Patent Application
20100288804
This relates to the field of devices for supporting portable handheld electronic devices.
A standard carrying case or pouch generally includes a clip. Such a clip can attach the case to such things as a belt or over the waistline of clothes. Mobile handhelds are carried in cases having such a clip. The clip is used to attach the case to the user's belt or over the waistline of their clothes, as examples, to make carrying easier.
It is sometimes desirable that the handheld device be sufficiently spaced from the person to whom the mobile handheld is attached.
In one aspect, there is provided an apparatus for supporting a handheld electronic device including a holster and a clip. The holster includes a pocket for receiving a handheld electronic device and supporting the received handheld electronic device. The clip is coupled to the holster and is configured for movement between an open position and a gripping position and is biased towards the gripping position. In the open position, spacing is provided between the clip and the holster so as to receive an article. In the gripping position, the clip is disposed such that, when an article is disposed between the clip and the holster, the article is gripped by the clip against at least one gripping surface portion of the holster under the force effecting biasing of the clip towards the gripping position. When the clip is disposed in the gripping position, and a handheld electronic device is received and supported by the pocket, coupling of the handheld electronic device to the article is thereby effected. When the coupling of the handheld electronic device to the article is effected, the minimum distance between the handheld electronic device each one of the at least one gripping portion of the holster is at least eighteen (18) millimetres.
In another aspect, there is provided an apparatus for supporting a handheld electronic device, comprising a holster and a clip. The holster includes a pocket for receiving a handheld electronic device and supporting the received handheld electronic device. The clip is coupled to the holster and configured for movement between an open position and a gripping position and being biased towards the gripping position, wherein, in the open position, spacing is provided between the clip and the holster so as to receive an article, and wherein, in the gripping position, the clip is disposed such that, when an article is disposed between the clip and the holster, the article is gripped by the clip against at least one gripping surface portion of the holster under the force effecting biasing of the clip towards the gripping position, and such that, when the clip is disposed in the gripping position, and a handheld electronic device is received and supported by the pocket, coupling of the handheld electronic device to the article is thereby effected. The holster further includes an operative interior holster surface fraction consisting of at least one operative interior holster surface portion which is configured to oppose and at least contribute support to a handheld electronic device when the handheld electronic device is received and supported within the pocket. When the clip member is disposed in the gripping position, each one of the at least one operative interior holster surface portion is spaced apart from each one of the at least one gripping portion of the holster by a respective minimum distance of at least eighteen (18) millimetres.
In a further aspect there is provided a method of manufacturing an apparatus for supporting a handheld electronic device. The method includes providing a holster perform, providing a clip, providing a stationary clip effecting integrator and a positionable clip effecting integrator, wherein, when provision of a holster is effected by coupling of the stationary clip effecting integrator to the holster perform and when the stationary clip effecting integrator is also coupled to the clip, a stationary clip is provided which is disposed in a stationary condition relative to the holster, and wherein, when provision of a holster is effected by coupling of the positionable clip effecting integrator to the holster perform and when the positionable clip effecting integrator is also coupled to the clip, a positionable clip is provided which is disposed in a positionable condition relative to the holster, and selecting one of the integrators. Formation of the apparatus is then effected, wherein the apparatus includes a holster coupled to the clip, wherein the holster includes the holster preform and the selected integrator, wherein the holster preform is coupled to the selected integrator, and wherein the selected integrator is coupled to the clip.
In yet a further aspect, there is provided an apparatus for supporting a handheld electronic device comprising a holster and a clip. The holster includes a pocket for receiving a handheld electronic device and supporting the received handheld electronic device. Further, the holster includes a stationary clip effecting integrator, and a clip mounting structure. The clip mounting structure is coupled to the stationary clip effecting integrator by a force effecting press-fit engagement of the clip mounting structure to the stationary clip effecting integrator. The clip is coupled to the clip mounting structure and configured for movement between an open position and a gripping position and being biased towards the gripping position, wherein, in the open position, spacing is provided between the clip and the holster so as to receive an article, and wherein, in the gripping position, the clip is disposed such that, when an article is disposed between the clip and the holster, the article is gripped by the clip against at least one gripping surface portion of the holster under the force effecting biasing of the clip towards the gripping position, and such that, when the clip is disposed in the gripping position, and a handheld electronic device is received and supported by the pocket, coupling of the handheld electronic device to the article is thereby effected. The stationary clip effecting integrator includes an interference structure which interferes with movement of the clip mounting structure in response to a force applied to the clip mounting structure for urging rotation of the clip mounting structure in a plane which is orthogonal to the direction of the force which is effecting the press-fit engagement of the clip mounting structure to the stationary clip effecting integrator.
