Interchangeable electronic device clip
A portable device that comprises a built in coupling that allows various types of clips to be attached to the device. The device can be attached to different items present in different situations by using different types of attaching devices in the coupling. For example, an attaching device for clothing can be removed and one for a vehicle may be inserted. In such a way, the portable device, for example a music player, can easily be transported and conveniently used in different environments.
This application is related to U.S. Design Patent Application No. ______, entitled “______”, filed on the same day as the present application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe size reduction of electronic devices makes it feasible to carry a greater variety of devices while on the go. It is therefore desirable to attach certain of those devices to the user or to a vehicle or other environment where they are frequently used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne aspect of the invention is a portable device that comprises a built in coupling that allows various types of clips and mounting devices to be attached to the device. Thus, the device can be attached to different items present in different situations by using different types of attaching devices in the coupling. For example, an attaching device for clothing can be removed and one for a vehicle may be inserted. In such a way, the portable device, for example a music player, can easily be transported and conveniently used in different environments.
Another aspect of the invention relates to an assembly that comprises a base of an electronic device. The base comprises a female docking receptacle which in turn comprises a recessed area having a width sufficient to receive a male element of an accessory, a lip overhanging a first portion of the recessed area but not a second portion of the recessed area, such that the male element fits within the recessed area at the second portion of the recessed area and is aligned with the lip but not engaged by the lip in the second portion of the recessed area. The lip overhangs the male element when the male element is at the first portion of the recessed area, thereby coupling the accessory to the electronic device when the male element is positioned at the first portion of the recessed area.
An electronic device can be coupled to various hooks, holders, carriers or the like via an easy to use and robust coupling. For example, the device can be coupled to a carrier with a suction cup to mount it to a windshield or other suitable surface. The coupling is lightweight and economical and comprises polymeric parts to save weight while providing flexibility but also uses metallic parts where high durability is required. A male member is preferably first placed in a guide so that it can easily be slid into a locked position. The locking is achieved with a spring loaded (tensioned or compressed) retaining element that engages recesses of the male unit. Sufficient force by the user will engage or disengage the coupling. Friction between the coupling and the device is minimized by providing a small surface area where contact takes place while sliding the pieces against each other.
In embodiments comprising a clip, the electronic device can be clipped to the user's clothing. Complementary geometric features on both the electronic device and the clip pinch or grab the fabric between the features to enhance the friction of the clip and minimize slippage. Fabric is preferably forced into a serpentine pattern to enhance to minimize slippage.
A preferred embodiment comprises two primary components: the unit or base of the portable device where this invention will be engaged and the engaging unit, which in some embodiments includes or forms a clip. For both units, there may be metallic and plastic components. Preferably the spring type materials or biasing materials (locking element of the portable device and the clip spring) and the pin are metals such as Stainless Steel 304. The preferred material for the engaging base unit of the clip is a die casting material such as a zinc alloy. An alternate polymeric or composite material with high mechanical properties may alternatively be utilized in the (male) base unit of the clip, such as, but not limited to: polycarbonate (“PC”), PC with a certain percentage of fiberglass, PEEK(®, etc. The remaining components for both units are preferably made of polymeric materials. Due to specific mechanical and performance requirements and to particular aesthetic specifications, the polymeric materials may comprise, but not are not limited to: PC, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene “ABS”) or a combination of both.
The preferred manufacturing process envisioned for all the polymer parts is injection molding. This process in conjunction with the right DFMA (Design for Manufacturing and Assembly) considerations yields fairly inexpensive plastic parts that do not require further preparation once the parts are extracted from the plastic injection mold. 10022] In regards to the metallic parts, it is preferred that base unit 22 of the clip unit 20 is obtained by die casting by using a Zinc alloy such as Zamak #3. The remaining metal parts (locking element 12 and the spring 24) are custom made springs that can be manufactured with standard stamping and spring manufacturing processes. The variation of the spring 24 selected for this preferred embodiment of this invention is a torsion spring with 4 coils, an outside diameter of approximately 2.3 mm to 2.5 mm, and a coil diameter of approximately 0.60 mm to 0.65 mm. This selected spring preferably provides a momentum such that the force required to open the clip 21 and to disengage it from ring R of element 11 is within the range of 0.5 to 2 Kg.
