MULTI-SMARTPHONE GRABBING DEVICE WITH ATTACHABLE WALLET

Abstract

A grabbing device and an attachable wallet for smartphones and methods for attaching the wallet to different brands and types of smartphones and the automatic adjustment of the grabbing device to fit multiple brands and types of smartphones is disclosed. Additionally, the invention described enables various attachment means for easy separation of the grabbing device and smartphone while not interfering with the overall functionality and settings of the smartphone.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to the following U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/857,241 filed Jul. 23, 2013 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to attachable wallets for smartphones and methods for combining both elements and specifically to automatic adjustment to fit multiple brands and types of smartphones. Additionally, the invention describes and enables various attachment means for easy separation of the wallet and smartphone.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Smartphones and wallets are an indispensible part of modern life. Within the marketplace, combining both of these vital everyday elements has produced products that limit the full capabilities of a smartphone such as limiting the use of the touchscreen. For example, almost all of the products combining smartphones and wallets require the user to remove the smartphone from the wallet to answer or initiate a phone call. Often this action requires the sliding of the smartphone out of the wallet which can interfere with the buttons on the side of the smartphone and make inadvertent adjustments to the user's smartphone, such as volume adjustments and turning the ringer on or off. In addition, the time required for removing the smartphone from a pocket or purse and then having to remove it from the wallet can cause the user to miss the call entirely.

Thus, there is a need in the art for wallet devices and smartphone holders and alternative attachment methods that combines each of their functionalities in order to reduce the number of items a person carries while not disrupting the use of the phone's touchscreen or interfering with the settings of the smartphone. The invention and methods described below solve the problems associated with typical smartphone holders with combined wallet functionality.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention utilizes two hook-shaped grabbing pieces connected by a pliable strap to securely grip and hold onto the sides of a smartphone while not interfering with the smartphone's side buttons. The combination of the hooks and pliable strap form a grabbing device that is then connected to a strap. Fasteners within the strap then enable the grabbing device to attach to another item such as a wallet. The wallet can be attached and detached from the grabbing device while the grabbing device continues holding the smartphone. The detaching functionality allows for someone to attach or remove the wallet at their convenience depending on their current circumstances while not affecting the use of their smartphone. Since the grabbing device can remain attached to the smartphone while not affecting its use, the grabbing device can be connected to various items depending on one's circumstance. If it is not connected to the wallet, it could be connected to one of a number of alternative items. For example, the smartphone with the grabbing device could be attached to a car charging device or a stand or a hands-free holder for use while driving. Conversely, if the wallet is not connected to the smartphone, it could be connected to one of a number of alternative items. For example, the wallet could be placed in locations that would be otherwise difficult to achieve without the attachment means, such as attached to the side of a dresser or nightstand, or attached to the underside of a desk or chair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows an end view of the grabbing device in one or more embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1B shows a front view of the grabbing device in one or more embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the grabbing device holding onto a smartphone in one or more embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the grabbing device holding onto a smartphone with an attached wallet in one or more embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4A shows an expanded view of one hook of the grabbing device, detailing the design of the hook.

FIG. 4B shows an end view of one side of the grabbing device holding onto a smartphone, detailing the design of the grabbing device and the clearance allowed for the smartphone's side buttons.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1B shows a front view (phone side) of the grabbing device 100 in the stretched position whereby hooks 105 have been extended outwards by a pulling pressure (not shown) to stretch the elastic material 110. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the two hooks 105 are constructed of a suitable, thin metal material, such as stainless steel, and connected to each other with a stretchable band 110 that enables it to stretch in width in order to grab and hold onto smartphones of various sizes and widths. In another embodiment of the invention, the two hooks 105 are constructed of a suitable, thin, but pliable, metal material, such as aluminum, which allows some minor adjustments in the hooks by the user through slight bending or deformation of the hooks 105. In another embodiment of the invention, the two hooks 105 are constructed of a nonmetallic material, such as plastics, nylon, wood, carbon fiber, fiberglass, etc.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the stretchable band is an elastic material. In another embodiment of the invention, the stretchable band is constructed of another suitable material, such as rubber or other stretchable material.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the hooks 105 and elastic band 110 are attached to a strap 115 that is comprised of two substantially equal pieces of suitable material, such as leather, sewn together with stitching 140. The hooks 105 and elastic band 110 are attached to the strap 115 by stitching 140 that connects the elastic band 110 in the strap 115 in the approximate center of the strap 115 and forming a channel with the stitching 140 above and below the elastic band 110 to allow it to stretch outwards while keeping the elastic band somewhat constrained in its movement. In another embodiment of the invention, the strap 115 is comprised of a number of pieces of non-leather material, such as synthetic leather, cloth, carbon fiber, canvas, rubber, plastic, etc. In another embodiment of the invention, the strap 115 is comprised of one piece or a number of pieces of material attached directly to the wallet 310, shown in FIG. 3, with stitching 140 or other stitching as required.