Referring to
In some embodiments, a biasing member 106 is provided for urging or biasing the clip 104 to the gripping position. For example, the biasing member 106 is a resilient member. For example, a suitable resilient member is a spring, such as a leaf spring.
In some embodiments, the clip 104 is sufficiently resilient such that, when a manual force has been applied to effect movement of the clip 104 from the gripping position to the open position, the clip 104 returns to the gripping position when the manual force is removed.
In some embodiments, the handheld electronic device 500 is a BlackBerry Bold™ (BlackBerry 9000™) manufactured by Research In Motion Limited. Other examples of suitable handheld electronic devices include cellular phones, mobile handhelds, digital wireless phones, 1-way pagers, 1½-way pagers, 2-way pagers, electronic mail appliances, internet appliances, personal digital assistants (PDA), laptop computers, portable digital audio players, and the like.
In some embodiments, the holster 102 includes a front wall portion 110, a rear wall portion 112, side wall portions 114, 116, and a floor 118, which co-operate to define a pocket 108. In this respect, the clip 104 is pivotally coupled to the rear wall portion 112.
In some embodiments, there is provided a strap 115 which is attached to an exterior surface of the rear wall portion 112 and extends into a space disposed above the pocket 108 and is configured for releasable coupling to an exterior surface of the front wall portion 110. For example, the releasable coupling is effected by interaction of hook and loop type material such as Velcro™. Alternatively, the strap 115 includes a magnet and the front wall portion 110 includes a magnet, and the strap 115 is urged towards coupling with the front wall portion 110 when the magnet of the strap 115 becomes disposed in sufficiently close proximity to the magent of the front wall portion 110 such that the magnetic fields of each of the magnets interact to effect an operative attractive force between them.
Referring to
(A) Aspect Relating to Spacing of Handheld Electronic Device Relative to Article of Clothing to which it is Coupled
Referring to
(B) Aspect Relating to Spacing of Interior Support Surface Portions of Holster Relative to Article of Clothing to which Holster is Coupled
Referring to
When the clip 104 is disposed in the gripping position, each one of the at least one operative interior holster surface portion 1024 is spaced apart from each one of the at least one gripping portion 20 of the holster 102 by a respective minimum distance (D2) of at least eighteen (18) millimetres. For example, in some embodiments, each one of the at least one operative interior holster surface portion is spaced apart from each one of the at least one gripping surface portion 20 by a respective minimum distance of between eighteen (18) millimeters and twenty-two (22) millimetres. In some embodiments, the minimum distance is provided to minimize the specific absorption rate (“SAR), which is a measure of the rate at which radio frequency energy is absorbed by the body when exposed to a radio frequency electromagnetic field, when the handheld device is coupled near a person's body (such as when the handheld device is coupled, using the apparatus, to an article of clothing worn by a person).
In some embodiments, the operative interior holster surface fraction is disposed opposite to the operative exterior holster surface fraction.
In some embodiments, the operative interior holster surface fraction is disposed on an interior surface of the rear wall of the holster.
(C) Embodiments with Selectively Positionable Clip
In some embodiments, the clip 104 is selectively positionable relative to the holster 102. Embodiments whose clip 14 is selectively positionable relative to the holster include those where the holster 104 is configured to support and retain a handheld electronic device 500 in a substantially vertical orientation. In this respect, and referring to
Referring to
A plurality of landing surfaces 146 and a plurality of receiving grooves 148 are defined by the rear wall mounting side surface 142. The landing surfaces 146 are in an array extending radially outward from the axis 122. The receiving grooves 148 are spaced equally between the landing surfaces 146. The receiving grooves 148 and the landing surfaces 146 cooperate with the ribs 134 and the landing surfaces 138 to effect positioning of the clip mounting structure 140 relative to the rear wall portion 112. Selective positioning of the clip 104 relative to the holster 102 is effected by rotation of the clip 102, which is translated to rotation of the clip mounting structure 140, by virtue of the coupling of the clip 104 to the clip mounting structure 140, to one of the predetermined positions defined by the co-operation of the receiving grooves 148 and the landing surfaces 146 of the clip mounting structure 140 with the ribs 134 and the landing surfaces 138 of the positionable clip effecting integrator 130, as will be described in further detail below.
In some embodiments, toe grips 150 extend from the clip mounting side surface 144 to contribute to the gripping of the article of clothing disposed between the clip 102 and the clip mounting structure 140 when the clip 102 is disposed in the gripping position. The toe grips 150 are located proximate to the bottom edge of the clip mounting side surface 144.
