U.S. patent application number 11/878662 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-28 for intelligent personal carrier.
Invention is credited to Frederic Blouin.
Application Number | 20080047996 11/878662 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39112426 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080047996 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Blouin; Frederic |
February 28, 2008 |
Intelligent personal carrier
Abstract
The intelligent personal carrier (IPC) provides a carrier for
personal items such as money, credit cards, drivers licenses and
other articles and allows electronic devices such as the mobile
phone, MP3 player, PDA, camera, health monitors and other devices
to be attached to the exterior, leaving them accessible for
operation. The IPC may be attached to a strap to attach to the
user, such as a lanyard. The strap may have integrated electronics
allowing for the control and operation of the attached electronic
device. The IPC stores, protects, communicates, detects and tracks
personal information. The type of information and personal items to
be managed may be in both hard form, such as credit cards, and
identification cards, and digitally, in the form of data files.
Inventors: |
Blouin; Frederic; (Quebec,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Christopher J. McDonald;HOFFMAN, WASSON & GITLER, P.C.
Suite 522
2461 South Clark Street
Arlington
VA
22202
US
|
Family ID: |
39112426 |
Appl. No.: |
11/878662 |
Filed: |
July 26, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60833485 |
Jul 27, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/579 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 1/06 20130101; A45C
2001/067 20130101; A45F 2005/002 20130101; A45F 2005/006 20130101;
A45C 2011/002 20130101; A45C 2001/062 20130101; A45C 2001/065
20130101; A45C 11/18 20130101; A45F 5/00 20130101; A45C 15/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/579 |
International
Class: |
A45C 15/00 20060101
A45C015/00 |
Claims
1. A carrier comprising a front section having a front panel, a
bottom and two sides, a back section having a back panel, a top, a
bottom and two sides, a hinge connected to the bottom of the front
section and the bottom of the back section allowing the sections to
move relative to one another, an electronic device connector on the
back section.
2. The carrier of claim 1, further comprising a clip in the
interior for securing items.
3. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the hinge has a first stop when
opened to an angle between 45 and 70 degrees.
4. The carrier of claim 3, wherein the hinge has a second stop when
opened one hundred eighty degrees.
5. The carrier of claim 1, further comprising a top wall extending
from said back panel, a first connector in said top wall.
6. The carrier of claim 5, further comprising an electronic device
connected to said back section, the electronic device having a
second connector.
7. The carrier of claim 6, further comprising a carrying strap, a
third connector attached to the carrying strap, he third connector
mating with either the first connector or second connector.
8. The carrier of claim 7, further comprising controls for the
electronic device integrated into the carrying strap.
Description
[0001] This application claims benefit of provisional application
60/833,485 filed Jul. 27, 2006.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The proliferation of personal electronic devices has
increased personal enjoyment and the ease of communication with
other people. Cell phones allow persons to communicate with others
regardless of location, as long as the cell phone receives an
adequately strong signal. Other devices, such as MP3 players, are
small, lightweight and able to hold large amounts of data, such as
thousands of songs. Other devices, such as PDAs, allow people to
receive e-mail, log onto the Internet, and do a host of other
activities with a wireless connection adding to the free flow of
information. Organizing and carrying these devices often proves to
be troublesome and it is desirable to have a system for organizing
all the items a person must carry.
[0003] It is an object of the invention to provide a personal
organizer for serving the functions of a wallet and provide
organization for electronic devices.
[0004] It is another object of the invention to provide a carrier
for personal items that contains a module allowing electronic
financial transactions.
[0005] It is yet another object of the invention to provide a
lightweight, durable case for holding personal effects and carrying
electronic devices while still allowing their operation.
[0006] It is another object of the invention to provide a carrying
case having a strap made of textiles incorporating electronics.
