The present invention relates to an accessory storage system, and more particularly to a modular accessory storage system providing a magnetic alignment force.
It is desirable to be able to attach accessories such as digital cameras and cell phones to a user's belt, or to other objects such as a purse or a car dashboard, so that they can be conveniently transported and accessed. A number of such systems have been developed that are modular in nature, allowing an accessory or an accessory container to be disconnected from a second part that remains connected to the object.
For example, many cell phone belt clips feature a first module that is attached to the user's belt, and a second module holding the cell phone that is removably connected to the first module. When the user wants to use the cell phone, he/she can disconnect the second module while leaving the first module connected to the belt. Typically, there is a mechanical release button or lever that must be pushed to initiate disconnection of the modules. Similar modular connections have been used to attach various accessories to other objects such as purses as well.
For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2009/0026242 to Kim, entitled “Personal communications device case connector system” discloses a belt connection system incorporating a belt clip having an aperture and a cell phone case having a wafer which can be slid into the aperture. A disengagement button is provided to prevent inadvertent disengagement.
Typically, such modular connections are not very ergonomically friendly, and tend to be quite bulky and heavy. They also tend to be quite difficult to attach and lock in place, and also to release. For example, it is can be difficult to align the two modules for a cell phone belt clip when the user wants to replace the cell phone after he/she is done using it, particularly since the modules are not positioned where they can be easily viewed when one of the modules is connected to the user's belt. Similarly, it can be difficult to find and operate the mechanical release button when the user wants to disconnect the modules.
A number of modular accessory storage systems have been developed that feature magnetic connections. U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,966 to Potter, entitled “Magnetic tool holder,” discloses a magnetic tool holder for a tape measure, which includes a belt clip having a receptacle and a magnetic keeper member mounted on the tape measure. To provide sufficient magnetic force to keep the tool securely fastened to the belt, a large magnet is connected to the tool, adding substantial weight and size. Even with the large magnet, the inventors found it necessary to provide design options which provided an additional mechanical securing means to keep the tool securely connected to the belt.
U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0054647 to Kathrein et al., entitled “Magnetic carrying apparatus and method,” discloses a modular carrying apparatus including a magnetic coupling between two mating portions. This approach has the disadvantage that the two modules can be easily dislodged due to the low level of magnetic force provided by the relatively small magnets. It can also be difficult to align the two mating portions due to their small size.
There remains a need for a light-weight modular accessory system that provides easy alignment and a secure connection, while being easily separable, having a slim profile and being adaptable to use for securing both soft and hard goods.
The present invention represents a self-aligning modular accessory storage system, comprising:
a first module including:
a second module, removably connectable to the first module, including:
wherein the alignment stud has a back portion having a first width, and a front portion having a second width larger than the first width, and wherein the receptacle has a keyhole shape having a receiving portion being sized so that the front portion of the alignment stud can be inserted into the receiving portion, and a retaining portion having a cavity sized to receive the front portion of the alignment stud, and a retainer positioned in front of the cavity having a retainer width greater than the first width and less than the second width, wherein the alignment stud can be slid from the receiving portion to the retaining portion thereby retaining the front portion of the alignment stud behind the retainer.
The present invention has the advantage that the aligning magnetic attraction provided by the permanent magnet makes it easy to align the two modules when connecting them together.
It has the additional advantage that it provides a secure connection mechanism that is easy and convenient to connect and release, while being lightweight and having a slim profile.
It is to be understood that the attached drawings are for purposes of illustrating the concepts of the invention and may not be to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.
The invention is inclusive of combinations of the embodiments described herein. References to “a particular embodiment” and the like refer to features that are present in at least one embodiment of the invention. Separate references to “an embodiment” or “particular embodiments” or the like do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or embodiments; however, such embodiments are not mutually exclusive, unless so indicated or as are readily apparent to one of skill in the art. The use of singular or plural in referring to the “method” or “methods” and the like is not limiting. It should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly noted or required by context, the word “or” is used in this disclosure in a non-exclusive sense.
The present invention represents a self-aligning modular accessory storage system incorporating a first alignment stud module having a magnetic alignment stud, and a second receptacle module including an accessory or an accessory container having a receptacle adapted to receive the alignment stud on the first module. The second module includes a backing plate which provides an aligning magnetic attraction between the first module and the second module when the alignment stud is positioned in proximity to the receptacle.
