CN218041463U - Device with automatic retraction of elastic support band and device for hanging portable equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus having an automatically retracting elastomeric support band, and an apparatus for suspending a portable device. The device with automatically retracting elastomeric support band may be selectively attached to the housing of a cellular telephone or other similar portable device. The device desirably includes a housing containing an elastic band, belt or strap which is disposed primarily within the housing when the device is not in use. The device may also include a bracket and a clip. The elastic band may be used as a selectively retractable hanging band when the mobile phone or other similar device is not in use. Alternatively, the flexible continuous loop structure may be used, for example, to support a cell phone around the user's neck for hands-free use while the user is engaged in other activities. Through the devices, various supporting or hanging modes can be provided for the portable equipment, and the portable equipment is convenient for a user to use.

Description

Device with automatically retracting elastic support band and device for hanging portable equipment

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus having an automatically retracting elastic support band, and an apparatus for hanging a portable device.

Background

The handset is typically carried in the hand, pocket or bag of the mobile user. When a user is engaged in a telephone conversation with another person using a hands-free telephone or "bluetooth" connection during the user's driving of a motor vehicle, the handset is sometimes placed in a cradle or cradle that is mounted or suspended on the dashboard, mirror, or console. Unfortunately, the driver holds the handset and the steering wheel in one hand, which is not conducive to the safety of the user and other drivers around.

Purses and shoulder bags that include straps with buckles (for adjusting strap length) are also known and are worn on the shoulders and/or neck of the user. More recently, purses and other small personal carrying straps supported by conventional harnesses have been disclosed and claimed which also include an outwardly facing pocket or compartment into which a cell phone may be inserted for easy viewing through a transparent plastic "window".

Other prior art devices, commonly referred to as "tape measures", house a roll of flexible metal tape, with graduations marked thereon, in a housing. Such devices typically include a spring-actuated retraction mechanism that adds weight, complexity, and cost to the product and takes up additional space in use of the product without providing the commensurate additional functionality of being retractable into the housing after use.

It is also known for mobile phone housings to include a stand that can be used to stand the phone on a surface at an angle. For example, it may be desirable to expand the stand to an open position so that the cell phone can be supported on a flat surface to view a video on the cell phone.

Still other phone housings have areas where cards such as credit cards and driver's licenses can be stored, but do not have a cradle. However, these mobile phone cases store the cards outside, which may cause others to steal the cards from outside the case, or the cards to fall and be lost.

Furthermore, known mobile phone shells may hang upright, but swing back and forth, such that it may become difficult to speak into a microphone and/or read the text above. Furthermore, these mobile phone shells provide only one hanging posture.

However, no known portable handset housing includes a cradle and a place to place the card, yet secure the card to prevent theft or loss. Further, there is also no known cellular phone case that includes an elastic band that can be wrapped around the device to enable the cellular phone to be hung sideways, hung upright, hung right side up, or hung right side down.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

An apparatus having an automatically retracting elastomeric support band is provided, as well as an apparatus for suspending a portable device. The apparatus with automatically retracting elastomeric support band may be selectively attached to the housing of a cellular telephone ("cell phone") or other similar portable device. The device preferably comprises a housing containing an elastic band, strap or belt which is disposed primarily within the housing when the device is not in use. When the device of the present invention is attached to the housing of a cell phone or other device, the elastic band, strap or portion of the band can be selectively withdrawn from the housing and can be releasably latched or locked in place to form a flexible continuous loop structure. For example, a flexible continuous loop structure may be used to support the handset around the user's neck for hands-free use while the user is engaged in other activities. Alternatively, the flexible continuous loop structure may be used as a selectively retractable sling when the handset or other device is not in use. The device may also include an integrated bracket and clip. The elastic band may be wrapped around the housing to enable the housing to be selectively hung upright, hung upright or hung sideways.

In one aspect, an apparatus with an automatically retracting elastomeric support band is disclosed that includes a housing with an inter-engageable cover and a body that is selectively attachable to a cell phone, or to a protective case or cover of a cell phone or other portable device; a flexible elastic band disposed within the housing, accessible through an opening in the housing, and outwardly stretchable a distance through the opening in the housing; a set of rotatable pulleys disposed in spaced apart relation within the housing, each rotatable pulley having an outer periphery in contact with and frictional engagement with the elastic band such that the elastic band is supported under tension as a portion of the elastic band is stretched outwardly through the opening in the housing. The apparatus may further include a bracket formed from at least a portion of the outer cover; and a clip integrated inside the bracket.

