WO1995019723A1

WO1995019723A1 - Carrying device

Info

Publication number: WO1995019723A1
Application number: PCT/FI1995/000022
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sauli Koivula
Original assignee: Sauli Koivula
Priority date: 1994-01-24
Filing date: 1995-01-20
Publication date: 1995-07-27
Also published as: FI940328A0; AU1418895A

Abstract

The invention relates to a carrying device for a mobile phone (M) comprising means (17, 18) whereby the carrying device can be attached to the body of the user. The carrying device is shaped by a wall structure (2, 3, 4a, 4b, 5) into a case (1) with an inside space (6) formed therein. The mobile phone (M) can be inserted at least partly into the inside space through an opening (7) in the case (1). The inside space (6) is provided with means (10) for adjusting the essential volume of the inside space to conform with the external dimensions of said mobile phone (M).

Description

Carrying device

The invention relates to carrying device for a mobile phone comprising means whereby the carrying device can be attached to the body of the user, the carrying device being shaped by a wall structure into a case with an inside space formed therein, the mobile phone being insertable at least partly into the inside space through an opening in the case.

Prior art reference is made to the publication DE-2907634 from which a carrying case for a musical instrument with clamping means inside for the instrument is known.

Prior art reference is yet made to the publication US- 5241592. From the solution of the publication a hook attached to the body of a mobile phone is known whereby the mobile phone can be attached to the belt of the user. This kind of solution is, however, problematic in many practical applications because hook attachment does not provide a sufficient guarantee for the attachment of the mobile phone, certainly not when the mobile phone is taken with in work performances with the body in various postures, e.g. stretching, bending, squatting etc. Therefore, the risk of dropping and consequently the risk of damaging the mobile phone is relatively high. Furthermore, it is to be notified that the hook construction of the US-5241592 is designed for a body of a mobile phone of a particular type. It is to be notified that in the market there are available mobile phones of various types to the consumer, particularly mobile phones with varying external dimensions, even between different models of the same manufacturer's product line. Consequently, there is a problem in that no carrying device is available to the consumer which could be used regardless of the type of the portable phone or the mobile phone that the consumer has chosen from the market to fulfil his own needs.

The objective of this invention is to a great extend to remove above disadvantages and thereby promote the prior art technique in the field. To achieve these objectives, the carrying device according to the invention is primarily characterized that the inside space is provided with means known per se for adjusting the essential volume of the inside space to conform with the external dimensions of said mobile phone and that the means for adjusting the essential volume of the inside space are arranged to accomplish a frictional connection with the external surface of the mobile phone especially with the line of action of the holding frictional force parallel with the direction of insertion and withdrawal of the mobile phone through the opening of the case.

Firstly, the solution presented above brings advantage in that the carrying device can be provided with versatile means like e.g. a belt or strap structure or a robust fastener whereby it is attached to the body or clothes of the user so that it is secured that the carrying device remains attached to the user during work performances which require difficult and inconvenient postures of the body. Secondly, the carrying device is case-shaped whereby necessary protective measures can be taken into account in its structure so that the risk of damage of the mobile phone inside the carrying device is minimized during work performances, however most preferably so that the mobile phone is well accessible for normal mobile phone operations when it is in connection with the carrying device. It may be stated that the third and perhaps the most important advantage is that the carrying device can be constructed universal in that, being provided with means to adjust the volume of the inside space, the carrying device suits to practically all mobile phones or the like.

Some advantageous embodiments of the carrying device of the invention are presented in the enclosed dependent claims.

The invention is further illustrated in the following description wherein reference is made to the exemplary embodiment presented in the enclosed drawings. In the drawings

Fig 1 shows a front view of a carrying device of the invention with the mobile phone placed in connection with the carrying device,

Fig 2 shows a side view of the carrying device, and

Fig 3 shows the carrying device placed in connection with means by which the carrying device can be attached to the body of the user. Referring to the drawings, the carrying device is shaped into a case 1 by a wall structure i.e. a front wall 2, a rear wall 3, side walls 4a, 4b, and a bottom 5. The walls 2, 3, 4a, 4b, and 5 restrict the inside space 6 of the case. As can be seen from Fig 1 , the mobile phone M is essentially positioned in the inside space 6 so that only its upper part with the antenna remains outside the case. The mobile phone is inserted into the inside space 6 of the case through an opening 7 in the case in the longitudinal direction of the mobile phone M. The opening 7 is situated in the longitudinal direction of the case, which is also the direction (arrow S) of installation, insertion, and withdrawal of the mobile phone, on the side of the case opposite to the bottom 5 of the case. The walls of the case 1 are essentially parallel with the direction of installation and withdrawal of the mobile phone M i.e. parallel with the longitudinal direction of the mobile phone M.