In some embodiments, a pair of spaced apart hinge structures 154, 156 extend from the gripping side surface 144. Each one of the hinge structures 154, 156 includes a respective one of receiving apertures 158, 160 which are configured to effect pivotal coupling of the clip 102 to the clip mounting structure 140.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The clip 104 pivots on the hinge pins 194, 196. This allows the user to push down near the top of the clip 104 to raise the other end of the clip 104. Fabric and other materials may then be slid between the raised end of the clip 104 and the clip mounting structure 140. The toe grips 150 and the gripping surface 1062 grip whatever is placed between them as the user discontinues pressure on the clip 104.
The manner of attachment and assembly of the clip 104 relative to the clip mounting structure 140 is also described with respect to corresponding components in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,318 for “Retaining Clip Assembly”, issued Jun. 13, 2000 (see column 2, line 32 to column 3, line 6), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. With the clip 104, the holster 102 can become coupled to an article of clothing worn by a person, while supporting and retaining the handheld device 500. For example, the apparatus 100 can be coupled to a belt or the waistline of clothes.
When the clip mounting structure 140 is mounted to the positionable clip effecting integrator 130, the ribs 134 extend into the grooves 148. Simultaneously, the landing surfaces 138 extend to the landing surfaces 146, thus defining the mounting system and forming a co-operating, interlocking relationship between the clip 104 and the holster 102. This interlocking relationship allows the clip 104 to be releasably held in a desired position relative to the holster 104 by the resilience of the retainer clip 170.
The clip 104 can be swivelled about the axis 250 by the user. The ribs 134 function as detents to the landing surfaces 146. The landing surfaces 146 lift over the corresponding ribs 134 and settle into the next available landing surfaces 138 when the clip 104 is rotated about the axis 250. The user can adjust the orientation of the clip assembly 104 relative to the holster 102 and it will stay in that orientation until the user desires to change it again. That is, the user has the option of adjusting the orientation of the clip assembly 104 relative to the holster 102 by increments equal to the width or spacing of the ribs 134.
It is understood that each one of the above-described embodiments with the selectively positionable clip incorporates one of the aspects above-described in (A) and (B), which are further illustrated with respect to a selectively positionable clip embodiment in
(D) Embodiments with Stationary Clip
In some embodiments, the clip 104 is stationary relative to the holster 102. Referring to
Referring to
In some embodiments, the stationary clip effecting integrator 2130 is provided and defines an exterior surface portion of the rear wall portion 112 of the holster 102. In some embodiments, the stationary clip effecting integrator 2130 is in the form of a plate 2139 which is integrated within the rear wall portion 112 of the holster 102. For example, in some embodiments, the edges of the plate 2139 are chamfered to mitigate against tearing of the device retainer structure 800.
The stationary clip effecting integrator 2130 includes an aperture 2136 which receives the retainer clip 170. The retainer tabs 174, 176 extend through the aperture 2136 and apply a force which effects coupling of the clip mounting structure 140 to the holster 102 by press-fit engagement of the clip mounting structure 140 to the stationary clip effecting integrator, and, therefore, the holster 112, as described above. The stationary clip effecting integrator 2130 co-operates with the clip mounting structure 140 to facilitate stationary (or substantially stationary) disposition of the clip mounting structure 140 relative to the holster 102. In this respect, the stationary clip effecting integrator 2130 includes a pair of spaced-apart, opposing, parallel (or substantially parallel) ribs 2132, 2134 extending from a surface of the side of the integrator 2130 which is disposed in opposition to the clip mounting structure 140. The ribs 2132, 2134 function as an interference structure which maintains the clip mounting structure 140 in stationary (or substantially stationary) disposition relative to the holster 102 by co-operating with corresponding structures provided on the clip mounting structure 140 to effect interference to rotational movement of the corresponding structures in a plane which is orthogonal to the force which effects the press-fit engagement between the clip mounting structure 140 and the stationary clip effecting integrator 2130. In this respect, in some embodiments, the integrator 2130 is configured such that, each one of the ribs 2132, 2134 is disposed about the periphery and opposes a respective one of opposite side edge portions 140a, 140b of the clip mounting structure 140. In this respect, the ribs 2132, 2134 function to provide an interference to rotational movement of the clip mounting structure 140 by interfering with rotational movement of the side edge portions 140a, 140b, respectively.
It is understood that each one of the above-described embodiments with the stationary clip may incorporate one of the aspects above-described in (A) and (B).