The stand may be connected to the main body by a plurality of hinges. The elastic band includes a detachable portion. The bracket may include a tab rotatably engaged with at least one of the plurality of hinges. The bracket may be angled relative to the body. One or more latches may secure the elastic band.

The elastic band may be used to: the elastic band, when received in one or more channels, enables the phone to be hung up or hung down. The detachable portion may be formed of a different material than the elastic band and may have a different thickness than the elastic band. At least one of the front cover and the back cover of the case is selectively attached to the cell phone or the protective case of the cell phone by using a pad treated with a pressure sensitive adhesive applied on the surface of the device opposite to the cell phone or the protective case of the cell phone. The bracket may include a first edge and a second edge. The first edge contacts the surface to hold the phone in a portrait orientation and the second edge contacts the surface to hold the phone in a landscape orientation.

In another aspect, an apparatus for suspending a portable device from a body part or other support structure of a user is disclosed, comprising: a case having an inter-engageable outer cover and a body attachable to the portable device, or to a protective case or outer cover of the portable device; a flexible elastic band disposed within the housing, the flexible elastic band being accessible through the opening in the housing and having an elasticity and durability sufficient to allow manual outward stretching through the opening in the housing a distance sufficient to form a flexible support ring; a set of rotatable pulleys disposed in spaced relation within the housing, each of the rotatable pulleys having an outer periphery in contact with and frictional engagement with the elastic band such that the elastic band is supported under tension as a portion of the elastic band is stretched outwardly through the opening in the housing; and wherein the elastic band is anchored within the housing and is wrapped around the set of rotatable pulleys in a serpentine manner and forms a plurality of triangular spaces between two sets of oppositely disposed pulleys within the body.

Through the devices, various supporting or hanging modes can be provided for the portable equipment, and the portable equipment is convenient for a user to use.

Drawings

The device of the present invention will be further described and explained with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the device of the present invention in which the elastic band is fully retracted into the housing, only a small portion spans an opening in the housing, and is manually accessible through the opening;

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the device of FIG. 1 with a pressure sensitive adhesive pad adhered to the front cover of the housing and a release sticker on the adhesive pad partially peeled away;

FIG. 3 is a right side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 2, wherein the sticker on the adhesive pad of FIG. 2 has been removed and the adhesive pad has been adhered to the back surface of the handset as shown in phantom;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the device of FIG. 1, with the elastic band extending out of the housing through an opening in the housing;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of FIG. 4 with the back cover of the housing removed and a rotatable latch positioned to hold the elastic band in a fully stretched condition relative to the housing, thereby allowing the portion of the elastic band extending from the housing to change from the fully stretched condition to slack;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detailed rear view of the device of FIG. 1, substantially as shown in FIG. 5, with the rear cover of the housing removed and the rotatable latch rotated to a locked position to maintain the portion of the elastic band disposed within the housing in tension and under tension within the housing while allowing the portion of the elastic band disposed outside of the housing to remain in a relatively more relaxed state, the portion outside of the latch being free of tension;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detailed rear view of the device of FIG. 1, substantially as shown in FIG. 8, wherein the rotatable latch has been rotated to an unlocked position to allow the elastic band to retract into the housing while still maintaining a slight tension in the accessible portion of the elastic band across the opening in the housing to avoid slack in the elastic band upon retraction;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detailed rear view of the device of FIG. 1 with the rear cover of the housing removed and the rotatable latch placed in an unlocked position to allow the elastic band to retract into the housing to the maximum extent permitted while the portion of the elastic band disposed within the housing remains under slight tension to avoid slack in the elastic band;

FIG. 9A illustrates an embodiment of an apparatus including a bracket with an integrated clip;

FIG. 9B illustrates an embodiment of an apparatus including a bracket with an integrated clip;

FIG. 10A illustrates an embodiment showing an elastic band configured with a device;

FIG. 10B illustrates an embodiment showing an elastic band configured with a device;

FIG. 10C illustrates an embodiment showing an elastic band configured with a device;

FIG. 11 shows an elastic band in one embodiment;

FIG. 12A illustrates an embodiment showing an apparatus including a bracket with an integrated clip;

FIG. 12B shows an apparatus that includes a bracket with an integrated clip.

Like parts are marked in the figures, which are not drawn to scale.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1, 7 and 8, the device 10 includes a housing 12, and further includes a body 16, the body 16 having a selectively removable cover 14, opposed latches 18, 20, and an elastic band 22 disposed within the housing 12, a portion of the elastic band 22 being visible and graspable through a recessed opening 52 cooperatively formed on the cover 14 and the body 16. The housing 12 of the device 10 is preferably made of a moldable polymeric material, such as high impact polystyrene or other similarly suitable materials. The elastic band 22 is preferably disposed entirely within the housing 12 (except for the visible and graspable portion of the elastic band 22 when the latches 18, 20 are in the unlocked position and the elastic band 22 is sufficiently relaxed to self-retract into the housing 12).

