Abstract:
The present invention is directed toward a carrying device enabling hands-free transporting of a personal data assistant, cellular telephone, pager, MP3 Player, media player, hand held game, hand held GPS device or any other personal accessory or hand held device that may be attached to the body of a user. The device enables a detachment of the handheld device from a housing while maintaining a secured link of the hand held device to the user&#39;s body with and automatic facilitated comfortable adjustment of a secure link of the hand held device, thereby providing hand-free carrying and an elimination of risk of loss from accidental misplacement.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention is directed to a device that enables hands-free transportation of and the tethering of hand held devices being transported. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus that maintains a secured link to portable, hand held devices and such device covers and carrying cases.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Devices that enable the hands free transportation of personal hand held electronic device have been around in various implementations for quite some time, and most recently have decreased in size, in accordance with the decrease in size of electronic devices, to the point where users of such devices and transportation systems may now attach both to their body. The problem with attaching these devices to the body with belt/body mount systems currently in the market is that these mount systems do not facilitate quick access to the devices that are secured and supported within these mount systems. Most belt/body mount systems have a security function that facilitates securing the device mounted while a user is engaged in a high level of activity such as exercising or driving. This function is a plus when a user is engaged in a high level of activity. However, it may be a detriment when driving for example. It is extremely difficult to gain access to a cell phone, PDA, pager or any other electronic device that is secured within a case when using one hand.  
         [0003]     Another problem is that these electronic devices are not immune from theft while engaged with a belt/body mount system. For example in crowded areas, such as on a bus or at sporting events where individuals are constantly bumping into each other, many individuals have expensive devices stolen from pockets or off of a purse or belt mount because, upon removal of the device from the mount, the device is not attached to the secured system. Moreover, many users do not regularly engage the security feature of belt/body mount systems in an effort to cut down on the time required to access the phone. For example if a cellular phone is ringing, calls may be missed while trying to unlock or disengage the security feature on some belt mounts.  
         [0004]     Tethering devices have been combined with such belt/body mount system to add another layer of security. Such tethering systems have extendable and retractable cables or lines (“cables”), with many of the cables being automatically retracted under the bias of an internal spring arrangement. United States Patent Application Publication Number US2003/0042348 discloses a retractable tether, which may be used in conjunction with personal communication devices (such as a cell phone, pager or PDA) and a mounting system for the prevention of loss or damage. The retracting tether may be clipped to a belt, pants or purse next to the mounting system in which the device is being held or stored. The retractable tether allows the device to be easily used while connecting to the retracting tether. The problem with such systems is that the retractable tether has to be used in conjunction with an additional clip mount, holster or storage pocket. As such, the tethering system becomes an additional component thereby requiring that individuals use more devices instead of fewer.  
         [0005]     As technology has advanced and costs for portable electronic devices have decreased, a growing majority of individuals are relying upon devices such as PDAs, handheld games, GPS devices, portable communication devices, cellular telephones, pagers, MP3 players and other media devices to coordinate their busy lives. Their increasing affordability, accessibility and performance, coupled with decreasing device dimension requirements, have continued to expand the user market.  
         [0006]     In the past, most users of such devices were businesspersons. With the explosion of technological advances, almost everyone, including children use at least one of these devices (PDAs, handheld games, GPS devices, portable communication devices, cellular telephones, pagers, MP3 players and other media devices) as part of everyday living. Children carry MP3 players, game players or cellular phones. Parents often rely upon pagers or cellular telephones to coordinate childcare pickups, avoiding potentially lengthy and lonely waits for their children. Furthermore, many individuals consider their wireless telephone to be a lifesaving device to be relied upon in an emergency situation for the ability to place an emergency call without having to locate a payphone.  
