AU2021101508A4

AU2021101508A4 - Lockable pouch for a mobile phone

Info

Publication number: AU2021101508A4
Application number: AU2021101508A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Yichao DENG
Original assignee: Fair Ocean Trading Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Fair Ocean Trading Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2021-03-24
Filing date: 2021-03-24
Publication date: 2021-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 2029-03-24
Also published as: GB2605700A; GB202204164D0

Abstract

A lockable pouch for a mobile phone comprising a pouch body having an opening between opposing top ends therefore and being configured for receiving the mobile phone therein; a locking clip comprising a first arm and a second arm pivotably connected to each other such 5 that respective inner surfaces of the first arm and the second arm face each other in a closed position of the locking clip; a locking needle coupled to the first arm; a locking cup coupled to the second arm and configured to secure, in a locked state of the lockable pouch, the locking needle therein; wherein the first arm and the second arm are disposed on the opposing top ends of the pouch body, respectively, such that the respective opposing top ends are moveable [O together with the first arm and the second arm; and wherein the locking needle is moveable relative to the first arm between a first position in which a tip of the needle is flush with or retracted relative to the inner surface of the first arm, and a second position in which the needle protrudes the inner surface of the first arm to be securable in the locking cup. 1 1/10 107 (b)~f 101() 100 113 102 108 104 110 109 (b)100 ()100 118 102 108 108 120 120 11102 104 112 104 117 (d) 115 Figure 1

Description

1/10 107

102 (b)~f 108 104 101() 100 113 110 109

(b)100 ()100

118 102 108 108 120

120

11102 104 112 104 117 (d)

115

Figure 1

LOCKABLE POUCH FOR A MOBILE PHONE FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates broadly to a lockable pouch for a mobile phone.

BACKGROUND

Any mention and/or discussion of prior art throughout the specification should not be considered, in any way, as an admission that this prior art is well known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

LO Mobile phones are omnipresent in today's society. While mobile phones have greatly enhanced our lifestyle and interaction options, the "always on their phone" and "always contactable" mentality can be disruptive in various environments, such as in school, concert, seminars etc.

For such environments, it has been proposed to arrange for the phones to be locked in a pouch for the duration of a particular scenario, such as during class or during a seminar, to enhance

[5 focus of participants on the scenario. One such proposal is described at https://www.overyondr.com/howitworks. The locked pouch with the mobile phone inside can remain in the possession of the participant, but the unlocking is performed with an unlocking device centrally provided and used at the end of the attended scenario.

However, the locking mechanism in the design described at )o https://www.overyondr.com/howitworks is prone to accidental injury of a user and or damage to the mobile phone during insertion and/or retrieval.

Embodiments of the present invention seek to address at least one of the above problems.

SUMMARY

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lockable pouch for a mobile phone comprising:

a pouch body having an opening between opposing top ends therefore and being configured for receiving the mobile phone therein;

a locking clip comprising a first arm and a second arm pivotably connected to each other such that respective inner surfaces of the first arm and the second arm face each other in a closed position of the locking clip;

a locking needle coupled to the first arm; a locking cup coupled to the second arm and configured to secure, in a locked state of the lockable pouch, the locking needle therein; wherein the first arm and the second arm are disposed on the opposing top ends of the pouch body, respectively, such that the respective opposing top ends are moveable together with the first arm and the second arm; and wherein the locking needle is moveable relative to the first arm between a first position in which a tip of the needle is flush with or retracted relative to the inner surface of the first arm, and a second position in which the needle protrudes the inner surface of the first arm to be securable in the locking cup.

Lo The lockable pouch may comprise a button mechanism disposed on the first arm, the button mechanism comprising a button element coupled to the locking needle and moveable relative to the first arm for effecting movement of the locking needle between the first position and the second position. The button element may be configured such that the locking needle is biased in the first position.

L5 The opposing top ends of the pouch body may be connected to each other at a first side of the pouch body and separate from each other at the top of the pouch body and at a second side of the pouch body to define a side slit of the opening, the side slit extending from the top of the pouch body.

The clip may comprise a first wing portion connected to the first arm, and a second wing portion o0 connected to the second arm, wherein the first and second wings are made from a material that is more elastic compared to a material of the first and second arms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will be better understood and readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the following written description, by way of example only, and in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1(a) shows a schematic perspective view drawing of a locking clip for a lockable pouch according to an example embodiment.

Figure 1(b) shows a schematic side view drawing of the locking clip of Figure 1(a) with the locking needle retracted.

