Carrying Device for Portable Article

Small portable articles, such as radio transmitter and receiver units, have been provided which can be held in one hand while being used. However, it is desired to provide a case or holder for carrying the article when it is not being used. Such cases have been provided with a belt loop or clip, or other mounting for carrying on a person. Cases which have been used are objectionable in that the radio cannot be used in the carrying case, and to remove the radio takes some time and usually requires the use of both hands. Such cases have a flap which must be opened and then the radio must be removed from the case, and similar operations are involved to place the radio in the case.

Another problem has been that a different case has been required for each device and for each model of the device. For example, radio devices of the same general type can have models of different sizes, as required when different features are included and to provide batteries of different sizes. This requires having a large number of different cases available, and as the cases have been relatively expensive, the cost of providing the various different cases is objectionable.

An object of this invention is to provide a simply carrying device for a portable article.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved carry holder for a portable radio which can be used with radios of different sizes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carry holder for a portable article which is molded of plastic material and which has a latch for securing the article in the holder.

A still further object is to provide a carrying device for a portable radio which is of inexpensive construction, which holds the radio with the controls thereof accessible for use, and which permits easy insertion and removal of the radio.

In practicing the invention there is provided a carry holder for a portable article, such as a hand held radio transmitter and receiver, which includes a back plate formed with an integral loop for receiving the article. The article includes a projection or ledge and the holder includes a stop surface on which the ledge rests when the article is inserted in the loop. A latch is secured to the back plate which has a projection which extends over a part of the article when the article is in the holder, with the ledge engaging the stop surface. This holds the article in the holder, and the latch can flex to allow the projection to be moved clear of the article so that it can be withdrawn from the holder. The holder has no bottom wall so that it can be used with articles of different lengths. The holder can be used with any article which fits within the loop, which has a ledge which will rest on the stop surface and a part at a fixed position with respect to the ledge to cooperate with the latch. When used to carry a portable radio the controls of the radio are accessible, and the radio can be removed from the holder, or replaced therein, by use of one hand. A belt flap or clip, or any other mounting, such as a swivel mounting, can be used to support the holder on a person.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the carry holder of the invention with a portable radio therein;

FIG. 2 shows the radio out of the holder;

FIG. 3 shows the latch and belt flap of the holder;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the loop of the holder along the lines 4--4 of FIG. 3; and

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 show the holder with radios of different sizes.

FIG. 1 shows the carry holder 10 of the invention with a small radio transmitter and receiver 12 therein. FIG. 2 shows the same structure with the radio above the holder. The holder includes a back plate 14 against which the back of the radio 12 rests, and a loop 16 which surrounds the radio having top and bottom surfaces or edges 16a and 16b, respectively. The radio 12 has controls 18 on the top thereof and a push-to-talk switch 19 on one side. The housing of the radio 12 is recessed below the switch 19 forming a ledge 20, and the loop 16 has a stop surface 22 on which the ledge 20 rests. Secured to the back 14 of the holder 10 is a latch 24 which has a projection 25 which extends across a part of the top of the radio 12, when it is in position in the holder. A belt flap 26 may also be secured to the back 14.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show more in detail the construction of the holder 10. The back 14 and the loop 16 can be integrally molded as a single piece from a relatively rigid plastic material. The stop surface 22 can be below the top surface 16a of the loop to form a pocket for receiving the ledge 20 on the radio. As shown by FIG. 4, ribs 23 are provided in the loop at the stop surface 22 to provide a larger surface on which the ledge 20 on the article can rest.

