Description

MOBILE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TERMINAL MOUNTABLE ON HAND

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a mobile information and communication terminal, and more particularly, to a mobile information and communication terminal mountable on a hand, wherein a ring member of a carrier unit of the terminal is caught by a finger of a user and a wristband of the carrier unit is then fixed around the wrist of the user in a state where a main body of the carrier unit with a mobile information and communication unit of the terminal accommodated therein is placed on a hand of the user, so that the user can conveniently watch a broadcast or movie which is played back in the mobile information and communication unit. Background Art

[2] Generally, a mobile information and communication terminal is a device such as a communication terminal, a portable computer or a PMP, which can be conveniently carried by a user and enables the user to make voice communication with a counterpart at any place. The term 'mobile information and communication terminal' represents a comprehensive concept including a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, a personal communication service (PCS) phone, a CDMA-2000 (IX, 3X) phone, a wideband CDMA (WCDMA) phone, a dual band/dual mode phone, a global standard for mobile (GSM) phone, a mobile broadband system (MBS) phone, a portable computer, a portable multimedia player (PMP) and the like.

[3] Since such a mobile information and communication terminal mainly aims at portability, a small-sized mobile information and communication terminal is preferred. Further, a mobile information and communication terminal with a unique design or various functions is more preferred.

[4] In particular, as digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) phones are popularized, more users watch broadcasts or movie using mobile information and communication terminals.

[5] However, since a user should hold a mobile information and communication terminal by hand to watch a broadcast or movie using the mobile information communication terminal, the user may feel uncomfortable when watching the broadcast or movie for a long time.

[6] In addition, there is inconvenience in that a user should consciously take care not to hide a screen of a mobile information and communication terminal while holding the mobile information and communication terminal in which a broadcast or movie is

played back.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[7] An object of the present invention is to allow a user to conveniently watch a broadcast or movie played back for a long time in a mobile information and communication unit by causing a ring member of a carrier unit caught by a finger of the user and fixing a wristband of the carrier unit around the wrist of the user in a state where a main body of the carrier unit with the mobile information and communication unit accommodated therein is placed on a hand of the user. Technical Solution

[8] A mobile information and communication terminal mountable on a hand according to one aspect of the present invention for achieving the object comprises a mobile information and communication unit having a display; and a carrier unit including a main body for accommodating the mobile information and communication unit, a ring member formed at one side of the main body, a wristband formed at the other side of the main body, and a hinge means coupled to the mobile information and communication unit so as to allow the mobile information and communication unit to pivot with respect to the main body.

[9] Preferably, the ring member is made of an elastic rubber material.

[10] A mobile information and communication terminal mountable on a hand according to another aspect of the present invention comprises a mobile information and communication unit having a display; and a carrier unit including a main body, a ring member formed at one side of the main body, a wristband formed at the other side of the main body, a pivoting member for accommodating the mobile information and communication unit, wherein the pivoting member is provided to be pivotable with respect to the main body, a hinge means for coupling the pivoting member with the main body, and a mounting means formed at the pivoting member.

[11] Preferably, the mounting means comprises a magnet.

[12] More preferably, the mounting means comprises a pair of fixing strings installed at both sides of the pivoting member, and at least one of the fixing strings is detachable by means of a Velcro tape.

[13] Even more preferably, the mounting means comprises elastic pieces formed at upper and lower sides or right and left sides of the pivoting member.

[14] Moreover, a mobile information and communication terminal mountable on a hand according to a further aspect of the present invention comprises a mobile information and communication unit having a display; and a carrier unit including a main body for accommodating the mobile information and communication unit, a ring member

formed at one side of the main body, and a wristband formed at the other side of the main body.

[15] In addition, a mobile information and communication terminal mountable on a hand according to a still further aspect of the present invention comprises a mobile information and communication unit having a display; a ring member formed at one side of the mobile information and communication unit; and a wristband formed at the other side of the mobile information and communication unit.