Figure 1(b) shows a schematic side view drawing of the locking clip of Figure 1(a) with the locking needle exposed.

Figure 1(d) shows a schematic perspective view drawing of an unlocking base for use with the locking clip of Figure 1(a).

Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view drawing of a lockable pouch according to an example embodiment.

Figure 3 show a schematic side view drawing of the lockable pouch of Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a schematic view drawing of two pieces making up a pouch body of a lockable pouch according to an example embodiment.

Figure 5 shows a photograph of a lockable pouch according to an example embodiment, onto the button side of the top end.

Figure 6 shows a photograph of the lockable pouch of Figure 5, onto the locking cup side of the top end.

Lo Figure 7 shows a photograph of a lockable pouch of Figure 5, into the opening from the side slit side thereof.

Figure 8 shows a photograph of a lockable pouch of Figure 5 into the opening 510 from the side slit side thereof, with the locking needle exposed.

Figures 9(a) shows a photograph of a clip for use in an example embodiment, in an open state.

L5 Figures 9(b) shows a photograph of a clip of Figure 9(a), in a closed state

Figure 10 shows a photograph of wings for a clip for use in an example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1(a) to (c) show schematic drawings of a locking clip 100 for a lockable pouch for a )o mobile phone, according to an example embodiment. The locking clip 100 has a first arm 102 and a second arm 104 pivotably connected to each other. In this embodiment, the pivotable connection, indicated generally at numeral 107, is provided in the form of interleaved ring portions secured to each other with an axle member (hidden). However, the pivotable connections can be implemented in various other forms in different example embodiments, as will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art. Wings 109, 111 are connected to the first arm 102 and the second arm 104, respectively. The wings 109, 110 are relatively more elastic compared to the first arm 102 and second arm 104. In a non-limiting example, the wings 109, 111 are made from Polyvinyl chloride, PVC. Example dimensions are indicted in Figure 1(a), by way of example, not limitation. In this non-limiting example, the wings 109, 111 are glued to the first arm 102 and the second arm 104.

Respective inner surfaces 108, 110 of the first arm 102 and the second arm 104 will face each other in a closed position of the locking clip 100, noting that the locking clip is shown in an open position in Figure 1(a) and hence is hidden in Figures 1(a) and (b). The locking clip 100 has a locking needle 112 coupled to the first arm 102, and a locking cup 114 coupled to the second arm 104. The locking cup 114 is configured to receive, in the closed position of the locking clip 100 (which corresponds to the locked state of the lockable pouch according to an example embodiment), the locking needle 112 therein.

Various mechanisms may be used to securely engage the locking needle 112 within the locking cup 114 and for disengagement of the locking needle 112 from the locking cup 114, including, but not limited to, mechanical locking mechanisms and/or magnetic locking mechanisms. Such mechanisms are understood by a person skilled in the art and will not be described in detail herein. By way of general description, in a magnetic mechanism for use in an example embodiment, the locking cup 114 comprises biased ball elements (hidden) which can engage a circumferential trench (not shown) on the locking needle 112. As the locking needle 112 is

[O inserted into the locking cup 114 via a central hole 111, the tip initially moves the ball elements radially against the bias. When the locking needle 112 is fully inserted, e.g. when its tip abuts the (closed) end of the locking cup 114, the ball elements are biased into engagement with the circumferential trench on the locking needle 112, which is located to be just beyond the hole 111 in a funnel shaped cavity of the locking cup 114. The ball elements are biased using a coil L5 spring (hidden) disposed within the funnel shaped cavity (hidden) and a metal ring (hidden) disposed between the coil spring and the ball elements.

For unlocking, the metal ring is moveable under an external magnetic field applied at the closed end of the locking cup 114 by a suitably strong magnet incorporated in separate unlocking base 115 (see Figure 1(d)) against the force of the coil spring and hence the bias is removed from )o the ball elements so that they are radially moveable to disengage from the circumferential trench, allowing removal of the locking needle 112 from the locking cup 114. In this example, the unlocking base 115 has a depression117 for receiving the locking cup 114 for optimum directing of the magnetic field relative to the biased ball elements inside the locking cup 114. Advantageously, because in the example embodiment the locking needle 112 is biased for )5 retraction into a button 118, as will be described in more detail below, the locking needle 112 is "automatically" retracted from the locking cup 114 and into the button 118 upon removal of the bias from the ball elements to disengage from the circumferential trench. It is noted that the unlocking base for use with example embodiments can be designed differently compared to the unlocking base 115 shown in Figure 1(d).

