Holder for mobile telephone

• US 6,141,417 A
• Filed: 08/19/1998
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Leman, Ari, Lopez, Peter E., Humphreys, Morris
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US09/136,186
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 379/446, 379/454, 379/455, 379/449, 379/426, 224/930
• US Class Current: 379/446
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/021 to the belt
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0078 Quick-disconnect two-parts mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

A holder for a mobile telephone is disclosed. The holder has a securing mechanism that securely holds a mobile telephone within the holder and allows easy movement of the mobile telephone from and into a secure position within the holder. In an embodiment of the invention, the holder includes a cradle unit that has a securing mechanism including a securing pin flexibly formed on the top end of the cradle unit and a securing pocket formed on the bottom end of the cradle unit. A mobile telephone may be secured in the cradle by placing the bottom portion of the mobile telephone in the securing pocket and moving the mobile telephone into the cradle unit, allowing the securing pin to snap into a securing notch that is formed on the top portion of the mobile telephone. The cradle unit may be formed of a single piece body. The cradle unit may also be formed to encompass the mobile telephone to provide a better tactual grip than is provided by the body of the mobile telephone alone.

Claims

1. A holder for holding a mobile communications device, said holder comprising:

a cradle unit including;

a back portion, said back portion having a first end and a second end;

a pocket, said pocket mounted on said first end of said back portion substantially perpendicular to said back portion, said pocket having a front wall, a rear wall and a first and a second opening, said pocket for receiving a first end of the mobile communication device, wherein said first and said second openings receive a first and a second corner, respectively, of the mobile communication device, allowing said first and second corner of the mobile communication device to extend through said pocket, when the mobile communication device is inserted in said pocket of said cradle unit; and

a pin, said pin mounted on said second end of said back portion, said pin for flexibly allowing insertion of the mobile communication device into said cradle unit, coupling with said second end of the mobile communication device and securing the mobile communication device in said cradle unit.

2. The holder of claim 1, wherein said cradle unit is formed of a one-piece body.

3. The holder of claim 2, wherein said back portion comprises a first and a second side, and said first and said second side of said back portion and said front wall of said pocket define an open front of said cradle unit, allowing operation of the mobile communication device while secured in the cradle unit.

4. The holder of claim 3, wherein said cradle unit forms a wraparound holder for the grasping of the mobile communication device during use.

5. The holder of claim 4, wherein said cradle unit is formed of a one-piece body.

6. The holder of claim 5, wherein said back portion further has a rear face, and said holder further comprises a clip mounted on said rear face of said back portion.

7. The holder of claim 4, wherein said cradle unit is formed to allow opening of a flip-type cover on the mobile communication device while secured in the cradle unit.

8. A holder for holding a mobile communication device, said holder comprising:

a cradle unit including;

a back portion, said back portion having a first and a second end and a surface;

a pocket, said pocket mounted on said second end of said back portion, said pocket having a bottom surface extending outward from and substantially perpendicular to said surface, and a first and second opening, said pocket for receiving a first end of the mobile communication device, wherein said first and said second openings receive a first and a second corner, respectively, of the mobile communication device, allowing said first and second corner of the mobile communication device to extend through said pocket when the mobile communication device is inserted in said cradle unit;

an extension, said extension having a first and a second end, wherein said second end of said extension is mounted on said first end of said back portion and angled toward said surface of said back portion; and

a pin, said pin mounted on said first end of said extension and extending toward said pocket, wherein said pin allows insertion of the mobile communication device into said cradle unit, couples with a second end of the mobile communication device, and secures the mobile communication device in said cradle unit.

9. The holder of claim 8, wherein said cradle unit is formed of a one-piece body.

10. The holder of claim 8, wherein said back portion has a first and a second edge, and said bottom portion of said pocket has a first and a second edge, and wherein said cradle unit further comprises a first side and a second side, each having a first and second end and an edge, said first end of said first side attached to said first edge of said back portion and said second end of said first side attached to said first edge of said bottom portion of said pocket, and said first end of said second side attached to said second edge of said back portion, and said second end of said second side attached to said second edge of said bottom portion of said pocket, wherein said edge of said first side, first edge of said bottom portion of said pocket and said first edge of said back portion form said first opening, and wherein said edge of said second side, second edge of said bottom portion of said pocket and said second edge of said back portion form said second opening.

11. The holder of claim 10, wherein said cradle unit is formed of a one-piece body.

12. The holder of claim 8, wherein said cradle unit forms a wraparound holder for grasping the mobile communication device during use.

13. The holder of claim 8, wherein said cradle unit is formed to allow opening of a flip-type cover on the mobile communication device while secured in the cradle unit.

14. The holder of claim 8, wherein said surface of said back portion comprises a first surface, and said back portion further comprises a second surface, said holder further comprising a clip mounted on said second surface of said back portion.

15. A mobile telephone and holder assembly comprising:

a mobile telephone having a keypad and a flip-type cover, said flip-type cover movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein said keypad is accessible for use when said flip-type cover is in said open position and access to said keypad is blocked when said flip-type cover is in said closed position; and

a cradle unit having a pocket and a first and second opening for receiving said mobile telephone, wherein said first and second openings receive a first and second corner of said mobile telephone, allowing said first and said second corner of said mobile telephone to extend through said pocket, and said pocket is formed to allow movement of said flip-type cover between said first and second positions when said mobile telephone is inserted in said pocket.

16. The mobile telephone and holder assembly of claim 15, wherein said cradle unit forms a wraparound holder for grasping said mobile telephone and allows holding and operation of said mobile telephone while said mobile telephone is secured in said cradle unit.

17. The mobile telephone and holder assembly of claim 15, wherein said mobile telephone further comprises a first end and a second end, wherein said flip-type cover is disposed on said second end of said mobile telephone, and wherein said cradle unit comprises a first end, said first end of said cradle unit for receiving said first end of said mobile telephone when said mobile telephone is secured in said cradle.

18. The mobile telephone and holder assembly of claim 17, further comprising a clip for securing said cradle unit to an object.