Security device for display of hand held items

• US 6,659,382 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2001
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vira Insight, LLC
• Original Assignee: VIRA Manufacturing, Inc. (Vira Insight, LLC)
• Inventors: Ryczek, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Matecki, Kathy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haugland, Scott J.
• Application Number:
  US09/902,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20030010859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 242/379, 242/375, 242/376, 242/380, 242/402, 248/309.1, 248/176.1, 403/289, 403/290, 403/373, 403/374.1, 403/374.2, 403/374.3, 403/408.1, 191/12.2 R
• US Class Current: 242/379
• 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 5/004 with an automatic spring reel
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/024 with provisions for preventing unauthorised removal show cases with devices for prevention of theft A47F3/002; devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal E05B73/0017
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/75 having a joining piece extending through aligned openings in plural members

Abstract

An apparatus for displaying mobile phones and other hand-held devices comprising a clamping system, a retracting system, and a positioning system. The clamping system holds a hand-held device between two parts, which are fastened together by a fitting and a security screw having a head with a slot requiring a special key. The retracting system includes a retractable tethering cable wound on a spool. The positioning system includes a male component, which anchors the tethering cable to the fitting, and a female component, which is mounted on the retracting system. The tethering cable passes through the female component of the positioning system so that when the hand-held device is retracted, the male component of the positioning system is received by the female component thus assuring proper orientation of the hand-held device on display.

Claims

1. An apparatus for securely displaying a hand-held device on a display structure while allowing said hand-held device to be examined comprising:

a secure clamping means to securely clamp said hand-held device and connect said hand-held device to a tether comprising an upper component and a lower component and a coupling fitting;

a means to extend and to retract said tether comprising a spring activated means, with said spring activated means mounted on a housing plate and with said housing plate having an opening for passage of a tethering cable and with a second end of said tethering cable connected to said spring activated means and with said spring activated means exerting a retracting force when said tethering cable is extended;

a positioning means having a non-circular positioning element to position said clamped device in a fixed orientation when said device is retracted;

said non-circular positioning element being connected to said extending and retracting means;

a complementary positioning element comprising second non-circular positioning element disposed about said opening in said housing plate, and with said cable passing through said opening, and with said complementary positioning element connected to said housing plate by connecting means, and with said complementary positioning element having a lumen to permit passage of said cable, so that said non-circular positioning element and said complementary positioning element mate in a fixed orientation when said tethering cable is completely retracted;

each of said upper component and said lower component comprising said secure clamping means has a bottom element with a first end and a second end, with said bottom element of each component having an inside that receives said hand-held device and an outside.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein each first end of said components having a bracket to confine said hand-held device within said bottom element, and with each second end comprising an edge, and with each edge having a tab and with each tab being perpendicular to each edge projecting from the outside of each bottom element.

3. The device according to claim 2 with each tab having an opening, and with one of said openings being threaded to receive a screw.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein said screw has a threaded shaft and a head.

5. The device according to claim 4 wherein said coupling fitting comprises a base, with said base having at least two opposing flat faces for contact with said tabs of said clamping components, and with said opposing flat faces having opposing holes interconnected by a hollow passage through said base to receive said threaded shalt of said screw, and said non-circular positioning element connected to said base to mate with said complementary positioning element.

6. The device according to claim 5 with said tethering cable connected to said non-circular positioning element.

7. The device according to claim 6 with said upper component and said lower component aligned with said coupling fitting so that said tabs are opposed, and each said tab is in contact with an opposed flat face of said coupling fitting, and with said holes of said coupling fitting aligned with said openings of said tabs to receive said screw, and with said edges of said components opposed, so that said bracket of said upper component and said bracket of said lower component are aligned to receive and confine said hand-held device so that said received hand-held device can be securely clamped by inserting said threaded screw through the opening of one of said tabs, and through said opposed holes of said coupling device and tightening said screw in said threaded opening of tab.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said spring activated means to extend and retract said tether further comprises:

