GB2414037A

GB2414037A - Adaptor for use in carring a mobile communications handset

Info

Publication number: GB2414037A
Application number: GB0410706A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry Norman Mitchell; Scott H Richards; Noam Shani
Original assignee: Motorola Inc
Current assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
Priority date: 2004-05-14
Filing date: 2004-05-14
Publication date: 2005-11-16
Anticipated expiration: 2024-05-14
Also published as: GB0410706D0; GB2414037B

Abstract

An adaptor 100, 200 for attachment to a handset 400 for use in mobile communications has a body adapted to fit against at least part of a face of the handset with portions 104, 109, 111 adapted to engage top and side edges of the handset and projections 113 and 115 for engaging into handset apertures. A formation at the rear of the adaptor releasably engages a carrier member which attaches for example to a belt and can be either a slot to slidably receive a member projection (125, fig. 2) or a projection to be slidably received in the member (201, fig. 9). A latching portion 117 retains projection 115 until released by button 123 and slide 119 can lock button 123.

Description

24 1 4037 TITLE: ADAPTOR FOR USE IN CARRYING A MOBILE

COMMUNICATIONS HANDSET

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an adaptor for use in carrying a mobile communications handset. It also relates to use of such an adaptor together with a handset and to use of such an adaptor together with a receptacle for wearing by a user or for attachment to a a structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various methods are known for carriage of radios and other mobile communications handsets by users. Many handset designs are limited in the number of means they offer to be attached to other devices. For example, some currently available radios have a small slot on the top of the radio which is referred to as a lanyard hole which allows a lanyard (loop) and a hole referred to as a belt clip hole. The belt clip hole is a shallow hole intended for attachment to a standard belt clip on a belt worn by a user. While these carriage methods are satisfactory for light commercial use they fall far short of the ruggedness required for professional handset applications such as use by police forces and other emergency services.

In addition, handsets desirably also need to be adjustable to various orientational positions when carried by a user to minimise discomfort and improve general ergonomics. These objectives cannot be achieved with the standard belt clip which is free swivelling. 1 1

Fitting the handset into a harness or carry case, as is known in the field, but is not acceptable for quick and easy handset operation.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided an adaptor for attachment to a handset for use in mobile communications to facilitate carrying of the handset, the adaptor including a body adapted to fit against at least part of a face of the handset, a grip portion adapted to grip an edge of the handset and fastening means for engaging a carrier. The handset may be a mobile radio.

The grip portion may be adapted to fit over at least part of an edge of a casing of a handset which in use is its upper edge. The adaptor may also conveniently include wing portions which fit over at least part of side edges of the casing of the handset.

The adaptor may include a first formation which is adapted to engage a complementary second formation provided in a casing of the handset. The first formation may be a projecting member and the second formation may be a recess or hollow portion adapted to receive the projecting member. The projecting member may comprise a spigot provided on the said grip portion.

Preferably, the adaptor includes also a third formation which is adapted to engage a complementary fourth formation provided in a casing of the handset.

The third formation may be a projecting member and the fourth formation may be a recess or hollow portion adapted to receive the projecting member. The projecting member may include a retractable spring loaded part which allows the projecting member to grip an inner surface of a recess or hollow portion when fitted therein. The projecting member may comprise a stud and a spring loaded spigot which retractably extends from a surface of the stud lateral to an axis of projection of the stud.

The adaptor may include a release mechanism which may be operated by a user to release the adaptor from the handset when attached thereto. The release mechanism may include a finger or thumb operated lever operable to retract the spring loaded spigot.

The adaptor may include a further lock mechanism to lock the adaptor to the handset to prevent accidental release. The lock mechanism may include a further lever operable by the finger or thumb of a user to lock the adaptor to the handset or unlock the adaptor from the handset.

According to the present invention in a second aspect there is provided combination of an adaptor according to the first aspect and attached thereto a handset for use in mobile communications. The handset may include a casing having the second and optionally the fourth formations, e.g. each of which may comprise a recess or hollow portion provided in a casing of the handset. The second formation may be provided near a top edge of the handset. It may be similar to the lanyard hole provided in known handsets. The fourth formation may be provided in a rear surface of a casing of the handset. It may be a hole provided in the casing. The hole may be similar to the belt clip hole in known handsets. The handset and the adaptor may be adapted such that the adaptor attaches to the handset on at least part of a rear surface of the handset. The at least part may be an upper part of a rear surface of a casing of the handset.

