Abstract:
The wristband for an electronic device provides for the convenient storage and transport of a small electronic device, such as a cell phone, calculator, etc. The wristband has a swivel connector attached thereto. A two-part holder assembly is attached to the swivel connector. An electronic device may be installed in the inner holder. The inner holder extends from the outer holder for use, and retracts into the outer holder for storage. The holder and electronic device are normally oriented with their major axes normal to the circumference of the wristband, i.e., generally aligned with the arm of the wearer of the device. The holders are swiveled to align their major axes across the arm of the wearer and the inner holder is extended from the outer holder in order to access the electronic device therein. This procedure is reversed for storage of the electronic device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to devices for holding an article, and particularly to a wristband for holding an electronic device, such as a cell phone or the like. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The miniaturization of electronic devices has resulted in their carriage by the vast majority of the population. Cell phones are likely carried and used by the majority of people in most industrialized nations, and the pocket calculator has been carried by many people for years. In addition, digital cameras as standalone devices or in combination with cell phones (“smart phones”) and other small electronic devices are often carried by many people. 
     When these devices were being developed in the past, they tended to be relatively large and bulky in comparison to their current counterparts. Many of these devices would not fit in the standard pocket of an article of clothing, and had to be carried in a briefcase, a special holster, or other holder that was, in turn, suspended on a belt or otherwise carried on the person. In some respects the provision of an external holster for larger cell phones and the like was a convenience, as the device was readily accessible in the holster. The development of smaller and smaller electronic appliances has obviated the need for a special holster or other carrying device for such appliances, allowing them to be carried directly in a pocket, in a side compartment of a purse, or the like. In some respects, this has decreased the convenience of such devices, as they may not be so convenient to access if they are buried deeply in a pocket or purse. 
     Current electronic devices, e.g., cell phones, etc., are now sufficiently small and light to permit their carriage on the wrist by means of a suitable wristband or strap and holder. This was not practicable with earlier electronic devices that may have weighed a pound or more. 
     Thus, a wristband for an electronic device solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The wristband for an electronic device provides for the convenient carriage and access of a small electronic device, e.g., a cell phone, etc., on the wrist. The device comprises a relatively wide wristband or strap for stability. Closure of the band is provided by mating hook and loop fasteners at the ends of the strap or band, or by any other practicable means. A circular base is immovably affixed to the wristband. A rotating circular plate is installed upon the base. A first or outer holder is affixed to the circular plate, and is thus capable of rotating relative to the wristband about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the circular base and circular plate. A second or inner holder telescopes into and from the first or outer holder. The inner holder provides for the carriage of an electronic device (cell phone, etc.) therein. The inner holder is normally retracted into the outer holder for storage, the two holders normally being rotated so that their major axis is generally normal to the circumference of the wristband when the electronic device is not in use. 
     Each of the two holders includes an open window therein to allow the person wearing the wristband to view the display and access the controls of the electronic device carried therein. Accordingly, the person wearing the band or strap and holder may view the display in the event of an incoming call, even though the inner holder and the device installed therein may be retracted within the outer holder. In the event that the wearer of the device wishes to access the electronic appliance to accept a call or for other reason, he or she may rotate the two holders about the rotary attachment of the outer holder to the base on the wristband and extend the inner holder from the outer holder to facilitate access to the electronic device installed in the inner holder. When use of the electronic device is completed, it may be conveniently stored by reversing the above-described process. 
     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a wristband for an electronic device according to the present invention, showing the electronic device retracted in the holder for carriage and transport. 