Referring to fig. 2 and 3, the apparatus 10 is preferably capable of being attached to a portable device such as a cellular telephone 30 (not part of the invention except when other functional portions of the apparatus 10 are incorporated into the body 14 forming part of the portable device) using an adhesive pad 28 or other similar operative connection means that allows the apparatus 10 to be used as an accessory attachment to the cellular telephone 30. Adhesive pads 28 of a size sufficient for this purpose are commonly available on the market and are provided on each side with a peelable cover sheet 26, which cover sheet 26 is removable to expose the adhesive surface, suitable for securing the main body 16 of the housing 12 to the opposite direction of the back of a device, such as a cellular telephone 20, to be used in conjunction therewith. When the device 10 is ready for deployment as shown in fig. 3, the latches 18 and 20 are opened and the elastic band 22 is disposed to be fully retracted into the housing 12, only visible and graspable (fig. 1).

Referring to fig. 4, the device 10 is shown with a portion of the elastic band 22 being pulled outwardly away from the outer cover 14 to form a flexible elongated loop of desired size when a force 32 is applied to the outermost portion of the elastic band 22 relative to the rest of the device 10. As shown in fig. 4, the latches 18 and 20 are preferably positioned to allow the elastic band to move outwardly relative to the outer lid 14 during stretching of the elastic band 22. When the elastic band 22 is stretched outward to a desired degree, the user may manually engage the latch 18 or 20 to prevent the elastic band 22 from automatically retracting into the device 10. The latches 18, 20 may be configured to be manually engageable and releasable, or the latches 18, 20 may be configured to self-lock by rotation to create frictional contact between the elastic band 22 and the body 16 of the device 10 when the force 32 (fig. 4) is released and the elastic band is allowed to self-retract.

Referring to fig. 5-8, the device 10 is shown with the outer cover 14 (fig. 4) removed to expose the interior of the housing 12 (fig. 1), seen in the body 16. The main body 16 preferably also includes a plurality of rotatable wheels or pulleys (hereinafter "pulleys") 40 about which the elastic band 22 is placed for use. Referring to fig. 5 and 8, in this embodiment of the invention, the two opposing ends of the elastic band 22 each include a loop 36, the loop 36 being disposed on one of the two spaced apart anchor posts 37 and then wrapped around the pulley 40, with the centrally disposed portion of the elastic band 22 passing through the latches 18, 20 and the inner wall of the body 16, around the guide wall 50 (best seen in fig. 6 and 7), and through the recessed opening 52. Disposed within the interior of body 16 are a plurality of spaced apart sites 34 that are preferably coaxially aligned with corresponding sites on the back side of cover 14 (fig. 1) that cooperate to provide structural support to body 16 and frictional engagement with the back side of cover 14 (fig. 1). The sites 34 may be used to place frictionally engageable posts that may frictionally engage with corresponding sockets provided on the back of the cover 14, for example, to provide a "snap-fit" between the cover 14 and the body 16. Alternatively, other selectively releasable attachment means, such as screws and cooperatively aligned threaded sockets, may be used to attach the cover 14 to the body 16 of the device 10. Additionally, in another alternative embodiment of the present invention, not shown in fig. 8, a plurality of spacers (preferably wedge-shaped guides) may be provided in the triangular space formed between the two sets of oppositely disposed pulleys 40 within the main body 16 to avoid entanglement of portions of the elastic belt 22 within the housing 12 (fig. 1) during sudden release and slackening of the elastic belt 22 from the position shown in fig. 5 to the position shown in fig. 8.

Referring to fig. 6-8, rotatable latches 18, 20 are preferably used to provide selectively releasable frictional engagement between the elastic band 22 and the inner wall of the body 16. Referring to fig. 6, the latch 18 with the contact surface 42, lever arm 44 and pivot post 46 is shown in the "latched" position, with the lateral projection 48 "clamping" a portion of the elastic band 22 to the body 16 upon downward rotation of the latch 18 as indicated by arrow 54 by manually applying pressure through the contact surface 42 of the latch 18. Conversely, referring to fig. 7, the latch 18 is shown in the "unlatched position" with the lateral projection 48 rotated upwardly as indicated by arrow 56 to release the adjacent portion of the elastic band 22 from frictional engagement with the main body 16, thereby allowing the elastic band 22 to be automatically retracted into the housing 12, as shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 9A shows the device 10 and the outer cover 14, including a bracket 53 that in one embodiment is attached to the body 16. The bracket 53 may be part of the cover 14 or may form the entire cover 14. The stand 53 may be connected to the body 16 by one or more hinges 50, the hinges 50 being rotatably connected to the body 16. In other embodiments, the bracket 53 may be molded into the body 16. In other embodiments, the stand 53 may be rotated about the hinge 50 through an angle 60.

