Key palette improvements
A case for electronic devices that can be converted to a wrist-wearable mount with very little effort. In a first position, a flexible strap serves as a case for a hand-held electronic device. In a second position, the same flexible strap serves as an arm-attachment mechanism, whereby the hand-held electronic device can be worn on the user's arm. A swiveling base is provided so that the hand-held device can swivel in place while being worn. The mechanism may be used to mount a variety of electronic devices, including PDA's or other flat-panel display monitors, keypads, bar-code scanners, magnetic storage medium readers, GPS receivers, microphones, speakers, and other devices.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/646,336, filing date 19 Dec. 2000, which was the U.S. case based upon PCT filing PCT/US99/05585, international filing date 16 Mar. 1999, which claimed the benefit of U.S. provisional filings 60/078,202 and 60/093,179. All related applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety into the present application.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENTNone.
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIXNone.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe disclosed invention pertains to body-worn computers, data entry devices, PDA's (personal digital assistants) and display monitors as well as other electronic and audio-visual equipment, such as wireless and cellular
phones, cameras, microphones, bar-code scanners, remote controls and digitizing tablets. A primary object of the invention is to provide enhanced mobility to users of information technology.
The prior art described in the Key Palette patent application by Harrison still represents the only relevant prior art with which we are familiar at this time, and we hereby incorporate those previous discussions by reference. While prior arm-wearable technologies afford users enhanced mobility, they are more obtrusive than ideal because most of them must fit over a user's sleeve, which is inconvenient for someone wearing a long-sleeve shirt or a jacket.
The original key palette disclosure by Harrison includes embodiments which provide under-sleeve phones, tape recorders and remote controls. The embodiments herein take the undersleeve concept a step farther by enabling under-sleeve mounting to be used in conjunction with larger display monitors which can also be used as a case for the electronic device it supports when said device is not in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe improved key palettes disclosed herein include generally three main features: (1) the user-accessed, interfaceable device (hereinafter, “IFD”) which may be any of number of devices, including a display monitor, electronic keyboard, microphone, speaker, PDA (such as the 3Com Palm Pilot), pen-input digitizer or “pen tablet,” magnetic strip reader, modem, cellular phone, bar-code scanner, or other device; (2) a cantilever mechanism; and (3) an arm-mounting mechanism. The arm-mounting mechanism typically includes an arm-wrap which fits directly around the user s forearm and is thin enough to fit under the user's shirt sleeve. This wrap is constructed of a breathable, flexible fabric so as to allow a comfortable but snug fit. Also typically included in this mechanism is a sheath which is attached to the arm-wrap and designed to accommodate the cantilever mechanism described below. The sheath and arm-wrap may be reinforced with another layer of material, such as a semi-flexible plastic, to lend extra stability to the arm-mounting mechanism.
The cantilever mechanism juts out of the wrist end of the sheath of the arm-mounting mechanism. Several different cantilever mechanisms are contemplated and disclosed. Which cantilever mechanism is preferable depends upon the use to which the unit as a whole will be put. Generally speaking, the cantilever mechanism is a U-shaped, rigid shaft which projects from the arm-attachment mechanism, curves around the end of the user s shirt sleeve, and then extends back over the user s forearm, where it serves as a rack upon which the IFD can be removably mounted.
The IFD includes a socket or slot which accommodates the cantilever mechanism so as to attach thereto. The attachment of the ED and the cantilever mechanism may additionally incorporate one of a variety of joints, such as a ball-and-socket joint, thereby providing for additional freedom of movement of the IFD relative to the cantilever mechanism. Alternately, the IFD may mount upon a Velcro-covered plate which is in turn mounted upon the cantilever mechanism.
One alternative embodiment is the flip-over cantilever mechanism. This cantilever mechanism is collapsible and can be retracted into the arm-mount or IFD when not in use. It can then be pulled out when desired and flipped back over the user s sleeve where it serves to support the IFD as in other embodiments.
Another important variation is the T-stick cantilever mechanism. This device allows for rotation of the IFD around the user s arm by virtue of a curved track which is set on the end of an otherwise typical cantilever mechanism. Rotation around the user s arm is also achieved in the rotating pin cantilever mechanism and the collar cantilever mechanism.
In the Landing Gear cantilever mechanism, the cantilever shaft is actually built into an IFD so that it folds invisibly into the IFD when not in use. A spring-loaded version of this embedded cantilever mechanism is also disclosed.
A mechanism for mounting rollable or foldable displays is also shown. Since weight is an issue, we also disclose a computer cage which is lighter weight than a solid casing.
Another disclosed embodiment is that in which the arm-mounting mechanism also doubles as a case for the IFD. The case feature is achieved simply by wrapping the arm-mounting strap around the IFD in a manner which is similar to how this strap wraps around the user's arm when worn. In the example of PDA's (“Personal Digital Assistants” like the 3Com Palm Pilot), users typically already have a case in which their PDA's are carried when not in use.
The joint upon which the IFD swivels in the preferred embodiment is simply a rubber grommet which is squeezed between a plastic plate built into the arm-mounting strap and another plastic plate upon which the user-accessed device rests. While the preferred embodiment provides for a strap which folds over the user-accessed device in a vertical fashion, the same basic design can be used for horizontal fold-over.
The arm-mounting strap in one key alternative embodiment is threaded through the attached strap loop in such a way as to rest in ready-to-wear position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO DRAWINGS
The IFD is not shown in
The sheath is typically a sandwich of two aluminum or plastic slats which surround the shaft to be sheathed therein. This sheath is in turn sewn between an outer layer of leather and the arm-wrap to which it is to be attached.
