Rotating and pivoting belt clip that can be used as a stand
First Claim
1. A system for carrying a portable device comprising:
- an elongated clip body formed into a U-shape having a first elongated leg extending substantially parallel to a second elongated leg, the clip body being adapted to attach to an article of clothing worn by a person and the first and second elongated legs are substantially flat;
a swiveling bracket, wherein a first end of the swiveling bracket is coupled to the clip body by a retaining pin that allows the swiveling bracket to rotate about the clip body in at least one of a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction within a first plane;
a mounting bracket coupled to a second end of the swiveling bracket opposite from the first end that allows the swiveling bracket to rotate about the mounting bracket in at least one of a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction within a second plane, the second plane being substantially perpendicular to the first plane, anda case for the portable device removably attached to the mounting bracket such that the mounting bracket and the case are adapted to rotate together within the first plane and the second plane,wherein the first end of the swiveling bracket is further adapted to be rotated about the clip body in the first plane to an acute angle, such that an edge of the first elongated leg distal from the closed end of the clip acts as a stand for the case when the edge of the clip body is placed on a horizontal surface, the swiveling bracket being further adapted to allow the mounting bracket and the case to be rotated within the second plane to a landscape and a portrait position; and
wherein the second elongated leg comprises an aperture that approximately matches a first side of the swiveling bracket allowing the elongated clip body to be rotated along the first plane until at least a portion of the first side of the swiveling bracket extends into the aperture of the second elongated leg and through the second elongated leg, and the second elongated leg of the elongated clip body folds flat against the mounting bracket.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A belt clip apparatus is provided that attaches to a case for a portable electronic device (e.g., a music player, video player, cell phone, etc.) that both swivels and pivots on two different axes. Such a clip can attach to an article of clothing and allow the user to view the screen and access the controls of an electronic device without having to first remove the device from the article of clothing. In one embodiment, the apparatus can stand on a flat surface in either an angled portrait or landscape orientation when attached to the case, thereby allowing the user to choose the optimal orientation for accessing the controls or viewing a screen on a portable device mounted within the attached case. The angle formed between the case and the belt clip can be varied so that the user can optimize the viewing angle of the attached portable electronic device.
52 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for carrying a portable device comprising:
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an elongated clip body formed into a U-shape having a first elongated leg extending substantially parallel to a second elongated leg, the clip body being adapted to attach to an article of clothing worn by a person and the first and second elongated legs are substantially flat; a swiveling bracket, wherein a first end of the swiveling bracket is coupled to the clip body by a retaining pin that allows the swiveling bracket to rotate about the clip body in at least one of a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction within a first plane; a mounting bracket coupled to a second end of the swiveling bracket opposite from the first end that allows the swiveling bracket to rotate about the mounting bracket in at least one of a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction within a second plane, the second plane being substantially perpendicular to the first plane, and a case for the portable device removably attached to the mounting bracket such that the mounting bracket and the case are adapted to rotate together within the first plane and the second plane, wherein the first end of the swiveling bracket is further adapted to be rotated about the clip body in the first plane to an acute angle, such that an edge of the first elongated leg distal from the closed end of the clip acts as a stand for the case when the edge of the clip body is placed on a horizontal surface, the swiveling bracket being further adapted to allow the mounting bracket and the case to be rotated within the second plane to a landscape and a portrait position; and wherein the second elongated leg comprises an aperture that approximately matches a first side of the swiveling bracket allowing the elongated clip body to be rotated along the first plane until at least a portion of the first side of the swiveling bracket extends into the aperture of the second elongated leg and through the second elongated leg, and the second elongated leg of the elongated clip body folds flat against the mounting bracket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A belt clip assembly comprising:
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an elongated clip body formed into a U-shape having a first elongated leg extending substantially parallel to a second elongated leg, the clip body being adapted to attach to an article of clothing worn by a person and the first and second elongated legs are substantially flat; a swiveling bracket, wherein a first end of the swiveling bracket is coupled to the clip body by a retaining pin that allows the clip body to rotate about the swiveling bracket in a first axis of rotation; and a mounting bracket coupled to a second end of the swiveling bracket opposite from the first end that allows the clip body to rotate about the mounting bracket in a second axis of rotation, the second axis being substantially perpendicular to the first axis of rotation, wherein the mounting bracket is adapted to be removably coupled to a case for a portable device; and wherein the second elongated leg comprises an aperture that approximately matches a first side of the swiveling bracket allowing the elongated clip body to be rotated along the first axis of rotation until at least a portion of the first side of the swiveling bracket extends into the aperture of the second elongated leg and through the second elongated leg, and the second elongated leg of the elongated clip body folds flat against the mounting bracket. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification