BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further objects and advantages of the present invention can be found in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C diagrammatically illustrate the clip body in a perspective view, a front elevational view, and a partial, cross-sectional view;
FIGS. 2A and 2B diagrammatically illustrate cross-sectional views of the clip body and the button mount (the cell phone and PED and/or associated carriage and the belt or strap being shown in FIG. 2A); and
FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D diagrammatically show temporary latching of the button mount and hence the cell phone or PED with respect to the main clip body due to detent-detent lock elements described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention relates to a clip removably mounting a cell phone or personal electronic device (PED) on a belt or strap (see FIG. 2A diagrammatically showing the belt or strap). Typically a button is formed on a cell phone or PED or on a carriage therefor (see FIG. 2A) and the button mounts in a capture cavity of the main clip body as discussed below. A method is also featured as part of the invention herein.
FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C are discussed concurrently herein. Main clip body 10 includes a backside 12 and a front side 14. An inverted, generally U-shaped clip element 16 is formed on the backside 12 of main clip body 10. This inverted U-shaped clip element 16 is adapted to be removably mounted on a belt or strap 18 as shown in FIG. 2A. The inverted U-shaped clip element 16 has a belt or strap interspace 19 within which is retained belt or strap 18.
Main clip body 10 also defines a capture cavity 20 within which is disposed a cantilevered release arm 22. As best shown in FIG. 1C, release arm 22 has a distal end 24 which is mounted to lower body section 26 of the main clip body 10. The balance of release arm 22 extends from distal end 24 and is effectively free standing throughout capture channel 20 and with respect to main clip body 10. Arm 22 is levered to distal end 24. Proximal end 28 of release arm 22 includes a user actuation surface 30.
In general, capture channel 20 is generally U-shaped and is formed on the front side 14 of main clip body 10. End 28 of release arm 22 is proximal to the user as compared with lower end 26 of clip body 10. Release arm 22 also includes a locking face element 32 discussed later in conjunction with the button mount shown in FIG. 2A.
Capture cavity 20 and in particular the distal or lower arcuate portion of capture cavity 20 forms complementary locking elements 34a, 34b which coact with the button as described later. A plastic spring biased tab or detent lock element 36 is positioned in the lower distal region of capture cavity 20. A stop 40 is formed in the clip body 10 beneath the detent lock element 36 which, as described later, limits rotational or arcuate movement of the button and hence the cell phone or PED attached thereto. The phone or PED button may rotate in the capture cavity. Biased detent lock 36 can take various forms one of which is the flexible detent system illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1C. The detent tip flexes due to the flex bar mounted in the cut-outs of the main clip body.
FIG. 2A shows a button mount 50 which, in general, is attached or mounted to cell phone or PED carriage. The mounting is shown by the double headed arrows M1 and M2. Button mount 50 includes a stem 52 which is captured within capture channel 20 as shown in FIG. 2B. In a preferred embodiment, button stem 52 forms a female lock channel 54 at its distal end away from cell phone or PED carriage 49. Lock channel 54 includes vertical proximal end 56a and vertical distal end 56b. The term “vertical” is related to the normal position of the main clip body on a user's belt. However, as discussed later in conjunction with FIGS. 3A-3D, the angular or rotational position of the button mount and the cell phone or PED can be changed by the user. To insert button mount 50 into capture channel 20, the user vertically moves the button mount 50 downward or opposite single headed arrow A2 thereby forcing release arm 22 backwards away from front face 14 and towards back face 12 of main clip body 10. Arm 22 rotates at the distal end 24. Locking face element 32 rides along the exposed button face of button mount 50.
FIG. 2B shows that button mount 50 has been disposed in capture cavity 20 and that locking face element 32, which is generally at a mid-section of release arm 22, interacts with edge 56a of lock channel 54 of the button mount 50. The distal end 56b of the lock channel coacts with capture channel edge portions 34a, 34b shown in FIG. 1B. Further, locking edge portions 34a and 34b form male complementary locking elements which are captured and inserted into the female locking channel 54 of button mount 50.
Throughout the embodiments, locking channels and locking elements (tabs or plates and channels) may be reversibly configured as male and female elements on either body dependent upon the designer's choice. The claims appended hereto are meant to cover these modifications.
To release button mount 50 (and the attached cell phone or PED retained by carriage 49) from the locked position shown in FIG. 2B, the user or operator moves release arm 22 backwards as shown by arrow A1 (FIG. 2A) (typically by actuating user actuator surface 30) and then vertically moves button mount 50 vertically upward as shown by arrow A2 in FIG. 2A. In this manner, button mount 50 is moved vertically upward, away from capture cavity 20.
FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D are discussed concurrently herein. These figures show a partial, cross-sectional view of button stem 50 and particularly the angular positions of the button stem relative to main clip body 10. Button stem 50 includes a pair of stop surfaces 62, 64 in a preferred embodiment which limit rotational movement (angular position) from the position shown in FIG. 3B and FIG. 3A (+90 degree position) due to button stop 62 and clip body stop 40, and the other extreme rotational position shown in FIG. 3D (−90 degree position) due to the interaction between button stop 64 and clip body stop 40. In the illustrated embodiment, detent depression 66 on the button stop ledge surface 50a cooperates with detent lock element 36 best shown in FIG. 1B. In other words, the detent lock 36 has a knob or ball which falls within the depression 66 on button surface 50a. FIG. 3C shows this midpoint, vertical, zero degree position of the button and hence the PED relative to the clip body. Of course, the depression may be formed on locking element 36 and a ball or knob formed as element 66 on the button surface. In FIG. 3B and FIG. 3A when button mount stop 62 is adjacent clip body stop 40, rotational movement in a direction of B1 is prohibited. In FIG. 3D, rotational movement in a direction of arrow B2 is prohibited due to the interaction of stops 64, 40. Further, multiple angular positions can be provided by the temporary latching of one or more detents 66 and 67 compared with detent latch or lock 36 (FIG. 1B).
The claims appended hereto are meant to cover modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the present invention.
Patent Application
20080078792
