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Mobile Phone Patent Abstract
The invention involves a mobile phone and strap apparatus for carrying
a mobile phone. A mobile phone is provided with openings in the
corners of the mobile phone housing through which a flexible line
is passed and cooperates with a strap and latch that secures ends
of the flexible line. The strap, latch and flexible line are adapted
to secure an object between the mobile phone housing, the flexible
line and strap when ends of the flexible line are drawn through
the latch.
Mobile Phone Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A mobile phone and a strap holder for the mobile phone, the
mobile phone and strap holder comprising: a mobile phone having
a housing that includes at least two openings in the housing to
accommodate a flexible line for use with a strap adapted to accommodate
the flexible line when the line passes through one of the openings
and a portion of the strap and then through the other opening, whereupon
the ends of the flexible line intersect one another before passing
through another portion of the strap, whereupon a latch element
is adapted to secure the ends of the flexible line such that an
object disposed between the strap and the intersecting flexible
line becomes secured between the mobile phone and strap when ends
of the flexible line are drawn through the latch element and the
latch element secures the lines one to the other.
2. The mobile phone and strap holder of claim 1 wherein the openings
in the housing are disposed in regions of the housing remote from
each other.
3. The mobile phone and strap holder of claim 1 wherein the mobile
phone housing includes at least four openings.
4. The mobile phone and strap holder of claim 3 wherein the four
openings in the housing are disposed in regions remote from each
other in an array in the housing to be proximate corners of the
mobile phone housing.
5. A mobile phone and a strap holder for the mobile phone, the
mobile phone and strap holder comprising: a mobile phone having
a housing that includes at least four openings in the housing to
accommodate a flexible line for use with a strap adapted to accommodate
the flexible line when the line passes through one of the openings
and a portion of the strap and then through another opening, whereupon
the ends of the flexible line intersect one another before the ends
of the line pass through other openings and another portion of the
strap, whereupon a latch element is adapted to secure the ends of
the flexible line such that an object disposed between the strap
and the intersecting flexible line becomes secured between the mobile
phone and strap when ends of the flexible line are drawn through
the latch element and the latch element secures the lines one to
the other.
6. The mobile phone and strap holder of claim 5 wherein the four
openings in the housing are disposed in regions remote from each
other in an array in the housing to be proximate corners of the
mobile phone housing.
7. A method of securing a mobile phone to an object comprising
the following steps: (a) providing a mobile phone housing that includes
at least two openings in the housing, (b) providing a flexible line,
(c) providing a strap that is adapted to provide a portion thereof
that will accommodate the passage of the flexible line there through,
(d) providing a latch element that is adapted to secure ends of
the line when the ends of the line have passed through the latch
element (e) passing an end of the flexible line through one of the
openings and a portion of the strap and then through another opening,
(f) bringing ends of the line across each other in an intersecting
manner, (g) passing the ends through another portion of the strap
and thereafter through the latch element, and then (h) drawing the
ends of the line through the latch element, such that an object
disposed between the intersecting lines and strap thereby firmly
secures the mobile phone to the object.
8. A method of securing a mobile phone to an object comprising
the following steps: (a) providing a mobile phone housing that includes
at least four openings in the housing, (b) providing a flexible
line, (c) providing a strap that is adapted to provide at least
two portions thereof that will accommodate the passage of the flexible
line there through, (d) providing a latch element that is adapted
to secure the ends of the line when the ends of the line have passed
through the latch element (e) passing an end of the flexible line
through one of the openings and a portion of the strap and then
through another opening, (f) bringing ends of the line across each
other in an intersecting manner and thereafter through first one
of the other openings whereas the other end of the line passes through
the remaining opening and then through the other portion of the
strap and there after through latch element, and then (g) drawing
the ends of the line through the latch element, such that an object
disposed between the intersecting lines and strap thereby firmly
secures the mobile phone to the object.
Mobile Phone Patent Description
FIELD
This invention relates to carrying apparatus for a mobile device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Throughout the world users of mobile devices such as mobile phones
have grown so attached to the use of their mobile phones that they
attempt to carry them everywhere. This is not a difficult task in
most working environments, when a simple belt mounted holster can
carry the mobile phone. It is also common to secure a carrying strap
to a single corner of the mobile phone housing to thereby allow
the user of the phone to place the phone in a pocket or purse with
the strap conveniently extending from the pocket or purse. Use of
the phone simply requires the user to grip the single carrying strap
and withdraw the phone from pocket or purse to either make or receive
a call. In addition to mobile phone holsters, straps designed to
wrap around the mobile device and around a portion of the body,
have also developed. Some holster arrangements, as shown and described
in U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,704, issued to Alexander, et al. on Dec.
