U.S. patent application number 10/264471 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-25 for neck strap of portable apparatus.
Invention is credited to Yang, Bill.
Application Number | 20040056061 10/264471 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21688597 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040056061 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yang, Bill |
March 25, 2004 |
Neck strap of portable apparatus
Abstract
A neck strap of a portable apparatus, particularly the neck
strap with a quick release unit. The quick release unit is linked
between the neck and the portable apparatus. When an external
stretching force exceeds a safety range, the quick release unit is
quickly released from the neck strap to protect the user. The quick
release unit is not in contact with the neck of the user, such that
the user will not feel uncomfortable for wearing the neck strap.
Further, as consideration of ergonomics is not required for the
design of the quick release unit, and there is no limitation of the
shape, the design flexibility is greatly enhanced.
Inventors: |
Yang, Bill; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
J.C. Patents, Inc.
4 Venture, Suite 250
Irvine
CA
92618
US
|
Family ID: |
21688597 |
Appl. No.: |
10/264471 |
Filed: |
October 3, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/607 ;
224/930 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 2200/0508 20130101;
A45F 2003/002 20130101; H04M 1/05 20130101; A45F 5/00 20130101;
H04M 1/6041 20130101; A45F 2200/0516 20130101; A45F 5/02 20130101;
A45F 2005/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/607 ;
224/930 |
International
Class: |
A45F 003/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 25, 2002 |
TW |
91215159 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A neck strap, carrying a portable apparatus and collared around
the neck of a user, comprising: a neck-touchable portion and a
non-neck-touchable portion, wherein the neck-touchable portion is
collared around the neck when the user is wearing the neck strap,
while the non-neck-touchable is not in contact with the neck of the
user; a quick release unit mounted to the non-neck-touchable
portion, allowing the neck strap removed from neck when an external
force applied to the neck strap exceeds a safety range.
2. The neck strap according to claim 1, further comprising a
microphone electrically connected to the portable apparatus to
transmit the sound of the user to the portable apparatus.
3. The neck strap according to claim 2, further comprising an
electric wire connecting the microphone to the portable
apparatus.
4. The neck strap according to claim 3, wherein the electric wire
is embedded at a position of the neck strap and connected to the
portable apparatus.
5. The neck strap according to claim 4, wherein the quick release
unit is located at the non-neck-touchable portion between the
position for embedding the electric wire and the neck of the
user.
6. The neck strap according to claim 1, further comprising an ear
phone electrically connected to the portable apparatus to transmit
an audio signal of the portable apparatus.
7. The neck strap according to claim 6, further comprising an
electric wire to connect the ear phone to the portable
apparatus.
8. The neck strap according to claim 7, wherein the electric wire
is embedded at a position of the neck strap and connected to the
portable apparatus.
9. The neck strap according to claim 8, wherein the quick release
unit is located at the non-neck-touchable portion between the
position for embedding the electric wire and the neck of the
user.
10. The neck strap according to claim 1, further comprising an ear
phone electrically connected to the portable apparatus to transmit
a sound signal of the portable apparatus for the user to
listen.
11. The neck strap according to claim 1, further comprising a pair
of ear phones electrically connected to the portable apparatus to
transmit a sound signal of the portable apparatus for the user to
listen.
12. The neck strap according to claim 11, further comprising an
electric wire to connect the ear phones to the portable
apparatus.
13. The neck strap according to claim 12, wherein the electric wire
is embedded at a position of the neck strap and connected to the
portable apparatus.
14. The neck strap according to claim 13, wherein the quick release
unit is located at the non-neck-touchable portion between the
position for embedding the electric wire and the neck of the
user.
15. The neck strap according to claim 1, wherein the portable
apparatus includes a cellular phone.
16. The neck strap according to claim 1, wherein the portable
apparatus includes a personal digital assistant.
17. The neck strap according to claim 1, wherein the portable
apparatus includes a MP3 player.
18. The neck strap according to claim 1, wherein the portable
apparatus includes an AM/FM radio.
19. The neck strap according to claim 1, wherien the portable
apparatus includes a CD player.
20. The neck strap according to claim 1, wherein the portable
apparatus includes a minidisc player.
21. The neck strap according to claim 1, wherein the portable
apparatus includes a digital audio broadcasting player.
22. A neck strap, used to carry a portable apparatus and collared
around the neck of a user, comprising a neck-touchable portion and
a non-neck-touchable portion, wherein the neck-touchable portion is
collared around the neck when the user is wearing the neck strap,
while the non-neck-touchable is not in contact with the neck of the
user, the neck strap is characterized in including a quick release
unit mounted to the non-neck-touchable portion, allowing the neck
strap removed from neck when an external force applied to the neck
strap exceeds a safety range.
23. The neck strap according to claim 22, further comprising a
microphone electrically connected to the portable apparatus to
transmit the sound of the user to the portable apparatus.
