Belt slider for mounting a tracking device

Abstract

Belt slider comprising at least a first belt guide (6) and at least a second belt guide (7), characterized in that a reversibly closable chamber (5) for receiving a locating device and / or a power supply for a locating device is arranged between the first belt guide (6) and the second belt guide (7).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a receptacle for a locating device.

[0002] Tracking devices are often used to determine the location of important and valuable items. This can help locate the item if it has been misplaced or stolen. To prevent a tracking device from being removed after a theft, it should be undetectable as a tracking device and as inconspicuous as possible. At the same time, the tracking device should be easy to remove if the item is passed on.

[0003] Therefore, various receptacles have been developed to attach tracking devices to important objects. For example, keychains or wallets with pockets for tracking devices are available. However, these are only suitable for the specific application for which they were developed. For other objects, solutions for attaching a tracking device are often not yet available. For example, there is currently no way to discreetly equip a camera with a tracking device.

[0004] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a receptacle for a tracking device which is unobtrusive and flexible in use and which is particularly suitable for attachment to a camera.

[0005] This object is achieved by a belt slider comprising at least one first belt guide and at least one second belt guide, wherein a reversibly closable chamber is arranged between the first belt guide and the second belt guide. The chamber can be designed to accommodate a locating device and / or a power supply for a locating device.

[0006] Belt sliders are particularly inconspicuous because they are attached to almost all carrying straps and can be used to adjust the length of the strap. Belt sliders are often designed as ladder buckles. These have at least three bars, usually arranged parallel to one another, which are connected laterally by a frame. At least two belt guides are formed between the bars. To attach the belt slider to a belt, the belt is pulled from the underside of the belt slider through a first belt guide to the top of the belt slider, guided over a middle bar and pulled through a second belt guide from the top of the belt slider to the underside of the belt slider. To change the length of the belt using the belt slider, the belt can be pulled through the belt slider again. Belt sliders are very flexible in their use because they can be attached to standard holding and carrying straps.A belt slider with a tracking device can therefore be used to locate a shoulder bag, a backpack or, for example, a camera.

[0007] Advantageous embodiments result from the features of the dependent claims: In order to make the chamber for accommodating the tracking device even more inconspicuous, the belt slider can comprise four webs that are laterally connected to one another by a frame, wherein the first, in particular the first outer, belt guide is formed between a first outer web and a first inner web and the second, in particular the second outer, belt guide is formed between a second outer web and a second inner web, and wherein a first inner belt guide is formed between the outside of the chamber and the first inner web and a second inner belt guide is formed between the outside of the chamber and the second inner web. In this case, the belt can be guided above and below the chamber. This means that the chamber is covered by the belt on both sides during normal use.

[0008] To enable the belt slider to be used for position determination, the belt slider can be equipped with a locating device for determining the position of the belt slider. The locating device is designed as a circuit board and is located at the bottom of the chamber. In this case, the belt slider can be designed very flat and unobtrusive.

[0009] Alternatively, the chamber can be designed to accommodate a reversibly removable tracking device. In this case, the belt slider can be used with different tracking devices. Preferably, a reversibly removable tracking device is arranged in the chamber. The belt slider can then be used immediately for position determination without having to first insert a tracking device into the chamber.

[0010] For positioning, the tracking device can, for example, have a passive and / or active NFC transmitter and / or a Bluetooth transmitter and / or a GNSS transmitter.

[0011] To power the tracking device, the chamber can be designed to accommodate a reversibly removable battery, particularly a button cell. Preferably, a reversibly removable battery is already installed in the chamber so that the belt slider can be used immediately for position determination.

[0012] A belt slider is particularly easy to use, with the chamber designed to accommodate a tracking device and a battery installed in a common housing. Preferably, the tracking device and the battery, which are installed in a common casing, are already arranged in the chamber.

[0013] To further prevent the components arranged in the chamber from falling out, the chamber can be covered with a reversibly closable lid.

[0014] In order to enable position determination via an Apple device, for example an iPhone, the chamber can be designed to accommodate an Airtag, with an Airtag preferably already being arranged in the chamber.

[0015] The invention also relates to a belt with a previously described belt slider.

[0016] In order to be able to equip a camera inconspicuously with a tracking device, the invention also relates in particular to a camera strap with a previously described strap slider.

[0017] Furthermore, the invention relates to a camera comprising a camera strap, wherein a previously described strap slider is attached to the camera strap.

[0018] A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the following drawings without limiting the general inventive concept. Fig. 1 shows an example belt slider with open chamber from below. Fig. 2 shows the belt slider from Fig. 1 from the top. Fig. 3 shows the belt slider from Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 from above with closed chamber. Fig. 4 shows the belt slider from Fig. 1 to 3 with closed chamber on a belt. Fig. 5 shows the belt slider from Fig. 1 to 4 with open chamber.

