U.S. patent application number 11/269790 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-26 for carry assembly for portable electronic device.
This patent application is currently assigned to HON HAI Precision Industry CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Yun-Lung Chen, Pei-Bin Luo.
Application Number | 20060237495 11/269790 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36841178 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060237495 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Yun-Lung ; et
al. |
October 26, 2006 |
Carry assembly for portable electronic device
Abstract
A carry assembly for a portable electronic device includes a
holster (20), a protrusion (23) formed on the holster (20), a clip
support member (30) pivotally attached to the holster (20) and a
positioning member (70). A spring (60) is received in the
protrusion (23). The clip support member (30) includes an opening
(31) having a plurality of grooves (33). The positioning member
(70) is disposed between the grooves (33) and the spring (60).
Wherein rotation of the holster (20) from one position to other
position moves the positioning member (70) from one of the grooves
(33) into other, thereby locking the holster (20) into
position.
Inventors: |
Chen; Yun-Lung; (Tu-Cheng,
TW) ; Luo; Pei-Bin; (Shenzhen, CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MORRIS MANNING MARTIN LLP
3343 PEACHTREE ROAD, NE
1600 ATLANTA FINANCIAL CENTER
ATLANTA
GA
30326
US
|
Assignee: |
HON HAI Precision Industry CO.,
LTD.
Tu-Cheng City
TW
|
Family ID: |
36841178 |
Appl. No.: |
11/269790 |
Filed: |
November 8, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/197 ;
224/669; 224/930 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 5/021 20130101;
A45F 2200/0516 20130101; H04B 1/385 20130101; A45F 2005/026
20130101; A45F 5/02 20130101; A45C 2011/002 20130101; H04B
2001/3855 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/197 ;
224/669; 224/930 |
International
Class: |
A45F 3/00 20060101
A45F003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 23, 2005 |
CN |
200520057745.8 |
Claims
1. A carry assembly for an electronic device comprising: a holster
for carry a portable electronic device; a spring received in the
holster; a clip support member pivotally attached to the holster
defining an opening having a plurality of grooves; and a
positioning member disposed between the grooves and the spring,
wherein rotation of the holster from one position to another
position moves the positioning member from one of the grooves into
another, thereby locking the holster into position.
2. The carry assembly for a portable electronic device as described
in claim 1, wherein a protrusion is formed on the holster, and a
receiving channel is defined in the protrusion for the spring
received therein.
3. The carry assembly for a portable electronic device as described
in claim 2, wherein the protrusion is rounded.
4. The carry assembly for a portable electronic device as described
in claim 1, wherein the positioning member is not deformable.
5. The carry assembly for a portable electronic device as described
in claim 1, wherein the positioning member is a steel column.
6. The carry assembly for a portable electronic device as described
in claim 1, wherein a ridge for preventing the holster
over-rotating is formed on the holster.
7. The carry assembly for a portable electronic device as described
in claim 1, further comprising a clip pivotally attached to the
clip support member, and an elastic member is disposed between the
clip and the clip support member.
8. The carry assembly for a portable electronic device as described
in claim 7, wherein the clip comprises a post and the elastic
member comprises a hole for the post protruding therethrough.
9. A carry assembly for a portable electronic device of an
electronic device comprising: a clip support member comprising an
opening having a plurality of grooves; a holster pivotally attached
to the clip support member; and a retractable positioning member
received between the clip support member and the holster, thereby
defining a relative angle between the clip support member and the
holster; wherein the rotation of the holster forces the positioning
member to retract and move from one of the plurality grooves to
other groove to lock the holster in position.
10. The carry assembly for a portable electronic device as
described in claim 9, further comprising a protrusion for pivotally
mating with the opening of the clip support member.
11. The carry assembly for a portable electronic device as
described in claim 10, wherein the protrusion is rounded.
12. The carry assembly for a portable electronic device as
described in claim 10, wherein the protrusion comprises a receiving
channel for a spring received therein.
13. The carry assembly for a portable electronic device as
described in claim 12, wherein the positioning member is a steel
column disposed between one of the plurality grooves and the
spring.
14. The carry assembly for a portable electronic device as
described in claim 10, wherein a ridge for preventing the holster
over-rotating is formed under the protrusion.
15. The carry assembly for a portable electronic device as
described in claim 9, wherein the positioning member is rigid
enough not to be distorted.
16. The carry assembly for a portable electronic device as
described in claim 9, further comprising a clip pivotally attached
to the clip support member, and an elastic member is disposed
between the clip and the clip support member.
17. The carry assembly for a portable electronic device as
described in claim 16, wherein the clip comprises a post, and the
elastic member comprises a hole for the post protruding
therethrough.
18. An assembly for carrying an electronic device, comprising: a
container of said assembly having an inner space to receive an
electronic device therein; a support member movably attachable to
said container and capable of being further attachable to a user of
said electronic device, said container capable of being movable to
at least two orientations thereof relative to said support member
and getting in position along each of said at least two
orientations; and a stopper formed at one of said container and
said support member, and facing and interferingly interactive with
the other of said container and said support member so as to
restrain said container from moving to undesired orientations
thereof relative to said support member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a carry assembly for a
portable electronic device, and more particularly to a carry
assembly for a portable electronic device hanging on a belt of a
user.
[0003] 2. Background of the Invention
[0004] As portable electronic device such as personal digital
assistant (PDA) becomes smaller and smaller, more and more users
choose to carry the devices by fastening them to a holster that is
somehow attached to a user's belt. The conventional carrying
holster typically include a portion for holding the PDA and a clip
portion attached to the carrying portion for attachment to a user's
article of closing. When the PDA and the holster are attached to a
user's article of closing, the position of the PDA may restrict a
person's movement. For example, when the person sits, the bottom of
the carrying holster can cause discomfort to the user's leg or the
top of the carrying holster can cause discomfort or pain to the
user's waist.
