WO2007142382A1

WO2007142382A1 - The belt clip for attachable to mobile phone

Info

Publication number: WO2007142382A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/003108
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jung Ki Seo
Original assignee: CHO SEUNG SEOK; DAMOTECH Co Ltd; Joongang T & C Co Ltd
Current assignee: CHO SEUNG SEOK; DAMOTECH Co Ltd; Joongang T & C Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-06-02
Filing date: 2006-08-08
Publication date: 2007-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 2008-12-02
Also published as: KR200424288Y1

Abstract

A belt clip device to be used for mounting a mobile phone, which can be securely attached/detached to/from a mobile phone protective case or a mobile phone so that the mobile phone, in a mounted state, can change its orientation at various angles around the rotary section. An insert member is attached to the rear face of the mobile phone protective case or the mobile phone, and has a central protrusion formed in a central portion thereof and slide- type insert grooves formed in opposing edges thereof. A plate includes a vertical recess that has a dual groove structure of first and second slide grooves that engage with the insert grooves of the insert member; an operation piece having a folded lower end, which is formed by cutting a central portion of the vertical recess so that it elastically protrudes; and a push stick for engaging with the first slide grooves, and having an operation hole for receiving the protruding lower end of the operation piece. The rotary section is securely inserted into the clip so as not to escape therefrom and so as to intermittently rotate at a predetermined angle.

Description

[DESCRIPTION] [invention Title]

THE BELT CLIP FOR ATTACHABLE TO MOBILE PHONE

[Technical Field] The present invention relates to a belt clip structure to be used for the mounting of a mobile phone.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a belt clip device to be used for the mounting of a mobile phone, which can be securely attached/detached to/from a mobile phone protective case or a mobile phone so that the orientation of a mobile phone, in a mounted state, can be changed at various angles around the rotary section. [Background Art]

For mobile phones, which are considered necessary by modern people, a variety of attachment methods as numerous as the different tastes of users have been proposed.

One of the most conventional and general attachment methods is to mount a mobile phone to a belt clip device, which is freely attached to the waist belt of a user, and use the mobile phone by removing it therefrom when necessary. This kind of belt attachment method is widely used by the elderly as well as the young and the middle-aged, since attachment/detachment is simple, it can be readily used irrespective of clothing, and the usage is relatively easy. Conventionally, for the belt attachment method, a mobile phone is received in a leather case to which an angle-adjusting belt clip is integrally fixed. However, this method provides a poor appearance and the cover of the leather case has to be opened whenever the mobile phone is stored or taken out. Recently, holders for safely gripping a mobile phone have been used, which expose the phone to the outside when a cover thereof is opened. An example of this kind of holder is proposed in Korean Patent No. 0538869, entitled "HOLDER FOR MOBILE PHONE CASE," which was granted to the present applicant. While a mobile phone can be directly attached to the holder, defects such as scratches may be formed in the surface of the mobile phone when it is frequently attached and detached. Hence, the recent trend is toward hard/soft protective cases for a mobile phone, which are injection- molded in a shape conforming to the outline of the mobile phone. Accordingly, the mobile phone can be used in a state of having been attached to the protective case.

However, this structure requires an additional holder for the mobile phone, which is integrally attached to the belt clip, thereby increasing the overall size of the belt clip and further raising the manufacturing cost. Even if the mobile phone is not received in the protective case, the holder protrudes to a size larger than the outline of the mobile phone, thereby pressing the waist region of a user. Thus, the user must adjust the orientation of the holder in order to maintain a comfortable posture. Accordingly, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 0412377, entitled "BELT CLIP FOR MOUNTING MOBILE PHONE," was previously proposed and filed by the present applicant.

This utility model registration proposes a holding structure having the following improvements: even if mobile phone protective cases have different structures or shapes corresponding to respective mobile phone types, the holding structure can enable the protective cases to be simply attached/detached to/from a belt clip without a holder. Thus, the protective cases can intermittently rotate to any angle using a central rotary portion of the holding structure.

However, the aforementioned utility model registration also has problems in terms of the manufacturing process, and has difficulties in terms of usage. For example, for the purpose of assembling the protective case and the belt clip, it is necessary to form a protruding guide rail on the rear face of the protective case and a rotary shaft member for insertion into the guide rail. This, as a result, complicates the process of manufacturing the protective case. The protruding guide rail on the rear face provides a poor appearance and acts an interfering element in the case of storage and carriage.

Furthermore, since the belt clip is attached/connected to the protective case using only the central rotary shaft member, stability with respect to motion is rather poor. In particular, the belt clip cannot be used to hold a mobile phone without the protective case attached thereto, which causes severe problems in terms of compatibility and general usability. Hence, improvements have been demanded consecutively in terms of the manufacturing process and the benefit to users.

