WEARABLE BELT MOUNT FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE
A wearable belt mount for supporting an electronic device on a user's body includes a belt for encircling the user's waist area, a left articulated arm fitting affixed to the belt at a first intermediate position along a length of the belt, and a right articulated arm fitting affixed to the belt at a second intermediate position along the length of the belt. The right articulated arm fitting is substantially diametrically opposite the left articulated arm fitting. A left support arm has a proximal end attached to the left articulated arm fitting and a distal end extending forwardly from the belt, and a right support arm has a proximal end attached to the right articulated arm fitting and a distal end extending forwardly from the belt. A device tray is supported between the distal end of the left support arm and the distal end of the right support arm.
The present disclosure generally relates to apparatuses and methods for carrying items on a person's body in a hand-free manner. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a wearable belt mount securable about a person's midsection and adapted to have electronic equipment attached thereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe use of mobile electronic devices such as tablets and smartphones has become very popular as a result of the large quantity of digital content such as books, applications, games, and video entertainment that users can easily access using their device. Many users find that their mobile devices are easier and faster to access online content than utilizing a desktop or laptop computer. Professionals from all fields in the business world accomplish important parts of their employment responsibilities utilizing mobile electronic devices through the use of a variety of applications as well as utilizing the devices for online socializing, watching videos, or playing games. The amount of time that a user spends utilizing their electronic devices continues to increase with the increased availability of computing power and available content.
Various products are available today to help the user retain the devices on the user's body. Some examples include devices to attach to one of their hands, strapping the device to one leg, or cases that permit an electronic tablet to stand alone. However, these products provide limited assistance as they do not alleviate the drawbacks related to bad posture, poor performance, and long-term physical discomforts or injuries from the use of mobile devices for prolonged periods of time.
Any of these known devices, in addition to a smart tablet, can weigh up to 1 kg or more, and users typically end up resting the entire apparatus on their lap or on a table in front of them from the start of their session. Most of these users are unconsciously performing their favorite tasks utilizing very poor posture and are therefore exposing themselves to unhealthy amounts of stress on their shoulders by attempting to keep their arms suspended forwardly from their body in order to work a touch-screen. They potentially also hurt their necks by dropping their head forward in an attempt to get improved vision of the content. This is a very common problem for e-book readers. Most users are constantly tensing their bodies in different positions in order to keep their mobile devices steady and secure from dropping or to maintain their body position and arms in order to continue interacting with a touch-screen device in front of them.
Therefore, there is a need for a device to provide users with a hands-free and effort-free mounting solution for their electronic tablets, smart phones, electronic book readers, laptop computers, and even traditional heavy books and magazines. Such a device should allow the user to adjust the position of these mobile devices at different heights, angles, and distances from the user's eyes to fit different activities and needs. In this manner, a user could significantly increase the amount of time utilizing these devices while alleviating bad posture habits and increasing timeframe, focus, and productivity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present disclosure is generally directed to a wearable belt mount for supporting an electronic device on a user's body. The wearable belt mount includes a belt for encircling the user's waist area. A left support arm has a proximal end pivotably attached to the belt at a first intermediate position along a length of the belt, and a distal end extending forwardly from the belt. Similarly, a right support arm has a proximal end pivotably attached to the belt at a second intermediate position along a length of the belt, and a distal end extending forwardly from the belt. The first intermediate position and the second intermediate position are substantially diametrically opposite. A device support, such as a device tray, is rotatably supported between the distal end of the left support arm and the distal end of the right support arm.
In another aspect, the belt includes a buckle at a first end of the belt for securing the first end of the belt to a second end of the belt.
In still another aspect, the buckle includes at least one audio speaker incorporated therein and adapted for electronic communication with an electronic device supported on the device support for the reproduction of audio sound transmitted by the electronic device.
In yet another aspect, the wearable belt mount further includes a mouse plate support affixed to the belt buckle and a mouse plate pivotally mounted to the mouse plate support.
In yet another aspect, the wearable belt mount further includes a left support arm extension at least partially telescoped within the left support arm and a right support arm extension at least partially telescoped within the right support arm. The distal ends of the left and the right support arms are affixed to the left and right support arm extensions and are selectively extendable from the left and right support arms respectively.
In a still further aspect, the left and the right support arms are selectively pivotal with respect to the belt between a lowered position wherein the arms are substantially horizontal and a raised position wherein the arms are substantially vertical.
In another aspect, the wearable belt mount further includes a transverse support rod extending between the distal ends of the left and the right support arms.
In another aspect, the wearable belt mount further includes an intermediate elongated clip frictionally engaging the transverse support rod and rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the transverse support rod. The device support is affixed to the intermediate elongated clip.
