Patent Publication Number: US-2009230001-A1

Title: Communications device pocket holster

Description:
There are no related patent applications. 
     This application did not receive any federal research and/or development funding. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Generally, the present invention relates to a pocket holster for securing a communications device within a pocket of an article of clothing such as a pair of pants. More particularly, the instant invention includes a shaped strip of material that is folded substantially near a centerline that extends between the two ends of the material and having sides that fasten together to create a holster. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Mobile communications devices are prevalent throughout modern society. Cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, and other types of electronic devices are used to establish and maintain mobile communications. Some of these devices include external holsters that secure the particular mobile communications device to the exterior of the user. Typically, the holster couples the mobile communications device to the belt of the user. Use of this exterior holster may be awkward. It may be difficult for a user to disengage the mobile communications device from the belt when answering a message or call. 
     To overcome this problem, many users of mobile communications devices forego the use of a holster and carry the devices in clothing pockets. Certain other problems may be experienced by users who deposit the communications device into one of their pockets. For example, when a mobile communications device is placed in a pants pocket, it may be difficult to maintain the mobile communication device in a preferred position. As the user walks, sits, rides or otherwise engages in daily activities, the communications device tends to shift to different orientations or positions within the pocket. Likewise, the delicate nature of the mobile communications devices may result in a device being damaged when items such as coins are deposited into the pocket along with the mobile communications device. Dirt, dust or debris of washed receipts may also foul electrical connection ports such as power and signal connectors. Another problem associated with depositing a mobile communications device into a pocket is that it may be difficult to retrieve the mobile communications device from the pocket when receiving a call to either answer the call or cause the call to be sent to voice mail. This results in missed calls or prolonged interruptions at meetings and the like. 
     The present invention aims to overcome all of the aforementioned problems by teaching a pocket holster into which a mobile communications device is deposited prior to placing the mobile communications device within the pocket of the user. An exterior of the pocket holster exhibits a high coefficient of friction property that allows the pocket holster to be deposited into a pocket and maintained in a preferred position. The interior surface of the pocket holster has a lower coefficient of friction than the exterior for aiding in retrieval of the mobile communications device from the pocket holster. For instance, a cellular telephone may be deposited into the pocket holster and the pocket holster arranged in a pant&#39;s pocket of the user parallel to the length of the user&#39;s leg. Alternatively, the pocket holster may be placed in the pocket without the communication device; thereafter, the communication device may be inserted into the pocket holster. In this manner, the mobile communications device is comfortably maintained stationary in the user&#39;s pocket and is easily retrieved. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a pocket holster for securing a communication device within a pocket of an article of clothing such as a pair of pants. More particularly, the pocket holster includes a shaped strip of material that is folded substantially near a centerline that extends between the two ends of the material. The material may comprise a synthetic rubber, such as Neoprene®, having a first surface that exhibits a higher coefficient of friction than a second surface on an opposite side of the material. The first surface is arranged as an exterior surface of the holster to maintain the communications device in a stable position within the pocket. The second surface contacts the communications device, and with its reduced coefficient of friction, allows the device to be easily deposited into the holster when the holster is in the user&#39;s pocket. Likewise, the second surface&#39;s low coefficient of friction aids in easy withdrawal of the communications device from the holster when both are in the pocket of the user. 
     A first end of the material includes square edges having a concave shaped edge defined there between; the second end includes rounded edges. An opening extends towards the first end from near the centerline between the two ends. When the holster is constructed, this opening is arranged at a bottom of the holster and exposes a portion of the communication device for alerting a user when a call is being placed to the communication device. Thereafter, the user may extend a finger into this opening and apply upward directed force to the exposed portion of the communication device to drive it upward and through the opening defined by the first and second ends of the material. Alternatively, the communication device may be retrieved by grasping to top end of the device that extends from the open end of the holster and remove the communications device from the holster. This action is made possible by the differences in the coefficient of friction between the faces of the shaped strip of material that forms the holster. 
     The width of the strip of material near the first end is larger than the material near the second end, preferably by one-half an inch. The sides of the material near the first end are folded onto the sides near the second end and secured with a fastening means such as permanent stitching. An exterior side of the holster has a higher coefficient of friction than that of the interior side of the holster for aiding in maintaining the holster in a desire position within a pocket of the user. The holster protects the communication device from coins or other items that may be deposited into the pocket. A length of the first end is shorter than a length of the second end. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a pocket holster that maintains a communications device in a stable and comfortable position within the pocket of a user. A rubberized exterior of the pocket holster exhibits a high coefficient of friction to maintain the pocket holster in a desired position. 