The spring accommodation and locating feature SpF 50 shown in
As far as the assembly procedure is concerned,
As far as the clip unit 20 is concerned, the overall dimensions for the clipping units are between 35 to 55 mm long, 15 to 40 mm wide, and 1-2.5 mm thick. The inner ring of unit 21 ranges from 12 to 18 mm. The outside diameter of the clip base 22 is between 9 and 15 mm.
A variation of the clip embodiment may comprise the same bodies (the unit 10 or base of the portable device and the engaging unit or clip 20B) as the earlier described embodiment with some structural modifications that may provide improved grip for a wider range of fabrics or other clipped material.
Note that while embodiments of a clip are shown in many of the figures attaching to the interlocking base, as mentioned earlier, any type of mounting device can be attached to the interlocking base.
Claims
1. An assembly comprising:
- a base of an electronic device, the base comprising a female docking receptacle, the female docking receptacle comprising: a recessed area having a width sufficient to receive a male element of an accessory; a lip overhanging a first portion of the recessed area but not a second portion of the recessed area, such that the male element fits within the recessed area at the second portion of the recessed area and is aligned with the lip but not engaged by the lip in the second portion of the recessed area, the lip overhanging the male element when the male element is at the first portion of the recessed area, thereby coupling the accessory to the electronic device when the male element is positioned at the first portion of the recessed area.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the accessory comprises a member coupled to the male element at a first end of the member.
3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the accessory further comprises one or more springs that force a second end of the member against the base of the electronic device when the male element of the accessory is positioned under the overhanging lip.
4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the member of the accessory comprises first a surface mating feature at the second end of the member.
5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the base further comprises second surface mating feature adjacent to the first surface mating feature of the accessory.
6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the first and second surface mating features form a serpentine path for fabric placed between the features.
7. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the one or more springs are configured such that a force required to distance the second end of the member from the base of the electronic device is in the range of 0.5 to 2 Kg.
8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the male element is made of metal.
9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the male element is die cast and comprises a zinc alloy.
10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the recess has a width of approximately 13 mm.
11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the male element comprises a first face disposed towards the base of the electronic device and located between a second face of the male element and the device when the device and the male element are coupled together, the male element comprising two substantially parallel ridges protruding from the first face, the substantially parallel ridges aligned substantially parallel to a direction from the second portion to the first portion.
12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the female docking receptacle comprises an annular retaining clip configured to engage one or more recesses within a perimeter of the male element.
13. A method of coupling an electronic device to an object, the method comprising:
- providing a positioning accessory comprising a male element having a width, the width less than a width of an oblong recess within a base of the electronic device;
- placing the male element within the oblong recess;
- sliding the male element from a first position within the oblong recess to a second position within the oblong recess, thereby positioning the element under a lip surrounding a portion of the recess;
- locking the male member in the second position.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing raised portions upon the male element, the raised portions oriented in the direction of the sliding and having a surface area not more than 10% of the surface area of the male element, the raised portions making contact with the base of the electronic device, the male member sliding along the raised portions during the step of sliding the male element.
15. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a clipping member coupled to the male element.
16. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a positioning device coupled to the male member.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein locking the male member comprises causing a locking member to enter a recess of the male member.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the locking member is compressed against the male member and at least a portion of the locking member enters the recess as a result of sliding the male member to the second position.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 11, 2007
Publication Date: Jun 11, 2009
Inventors: Manuel Arranz Del Rosal (Sunnyvale, CA), Yaron Sheba (Mountain View, CA), Derek T. Niizawa (Sunnyvale, CA)
Application Number: 12/001,309
International Classification: A45F 5/02 (20060101);