Holster for a portable communication device

• US 5,697,538 A
• Filed: 11/05/1996
• Issued: 12/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Goldenberg, Michael P., Hartigan, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee S.
• Application Number:
  US08/740,937
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 224/679, 224/676, 224/930, 224/246, 224/245, 224/242, 224/163
• US Class Current: 224/676
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1058 Pager holders or housings casings for electric apparatus H05K5/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/93 Attached to animate bearer

Abstract

A one piece holster 10 for a PCD (Personal Communication Device) 24 has a back wall 14, sidewalls 18 and a bottom ledge 20 formed to receive a PCD either by lateral or vertical insertion. A snap fit feature and a locking mechanism 38 hold the PCD securely within the holster 10. A clip 56 is integrally formed with the back wall 14 for supporting the holster on a user'"'"'s clothing.

Claims

1. A holster for a portable communication device, comprising:

a housing having a substantially planar back wall, a pair of substantially parallel sidewalls extending substantially perpendicularly from the back wall, and a bottom ledge located between the sidewalls and extending substantially perpendicularly from the back wall,

the bottom ledge and the side walls being sized to collectively define a U-shaped opening that constitutes a lateral entry into which a portable communication device fits snugly, and

the sidewalls each having an inner surface for engaging a portable communication device and forming a snap fit therewith,

wherein the back wall carries a protrusion that extends toward the lateral entry for engaging an inserted portable communication device to releasably lock the portable communication device within the holster, and

wherein the back wall is sufficiently flexible so that, when a portable communication device is held within the U-shaped opening, lateral outward force that urges the portable communication device away from the back wall also causes the back wall to flex such that the protrusion releases from the portable communication device, thereby permitting the portable communication device to be lifted from the holster.

2. A holster for a portable communication device, comprising:

a one piece housing having a substantially planar back wall, a pair of substantially parallel sidewalls extending substantially perpendicularly from the back wall, and a bottom ledge located between the sidewalls and extending substantially perpendicularly from the back wall,

the bottom ledge and the side walls being sized to collectively define a U-shaped opening that constitutes a lateral entry into which a portable communication device fits snugly,

the sidewalls each having an inner surface for engaging a portable communication device and forming a snap fit therewith, and

a clip integrally formed with the housing and coupled to the back wall for supporting the holster on a user'"'"'s clothing,

wherein the clip is in the form of a pair of arms extending downwardly along a rear surface of the back wall, the arms being joined together at a lower end and having an opening between the arms.

3. A holster as set forth in claims 2 wherein the rear surface of the back wall includes a rearwardly extending protrusion forming a belt hook.

4. A holster for a portable communication device, comprising:

a housing having a substantially planar back wall, a pair of substantially parallel, deflectable sidewalls extending substantially perpendicularly from the back wall, and a bottom ledge located between the sidewalls and extending substantially perpendicularly from the back wall,

wherein the bottom ledge and the side walls collectively form a U-shaped opening that permits lateral and vertical insertion of the portable communication device,

wherein the sidewalls each have an inner surface with an inwardly facing rail,

wherein the sidewalls deflect outwardly under pressure of a portable communication device being inserted laterally, and the rails are adapted to engage the portable communication device for effecting a snap fit therewith and for prohibiting lateral removal of the portable communication device;

wherein the back wall carries a locking protrusion for engaging an inserted portable communication device to releasably lock the portable communication device within the holster;

wherein the back wall is sufficiently flexible so that, when a portable communication device is held within the U-shaped opening, lateral outward force that urges the portable communication device away from the back wall also causes the back wall to flex such that the locking protrusion releases from the portable communication device, thereby permitting the portable communication device to be lifted from the holster; and

a clip coupled to the back wall for supporting the holster on a user'"'"'s clothing.