According to the present invention in a third aspect there is provided a combination of (i) an adaptor according to the first aspect or an adaptor and handset combination according to the second aspect; together with (ii) a receptacle adapted to engage the adaptor to facilitate carriage of the handset. The receptacle may be adapted to be worn by a user, e.g. by attachment to a belt of a user or by attachment or to an article of clothing of a user, e.g. by stitching to a shirt, jersey or pullover. Alternatively, the receptacle may be adapted to be affixed to a structure near to a user, e.g. to a structural component such as a bulkhead within a vehicle within which a user is travailing by conventional fixing means such as screws. The adaptor may be attachable to the receptacle by a snap fit or slide fit action.

In a preferred form of the invention the adaptor and receptacle are engageable and mutually rotational when engaged on an axis of rotation and are releasable by axial rotation of the adaptor relative to the receptacle to a selective release orientational position. The adaptor may include a head having sides forming a regular polygon wherein pairs of the sides of the polygon are parallel and which can be rotated in steps to between positions in which the parallel sides are parallel to complementary abutment sides provided in the receptacle. The receptacle and optionally the adaptor may be made of material having suitable flexibility to allow the adaptor to be rotated in this way relative to the receptacle. The adaptor may include a head having sides forming a regular hexagonal or regular octagonal shape.

The adaptor according to the invention may take advantage of the known available fixing points on the handset, e.g. radio (e.g. the so called lanyard hole and so called belt clip hole referred to earlier). The adaptor thereby provides a bracket which beneficially can accept each of a variety of different mounting devices or receptacles or fasteners which in turn can be affixed to a user's clothing or to a fixed structure such as an interior panel in a vehicle.

The adaptor and the receptacle may each be of a tough resilient polymeric or elastomeric material and may be made by a suitable moulding process such as injection moulding.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an adaptor embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the adaptor shown in FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of an alternative adaptor embodying the invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the adaptor of FIG. 3 as seen in the direction of arrow 4 in FIG.3.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a fastener.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the fastener of FIG. 5 showing the adaptor of FIGs. 3 and 4 attached thereto.

FIGs. 7 to 9 are front perspective views of a mobile communications radio showing the adaptor of FIGs 3 and 4 at various stages of attachment thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIGs. 1 and 2 show an adaptor 100 embodying the invention for attachment to a mobile radio as described later. The adaptor 100 has an inner (front) face 101 seen in FIG. 1 and an outer (rear) face 102 seen in FIG. 2. The inner face 101 fits on a rear face of a mobile radio as described later. The adaptor 100 has a body formed by two engaged housing portions 131 and 133 (providing respectively the inner face 101 and the outer face 102). Inside the body formed by the housing portions 131 and 133 are spring and lock mechanisms as referred to later. The adaptor 100 includes a top portion 103 having a rim 104 which fits on a top surface (top edge) of the radio (not shown in FIGs. 1 and 2) and side wings 105 and 107 having rims 109, 111 respectively which fit on side edges of the radio. The rims 104, 109 and 111 are extensions of the outer housing portion 131.

A locating spigot 113 projects from the underside of the rim 104. The spigot 113 fits in a slot provided in a casing of the radio (similar to the known lanyard hole) effectively allowing the adaptor 100 to hook the radio.

A stud 115 is provided on the inner face 101 of the adaptor 100 at its lower end between the wings 105, 107.

The stud has a circular cylindrical shape as shown in FIG.1 although it could alternatively have another cross-sectional shape, e.g. square. A spring loaded spigot 117 retractable in a slot in an upward facing surface of the stud 115 projects from the stud 115 toward the centre of the inner face 101 of the adaptor 100. The stud 115 with the spigot 117 pressed toward the stud 115 also helps to locate the adaptor 100 on the radio by fitting in a corresponding hole (similar to the known belt clip hole) provided in the rear face of a casing of the radio.

As seen in FIG. 2, the adaptor 100 includes a slideable release lever 123 provided at an upper end of the outer face 102 of the adaptor 100. The release lever 123 is connected inside the housing portions 131, 133 of the adaptor 100 to the spigot 117 whereby depression of the release lever 123 by the action of a finger or thumb of a user causes retraction of the spigot 117 into the stud 115 allowing the adaptor 100 to be released from the radio.

