GB2258489A

GB2258489A - Attachment device for a personal receiver.

Info

Publication number: GB2258489A
Application number: GB9116926A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Peters
Original assignee: Multitone Electronics PLC
Current assignee: Multitone Electronics PLC
Priority date: 1991-08-06
Filing date: 1991-08-06
Publication date: 1993-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 2011-08-06
Also published as: GB9116926D0; GB2258489B

Abstract

An attachment device 6 for a personal receiver such as a pager 20 is formed by first and second arms 7, 8 rotatably interconnected at one end by a pivot 11. Projecting portions 14, 15 at the other ends can be releasably coupled by a resilient catch 18 and opening 19 arrangement. The pager 20 is mounted by its roar face to the first arm 7. The second arm 8 is interposed between a bearer 17 and the bearer's belt 16, and the arms 7, 8 are coupled together to form a closed loop around the belt. When the bearer 17 wishes to view the pager's display 21, the arms 7, 8 are uncoupled and the first arm 7 with attached pager 20 is tilted upwards. <IMAGE>

Description

ATTACHMENT DEVICE FOR A PERSONAL RECEIVER This invention relates to an attachment device for a personal receiver such as a pager, which device is suitable for attaching the receiver to a bearer's belt.

It is known for a personal receiver such as a pager to be provided with a spring-loaded clip at the rear of the housing so that the pager can be attached to a pocket of the bearer's clothes. This arrangement has certain disadvantages in that the pager may be forced upwardly.against the spring tension, for example, if the pager catches on the arm of a chair as the bearer is in the act of sitting down. A considerable strain is put on the clip and the clothing, and damage may be caused to either. Furthermore, display pagers (which provide a display read-out on one face of the pager) are becoming increasingly widespread, and in order to read a received message which is displayed, it is necessary for the bearer to unclip and remove the pager from its attachment position. Apart from the inconvenience, this can cause wear to.the clip as well as to the clothing.

Solutions to this problem have been proposed. For instance, the attachment device illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings comprises a resilient plastics clip 1 pivotally mounted to a depending mounting arm 2. A paging receiver 3 is releasably fixed to the mounting arm 2. The mounting arm 2 can be rotated relative to the clip 1 about an axis A-A to a position 2' and this operation causes the paging receiver 3 to be similarly rotated. Figures 2A and 2B of the accompanying drawings show how this previously proposed attachment device can be worn by the bearer. In use, the clip 1 is placed around a belt 5 of the bearer so that the receiver 3 hangs down with a display on the front face of the receiver 3 pointing away from the bearer.

The paging receiver 3 is designed such that the displayed characters (for example, "URGENT" as shown) appear upside-down on the display 4 to a person facing the bearer of the receiver 3, when the receiver 3 is in the rest position of Figure 2A. When the bearer wishes to view the display 4, he or she lifts the receiver 3 and the mounting arm 2 is thereby rotated about the axis A-A. The receiver 3 is rotated through approximately 900 by the bearer so that the display 4 can be viewed the right way up, as shown in Figure 2B.

Although the attachment device shown in Figure 1 is of simple construction and provides the bearer with a facility that enables quick and easy viewing of the receiver's display, it suffers from a number of problems. The resilient clip 1 is in the form of an open loop and does not provide a secure attachment of the receiver 3 to the belt 5 of the bearer. If the back of the receiver 3 or the mounting arm 2 become hooked on an object or if the bearer's leg should give the receiver 3 a sudden jolt, it is possible that the clip 1 is lifted off the belt 5 and the receiver 3 is dropped. This is a likely occurrence if the bearer is in an environment such as a hospital where he or she might have to move suddenly at great speed, or if the bearer wears the receiver 3 in a hazardous environment such as a construction site.

There is therefore a need for an attachment device for a receiver having a front facing display that allows a bearer of the receiver to mount the device quickly and simply and to read the display without having to remove the attachment device from its mounted position, but that also provides a safe and secure mounting.

According to the invention there is provided an attachment device for a personal receiver, the device being arranged to be carried by a belt or the like and comprising first and second arms interconnected by hinge means at one end of each of the arms, means for mounting the device to a rear face of the receiver so that the hinge means allows rotation of the receiver relative to the hinge means about an axis parallel to the plane of the rear face, and means operable to couple releasably the other ends of the two arms so that the two arms can form a releasable closed loop around the belt or the like.

An attachment device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention provides a simple and easy way of mounting the receiver on to a belt of a bearer, and ensures that the receiver is securely and safely mounted on the belt because, when coupled, the two arms of the attachment device form a closed loop around the belt.

