Holster of portable electronic device

Abstract

A holster for carrying a portable electronic device (10) includes a container (20), a support member (30), a clip (40) pivotably mounted on the support member and a rotating structure. The rotating structure includes a rotating member (211) formed on the container and an opening (31) defined in the support member. The rotating member rotates in the opening. A plurality of recesses (216) is defined on the rotating member. Aprotrusion (33) is formed in the opening. The protrusion is positioned in different recesses of the rotating member to retain the container in different angles with respect to the support member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a holster for carrying a portable electronic device, and more particularly to a holster adapted to positioning the portable electronic device in different angles.

2. General Background

As the columns of handsets, PDAs and other portable devices become smaller and smaller, more and more users carry the device by putting it in a holster and securing the holster onto belt. When the holster is secured on the belt, it only can be stayed in a stationary position. When the user sits down, the top of the portable device can cause discomfort of the user's waist.

So various adjustable holsters are invented. A swivel connected belt holster is disclosed. The swivel includes a holster body. The holster body has a fastener part which constitutes the pivot axis for the holster body. A rigid plate surrounds the fastener part and includes a number of detents in a circular array. A belt loop assembly includes a pair of snap fasteners to allow the belt loop to be opened and closed to encircle a section of the wearer's belt. The snap fasteners themselves have one pad secured to a rigid plate, which includes a circular array of mating detents. The rigid plate of the belt loop includes a mating fastener part affixed to the holster body. The fastener holding the holster body to the belt loop is a T nut on the holster body and a mating screw at the belt loop. The T nut and screw provide a central pivot for the holster body with respect to the belt loop and the mating detent parts, one on the holster body and one on the belt loop providing the adjustment feature. When the screw is tightened against the T nut, the holster body position is secured. However, adjustment of the holster with respect to the belt loop assembly is inconvenient. It needs to loosen a screw, adjust the position and then tighten the screw.

Accordingly, what is needed is a holster for carrying a portable electronic device which can be conveniently adjusted at different angles.

SUMMARY

A holster for carrying a portable electronic device includes a container, a support member, a clip pivotably mounted on the support member and a rotating structure. The rotating structure includes a rotating member formed on the container and an opening denned in the support member. The rotating member rotates in the opening. A plurality of recesses is defined on the rotating member. A protrusion is formed in the opening. The protrusion is positioned in different recesses of the rotating member to retain the container in different angles with respect to the support member.

Advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with attached drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a holster for a portable electronic device carried therein in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, including a container, a support member and a clip;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but showing from another aspect;

FIG. 3 is an assembly view of FIG. 1, but without the clip; and

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, but showing the container being in another position relative to the support member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a holster for carrying a portable electronic device 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a container 20, a support member 30 and a clip 40.

The container 20 is formed of a rear panel 21, a bottom panel 24, two side panels 22, and a pivoting cover 25 which are connected together to form a bracket for receiving the portable electronic device 10 therein. An annular rotating member 211 used as a first engagement means protrudes from the rear panel 21. The periphery of the rotating member 211 protrudes outward to form a plurality of ratchets 215. A recess 216 is defined between adjacent ratchets 215. A plurality of holes 213 is defined in the rotating member 211. A rib 214 is formed under the rotating member 211.

A pair of pivot ears 36 each of which has a first hole 361 defined therein extends from the support member 30. The support member 30 defines a circular opening 31. An arch protrusion 33 used as a second engagement means extends inwardly in the opening 31. An arch groove 34 is defined adjacent the protrusion 33 for the protrusion 33 deformed towards the groove 34.

The clip 40 has an operation end 406, an engagement end 407, and a spring 44, preferably a leaf spring. A pair of second holes 401 is defined in the clip 40. A post 405 is formed from the clip 40. The spring 44 includes a first piece 443 and a second piece 445. A securing hole 445 is denned in the second piece 441.

A cap 50 forms a plurality of prongs 53 thereof for matching with holes 213 of the rotating member 211.

Referring to FIG. 3, in assembly, the opening 31 of the support member 30 is attached to the rotating member 211 of the container 20, and the periphery of the rotating member 211 is engaged with the edge of the opening 31. The protrusion 33 is positioned in one of the recesses 216 of the rotating member 211. Then the cap 50 is secured thereon by inserting the prongs 53 in the holes 213. Thus the support member 30 is also mounted on the container 20 by the cap 50.

