      FIG. 9A  is a top plane view of the catch prong. 
           [0033]      FIG. 9B  is a plane side view, showing a spring-retaining groove. 
           [0034]      FIG. 9C  is a cross-sectional view of the catch prong. 
           [0035]      FIG. 10  is a partial assembly drawing, showing the slider assembled on the backplate, with the slider pushed to the release position and the prongs superimposed and shown held in their release position by the slider. 
           [0036]      FIG. 11  is perspective view from below of the second embodiment of the holster. 
           [0037]      FIG. 12  is an exploded view from below of the second embodiment of the tether catch device. 
           [0038]      FIG. 13  is an exploded view from above of the second embodiment of the tether catch device. 
           [0039]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the tether catch device, with the cut along the central longitudinal line of the device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0040]    The present invention will now be described more fully in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention should not, however, be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, they are provided so that this disclosure will be complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a first embodiment of a holster  1000  according to the invention, for holding a small handheld electronic device ED. The holster  1000  is constructed to allow ready access to the operational features of the electronic device ED while it is held in the holster. The holster  1000  has a case  100  formed of side walls  102 , a bottom wall  104 , a back wall  112 , and a catch device  200  mounted on the back wall. A continuous lip  106  on the edge of the back wall  112  and side walls  102  defines a storage area  108  on the case  100 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 3  shows a tether  400 , which has a tether line  420 , the ends of which are captured in a tether post  410 . A post end  412  has an anchor head  414 .  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the catch device  200 , shown without the case  100 . The catch device  200  comprises a catch  260  for releasably holding the anchor head  414  and a catch release  220 . The anchor head  414  is shown captured in the catch  260 . The catch release  220  in the embodiment shown is a button  230 , which, when actuated, opens the catch  260 , allowing the tether  400  to be quickly and easily released from the case  100 . 
         [0043]      FIGS. 4A-9B  illustrate the construction and various features of the catch device  200  and  FIG. 10  is a partial assembly drawing, showing the internal catch components in their assembled position.  FIGS. 4A-4D  show the catch device, with the tether post  410  engaged in the catch  260 .  FIG. 4A  is a top plane view,  FIG. 4B  a cross-sectional side view,  FIG. 4C  a cross-sectional view showing the catch release  220 , and  FIG. 4D  a cross-sectional view showing the anchor head  414  of the tether post  410  held in the catch  260 . The catch  260  and the catch release  220  are enclosed in a housing  300  that comprises an upper housing  310  and a backplate  330 . The catch release  220  includes the button  230  that is spring biased by a first spring  232  to hold the catch  260  in a restraining position. A more detailed discussion of the cooperation among the various components to actuate the catch  260  and the catch release  220  continues below, after the individual components have been explained. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 5-5B  show the inside of the upper housing  310 , which has a button aperture  332  that provides access to the button  230  and a post aperture  336  into which the tether post  410  is inserted into the catch  260 . Mounting holes  302  are provided for mounting the catch device  200  to the case  100 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 6  shows the underside of the button  230 , which has a first push block  234  and a post  232 A on which the first spring  232  is assembled.  FIGS. 6A-6C  illustrate the contours of the button  230  and push block  234 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view  330  and  FIG. 7A  a top plane view of the backplate  330 . The backplate  330  has various features that are constructed to hold a slider assembly  270 , which will be described in connection with  FIGS. 8-8B  below. Mounting holes  332  are provided, for attached the catch device  200  to the case  100 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 8A  is a top plane view of the slider assembly  270 , which is assembled on and slides along the backplate  330  to open or close the catch  260 . The slider assembly  270  comprises a slider body  278 , a leaf spring  274  that extends across a slider aperture  271 , cam surfaces  276 , a second push block  275 , and a second biasing spring  272 .  FIG. 8C  shows the contour of the leaf spring  274 .  FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the slider body  278 , shown from its underside, without the leaf spring  274  and the second biasing spring  272  assembled. 
