Quick release locking belt clip mechanism for engaging portable electronic devices
A belt clip mechanism is constructed in a manner to provide a positive lock between a support arm and a securement arm of the clip. The support arm has a top end with a tongue and a bottom end with a barbed flange. The securement arm has a top end with a planar hand and a bottom end with an offset. The support arm includes a pair of opposed bosses near the top end while the securement arm includes a pair of opposed flanges near its top end. The two arms are held together by a shaft that extends through the bosses and flanges. A torsional spring is attached about the shaft to provide biasing of the offset in continuous contact against the barbed flange, thereby forming a positive locking of the securement arm to the support arm. The barbed flange includes a base that flexures upon a downward external force to allow the offset to unseat within the barbed flange as a simultaneous force is applied to squeeze the tongue and planar hand together to overcome the spring bias.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to belt clips for fastening electronic devices and other portable communication equipment to a user's body and more particularly to a quick-release spring-like locking mechanism on a belt clip that attaches to the case or holster that is used for carrying an electronic device.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Public usage and acceptance of portable electronic communication devices such as beepers, pagers, cell phones, and other devices such as palm pilots, digital cameras and MP3 players has increased by magnitudes over the last several years due to various factors such as size reduction over previous versions, greater choice and affordability, and general familiarity and acceptance of technological changes in society.
This increase in small electronics popularity has increased the desires of the owners of such devices to transport them without the need to hand carry them or carry them within a pocket, purse, brief case or other personal accessory holder. As a result, various types of electronic device cases or holsters have been developed to specifically address the portability issue related to each type of device. Most prior art cases or holster devices include some type of belt clip that connects about the belt of the user in some particular fashion. Furthermore, these prior art belt clips can either be an integral part of the case or holster or it can be a separate element that removably attaches to the case or holster proper. Many prior art devices have continuously improved the mechanisms for releasably securing the case or holster to the belt clip. However, a common inherent shortfall with all of these types of belt clips is that they have a tendency to disengage from the belt itself. Disengagement may occur when a diminutive force is indiscriminately applied against the electronic device during various activities such as bending, scurrying to cross a street, or where the device temporarily engages the arm of an office chair or desk underpanel when the user stands. Disengagement may further occur when the seat belt of a car or airplane presses or pulls against the electronic device. Preventing unexpected and unintentional disengagement of the belt clip from the case or holster would be desirable and heretofore, none of the prior art disclosures directly address this common problem. Thus, there is still a long felt need for an improved belt clip mechanism that overcomes the shortfalls mentioned above by providing a quick-release, locking belt clip mechanism that provides a positive lock of the belt clip about the belt of the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is the primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved belt clip mechanism for use with a case or holster of an electronic device which provides a positive lock about the belt of a user and which can be expediently unlocked. The object is met in the present invention by providing a belt clip mechanism that is comprised of a support arm and a securement arm. The support arm has a top end with a tongue and a bottom end with a barbed flange. The securement arm has a top end with a planar hand and a bottom end with an offset. The support arm includes a pair of opposed bosses near the top end while the securement arm includes a pair of opposed flanges near its top end. The two arms are held together by a shaft that extends through the bosses and flanges. A torsional spring is attached about the shaft to provide biasing of the offset in continuous contact against the barbed flange, thereby positively locking the securement arm to the support arm. The barbed flange further includes a base that flexures upon a downward external force to allow the offset to unseat from locking contact within the barbed flange as a simultaneous force is applied to squeeze the tongue and planar hand together to overcome the spring bias.
The present invention further comprises a method of constructing a conventional bedding mattress having illumination properties. That method comprises the steps of providing a core of interconnected coil springs, securing a netting layer on said top of said core, placing a translucent padding layer on top of said netting layer, and then enveloping a covering about said core, netting layer and padding layer, wherein said covering contains a translucent padding therein.
The features and advantages of the invention will be further understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
In the figures, the lockable quick release belt clip mechanism 20 in accordance with the invention is shown. The numeral 10 designates an external protective carrying case or holster of an electronic device (not shown) such as a cellular phone or the like. The case is typically constructed of leather or a very pliable plastic that securely envelopes the electronic device. The case 10 includes a connections means 15 which can be constructed in a variety of ways that are known in the prior art and it should be understood that the particular type of a connection means should not limit the scope of the invention. For instance, it is envisioned that one type of known connections means comprises a male protrusion member 13 and a female member 17. The male protrusion member 13 is shown attached to the case 1, while the female receiving flange 17 is shown attached to the backside of the clip 20. Alternatively, the male and female members may be interchanged on the case and clip. Generally, this particular type of connection means operates by sliding the protrusion member 13 into a locked position within the female flange member 17.
