U.S. patent application number 12/828852 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-06 for electronic device holder.
Invention is credited to Eric Alexandar Birch, Bryan Lee Hymocok, David Chia-wen Laan, David Law, Ryan Mongan, Stephen Ralger Myers, Jarret Weis.
Application Number | 20110000945 12/828852 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43412070 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110000945 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mongan; Ryan ; et
al. |
January 6, 2011 |
Electronic Device Holder
Abstract
In one example, we describe a holder for an electronic device,
such as a cell phone. The holder allows the user to attach the
device to the user, as well as straps, such as car seat belts and
purse straps. This holder has the unique property of being able to
accommodate a range of sizes of electronic devices. We can adjust
length, width, and thickness, or use angles in 3 different
directions, for multiple degrees of freedom, in Cartesian, polar,
or cylindrical coordinates, or combinations, to adjust the size,
for different devices, to make that very easy and cost
effective/flexible for the consumers, to adjust very fast and
secure, as an example.
Inventors: |
Mongan; Ryan; (Orange,
CA) ; Law; David; (Seattle, WA) ; Hymocok;
Bryan Lee; (Redwood City, CA) ; Myers; Stephen
Ralger; (Redwood City, CA) ; Laan; David
Chia-wen; (San Francisco, CA) ; Birch; Eric
Alexandar; (Oakland, CA) ; Weis; Jarret; (San
Francisco, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MAXVALUEIP CONSULTING
11204 ALBERMYRTLE ROAD
POTOMAC
MD
20854
US
|
Family ID: |
43412070 |
Appl. No.: |
12/828852 |
Filed: |
July 1, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61270139 |
Jul 6, 2009 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/581 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 2200/0516 20130101;
A45F 5/02 20130101; A45C 2011/002 20130101; A45F 5/021
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/581 |
International
Class: |
A45F 5/00 20060101
A45F005/00 |
Claims
1. A universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone,
smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, comprising: a base
side to hold said cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or
telecommunication device; a back side to hold said cell phone,
mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device; and
an adjustable portion that is adjusted or set, based on size of
said cell phone, mobile phone, smart phone, pager, or
telecommunication device.
2. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone,
smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in
claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion moves vertically, with
respect to said base side.
3. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone,
smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in
claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion moves horizontally, with
respect to said base side.
4. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone,
smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in
claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion moves diagonally, with
respect to said base side.
5. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone,
smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in
claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion moves radially or on a
radius of a circle, with respect to a center point, and with
respect to said base side.
6. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone,
smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in
claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion moves rotationally, around
an axis, with respect to said base side.
7. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone,
smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in
claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a sliding portion.
8. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone,
smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in
claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a rotational
portion.
9. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone,
smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in
claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a strip, gap, hole, or
opening portion.
10. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone,
smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in
claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has an arm.
11. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone,
smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in
claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a hook.
12. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone,
smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in
claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a U-shaped
portion.
13. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone,
smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in
claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a knob or screw to
secure or adjust size or opening of said universal holder or
holster.
14. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone,
smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in
claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has an elastic band or
material to secure or adjust size or opening of said universal
holder or holster.
15. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone,
smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in
claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a chain, wire, belt,
or cable to secure or adjust size or opening of said universal
holder or holster.
16. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone,
smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in
claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a triangle, T-shape,
L-shape, corner box, or V-shape portion to secure or adjust size or
opening of said universal holder or holster.
17. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone,
smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in
claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a hinge with a rod or
arm to secure or adjust size or opening of said universal holder or
holster.
18. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone,
smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in
claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a rotational axis with
a rod or arm to secure or adjust size or opening of said universal
holder or holster.
19. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone,
smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in
claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a ball bearing with a
rod or arm to secure or adjust size or opening of said universal
holder or holster.
20. The universal holder or holster for a cell phone, mobile phone,
smart phone, pager, or telecommunication device, as recited in
claim 1, wherein said adjustable portion has a swinging or rotating
rod or arm to secure or adjust size or opening of said universal
holder or holster.
