U.S. patent application number 12/969415 was filed with the patent office on 2012-06-21 for thigh-mounted device holder.
Invention is credited to Charles J. Kulas.
Application Number | 20120152990 12/969415 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46233065 |
Filed Date | 2012-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120152990 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kulas; Charles J. |
June 21, 2012 |
THIGH-MOUNTED DEVICE HOLDER
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide a cell phone holder that is
attached to a wearer's thigh. In a particular embodiment the holder
uses a pocket attached to a body that is secured around a thigh
with a horizontal strap or straps. A vertical strap is used to
couple to a horizontal strap and to part of the user's clothing
such as a belt, belt loop, pocket or other garment structure to
prevent the holder from slipping down the thigh. Other variations
are disclosed including mechanisms to rotate the phone, operate the
phone's touch screen and other controls while in the holder, secure
the holder to the garment or thigh, provide advertising or
animations on the phone's display screen while the wearer is
upright such as standing or walking, etc.
Inventors: |
Kulas; Charles J.; (San
Francisco, CA) |
Family ID: |
46233065 |
Appl. No.: |
12/969415 |
Filed: |
December 15, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/222 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 5/00 20130101; A45F
2003/006 20130101; A45F 5/021 20130101; A45F 2200/0516
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/222 |
International
Class: |
A45C 13/30 20060101
A45C013/30 |
Claims
1. An apparatus, wherein the apparatus includes a holder for
coupling a mobile phone to a thigh of a wearer of the apparatus,
wherein the mobile phone includes a display screen, the holder
comprising: a pocket for slidably receiving the mobile phone, the
pocket including a top edge opening for sliding the mobile phone
into the pocket; a transparent top face allowing at least a part of
the mobile phone's display to be visible when the mobile phone is
inside the pocket; a horizontal strap for securing the pocket to a
thigh of a wearer of the holder such that the mobile phone is
upside-down when the wearer is upright and is right-side-up to the
wearer's viewpoint when the wearer is sitting; and a vertical strap
for preventing downward movement of the pocket when the wearer is
upright.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top face includes a
plastic sheet.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein when the phone is inserted
into the pocket the plastic sheet does not cover all of a top face
of the phone.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top face includes a mesh
material.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top face is open.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a body coupled to
the horizontal strap and to the pocket.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the pocket can be rotated by
hand with respect to the body.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the pocket is secured to the
body at an angle with respect to the horizontal strap so that any
sag of the horizontal strap on one side of the wearer's thigh is
compensated to maintain the phone in a more vertical position than
if the pocket was not secured at the angle.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pocket size provides for a
part of the phone to protrude from the pocket when the phone is
inserted into the pocket so that the phone may be easily removed
from the pocket by gripping, at least in part, the protruding part
of the phone.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the phone includes a
processor, one or more sensors and a storage device, wherein the
storage device includes instructions executable by the processor
for: using a signal from the one or more sensors to determine if
the phone is worn by someone who is upright; and displaying an
image in response to the signal.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein upright includes
standing.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein upright includes
walking.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein an animation occurs in time
with footsteps of the walking.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pocket further includes:
a pocket edge made of flexible cloth.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the pocket edge includes: a
backing for allowing the pocket edge to be arranged on a body of
the holder so that the pocket can accommodate different shapes of
devices to be inserted into the pocket.
16. A holder for a portable device, wherein the holder affixes the
portable device to a thigh of a wearer, wherein the portable device
includes a display screen, the holder comprising: means for
coupling the portable device to a holder; and means for coupling
the holder to the thigh of the wearer in a manner that prevents
vertical slipping of the holder down the thigh when the wearer is
upright.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Embodiments of the invention relate generally to a holder
for a mobile phone and more specifically to a leg-mounted mobile
phone holder.
[0002] Mobile, cell or other types of portable phones or
communication devices have become commonplace. These devices
typically have many features in addition to allowing a user to make
phone calls. For example, today's "smartphones" provide navigation,
web browsing, communications such as phone calls, email, text,
videoconferencing, etc.; still and video camera recording, gaming,
education, business and other applications. Typically, a cell phone
is carried in a pocket or purse, or is sometimes strapped to an
armband. However, such ways of carrying or holding the device may
make it inconvenient for a user to access or use the phone, or may
make certain features and benefits of the phone difficult to
use.