As shown in Figures 1(b) and (c), the locking needle 112 is moveable relative to the first arm 102 between a first position in which the tip 113 of the needle 112 is flush with or retracted relative to the inner surface 108 of the first arm 102 (see Figure 1(b)) and a second position in which the needle 112 protrudes the inner surface 108 of the first arm 102 to be receivable in the locking cup 114 (see Figure 1(c)).

In the example embodiment, a button mechanism 116 is disposed on the first arm 108, which has a button element in the form of a two-piece telescopic button 118 coupled to the locking needle 112. Using the two-piece telescopic button 118 can advantageously make the button mechanism more compact. The button 118 is moveable relative to the first arm 102 for effecting movement of the locking needle 112 between the first position (see Figure 1(b)) and the second position (see Figure 1(c)).

In the example embodiment, the button mechanism also comprises a base 120 coupled to the first arm 102. The button 118 is coupled to the base 120 in a manner such that the locking needle 112 is biased in the first position (see Figure 1(b)). Various mechanisms may be used to achieve the bias, including, but not limited to, spring bias mechanisms. Such mechanisms are understood by a person skilled in the art and will not be described in detail herein. By way of general description, in a spring bias mechanism for use in an example embodiment, a coil spring is disposed inside the button 118 and around the locking needle 112, with one end of the coil spring engaging the base 120, and the other end of the coil spring engaging the top of the button 118.

LO The components of the clip 100, including the locking cup 114, the button 118, the base 120, the locking needle 112, the first arm 102, the second arm 104 and the pivot connection 107 in this non-limiting example are made from Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) plastic, stainless steel and metal.

Figures 2 and 3 show a schematic perspective view drawing and a schematic side view drawing

[5 of a lockable pouch 200 according to an example embodiment. The lockable pouch 200 has opposing top ends 202, 204 defining an opening 214 of the lockable pouch 200. The opposing top ends 202, 204 are are connected to each other at a first side 206 of the pouch body 208 and separate from each other at the top. In this embodiment, the opposing top ends 202, 204 are also separate at a second side 210 of the pouch body 208, defining a side slit 212 of the opening )o 214. The clip 100 is disposed inside a fold of the material of the pouch body 208 in the top ends 202, 204. Cut outs 216, 218 are provided in the folded-over portion of the material of the pouch body 208 for accommodating the pivotable connection elements of the clip 100. Accordingly, the respective opposing top ends 202, 204 are moveable together with the first arm and the second arm of the clip 100. Holes 217, 219 are provided in the folded-over portion )5 of the material of the pouch body 208 around the locking cup 214 and the locking needle (retracted in Figures 2 and 3).

Advantageously, the side slit 212 increases the opening 214 of the lockable pouch 200 for easy receiving and retrieving of a mobile phone (not shown), when the clip 100 is manipulated for accessing the interior of the lockable pouch 200.

Manipulation of the clip 100 for accessing the interior of the lockable pouch 200 in the example embodiments involves pivoting of the first and second arms and the wings of the clip 100 (compare Figures 1(a) to (c)), as well as slight bending of the first and second arms and in particular of the wings, with the conforming shape of the top ends 202 and 204 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. It is noted that advantageously, the presence of the side slit 212 allows accessing the interior of the lockable pouch 200 even if the first and second arms and/or the wings are made from a relatively rigid material, i.e. with reduced or substantially no bending of the first and second arms and/or the wings, in different embodiments.

In the open, unlocked state shown in Figures 2 and 3, the locking needle 112 (compare Figures 1(a)-(c)) is retracted inside the button 118 and is biased against accidental exposure of the tip of the locking needle, as was explained in detail with reference to Figures 1(a)-(c) above. This advantageously reduces, if not eliminates, possible injury of a user and/or damage to the mobile phone during insertion and/or retrieval of the mobile phone. In the example embodiment, the tip of the locking needle 112 is processed. e.g. by milling, to be relatively blunt, to further reduce possible injury of a user and/or damage to the mobile phone during insertion and/or retrieval of the mobile phone.

Furthermore, because the first arm 102 and the second arm 104 are pivotably connected, the locking needle and the locking cap 114 are advantageously "automatically" aligned during closing of the opening 214 for locking the phone inside the pouch 200.

In Figure 3, dimensions of the lockable pouch 200 according an example embodiment are

[O shown, by way of example, not limitation.