Description
[0001] This application is based on a provisional application filed
on Jul. 6, 2009, Ser. No. 61/270,139, in USPTO, directly by the
inventors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Electronic device holders, commonly called holsters, have
been available for some time. They are most commonly used to
accommodate cell phones and allow the user to carry the phone on
his or her waist band or belt (FIG. 5). Typically, these holsters
have either been fabricated from a soft flexible material like
leather or nylon fabric (FIG. 6), or they have been molded from a
rigid material such as polycarbonate or Kydex (FIG. 7).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In one embodiment, we describe a holder for an electronic
device, such as a cell phone. The holder allows the user to attach
the device to the user, as well as straps, such as car seat belts
and purse straps. This holder has the unique property of being able
to accommodate a range of sizes of electronic devices. These have
not been addressed or presented in any prior art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is one embodiment for holder, with adjustable size in
one axis utilizing linear motion, as an example.
[0005] FIG. 2 is one embodiment for holder, with adjustable size in
one axis utilizing rotational motion with a hinge, as an
example.
[0006] FIG. 3 is one embodiment for holder, with adjustable size in
one axis utilizing linear motion, as an example.
[0007] FIG. 4 is one embodiment for holder, with adjustable size in
two axes utilizing a combination of linear and rotational motion,
as an example.
[0008] FIG. 5. Typical cell phone holster usage scenario.
[0009] FIG. 6. Typical soft material cell phone holster.
[0010] FIG. 7. Typical injection-molded plastic holster.
[0011] FIG. 8 shows a rigid holster, which leaves much of device
exposed and usable.
[0012] FIG. 9. Typical protective cases for cell phones.
[0013] FIG. 10 is one embodiment for holder, with adjustable size
in one axis utilizing linear motion, as an example.
[0014] FIG. 11 is one embodiment for holder, with adjustable size
in one axis utilizing rotational motion, as an example, in addition
to the embodiment shown in FIG. 10.
[0015] FIG. 12 is one embodiment for holder, with adjustable size
in one axis which is a different axis than the one shown in FIG.
10, as an example.
[0016] FIG. 13 is one embodiment for holder, with adjustable size
in two axes utilizing a combination of linear and rotational
motion, as an example. The articulating member holds device in
multiple axes independently, to accommodate the length of the
device.
[0017] FIG. 14 is the sliding mechanism to adjust for size, as an
example.
[0018] FIG. 15 is the sliding mechanism to adjust for size, as an
example.
[0019] FIG. 16 is the sliding mechanism to adjust for size, as an
example.
[0020] FIG. 17 is the sliding mechanism to adjust for size, as an
example.
[0021] FIG. 18 is the sliding mechanism to adjust for size, as an
example.
[0022] FIG. 19 is the sliding mechanism to adjust for size, as an
example.
[0023] FIG. 20 is the sliding mechanism to adjust for size, as an
example.
[0024] FIG. 21 is the sliding mechanism to adjust for size, as an
example.
[0025] FIG. 22 is the sliding mechanism to adjust for size, as an
example.
[0026] FIG. 23 is the sliding mechanism to adjust for size, as an
example.
[0027] FIG. 24 is the sliding mechanism to adjust for size, as an
example.
[0028] FIG. 25 is the sliding mechanism to adjust for size, as an
example.
[0029] FIG. 26 is the sliding mechanism to adjust for size, as an
example.
[0030] FIG. 27 is the sliding mechanism to adjust for size, as an
example.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] The functional advantage of the flexible holsters is that
they can accommodate multiple models of electronic devices. From a
retail merchandising standpoint, when a new phone is introduced to
the marketplace, it is likely that there is already a holster on
the market that fits it, because of the looseness of the tolerances
in the holster itself. The primary disadvantage of this type of
holster is a usability issue. When the user wants to use the phone,
see who is calling, or merely check the time on the device, the
user needs to remove the phone from the holster. The rigid holsters
solve this problem by leaving much of the device exposed (FIG.
8).
[0032] However, they have the disadvantage of being designed for a
particular device, without much flexibility. When a new device is
introduced with a slightly different physical form factor, it is
quite likely that a new holster will be needed, as well. In
addition, there are many protective cases on the market for cell
phones (FIG. 9). These prevent the device from being scratched, or
when they are invariably dropped, the cases offer a level of
protection that does not exist with the phone itself. These cases
add additional dimension to the phone. In many cases, a holster
that would fit the phone itself would not fit the phone if it was
encased in a protective case.
