MOBILE DEVICE GRASPING ATTACHMENT AND HOLDER FOR USE WITH SAME
A grasping attachment for a mobile device includes a body coupled to the mobile device. The body is coupled to a back surface of the mobile device. The body includes a raised portion above a surface of the mobile device with an opening in the raised portion. A ring is coupled to the body with one or more elastic members at the opening. The elastic members allow the ring to swivel while being coupled to the body. The ring is sized to allow at least one finger of a user to be inserted through the ring and securely grasp the mobile device.
This patent claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/741,902 filed Jul. 30, 2012 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/849,351 filed Jan. 25, 2013, both of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to mobile device accessories. More particularly, the invention relates to an attachment for a mobile device and a holder for a mobile device.
2. Description of Related Art
Many varieties of cases for mobile devices (such as mobile cellular phones and tablets) have been developed. Cases are used for protection and/or enhancing the ability to grip and manipulate the mobile device. Cases may also be used to support and/or connect the mobile device to other devices or structures.
While many cases have been developed with a variety of grasping features, there still remains a need for grasping attachments as raised portions on the case bodies or as separate units that allow quick and easy grasping of the mobile device in a secure manner. For example, it may be desirable to have a grasping attachment that allows quick and secure grasping of the mobile device using one hand. The grasping attachment may also include flexibility to be grasped in a variety of ways and/or support for placing the mobile device on a surface. It may also be desirable for the grasping system to be non-intrusive to, for example, allow a mobile device to be easily stored in a holder, in a pocket, or in a protective sleeve.
SUMMARYIn certain embodiments, a grasping attachment for a mobile device includes a body coupled to the mobile device. The body is coupled to a back surface of the mobile device. The body includes a raised portion above a surface of the mobile device with an opening in the raised portion. A ring is coupled to the body with one or more elastic members at the opening. The elastic members allow the ring to swivel while being coupled to the body. The ring is sized to allow at least one finger of a user to be inserted through the ring and securely grasp the mobile device.
In some embodiments, the body includes a notch located a distance from the opening in the body that is about equal to a diameter of the ring. The ring may move relative to the body such that an inside surface of the ring fits into the notch to secure the ring to the body. The ring may be almost planar with the mobile device when the ring is in the notch. In some embodiments, the ring is pressed at or near the opening to release the ring from the notch.
In certain embodiments, a holder for a mobile device includes an enclosure with a rectangular shape substantially similar to the mobile device. A coupling device on a back surface of the enclosure couples the enclosure to a surface or an object. The enclosure may include an open end that allows the mobile device to be inserted into and removed from the enclosure. The enclosure may include an opening on a front surface of the enclosure with the opening having a border along three sides of the front surface of the enclosure to retain the mobile device in the enclosure. The opening may allow the grasping attachment coupled to the mobile device to be accessed by a user of the mobile device while the mobile device is in the enclosure and the grasping attachment to be used by the user to remove the mobile device from the enclosure out the open end of the enclosure.
In some embodiments, the ring is allowed to be swiveled by the user into a position that allows the user's finger to be inserted through the ring while the mobile device is in the enclosure. The user's finger may be allowed to be inserted into the ring and used to remove the mobile device from the enclosure. The open end in the enclosure may allow the mobile device to be inserted lengthwise into the enclosure and removed lengthwise from the enclosure. The coupling device may couple the enclosure to the user's belt or pants. A display surface of the mobile device may be oriented towards the back surface of the enclosure when the mobile device is in the enclosure.
Features and advantages of the methods and apparatus of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of presently preferred but nonetheless illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. The drawings may not be to scale. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but to the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTSIn the context of this patent, the term “coupled” means either a direct connection or an indirect connection (e.g., one or more intervening connections) between one or more objects or components. The phrase “directly connected” means a direct connection between objects or components such that the objects or components are connected directly to each other so that the objects or components operate in a “point of use” manner.
In the context of this patent, the term “mobile device” refers to any electronic device that utilizes mobile connection technology (e.g., cellular, satellite, or wireless technology). Examples of mobile devices include, but are not limited to, cellular phones, smart cellular phones, PDAs, computer tablets, GPS units, and gaming devices.
In some embodiments, as shown in
In certain embodiments, as shown in
The above method for securing ring 104 at opening 108 with elastic member(s) 106 is provided as an example with an understanding that other methods for securing the ring at the opening with the elastic member(s) are possible (e.g., the elastic member(s) can be secured over one tab 110, pulled through the opening and over the ring, and secured to the other tab 110). In certain embodiments, tabs 110 include protrusions or edges that inhibit elastic members 106 from sliding off the tabs (e.g., the elastic members do not accidentally come off the tabs).
Elastic member(s) 106 provide tension that holds ring 104 tightly to raised portion 103 at opening 108 when the ends of the elastic member are placed on tabs 110. Tension provided by elastic member(s) 106 may cause ring 104 to have a normal (default) position, as shown in
In certain embodiments, elastic member 106 allows ring 104 to swivel (e.g., tilt and/or rotate) at opening 108 while remaining coupled to raised portion 103 and/or mobile device 101.
