The predominant design of mobile phones and similar devices is of a size
and shape that fits easily
in the hand when in use and fits easily in a pocket, purse or holster
when being carried. The slim contoured shapes and
smooth finishes of these devices make them particularly vulnerable to
slips and drops when they are reached for or being held in use.
The accidental dropping of these devices is a common occurrence, and the subsequent damage or loss of the devise can be very costly to repair or replace.
It is estimated there are over 405,000,000 mobile phones in use in the United States alone, and 3.9 billion worldwide. Teenagers are a very high percentage of cell phone users and a variety of hand held devices. Certain activities present a higher degree of risk and frequency of accidental dropping of phones than others. These include active outdoor activities such as boating, sailing, biking, skiing, as well as a wide variety of job occupations involving high-rise buildings, bridges, towers, high-wire electrical repair, roofing, rigging, etc.
Even in the higher risk activities the phones are frequently used in the absence of a tether or leash that attaches to the phone and to the user to prevent it from falling. This is largely due to the design omission of a means for their attachment to the phones. A few models have a slot for the attachment of a small lanyard that can be passed through the slot and secured with a slip knot to the phone. The lanyard is then attached to a wrist strap, or a neck strap, to protect the phone from dropping when it is so attached. This has the disadvantage of having to slip the wrist strap on and off each time the phone is used with the risk of it being dropped in the process. With few exceptions, the neck strap is even less desirable to most people in having to wear a strap around the neck.
A variation of strap attachments is a clip and pin device that attaches to the phone with an adhesive pad. A releasable clip with a sliding lock mechanism attaches to the pin at one end, and a short chain and clasp is attached to the other end for attachment to a belt loop, belt clip or purse. The end result is a means to attach and secure a phone to the person carrying it, or to an accessory. However, it does not provide any degree of safety from it being dropped when making or receiving a call. The chain clasp must be released to use the phone, then reattached after completing the call with the risk of dropping it during its release, while talking, or reattaching it. With this system, the user must still depend on luck alone that the phone will not be dropped when making or receiving calls.
The accidental dropping of these devices is a common occurrence, and the subsequent damage or loss of the devise can be very costly to repair or replace.
It is estimated there are over 405,000,000 mobile phones in use in the United States alone, and 3.9 billion worldwide. Teenagers are a very high percentage of cell phone users and a variety of hand held devices. Certain activities present a higher degree of risk and frequency of accidental dropping of phones than others. These include active outdoor activities such as boating, sailing, biking, skiing, as well as a wide variety of job occupations involving high-rise buildings, bridges, towers, high-wire electrical repair, roofing, rigging, etc.
Even in the higher risk activities the phones are frequently used in the absence of a tether or leash that attaches to the phone and to the user to prevent it from falling. This is largely due to the design omission of a means for their attachment to the phones. A few models have a slot for the attachment of a small lanyard that can be passed through the slot and secured with a slip knot to the phone. The lanyard is then attached to a wrist strap, or a neck strap, to protect the phone from dropping when it is so attached. This has the disadvantage of having to slip the wrist strap on and off each time the phone is used with the risk of it being dropped in the process. With few exceptions, the neck strap is even less desirable to most people in having to wear a strap around the neck.
A variation of strap attachments is a clip and pin device that attaches to the phone with an adhesive pad. A releasable clip with a sliding lock mechanism attaches to the pin at one end, and a short chain and clasp is attached to the other end for attachment to a belt loop, belt clip or purse. The end result is a means to attach and secure a phone to the person carrying it, or to an accessory. However, it does not provide any degree of safety from it being dropped when making or receiving a call. The chain clasp must be released to use the phone, then reattached after completing the call with the risk of dropping it during its release, while talking, or reattaching it. With this system, the user must still depend on luck alone that the phone will not be dropped when making or receiving calls.
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