Abstract:
A portable device that comprises a built in coupling that allows various types of clips to be attached to the device. The device can be attached to different items present in different situations by using different types of attaching devices in the coupling. For example, an attaching device for clothing can be removed and one for a vehicle may be inserted. In such a way, the portable device, for example a music player, can easily be transported and conveniently used in different environments.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to U.S. Design Patent Application No. ______, entitled “______”, filed on the same day as the present application. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The size reduction of electronic devices makes it feasible to carry a greater variety of devices while on the go. It is therefore desirable to attach certain of those devices to the user or to a vehicle or other environment where they are frequently used. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    One aspect of the invention is a portable device that comprises a built in coupling that allows various types of clips and mounting devices to be attached to the device. Thus, the device can be attached to different items present in different situations by using different types of attaching devices in the coupling. For example, an attaching device for clothing can be removed and one for a vehicle may be inserted. In such a way, the portable device, for example a music player, can easily be transported and conveniently used in different environments. 
         [0004]    Another aspect of the invention relates to an assembly that comprises a base of an electronic device. The base comprises a female docking receptacle which in turn comprises a recessed area having a width sufficient to receive a male element of an accessory, a lip overhanging a first portion of the recessed area but not a second portion of the recessed area, such that the male element fits within the recessed area at the second portion of the recessed area and is aligned with the lip but not engaged by the lip in the second portion of the recessed area. The lip overhangs the male element when the male element is at the first portion of the recessed area, thereby coupling the accessory to the electronic device when the male element is positioned at the first portion of the recessed area. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is general isometric view of assembly  100 . 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of some of the components of assembly  100 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a cross section of some of assembly  100 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is perspective of clip member  21 . 
           [0009]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are views of base unit  22 . 
           [0010]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are views of base plate  11 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 9  illustrates base support  13 . 
           [0012]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate a closed and open position respectively of a clip embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 11  is an isometric view of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B . 
           [0014]      FIG. 12  is an elevation of a clip embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 13A and 13B  illustrate the closed and open position of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 12 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    An electronic device can be coupled to various hooks, holders, carriers or the like via an easy to use and robust coupling. For example, the device can be coupled to a carrier with a suction cup to mount it to a windshield or other suitable surface. The coupling is lightweight and economical and comprises polymeric parts to save weight while providing flexibility but also uses metallic parts where high durability is required. A male member is preferably first placed in a guide so that it can easily be slid into a locked position. The locking is achieved with a spring loaded (tensioned or compressed) retaining element that engages recesses of the male unit. Sufficient force by the user will engage or disengage the coupling. Friction between the coupling and the device is minimized by providing a small surface area where contact takes place while sliding the pieces against each other. 
         [0017]    In embodiments comprising a clip, the electronic device can be clipped to the user&#39;s clothing. Complementary geometric features on both the electronic device and the clip pinch or grab the fabric between the features to enhance the friction of the clip and minimize slippage. Fabric is preferably forced into a serpentine pattern to enhance to minimize slippage. 
         [0018]    A preferred embodiment comprises two primary components: the unit or base of the portable device where this invention will be engaged and the engaging unit, which in some embodiments includes or forms a clip. For both units, there may be metallic and plastic components. Preferably the spring type materials or biasing materials (locking element of the portable device and the clip spring) and the pin are metals such as Stainless Steel 304. The preferred material for the engaging base unit of the clip is a die casting material such as a zinc alloy. An alternate polymeric or composite material with high mechanical properties may alternatively be utilized in the (male) base unit of the clip, such as, but not limited to: polycarbonate (“PC”), PC with a certain percentage of fiberglass, PEEK(®, etc. The remaining components for both units are preferably made of polymeric materials. Due to specific mechanical and performance requirements and to particular aesthetic specifications, the polymeric materials may comprise, but not are not limited to: PC, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene “ABS”) or a combination of both. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  depicts a general isometric view of assembly  100  comprising base  10  of the portable device and engaging unit or clip  20 .  FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the components of assembly  100 . Base  10  comprises base plate  1 , an (arcuate) locking element  12 , and a base support  13 . Engaging unit  20 , which is some embodiments includes a clip, comprises biased element or clipping unit  21 , an engaging base unit  22 , a pin  23 , and a biasing element or spring  24 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross section view of assembly  100  when the base plate  11  is engaged with the base unit  22  of the clip  20 , and the clipping unit  21  is in full surface contact or 0° with element  11 . An interlocking engagement INT25 is also shown in this figure. Note that ring r of the element  21  is of a smaller diameter than that of ring R of the element  11 . This design allows a tight fitting interlock between clipping unit/member  21  and base plate  11  that causes any fabric to be gripped in a serpentine fashion. The serpentine geometry increases the surface area and aids in maintaining the position of the clip. In addition, the proper spring force generated by the biasing element  24  will provide enough grip effect and retention of the clip, so the cloth where this device is clipped will not slip and eventually fall. The ring interlock may center both units (clip  20  and device base  10 ) and may also prevent the clip unit  20  from having any lateral displacement in respect to device base  10 . 