FIG. 3 shows a part of the back 14 in cross section to better show the construction of the latch 24 and of the belt flap 26. A slot 30 is provided in the back plate 14 into which the arm 32 of the latch 24 is positioned. The arm 32 has a portion 33 of reduced thickness which is positioned in a recess 31 in the back plate 14 below the slot 30. A rivet 35 fastens the recessed portion 31 of the back to the arm portion 33 of the latch. The latch arm 32 also has a projection 34 thereon which fits into an opening 36 (best seen in FIG. 2) in the recessed portion 31 of the back plate 14. Projection 34 fitting into opening 36 as well as the portion of arm 32 fitting within slit 30 serves to align the overall latch mechanism 24 slot so that rivet 35 may be utilized to conveniently assemble the arm 32 to the back plate 14, substantially as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Further, the portion of arm 32 fitting within slot 30 also serves to fix latch mechanism 24 in a relatively fixed position and guard against any undesirable rotation of the arm 32 about its longitudinal axis. The material from which the back plate 14 and the latch 24 are formed, and the connection therebetween permits the latch 24 to flex so that the projection 25 thereon can move back to permit insertion of the radio into the holder and removal thereof. When the radio is being carried in the holder, the projection 25 extends across a part of the radio to hold the same therein, as shown by FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 also shows the belt flap 26 which can be used to mount the holder 10 on the belt of a person who is using the radio. The flap 26 can be riveted to the back 14 of the holder by rivets shown at 38. The latch 24 can be positioned between the edges of the back 14, either substantially at the center thereof, or off center as shown by FIGS. 1 and 2. The rivets 38 can be positioned on each side of the arm 32 of the latch 24 near the top of the back. Snaps 40 can be provided near the bottom of the flap 26 to hold the same to the bottom of the back 14. A pair of snaps can be provided spaced across the bottom of the back 14, which can be opened to allow the flap 26 to extend around a belt. The rivets 38 and snaps 40 provide a secure mounting of the flap 26 to the holder 10 so that the article carried by the holder is well supported.

Mounting means other than the belt flap 26 may be provided for the carry holder 10. FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show a mounting plate 41, which can be made of sheet metal, which is secured to the back of plate 14 of the holder 10 by any suitable means, such as by rivets 39 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The plate 41 has a center hole 42 aligned with a hole in the back plate 14 to which a mounting element can be readily and conveniently attached. For example, a swivel mounting element can be used, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,147, issuing July 3, 1973 to Mieczyslaw Wilczynski, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. Accordingly, belt flap 26 in this instance may be retained or omitted, as desired by the user.

It will be apparent that the carry holder of the invention is an inexpensive structure which forms an effective holder for a portable article, such as a hand-held radio transmitter and receiver. The holder can be used for carrying articles which vary in length and other dimensions. FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 show the holder with radios of different lengths positioned therein. The radios illustrated have batteries at the bottom thereof, and the dotted line shows the length of the radio with a small battery attached and the solid line shows the length of the radio with a larger battery attached. It will be apparent that batteries of other lengths can also be used. The dimensions of the radio other than length can also vary and still allow use of the carrier. It is only necessary that the radio fit within the loop 14 and have a ledge or projection which will rest on the stop surface 22, and that there be a part at a fixed position with respect to the ledge over which the projection 25 of the latch 24 will extend.

The carry holder of the invention permits insertion of a radio without obstruction of the controls 18, 19 thereof, or of a qrille 21 on the front of the radio 12. It is very easy to insert a radio into the holder 10 and this can be done by the use of only one hand. Removal of the radio is also easy, and release of the latch 14 can be accomplished by springing or flexing the same by a finger of the hand which grasps the radio to remove the same.

As previously stated, the back 14 and loop 16 of the holder can be molded of plastic as a single piece. The latch 24 can also be molded of the same material. These parts can be formed of a relatively rigid material to provide a rugged support and still allow flexing of the latch. The flap can also be formed of a plastic material. The riveting of the latch 24 to the back 14 csn be very easily accomplished to provide a very inexpensive structure. The provision of the belt flap 26 or of another mounting element does not substantially complicate the same or greatly increase the cost.

The carry holder of the invention has been tested and found to be highly satisfactory in use. Its suitability for use with various models of portable radios makes it possible to provide the holder in large quantities for substantial cost savings. Accordingly, the holder can be provided at a small fraction of the cost of leather carrying cases designed to fit a particular radio model, as previously used.