         FIG. 2  is an environmental perspective view of a wristband for an electronic device according to the present invention, the electronic device being extended from the holder for use. 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevation view in section of the carrying case portion of the wristband of  FIG. 1 , showing details thereof. 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevation view in section of the carrying case portion of the wristband of  FIG. 1 , showing the holder in the extended position. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view in partial section of the carrying case portion of the wristband of  FIG. 1 , showing the mechanism for releasing the electronic device from its stowed position in the case. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the swivel connector between the wristband portion and the carrying case portion of the wristband of  FIG. 1 , showing internal details thereof. 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the base portion of the swivel connector of  FIG. 6 , showing the upper portion of the swivel connector in broken lines in its alternative rotated positions. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The wristband for an electronic device enables a user of an electronic device to carry the device conveniently so that it may be readily accessed for use. Yet, the wristband provides convenient and unobtrusive storage of the electronic device when the device is not in use. While the wristband may be used to carry any practicable electronic device therein, e.g., a small electronic calculator, etc., it is particularly well suited for the carriage of a cell phone therein. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  provide environmental perspective views of the wristband for an electronic device, or wristband  10 . The electronic device carriage portion of the wristband  10  is shown in  FIG. 1  in a retracted configuration for storage and transport of the electronic device, and is shown in  FIG. 2  in an extended position for use of the electronic device. A cell phone C is illustrated throughout the drawings as the exemplary electronic device carried by the wristband  10 . The wristband  10  includes a relatively wide and flexible strap  12  for stability, and the mechanism and structure for carrying the cell phone C (or other device) is attached generally centrally thereto. The strap  12  may be formed of a wide variety of materials, e.g., flexible leather or flexible plastic materials. Since the strap  12  is not elastic, it is not continuous, but has a first end  14  and opposite second end  16  that are generally opposite the center of the strap  12 , which has the electronic device carrying structure attached thereto. The first end  14  is provided with a first fastener  18 , and the second end  16  is provided with a second fastener  20 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The two fasteners  18  and  20  may be mating portions of hook and loop fabric material, e.g., Velcro®, or some other means of temporarily and removably joining the two ends  14  and  16  of the strap  12  together around the wrist W of the user. 
     Two mutually telescoping holders are provided to contain the cell phone C or other electronic device therein. The cell phone C is removably installed within an inner holder  22 , which selectively extends from and retracts into an outer holder  24 . Each of the two holders  22  and  24  includes a front panel  26 ,  28 . The front panels each have an access opening  30 ,  32  therethrough for viewing the screen and accessing the controls of the cell phone C or other device contained therein. The inner and outer holder access openings  30  and  32  are not transparent windows, but comprise passages through the front panels of the two holders to allow the user to access the keys and/or other controls of the electronic device contained therein. The outer holder front panel  28  and its access opening  32  are visible in both  FIGS. 1 and 2 , but the inner holder front panel  26  and its access opening  30  are shown in  FIG. 2  due to the retraction of the inner holder  22  into the outer holder  24  in  FIG. 1 . It will be seen in  FIG. 1  that the access opening  30  of the inner holder  22  is congruent with the access opening  32  of the outer holder  24  when the inner holder  22  is retracted into the outer holder  24  to allow the user to access the electronic device contained within the two holders  22 ,  24 , even when the inner holder  22  is retracted. 
       FIGS. 3 through 5  illustrate the mechanism for extending the inner holder  22  from the outer holder  24 , and for securing the inner holder  22  within the outer holder  24 . The outer holder  24  has two longitudinal channels  34   a  and  34   b  therein. First and second inner holder extension springs  36   a ,  36   b  are disposed within the laterally opposed channels  34   a ,  34   b . The inner holder  22  has two laterally opposed stops  38   a  and  38   b  extending therefrom. The springs  36   a ,  36   b  extend in their channels  34   a ,  34   b  between the lower end of the outer holder and the stops  38   a ,  38   b  of the inner holder  24  to bear against the stops  38   a ,  38   b  and bias the inner holder  22  outward from the outer holder  24 . 
     A retaining latch  40  is provided to retain the inner holder  22  in its retracted state within the outer holder  24 . The first or left upper corner portion  42  of the first or outer holder  24  has a latch passage  44  formed therein, and a latch button  46  installed in the passage  44 . The button  46  moves into and out of the latch passage  44  along an axis perpendicular to the major plane of the inner and outer holders  22  and  24 . A tang or finger  48  extends laterally from the button  46  and extends over the first or left upper corner of the inner holder  22  to prevent the inner holder from extending from the outer holder  24 , as shown in solid lines in  FIG. 5 . A retaining latch spring  50  is installed about the shank of the latch button  46 , and biases the button  46  to an extended position outside the outer holder  24 , as shown in solid lines in  FIG. 5 . 
