US20080041898A1

US20080041898A1 - Waterproof and portable strap for carrying small-type portable electronic device

Info

Publication number: US20080041898A1
Application number: US11/544,029
Authority: US
Inventors: Wei-Yi Chou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-15
Filing date: 2006-10-06
Publication date: 2008-02-21
Also published as: TWM312219U

Abstract

A waterproof and portable strap comprises a hanging strap and a holding means for carrying a small-type portable electronic device. The hanging strap has coupling heads on both sides, wherein the coupling heads have openings and closed trenches, and the closed trenches have several coupling parts. The closed trench of one coupling head has a taper surface. The holding means is a casing having a receiving trench and a closed surface on both sides for protecting the electronic device and stretching out a terminal portion, wherein the holding means has several coupling parts for coupling with the coupling parts of one closed trench of one coupling head, and the holding means has an exposed outer surface for insertion into the other closed trench of the other coupling head. The holding means has several retaining parts corresponding to the other coupling parts of the other closed trench.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable strap, and more particularly to a waterproof and portable strap for carrying a small-type portable electronic device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A small-type portable electronic device such as a portable memory stick is miniaturized and portable to occupy minimized space. However, it is very easy to lose the small-type portable electronic device. As a result, the user usually hangs the small-type portable electronic device by a strap. But, the hanging electronic device is not pleasing to the eye and the sway of the hung electronic device also affects the user's motion.
In addition, the portable electronic device is hung on the outside. As a result, the electricity of the portable electronic device may be affected by water or moisture that immerses thereinto and the portable electronic device may be thus damaged. Accordingly, the portable electronic devices, which are hung on the outside, sporadically have uncertain quality.
With the progress of technology, a lot of portable electronic devices are inevitably required. As a result, the main subject of the present invention is to develop an inventive portable strap for carrying and protecting a small-type portable electronic device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to protect and carry a small-type portable electronic device, the present inventor provides the users with a waterproof and portable strap for carrying this electronic device.
It is a main object of the present invention to provide a waterproof and portable strap for carrying a small-type portable electronic device, wherein the waterproof and portable strap comprises a hanging strap and a holding means. On both sides of the hanging strap, two coupling heads, which have closed trenches, are formed. The holding means is inserted into the closed trench of one coupling head and has an exposed outer surface to be inserted into the other closed trench of the other coupling head. As a result, the waterproof and portable strap is attachable and detachable.
In accordance with the above-mentioned object, the hanging strap is made of a flexible material.
In accordance with the above-mentioned object, the closed trenches have a plurality of respective coupling parts surrounding respective traverse walls completely.
In accordance with the above-mentioned object, the coupling parts of the coupling head and the coupling parts of the holding means are engaged with one another in a convex-concave configuration.
In accordance with the above-mentioned object, each of the coupling parts has a right-angled blocking surface and an arc-shaped guide surface formed on the top of the blocking surface for insertion into the closed trench of the coupling head easily. In addition, it is hard to pull out the coupling parts.
In accordance with the above-mentioned object, the coupling head has a taper surface on the rear wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic, cross-sectional view showing a hanging strap of present invention.

FIG. 3( a) is a schematic, planar view of the holding means of the present invention taken from a viewing angle.

FIG. 3( b) is a schematic, planar view of the holding means of the present invention taken from another viewing angle.

