CASE

• US 20110073608A1
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Willes, Steven, Richardson, Curtis
• Granted Patent: US 9,078,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/737
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• 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: A45F 5/021 to the belt

Abstract

A holder for a device may have a receiver that captures an end of the device, and an engagement mechanism that may latch or secure the device into the holder. The holder may permit the device to be held in two or more different positions, and may secure the device in the holder when the holder may be oriented in several different orientations. The holder may operate in conjunction with a removable protective cover that may include features that interact with the engagement mechanism.

Claims

1. A holder for a device, said device having six projected surfaces being orthographic projected surfaces, said holder comprising:

a receiver engaging a primary projected side and four additional projected sides of said device, said four additional projected sides being adjacent to said primary projected side;

a back connected to said receiver along one of said four additional projected sides;

a latch connected to said back that engages a first projected side of said device; and

a mounting mechanism attached to said back.

2. The holder of claim 1, said device being installed in a user installed case, said receiver engaging said user installed case along said projected sides of said device.

3. The holder of claim 2, said first projected side being opposite said primary side.

4. The holder of claim 2, said first projected side being one of said four additional sides.

5. The holder of claim 4 further comprising a second latch that engages a second projected side of said device, said second projected side being opposite said first projected side.

6. The holder of claim 2, said latch comprising an engagement mechanism that mechanically engages said case.

7. The holder of claim 6, said latch having a protruding feature that engages a corresponding feature in said case.

8. The holder of claim 6, said case having a protruding feature that engages a corresponding feature in said latch.

9. The holder of claim 2, said mounting mechanism being rotatably attached to said back.

10. The holder of claim 9, said mounting mechanism comprising a belt clip being freely rotatable with respect to said back.

11. The holder of claim 9, said mounting mechanism comprising a belt clip having at least two snap positions with respect to said back, said snap positions being indented locations at predefined angular positions between said belt clip and said back.

12. The holder of claim 2, said case being a removable case for an electronic device.

13. The holder of claim 3, said electronic device having a touchscreen mounted on a touchscreen side corresponding to a touchscreen projected side of said device.

14. The holder of claim 13, said holder being configured to hold said device in at least two different positions.

15. The holder of claim 14, at least one of said two different positions comprising said touchscreen projected side being parallel to and nearest said back.

16. The holder of claim 14, at least one of said two different positions comprising said touchscreen projected side being parallel to and away from said back.

17. The holder of claim 14, said holder being further configured to hold said device in at least four different positions.

18. The holder of claim 2, said latch having a finger tab to disengage said latch when said case is installed in said holder.