Wearable sled system for a mobile computer device

• US 9,743,731 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2015
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Oberpriller, Mark Lee, Bruffey, Robert, Phillips, Marcus Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Nash, Brian D
• Application Number:
  US14/918,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20160174674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/008 Hand articles fastened to the wrist or to the arm or to the leg
• 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 5/021 to the belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer

Abstract

A wearable sled system for a mobile computer device includes an open-ended sled housing, a removable end cap, and a mounting assembly for mounting the sled housing onto a user'"'"'s arm or belt. A mobile computer device is slidably received into the sled housing, and the end cap is received on the sled housing'"'"'s open end to form a complete enclosure. The mounting assembly includes a rigid mounting plate having a front side configured to receive the back side of the sled housing. The mounting plate and the sled housing include locking formations for selectively securing the sled housing to the mounting plate. The mounting assembly further includes an attachment device secured to the back side of the mounting plate for removably mounting the system on the user.

Claims

1. A wearable sled system for a mobile computer device, comprising:

a sled housing having a front side, a back side, a closed bottom end, and an open top end that cooperately define an interior cavity configured and arranged to slidably receive a mobile computer device;

an end cap removably received at said top end of said sled housing; and

a mounting assembly that includes (i) a rigid mounting plate having a front side and a back side, said front side of said mounting assembly being configured and arranged to receive said back side of said sled housing, said mounting plate and said sled housing including corresponding interfitting locking formations for selectively securing said sled housing to said mounting plate, and (ii) an attachment device secured to said back side of said mounting plate for removably mounting the wearable sled system to a user of the mobile computer device.

2. The wearable sled system of claim 1, wherein said interfitting locking formations comprise spring latches formed on said mounting plate and corresponding tabs formed on said sled housing.

3. The wearable sled system of claim 1, wherein said bottom end of said sled housing includes a passage configured and arranged to receive a peripheral connector plug.

4. The wearable sled system of claim 1, wherein said attachment device comprises a belt clip securable to said back side of said mounting plate.

5. The wearable sled system of claim 4, wherein said front side of said sled housing is closed.

6. The wearable sled system of claim 5, wherein said end cap includes a passage configured and arranged to receive an audio headset cable.

7. The wearable sled system of claim 4, wherein said end cap includes a passage configured and arranged to receive an audio headset cable.

8. The wearable sled system of claim 1, wherein said attachment device comprises (i) a strap assembly having a body portion securable to said back side of said mounting plate and (ii) two spaced pairs of elastomeric, coacting straps extending from said body portion of said strap assembly, said coacting straps being configured and arranged to encircle a user'"'"'s limb, wherein each pair of said coacting straps include a buckle on one coacting strap and plurality of apertures on the opposing coacting strap, said buckle and apertures cooperating to releasably and adjustably secure said coacting straps to each other in one of a plurality of positions.

9. The wearable sled system of claim 8, wherein said front side of said sled housing is open to provide access to an input screen of the mobile computer device.

10. The wearable sled system of claim 8, wherein each pair of said coacting straps includes at least one pleated expansion area on at least one of said coacting straps.

11. The wearable sled system of claim 10, wherein said front side of said sled housing is open to provide access to an input screen of the mobile computer device.

12. The wearable sled system of claim 10, wherein said mounting plate includes opposing strap retaining arms for retaining the free ends of said apertured coacting straps.

13. The wearable sled system of claim 12, wherein said front side of said sled housing is open to provide access to an input screen of the mobile computer device.

14. The wearable sled system of claim 8, wherein said mounting plate includes opposing strap retaining arms for retaining the free ends of said apertured coacting straps.

15. The wearable sled system of claim 14, wherein said front side of said sled housing is open to provide access to an input screen of the mobile computer device.

16. The wearable sled system of claim 8, wherein said end cap includes a passage configured and arranged to receive an audio headset cable.

17. A wearable sled system for a mobile computer device, comprising:

a sled housing having a front side, a back side, a closed bottom end, and an open top end that cooperately define an interior cavity configured and arranged to slidably receive a mobile computer device;

an end cap configured to be received at the top end of the sled housing for securing the mobile device within the housing; and

a mounting assembly that includes (i) a rigid mounting plate having a front side and a back side, the front side of the mounting assembly being configured and arranged to receive the back side of the sled housing, the mounting plate and the sled housing including corresponding interfitting locking formations for selectively securing the sled housing to the mounting plate, and (ii) an attachment device secured to the back side of the mounting plate for removably mounting the wearable sled system to a user of the mobile computer device;

wherein the sled housing and/or the end cap include a passage configured and arranged to receive and secure a portion of a peripheral connector in engagement with the mobile computer device.

18. The wearable sled system of claim 17, wherein the passage of the sled housing comprises a pivoting connector tray.

19. The wearable sled system of claim 17, wherein the passage of the end cap is configured and arranged to encircle a portion of a peripheral connector.