Clip-on portable case for carrying a portable electronic device

Abstract

A clip-on portable case, which can be clipped on an item of apparel to enable a user to easily and conveniently carry a portable electronic device with him, includes a clip-on mounting frame adapted to be clipped onto the item, and a holding frame having a gate member hinged to a backboard which is turnable relative to the mounting frame between unloading and loaded positions and which defines a receptacle area for the electronic device. A transmitting mechanism is disposed between the gate member and the mounting frame such that, when the backboard is turned from the loaded position to the unloading position, the gate member is swung from a closed position to an open position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A clip-on portable case for carrying a portable electronic device with a user wearing an item of apparel, comprising:
 a clip-on mounting frame having a first major surface adapted to be clipped onto the item of apparel, and a second major surface opposite to said first major surface in a direction of rotating axis;   a holding frame including
 a backboard which extends in a lengthwise direction transverse to the direction of rotating axis and terminating at holding and access marginal regions, said access marginal region defining a hinge axis transverse to the lengthwise direction, said backboard having a front major surface which defines a receptacle area for the portable electronic device, and a rear major surface which confronts and which is turnable relative to said second major surface about the rotating axis between an unloading position, where said access marginal region faces upwardly, and a loaded position, where the hinge axis is oriented uprightly, 
 a bottom holder which is disposed on said front major or surface and adjacent to said holding marginal region, and which is configured to permit the portable electronic device to rest thereon, and 
 a gate member having a hinged lateral portion which is hingedly mounted on said access marginal region about the hinge axis, and a gate pan which is opposite to said hinged lateral portion radially relative to the hinge axis, and which is swingable between open and closed positions, where said gate portion is remote from and closer to said bottom holder, respectively; 
   a slidably retaining unit disposed between said rear major surface and said second major surface to prevent said backboard from moving away from a selected one of the unloading and loaded positions; and   a transmitting mechanism disposed to couple said hinged lateral portion with the turning movement of said rear major surface such that, when said rear major surface is turned from the loaded position to the unloading position, said gate portion is swung from the closed position to the open position.   
     
     
         2 . The clip-on portable case according to  claim 1 , wherein said mounting frame has a socket disposed in said second major surface, said holding frame further including a central plug extending in the direction of rotating axis from said rear major surface and configured to be fitted in and rotatable relative to said socket about the rotating axis. 
     
     
         3 . The clip-on portable case according to  claim 2 , wherein said transmitting mechanism includes
 a cam track disposed on said second major surface, extending in a circumferential direction about the rotating axis, and defining first and second cam positions that corresponding to the unloading and loaded positions, respectively, and   a cam follower including a cam follower end slidably engaged with said cam track so as to be movable between the unloading and loaded positions, and a web portion extending from said cam follower end in the lengthwise direction to terminate at an actuating end which is coupled with said hinged lateral portion along a coupling line that is offset from the hinge axis so as to bring the first and second cam positions into correspondence with the open and closed positions, respectively.   
     
     
         4 . The clip-on portable case according to  claim 3 , wherein said cam track is in form of a guide slot, the first and second cam positions being disposed to be distanced from the rotating axis by shorter and longer lengths, respectively, said cam follower end having a pin which is slidably engaged in said guide slot so as to make swinging movement of said gate portion from the open position the closed position when said ear major surface is turned from the unloading position to the loaded position. 
     
     
         5 . The clip-on portable case according to  claim 4 , wherein said holding frame further includes a limiting wall which is disposed on said rear major surface, which extends angularly about the rotating axis, and which is radially spaced apart from said guide slot, and a cutout portion which is configured to cooperate with said rear major surface to define a limiting passage to permit said web portion to pass therethrough so as to stabilize movement of said cam follower in the lengthwise direction when said pin slides in said guide slot. 
     
     
         6 . The clip-on port able case according to  claim 5 , further comprising a stop member which is disposed on said mounting frame to resist further movement of said limiting wall when said rear major surface is turned to the loaded position so as to prevent said holding frame from turning to an undesired position rather than the loaded position. 
     
     
         7 . The clip-on portable case according to  claim 2 , wherein said slidably retaining unit includes a plurality of recesses disposed in one of said central plug and said socket, and a plurality of protuberances disposed on the other one of said central plug and said socket and configured to be slidably engaged in said recesses such that said backboard is positioned in the selected one of the unloading and loaded positions. 
     
     
         8 . The clip-on portable case according to  claim 1 , wherein said mounting frame has a stationary jaw half securely disposed on said first major surface, a movable jaw half confronting and movable relative to said stationary jaw half grasp toe item of apparel therebetween, and a biasing member disposed to bias said movable jaw half toward said stationary jaw half, thereby clipping on the item of apparel. 
     
     
         9 . The clip-on portable case according to  claim 8 , wherein said movable jaw half has a tongue which has a plurality of retained regions arranged in a direction of movement thereof, said holding frame having a retaining protrusion disposed to engage a selected one of said retained regions so as to enable said mounting frame to be fit for clipping on varying sizes of the apparel item.