     When the latch button  46  is pressed into the outer holder  24  against the spring  50 , the finger or tang  48  is moved beyond the first upper corner of the inner holder  22  to allow the springs  36   a ,  36   b  in the outer holder  24  to extend the inner holder from the outer holder. The inner holder  22  is precluded from departing the outer holder  24  by means of upper stops  52   a  and  52   b  extending inwardly at the upper end of the outer holder  24 . The upper stops  52   a ,  52   b  define the respective ends of the channels  34   a  and  34   b  and prevent movement of the inner holder stops  38   a  and  38   b  past the upper stops  52   a ,  52   b . The finger or tang  48  rides against the longitudinal edge of the inner holder  22  when the inner holder is extended. Pushing the inner holder  22  back into the outer holder  24  allows the latch spring  50  to push the tang or finger  48  back over the first upper corner of the inner holder  22 , thereby locking the inner holder  22  within the outer holder  24 , and once again extending the latch button  46 . 
     The outer holder  24  is pivotally attached to the central portion of the strap  12  by a rotational mechanism, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  of the drawings. A base  54  is immovably affixed to the central portion of the strap  12 . A swivel plate  56  is rotatably attached to the base  54 . The swivel plate  56  rotates about a rotational axis Z (shown as an isometric line through the center O of the base  54  in  FIG. 6 , and as a single point at the center O in the top plan view of  FIG. 7 ) that is perpendicular to the plane of the base  54 , and also perpendicular to the mutually perpendicular X and Y axes of the base that extend from the center O. The back of the outer holder  24  is, in turn, affixed to the swivel plate  56 . As the swivel plate  56  can rotate relative to its attachment to the base  54  and the strap  12 , the outer holder  24  (and the inner holder  22  and electronic device contained therein) also rotate relative to the base  54  and strap  12  about the axis Z perpendicular to the plane of the strap  12  portion directly therebeneath. 
     The base  54  includes a semicircumferential channel  58  formed therein. A spring  60  is installed within the channel  58 . First and second fixed stops  62   a  and  62   b  define the opposite ends of the channel  58 . The swivel plate  56  includes a rotational stop  64  depending therefrom. The rotational stop  64  travels in the channel  58  of the base  54 . The spring  60  bears against the second fixed stop  62   b  in the channel  58 , and also against the rotational stop  64  of the swivel plate  56 . This urges the swivel plate  56  to rotate so that its rotational stop  64  is adjacent the first fixed stop  62   a  of the base  54 , i.e., to swivel the plate  56  to position the attached outer holder  24  (and thus the inner holder  22  and any electronic device contained therein, as well) to the orientation shown in  FIG. 2  of the drawings. 
     The two fixed stops  62   a  and  62   b  are substantially 180° apart from one another about the circumference of the base  54 , but it will be seen that they are slightly offset from the Y axis passing through the center O of the base. This results in the rotational stop  64  of the swivel plate  56  aligning with the Y axis of the base  54  when it contacts the first fixed stop  62   a , thus stopping the rotation of the swivel plate  56  when the major axes of the two holders  22  and  24  are substantially aligned with a plane through the closed strap  12 , i.e., laterally across the wrist W of the wearer of the device, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The user of the device may then extend the inner holder  22  from the outer holder  24  by depressing the latch button  44 , thus positioning the cell phone C (or other electronic device installed within the inner holder  22 ) for use, as shown in  FIG. 2  of the drawings. When use of the device has ended, the inner holder  22  is pushed back into the outer holder  24  so that the latch tang or finger  48  ( FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5 ) moves back over the upper edge of the inner holder  22  to secure it in its retracted position within the outer holder  24 . The inner and outer holders  22  and  24  are then swiveled about their mutual Z axis ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) to align the major axis of the two holders  22  and  24  with the wrist W of the user, generally as shown in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.