SUMMARY
[0003] Embodiments of the invention provide a cell phone holder
that is attached to a wearer's thigh. In a particular embodiment
the holder uses a pocket attached to a body that is secured around
a thigh with a horizontal strap or straps. A vertical strap is used
to couple to a horizontal strap and to part of the user's clothing
such as a belt, belt loop, pocket or other garment structure to
prevent the holder from slipping down the thigh. Other variations
are disclosed including mechanisms to rotate the phone, operate the
phone's touch screen and other controls while in the holder, secure
the holder to the garment or thigh, provide advertising or
animations on the phone's display screen while the wearer is
upright such as standing or walking, etc.
[0004] One embodiment provides an apparatus, wherein the apparatus
includes a holder for coupling a mobile phone to a thigh of a
wearer of the apparatus, wherein the mobile phone includes a
display screen, the holder comprising: a pocket for slidably
receiving the mobile phone, the pocket including a top edge opening
for sliding the mobile phone into the pocket; a transparent top
face allowing at least a part of the mobile phone's display to be
visible when the mobile phone is inside the pocket; a horizontal
strap for securing the pocket to a thigh of a wearer of the holder
such that the mobile phone is upside-down when the wearer is
upright and is right-side-up to the wearer's viewpoint when the
wearer is sitting; and a vertical strap for preventing downward
movement of the pocket when the wearer is upright.
[0005] Another embodiment provides a holder for a portable device,
wherein the holder affixes the portable device to a thigh of a
wearer, wherein the portable device includes a display screen, the
holder comprising: means for coupling the portable device to a
holder; and means for coupling the holder to the thigh of the
wearer in a manner that prevents vertical slipping of the holder
down the thigh when the wearer is upright.
[0006] Yet other embodiments are possible, some of which are
described below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1, shows a front view a holder as it is worn on the
right thigh of a person;
[0008] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the phone holder of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 shows a wearer's point of view when the wearer is
sitting down and looking at phone holder as worn on their right
thigh;
[0010] FIG. 4 shows a phone being inserted into a holder's pocket's
top edge opening;
[0011] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged illustration of a phone in the
holder; and
[0012] FIG. 6 shows the phone and holder of FIG. 5 with the pocket
and the inserted phone rotated 90 degrees to the right.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0013] FIG. 1, shows a front view of phone holder 110 approximately
as it appears being worn on the right thigh area 120 of a person.
Phone holder 110 includes right horizontal strap 122 and left
horizontal strap 124. In a preferred embodiment, pocket 116
includes a pouch formed so that a phone can be slid into top edge
opening 118. The pouch structure is essentially sealed on the other
sides and securely holds the phone in the pocket until the phone is
slid out of the pouch by a wearer. Although a preferred embodiment
uses two horizontal straps, other embodiments might just use one
longer or even continuous strap. In yet other embodiments more or
less (including none) horizontal straps can be used, as desired and
to achieve intended functionality such as weight distribution,
stability, positioning, style, extra holding capacity, etc.
[0014] Vertical strap 112 is attached to the holder at a point on
right strap 122 near where strap 122 joins body 132 of holder 110.
The other end of vertical strap 112 attaches to a belt 114 of the
wearer. In a preferred embodiment, the holder is positioned on a
wearer's, or user's, thigh so that a pocket of the wearer's pants,
such as pocket area 130 shown in dashed lines, is not obstructed.
Many variations, adjustments or other modifications from the
specific embodiments described herein are possible and may be
within the scope of the claims. For example, the precise manner and
placement of attachment of vertical strap 112 to holder 110 and
belt 114 can vary among different embodiments. In a preferred
embodiment, vertical strap 112 is sewn onto right strap 122. In a
preferred embodiment, the top of vertical strap 112 includes a
"gripping surface" such as Velcro.TM., or re-usable semi-tacky
adhesive, etc., so that the vertical strap can be looped and
attached to itself. This allows the end of the vertical strap to be
looped around a belt, belt loop, strap or other feature of a pants
or article of clothing in order to secure the strap. The exact
positioning of the holder upon a user's thigh can vary depending
upon the pants or other garment worn, or not worn, over the thigh
(e.g., shorts, dress, etc.) or as desired by a wearer. Some of the
possible variations are described in more detail, below.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the phone holder of FIG. 1. In
FIG. 2, a wearer's body is in a slightly crouched position as if
entering a sitting position. Phone holder 110 is shown in a side
view where pocket 116 is facing to the right and slightly up. In a
preferred embodiment, the top face of pocket 116 is a transparent
and flexible plastic material that allows a wearer of the holder,
and user of the phone, to view and operate the phone's touch screen
and other buttons through the face of the pocket. In FIG. 2,
vertical strap 112 is shown connected to right strap 122 and to the
wearer's belt 114. In a preferred embodiment, even as a wearer is
sitting down, the holder 110 remains clear of overlapping, or
significantly overlapping, pocket area 130. In many embodiments, it
may not be important, necessary or even desirable to prevent
overlap of the holder's body, side straps, vertical straps or any
other part of the holder with structures of other garments such as
pockets. A preferred embodiment uses a vertical strap made of a
slightly flexible cloth material such as a cotton and elastic
fabric and is about 1 inch wide. In a preferred embodiment the
vertical strap length is about 25'' long and about 1'' wide. It is
adjustable by a wearer to suit different body sizes, garments, etc.