Advantageous Effects

[16] According to the present invention described above, the ring member connected to one side of the main body of the carrier unit is caught by a finger of a user and the wristband connected to the other side of the main body is fixed around the wrist of the user in a state where the main body accommodating the mobile information and communication unit is placed over the back and the wrist of the hand, or the palm and the wrist of the hand, so that the user can conveniently watch a broadcast or movie which is played back in the mobile information and communication unit.

[17] Further, according to the present invention described above, the mobile information and communication unit may be selectively fixed to the pivoting member of the carrier unit, so that the user can watch information displayed on the display of the mobile information and communication unit while freely moving his/her hand.

[18] Moreover, according to the present invention described above, the mounting means such as a magnet, a pair of fixing strings or elastic pieces is provided on the pivoting member, thereby preventing the mobile information and communication unit from coming off from the pivoting member and being broken down.

[19] Furthermore, according to the present invention described above, when a user receives a phone call while watching a broadcast or movie played back in the mobile information and communication unit, the user can conveniently make telephone communication by pivoting the mobile information and communication unit using a hinge means pivotable with respect to the main body.

[20] In addition, according to the present invention described above, the mobile information and communication unit is fixed to the carrier unit such that the mobile information and communication unit does not come off from the carrier unit, whereby a user can conveniently carry the mobile information and communication terminal and a possibility of loss can be decreased.

[21] Moreover, according to the present invention described above, the ring member and the wristband can be coupled directly to the mobile information and communication unit, whereby a user can more conveniently carry and use the mobile information and communication terminal, and manufacturing and selling costs of the product can be

further reduced.

[22] In addition, according to the present invention described above, the mobile information and communication terminal can be selectively mounted on either the right hand or left hand of a user, thereby more expanding a user's selection and improving convenience of use. Brief Description of the Drawings

[23] Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a mobile information and communication terminal mountable on a hand according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[24] Fig. 2 is a view illustrating a mobile information and communication terminal mountable on a hand according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[25] Fig. 3 is a view showing a state where the mobile information and communication terminal of Fig. 2 is mounted on a hand.

[26] Fig. 4 is a view showing a state where the mobile information and communication terminal of Fig. 2 is pivoted.

[27] Fig. 5 is a view showing a state where a user wearing the mobile information and communication terminal of Fig. 2 on his/her hand makes a telephone call using the terminal.

[28] Fig. 6 is a view illustrating a carrier unit of a mobile information and communication terminal mountable on a hand according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

[29] Fig. 7 is a view showing a carrier unit of a mobile information and communication terminal mountable on a hand according to a still further embodiment of the present invention.

[30] Figs. 8 and 9 are views showing a use state of a mobile information and communication terminal mountable on a hand according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[31] Fig. 10 is a view illustrating a mobile information and communication terminal mountable on a hand according to a still further embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[32] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[33] Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a mobile information and communication terminal mountable on a hand according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[34] Referring to Fig. 1, the mobile information and communication terminal mountable on a hand according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a mobile information and communication unit 20 having a display 21; and a carrier unit for accommodating the mobile information and communication unit 20.

[35] The mobile information and communication unit 20 is a unit capable of providing an

MP3 player function, a camera function, a broadcast playback function, a movie playback function and the like, in addition to a phone function.

[36] In addition, the mobile information and communication unit 20 employed in this embodiment is a bar-type mobile communication unit. Although the mobile information and communication unit has been illustrated as a bar-type mobile communication unit in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. A slide-type mobile communication unit or a folder-type mobile communication unit may also be employed in the present invention. In case of the slide-type or folder-type mobile communication unit, the unit should be slid or unfolded after pivoting thereof.

[37] This mobile information and communication unit 20 is accommodated in a main body 10 of the carrier unit, as shown in Fig. 1. At this time, an antenna of the mobile information and communication unit 20 is an internal antenna.

[38] The carrier unit in which the mobile information and communication unit 20 is to be accommodated includes the main body 10, a ring member 11 and a wristband 12 provided in the main body 10, and a hinge means 13 for coupling the mobile information and communication unit 20 with the main body 10.

