Patent Application
20150136821
The present invention relates to devices and methods for secured hands-free carrying and/or of use of items normally intended for use by holding in one or both hands, including personal electronic devices.
Electronic devices such as portable music players, cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), smart phones and the like are used every day by millions of people. Although these devices are typically available in a variety of sizes, and although some of these electronic devices are becoming smaller, they all are all generally sized to be used and intended to be used and/or operated while being held in one or both hands. Furthermore, most of these devices are intended to be kept in the possession of the user for substantial blocks of time even while they are not in use. In other words, the devices are intended to be carried on or by the persons while they are in engaged in other activities. However, many devices, such as for example, PDAs and smart phones, are typically large and cumbersome to place in a pocket. Even for those devices that can be placed in the user's pocket, applicant has recognized a potential problem with the security with which they are contained in the pocket and/or the difficulty/inconvenience of removing the device for use.
Moreover, applicant has recognized that a user of these types of devices often finds it difficult and/or cumbersome to securely hold and/or use the device while engaging in various physical activities such walking, running, exercising, gardening, cleaning or other activities requiring the use of one's hands. Applicant has come to appreciate that it is possible according to the present invention to be able to securely carry and/or use such devices during periods of such activity.
Many modern electronic devices feature a touch screen display that enables a user to interact directly with what is displayed. Certain touch screen displays are referred to as capacitive type and require that the object contacting the display be at least partially electrically conductive so as to detect the contact. A human finger tip, for example, satisfies this requirement of capacitive type touch-screen displays.
Existing techniques for carrying electronic devices involve using belt clips, necklace cases, and armbands. Belt clips are typically used for larger devices such as PDAs and smart phones. However, these belt clips can be bulky and cumbersome to use, and due to their position do not allow the user to see the screen of the device or use the device without first removing it from the belt. Necklace cases can be used for smaller electronic devices such as portable music player, but are not practical for larger electronic devices and also require that the device be removed from the case in order to see the display and/or use the device. Armbands that have heretofore been used are typically configured to carry portable music players while exercising. These armbands are generally coupled to a pocket or pouch that is sized to receive a specific type of electronic device. The pouch may include a window through which an electronic device screen and an electronic device input mechanism may be viewed and manipulated by a user. However, such armband devices suffer from the disadvantage of greatly inhibiting or preventing use or control of the device, for example and in particular via a touch screen display, without first removing the device from the pouch or pocket. Moreover, such armband devices are generally not able to be used other than on the forearm of the wearer, and even in such cases are not easily attached and unattached from the forearm of the user.
Existing armbands have numerous other drawbacks. For example, if the electronic device has a curved outer surface, like an outer surface associated with an elliptical cross section or an ellipsoid shape, the window may bow upwards due to contacts between the window and portions of the outer surface. If the window is stiff, for example for aesthetic or tactile reasons, the window bowing may be more pronounced. This may cause gaps to develop between the electronic device screen or input mechanism and the window, which may in turn adversely affect a user's experience. For example, the gap between the window and the screen may distort the user's perception of the displayed content. As another example, the gap between the window and the input mechanism may prevent the user from providing inputs to the device or detecting feedback that particular inputs were provided, e.g. the user cannot feel a click when a button is pressed. Another drawback of such armbands is that the pouch used to house the electronic device is generally sized to receive only one type of electronic device. Therefore, users with multiple types of electronic devices of various sizes are forced to purchase a different armband for each device. Also, such pouch-based prior products are frequently prone to capture and retain moisture and do not have the ability to remove the item quickly and easily from the carrier while the device is still mounted to the user's arm, wrist and the like.
These and other drawbacks and disadvantages which have been recognized and appreciated by applicant are reduced and/or eliminated by the devices and methods of the present invention, as described more fully hereinafter.
