Holder for a mobile electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10728372-B2
Application number	US-201916240191-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2019
Priority date	Aug 21, 2018
Publication date	Jul 28, 2020
Grant date	Jul 28, 2020

Abstract

A holder for holding a mobile electronic device to an object, the holder having two first openings, a first communication path, two second openings, and a second communication path. The two first openings form a first set of openings. The first communication path connects the first openings so a securing device can be fed into one of the first openings and out of the other of the first openings. The two second openings form a second set of openings. The second communication path connects the second openings so that the securing device can be fed into one of the second openings and out of the other of the second openings. The first openings are spaced apart from the second openings so the securing device can be secured to the holder at the first and second sets of openings, and additionally wrapped around the object to secure the holder thereto.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A holder for a mobile electronic device that is configured to hold the mobile electronic device securely to an external object, the holder comprising:
a case portion comprising:
a plurality of first openings at an exterior of the case portion and a first communication path extending through the case portion that connects to each of the first openings; and
a plurality of second openings at the exterior of the case portion and a second communication path extending through the case portion that connects to each of the second openings;

first and second clamp pieces spaced apart from each other and configured for securely and removably attaching to a respective side of the case portion, each of the first and the second clamp pieces comprising:
a clamping portion having opposing clamping surfaces configured for engagement with opposing surfaces on the respective side of the case portion so that the clamping portion is securely and removably attached to the respective side of the case portion;
a flexible extension extending from the clamping portion and configured to be wrapped around the external object; and
a connecting portion located at an end of the flexible extension opposite to the clamping portion,

wherein the connecting portion of the first clamp piece securely engages with and connects to the case portion via the first openings and the first communication path and the connecting portion of the second clamp piece securely engages with and connects to the case portion via the second openings and the second communication path wherein:
the flexible extension or the connecting portion of the first clamp piece extends through at least one of the first openings and the flexible extension or the connecting portion of the second clamp piece extends through at least one of the second openings;
a portion of the flexible extension of the first clamp piece is arranged outside the case portion on a first side of the first openings and a portion of the flexible extension of the second clamp piece is arranged outside the case portion on a first side of the second openings; and
a portion of the connecting portion of the first clamp piece is arranged outside the case portion on a second side of the first openings opposite the first side of the first openings and a portion of the connecting portion of the second clamp piece is arranged outside the case portion on a second side of the second openings opposite the first side of the second openings.

2. The holder for a mobile electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the case portion has:
a pocket, recess, or cavity sized and configured to hold the mobile electronic device;
a length dimension in a length direction;
a width dimension in a width direction; and
a thickness dimension in a thickness direction,
wherein each of the length direction, the width direction, and the thickness direction is orthogonal to the other two of the length direction, the width direction, and the thickness direction, and
wherein the thickness dimension is smaller than the width dimension and the width dimension is smaller than the length dimension.

3. The holder for a mobile electronic device according to claim 2 , wherein the case portion further has a lip or rim that secures the mobile electronic device in the pocket, recess, or cavity.

4. The holder for a mobile electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first and the second clamp pieces has an indentation or recess configured to accept the respective side of the case portion.

5. The holder for a mobile electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the flexible extensions is formed in an undulating pattern with alternating peaks and troughs.

6. The holder for a mobile electronic device according to claim 5 , wherein, for each of the connecting portions, each of the peaks has a corresponding trough on an opposite side of the flexible extension in a direction substantially perpendicular to an extension direction defined in a direction from the clamping portion to the connecting portion.

7. The holder for a mobile electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible extension, the clamping portion, and the connecting portion are integral with each other so that each of the clamp pieces is formed as an integral singular continuous clamp piece.

8. The holder for a mobile electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and the second clamp pieces is formed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of an elastomeric material, a foam material, a rubber material, silicone, thermoplastic elastomers (“TPEs”), thermoplastic polyurethane (“TPU”), polyolefins, a soft plastic, or any combination thereof.

9. The holder for a mobile electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first and the second clamp pieces separately snaps onto the respective sides of the case portion.

10. A holder for a mobile electronic device that is configured to hold the mobile electronic device securely to an external object, the holder comprising:
two first openings that are paired together as a first set of paired openings;
a first communication path that connects the first openings so that a securing device can be fed into one of the first openings and subsequently fed out of the other of the first openings;
two second openings that are paired together as a second set of paired openings;
a second communication path that connects the second openings so that the securing device can be fed into one of the second openings and subsequently fed out of the other of the second openings;
a case portion having a pocket, recess, or cavity sized and configured to hold the mobile electronic device, a length dimension in a length direction, a width dimension in a width direction, and a thickness dimension in a thickness direction, each of the length direction, the width direction, and the thickness direction being orthogonal to the other two of the length direction, the width direction, and the thickness direction, the thickness dimension being smaller than the width dimension, and the width dimension being smaller than the length dimension; and
a securing device including first and the second clamp pieces, each of the first and the second clamp pieces being configured to engage a respective side of the case portion so that each of the first and the second clamp pieces is securely and removably attached to the respective side of the case portion and each comprising:
a clamping portion configured to engage the respective side of the case portion so that the clamping portion is securely and removably attached to the respective side of the case portion;
a flexible extension that extends from the clamping portion and includes a first portion and a second portion attached to the first portion; and
a connecting portion located at an end of the flexible extension opposite to the clamping portion and including a first portion and a second portion attached to the first portion,

wherein the two first openings are spaced apart from the two second openings so that the securing device can be secured to the holder at the first set of paired openings and at the second set of paired openings, and additionally wrapped around the external object to secure the holder to the external object,
wherein each of the connecting portions securely engages with and connects to the case portion via a corresponding one of the first and the second sets of paired openings so that for each of the connecting portions:
the first portion of the flexible extension or a first portion of the connecting portion is arranged in the corresponding one of the first and the second sets of pa

Assignees

• Samsonite Ip Holdings Sarl

Inventors

• Hynecek Bryan Lee
• Hutchinson Mia
• Kung Joyce
• Reed Colin
• Chong Minna
• Del Moral Darrick
• Ng Pack Sean
• Wright Lizzie

Classifications

• H04M1/0256

  wherein the modules are operable in the detached state, e.g. one module for the user interface and one module for the transceiver · CPC title

• H04M1/04 Primary

  Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers · CPC title

• H04M1/12

  Adjustable supports, e.g. extensible · CPC title

• H04M1/185 Primary

  Improving the shock resistance of the housing, e.g. by increasing the rigidity · CPC title