Carrying Device For A Radio Receiver Or The Like

Abstract

A carrying device for a personal radio receiver is shaped so that the radio receiver can be clipped to the carrying device. The carrying device is provided with a belt clip so that the carrying device with the radio receiver can be clipped on a person's belt in a more convenient and comfortable position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

My invention relates to a carrying device for a radio receiver or the like, and particularly to such a carrying device that can be clipped on a person's belt with the radio receiver in a more convenient and comfortable position.

A desirable feature of any portable device which is to be worn on a person is that the device does not impede or make the person uncomfortable when the person sits, walks, runs, reaches into pockets, or wears an overgarment. Another desirable feature is that the device can be easily reached for use and operation by the person. A further desirable feature is that the device can be easily put on or taken off by the person. Personal radios are one such device that should have all of these desirable features. Typically, such radios are rectangularly shaped, and are 5 inches long or longer, 2 inches wide or wider, and 1 inch or more thick. As far as I know, these radios have a clip which can be slipped over a person's belt so the radio hangs down with its long dimension vertical. If such a radio is clipped on the belt in the person's rear, it is frequently knocked off the belt when the person sits down. If the radio is clipped on the belt at the person'side, it may be knocked off the belt by the arms of a chair, or it may hinder reaching a pocket, or it is frequently struck by the arm of the person while walking. And if the radio is positioned at either the rear or side of the person, the controls, which must be frequently operated, are difficult to locate and operate, especially if an overgarment is worn. To avoid these problems, some persons may clip the radio on the belt at the front. However, this position is quite uncomfortable, particularly when the person sits down, bends over, or goes up and down stairs.

Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide a new device for carrying a radio or the like on a person's belt in a more convenient and comfortable position.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a new and improved carrying device which is arranged so that a personal radio can be clipped to the device, and the device, in turn, clipped to a person's belt with the long dimension of the radio horizontally oriented.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, these and other objects are achieved in accordance with my invention by a device which has a configuration that permits a radio to be clipped to the device in a horizontal and more convenient position, and which has a clip for attaching the device to a person's belt with the radio in that position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The subject matter which I regard as my invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims. The structure and operation of my invention, together with further objects and advantages, may be better understood from the following description given in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a personal radio which may be carried on a device in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 shows an end view of a carrying device in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the carrying device of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view illustrating how the radio of FIG. 1 can be inserted in the carrying device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1, I have shown a personal radio receiver 10 illustrative of the type of device which is to be carried by my carrying device. Typically, the radio receiver 10 is approximately 5 inches long, 2 inches wide, and 1 inch thick. Suitable controls, such as an on-off switch, a volume control, and an indicator, are mounted on the upper end 11 of the radio 10 for operation by the user. A belt clip 15 is attached to the radio 10 at a pivot 16. The clip 15 is spring loaded so that its lower end 17 tends to remain against the back surface of the radio 10. The lower end 17 is provided with two projections 17a at each side in order to provide better retention when the radio 10 is clipped on a belt (or to my carrying device). Suitable pressure at the upper end 18 of the clip 15 causes the lower end 17 to pivot outward from the radio 10 so that the clip 15 can be placed over the belt of the user. As far as I am aware, all radios and similar devices, such as the radio 10, have their belt clip 15 oriented as shown so that when the radio 10 is clipped on a person's belt, it hangs down with its long dimension in a vertical position. As pointed out in the background, this arrangement and orientation has certain disadvantages. The carrying device in accordance with my invention overcomes many of these disadvantages.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a preferred embodiment of the carrying device in accordance with my invention. My carrying device comprises a rectangular main member 20 bounded by side edges and by a top edge 20a and a parallel bottom edge 20b. A first retaining flange 21 is attached to the top edge 20a, and extends at substantially a right angle from the front surface of the main member 20. A second retaining flange 22 is attached to the bottom edge 20b, and also extends at substantially a right angle with respect to the front surface of the main member 20 in the same direction as the first retaining flange 21. The second retaining flange 22 is generally shaped so as to provide a rectangular support surface for the radio 10. A third retaining flange 23 is attached to the outer edge of the second retaining flange 22 and extends upward with respect to this second flange 22 at substantially a right angle. The dimensions of the main member 20 and the second retaining flange 22 are selected so that they respectively accommodate, with suitable clearance, the width and thickness of a radio such as the receiver 10 of FIG. 1. The back surface of the main member 20 is provided with a suitable depression 25 which extends parallel to the edges 20a, 20b along the full length of the main member 20 from left to right as viewed in FIG. 3. This depression 25 is provided in order to provide sufficient clearance for the belt clip of a radio, such as the belt clip 15 of the radio 10. Two suitable retaining holes or depressions 25a are positioned in the depression 25 and centered from left to right as viewed in FIG. 3. These holes 25a are provided to provide an engaging space for suitable positioned projections on a belt clip, such as the projections 17a on the belt clip 15 of FIG. 1. Finally, a suitable belt clip 28 is attached to the back surface of the main member 20 near its top edge 20a, and extends outwardly from the back surface of the main member 20 so that the carrying device can be slipped over the belt of a user. The clip 28 is shown in phantom outline in FIG. 3 in order that the retaining holes 25a can be seen.