There is provided a method of manufacturing any of the above-described embodiments of an apparatus 100 for supporting a handheld electronic device.
The method includes providing a clip 104. Both a stationary clip effecting integrator 2130 and a positionable clip effecting integrator 130 are also provided. When provision of a holster 102 is effected by coupling of the stationary clip effecting integrator 2130 to the holster preform 700 and when the stationary clip effecting integrator 2130 is also coupled to the clip 104, a stationary clip is provided which is disposed in a stationary condition relative to the holster 102, and wherein, when provision of a holster 102 is effected by coupling of the positionable clip effecting integrator 130 to the holster preform 700 and when the positionable clip effecting integrator 130 is also coupled to the clip 104, a positionable clip is provided which is disposed in a positionable condition relative to the holster 102. One of the integrators 130, 2130 is then selected. A holster perform is provided. Formation of the apparatus 100 is effected, wherein the apparatus 100 includes a holster 102 coupled to the clip 104, wherein the holster 102 includes the holster preform 700 and the selected integrator 130 or 2130, wherein the holster preform 700 is coupled to the selected integrator 130 or 2130, and wherein the selected integrator 130 or 2130 is coupled to the clip 104.
In some embodiments, the formation is effected by coupling a clip assembly to the holster perform 700, wherein the clip assembly includes the selected integrator 130 or 2130. For example, the clip assembly also includes the clip 104, the clip mounting structure 140, and the retainer 170.
In some embodiments, the provided holster perform 700 is selected based on the selection of the integrator 130 or 2130. For example, when a positionable clip effecting integrator 130 is selected, a holster perform 700 is selected which is predisposed to effecting formation of a vertically oriented holster, such as that illustrated in
In some embodiments, the forming of the apparatus 100 includes coupling the selected integrator 130 or 2130 to the clip 104 to effect formation of a predetermined clip configuration, and then coupling the predetermined clip configuration to the holster perform 700.
In some embodiments, the forming of the apparatus 100 includes coupling the selected integrator 130 or 2130 to the holster preform 700 to effect formation of the holster 102, and then coupling the clip 104 to the holster 102.
In some embodiments, the method of manufacturing the apparatus 100 includes the following:
(a) providing a stationary clip effecting integrator 2130 and a positionable clip effecting integrator 130 (for example, each one of the integrators is made from CYCOLOY C1200 HF™ manufactured by SABIC Innovative Plastics)
(b) selecting one of the stationary clip effecting integrator 2130 and the positionable clip effecting integrator 130;
(c) cutting material (e.g. leather) to the desired shape of the holster 102, and providing a cut-out in the material to facilitate incorporation of a selected integrator;
(d) gluing stiffener structure (such as plastic material) to the inside surface of the material to effect stiffening of the material and thereby provide a composite material (e.g. thickness is about three (3) millimetres);
(e) positioning the selected integrator 130 or 2130 into the cut-out in the composite material;
(f) positioning the retainer clip 170 (for example, the retainer clip 170 is made from NORYL NWR5810™ manufactured by SABIC Innovative Plastics) for insertion through the aperture 131 provided in the selected integrator 130 or 2130;
(g) mounting the clip 104 (for example, the clip 104 is made from NORYL NWR5810™ manufactured by SABIC Innovative Plastics) onto the clip mounting structure 140 (for example, the clip mounting structure 140 is made from NORYL NWR5810™ manufactured by SABIC Innovative Plastics) by inserting the hinge pins 194, 196 of the clip 104 into the corresponding apertures 158, 160 provided on the hinge structures 154, 156, respectively, of the clip mounting structure 140;
(h) integrating the leaf spring 106 between the clip 104 and the clip mounting structure 140 by positioning the tabs 202 in the corresponding recesses 1062 to effect interlocking between the leaf spring 106 and each of the clip 104 and the clip mounting structure 140, and thereby provide a clip assembly;
(i) positioning the clip assembly over the selected integrator such that the retainer 170 is received through the aperture 141 provided in the clip mounting structure 140 and engages the clip mounting structure 140 in snap-fit engagement, as described above;
(j) gluing further internal padding structure (e.g. cardboard and/or foam, having a thickness of about three (3) millimetres) over the leather composite and the selected integrator;
(k) applying liner (e.g. felt, 0.5 millimetres thick) over the internal structure and stitching the liner to the composite material; and
(l) stitching side wall portions to the rear wall portion.
It will be appreciated that the above description relates to the preferred embodiments by way of example only. Many variations will be obvious to those knowledgeable in the field, and such variations are within the scope as described and claimed.