FIG. 4 is a schematic, cross-sectional view showing that the holding means that couples with a small-type portable electronic device is held in the coupling head of the hanging strap.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing that two coupling heads of the hanging strap are coupled with each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention generally comprises a hanging strap 1 made of a flexible material and a holding means 2 capable of coupling with a small-type portable electronic device 3.
As shown in FIG. 2, the hanging strap 1 has two coupling heads 11 and 12 on both sides respectively, wherein the coupling heads 11 and 12 have respective openings 111, 121 and respective closed trenches 112, 122. The closed trenches 112, 122 have several respective coupling parts 113, 123 surrounding the respective traverse walls completely. The closed trench 122 of the coupling head 12 has a taper surface 124 on the rear wall.
As shown in FIGS. 3( a) and 3(b), the holding means 2 is a casing having a receiving trench 21 on one side and a closed surface 22 on the other side so as to allow the small-type portable electronic device 3 to be inserted into the inside of the holding means 2 via the receiving trench 21 for protecting the main body of the small-type portable electronic device 3 and stretching out a terminal portion 31, which is a connection terminal such as USB or IEEE 1394. In addition, an adhesive agent is spread on the receiving trench 21 to seal the receiving trench 21 for protecting the main body of the small-type portable electronic device 3 against water so that the small-type portable electronic device 3 is coupled with the holding means 2.
As shown in FIGS. 3( a) and 4, the holding means 2 is inserted into and held in the closed trench 112 of the coupling head 11. The holding means 2 has several coupling parts 23 on a contact surface that contacts with the coupling parts 113 of the closed trench 112. The holding means 2 has an outer surface that exposes to the outside of the closed trench 112, wherein this outer surface is sleeved into the closed trench 122 of the coupling head 12. The holding means 2 has several retaining parts 24 corresponding to the coupling parts 123 of the closed trench 122.
The coupling parts 113 of the coupling head 11 and the coupling parts 23 of the holding means 2 are coupled with one another in a convex-concave configuration. As shown in these diagrams, the coupling parts 113 of the coupling head 11 preferably have a concave configuration, and the coupling parts 23 of the holding means 2 preferably have a convex configuration. Of course, the coupling parts 113 of the coupling head 11 may have a convex configuration, and the coupling parts 23 of the holding means 2 may have a concave configuration. The retaining parts 24 of the holding means 2 and the coupling parts 123 of the coupling head 12 are coupled with one another in a convex-concave configuration. As shown in these diagrams, the coupling parts 123 of the coupling head 12 preferably have a concave configuration, and the retaining parts 24 of the holding means 2 preferably have a convex configuration. Of course, the coupling parts 123 of the coupling head 12 may have a convex configuration, and the retaining parts 24 of the holding means 2 may have a concave configuration.
In addition, as shown in these diagrams, the holding means 2 has the convex coupling parts 23, wherein each coupling part 23 has a right-angled blocking surface 231 and an arc-shaped guide surface 232 formed on the top of the blocking surface 231 for insertion into the closed trench 112 of the coupling head 11. As a result, the holding means 2 can be inserted into the closed trench 112 of the holding head 11 by the use of the guide surface 232 of the coupling parts 23. In addition, the blocking surface 231 of the coupling parts 23 of the holding means 2 can be coupled with the coupling parts 113 of the coupling head 11 steadily so as to allow the holding means 2 to be held in the coupling head 11 firmly. In the present invention, each of the coupling parts 23 of the holding means 2 has the right-angled blocking surface 231 on one side and the guide surface 232 on the other side. As a result, the holding means 2 can be inserted into the closed trench 112 of the coupling head 11 easily, and it is very hard to pull out the holding means 2.
In addition, the coupling head 12 has a taper surface 124 on the rear wall, and the caliber of the taper surface 124 is exactly fit for the terminal portion 31 of the small-type portable electronic device 3, which is exposed to the outside of the holding means 2, so that the terminal portion 31 is tightly inserted in the taper surface 124. As a result, the terminal portion 31, which is inserted into the taper surface 124, is waterproof and detachable.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, a preferred embodiment of the present invention for carrying the small-type portable electronic device 3 and protecting it against water is shown. As shown in the figures, the holding means 2 is coupled with the small-type portable electronic device 3 tightly so as to position the main body of the small-type portable electronic device 3 in the receiving trench 21 of the holding means 2 in such a manner that the holding means 2 acts as the cover of the small-type portable electronic device 3. Next, the holding means 2 is inserted into the closed trench 112 of the coupling head 11 of the hanging strap 1, wherein the right-angled blocking surface 231 and the arc-shaped guide surface 232 are utilized to allow the holding means 2 to be inserted into the closed trench 112 of the holding head 11 easily. In addition, it is hard to pull out the holding means 2. As a result, the small-type portable electronic device 3 can be protected and positioned properly, wherein the terminal portion 31 of the small-type portable electronic device 3 can be exposed to the outside for connection and communication with other electronic or electric device.
If there is a desire to carry the small-type portable electronic device 3, which is not in use, the coupling head 12 of the hanging strap 1 can be utilized to cover the holding means 2, which is exposed to the outside of the coupling head 11. Next, the coupling parts 123 of the coupling head 12 is coupled with the retaining parts 24 of the holding means 2, and the terminal portion 31 of the small-type portable electronic device 3, which is exposed to the outside of the holding means 2, is inserted into the taper surface 124 of the closed trench 122 of the coupling head 12 so as to allow the taper surface 124 and the terminal portion 31 to touch with each other tightly and exactly. As a result, the hanging strap 1 can be wound steadily around the user's hand to prevent the occurrence of fall and provide the convenience of portability. In addition, after the coupling heads 11 and 12 of the hanging strap 1 are coupled with each other, several protection structures can be formed by coupling the coupling parts 23 and the retaining parts 24 with the coupling parts 113, 123 of the closed trenches 112 and 122 so as to provide the waterproofing effect. Moreover, the holding means 2 has the closed surface 22 on one side, which prevents the occurrence of water permeation, to further protect the electricity against affection. Furthermore, the coupling head 12 has a taper surface 124 on the inside of the closed trench 122, wherein the taper surface 124 can drain away the permeated water drops from the main body of the small-type portable electronic device 3 and can gather the water drops in the taper surface 124 so as to isolate water drops and to prevent the water drops from affecting the electricity of the small-type portable electronic device 3. As a result, the portable strap of the present invention has multiple waterproofing designs to isolate water such that it is portable and waterproof.
The coupling head 12 is made of a flexible material and has the flexible property. As a result, the coupling heads 11 and 12 of the hanging strap 1 can be detached from each other easily by pulling the hanging strap 1 for separating the coupling parts 123 of the coupling head 12 from the retaining parts 24 of the holding means 2.
It is apparent that the waterproof and portable strap of the present invention is capable of carrying the small-type portable electronic device. In addition, a watch body can be hung on the hanging strap 1 so as to form a practical watch. Moreover, the colored patterns can be formed on the surface of the hanging strap 1 so as to form a decoration that has added value.
To sum up, the waterproof and portable strap of the present invention is indeed useful since it provides the practicability of carrying the small-type portable electronic device and protecting it against water.

