Removable mounting post assembly for a carrying case

Abstract

An assembly for a detachable post or lug for mounting a belt clip typically used with a cell phone case or case for a portable electronic device. The assembly includes a retainer mounted on the case, the receiver designed to accept and secure a removeable post onto which the belt clip is mounted. In a first embodiment the retainer includes a recess and tabs which secure the post in place when a base of the post is secured in the recess. In an alternate embodiment, the retainer includes a plurality of shafts which include a recess, the shafts engaging tabs in receivers on the base of the mounting post.

1 . A case for a portable device, the case having a removable post, the case including: 
 at least one panel of material forming the case, the panel having an aperture, and    a retainer attached to a first side of the panel, the retainer removably securing a post having a lug extending through the aperture.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the post includes a base, and the retainer includes a recess for receiving the base and tabs extending over the base for securing the base in the recess.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the post and retainer are disengaged by flexing the retainer to allow base to pass over the tabs.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the base perimeter includes curved portions and the tabs are located to extend over the curved portions.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the post includes a base, a lug, and at least one shaft and the retainer includes at least one receiver, the receiver securing the shaft on the post when the post is attached to the retainer.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one shaft includes a recessed portion and the at least one receiver includes a tab to engage the recessed portion of the shaft.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the post includes two shafts, the shafts located on either side of the lug and extending from the base in the same direction as the lug, the retainer including two receivers, each receiver including an engaging member, each engaging member attached to the retainer by a resilient member.  
   
   
       8 . An assembly for retaining a mounting post to an article, the assembly including: 
 a post having a base and a lug; and    a retainer to retain the base in position, the retainer having an aperture to accept the lug, and having a tab to removably engage and retain the post.    
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the article is a case having panels defining a pocket, the retainer being attached to a panel and located within the pocket.  
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the post includes a pair of shafts, the shafts each having a recessed area to engage tabs on the retainer when the retainer and the post are secured together.  
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the post includes a pair of shafts extending from the same side of the base of the post as the lug, the shafts each including a recess to engage tabs on the retainer to secure the post and retainer together, the base including an area of reduced thickness at the perimeter.  
   
   
       12 . A case for carrying a portable electronic device, case having a retainer for securing accessories to the case, the case including panels assembled to form a pocket and an aperture on a panel, a retainer mounted inside the pocket on a panel, the retainer including an aperture aligned with the aperture in the panel, the retainer including tabs to retain accessories.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the accessory is a post having a base and a lug, the lug size to fit through the aperture, the base including at least one shaft extending from the base, the shaft including a recess, the recess engaging the tabs when the lug is inserted into the aperture in the retainer.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the base has an area of reduced thickness along its perimeter.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the lug and aperture in the retainer are non-circular.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 12 , including: 
 a plurality of panels of material assembled to form a first pocket and a second pocket, the first pocket for receiving the first section of the phone, the second pocket for receiving the second section of the phone,    the first pocket and second pocket including a continuous panel of material connecting the two pockets.    
   
   
       17 . The case of  claim 16 , wherein the continuous panel is made from an elastic material.  
   
   
       18 . The case of  claim 16 , wherein the continuous panel is made from a material form the group including silicone, thermoplastic, thermosets, PVC, and EPE.  
   
   
       19 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous panel includes an aperture and further includes a removable post, the post including a base and lug, the lug occupying the aperture in the retainer when the post and retainer are second together, the post including a shaft with a recess to engages a tab on the retainer when the post and retainer are second together.