Portable media device

• US 7,151,664 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2004
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Implus Footcare LLC (Denergy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Michael Hosey
• Inventors: Hosey, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US10/762,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20050162823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 361679-687, 361724-727, 348/373, 348/552, 428/142, 428/121, 360/55
• US Class Current: 361/679.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07732 the record carrier having a housing or construction similar to well-known portable memory devices, such as SD cards, USB or memory sticks housings for electrical equipment in general, see H05K5/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24364 with transparent or protective coating

Abstract

A portable media device includes a memory, a data interface port communicatively coupled to the memory, and a portable housing encasing the memory and data interface port. The portable housing may include a locking retaining portion such as a carabineer clip or the like that locks the media device to a desired article. In certain example embodiments, the portable media device may be a digital camera, an MP3 player, a pocket flash memory or other similar digital devices.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a memory;

a data interface port communicatively coupled to the memory; and

a portable housing unit integrated with and supporting the memory and data interface port, wherein at least a portion of the portable housing unit is formed as a locking retaining clip which in a first position facilitates insertion of a separate article for retaining the portable housing unit, and in a second position locks the portable housing unit to the article.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the locking retaining clip comprises a carabineer clip.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the portable electronic device comprises a digital camera.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the portable electronic device comprises an audio device.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the memory comprises a flash memory and wherein the data interface port comprises a universal serial bus (USB) interface.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the portion of the portable housing unit forming the locking retaining clip is removable from a second portion of the housing unit integrated with the memory and data interface port.

7. The device of claim 4 wherein the audio device comprises an MP3 player.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the portion of the portable housing unit forming the locking retaining clip is configured as a protective cover for the data interface port.

9. A portable media device comprising:

an electronic unit; and

a housing configured to house the electronic unit, wherein at least a portion of said housing is formed as a locking retaining clip comprising a moving member having a first position for attaching the media device to a separate article and a second position for locking the media device to the article.

10. The media device of claim 9 wherein the electronic unit comprises a digital video device.

11. The media device of claim 9 wherein the electronic unit comprises an audio device.

12. The media device of claim 9 wherein the electronic device comprises a flash memory.

13. The media device of claim 9 wherein the locking retaining portion comprises a carabineer clip.

14. The media device of claim 10 wherein the digital video device comprises a digital camera.

15. The media device of claim 11 wherein the audio device comprises an MP3 player.

16. A portable media device comprising:

a portable housing at least a portion of which is formed as a carabineer clip configured to lock the media device to a separate article;

a flash memory disposed in the housing;

a USB port coupled to the memory; and

a digital media device attached to said housing and coupled to the memory.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the digital media device comprises one of a digital camera or an MP3 player.

18. The portable media device of claim 16 wherein the portion of the housing formed as a carabineer clip is detachable from a second portion of the housing.

19. The portable media device of claim 18 wherein the portion of the housing formed as a carabineer clip is configured as a protective cover for the USB port.