US20090013719A1

US20090013719A1 - Cell phone necklaces

Info

Publication number: US20090013719A1
Application number: US11/827,242
Authority: US
Inventors: Cynthia Loving; Norma L. Rodriguez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-07-11
Filing date: 2007-07-11
Publication date: 2009-01-15

Abstract

Ornamental neckwear functional as a quick-release carrier for a flip-open style mobile phone includes a substantially flexible strap clamped at each end by two jewelry chocker clamps. A flexible elongated decorative member of sufficient length to go over the users head is connected at each of two ends to integral loops on the jewelry chocker clamps. The necklace can convert to a cell phone holder rapidly by clamping the flexible strap under the hinge between the body and flip top of the cell phone.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to methods of carrying mobile phones and, more particularly, this invention relates to decorative necklaces for carrying a cell phone.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, mobile phones carried in purses, pockets, or briefcases sometimes could not be accessed quickly enough when ringing. In addition, cell phones tend to get lost, dropped or left behind. Lanyards and the like are commercially available, and variations have been proposed such as that in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0272890. There are rather plain in appearance and have a single point of attachment to the phone at a slot or something built into the phone. Cell phone bags or pouches that can be worn around the neck are also commercially offered in many styles including those available at www.radico.com. It appears that all of these are all one piece designs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an attractive and convenient apparatus for hands-free carrying with quick access for a mobile phone. Ornamental neckwear functional as a quick-release carrier for a flip-open style mobile phone includes a substantially flexible strap clamped at each end by two jewelry chocker clamps. A flexible elongated decorative member of sufficient length to go over the users head is then connected to integral loops on the jewelry chocker clamps. The necklace can convert to a cell phone holder rapidly by clamping the flexible strap under the hinge between the body and flip top of the cell phone.
An alternative embodiment of this design provides more secure carrying of the cell phone, but with slower attachment and removal. Two flexible tape straps each have chocker clamps on each end. The ends of the two straps are then connected with connecting loops through the integral loops in the chocker clamps. The cell phone can then be slid between the two straps, and each end of a decorative necklace is attached to one of the connecting loops.
All types of cell phones can be fashionably carried with a third embodiment which uses a decorative pouch to hold the phone. Each end of a decorative necklace is detachably connected to a side of the pouch. By making the necklace separable from the pouch, endless mix-and-match possibilities are created.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a convenient and decorative means for carrying a flip-open style mobile phone.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a necklace that can be worn at times just as jewelry, but can also be readily converted into a flip-style cell phone holder.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a neckwear pouch for holding a mobile phone providing the feature of separable pouches and necklaces for either separate necklace wear or interchanging necklaces with different pouches.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a necklace style cell phone holder offering quick release for flip-style mobile phones.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a secure and decorative holder for a cell phone that can be worn around the neck, but also allow flip-style phones to be quickly answered without disconnecting necklace.
In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above, it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a necklace holder for a flip-style cell phone.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a flip-style cell phone being hung on the special necklace design.

FIG. 3 is a frontal view of an embodiment of a separable necklace and a decorative pouch for carrying a cell phone.

FIG. 4 is a perspective rear view of an embodiment which can securely hold a cell phone from a necklace of the phone being open or closed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.
Referring initially to FIG. 1, the combination necklace/cell-phone holder 10 is shown. A decorative necklace 16 of any desired design can be used, but it must be sufficiently long enough to fit over the wearer's head. Each end is permanently attached to the integral loop of a typical jewelry chocker clamp 14 with a movable link 18. A strip of durable flexible tape 12 is clamped at each end by the jaws of one of the chocker clamps 14. The tape strip 12 would most likely be a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) tape, typically one to three centimeters wide and about 6 to 7 centimeters long, slightly greater than the width of a common cell phone. This design could be worn strictly as a necklace when desired by putting it over one's head and positioning the TPU tape 12 at the back of the neck. It offers a very rapid attachment to a flip-style phone.
FIG. 2 illustrates how the necklace-holder combination could be deployed as a holder for a flip-style cell or mobile phone. The front cover 22 of the cell phone 20 is opened far enough to slip the tape section 12 slightly below the phone hinge. The cover is then closed to lightly clamp the tape 12 between the two main parts of the phone 20 and 22. The two ends of the necklace 16 are each permanently attached to one of the chocker clamps 14 with interlocked loops 18. The necklace 16 is then draped around the wearer's neck by placing it over the head.
FIG. 3 presents an embodiment that enables any style of cell phone to be supported from a necklace in a pouch with the unique feature of separable pouch and necklace such that either can be combined with a wide assortment of the other. A decorative pouch 30 has two loops 27 disposed at top corners. A necklace 16 is removably connected to the loops 27 with clasps 26. Spring-ring clasps would be a preferred type, but many others would work as well.
FIG. 4 depicts an alternative embodiment which offers a method of carrying a cell phone 20 from a necklace more securely than that shown in FIG. 2. Two flexible tape strips 12 have chocker clamps 14 at each end and are positioned front and back of a mobile phone 20. They are connected along the sides by elastic loops 29 running through the integral loops on the chocker clamps 14. The loops 29 can be rigid instead when the flexible tape strips are made of thermoplastic polyurethane or other material with some elasticity. A cell phone 20 is slipped down between the two strips 12 until it cannot travel any further. A decorative necklace 16 is then removably attached to the strap assembly with spring-ring clasps 26 or the like through the connecting loops 29 or the loops on the chocker clamps 14. This alternative design enables the user to open and use the cell phone while it is still attached to necklace.
While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same, it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Ornamental neckwear functional as a quick-release carrier for flip-open style mobile phones comprising:

a) a substantially flexible strap of preselected material having a first predetermined length;

b) two jewelry chocker clamps attached at opposite ends of said flexible strap; and

c) a flexible elongated decorative member of a second predetermined length having each of two ends flexibly connected to integral loops of said jewelry chocker clamps.

2. The ornamental neckwear, according to claim 1, wherein said preselected material of said flexible strap is thermoplastic polyurethane tape.

3. The ornamental neckwear, according to claim 1, wherein said first predetermined length of said flexible strap is between one and five inches.

4. The ornamental neckwear, according to claim 1, wherein said second predetermined length of said decorative member is between about 18 and 60 inches.

5. Ornamental neckwear functional as a carrier comprising:

a) a flexible elongated decorative member having two free ends;

b) a substantially flat decorative pouch having a top open end;

c) at least two loops permanently affixed at perimeter of said top open end of said flat decorative pouch; and

d) an attachment means at each of said two free ends of said elongated decorative member for removably attaching to said loops.

6. The neckwear carrier, according to claim 5, wherein said attachment means at each of said two free ends is a spring ring clasp.

7. Ornamental neckwear functional as a carrier for a mobile phone comprising:

a) two substantially flexible straps of a preselected material;

b) four jewelry chocker clamps with integral loops, one each fixedly attached at ends of said two flexible straps;

c) a flexible elongated decorative member having two free ends;

d) at least two connecting means passing through said integral loops of said chocker clamps for joining of said two flexible straps into one continuous loop; and

e) an attachment means at each of said two free ends of said elongated decorative member for attaching to said connecting means.

8. The ornamental neckwear, according to claim 7, wherein said attachment means at each of said two free ends is a spring ring clasp.

9. The ornamental neckwear, according to claim 7, wherein said preselected material of said flexible straps is thermoplastic polyurethane tape.

10. The ornamental neckwear, according to claim 7, wherein said connecting means for said chocker clamps is a rigid split ring.

11. The ornamental neckwear, according to claim 7, wherein said connecting means for said chocker clamps is an elastic loop.