         [0007]     Accidental loss or destruction of personal communication devices is at the least an expensive, time consuming inconvenience when insurance on such devices does not replace the total cost of such devices and data stored within such devices cannot be reconstructed from other sources. When data is irreplaceable, loss or destruction of such electronic devices can be devastating. Furthermore, the loss and or destruction of a phone because it has been dropped can prevent an emergency call in a potentially life-threatening situation. The prevention of such loss and destruction is of utmost importance.  
         [0008]     Therefore it is readily apparent that there is a need for a single personal accessory transportation device that has applicability across all devices, and enables easy accessibility and usage thereof, wherein accidental misplacement or destruction of hand held devices is prevented and hands-free transportation is provided without requiring the use of multiple systems.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The present invention is a personal accessory carrying device wherein a resiliently wound mechanism acts to enable comfortably adjustable linked access to a personal accessory, thereby providing hands-free carrying and virtually eliminating risk of loss from accidental misplacement destruction.  
         [0010]     According to its major aspects and broadly stated, the present invention is a personal accessory carrying apparatus, comprised of a housing having a chord and a spring within the housing wherein the chord is extendable from and retractable into the housing under the tension of the spring. The housing has a stud portion of a snap fastener extending from one side. A chord connector is attached to an end of the retractable chord. A connection disc having a rivet positioned through its center has an adhesive tape on one side of the disc for engaging a personal communication device or a personal communication device holder. The rivet flanges out to stabilize the rivet and keep it from moving. The device also includes a connection fillet generally in the shape of a lollipop that has first and second ends, wherein the connection fillet also has the rivet extending through the first end of the connection fillet and thereby connects the connection fillet to the connection disc. The connection fillet also has a socket portion of a snap fastener extending from a second end of the connection fillet. The chord connector is also connected to the connection fillet. During use of the device, the socket and stud portions of the snap fastener are engaged to detachably connect the connection fillet and connection disk to the housing.  
         [0011]     More specifically, the present invention is a personal accessory-carrying device adapted to be worn by a user, wherein a personal accessory is secured thereto and resilient access is provided thereby.  
         [0012]     A feature and advantage of the present invention is the ability of such a device to provide a personal accessory carrying device that is simple in construction and easy to manufacture.  
         [0013]     A feature and advantage of the present invention is the ability of such a device to provide hands-free carrying of a PDAs, GPS devices, hand held games, cellular telephones, pagers, MP3 players, MPEG-4 players, or any other personal communication device.  
         [0014]     A feature and advantage of the present invention is the ability of such a device to prevent accidental misplacement of a personal accessory.  
         [0015]     A feature and advantage of the present invention is the ability of such a device to allow easy user-accessibility to a personal accessory.  
         [0016]     A feature and advantage of the present invention is the ability of such a carrying device to resiliently link a personal accessory to a user.  
         [0017]     A feature and advantage of the present invention is to provide a device that prevents the dropping, slipping or falling of a personal accessory from out of a pocket, a briefcase or one&#39;s hands.  
         [0018]     A feature and advantage of the present invention is the ability of such a device to allow secure user carriage thereof while preventing limitations of usage locations.  
         [0019]     These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and claims when read in light of the accompanying drawings.  
         [0020]     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a review of the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments and the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a personal accessory-carrying device according to an embodiment of the present inventions;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of a personal accessory carrying device according to an embodiment of the present inventions;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of a personal accessory carrying device illustrating the extraction of the chord from the housing according to an embodiment of the present inventions;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of a personal accessory-carrying device illustrating the extraction of the chord from the housing according to an embodiment of the present inventions;  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of a personal accessory carrying device illustrating the connection of the device to a phone and the extraction of the chord from the housing according to an embodiment of the present inventions;  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of a personal accessory carrying device illustrating the connection of the device to a phone while the chord is retracted into the device housing according to an embodiment of the present inventions;  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of a personal accessory carrying device illustrating the connection of the device to hand held device carrier case while the chord is retracted into the device housing according to an embodiment of the present inventions;  
         [0028]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of a personal accessory carrying device being worn by a user illustrating the connection of the device to hand held device carrier case while the chord is retracted into the device housing according to an embodiment of the present inventions; and  
         [0029]      FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of a personal accessory carrying device being used worn by a user while the user is using the hand held device, illustrating the connection of the device to hand held device while the chord extracted from the housing according to an embodiment of the present inventions. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0030]     In describing the preferred and alternative embodiments thereof, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 9 , specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The invention, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operates in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions.  
