PHONE GRIP ATTACHMENT
A phone grip attachment includes a base configured for attachment to a phone and a finger-hold attached to the base. The finger-hold has a top member and a bottom member. The finger-hold is movable between an extended position in which an opening is defined between the top member and the bottom member for use in gripping the phone and a collapsed position in which the top member is substantially flat against the bottom member. The finger-hold can be biased to the extended position. The finger-hold can be rotatably attached to the base.
The present disclosure generally relates to phone attachments, and more particularly to apparatuses and methods related to phone grip attachments having a finger-hold.
BACKGROUNDMobile phones and handheld devices are in widespread use. The devices are often expensive, leading users to purchase protective phone cases or grips to prevent damage to the phones due to dropping. It can be difficult for users to maintain their grip on the phone during activities such as texting, browsing, and taking pictures or selfies. Furthermore, phones and the phone screens can be utilized in different orientations, depending on the desired use and the preferences of the user.
SUMMARYAmong the various aspects of the present disclosure is the provision of a phone grip attachment having a finger-hold as substantially shown and described.
Briefly, therefore, one aspect of the disclosure is directed to a phone grip attachment comprising a base configured for attachment to a phone. A finger-hold is attached to the base. The finger-hold has a top member and a bottom member, and is movable between an extended position in which an opening is defined between the top member and the bottom member for use in gripping the phone and a collapsed position in which the top member is substantially flat against the bottom member, in which the top member is substantially flat against the bottom member.
Another aspect of the disclosure is directed to a phone grip attachment comprising a base configured for attachment to a phone. The base includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one locking portion. The bottom surface includes a recessed portion. The at least one locking portion comprises an overhang defining a gap between the locking portion and the top surface of the base. Adhesive is positioned in the recessed portion of the bottom surface for securing the base to a phone. A finger-hold is attached to the base, the finger-hold having a top member and a bottom member. The finger-hold is movable between an extended position in which an opening is defined between the top member and the bottom member for use in gripping the phone and a collapsed position in which the top member is substantially flat against the bottom member. The finger-hold is biased to the extended position. The locking portion is configured to engage the finger-hold to retain the finger-hold in the collapsed position.
Another aspect of the disclosure is directed to a method comprising providing a phone grip attachment including a base configured for attachment to a phone. The base includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one locking portion. The bottom surface includes a recessed portion, and the at least one locking portion comprises an overhang defining a gap between the locking portion and the top surface of the base. Adhesive is positioned in the recessed portion of the bottom surface for securing the base to a phone. A finger-hold is attached to the base, the finger-hold having a top member and a bottom member. The finger-hold is movable between an extended position in which an opening is defined between the top member and the bottom member for use in gripping the phone and a collapsed position in which the top member is substantially flat against the bottom member. The finger-hold is biased to the extended position. The locking portion is configured to engage the finger-hold to retain the finger-hold in the collapsed position. The method includes securing the phone grip attachment to a phone using the adhesive. The method further includes and collapsing the finger-hold from the extended position to the collapsed position by pressing the top member substantially flat against the bottom member and rotating the finger-hold until at least one tab of the finger-hold is positioned in the gap defined by the overhang.
Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, wherein the drawings illustrate features in accordance with exemplary aspects of the disclosure, and wherein:
Like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe accompanying Figures and this description depict and describe aspects of apparatuses and methods in accordance with the present disclosure, and features and components thereof. It should also be noted that any references herein to front and back, right and left, top and bottom and upper and lower and the like are intended for convenience of description, not to limit the present invention or its components to any one positional or spatial orientation.
Before any aspects of the disclosure are explained in detail, it will be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of other aspects and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it will be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. All numbers expressing measurements and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.”
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The finger-hold 30 is movably attached to the base 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the finger-hold 30 is attached to the base 12 so as to permit free rotational movement in either direction (i.e., counterclockwise and clockwise). In an illustrated embodiment, the finger-hold is attached to the base 12 of the attachment 10. For example, as illustrated, fastener 50 attaches the base 12 to the bottom member 32 of the finger-hold 30. Fastener 50 can be any suitable fastener configured to permit free rotation of the finger-hold 30 relative to the base 12. In one embodiment, fastener 50 comprises a rivet. In one embodiment, as illustrated, the fastener 50 does not extend completely through the bottom member 32 of the finger-hold 30; in other words, in one embodiment the fastener is not visible and a user does not contact the fastener 50 when using the finger-hold 30. Optionally, a retaining ring 52 may be positioned on fastener 50 against the lower surface 16 of the attachment 10. In one embodiment, the bottom surface 16 includes a central portion that is not recessed (e.g., is co-planar with the perimeter of the bottom surface) and extends beyond the fastener 50 to prevent the fastener from contacting the back of a phone P secured to the attachment 10. It is understood that any attachment permitting rotation of the finger-hold 30 relative to the base 12 is within the scope of the present invention. Although free rotation of the finger-hold when it is in the extended position is shown and described, other configurations are within the scope of the present invention, such as a limited arc of movement for the finger-hold, or other suitable attachments.
The finger-hold 30 is movable between an extended position and a collapsed position. In the extended position (see, e.g.,
The finger-hold 30 is preferably biased to the extended position. Thus, absent external forces acting on the finger-hold 30, the finger-hold is in the extended position for grasping by a user. The finger-hold may include spring steel, shape memory alloy, or any other suitable material or configuration to permit biasing to the extended position (see, e.g.,
As illustrated, the attachment 10 may optionally include additional features to facilitate easy use and gripping by a user. For example, one or both of the top and bottom members 34, 32 of the finger-hold can include ribbed gripping surfaces (see, e.g.,
In
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The phone grip attachment as shown and described permits a user to securely attach a phone to the user's hand. Furthermore, the attachment allows a user to orient the phone and the finger-hold in any orientation for comfort and ease of use, while maintaining the thumbs free for use of the phone. Thus, for example, a user can use the finger-hold to secure the phone while taking a selfie, without worrying about dropping the phone. Moreover, the finger-hold collapses substantially flat against the base of the attachment for convenience and a small footprint when the finger-hold is not in use.
It will be understood that various features of the aspects of the apparatus and methods described herein may be used in combination with, or instead of, particular features of another aspect. Having provided the disclosure in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing the scope of the disclosure defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that all examples in the present disclosure are provided as non-limiting examples.
Claims
1. A phone grip attachment comprising:
- a base configured for attachment to a phone; and
- a finger-hold attached to the base, the finger-hold having a top member and a bottom member, the finger-hold being movable between an extended position in which an opening is defined between the top member and the bottom member for use in gripping the phone and a collapsed position in which the top member is substantially flat against the bottom member.
2. The phone grip attachment as recited in claim 1, wherein the finger-hold is biased to the extended position.
3. The phone grip attachment as recited in claim 1, wherein the finger-hold is rotatably attached to the base.
4. The phone grip attachment as recited in claim 3, wherein the finger-hold is freely rotatable relative to the base.
5. The phone grip attachment as recited in claim 1, wherein the top member of the finger-hold is pivotally attached to the bottom member of the finger-hold.
6. The phone grip attachment as recited in claim 1, wherein the bottom member includes tabs at each end thereof.
7. The phone grip attachment as recited in claim 1, wherein the base includes at least one locking portion configured to engage a portion of the finger-hold to retain the finger-hold in the collapsed position.
8. The phone grip attachment as recited in claim 7, wherein the at least one locking portion comprises at least one overhang defining a gap, the gap below the overhang being configured to receive a portion of the finger-hold to retain the finger-hold in the collapsed position.
9. The phone grip attachment as recited in claim 8, wherein the bottom member of the finger-hold includes at least one tab at an end thereof, the tab being configured to be received in the gap below the overhang to retain the finger-hold in the collapsed position.
10. The phone grip attachment as recited in claim 9, wherein the tab comprises a lower portion having a first thickness and an upper portion having a second thickness greater than the first thickness, the lower portion configured to be received in the gap and a contoured edge between the upper and lower portions configured to engage a free edge of the locking portion to prevent additional rotation of the finger-hold.
11. The phone grip attachment as recited in claim 8, wherein a central portion of the finger-hold is configured to be received in the gap below the overhang to retain the finger-hold in the collapsed position.
12. The phone grip attachment as recited in claim 7, wherein the base includes two locking portions at diagonally opposite locations on the base.
13. The phone grip attachment as recited in claim 1, further comprising foam tape for securing the attachment to the phone.
14. A phone grip attachment comprising:
- a base configured for attachment to a phone, the base including a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one locking portion, the bottom surface including a recessed portion and the at least one locking portion comprising an overhang defining a gap between the locking portion and the top surface of the base;
- adhesive positioned in the recessed portion of the bottom surface for securing the base to a phone;
- a finger-hold attached to the base, the finger-hold having a top member and a bottom member, the finger-hold being movable between an extended position in which an opening is defined between the top member and the bottom member for use in gripping the phone and a collapsed position in which the top member is substantially flat against the bottom member, wherein the finger-hold is biased to the extended position, wherein the locking portion is configured to engage the finger-hold to retain the finger-hold in the collapsed position.
15. The phone grip attachment as recited in claim 14, wherein the finger-hold is rotatably attached to the base such that the finger-hold is freely rotatable relative to the base when the finger-hold is in the extended position.
16. The phone grip attachment as recited in claim 14, wherein the top member of the finger-hold is pivotally attached to the bottom member of the finger-hold.
17. The phone grip attachment as recited in claim 16, wherein the bottom member of the finger-hold comprises a central portion, a first tab at a first end of the bottom member, a first neck between the central portion and the first tab, a second tab at a second end of the bottom member, and a second neck between the central portion and the second tab.
18. The phone grip attachment as recited in claim 17, wherein the top member comprises a first pair of ears at a first end thereof and a second pair of ears at a second end thereof, wherein the top member is pivotally attached to the bottom member by a first pin extending through the first pair of ears and the first neck and a second pin extending through the second pair of ears and the second neck.
19. A method comprising:
- providing a phone grip attachment comprising:
- a base configured for attachment to a phone, the base including a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one locking portion, the bottom surface including a recessed portion and the at least one locking portion comprising an overhang defining a gap between the locking portion and the top surface of the base;
- adhesive positioned in the recessed portion of the bottom surface for securing the base to a phone;
- a finger-hold attached to the base, the finger-hold having a top member and a bottom member, the finger-hold being movable between an extended position in which an opening is defined between the top member and the bottom member for use in gripping the phone and a collapsed position in which the top member is substantially flat against the bottom member, wherein the finger-hold is biased to the extended position,
- wherein the locking portion is configured to engage the finger-hold to retain the finger-hold in the collapsed position;
- securing the phone grip attachment to a phone using the adhesive; and
- collapsing the finger-hold from the extended position to the collapsed position by pressing the top member substantially flat against the bottom member and rotating the finger-hold until at least one tab of the finger-hold is positioned in the gap defined by the overhang.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising extending the finger-hold from the collapsed position to the extended position by rotating the finger-hold until the at least one tab of the finger-hold is free from the at least one overhang.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 30, 2020
Publication Date: May 28, 2020
Inventors: David Wayne BRITT (Charlotte, NC), Deborah LAUN (Skaneateles, NY), Robert NAAS (Skaneateles, NY)
Application Number: 16/777,383