In a still further aspect, the device support is pivotably attached to the intermediate elongated clip.
In yet another aspect, each of the left and right support arms further include at least one articulated joint and further wherein the transverse support rod includes a first rod element and a second rod element telescopically received in the first rod element.
In still another aspect, the wearable belt mount further includes a first armrest affixed to the left support arm and a second armrest affixed to the right support arm.
In another aspect, at least one of the proximal ends of the left and right support arm is transversely adjustable with respect to the belt.
Introducing another embodiment of the invention, a wearable belt mount for supporting an electronic device on a user's body includes a belt for encircling the user's waist area wherein the belt has a plurality of links, at least one stretchable band at an intermediate portion thereof, and a buckle at a first end of the belt for securing the first end of the belt to a second end of the belt. A mouse plate support is affixed to the belt buckle and a mouse plate is pivotally mounted to the mouse plate support. A left articulated arm fitting is affixed to the belt at a first intermediate position along a length of the belt, and a right articulated arm fitting is affixed to the belt at a second intermediate position along the length of the belt. The right articulated arm fitting is substantially diametrically opposite the left articulated arm fitting. A left support arm has a proximal end attached to the left articulated arm fitting and a distal end extending forwardly from the belt, and a right support arm has a proximal end attached to the right articulated arm fitting and a distal end extending forwardly from the belt. A device tray is supported between the distal end of the left support arm and the distal end of the right support arm.
In yet another aspect, the wearable belt mount further includes a left support arm extension at least partially telescoped within the left support arm and a right support arm extension at least partially telescoped within the right support arm. The distal ends of the left and the right support arms are affixed to the left and right support arm extensions and are selectively extendable from the left and right support arms respectively.
In a still further aspect, the left and the right support arms are selectively pivotal at the left and the right articulated arm fittings respectively between a lowered position wherein the arms are substantially horizontal and a raised position wherein the arms are oblique.
In another aspect, the wearable belt mount further includes a transverse support rod extending between the distal ends of the left and the right support arms respectively.
In another aspect, the wearable belt mount further includes an intermediate elongated clip frictionally engaging the transverse support rod and rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the transverse support rod. The device tray is affixed to the intermediate elongated clip.
In a still further aspect, the intermediate elongated clip includes a tray support post extending perpendicularly therefrom, and the device tray is affixed to the tray support post and is pivotal with respect thereto.
In a still further aspect, a wearable belt mount for supporting an electronic device on a user's body includes a belt for encircling the user's waist area wherein the belt has a plurality of links, at least one stretchable band at an intermediate portion thereof, and a buckle at a first end of the belt for securing the first end of the belt to a second end of the belt. A mouse plate support is affixed to the belt buckle and a mouse plate is pivotally mounted to the mouse plate support. A left articulated arm fitting is affixed to the belt at a first intermediate position along a length of the belt, and a right articulated arm fitting is affixed to the belt at a second intermediate position along the length of the belt. The right articulated arm fitting is substantially diametrically opposite the left articulated arm fitting. A left support arm has a proximal end attached to the left articulated arm fitting and a distal end extending forwardly from the belt and includes a first armrest affixed thereto. A left support arm extension is at least partially telescoped within the left support arm and extendable therefrom and the left distal end is affixed to the left support arm extension. A right support arm has a proximal end attached to the right articulated arm fitting and a distal end extending forwardly from the belt and includes a second armrest affixed thereto. A right support arm extension is at least partially telescoped within the right support arm and extendable therefrom and the right distal end is affixed to the right support arm extension. A transverse support Rod extends between the left and the right distal ends of the left and the right support arms respectively. An intermediate elongated clip closely engages the transverse support Rod and is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof. A device tray is pivotally affixed to the intermediate elongated clip.