Preferably, the means for mounting the device fixes the receiver to the first arm of the device and, when the coupled ends of the arms are released, the first arm is pivotable on the hinge means so as to provide rotation of the receiver. In this position, the second arm is hooked behind the belt of the bearer but the receiver itself is in a position whereby a display on the front face of the receiver can be easily viewed by the bearer.

Also preferably, each of the first and second arms has a substantially plane face and a projecting portion so that the projecting portions of the two arms can mutually interengage, thereby forming the releasable coupling means. Each arm and projection portion together can form an "L" shape with each projecting portion of each arm forming the base of the "L" shape. Each "L" shaped arm can be formed from a single piece of injection moulded resilient plastics material, for instance, and is of a shape whereby the projecting portion of the first arm rests over the projecting portion of the second arm when the two arms are coupled together.

The means for releasably coupling the two arms preferably comprises a resilient catch on the projecting portion of the first arm and a complementary hold part on the projecting portion of the second arm on which the resilient catch can engage. Advantageously, the resilient catch may include a protruding lip which can be grasped by a finger of the bearer for disengaging the catch from the hold part so as to allow release from coupling of the two arms. The configuration of the single moulded plastics piece forming the "L" shaped first arm may include the resilient catch and protruding lip. Also, the configuration of the single moulded plastics piece forming the "L" shaped second arm may include the complementary hold part.

Also preferably, the second arm is of firm resilient construction. The second arm may be of a thin construction so that it can slide easily between the belt and the bearer. If the second arm is in the form of a firm resilient plane-faced structure with a projecting portion formed at its base, it can hook under the bearer's belt. Such a hook-like second arm structure provides a relatively secure mounting for the receiver even when the two arms have been uncoupled from one another.

Advantageously, the means for mounting the device to the rear face of the receiver includes an intermediate member which is removably attachable to the receiver. In the preferred embodiment, the intermediate member is constituted by the first arm. The intermediate member provides a releasable mounting of the device to the receiver.

Advantageously, the intermediate member may include slider edges which can be inserted into and slid within complementary pockets provided on the rear face of the receiver.

The invention will now be further described, by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a receiver mounted on a previously-proposed attachment device; Figures 2A and 2B show different positions of the receiver when attached to a bearer's belt by the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an attachment device for a personal receiver according to an embodiment of the invention, the attachment device being shown in an unassembled state; and Figures 4A, LIB and 4C are side views, partly cut-away, showing different positions of a receiver when attached to a bearer's belt by the device of Figure 3 (when assembled).

Referring to Figure 3, an attachment device 6 comprises a first arm 7 and a second arm 8. The base of the first arm 7 has two projecting lugs 9 and each lug 9 includes an opening 10 for receiving a pivot pin 11. The base of the second arm 8 also has two or more projecting lugs 12 (only one of which can be seen in Figure 3). Each lug 12 includes an opening 13 for receiving the pivot pin 11. When the attachment device 6 has been assembled, the lugs 9 of the first arm 7 reside within the lugs 12 of the second arm 8, and the pivot pin 11 holds the two arms 7 and 8 together to form a hinge. The first arm 7 has a projecting portion 14 and the second arm 8 has a projecting portion 15 so that each arm approximately forms the shape of an "L".

As can be seen more clearly in Figure 4A, the base of the projecting portion 14 of the first arm 7 can rest over the projecting portion 15 of the second arm 8, with a belt 16 of a bearer 17 sandwiched between the first arm 7 and the second arm 8. In this position, a resilient wedge-shaped catch 18 formed on the projecting portion 14 engages an opening 19 in the projecting portion 15 which forms a hold part for the catch 18. Each arm is made of a resilient material such as a single piece of injection moulded plastics material. The first arm 7 includes slider edges 24 for engagement with co-operating means provided on a receiver to be held by the attachment device 6.

Figure 4A shows a paging receiver 20 attached to the belt 16 of the bearer 17 by the attachment device 6. In this position, the attachment device 6 is securely attached to the belt 16 and cannot readily be accidentally released because the first arm 7, pivot pin 11 and second arm 8 form a closed loop due to the catch 18 being engaged in the opening 19.

In the clipped position of the attachment device 6 illustrated in Figure 4A, a display 21 on the front face of the receiver 20 cannot easily be viewed by the bearer 17. In order to view the display 21, the bearer must rotate the receiver 20 on the first arm 7 relative to the second arm 8 to the position shown in Figure 4C. In order to do this, the bearer 17 must disengage the catch 18 from the opening 19.

