Patent Application
20130168429
1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a belt-mounted, two-way radio holder unit assembly.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98
There are numerous devices available for carrying an electronic device, such as a camera, pager, cell phone, or two-way radio, on a belt. Examples of these devices follow.
For example, an available two-way radio holder from Motorola commonly known as a spring action removable belt clip attachment attaches directly to the radio and then is clipped on a user's belt, but it is cumbersome and frustrating and dangerous to use, particularly for law enforcement personnel. A disadvantage of this holder is that removal of the two-way radio from a user's belt requires a two-handed operation: the user must look down (sight engagement) and then use one hand to pull the belt away from the user's body and use the other hand to open the spring-loaded belt clip and remove the radio from the belt. Law enforcement personnel should never have to take their eyes off a suspect or situation, or perform a two-handed operation to access their radio, which needs to be readily and easily accessible.
Other disadvantages of the spring action removable belt clip attachment are that it is uncomfortable to wear; the radio binds when the user is in a seated position, because the radio is rigidly held in position by the belt clip; and the radio is not securely attached to the user's belt. As a result of these disadvantages, many law enforcement personnel choose not to carry a two-way radio in the field which places them in a precarious safety position without this vital piece of equipment.
Another two-way radio holder is available from Motorola and is commonly known as the high-activity swivel case. The Motorola brand holder is comprised of two parts: a first part comprising a holster with a T-strap to hold and secure the two-way radio within the holster; wherein the holster has a metal, D-shaped, metal clip mounted on the back of the holster, which clip is inserted into a second part comprising a U-shaped notch on a metal plate receiver mounted on a leather loop held together with metal rivets, which loop is worn on a belt; further wherein the clip can swivel within the receiver; and, in an alternative embodiment, a D-shaped, metal clip is mounted to a battery on the back of a two-way radio, which clip is inserted into the U-shaped notch on the receiver.
This Motorola high-activity swivel case allows the radio to swivel on the belt of the user without coming off the belt. However, if the user wants to remove the radio from the holster to use it, he must unlatch the T-strap of the holster and remove the radio from the holster, which typically requires sight engagement and at least a one-handed, if not a two-handed, operation to remove the radio, thus exposing the user to the dangers previously stated. Alternatively, the user can leave the radio in the holster, invert the holster 180 degrees, which allows the D-shaped, metal clip to disengage from the U-shaped notch on the metal plate receiver, and then remove the holster and radio combination from the loop.
The Motorola high-activity swivel case has disadvantages in that it is cumbersome to use, comprised of numerous parts, and heavy, which adds to the substantial equipment weight burden law enforcement personnel are already carrying on their belts (such as a cell phone, firearm, baton, flash light, handcuffs, and other requisite equipment).
Further disadvantages of the Motorola high-activity swivel case are that it is designed for and intended to be used by uniformed law enforcement personnel or military personnel wearing a large-size duty belt (typically 3 inches wide) and, therefore, is too large, loose, unsightly and cumbersome for use with a standard-size civilian belt (typically 1-2 inches wide); it is made of a stainless steel U-slot fact plate, a plastic U-slot base plate, four rivets holding these two pieces to a leather belt loop which is close at the bottom and held together by two more rivets and nylon stitching, for a total of 10 parts for the belt loop alone; and it has either a stainless steel D-clip that attaches directly to the back of a two-way radio battery back, which is made of at least one and as many as three parts, depending on the model, or it has a leather radio holster that has a D-clip fastened to the back of the holster, and the holster is made of numerous parts of leather, rivets, snap buttons, a T-strap, and a stainless steel D-clip on a stainless steel base plate, requiring at least 26 and as many as 30 parts to construct the holster. In combination, the Motorola high-activity swivel case requires at least 27 parts and as many as 33 parts to construct.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,147 issued July 3, 10873, by Wilczynski for Support for Carrying Case discloses a support for a carrying case that supports the case on a belt and permits the case to pivot with respect to the belt and to be easily and quickly connected thereto and detached therefrom.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,586 issued Jan. 12, 1998, by Hagino for Swivel Fastening Device discloses a swivel attachment involving a belt carried element that is removably engaged with a case carrying element, the case carrying element engageable and disengageable with the belt carrying element only when the case is in a vertical, inverted position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,892 issued May 14, 1991, by Copeland for Camera Belt Clip discloses a camera carrying device having a support plate worn on a belt with a slot in the plate, with the slot having a closed end, and an angle plate having first and second arms, with one of the arms disposed at an angle to the other; wherein one of the arms engages the support plate and the other arm engages a camera.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,170 issued Oct. 8, 1991, by Otrusina for Connector Engageable in Multiple Positions and Releaseable in Only One Position discloses an apparatus for detachably interconnecting two objects including in combination: a female member adapted to be secured to one of the objects and defining a receptacle and an entrance leading into the receptacle, a male member adapted to be secured to the other object and having an engagement portion with an axis, the engagement portion begin shaped and dimensioned to be movable into and out of the receptacle through the entrance and rotatable about the axis while in the receptacle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,102 issued Jan. 28, 1997, by Saarikko et al. for Attachment Device for a Mobile Station discloses a two-part device for a portable telephone; wherein a body of the device remains on a belt of a user when the telephone is used and a fastener attaches to the telephone by means of a clip that grips a groove-like seam at the join of the front and back covers of the telephone casing; further wherein the telephone is easily removed from the belt by holding the body of the device while at the same time lifting the telephone connected to the fastener.