24, 1996, provide a shoulder holster for carrying a portable telephone
near the body of a user. The shoulder holster is provided with an
opening into which the mobile phone may be placed. The holster itself
is provided with a hook surface on the back of the holster that
cooperates with a loop surface on a panel of the strap that passes
over a shoulder, down a portion of the user's back and then around
and underneath the arm pit of the user, where it is then secured
to the strap panel. Similar approaches have been taken to strap
a mobile phone in a holster strapped to a leg of a golfer as is
shown in U.S. Design Pat. No. D447,864 to Casparian, issued Sep.
18, 2001.
As adequate as these just described approaches may be in the environments
for which they were designed, major drawbacks arise in their use
when these approaches are called upon to carry a mobile phone in
environments where the user is highly active, such as hiking, running
or golfing. In these instances the mobile phone user wants to secure
the mobile phone to an arm, wrist, neck, a golf bag or on the body
when the user is simply moving about.
The instant invention avoids the problems inherent in holster/carrying
strap arrangements of the past. The invention is remarkably simple
and exceedingly expeditious to use in a nearly universal manner
in a host of environments where the mobile phone user desires quick
and easy access to his/her phone.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The mobile phone and strap for the mobile phone of the instant
invention includes a mobile phone having a housing that includes
at least two openings in the housing to accommodate a flexible line,
for use with a strap adapted to accommodate the flexible line, when
the line passes through one of the openings and a portion of the
strap and then through another opening, whereupon the ends of the
flexible line intersect one another before passing through another
portion of the strap. A latch element is provided which is adapted
to secure the ends of the flexible line such that an object disposed
between the strap and the intersecting flexible line becomes secured
between the mobile phone and strap, when ends of the flexible line
are drawn through the latch element and a latch element secures
the lines one to the other.
More specifically, the mobile phone housing includes at least four
openings in the housing to accommodate a flexible line for use with
a strap adapted to accommodate the flexible line when the line passes
through one of the openings and a portion of the strap and then
through another opening, whereupon the ends of the flexible line
intersect one another before the ends of the line pass through other
openings and another portion of the strap. A latch element is provided,
which is adapted to secure the ends of the flexible line such that
an object disposed between the strap and the intersecting flexible
line becomes secured between the mobile phone and strap when ends
of the flexible line are drawn through the latch element and a latch
element secures the lines one to the other. In this preferred embodiment
the four openings in the housing are disposed in regions remote
from each other in an array in the housing to be proximate the corners
of the mobile phone housing.
The invention further embraces a method of securing a mobile phone
to an object. Specifically, the invention is comprised of the following
steps.
First, providing a mobile phone housing that includes at least
two openings in the housing.
Second, providing a flexible line.
Third, providing a strap that is adapted to provide a portion thereof
that will accommodate the passage of the flexible line there through.
Fourth, providing a latch element that is adapted to secure the
ends of the line when the ends of the line have passed through the
latch element.
Fifth, passing an end of the flexible line through one of the openings
and a portion of the strap and then through another opening.
Sixth, bringing ends of the line across each other in an intersecting
manner and thereafter through the latch element.
Seventh, drawing the ends of the line through the latch element,
such that an object disposed between the intersecting lines and
strap thereby firmly secures the mobile phone to the object.
A primary advantage/objective of this invention resides in its
effortless utility. It provides a mobile phone having a housing
that functions not only to protect the mobile phone while in active
use but also provides a number of openings in the housing that allow
the mobile phone to utilize a flexible line and a strap to secure
the phone in a host of ways to objects, and individuals in a variety
of physical locations.
Another advantage/object of the invention resides in the simple
flexible line and strap and a latch mechanism that readily allows
the mobile phone to be securely fastened in place on an object or
person.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention is further described in the detailed description
which follows in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by
way of non-limiting examples of embodiments of the present invention
in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout
the several views of the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a is a front view of an upper portion of a mobile phone
as shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an illustration of the invention in use on the neck and
body of a person;
FIG. 4 is an illustration of the invention in use on the neck of
a person;
FIG. 5 is an illustration of the invention in use on the arm of
a person;
FIG. 6 is an illustration of the invention in use on the wrist
of a person;
FIG. 7 is an illustration of the invention in use on a hiker's
backpack strap;
FIG. 8 is an illustration of the invention in use in a draped fashion,
secured to a belt disposed around a body of a person;
FIG. 9 is an illustration of the invention in use by a jogger;
and;
FIG. 10 is an illustration of the invention in use on an object
such as a golf bag.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reference is now made to FIG. 1 which illustrates a preferred embodiment
of the invention in which the backside of a mobile phone 10 is shown.