In other embodiments, the strap need not be flexible and/or
adjustable and can be made of other materials such as plastic,
leather, etc. and be of other lengths and dimensions. In yet other
embodiments, discussed below, a vertical strap may not be
necessary.
[0016] Body 132 can be rigid, flexible or semi-rigid. The material
can be contoured to the thigh or can provide a flat backing for
placement of a device. A preferred embodiment uses a flexible body
made of single or double-backed neoprene. In general any suitable
type of material may be used for the body or other parts of the
holder. The shapes, colors and other material properties can be
varied for functional or stylistic reasons.
[0017] FIG. 3 shows a wearer's point of view when the wearer is
sitting down and looking at phone holder 110 as worn on their right
thigh. It should be apparent that although the holder is
illustrated in an example as being worn on the right thigh,
analogous designs could be created that would work similarly and
equally well on the left thigh. In FIG. 3, a phone has been
inserted into a pocket of phone holder 110. The phone is positioned
in the pocket such that the phone's controls 200 on the lower part
of the phone (closest to the wearer's torso) are protruding
slightly out from under the top face edge 133. As noted above, top
face 116 is preferably made of flexible clear plastic so that the
display of the phone can be clearly seen while at the same time any
touch-screen interface provided by the phone is operable as are any
buttons or other controls located on the phone's top surface. In
general, reference to "controls" includes graphical or virtual
("software") controls and/or physical ("hardware") controls unless
otherwise noted.
[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the top face is designed so as to
expose, or not overlay, the phone's controls. This allows for
better operation of certain types of controls such as, for example,
trackball 134 or four buttons just above the trackball as shown by
icons at the upper part of area 200. In other embodiments the top
face edge 133 might overlap fully or partially with controls on the
bottom edge of a phone. One advantage to allowing a small amount
(e.g., one-half inch) of the phone's body to protrude from the
pocket in addition to providing easier operation of the controls is
so that a user can easily pull the phone out of the pocket by
gripping the exposed phone part. However, in other embodiments such
protrusion need not be provided--or more or less protrusion may be
desired as, for example, to provide a weatherproof or
weather-resistant enclosure around the phone.
[0019] When a user is in a sitting position the phone is then
positioned in an "upright" or right-side-up arrangement so that
anything displayed on the phone (e.g., text, images, maps,
controls, etc.) will be oriented correctly with respect to the
user's viewpoint. Since the top face 116 allows viewing and
operation of the phone's touch-screen the user may operate the
phone normally without removing it from the pocket and at the same
time have the phone in a secure position. In a preferred
embodiment, the pocket's edge 128 (shaded edge) and body area 132
of the holder are made of a soft flexible material such as
neoprene. This allows the phone to be inserted with some tension to
hold the phone in place; provides for flexibility of the holder
while strapped to a user's thigh, and also allows the user to be
able to operate tactile, physical controls on the phone's edge such
as, for example, volume controls, power button, etc.
