Package and article carriers – Carried by animate bearer – Article held by receiver
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-22
2001-03-27
Cronin, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Carried by animate bearer
Article held by receiver
C224S270000, C224S271000, C224S272000, C224S930000, C024S598700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206257
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention is directed toward devices for attaching personal articles, and more particularly toward clips for carrying personal communication devices such as cellular telephones.
2. Background Art
Devices for releasably carrying personal articles are well known in the art. For example, with personal communication devices such as cellular telephones it is desirable to be able to carry these devices without having to uncomfortably place them in the user's pocket. Thus, swivel belt clips readily attachable to belts have been commonly provided with such devices, allowing the user to insert the device into the top of the clip and secure it thereto, with the user then able to carry the device on his or her belt until it is desired to use the device.
While such belt clips can be convenient, they can require a certain height which can be uncomfortable when worm. Also, they can be awkward to use when releasing the device. For example, pulling the phone up out of the clip can instead result in the clip being carried with the device and detached from the wearers belt. As another example, the wearer may find that he or she is in a position in which some object is located above the device and clip and therefore hinders or blocks the device from being easily removed.
The present invention is directed toward overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, a releasable holder for a personal article is provided, comprising a base clip and an article clip adapted to secure to the personal article. The base clip includes a channel open on opposite ends, a locking tab biased toward projecting into the channel, and a first release tab engageable by a user for retracting the locking tab from the channel. The article clip includes a locking head adapted to slide in the channel, where the locking head includes a tapered outer portion adapted to force the release tab from the channel when engaged by the outer portion during sliding of the locking head in the channel, and an inner recess in one end adapted to receive the release tab when aligned therewith.
In a preferred form of this aspect of the invention, the base clip is securable to a carrier in a generally horizontal orientation, the carrier in a preferred form being a belt.
In another preferred form, the locking head has a transverse clearance in the channel which is less than the distance which the locking tab projects into the channel.
In still another preferred form, a second release tab is provided and also engageable by a user for retracting the locking tab from the channel. In still further preferred forms, the locking tab extends through an opening in the channel and a spring member biases the locking tab through the hole; the first and second release tabs are respectively disposed adjacent the channel opposite ends; and either of the first and second release tabs is movable toward the other of the first and second release tabs responsive to engagement by a user, each of the release tabs including a cam member adapted to cam the locking tab against its bias when the associated release tab is moved toward the other release tab.
In another aspect of the present invention, a releasable holder for a portable communication device is provided including a base clip adapted to secure to a carrier and an article clip adapted to secure to the portable communication device. The base clip includes a channel having a bottom and side walls extending between open opposite ends with overlying flanges on both side walls spaced a selected distance from the channel bottom, a locking tab extending into an opening in the channel bottom, a biasing member biasing the locking tab into the channel bottom opening, and a first release tab engageable by a user for moving the locking tab against the biasing of the biasing member. The article clip includes a locking head adapted to slide in the channel, the locking head having a width greater than the spacing between the channel flanges and no greater than the spacing between the side walls, a height no greater than the selected distance of the channel flanges from the channel bottom, an end disposed adjacent the channel bottom when the locking head is in the channel, the end including a tapered outer portion and an inner recess in one end adapted to receive the release tab when aligned therewith.
In a preferred form, a clip member is provided on the base clip adapted to secure the base clip to the carrier with the channel in a generally horizontal orientation.
In another preferred form a second release tab is provided engageable by a user for moving the locking tab against the biasing of the biasing member. In preferred forms, the first and second release tabs are respectively disposed adjacent the channel opposite ends, and either of the first and second release tabs is movable toward the other of the first and second release tabs responsive to engagement by a user where each of the release tabs includes a cam member adapted to cam the locking tab against the biasing member when the associated release tab is moved toward the other release tab.
It is an object of the invention to provide a releasable holder which may be used with a variety of devices, and may be easily adapted for reliable secure attachment to many different objects.
It is another object of the invention to provide a releasable holder which may be easily operated in attaching and detaching the device from an object, and accommodates different user preferences and different situations and positions in which the user might find himself or herself when attaching and detaching the device from the object.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a releasable holder which may be comfortably worn by the user.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5730342 (1998-03-01), Tien
patent: 5850996 (1998-12-01), Liang
patent: 6006969 (1999-12-01), Kim
patent: 6059156 (2000-05-01), Lehtinen
patent: 6098858 (2000-08-01), Laugesen
Ericsson Belt Clip Figure—SXK 107 6835 R2A, Date Unknown.
Peele James Calvin
Shanaberger Cathelene Thomas
Cronin Stephen K.
Ericsson Inc.
Wood Phillips VanSanten Clark & Mortimer
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