In order to solve the foregoing problems with the aforementioned utility model registration, the present invention has been devised based upon the following concept: A sliding insert member, shaped to protrude to the minimum extent, is attached to the rear face of a mobile phone protective case or a mobile phone, and a plate, which can rotate at a predetermined angle when engaged with the insert member, is mounted to a belt clip corresponding to the insert member.

[Disclosure of Invention] [Technical Problem]

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a belt clip structure to be used for the mounting of a mobile phone, which includes a structure for assembling a belt clip with a mobile phone protective case or a mobile phone. The assembling structure includes a thin plate-type insert member, which can be simply attached to the rear face of the protective case or the mobile phone, and a plate of the belt clip, into which the insert member is slid and engaged. Accordingly, the user can easily carry and store the mobile phone while freely adjusting the orientation of the mobile phone if necessary. [Technical Solution]

According to an aspect of the present invention for realizing the object thereof, there is provided a belt clip device attachable to a mobile phone protective case or a mobile phone. The belt clip device of the present invention includes an insert member attached to the rear face of the mobile phone protective case or the mobile phone, the insert member having a central protrusion, formed in a central portion thereof, and slide-type insert grooves, formed in opposing edges thereof; a plate having a vertical recess, an operation piece and a rotary section, the vertical recess having a dual groove structure of first and second slide grooves for engaging with the insert grooves of the insert member, the operation piece having a folded lower end, which is formed by cutting a central portion of the vertical recess to elastically protrude, the rotary section protruding from the lower portion of a rear face of the plate; and a push stick for engaging with the first slide grooves, and having an operation hole for receiving the protruding lower end of the operation piece. The rotary section is securely inserted into the clip so as not to escape therefrom, and intermittently rotates at a predetermined angle.

[Advantageous Effects] According to the present invention as set forth above, the belt clip device can be simply and stably attached/detached to/from the mobile phone, and the orientation of the mobile phone can be easily adjusted. Furthermore, there are no restrictions in carrying or using the mobile phone, which is separated from the belt clip device. [Description of Drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the mounting of a belt clip device of the present invention to a protective case for a mobile phone;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the direct mounting of the belt clip device of the invention, mounted to a mobile phone; FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views emphasizing respective mounting states of the belt clip device of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a rear exploded perspective view illustrating the belt clip device of the present invention. <Major Reference Signs of the Drawings>

10: protective case 11: insert member 11a: insert groove 20: plate 21: grooved portion 22: first slide rail 23: second slide rail 24: operation piece 25: rotary section 26: push stick 2βa: operation hole 30: clip [Best Mode]

The following detailed description will illustrate the belt clip device of the present invention with reference to more specific shape and functions . In the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the mounting of a belt clip device of the present invention to a protective case for a mobile phone, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective views illustrating the direct mounting of the belt clip device of the invention mounted to a mobile phone. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention has been proposed to provide an attachment structure in which a belt clip device 100 can be freely and tightly attached/detached to/from a mobile phone protective case 10 or a mobile phone, from which the protective case has been removed.

Since the mobile phone protective case 10 or the mobile phone can be freely selected irrespective of the type or shape, the present invention is not limited to a product having a specific shape. First, an insert member 11 is provided in the form of a thin plate, and is integrally attached to the rear outer face of the protective case 10 or the mobile phone. More particularly, the insert member 11 is integrally attached to the central point, selected from the outer surface of the rear outer face of the protective case 10 or the mobile phone. The insert member 11 has a slight protrusion, formed in a central portion thereof, and slide insert grooves 11a, vertically formed in right and left ends thereof. Occasionally, the central protrusion of the insert member 11 can have a slanted configuration, with the upper end protruding more than the lower end. This can give a slight variation to the state of the band clip 100 holding the mobile phone.

The belt clip device 100, into which the insert member 11 is inserted, generally includes a plate 20 and a belt- fixing clip 30, which is engaged with the plate 20 and operates in an elastic manner.

The plate 20 has a vertical recess 21, which is formed in a central portion of the front face thereof and has the same width as the insert member 11. The vertical recess 21 is configured to receive the central protrusion of the insert member 11 and to be engaged into the right and left grooves 11a of the insert member 11. In this way, the plate 20 is integrally engaged with the insert member 11. The vertical recess 21 has first and second slide grooves 22 and 23, formed in right and left vertical edges thereof, in a dual groove structure or an overlapping shape. To facilitate the entrance of the insert member 11 from outside, the upper opening of the recess 21 is preferably further widened to the right and left. A U-shaped operation piece 24 is formed in a central portion of the recess 21 by cutting the central portion of the recess 21, except for the upper end portion thereof. The operation piece 24 is separated from the remaining portion of the recess 21 by the cutting, but is connected at the upper end portion to the central portion of the recess 21. The lower end portion of the operation piece 24 is configured to protrude forward in a folded state. The operation piece 24 is pushed back by external force and then elastically returns to its original position, hinging about the upper end portion. A rotary section 25 is integrally formed with the plate 20 via molding, and is slightly protruded from the rear face of the plate 20, opposite the recess 21. The rotary section 25 has gear-shaped teeth formed along the circular outer periphery thereof, thereby allowing intermittent rotation.

