Belt clip attachment device and method of use

• US 20050040192A1
• Filed: 08/21/2003
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Wireless Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Shaanan, Gad, Mainville, Patrick, Orban, Benoit, Duval, Francois, Francovich, Walter, Steven, John C. III
• Granted Patent: US 7,093,742 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/197
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/026 with a pin having an enlarged head detachably connected to a fastening device, e.g. to a pin receiving slot
• 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: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3855 carried in a belt or harness
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/93 Attached to animate bearer

Abstract

A method of connecting a belt clip attachment device to a personal electronic device such as a mobile phone includes providing a belt clip attachment device for connecting the mobile phone to a belt clip, the belt clip attachment device and the rear of the mobile phone constructed so that the belt clip attachment device connects to the rear side of the mobile phone through a push and twist action on the belt clip attachment device; and connecting the belt clip attachment device to the rear side of the mobile phone by pushing and twisting the belt clip attachment device relative to the rear side of the mobile phone.

Claims

1. A method of connecting a belt clip attachment device to a personal electronic device, the personal electronic device including a rear side, the method comprising:

providing a belt clip attachment device for connecting the personal electronic device to a belt clip, the belt clip attachment device and the rear of the personal electronic device constructed so that the belt clip attachment device connects to the rear side of the personal electronic device through a push and twist action on the belt clip attachment device;

connecting the belt clip attachment device to the rear side of the personal electronic device by pushing and twisting the belt clip attachment device relative to the rear side of the personal electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the belt clip attachment device includes a belt clip engagement member that allows orientation of the belt clip attachment device and the connected personal electronic device at one of multiple different possible orientation angles with respect to a user'"'"'s belt when the belt clip engagement member is connected to a belt clip, and the method further includes connecting the belt clip engagement member and the personal electronic device to the belt clip at an orientation angle with respect to a user'"'"'s belt other than being perpendicular or parallel with respect to the user'"'"'s belt.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the belt clip attachment device is circular so that when the belt clip engagement member is connected to a belt clip the personal electronic device is perpendicular and upright with respect to the user'"'"'s belt.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal electronic device includes a housing, a battery compartment door, and a battery compartment door latch for connecting the battery compartment door to the housing, and connecting the belt clip attachment device to the rear side of the personal electronic device includes inserting the belt clip attachment device over the battery compartment door latch, rotating the belt clip attachment device relative to the battery compartment door latch, and releasing the belt clip attachment device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal electronic device includes a housing, a battery compartment door, a battery compartment door latch for connecting the battery compartment door to the housing, and one or more pegs extending from at least one of the housing and the battery compartment door latch, and the belt clip attachment device includes a hub with one or more slots, and a resilient member disposed within the belt clip attachment device, and connecting the belt clip attachment device to the rear side of the personal electronic device includes aligning the one or more slots on the hub with the one or more pegs, pushing onto the belt clip attachment device so that hub moves onto and over the battery compartment door latch and the one or more pegs are slidably received by the one or more slots, while continuing to push on the belt clip attachment device twisting the belt clip attachment device so that the one or more pegs are slidably received by the one or more slots, and releasing the belt clip attachment device so that the resilient member urges the belt clip attachment device into a locked position with respect to the one or more pegs.

6. A belt clip attachment device for connecting a personal electronic device to a belt clip, the personal electronic device including a rear side with a recess and one or more pegs within the recess, comprising:

a belt clip engagement member to connect the belt clip attachment device to the phone clip;

a personal electronic device connection member slidably receivable by the recess on the rear side of the personal electronic device and including one or more slots to slidably receive the one or more pegs to connect the belt clip attachment device to the rear side of the personal electronic device through a push and twist action on the belt clip attachment device.

7. The belt clip attachment device of claim 6, wherein the engagement member includes a configuration that allows orientation of the belt clip attachment device and the connected personal electronic device at one of multiple different possible orientation angles with respect to a user'"'"'s belt when the belt clip engagement member is connected to a belt clip.

8. The belt clip attachment device of claim 7, wherein the engagement member includes a starburst configuration with multiple radiating projections connected by connection portions.

9. The belt clip attachment device of claim 6, wherein the engagement member includes a circular configuration.

10. The belt clip attachment device of claim 6, wherein the engagement member includes a well to receive a tang of a belt clip to maintain the belt clip attachment device in position with respect to the belt clip.

11. The belt clip attachment device of claim 6, wherein the personal electronic device includes a housing, a battery compartment door, and a battery compartment door latch for connecting the battery compartment door to the housing, and the personal electronic device connection member includes a hub slidably receivable by the recess on the rear side of the personal electronic device over the battery compartment door latch and the hub includes the one or more slots to slidably receive the one or more pegs to connect the belt clip attachment device to the rear side of the personal electronic device through a push and twist action on the belt clip attachment device.

12. The belt clip attachment device of claim 11, further including a resilient member disposed within the belt clip attachment device that urges the belt clip attachment device away from the rear of the phone and in a locked position when the belt clip attachment device is connected to the rear of the personal electronic device.