One aspect of the present invention provides devices for securing items to a supportive substrate comprising: (1) an elongated band formed into or formable into an at least partially closed loop around the supportive substrate for secure attachment to said substrate, said elongate band comprising a front side surface; and (2) a retaining band attached to or attachable to said elongate band so as to be capable of forming a channel adaptable to elastically retain said item against at least a portion of said front surface. As used herein, the term “substrate” is intended to refer to any part or portion of a device or thing, including preferably but not necessarily limited to the human body, to which the device is to be fastened, preferably securely, releasably and quickly.
In certain preferred embodiments, the retaining band is formed at least partially from elastic material attached at two points to the front face of the elongate band, with the elasticity of said material providing at least in part the feature of having a channel of variable dimensions and providing at least a portion of the retaining force holding the item to the elongate band when the device is in use. It is also contemplated that in certain embodiments the feature of having a channel of variable dimension is provided at least in part by having one ore more attachment points along the end or portion of the retaining band, which is preferably formed at least in part from elastic material, releasably attachable at one or more attachment points along the elongate band. In this way, the preferred embodiments of the present invention allow the present device to be used to secure a wide variety of items of different sizes and shapes to the elongate band, and it also permits the user to apply a wide range of retaining forces on the item, depending upon the severity of the used contemplated by the user. This feature is highly advantageous, especially in combination with the preferred elongate bands of the present invention which permit the device to be secured to different sizes of substrates with a wide range of attachment forces, as explained more fully hereinafter.
Although it is contemplated that those skilled in the art will be able to a variety of known materials for use in forming the retaining band according to the present invention in view of the teachings and disclosures contained herein, applicants have found that it is highly preferred in certain embodiments that the retaining band comprise silicone rubber, and even more preferably a band comprising at least about 50%, and even more preferably at least about 60% of silicone rubber. Other components which applicant has found to be advantageously included in the content of the rubber used to form the retaining band according to certain preferred embodiments is silicone oil as a plasticizer and silicone dioxide. Certain preferred compositions of the silicone rubber are described in the following table (with all amounts understood to be preceded by the term “about”):
In certain highly preferred embodiments, the silicone rubber comprises from about 50% to about 75% of the material contained in the rubber band, and in other preferred embodiments from about 60% to about 70%. In certain highly preferred embodiments, the retaining band comprises about 64% (total RHC) of silicone rubber and has ingredients as indicated in the table below (with all amounts understood to be preceded by the term “about”):
The retaining band of the present invention also preferably possesses certain physical properties which make it highly advantageous and unexpectedly affective for use in connection with the present invention. More specifically, the material from which the retaining band of the present invention is made preferably has a static coefficient of friction (as determined by ASTM D 1894-11e1, in which one section was mounted on a 2″×2″ steel sled and pulled across a glass substrate at 6 in./m, with the sled loaded with the 250 g weight) of from about 1.25 to about 1.75μ, more preferably from about 1.45 to about 1.55μ, and even more preferably in certain embodiments of about 1.5μ. Furthermore, the material from which the retaining band of the present invention is made preferably has, and also preferably has in addition to the preferred static coefficient described above, a dynamic coefficient of friction of from about 1.5 to about 1.7μ, more preferably from about 1.55 to about 1.65μ, and even more preferably in certain embodiments of about 1.6μ.