[0020] FIG. 4 shows a phone 210 being inserted into pocket 116
through the pocket's top edge opening 118. The phone is inserted by
pushing the phone in the direction A-A'. Typically the insertion
operation can be done with one hand, such as the right hand if the
holder is worn on the right thigh. The holder is shown in expanded
form as if laid out flat on a tabletop. In a preferred embodiment
left horizontal strap 124 is about 12 inches long while right
horizontal strap 122 is about 9 inches long. The straps are
adjustable as, for example, by providing a buckle or loop through
which the straps can attach to the body (not shown) and providing a
gripping surface on the straps. The straps can also attach to each
other at their free ends by use of gripping fabric or by other
means such as a buckle, snap, button, etc. The horizontal straps
are about 13/4 inches wide. As mentioned, many design variations
are possible either for aesthetic or functional reasons including
the size, position and number of the straps. In general, any
suitable form of attaching one part to itself or to another part
may be used, as desired. Body 132 (see FIG. 1) is about 4 inches
wide (from left horizontal strap to right horizontal strap) and 5
inches tall while pocket edge 128 forms a rectangle of about 21/2
inches wide by 4 inches tall. As mentioned herein, other
embodiments may use many other dimensions to accommodate different
devices, styles, functionality, etc.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment, vertical strap 112 includes two
mating sides of a gripping surface. For example, loop area 140 may
include "loop" type fabric while hook area 142 may include "hook"
type fabric (either on the top or bottom sides of the vertical
strap). This allows the end of the vertical strap to be folded over
on itself around a clothing structure such as a belt, belt loop,
strap, etc. and the hook type fabric end of the vertical strap is
then secured to the loop type fabric part of the vertical strap to
secure the vertical strap to the clothing structure. This prevents
the other parts of the holder such as the horizontal straps 122 and
124, body 132, pocket 116, etc., from undesired slipping down a leg
of the wearer when the wearer is upright such as standing, walking,
running, etc., as opposed to sitting, reclining or laying down.
Naturally, the hook and loop fabric may be interchanged, as is
known in the art.
[0022] In other embodiments the vertical strap can be secured by
any suitable means such as with a clip, buckle, snap, stitching,
adhesive, button, zipper, etc. In yet other embodiments it may not
be necessary to use a vertical strap. The holder body or other part
of the holder may be supplied with any suitable type of fastener or
fastening means in order to keep the holder from slipping. For
example, the backs of holder body 132 and/or horizontal straps 122
and 124 can be applied with tacky adhesive or low-tack re-adhesive
material such as that used in, for example, Post-It.TM. notes.
Small hooks with sharp points can be affixed to the back of the
holder body or horizontal straps and used to pierce fabric of the
pants very minutely to prevent slipping without piercing the
wearer. The wearer's garment may have built-in mechanisms for
preventing slipping such as clips, buttons, snaps, gripping surface
(e.g., Velcro.TM.), etc. These mechanisms that are built-in or
designed into the garment could have a cooperating part on the
holder such as a button hole, receiving snap, fabric with a
gripping surface, etc. In this way, the holder or any of its parts
such as the body, pocket, horizontal straps, etc. can be
sufficiently secured. For example, the holder or parts of the
holder may be permanently attached to a garment as by sewing the
part onto the garment. In other embodiments no vertical securing
mechanism need be used as, for example, where a user bands the
holder to a thigh at a point just above the user's knee so that the
knee joint might provide enough structure to keep the holder in
place.
[0023] The horizontal straps may similarly be of varying design and
use different attachment mechanisms. A preferred embodiment uses
gripping surfaces on the ends of the horizontal straps so that they
may mate together. A buckle, button, snap, zipper, etc., may be
used in addition to adhesive, hooks clips or any of the other
mechanisms described herein.
[0024] Any suitable one or more approaches to securing the holder
or parts of the holder to a wearer's garment or to the wearers,
themselves, may be employed. For example, the area 126 of FIG. 4
can be provided with gripping surfaces (either on the top (side
facing out of the drawing page) or bottom of the horizontal strap
122) so that different attachments for vertical support can be
provided. One attachment can be the vertical strap 112 of FIG. 4
which would attach to the area 126 with a gripping surface on the
vertical strap. Another attachment can be a small pad that has one
side of gripping surface to attach to the bottom of horizontal
strap 122 at area 126. The other side of the pad (or an edge of the
pad) can include a gripping surface, tiny hooks for slightly
piercing into a fabric, a clip, etc. for attaching or adhering to
the garment or thigh of a wearer. Most likely the design would not
use tiny hooks if the pad is to be worn directly over a user's
skin.
[0025] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged illustration of a phone in the
holder. In FIG. 5, pocket edge 128 runs along 3 edges of the phone
and is formed of a flexible fabric material such as neoprene to
hold the phone in place securely while at the same time allowing
easy insertion into the pocket and removal. Since the edge fabric
is opaque it is designed not to overlap the top surface of the
pocket to any significant amount so that the display is not
obscured.
[0026] Other approaches might allow more overlay of opaque material
on the display without seriously detracting from viewing the
display. For example, a sheer mesh such as nylon may be used which
provides a semi-transparent, semi-opaque covering which allows
sufficient viewing of the device's display screen and also allows
touch-screen controls to be adequately sensed.
