Patent Application
20060243772
This invention relates generally to electronic device portability, and relates more particularly to the transport, storage, and protection of portable electronic devices.
Cellular telephones, MP3 players, pocket computers, and other portable electronic devices have become so popular and are in such widespread use that it is now almost unusual to encounter a person who is not carrying at least one such device. Many portable electronic devices, including all of those mentioned above, are at least capable of emitting sound, and thus are quite often equipped with headphones that enable the sound to be listened to privately. Other cables or cords in addition to those connected to headphones are sometimes also used in conjunction with portable electronic devices. These headphone and other cords are easily tangled and broken, and are, in general, hard to manage. Accordingly, there exists a need for a mechanism capable of safely and conveniently storing and carrying a portable electronic device while also managing any cords that are used therewith.
The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures in the drawings in which:
For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. The same reference numerals in different figures denote the same elements.
The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms “comprise,” “include,” “have,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.
The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,” “under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as directly or indirectly connected in an electrical, mechanical, or other manner.
In one embodiment of the invention, an attachment mechanism for use with a portable electronic device comprises a case having a first surface and a second surface, where the first surface and the second surface define therebetween a space capable of receiving the portable electronic device. The attachment mechanism also comprises a clip attached to the second surface of the case. The clip comprises a first piece adjacent to the second surface, a second piece spaced apart from and extending toward the second surface, and a third piece also spaced apart from and extending toward the second surface. The second piece creates a first pocket between the case and the clip, and the second piece creates a second pocket between the case and the clip.
Portable electronic device 101 can be, for example, an MP3 player, a cellular telephone, a pager, a wireless handheld device, a handheld computing device such as a pocket PC, or the like. As mentioned above in the background section, the use of many of these portable electronic devices requires, or is enhanced by, a cord such as a headphone cord. Although it is well suited for use with a wide variety of portable electronic devices, attachment mechanism 100 is particularly well suited for use with a portable electronic device having a headphone or other cord because attachment mechanism 100 provides for the management of such cords, as described in more detail below.
As illustrated in
A variety of configurations for clip 120 are possible; the configuration shown in
Segment 281 is substantially straight and flat and can be mounted flush with surface 111, and segment 282 extends away from segment 281 toward section 172. In one embodiment, segment 282 is long enough to touch section 172, while section 172 is flexible enough to be pulled away from segment 282. This configuration allows clip 120 to be clipped onto a belt, a strap of a backpack, or the like, by separating section 172 and segment 282 as described, passing the belt or the like through the gap thus created, then releasing section 172 and segment 282 such that they move toward each other and either touch or lie so close to each other that they develop a firm grip on the belt or the like.
Of course, as was alluded to above, clip 120 can also exist in a variety of configurations other than that just described. As just one example of such an alternate embodiment, the curves illustrated in
Case 110 further comprises a patch 130 attached to surface 111 and passing between section 271 and section 172 of clip 120. In one embodiment, patch 130 is sewn to surface 111 of case 110. In the same or another embodiment, a spacer 131 is located between patch 130 and surface 111, and patch 130 is sewn to case 110 by passing stitching through patch 130, spacer 131, and surface 111. Although a variety of sizes, materials, and configurations are acceptable, in a particular embodiment, spacer 131 is constructed of cardboard that can be, for example, approximately 1.5 millimeters thick. If desired, spacer 131 may be painted to match the color of case 110 or another component of attachment mechanism 100.
In an embodiment similar to the one just described, patch 130 is again positioned between sections 271 and 172 of clip 120, and clip 120 is attached to case 110 using rivets (not shown) that pass through patch 130 and surface 111 of case 110. In a non-illustrated embodiment, clip 120 is attached to case 110 using an adhesive. As an example of that non-illustrated embodiment, an adhesive substance may be applied to segment 281, after which segment 281 may be adhered to surface 111 of case 110. Other attachment techniques, as known in the art, may also be used to attach clip 120 to case 110.
