Retention device and method of use thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a retention assembly and method of use thereof for releasably retaining objects relative to articles of clothing and/or straps of material, especially for use with releasably retaining objects relative to pockets. In one form, the retention assembly includes: a retention tag operatively associated with the object; and a retention device. The retention device includes a body having a first surface and a second surface; a clip operatively associated with the first surface of the body for mounting the body to an article of clothing or a strip of material; and at least one magnetic mount operatively associated with the second surface of the body and configured to magnetically mount the retention tag relative to the body for releasably retaining the object relative to the retention device.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A retention assembly for releasably retaining at least one object, said assembly comprising:
 at least one retention tag operatively associated with the at least one object; and   a retention device comprising:   a body having a first surface and a second surface;   a clip operatively associated with the first surface of the body for mounting the body to an article of clothing or a strip of material; and   at least one magnetic mount operatively associated with the second surface of the body and configured to magnetically mount the at least one retention tag relative to the body for releasably retaining the at least one object relative to the retention device.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one object is selected from a mobile telephone, a wallet, a key and a set of keys. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one retention tag has a substantially planar body formed from one or more ferrimagnetic metals and is configured to be fastened to the at least one object. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the retention device has a substantially rectangular shape defined by the first surface and an opposed said second surface and interconnected by opposing walls. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the clip is configured for mounting the retention device to at least an edge of an inside of a pocket. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the clip includes a proximal end, an opposed distal end and an elongate body extending therebetween in a curved orientation such that at least the distal end is biased towards the first surface of the body to thereby clamp the article of clothing or strip of material received therebetween. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the proximal end extends from the first surface at a location at or near an upper end wall of the body, the distal end extends at least along the first surface at least partially towards an opposed lower end wall of the body. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the elongate body functions as a biasing member for biasing the distal end towards the first surface of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein a curvature of a proximal portion of the elongate body functions as the biasing member. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the distal end of the clip includes a protruding lip configured to protrude at least partially towards, and abut, with the first surface of the body. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the protruding lip functions as a retaining member for at least partially retaining an edge of the article of clothing or strip of material received between the first surface of the body and the elongate body of the clip. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first surface of the body comprises a recessed portion immediately beneath the distal end of the clip and extending at least partially towards the proximal end of the clip and wherein at least the distal end of the clip at least partially protrudes into the recessed portion to thereby enhance a clamping effect of the clip. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnetic mount includes a plurality of magnetic elements associated with the second surface and configured to create a magnetic field for mounting the at least one object to the retention device via the retention tag. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of magnetic elements are capable of producing a substantially uniform magnetic field. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one magnetic mount is located on the second surface of the body at or near the lower end wall. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the second surface of the body comprises a recessed portion for at least partially receiving the plurality of magnetic elements forming the at least one magnetic mount. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the body comprises a protruding portion protruding from the first surface for enclosing the plurality of magnetic elements forming the at least one magnetic mount on the second surface of the body such that the at least one magnetic mount sits flush with the opposed second surface of the body. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of magnetic elements are arranged in an array in the recessed portion. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the retention device further includes a coating configured to snugly enclose and seal the plurality of magnetic elements within the recessed portion. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the retention device is configured to mount more than one retention tag at a time.