Not Applicable.
The present invention relates generally to accessories for mobile electronic devices, and in particular, to a carrier for a mobile phone or other personal electronic device having interchangeable ornamental attachments.
Wireless communication devices such as cellular phones, smart phones, and other portable electronic devices have seen a tremendous increase in usage in recent years. Almost all of these devices have cases with belt clips to allow the device to be worn about one's waist. While this method is certainly better than carrying the wireless device in a hand, pocket, or handbag, it does have some disadvantages. First, the device can be difficult to access quickly. This is especially true while sitting down in a motor vehicle. The physical gyrations necessary to remove a device from one's waist while in a moving car can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle and cause an accident. Second, many users, particularly women who may be wearing dresses, do not have a suitable attachment point about the waist for the phone. Third, individuals such as joggers, bicycle riders, and the like may accidently lose the case and phone due to the strenuous movement during their exercise routine. Finally, many users are looking to make a fashion statement that does not include wearing a phone about the waist.
The inventor has recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for a device by which wireless communication devices or similar portable electronics can be more easily and safely accessed and carried in a fashionable manner. The principles of the present invention provide for a carrier for mobile telephones to address this identified need.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present embodiments of the invention to address this need by providing a device that is suitably constructed and configured for use with almost any style of cellular phone, smart phone, or portable electronic device.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a device that keeps the mobile telephone accessible without having to carry it in the hand, pocket, handbag, or belt.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a device that can be safely and comfortably worn around the user's neck.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a device that also provides a way for the user to accessorize a mobile phone holder with a variety of interchangeable ornamental jewelry or similar adornments in accordance with various levels of formality and dress.
The inventor has thus realized the advantages and benefits of providing a carrier for mobile telephones having various features for accomplishing at least one of the aforementioned objects.
A feature of the present invention is to provide a device that includes a carrier having an open interior configured to removably receive a mobile telephone. A decorative neck cord for extending around a neck of a user includes first and second ends that are removably attachable to the carrier. A cord clasp is removably attachable to the carrier for retaining the carrier to a selected location upon the neck cord. At least one ornamental adornment is removably attachable to the carrier to provide various decorative elements to the device.
Another feature of the present invention is that the carrier includes a front side for removable attachment of the ornamental adornment, a rear side directly connected to the front side by a bottom side for removable attachment of the neck cord and the cord clasp, a left side and a right side connected between opposing longitudinal edges of the front side and the back side, and an opening defined in a lower end of the left side and the right side being corners of the carrier. The front side and rear side are made of a durable and semi-rigid material. The left side and right side are made of a durable and semi-elastic material.
Another feature of the present invention is that the front side includes at least one adornment aperture for removable attachment of the ornamental adornments. The rear side includes two pairs of aligned cord apertures disposed in a middle portion to provide for threadable attachment of the neck cord and a slot disposed in a lower middle portion for removable attachment of the cord clasp.
Another feature of the present invention is that the cord clasp includes a clasp body having a first bore hole extending entirely through the clasp body for receiving the first end of the neck cord, a second bore hole extending entirely through the clasp body substantially parallel to the first bore hole for receiving the second end of the neck cord, and a third bore hole extending into the clasp body from a side substantially perpendicular to and at least partially intersecting the first and second bore holes. A shaft is disposed within the third bore hole for locking the first and second ends of the neck cord within the first and second bore holes when in an outwardly biased position. A first cut out and a second cut out are disposed in the shaft for alignment with the first and second bore holes when the shaft is in an inwardly biased position. A spring is provided for biasing the shaft in the outwardly biased position. A spring clip extends from an upper edge of a backside of the clasp body for insertable attachment within the slot.
Another feature of the present invention is that the ornamental adornments each include a decorative face and a pin extending perpendicularly outward from a back surface of the decorative face. The pin has a diameter approximately equivalent to an interior diameter of the adornment aperture. A flexible pin head is disposed on an end of the pin having a diameter greater than the interior diameter of the adornment aperture and is insertable therewithin.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a method of carrying a mobile telephone around a neck of a user in a decorative manner including the steps of providing a carrier configured to receive a mobile phone having an open interior, at least one adornment aperture disposed in a front side, two aligned pairs of cord apertures disposed in a rear side, and a slot disposed in said rear side. Providing a neck cord having a first end and a second end. Providing a cord clasp attached to the slot having two bore holes for the passage of the first and second ends of the neck cord and a spring biased shaft for locking the first and second ends of the neck cord within the bore holes. Providing at least one ornamental adornment. Insertably attaching the ornamental adornment within the adornment aperture. Passing the first and second ends of the neck cord through the bore holes. Biasing the shaft to secure the first and second ends of the neck cord within the bore holes and suspending the carrier from the neck of the user.
Furthermore, the described features and advantages of the disclosure may be combined in various manners and embodiments as one skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The disclosure can be practiced without one or more of the features and advantages described in a particular embodiment.
Further advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.
The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:
In accordance with the invention, the best mode is presented in terms of a preferred embodiment, herein depicted within
It can be appreciated that, although such terms as first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. Thus, a first element discussed below could be termed a second element without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, as used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It also will be understood that, as used herein, the term “comprising” or “comprises” is open-ended, and includes one or more stated elements, steps or functions without precluding one or more unstated elements, steps or functions. Relative terms such as “front” or “rear” or “left” or “right” or “top” or “bottom” or “below” or “above” or “upper” or “lower” or “horizontal” or “vertical” may be used herein to describe a relationship of one element, feature or region to another element, feature or region as illustrated in the figures. It should be understood that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. It should also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. It should also be understood that the sizes and relative orientations of the illustrated elements are not shown to scale, and in some instances they have been exaggerated for purposes of explanation.