The adaptor 100 may be locked in position on a radio to prevent accidental operation of the release lever 121. Such a locking action may be effected by a slideable lever 119 operated by a finger or thumb of a user. The lever 119 is slid along a rail 121 between an unlock position (when the lever 119 is at the left hand end of the rail 121) and a lock position (when the lever 119 is at the right hand end of the rail 121 - as seen in FIG. 2). When in the lock position, the lever 119 engages a lock mechanism (not shown) inside the adaptor which effectively provides an obstruction to prevent movement of the release lever 121.

A plate 125 is fitted on the outer face 102 of the adaptor 100. The adaptor 100 has an axial hole at its centre and the plate 125 has a matching hole 128 (seen in FIG.2). A hollow stud 127 is fitted in the axial hole of the adaptor 100 and the axial hole 128 of the plate 125. At its inner end (shown projecting from the inner face 101 of the adaptor 100 in FIG. 1) the stud 127 is swaged to fix the plate 125 permanently to the outer face 102 of the adaptor 100. The plate 125 has a U shaped slot 129 having a square recess 131 having a rim inside the recess 131 to allow a lip on a belt clip (not shown) to engage the recess 131 in a known manner. The plate 125 is adapted to receive by snap fit a clip carried by a belt worn by a user. The clip (not shown) fits in the slot 129 and a slotted stud provided on the clip engages the rimmed recess 131. This engages the adaptor 100 on the user's belt and allows the radio fixed to the adaptor 100 to be securely carried by the user.

FIGs. 3 and 4 show an alternative adaptor 200 embodying the invention. Parts of the adaptor 200 having the same construction and function as corresponding parts in the adaptor 100 have the same reference numerals. In the adaptor 200, the plate 125 is replaced by a stud 201. The stud 201 is fitted and swaged onto the adaptor 200 in the same manner as the plate 125 is fitted and swaged onto the adaptor 100. The stud 201 has a circular back plate 203 from which projects a collar 205 and a head 207. The head 207 has sides 209 which form part of a regular octagon. A U-slot 211 is provided in the front face of the head 207. An axial circular hole 213 is provided at the centre of the front face 102 of the adaptor 200. The adaptor 200 has a curved cut away portion 215 in its body in a region between the wings 105 and 107.

The adaptor 200 may be attached to a suitable receptacle. An illustrative example of such as a receptacle is a fastener or buckle to be carried on a belt worn by a user. A suitable fastener 300 is shown in its upright position and in a front view in FIG. 5. The fastener 300 includes a rear frame portion 301 having rectangular openings 303, 305 at its sides through which a belt (not shown) may be fed and eyelets 311, 313, e.g. for hanging useful attachments, provided at the bottom of the rear frame portion 301. A front plate 306 is joined at its lower end and sides to the rear frame portion 301 and projects from the rear frame portion 301 whereby a slot is formed behind the front plate 306 between the front plate 306 and the rear frame portion 301. The front plate 306 includes a cut away region 307. The rear frame portion 301 includes a tongue 309 having a similar shape to that of the cut away region 307 of the front plate 306 and in front of the tongue 309. A projection 312 is formed in an outward (front) facing surface of the tongue 309 near its lower end. The projection 312 has a front surface which slopes away from the front surface of the tongue 309 at the upper end of the projection 312. The projection 312 also has a pointed shape at its upper end and a substantially flat front surface.

Use of the adaptor 200 to engage the fastener 300 is illustrated in FIG.6 wherein a rear view of the fastener 300 is seen. The fastener 300 is inverted relative to its orientation seen in FIG. 3. In use, the head 207 of the adaptor 200 is slid into the slot, labelled 315 in FIG. 6, of the fastener 300 between the front plate 306 and the rear frame portion 307. The collar 205 fits into the lower narrow portion of the cut away region 307 of the plate 306 and the front face of the head 207 slides along the tongue 309 until the projection 311 engages the axial hole 213, the position shown in FIG.6. With the projection 311 engaged in the hole 213, the adaptor is axially rotatable in steps corresponding to the sides of the octagon of the head 207 in turn being parallel to sides 317, 319 of the rear frame portion 301 where it is joined to the plate 306. The fastener 300 and particularly the sides 317 and 319 are made of material which is sufficiently flexible to allow the sides 317 and 319 to flex sufficiently when the head 207 is rotated between the positions where its sides 209 are parallel to the sides 317, 319. The fastener 300 and the adaptor 200 are preferably made of a moulded tough polymeric material such as a blended polycarbonate/ABS) composition (ABS is acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer).

