Small lanyard connector for low profile device

Abstract

A miniaturized attachment mechanism for attaching a lanyard to a cell phone, MP3 player or other portable device having a hole in its outer casing is disclosed. The miniaturized attachment mechanism can have one end permanently fastened to a lanyard, and can include a spring-loaded ball detent within a hollow shaft. The hollow shaft diameter can be about 3 millimeters or less, while the diameter of the ball within the hollow shaft can be about 2 millimeters or less. The hollow shaft can be inserted into the casing hole such that the ball detent secures the mechanism to the casing until a pin release is used. In another embodiment, the miniaturized attachment mechanism can include a 1 millimeter shaft having a groove at an insertable end, while the casing encloses a two hole E-ring mechanism adapted to lock onto the groove when the shaft is inserted into the casing hole.

1 . A connector adapted for attaching a strap or lanyard to a portable device, comprising:
 a pin having a first portion including a first distal end thereof and a second portion located separately from said first portion, wherein said first portion has a diameter of about 3 millimeters or less and is adapted for insertion into a first hole on said portable device, and wherein said second portion is adapted to be coupled to said strap or lanyard;   a locking mechanism adapted to hold at least part of said first portion within said first hole of said portable device when said first portion is inserted therein; and   a release mechanism adapted to release the hold on said first portion from said first hole when said release mechanism is activated by a user.   
   
   
       2 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein said locking mechanism includes a spring-loaded component. 
   
   
       3 . The connector of  claim 2 , wherein said spring-loaded component is located within said first portion of said pin. 
   
   
       4 . The connector of  claim 3 , wherein said spring-loaded component comprises a ball detent. 
   
   
       5 . The connector of  claim 3 , wherein the diameter of said spring-loaded component is larger than half the outer diameter of said first portion of said pin. 
   
   
       6 . The connector of  claim 3 , wherein said locking mechanism further includes a force redirection component located within said pin, said force redirection component being adapted to accept spring force from a locking spring in a first direction and deliver a corresponding force to said spring-loaded component in a second direction, wherein said first direction and said second direction are not in parallel. 
   
   
       7 . The connector of  claim 6 , wherein said first direction and said second direction are substantially perpendicular with respect to each other. 
   
   
       8 . The connector of  claim 2 , wherein said release mechanism is adapted to enable a user to counteract the force of a locking spring on said spring-loaded component. 
   
   
       9 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein said portable device comprises a cellular phone or a media player, and wherein said first hole is located in a housing thereof. 
   
   
       10 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein said locking mechanism includes a two-hole receiving component located at said portable device, said two-hole receiving component including said first hole adapted to receive said pin and a second hole adapted to operate in conjunction with said release mechanism. 
   
   
       11 . The connector of  claim 10 , wherein said first portion has a diameter of about 1 millimeter or less. 
   
   
       12 . The connector of  claim 10 , wherein said first portion includes a groove about its outer circumference near said first distal end. 
   
   
       13 . The connector of  claim 12 , wherein said locking mechanism includes a clamp adapted to lock onto said groove when said pin is inserted into said first hole. 
   
   
       14 . The connector of  claim 13 , wherein said release mechanism is adapted to release the lock of said clamp on said groove when an object is inserted into said second hole. 
   
   
       15 . The connector of  claim 13 , wherein said clamp is biased into said groove due to force from an associated torsional spring. 
   
   
       16 . The connector of  claim 10 , wherein said portable device comprises a cellular phone or a media player, and wherein said first hole is located in a housing thereof. 
   