Certain other preferred physical properties for the material from which the retaining band is formed are provided in the table which follows (with all amounts understood to be preceded by the term “about”):
According to one preferred embodiment of the device aspects of the present invention the device is for secure, hands-free carrying and/or use of items, preferably electronic devices, normally intended for use by holding in one or both hands. Preferred forms of the device comprise (1) an elongated band, preferably an elastic elongated band, said elongate band having a first end and a second end and having a front side surface and a back side surface, said elongate band having (i) a plurality of attachment points on the back side surface along at least a portion of said first end of the band; and (ii) a plurality of attachment points on the front side surface along at least a portion of said second end of the elongate band, with at least one of said back side attachment points preferably being adapted to be releasably connected to at least one of said front side attachment points to form said band into a loop; and (iii) a friction patch on at least a portion of the front side surface of said first end of said elongate band; and (2) an elastic retaining band having a first attachment portion, a second attachment portion and a middle portion between said first attachment portion and second attachment portion, wherein said first attachment portion is attached or attachable to the front side surface of the elongate band at a location on the elongate band between said first end of the elongate band and said friction patch, and the second attachment end of said retaining band is attached or attachable to the front side surface of the elongate band elongate band at a location on the other side of the friction patch to create a channel between the friction patch and the elastic band, wherein the channel is sized to receive an electronic device in secure frictional engagement.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to methods of securely attaching an item, preferably an electronic device normally intended for use by holding in one or both hands, and even more preferably one hand, to a substrate. The preferred methods of attaching the item to the substrate comprise: (a) providing an attachment device comprising (1) an elongated band, preferably a flexible, elongated band having a first end, a second end, a front side surface, a back side surface, and optionally but preferably a friction patch on at least a portion of the front side surface of said first end of said band; (b) attaching said elongate band to said substrate, preferably by looping said band around said substrate with said front side surface facing outward and closing said loop securely on said substrate, preferably by releasably attaching said first end to said second end at a point effective to provide tight encircling engagement of said band to said substrate; and (c) attaching said item to the loop by placing the item on the front side surface of the band, preferably on said friction patch, and securing said item to said elongate band by closing a channel over said item with an elastic retaining band to press said item against said front side surface, and preferably against said friction patch.
It is generally contemplated that the material used to form the flexible elongated band of the present invention can be selected from a wide variety of materials or combination(s) of materials within the general broad scope of the present invention. Preferably, the band is formed, at least in part, from a flexible material that can be readily manipulated to form a loop around the desired substrate or a range of desired substrates. Therefore, it is contemplated that certain portions or sections of the band may actually not be formed of a flexible material in certain embodiments, provided that there is sufficient flexibility to readily and easily achieve a loop, or at least a partial loop, around the desired substrate or a range of desired substrates. Likewise, the dimensions of the flexible elongated band may also vary widely within the scope of the present invention, depending upon the particular device or devices which it is intended to secure and the particular substrate or substrates to which it is to be secured.
As mentioned above, in certain preferred embodiments the flexible elongated band comprises, and preferably comprises in substantial portion, and even more preferably in certain embodiments consists essentially of elastic material which can be stretched as the loop is formed over the substrate. Preferably in such embodiments, the first end is attached to the second end of the elongate band while the elastic material of the band in a stretched condition. In this way the elastic will urge the loop into a more closed position, thus serving to grip the substrate more tightly and securely to the substrate. The use of such elastic material also exhibits the advantage of permitting the use of the device on a larger range of substrates.
In certain preferred aspects, the flexible part of the elongate band is formed from a material comprising, and preferably in certain embodiments consisting essentially of, neoprene.
It is also contemplated that a wide variety of structures and materials can be used to effectively, securely and releasably attach the first end to the second end of the band For example, in certain embodiments the attachments points comprise a series of releasably interlocking hooks and loops. One such hook and loop type of material is available under the trademark VELCRO from Velcro USA, Inc. It may be desirable, in certain embodiments for example, that the front side surface has a plurality of loop cells along at least a portion of the length of the first end of the band and the back side surface has a plurality of hook cells along at least a portion of the length of the second end of the band. Thus, the armband of the present invention is secured around the substrate through the use of a hook-and-loop fastening system. In other embodiments, the attachment may be achieved and/or supplemented using a hook and hole system whereby a series of holes are located in and along at least a portion of one end of the band, and a hook or other structure that can be releasably inserted into and connected to one or more of the holes located on the other end of the band.