The post 405 of the clip 40 extends through the securing hole 445 of the spring 44 to hold the spring 44. The first holes 361 of the support member 30 are in alignment with the second holes 401 of the clip 40. A pin 37 extends through the first holes 361 and the second holes 401 to pivotably secure the clip 40 on the support member 30. When the operation end 406 is pressed, the engagement end 407 is away from the container 20 to receive the user's belt.

The position of the container 20 with respect to the support member 30 can be adjusted by rotating the container 20. The protrusion 33 of the support member 30 slides along the periphery of the rotating member 211. The ratchet 215 forces the protrusion 33 to be elastically deformed. The protrusion 33 slides from one recess 216 to the adjacent recess 216. Thus the container 20 can be positioned in different angles with respect to the support member 30.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the container 20 rotates a large angle with respect to the support member 30, the rib 214 stops the container 20 to rotate further. It prevents the container 20 rotating excessively to drop the portable electronic device 10.

Variations may be made in the foregoing embodiment. For example, the ratchets 215 also can be elasticity deformed. The protrusion 33 of the support member 30 can be displaced by a recess. And one of the ratchets 215 of the rotating member 211 is positioned in the recess to permit the container 20 being set in different angles.

It is believed that the present invention and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. A holster for carrying a portable electronic device comprising:

a container for holding the portable electronic device;

a support member; and

a rotating structure comprising a rotating member formed on the container and an opening defined in the support member, the rotating member rotating in the opening, a plurality of recesses being defined on the rotating member, a protrusion being formed in the opening, the protrusion being positioned in different recesses of the rotating member to retain the container in different angles with respect to the support member.

2. The holster as described in claim 1, wherein a groove is defined beside the opening of the support member.

3. The holster as described in claim 2, wherein the groove is along the periphery of the opening and adjacent to the protrusion.

4. The holster as described in claim 1, wherein the opening is a substantially circular opening, and the rotating member is annular.

5. The holster as described in claim 1, wherein the periphery of the rotating member forms a plurality of ratchets to defined the recesses therebetween.

6. The holster as described in claim 1, wherein the container has a rib to present the container rotating excessively.

7. The holster as described in claim 1, wherein a clip is pivotably mounted on the support member, and the clip has an operation end and an engagement end.

8. The holster as described in claim 1, further comprising a cap for securing the support member on the container.

9. The holster as described in claim 1, wherein the protrusion is arcuate.

10. A holster for carrying a portable electronic device comprising:

a container for holding the portable device; and

a support member pivotably cooperating with the container, the support member having a protrusion interferentially situated between the container and the support member, and a groove defined adjacent to the protrusion for providing deformability of the protrusion, so that the container is interferentially pivoted about the support member.

11. The holster as described in claim 10, wherein an opening is defined in the support member, and a rotating member is formed on the container corresponding to the opening for pivotably attaching the support member to the container.

12. The holster as described in claim 11, wherein the protrusion is formed in the opening.

13. The holster as described in claim 12, wherein the periphery of the rotating member forms a plurality of ratchets with a plurality of recesses defined therebetween for engaging with the protrusion.

14. The holster as described in claim 10, wherein the protrusion is arcuate.

15. The holster as described in claim 10, wherein the container has a rib to prevent the container rotating excessively.

16. The holster as described in claim 10, further comprising a cap for securing the support member on the container.

17. An assembly for carrying a portable electronic device, comprising:

a container for accommodating and holding a portable electronic device therein, said container comprising a first engagement means formed at a side thereof; and

a support member movably attachable to said side of said container and capable of being further attachable to a user of said portable electronic device, said support member comprising a second engagement means facing said side of said container and reachable to said first engagement means, at least one of said first and second engagement means being flexible, and engagement of said first and second engagement means capable of holding said container and said portable electronic device therein along more than one orientation relative to said support member and allowing change of said more than one orientation to another orientation relative to said support member in response to applied driving on one of said container and said portable electronic device.

18. The assembly as described in claim 17, wherein flexibility of said at least one of said first and second engagement means results from flexible deformation of said at least one of said first and second engagement means along a direction parallel to said side of said container.

19. The assembly as described in claim 17, wherein an opening is defined in said support member, and said second engagement means is formed in said opening, a rotating member is formed on said side of said container and receivable in said opening, and said first engagement means is formed on the periphery of said rotating member.