As can be seen particularly in Fig. 1 , the front wall 2 of the case and also the bottom 5 are provided with additional openings 8a, 8b, and 9. Thus the front part of the mobile phone M inserted into the inside space 6 is free for normal mobile phone operations when the mobile phone is seated in the inside space of the case. In a corresponding way, through the additional opening 9 in the bottom, a microphone line, earphone line and/or antenna line can be connected to the mobile phone when it is seated in the inside space 6. According to the invention, the inside space 6 is provided with means 10 for adjusting the volume of the inside space 6 to conform with the external dimensions of the mobile phone M. The means 10 are most preferably placed in connection with at least one wall, most preferably in connection with one or both of the side walls 4a, 4b. The means 10 adjust the essential volume of the inside space so that, when the mobile phone M is seated in the inside space 6, a holding force acts on the mobile phone M which holds it in the inside space in connection with the case. This holding force is most preferably a frictional connection from the means 10 to the external surface of the mobile phone M, the line of action of the frictional force being essentially parallel with the direction (arrow S) of insertion and withdrawal of the mobile phone M through the opening 7 of the case. The frictional connection need not act on the whole external surface of the mobile phone that is located in the inside space 6 of the case, but only on a portion of the external surface of the mobile phone M, e.g. on the middle portion of the mobile phone as shown in Fig. 1.

In the particular embodiment of Fig. 2, the number means 10 for adjusting the volume of the inside space is two. According to Fig. 2, the means 10 are disposed in connection with both side walls 4a, 4b. In the embodiment presented, the means 10 for adjusting the volume of the inside space comprise firstly an elongated strip 11 placed in parallel with the direction of insertion and withdrawal of the mobile phone, its width essentially corresponding to the distance between the front and back walls. The strip 11 is most preferably a leaf spring, e.g. an elongated form piece made from a thin metal strip. At its first end 12, the strip 11 is attached to the side wall, to the inside thereof, and, at its second end 13 which is located at the upper part of the case near the opening 7, it is attached so as to be movable and lockable in the direction (arrow S) of insertion and withdrawal of the mobile phone M relatively to the side wall 4a, 4b. The structure of the strip 11 , which belongs to the means 10, makes it consequently possible that, upon moving the second end 13 of the strip 11 relatively to the wall, the radius of curvature of the leaf spring and simultaneously its direction and distance from the side wall 4a, 4b change at the same time changing the essential volume of the inside space 6. The operating mechanism 14 of the means 10 is therefore placed in connection with the second end 13 of the strip 11 and the side walls 4a, 4b are provided with a groove 15 essentially parallel with the longitudinal direction of the elongated strip wherein the operating mechanism 14 is arranged movable and lockable in connection with the groove 15. The operating mechanism 14 can preferably have- a structure of a screw and then opening of the screw through turning of the head 14a, which is wider than the groove 15, releases locking and the second end of the strip 11 can be moved in said groove in the longitudinal direction of the strip 11 and the operation mechanism 14 can be re-locked in connection with the wall 4a, 4b through turning the screw in closing direction. This operation can be performed either essentially each time when the mobile phone is withdrawn out of the case or the operation can be used only when it is desired to adjust the essential volume of the inside space. Naturally, the means 10 permit adjustment of the holding force on the mobile phone M when the mobile phone is in connection with the case particularly at occasions when working conditions require a stronger holding force.

The means 10 for adjusting the volume of the inside space 6 can, on the other hand, comprise also a flexible intermediate part 16 providing particularly a compressive force between the said parts 4a, 4b, and 11. The intermediate part 16 can, as can be seen especially in Fig. 1 , be disposed in the middle of the case in its longitudinal direction, the intermediate part improving the curvature properties of the strip 11 and providing a stronger compressive force on the mobile phone M.

As seen particularly in Fig. 1 , the means 10 form, in the direction of installation of the mobile phone i.e. in the direction from the opening 7 towards the bottom 5, a zone 19 wherein the essential cross-sectional form of the inside space 6 becomes narrower forming a gap tapering in the direction of installation of the mobile phone M. This gap facilitates installation of the mobile phone in the inside space 6. In the actual construction presented, in which the strip 11 together with the intermediate part 16 accomplishes a curved shape directed towards the inside space 6 and thereby the zone 19 near the opening 7, the contact between the means 10 and the external surface of the mobile phone M is situated within the middle of the mobile phone.

