Elastomeric Back with Rails for Mobile Device

• US 20100142126A1
• Filed: 12/05/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Dearden, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 8,583,195 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.10
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0279 Improving the user comfort or ergonomics
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724092 Interfacing with an external cover providing additional functionalities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03

Abstract

A mobile device and holster system includes a mobile device that has a front face and a back face opposite the front face, the back face including an elastomeric layer. A pair of longitudinal sides are coupled to the front face and back face, and a pair of latitudinal sides are also coupled to the front face and back face. The back face or the longitudinal sides define a recessed slot extending along a longitudinal length of the back face or longitudinal sides, respectively. The recessed slot defines an open end at at least one of the latitudinal sides and the recessed slot has a recessed slot surface that comprises a low-friction material. The holster comprises a pocket defining an open top end configured to receive the mobile device. A rail extends longitudinally along an interior side of the pocket, and the rail is configured to correspond with and slidably engage the slot on the mobile device.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a front face;

a back face opposite the front face, the back face including an elastomeric layer;

a pair of longitudinal sides coupled to the front face and back face;

a pair of latitudinal sides coupled to the front face and back face;

the back face or the longitudinal sides defining a recessed slot extending along a longitudinal length of the back face or the longitudinal sides, respectively;

the recessed slot defining an open end at at least one of the latitudinal sides;

the recessed slot comprising a recessed slot surface, the slot surface comprising a low-friction material, the slot being configured to engage a rail of a holster.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein at least two recessed slots are disposed on the back face and extend parallel along the longitudinal length of the back face.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the recessed slot has open ends at both latitudinal sides of the device.

4. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein the recessed slot has a width at the open end that tapers from larger to smaller as the slot extends longitudinally away from the open end.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric layer extends to cover one or more longitudinal or latitudinal sides.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric layer extends to cover 50% or more of the back face except for the recessed slot.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein one recessed slot is defined on each of the longitudinal sides;

wherein the recessed slots extend parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the low-friction material covering is plastic, metal, or fabric.

9. A system comprising:

a mobile device comprising;

a front face;

a back face opposite the front face, the back face including an elastomeric layer;

a pair of longitudinal sides coupled to the front face and back face;

a pair of latitudinal sides coupled to the front face and back face;

the back face or the longitudinal sides defining at least one recessed slot extending along a longitudinal length of the back face or longitudinal sides, respectively;

the recessed slot defining an open end at at least one of the latitudinal sides;

the recessed slot comprising a recessed slot surface, the slot surface comprising a low-friction material; and

a holster comprising;

a pocket having an open top end configured to receive the mobile device;

at least one rail disposed on an interior side of the pocket runs longitudinally along the interior side of the pocket;

wherein the rail is configured to correspond with and slidably engage the slot on the mobile device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the rail has a height greater than a depth of the slot.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the slot includes an undercut and the rail comprises a lip configured to engage the undercut.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the holster comprises a rigid material.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the holster includes a magnet for magnetically interacting with the mobile device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the slot is open at a latitudinal end of the back side, thereby allowing the magnet to be positioned to interact with the mobile device when the mobile device is inserted in the holster along the rail.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the magnet is located at an off-center position in the holster.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the mobile device is configured to perform a first function triggered by the magnet when inserted into the holster in a first orientation, and a second function triggered by the magnet when inserted into the holster in a second orientation.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein one recessed slot is disposed on each of the longitudinal sides;

wherein the recessed slots extend parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction.

18. A holster comprising:

a pocket having an open top end configured to receive a mobile device;

at least one rail disposed on an interior side of the pocket extending longitudinally along the interior side of the pocket;

the holster being configured to receive a mobile device, the rail being configured to slidably engage a corresponding recessed slot on the mobile device.

19. The holster of claim 18, further comprising a magnet for magnetically interacting with the mobile device, the magnet being positioned to magnetically interact with the mobile device when the mobile device is received into the holster and the slot is engaged on the rail.

20. The holster of claim 18, wherein the magnet is located at an off-center position in the holster.