[0007] These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to
one of ordinary skill in the art after reading the disclosure of
the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The intelligent personal carrier (IPC) provides a carrier
for personal items such as money, credit cards, driver's license
and other articles and allows electronic devices such as the mobile
phone, MP3 player, PDA, camera, health monitors and other devices
to be attached to the exterior, leaving them accessible for
operation. The IPC may be attached to a strap to attach to the
user, such as a lanyard. The strap may have integrated electronics
allowing for the control and operation of the attached electronic
device. The IPC stores, protects, communicates, detects and tracks
personal information. The type of information and personal items to
be managed may be in both hard form, such as credit cards, and
identification cards, and digitally, in the form of data files.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] FIG. 1 is a front view of the carrying case;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a back view of the carrying case;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a side view of the carrying case;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a front view of an attachment plate attachable to
the carrying case for holding an electronic device;
[0013] FIG. 5 is across sectional view of the carrying case with
attached electronic device;
[0014] FIG. 5a is a top view of the carrying case
[0015] FIG. 6 shows an exploded perspective view of the carrying
case;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a side view of the carrying case in a first open
position;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a side view of the carrying case in a second open
position;
[0018] FIG. 9 is a front view of a body attachment belt;
[0019] FIG. 10 is a rear view of the body attachment belt.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The carrying case 10, seen in FIGS. 1-3, has a substantially
clam shell construction with a rigid front half 12 having a front
panel 11 connected to a back half 14 by a hinge 16. The top of the
casing 27 extends from a rear panel 15. A female connector is
formed in the top, as will be explained later. By having the
connector attached to the top which is formed as part of the back
half, the connector maintains stability while the case is opened
and closed and the connector is attached to a mating connector. A
rear sidewall 26 extends from the rear panel 15 whereas a front
sidewall 28 extends from the front panel 11. A gasket may be
between the two halves to render the carrying case waterproof.
[0021] The exterior of the carrying case has a connector for the
attachment of an electronic device, such as an MP3 player, a mobile
phone, PDA, camera, health monitors and other devices. The
attachment plate 30 for an electronic device, such as that seen in
FIG. 4, has a mating connector 32. The attachment plate 30 securely
cradles the electronic device and has apertures 33, appropriate for
the specific device, to allow access to the controls while the
attachment plate is connected to the device. Any conventional
manner of connecting the attachment plate to the carrying case may
be used, such as mating tracks as used in mobile phones. Other
devices which may attach to the exterior of the case include data
chips, compass, altimeter, time piece, key holder, cardholder, coin
holder, paper money holder and personal protection device, such as
pepper spray.
[0022] The interior is seen in the cross sectional view of FIG. 5.
The interior is provided with a clip 24 to secure cards, such as
credit cards and a driver's license, as well as paper money.
Electronic components can also be incorporated into the interior of
the case. The interior has a small chamber 34 locked by a panel 36
which may house an electronic lock, various tracking devices, such
as GPS, RFID or other similar devices. The electronic lock may be
activated by a key pad 37, seen in FIG. 5a, on the top of the
carrying case 10 or may be remotely actuated. Memory devices
containing personal information or financial modules allowing
digital financial transactions may also be stored in the
compartment.
[0023] When the case is worn about the neck, it will be
advantageous to open the case to an angle between 45 and 90
degrees, preferably 70 degrees. Such opening allows access to the
interior of the case, but prevents items within the case from
falling out. The hinge mechanism may have a stop causing the case
to open and be stable at such an angle, as seen in FIG. 7. The
resistance of the stop may be overcome to open the case to a full
flat configuration, seen in FIG. 8.
[0024] The carrying case may include features such as speakers,
antennas, a wireless device such as Bluetooth and voice recognition
in order to enhance communication, entertainment and hands free
capability of the case. As seen in FIG. 9, these components may be
integrated into an attachment strap, such as a lanyard, belt or
shoulder strap. It is possible and known to incorporate electronics
into textiles for the making of clothing or other articles. Such
textiles are sold under the name Interactive Wear.TM..
[0025] FIG. 9 depicts the front side of an attachment strap 40. A
connector 42, such as a 12 pin Ipod connector, mates with a female
connector on the electronic device or with a connector 43 on the
carrying case, seen in FIG. 5a, when an electronic device is not
attached. In this manner, the strap may be attached to either an
electronic device or the carrying case alone or both when the two
are attached to one another.
[0026] A wireless device, such as a bluetooth module 44, is
integrated into the strap above the connector 42. A reversible key
pad 46 has buttons suitable for operating an electronic device. A
microphone 48 is placed on the strap so that is will be near the
wearer's head when worn. The strap may have a quick release
connector 50, as is required in many workplaces. In FIG. 10, the
back side of the strap is seen, with the reversible key pad still
accessible and headphone connectors 52 also positioned so as to be
in a convenient position when the strap is worn. Pockets 54 may be
incorporated into the strap to accommodate personal articles and
electronic devices.
[0027] The carrying case represents maximum functionality and ease
of use in a small, easy to use, aesthetically pleasing
configuration for protecting both personal information and personal
property. While the invention has been described with reference to
a preferred embodiment, variation and modification would be
apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from
the scope of the invention. The invention encompasses such
variations and modifications.
* * * * *