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,296 issued Apr. 22, 1997, by Pirhonen et al. for Releasable Swivel Holder for Personal Articles discloses a holder having a V-shaped receptacle defined by side rails for insertably receiving a stud carried on a personal use article, such as a pager; wherein the stud is undercut to provide a circular groove slidably accepting the side rails and permitting swivel action.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,996 issued Dec. 22, 1998, by Liang for Mobile Telephone Hanging Device discloses a mobile telephone hanging device which includes a base plate, a clamping plate hinged to the base plate for fastening it to the user's belt, a hanging plate fixedly secured to the mobile telephone and having a grooved hanging rod for fastening to the base plate, the base plate having a smoothly curved rib for hanging the hanging rod of the hanging plate and an elongated movable plate for stopping the hanging rod of the hanging plate in the engaged position, and two push rods controlled to release the elongated movable plate from the hanging rod of the hanging plate for permitting the hanging plate to be disconnected from the base plate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,031 issued May 25, 1999, by Jensen for Rotating and Locking Clip for Portable Electronic Device discloses a locking belt attachment assembly for an electronic device that allows the electronic device to be attached to a person's belt and that locks the electronic device into a vertical position, thus preventing rotation while the electronic device is on the person's belt.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,156 issued May 9, 2000, by Lehtinen for Attachment System for a Portable Device discloses an attachment system for temporarily attaching a portable apparatus, such as a mobile phone, to a belt or the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,233,788 issued May 22, 2001, by Choy et al. for Integrally Molded Clip and Clip Assembly discloses a clip assembly for rotatably attaching a portable electronic device to apparel worn by a user.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,184 issued Apr. 2, 2002, by Hauck et al. for Adapter for Removably Holding a Cellular Phone on a Belt Clip discloses an adapter for removably holding a cellular phone on a belt clip, comprising a mounting portion adapted to be mounted to the phone, a holding portion comprising a round member having a first cylindrical portion of smaller diameter and a second cylindrical portion of greater diameter than said first portion adapted to be received in a U-shaped seat of said belt clip so as to be rotatable therein, and a connecting portion between said first cylindrical portion of smaller diameter of said holding portion and said mounting portion, said connecting portion comprising a hinge means enabling pivotal movements of said holding portion relative to said mounting portion.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,578,745 issued Jun. 17, 2003, by Taylor et al. for Removable Belt Clip discloses an attachment device that includes a clip assembly for attachment to a belt, and includes a slot having an end portion circular in shape with a radius larger than the width of the slot, a pin that fits into the slot only when at least one flat surface on the neck portion of the pin is parallel to one edge of the slot, wherein the pin is allowed to rotate via the circular shape to provide a locking mechanism that prevents the pin from exiting the slot unless the pin is turned to a specific angle.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,299 issued Jun. 22, 2004, by Shetler et al. for Rotational Holster for an Electronic Device discloses a holster for an electronic device which includes a clip for attaching the device to a user's belt, while allowing the device to be rotatable relative to the user; wherein the rotation mechanism allow the holster to be rotated in a manner to position and maintain the device in any one of a plurality of selectable rotational orientations.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,913,174 issued Jul. 5, 2005, by Harvey et al. for Detachable Carry Clip with Swivel for Electronic Device discloses a carry clip assembly for an electronic device; wherein the carry clip assembly couples into a recess on the top exterior of the electronic device and a second portion of a member extends into the power pack seat of the device and is captured between the housing and the power pack when the power pack is received and retained in the power pack seat of the device.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,955,280 issued Oct. 18, 2005, by Saitoh et al. for Cellular Phone Securing Device and Onboard Holder for Vehicle Use discloses a cellular phone securing device that includes a projecting shaft disposed erect on the surface of a main body portion thereof to be fixed to and held by the carrying holder or the onboard holder, and a securing pawl and a securing metal member respectively projecting from at least two positions of one and the other end portions of the back surface side of the main body portion.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,791 issued Apr. 25, 2006, by Stotts for All Plastic Clip discloses a clip for a portable electronic device that includes a housing having a cradle for receiving a flange attached to the device and a back plate closing the housing; wherein a latch inside the housing includes a detent extending through an orifice in the housing wall into the cradle to secure the flange within the housing, and in use, a release button is pushed to displace the latch and release the device.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,819,370 issued Oct. 26, 2010, by Ho for Quick-Release Hanging Device discloses a quick-release hanging device that includes a base and a detachable part; wherein the base includes a first through hole with a first regular polygonal shape, such as a triangle; further wherein a locking portion of the detachable part has a second regular polygonal shape, that is relatively smaller than and corresponding to the first regular polygonal shape of the base, and that is insertable into and rotatable within the first through hole to secure the locking portion within the base.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,832,606 issued Nov. 16, 2010, by Sin for Belt Clip for Detachably Fixing Cellular Phone discloses a belt clip for detachably fixing a cellular phone comprising a body, in which an engaging protrusion provided at one side of a cellular phone is inserted into the body, and a stopper within the body so that the engaging protrusion cannot escape from the body.