Section 172 comprises an inside perimeter 180, which in turn comprises a portion 181 that defines an opening 182 in section 172, and which further comprises a portion 183 that defines an opening 184 in section 172. As illustrated, opening 182 communicates with opening 184, and opening 184 is narrower than opening 182. Inside perimeter 180, with its components as described above, functions with a mounting piece (to be described below) to allow attachment mechanism 100 to be mounted on a surface such as a computer monitor, a wall, or the like.
Referring again to
In a particular embodiment, mounting piece 300 is used by attaching surface 311 to a suitable surface or location such as a wall of a building, a vehicle dashboard, a computer monitor, a garment, a bag, or any other surface or location where it may be desirable to mount case 110. In one embodiment, mounting piece 300 is sewn into or otherwise attached to a garment, a bag, or the like. In an embodiment where surface 311 is self-adhesive, a non-adhesive backing may be placed over surface 311 until mounting piece 300 is brought to the point of attachment, at which time the non-adhesive backing may be removed and mounting piece 300 may be attached. Following such attachment, clip 120 is placed on mounting piece 300 by inserting protrusion 320 into opening 182. Case 110, and portable electronic device 101, if it is stored therein, is then conveniently held in place at the location of mounting piece 300. Further mounting stability may be obtained by forcing opening 184 of clip 120 over locking piece 321. Case 110 may be removed from mounting piece 300 by removing locking piece 321 from opening 184, and by removing protrusion 320 from opening 182. Mounting piece 300, following its initial attachment to the suitable surface as described above, in one embodiment, would stay in place permanently, and in another embodiment, would be removably attachable to the suitable surface such that mounting piece 300, after the removal of case 110, could itself be removed from the suitable surface and reattached elsewhere.
In one or more non-illustrated embodiments, mounting piece 300 or a similar piece works with a mounting arm or other mounting device to allow additional mounting possibilities. In a particular one of these non-illustrated embodiments, mounting piece 300 is attached to a mounting arm suitable for attachment to a vehicle's windshield or the like. The mounting arm can be attached at one of its ends to a windshield, while another of the mounting arm's ends can be attached to mounting piece 300. In a different particular non-illustrated embodiment, mounting piece 300 or a similar piece is attached to a mounting device adapted for some other environment, such as a vehicle cup holder, a desktop, or the like. In general, mounting piece 300 may be used as a means of integrating attachment mechanism 100 with any suitable mounting system, such that case 110 may be mounted using any such mounting system. The mating of clip 120 and mounting piece 300 is depicted in
As illustrated in
A step 820 of method 800 is to attach a clip comprising a body, a first extension, and a second extension to the second surface of the case such that the first extension extends away from the body and toward the second surface, thereby creating a first pocket between the case and the flexible clip, and such that the second extension extends away from the body and toward the second surface, thereby creating a second pocket between the case and the flexible clip. As an example, the clip, the body, the first extension, and the second extension can be similar to, respectively, clip 120, first shown in
In one embodiment, step 820 comprises sewing the clip to the case. In the same or another embodiment, step 820 or another step comprises: providing a patch and a spacer; positioning a portion of the clip between the patch and the case; positioning the spacer between the case and a portion of the patch; and sewing the patch to the case by stitching through the patch, the spacer, and the second surface of the case. If desired, the spacer may be painted or colored so that it is the same color as the patch and/or the case. In different embodiments, step 820 comprises adhering the clip to the case using an adhesive, or attaching the clip to the case using rivets or the like.
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Various examples of such changes have been given in the foregoing description. Accordingly, the disclosure of embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative of the scope of the invention and is not intended to be limiting. It is intended that the scope of the invention shall be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims. For example, to one of ordinary skill in the art, it will be readily apparent that the attachment mechanism discussed herein may be implemented in a variety of embodiments, and that the foregoing discussion of certain of these embodiments does not necessarily represent a complete description of all possible embodiments. Rather, the detailed description of the drawings, and the drawings themselves, disclose at least one preferred embodiment of the invention, and may disclose alternative embodiments of the invention.
All elements claimed in any particular claim are essential to the invention claimed in that particular claim. Consequently, replacement of one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstruction and not repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element or elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced, however, are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims.
Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.