Claims

1. A waterproof and portable strap for carrying a small-type portable electronic device comprising:

a hanging strap having a first and a second coupling heads on both sides respectively, wherein said first and said second coupling heads have a first and a second openings and a first and a second closed trenches, and said first and said second closed trenches have a plurality of first and second coupling parts surrounding respective traverse walls completely, wherein said closed trench of said second coupling head has a taper surface on a rear wall; and

a holding means being a casing having a receiving trench on one side and a closed surface on the other side so as to allow said small-type portable electronic device to be inserted into said receiving trench for protecting a main body of said small-type portable electronic device and stretching out a terminal portion of said small-type portable electronic device, wherein said holding means has a plurality of third coupling parts for coupling with said first coupling parts of said first closed trench of said first coupling head, and said holding means has an outer surface that exposes to the outside of said first closed trench for insertion into said second closed trench of said second coupling head, wherein said holding means has a plurality of retaining parts corresponding to said second coupling parts of said second closed trench, whereby said third coupling parts of said holding means can be coupled with said first coupling parts of said first closed trench of said first coupling head of said hanging strap, and said second coupling parts of said second closed trench of said second coupling head can be coupled with said retaining parts of said holding means so as to allow said waterproof and portable strap to be wound around the user's hand.

2. A waterproof and portable strap for carrying a small-type portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein said hanging strap is made of a flexible material.

3. A waterproof and portable strap for carrying a small-type portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein said first coupling parts of said first coupling head are concave structures.

4. A waterproof and portable strap for carrying a small-type portable electronic device of claim 3, wherein said third coupling parts of said holding means are convex structures to engage with said first coupling parts of said first coupling head.

5. A waterproof and portable strap for carrying a small-type portable electronic device of claim 3, wherein said retaining parts of said holding means are convex structures to engage with said second coupling parts of said second coupling head.

6. A waterproof and portable strap for carrying a small-type portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein said first coupling parts of said first coupling head are convex structures.

7. A waterproof and portable strap for carrying a small-type portable electronic device of claim 6, wherein said third coupling parts of said holding means are concave structures to engage with said first coupling parts of said first coupling head.

8. A waterproof and portable strap for carrying a small-type portable electronic device of claim 6, wherein said retaining parts of said holding means are concave structures to engage with said second coupling parts of said second coupling head.

9. A waterproof and portable strap for carrying a small-type portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein said taper surface has a caliber, which is exactly fit for said terminal portion of said small-type portable electronic device, and said terminal portion is exposed to the outside of said holding means such that said terminal portion can be tightly inserted into said taper surface.

10. A waterproof and portable strap for carrying a small-type portable electronic device comprising:

a hanging strap having a first and a second coupling heads on both sides respectively, wherein said first and said second coupling heads have a first and a second openings and a first and a second closed trenches, and said first and said second closed trenches have a plurality of first and second coupling parts surrounding respective traverse walls entirely, wherein said closed trench of said second coupling head has a taper surface on a rear wall; and

a holding means being a casing having a receiving trench on one side and a closed surface on the other side so as to allow said small-type portable electronic device to be inserted into said receiving trench for protecting a main body of said small-type portable electronic device and stretching out a terminal portion of said small-type portable electronic device, wherein said holding means has a plurality of third coupling parts for coupling with said first coupling parts of said first closed trench of said first coupling head, wherein each of said third coupling parts has a right-angled blocking surface and a guide surface formed on the top of said blocking surface, and said holding means has an outer surface that exposes to the outside of said first closed trench for insertion into said second closed trench of said second coupling head, wherein said holding means has a plurality of retaining parts corresponding to said second coupling parts of said second closed trench, whereby said third coupling parts of said holding means can be coupled with said first coupling parts of said first closed trench of said first coupling head of said hanging strap, and said second coupling parts of said second closed trench of said second coupling head can be coupled with said retaining parts of said holding means so as to allow said waterproof and portable strap to be wound around the user's hand.

11. A waterproof and portable strap for carrying a small-type portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein said hanging strap is made of a flexible material.

12. A waterproof and portable strap for carrying a small-type portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein said first coupling parts of said first coupling head are concave structures.

13. A waterproof and portable strap for carrying a small-type portable electronic device of claim 12, wherein said third coupling parts of said holding means are convex structures to engage with said first coupling parts of said first coupling head.

14. A waterproof and portable strap for carrying a small-type portable electronic device of claim 12, wherein said retaining parts of said holding means are convex structures to engage with said second coupling parts of said second coupling head.

15. A waterproof and portable strap for carrying a small-type portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein said taper surface has a caliber, which is exactly fit for said terminal portion of said small-type portable electronic device, and said terminal portion is exposed to the outside of said holding means such that said terminal portion can be tightly inserted into said taper surface.