Electronic Device Holder
In one example, we describe a holder for an electronic device, such as a cell phone. The holder allows the user to attach the device to the user, as well as straps, such as car seat belts and purse straps. This holder has the unique property of being able to accommodate a range of sizes of electronic devices. We can adjust length, width, and thickness, or use angles in 3 different directions, for multiple degrees of freedom, in Cartesian, polar, or cylindrical coordinates, or combinations, to adjust the size, for different devices, to make that very easy and cost effective/flexible for the consumers, to adjust very fast and secure, as an example.
This application is based on a provisional application filed on Jul. 6, 2009, Ser. No. 61/270,139, in USPTO, directly by the inventors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONElectronic device holders, commonly called holsters, have been available for some time. They are most commonly used to accommodate cell phones and allow the user to carry the phone on his or her waist band or belt (
In one embodiment, we describe a holder for an electronic device, such as a cell phone. The holder allows the user to attach the device to the user, as well as straps, such as car seat belts and purse straps. This holder has the unique property of being able to accommodate a range of sizes of electronic devices. These have not been addressed or presented in any prior art.
The functional advantage of the flexible holsters is that they can accommodate multiple models of electronic devices. From a retail merchandising standpoint, when a new phone is introduced to the marketplace, it is likely that there is already a holster on the market that fits it, because of the looseness of the tolerances in the holster itself. The primary disadvantage of this type of holster is a usability issue. When the user wants to use the phone, see who is calling, or merely check the time on the device, the user needs to remove the phone from the holster. The rigid holsters solve this problem by leaving much of the device exposed (
However, they have the disadvantage of being designed for a particular device, without much flexibility. When a new device is introduced with a slightly different physical form factor, it is quite likely that a new holster will be needed, as well. In addition, there are many protective cases on the market for cell phones (
The current invention, as one embodiment, offers the advantage of the soft holsters (that of flexibility of fitting a variety of sizes) and the rigid holsters (that of usability, while still in the holster). The invention is comprised of a rigid material, such as polycarbonate, and at least one articulating member.
One embodiment comprises an articulating member that wraps around one of the edges of the device (
In the embodiment shown, the holster can be designed with extra room to accommodate devices that are larger in the other two dimensions (that of front to back and side to side). Because the device is spring-loaded in at least one axis, it is held securely in the holster. The far side of the device of the invention (not shown), as an example, comprises of one of a variety of attachment options that are currently present in the marketplace (e.g. clip, strap, post to engage removable attachment mechanism, etc.). These attachment options allow the user to affix the holster to clothing, luggage, seat belts, or similar objects, as some examples.
Alternatively, instead of a linear articulation, the movable portion of the holster can pivot with respect to the fixed portion of the holster (
Alternatively, in another embodiment, the articulating portion of the invention can move independently along more than one axis (
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Thus, we can adjust length, width, and thickness, or use angles in 3 different directions, for multiple degrees of freedom, in Cartesian, polar, or cylindrical coordinates, or combinations, to adjust the size, for different devices, which because it is very fast and secure, describes an invention that is very easy, cost effective and flexible for the consumers.
This can be used as a universal holder or holster, belt attachment, armband (e.g. without the need to remove the case), or attached to an adapter that is connected to a dashboard or windshield of a car (e.g. for a GPS-enabled device in the car).
Any variations of the above teaching are also intended to be covered by this patent application.
Claims
1. A universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, comprising:
- a base side to hold said cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device;
- a back side to hold said cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device; and
- an adjustable portion that is adjusted or set, based on size of said cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device.
2. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion moves vertically, with respect to said base side.
3. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion moves horizontally, with respect to said base side.
4. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion moves diagonally, with respect to said base side.
5. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion moves radially or on a radius of a circle, with respect to a center point, and with respect to said base side.
6. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion moves rotationally, around an axis, with respect to said base side.
7. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a sliding portion.
8. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a rotational portion.
9. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a strip, gap, hole, or opening portion.
10. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has an arm.
11. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a hook.
12. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a U-shaped portion.
13. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a knob or screw to secure or adjust size or opening of said universal holder or holster.
14. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has an elastic band or material to secure or adjust size or opening of said universal holder or holster.
15. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a chain, wire, belt, or cable to secure or adjust size or opening of said universal holder or holster.
16. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a triangle, T-shape, L-shape, corner box, or V-shape portion to secure or adjust size or opening of said universal holder or holster.
17. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a hinge with a rod or arm to secure or adjust size or opening of said universal holder or holster.
18. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a rotational axis with a rod or arm to secure or adjust size or opening of said universal holder or holster.
19. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a ball bearing with a rod or arm to secure or adjust size or opening of said universal holder or holster.
20. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a swinging or rotating rod or arm to secure or adjust size or opening of said universal holder or holster.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 1, 2010
Publication Date: Jan 6, 2011
Inventors: Ryan Mongan (Orange, CA), David Law (Seattle, WA), Bryan Lee Hymocok (Redwood City, CA), Stephen Ralger Myers (Redwood City, CA), David Chia-wen Laan (San Francisco, CA), Eric Alexandar Birch (Oakland, CA), Jarret Weis (San Francisco, CA)
Application Number: 12/828,852
International Classification: A45F 5/00 (20060101);