24. The neck strap according to claim 23, further comprising an
electric wire connecting the microphone to the portable
apparatus.
25. The neck strap according to claim 24, wherein the electric wire
is embedded at a position of the neck strap and connected to the
portable apparatus.
26. The neck strap according to claim 25, wherein the quick release
unit is located at the non-neck-touchable portion between the
position for embedding the electric wire and the neck of the
user.
27. The neck strap according to claim 22, further comprising an ear
phone electrically connected to the portable apparatus to transmit
an audio signal of the portable apparatus.
28. The neck strap according to claim 27, further comprising an
electric wire to connect the ear phone to the portable
apparatus.
29. The neck strap according to claim 28, wherein the electric wire
is embedded at a position of the neck strap and connected to the
portable apparatus.
30. The neck strap according to claim 29, wherein the quick release
unit is located at the non-neck-touchable portion between the
position for embedding the electric wire and the neck of the
user.
31. The neck strap according to claim 22, further comprising an ear
phone electrically connected to the portable apparatus to transmit
a sound signal of the portable apparatus for the user to
listen.
32. The neck strap according to claim 31, further comprising an
electric wire to connect the ear phones to the portable
apparatus.
33. The neck strap according to claim 32, wherein the electric wire
is embedded at a position of the neck strap and connected to the
portable apparatus.
34. The neck strap according to claim 33, wherein the quick release
unit is located at the non-neck-touchable portion between the
position for embedding the electric wire and the neck of the user.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan
application serial no. 91215159, filed Sep. 25, 2002.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates in general to neck strap of a portable
apparatus, and more particularly, to a neck strap of a portable
apparatus that is quickly released to protect the user without
affecting the neck of the user when an external force applied
thereto exceeds a safety range.
[0004] 2. Related Art of the Invention
[0005] To provide the application convenience and portability of
the conventional portable electronic, apparatus such as the
cellular phone, a neck strap is frequently used allowing the user
to carry such cellular phone. The cellular phone is hanged on the
neck strap, and the neck strap is typically collared on the neck of
the user.
[0006] As the neck strap is collared on the neck, under certain
specific conditions such as walking in an environment full of
machines or factory equipment, the neck strap is easily entangled
with the machine. The improper stretch of the neck strap is likely
injure the neck of the user, or even endanger the lift of the
user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides a neck strap of a portable
apparatus, particular a neck strap with a quick release unit. The
quick release unit is linked between the neck and the portable
apparatus. When an external force applied to the neck strap exceeds
a safety range, the quick release unit is quickly released to
protect the user. The quick release unit will not affect the neck
of the user.
[0008] The quick release unit linked between the neck and the
portable apparatus is designed without the necessity of considering
ergonomics and without limitation of shape. Further, as the
direction of the external force applied to the quick release unit
is linear, the problem of pull force angle does not exist. As a
result, the actual safety range of the stretching force is
identical to the stretching force specification as designed.
[0009] The neck strap of a portable apparatus in the present
invention includes a non-neck-touchable quick release unit for
pending the portable apparatus, such that the user wearing the neck
strap will not feeling uncomfortable by the contact of the quick
release unit.
[0010] The design of the neck strap of a portable apparatus is
flexible. The external feature can be designed according to
specific requirement of the clients. For example, the neck strap is
more competitive with the quick release unit configured with
trademark of the manufacturer, logo of the client, the popular
cartoon character, or a unique shape.
[0011] The neck strap provided by the present invention includes a
quick release unit which is not in contact with the neck of the
user, so that when the quick release unit is released or broken by
an external force over the safety range, the neck of the user will
not be injured.
[0012] In the present invention, a neck strap carrying a portable
apparatus and collared on the neck of a user is provided. The neck
strap includes a neck-touchable portion and a non-neck-touchable
portion. A quick release Unit is disposed in the non-neck-touchable
portion. When the external force applied to the neck strap exceeds
a safety range, the quick release unit is released to remove the
neck strap from the neck of the user.
[0013] In one embodiment, the above-mentioned neck strap further
comprises one microphone, one ear phone, one pair of ear phones,
one microphone and one ear phone, or one microphone and one pair of
ear phones. The microphone and the ear phone arc applied to a
communication system such as the cellular phone, an audio system
such as the MP3 player, an AM/FM radio, a personal data assistant
(PDA), a CD player, an MD (minidisk) player, or a digital audio
broadcasting (DAB) player. The microphone and the ear phone are
electrically connected to the portable apparatus allowing the
portable apparatus to transmit an audio signal or a sound signal,
such that the user can listen to the audio or sound signal. The
microphone is used to transmit the sound of the user to the
portable apparatus.
