Abstract:
The clip-mount operates with a button mount and includes a body defining a locking cavity for the button and a resilient locking tongue therein. The tongue biases the button into a locking position. The tongue includes at least one cam surface. A movable cam actuator on the body includes another cam surface which coacts with the first cam permitting the tongue to flex from a locking to an unlocking position. An enhancement includes one cam and cam follower, to flex the tongue from the locking to the unlocking position, and a second cam and cam follower to flex the tongue to a button locking position. The method includes biasing the button to a locking position, providing a sloped cam surface on the resilient locking tongue and moving a second cam surface over the tongue cam surface thereby flexing the tongue from a locked to a button release position.

Description:
[0001]     This is a regular patent application based upon and claiming the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/534,206, filed Jan. 5, 2004. 
     
    
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a clip mount for a cellular telephone attachment system with a button mount and a method therefor.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Many cell phone users utilize a clip mount which may be attached to his or her belt, purse or other strap. These clip mount systems coact with a clip-on structure which is removably attached to the generally rectangular body of the cellular telephone. The sub-system attachment to the cellular telephone includes a button which protrudes from the backside of the sub-system.  
         [0004]     The present invention is a clip mount for this type of button mount.  
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a clip mount for a cellular telephone attachment system with a button mount.  
         [0006]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a two piece clip mount with a movable actuator that flexes a resilient locking tongue thereby releasing the button from the locking cavity in the clip mount body.  
         [0007]     It is a further object of the present invention to utilize first and second cam surfaces which coact together to flex the resilient locking tongue from a locking position to a button release or unlock position.  
         [0008]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a movable actuator which, in a rest position, biases the resilient locking tongue into a locking position and, in a release position, biases the locking tongue into an unlock position.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The clip mount operates with a cellular button mount. The clip mount includes a body defining a complementary locking cavity for the button and a resilient locking tongue disposed in the locking cavity. The tongue is adapted to bias the button into a locking position in the locking cavity. The tongue includes at least one cam surface. A movable cam actuator, movably mounted on the body, includes another cam surface which coacts with the first cam surface permitting the resilient locking tongue to flex from a locking position to an unlocking position. An enhancement includes one cam and cam follower to flex the tongue from the locking the unlocking position and a second cam and cam follower to flex the tongue to the locking position. The method of mounting includes biasing the button to a locking position in the locking cavity, providing a sloped cam surface on the resilient locking tongue and moving a second cam surface over the locking tongue cam surface thereby flexing the tongue from a locked to a button release position. Another embodiment of the invention includes a tongue with two cam surfaces, one facing outboard and a second facing inboard. The cam actuator has two actuator surfaces, one coacting with the tongue&#39;s outboard surface and the other coacting with the tongue&#39;s inboard facing surface. When the actuator is at rest (biased upward), the tongue is biased outward (laterally outward from the locking cavity) by one cam surface (to achieve a locking cam action) and when the actuator is depressed downward, the tongue moves laterally inward due to the other cam surface (to achieve an unlocking cam action). Alternatively, the locking cam system (with the actuator at rest in an upward position) can be used separate from the unlocking cam system. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     Further objects and advantages of the present invention can be found in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  diagrammatically illustrates one embodiment of the clip mount showing the actuator member removed from the clip body;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  diagrammatically illustrates another embodiment of the present invention and particularly shows the button mount (the cellular telephone and attachment sub-structure is not shown affixed to the button mount), actuator and clip body;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the clip mount primarily illustrating the resilient locking tongue and the first cam surfaces;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  diagrammatically illustrates a cross-sectional view primarily showing the slope of the first cam surface on the locking tongue;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  diagrammatically illustrates the first embodiment of the invention with a resilient nub to angularly position the phone with respect to the clip mount;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  diagrammatically illustrates the button mount used with the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 5 ; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  shows the actuator member with a lower cam actuator surface (for the button release) and shows an upper cam actuator surface that, when the actuator is upwardly biased (a rest position), the upper cam actuator surface acts on an upper tab laterally extending from the tongue ( FIG. 8 ) to bias the tongue laterally outward.  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  shows the actuator in the clip-mount body and the laterally extending tabs affected by the upper cam actuator surfaces. When the actuator is depressed down, the lower surface moves the tongue inwards thereby releasing the button from the lip lock—when the actuator is biased upward (see spring in  FIG. 2 ), the actuator biases the tongue laterally outward thereby creating additional locking force or bias on the button  43  ( FIG. 2 ).  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  diagrammatically illustrates a detail, cut-away view of the tongue with the lock cam surfaces and unlock cam surfaces. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]     The present invention relates to a clip mount for a cellular telephone attachment system having a button mount and a method of mounting.  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  shows clip mount  10  including a belt loop  12  having a belt loop cavity  14  therein. Similar numerals designate similar items throughout all the figures. Belt loop  12 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , has a free end  15  that permits the user to slip a strap or a belt as shown by arrow  16  into belt or strap cavity  14 .  