In some embodiments, the first module is adapted to be connected to an external object. For example, it can be attachable to a belt, a belt loop, a purse, a backpack, a wall, a bicycle, a motorcycle or an automobile. In other embodiments, the first module can be integrated directly as a component of an object such as a convenience bag (e.g., a camera bag).
The accessory container can, for example, be used to store electronic accessories such as digital cameras, video cameras, mobile phones, handheld games, personal digital assistants, digital music players, or global positioning system (GPS) receivers. The accessory container can also be adapted to store other types of accessories including objects related to the above-mentioned electronic accessories (e.g., memory cards, batteries, cell phone hands-free headsets or headphones for digital music players), or various types of non-electronic accessories (e.g., food, eyeglasses, binoculars or maps).
The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures.
An alignment stud 110 protrudes from the spring clip 105, being connected to the spring clip 105 using a screw 120 and a stud back 125. A magnet 115 is positioned in the alignment stud 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the magnet 115 is a permanent magnet, and is glued into a cavity formed in the end of the alignment stud. In other embodiments the magnet 115 can be positioned within or behind the alignment stud. Any type of permanent magnet known in the art can be used for the magnet 115. A spring ring 130 is positioned around the alignment stud 110. In one embodiment, the spring ring 130 is formed using a split metal ring which compresses when the alignment stud 110 is slid into the receptacle module, and then expands to provide a retaining force holding the alignment stud 110 in place.
The alignment stud 110 has a back portion having a first width (shown as w1 on
The receptacle module 200 includes a metal backing plate 205, which functions to provide an attractive magnetic force with the magnet 115 in the belt clip 100 when the alignment stud 110 is positioned in proximity to the receptacle module 200. In other embodiments, the backing plate 205 can be made from a magnetic material, or any other material that will provide an attractive magnetic force with the magnet 115.
The receptacle module 200 also includes a receptacle 210, which is inserted into a receptacle backing 215 and held in place with screws 225. The receptacle 210 includes a retainer 220, which is a lip formed in front of a cavity 240 within the receptacle 210. The retainer 220 has a keyhole shaped opening defining a receiving portion 230 and a retaining portion 235. The receiving portion 230 is sized so that the front portion of the alignment stud 110 (
The alignment stud 110 is adapted to be inserted into the receiving portion 230 and slid into the retaining portion 235 where it will be retained by the retainer 220. The keyhole shape of the retainer 220 has a waist region 245 having a width (w5) which is slightly smaller than w4. When the alignment stud 110 is slid through the waist region 245, the spring ring 130 is compressed to a diameter of w5. When the alignment stud 110 is positioned in the retaining portion 235, the spring ring 130 returns to its rest diameter (w1). The spring ring 130 provides a retaining force which locks the alignment stud 110 in the retaining regions 235, preventing inadvertent disconnection. Note that in some embodiments, the spring ring 130 does not necessarily return to is rest diameter (w1) when it is positioned in the retaining portion 235, but can remain in a slightly compressed state.
The accessory container 300 has a flap 305 for securing the digital camera to prevent it from inadvertently falling out. In one embodiment, the flap 305 has a magnetic securing mechanism to hold the flap in a closed position. In other embodiments, various other securing mechanisms can be used such as snaps, zippers or hook and loop securing mechanisms. In alternate embodiments the accessory container 300 does not need to include a flap 305, but rather has an open top.
It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that in other embodiments the placement of the alignment stud module and the receptacle module can be reversed so that the alignment stud module is mounted on the accessory container 300 (or directly on an accessory) and the receptacle module could be included on a belt clip or some other object. In general, the scope of the present invention is a connection system for connecting any two objects, where the alignment stud module can be mounted in association with a first object, and the receptacle module can be mounted in association with a second object.
In addition to the embodiment shown in
In other embodiments, alignment stud modules can be incorporated with other types of objects as well. For example, alignment studs can be provided to attach accessory containers 300 to objects such as purses or backpacks. In some embodiments, the alignments stud modules can be built into the object at the time of manufacture. In other cases, alignments stud modules can be adapted to be attached to arbitrary objects with connectors, or adhered to surfaces of arbitrary objects. For example, alignment stud modules can include a hook and loop connector, a suction cup or an adhesive surface for attaching the alignment studs to various surfaces. In one embodiment, an alignment stud module can be attached to the dashboard of an automobile and used to attach a GPS receiver.
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.