Lockable attachment device for a mobile phone or other hand held device

Abstract

An attachment device secures attaching a handheld device, such as a mobile phone or tablet. The device has a first connecting element connecting it to the handheld device and a second connecting element for securing it, e.g. to a beltloop, handbag or user's wrist. A tether cord is stored in a housing, may be withdrawn from the housing, and has a free end connected to one of the first and second connecting elements with the other connected to the housing. A retraction device, such as a spring, in the housing retracts the tether cord into the housing, A locking element may be provided for locking the tether relative to the housing. The spring can be strong enough to take the full weight of the device with the phone, while preventing the tether cord from being pulled from the housing, to prevent the handheld device from being dropped, lost or misplaced.

1 . A lockable attachment device for securing a hand held device, the attachment device comprising: a first connecting element connecting the attachment device to the hand held device; a second connecting element for securing the attachment device with the hand connected held device; a housing; a tether cord stored in the housing having a free end connected to one of the first and second connecting elements with the other of the first and second connecting elements connected to the housing, wherein the housing includes a retraction device for retracting the tether cord into the housing, and a locking element for locking the tether relative to the housing, to enable a portion of the tether cord held extending unrestrained from the housing. 
     
     
         2 . A lockable attachment device including an outer case comprising a first portion, providing the first connecting element, for mounting to the hand held device, and a second portion providing the housing for the tether cord. 
     
     
         3 . A lockable attachment device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first portion of the outer case comprises a back surface panel and edge surface panels for engaging the hand held device, and a lip extending from the edge surface panels to secure the hand held device within the first portion. 
     
     
         4 . A lockable attachment device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first portion comprises one of: an adhesive provided on a surface of the second portion for adhesively attaching the hand held device to the lockable attachment device, and a set of adjustable clips for gripping the hand held device. 
     
     
         5 . A lockable attachment device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the second portion of the outer case extends from the back surface panel of the first portion and is configured to provide a stand for the hand held device. 
     
     
         6 . A lockable attachment device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second connecting element is adapted to provide a connection to one of a belt, a belt loop and a loop of a bag. 
     
     
         7 . A lockable attachment device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the second connecting element comprises a carabiner clip. 
     
     
         8 . A lockable attachment device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tether cord is connected to the second connecting element, and the second connecting element comprises a wristband. 
     
     
         9 . A lockable attachment device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the wristband is detachably connected to tether cord, optionally by a carabiner or other clip, to enable the tether cord to be retracted when not in use. 
     
     
         10 . A lockable attachment device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a reel and a spring for the tether cord with the tether cord being wound on the reel, and with the spring rotationally biasing the reel to withdraw the tether cord into the housing. 
     
     
         11 . A lockable attachment device as claimed in  claim 10 , including locking teeth on the reel and a locking switch for engagement with the locking teeth of the reel. 
     
     
         12 . A lockable attachment device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the spring is strong enough to support the weight of the attachment device and the hand held device and to prevent that weight from causing the tether cord to unwind from the reel. 
     
     
         13 . A lockable attachment device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein first connecting element comprises a case for the hand held device, and wherein the free end of the tether cord is connected to the case. 
     
     
         14 . A lockable attachment device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the case comprises an inner casing formed from a hard material and provided with an attachment loop, and an outer casing formed from a softer material to provide cushioning for the hand held device and having an opening through which the loop of the harder casing extends. 
     
     
         15 . A lockable attachment device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the inner casing is formed from polycarbonate and the outer casing is formed from silicone rubber. 
     
     
         16 . A lockable attachment device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the inner casing comprises a back surface panel, edge surface panels and a lip, adapted to securely hold the hand held device. 
     
     
         17 . A lockable attachment device of  claim 16 , wherein the casing includes openings to provide access to one or more of control buttons, a microphone, a loud speaker and a camera of the hand held device. 
     
     
         18 . A lockable attachment device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the housing includes a reel and a spring for the tether cord with the tether cord being wound on the reel, and with the spring rotationally biasing the reel to withdraw the tether cord into the housing. 
     
     
         19 . A lockable attachment device as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the spring is strong enough to support the weight of the attachment device and the hand held device and to prevent that weight form causing the tether cord to unwind from the reel. 
     
     
         20 . A lockable attachment device as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the housing includes a clip for securing the attachment device to a belt or other article. 
     
     
         21 . A lockable attachment device as claimed in  claim 18 , including locking teeth on the reel and a locking switch for engagement with the locking teeth of the reel. 
     
     
         22 . An attachment device for securely attaching a hand held device, the attachment device comprising: a first connecting element connecting the attachment device to the hand held device; a second connecting element for securing the attachment device with the hand connected held device; a housing; a tether cord stored in the housing having a free end connected to one of the first and second connecting elements with the other of the first and second connecting elements connected to the housing, wherein the housing includes a reel for the tether cord and a spring biasing the reel to maintain the tether cord fully withdrawn into housing and wound on the reel, wherein the spring is sufficiently strong to maintain the tether cord fully wound on the reel when the weight of the hand held device and the attachment device is applied to the tether cord.