         [0022]     Although the figures show a specific manufactured embodiment for the clip mount, other structures may utilize the key portions of the present invention clip mount  10  includes three (3) basic elements which are clip body  20 , defining a locking cavity  22 , a resilient tongue  24 , an actuator  26 , and some cam surfaces. Actuator cam surfaces are located on actuator  26  and one of those cam surfaces is numerically identified as cam surface  28 . Resilient tongue  24  moves or flexes as shown by double headed arrow  30  based upon the position of actuator cam surface  28  and another cam surface complementary thereto. In  FIG. 1 , a corresponding tongue cam surface  32  is illustrated.  FIG. 3  shows resilient locking tongue cam surfaces  31  and  32  and actuator cam surface  28  ( FIG. 1 ) rides along and atop resilient locking tongue cam surface  31 . When the actuator cam surfaces  28 ,  29  ( FIG. 2 ) ride atop the locking tongue cam surfaces  32 ,  31  ( FIG. 3 ), resilient tongue  24  flexes from a locking position to a button release or unlocking position (laterally inboard flexation) thereby freeing the button from the clip mount  10 .  
         [0023]     It should be noted that other mechanical structures could accomplish the same features described herein and  FIGS. 1-6  show one working embodiment. For example, although actuator  26  is shown as substantially U-shaped with two legs and two cam surfaces, a single movable member with a user actuatable surface and a single cam could operate to move resilient locking tongue  24  from a button locking position to an unlocking position.  
         [0024]     Clip body  20  includes a channel cavity  40  into which is movably disposed actuator member  26 . A resilient locking tongue  24  is mounted within cavity  40 . Locking tongue  24  is adopted to flex or move as shown by double headed arrow  30  in  FIG. 21 . When a button, such as button  41  in  FIG. 2 , is placed within locking cavity  22 , the button coacts with semi-circular rim member which, in  FIG. 1 , consists of rim member  42  and rim member  44 . Essentially, button  41  includes a peripheral plate  43  and a stem  45 . Peripheral plate  43  locks beneath rim elements  43 ,  44  and resilient tongue  24  includes a terminal edge  46  that coacts with either stem  45  or peripheral plate  43  to securely lock button  41  in locking cavity  22 . In general to release button  41  from locking cavity  22 , resilient tongue  30  must be flexed generally inboard into channel cavity  40  such that the tongue no longer coacts with stem  45  or plate  43  thereby permitting the removal of button  41  and any attached cell phones or cell phone structure.  
         [0025]     Actuator member  26  includes user actuation surface  50 . Actuator member  26  is generally U-shaped consisting of a base  27  and legs  52 ,  53 . The terminal ends  54 ,  55  of legs  52 ,  53  define stops. A resilient member, such as springs  56 ,  57  coact with stop  54 ,  55  to bias actuation member  26  in a direction shown by arrow  60 , that is, in a direction such that resilient locking tongue  24  is in a locking position with respect to button  41 . The user depresses surface  50 , the actuator moves downward ( FIG. 3 ), the cam surfaces engage and push the tongue laterally inward. Upon removal of the depressing force on surface  50 , springs or resilient elements  56 ,  57  force the actuator back to the original position.  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows that actuator  26  is positioned in channel cavity  40  and button  41  fits in locking cavity  22 .  
         [0027]     In  FIG. 1 , legs  52 ,  54  are movably mounted in leg channels  64 ,  66 . Further, once actuator member  26  is disposed in channel cavity  40 , actuator member  26  cannot be removed because stop  70  locks within and also moves within side cutout  72 . Removal of actuator  26  is prohibited because stop  70  cannot pass edge  74  defining one end of side cutout  72 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  diagrammatically illustrates clip mount  10  in a slightly different embodiment. Rather have two rim segments  42 ,  44  as shown in  FIG. 1 , a substantially semi-circular rim  43  defines one side of locking cavity  22 . Edge  46  of resilient locking tongue  24  captures the opposite end of button  41 . Button  41  is shown as being insertable into locking cavity  22  and actuator  26  is shown as being insertable into channel cavity  40  (not identified in  FIG. 2 ).  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  diagrammatically illustrates clip mount  10  and shows cam surfaces  31 ,  32  on resilient locking tongue  24 . Semi circular rim  43  is also shown in  FIG. 3 . Arrow  80  shows the direction in which actuator  26  is inserted. Actuator  26  moves up and down in the channel cavity  40  after insertion. It should be noted that actuator  26  is utilized in conjunction with the split rim embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  and in the single, substantially semi-circular rim embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  diagrammatically shows a substantially cross-sectional view of clip  10 . Particularly, resilient tongue cam surface  31  is shown as either an inclined slope or a gentle curved slope. Since actuator member  26  is inserted in the direction shown by arrow  80 , and since cam surfaces  28 ,  29  ( FIG. 2 ) operate on cam surfaces  32 ,  31 , the depression of actuator  26  causes tongue cam surfaces  32 ,  31  to move laterally inboard in the direction of arrow  82  in  FIG. 4  thereby causing inboard flexation of resilient locking tongue  24 . This inboard movement of tongue  24  causes terminal locking surface  46  ( FIG. 2 ) of tongue  24  to disengage button  41  thereby releasing button  41  and any associated structure attached to button  41  from clip mount  10 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  diagrammatically illustrates clip mount  10  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . Particularly, rim segments  42 ,  44  are separated by a resiliently mounted knob  90 . Particularly, knob  90  is mounted on a bar  92  spanning left and right sides of clip body  20 . Bar  90  flexes and is resilient.  
