Patent Publication Number: US-2003233736-A1

Title: Adjustable clip holder for electronic device

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001] 1. Technical Field  
       [0002] This invention relates generally to portable electronic devices, and more particularly to an adapter for removably, mechanically coupling a portable device another object.  
       [0003] 2. Background Art  
       [0004] Cellular phones are becoming ever more popular. With calling plans offering over 4000 minutes for less than $50 per month, it seems that everyone today is carrying a cellular phone. Many people like to have their cellular phones in close proximity to that they may answer calls quickly. As opposed to carrying the phones in pockets, many people today use belt clips to keep their phones close at hand.  
       [0005] Belt clips, like that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,184 to Hauck et al., are known in the art. Referring to FIG. 1, illustrated therein is a typical prior art belt clip. The belt clip  6  comprises a rigid, plate-like member  27  with a latching means  28  for coupling to a portable electronic device. The plate-like member  27  of the belt clip  6  then generally has a resilient, springy clip portion  32  for attaching the belt clip  6  to the belt  8  as indicated in FIG. 1.  
       [0006] The problem with these prior art belt clips is that they are only suitable for thin, flat objects like belts. If a user wants to couple the electronic device to something that is not shaped like a belt, a bicycle handlebar for example, it would be impossible to do. The springy clip simply will not spring enough to go around a tubular piece of metal like a handlebar.  
       [0007] Additionally, many people do not wear belts. Many dresses for females, for example, are sans belts. Men may in fact wear Sansabelt™ slacks. Some people are more comfortable wearing mu{grave over ()}u mu{grave over ()}us. For these users, a belt clip is ineffective for attaching an electronic device to their personage.  
       [0008] There is thus a need for an improved clip holder for electronic devices. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is an illustration of a prior art belt clip.  
     [0010]FIG. 2 is an illustration of a clip holder in accordance with the invention.  
     [0011]FIG. 3 illustrates a first method of use of the clip holder of FIG. 2.  
     [0012]FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a second method of use of the clip holder of FIG. 2.  
     [0013]FIG. 6 is an exemplary latching assembly for a clip holder in accordance with the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0014] A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.”  
     [0015] Referring now to FIG. 2, illustrated therein is a preferred embodiment of a clip holder  200  for portable electronic devices in accordance with the invention. The clip holder  200  includes a central member  201  having a support member  202  coupled thereto. Note that the support member  202  may be a separate component that is attached to the central member  201 , or may be constructed as an integral component in the central member.  
     [0016] Through an aperture  210  formed between the support member  202  and the central member  201 , a cord  204  is passed. The cord is preferably circular in shape and elastic, although it need not be. Any equivalent material capable of forming a flexible loop would suffice. In the preferred embodiment, the cord  204  is similar to hair elastics used to hold ponytail hairdos in place. The cord  204  creates two closed loops  207 , 208 . The loops  207 , 208  are at opposite sides of the support member  202 . The aperture  210  is designed such that there are frictional forces between the cord  204  and the support member  201 .  
     [0017] A hook member  203  is also provided. The hook member  203  is coupled to the central member  201 . The central member  201  further includes a latching assembly  205 , which is preferably located on the opposite side of the central member  201  from the cord  204 . The latching assembly is for coupling the central member  201  to a portable electronic device. The latching assembly  205  may be any of those known in the art, and may include a push-button release  206  for decoupling the electronic device from the clip holder  200 .  
     [0018] The clip holder  200  may be used in at least two different ways. The first is as shown in FIG. 2. A solid object may be passed through one loop  207 . The user then pulls the cord  204  at the other loop  208  to tighten any slack that may be present. The frictional forces keep the cord  204  from slipping. Alternatively, an optional brake button  209  may be provided that is spring coupled to a brake mechanism in the aperture  210 . The user depresses the brake button  209  to release the brake, thereby allowing the cord  204  to pass through the aperture  210 . When the brake button  209  is released, the brake grips the cord  204 , thereby stopping its motion through the aperture  210 . In either event, the hook member  203  provides a one-way stop should either the frictional forces or brake mechanism fail.  
     [0019] Such an application is shown in FIG. 3. Illustrated therein is the clip holder  200  coupled to a portable electronic device  300  by way of the latching assembly  205 . A button  301  has been passed through the first loop, and the slack has been taken out by pulling the second loop  208  of the cord  204 . The electronic device  300  has thus been coupled to a button  301  in a way not possible with an ordinary belt clip.  
     [0020] The second way of using the clip holder  200  is shown in FIG. 4. Illustrated therein are the central member  201 , the support member  202  and the cord  204 , just as in FIG. 2. In the method illustrated in FIG. 4, however, the first loop  207  has been passed through the second loop  208  and over the hook member  203 . In this manner, a third loop  401  is formed, shown by way of line segment  400  that passes through the third loop  401 . The third loop  401  is a secure, closed loop supported by the hook member  203  and the second loop  208 . If the user wraps the cord  204  about another object, like a bicycle handlebar or backpack strap for example, the clip holder then serves a coupling means between the electronic device and the other object. If the cord  204  is elastic, the cord  204  may be wrapped around an object with a thickness greater that that of the third loop  401 . The elastic  204  would then expand, thereby offering a snug fit. Hence, the clip holder  200  is capable of coupling to large solid objects, as well as through small holes, in ways that traditional belt clips cannot. Such an embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 5.  
     [0021] Referring now to FIG. 6, illustrated therein is both a plan view and a side, elevated view of a clip holder  200  in accordance with the invention. The views of FIG. 6 are to illustrate a preferred latching assembly  205  for portable electronic devices. It will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art that any number of equivalent latching systems may be substituted for this exemplary embodiment. The latching assembly  205  is essentially a protrusion from the central member  201  that inserts into an aperture  210  in the electronic device. The latching assembly includes a retention latch  600  that is actuated by the push-button release  206 . When the push-button release  206  is depressed, a connecting member  601  causes the retention latch  600  to move within the edges of the latching assembly  205 . This allows the latching assembly  205  to move freely in the aperture  210 . Once the latching assembly  205  is within the aperture  210 , the spring-loaded push-button release is released, thereby causing the retention latch  600  to mate with the appropriate retention stop within the aperture  210 . The clip holder  200  is disconnected from the electronic device by following these steps in the reverse order.  
     [0022] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is clear that the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. For example, the optional brake button and brake may be employed with the embodiment of FIG. as well as the embodiment of FIG. 2.