In certain preferred embodiments one end of the elongate band, preferably end 16 nearest the retaining band, has attached thereto a relatively rigid loop structure which is preferably attached to the band by having the end portioned passing through the loop structure and folded back on itself and being attached to the adjacent portion of the elongate band. One such a structure is shown in cross-section in
In other embodiments, one end of the band contains a clamping system adapted to receive the other end of the band and clamp the two ends releasably and securely together. In other, less preferred embodiments, one end of the band contains or is coated with a releasable adhesive adapted to engage the other end of band and releasably and securely hold the two ends together. In other embodiments, one end of the band contains or is coated with a suction tape or similar suction cup mechanism and the other end of the band is formed from or coated with a surface adapted to be operative with such suction devices. Other structures, including variations and/or combinations of any of the above, may be used to achieve the attachment according to the broad scope of the present invention. For example, the structures of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,401,227, which is incorporated herein b reference in its entirety, to releasably attach two ends of an undergarment may be used, and equivalents of such structures may be used.
As mentioned above, the substrate may comprise any part or portion of any device or thing, including and preferably in certain embodiments parts of human anatomy, to which it is desired to secure the item. In certain preferred embodiments, the substrate comprises the human arm, including the wrist area or the forearm area or the upper arm area. In other embodiments, the substrate may be part of a device such as a part or portion of a bicycle, motorcycle, motor scooter, carriage, walker, car or truck, and the like.
In certain embodiments, the back side surface of the elongate band may be covered with or coated with, at least in part, a material that provides cushioning and/or enhanced tactile comfort to improve the wearing experience when the device is used on a substrate that includes human skin or an item of clothing that is worn by the user. For example, the back side surface or a portion of the back side surface is formed from and/or contains one or more materials including nylon. In another embodiment of the present invention, a substantially rectangular shaped cushioning insert is integrally attached to the back side surface near or at the midpoint of the elongate band to provide cushioning for the user's arm. This cushioning insert may be formed from a material comprising foam rubber.
As mentioned above, a friction patch or surface is preferably included over at least a portion of the band. The specific location, size, configuration and materials of construction of the friction patch may vary widely within the broad scope of the present invention depending upon the particular applications contemplated for the device. In general, these parameters can be configured according to the teachings contained herein to provide the device with an increased ability to securely retain the item on the band and preferably to do so effectively for a variety of items and for use with a variety of substrates.
With respect to the elastic retaining band, it is also contemplated that the size, shape and particular means of attachment to the elongate band may be varied in accordance with the teachings of the present specification according to the particular item being secured and the substrate to which it is secured. In general, it is preferred that the elastic retaining band is removably attached or attachable at at least one end along various points to the front side surface of the elongate band whereby the size of the channel formed between the elastic retaining band and the elongate band is adjustable according to the size and shape of the item being secured. Moreover, in many preferred embodiments, the point of attachment is sufficiently close to the friction patch, when such patch is present, to take advantage of the enhanced security features provided by such a patch. The other end of the elastic retaining band is attached, either permanently or preferably releasably, to the elongate band such that when both ends are attached to the elongate band a channel of the appropriate size to securely retained the item on the elongate band is formed. For the purposes of releasable attachment of the elastic retaining band to the elongate band, any one or more of the structures and means described above for releasably forming a loop in the elongate band may be used for this purpose. For those embodiments in which one end of the elastic retaining band is permanently attached to the front face of the elongate band, such attachment may be achieved by any means known in the art, including but not limited to stitching, adhesive and the like. In certain preferred embodiments, the elastic retaining band is substantially rectangular in cross-section having a width which is many times the thickness of the band. In this way, two advantages are achieved. First, having a relatively large bandwidth provides a relatively large frictional engagement surface between the band and the item to be secured. Furthermore, having a relatively thin thickness of the band has the advantage of permitting the device to be operated through the thickness of the band and also aids in inhibiting “rolling” of the band as lateral forces are exerted on the item. Such a structure which inhibits “rolling” provides an enhanced securement function preventing the unintended sliding and/or release of the item from the device. Furthermore, in certain highly preferred embodiments, the material of construction of the elastic band is a high friction material which further inhibits sliding of the item out of the channel formed by the retaining band. Additionally, in certain preferred embodiments at least a portion of the elastic retaining band is formed from a transparent or at least translucent material which will allow the user to have visual access to the item being secured. Thus, according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, securing of the item to the elongate band would permit the user of the item to fully utilize the item while it is in the secure mode by both operating buttons thereon and by seeing the display thereon.