[0014] In the above neck strap, an electric wire is further
included to connect the microphone and the ear phone, or the pair
of ear phones to the portable apparatus. In one embodiment of
present invention, the electric wire is embedded in a portion of
the neck strap to connect with the portable apparatus. Preferably,
the quick release unit is disposed in the non-neck-touchable
portion between the position where the electric wire is embedded in
the neck strap and the neck of the user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] These, as well as other features of the present invention,
will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings
wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 shows the structure of the neck strap in one
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0017] FIG. 2 shows the user wearing the neck strap as shown in
FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] The present invention provides a neck strap of a portable
electronic apparatus, particularly a neck strap with a quick
release unit. The quick release unit is located between the neck
and the portable apparatus. When an external force for stretching
the neck strap exceeds a safety range, the quick release unit is
instantly released from the neck strap to protect the user without
affecting the neck of the user.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, the structure of the neck strap in one
embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The neck strap
120 can be used for carrying a portable apparatus 110 such as a
cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, an MP3 player, an
AM/FM radio, a CD player, an MD player or a digital audio
broadcasting player. The neck strap 120 includes a first portion A,
which is the neck-touchable portion, and a second portion B, which
is a non-neck-touchable portion. The neck-touchable portion A is in
contact with the neck of the user while the user is wearing the
neck strap 120 Meanwhile, the non-neck-touchable portion B is not
in contact with the neck of the user. The non-neck-touchable
portion B is connected with the portable apparatus 110 via a
connecting terminal 112.
[0020] In this embodiment, a quick release unit 150 is mounted to
the non-neck-touchable portion B. The quick release unit 150 is
located at a connecting part between the neck and the portable
electronic apparatus 110 (the non-neck-touchable portion B). When
an external force applied to stretch the neck strap 120 exceeds a
safety range, the quick release unit 150 is quickly detached from
the neck strap 120 to protect the user. The quick release 150 unit
will not affect the neck of the user. The safety range can be
adjusted according to specific design specification. The quick
release unit 150 includes a clasp, for example. Within the safety
range, the quick release unit 150 will not be detached from the
neck strap 120 When the user is wearing the neck strap 120, the
quick release unit 150 can protect the neck of the user from being
injured by the excessive external force.
[0021] In case the quick release unit is located at the neck
touchable portion A, particularly near the center of the back of
the neck, though the quick release unit can be hidden from being
observed, many problems may be caused as discussed as follows.
[0022] The most important issue is the safety consideration. As the
neck strap supports the weight of the portable apparatus, the quick
release unit will be closed in contact with the neck of the user
while being located at the center of the back of the neck. The
close contact requires the quick release unit to be designed with
either an arc or flat shape according to ergonomics. The geometric
limitation induces the difference between the actual safety range
and the manufacture rating safety range of the stretching force.
Further, the angle variation for touching the neck of the user
results in the difference of force for quick release, such that the
safety specification is different from the actual application. The
manufacturer is responsible for any accident caused by the
difference, while the user is endangered. In addition, the quick
release unit at the back of the neck is easily entangled with the
hair of the user. This causes the inconvenience and is likely to
injure the user
[0023] The second issue is the health of the user. As the quick
release unit can withstand a stretch force within the safety range
without being loosened, the material for making the quick release
unit has to be rigid. Therefore, the contact between the quick
release unit and the neck of the user, particularly when the user
wearing the neck strap and walking around, will irritate the skin
of the user. More seriously, the contact friction will hurt the
skin at the back of the neck and cause allergy or infection of the
skin. Further, the contact friction will scratch the skin and cause
the skin easily burned by the sun.
[0024] With respect to design consideration, the quick release unit
closely touching the neck of the skin has to be designed based on
ergonomics. The external feature of the quick release unit is
limited to arc shape to avoid discomfort of the user. The external
feature of the quick release unit is thus very limit without any
unique design.
[0025] Considering the breakage problem, the quick release unit can
bear with a certain stretching force without being released
Therefore, the material for forming the quick release unit must be
sufficient hard or rigid The close attachment of the quick release
unit at the back of the neck will be released or even broken when
the external force exceeds the safety range. The neck of the user
is thus easily injured by the breakage of the quick release
unit.
[0026] In contrast, by disposing the quick release unit at the
non-neck-touchable portion B of the neck strap has the following
advantages.
[0027] Regarding safety issue, as the quick release unit 150 is
disposed between the neck and the portable apparatus 110, the
design of the quick release unit 150 is not restricted by
ergonomics nor the shape. Further, as the external force applied to
the quick release unit 150 is linear, no stretching force angle
related problem is caused. Therefore, the actual safety range of
the stretching force is identical to the designed safety range. The
safety standard displayed by the manufacturer is thus met. The
manufacturer is free from the responsibility of the inconsistent
performance, while the life of the user is not endangered for using
the neck strap. In addition, as being located at either side of the
user, the quick release unit 150 will not be entangled with the
hair of the user.
[0028] In the health viewpoint, the quick release unit 150 is not
closely in contact with the neck. Therefore, even the user has to
walk around while wearing the neck strap, discomfort will not be
caused by wearing the quick release unit 150.
[0029] In the consideration of design, the design is very flexible
by locating the quick release unit 150 between the neck and the
portable apparatus 110. While designing the internal structure of
the quick release unit 150, the external feature of the neck strap
120 can be taken into account. In addition, the position of the
quick release unit 150 easily attracts the attention of others.
Therefore, the quick release unit 150 can thus be designed with a
feature required by the client For example, the quick release unit
150 can be made with a specific configuration such as the trademark
of the manufacturer, the logo of the company, the cartoon character
or other unique shape to become more competitive,
[0030] For the breakage issue, the quick release unit 150 can bear
with a certain stretching force without being released. Therefore,
the material for forming the quick release unit must be sufficient
hard or rigid. As the quick release unit 150 is not in contact with
the neck of the user, the breakage thereof will not injure the neck
of the user.
[0031] In FIG. 1, accessory can be added as required by the
portable apparatus 110 carried by the neck strap 120. For example,
the above neck strap 120 may further comprise a single microphone,
a single ear phone, a pair of ear phones, a microphone plus an ear
phone, or a microphone and a pair of ear phones. The accessory
includes the microphone and ear phone of the communication system
such as a cellular phone. Alternatively, the accessory includes the
ear phone of the audio system such as the MP3 player, the AM/FM
radio, the PDA, the CD player, the MD player or the DAB player. The
above microphone and ear phone are electrically connected to the
portable apparatus 110, allowing the portable apparatus 110 to
transmit an audio or sound signal, and the user to listen to the
audio signal or to enjoy the sound signal. The microphone is used
to transmit the sound of the use to the portable apparatus 110.
[0032] In one embodiment of the present invention, when the
portable apparatus 110 in the neck strap 120 as shown in FIG. 1 is
a cellular phone, a microphone 130 and a ear phone 140 may be
included. An electric wire 134 extends from the position 132 of the
neck strap 120. The length of the electric wire 134 is designed
according to specific requirement. The electric wire 134 between
the position 132 of the neck strap 120 and the portable apparatus
110 is embedded in the neck strap 120, and the position 132 extends
towards the connecting terminal 112 to connect with the portable
apparatus 110. If the portable apparatus 110 is a portable audio
equipment such as a MP3 player or an AM/FM radio, another ear phone
142 is added. The embodiment is also suitable for the current
integrated portable digital apparatus of the cellular phone and
audio equipment
[0033] While considering the electric wire 134 of the microphone
130 and the ear phone 140, the quick release unit 150 of the neck
strap 120 can be located at the non-neck-touchable portion B from
the position 132 to the neck. Without considering the electric
connection issue, the quick release unit 150 can be positioned at
any portion of the non-neck-touchable portion B.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 2, the user 200 wearing the neck strap 220
is shown. The neck strap 200 can be used to carry a portable
apparatus 210 such as a cellular phone, a PDA, a MP3 player, and an
AM/FM radio. The neck strap 220 includes a first portion 222, that
is, the neck-touchable portion and a second portion 224, that is,
the non-neck-touchable portion. The neck-touchable 222 is collared
around the neck of the user 200, while the non-neck-touchable
portion 224 is not in contact with the user 200. The
non-neck-touchable portion 224 is connected to the portable
apparatus 210 via a connecting terminal.
[0035] If the portable apparatus 210 carried by the neck strap 200
as shown in FIG. 2 is a cellular phone, the neck strap 200 further
comprises a microphone 240 and an ear phone 250. An electric wire
230 is embedded in a position of the neck strap 220 and connected
to the portable apparatus 210. If the portable apparatus 210 is a
portable audio equipment such as a MP3 player or an AM/FM radio,
another ear phone 255 is added. The embodiment is suitable for the
integrated portable digital apparatus integrating the cellular
phone and the audio equipment.
[0036] The neck strap 220 includes a quick release unit 265 in the
non-neck-touchable portion 222. The actual position of the quick
release unit 265 is determined according to specific requirement.
The quick release unit 265 is located at the connecting portion
(the non-neck-touchable portion 222) between the neck and the
portable electronic apparatus 210. When an external force over a
safety range is applied to stretch the neck strap 220, the quick
release unit 265 is quickly released to protect the safety of the
user. The quick release unit 265 will not affect the neck of the
user. The design of the safety range is adjustable according to
design specification. The quick release unit 265 includes a clasp
which will not be detached with the stretching force within the
safety range. When the user is wearing the neck strap 220, the
quick release unit 265 will protect the neck of the user from being
injured by the external force.
[0037] Other embodiments of the invention will appear to those
skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and
practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the
specification and examples to be considered as exemplary only, with
a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the
following claims.
* * * * *