[0033] The current invention, as one embodiment, offers the
advantage of the soft holsters (that of flexibility of fitting a
variety of sizes) and the rigid holsters (that of usability, while
still in the holster). The invention is comprised of a rigid
material, such as polycarbonate, and at least one articulating
member.
[0034] One embodiment comprises an articulating member that wraps
around one of the edges of the device (FIG. 10). The device engages
with this movable member and is pressed into it. The moving portion
articulates, allowing the other edge of the device to swing into
the fixed portion of the holster. This moving member can either be
set into multiple positions, or it can be spring-loaded into a free
position that is smaller than the device. This holster can then
accommodate a range of device sizes with the same amount of holster
wrapping around to the front face.
[0035] In the embodiment shown, the holster can be designed with
extra room to accommodate devices that are larger in the other two
dimensions (that of front to back and side to side). Because the
device is spring-loaded in at least one axis, it is held securely
in the holster. The far side of the device of the invention (not
shown), as an example, comprises of one of a variety of attachment
options that are currently present in the marketplace (e.g. clip,
strap, post to engage removable attachment mechanism, etc.). These
attachment options allow the user to affix the holster to clothing,
luggage, seat belts, or similar objects, as some examples.
[0036] Alternatively, instead of a linear articulation, the movable
portion of the holster can pivot with respect to the fixed portion
of the holster (FIG. 11). As well as working in a portrait mode
(FIG. 10), this device can be designed so that it could work in a
landscape mode, as well (FIG. 12).
[0037] Alternatively, in another embodiment, the articulating
portion of the invention can move independently along more than one
axis (FIG. 13). In this manner, a wide variety of devices could be
held very securely. This articulation can take place along two axes
(e.g. FIG. 13), or three axes, with the third axis being the
thickness of the device itself.
[0038] FIGS. 14-27 show the sliding mechanism to adjust for size,
as an example, for different directions and from different angles.
FIG. 10 is one embodiment for holder, with adjustable size, in
vertical direction, as an example. FIG. 11 is one embodiment for
holder, with adjustable size, in rotational direction, with a
hinge, as an example, in addition to the embodiment shown in FIG.
10. FIG. 12 is one embodiment for holder, with adjustable size, in
vertical direction, as an example. FIG. 13 is one embodiment for
holder, with adjustable size, in rotational direction, with a
guiding strip, as an example. The articulating member holds device
in multiple axes independently, to accommodate the length of the
device. FIGS. 1-4 are similar to FIGS. 10-13, respectively.
[0039] In FIG. 1, item 100 is the back of the holder, with 102 and
104 for holding the bottom of the phone or device. Item 106 and its
hook or U-shape 108 can go up and down vertically, as shown in 109,
to adjust for the size of the phone or device.
[0040] In FIG. 2, item 200 is the back, with 202 and 204 holding
the bottom of the device. The arm 206 and its hook 208 rotate on
hinge along 212, in direction 214, in the space allowed by the
narrow plate 201, with respect to plate 200 thickness, which is
thicker than 201.
[0041] In FIG. 3, 300 is the back, with 302 and 304 holding the
bottom of the device, and 306 and its hook 308 going up and down
vertically for adjustment of the size, as shown in 309, for the
devices of different size or shape.
[0042] In FIG. 4, item 400 is the back, with 402 and 404 holding
the bottom of the device. The arm 406 and its hook (or ending,
triangle, or L-shape) 408 rotate on hinge along 412, in direction
414, at the location 410, in a slide along 416, in the direction
418, with 408 being adjusted along 420, with direction of rotation
422, at the location 424, with multiple degrees of freedom,
adjusting many parameters, to fit the device, in every dimensions,
for maximum adjustments, as one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4.
[0043] Thus, we can adjust length, width, and thickness, or use
angles in 3 different directions, for multiple degrees of freedom,
in Cartesian, polar, or cylindrical coordinates, or combinations,
to adjust the size, for different devices, which because it is very
fast and secure, describes an invention that is very easy, cost
effective and flexible for the consumers.
[0044] This can be used as a universal holder or holster, belt
attachment, armband (e.g. without the need to remove the case), or
attached to an adapter that is connected to a dashboard or
windshield of a car (e.g. for a GPS-enabled device in the car).
[0045] Any variations of the above teaching are also intended to be
covered by this patent application.
* * * * *