In
Also not pictured is a U-shaped cantilever shaft upon which a tilting monitor as depicted in the first Key Palette patent documents is mounted. This embodiment would similarly allow separation of the tilting and swiveling functions, since the case of the tilting monitor could be mounted to the cantilever shaft by way of lazy susan joint.
Note that in the Threaded Case Palette embodiment, the placement of the Velcro patches and the length of the strap will differ from those features of the Fold-Over Case Palette in accordance with the different strap-folding patterns used in these respective models.
The essential features of the inventions disclosed herein can be readily combined with other elements from prior key palettes as well. For instance, instead of an embedded plastic plate, the strap can be mounted with a sheath to house any of the various removable cantilever mechanisms depicted above. Also, a unit can be constructed so that the PDA is not removable from the arm-mounting means. In such a model, no Velcro is used to attach the PDA and the plastic mounting plate; rather the back of the PDA itself is mounted directly on the rubber grommet.
While the depicted embodiments use leather straps, other materials are contemplated, including neoprene straps and straps which are composed of several semi-rigid slats of plastic which are jointed together with a flexible material such as rubber.
The Velcro-covered, swiveling plastic plate can also be equipped with an additional (plastic appendage which fits into the slot normally designed to house the Palm Pilot stylus in 3Com Palm Pilots. Resting in this slot, this appendage provides extra stability in the fastening of the Palm Pilot to the plastic plate.
Everything but the PDA itself is a kit which can be used to mount almost any PDA, palmtop computer or similarly sized device.
Substitute materials can be used, different fasteners substituted for Velcro, and modifications made to the size, shape and proportions of the various elements of the disclosed embodiments without exceeding the scope of the invention contemplated herein.
Claims
1. An apparatus for providing access to an electronic device, said apparatus comprising:
- a case member, wherein said case member is configured to be alternately movable into a first position or a second position, said first position comprising the shape of a case for said electronic device and said second position comprising the shape of a wrist-mount for said electronic device; and
- a fastener, whereby said case member can be fixed in said first position or fixed in said second position after having been adjusted.
2. The apparatus in claim 1 additionally comprising an attachment mechanism whereby an electronic device may be removably attached to said case member.
3. The apparatus in claim 1 additionally comprising a movable coupling whereby an electronic device may be movably coupled to said case member.
4. The apparatus in claim 2 additionally comprising a movable coupling whereby an electronic device may be movably coupled to said case member.
5. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein said case member can be alternately wrapped in a first direction or in a second direction such that:
- when wrapped in said first direction, said case member assumes said first position; and
- when wrapped in said second direction, said case member assumes said second position.
6. The apparatus in claim 1 additionally comprising an electronic device, wherein said electronic device further comprises an input or output device.
7. The apparatus in claim 6 wherein said input or output device comprises at least one of the following:
- a display monitor;
- a touch screen;
- a microphone;
- a speaker;
- a data capture device, such as a camera, a magnetic data storage medium reader, or a scanner; or
- a data transmission or reception device, such as a pager or telephone.
8. A method for transporting an electronic device comprising the following steps:
- wrapping a first apparatus around a first electronic device so that said first apparatus serves as a protective covering for said first electronic device;
- unwrapping said first apparatus; and
- wrapping said first apparatus around a user's limb so that said first apparatus serves as a wearable mount for said first electronic device.
9. The method in claim 8 additionally comprising at least one of the following steps:
- removably attaching said first electronic device to said first apparatus; and/or
- movably coupling said first electronic device to said first apparatus.
10. The method in claim 8 wherein the step of wrapping a first apparatus around a first electronic device further comprises the step of wrapping said first apparatus in a first direction and wherein the step of wrapping said first apparatus around a user's limb further comprises the step of wrapping said first apparatus in a second direction, said first direction being substantially opposite said second direction.
11. The method in claim 8 additionally comprising at least one of the following steps:
- fastening said first apparatus such that its shape remains substantially fixed in the shape of a protective covering for said first electronic device; or
- fastening said first apparatus such that its shape remains substantially fixed in the shape of a wearable mount.
12. The method in claim 8 additionally comprising at least one of the following steps:
- accessing said electronic device by way of a touch screen interface;
- accessing said electronic device by way of a speech interface; and/or
- accessing said electronic device by way of an electronic scanner or reader.
13. An apparatus comprising:
- a flexible member;
- a first attachment mechanism whereby said flexible member can be fixed into the shape of a case so as to cover a first electronic device; and
- a second attachment mechanism whereby said flexible member can be fixed into the shape of a wearable mount, thereby exposing said first electronic device.
14. The apparatus in claim 13 additionally comprising a third attachment mechanism whereby said flexible member can be removably attached to said first electronic device.
15. The apparatus in claim 13 additionally comprising a movable coupling whereby said flexible member can be movably coupled to said first electronic device.
16. The apparatus in claim 13 additionally comprising said first electronic device.
17. The apparatus in claim 16 additionally comprising at least one of the following:
- a movable coupling whereby said flexible member can be movably coupled to said first electronic device; and/or
- a third attachment mechanism whereby said flexible member can be removably attached to said first electronic device.
18. The apparatus in claim 15 wherein said movable coupling allows said first electronic device to swivel in place with respect to said flexible member.
19. The apparatus in claim 13 additionally comprising a loop through which said flexible member can be fed so as to facilitate attachment.
20. The apparatus in claim 13 wherein said electronic device comprises a Personal Digital Assistant or a touch-screen display.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 18, 2004
Publication Date: Jun 1, 2006
Inventor: Shelton Harrison (Culver City, CA)
Application Number: 10/781,606
International Classification: A44C 5/00 (20060101);