Patent Publication Number: US-6902431-B2

Title: Multi-function clip structure for a wireless adapter

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
   The present application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/162,014 filed Jun. 3, 2002 abandoned, by S. Chen and T. Lien, entitled “MULTI-FUNCTIONAL CLIP.” 
   INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
   The aforementioned U.S. application Ser. No. 10/1 62,014 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a multi-function clip structure, and more particularly, to a multi-function clip structure suitable for use with a wireless adapter. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Almost all of the newly purchased personal computers support an interface technology called USB (Universal Serial Bus). The so-called USB interface technology provides the connection between a central processing unit (CPU) and newly-added peripheral elements, thereby automatically configuring the newly-added peripheral elements to the computer. Moreover, the USB interface supports a lot of equipments by the way of serial connection, i.e. first connecting a first equipment to the computer; then connecting a second equipment to the first equipment; and thereafter connecting a third equipment the second equipment; and so on. 
   Generally, the peripheral hardware can be connected to the computer through the USB interface with a wire (or cable), or wirelessly. For example, some types of mobile phones can communicate with the computer via a wireless USB interface. When the wireless USB interface is used for communication purpose, a wireless adapter has to be used to receive and transmit wireless signals, wherein the computer is connected to the wireless adapter having the wireless USB interface via a wire (cable), and then the wireless USB adapter is used to communicate with the peripheral hardware (such as the mobile phone) wirelessly. 
   For processing wireless communication with a wireless adapter, it is necessary to place the wireless adapter on an elevated (higher) location or on a location with no barriers so as to obtain better communication effect, and thus the wireless adapter is further designed to a desktop type (which can be placed steadily on a surface) or a wall-mount type (which is secured to a wall) for meeting various user environments. Generally, the wall-mount typed wireless adapter is hung to the wall via a hole formed on the backside of the wireless adapter, but the hole generally ruins the beauty of the product outlook and is disadvantageous to the sales. Further, from the user-friendly points of view, while being applied in the office environments having various types of walls (such as steel wall, wood wall, and concrete wall, etc.), the wireless adapters existing in the current market do not have the features of being attached to those types of walls simultaneously. Moreover, the conventional wireless adaptors cannot be secured to a user&#39;s belt or PC peripheral equipments (such as a LCD monitor of a notebook computer, etc.). Accordingly, it is difficult for users to apply the conventional wireless adaptors under all kinds of office environments, thus causing a lot of inconvenience for the users. 
   On the other hand, in the current market, there are quite a few types of wireless USB adapters, and a pocket-sized wireless adapter is one of the popular adapters. However, having small weight and size, the pocket-sized wireless adapter generally suffers the difficulty of keeping steady on a surface and is easily to be tipped over especially while being connected with a USB cable (which is heavier and bigger). Thus, the pocket-sized wireless adapter is vulnerable while being placed on a desk. Further, it is noted that one of the convenient places for a user to carry the pocket-sized wireless adapter is on the user&#39;s belt. 
   Therefore, from the user-friendly points of view, there is an urgent need to develop a multi-function clip structure for a wireless adapter, whereby the multi-function clip structure not only can be placed steadily on a surface (desk), but also can be simultaneously secured to different types of walls (partitions) by attaching or hanging without forming a hole on the backside of the wireless adapter; and can be secured to a user&#39;s belt or PC peripheral equipments by clipping, wherein the wireless adapter can be placed on an elevated (higher) location for better signal reception. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Just as described above, the conventional wireless adapter has to form a hole on the backside thereof so as to be hung on a wall; cannot be placed steadily on a surface (desk); cannot be secured to the various types of walls by attaching; and can be secured to a user&#39;s belt or PC peripheral equipments by clipping. 
   Hence, an object of the present invention is to provide a multi-function clip structure for a wireless adapter, whereby the wireless adapter can be simultaneously secured to various types of walls by multiple ways including attaching and hanging, so that the wireless adapter can be adapted to all kind of office environments with one single multifunction clip. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a multifunction clip structure for a wireless adapter, whereby the wireless adapter can be hung on a wall without forming a hole on the backside of the wireless adapter, so that the wireless adapter can have a smooth outlook for increasing the market edge. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a multifunction clip structure for a wireless adapter, whereby the pocket-sized wireless adapter can be placed steadily on a desk. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a multifunction clip structure for a wireless adapter, whereby the wireless adapter can be secured to a user&#39;s belt or PC peripheral equipments by clipping, so that one of the functions of the multifunction clip structure is to enable the wireless adapter to be portable (while the wireless adapter is hung on the user&#39;s belt); and the other one thereof is to secure the wireless adaptor to any PC peripheral equipments nearby (such as a LCD monitor of a notebook computer). 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a multifunction clip structure for a wireless adapter, wherein the material forming the multi-function clip is an elastic material such as plastics, so that no complicated movable mechanism is required, thereby substantially saving the cost of parts. 
