Heracles Research Corp., owned by Spokane entrepreneur John Adrain, says it has launched a new iPhone belt clip, called the AppKlip, that it's having manufactured here from recycled plastics.

The clip uses a simple design that consists of three plastic pieces connected by flexible O-rings that stretch across the back of the phone and provide tension to the center piece, which clips over the user's belt or pocket. The two outer plastic pieces wrap around the sides of the phone, and, along with stretching the O-rings to create the tension needed to keep the center clip piece snug, help protect the phone in case it's dropped.

Adrain says two British machinists in Los Angeles whom he knows developed the patent-pending clips, and he now is working with them in refining, manufacturing, and marketing them. He says he is having H&H Molds Inc., of Spokane, manufacture them, and is marketing them through a Web site.

Heracles is selling versions of the product for iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch use, in black or white, for $19.95 apiece. The company says an iPhone 4 version and expanded color offerings are in the works, including plans to make the clips available in the colors of sports teams, and is working on other related products.

"We're kind of all in this together," Adrain says of the machinists, Jim and Gary Berry. "They're focused on building the prototypes and doing the design of other products that are similar," while Heracles is focused on commercializing them.

Heracles, which Adrain founded three years ago, developed and markets a heavy-duty steel cabinet, called the BedBunker, for storing guns and other valuables under beds, and the BurglarBlaster, a self-contained, pepper spray anti-burglary system.