Figure 4 shows a schematic view of the two pieces 400, 402 making up a pouch body according to an example embodiment when connected together, for example by sewing along the peripheries of the pieces 400, 402, except at the top to define the opening and the side slit. In the example embodiment, the two pieces 400, 402 are made from neoprene, with sewing lines L5 404, 406 for the fold to secure the clip 403 in the top ends of the pouch body pieces 400, 402. However, different materials can be used in different embodiments, such as, but not limited to, cloth and fabric materials. Also, instead of securing the clip 403 in a fold, the clip 403 may be secured to the inside of the pouch body material by suitable means, such as, but not limited to, adhesive and/or sewing, such that the respective opposing top ends are moveable together with )o arms 409, 411 and wings 413, 415 of the clip 403. Cut outs 408, 410 are provided in the folded over portion of the material of the pouch body pieces 400, 402 for accommodating the pivotable connection elements. Holes are also provided in the folded-over portion of the material of the pouch body pieces 400, 402 around the locking needle 418 and the locking cup 420. In this embodiment, the upper edges 412, 414 where the side slit is located are rounded.

)5 In Figure 4, dimensions of the pouch body pieces 400, 402 according an example embodiment are shown, by way of example, not limitation.

It is noted the present invention is not limited to the size, shape and configuration as shown in the various example embodiments described herein.

Figure 5 shows a photograph of a lockable pouch 500 according to an example embodiment, onto the button 502 side of the top end 504. In this embodiment, a metal ring 503 is provided around the hole/opening through which the button 502 extends. However, the hole/opening can be designed differently in different embodiments.

Figure 6 shows a photograph of a lockable pouch 500 according to an example embodiment, onto the locking cup 506 side of the top end 508. In this embodiment, a metal ring 507 is provided around the hole/opening through which the locking cup 506 extends. However, the hole/opening can be designed differently in different embodiments.

Figure 7 shows a photograph of a lockable pouch 500 according to an example embodiment, into the opening 510 from the side slit 512 side thereof.

Figure 8 shows a photograph of a lockable pouch 500 according to an example embodiment, into the opening 510 from the side slit 512 side thereof, with the locking needle 514 exposed.

Figures 9(a) and ((b) show photographs of a clip 900 for use in an example embodiment, in an open and a closed state, respectively.

Figure 10 shows a photograph of wings e.g. 1000 for a clip for use in an example embodiment.

The above description of illustrated embodiments of the systems and methods is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the systems and methods to the precise forms disclosed. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the systems components and methods are described

[O herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the systems, components and methods, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The teachings of the systems and methods provided herein can be applied to other processing systems and methods, not only for the systems and methods described above.

It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or L5 modifications may be made to the present invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. Also, the invention includes any combination of features described for different embodiments, including in the summary section, even if the feature or combination of features is not explicitly )0 specified in the claims or the detailed description of the present embodiments.

In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the systems and methods to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all processing systems that operate under the claims. Accordingly, the systems and methods are not limited by the disclosure, but instead the scope )5 of the systems and methods is to be determined entirely by the claims.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words "comprise," "comprising," and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in a sense of "including, but not limited to." Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, the words "herein," "hereunder," "above," "below," and words of similar import refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. When the word "or" is used in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in the list.

Claims

1. A lockable pouch for a mobile phone comprising:

a locking needle coupled to the first arm;

a locking cup coupled to the second arm and configured to secure, in a locked state of

[O the lockable pouch, the locking needle therein;

wherein the first arm and the second arm are disposed on the opposing top ends of the pouch body, respectively, such that the respective opposing top ends are moveable together with the first arm and the second arm; and

wherein the locking needle is moveable relative to the first arm between a first position in

[5 which a tip of the needle is flush with or retracted relative to the inner surface of the first arm, and a second position in which the needle protrudes the inner surface of the first arm to be securable in the locking cup.

2. The lockable pouch of claim 1, comprising a button mechanism disposed on the first arm, the button mechanism comprising a button element coupled to the locking needle and )o moveable relative to the first arm for effecting movement of the locking needle between the first position and the second position.

3. The lockable pouch of claim 2, wherein the button element is configured such that the locking needle is biased in the first position.

4. The lockable pouch of any one of claims I to 3, wherein the opposing top ends of the pouch body are connected to each other at a first side of the pouch body and separate from each other at the top of the pouch body and at a second side of the pouch body to define a side slit of the opening, the side slit extending from the top of the pouch body.

5. The lockable pouch of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the clip comprises a first wing portion connected to the first arm, and a second wing portion connected to the second arm, wherein the first and second wings are made from a material that is more elastic compared to a material of the first and second arms.