Referring now to
In certain preferred embodiments, the length of the elongate band is from about 10 inches to about 20 inches, more preferably from about 12 to about 20 inches and even more preferably from about 14 inches to about 18 inches.
With reference now to
Turning once again to
The retaining band 24 (see
In the illustrated embodiment, the band 24 is attached to the front side surface 12 of the elongate band 11 by the first attachment end 26 and the second attachment end 28. In certain embodiments of the present invention, one or both of the attachment ends 26, 28 is removably attachable to the front side surface 12 through a variety of suitable means known in the art, such as hook-and-loop fastening systems, snap buttons, adhesives, integral formation and the like.
As shown in
The first and second attachment ends 26, 28 of the band 24 are secured to the front side surface 12 just beyond the respective first and second ends 36, 38 of the friction patch 22. Placement of the attachment end 26, 28 at these locations positions the middle portion 30 of the band 24 directly above the friction patch 22 to create an adjustable vertical channel. Once formed, the vertical channel can be sized to securely hold an electronic device to the elongate band 11. To allow the full functionality of the electronic device while it is secured to the elongate band, in certain embodiments, the elastic material of band 24, or at least the appropriate portion thereof, is transparent or translucent to allow a user to see the portion of the device, generally the device's screen, located behind the middle portion 30. Additionally, the elastic material may also be conductive to allow a user to operate an electronic device that has a capacitive touch screen.
While the elongate band 11 of the illustrated embodiment has three distinct layers, it should be understood that other embodiments of the present invention may have a different amount of layers.
Referring to
To allow for the armband 10 of the present invention to fit around the arm of a variety of different users, the elongate band 11 may have a length from the first end 16 to the second end 18 of from about 12 inches to 20 inches, preferably about 14 inches to about 18 inches, or more preferably about 16 inches. Additionally, while the illustrated embodiment depicts the present invention in terms of fitting around an arm of a user, it should be understood that the present invention may be sized and used to encircle other parts of the user, such as the leg or waist, depending on the desired application.
Similarly, to allow for the armband of the present invention to securely hold a variety of different shaped electronic devices, the friction patch 22 may have a length from the first end 36 to the second end 38 of from about 2 inches to 5 inches, preferably about 3 inches to about 4 inches, or more preferably about 3.5 inches.
Operation of the armband 10 can best be understood by referring to
With the armband 10 securely in place, the user is then able to attach an electronic device to the armband 10. To do so, the user first connects the first attaching end 26 of the band 24 to the front side surface 12 of the elongate band 11 in between the first end 16 of the elongate band 11 and the first end 36 of the friction patch 22. The user then places the backside of the device on the friction patch 22. Once the device is in place, the user grabs the second attachment end 28 of the band 24 and stretches the band 24 towards the second end 16 of the elongate band 11 until the middle portion 30 of the band 24 is positioned securely across the front side of the device. The user then connects the second attachment end 28 to the front side surface 12 of the elongate band 11 at a location between the second end 18 of the elongate band 11 and the second end 38 of the friction patch 22 to secure the band 24, and the device underneath the band 24, in place.
An armband is formed substantially in accordance with the Figures hereof. The retaining band is formed from a material having the following chemical properties:
A cell phone was placed over the friction patch, which was according to preferred embodiments formed from the same or similar material to the retaining band, and the retaining band was stretched over the cell phone and then secured. The cell phone was thus secured to the armband such that upon even vigorous movement and exercise the cell phone remains securely fastened to the armband and the armband to the user's arm.
There is thus provided a armband for holding a personal electronic device, which fulfills all of, at least, the objects and advantages sought therefor. Many changes, alterations, modifications and other uses and applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification together with the accompanying drawings. All such changes, alterations and modifications that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is limited only by the claims that follow.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2013/043112 | 5/29/2013 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61652639 | May 2012 | US | |
| 61800470 | Mar 2013 | US |