         [0048]      FIGS. 9-9C  illustrate a post prong  240  which has a recess  240 A, a spring receiving groove  240 B for retaining a third biasing spring  242 , and a push surface  246 . A pair of prongs  240  is assembled within the upper housing  310 . During assembly, the prongs  240  are held in place by a lubrication substance that is applied to a surface of the prong, which is then pressed against the inner surface of the housing  310 . Once the housing  310  is assembled on the backplate  330 , the confines of the housing  310  and backplate  330  serve to hold the prongs  240  in their operative positions. The lubrication serves as a glide adhesive: it initially holds the prongs in position, yet allows the prongs to slide between a catch position and a release position, to be discussed with reference to  FIG. 10 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 10  is a partial assembly drawing of the catch device  200 , with the upper housing  310  removed, and which illustrates the catch and catch-release operations of the catch device  200 . The slider  278  is assembled on the backplate  330 , such that it is movable in the longitudinal direction, indicated by a first directional arrow A 1 . The catch release elements that are assembled in the upper housing  310  are shown with dashed lines, superimposed over the slider assembly  270 . The button  230  with its first push block  234  is positioned above the second push block  275  on the slider  278 . The pair of prongs  240  are movably retained within the upper housing  310 . A third biasing spring  242  on each prong  240  biases the prongs toward the center of the catch device  200 . The recesses  240 A are dimensioned such, that they encompass the diameter of the tether post  410 , yet are narrower than the diameter of the anchor head  414 . Pressing on the button  230  forces the first push block  234  against the second push block  275  on the slider  278 . This pushes the slider assembly  270  upward, that is, in the direction against the second biasing spring  272 . In so doing, the cam edges  276  of the slider body  278  push against the push surfaces  246  on the prongs  240 , which forces them to move in a lateral direction indicated by directional arrow A 2 , that is, away from the center and toward the sides of the catch device  200 . This effectively widens the area between the prong recesses  240 A, so that the anchor head  414  on the tether post  410  can escape the catch  260 . The leaf spring  274  has an upward bias, up toward the upper housing  310 , and serves as an ejection spring. When the prongs  240  are opened, so as to release the anchor head  414 , the ejection spring  274  pushes the anchor head  414  upward and out of the catch  260 . 
         [0050]    To capture the tether  400  in the catch device  200 , the user need only insert the anchor head  414  in the post aperture  336  and push slightly. The anchor head  414  and the edges of the recess  240 A on the prongs  240  are contoured such, that the downward force on the prongs  240  forces them apart. The anchor head pushes past the opening formed by the recesses. The prongs  240 , being spring biased toward the center of the device, snap to their catch position, in which the anchor head  414  is held in the catch device  200  by the prongs  240 . 
         [0051]      FIGS. 11-14  illustrate a second embodiment of a holster  2000  according to the invention. This embodiment is a mechanically simplified version of the first embodiment of the holster  1000 , having fewer separate components, but which provides essentially the same function. The holster  2000  comprises a catch device  2200  that is mounted on the case  100 . The case is essentially the same case  100  as in the first embodiment. In  FIGS. 12 and 13 , one of the side walls  102  extends farther upward and the catch  2200  is mounted on that side wall, as shown in  FIG. 11 . The tether  400  is identical to the tether previously described. 
         [0052]      FIGS. 12 and 13  are exploded views of the holster  2000 , illustrating the various components and  FIG. 14  a cross-sectional view of the assembled catch device  2200 , the cut for the cross-sectional view being a lengthwise cut through the center of the catch device  2200 . A slider assembly  2270 , which includes a slider body  2278  and a biasing spring  2232 , is assembled inside a housing  2300 , which includes a backplate  2330  and an upper housing  2310 . The backplate  2330  attaches to the side wall  102  of the case  100  by means of some type of suitable fastener. The slider body  2278  is assembled on the floor of the backplate  2330  and the biasing spring  2232  is assembled between the rearward or non-operative end of the slider body  2270  and a wall of the upper housing  2310 . A pair of prongs  2240  are provided on the forward or operative end of the slider body  2278 . A button aperture  2332  and a post aperture  2336  are formed in the upper housing  2310 . The biasing spring  2232  biases the slider body  2270  to a forward or operative position that engages the anchor head  414  of the tether  400 . The pair of post prongs  2240  captures the anchor head  414  of the tether when the slider body  2278  is biased forward and holds the anchor head  414  within the upper housing  2310 . 
         [0053]    A button  2230  has protrusions  2234  that are pivotably held in a button support  2236  provided on the back plate  2330 . The button  2230  extends through a button aperture  2332  on the upper housing  2310 . The slider body  2278  has a cam surface  2279  at its rearward end. Depressing the button  2230  forces the slider body  2278  in a rearward direction away from the post aperture  2336 . This downward action on the button  2230  releases the anchor head  414  from the pair of prongs  2240 . An ejection spring  2272  is assembled on the back plate  2230  and applies an upward force against the anchor head  414 . When the anchor head  414  is released from the prongs  2240 , the ejection spring  2272  automatically ejects the anchor head  414  through the post aperture  2336 , thereby releasing it from the catch device  2210 . 
         [0054]    It is understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present invention. Variations in the construction of the catch device and phone holster may be contemplated by one skilled in the art without limiting the intended scope of the invention herein disclosed and as defined by the following claims.