     It is another object of the invention to teach a novel holster that includes a curved upper edge along a front of the holster that includes a bulged opening for easily accepting a communications device. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a holster that comprises a material having two ends, one end having a wider width than the other. Then end having the wider width includes an opening for facilitating the answering of a communications message between the user and another. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a holster that comprises a synthetic rubber material that may be stitched to a particular shape for realizing the present invention. 
     These and other objects of the invention and advantages of the invention will be set forth, appear in part or become apparent after considering the specification and accompanying drawings. It is to be realized that the following embodiments of the invention have been represented in their simplest form for ease in understanding the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a pocket holster for a communication device 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a piece of material that is used to construct the pocket holster. 
         FIG. 3A  shows a cellular telephone deposited within the pocket holster.  FIG. 3B  shows a phantom view of the cellular telephone within the pocket holster. 
         FIG. 4  shows part of a pair of pants having a pocket and the communications device and pocket holster deposited therein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiments of the invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are more fully explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and set forth in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and the features of one embodiment may be employed with the other embodiments as the skilled artisan recognizes, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and techniques may be omitted to avoid obscuring the invention. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention may be practiced and to further enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments set forth herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  shows the communications device holster  1  having a flared opening  5  that facilitates depositing and retrieving the communications device into and from the holster  1 . A second opening  14  is arranged at a bottom of the holster  1 . An interior side or face  4  of the material  2 , shown in  FIG. 2 , exhibits a lower coefficient of friction than that of exterior side or face  3  of material  2 . Length L 1  of the second end  20  is greater than length L 2  of the first end  10 . Left permanent stitching  30 A and right permanent stitching  30 B secures the first end  10  to the second end  20  by first overlapping and aligning the edges of each end  10 ,  20 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts a strip of material  2  having a pattern for creating the holster  1 . As shown in this figure, the width W 1  of the first end  10  is greater than width W 2  of the second end  20 . Preferably, width W 1  is substantially three and three-quarters of an inch (3.75″); while the width W 2  is substantially three and one-quarters of an inch (3.25″). This difference in width may be achieved by providing angled edges  13 A and  13 B as shown in the first end  10 . The bottom of opening  14  substantially intersects a fold line F that extends from angled edge  13 A to  13 B. A length of either angled edge  13 A,  13 B is substantially three-quarters of an inch (0.75″). Fold line F defines the transition between the first end  10  and second end  20  and is substantially midway between the overall length LT of material  2 . As can be recognized by the drawings, the sum of the lengths L 1  and L 2  equals LT. The overall length LT is preferably eight inches (8″). Opening  14  is preferably semicircular in shape with the flat edge arranged substantially near fold line F. The radius of opening  14  is preferably three-quarters of an inch (0.75″). Upper lip  11  is arcuate in shape and is arranged between square corners  12 A and  12 B. The radius of upper lip  11  is preferably three-quarters of an inch (0.75″). Lower lip  22  is substantially flat in shape and defined between rounded edges  21 A and  21 B. The distance between fold line F and centerline C is substantially one-quarter of an inch (0.25″). Thus, L 1  is substantially one quarter and inch longer than L 2 . 
     Opening  14 , preferably semi-circular in shape, facilitates the device in alarming the user when a call is being placed to the communication device. The opening  14  allows for the sound of the ringer, vibratory alerts, alarms or other call indication means to be transferred from the communication device to an exterior of the holster. The opening may also aid the user in quickly disengaging the communication device from the holster. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the communications device  50  is deposited into the holster  1  through the flared opening  5 . The top of the communications device  50  may be grasped when removing the device  50  from the holster  1 . As understood by  FIG. 4 , the communications device  50  is arranged in the holster  1  and both are thereafter placed in the pocket of the user&#39;s pants  101 . The device  50  may be arranged parallel to the users leg and is maintained in such position by the holster  1 . When answering a communications call, the user may withdraw the device  50  to answer the call, and easily reinsert the device  50  into the holster  1  within the pocket after use. 
     It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact construction illustrated and described above. Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. While the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in limiting sense. From the above disclosure of the general principles of the present invention and the preceding detailed description, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which the present invention is susceptible. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.