Low-profile mounting clip for personal device

• US 20030110595A1
• Filed: 12/14/2001
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Moberg, Sheldon B., Payne, Timothy, Collins, Sean, Kimball, David S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,665,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 24/3.12
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/021 to the belt
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/13 Article holder attachable to apparel or body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1394 Article held by clip

Abstract

A low-profile, durable mounting clip is provided for holding personal devices (such as personal electronic devices). The mounting clip may have an essentially inverted “L” shaped configuration including a foot portion having engagement elements for attachment to corresponding engagement elements on a housing of a personal device. A leg portion provides for attachment to an undergarment or other suitable article of clothing. A heel portion located between and connecting the leg portion and foot portion allows the foot portion to flexibly and durably retract from the housing for attachment. The mounting clip may include a snap tab beam locking mechanism having a barb for interlocking with a bump provided on the housing or a rotatable cam locking mechanism having one or more radial snap tabs having engagement elements for engaging corresponding surfaces on the mounting clip. Rotation of the rotatable cam locks and unlocks the mounting clip onto the housing.

Claims

1. A mounting clip for removably attaching a personal device on a supporting member, comprising:

a foot portion having a dovetail configuration formed for slide-on attachment and slide-off removal of the personal device, the dovetail configuration including a cascading facet configuration;

a leg portion for mounting the mounting clip on the supporting member; and

a heel portion located between and connecting the foot portion and the leg portion, the heel portion providing a spring force.

2. The mounting clip recited in claim 1, wherein the cascading facet configuration includes a plurality of outwardly and downwardly sloping facets for engaging corresponding surfaces on the personal device.

3. The mounting clip recited in claim 1, wherein the cascading facet configuration includes three outwardly and downwardly sloping facets for engaging corresponding surfaces on the personal device.

4. The mounting clip recited in claim 2, wherein the outwardly and downwardly sloping facets have different sloping angles relative to each other.

5. The mounting clip recited in claim 2, wherein the plurality of outwardly and downwardly sloping facets, when fully engaged to the personal device and subjected to an overload condition, elastically deform, slide from facet to facet along the corresponding surfaces of the personal device and separate from the personal device with reduced damage.

6. The mounting clip recited in claim 1, wherein the foot portion has a leading edge that includes faceted portions for facilitating slide-on attachment of the mounting clip to the personal device.

7. The mounting clip recited in claim 1, wherein the foot portion has a leading edge that includes tapered portions for facilitating disengagement of the foot portion from the personal device.

8. The mounting clip recited in claim 1, wherein the foot portion includes channels formed thereon for providing inward flexibility to the foot.

9. The mounting clip recited in claim 8, wherein the channels extend lengthwise on the foot portion in the direction of engagement with the personal device.

10. The mounting clip recited in claim 1, wherein the foot portion includes engagement stops for abutting against corresponding surfaces of the personal device.

11. The mounting clip recited in claim 1, wherein the foot portion includes a snap tab beam locking mechanism having a barb for interlocking with a bump provided on the personal device for locking the mounting clip to the personal device.

12. The mounting clip recited in claim 11, wherein the barb interlocks with a bump provided on a housing of the personal device.

13. The mounting clip recited in claim 11, wherein the snap tab beam locking mechanism is integrally formed with the foot portion.

14. The mounting clip recited in claim 11, wherein the snap tab beam locking mechanism is integrally formed with the foot portion such that voids are formed between the snap tab beam locking mechanism and solid portions of the foot for providing inward flexibility to the solid portions.

15. The mounting clip recited in claim 11, wherein the snap tab beam locking mechanism is unlocked by lifting up the snap tab beam until the snap tab barb clears the bump.

16. The mounting clip recited in claim 1, wherein the foot portion includes a rotatable cam locking mechanism having one or more radial snap tabs having engagement elements for engaging corresponding surfaces on the mounting clip.

17. The mounting clip recited in claim 16, wherein the engagement elements include indentations and the corresponding surfaces on the mounting clip include corresponding matingly shaped buttons for snap fit connection to the indentations.

18. The mounting clip recited in claim 16, wherein the radial snap tabs include flat surfaces designed to abut a corresponding flat surface on a bump on the personal device when the mounting clip is fully engaged with the personal device and rotated to a locked position.

19. The mounting clip recited in claim 17, wherein the engagement elements are designed to produce an indication that a snap fit connection has been achieved.

20. The mounting clip recited in claim 18, wherein the indication is at least one of an audible sound and a tactile indication.

21. The mounting clip recited in claim 16, wherein the rotatable cam locking mechanism is formed separately from the foot portion, and subsequently attached to the foot portion.

22. The mounting clip recited in claim 21, wherein the foot portion of the mounting clip is formed to include an opening shaped and sized for receiving the rotatable cam locking mechanism.

23. The mounting clip recited in claim 22, wherein the one or more radial snap tabs include a barb portion for retaining the rotatable cam locking mechanism in the opening once received therein.

24. The mounting clip recited in claim 22, wherein one or more of the dimensions of the rotatable cam locking mechanism and the opening are selected to result in a frictional fit between the rotatable cam locking mechanism and the opening.

25. The mounting clip recited in claim 22, wherein the opening has edges including engagement stops for abutting against corresponding surfaces on at least one of the one or more radial snap tabs.

26. The mounting clip recited in claim 22, wherein at least one of the rotatable cam locking mechanism and the opening have tapered edges to facilitate reception of the rotatable cam locking mechanism in the opening during a manufacturing process.

27. The mounting clip recited in claim 1, wherein the foot portion, the leg portion, and the heel portion are integrally formed.

28. The mounting clip recited in claim 1, wherein the foot portion, the leg portion, and the heel portion are formed by a molding process.

29. The mounting clip recited in claim 1, wherein the foot portion, the leg portion, and the heel portion are formed from at least one of a thermoplastic, a plastic and a polymer.

30. The mounting clip recited in claim 1, wherein the foot portion, the leg portion, and the heel portion are formed from polycarbonate.

31. The mounting clip recited in claim 1, wherein the foot portion, the leg portion, and the heel portion are formed in a n essentially “

L”

shaped configuration.

32. The mounting clip recited in claim 1, wherein the foot portion of the mounting clip includes a material that adds lubricity to the foot portion.

33. The mounting clip recited in claim 32, wherein the material is polytetrafluorethylene.

34. The mounting clip recited in claim 33, wherein the material includes aramid fibers.

35. The mounting clip recited in claim 1, wherein the personal device is a personal electronic device.

36. The mounting clip recited in claim 1, wherein the personal device is a personal medical device.

37. The mounting clip recited in claim 1, wherein the personal device is at least one of an infusion device and a medical monitor.

38. The mounting clip recited in claim 1, wherein the supporting member is an article of clothing.

39. The mounting clip recited in claim 1, wherein the supporting member is an undergarment.

40. A mounting clip for removably attaching a personal device on a supporting member, comprising:

a foot portion having a dovetail configuration formed for slide-on attachment and slide-off removal of the personal device;

a leg portion for mounting the mounting clip on the supporting member, the leg portion and foot portion combining to form an essentially “

L”

shaped configuration; and

a heel portion located between and connecting the foot portion and the leg portion, the heel portion providing a spring force.

41. The mounting clip recited in claim 40, wherein the heel portion has a thickness greater than both the foot portion and the leg portion.

42. The mounting clip recited in claim 40, wherein the dovetail configuration includes a cascading facet configuration.

43. A mounting clip for removably attaching a personal device on a supporting member, comprising:

a foot portion having engagement elements formed for slide-on attachment and slide-off removal of the personal device;

a leg portion for mounting the mounting clip on the supporting member;

a heel portion located between and connecting the foot portion and the leg portion, the heel portion providing a spring force; and

a snap tab beam locking mechanism having a barb for interlocking with a bump provided on the personal device for locking the mounting clip to the personal device.

44. The mounting clip recited in claim 43, wherein the engagement elements include a cascading facet configuration.

45. The mounting clip recited in claim 43, wherein the barb interlocks with a bump provided on a housing of the personal device.

