Abstract:
An apparatus is provided for use with a handheld device. The apparatus includes a panel configured to provide support for the handheld device, defining an aperture and having a mating structure located in the aperture. The apparatus further includes a clip assembly operative to engage an article of clothing and configured to releasably attach to the mating structure, and thereby to impart a first configuration to the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a replacement insert configured to releaseably attach to the mating structure in place of the clip assembly, and thereby to impart a second configuration to the apparatus.

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/246,179, filed on Nov. 6, 2000. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of carrying cases, particularly those of the type used to carry small, portable electronic devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A standard carrying case-or pouch generally includes an integral clip. Such a clip is used to attach the case to such things as a belt or over the waistline of clothes. Mobile handhelds, such as the RIM® 950 Wireless Handheld™, are carried in cases having such a clip. The clip is used to attach the case to the user&#39;s belt or over the waistline of their clothes, as examples, to make carrying easier. 
     Carrying cases with integral clips do not allow the user to remove the clip in order to carry the device more easily in pockets. That is, the clip can make the case bulky. Cases made bulky by clips can be problematic if the pouch or case is to be placed in a small, enclosed area such as a pocket. It may sometimes be desirable to decrease the bulk of a carrying case by removing the clip from the carrying case. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an apparatus for use with a handheld device. The apparatus includes a panel configured to provide support for the handheld device, defining an aperture and having a mating structure located in the aperture. The apparatus further includes a clip assembly operative to engage an article of clothing and configured to releasably attach to the mating structure, and thereby to impart a first configuration to the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a replacement insert configured to releaseably attach to the mating structure in place of the clip assembly, and thereby to impart a second configuration to the apparatus. 
     The present invention also provides an apparatus for use with a handheld communication device. The apparatus includes a panel defining an aperture and operative to support the device. The apparatus further includes a clip assembly including a first mating structure configured to attach to the panel, and thereby to impart a first configuration to the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a replacement insert including a second mating structure configured to releasably attach to the panel and replace the clip assembly, and thereby to impart a second configuration to the apparatus. 
     The present invention provides a method for use with a handheld device of attaching a clip assembly to a panel. The method includes providing a clip assembly having a recess, and the recess having a tab. The method further includes providing a panel defining an aperture, and having a tongue located in the aperture and having a slot configured to mate with the tab. The method also includes directing the clip assembly into the aperture so that the tongue mates with the recess and the tab mates with the slot, thereby to attach the clip assembly to the panel. 
     The present invention further provides a method for use with a handheld device for detaching a clip assembly from a panel having an aperture. The method includes providing a clip assembly having a recess and a panel having a tongue located in the aperture, the tongue having a slot and the recess having a tab, the clip assembly being mated to the aperture, the tongue being mated with the recess and the tab being mated with the slot, thereby to secure the clip assembly to the panel. The method further includes directing the tongue away from recess, thereby to disengage the slot from the tab. The method also includes directing the clip assembly out of the aperture, thereby to detach the clip assembly from the panel. 
     The present invention provides a method for use with a handheld device for attaching a replacement insert to a panel having an aperture. The method includes providing the replacement insert having a recess and a panel having a tongue located in the aperture, the tongue having a slot and the recess having a tab. The method further includes directing the replacement insert into the aperture so that the tongue mates with the recess and the tab mates with the slot, thereby attach the replacement insert to the panel. 
     The present invention further provides a method for use with a handheld device for detaching a replacement insert from a panel having an aperture. The method includes providing a replacement insert having a recess, and a panel having a tongue located in the aperture, the tongue having a slot and the recess having a tab, the replacement insert being mated to the aperture, the tongue being mated with the recess and the tab being mated with the slot, thereby to secure the clip assembly to the panel. The method also includes directing the tongue away from recess, thereby to disengage the slot from the tab. The method further includes directing the replacement insert out of the aperture, thereby to detach the replacement insert from the panel. 
     The clip assembly of the present invention is particularly useful for cases and pouches that hold, store, and carry handheld electronic devices. Examples of such devices include data and communication devices. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded, orthogonal front view of an apparatus comprising a first embodiment of the invention in a first configuration; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded, orthogonal back view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in a first configuration; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded,,orthogonal view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in a second configuration; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded, orthogonal view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 shown in a second configuration; 
     FIG. 5 is an orthogonal front view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 assembled and in a first configuration; 
     FIG. 6 is an orthogonal back view of the assembled apparatus shown in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is an orthogonal front view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 assembled and in a second configuration; 
     FIG. 8 is an orthogonal back view of the assembled apparatus shown in FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged orthogonal front view of part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 10 is an enlarged orthogonal back view the part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is an enlarged orthogonal front view of part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 12 is an enlarged orthogonal back view the part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 13 is a schematic front view of an apparatus comprising a second embodiment of the invention in a first configuration; 
     FIG. 14 is a schematic back view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 13 in a first configuration; 
     FIG. 15 is a schematic front view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 13 in a second configuration; 
     FIG. 16 is a schematic back view of the apparatus shown in FIG.  15 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An apparatus  100  comprising a first embodiment of the invention in a first configuration is shown in an exploded, orthogonal front view in FIG.  1  and rear view in FIG.  2 . The apparatus  100  is shown in a second configuration in an exploded, orthogonal front view in FIG.  3  and rear view in FIG.  4 . The apparatus  100  is a carrier case stiffener with interchangeable inserts. In the first configuration, the apparatus  100  can clip to a belt or over the waistline of clothes. In the second configuration, the apparatus  100  is less bulky so as to fit in a pocket. 
