Carry assembly for portable electronic device

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

00011. Field of the Invention

0002The present invention relates to a carry assembly for a portable electronic device, and more particularly to a carry assembly for a portable electronic device hanging on a belt of a user.

00032. Background of the Invention

0004As portable electronic device such as personal digital assistant (PDA) becomes smaller and smaller, more and more users choose to carry the devices by fastening them to a holster that is somehow attached to a user's belt. The conventional carrying holster typically include a portion for holding the PDA and a clip portion attached to the carrying portion for attachment to a user's article of closing. When the PDA and the holster are attached to a user's article of closing, the position of the PDA may restrict a person's movement. For example, when the person sits, the bottom of the carrying holster can cause discomfort to the user's leg or the top of the carrying holster can cause discomfort or pain to the user's waist.

0005An adjustable holster having a rotatable connection between the belt loop assembly and the holster has been invented. The holster includes two rigid plates. One of the rigid plates includes a number of bosses in a circular array. The other plate includes the same number of mating recesses in a circular array. When the holster is in use, the bosses of one plate engage mating recesses in the other plate and the plates are held in place by a position locking screw to provide rigid angular positioning of the holster body with respect to the belt loop assembly. However, the adjustment process requires timely and inconvenient steps of obtaining a tool, loosening the position locking screw, adjusting the position of the holster and tightening the screw.

0006Accordingly, what is needed is a carry assembly for a portable electronic device whereby the position of the electronic devices with respect to the mounting mechanism can be easily adjusted and locked into position without using a tool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0007A carry assembly for an electronic device includes a holster, a protrusion formed on the holster, a clip support member pivotally attached to the holster and a positioning member. A spring is received in the protrusion. The clip support member includes an opening having a plurality of grooves. The positioning member is disposed between the grooves and the spring. Wherein rotation of the holster from one position to other position moves the positioning member from one of the grooves into other, thereby locking the holster into position.

0008Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of preferred embodiment with attached drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0009<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is an exploded isometric view of the preferred embodiment of a carry assembly for a portable electronic device;

0010<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is another aspect view of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

0011<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is an assembled view of the carry assembly of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> with the holster in a vertical position; and

0012<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is an assembled view of the carry assembly of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> with the holster in a horizontal position.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

0013Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 and 2</figref>, a carry assembly for a portable electronic device, such as a person digital assistant (PDA) <b>10</b> includes a holster <b>20</b> used a container to receive the portable electronic device therein, a clip support member <b>30</b> and a clip <b>40</b>.

0014The holster <b>20</b> is integrally formed of a rear panel <b>21</b>, a pair of curved side panels <b>22</b>, a bottom panel <b>24</b> and a top panel <b>25</b> pivotally connected to the rear panel <b>21</b>, which are connected together to form a bracket for receiving a PDA. A protrusion <b>23</b> protrudes from a center of the rear panel <b>21</b>. Preferably, the perimeter of the protrusion <b>23</b> forms a substantially annular shape. A narrow receiving channel <b>231</b> is defined in the protrusion <b>23</b>, and each side of the receiving channel <b>231</b> has a cavity <b>233</b>. A ridge <b>26</b> used as a stopper for preventing the clip support member <b>30</b> over-rotating is formed under the protrusion <b>23</b>.

0015As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 and 2</figref>, a clip mechanism includes a clip support member <b>30</b>, a pin <b>37</b>, a clip <b>40</b> having a displacement end <b>41</b> and an engagement end <b>43</b>, an elastic member <b>44</b> and a cap <b>50</b>. One end of the clip support member <b>30</b> defines an opening <b>31</b> with a plurality of grooves <b>33</b> for capturing the positioning member in place arranged in a circular array. Integrally formed on the other end of the clip support member <b>30</b> are a pair of tabs <b>36</b> having pivotal holes <b>361</b> for the pin <b>37</b> mating through.

0016The clip <b>40</b> includes a pair of pivotal holes <b>401</b> for the pin <b>37</b> passing through and engaging to the clip support member <b>30</b>. A post <b>405</b> protrudes from the inner side of the clip <b>40</b>. The elastic member <b>44</b> is disposed between the clip <b>40</b> and the clip support member <b>30</b>, to allow pivotal movement of clip <b>40</b> in relation to holster <b>20</b> about the axis of pin <b>37</b>. The elastic member <b>44</b> has a first plate <b>441</b> with a receiving hole <b>445</b> and a second plate <b>443</b>, which together form V-shaped. A receiving hole <b>445</b> for the post <b>405</b> of the clip <b>40</b> protruding through is defined in the first plate <b>441</b>. The elastic member <b>44</b> allows clip <b>40</b> to be easily placed onto and removed from the user's belt or other article of closing. A pair of prongs <b>53</b> corresponding to the cavities <b>233</b> of the holster <b>20</b> are integrally formed on the inside of the cap <b>50</b>.

0017<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 3 and 4</figref> show how clip support member <b>30</b> is coupled to the holster. Opening <b>31</b> accepts protrusion <b>23</b> of holster <b>20</b>. A spring <b>60</b> is received in the channel <b>231</b> of the clip support member <b>30</b>. A positioning member <b>70</b> disposed between the spring <b>60</b> and one of the grooves <b>33</b> of opening <b>31</b> locks the holster <b>20</b> in position with respect to the clip support member <b>30</b>, wherein the positioning member <b>70</b> is rigid enough not to be distorted. In the present embodiment, the positioning member <b>70</b> is a steel column that can reduce the abrasion of the carry assembly. The prongs <b>53</b> of the cap <b>50</b> protrude through the cavities <b>233</b> and fix the clip support member <b>30</b> to the holster <b>20</b>.

0018The position of the holster <b>20</b> with respect to the clip support member <b>30</b> can be adjusted by rotating spring <b>60</b> received in the protrusion <b>23</b> of the holster <b>20</b> from one of the plurality of grooves <b>33</b> into an adjacent groove <b>33</b>. In operation, the positioning member <b>70</b> was engaged to the groove <b>33</b> to force the spring <b>60</b> to retract while the steel column <b>70</b> rolls into another adjacent groove <b>33</b>. The positioning member <b>70</b> is captured by the adjacent groove <b>33</b> to position the holster in place as the spring <b>60</b> rebounds.

0019The carry assembly of the present invention allows a user carry a PDA or other electronic device on an article of closing more comfortably than known assemblies. Whenever the user desires, such as before sitting, he or she can adjust the orientation of the device so that it dose not cause discomfort to parts of the body. The present invention allows the user to move the device into a plurality of grooves and lock the device in place while maintaining the carrier assembly securely mounted on a belt or other article of closing. No tools need to operate the adjustment. User can simply rotate and position the carry assembly into the required angle with one hand.

0020It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of preferred embodiments, together with details of the structure and function, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.