Abstract:
A magnetic carrying apparatus and method for an object. The apparatus has a first mating portion coupled to an object (such as a wireless device case, flashlight, keys, flash memory drive, etc.) and a second mating portion coupled to a personal item, such as a belt or purse. The first and second mating portions are coupled to each other by the positioning of a magnet proximate the surface of at least one and preferably both of the first and second mating portions. Bringing the first and second mating portions into sufficient proximity causes them to be coupled, and permits the use of the apparatus for carrying. When the object needs to be removed for use, a pulling action will separate the first and second mating portions.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 10/141,393, filed May 9, 2002, in the name of an inventor hereof, and to which priority is claimed. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to carrying apparatuses and methods and, more particularly, to a magnetic carrying apparatus and method capable of being readily separable into a first component coupled to an object to be carried and a second component coupled to one of clothing and an object.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Myriad portable objects, including wireless devices, phones, beepers, pda&#39;s, keys, flash memory drives, flashlights, nail clippers, and the like, are often carried in a manner that will facilitate ready access to the object when needed. Thus, there are a variety of apparatuses that permit the attachment of such an object and/or its case to a belt or purse or the like. A typical such prior art apparatus consists of a phone/wireless device case, which case has a clip on a rear side thereof to be attached to a belt or the like.  
         [0004]     A need exists for an apparatus having a first component that may be coupled to one of a user&#39;s clothing and property, a second component that may be coupled to an object to be carried, and means for readily separating and re-attaching the two components. The apparatus should facilitate ready separation of the components with a relatively minor amount of physical force or manipulation, while also permitting relatively secure attachment between the two components when they are coupled together.  
         [0005]     The present invention satisfies these needs and provides other, related, advantages.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a magnetic object carrying apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises, in combination: a first mating portion having a first end and a second end; a second mating portion having a first end and a second end; a first magnet located proximate one of the first end of the first mating portion and the first end of the second mating portion; a first attachment mechanism adapted to be coupled to each of the second end of the first mating portion and one of an object and a case for the object; and a second attachment mechanism adapted to be coupled to each of the second end of the second mating portion and a personal item.  
         [0007]     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a magnetic object carrying apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises, in combination: a first mating portion having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the first mating portion is concave; a second mating portion having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the second mating portion is convex; a first magnet located proximate the first end of the first mating portion; a second magnet located proximate the first end of the second mating portion; a first attachment mechanism adapted to be coupled to each of the second end of the first mating portion and an object; and a second attachment mechanism adapted to be coupled to each of the second end of the second mating portion and a personal item.  
         [0008]     In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method for carrying an object is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing a first mating portion having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the first mating portion is concave; providing a second mating portion having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the second mating portion is convex; providing a first magnet located proximate the first end of the first mating portion; providing a second magnet located proximate the first end of the second mating portion; providing a first attachment mechanism adapted to be coupled to each of the second end of the first mating portion and an object; providing a second attachment mechanism adapted to be coupled to each of the second end of the second mating portion and a personal item; attaching the first attachment mechanism to each of the second end of the first mating portion and the object; attaching the second attachment mechanism to each of the second end of the second mating portion and the personal item; and bringing the first magnet into sufficient proximity to the second magnet so as to cause coupling of the first end of the first mating portion to the second end of the second mating portion. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a side, cut-away view of the coupling apparatus of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of one component portion of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a component portion of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side, cross-sectional view of an embodiment of one component portion of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a side, cross-sectional view of an embodiment of one component portion of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is an end view of an embodiment of one component portion of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an embodiment of one component portion of the coupling portion of the present invention in position on a wireless device case.  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is a side, cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an attachment mechanism portion of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is aside, cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an attachment mechanism portion of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 11  is a side view of an embodiment of the mating portion components of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an embodiment of one mating portion component of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 13  is a side, cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the mating portion components of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 14  is a side view of an embodiment of an attachment mechanism portion of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 15  is a side view of an embodiment of an attachment mechanism portion of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 16  is a side view of an embodiment of an attachment mechanism portion of the coupling apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a fully-assembled coupling apparatus of the present invention, in use.  