In some embodiments, ring 104 rotates up to about 360° around opening 108. In certain embodiments, ring 104 is tilted anywhere between a substantially vertical position (perpendicular to the back surface of case body 101) and a substantially horizontal position (parallel or planar with the back surface of the case body).
Ring 104 may be rotated and/or tilted, for example, by a hand or fingers of a user. When ring 104 is moved (e.g., tilted and/or rotated), tension in elastic member(s) 106 may generate restoring forces to move the ring back towards the normal position. Depending the forces applied and on the tension and elasticity in elastic member(s) 106, ring 104 may be moved completely back to the normal position or only partially back towards the normal position by the restoring forces (e.g., the ring may remain in a rotated and/or tilted position or return towards the normal position).
In certain embodiments, body 102 includes notch 112 on an end of the body, shown in
During use, ring 104 may be rotated about 90° from the normal position (as shown in
Moving ring 104 into notch 112 secures the ring to body 102 in a relatively planar position (e.g., the ring is substantially planar or almost planar with mobile device 101). In the secured position, ring 104 does not project from grasping attachment 100, which allows the grasping attachment and mobile device 101 to easily be stored, for example, in a holder, a pocket of the user, or a protective sleeve. Because of the tension provided by elastic member(s) 106, ring 104 is inhibited from inadvertently releasing from notch 112 (e.g., movement and force must be applied to the ring to dislodge the ring from the notch).
In some embodiments, body 102 includes raised surface 115 (shown in
Ring 104 may be released from notch 112 by moving the ring up and out of the notch. For example, in one embodiment, the user's finger or thumb may be used to apply force to a part of ring 104 near opening 108 and move the ring up and out of notch 112. In certain embodiments, the user's finger or thumb presses on ring 104 near opening 108 and the ring pops out of notch 112.
In some embodiments, a finger of a user is placed through the opening in ring 104.
In some embodiments, a user is able to release ring 104 out of notch 112 and immediately slide the user's finger through the ring to quickly grasp and secure mobile device 101. For example, the user may have mobile device 101 in the user's pocket, reach in the pocket with the user's hand, release ring 104 out of notch 112 while the mobile device is in the pocket, and slide the user's finger through the ring to secure the mobile device and remove the mobile device from the pocket.
In some embodiments, ring 104 is used to support mobile device 102 on a surface and allow use of the device at an angle on the surface. For example, ring 104 may be used to support mobile device 101 on the surface for tilted viewing of the device.
As shown in
In certain embodiments, enclosure 202 includes open end 204. Open end 204 allows mobile device 101 (and grasping attachment 100) to be inserted into and removed from enclosure 202. For example, mobile device 101 may be inserted lengthwise into enclosure 202 through open end 204. Similarly, mobile device 101 may be removed lengthwise from enclosure 202 through open end 204. In certain embodiments, when mobile device 101 is in enclosure 202, the mobile device is held with a longer dimension of the mobile device (e.g., the longitudinal dimension) substantially horizontal. For example, the longer dimensions of enclosure 202 and mobile device 101 are substantially horizontal relative to the ground.
In certain embodiments, enclosure 202 includes detent 205 at open end 204. Detent 205 may retain mobile device 101 in enclosure 202 (e g , inhibit the mobile device from falling out of the enclosure). Detent 205 may provide some force to retain mobile device 101 in enclosure 202. The user may move mobile device 101 with a force that overcomes detent 205 to allow the mobile device to be removed from enclosure 202. For example, the user may use grasping attachment 100 to apply force to overcome detent 205 and remove mobile device 101 from enclosure 202.
In certain embodiments, mobile device 101 is inserted into enclosure 202 with a display surface (e.g., the screen) of the mobile device oriented towards a back surface of the enclosure (e.g., the display surface is facing into the page, as shown in
In certain embodiments, enclosure 202 includes opening 208 on the front surface of the enclosure. Opening 208 provides an opening for grasping attachment 100 to remain coupled to mobile device 101 when the mobile device is inserted into enclosure 202. As shown in
In certain embodiments, a user accesses grasping attachment 100 through opening 208 in enclosure 202. Thus, the user may access grasping attachment 100 while mobile device 101 is in holder 200 (e.g., the user may swivel ring 104 on the grasping attachment while the mobile device is in the holder). In one embodiment, the user releases ring 104 from notch 112, as described above, while mobile device 101 is in holder 200, then inserts finger 116 into the ring and removes the mobile device from the holder 200.
In certain embodiments, one or more coupling devices 212 are coupled to the back surface of enclosure 202, as shown in
Holder 200 provides a simple and convenient device for holding mobile device 101 when grasping attachment 100 is coupled to the mobile device. Using holder 200 without grasping attachment 100 coupled to mobile device 101 may be unsafe as the user may not be able to securely grasp the mobile device when inserting or removing the mobile device without a secure means for grasping the mobile device (e.g., the grasping attachment).
It is to be understood the invention is not limited to particular systems described which may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. As used in this specification, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a body” includes a combination of two or more bodies and reference to “a material” includes mixtures of materials.
Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the general manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described herein are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Elements and materials may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts and processes may be reversed, and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the invention. Changes may be made in the elements described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims.
Claims
1. A grasping attachment for a mobile device, comprising:
- a body configured to be coupled to a mobile device, wherein the body is coupled to a back surface of the mobile device during use, and wherein the body comprises a raised portion above a surface of the mobile device with an opening in the raised portion; and
- a ring coupled to the body with one or more elastic members at the opening, wherein the elastic members allow the ring to swivel while being coupled to the body, and wherein the ring is sized to allow at least one finger of a user to be inserted through the ring and securely grasp the mobile device.
2. The grasping attachment of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a notch.
3. The grasping attachment of claim 2, wherein the notch is located a distance from the opening in the body that is about equal to a diameter of the ring.
4. The grasping attachment of claim 2, wherein the ring moves relative to the body such that an inside surface of the ring fits into the notch to secure the ring to the body.
5. The grasping attachment of claim 2, wherein the ring is almost planar with the mobile device when the ring is in the notch.
6. The grasping attachment of claim 2, wherein the body comprises a raised surface that supports the ring when the ring is in the notch.
7. The grasping attachment of claim 2, wherein the ring is pressed at or near the opening to release the ring from the notch.
8. The grasping attachment of claim 1, further comprising one or more tabs located on the body, wherein ends of the elastic member are secured to the tabs to secure the ring to the body.
9. The grasping attachment of claim 8, wherein the tabs include protrusions to inhibit the elastic member from sliding off the tabs.
10. The grasping attachment of claim 8, wherein the elastic member extends from at least one tab, under the raised portion of the body, through the opening, over at least a portion of the ring, back through the opening, under the raised portion of the body, and onto at least one tab.
11. The grasping attachment of claim 1, wherein the elastic member pulls the ring towards the body at the opening.
12. The grasping attachment of claim 1, wherein the body is configured to be coupled to the mobile device with an adhesive.
13. The grasping attachment of claim 1, wherein the body is coupled to a mobile device case, and wherein the mobile device case is configured to be coupled to the mobile device.
14. The grasping attachment of claim 1, wherein the elastic member allows the ring to tilt and rotate with respect to the body.
15. The grasping attachment of claim 1, wherein the elastic member allows the ring to rotate substantially 360° around the coupling between the ring and the body.
16. The grasping attachment of claim 1, wherein the elastic member normally locates the ring with the opening of the ring being substantially parallel to longitudinal edges of the body.
17. The grasping attachment of claim 1, wherein the ring is swiveled with respect to the body using a finger of the user.
18. A holder for a mobile device, comprising:
- an enclosure with a rectangular shape substantially similar to the mobile device; and
- a coupling device on a back surface of the enclosure, wherein the coupling device is configured to couple the enclosure to a surface or an object;
- wherein the enclosure includes an open end that allows the mobile device to be inserted into and removed from the enclosure;
- wherein the enclosure includes an opening on a front surface of the enclosure, the opening having a border along three sides of the front surface of the enclosure to retain the mobile device in the enclosure; and
- wherein the opening allows a grasping attachment coupled to the mobile device to be accessed by a user of the mobile device while the mobile device is in the enclosure and the grasping attachment to be used by the user to remove the mobile device from the enclosure out the open end of the enclosure.
19. The holder of claim 18, wherein the grasping attachment comprises:
- a body coupled to a back surface of the mobile device; and
- a ring coupled to the body with one or more elastic members, wherein the elastic member allows the ring to swivel while being coupled to the body, and wherein the ring is sized to allow at least one finger of the user to be inserted through the ring and securely grasp the mobile device.
20. The holder of claim 19, wherein the ring is allowed to be swiveled by the user into a position that allows the user's finger to be inserted through the ring while the mobile device is in the enclosure, and the user's finger is allowed to be inserted into the ring and used to remove the mobile device from the enclosure.
21. The holder of claim 18, wherein the open end in the enclosure allows the mobile device to be inserted lengthwise into the enclosure and removed lengthwise from the enclosure.
22. The holder of claim 18, wherein the coupling device is configured to couple the enclosure to the user's belt or pants.
23. The holder of claim 18, wherein the coupling device couples the enclosure to the surface or the object such that the mobile device, when in the enclosure, is held with a longer dimension of the mobile device being substantially horizontal.
24. The holder of claim 18, wherein a display surface of the mobile device is oriented towards the back surface of the enclosure when the mobile device is in the enclosure.
25. The holder of claim 18, wherein an interior of the back surface of the enclosure comprises a material that cleans a display surface of the mobile device as the mobile device is inserted into or removed from the enclosure.
26. The holder of claim 18, wherein the enclosure includes a detent at the open end of the enclosure to retain the mobile device in the enclosure until force is applied using the grasping attachment to remove the mobile device from the enclosure.
Type: Application
Filed: May 2, 2013
Publication Date: Jan 30, 2014
Inventors: Kenneth Ray Crawford (Austin, TX), Richard Lane Stafford (Austin, TX)
Application Number: 13/875,825
International Classification: A45F 5/10 (20060101);