The bracket 53 may include a top side 54 and a bottom side 55 (fig. 9B). The cradle 53 may include an edge 63 to engage a surface to hold the handset 30 upright at the angle 60. Cradle 53 can include one or more edges 66 to engage a surface to cradle cell phone 30.

As shown in fig. 9A, the stand 53 may extend between a closed position and an open position to support the handset 30 at an angle 60 relative to a surface. Angle 60 may be between about zero degrees and about 135 degrees. The stand 53 may be supported by the edge 63 to stand the portable device on its edge or may rely on the edge 66 to lay the portable device across a surface. The holder 53 may be made of plastic, metal, or other hard material that may be formed into the form of the holder 53. In some embodiments, a groove 69 may be formed between the hinges 50 that frictionally engages the hinges 50 to provide support to the stand 53.

As shown in fig. 9B, the bracket 53 may be secured to the end 58 of the device 10 in a locked or closed position. In one embodiment, the bracket 53 may include a locking tab 64, and the locking tab 64 may engage a locking member 67 located at the end 58 of the bottom side 55 of the bracket 53. In one embodiment, the locking tab 64 is a slot that can snap into the locking member 67. In other embodiments, the locking member 67 may be coupled to the locking tab 64 by velcro, buttons, or magnets.

Fig. 10A-10C show views of the body 16 with one or more channels 70. The channel 70 may form an angle between the tab 71 and the lower body 78. The channels 70 may be substantially identical at each point or may be different at each point. The channel 70 may be sized and shaped to secure the elastic band 22 between the tab 71 and the lower body 78. The elastic band 22 may be secured to and removed from the channel by pushing the elastic band 22 into and out of the channel 70. The channel 76 may also form an angle between the upper wall 79 and the lower body 78. The channel 76 may be configured to receive the elastic band 22.

As shown in fig. 9B, the holder 53 may also include one or more card fingers 77 formed on or integrally formed with the body holder 53 to form a single unit to slidably secure a card 82, such as a credit card, driver's license, change, etc. The snap fingers 77 may be formed of plastic, metal, or other rigid and bendable material. In other embodiments, pockets may be integrated into the cradle 53 to form a single unit of material. The pocket may be sewn or molded into the stent 53. The pocket may be configured to have a size and shape to receive and/or secure a card, such as a credit card, license, etc. Fig. 9B shows that the device 10 may include twelve pulleys 40, without the need for the loop 36 or anchor post 37 to provide support to the belt 22.

The elastic band 22 may be passed through the channel 70 and opening 76 to enable the phone 30 to be placed upright or on its side (fig. 10A), or sideways or on its side (fig. 10B).

In some embodiments, the tab 71 may have walls with beveled edges 78, as shown in fig. 10B, to enable the elastic band 22 to slide more easily into the channel 70. In one embodiment, the channel 70 is narrower than the channel 76 so that the elastic band is held in the channel 70 by being sandwiched between the projections 71 and the walls 78 on each side of the outer cover 14.

As shown in fig. 11, in some embodiments, the elastic band 22 may include a detachable portion 89. The detachable portion 89 may include a detachable ring 85. The configuration of fig. 11 may provide stability and limited movement for phone 30 when phone 30 is hung sideways or upright on a person's neck. The detachable portion 89 may also be formed thicker or thinner and may be of a different material than the elastic band 22 to provide more comfort.

Fig. 12A and 12B illustrate an embodiment of a clip 94, and the clip 94 may be formed on the bottom surface 55 of the bracket 53. The clip 94 may include one or more fingers 98, the fingers 98 configured to slidably receive a card, such as a credit card, license, or the like, and may be used to secure the card when the clip 94 may include a tab 88, wherein the tab 88 is designed to rotatably engage a groove 97 in the hinge 50 when the stand is moved between the open and closed positions.

Other variations and modifications of the present invention will likewise become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the present specification in light of the accompanying drawings, and it is intended that the scope of the invention disclosed herein be limited only by the broadest interpretation of the various embodiments described which the inventors and/or applicant legally enjoy.