         [0026]      FIG. 18  is a side view of an embodiment of the coupling apparatus of the present invention, utilizing a belt clip type of attachment means.  
         [0027]      FIG. 19  is a side view of an embodiment of the coupling apparatus of the present invention, utilizing a carabiner type of attachment means.  
         [0028]      FIG. 20  is a side view of an embodiment of the coupling apparatus of the present invention, wherein the object to which the apparatus is coupled is a flashlight.  
         [0029]      FIG. 21  is a side view of an embodiment of the coupling apparatus of the present invention, wherein the object to which the apparatus is coupled is a ring of keys.  
         [0030]      FIG. 22  is a side view of an embodiment of the coupling apparatus of the present invention, wherein the object to which the apparatus is coupled is a flash memory drive. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]     Referring first to  FIGS. 1-2  and  17 , an embodiment of a coupling apparatus  10  consistent with the present invention is shown. The coupling apparatus  10  generally comprises the following: a first mating portion  12 , a second mating portion  14 , a first attachment mechanism  16 , and a second attachment mechanism  18 . The first mating portion  12  is coupled via the first attachment mechanism  16  to an object  20 . The second mating portion  14  is coupled via the second attachment mechanism  18  to an item of personal property, such as a belt  22 . (While a belt  22  is shown as an example of an item of personal property to which the second attachment mechanism  18  may be secured, it should be understood that it may be desirable to secure the second attachment mechanism  18  to other property, such as waist-band, belt loop, purse or purse strap, bag, backpack, pocket, etc.)  
         [0032]     Referring now to FIGS.  2 ,  5 - 6 ,  8 , and  11 - 13 , attention is directed to the first and second mating portions  12  and  14 . These portions are adapted to be coupled to each other about exposed surfaces  13  and  15 , respectively. It is preferred, as shown herein, that exposed surface  13  be concave, and that exposed surface  15  be convex, so as to provide for more secure coupling therebetween. A magnet  24  is present on at least one surface  13  or  15 . The other surface  13  or  15  has either a magnet  24  thereon (of opposite polarity to the one located on the opposing surface), or a metal surface of a type that is capable of being attracted to a magnet  24 . When exposed surfaces  13  and  15  are brought into sufficient proximity with one another, attraction of the magnet  24  to either the second magnet  24  or the opposing metal surface will cause the first and second mating portions  12  and  14  to be coupled at exposed surfaces  13  and  15  as shown by way of example in  FIGS. 2 and 17 . Conversely, pulling on at least one of the first and second mating portions  12  and  14 , typically caused by pulling the object to which the second mating portion  14  is coupled, will cause de-coupling of the first and second mating portions  12  and  14  and permit use of the object unencumbered by the first mating portion  12  and the object to which it is coupled.  
         [0033]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-6  and  8 - 17 , attention is now directed to first attachment mechanism  16  and second attachment mechanism  18 . In one embodiment, as shown by way of example in FIGS.  8 ,  11 - 13  and  17 , a transverse opening  30  is provided through a rear portion of each of first and second mating portions  12  and  14 . Insertable through each transverse opening  30  is, optionally, a ring  26 . (The ring  26  may, by way of example, be of the split ring type (see, e.g.,  FIG. 4 ), of the D-ring type, or of another desired type (see, e.g.,  FIG. 18 )).  
         [0034]     As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 ,  8  and  17 , and as noted above, it is preferred that the first mating portion  12  is coupled via the first attachment mechanism  16  to an object  20 , and that the second mating portion  14  is coupled via the second attachment mechanism  18  to an item of personal property, such as a belt  22 . (it should be apparent that the positions of the first and second mating portions  12  and  14  could be reversed.)  
