Magnetic pocket retainer

• US 10,231,535 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2018
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arthur E. Jackson
• Original Assignee: Arthur E. Jackson
• Inventors: Jackson, Arthur E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Nhan T
• Application Number:
  US15/910,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20180184792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A41F 1/002 Magnetic fastening devices
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/1069 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/022 within pockets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets

Abstract

For example, a magnetic retention system comprising: (A) a piece of clothing with a pocket with an opening and outer and inner surfaces of a portion of pocket fabric; (B) a tab device comprising material A, the tab device placed near the opening on the outer surface; (C) an electronic device with a viewing screen on a major surface and a cover on an opposing major surface, the cover incorporating or having affixed complementary surface comprising material B, wherein one of materials A and B is magnetic, and the other is magnetically susceptible, and wherein the tab and material B are situated and such that when the electronic device is in the pocket with appropriate orientation there is a strong attraction between materials A and B such that greater force is needed for the electronic device to slip from the pocket.

Claims

1. A magnetic retention system comprising:

a piece of clothing with a pocket with an opening and outer and inner surfaces of a portion of pocket fabric;

a tab device comprising material A, the tab device affixed to the portion of pocket fabric; and

an electronic device with a viewing screen on a major surface and a cover on an opposing major surface, the cover incorporating or having affixed complementary surface comprising material B,

wherein one of materials A and B is magnetic, and the other is magnetically susceptible, and wherein the tab and material B are situated and such that when the electronic device is in the pocket with appropriate orientation there is a strong attraction between materials A and B such that greater force is needed for the electronic device to slip from the pocket, wherein the tab is configured to be affixed to the fabric by a retainer operative on the other side of the fabric from the tab.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the material A is magnetic.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the complementary surface comprises a boundary lip that further retards the electronic device from slipping from the pocket.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the retainer affixes the tab to the fabric magnetically.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein a surface of the tab is configured to contact the complementary surface and is coated with a soft plastic.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the tab comprises a retaining notch, and wherein the system comprises

a retainer configured to engage the notch to retain the tab.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the complementary surface comprises a boundary lip that further retards the electronic device from slipping from the pocket.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the retainer affixes the tab to the fabric magnetically.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the material A is magnetic, the retainer is magnetically susceptible, and the retainer is on the outer surface of the fabric.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein a portion of the tab device or the retainer configured for inside the pocket presents a soft surface to the electronic device.

11. A method of retaining an electronic device in a pocket with an opening and outer and inner surfaces of a portion of pocket fabric, comprising:

providing a tab device comprising material A, the tab device affixed to the portion of pocket fabric; and

placing in the pocket an electronic device with a viewing screen on a major surface and a cover on an opposing major surface, the cover incorporating or having affixed a complementary surface comprising material B, the electronic device placed so that material A is attracted to material B;

wherein one of materials A and B is magnetic, and the other is magnetically susceptible, and wherein the tab and material B are situated and such that there is a strong attraction between materials A and B such that greater force is needed for the electronic device to slip from the pocket, wherein the tab is configured to be affixed to the fabric by a retainer operative on the other side of the fabric from the tab.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the retainer is configured to have a portion expand to lock into the tab.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the complementary surface comprises a boundary lip that further retards the electronic device from slipping from the pocket.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the tab comprises a retaining notch, and wherein the system comprises

a retainer configured to engage the notch to retain the tab.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a portion of the tab or retainer configured for inside the pocket presents a soft surface to the electronic device.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the complementary surface comprises a boundary lip that further retards the electronic device from slipping from the pocket.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the retainer affixes the tab to the fabric magnetically.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the material A is magnetic, the retainer is magnetically susceptible, and the retainer is on the outer surface of the fabric.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein a surface of the tab or retainer configured to contact the complementary surface is coated with a soft plastic.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein a surface of the tab or retainer configured to contact the complementary surface is coated with a soft plastic.