   
       17 . A personal portable device, comprising:
 an electronic processing component adapted to provide processing for a user an outer housing containing said electronic processing component and having a first hole located thereon:   a strap or lanyard adapted to be detachably coupled to said outer housing; and   a miniaturized attachment mechanism coupled to said strap or lanyard, said miniaturized attachment mechanism having   a pin having a first portion including a first distal end thereof and a second portion located separately from said first portion, wherein said first portion has a diameter of about 3 millimeters or less and is adapted for insertion into said first hole on said portable device, and wherein said second portion is adapted to be coupled to said strap or lanyard,   a locking mechanism adapted to hold at least part of said first portion within said first hole of said portable device when said first portion is inserted therein, said locking mechanism including a spring-loaded ball detent wherein the diameter of said spring-loaded ball is larger than half the outer diameter of said first portion of said pin, said locking mechanism further including a force redirection component located within said pin and being adapted to accept spring force from a locking spring in a first direction and deliver a corresponding force to said spring-loaded ball in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to said first direction; and   a release mechanism adapted to release the hold on said first portion from said first hole when said release mechanism is activated by a user.   
   
   
       18 . The personal portable device of  claim 17 , wherein said personal portable device comprises a cellular phone or a media player. 
   
   
       19 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . The personal portable device of  claim 17 , wherein said first hole comprises a jack adapted for providing a media output from said personal portable device. 
   
   
       22 . The personal portable device of  claim 21 , wherein said media output from said personal portable device is provided via said miniaturized attachment mechanism. 
   
   
       23 . A lanyard connecting system for a small profile device, comprising:
 a lanyard adapted to be worn by a user of a small profile device, said lanyard being adapted to support the weight of itself and the small profile device when said lanyard is coupled thereto and both are worn by the user;   a connecting pin having a first portion including a first distal end thereof and a second portion located at an opposing end of said connecting pin from said first portion, wherein said first portion has a diameter of about 3 millimeters or less and is adapted for insertion into a hole located on a housing of the small profile device, and wherein said second portion is coupled to said lanyard;   a locking mechanism adapted to hold at least part of said first portion within the hole of the small profile device when said first portion is inserted therein, said locking mechanism including a spring-loaded ball detent wherein the diameter of said spring-loaded ball is larger than half the outer diameter of said first portion of said connecting pin, said locking mechanism further including a force redirection component located within said connecting pin and being adapted to accept spring force from a locking spring in a first direction and deliver a corresponding force to said spring-loaded ball in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to said first direction; and   a release mechanism adapted to release the hold on said first portion from the hole when said release mechanism is activated by the user, whereby said connecting pin and lanyard may be decoupled from the small profile device thereby.   
   
   
       24 . The lanyard connecting system of  claim 23 , wherein said small profile device comprises a cellular phone or a media player. 
   
   
       25 . The lanyard connecting system of  claim 24 , wherein said hole comprises a media jack adapted for providing a media output from said personal portable device and wherein said connecting pin is adapted to transmit said media output therethrough. 
   
   
       26 . The lanyard connecting system of  claim 25 , wherein said media output comprises an audio output that is provided to the user of the device. 
   
   
       27 . A system for wearing a consumer electronic product, comprising:
 a portable electronic device including an electronic processing component adapted to provide media processing and an opening thereon adapted for securing a male insertion member of an attachment mechanism therein; and   a wearable feature for helping facilitate the wearing of the portable electronic device on a user, the wearable feature adapted to be detachably coupled to the portable electronic device, the wearable feature having an attachment mechanism adapted for insertion into the opening, the attachment mechanism carrying a locking mechanism adapted to hold at least part of the attachment mechanism within the opening on the portable electronic device when the attachment mechanism is inserted therein, the attachment mechanism including a release mechanism adapted to release the hold of the attachment mechanism from the opening when said release mechanism is activated.   
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein said attachment mechanism includes a pin having a first portion including a first distal end thereof and a second portion located separately from the first portion, wherein the first portion has a diameter of about 3 millimeters or less and is adapted for insertion into the opening. 
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein said opening comprises a media jack adapted for providing a media output from said portable media device and wherein said attachment mechanism is adapted to transmit said media output therethrough. 
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said media output comprises an audio output that is provided to the user of the device. 
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 one or more speakers coupled to said audio output.   
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein said or more speakers comprise earbuds for the user of the device.