APPARATUS FOR HANDS-FREE SUPPORT OF A DEVICE IN FRONT OF A USER'S BODY

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for supporting an electronic device in front of the body of a user. The apparatus comprises a chest-engaging member, a first back-engaging member and at least one resiliently deformable first arm coupling the chest-engaging member to the first back-engaging member. Resilient deformation of the at least one first arm biases the chest-engaging member and the first back-engaging member toward one another. The apparatus also comprises a device-support assembly coupled to the chest-engaging member for supporting the device in front of the body of the user. The apparatus is adjustable to an expanded configuration wherein the device-support assembly extends forwardly from the chest-engaging member to support the device at a location that is forwardly spaced-apart from the chest-engaging member by a distance greater than about 12 cm. The apparatus is also adjustable to an intermediate storage configuration wherein the device-support assembly is collapsed to support the device at a location that is forwardly spaced-apart from the chest-engaging member by a distance less than about 8 cm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In drawings which show non-limiting embodiments of the invention:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a hands-free device-support apparatus according to a particular embodiment of the invention in its expanded configuration;

FIG. 1B is a different perspective view of the FIG. 1A device-support apparatus in its expanded configuration;

FIG. 1C is a perspective view of the FIG. 1A device-support apparatus in its intermediate viewing configuration;

FIG. 1D is a perspective view of the FIG. 1A device-support apparatus in its intermediate storage configuration;

FIG. 1E is a perspective view of the FIG. 1A device-support apparatus in a state between its intermediate storage configuration and its compact configuration;

FIG. 1F is a perspective view of the FIG. 1A device-support apparatus in its compact configuration;

FIG. 1G is a perspective view showing the FIG. 1A device-support apparatus in its expanded configuration on the body of a user;

FIGS. 2A-2F are schematic diagrams illustrating a number of forces that act at the contact point between the back-engaging members and a user's back for different relative heights of the chest-engaging member and back-engaging members and for different coefficients of friction;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a hands-free device-support apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention in its expanded configuration;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the FIG. 3A device-support apparatus in its intermediate viewing configuration;

FIG. 3C is a perspective view of the FIG. 3A device-support apparatus in its intermediate storage configuration;

FIG. 3D a perspective view of the FIG. 3A device-support apparatus in its compact configuration;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a hands-free device-support apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention in its expanded configuration;

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the FIG. 4A device-support apparatus in its intermediate viewing configuration;

FIG. 4C is a perspective view of the FIG. 4A device-support apparatus in its intermediate storage configuration;

FIG. 4D is a perspective view of the FIG. 4A device-support apparatus in its compact configuration;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a hands-free device-support apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the invention in its expanded configuration;

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the FIG. 5A device-support apparatus in its expanded configuration on a user's body;

FIG. 5C is a perspective view of the FIG. 5A device-support apparatus in its intermediate viewing configuration;

FIG. 5D is a perspective view of the FIG. 5A device-support apparatus in its intermediate storage configuration;

FIG. 5E is a perspective view of the FIG. 5A device-support apparatus in its compact configuration;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a hands-free device-support apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is perspective view of a modified version of the FIG. 6 device-support apparatus;

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of a hands-free device-support apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the invention for use as a personal multimedia entertainment system;

FIG. 8B is a different perspective view of the FIG. 8A device-support apparatus;

FIG. 8C is a perspective view of a modified version of the FIG. 8A device-support apparatus;