Referring now to
Referring first to
Referring now to
As best seen in
As seen in
The components which form the decorative face 51 of the adornments 50; including the fabrication of mounting plates or exterior frames or the use of gemstones, precious metals, plastic, glass, or other materials utilized in jewelry making are substantially similar to similar jewelry components and jewelry making techniques well known in the art and are therefore not described in any further detail.
As best seen in
As best seen in
The neck cord 30 can be any elongated member that extends around the user's neck and is held together in the front of the user 12 by the cord clasp 35 of the carrier 20. Preferably the neck cord 30 is of sufficient length for the user 12 to wear comfortably and safely suspend the carrier 20 from their neck. The neck cord 30 can be made from leather, metal, wire, precious metal, or similarly durable material in the form of a cord, rope, chain in a braided or twisted configuration. The neck cord 30 preferably has a generally circular cross-sectional shape and can be of any level of ornamentation depending upon the overall look desired by the user 12. For example, the neck cord 30 can be a simple braided leather cord having decorative ends 30a, 30b for a more casual or sporty look or can be a gold or silver chain for a more formal appearance when used in combination with and to complement the various ornamental adornments 50 applied to the carrier 20.
Referring now to
The clasp body 36 includes a first bore hole 54 and a second bore hole 55 that each extend entirely through the clasp body 36 from top to bottom. The bore holes 54, 55 are generally in parallel alignment with each other and in the same general direction. A third bore hole 56 extends into the clasp body 36 from a side in a direction generally perpendicular to and partially intersects the first and second bore holes 54, 55. The parallel first bore hole 54 receives the first end 30a of the neck cord 30 and the second bore hole 55 receives the second end 30b of the neck cord 30. The ends 30a, 30b extend through the bore holes 54, 55 and dangle below the cord clasp 35. The third bore hole 56 also includes an interior bore shoulder 57 and larger diameter bore hole entry portion 58. The entry portion 58 extends from the shoulder 57 to a side exterior of the clasp body 36.
The shaft 37 includes a shaft head 59 on one end thereof. A shaft shoulder 60 is located on the underneath side of the shaft head 59 adjacent the shaft 37 at the juncture of the shaft 37 and the shaft head 32. The shaft shoulder 60 has a diameter slightly than the diameter of the shaft 37. The shaft 37 and the shaft shoulder 60 are suitably and appropriately sized to cooperate and extend within the third bore hole 56 and entry portion 58. The shaft 37 also includes a pair of depressions or cut outs 61, correspondingly illustrated as first cut out 61a and second cut out 61b.
A compression spring 62 extends about the shaft 37 within the entry portion 58 of the third bore hole 56 and biases the shaft 37 against the ends 30a, 30b of the neck cord 35 to hold the neck cord 30 in place. Specifically, the spring 62 is biased between the bore shoulder 57 of the entry portion 58 and the shaft shoulder 60 of the shaft 35. The exterior of the shaft 37 cooperates with and contactingly engages the neck cord 30 within the first and second bore holes 54, 55 to hold or bias the ends 30a, 30b of the neck cord 30 within the first and second bore holes 54, 55. When in an outwardly biased position, the shaft 37 keeps the cord clasp 35 from moving upon the neck cord 35, and vice versa, to keep either or both ends 30a, 30b of the neck cord 35 from slipping within the cord clasp 35.
As illustrated in
In the outwardly biased position, the cut outs 61a, 61b are displaced slightly to the side of the first and second bore holes 54, 55, respectively, with which they cooperate. The side displacement of the cut outs 61a, 61b, due to the biasing of the spring 62, serves to compress the neck cord 30, which are not shown in
To loosen the neck cord 30 or to remove from the carrier 20, the shaft head 59 is depressed and placed in an inwardly biased position, which aligns the cut outs 61a, 61b with the corresponding bore holes 54, 55. When the respective cut outs 61a, 61b are aligned with the bores 54, 55, the ends 30a, 30b of the neck cord 30 can easily slide up or down within the parallel bores 54, 55. Upon release of applied pressure on shaft head 59, the shaft 37 will again be biased by spring 62 and will move the cut outs 61a, 61b out of alignment with their respective bore holes 54, 55. The neck cord 30 is then again pressed against the exterior of the shaft 37 to hold the ends 30a, 30b within the bore holes 54, 55.
Referring now to
It can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure and only certain particular configurations have been shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the various embodiments can be utilized by the user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training in general accordance with
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Various modifications and variations can be appreciated by one skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. The embodiments have been chosen and described in order to best explain the principles and practical application in accordance with the invention to enable those skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with expected modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the invention.
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Universal Eeyore #01 Disney Cell Phone & iPod/MP3/Camera Sock Bacg carrying Case/Cover with Neck Strap. http://www.amazon.com/Universal-EEYORE-Disney-Camera-Carring/dp/B0030A25AK. |
Miamica Deluxe Generation 2 Black Quilted Travel Cross Body Bag Neck ID Case PDA Cell Phone Blackberry iPhone Holder Wallet Purse. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004871JC4/ref=pd—lpo—k2—dp—sr—3?pf—rd—p=486539851&pf—rd—s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf—rd—t=201&pf—rd—i=B0030A25AK&pf—rd—m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf—rd—r=1Z1RM6J4BXBB2R84TZZ3. |