[0019] Fig. 1 shows a belt slider according to the invention with the chamber 5 open, viewed from below. The belt slider has a reversibly closable chamber 5, which is arranged in the central region of the belt slider. The chamber 5 is delimited at the bottom by a base 10. At the top, the chamber 5 can be reversibly closed with the cover 11. The belt slider is essentially designed in the shape of a ladder buckle. It has a first outer web 1, a first inner web 3, a second inner web 4, and a second outer web 2, which, in the embodiment shown, are arranged parallel to one another and are connected laterally via a frame. The chamber 5 is arranged between the first inner web 3 and the second inner web 4.

[0020] In the embodiment shown, a first outer belt guide 6 is formed between the first outer web 1 and the first inner web 3, and a first inner belt guide 8 is formed between the first inner web 3 and the chamber 5. Furthermore, a second inner belt guide 9 is formed between the chamber 5 and the second inner web, and a second outer belt guide is formed between the second inner web 4 and the second outer web 2. The chamber 5 does not extend over the entire height of the belt slider, so that a belt can be guided below the chamber 5 without projecting downwards over the first inner web 3 or the second inner web 4.

[0021] Fig. 2 shows the belt slider from Fig. 1 from above. Here, too, it can be seen that the chamber 5 does not extend over the entire height of the belt slider, so that a belt can be guided over the chamber 5 without projecting upwards beyond the first outer web 1 and the second outer web 2.

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, chamber 5 is designed to accommodate an AirTag. An AirTag contains a tracking device and a battery in a single case.

[0023] In an embodiment not shown, which otherwise has the same structure as the embodiment described here, a circuit board with a locating device is arranged on the inside of the floor 10 of the chamber 5. In this embodiment, the chamber 5 is designed to accommodate a battery that can supply the circuit board with power.

[0024] Fig. 3 shows the belt slider with the chamber 5 closed, with the cover 11 covering the chamber 5.

[0025] Fig. 4 shows the belt slider attached to a standard belt having two flat, one-on-the-other belt straps 12, 13. The belt is pushed beneath the first outer web 1 into the first outer belt guide 6. The upper belt strap 12 is then guided over the cover 11 of the chamber 5 and through the second outer belt guide 7 from above below the second outer web 2. To cover the chamber 5 from below, the lower belt strap 13 is pulled downward through the first inner belt guide 8 and upward again through the second inner belt guide 9.

[0026] To attach the strap to an object, such as a camera, the strap is looped. A fastening element 14 for attaching the object is arranged in the loop.

[0027] Fig. 5 shows the arrangement of Fig.4, wherein the cover 11 is removed so that the chamber 5 is accessible in order to insert a tracking device.

[0028] The belt slider therefore allows a tracking device to be attached discreetly and easily to many different objects.

Claims

[1] Belt slider comprising at least one first belt guide (6) and at least one second belt guide (7), characterized by that a reversibly closable chamber (5) for accommodating a locating device and / or a power supply for a locating device is arranged between the first belt guide (6) and the second belt guide (7). [2] Belt slider according to claim 1, wherein the belt slider comprises four webs (1, 2, 3, 4) which are laterally connected to one another by a frame, wherein the first, in particular the first outer, belt guide (6) is formed between a first outer web (1) and a first inner web (3) and the second, in particular the second outer, belt guide (7) is formed between a second outer web (2) and a second inner web (4), and wherein a first inner belt guide (8) is formed between the outside of the chamber (5) and the first inner web (3) and a second inner belt guide (9) is formed between the outside of the chamber (5) and the second inner web (4). [3] Belt slider according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the belt slider has a locating device for determining the position of the belt slider, wherein the locating device is designed as a circuit board and is arranged on the bottom of the chamber (5). [4] Belt slider according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the chamber (5) is designed to accommodate a reversibly removable locating device, wherein preferably a reversibly removable locating device is arranged in the chamber (5). [5] Belt slider according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the locating device for determining the position comprises a passive and / or active NFC transmitter and / or a Bluetooth transmitter and / or a GNSS transmitter. [6] Belt slider according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the chamber (5) is designed to accommodate a reversibly removable battery, in particular a button cell, wherein preferably a reversibly removable battery is arranged in the chamber. [7] Belt slider according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the chamber is designed to accommodate a locating device and a battery which are installed in a common housing. [8] Belt slider according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the chamber is designed to receive an airtag, wherein preferably an airtag is arranged in the chamber. [9] Belt, in particular camera strap, with a belt slider according to one of claims 1 to 8. [10] Camera comprising a camera strap, wherein a strap slider according to one of claims 1 to 8 is attached to the camera strap.

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