Belt clip apparatus for portable electronic device

• Main Authors: Enkerlin, E. Michael, Lawrence, Ron L
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 07.09.2004

The present invention relates generally to a belt clip apparatus designed to support a portable device such as a cell phone, handheld PC's, pager, or the like, on a wearer's belt, waistband, or other part of the clothing such as a pocket, so that the device is readily accessible for use while not interfering with the wearer's normal activities when not in use. A belt clip apparatus for releasably holding a portable device on a user's apparel has a base member with a latch opening for receiving a lock pin projecting from the portable device, a clip for securing the base member to the wearer's apparel, and a latch member movably mounted in the base member for movement between a first position locking the lock pin in the latch opening, and a released position permitting the lock pin to be removed from the latch opening. A manually operable actuator linked to the latch member can be actuated by a user to move the latch member between the locked and released positions. The actuator is moved in a generally horizontal direction transverse to the hanging direction in order to release the latch member. A biasing device biases the latch member towards the locked position.