         [0035]     Referring now to FIGS.  2 ,  3 - 6 ,  8 - 10 , and  14 - 17 , the first and second attachment mechanisms  16  and  18  are described in greater detail. First, it should be noted that the purpose of the first attachment mechanism  16  is to couple the first mating potion  12  to the object  20 . First, as shown in FIGS.  2 ,  5 - 6  and  9 - 10 , it may be desired to insert a pin  28  through the object  20 . In one embodiment, the end of the pin  28  is inserted into the rear of the first mating portion  12  through longitudinal opening  29 , where a transverse opening  32  in the pin  28  is aligned with the transverse opening  30 , and the pin  28  is then secured by the insertion and secure coupling of a transverse pin  34  therein. See  FIGS. 5-7 . In another embodiment, the end of the pin  28  is inserted into the rear of a base member  36 , which base member  36  is then securely coupled to the rear of the first mating portion  12 . See  FIG. 2 . These configurations permit a relatively rigid positioning of the object  20  relative to the belt  22  or other item upon which the case  20  is worn, and limits movement of the case  20 .  
         [0036]     In another embodiment, the pin  28  is securely coupled to an O-type ring  38 . See  FIG. 8 . In yet another embodiment, the pin  28  is securely coupled to a D-type ring  40 . See  FIG. 9 . In these embodiments, coupling to the rear of the first mating portion  12  is accomplished by coupling a ring  26  to each of the O-type ring  38  or D-type ring  40  and through the transverse opening  30 . See  FIGS. 8 and 17 . These configurations permit relatively freer movement of the case  20  during use.  
         [0037]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3-4  and  16 , in another configuration, the first mating portion  12  receives an eye-bolt  42  into the longitudinal opening  29 , with the eye-bolt  42  being secured thereto with the insertion of transverse pin  34  through transverse opening  32  and through transverse opening  33  in the eye-bolt  42 . The eye-bolt  42  has coupled to the ring portion thereof a ring  26  or a spring clip  44 .  
         [0038]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-2 ,  14 - 15 , and  17 - 19 , embodiments of the second attachment mechanism  18  are shown. In one embodiment, as shown by way of example in  FIG. 14 , a belt clip  46  has an eyelet  48  thereon. The belt clip  46  may be clipped to a belt  22  or other personal item. As shown in  FIG. 18 , a belt clip  46  may be coupled via ring  60  coupled thereto to ring  26 , which ring  26  is secured to the rear of second mating portion  14  as described above.  
         [0039]     In another embodiment, a loop  50  has an eyelet  52  thereon, and the loop  50  further has a snap assembly  54  to permit opening and closing of the loop  50  about a belt  22  or other personal item. (As shown in  FIG. 2 , instead of the eyelet  52 , it would be possible to secure a pin  56  through the loop  50  and into the rear of the second mating portion  14 .) As shown in  FIG. 19 , it may be desired to utilize a carabiner  62  as the second attachment mechanism.  
         [0040]     As shown by way of example in FIGS.  8 ,  20 - 22 , myriad types of objects can comprise the object  20 . This may include a flashlight ( FIG. 20 ), a set of keys ( FIG. 21 ), a flash memory drive ( FIG. 22 ), and a carrying case ( FIG. 1 ). Other objects, not shown, may also be carried using the apparatus  10  of the present invention, including, for example, an LED light, camera, MP3 player, tape measure, knife, hand tools, sports bottles, ID cards, compasses, fast pass devices, electronic keys, etc.  
         [0041]     It should be understood that, while different embodiments of the first and second attachment portions  16  and  18  are shown, each configuration could equally be used as a first attachment portion  16  or second attachment portion  18 . For example, while  FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate an embodiment of a first attachment portion  16  coupled to an object  20 , they could also illustrate a second attachment portion  18  coupled to a belt clip  46  or loop  50 . The same would be accurate with respect to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 2-4  and  9 - 10 .  
         [0042]     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.