Claims (24)

1. A device having an automatically retracting elastomeric support band, said device comprising:

a housing having an inter-engageable outer cover and a body selectively attachable to a portable device, or to a protective case or outer cover of the portable device;

a flexible elastic band disposed within the housing, the flexible elastic band accessible through an opening in the housing and stretchable outward a distance through the opening in the housing;

a set of rotatable pulleys disposed in spaced apart relation within the housing, each rotatable pulley having an outer periphery in contact with and frictional engagement with the elastic band such that the elastic band is supported under tension as a portion of the elastic band is stretched outwardly through the opening in the housing;

a bracket formed by at least a portion of the outer cover; and

a clip integrated into the inside portion of the bracket.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the elastic band comprises a detachable portion.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the bracket is connected to the body by a plurality of hinges, and the bracket includes a tab rotatably engaged with at least one of the plurality of hinges.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more latches to secure the elastic band.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the top side of the outer cover of the housing comprises one or more channels to receive the elastic band.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the one or more channels are angled.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the elastic band is configured to cause the portable device to be hung up or hung down when the elastic band is received in the one or more channels.

8. The device of claim 2, wherein the detachable portion is formed of a different material and has a different thickness than the elastic band.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the outer cover and the body of the housing are frictionally engageable;

the portable device is a mobile phone;

the outer cover is releasably attached to the body; or

The bracket forms an angle with respect to the body;

the stand includes a first edge and a second edge, wherein the first edge supports the portable device in a vertical position when in contact with a surface, and the second edge supports the portable device in a horizontal position when in contact with the surface.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the front cover and the back cover of the housing is selectively attached to a cell phone or a protective case of a cell phone by using a pad treated with a pressure sensitive adhesive applied on a surface of the device opposite to the cell phone or the protective case of the cell phone.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of triangular spaces formed between two sets of oppositely disposed pulleys within the body.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the number of pulleys is at least eight.

13. The device of claim 4, wherein the one or more latches comprise at least one selectively releasable latch that is manually engageable and releasable,

wherein the at least one selectively releasable latch automatically engages by rotating when the force is released and the elastic band is allowed to self-retract, creating frictional contact between the elastic band and the body.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a plurality of spacers are provided in the plurality of triangular spaces.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the spacer is a wedge guide.

16. An apparatus for suspending a portable device from a user's body part or other support structure, the apparatus comprising:

a housing having an inter-engageable outer cover and a body attachable to a portable device, or to a protective case or outer cover of the portable device;

a flexible elastic band disposed within the housing, the flexible elastic band being accessible through an opening in the housing and having an elasticity and durability sufficient to allow manual outward stretching through the opening in the housing a distance sufficient to form a flexible support ring;

a set of rotatable pulleys disposed in spaced apart relation within the housing, each rotatable pulley having an outer periphery in contact with and frictional engagement with the elastic band such that the elastic band is supported under tension as a portion of the elastic band is stretched outwardly through the opening in the housing; and is

Wherein the elastic band is anchored within the housing and is wrapped circuitously around the set of rotatable pulleys and forms a plurality of triangular spaces between two sets of oppositely disposed pulleys within the body.

17. The device of claim 16, further comprising at least one selectively releasable latch to secure the elastic band, the elastic band having an unstretched state length and elasticity selected to engage the set of rotatable pulleys such that the elastic band is allowed to be manually stretched when the at least one selectively releasable latch is selectively operated to cause the elastic band to stretch relative to the housing.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the elastic band has an unstretched state length and elasticity selected to cooperate with the number, size, and arrangement of the set of rotatable pulleys to permit the flexible support ring of the elastic band to retract into the housing when the at least one selectively releasable latch is selectively operated to cause the elastic band to retract relative to the housing.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein at least the front portion of the housing is attached to the cell phone or protective case of the cell phone by using a pad treated with a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to the surface of the device opposite the cell phone or protective case of the cell phone.

20. The device of claim 17, further comprising two opposing, spaced apart latches, each latch connected to a portion of the housing;

wherein the elastic band has a first end and a second end anchored at two separate anchor points within the housing, the anchor points disposed proximate a center of the body; or

The device further comprises a plurality of sites disposed inside the body that are coaxially aligned with corresponding sites on the underside of the outer cover,

the at least one selectively releasable latch is manually engageable and releasable,

wherein the at least one selectively releasable latch automatically engages by rotating when the force is released and the elastic band is allowed to self-retract, creating frictional contact between the elastic band and the body.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the number of pulleys is at least eight.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the portable device is a cell phone.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein in the plurality of triangular spaces, a plurality of spacers are provided.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the spacer is a wedge guide.

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