[0027] In FIG. 5, one design refinement may be employed to correct
for holder "sag". Since right horizontal strap 122 is directly
supported by vertical strap 112, the left horizontal strap 124's
side may be pulled in the direction B-B' due to gravity when the
user is upright. Depending on the specific design and materials
used, this sagging be enough to cause the phone to not be aligned
vertically with the wearer's leg and body ergonomics in general. In
order to correct for this the pocket (including pocket edge 128)
can be set at an angle to the line C-C' D-D' by rotating the pocket
in the direction F-F' and E-E' slightly. Thus, with the sag, the
phone will appear aligned with the vertical, or parallel to the
direction of gravity. In other embodiments sag may not be a problem
or the aesthetic or ergonomic effect of having the phone at an
angle may be preferred.
[0028] One embodiment provides pocket edge 128 with a gripping
surface or another attachment mechanism so that it can be detached
from body 132 and reattached in a slightly different position. This
can allow for different sizes and shapes of phones to be
accommodated.
[0029] In some embodiments it may be desirable to provide a way to
rotate the phone to a horizontal or "landscape" view. FIG. 6 shows
the phone and holder of FIG. 5 with the pocket, and thereby the
inserted phone, rotated 90 degrees to the right in the direction of
F-F' and E-E' in FIG. 5. This allows the phone, or other device, to
be operated in a landscape mode or any other different orientation.
In an alternative embodiment, the phone is mounted to a backing
(not shown) such as a hard plastic backing that clamps onto two or
more edges of the phone. This can leave the top face of the
"pocket" open so that there is little or no material intervening
between a user's view and the phone's display screen. The backing
can then be secured to the holder body by a rivet or other scheme
that allows rotating. The backing can have detents or sufficient
friction with the holder body so that sufficient force is needed to
perform the rotation and to prevent the phone and pocket from
rotating to a different position against the user's desire. If a
mesh material is used to form the pocket (see above) then the mesh
material can be made highly flexible so that the user can twist the
pocket and the phone to a different rotational position.
[0030] Portion 220 protrudes from pocket edge 128 slightly so that
the user may grip the protruding edge to pull the phone from the
pocket. In a preferred embodiment the amount of protrusion is about
1/2 inch. Other embodiments can have more or less protrusion. Some
embodiments may provide full coverage over the phone such as pocket
edges and face that extend to completely cover the phone, or a flap
(opaque or transparent) that folds over to enclose the phone to
protect it from weather, etc.
[0031] Various other openings and features can be provided in
addition to those already described. For example, a small hole or
opening in the pocket's top face 116 can be made to accommodate the
speaker opening 222 in the phone. Another opening can be provided
at, for example, the top edge of the pocket at a position such as
224 to allow plugging and unplugging a wired headphone or headset.
In general, any number, type and arrangement of openings or
accessibility features can be provided.
[0032] Another aspect of the phone holder includes software
modifications or applications that can enhance the use of the phone
in or with the holder. For example, the user may choose to "lock"
the phone in a portrait mode if the phone is held in portrait mode
in the holder. This is to prevent the phone's display from
switching to landscape display when the phone is not in a landscape
orientation. Sometimes when the phone is laid flat, such as when
the user sits down, the sensors of the phone have difficulty
detecting whether the phone is being viewed in landscape versus
portrait orientations.
[0033] An advertising mode can be provided where when the phone is
in the holder and the user is upright the phone displays
advertisements, or images or animations of the user's choosing.
Since in a preferred embodiment the phone is normally upside-down
to non-user's the images should be displayed accordingly. The phone
can detect when it is in the holder and the user is walking as, for
example, by using any one or more of the sensors that are typically
built-in to modern phones. Such sensors include a light sensor,
accelerometers, gyroscopes, etc. Walking can be detected by sensing
the rhythmic force created by the wearer's normal walking motion,
or footsteps. Standing can be detected by sensing that the phone is
vertical and upside-down for at least a threshold amount of time.
Animations or advertisements can be made to synchronize to the
footstep movements. In this way the phone display can automatically
go into an advertising or animation mode when the user stands or
walks. Such modes can be under user settings so that the user can
disable the modes. Advertising content can be sent from a central
source that is managed by a different entity than the user or
wearer. Other variations are possible.
