Patent Application
20060237495
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a carry assembly for a portable electronic device, and more particularly to a carry assembly for a portable electronic device hanging on a belt of a user.
2. Background of the Invention
As portable electronic device such as personal digital assistant (PDA) becomes smaller and smaller, more and more users choose to carry the devices by fastening them to a holster that is somehow attached to a user's belt. The conventional carrying holster typically include a portion for holding the PDA and a clip portion attached to the carrying portion for attachment to a user's article of closing. When the PDA and the holster are attached to a user's article of closing, the position of the PDA may restrict a person's movement. For example, when the person sits, the bottom of the carrying holster can cause discomfort to the user's leg or the top of the carrying holster can cause discomfort or pain to the user's waist.
An adjustable holster having a rotatable connection between the belt loop assembly and the holster has been invented. The holster includes two rigid plates. One of the rigid plates includes a number of bosses in a circular array. The other plate includes the same number of mating recesses in a circular array. When the holster is in use, the bosses of one plate engage mating recesses in the other plate and the plates are held in place by a position locking screw to provide rigid angular positioning of the holster body with respect to the belt loop assembly. However, the adjustment process requires timely and inconvenient steps of obtaining a tool, loosening the position locking screw, adjusting the position of the holster and tightening the screw.
Accordingly, what is needed is a carry assembly for a portable electronic device whereby the position of the electronic devices with respect to the mounting mechanism can be easily adjusted and locked into position without using a tool.
A carry assembly for an electronic device includes a holster, a protrusion formed on the holster, a clip support member pivotally attached to the holster and a positioning member. A spring is received in the protrusion. The clip support member includes an opening having a plurality of grooves. The positioning member is disposed between the grooves and the spring. Wherein rotation of the holster from one position to other position moves the positioning member from one of the grooves into other, thereby locking the holster into position.
Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of preferred embodiment with attached drawings, in which:
Referring to
The holster 20 is integrally formed of a rear panel 21, a pair of curved side panels 22, a bottom panel 24 and a top panel 25 pivotally connected to the rear panel 21, which are connected together to form a bracket for receiving a PDA. A protrusion 23 protrudes from a center of the rear panel 21. Preferably, the perimeter of the protrusion 23 forms a substantially annular shape. A narrow receiving channel 231 is defined in the protrusion 23, and each side of the receiving channel 231 has a cavity 233. A ridge 26 used as a stopper for preventing the clip support member 30 over-rotating is formed under the protrusion 23.
As shown in
The clip 40 includes a pair of pivotal holes 401 for the pin 37 passing through and engaging to the clip support member 30. A post 405 protrudes from the inner side of the clip 40. The elastic member 44 is disposed between the clip 40 and the clip support member 30, to allow pivotal movement of clip 40 in relation to holster 20 about the axis of pin 37. The elastic member 44 has a first plate 441 with a receiving hole 445 and a second plate 443, which together form V-shaped. A receiving hole 445 for the post 405 of the clip 40 protruding through is defined in the first plate 441. The elastic member 44 allows clip 40 to be easily placed onto and removed from the user's belt or other article of closing. A pair of prongs 53 corresponding to the cavities 233 of the holster 20 are integrally formed on the inside of the cap 50.
The position of the holster 20 with respect to the clip support member 30 can be adjusted by rotating spring 60 received in the protrusion 23 of the holster 20 from one of the plurality of grooves 33 into an adjacent groove 33. In operation, the positioning member 70 was engaged to the groove 33 to force the spring 60 to retract while the steel column 70 rolls into another adjacent groove 33. The positioning member 70 is captured by the adjacent groove 33 to position the holster in place as the spring 60 rebounds.
The carry assembly of the present invention allows a user carry a PDA or other electronic device on an article of closing more comfortably than known assemblies. Whenever the user desires, such as before sitting, he or she can adjust the orientation of the device so that it dose not cause discomfort to parts of the body. The present invention allows the user to move the device into a plurality of grooves and lock the device in place while maintaining the carrier assembly securely mounted on a belt or other article of closing. No tools need to operate the adjustment. User can simply rotate and position the carry assembly into the required angle with one hand.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of preferred embodiments, together with details of the structure and function, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200520057745.8 | Apr 2005 | CN | national |