In an embodiment of the invention, the strap 115 contains a number of magnets or pieces of ferrous material 120 that can connect to another item with the receiving pieces of ferrous material or magnets such as a wallet 310, shown in FIG. 3. A magnet mating with magnet or a magnet mating with ferrous material combination allows both the wallet 310 and the grabbing device 100 to attach to other devices besides each other. For example, a stand for hands-free operation in a motor vehicle could be constructed to mate with the grabbing device 100, allowing a driver to safely use his phone while driving. Another example would be the construction of an adhesive backed receptacle for the wallet 310 that could be placed in an inconspicuous place in the user's home to store the wallet 310, without the restriction that the wallet 310 be placed on a horizontal surface. In other words, the adhesive backed receptacle for the wallet 310 could be placed on the underside of a desk or chair.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the magnets 120 comprise of two circular magnets 120 embedded in the strap 115. In other embodiments of the invention, any number of magnets or different shaped magnets can be utilized or arranged in any other pattern. In other embodiments of the invention, button snaps, fasteners, Velcro, adhesive or another type of connecting application can be used.

In an embodiment of the invention, the strap 115, absent of any magnets or other temporary attachment means, is connected directly and permanently to a wallet 310, shown in FIG. 3, through stitching 140 or additional stitching as required.

Referring to FIG. 1A, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, there is a nonslip, protective surface 125 applied to the inside of the hooks 105 in order to provide a nonslip and protective surface between the smartphone 205, shown in FIG. 2, and hooks 105. In an embodiment of the invention, the nonslip, protective surface 125 comprises a nonslip grip adhered to the inside (phone side) of the hooks 105. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the protective surface 125 is made from a nonslip liquid based coating that is applied directly to the hooks and utilizes materials such as rubber, silicone or plastic. In another embodiment of the invention, a nonslip material or product is applied directly to the hooks 105 as a tape material, such as rubber or plastic tape.

Referring to FIG. 4A, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the hooks 105 are comprised of metal pieces with a rounded shape designed to wrap around the sides of smartphones of varying depths. The hooks 105 wrap around the front of the phone while not interfering with the use of the smartphone's screen or the smartphone's side buttons. Referring to FIG. 4B, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the hooks 105 with the nonslip, protective surface 125 are rounded and cause the nonslip, protective surface 125 to contact the somewhat rectangular shape of the smartphone's edge in two places. The contact with the hooks 105 with the nonslip, protective surface 125 is made near the top 410 and bottom 415 edges of the smartphone 205.

Referring to FIG. 4B, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the size of the hooks 105, i.e. the radius of the curve, leaves enough room between the smartphone's side buttons 405 and the protective surface 125 to allow the side buttons 405 to remain undisturbed while the smartphone 205 is in the grabbing device 100 and while the smartphone 205 is being slid out of the grabbing device 100. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the size of the hooks 105, i.e. the radius of the curve, is approximately 0.2 inches or 5 mm. While extensive research and experimentation has shown that approximately 0.2 inches or 5 mm is an ideal size in order to fit the majority of smartphones on the market, it is understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that other radius dimensions, while not ideal, may work for a large number of the smartphones on the market. As smartphones evolve over the years, the radius dimension for hooks 105 may need to change in order to adapt to the changes in smartphone thicknesses.

In another embodiment of the invention, the hooks 105 are shaped in a more oblong or angular manner to give more clearance for the smartphone's side buttons 405.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the elastic band 110 is looped through a slot 130 at the base of the hooks 105 and secured by stitching 140. In another embodiment of the invention, the elastic band 110 can be adhered to the hooks 105 with additional stitching, an adhesive, rivets, or other attachment means.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the grabbing device expanded to hold onto a smartphone 205 in one or more embodiments of the invention. The hooks 105 wrap around the side of the smartphone 205 while leaving the smartphone's 205 screen completely usable as well as any buttons or controls on the sides. The elastic band 110 is stretched to accommodate the width of the smartphone 205 and can stretch to varying lengths. When the smartphone 205 is removed, the grabbing device and accompanying hooks 105 and elastic 110 return to resting or not stretched position.