FIG. 9 schematically depicts one technique for coupling a portable electronic device to a device-support member in accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 10A-10C schematically depict a different technique for coupling a portable electronic device to a device-support member in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting an electronic device in front of the body of a user, the apparatus comprising: a chest-engaging member;a first back-engaging member;at least one resiliently deformable first arm coupling the chest-engaging member to the first back-engaging member, wherein resilient deformation of the at least one first arm biases the chest-engaging member and the first back-engaging member toward one another;a device-support assembly coupled to the chest-engaging member for supporting the device in front of the body of the user;the apparatus adjustable to an expanded configuration wherein the device-support assembly extends forwardly from the chest-engaging member to support the device at a location that is forwardly spaced-apart from the chest-engaging member by a distance greater than about 12 cm; andthe apparatus adjustable to an intermediate storage configuration wherein the device-support assembly is collapsed to support the device at a location that is forwardly spaced-apart from the chest-engaging member by a distance less than about 8 cm.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one resiliently deformable first arm extends between the chest-engaging member and the first back-engaging member over at least one of the user's shoulders along a path that is spaced-apart from the at least one of the user's shoulders.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the device-support assembly comprises a first pivot joint and the apparatus is adjustable from the intermediate storage configuration to an intermediate viewing configuration by pivoting the first pivot joint and wherein, when the apparatus is in the intermediate viewing configuration, a first portion of the device is forwardly spaced-apart from the chest-engaging member by less than about 5 cm and a second portion of the device is forwardly spaced apart from the chest-engaging member by more than about 5 cm.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein, when the apparatus is in the intermediate viewing configuration, a user interface of the device is spaced forwardly from the chest-engaging member and oriented to display at least partially upwardly such that the user interface is viewable by the user.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein, when the apparatus is in the intermediate storage configuration: a user interface of the device is generally aligned with at least one of:the chest-engaging member, the at least one first arm and a chest of the user; andthe user interface is forwardly spaced-apart, by less than about 2 cm, from at least one of: the chest-engaging member, the at least one first arm and the chest of the user.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a device-mounting member for coupling the device to the device-support assembly, the device-mounting member adjustable to support the device in: a landscape configuration, wherein a first axis passing through a center of the device is oriented generally transversely and a second orthogonal axis passing through the center of the device is oriented at least partially vertically; anda portrait configuration, wherein the second orthogonal axis is oriented generally transversely and the first axis is oriented at least partially vertically.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the device-mounting member comprises a device-mounting pivot joint, the device-mounting pivot joint having a center of rotation spaced-apart from the center of the device in a direction that is at least one of: a direction parallel with the first axis and a direction parallel with the second orthogonal axis.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the center of rotation is located at a point that is equally spaced-apart from the center of the device in the direction parallel with the first axis and in the direction parallel with the second orthogonal axis.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the chest-engaging member comprises a recess and wherein, when the apparatus is in the intermediate storage configuration, at least a portion of the device-support assembly is located in the recess.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein, when the apparatus is in the intermediate storage configuration, the device-support assembly is located forwardly of the device.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein, when the apparatus is in the intermediate storage configuration, the device-support assembly is located rearwardly of the device.

12. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the device-support assembly comprises a first pivot joint and the apparatus is adjustable from the intermediate storage configuration to an intermediate viewing configuration by pivoting the first pivot joint and wherein, when the apparatus is in the intermediate viewing configuration, a first portion of the device is forwardly spaced-apart from the chest-engaging member by less than about 5 cm and a second portion of the device is forwardly spaced apart from the chest-engaging member by more than about 5 cm.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein, when the apparatus is in the intermediate viewing configuration, a user interface of the device is spaced forwardly from the chest-engaging member and oriented to display at least partially upwardly such that the user interface is viewable by the user.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein, when the apparatus is in the intermediate storage configuration: the user interface is generally aligned with at least one of: the chest-engaging member, the at least one first arm and a chest of the user; andthe user interface is forwardly spaced-apart, by less than about 2 cm, from at least one of: the chest-engaging member, the at least one first arm and the chest of the user.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 comprising a device-mounting member for coupling the device to the device-support assembly, the device-mounting member adjustable to support the device in: a landscape configuration, wherein a first axis passing through a center of the device is oriented generally transversely and a second orthogonal axis passing through the center of the device is oriented at least partially vertically; anda portrait configuration, wherein the second orthogonal axis is oriented generally transversely and the first axis is oriented at least partially vertically.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the chest-engaging member comprises a recess and wherein, when the apparatus is in the intermediate storage configuration and the intermediate viewing configuration, at least a portion of the device-support assembly is located in the recess.

17. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein, when the apparatus is in the intermediate storage configuration and the intermediate viewing configuration, the device-support assembly is located forwardly of the device.

18. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein, when the apparatus is in the intermediate storage configuration and the intermediate viewing configuration, the device-support assembly is located rearwardly of the device.

19. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein, when the apparatus is in the intermediate storage configuration: the user interface is generally aligned with at least one of: the chest-engaging member, the at least one first arm and a chest of the user; andthe user interface is forwardly spaced-apart, by less than about 2 cm, from at least one of: the chest-engaging member, the at least one first arm and the chest of the user.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19 comprising a device-mounting member for coupling the device to the device-support assembly, the device-mounting member adjustable to support the device in: a landscape configuration, wherein a first axis passing through a center of the device is oriented generally transversely and a second orthogonal axis passing through the center of the device is oriented at least partially vertically; anda portrait configuration, wherein the second orthogonal axis is oriented generally transversely and the first axis is oriented at least partially vertically.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the at least one resiliently deformable first arm extends between the chest-engaging member and the first back-engaging member over at least one of the user's shoulders along a path that is spaced-apart from the at least one of the user's shoulders.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the chest-engaging member comprises a recess and wherein, when the apparatus is in the intermediate storage configuration and the intermediate viewing configuration, at least a portion of the device-support assembly is located in the recess.

23. An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein, when the apparatus is in the intermediate storage configuration and the intermediate viewing configuration, the device-support assembly is located forwardly of the device.

24. An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein, when the apparatus is in the intermediate storage configuration and the intermediate viewing configuration, the device-support assembly is located rearwardly of the device.

25. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the device-support assembly comprises a first pivot joint and the apparatus is adjustable from the intermediate storage configuration to an intermediate viewing configuration by pivoting the first pivot joint and wherein, when the apparatus is in the intermediate viewing configuration, a first portion of the device is forwardly spaced-apart from the chest-engaging member by less than about 5 cm and a second portion of the device is forwardly spaced apart from the chest-engaging member by more than about 5 cm.

26. An apparatus according to claim 25 wherein, when the apparatus is in the intermediate viewing configuration, the user interface is spaced forwardly from the chest-engaging member and oriented to display at least partially upwardly such that the user interface is viewable by the user.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the at least one resiliently deformable first arm extends between the chest-engaging member and the first back-engaging member over at least one of the user's shoulders along a path that is spaced-apart from the at least one of the user's shoulders.

28. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the device support assembly comprises a plurality of elongated segments, each of the segments coupled to a neighboring segment by a moveable joint.

29. An apparatus according to claim 28 comprising a device-mounting member for coupling the device to the device-support assembly and wherein the plurality of segments comprises: a first segment coupled to the chest-engaging member by a first moveable joint; and a second segment coupled to the first segment by a second moveable joint and coupled to the device-mounting member by a third moveable joint.

30. An apparatus according to claim 29 wherein, when the apparatus is adjusted to the intermediate storage configuration, the first and second segments extend away from the second moveable joint in the same general direction.

31. An apparatus according to claim 30 wherein, the apparatus is adjustable from the intermediate storage configuration to an intermediate viewing configuration by moving the third movable joint and wherein, when the apparatus is in the intermediate viewing configuration, a first portion of the device is forwardly spaced-apart from the chest-engaging member by less than about 5 cm and a second portion of the device is forwardly spaced apart from the chest-engaging member by more than about 5 cm.

32. An apparatus according to claim 30 wherein, the apparatus is adjustable from the intermediate storage configuration to an intermediate viewing configuration by moving the first movable joint and wherein, when the apparatus is in the intermediate viewing configuration, a first portion of the device is forwardly spaced-apart from the chest-engaging member by less than about 5 cm and a second portion of the device is forwardly spaced apart from the chest-engaging member by more than about 5 cm.

33. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the device-support assembly comprises a plurality of elongated segments, each of the segments telescopically coupled to a neighboring segment.

34. An apparatus according to claim 33 comprising a device-mounting member for coupling the device to the device-support assembly and wherein the plurality of segments comprises: a first segment coupled to the chest-engaging member by a first moveable joint; and a second segment telescopically coupled to the first segment and moveably coupled to the device-mounting member by a second movable joint.

35. An apparatus according to claim 34 wherein, when the apparatus is adjusted to the intermediate storage configuration, the telescopic coupling between the first and second segments is in a contracted state where one of the first and second segments extends at least one of: into a bore in the other one of the first and second segments; andin a parallel and overlapping extension alongside the other one of the first and second segments;in a parallel and overlapping extension along a groove in the other one of the first and second segments;by an amount greater than 50% of a length of the one of the first and second segment; and wherein, when the apparatus is adjusted to the expanded configuration, the telescopic coupling between the first and second segments is in an expanded state where at least one of:the extension of the one of the first and second segments into the bore of the other one of the first and second segments is by an amount less than 10% of the length of the one of the first and second segments; andthe parallel and overlapping extension of the one of the first and second segments alongside the other one of the first and second segments is by an amount less than 10% of the length of the one of the first and second segments; andthe parallel and overlapping extension of the one of the first and second segments along the groove in the other one of the first and second segments is by an amount less than 10% of the length of the one of the first and second segments.

36. An apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a second back engaging member and at least one resiliently deformable second arm coupling the chest-engaging member to the second back-engaging member, wherein resilient deformation of the at least one second arm biases the chest-engaging member and the second back-engaging member toward one another and wherein the at least one first arm extends between the chest-engaging member and the first back-engaging member over a first one of the user's shoulders along a path that is spaced-apart from the first one of the user's shoulders and the at least one second arm extends between the chest-engaging member and the second back-engaging member over a second one of the user's shoulders along a path that is spaced-apart from the second one of the user's shoulders.

37. An apparatus according to claim 36 wherein the first and second arms comprise first and second arm assemblies, each of the first and second arm assemblies comprising a plurality of segments wherein each segment has a generally elongated shape and is coupled to its neighboring segment by a moveable joint.

38. An apparatus according to claim 37 wherein, for each of the first and second arm assemblies, the plurality of segments comprises: a first segment coupled to the chest-engaging member;a second segment coupled to the first segment by a first moveable joint; anda third segment coupled to the second segment by a second moveable joint and also coupled to a corresponding one of the first and second back-engaging members.