US Patent Application 2010/0124957 published May 20, 2010, by Williams et al. for Swivel Extension Clip for a Communication Device discloses a swivel clip that provides an adjustable clip length with clip rotation across 360 degrees; wherein length can be adjusted interpedently of rotation and the swivel clip hinge position, paddle length and rotational position are all independently adjustable.
A belt-mounted, two-way radio holder unit assembly of the present invention comprises a belt mount, having a through-hole therein for accommodating a belt threaded there-through, and a receiver located on a front of the belt mount which receiver releasably engages with a radio holder; wherein the radio holder comprises a plate with a pair of blades integral with the plate and located on a back side of and toward a top of the plate, and with a disc integral with a post which post is integral with the plate and located on a front side of and toward a bottom of the plate; further wherein the blades slidably mate with and engage a pair of grooves on an outer surface of a battery of a two-way radio.
In another embodiment of the radio holder of the unit assembly of the present invention, the radio holder further comprises a tension lock, having a nipple thereon, and located between the blades, further wherein the nipple of the tension lock snaps into a divot in between the pair of grooves on the battery.
In another embodiment of the belt mount of the unit assembly of the present invention, the belt mount further comprises a through-hole opening in the through-hole to enable the belt mount to slip over and onto or off a belt.
Two-way radios are used by people in a variety of industries, including personnel in law enforcement. Available two-way radio holders worn on a user's belt pose disadvantages, which were addressed in the Background of the Invention section. Accordingly, there is a need for a two-way radio holder that is durable, efficient, lightweight, comfortable for a user to wear, suitable to be worn with a standard belt of from approximately 1″ to approximately 2″ in width, provides for quick and easy access to the radio (without requiring sight engagement or a two-handed operation), and does not bind when the user is in a seated position.
A belt-mounted, two-way radio holder unit assembly of the present invention provides numerous advantages. The unit assembly: (1) does not require a holster for a radio, with the attendant benefits of fewer manufacturing materials, less weight and less bulk; (2) is lightweight; (3) preferably is made entirely of high strength plastic; (4) is comprised of only two parts or elements, a belt mount and a radio holder; (5) is comfortable for a user to wear, does not bind and allows a two-way radio to swivel on a belt of a user; (6) has a simple and clean aesthetic presentation; (7) securely attaches to a belt of a user; (8) is sized and suitable for use with a civilian or standard belt and (9) does not require sight engagement, nor a two-handed operation, to attach, access and remove a two-way radio from a user's belt.
With reference to
With reference to
The first embodiment of the belt mount 4 has a contiguous or closed through-hole 12 through which a user's 40 standard belt or outer belt is threaded. The belt mount 4 remains on the user's belt 40 and the user may attach additional equipment to the belt 40. The unit assembly 2 of the present invention with the first embodiment of the belt mount 4 is advantageous in that there is not a two-way radio holder available in the marketplace that is meant for a standard belt and which has the ability to swivel and move freely in relation to a user's belt and body, in particular, that of a detective or plain-clothes or custody officer.
Preferred dimensions of the first embodiment of the belt mount 4 are a width of approximately 2.0″, +/−0.25″, a height of approximately 2.25″, +/−0.25″, and a depth of approximately 1.0″, +/−0.25″.
A second embodiment of the belt mount 4 is shown in
Preferred dimensions of the second embodiment of the belt mount 4 are a width of approximately 2.0″, +/−0.25″, a height of approximately 3.25″, +/−0.25″, and a depth of approximately 1.0″, −/−0.25″.
A third embodiment of the belt mount 4 is shown in
Preferred dimensions of the third embodiment of the belt mount 4 are a width of approximately 2.0″, +/−0.25″, a height of approximately 2.25″, +/−0.25″, and a depth of approximately 1.25″, −/−0.25″.
With reference to
Preferred dimensions of the first and second embodiments of radio holder 6 are a width of approximately 1.75″, +/−0.25″, a height of approximately 2.0″, +/−0.25″, and a depth, including the post 18, of approximately 1.0″, +/−0.25″.
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
To releasably disengage the radio holder 6 from the belt mount 4, the radio holder 6 is rotated 180 degrees within the receiver 8 so that the straight edge 30 of the disc 20 is aligned with the receiver stop 36 within the receiver 8. The radio holder 6 is then slid out of the receiver 8 and guided by guide 10 of the receiver 8.
With reference to
Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it is understood that modifications and variations of the present invention are possible without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims set forth below.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described.
