Handheld device cradle with a substantially semicircular clip assembly and an advertising method

Abstract

A device cradle having a clip assembly for attaching the cradle to an external tube-shaped object. The cradle has an open receptacle sized and configured to removably hold a handheld electric device therein. The clip assembly has a substantially semicircular body with opposing first and second ends. The first end is pivotally connected to a flat surface of the cradle with the clip body. The second end is resiliently biased toward the flat cradle surface so as to form a substantially semicircular clipping aperture between the clip body and the flat cradle surface for releaseably and perpendicularly holding the external tube-shaped object therethrough.

1 . A portable device cradle-clip assembly for removably retaining an electrical device therein and for attachment to a generally tube-shaped article, the device comprising: 
 (a) a portable handheld cradle body having a substantially flat clipping surface and a receptacle sized and configured to removably and securably retain the electrical device therein;    (b) a substantially semicircular rigid clip having a distal clip end, an opposing proximal clip end, and a substantially semicircular clip body extending therebetween, the clip body being pivotally connected to the substantially flat clipping surface of the cradle body,    (c) a biasing member disposed between the clip and the clipping surface for resiliently biasing the distal clip end toward the substantially flat clipping surface to define a substantially semicircular clipping aperture between the clip body and the clipping surface for selectively releaseably receiving the generally tube-shaped article therethrough.    
   
   
       2 . The device cradle-clip assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is defined by four contiguous and generally perpendicular surfaces which abut the opening and include the substantially flat clipping surface and by one surface generally opposed to the opening, so as to define the shape of a generally rectangular box open at a side.  
   
   
       3 . The device cradle-clip assembly as in  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the four surfaces abutting the opening of the receptacle defines a cut-in thereon through which a portion of the electrical device retained in the receptacle can be exposed for facilitating insertion and removal thereof with a user's hand.  
   
   
       4 . The device cradle-clip assembly as in  claim 3 , wherein the cut-in is defined on the substantially flat clipping surface.  
   
   
       5 . The device cradle-clip assembly as in  claim 4 , wherein the cut-in is defined further on the surface generally opposing the substantially flat clipping surface.  
   
   
       6 . The device cradle-clip assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the cradle body comprises cradle flanges perpendicularly protruding from the substantially flat clipping surface and the clip comprises clip flanges formed adjacent the proximal end with which the cradle flanges are pivotally engaged.  
   
   
       7 . The device cradle-clip assembly as in  claim 6 , wherein the cradle flanges and clip flanges are pivotally engaged via a guide pin.  
   
   
       8 . The device cradle-clip assembly as in  claim 7 , the biasing member is a coil spring surrounding the guide pin.  
   
   
       9 . The device cradle-clip assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the substantially semicircular rigid clip further includes a foot plate and a leverage arm.  
   
   
       10 . The device cradle-clip assembly as in  claim 1 , further comprising advertising material disposed on a visible outer surface thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The device cradle-clip assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is further configured to have the electrical device snap-fitted therein.  
   
   
       12 . The device cradle-clip assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is sized and configured to retain an electrical device selected from the group consisting of a BMI calculator, pedometer, and a countdown timer.  
   
   
       13 . A portable device cradle-clip assembly comprising: 
 (a) a portable handheld cradle body for retaining an electrical device therein, the cradle body having a substantially flat clipping surface, cradle flanges perpendicularly protruding therefrom, and a receptacle sized and configured to removably and securably retain the electrical device therein, the receptacle having an opening for inserting and removing the electrical device therethrough, and bounded by four contiguous and generally perpendicular surfaces which abut the opening and include the substantially flat clipping surface and by one surface generally opposed to the opening, so as to define the shape of a generally rectangular box open at a side;    (b) a substantially semicircular rigid clip having a distal clip end, an opposing proximal clip end, and a substantially semicircular clip body extending therebetween, and clip flanges formed adjacent the proximal end, the clip flanges being pivotally connected to the cradle flanges via a guide pin such that the substantially semicircular clip body is positioned substantially perpendicularly to the clipping surface, whereby the distal clip end can pivotally move between an open position and a closed position; and    (c) a coil spring disposed between the clip and the clipping surface and surrounding the guide pin for resiliently biasing the distal clip end toward the substantially flat clipping surface so as to define, in the closed position, a substantially semicircular clipping aperture between the clip body and the clipping surface, whereby a generally tube-shaped object can be releasably clipped between the clip body and the clipping surface perpendicularly through the substantially semicircular clipping aperture.    
   
   
       14 . The device cradle-clip assembly as in  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the four surfaces abutting the opening of the receptacle defines a cut-in thereon through which a portion of the electrical device retained in the receptacle can be exposed for facilitating insertion and removal thereof with a user's hand.  
   
   
       15 . The device cradle-clip assembly as in  claim 14 , wherein the cut-in is defined on the substantially flat clipping surface.  
   
   
       16 . The device cradle-clip assembly as in  claim 15 , wherein the cut-in is defined further on the surface generally opposing the substantially flat clipping surface.  
   
   
       17 . The device cradle-clip assembly as in  claim 13 , wherein the substantially semicircular rigid clip further includes a foot plate and a leverage arm.  
   
   
       18 . The device cradle-clip assembly as in  claim 13 , further comprising advertising material disposed on a visible outer surface thereof.  
   
   
       19 . The device cradle-clip assembly as in  claim 13 , wherein the receptacle is further configured to have the electrical device snap-fitted therein.  
   
   
       20 . The device cradle-clip assembly as in  claim 13 , wherein the receptacle is sized and configured to retain an electrical device selected from the group consisting of a BMI calculator, pedometer, and a countdown timer.  
   
   
       21 . A method of advertising and promotion comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a device cradle-clip assembly for removably retaining an electrical device therein and for attachment to a generally tube-shaped article, the device comprising: 
 (1) a portable handheld cradle body having a substantially flat clipping surface and a receptacle sized and configured to removably and securably retain the electrical device therein,  
 (2) a substantially semicircular rigid clip having a distal clip end, an opposing proximal clip end, and a substantially semicircular clip body extending therebetween, the clip body being pivotally connected to the substantially flat clipping surface of the cradle body, and  
 (3) a biasing member disposed between the clip and the clipping surface for resiliently biasing the distal clip end toward the substantially flat clipping surface to define a substantially semicircular clipping aperture between the clip body and the clipping surface for selectively releaseably receiving the generally tube-shaped article therethrough; and  
   (b) disposing advertising upon a visible outer surface of the cradle body.