39. An apparatus according to claim 38 wherein the apparatus is removable from the body of the user and adjustable to a compact configuration wherein the first and second segments extend away from the first moveable joint in the same general direction and the second and third segments extend away from the second moveable joint in the same general direction.

40. An apparatus according to claim 38 wherein, for each of the first and second arm assemblies, the plurality of segments comprises: a first segment coupled to the chest-engaging member; anda second segment coupled to the first segment by a first moveable joint and also coupled to a corresponding one of the first and second back-engaging members.

41. An apparatus according to claim 40 wherein the apparatus is removable from the body of the user and adjustable to a compact configuration wherein the first and second segments extend away from the first moveable joint in the same general direction.

42. An apparatus according to claim 36 wherein the first and second arms comprise first and second arm assemblies, each of the first and second arm assemblies comprising a plurality of segments wherein each segment is telescopically coupled to its neighboring segment.

43. An apparatus according to claim 36 wherein the chest-engaging member comprises a rearward facing surface having a coefficient of friction greater than or equal to about 0.5.

44. An apparatus according to claim 36 wherein the first and second back-engaging members each comprise a forward facing surface having a coefficient of friction greater than or equal to about 0.5.

45. An apparatus for supporting an electronic device in front of the body of a user, the apparatus comprising: a chest-engaging member;means for supporting the chest-engaging member against a chest of the user;a device-support assembly coupled to the chest-engaging member for supporting the device in front of the body of the user;the apparatus adjustable to an expanded configuration wherein the device-support assembly extends forwardly from the chest-engaging member to support the device at a location that is forwardly spaced-apart from the chest-engaging member by a distance greater than about 12 cm; andthe apparatus adjustable to an intermediate storage configuration wherein the device-support assembly is collapsed to support the device such that a user interface of the device is generally aligned with the chest-engaging member and the user interface is forwardly spaced-apart from the chest-engaging member by less than about 5 cm.

46. An apparatus according to claim 45 wherein the device-support assembly comprises a first pivot joint and the apparatus is adjustable from the intermediate storage configuration to an intermediate viewing configuration by pivoting the first pivot joint and wherein, when the apparatus is in the intermediate viewing configuration: a first portion of the device is forwardly spaced-apart from the chest-engaging member by less than about 5 cm and a second portion of the device is forwardly spaced apart from the chest-engaging member by more than about 5 cm; andthe user interface is spaced forwardly from the chest-engaging member and oriented to display at least partially upwardly such that the user interface is viewable by the user.

47. An apparatus for supporting an electronic device in front of the body of a user, the apparatus comprising: a chest-engaging member;first and second resiliently deformable arms respectively coupling the chest-engaging member to first and second back-engaging members, wherein resilient deformation of the first arm biases the chest-engaging member and the first back-engaging member toward one another and resilient deformation of the second arm biases the chest-engaging member and the second back-engaging member toward one another; anda device-support assembly coupled to the chest-engaging member for supporting the device in front of the body of the user;wherein the first arm extends between the chest-engaging member and the first back-engaging member over a first one of the user's shoulders along a path that is spaced-apart from the first one of the user's shoulders and the second arm extends between the chest-engaging member and the second back-engaging member over a second one of the user's shoulders along a path that is spaced-apart from the second one of the user's shoulders.

48. An apparatus according to claim 47 wherein the apparatus is adjustable to an expanded configuration where the device-support assembly extends forwardly from the chest-engaging member to support the device at a location that is forwardly spaced-apart from the chest-engaging member by a distance greater than about 12 cm and wherein the apparatus is adjustable to an intermediate storage configuration where the device-support assembly is collapsed to support the device at a location that is forwardly spaced-apart from the chest-engaging member by a distance less than about 8 cm.

49. An apparatus according to claim 47 wherein the apparatus is adjustable to an expanded configuration wherein the device-support assembly extends forwardly from the chest-engaging member to support the device at a location that is forwardly spaced-apart from the chest-engaging member by a distance greater than about 12 cm and the apparatus is adjustable to an intermediate storage configuration wherein the device-support assembly is collapsed to support the device such that a user interface of the device is generally aligned with the chest-engaging member and the user interface is forwardly spaced-apart from the chest-engaging member by less than about 5 cm.

50. An apparatus according to claim 49 wherein the device-support assembly comprises a first pivot joint and the apparatus is adjustable from the intermediate storage configuration to an intermediate viewing configuration by pivoting the first pivot joint and wherein, when the apparatus is in the intermediate viewing configuration: a first portion of the device is forwardly spaced-apart from the chest-engaging member by less than about 5 cm and a second portion of the device is forwardly spaced apart from the chest-engaging member by more than about 5 cm; andthe user interface is spaced forwardly from the chest-engaging member and oriented to display at least partially upwardly such that the user interface is viewable by the user.