Patent Publication Number: US-6217095-B1

Title: Hand strap for a portable apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a hand strap for a portable apparatus and a structure for mounting the same. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a hand strap mounted on a handy phone for allowing the user of the phone to easily hold or carry the phone while preventing the user from dropping the phone by accident, and a structure for mounting the same. 
     A hand strap for use with a handy phone or similar portable apparatus has been proposed in various forms in the past. One of conventional hand straps is implemented by a relatively wide strip having its opposite ends connected together to form a loop. A hand strap taught in, e.g. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 8-10031 can be adjusted in length, as desired. In any case, the user of the apparatus holds or carries the apparatus by putting one hand in the loop. The hand strap additionally serves to prevent the apparatus from being dropped by accident. 
     However, the conventional hand straps have some problems left unsolved, as follows. Because it is troublesome for the user to put his or her hand in the loop of the hand strap, the user, in many cases, directly grips the apparatus and is therefore apt to drop the apparatus. The hand strap implemented by a relatively wide strip has a fixed length which sometimes does not match the size of the user&#39;s hand, resulting in uneasy operation. The hand strap with a variable length is disadvantageous in that when its length is reduced, the long excess portion hangs down and not only obstructs the user&#39;s operation, but also degrades the appearance of the apparatus. In addition, both of such conventional hand straps need an additional loop on the apparatus and a connecting portion which would obstruct the user&#39;s operation. 
     Technologies relating to the present invention are also disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 58-139402, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication Nos. 60-970 and 61-1876, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 5-218884, 8-10030, and 8-274852. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a hand strap for a portable apparatus which is easy to operate and hold, prevents the apparatus from being dropped by accident, and reduces the cost, and a structure for mounting the same. 
     A hand strap for a portable apparatus of the present invention includes a strap body anchored at one end to an engaging port ion formed in the preselected position of a casing included in the apparatus. A stop is capable of being locked to the strap body at any desired position with the other end of the strap body being passed through the stop. The stop prevents the user&#39;s fingers holding the strap body from slipping. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional hand strap; 
     FIG. 2 is a section showing another conventional hand strap; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a hand strap embodying the present invention and mounted on a portable apparatus; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a specific configuration of a stop included in the illustrative embodiment; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevation showing how a strap body included in the illustrative embodiment is inserted into the step of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 shows a specific condition in which the apparatus is held by hand; 
     FIG. 7 shows a specific condition in which the apparatus is carried; and 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFED EMBODIMENTS 
     To better understand the present invention, brief reference will be made to a conventional hand strap for a portable apparatus, shown in FIG.  1 . As shown, the hand strap is made up of a first loop strap  201 , a second loop strap  202 , and a connecting piece  203  connecting the two loop straps  201  and  202  to each other. The first loop strap  201  is implemented by a relatively wide strip connected at opposite ends to form a loop. The second loop strap  202  is implemented by a relatively narrow strip connected at opposite ends to form a comparatively small loop. The loop strap  202  is affixed to a portable apparatus. The user of the portable apparatus may put one hand in the loop strap  201  in order to hold or carry the apparatus. Such a loop strap additionally serves to prevent the operator from dropping the apparatus by accident. 
     FIG. 2 shows another conventional hand strip which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 8-10031 mentioned earlier. As shown, the hand strap is made up of a first string portion  312 , a second string portion  311 , and a buckle member  302  connecting the two string portions  312  and  311  to each other. The buckle member  302  includes a first insertion portion  303  including locking means  305 , a second insertion portion  304 , and a fold-back portion  306  including a lever  307 . After a string  301  including the first string portion  312  has been inserted into the first insertion portion  303 , it is folded back to form a first loop  308 . The end of the first loop  308  is inserted in the second insertion portion  304  and then folded back to form a second loop  309  wrapping around the lever  307 . The end of the second loop  309  is led out from the second insertion portion  304 . The length of the hand strap, i.e., the length of the second string portion  312  may be changed by changing the length of the string  301  extending out from the second insertion portion  304 . The adjusted length of the hand strip is maintained by the second loop  309  wrapping around the lever  307 . 
     The conventional hand straps described above each has some problems discussed earlier. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, a hand strap embodying the present invention and applied to a handy phone by way of example will be described. As shown, the hand strap, generally  1 , includes a string-like or strip-like strap body  11  anchored at one end to an engaging portion  21  formed in the housing of a handy phone  2 . The other end of the strap body  11  is passed through a stop  12 . The stop  12  is locked to the strap body  11  at any desired position and prevents the user&#39;s fingers holding the strap body  11  from slipping. The strap body  11  is folded back at the engaging portion  21  and used in the form of two strings or strips. 
     FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the stop  12  in detail. As shown, the stop  12  includes a first and a second stop body  121  each of which is formed with saw-toothed mating portions  124  at its one end. The mating portions  124  of the stop bodies  121  are held in engagement with each other. The stop bodies  121  are connected together by a pair of hinges  123 . An anti-slip portion  125  is formed at the other end of each stop body  121 . When the user of the handy phone  1  squeezes the anti-slip portions  125  with fingers, the mating portions  124  open away from each other about the hinges  123 . Springs  122  are respectively included in the hinges  123  in order to bias the mating portions  124  of the stop bodies  121  toward each other. The stop bodies  121  form a bore  127  therebetween in the vicinity of the hinges  123 , so that the strap body  11  can be inserted into the bore when the mating portions  124  are opened. A deformable pad  126  i adhered to the top of the stop bodies  121 . 
     The pad  126  is formed of rubber or silicone and deformable when the mating portions  124  are opened and closed. In addition, the pad  126  prevents the user&#39;s fingers from touching the hinges  123  or the springs  122 . If desired, the pad  126  may be divided into two parts at positions corresponding to the hinges  123 , and the two parts may be respectively formed integrally with the anti-slip portions  125 . 
     How the hand strap  1  is used will be described hereinafter. While the strap body  11  is generally 5 mm to 10 mm wide and about 200 mm long, the strap body  11  is about 400 mm long in total because it is folded back at the engaging portion  21  of the handy phone  2 . The stop  12  has a diameter ranging from about 15 mm to about 30 mm which is not bulky, but is great enough to prevent the user&#39;s fingers from slipping. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the user opens the stop  12  about the hinges  123  and then inserts one end of the strap body  11  into the stop  12 . Specifically, when the operator squeezes and presses the anti-slip portions  125  of the stop  12 , the mating portions  124  of the stop bodies  121  open away from each other against the action of the springs  122 . Then, the user inserts the strap body  11  into the hole  127 , as illustrated. Subsequently, the user slides the strap body  11  to a desired position while squeezing the anti-slip portions  121 . When the user releases the anti-slip portions  121  at the desired position, the mating portions  124  are closed toward each other by the action of the springs  122 , locking the stop  12  to the strap body  11 . 
     FIG. 6 shows a specific condition in which the user holds the handy phone  2  by using the hand strap  1 . As shown, the stop  12  is locked to the strap body  11  at a position close to the phone  2 , but about 2 cm apart from the engaging portion  21 . In this specific condition, the user holds the handy phone  2  while putting the forefinger and middle finger on both sides of the strap body  11 . As a result, the user&#39;s hand is held between the phone  2  and the stop  12  in a natural condition, so that the user can hold the phone  2  without gripping it. Even when the user puts the hand off the phone  2 , the phone  2  is still held by the user via the strap body  11  and stop  12  and prevented from slipping down. 
     FIG. 7 shows a specific condition in which the user carries the handy phone  2 . As shown, the user locks the stop  12  to the end portion of the strap body  11  and puts the strap body  11  between two fingers. In this condition, the user grips the strap body  11  and carries the phone  2  with the stop  12  abutting against the fingers. Again, the phone  2  is prevented from dropping because it is held by the strap body  11 , stop  12 , and the user&#39;s fingers. The user can therefore easily and surely grip the strap without putting the user&#39;s hand in a loop. 
     FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention. As shown, a hand strap  3  includes a single strip-like strap body  31 . The strap body  31  has its one end inserted in and tied to the engaging portion  21  of handy phone  2 . A metal fitting may be used to fasten the strap body  31  to the engaging portion  21 , if desired. A stop  32  is identical in configuration with the stop  12 , FIG.  3 . This embodiment is practicable with a single strap and therefore lower in cost than the previous embodiment. 
     The stop  12  or  32  may be so constructed as to be slidable toward the engaging portion  21  of the handy phone  2 , but not slidable in the other direction, without the user&#39;s fingers touching the anti-slip portions  125 . This can be done if the saw-toothed mating portions of the two bodies are formed with inclined teeth. 
     The stop bodies  121  of the stop  12  or  32  may be provided with any desired appearance, e.g., the appearance of a mascot such as an animal, person or object. Alternatively, a mascot produced independently of the hand strap may be added to the stop bodies  121  to make them fashionable. Moreover, two or more stops  12  or  32  may be fitted on the strap body  11  for implementing various ways of use. 
     In summary, it will be seen that the present invention provides a hand strap for a portable apparatus having various unprecedented advantages, as enumerated below. 
     (1) The hand strap is made up of a strap body implemented by one or two strings or strips anchored to the engaging portion of the apparatus, and a stop capable of being locked to the strap body at any desired position. The hand strap can therefore be held without requiring the user to put the user&#39;s hand in a loop. This allows the user to safely carry the apparatus simply by gripping the strap. 
     (2) The user can move the stop in order to change the length of the strap simply by squeezing the anti-slip portions of the stop with two fingers. Particularly, when the length of the strap is reduced, the long excess portion of the strap does not hang down or obstruct the user&#39;s operation. 
     (3) The engaging portion of the apparatus is so located as to coincide with the user&#39;s hand holding the apparatus. The stop can therefore be locked to the strap body in close proximity to the engaging portion, allowing the user to surely hold the apparatus. 
     (4) The strap implemented by only one or two strings is low cost. 
     Various modifications will become possible for those skilled in the art after receiving the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope thereof.