     The apparatus  100  includes a panel  110  made of plastic and has a top, a bottom, a front, and a back. The panel  110  has an aperture  112 , i.e., a cutout section at the top, center of the panel  110 . Crimp holes  115  are arranged in an array around the cutout section. The panel fits into the back of a pouch, not shown. The pouch is a carrier case for a mobile handheld electronic device, such as the RIM® 957 Wireless Handheld™. In this embodiment, the pouch is made of fabric, such as leather. 
     A tongue  120 , having a rectangular slot  130  is located in the cutout section at the top, center of the panel  110 . The tongue  120  is flush with the top of the panel  110 . The tongue  120  is a resilient plastic mating structure. A protruding ridge  140  lines the inner edge of the cutout section at the top, center of the panel  110 . A front crimp  150  and a back crimp  160  are located on the front and back of the panel  110 , respectively. The front  150  and back  160  crimps attach to the panel  110  by means of the crimp holes  115  in the panel  110 . The fabric of the pouch, not shown, is positioned between both the front  150  and back  160  crimp and the panel  110 . Alternative embodiments can have the fabric positioned only in front of and only in back of the panel  110 . 
     In the first configuration of this embodiment, the apparatus  100  includes a clip assembly  170  mated to the panel  110 . The clip assembly  170  includes a base  180 . An orthogonal front view of just the base  180  is shown in FIG.  9  and an orthogonal back view is shown in FIG.  10 . The base  180  has a front, a back, a top, two sides, and a bottom. Returning to FIGS. 1 through 4, the front of the base  180  has a channel shaped recess  190 , i.e., a wide shallow depression. The size and shape of the recess  190  are such that it can mate with the tongue  120 . The recess  190  is defined by the surfaces of the base  180  and extends fully from end to end of the base  180 . A tab  200  is located in the recess  190 . The size, shape, and position of the tab  200  are such that it can mate with the slot  130  when the tongue  120  is fully engaged with the recess  190 . The two sides of the base  180  each have a recessed groove  210  that extends from the bottom to the top of the base  180 . 
     The clip assembly  170  also includes a clip  220  that is spring loaded and attached to the back of the base  180 . The manner of attachment and assembly of the clip  220  to the back of the base  180  is described in patent application Ser. No. 09/305174 Retaining Clip Assembly filed May 4, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,318. 
     In the second configuration of this embodiment, a replacement insert  300  is mated with the tongue  120  in the cutout section of the panel  110 . The replacement insert  300  has parts that are substantially similar to parts of the clip assembly  170 . The replacement insert  300  includes a base  380 . A front orthogonal view of the base  380  is shown in FIG. 11 and a back orthogonal view is shown in FIG.  12 . The base  380  has a front, a back, a top, two sides, and a bottom. Returning to the FIGS. 1 through 4, the front of the base  380  has a recess  390 , i.e., a narrow depression. The size and shape of the recess  390  are such that it can mate with the tongue  120 . A tab  400  is located in the recess  390 . The size and shape of the tab  400  are such that it can mate with the slot  130 . The two sides of the base  380  each have a recessed groove  410  that extends from the bottom to the top of the base  380 . 
     When the apparatus  100  is secured in the pouch, the front  150  and back  160  crimps secure the panel  110  to the fabric of the pouch using the crimp holes  165 . The pouch fabric has an opening and covers the apparatus  100  except for the opening. The panel  110  is covered in the fabric except for the front  150  and back  160  crimps. Part of either clip assembly  170  or the replacement assembly  300  may be visible through the opening depending on whether the apparatus  100  is in the first or second configuration. The panel  110  stiffens the pouch and allows it to maintain its proper form. 
     In the first configuration, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the clip assembly  170  is mated with the cutout section of the panel  110 . Specifically, the base  180  slides into the cutout section of the panel  110  oriented so that the fronts of both the base  180  and the panel  110  are facing the same direction. The recess  190  slides over the tongue  120  and each groove  210  on the side of the base  180  slides over the respective ridge  140 . The base  180  is removably secured in place when the slot  130  slides over the tab  200  on the tongue  120 . 