[0034] Although embodiments of the invention have been described
with respect to particular embodiments thereof, these particular
embodiments are merely illustrative, and not restrictive of the
invention. For example, many different types of phones may be
accommodated from smartphones with a lot of functionality to more
simplistic phones. Although the holder has been described primarily
with respect to use with portable phones, it should be apparent
that many other types of portable devices can be accommodated. For
example, music players, personal digital assistants (PDAs), tablet
computers (e.g., Samsung Galaxy Tab.TM.), portable game devices,
cameras, etc., may be suitable for use with embodiments of the
invention.
[0035] Another modification is to provide a "dock" mechanism for
mating the phone to the user's thigh. For example, pocket 116 can
be a sleeve with a gripping surface backing. Holder body 132 can
have counterpart gripping surface on its surface so that the user
can simply leave the pocket around the phone and then place or
remove the phone onto the body gripping surface. This allows the
phone to be placed at arbitrary positions (e.g., portrait or
landscape orientations or anything in-between). The counterpart
gripping surface can also be built into the garment such as sewn
onto a pair of pants, dress, jacket, or other garment. In such an
embodiment it may be desirable to use stronger types of gripping
surface material to detachably secure the device to the garment.
For example, so-called "dual lock" or "superlock" material from 3M
Corporation or RadioShack.TM., respectively, may be employed which
has gripping power of 4 times or more than standard Velcro.TM..
Naturally, a balance between ease of detachment and re-attachment
versus unwanted detachment or dropping of the phone should be
achieved.
[0036] Other embodiments may include additional compartments,
loops, clips, pockets or other apparatus for holding or attaching
additional objects. For example, the holder body may be large
enough to allow a pouch or additional pocket for glasses,
sunglasses, keys, a pen or pencil, cosmetics, etc. Such apparatus
for holding additional objects may be attached to the body or
vertical or horizontal straps, as desired.
[0037] Although the holder has been described with the particular
arrangement of pocket attached to body, body attached to horizontal
strap(s), vertical strap attached to horizontal strap, etc., other
arrangements of parts are possible. Depending on how the holder is
secured to a garment or thigh some parts may not be needed, can
vary in size, shape and position, and other parts may be added. For
example, the pocket part, with or without an underlying body part,
may be attached to the vertical strap or to a horizontal strap. In
one embodiment, only a vertical strap is used with a pocket and
optional body attached to the vertical strap. This embodiment has
the advantage that it can be used with many garments such as a
dress or pants without a belt, etc. However, the phone will not be
as secure on the thigh as with additional attaching mechanisms such
as one or more horizontal straps. Other arrangements are
possible.
[0038] Any suitable programming language can be used to implement
the routines of particular embodiments including C, C++, Java,
assembly language, etc. Different programming techniques can be
employed such as procedural or object oriented, scripts,
interpreted or compiled code, etc. The routines can execute on a
single processing device or multiple processors that read the
instructions from a processor-readable storage device such as
random access memory, flash memory, hard disk drive, optical drive,
etc. Although the steps, operations, or computations may be
presented in a specific order, this order may be changed in
different particular embodiments. In some particular embodiments,
multiple steps shown as sequential in this specification can be
performed at the same time.
[0039] Particular embodiments may be implemented in a
computer-readable storage medium for use by or in connection with
the instruction execution system, apparatus, system, or device.
Particular embodiments can be implemented in the form of control
logic in software or hardware or a combination of both. The control
logic, when executed by one or more processors, may be operable to
perform that which is described in particular embodiments.
[0040] Particular embodiments may be implemented by using a
programmed general purpose digital computer, by using application
specific integrated circuits, programmable logic devices, field
programmable gate arrays, optical, chemical, biological, quantum or
nano-engineered systems, components and mechanisms may be used. In
general, the functions of particular embodiments can be achieved by
any means as is known in the art. Distributed, networked systems,
components, and/or circuits can be used. Communication, or
transfer, of data may be wired, wireless, or by any other
means.
[0041] It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements
depicted in the drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more
separated or integrated manner, or even removed or rendered as
inoperable in certain cases, as is useful in accordance with a
particular application. It is also within the spirit and scope to
implement a program or code that can be stored in a
machine-readable medium to permit a computer to perform any of the
methods described above.
[0042] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims
that follow, "a", "an", and "the" includes plural references unless
the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the
description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the
meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly
dictates otherwise.
[0043] Thus, while particular embodiments have been described
herein, latitudes of modification, various changes, and
substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, and it
will be appreciated that in some instances some features of
particular embodiments will be employed without a corresponding use
of other features without departing from the scope and spirit as
set forth. Therefore, many modifications may be made to adapt a
particular situation or material to the essential scope and
spirit.
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