         [0032]      FIG. 6  diagrammatically shows button  101  having a top plate  102  and a stem  104 . Stem  104  includes a plurality of notches or cutouts, one of which is cutout  106 . Button  101  fits within locking cavity  22 . When the cell phone structure attached to button  101  is rotated as shown by arrow  110  in  FIG. 6 , knob  90  may snap into or lock into notch  106  of button  101 . In this manner, the cell phone or clip on element for the cell phone can be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise about face  130  of clip body  20 . Button  41  shown in  FIG. 2  does not have notches and rim  43  in  FIG. 3  is not split and does not have a resilient knob. However, button  101  may work in conjunction with unitary rim  43 . Similarly, button  41  may work in conjunction with split rim  42 ,  44  provided that knob  90  does not impede the button locking ability of button  41 . In this manner, the buttons are inter-changeable but additional functionality is noted with button  101  and resilient knob  90  in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0033]      FIGS. 1-5  diagrammatically illustrate a clip mount wherein, upon depression of actuator member  26 , cam actuator surfaces  28 ,  29  coact with cam follower surfaces  32 ,  31  ( FIG. 3 ) such that tongue  24  flexes or moves laterally inboard (direction  82 ,  FIG. 4 ) thereby releasing the button from locking cavity  22 .  
         [0034]     In  FIGS. 7 and 8 , actuator  26  includes locking cam surfaces and unlocking cam surfaces. Unlocking cams are represented by cam actuator surfaces, one of which is surface  28 , which is sometimes identified herein as the first cam actuator surface. Locking cams are provided on actuator  26  as cam actuator surfaces  152 ,  154  in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Actuator surfaces  152 ,  154  coact with second cam follower surfaces  162 ,  164  which are, in the illustrated embodiment, found on laterally extending tabs protruding from tongue  24 . An alternative embodiments, the cam follower surfaces  162 ,  164  may be formed on the tongue body  24  itself rather than on extending tabs.  
         [0035]      FIG. 8  shows actuator  56  in a rest or a button locking position. Further,  FIG. 8  shows actuator  26  in a upright or raised position. In this locking or raised position, second cam actuator surfaces  152 ,  154  bias locking tongue  24  upward (laterally outward from the cavity) thereby providing additional locking force for the button mount adapted to be disposed in locking cavity  24 . When actuator  26  is moved downward as shown by arrow  170  in  FIG. 8 , the locking cam systems  162 - 152 ,  164 - 154  release and the unlocking cams  29 ,  31  and  28 ,  32  operate to laterally depress tongue  24  (in a direction  82  shown in  FIG. 4 ) thereby releasing the button mount from locking cavity  22 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 8  shows the upper and lower cams, the lower cams  29 - 31 ,  28 - 32  are explained in connection with  FIG. 2  and the upper cams  162 - 152 ,  164 - 154  cooperate to move the tongue outward when the actuator member is at rest the common biased position.  
         [0037]      FIG. 9  shows a detail, cut-away view of the tongue  24 , extending into locking cavity  22 . the tongue  24  has, extending transversely from its longitudinal axis, a pair of locking cam follower surfaces  154 ,  152  and a pair of unlocking cam follower surfaces  32 ,  31 . These follower surfaces track the cam surfaces on the movable actuator. When the actuator (not shown in  FIG. 9 ) is at rest in its biased upward position, the locking cams  154 ,  152  bias tongue  24  laterally outward from locking cavity  22  thereby additionally locking the button (not shown) in the locking cavity  22 . When the actuator is depressed downward, the locking cams release and the unlocking cam system is activated (see cam followers  32 ,  31 ) thereby moving tongue  24  laterally inward towards cavity  22 . This releases the button from the locking cavity.  
         [0038]     It should be noted that the locking cam-cam follower system may be employed separate from the unlocking cam—cam follower system. It should also be noted that the cam and cam followers may be deployed at different locations and on different components than shown in the preferred embodiment.  
         [0039]     The claims appended hereto are meant to cover modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the present invention.