A plate-shaped push stick 26 is extended a predetermined length and is the same width as the slide grooves 22. When the push stick 26 is inserted into the first slide grooves 22 in the recess 21 of the plate 20, it can slide down when downward force is externally applied by a user. The push stick 26 has a quadrangular operation hole 26a formed adjacent to the lower end. The four edges of the operation hole 26a are slanted to narrow the hole toward the rear side thereof, so that the folded lower end of the operation piece 24 is naturally inserted and engaged into the operation hole 26a as the push stick 26 is inserted into the first slide grooves 22.

As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 5, the rotary section 25 of the plate 20 is engaged into the clip 30, thereby forming a unitary body, in which the clip 30 elastically operates to be fixed to the belt of the user with the clip 30. The rotary section 25 is inserted into a circular coupling hole of the clip 30, which has an elastic fitting section. In the inserted position, the rotary section 25 is prevented from escaping from the coupling hole of the clip 30, but can rotate freely with respect to the clip 30. The teeth of the rotary section 25 elastically engage with the elastic fitting section of the coupling hole of the clip 30, which is arranged to surround part of the rotary section 25, so that the plate 20 can intermittently rotate at a predetermined angle.

In the accompanying drawings, FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross- sectional views emphasizing the respective mounting states of the belt clip device of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the insert member 11, attached to the rear face of the mobile phone protective case 10, is inserted into the second slide grooves 23 of the plate 20 and is slid down facing the push stick 26, which is in a parking position. In the parking position, the push stick 26 stays in a position inserted into the first slide grooves 22, so that the folded lower end of the operation piece 24, protruded through the insert hole 26a of the push stick 26, is prevented from escaping outside and is in a pushed-up position. While the insert member 11 is being slid down, it pushes back the protruded operation piece 24. When the insert member 11 is completely mounted and located at the lowermost end of the operation piece 24, it stops interfering with the operation piece 24, which is in a pushed back position. Then, the operation piece 24 elastically moves forward to protrude through the insert hole 2βa at the uppermost end of the insert member 11. Accordingly, the insert member 20 is prevented from escaping, and thus can maintain a secure mounting state.

When the mobile phone is mounted as above, the user may want to adjust the orientation of the mobile phone as he/she changes his/her posture. In this case, the user can adjust the orientation of the mobile phone merely by turning the mounted mobile phone with the hand, so that the rotary section 25 of the plate 20 rotates to a predetermined angle in the clip 30, which is fixed to the waist belt of the user.

In the case where the user releases the mobile phone from the mounting state to use the mobile phone, the user pushes down the push stick 26, which protrudes outward at the uppermost end of the plate 20. Then, the push stick 26 slides down so that the slants of the operation hole 26a naturally push back the operation piece 24 from the protruded position, and thus the operation piece 24 releases the insert member 11. When the user raises the mobile phone, the insert member 11 freely moves out along the second slide grooves 23, which are formed in the recess 21 of the plate 20. In addition, when the user releases the pressure applied to the push stick 26, the push stick 26 rises to the original position under the restoring force of the operation piece 24, which is in the pushed-back position.

Claims

[CLAIMS]

[Claim 1]

A belt clip device attachable to a mobile phone protective case or a mobile phone, comprising: an insert member attached to a rear face of the mobile phone protective case or the mobile phone, the insert member having a central protrusion formed in a central portion thereof and slide-type insert grooves formed at opposing edges thereof; a plate having a vertical recess, an operation piece and a rotary section, the vertical recess having a dual groove structure of first and second slide grooves, which engage with the insert grooves of the insert member, the operation piece having a folded lower end, which is formed by cutting a central portion of the vertical recess to elastically protrude, the rotary section protruding from a lower portion of a rear face of the plate/ and a push stick, which engages with the first slide grooves, having an operation hole for receiving the protruding lower end of the operation piece, wherein the rotary section is securely inserted into the clip so as not to escape therefrom and so as to intermittently rotate at a predetermined angle.

[Claim 2] The belt clip device according to claim 1, wherein the central protrusion of the insert member is slanted so that an upper portion thereof is protruded further than a lower portion thereof. [Claim 3]

The belt clip device according to claim 1, wherein the clip has a circular coupling hole for receiving the rotary section of the plate, the circular coupling hole having an elastic fitting section for elastically engaging with an outer peripheral portion of the rotary section so that the rotary section is allowed to rotate and to be fixed at a predetermined angle.