In yet another aspect, each of the left and right support arms further includes at least one articulated joint and further wherein the transverse support rod includes a first rod element and a second rod element telescopically received in the first rod element. The distal ends of the left and the right support arms are adjustable one with respect to the other.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, where like numerals denote like elements and in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
In one exemplary implementation of the invention, a wearable belt mount 100 is shown in
With continued reference to
As illustrated in
As shown in
The intermediate elongated clip 142 includes a tray support post 144 extending perpendicularly from a midpoint of the intermediate elongated clip 142. As best shown in
As shown in
In use, and as illustrated in
Referring now to
Some electronic devices to be operated by the user utilizing the wearable belt mount 200 may require interface with a mouse, trackball, or other such pointing device for optimal performance. For this purpose, a mouse plate support 272 can be removably affixed to a front of the buckle 208. The mouse plate support 272 can have one or more arms 274 extending therefrom to which a mouse plate 270 is attached for support. The mouse plate 270 has a top surface 276 on which the pointing device is supported for operation by the user 200. The mouse plate 270 can optionally be pivotal with respect to the mouse plate support 272 to orient the pointing device in a comfortable position. For instance, the mouse plate 270 of the present embodiment is rotatably attached to the mouse plate support 272 by having transverse protuberances 278 of the mouse plate 270 rotationally engage with a respective orifice 275 at a free end of each arm 274, as understood from
An alternative embodiment of a wearable belt mount 300 is illustrated in
A further alternative embodiment of a wearable belt mount 400 is illustrated in
The wearable belt mount 400 of the present embodiment comprises a left support arm 420 and a right support arm 430. A device tray 460 is carried by a left distal end 424 and a right distal end 434 of the left support arm 420 and the right support arm 430, respectively. A left proximal end 422 of the left support arm 420 is attached to a left articulated arm fitting 412 affixed to the belt 402. Similarly, a right proximal end 432 of the right support arm 430 is attached to a right articulated arm fitting 414 affixed to the belt 402. The illustration of
For instance, each one of the left and right articulated arm fittings 412, 414 includes an outer surface 490 comprising an inward recess 492 from which a stem 494 protrudes outwardly, the stem 494 ending in a head portion 496 that is wider than the stem 494. In turn, the left and right proximal ends 422, 432 of the left and right support arms 420, 430 are fitted with an inner cavity 500, where the inner cavity 500 ends at an end wall 502 facing the corresponding left or right articulated arm fitting 412, 414 and provided with an opening 504, wherein the inner cavity 500 is wider than the opening 504. More particularly, the inner cavity 500 is wider than the head portion 496 of the corresponding left or right articulated arm fitting 412, 414, and slidably receives the head portion 496. In turn the opening 504 is wider than the stem 494 to allow the stem 494 to slidably pass through, but is narrower than the head portion 496 to prevent the head portion 496 from sliding out of the inner cavity 500. In consequence, the stem 494 and head portion 496 can adopt a plurality of longitudinal positions relative to the left or right proximal end 422, 432 of the left and right support arms 420, 430, allowing the left and right support arms 420, 430 to be transversely displaceable and adjustable with respect to the left and right articulated arm fittings 412, 414 while remaining attached to the left and right articulated arm fittings 412, 414. As way of example, the illustration of
In the embodiment shown in the figures, the inward recess 492, stem 494, head portion 496, inner cavity 500, and opening 504 present a round or circular cross section. However, alternative embodiments are contemplated. For instance, the inward recess 492 and the neck portion 508 can present a mating non-rotational cross section (e.g., square, hexagonal, octagonal or the like) to prevent relative rotation between the left and right articulated arm fitting 412, 414 and the corresponding left and right support arm 420, 430 when the neck portions 508 are coupled to the respective inward recesses 492. In addition, the non-rotational cross section is preferably rotationally symmetric, allowing the neck portions 508 to be engageable with the respective inward recesses 492 in different rotational positions, and thus adjusting the tilt of the left and right support arms 420, 430.
In alternative embodiments, only one of the left and right support arms 420, 430 is transversely adjustable with respect to the belt 402.
Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
Claims
1. A wearable belt mount for supporting an electronic device on a user's body at an ergonomic position, said wearable belt mount comprising:
- a belt for encircling a user's waist area;
- a left support arm having a proximal end pivotably attached to said belt at a first intermediate position along a length of said belt, and a distal end extending forwardly from said belt;
- a right support arm having a proximal end pivotably attached to said belt at a second intermediate position along said length of said belt, and a distal end extending forwardly from said belt, said second intermediate position being substantially diametrically opposite said first intermediate position; and
- a device support rotatably supported between said distal end of said left support arm and said distal end of said right support arm.
2. A wearable belt mount according to claim 1, wherein said belt comprises a buckle at a first end of said belt for securing said first end of said belt to a second end of said belt.
3. A wearable belt mount according to claim 2, wherein said buckle includes at least one audio speaker incorporated therein adapted for electronic communication with an electronic device supported on said device support for the reproduction of audio sound transmitted by the electronic device.
4. A wearable belt mount according to claim 2, further including a mouse plate support affixed to said belt buckle and a mouse plate pivotally mounted to said mouse plate support.
5. A wearable belt mount according to claim 1, further including a left support arm extension at least partially telescoped within said left support arm and a right support arm extension at least partially telescoped within said right support arm, said distal ends of said left and said right support arms affixed to said left and said right support arm extensions and selectively extendable from said left and said right support arms respectively.
6. A wearable belt mount according to claim 1, wherein said left and said right support arms are selectively pivotal with respect to said belt between a lowered position wherein said arms are substantially horizontal and a raised position wherein said arms are oblique.
7. A wearable belt mount according to claim 1, further including a transverse support rod extending between said distal ends of said left and said right support arms.