an axle connected to said housing plate, a spool mounted on said axle, a cable comprising said tethering cable, with said second end of said cable secured to said spool by securing means, with said cable wrapped around said spool and with said spring activated retracting means connected to said spool.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said positioning means disposed about said opening in said housing plate is contained within a flange connected to said housing plate.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the head of said threaded screw has a slot requiring a key to turn said screw in order to prevent unauthorized loosening of said screw.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said means to extend and retract said tether comprises said spool having a first and a second channel with said cable wound on said second channel and with said retracting means comprising a coil of a constant force spring, with said spring coil mounted on said housing plate, and with an end of said spring secured to the first channel of said spool by the securing means and with said spring arranged so that as said cable is pulled, said spring is wound from the coil onto the first channel of said spool, thereby exerting a retracting force on said cable.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said non-circular positioning element comprising said coupling fitting is a male component having an ovoid cross-section and said complementary positioning element contained within said flange is a female component comprising a tubular structure, with said tubular structure having a wall that encloses a lumen and with said lumen having an ovoid cross-section.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the wall of said tubular structure further comprises a multiplicity of rounded rails that longitudinally traverse said tubular structure within said lumen.

14. An apparatus to securely clamp a hand-held device to a tether comprising:

an upper component and a lower component with each of said components having a bottom element with a first end and a second end, with said bottom element of each component having an inside that receives said hand-held device and an outside, and with each first end of said components having a bracket to confine said hand-held device within said bottom element, and with each second end comprising an edge, and with each edge having a tab and with each tab perpendicular to each edge and each tab projecting from the outside of each bottom element, and with each tab having an opening, and with a one of said openings threaded to receive a screw having a threaded shaft and a head and an other of said openings unthreaded and able to receive only said threaded shaft of said screw, and a coupling fitting, with said coupling fitting comprising a base, with said base having at least two opposing flat faces for contact with said tabs of said clamping components, and with at least two opposing flat faces having opposing holes interconnected by a hollow passage through said base to receive said threaded shaft of said screw, and a non-circular positioning element connected to said base to mate with a complementary positioning element connected to an extending and retracting means, and with a tethering cable connected to said non-circular positioning element, and with said upper component and said lower component aligned with said coupling fitting so that said tabs are opposed, and each said tab is in contact with an opposed flat face of said coupling fitting, and with said holes of said coupling fitting aligned with said openings of said tabs to receive said screw, and with said edges of said components opposed, so that said bracket of said upper component and said bracket of said lower component are aligned to receive said hand-held device so that said received hand-held device can be securely clamped by inserting said threaded screw through said unthreaded opening of said tab, and through said opposed holes of said coupling device and tightening said screw in said threaded opening of said tab.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said head of said threaded screw has a slot requiring a key to turn said screw in order to prevent unauthorized loosening of said screw.

16. An apparatus to securely clamp a hand-held device to a tether comprising:

an upper component and a lower component with each of said components having a bottom element with a first end and a second end;

said bottom element of each component having an inside that receives said hand-held device and an outside;

each first end of said components having a bracket to confine said hand-held device within said bottom element;

a means for detachably connecting the upper component and the lower component together so that said bracket of said upper component and said bracket of said lower component are aligned to receive and hold said hand-held device; and

a means to connect said upper connecting and said lower component to tethering cable comprising;

a first tab connected to said upper component;

a second tab connected to said lower component;

each tab projecting from the outside of each component;

each tab having an opening;

one of said openings being threaded to receive a screw; and

a screw having a threaded shaft that screws into said threaded opening.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said second opening is unthreaded opening;

said second opening capable of receiving said threaded shaft of said screw.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the head of said threaded screw has a slot requiring a key to turn said screw in order to prevent unauthorized loosening of said screw.

19. The apparatus according to claim 16 having a coupling fitting comprising:

a base;

said base having at least two opposing flat faces for contact with said tabs of said clamping components; and

at least two opposing flat faces having opposing holes interconnected by a hollow passage through said base to receive said threaded shaft of said screw.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19 having a non-circular positioning element connected to said base which is configured to mate with a complementary positioning element connected to a tethering cable.