   According to the aforementioned objects of the present invention, the present invention provides a multi-function clip structure suitable for use with a wireless adapter, wherein the multi-function clip structure comprises: a main body; and an clipping member having at least one depression structure and a cross-section of such as L-shape, wherein one side of the clipping member is connected to the main body and the other side of the clipping member is able to extend outwards because of the elasticity of the clipping member. Moreover, the present invention also comprises at least two attaching elements placed in the depression structure and installed on the clipping member. Furthermore, after the attaching elements are placed in the depression structure, there is a bridge gap existing in the depression structure, so that the wireless adapter can be hung on nail of a wall via the bridge gap. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a 3-D diagram showing the multi-function clip structure for a wireless adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram showing the front view of the multi-function clip structure for a wireless adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram showing the top view of the multi-function-clip structure for a wireless adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram showing the right side view of the multi-function clip structure of the present invention clipped to a target; and 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram showing the multi-function clip structure of the present invention connected to a pocket-sized wireless USB adapter. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The multi-function clip structure of the present invention is suitable for use in connecting to a wireless adapter (such as pocket-sized wireless USB adapter), and have the multiple functions for placing the wireless adapter steadily on a surface (desktop type); securing to a wall (wall-mount type) by attaching hanging; and securing to a target (such as a user&#39;s belt or PC peripheral equipments) by clipping. Referring to the 3-D view, the front view, the top view, and the right side view respectively shown from  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , a multi-function clip structure  20  comprises a main body  30  and a clipping member  40 . The material forming the main body  30  and the clipping member  40  is elastic material (such as plastics). If the main body  30  and the clipping member  40  both are made of plastics, the main body  30  and the clipping member  40  can be formed in one body without a complicated movable mechanism needed, thereby substantially saving a lot of part cost. The clipping member  40  has to be made of an elastic material in order to be clipped with a target (such as a user&#39;s belt; PC peripheral equipments such as a LCD monitor of a notebook computer), although the material of the clipping member  40  is not necessary to be plastics. Moreover, the shape of the main body  30  can be a solid plate in the shape of such as rectangular or any other shape, wherein the shape of the main body  30  can also be formed in a hollow frame, i.e. the hollow frame is formed from a solid plate with an opening penetrating from one surface thereof having the maximum surface area to the other surface. 
   The function of the multi-function clip structure for securing a wireless adapter to a target (such as a user&#39;s belt or PC peripheral equipment) by clipping is explained as follows. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 4  is a diagram showing the right side view of the multi-function clip structure of the present invention clipped to a to a target. The clipping member  40  has a substantially L-shaped structure composed of a protrusion portion (not labeled) and an elastic portion (not labeled), wherein the protrusion portion has a first side  45  connected to the main body  30 , and the elastic portion has an unrestrained second side  60  opposite to the first side  45 . The second side  60  can have a horizontal displacement movement of extending away from or approaching towards the main body  30  in the direction as shown by the arrow  70 , due to the elasticity of the clipping member  40 . When the multi-function clip structure  20  is moved to a target  11 (such as a user&#39;s belt or PC peripheral equipments) in the direction as shown by the arrow  72 , the top end of the target  11  can be inserted into a space  71  formed between the second side  60  and the main body  30 . For increasing elasticity a portion of the elastic portion adjacent to the second side  60  can be further divided into two legs. Thus, even though the width of the top end of the target  11  is a little bit larger than the width of the space  71 , the second side  60  still can be extended outwards in the direction of the arrow  70  due to the elasticity of the clipping member  40 , so as to clip the target  11  smoothly and tightly. The target  11  indicated herein can be any object to be clipped by the multi-function clip structure  20 , such as a user&#39;s belt or PC peripheral equipments (such as a LCD monitor of a notebook computer). Moreover, the target  11  is not necessary to be exactly vertical to the x-z horizontal plane. For example, the plane  130  on which the target  11  is located may have some degrees of angle with respect to the y direction, as long as the multi-function clip structure  20  does not slip off while being engaged with the target  11 . Besides, a plurality of anti-slip ribs  75  are located on a portion of a surface of the clipping member  40 , so that the multi-function clip structure  20  can be clipped to the target  11  more tightly. When the multi-function clip structure  20  is clipped to the target  11 , the anti-slip ribs  75  are in contact with the target  11  so as to generation friction. Furthermore, the present invention has a block  80  to limit the depth of the target  11  inserted. The block  80  is installed on the main body  30 , and the shape and location of the block  80  is not limited to any specific shape and location provided that the block  80  can perform the limiting function. However, as the location of the block  80  is closer to that of the second side  60 , the space  71  is smaller, and the multi-function clip structure  20 &#39;s clipping force exerted on the target  11  is smaller accordingly. On the contrary, the location of the block  80  is farther from the second side  60  (to the extreme, the vertical portion of the clipping member  40  adjacent to the first side  45  can be used as the block  80 ), the space  71  is larger and the multi-function clip structure  20 &#39;s clipping force exerted on the target  11  is bigger accordingly. Therefore, the multi-function clip structure  20  without the block  80  is also within the claimed scope of the present invention. With the clipping mechanism described above, after being connected to a wireless adapter, the multi-function clip structure  20  can effectively secure the wireless adapter to a target (such as a user&#39;s belt or PC peripheral equipments) by clipping, wherein the wireless adaptor can be portable while being hung on the user&#39;s belt. 
