Electronic devices with clips
First Claim
1. A portable electronic device, comprising:
- a housing having a housing surface;
a clip; and
a hinge coupled between the housing and the clip that includes a linkage member with multiple pivot points and allows the clip to pivot between an open position in which at least part of the clip is offset from the housing and a closed position in which the clip lies flush with the housing surface wherein the linkage member includes at least;
a first bar pivotally connected to the clip and the housing; and
a second bar pivotally connected to the clip and the housing, the second bar longer than the first bar;
whereinthe first and second bars angularly pivot the clip with respect to the housing when the clip is pivoted between the closed position and the open position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable electronic device may have a clip. The clip may be mounted to a housing using hinge structures. The hinge structures may bias the clip towards a closed position. The clip may be opened to attach the portable electronic device to an object. When in the closed position, the clip may lie flush with the exterior of the device housing. Clip biasing may be provided using a torsion spring, a coil spring, a ribbon spring, a clip with built-in biasing, a tension spring, or a compression spring. A coupling mechanism may be used to attach the clip to the housing. The coupling mechanism may include a ratcheting rotatable mechanism, a fixed attachment structure, a flexible attachment structure, a removable structure, or a structure that includes a spring bias adjustment mechanism. The device may have a button with a touch sensor array.
19 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A portable electronic device, comprising:
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a housing having a housing surface; a clip; and a hinge coupled between the housing and the clip that includes a linkage member with multiple pivot points and allows the clip to pivot between an open position in which at least part of the clip is offset from the housing and a closed position in which the clip lies flush with the housing surface wherein the linkage member includes at least; a first bar pivotally connected to the clip and the housing; and a second bar pivotally connected to the clip and the housing, the second bar longer than the first bar;
whereinthe first and second bars angularly pivot the clip with respect to the housing when the clip is pivoted between the closed position and the open position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A portable electronic device, comprising:
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a housing; storage and processing circuitry mounted in the housing; an input device that includes a touch sensor mounted to a front face of the housing; a clip; and hinge structures that connect the clip to a rear surface of the housing, that include a linkage member with multiple pivot points, and that bias the clip towards a closed position, the linkage member including at least a first bar pivotally connected to the clip and the housing and a second bar pivotally connected to the clip and the housing, the second bar longer than the first bar;
whereinthe first and second bars angularly pivot the clip with respect to the housing when the clip is pivoted between the closed position and the open position; and the clip lies flush with the rear surface of the housing in the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A portable electronic device having:
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a housing; a clip; a hinge with which the clip is attached to the housing that includes a linkage member with multiple pivot points wherein the linkage member includes at least; a first bar pivotally connected to the clip and the housing; and a second bar pivotally connected to the clip and the housing, the second bar longer than the first bar; and a torsion spring in the hinge that biases the clip towards the closed position; wherein the clip lies flush with a surface of the housing in the closed position; and the first and second bars angularly pivot the clip with respect to the housing when the clip is pivoted between the closed position and the open position. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification