APPARATUSES FOR IMPROVING GRIP ON HANDHELD DEVICES
Handholds and protective cases that are equipped therewith and configured to be coupled to a handheld electronic device. Such a handhold includes an elongated body that is sized and configured to protrude from a back side surface of a protective case. Once secured to a handheld electronic device, the elongated body provides one or more finger holds along at least a first longitudinal side exterior surface of the elongated body that promote an individual's grip on the handheld electronic device.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/486,690, filed Apr. 18, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention generally relates to handheld devices. The invention particularly relates to apparatuses for use by individuals while they are using handheld devices to enhance the ability to operate the handheld devices with one hand and to reduce the likelihood of accidentally dropping a handheld device.
The last decade has seen a rapid increase in personal use of handheld electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablet computers, electronic readers, and the like, particularly devices with interactive touch screens. Such devices are commonly structured to include a relatively thin planar body having a front side with a flat touch screen for interaction with the device, and a back side oppositely disposed from the front side. The back sides of many of these devices are relatively flat, smooth, and often slippery to the human touch. In general, the backside surface often does not provide any means for the user to grip the device with his/her fingers, especially with respect to larger devices such as the tablet computers. Sides between the front and back sides tend to be relatively smooth without any grip or handhold features. Even if push buttons are located on the device sides, the buttons tend to be relatively flush with the surround sides. As such, these devices are prone to being dropped and damaged, especially if they are being held by a single hand. This occurs so often that many individuals purchase protective cases for their handheld devices which encase at least portions of the devices and provide added protection against impacts.
In view of the above, it can be appreciated that there is an ongoing desire for improved apparatuses for that reduce the likelihood of an individual dropping a handheld device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides apparatuses that include a handhold and optionally also a protective case that includes such a handhold. The handholds are suitable for enhancing the operation of a handheld electronic device by an individual using one hand and for reducing the likelihood of the individual accidentally dropping the handheld electronic device while held in the individual's hand. Preferably, such apparatuses allow for the individual's other hand to remain free to do other tasks.
According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided that includes an elongated body configured to be secured to a handheld electronic device and protrude from a back side thereof. Once secured to the handheld device, the elongated body provides one or more finger holds along at least a first longitudinal side exterior surface of the elongated body that promote an individual's grip on the handheld device.
According to another aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided that includes a protective case configured to be removably coupled with and at least partially enclose a handheld electronic device. The protective case includes interior surfaces configured to contact the handheld electronic device when the protective case is coupled thereto, and exterior surfaces including a back side surface configured to face away from the handheld electronic device when the protective case is coupled thereto. An elongated body protrudes from the back side surface and has an interior surface secured to or adjoining the back side surface, an outer exterior surface that is substantially parallel to the interior surface, and side exterior surfaces that are between the interior surface and the outer exterior surface. The side exterior surfaces define oppositely-disposed longitudinal side exterior surfaces that extend between first and second ends of the elongated body, and a plurality of concave recesses are defined in at least one of the longitudinal side exterior surfaces. The concave recesses define finger holds that promote a user's grip on the handheld electronic device from which the elongated body protrudes, and each adjacent pair of the finger holds is separated by a nub.
Technical effect of apparatuses as described above preferably include the ability for a user to hold a handheld electronic device with a single hand while gripping the elongated body with one or more fingers, thereby reducing the likelihood that the user will accidentally drop the handheld device.
Other aspects and advantages of this invention will be further appreciated from the following detailed description.
This disclosure describes multiple embodiments of apparatuses (referred to as handholds below) that comprise an elongated body sized and configured to be secured to a handheld electronic device, protrude from a back side thereof, and provide gripping features on the device to reduce the likelihood of a user dropping the device. As used herein, the term “handheld electronic device” will be used in accordance with its ordinary meaning to refer to electronic devices that can be operated while held in the hand or hands of a user, and includes such devices as mobile phones, tablet computers, electronic readers, etc., and particularly devices with interactive touch screens. In general, handholds disclosed below include one or more finger holds that are secured to the device and are formed by protrusions extending outward from the back side of the device, or another structure secured to the device, such as a protective case. Each finger hold provides a location against which one or more of the user's fingertips can be braced such that the user is able to better grip and hold the device with a single hand. The handholds described herein may be applicable to any handheld electronic device, nonlimiting examples including mobile phones (e.g., cellular phones, smart phones, etc.), tablet computers, and electronic readers. The handholds are intended to provide a user with an improved grip such that handheld devices may be held and/or used with a single hand while the user's other hand remains free for other tasks.
Although the invention will be described hereinafter in reference to rectangular-shaped smart phone cases shown in the drawings, it will be appreciated that the teachings of the invention are more generally applicable to a variety of types of electronic devices and protective cases therefor having various sizes and shapes. To facilitate the description provided below of the embodiments represented in the drawings, relative terms, including but not limited to, “vertical,” “horizontal,” “front,” “back,” “side,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” etc., may be used in reference to the perspective of an operator during the operation a smart phone either alone or with a protective case thereon. All such relative terms are intended to indicate the construction and relative orientations of components and features of the handholds, and therefore are relative terms that are useful to describe the illustrated embodiments but should not be otherwise interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention.
For convenience, the electronic device (e.g., smart phone) will be referred to as having a front side corresponding to a side having a touch screen, a back side corresponding to a side oppositely disposed the front, and sides therebetween in which two of the sides are referred to as upper and lower ends designated by the function of the device during its operation (e.g., such that images on the screen are oriented upright relative to the upper and lower ends of the device when the device is held with its elongated axis vertical relative to ground). Protective cases of the types represented in the drawings are configured to snap onto sides of a rectangular, planar electronic device such that the sides and back side are covered or at least partially enclosed and protected with a rigid and/or impact resistant material, thereby leaving the screen on the front side of the device exposed for use. As such, the protective cases represented in the drawings will be referred to as having interior surfaces intended to contact the sides and back side of the device and exterior surfaces that face away from the sides and back side of the device when the interior surfaces of the case are in contact therewith. The exterior surface of the case facing away from the back side of the device will be referred to as the back side of the case. Upper and lower ends of the case will correspond to the upper and lower ends of the device when the case is coupled thereto.
Similar to
As previously discussed, the handhold 212 shown in
Handholds disclosed herein may be formed of various materials including, but not limited to, various hard and soft polymers or a hard foam material. The handholds can be integrally formed with their respective cases or can be separately formed components that are permanently or removably secured to a case or an electronic device. For example, the handholds can be fixed to the back side of a case with an suitable coupling means, as nonlimiting examples, an adhesive such as glue or adhesive tape.
Handholds of this invention may also have various colors and surface textures. For example,
While the invention has been described in terms of specific or particular embodiments, it should be apparent that alternatives could be adopted by one skilled in the art. For example, the protective case and/or the handholds could differ in appearance and construction from the embodiments described herein and shown in the drawings, functions of certain components of the protective cases and/or handholds could be performed by components of different construction but capable of a similar (though not necessarily equivalent) function, and various materials could be used in the fabrication of the protective cases and/or handholds. In addition, while
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising:
- an elongated body sized and configured to be secured to a handheld electronic device and protrude from a back side thereof, the elongated body having an interior surface, an outer exterior surface that is substantially parallel to the interior surface, and side exterior surfaces that are between the interior surface and the outer exterior surface, the side exterior surfaces defining oppositely-disposed longitudinal side exterior surfaces that extend between first and second ends of the elongated body; and
- a plurality of concave recesses defined in at least one of the longitudinal side exterior surfaces, the concave recesses defining finger holds that promote a user's grip on the handheld electronic device from which the elongated body protrudes, each adjacent pair of the finger holds being separated by a nub.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for directly or indirectly coupling the interior surface to the handheld electronic device.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the side exterior surfaces are substantially perpendicular the interior surface and the outer exterior surface.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the concave recesses, the nubs, and the finger holds are defined in each of the longitudinal side exterior surfaces.
5. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising at least one additional concave recess on at least the first end of the elongated body.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a concave recess is not defined in the second end of the elongated body.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second ends of the elongated body is triangular or spade-shaped.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second ends of the elongated body has a surface that slopes toward the interior surface of the elongated body such that the elongated body is thinner at at least the one of the first and second ends than in an intermediate portion of the elongated body in which the recesses and nubs are defined.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated body is secured and protrudes from a back side of a protective case configured to be coupled with and at least partially enclose the handheld electronic device.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the protective case has a rectangular shaped body, and a longitudinal axis of the elongated body lies on a diagonal between opposite corners of the protective case.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the elongated body is positioned closer to one end of the protective case than an oppositely-disposed end of the protective case.
12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the protective case is configured to couple with a mobile phone.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handheld electronic device is a mobile phone.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handheld electronic device is a tablet computer.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handheld electronic device is an electronic reader.
16. An apparatus comprising:
- a protective case configured to be removably coupled with and at least partially enclose a handheld electronic device, the protective case comprising interior surfaces configured to contact the handheld electronic device when the protective case is coupled thereto and exterior surfaces configured to face away from the handheld electronic device when the protective case is coupled thereto, the exterior surfaces comprising a back side surface;
- an elongated body protruding from the back side surface, the elongated body having an interior surface secured to or adjoining the back side surface, an outer exterior surface that is substantially parallel to the interior surface, and side exterior surfaces that are between the interior surface and the outer exterior surface, the side exterior surfaces defining oppositely-disposed longitudinal side exterior surfaces that extend between first and second ends of the elongated body; and
- a plurality of concave recesses defined in at least one of the longitudinal side exterior surfaces, the concave recesses defining finger holds that promote a user's grip on the handheld electronic device from which the elongated body protrudes, each adjacent pair of the finger holds being separated by a nub.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the side exterior surfaces are substantially perpendicular the interior surface and the outer exterior surface, and the concave recesses, the nubs, and the finger holds are defined in each of the longitudinal side exterior surfaces.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 18, 2018
Publication Date: Oct 18, 2018
Inventor: John Tremaine (Fenton, MI)
Application Number: 15/956,308