         [0021]    The preferred manufacturing process envisioned for all the polymer parts is injection molding. This process in conjunction with the right DFMA (Design for Manufacturing and Assembly) considerations yields fairly inexpensive plastic parts that do not require further preparation once the parts are extracted from the plastic injection mold.  10022 ] In regards to the metallic parts, it is preferred that base unit  22  of the clip unit  20  is obtained by die casting by using a Zinc alloy such as Zamak #3. The remaining metal parts (locking element  12  and the spring  24 ) are custom made springs that can be manufactured with standard stamping and spring manufacturing processes. The variation of the spring  24  selected for this preferred embodiment of this invention is a torsion spring with 4 coils, an outside diameter of approximately 2.3 mm to 2.5 mm, and a coil diameter of approximately 0.60 mm to 0.65 mm. This selected spring preferably provides a momentum such that the force required to open the clip  21  and to disengage it from ring R of element  11  is within the range of 0.5 to 2 Kg. 
         [0022]    The spring accommodation and locating feature SpF  50  shown in  FIG. 4  serves as guiding feature for the spring  24  when it is assembled, so it may prevent any lateral movement of the spring and therefore reduces the time and effort required to build this assembly. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate features of base unit  22 .  FIG.5  illustrates the locating feature SpL  52  for the spring or locking element  12 . This helps position element  12  within base unit  22 . The positioning feature SpP  80  allows the base unit to align itself with the base plate  11 . A cavity SpC  70  has also been provided in this embodiment to help place the torsion spring  24  with the base unit  22 . This also aids in the assembly process of this spring.  FIG. 6  shows two ribs that have been designed so that the clip  20  does not scratch base plate  11  when it is inserted and interlocked as shown in  FIG. 3 . These ribs have an approximate diameter of 0.5 mm and a length of 9 to 12 mm. The smooth finish on the die casting mold provides high surface quality on these ribs, and consequently the friction between parts  22  and  11  occurs only along two single lines. A painting process with the right coating (such as, but not limited to: UV, PU coatings) will help avoid any scratches between parts  22  and  11 . It is preferred that the contacting area of the ribs or other protruding features be less than 10% of the surface area of base unit  22  in order to minimize the friction between base unit  22  and device base  10 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 7  depicts a top isometric view of the base plate  11  showing the recessed receiving area  11 S where the clip unit  20  through its base unit  22  fits in and interlocks when slid below annular or arcuate locking ring  11 R. The vertical member  11 T adds rigidity to base plate  11 , ring  11 R, and the overall interlocking mechanism of which it is a part. It also helps align the clip base  22  though its feature SpP 80  when both are coupled/interlocked together. The structure of semi circular or annular ring  11 R prevents the clip  20  from falling or disengaging once it is interlocked with the device unit  10 . The isometric view of the back of base plate  11  of  FIG. 8  illustrates two alignment pins  66  used to assemble the base support  13 . In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of base unit  22  at the outer portion that slides under locking ring  11 R is approximately 0.85 mm ± 0.2 mm, the width approximately 12.9 mm ± 0.2 mm, SPL radius of curvature approximately 1.1 mm and SpP approximately 2.5 mm wide. 
         [0025]      FIG. 9  shows the base support  13  of device base  10 . The cavity  13 C is shaped and positioned in such way that helps align the locking element  12 . The holes  13 H are aligned with their corresponding pins  66  of the base plate  11 . The welding features  13 W are designed in such way that there are two concentric sets of features  13 W. 