         [0031]     Generally, the present invention is an apparatus configured to attach a handheld device such as a GPS device, PDA, cell phone, pager, MP3 player or other media player or game players to the body of a user. The apparatus is a housing, connection fillet and chord wherein the chord is within the housing and is extendable from and retractable into the housing under the tension of a spring. The connection fillet is detachable from the housing by a snap fastener and permanently connected to an end of the chord. The housing has a configuration that allows for the attachment of a first portion of the snap fastener to a first side of the housing and a rotatable clip attached to the second side of the housing. A chord connector is attached to one end of the chord and to the connection fillet. A connection disc, having an adhesive on a first side that is used to connect the connection disk to a handheld device or a device pouch or holder, has a rivet extending through its center that facilitates the connection of the connection disc to an end of the connection fillet. The connection fillet has first and second ends and has a blade shape. The rivet that extends through the connection disc also extends through a first end of the connection fillet and thereby connects the connection fillet to the connection disc in a manner that facilitates the rotation of the connection fillet around the axis extending through the rivet. The rivet flanges out as it extends through the connection fillet and the connection disk to stabilize the rivet and keep it from moving. The connection fillet also has a second portion of a snap fastener attached to its second end. The first and second snap fastener portions are engaged to connect the connection fillet to the housing. In the preferred embodiment, the end of the connection fillet through which the socket portion and cap of the snap fastener are connected has a larger circular area wherein the connection fillet resembles a lollipop. The chord connector is connected to the connection fillet to facilitate a tethered link of the device to which the apparatus is connected, while the device is in use and the first and second snap fastener portions are not engaged. The weight of the device or device pouch/holder is not sufficient to cause the chord within the housing to completely extract from the housing.  
         [0032]     A first embodiment of the apparatus is illustrated in  FIG. 1  through  4 . An alternative embodiment of the apparatus is illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8  whereby the apparatus illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8  is an apparatus configured to mount a handheld device to a user&#39;s body wherein the apparatus does not include the connection disc of the preferred embodiment. The embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8  is configured to allow a device housing to be riveted directly to the connection fillet, thereby facilitating the rotation of the connection fillet around the axis extending through the rivet connecting the device housing and the connection fillet.  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the present invention is a personal accessory carrying device  10  comprising a body connector  20  a central connector housing  22  a carabiner clip  24  that rotates about an axis  26 , a chord  42  and a connection fillet  30 . The body connector  20  is engaged by a snap fastener  60  thereby connecting the connection fillet  30  to the body connector  20 . The connection fillet  30 , in the preferred embodiment, is comprised of a polypropylene material. However, it is to be understood that the connection fillet  30  may be comprised of any flexible material that enables a durable connection of the components and capable of withstanding force of a type similar to that which can be exerted by a user. In an alternative embodiment, the connection fillet  30  may be comprised of nylon. A connection disc  12  is connected to the connection fillet  30  by a first rivet  18  that extends through a first end of the connection fillet  30  and proximately through the center of connection disc  12 . In the present embodiment the connection disc  12  is comprised of a nylon material. However, it is to be understood that the connection disc may be comprised of any martial that facilitates the adhesive connection of the connection disc to other device surfaces. In an alternative embodiment, the connection disc was comprised of polypropylene. The first rivet  18  facilitates the rotation of the connection fillet  30  around an axis extending through the center of the first rivet  18 . The connection disc  12  has a first side  14  and a second side  16  wherein the first side  14  has an adhesive tape on its surface. In the present embodiment, the adhesive tape used is sold 3M Company, a product called 3M 9500 adhesive. The adhesive tape facilitates the secure connection of the connection disc  12  to any handheld communication device to which the hand held personal accessory carrying apparatus  10  is connected. It may also facilitate the connection of the hand held personal accessory carrying apparatus  10  to an accessory holder/pouch or device protector (not shown).  