     While in the first configuration the front of the panel is oriented with the pouch so that it faces toward the pouch front. The clip  220  extends through the opening in the fabric of the pouch so that it extends downward, outside of the pouch. In this manner, the clip assembly  170  is securely attached to the panel  110  and can clip the pouch and its contents to various items. As examples, the pouch can be clipped to a belt and a sun visor. 
     The bulk of the clip  220  may increase the total size of the carrying case. It may sometimes be desirable to reduce the size of the carrying case. For example, the first configuration may not fit into small bounded areas such as pockets as well as a carrying case having a smaller total size, i.e., less bulk. 
     The clip assembly  170  can be removed from the cutout section of the panel  110  by applying pressure to the tongue  120 , pulling it toward the front of the pouch, such that the slot  130  is moved from around the tab  200 . This allows the base  180  to slide out of the cutout section of the panel  110 . This allows the apparatus  100  to switch from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
     In the second configuration, shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the replacement insert  300  is mated with the panel  110  in the cutout section rather than the clip assembly  170  being mated with the panel  110 . Specifically, the base  380  is directed into the cutout section of the panel  110  oriented so that the fronts of both the base  380  and the panel  110  are facing the same direction. The recess  390  slides over the tongue  120  and each groove  410  slides over the respective ridge  140 . The base  380  is removably secured in place when the slot  130  slides over the tab  400  on the tongue  120 . The replacement insert  300  is flush with the lip of the cutout in the panel  110 . 
     The replacement insert  300  can be removed from the cutout section of the panel  110  by applying pressure to the tongue  120 , pulling it toward the front of the pouch, such that the slot  130  is moved from around the tab  400 . This allows the base  380  to slide out of the cutout section of the panel  110 . This allows the apparatus  100  to switch from the second configuration to the first configuration. 
     FIG. 9 shows a front orthogonal view of the base  180  of the clip assembly  170 . FIG. 10 shows the back of the base  180  of the clip assembly  170 . This view shows receptacles  420  for the clip  220 . There is also an indentation  430  to accommodate a C-shaped leaf spring, not shown. FIG. 11 shows a front orthogonal view of the base  380  of the replacement insert  300 . FIG. 12 shows the back view, respective of FIG.  11 . 
     An apparatus  600  comprising a second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG.  13 . The apparatus  600  has many parts that are substantially the same as corresponding parts of the apparatus  100 . This is indicated by the use of the same reference numbers for such corresponding parts in FIGS. 1-4 and FIGS. 13-16. However, the second embodiment of the invention differs from the first embodiment in that a holster  610  replaces the pouch of the first embodiment. 
     The holster  610  sides and bottom extend toward the front to form a repository for a mobile handheld device. Specifically, the holster  610  is generally open and includes curved side portions and a bottom formed to conform to the shape of the mobile handheld device. 
     Similar to the apparatus  100 , the apparatus  600  includes two configurations. In the first configuration, the apparatus  600  includes the clip assembly  170 . The clip assembly  170  is slid into the cutout section at the top of the holster  610 . The clip assembly  170  is oriented such that both it and the holster  610  face in the same direction while the clip assembly  170  is secured in the cutout section. 
     The clip assembly  170  can be removed from the cutout section of the holster  610  by applying pressure to the tongue  120 , pulling it toward the front of the pouch, such that the slot  130  is moved from around the tab  200 . This allows the base  180  to slide out of the cutout section of the holster  610 . This allows the apparatus  600  to switch from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
     In the second configuration, the apparatus  600  includes the replacement insert  300 . The replacement insert  300  mated with the holster  610  in the cutout section rather than the clip assembly  170 . Specifically, the base  380  slides into the cutout section of the holster  610  and is oriented so that the fronts of both the base  380  and the holster  610  are facing the same direction. The recess  390  slides over the tongue  120  and each groove  410  slides over the respective ridge  140 . The base  380  is removably secured in place when the slot  130  slides over the tab  400  on the tongue  120 . The replacement insert  300  is flush with the lip of the cutout in the holster  610 . 
     The replacement insert  300  can be removed from the cutout section of the holster  610  by applying pressure to the tongue  120 , pulling it toward the front of the pouch, such that the slot  130  is moved from around the tab  400 . This allows the base  380  to slide out of the cutout section of the holster  610 . This allows the apparatus  600  to switch from the second configuration to the first configuration. 
     In other embodiments of the present invention, examples of the handheld device include cellular phones, digital wireless phones, 1-way pagers, 1½-way pagers, 2-way pagers, electronic mail appliances, internet appliances, personal digital assistants (PDA), laptop computers, and portable digital audio players. 
     It will be appreciated that the above description relates to the preferred embodiments by way of example only. Many variations on the invention will be obvious to those knowledgeable in the field, and such variations are within the scope of the invention as described and claimed.