Wearable Band for Receiving a Clip-On Device, Docking Accessories, and Methods of Use

Abstract

A wearable band for receiving a clip-on device is disclosed. The wearable band may comprise a planar member with strap members extending therefrom. The band may include a first opening and the second opening in the planar member for receiving a clip-on device. A longitudinal axis of the first opening and a longitudinal axis of the second opening may be generally parallel. A latitudinal axis of each of the openings may be generally aligned relative a particular axis of the planar member.

1 . A band for securely receiving a clip-on device, the device having a hinged plate with a proximal portion, a proximal edge adjoining the proximal portion, a distal portion, a distal edge adjoining the distal portion, a pivoting hinge pivotally securing the proximal portion of the hinged plate to a body of the device, a securing protrusion extending from the distal portion of the hinged plate, a central axis distance between a central axis of the securing protrusion and a central axis of the hinge, the hinge having a narrow dimension and a wide dimension, the securing protrusion also having a narrow dimension and a wide dimension, the band comprising:
 a first member having a planar portion; 
 a first opening disposed within the planar portion and having a narrow dimension and a wide dimension, the narrow dimension of the first opening being at least as great as the narrow dimension of the hinge, the wide dimension of the first opening being at least as great as the wide dimension of the hinge; 
 a second opening disposed within the planar portion and having a narrow dimension and a wide dimension, the narrow dimension of the second opening being at least as great as the narrow dimension of the securing protrusion, the wide dimension of the second opening being at least as great as the wide dimension of the securing protrusion, a longitudinal axis of each of the first and second enclosed openings being generally parallel, each of the first and second enclosed openings having a proximal and a distal edge, wherein a band opening interior distance between the proximal edge of the first opening and the proximal edge of the second enclosed opening is less than the central axis distance of the clip-on device, wherein a band opening exterior distance between the distal edge of the first opening and the distal edge of the second enclosed opening is greater than the central axis distance of the clip-on device. 
 
     
     
         2 . The band of  claim 1 , further comprising a hinged plate distance between the proximal and distal edges of the hinged plate, wherein the hinged plate distance is greater than or equal to the band opening exterior distance. 
     
     
         3 . The band of  claim 1 , wherein the first member comprises leather. 
     
     
         4 . The band of  claim 1 , wherein the planar member comprises a resilient material. 
     
     
         5 . The band of  claim 1 , wherein the band is generally rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         6 . The band of  claim 1 , further comprising a securing mechanism for securing a first strap member of the band to a second strap member of the band to enable the band to be secured around a limb of a human being. 
     
     
         7 . A method of using the band of  claim 1 , the clip-on device having an open and a closed position, the securing protrusion of the hinged plate being closer to the body of the device in the closed position than in the open position, the hinged plate being biased toward a closed position,
 the method comprising:   positioning the hinged plate in the open position;   inserting the distal edge of the hinged plate through the first opening;   positioning the hinge within the first opening;   positioning the securing protrusion within the second opening;   positioning the hinged plate in the closed position such that the hinged plate, securing protrusion, the hinge, and the body of the device are positioned around an intermediary portion of the planar member intermediate the first and second openings.   
     
     
         8 . A band for securely receiving a clip-on device, the device having a hinged plate with a proximal portion, a proximal edge adjoining the proximal portion, a distal portion, a distal edge adjoining the distal portion, a pivoting hinge pivotally securing the proximal portion of the hinged plate to a body of the device, a securing protrusion extending from the distal portion of the hinged plate, a central axis distance between a central axis of the securing protrusion and a central axis of the hinge, the hinge having a narrow dimension and a wide dimension, the securing protrusion also having a narrow dimension and a wide dimension, the band comprising:
 a first member having a planar portion;   a first opening disposed within the planar portion and having a narrow dimension and a wide dimension, the narrow dimension of the first opening being at least as great as the narrow dimension of the hinge, the wide dimension of the first opening being at least as great as the wide dimension of the hinge;   a second opening disposed within the planar portion and having a narrow dimension and a wide dimension, the narrow dimension of the second opening being at least as great as the narrow dimension of the securing protrusion, the wide dimension of the second opening being at least as great as the wide dimension of the securing protrusion, each of the first and second enclosed openings having a proximal and a distal edge, wherein a band opening interior distance between the proximal edge of the first opening and the proximal edge of the second enclosed opening is less than the central axis distance of the clip-on device, wherein a band opening exterior distance between the distal edge of the first opening and the distal edge of the second enclosed opening is greater than the central axis distance of the clip-on device.   
     