This can be done by the bearer 17 pressing upwards on a lip 22 formed on the underside of the projecting portion 14. In Figures 4A and LIB, the lower end of the receiver 20 is shown in cut-away so that it can be seen that a space 23 is formed between the top of the receiver 20 and the top face of the projecting portion 14. The space 23 provides room for the projecting portion 14 when the bearer 17 presses the lip 22 upwards as can be seen in Figure LIB.

Once the catch 18 is removed from the opening 19, the receiver 20 can easily be rotated on the pivot pin 11 through an angle of approximately 900 to the position illustrated in Figure 4C. In this position, the display 21 can be easily viewed by the bearer 17 without the bearer 17 having to remove either the receiver 20 or the attachment device 6 from the belt 16.

Although not illustrated in Figures 4A to 4C, the rear face of the receiver 20 is provided with pockets that can admit and retain the edges 24 of the first arm 7. The first arm 7 thereby forms a slider by which the receiver 20 is mounted on the attachment device 6.

Alternatively, the receiver could be permanently fixed to the attachment device by screws, rivets, adhesive or similar means.

The attachment device described above provides a quick, safe and easy mounting for a personal receiver. The specific embodiment described above comprises first and second arms made of a resilient material such as plastics. However, other materials may be equally suitable for forming a releasable clasp around a belt.

Also, the attachment device specifically described above forms a clasp around the belt that is opened when a bearer wishes to view a display on a receiver mounted on the attachment device. It would be possible to have a third arm or other member, preferably coaxially pivoted with the first and second arms, to mount the receiver on the attachment device. In use, the third arm would normally rest against the first arm. When the bearer wishes to view the display on the receiver, the receiver is rotated on the third arm about the axis of rotation of the three arms. An attachment device for the receiver is thereby provided that forms a continuous loop around the belt regardless of the position of the mounted receiver.

Further, although in the specific embodiment described above, the projecting portion of the first arm includes a catch and the projecting portion of the second arm a hold part, it would be possible to form a catch on the second arm and a hold part on the first arm.

The attachment device could be provided with a mounting means having an intermediate member that allows rotatory movements of the receiver about an axis perpendicular to that provided by the hinge formed by the pivot pin and in the plane of the rear face of the receiver. Such a mounting means is described in our UK Patent No. 2 169 026 and is used when the receiver displays messages lengthwise along a display rather than widthwise.

Claims

1. An attachment device for a personal receiver, the device being arranged to be carried by a belt or the like and comprising first and second arms interconnected by hinge means at one end of each of the arms, means for mounting the device to a rear face of the receiver so that the hinge means allows rotation of the receiver relative to the hinge means about an axis parallel to the plane of the rear face, and means operable to couple releasably the other ends of the two arms so that the two arms can form a releasable closed loop around the belt or the like.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which the first and second arms each includes a substantially plane face and a projecting portion, the projecting portions of the arms being mutually interengageable thereby forming the releasable coupling means.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein each arm forms an "L" shape with the projecting portion of each arm forming the base of the "L" shape, and in which the projecting portion of the first arm overlies the projecting portion of the second arm when the two arms are coupled by the releasable coupling means.

4. A device according to claim 2 or claim 3, in which the releasable coupling means comprises a resilient catch on the projecting portion of the first arm and a complementary hold part on the projecting portion of the second arm on which the resilient catch can engage.

5. A device according to claim LI, in which the resilient catch includes a protruding lip for disengaging the catch from the hold part so as to allow the projecting portions of the two arms to be released and separated.

6. A device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, in which the projecting portion of the second arm can hook under the belt or the like.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the second arm is of firm resilient construction and, in use, is disposed between the body of a bearer of the device and the belt or the like.

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the means for mounting the device fixes the rear face of the receiver to the first arm.

9. A device according to claim 8, in which, when the coupled ends of the arms are released, the first arm is pivotable on the hinge means so as to provide rotation of the receiver.

10. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the means for mounting the device to the rear face of the receiver includes an intermediate member which is removably attachable to the receiver so as to provide a releasable mounting of the device to the receiver.

11. A device according to claim 10, in which the intermediate member is constituted by the first arm.

12. A device according to claim 11, in which the first arm includes slider edges for insertion into co-operating pockets provided on the rear face of the receiver.

13. An attachment device for a personal receiver, the device being substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with respect to Figures 3, 4A, 4B and 4C of the accompanying drawings.