8. A wearable belt mount according to claim 7, further including an intermediate elongated clip frictionally engaging said transverse support rod and rotatable about a longitudinal axis of said transverse support rod, said device support affixed to said intermediate elongated clip.
9. A wearable belt mount according to claim 8, wherein said device support is pivotably attached to said intermediate elongated clip.
10. A wearable belt mount according to claim 7, wherein each of said left and right support arms further include at least one articulated joint and further wherein said transverse support rod includes a first rod element and a second rod element telescopically received in said first rod element.
11. A wearable belt mount according to claim 1, further including a first armrest affixed to said left support arm and a second armrest affixed to said right support arm.
12. A wearable belt mount according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said proximal ends of said left and right support arms is transversely adjustable with respect to said belt.
13. A wearable belt mount for supporting an electronic device on a user's body at an ergonomic position, said wearable belt mount comprising:
- a belt for encircling a user's waist area, said belt having a plurality of links, at least one stretchable band at an intermediate portion thereof, and a buckle at a first end of said belt for securing said first end of said belt to a second end of said belt;
- a mouse plate support affixed to said belt buckle and a mouse plate pivotally mounted to said mouse plate support;
- a left articulated arm fitting affixed to said belt at a first intermediate position along a length of said belt;
- a right articulated arm fitting affixed to said belt at a second intermediate position along said length of said belt, said right articulated arm fitting being substantially diametrically opposite said left articulated arm fitting;
- a left support arm having a proximal end attached to said left articulated arm fitting and a distal end extending forwardly from said belt; a right support arm having a proximal end attached to said right articulated arm fitting and a distal end extending forwardly from said belt; and
- a device tray supported between said distal end of said left support arm and said distal end of said right support arm.
14. A wearable belt mount according to claim 13, further including a left support arm extension at least partially telescoped within said left support arm and a right support arm extension at least partially telescoped within said right support arm, said distal ends of said left and said right support arms affixed to said left and said right support arm extensions and selectively extendable from said left and said right support arms respectively.
15. A wearable belt mount according to claim 13, wherein said left and said right support arms are selectively pivotal at said left and said right articulated arm fittings respectively between a lowered position wherein said arms are substantially horizontal and a raised position wherein said arms are oblique.
16. A wearable belt mount according to claim 13, further including a transverse support rod extending between said distal ends of said left and said right support arms respectively.
17. A wearable belt mount according to claim 16, further including an intermediate elongated clip frictionally engaging said transverse support rod and rotatable about a longitudinal axis of said transverse support rod, said device tray affixed to said intermediate elongated clip.
18. A wearable belt mount according to claim 17, wherein said intermediate elongated clip includes a tray support post extending perpendicularly therefrom, said device tray affixed to said tray support post and pivotal with respect to said tray support post.
19. A wearable belt mount for supporting an electronic device on a user's body at an ergonomic position, said wearable belt mount comprising:
- a belt for encircling a user's waist area, said belt having a plurality of links, at least one stretchable band at an intermediate portion, and a buckle at a first end of said belt for securing said first end of said belt to a second end of said belt;
- a mouse plate support affixed to said belt buckle and a mouse plate pivotally mounted to said mouse plate support;
- a left articulated arm fitting affixed to said belt at a first intermediate position along a length of said belt;
- a right articulated arm fitting affixed to said belt at a second intermediate position along said length of said belt, said right articulated arm fitting being substantially diametrically opposite said left articulate arm fitting;
- a left support arm having a proximal end attached to said left articulated arm fitting and a distal end extending forwardly from said belt, said left support arm including a first armrest affixed thereto and a left support arm extension at least partially telescoped within said left support arm and extendable therefrom, said distal end affixed to said left support arm extension;
- a right support arm having a proximal end attached to said right articulated arm fitting and a distal end extending forwardly from said belt, said right support arm including a second armrest affixed thereto and a right support arm extension at least partially telescoped within said left support arm and extendable therefrom, said distal end affixed to said right support arm extension; a transverse support rod extending between said left and said right distal ends of said left and said right support arms respectively;
- an intermediate elongated clip closely engaging said transverse support rod and rotatable about a longitudinal axis of said transverse support rod; and
- a device tray pivotally affixed to said intermediate elongated clip.
20. A wearable belt mount according to claim 19, wherein each of said left and right support arms further include at least one articulated joint and further wherein said transverse support rod includes a first rod element and a second rod element telescopically received in said first rod element, said distal ends of said left and said right support arms being adjustable one with respect to the other.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 10, 2015
Publication Date: Aug 13, 2015
Inventor: Carlos Felipe Arias-Tabima (Hallandale Beach, FL)
Application Number: 14/618,927