[39] The main body 10 has a size sufficient to accommodate the mobile information and communication unit 20. This main body 10 is positioned over the back and the wrist of a hand, or the palm and the wrist of the hand.

[40] In addition, the ring member 11 is formed at one side of the main body 10, and the wristband 12 is formed at the other side of the main body 10. At this time, the ring member 11 is preferably made of an elastic rubber material and is caught by a finger. Alternatively, the ring member 11 may be made of an elastic material such as spandex.

[41] The wristband 12 may have a Velcro tape (not shown) at both ends thereof so that the wristband 12 can fixed around the wrist in a close contact state. Accordingly, a user can easily fix the wristband 12 around his/her wrist in a close contact state.

[42] In addition, Velcro tapes may be provided on intermediate portions of the wristband

12 at certain intervals, in addition to the both ends of the wristband 12, so that the length of the wristband 12 can be adjusted depending on the thickness of the wrist.

[43] The hinge means 13 is coupled to the mobile information and communication unit 20 such that the mobile information and communication unit 20 can pivot with respect to the main body 10. This is well shown in Fig. 1. Since the hinge means 13 is well known in the art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[44] In the mobile information and communication unit constructed as above, the main body 10 of the carrier unit is placed on a hand. At this time, the main body 10 is in a state where the mobile information and communication unit 20 has been coupled with the main body 10 by means of the hinge means 13.

[45] Then, the ring member 11 formed at one side of the main body 10 is caught by a finger, and the wristband 12 formed at the other side of the main body 10 is fixed around the wrist. At this time, since a Velcro tape is provided at the both ends of the wristband 12, a user can easily fix the wristband around the wrist in a close contact state by only one hand.

[46] In this way, the main body 10 is secured on the palm or the back of the hand by means of the ring member 11, which is put around a finger such as the index finger, the middle finger or the ring finger, and the wristband 12, so that the user can conveniently watch a broadcast or movie played back in the mobile information and communication unit. In addition, when a call is received, the user can conveniently make telephone communication with a counterpart by pivoting the mobile information and communication unit using the hinge means. Moreover, the main body 10 is secured on the palm or the back of the hand by means of the ring member 11, which is put around the thumb and the index finger of the hand, and the wristband 12, as shown in Fig. 8, so that, upon reception of a call, the user can conveniently make telephone communication with a counterpart without pivoting the mobile information and communication unit using the hinge means 13, as shown in Fig. 9.

[47] Fig. 2 is a view illustrating a mobile information and communication terminal mountable on a hand according to another embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a view showing a state where the mobile information and communication terminal of Fig. 2 is mounted on a hand, Fig. 4 is a view showing a state where the mobile information and communication terminal of Fig. 2 is pivoted, and Fig. 5 is a view showing a state where a user wearing the mobile information and communication terminal of Fig. 2 on his/her hand makes a telephone call using the terminal.

[48] The mobile information and communication terminal mountable on a hand according to this embodiment of the present invention, which is shown in Fig. 2, is identical to that of the previous embodiment in that a user can conveniently watch a broadcast or movie, which is played back in the mobile information and communication unit 20, using the carrier unit.

[49] However, the mobile information and communication terminal mountable on a hand according to this embodiment is different from that of the previous embodiment in that a pivoting member 15 pivotable with respect to a main body 10 of a carrier unit is installed and a mounting means 16 is formed at the pivoting member 15. The following description will be made mainly in connection with the difference.

[50] Referring to Fig. 2, the mobile information and communication terminal mountable on a hand according to this embodiment includes a mobile information and communication unit 20 having a display 21; and a carrier unit having a main body 10, a ring member 11, a wristband 12, a hinge means 14, a pivoting member 15 and a mounting

means 16. Fig. 3 shows a state where a user wears the mobile information and communication terminal mountable on a hand constructed as above.