In a preferred embodiment of my carrying device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the main member 20, the first flange 21, the second flange 22, and the third flange 23 are formed of a single, integral piece of molded plastic. The clip 28 is made of suitable spring steel which may be plated, and this clip 28 is attached to the back surface of the main member 20 near the top by suitable mechanical fasteners, such as screws 29.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the carrying devices of FIGS. 2 and 3 and the radio 10 of FIG. 1 in position for insertion into the carrying device. The radio 10 is inserted in my device by moving the radio 10 to the left (as viewed in FIG. 4) so that it rests between or inside the front surface of the main member 20 and the retaining flanges 21, 22, 23. The belt clip 15 slides along the depression 25 until the projections 17a snap into the respective holes or depressions 25a. This serves to hold the radio 10 firmly in the carrying device, so that the radio 10 does not accidentally fall out of the carrying device. The carrying device is then attached to the belt of the user by passing the clip 28 over the belt. Typically, the relative positions of the device in radio 10 are such that the controls of the radio 10 would be at the front when the carrying device is place on the user's left. It can be visualized that in this position, the radio 10 would have its main dimension horizontally oriented so as to provide a minimum of inconvenience and obstruction, and still have the controls of the radio 10 accessible. If the user wished to place the radio 10 at his right, the radio 10 could be turned around so that it was inserted into the left end of the device as viewed in FIG. 4. In this case, the belt clip 15 of the radio 10 would still slide along the depression 25 and the retaining projections 17a would snap into the holes 25a.

It will thus be seen that my invention provides an improved carrying device which permits a device, such as a personal radio receiver, to be horizontally oriented and clipped on the belt of the user so as to provide a minimum of inconvenience and discomfort. My carrying device permits the radio or other device to be positioned on either side of the user and still have the controls accessible near the front. In addition, my device permits the radio or other device to be removed in a relatively easy fashion by simply depressing the belt clip on the radio and withdrawing the radio without the necessity of removing my carrying device from the belt of the user. This can be done with only one hand, since my device is shaped to receive the radio and does not require two hands as is necessary when the belt clip is placed over the belt of the user. While I have shown only one embodiment of my carrying device, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made. For example, my carrying device may be made of several separate retaining flanges assembled together with the main member, instead of being formed as a single integral piece. Various materials may be used for the device. The exact shape of the depression 25 and the location or orientation of the retaining holes 25a may be varied, depending upon the exact arrangement of projections provided on the belt clip of the radio. Therefore, while my invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the claims.

Claims

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An improved carrying device for a radio receiver or the like having a belt clip extending along the long dimension, said carrying device permitting said radio receiver or the like to be carried in a more convenient and comfortable position on the belt of a person than when carried by the belt clip alone, said carrying device comprising:

a. a generally rectangular main member having front and back surfaces bounded by side edges and by substantially parallel top and bottom edges;

b. a first retaining flange attached to said top edge of said main member and extending at substantially a right angle from said front surface of said main member;

c. a second retaining flange attached to said bottom edge of said main member, said second retaining flange extending at substantially a right angle from said front surface of said main member in the same direction as said first retaining flange for a distance so as to provide a rectangular support surface to accommodate a radio receiver or the like thereon;

d. a third retaining flange attached to the outer edge of said second retaining flange, said third retaining flange extending at substantially a right angle from said support surface provided by said second retaining flange;

e. said back surface of said main member having a depressed portion extending along the length thereof in a direction substantially parallel to said top and bottom edges of said main member to receive the belt clip of a radio receiver or the like when said radio receiver is positioned on said support surface of said second retaining flange and against said front surface of said main member;

f. and a belt clip attached to said main member at said back surface thereof near said top edge thereof, said belt clip extending downwardly therefrom substantially parallel and adjacent to said back surface of said main member so as to permit said belt clip to be slipped over the belt of a person and thereby permit a radio receiver to be clipped on and carried by said carrying device.

2. The improved carrying device of claim 1 wherein said depressed portion of said back surface has further depressions for receiving projections of the belt clip of a radio or the like and holding said radio.