An elongated clip mechanism 20 of the invention locks the case or holder 10 of the portable electronic device about a person's belt 12. The elongated clip mechanism 20 is comprised of a support arm 30 and a securement arm 70. The support arm 30 has a central stem portion 32, a top end 34, and a bottom end 36. The support arm further includes a front side 31, a back side 33, a first lateral end face 60 and a second lateral end face 62. The distance between the first and second lateral end faces 60, 62, defines a lateral extent “L” of the support arm. One portion of the connection means 15 is integrally connected to the backside 33 of the central stem portion 32 at approximately the midpoint or slightly thereabove. Other means for attaching one part of the connection means 15 to the stem portion 32 may be used such as gluing, bonding or screwing. In the embodiment shown in
The securement arm 70 has a central curved finger member 72, a top end 74 and a bottom end 76, a first lateral end 106, and a second lateral end 108. The distance or extent between the first and second lateral ends 106,108 define a lateral width “W” of arm 70. The top end 74 includes an integrally formed planar hand 84, while the bottom end 76 includes an integrally formed offset 90. The securement arm 70 also includes a pair of opposed flanges 100A and 100B integrally formed as part of the securement arm 70 at the juncture point where the planar hand 84 intersects the curved finger member 72. As
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While the apparatus and methods described herein form a preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be understood that this invention is not so limited, and changes can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention, which is defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A belt clip mechanism of a case or holster used for carrying portable electronic devices, comprising: wherein said barbed flange presents a capturing mechanism that cooperates with said offset to form a positive locking of said securement arm to said support arm while said belt is interposed therebetween.
- a support arm having a front side, a back side, a top end, a bottom end and a central stem portion therebetween, said bottom end including a barbed flange integrally connected to said central stem portion;
- a securement arm having a top and bottom end and a midsection therebetween, said top and bottom corresponding to said top and bottom end of said support arm, said bottom end including an offset integrally connected to said midsecton;
- a means for connecting said belt clip to said case or holster, said means attached to said support arm;
- a biasing means comprised of a spring mounted about a shaft for holding said support and securement arms together at respective top ends, said shaft extending through said top ends of said support and securement arms,
2. The belt clip mechanism of claim 1, wherein said barbed flange is comprised of a semi-rigid base and an upstanding ledge integrally connected to said base.
3. The belt clip mechanism of claim 2, wherein said upstanding ledge has a downwardly sloping face.
4. The belt clip of claim 2, wherein a horizontal extent between the upstanding ledge and said base define a capturing channel of said capturing mechanism for receiving said offset.
5. The belt clip of claim 4, wherein said capturing mechanism has a locked position and an unlocked position, said locked position defined as the position where said offset of said securement arm is positively retained within said capturing channel, and said unlocked position is defined as the position where said offset is released from and disconnected from said capturing channel.
6. The belt clip of claim 1, wherein said top end of said support arm includes an offset tongue integrally formed with said central stem portion.
7. The belt clip of claim 1, wherein said top end of said securement arm includes a hand integrally formed with said central stem portion.
8. The belt clip mechanism of claim 6, wherein said top end of said support arm further includes a pair of opposed bosses, a first boss disposed near said first lateral end face and said second boss disposed near said second lateral end face.
9. The belt clip mechanism of claim 7, wherein said top end of said securement arm further includes a pair of opposed flanges, a first flange disposed near said first lateral end and said second flange disposed near said second lateral end.
10. The belt clip mechanism of claim 4, wherein said capturing channel extends from a first lateral end face to a second lateral end face.
11. The belt clip mechanism of claim 5, wherein said offset of said securement arm extends between said first and second lateral end faces.
12. The belt clip mechanism of claim 1, wherein said midsection of said securement arm is constructed as one of a curved finger and planar member.
13. A belt clip mechanism of a case or holster used for carrying portable electronic devices, comprising:
- a support arm having a front side, a back side, a top end, a bottom end and a central stem portion therebetween, said bottom end including a barbed flange integrally connected to said central stem portion;
- a securement arm having a top and bottom end and a midsection therebetween, said top and bottom corresponding to said top and bottom end of said support arm, said bottom end including an offset integrally connected to said midsecton;
- a means for connecting said belt clip to said case or holster, said means attached to said support arm;
- wherein said support arm and said securement arms are integrally joined at respective top ends so as to form a unitary member, said unitary member exhibiting spring-like characteristics such that said support and securement arms are one of attracted towards and away from the other and wherein said barbed flange presents a capturing mechanism that cooperates with said offset to form a positive locking of said securement arm to said support arm while said belt is interposed therebetween.
Type: Application
Filed: May 30, 2006
Publication Date: Dec 6, 2007
Inventor: Sergio Castaneda (Gary, IN)
Application Number: 11/443,530
International Classification: A45F 5/00 (20060101);