[51] The main body 10 of the carrier unit has a size sufficient to allow the pivoting member 15 accommodating the mobile information and communication unit 20 to be placed therein. That is, the main body 10 should have an additional space for receiving the pivoting member 15 as compared with the main body in the previous embodiment.

[52] The ring member 11 is formed at one side of the main body 10 in the same manner as the previous embodiment, and the wristband 12 is also formed at the other side of the main body 10 in the same manner as the previous embodiment.

[53] The hinge means 14 is provided between the main body 10 and the pivoting member

15 such that the pivoting member 15 can be coupled pivotally with respect to the main body 10. Fig. 4 shows a state where the pivoting member is pivoted with respect to the main body 10.

[54] In this embodiment, the mobile information and communication unit 20 is accommodated in the pivoting member 15. In addition, the pivoting member 15 is formed with the mounting means 16 such that the mobile information and communication unit 20 does not come off from the pivoting member 15. This mounting means

16 may be a magnet. Accordingly, the mobile information and communication unit 20 may be conveniently attached to the pivoting member 15 of the carrier unit, if necessary, and a user can freely move his/her hand.

[55] In addition, the mobile information and communication unit 20 pivoted by the pivoting member 15 can be brought into contact with the ear of a user as shown in Fig. 5 so that the user can make telephone communication with a counterpart.

[56] Meanwhile, as shown in Fig. 6, the mounting means 16 of the carrier unit may be a pair of fixing strings 17 installed at both sides of the pivoting member 15. At this time, at least one of the pair of fixing strings 17 is preferably adapted to be detachable through a Velcro tape 18.

[57] One of the fixing strings 17 is formed of an elastic fixing string, and the other fixing string is provided with the Velcro tape 18 so that the fixing string can be detached. Here, it is preferred that the one fixing string be not detached and the other fixing string have a certain thickness.

[58] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 7, the mounting means 16 may be elastic pieces 19 formed at right and left sides of the pivoting member 15. Although not shown in the figure, elastic pieces may be formed at upper and lower sides of the pivoting member 15.

[59] The elastic pieces 19 formed as above can fix the mobile information and communication unit 20 not to come off from the pivoting member 15.

[60] Although the mobile information and communication unit has been described as

being used in combination with the carrier unit in the aforementioned embodiments, it is also possible to use only the mobile information and communication unit without an additional carrier unit, as shown in Fig. 10.

[61] Fig. 10 is a view illustrating a mobile information and communication terminal mountable on a hand according to a still further embodiment of the present invention, in which a ring member 11 and a wristband 12 are provided at upper and lower portions of a mobile information and communication unit, respectively. A user can view a display 21 of the mobile information and communication unit by catching a ring member 11 around a finger or fingers and fixing the wristband 12 around his/her wrist. More preferably, the ring member 11 is caught by the thumb and the index finger of the user's hand so that the display 21 can be arranged at an angle for allowing the user to better view the display.

[62] Meanwhile, although the ring member 11 and the wristband 12 have been described as being provided at the upper and lower portions of the mobile information and communication unit 20, respectively, the positions of the ring member 11 and the wristband 12 are not limited thereto. That is, the ring member 11 may be provided at the lower portion of the mobile information and communication unit 20 and the wristband 12 may be provided at the upper portion of the mobile information and communication unit 20, so that the user can wear the mobile information and communication unit 20 on his/her right hand.

[63] Although the coupling structures of the ring member 11 and the wristband 12 have not been described in this embodiment, they may be variously implemented by machining a hole in the carrier unit or the mobile information and communication unit 20, inserting a portion of the ring member or wristband into the hole, and making a knot or coupling an additional fixing member thereto so that the ring member or wristband does not come off; by fixing the ring member or wristband using an adhesive; or by detachably attaching the ring member or wristband using a Velcro tape, a magnet or the like. However, the coupling structures are not limited thereto.

[64] The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments, and those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications. The changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention defined by the appended claims.

[65]