The shape of the projection 312 prevents the adaptor 200 from release from the fastener 300 except when the adaptor 200 is in one rotational position relative to the fastener 300, namely when the adaptor 200 and the fastener 300 are in the relative orientational position shown in FIG. 6. Thus, the adaptor 200 may be easily attached to the fastener 300 by fitting the two together by a sliding/clicking action) and the adaptor 200 may if necessary be secured on the fastener 300 by rotation to a position other than the release position. The adaptor may be released from the fastener 300 by rotating to the release position and sliding the two apart.

FIGs. 7 to 9 illustrate attachment of the adaptor 200 of FIGs. 3 and 4 to a communications handset. The handset illustrated is a radio 400. The radio 400 has a casing 401. A rear face 402 of the casing 401 of the radio 400 is shown. The casing 401 has an enlarged portion 403 in a lower rear part. A button 404 to provide an operational function of the radio 400 is provided at the top of the enlarged portion 403. The casing 401 has a laterally extending slot 405 (similar to the known lanyard hole) on an edge of the casing 401 at the top of the rear face 402. The casing 401 also has a circular hole 406 (similar to the known belt clip hole) formed in the casing 401 in its rear face 402.

The adaptor 200 is brought toward the rear face 402 of the radio 400 in a direction shown by arrow X in FIG. 7 with the inner face 101 of the adaptor 200 facing toward the rear face 402 of the casing 401 of the radio 400. As shown in FIG. 8, the spigot 113 then engages the slot 405 and the body of the adaptor 200 is pivoted toward the rear face 402 as indicated by arrow Y in FIG. 8. The stud 115 and spigot 117 engage the hole 406. The rims 109 and 111 of the wings 105 and 107 of the adaptor 200 fit over edges of the casing 401 at the sides of its rear face 402 to grip the sides of the casing 401. The adaptor 200 is thereby attached to an upper part of the casing 401 on its rear face 402 as shown in FIG. 9. The curved cut away portion 215 of the adaptor 200 accommodates the button 404. Thus, the adaptor 200 forms a snug fit on the upper rear face 402. The depth of the adaptor 200 (front to rear profile thickness) matches that of the enlarged portion 403 to give a suitable combined smooth profile. The adaptor 200 is locked on the radio 400 by pushing the lever 119 into the lock position shown in FIG. 2 and may be later released by pushing the lever 119 to the unlock position.

Various alternative fasteners may be employed instead of the fastener 300 although preferably such alternative fasteners are adapted to engage the adaptor 200 in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 6. 1L

Claims

1. An adaptor for attachment to a handset for use in mobile communications to facilitate carrying of the handset, the adaptor including a body adapted to fit against at least part of a face of the handset, a grip portion adapted to grip an edge of the handset and fastening means for engaging a carrier.

2. An adaptor according to claim l wherein the grip portion is adapted to fit over at least part of an edge of a casing of a handset which in use is its upper edge.

3. An adaptor according to claim l or claim 2 wherein the adaptor also includes wing portions which are adapted to fit over at least part of side edges of the casing of a handset.

4. An adaptor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the adaptor includes a first formation which is adapted to engage a complementary second formation provided in a casing of a handset.

5. An adaptor according to claim 4 wherein the first formation is a projecting member and the second formation is a recess or hollow portion adapted to receive the projecting member.

6.An adaptor according to claim 5 wherein the projecting member comprises a spigot provided on the said grip portion.

7. An adaptor according to any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the adaptor includes also a third formation which is adapted to engage a complementary fourth formation provided in a casing of the handset.

8. An adaptor according to claim 7 wherein the third formation is a projecting member and the fourth formation is a recess or hollow portion adapted to receive the projecting member.

9. An adaptor according to claim 8 wherein the projecting member includes a retractable spring loaded part which allows the projecting member to grip an inner surface of a recess or hollow portion when fitted therein.