         [0026]    As far as the assembly procedure is concerned,  FIG. 2  may be used as a guideline. Unit  10  (mp3 players, PDA, etc) is placed upside down with the visible area  11 S facing down. A fixture can be used to place this part properly and accurately. The locking element  12  is aligned with the docking component  11  and its corresponding mating features. Ultimately, the base support is ultrasonically welded onto the back surface (not visible) of base plate  11 . A specific horn and nest are needed to perform the ultrasonic welding process. The nest for that ultrasonic welding process could be used as a fixture to place the (semicircular metallic) locking ring  12  onto base plate  11 . Finally, in a separate station, the clip unit  20  is assembled. The clip base  22  is held in a proper fixture; the torsion spring  24  is place on the cavity SpC 70  of base unit  22 ; the clipping part  21  is held manually in such way that it allows the axial insertion of the pin  23  through the corresponding holes of parts  22  and  21  and concentric with the torsion spring  24  (placed between the supporting pin holes in part  22 ). Final processes of paint in one or different colors may be applied to all the parts mentioned in this text with the exception of the metallic parts ( 12 ,  23 , and  24 ), although certain of those parts may also be painted such as base unit  22 . 
         [0027]    As far as the clip unit  20  is concerned, the overall dimensions for the clipping units are between 35 to 55 mm long, 15 to 40 mm wide, and 1-2.5 mm thick. The inner ring of unit  21  ranges from 12 to 18 mm. The outside diameter of the clip base  22  is between 9 and 15 mm. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  show a sequence when the clipping unit is closed, and when it is open, respectively. The approximate maximum opening angle is between 10° to 20°, allowing, any object such as standard fabric cloth or thin leather material less than 4 to 5 mm thick to be clipped. 
         [0029]    A variation of the clip embodiment may comprise the same bodies (the unit  10  or base of the portable device and the engaging unit or clip  20 B) as the earlier described embodiment with some structural modifications that may provide improved grip for a wider range of fabrics or other clipped material. 
         [0030]      FIG. 11  depicts a general isometric view of this variation comprising the unit or base  10  of the portable device and engaging unit or clip  20 B. Such variation of the clip  20 B may comprise a different gripping feature from that described on clip  20 . In more detail, the feature  120 Th of  FIG. 11  shows a rib that may create a partial or total ring.  FIG. 12  shows a cross section view of this variation of the present invention. The clip unit  20 B is displayed in a closed position. That is with the ring comprising the feature  120 Th in full contact with the surface  120 S of the base plate  11  of unit  10 . The embodiment depicted in  FIG. 12  shows an outer ring (i.e., ring belonging to clip unit  20 B) and an inner ring  120 BR (i.e., ring belonging to the base plate  11  of the unit  10 ). The performance of this mechanism may be improved by having the outer ring on the movable part—clip  20 B. This variation showing the outer ring of the clip  20 B and the inner ring BR of the unit  10  increases the adherence of the portable unit to the cloth or fabric to which it is clipped. In other words, if the rotating movement to open the clip unit  20 B follows path R+ around the hinge pin  23 , as shown in  FIG. 12 , having an outer ring on the moving part  20 B may diminish the opening of such movable part. On the other hand, if the outer ring is located on the fixed part  11 , when the movable part  20 B is being opened, the pulling force exerted over the portable unit may help open even more the movable part  20 B. The thickness of the fabric or cloth where this invention is to be clipped at may be, but not limited, to a range between 0.2 mm to 2.5 mm. The clearance provided for that purpose is depicted in  FIG. 12  by gap  120 G. The height  120 H of the inner ring  120 BR of the fixed part  11  may be, but not limited to, of a range between 0.5 to 2 mm. The outer ring with the feature  120 Th of the movable part  20 B is depicted with a 120° span in this variation. An alternative variation may include an outer ring  120 BR ranging from 15° to 360° (complete outer ring). 
         [0031]      FIGS. 13A and 13B  show a sequence with a 120° span in the outer ring of the movable part  20 B, when the clipping unit is closed (i.e., 0°), and when it is open, respectively. The approximate maximum opening angle may be between 10° to 20°, allowing any item such as standard fabric cloth or thin leather material (less than 4 to 5 mm thick) to be clipped. 
         [0032]    Note that while embodiments of a clip are shown in many of the figures attaching to the interlocking base, as mentioned earlier, any type of mounting device can be attached to the interlocking base.