Patents by Inventor Stephen B. Gates

Stephen B. Gates has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Apparatus, system, and method for attaching peripheral items to devices
    Patent number: 8830663
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for attaching accessories to a portable electronic device. A device may be a cellular phone, mp3 player, or other device. An accessory may be an armband, a headphone management system, a stereo system, or other device. The accessories and devices may attach using associated device connector section and accessory connector section. The device connector section may adhere to a protection sheet, which in turn is directly attached to the device. The accessories may be removed when they are no longer in use, and may be swapped for other accessories that can attach to the device. Various embodiments of device connector sections and accessory connector sections can be used to make an appropriately secure connection between the device and accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Ligar Group, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Child, Whitney Clayton, Stephen B. Gates, Brent E. Barberis
  • APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR ATTACHING PERIPHERAL ITEMS TO DEVICES
    Publication number: 20120050968
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for attaching accessories to a portable electronic device. A device may be a cellular phone, mp3 player, or other device. An accessory may be an armband, a headphone management system, a stereo system, or other device. The accessories and devices may attach using associated device connector section and accessory connector section. The device connector section may adhere to a protection sheet, which in turn is directly attached to the device. The accessories may be removed when they are no longer in use, and may be swapped for other accessories that can attach to the device. Various embodiments of device connector sections and accessory connector sections can be used to make an appropriately secure connection between the device and accessory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Eric Child, Whitney Clayton, Stephen B. Gates, Brent E. Barberis