10. An adaptor according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the projecting member comprises a stud and a spring loaded spigot which retractably extends from a surface of the stud lateral to an axis of projection of the stud.

11. An adaptor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the adaptor includes a release mechanism operable by a user to release the adaptor from the handset when attached thereto.

12. An adaptor according to claim 11 wherein the release mechanism includes a finger or thumb operated lever operable to retract the spring loaded spigot.

13. An adaptor according to claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the adaptor further includes a lock mechanism to lock the adaptor to the handset to prevent accidental release.

14. An adaptor according to claim 13 wherein the lock mechanism includes a further lever operable by the finger or thumb of a user to lock the adaptor to the handset or to unlock the adaptor from the handset.

15. An adaptor according to any one preceding claim wherein the adaptor includes means for attachment to a receptacle by a snap fit or slide fit action.

16. An adaptor according to claim 15 wherein the adaptor is adapted such that the adaptor and receptacle are engageable and mutually rotational when engaged on an axis of rotation and are releasable by axial rotation of the adaptor relative to the receptacle to a selective release orientational position.

17. An adaptor according to claim 16 wherein the adaptor includes a head having sides forming at least part of a regular polygon wherein pairs of the sides of the polygon are parallel and wherein the head can be rotated in steps to between positions in which the parallel sides are parallel to complementary abutment sides provided in a receptacle.

18. An adaptor according to claim 17 which includes a head having sides forming at least part of a regular hexagonal or regular octagonal shape.

19. An adaptor according to 16 or claim 17 wherein the adaptor is made of material having suitable flexibility to allow the adaptor to be rotated relative to the receptacle.

20. An adaptor according to any one of the preceding claims which comprises an injection moulded polymeric material.

21. A combination of an adaptor according to any one of the preceding claims and attachable thereto a handset for use in mobile communications.

22. A combination according to claim 21 wherein the wherein the adaptor includes a first formation which is adapted to engage a complementary second formation provided in a casing of a handset.

23. A combination according to claim 22 wherein the second formation is provided near a top edge of the handset.

24. A combination according to claim 22 or claim 23 wherein the second formation comprises a slot or hole.

25. A combination according to any one of claims 22 to 24 wherein the adaptor includes also a third formation and the casing of the handset includes a complementary fourth formation adapted to engage the third formation.

26. A combination according to claim 25 wherein the fourth formation is provided in a rear surface of a casing of the handset.

27. A combination according to claim 26 wherein the third formation comprises a stud and the fourth formation comprises a hole engageable by the stud.

28. A combination according to any one of 21 to 27 wherein the handset and the adaptor are adapted such that the adaptor attaches to the handset on at least part of a rear surface of the handset.

29. A combination according to claim 28 wherein the at least part is an upper part of a rear surface of a casing of the handset.

30. A combination of (i) an adaptor according to any one of claims 1 to 20 or a combination of an adaptor and handset according to any one of claims 21 to 29; together with (ii) a receptacle adapted to engage with the adaptor to facilitate carriage of the handset.

31. A combination according to claim 30 wherein the receptacle is adapted to be worn by a user or to be affixed to a structure.

32. A combination according to claim 30 or claim 31 wherein the adaptor is attachable to the receptacle by a snap fit or slide fit action.

33. A combination according to any one of claims 30 to 32 wherein the adaptor and receptacle are engagable and mutually rotational when engaged on an axis of rotation and are releasable by axial rotation of the adaptor lo relative to the receptacle to a selective release orientational position.

34. A combination according to claim 33 wherein the adaptor includes a head having sides forming at least part of a regular polygon wherein pairs of the sides of the polygon are parallel and wherein the head can be rotated in steps to between positions in which the parallel sides are parallel to complementary abutment sides provided in the receptacle.

35. A combination according to claim 34 wherein the receptacle and optionally the adaptor are made of material having suitable flexibility to allow the adaptor to be rotated relative to the receptacle.

36. A combination according to any one of claims 33 to 35 wherein the adaptor includes a head having sides forming at least part of a regular hexagonal or regular octagonal shape.

37. An adaptor according to any one of claims 1 to 20 and substantially as herein describe with reference to the accompanying drawings.

38. A combination according to any one of claims 21 to 36 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.