Particularly Fig. 3 shows one embodiment of the means, which belongs to the carrying device and which is to be connected to the case 1 and by which the carrying device can be attached to the body of the user. It comprises a combination of an adjustable belt part 17 and a shoulder strap 18 connected to the belt part 17. The case 1 is attached to the shoulder strap 18. The shoulder strap 18 can serve as an additional antenna. An additional battery can be placed in the belt part 17 and the battery can be connected to the mobile phone M through the additional opening 9 in the bottom 5 of the case 1. The shoulder strap 18 can be provided with a wire of the earphones. Then the user of the carrying device can speak without interfering the work. The case 1 can be manufactured from several different materials but it seems that the most advantageous materials for the case are plastic materials. Especially the intermediate part can be of a suitable elastic material like foamed plastic, rubber etc. It must be stated that only one possibility to accomplish the basic idea of the invention has been presented above.

Claims

Claims:

1. Carrying device for a mobile phone (M) comprising means (17, 18) whereby the carrying device can be attached to the body of the user, the carrying device being shaped by a wall structure (2, 3, 4a, 4b, 5) into a case (1) with an inside space (6) formed therein, the mobile phone (M) being insertable at least partly into the inside space through an opening (7) in the case (1), characterized in that the inside space (6) is provided with means (10) known per se for adjusting the essential volume of the inside space to conform with the external dimensions of said mobile phone (M) and that the means (10) for adjusting the essential volume of the inside space are arranged to accomplish a frictional connection with the external surface of the mobile phone (M) especially with the line of action of the holding frictional force parallel with the direction (S) of insertion and withdrawal of the mobile phone (M) through the opening (7) of the case (1).

2. Carrying device of claim 1 , the case (1) comprising a front (2) and a rear wall (3) and side walls (4a, 4b) and a bottom (5), characterized in that the means (10) for adjusting the volume of the inside space are disposed in connection with at least one wall (2, 3, 4a, 4b) and to be movable by an operating mechanism (14) with respect to the wall (2, 3, 4a, 4b) especially for changing the inside extension of the means (10) for adjusting the essential volume of the inside space and thereby effecting the holding force acting on the mobile phone (M) when it is seated in the inside space.

3. Carrying device of claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the means (10) for adjusting the essential volume of the inside space are disposed in connection with at least one side wall (4a, 4b).

4. Carrying device of any of the claims 1-3 characterized in that at least the front wall (2) and/or the bottom (5) of the case is provided with additional openings (8a, 8b; 9) to enable the use of the mobile phone (M) and/or to connect the accessories necessary for the use to the mobile phone (M) when it is seated in the case (1).

5. Carrying device of claim 1 characterized in that the means (10) for adjusting the essential volume of the inside comprises an elongated strip (11), a leaf spring in particular, placed essentially in parallel with the direction (S) of insertion and removal of the mobile phone (M), the strip at its first end (12) being attached to the case (1) and at its second end (13) being attached so as to be movable essentially in the direction (S) of insertion and withdrawal of the mobile phone (M) and lockable with respect to the wall (2, 3, 4a, 4b).

6. Carrying device of claim 5 characterized in that the operating mechanism (14) of the means (10) for adjusting the essential volume of the inside space is placed in connection with the second end (13) of the elongated strip (11), the wall (2, 3, 4a, 4b) being provided with a groove (15) which is essentially parallel with the elongated strip (11) and in which the operating mechanism (14) is arranged to be movable and lockable in connection with said groove (15).

7. Carrying device of claim 5 or 6 characterized in that between the elongated strip (11) and the wall (2, 3, 4a, 4b) is disposed a flexible intermediate part (16) providing particularly a compressive force between said parts (11 ; 2, 3, 4a, 4b).

8. Carrying device of any of the claims 5-7 characterized in that the means (10) for adjusting the essential volume of the inside space comprises a zone (19) in the installing direction of the mobile phone (M) wherein the cross-sectional form of the inside space (6) becomes narrower forming a gap tapering in the installing direction of the mobile phone (M) whereby the connection between the means (10) for adjusting the essential volume of the inside space and the external surface of the mobile phone (M) effecting the holding force is situated within the middle part of the mobile phone (M).

9. Carrying device of any of the claims 5-8 characterized in that the flexible intermediate part (16) is placed essentially within the middle part of the elongated strip (11) in the longitudinal direction of the strip (11).