   On the other hand, the tail of the second side  60  is raised outwards for preventing the target  11  from being damaged while the target  11  is inserted into the space  71 . The raising structure of the tail of the second side  60  is particularly suitable for use in various notebook-styled equipments. For preventing the surface of the target  11  from being scratched, the inner surface of the clipping member  40  is further covered with a soft material (such as a rubber pad). 
   Hereinafter, referring to FIG.  1  and  FIG. 2 , the function of the multi-function clip structure for securing a wireless adapter to a wall by hanging or attaching is explained. 
   Depression structures  50  (such as two depression structures) are formed on the area  90  of the elastic portion adjacent to the protrusion portion of clipping member  40  for securing the multi-function clip structure  20  to a wall by hanging or attaching. The depression structures  50  may be holes completely penetrating through the area  90  of the elastic portion, or merely recessed areas, for being hooked on a protrusive element (such as a nail) installed on a wall, thereby securing the multi-function clip structure  20  to a wall by hanging. For securing the multi-function clip structure  20  to a wall by attaching, at least two attaching elements  100  are placed in the respective depression structures  50 . The attaching elements  100  can be such as magnets or mad of Velcro, but the present invention is not limited thereto, as long as the wireless adapter can be attached to the wall (such as the vertical plate) firmly. It is well known that, if the attaching elements  100  are magnets, then the above vertical plate has to be made of the magnet-attachable material (such as steel). Preferably, the height of each of the aforementioned magnets is more than 12 mm, so as to prevent the wireless adaptor from magnetic interference. 
   It is worthy to be noted that, a bridge gap  110  is an extra space formed on the edge of the depression structure  50  for securing the multi-function clip structure  20  to a wall by hanging and attaching at the same time. After being connected to the multi-function clip structure  20 , the wireless adapter can be attached on a wall by installing the attaching elements  100  (such as circular elements) in the depression structures  50 ; and/or hung on a wall by fitting the bridge gap  110  to a protrusive element (such as a nail) located on the wall, so that the wireless adapter can be secured to a wall by hanging (due to the bridge gap  110 ) and by attaching (due to the attaching elements  100 ) simultaneously. 
   Moreover, the function of the multi-function clip structure for placing a wireless adapter steadily on a surface (desk) is explained as follows. 
   Such as shown in  FIG. 3 , the area  90  of the elastic portion facing downwards has sufficient contact surface to hold the multi-function clip structure steadily on a horizontal surface of an object (such as a desk), so as to achieve the aforementioned desktop type function of the multi-function clip structure. Therefore, the multi-function clip structure  20  can overcome the disadvantage of the pocket-sized wireless USB adapter that is easily to be tipped over and cannot be held steadily when being placed on the desk. 
   Further, referring to  FIG. 5   FIG. 5  is a diagram showing the multi-function clip structure of the present invention connected to a pocket-sized wireless USB adapter. In addition to the main elements described above, slices  22  and hooks  24  are used for combining the multi-function clip structure  20  with the pocket-sized wireless USB adapter  10 . The two slices  22  are formed on one end of the main body  30  and the two hooks  24  are on the other end of the main body  30 . The slices  22  are engaged with two respective sockets  12  of the pocket-sized wireless USB adapter  10 , and the hooks  24  are engaged with two respective cavities  14  of the pocket-sized wireless USB adapter  10 . The slices  22 , the hooks  24 , the sockets  12 , and the cavities  14  can be made in any arbitrary shape provided that the multi-function clip structure  20  and the pocket-sized wireless USB adapter  10  can be joined together tightly. After the multi-function clip structure  20  and the pocket-sized wireless USB adapter  10  are joined together as one integrated body, the pocket-sized wireless USB adapter  10  can then be positioned in multiple ways, such as desktop type: being placed on a surface (desk); wall-mount type: being secured to a wall (partition) by attaching or hanging without forming a hole on the pocket-sized wireless USB adapter  10 ; portable type: being secured to a user&#39;s belt; and other types: being secured to PC peripheral equipments (such as a LCD monitor of a notebook computer). 
   To sum up, one advantage of the present invention is to provide a multi-function clip structure connected to a wireless adapter, whereby the wireless adapter can be placed steadily on the desk, secured to an elevated (higher) location or any proper location by clipping, hanging or attaching. 
   Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a multi-function clip structure for a wireless adapter, so that the wireless adaptor can be applied in the office environments having various types of walls (such as steel wall, wood wall, and concrete wall, etc.). 
   Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a multi-function clip structure for a wireless adapter, wherein the material of the multi-function clip is an elastic material such as plastics, so that the complicated movable mechanism is not required, thereby substantially saving the cost of parts. 
   Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a multi-function clip structure connected to a wireless adapter, so that the wireless adapter can be portable (while the wireless adapter is hung on the user&#39;s belt), and be secured to any PC peripheral equipments nearby (such as a LCD monitor of a notebook computer). 
   As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrations of the present invention rather than limitations of the present invention. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements comprised within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structure.