The mobile phone 10 has a housing 15 which is provided with four
corner openings 12, 13, 14 (FIG. 2) and a corner opening not shown
in the drawing but identical to the opening 13 but hidden from view
in the other corner and therefore not visible in this illustration.
A flexible line 20 is shown passing through the corner openings
12, 13, 14 and the corner opening not shown as noted above. A strap
holder 11, indicated by lead line and arrowhead, is positioned as
shown near the backside of the mobile phone 10.
It will be observed that flexible line 20 has a pair of ends 20a,
20b that will be observed to pass through a latch 26, that includes
a latch release button 27. If one will visually trace the flexible
line 20, it will be seen that the flexible line 20 passes through
one of the corner openings 14 (FIG. 1) and a portion 22 of the strap
21 and then through the corner opening 12, whereupon the line 20
is brought together and they intersect one another at the location
indicated by reference arrow 23. The ends 20a, 20b of the line 20
then pass through the corner opening 13 and the corner opening not
shown. The ends 20a, 20b of the line 20 then are passed through
a strap portion 24 as is shown and then through the latch 26.
It is to be understood that when the latch 26 is held secure by
a hand not shown and when the latch release button is depressed
the ends 20a, 20b may be grasped by another hand and pulled so as
to draw the line 20 through the latch and object (not shown) that
is disposed between the strap 21 and the intersecting line 20, drawing
the ends of the line 201, 20b through the latch 26, will secure
an object between the mobile phone 10 and the strap holder 11.
In FIG. 1 no object has been shown between the mobile phone 10
and the strap holder 11 as the physical presence of such an object
between the mobile phone 10 and strap 21 in FIG. 1 would obscure
the cooperation of the flexible line 20 and strap holder 11 as well
as the corner openings 12, 13 and 14.
Attention now is directed to FIGS. 3 through 10 which illustrate
the multifaceted utility of this simple invention.
FIG. 3 depicts a mobile phone 10 secured by flexible line 20 which
passes around the neck and body of person 30. FIG. 4 shows the mobile
phone 10 supported by the flexible line 20 as the line 20 passes
around a neck of the person 30. The mobile phone 10 may be suspended
by either of its corner openings as is indicated by the arrows 32,
33 which are intended to suggest that the mobile phone 10 may be
reversed in its position.
FIG. 5 shows a mobile phone 10 secured to an arm 34 whereas FIG.
6 has the mobile phone 10 secured to a wrist 35.
FIG. 7 is intended to convey an action FIG. 40 such as a hiker
or backpacker with the mobile phone 10 secured to a backpack harness
strap 41.
FIG. 8 depicts a partial section of a human FIG. 45 with a body
strap 46 onto which has been secured the mobile phone 10. FIG. 9
shows yet another action FIG. 50 jogging with the mobile phone positioned
as shown on the belt 51.
In FIG. 3 to FIG. 9 the invention has been employed to secure a
mobile phone 10 to various portions of a human anatomy. FIG. 10
is intended to convey yet another useful manner of employing the
invention where the object to which the mobile phone 10 is secured
is a golf bag 52.
In a most complete sense the invention includes the following steps
for securing a mobile phone to an object. providing a mobile phone
housing that includes at least four openings in the housing; providing
a flexible line; providing a strap that is adapted to provide at
least two portions thereof that will accommodate the passage of
the flexible line there through; providing a latch element that
is adapted to secure the ends of the line when the ends of the line
have passed through the latch element; passing an end of the flexible
line through one of the openings and a portion of the strap and
then through another opening. bringing ends of the line across each
other in an intersecting manner and thereafter through first one
of the other openings whereas the other end of the line passes through
the remaining opening and then through the other portion of the
strap and thereafter through latch element, and then; drawing the
ends of the line through the latch element, such that an object
disposed between the intersecting lines and strap thereby firmly
secures the mobile phone to the object.
Although the present invention has been described herein with reference
to a particular method, materials and embodiments, the present invention
is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein.
Rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent
structures, methods and use, such as are within the scope of the
appended claims. |