FIG. 3 shows an end view of the grabbing device 100 gripping a smartphone 205 and with a wallet 310 attached to the leather strap 115 in one embodiment of the invention. The elastic band 110 is stretched to accommodate the width of the smartphone 205 and grips the smartphone 205 securely. The elastic band 110 enables the grabbing device to expand to hold onto smartphones of varying widths such as the Apple iPhone or the Samsung Galaxy. The hooks 105 wrap around the sides of the smartphone 205 to provide grip but not cover any portion of the smartphone's 205 screen, enabling the use of all features of the phone related to the use of a touchscreen and answering or initiating a phone call. The hooks 105 are also shaped in a way so that any buttons on the sides of the smartphone are unaffected from unintended activation. In an embodiment of the invention, the leather strap 115 has magnets 120 that attach to mating magnets contained in the wallet 310 enabling someone to attach or detach the wallet 310 at any given time while leaving the grabbing device 100 attached to the smartphone 205.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a wallet 310 is attached to the strap 115 which is then attached to the elastic band 110 contained in the grabbing device 100. In another embodiment of the invention, the wallet 310 can be any other item or fixture such as a bag of any type, clothing item, fashion accessory, holding stand, or automobile interior such as a dashboard or console.

In another embodiment of the invention, the grabbing device 100 has slots designed to attach ear buds or Bluetooth ear buds to the grabbing device 100 or designated slots or openings in the wallet 310, or an area within the invention to wrap ear bud wires or cords around.

In view of the wide variety of permutations to the embodiments described herein, this detailed description is intended to be illustrative only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. To illustrate, while the attachable item has been described as a wallet, embodiments are not so limited. For example, the attachable item could be a belt or a golf bag. Therefore, the specifications and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Claims

1. A grabbing device for smartphones and methods for attaching the grabbing device to different brands and types of smartphones and the automatic adjustment of the grabbing device to fit multiple brands and types of smartphones; wherein the attachment means comprises a number of hook-shaped grabbing pieces forcibly pulled inward to securely grip and hold onto the sides of a smartphone while not interfering with the smartphone's side buttons.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grabbing device's hook-shaped grabbing pieces are designed to contact the smartphone only along the top and bottom edges.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grabbing device's hook-shaped grabbing pieces are coated with a nonslip, protective surface and are pulled towards the center of the grabbing device with an elastic band.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grabbing device's hook-shaped grabbing pieces are curved with a radius of approximately 0.2 inches or 5 mm.

5. A grabbing device for smartphones and methods for attaching the grabbing device to different brands and types of smartphones and the automatic adjustment of the grabbing device to fit multiple brands and types of smartphones; wherein the attachment means comprises a number of hook-shaped grabbing pieces connected by a pliable strap to securely grip and hold onto the sides of a smartphone while not interfering with the smartphone's side buttons.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the grabbing device's hook-shaped grabbing pieces are designed to contact the smartphone only along the top and bottom edges.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the grabbing device's hook-shaped grabbing pieces are coated with a nonslip, protective surface and are pulled towards the center of the grabbing device with an elastic band.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the grabbing device's hook-shaped grabbing pieces are curved with a radius of approximately 0.2 inches or 5 mm.

9. An attachable wallet for smartphones and methods for attaching the wallet to different brands and types of smartphones and the automatic adjustment of the attachable wallet to fit multiple brands and types of smartphones; wherein the attachment means comprises a number of hook-shaped grabbing pieces connected by a pliable strap to securely grip and hold onto the sides of a smartphone while not interfering with the smartphone's side buttons.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the attachable wallet's hook-shaped grabbing pieces are designed to contact the smartphone only along the top and bottom edges.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the attachable wallet's hook-shaped grabbing pieces are coated with a nonslip, protective surface and are pulled towards the center of the grabbing device with an elastic band.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the attachable wallet's hook-shaped grabbing pieces are curved with a radius of approximately 0.2 inches or 5 mm.