46. The mounting clip recited in claim 45, wherein the barb interlocks with a bump provided on a side of the housing.

47. The mounting clip recited in claim 45, wherein the barb interlocks with a bump provided on a top side of the housing.

48. A mounting clip for removably attaching a personal device on a supporting member, comprising:

a foot portion having first engagement elements formed for slide-on attachment and slide-off removal of the personal device;

a leg portion for mounting the mounting clip on the supporting member;

a heel portion located between and connecting the foot portion and the leg portion, the heel portion providing a spring force; and

a rotatable cam locking mechanism having one or more radial snap tabs having second engagement elements for engaging corresponding surfaces on the mounting clip.

49. The mounting clip recited in claim 48, wherein the first engagement elements include a cascading facet configuration.

50. The mounting clip recited in claim 48, wherein the second engagement elements include indentations and the corresponding surfaces on the mounting clip include corresponding matingly shaped buttons for snap fit connection to the indentations.

51. The mounting clip recited in claim 50, wherein the one or more radial snap tabs include flat surfaces designed to abut a corresponding flat surface on a bump on the personal device when the mounting clip is fully engaged with the personal device and rotated to a locked position.

52. A personal device for attachment to a supporting member, comprising:

a housing having a channel on a surface, the channel including first engagement elements for receiving a mounting clip, the mounting clip including;

a foot portion having second engagement elements formed for engaging the first engagement elements for slide-on attachment and slide-off removal of the housing;

a leg portion for mounting the mounting clip on the supporting member;

a heel portion located between and connecting the foot portion and the leg portion, the heel portion providing a spring force; and

a rotatable cam locking mechanism for locking and unlocking the mounting clip to the housing.

53. The personal device recited in claim 52, wherein the rotatable cam locking mechanism includes one or more radial snap tabs having third engagement elements for engaging corresponding surfaces on the foot portion.

54. The personal device recited in claim 53, wherein the channel includes a bump for cooperating with at least one of the radial snap tabs to lock the mounting clip to the housing.

55. The mounting clip recited in claim 52, wherein the second engagement elements include a cascading facet configuration.

56. The mounting clip recited in claim 54, wherein the third engagement elements include indentations and the corresponding surfaces on the mounting clip include corresponding matingly shaped buttons for snap fit connection to the indentations.

57. The mounting clip recited in claim 54, wherein the radial snap tabs include flat surfaces designed to abut a corresponding flat surface on the bump when the mounting clip is fully engaged with the personal device and rotated to a locked position.

58. The mounting clip recited in claim 56, wherein the rotatable cam locking mechanism has a locked position and an unlocked position.

59. The mounting clip recited in claim 58, wherein the rotatable cam locking mechanism is rotatable between the locked position and the unlocked position.

60. The mounting clip recited in claim 58, wherein the rotatable cam locking mechanism, when rotated towards the locked position, causes a leading edge of at least one radial snap tab to encounter a flat surface of the bump and elastically bend back such that an over center, cam action facilitates the completion of the rotation and a flat surface of the at least one radial snap tab aligns, in an essentially parallel manner, with the flat surface of the bump.

61. The mounting clip recited in claim 60, wherein the rotatable cam locking mechanism, when rotated towards the locked position, further causes leading edges of the indentations to encounter the buttons and elastically bend back such that, when aligned, the indentations and the buttons form a snap fit connection.

62. The mounting clip recited in claim 61, wherein the alignment of the flat surface of the at least one radial snap tab and the flat surface of the bump occurs substantially simultaneously with the alignment of the indentations with the buttons.

63. The mounting clip recited in claim 60, wherein the alignment of the bump with the at least one radial snap tab locks the mounting clip to the housing.

64. The mounting clip recited in claim 61, wherein the snap-fit connection produces at least one of an audible indicator and a tactile indicator.

65. The mounting clip recited in claim 59, wherein a rotational span between the locked position and the unlocked position is equal to approximately 75 degrees.