Holster accommodating different sized portable device cases

• US 9,027,814 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2012
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ballistic Products Limited
• Original Assignee: A.G. Findings and Mfg.
• Inventors: Tages, Fernando, Acero, Daniel, Sotelo, Jorge
• Primary Examiner(s): LARSON, JUSTIN MATTHEW
• Application Number:
  US13/428,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20120325882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 224/245, 224/929, 224/930, 224/242, D32/18, D14/447, D14/250, D14/251, D14/252, D14/253
• US Class Current: 224/666
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0525 Personal portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/021 to the belt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/93 Attached to animate bearer

Abstract

A holster for a mobile device case having a first predetermined configuration and a second predetermined configuration. The holster includes a base sized to releasably affix the mobile device case independent of whether the mobile device case is in the first predetermined configuration or the second predetermined configuration.

Claims

1. A holster kit comprising:

a mobile device case, the mobile device case having a front portion, a first predetermined configuration, a second predetermined configuration, and the first predetermined configuration and the second predetermined configuration being differently dimensioned;

a base sized to releasably affix the mobile device case, the base including an at least substantially planar portion sized to contour the front portion of the mobile device case, the at least substantially planar portion including a plurality of protuberances configured to form a first common contact point for the mobile device case when the mobile device case is releasably affixed to the base in both the first predetermined configuration and the second predetermined configuration, the base having a fixed size to receive the first predetermined configuration and the second predetermined configuration of the mobile device case; and

a retention element configured to releasably mate with a corresponding second common contact point in both the first predetermined configuration and the second predetermined configuration, the plurality of protuberances configured to maintain the alignment between the retention element and the second common contact point in both the first predetermined configuration and the second predetermined configuration without changing the position of the second common contact point.

2. The holster of claim 1, wherein the base includes a plurality of arms sized to engage at least a portion of the mobile device case.

3. The holster of claim 1, wherein the base includes a rotatable fastener.

4. The holster of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined configuration of the mobile device case has a housing including a first portion removeably coupled to a second portion.

5. The holster of claim 4, wherein the second predetermined configuration of the mobile device case includes an elastomeric cover covering at least a portion of the housing.

6. The holster of claim 1, wherein the base includes a latch, and wherein the latch is engageable with the mobile device case in both the first predetermined configuration and the second predetermined configuration.

7. The holster of claim 6, wherein the latch includes an engagement element and wherein the mobile device case includes a recess, and wherein the engagement element is sized to be received within the recess.

8. The holster of claim 1, wherein the base includes a first transverse width and a second transverse width, the first transverse width being smaller than the second transverse width.

9. The holster of claim 8, wherein the base includes a pair of extensions defined along distal ends of the second transverse width.

10. A system, comprising:

a mobile device case having;

a front portion;

a first predetermined configuration

a second predetermined configuration and

the first predetermined configuration and the second predetermined configuration being differently dimensioned;

a base having;

an at least substantially planar portion sized to contour the front portion of the mobile device case;

the at least substantially planar portion including a plurality of protuberances configured to form a first common contact point for the mobile device case when the mobile device case is releasable affixed to the base in both the first predetermined configuration and the second predetermined configuration;

a fixed size to receive the first predetermined configuration and the second predetermined configuration of the mobile device case; and

a retention element configured to releasably mate with a corresponding second common contact point in both the first predetermined configuration and the second predetermined configuration, the plurality of protuberances configured to maintain the alignment between the retention element and the second common contact point in both the first predetermined configuration and the second predetermined configuration without changing the position of the second common contact point.

11. The system of claim 10, further including a rotatable fastener affixed to the base.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of protuberances are configured to space the mobile device case a distance from the base when the mobile device is retained with the housing.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the base includes a first transverse width and a second transverse width, the first transverse width being smaller than the second transverse width.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the base includes a pair of extensions defined along distal ends of the second transverse width.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the base includes a plurality of arms sized to engage at least a portion of the mobile device case.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the base includes a ledge sized to retain a substantial portion of the mobile device case.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the retention element is a latch having an engagement element and wherein the mobile device case includes a recess, and wherein the engagement element is sized to be received within the recess.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the mobile device case is molded with resilient materials.

19. A method of manufacturing a holster kit comprising:

molding a mobile device case, the mobile device case having a front portion, a first predetermined configuration, and a second predetermined configuration, the first predetermined configuration and the second predetermined configuration being differently dimensioned;

molding a base to include an at least substantially planar portion sized to contour the front portion of the mobile device case, the at least substantially planar portion including a plurality of protuberances extending from the at least substantially planar portion, the plurality of protuberances form a first common contact point for the mobile device case when the mobile device case is releasably affixed to the base in both the first predetermined configuration and the second predetermined configuration;

the base having a fixed size to receive the first predetermined configuration and the second predetermined configuration of the mobile device case; and

a retention element configured to releasable mate with a corresponding second common contact point in both the first predetermined configuration and the second predetermined configuration, the plurality of protuberances configured to maintain the alignment between the retention element and the second common contact point in both the first predetermined configuration and the second predetermined configuration without changing the position of the second common contact point.