[0005] An adjustable holster having a rotatable connection between
the belt loop assembly and the holster has been invented. The
holster includes two rigid plates. One of the rigid plates includes
a number of bosses in a circular array. The other plate includes
the same number of mating recesses in a circular array. When the
holster is in use, the bosses of one plate engage mating recesses
in the other plate and the plates are held in place by a position
locking screw to provide rigid angular positioning of the holster
body with respect to the belt loop assembly. However, the
adjustment process requires timely and inconvenient steps of
obtaining a tool, loosening the position locking screw, adjusting
the position of the holster and tightening the screw.
[0006] Accordingly, what is needed is a carry assembly for a
portable electronic device whereby the position of the electronic
devices with respect to the mounting mechanism can be easily
adjusted and locked into position without using a tool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A carry assembly for an electronic device includes a
holster, a protrusion formed on the holster, a clip support member
pivotally attached to the holster and a positioning member. A
spring is received in the protrusion. The clip support member
includes an opening having a plurality of grooves. The positioning
member is disposed between the grooves and the spring. Wherein
rotation of the holster from one position to other position moves
the positioning member from one of the grooves into other, thereby
locking the holster into position.
[0008] Other advantages and novel features of the present invention
will be drawn from the following detailed description of preferred
embodiment with attached drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of the preferred
embodiment of a carry assembly for a portable electronic
device;
[0010] FIG. 2 is another aspect view of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is an assembled view of the carry assembly of FIG. 1
with the holster in a vertical position; and
[0012] FIG. 4 is an assembled view of the carry assembly of FIG. 1
with the holster in a horizontal position.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a carry assembly for a portable
electronic device, such as a person digital assistant (PDA) 10
includes a holster 20 used a container to receive the portable
electronic device therein, a clip support member 30 and a clip
40.
[0014] The holster 20 is integrally formed of a rear panel 21, a
pair of curved side panels 22, a bottom panel 24 and a top panel 25
pivotally connected to the rear panel 21, which are connected
together to form a bracket for receiving a PDA. A protrusion 23
protrudes from a center of the rear panel 21. Preferably, the
perimeter of the protrusion 23 forms a substantially annular shape.
A narrow receiving channel 231 is defined in the protrusion 23, and
each side of the receiving channel 231 has a cavity 233. A ridge 26
used as a stopper for preventing the clip support member 30
over-rotating is formed under the protrusion 23.
[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a clip mechanism includes a clip
support member 30, a pin 37, a clip 40 having a displacement end 41
and an engagement end 43, an elastic member 44 and a cap 50. One
end of the clip support member 30 defines an opening 31 with a
plurality of grooves 33 for capturing the positioning member in
place arranged in a circular array. Integrally formed on the other
end of the clip support member 30 are a pair of tabs 36 having
pivotal holes 361 for the pin 37 mating through.
[0016] The clip 40 includes a pair of pivotal holes 401 for the pin
37 passing through and engaging to the clip support member 30. A
post 405 protrudes from the inner side of the clip 40. The elastic
member 44 is disposed between the clip 40 and the clip support
member 30, to allow pivotal movement of clip 40 in relation to
holster 20 about the axis of pin 37. The elastic member 44 has a
first plate 441 with a receiving hole 445 and a second plate 443,
which together form V-shaped. A receiving hole 445 for the post 405
of the clip 40 protruding through is defined in the first plate
441. The elastic member 44 allows clip 40 to be easily placed onto
and removed from the user's belt or other article of closing. A
pair of prongs 53 corresponding to the cavities 233 of the holster
20 are integrally formed on the inside of the cap 50.
[0017] FIGS. 3 and 4 show how clip support member 30 is coupled to
the holster. Opening 31 accepts protrusion 23 of holster 20. A
spring 60 is received in the channel 231 of the clip support member
30. A positioning member 70 disposed between the spring 60 and one
of the grooves 33 of opening 31 locks the holster 20 in position
with respect to the clip support member 30, wherein the positioning
member 70 is rigid enough not to be distorted. In the present
embodiment, the positioning member 70 is a steel column that can
reduce the abrasion of the carry assembly. The prongs 53 of the cap
50 protrude through the cavities 233 and fix the clip support
member 30 to the holster 20.
[0018] The position of the holster 20 with respect to the clip
support member 30 can be adjusted by rotating spring 60 received in
the protrusion 23 of the holster 20 from one of the plurality of
grooves 33 into an adjacent groove 33. In operation, the
positioning member 70 was engaged to the groove 33 to force the
spring 60 to retract while the steel column 70 rolls into another
adjacent groove 33. The positioning member 70 is captured by the
adjacent groove 33 to position the holster in place as the spring
60 rebounds.
[0019] The carry assembly of the present invention allows a user
carry a PDA or other electronic device on an article of closing
more comfortably than known assemblies. Whenever the user desires,
such as before sitting, he or she can adjust the orientation of the
device so that it dose not cause discomfort to parts of the body.
The present invention allows the user to move the device into a
plurality of grooves and lock the device in place while maintaining
the carrier assembly securely mounted on a belt or other article of
closing. No tools need to operate the adjustment. User can simply
rotate and position the carry assembly into the required angle with
one hand.
[0020] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing
description of preferred embodiments, together with details of the
structure and function, the disclosure is illustrative only, and
changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape,
size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the
invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning
of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
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