     
         9 . The band of  claim 8 , further comprising a hinged plate distance between the proximal and distal edges of the hinged plate, wherein the hinged plate distance is greater than or equal to the band opening exterior distance. 
     
     
         10 . The band of  claim 8 , wherein the first member comprises leather. 
     
     
         11 . The band of  claim 8 , wherein the planar member comprises a resilient material. 
     
     
         12 . The band of  claim 8 , wherein the band is generally rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         13 . The band of  claim 8 , further comprising a securing mechanism for securing a first strap member of the band to a second strap member of the band to enable the band to be secured around a limb of a human being. 
     
     
         14 . A method of using the band of  claim 8 , the clip-on device having an open and a closed position, the securing protrusion of the hinged plate being closer to the body of the device in the closed position than in the open position, the hinged plate being biased toward a closed position,
 the method comprising:   positioning the hinged plate in the open position;   inserting the distal edge of the hinged plate through the first opening;   positioning the hinge within the first opening;   positioning the securing protrusion within the second opening;   positioning the hinged plate in the closed position such that the hinged plate, securing protrusion, the hinge, and the body of the device are positioned around an intermediary portion of the planar member intermediate the first and second openings.   
     
     
         15 . A wearable band for securely receiving a clip-on device, the band comprising:
 a first member having a planar portion, the planar portion having a first dimension and a second dimension, the first and the second dimensions being mutually perpendicular;   a first opening disposed within the planar portion having a narrow dimension and a wide dimension and a longitudinal axis and a latitudinal axis, the latitudinal axis of the first opening being positioned on a midpoint of the wide dimension of the first opening, the longitudinal axis of the first opening being positioned on a midpoint of the narrow dimension of the first opening, the latitudinal and the longitudinal axis of the first opening being mutually perpendicular, the first opening being entirely surrounded by the planar portion;   a second opening disposed within the planar portion and having a narrow dimension and a wide dimension and a longitudinal axis and a latitudinal axis, the latitudinal axis of the second opening being positioned on a midpoint of the wide dimension of the second opening, the longitudinal axis of the second opening being positioned on a midpoint of the narrow dimension of the second opening, the latitudinal and the longitudinal axis of the second opening being mutually perpendicular, the second opening being entirely surrounded by the planar portion, the longitudinal axis of the first opening in the longitudinal axis of the second opening being generally parallel to each other, the latitudinal axis of the first opening and the latitudinal axis of the second opening being generally aligned along the first axis of the planar member, and the longitudinal axis of the first opening in the longitudinal axis of the second opening being offset from each other along the second axis of the planar member, the wide dimension of the first opening being greater than the wide dimension the second opening.   
     
     
         16 . The band of  claim 15 , the first and the second openings being generally rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         17 . The band of  claim 15 , the first and the second openings each having at least one rounded end. 
     
     
         18 . The band of  claim 15 , wherein the first member comprises leather. 
     
     
         19 . The band of  claim 15 , wherein the planar member comprises a resilient material. 
     
     
         20 . The band of  claim 15 , further comprising the clip-on device, the clip-on device comprising a hinged plate and the body, a pivoting hinge intermediate the hinged plate and the body, the body of the hinged plate comprising a first and a second extension member and a detent, each extending member comprising a receiving groove with a closed end, the receiving grooves positioned to slidably engage mating edges of the clip-on device.