Cellular phone with adjustable strap attachment

• US 6,377,686 B1
• Filed: 04/16/1999
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conversant Wireless Licensing S.à.r.l. (f/k/a Core Wireless Licensing S.a.r.l.) (MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management))
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Snyder, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US09/292,962
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 379/446, 379/454, 379/447, 379/455, 455/575, 455/90, 224/150, 224/913
• 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 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

A cellular phone that includes a housing, a strap attachment means, and a hinge means. The strap attachment means includes a bar positioned external to the housing and a first arm and a second arm at opposite ends of the bar. The hinge means allows the bar to be rotatable relative to the housing. The hinge means includes a first hinge and a second hinge coupled to the first arm and the second arm respectively. The spacing between the arms and the bar is extendible from a first length to a second length greater than that between the first and second hinges to permit removal of the strap attachment means. The arms are detachable from the housing when the spacing is extended to the second length. By providing a strap attachment means that provides a bar external to the cellular phone housing, the present invention offers many auxiliary support options.

Claims

1. A cellular phone comprising:

a housing;

a strap attachment means, the strap attachment means including a bar positioned externally of the housing and a first arm and a second arm at opposite ends of the bar; and

a hinge means, the hinge means allowing the bar to be rotatable relative to the housing;

the hinge means comprising a first hinge and a second hinge coupled to the first arm and the second arm respectively,

wherein the spacing between the arms and the bar is extendible from a first length to a second length greater than that between the first and second hinges to permit removal of the strap attachment means, the arms being detachable from the housing when the spacing is extended to the second length.

2. The cellular phone as in claim 1, wherein the first and second hinges are fixedly mounted with respect to the housing, thereby providing a fixed hinge axis.

3. The cellular phone as in claim 1, wherein the first and second hinges are movable with respect to the housing, the hinge axis being movable between a first position and a second position.

4. The cellular phone as in claim 3, wherein, when the hinge axis adopts its first position, the bar sits in contact with the exterior of the housing.

5. The cellular phone as in claim 3, wherein, when the hinge axis adopts its second position, the bar stands apart from the exterior of the housing.

6. The cellular phone as in claim 1, wherein the hinge means is constructed such that at a number of predetermined angular positions relative to the housing, the arms enter a stable rest position.

7. The cellular phone as in claim 1, wherein the strap attachment means is removably mounted to the housing.

8. The cellular phone as in claim 1, wherein the bar is biased to adopt the first length.

9. A cellular phone comprising:

a housing;

a first strap attachment means positioned externally of one end of the housing and including a first bar;

a second strap attachment means positioned externally of an opposite end of the housing and including a second bar;

a strap connected between the first and second strap attachment means; and

a hinge means, the hinge means allowing the first bar and the second bar to be rotatable relative to the housing;

the hinge means comprising a first hinge and a second hinge coupled to the first bar and the second bar respectively wherein the hinge means is constructed such that at a number of predetermined angular positions relative to the housing, the bars enter a stable rest position.

10. The cellular phone as in claim 9, wherein the length of strap between the first and second attachment means is slightly longer than the distance between the first and second attachment means.