         [0034]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , which illustrates the rear view of the hand held personal accessory carrying apparatus  10  comprising the body connector  20  that has a rotation disc  50  formed therein wherein the rotation disc  50  facilitates the rotation of a clip  52 . The clip  52  is formed from a substantially flat, substantially elongated rectangular shaped metal plate having a first end, which is not shown, as it is encased within the rotation disc  50  following the insertion of the first end of clip  50  through a slot within the rotation disc  50 . The clip also has a second end  54 . As illustrated, the body connector  20  includes an orifice  40  through which the chord  42  is extendable from and retractable into the body connector  20  under the tension of a spring (not shown). The chord  42  in the preferred embodiment is a parachute chord. However it is to be understood that the chord  42  may be comprised of any material that facilitates the attachment of the body connector  20  to the connection fillet  30  without breaking under the force exerted upon the phone carrying device  10  by the user. The chord connector  36  that is attached to an end of the chord  42  has a cavity into which a second rivet  38  is positioned. Rivet  38  attaches the chord connector  36  and the connection fillet  30  in a manner that facilitates the rotation of the chord connector  36  around an axis extending through the center of second rivet  38 . The rotational movement of the chord connector  36  facilitates the easy movement of the connection fillet  30  when the connection fillet  30  is detached from the body connector  20  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3  the connection fillet  30  may be detached from the body connector  20  by disengaging the snap fastener  60  by pulling the socket portion  62  of the snap fastener  60  away from the stud portion  64  of the snap fastener system  60  that is attached to the body connector  20 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3  the chord connector  36  rotates around the axis of second rivet  38  in accordance with the force being exerted thereon by chord  42 .  
         [0035]      FIGS. 5 and 9  illustrate the personal accessory carrying device  10  wherein the body connector  20  and the connection fillet  30  are detached. The connection fillet  30  has a first end  32  and a second end second end  34 . The first end  32  has a first rivet  18  that extends through the first end  32  of the connection fillet  30 , proximately through the center of connection disc  12 . The connection disc  12  is attached to a cell phone  50 . Movement of the cell phone  50  in any direction that may cause tension on chord  42  would cause the chord connector  36  to pull upon the connection fillet  30  in the direction of the chord  42 , thereby causing the connection fillet  30  to rotate around the axis of the first rivet  18 .  FIG. 6  illustrates the personal accessory carrying device  10  wherein the body connector  20  and the connection fillet  30  are attached. The connection disc  12  is attached to a cell phone  50 .  
         [0036]      FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein the personal accessory carrying device  10  is attached to a pouch, carrying case or holder  68  of a hand-held personal accessory. As illustrated, the personal accessory carrying device  10  comprises a body connector  20 , a central connector housing  22 , a carabiner clip  24  that rotates about an axis  26 , a chord (not shown) and a connection fillet  30 . The body connector  20  is engaged by a snap fastener  60 , which thereby connects the connection fillet  30  to the body connector  20 . The carrying case  68  is riveted directly to the connection fillet  30  by a first rivet that extends through a first end of the connection fillet  30  and through a wall of carrying case  68 . The first rivet  18  facilitates the rotation of the connection fillet  30  around an axis extending through the center of the rivet connecting the connection fillet to the wall of carrying case  86 . The body connector  20  of the present invention is of the type manufactured and sold by Tombo Industries Co. Limited, of Kwun Tong, KLN, Hong Kong and Benison Industrial Co. Limited, of New Territories Hong Kong.  
         [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 various other changes in the form and details ma be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Man modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not with this detailed description but rather by the claims appended hereto.