Quick release locking belt clip mechanism for engaging portable electronic devices

Abstract

A belt clip mechanism is constructed in a manner to provide a positive lock between a support arm and a securement arm of the clip. The support arm has a top end with a tongue and a bottom end with a barbed flange. The securement arm has a top end with a planar hand and a bottom end with an offset. The support arm includes a pair of opposed bosses near the top end while the securement arm includes a pair of opposed flanges near its top end. The two arms are held together by a shaft that extends through the bosses and flanges. A torsional spring is attached about the shaft to provide biasing of the offset in continuous contact against the barbed flange, thereby forming a positive locking of the securement arm to the support arm. The barbed flange includes a base that flexures upon a downward external force to allow the offset to unseat within the barbed flange as a simultaneous force is applied to squeeze the tongue and planar hand together to overcome the spring bias.

1 . A belt clip mechanism of a case or holster used for carrying portable electronic devices, comprising:
 a support arm having a front side, a back side, a top end, a bottom end and a central stem portion therebetween, said bottom end including a barbed flange integrally connected to said central stem portion;   a securement arm having a top and bottom end and a midsection therebetween, said top and bottom corresponding to said top and bottom end of said support arm, said bottom end including an offset integrally connected to said midsecton;   a means for connecting said belt clip to said case or holster, said means attached to said support arm;   a biasing means comprised of a spring mounted about a shaft for holding said support and securement arms together at respective top ends, said shaft extending through said top ends of said support and securement arms,   
     wherein said barbed flange presents a capturing mechanism that cooperates with said offset to form a positive locking of said securement arm to said support arm while said belt is interposed therebetween. 
   
   
       2 . The belt clip mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said barbed flange is comprised of a semi-rigid base and an upstanding ledge integrally connected to said base. 
   
   
       3 . The belt clip mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein said upstanding ledge has a downwardly sloping face. 
   
   
       4 . The belt clip of  claim 2 , wherein a horizontal extent between the upstanding ledge and said base define a capturing channel of said capturing mechanism for receiving said offset. 
   
   
       5 . The belt clip of  claim 4 , wherein said capturing mechanism has a locked position and an unlocked position, said locked position defined as the position where said offset of said securement arm is positively retained within said capturing channel, and said unlocked position is defined as the position where said offset is released from and disconnected from said capturing channel. 
   
   
       6 . The belt clip of  claim 1 , wherein said top end of said support arm includes an offset tongue integrally formed with said central stem portion. 
   
   
       7 . The belt clip of  claim 1 , wherein said top end of said securement arm includes a hand integrally formed with said central stem portion. 
   
   
       8 . The belt clip mechanism of  claim 6 , wherein said top end of said support arm further includes a pair of opposed bosses, a first boss disposed near said first lateral end face and said second boss disposed near said second lateral end face. 
   
   
       9 . The belt clip mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein said top end of said securement arm further includes a pair of opposed flanges, a first flange disposed near said first lateral end and said second flange disposed near said second lateral end. 
   
   
       10 . The belt clip mechanism of  claim 4 , wherein said capturing channel extends from a first lateral end face to a second lateral end face. 
   
   
       11 . The belt clip mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein said offset of said securement arm extends between said first and second lateral end faces. 
   
   
       12 . The belt clip mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said midsection of said securement arm is constructed as one of a curved finger and planar member. 
   
   
       13 . A belt clip mechanism of a case or holster used for carrying portable electronic devices, comprising:
 a support arm having a front side, a back side, a top end, a bottom end and a central stem portion therebetween, said bottom end including a barbed flange integrally connected to said central stem portion;   a securement arm having a top and bottom end and a midsection therebetween, said top and bottom corresponding to said top and bottom end of said support arm, said bottom end including an offset integrally connected to said midsecton;   a means for connecting said belt clip to said case or holster, said means attached to said support arm;   wherein said support arm and said securement arms are integrally joined at respective top ends so as to form a unitary member, said unitary member exhibiting spring-like characteristics such that said support and securement arms are one of attracted towards and away from the other and wherein said barbed flange presents a capturing mechanism that cooperates with said offset to form a positive locking of said securement arm to said support arm while said belt is interposed therebetween.