Attachment device for mobile phone

• US RE38,992 E1
• Filed: 08/05/1999
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amtel Technology Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Amtel Technology Pty Limited
• Inventors: Whitley, Kevin James
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K.
• Application Number:
  US10/142,578
• Time in Patent Office: 2,399 Days
• Field of Search: 224/195, 224/196, 224/197, 224/198, 224/199, 224/247, 224/249, 224/269, 224/271, 224/272, 224665-672, 224/929, 224/930, 24/31.1, 24/31.2, 245/94, 245/95, 245/97, 379/446, 379/455
• US Class Current: 224/271
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/93 Attached to animate bearer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1394 Article held by clip
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4501 Quick connect or release [e.g., spring and detent]

Abstract

A device (10) is for the attachment of mobile phones or like apparatus to a belt or other garment of a user. The device (10) includes a receptacle body (12) and corresponding flanged lug fastener (11) which is attached to the mobile phone or like apparatus. The receptable receptacle body (12) is adapted to be attached to a belt or the like by means of a clip (14) positioned on the receptable receptacle body (12). The body (12) has an opening (25) located at its top side portion into which the flange of the lug fastener (11) is received with the lug fastener (11) extending through a slot (27) on the receptable receptacle body (12) communicating with the opening (25) such that the mobile phone or like apparatus is positioned outside and adjacent the receptacle body (12) when the lug fastener (11) is received within the receptacle body (12). The device (10) further includes a locking means within the receptacle body (12), the locking means having a moveable movable carriage (29) movable between a receiving position and a holding position, the carriage (29) receiving the flange of the lug fastener (11) when the moveable movable carriage (29) is in the receiving position. The carriage (29) has holding means to capture and hold the flange of the lug fastener (11) within the carriage (29) when the moveable movable carriage is moved into the holding position.

Claims

1. A device for the attachment of mobile phones or like apparatus to a belt or other garment of a user, said device including a receptacle body and corresponding flanged lug fastener which is attached to the mobile phone or like apparatus, said receptacle body being adapted to be attached to a belt or the like by means of a clip means positioned on the receptacle body, said receptacle body having an opening located at its top side portion into which the flange of said lug fastener is received with the lug fastener extending through a slot on said receptacle body communicating with said opening such that said mobile phone or like apparatus is positioned outside and adjacent said receptacle body when said lug fastener is received within said receptacle body, wherein said device further includes a locking means movable carriage within said receptacle body, said locking means having a movable carriage being movable between a receiving position and a holding position, said carriage receiving said flange of said lug fastener when said movable carriage is in said receiving position, and said carriage device having holding means to capture and hold said flange of said lug fastener within said carriage when said movable fastener carriage is moved into said holding position, and wherein the holding means is a pair of pliable arms or articulated arms which are part of the carriage , the arms being forced around the lug fastener to prevent the lug fastener from moving out of the carriage.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the free ends of the arms are forced around the lug fastener as the carriage moves from the receiving position to the holding position due to pins in the arms moving within a slotted track in the receptacle body.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the arms are part of the carriage.

12. The device according to claim 1, including a spring urging the carriage from the holding position towards the receiving position.

13. The device according to claim 12, including a retaining means for securing the carriage in the holding position and a release button within the receptacle for releasing the carriage from the retaining means, and wherein the spring is effective between the release button and the carriage.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the clip means comprises a folded spring having first and second leaves, the first leaf being attached to the receptacle body.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the clip means comprises an attachment clip portion attached to the second leaf of the folded spring.

3. A device for the attachment of mobile phones or like apparatus to a belt or other garment of a user, said device including a receptacle body and corresponding flanged lug fastener which is attached to the mobile phone or like apparatus, said receptacle body being adapted to be attached to a belt or the like by means of a clip means positioned on the receptacle body, said receptacle body having an opening located at its top side portion into which the flange of said lug fastener is received with the lug fastener extending through a slot on said receptacle body communicating with said opening such that said mobile phone or like apparatus is positioned outside and adjacent said receptacle body when said lug fastener is received within said receptacle body, wherein said device further includes a locking resisting means within said receptacle body, said locking resisting means having a movable carriage movable between a receiving position and a holding position, said carriage receiving said flange of said lug fastener when said movable carriage is in said receiving position, and said carriage having holding means to capture and hold said flange of said lug fastener within said carriage when said movable fastener is moved into said holding position, wherein the holding means prevents the flange from rotating, and wherein the holding means is a pair of pliable arms which are part of the carriage, the arms having protrusions at least one protrusion which engage engages with indents an indent in the flange of the lug fastener thus restricting to resist rotational movement of the lug fastener as well as restricting the lug fastener from moving out of the carriage .

4. The device according to claim 3 9, wherein the free ends of the arms are forced around the lug fastener as the carriage moves from the receiving position to the holding position due to pins in the arms moving within a slotted track in the receptacle body, thus capturing the lug fastener.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the locking resisting means further includes a release means which releases the moveable carriage from the holding position.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the carriage is locked in the holding position by a flange and stop means which engage when the carriage is in the holding position, the carriage being released by the release means which consists of an external button communicating through an opening in the receptacle body, the release means being manipulated to force the flange and stop means from their engagement.

7. The device according to claim 3, wherein said resisting means includes a carriage within said receptacle body and movable between a receiving position and a holding position, said carriage receiving said flange of said lug fastener when said carriage is in said receiving position.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein said carriage has holding means to capture and hold said flange of said lug fastener within said carriage when said carriage is moved into said holding position.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the holding means is a pair of pliable arms or articulated arms which are part of the carriage, the arms having protrusions which engage with respective indents in the flange of the lug fastener.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein said protrusion is provided on said carriage.

16. The device according to claim 3, wherein the clip means comprises a folded spring having first and second leaves, the first leaf being attached to the receptacle body.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the clip means comprises an attachment clip portion attached to the second leaf of the folded spring.