Patent Application
20080164174
This invention relates generally to holding devices, and relates more particularly to holding devices for holding and positioning portable electronic devices.
Electronic devices small enough to be used outside of a home or office environment are commonplace. Early versions of such electronic devices generally included only control surfaces, e.g., buttons and wheel controls. Modern versions of these, however, include graphical displays imparting information to the user and in many instances allowing for viewing of video or motion picture content. These devices are often so small and light that they can easily be carried in a pocket or purse, encouraging the use of cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), digital music players, portable videogame systems, and similar electronic devices in almost any location.
Quick viewing of the graphical display of such portable devices is easily accomplished by holding the portable device in the hand and positioning for convenient viewing. However, holding the portable device in one's hand in this position for long periods of time is not convenient and is tiresome. Moreover, in the case where many people are viewing the graphical display, e.g., when viewing video or motion picture content, it can be difficult for one person to hold the portable device in hand and find a position where all of the viewers have a clear view of the graphical display. Moreover, holding the portable device in the hand interferes with the viewer's ability to undertake other tasks with the hands, e.g., note taking or typing. Accordingly, there exists a need for a holding device for holding a portable object, such as a portable electronic device, that allows for positioning of the portable object in a position that allows for hands-free operation and that is convenient for viewing the graphical display.
The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures in the drawings in which:
For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. The same reference numerals in different figures denote the same elements.
The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms “include,” “have,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.
The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,” “under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as directly or indirectly connected in an electrical, mechanical, or other manner.
In one embodiment of the invention, a holding device for holding and positioning a portable object comprises: a case having six sides, each side having an exterior and an interior surface; a first side of the case coupled only to a second side of the case; an elongate flap coupled to the first side of the case; a slot through the elongate flap; a tongue coupled to the exterior surface of the second side of the case at a first end and free at the second end with a length from the first end to the second end; and a fastener. The tongue passes though and frictionally engages the slot in the elongate flap. When closed, the first side of the case is positioned to form, with the five other sides of the case, a rectangular prism adapted to enclose the portable object; the elongate flap covers a side of the case that does not intersect with the second side of the case; the portion of the tongue from the point it is coupled to the exterior surface of the second side of the case to the point where the tongue passes through the slot in the elongate flap lies flat on or otherwise conforms to the shape of the exterior surface of the case; the portion of the tongue from the point it passes through the slot in the elongate flap to the free end lies flat on or otherwise conform to the interior surface of the case; and the fastener maintains the first side of the case and the elongate flap in the closed position. When open, the portion of the tongue from the slot to the free end is increased relative to when the case is in a closed position; the first side of the case and the elongate flap is folded to form an angle of less than 180 degrees and greater than 0 degrees with the second side of the case; this angle is maintained by the frictional engagement of the tongue by the slot; and when rested on a surface, the first side of the case and the elongate flap and the second side of the case form a platform on which the portable object is in a position not parallel to the surface.
Attached to a fastener portion 210 of the elongate flap 170 opposite the left side 150 of the case are the male halves 220 of two fasteners, i.e., snaps. The male halves 220 of the snaps engage the female halves 230 of the fasteners, which are disposed on the right side 160 of the case, thus securing the left side 150 of the case and the elongate flap 170 when in the closed position. The bottom 120 of the case has a port 250 to allow access to a connection point on the portable object 1000.
The holding device 100 may be formed of any material capable of being molded or manufactured to enclose a portable object. Examples of materials useful in forming the holding device 100 include, but are not limited to polyurethane, rigid plastic, leather, canvas, nylon, metal, and combinations thereof. An embodiment of the holding device 100 of the invention is polyurethane.
The holding device 100 may be of any dimension useful to enclose a portable object 1000. Obviously, then, the dimensions of the portable object 1000 will dictate the dimensions of the holding device 100. Portable objects that can be used with the holding device 100 may be as small as the smallest cell phone or MP3 player and as large as or larger than a laptop computer. In an embodiment of the invention, the holding device is for an MP3 player, e.g., an iPod®.
The holding device 100, may also have one or more ports 250 in one or more of the sides of the holding device 100. Most portable objects will have numerous connection points, e.g., earphone jacks, charger jacks, data transfer jacks, universal serial bus (USB) ports, etc., control surfaces, e.g., scroll wheels, volume controls, on/off buttons, numeric pads, etc., and graphical displays. The holding device 100 may have ports 250 for any or all of these. The placement and size of the ports 250 will be dictated by the configuration of the portable object 1000.
The holding device 100, may employ any useful fastener. Fasteners useful in the holding device 100 include, but are not limited to, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, button and button holes, zippers, and magnetic closures. In an embodiment of the invention, the fastener is a snap (220/230).
In an embodiment of the invention, a first half of the fastener is disposed on a fastener portion 210 on an interior surface of the elongate flap 170 opposite the left side 150 of the case. The second half of the fastener is disposed on the exterior surface of the right side 160 of the case. Thus, when the holding device 100 is in the closed position, the first half of the fastener disposed on the fastener portion 210 of the elongate flap 170 may engage the second half of the fastener on the right side 160 of the case, securing the left side 150 of the case and the elongate flap 170 in the closed position.
Now turning to the embodiment of the holding device 100 in the open position,
The friction mechanism of the present invention may be any interaction between the tongue 190 and the slot 180 that maintains the angle A against the force generated by the combined weight of the holding device 100 and the portable object 1000. The friction mechanism may, for example, may be provided by the choice of the width or height of the tongue 190 and the width or height of the slot 180, respectively. If these dimensions are almost the same, then the tongue 190 will directly frictionally engage the slot 180 without the need for any additional friction mechanism. Alternatively, a separate friction mechanism may be provided. For example, a pliable material may be disposed on one or both of the surfaces of the tongue 190. The height of the slot 180 may then be selected such that the pliable material must be compressed if the tongue 190 is to pass through the slot 180. Thus, without external force the tongue 190 is “stuck” in the desired position.
In an embodiment of the holding device 100, the pliable material is in the form of one or more ridges 240 perpendicular to the length of the tongue 190. Accordingly, the slot 180 may be trapped against one of the ridges 240, thereby maintaining the angle A against the weight of the holding device 100 and the portable object 1000. In addition, the pliable material may be continuous along the length of the tongue, thus providing for the choice of any angle A between 0 and 180 degrees.
The free end of the tongue 190 includes a stop 260 which has a height or width greater than the height or width, respectively, of the slot 180. Thus, the free end of the tongue 190 is unable to pass through the slot 180 and ensuring that the tongue 190 remains disposed in the slot 180. In an embodiment of the holding device 100, the height of the stop 260 is greater than the height of the slot 180. Preferably, the stop 260 is less pliable and more rigid than ridges 240.
The structure formed by the elongate flap 170 and the left side 150 of the case and the back 140 of the case when the holding device 100 in the open position provides a stable platform on which the portable object 1000 may be rested on a surface for hands-free operation and/or viewing. The graphical display 1010 may be positioned for optimum viewing or the control surfaces 1020 may be positioned for operation with only one hand. Moreover, the holding device 100 allows for the adjustment of the position of the portable object 1000, i.e., adjustment of angle A, if circumstances change, e.g., the light in the room changes and creates glare on the graphical display 1010, the portable object 1000 is moved to another place requiring a different position for comfortable viewing, or the function of the portable object 1000 is changed, for example, from a video or motion picture viewer to PDA or a phone.
In this embodiment, when the holding device 100 is in the open position, one side of the case is open. The side continuous with the elongate flap 170 is pulled out of the closed position exposing an entire side of the portable object 1000 when it is disposed in the holding device 100 and also allowing for removal of the portable object 1000. In addition, the portable object may be rotated within the holding device to provide the optimum position for the desired function. For example,
Moreover, any side of the case may be continuous with the elongate flap 170. Thus, the holding device 100 may be designed to hold the portable object 1000 in any desired position when open. For example, the figures illustrate a design in which the elongate flap 170 is continuous with the left side 150 of the case. When open and rested on a surface, this embodiment puts the right side 160 of the case facing downward with the front 130 of the case facing the user. In an alternative embodiment of the holding device 100, the elongate flap 170 may be continuous with the top 110 of the case. In such an embodiment, the bottom 120 of the case would face downward, and the front 130 of the case and the portable object would face the viewer in an upright position when open and rested on a surface.
A step 620 of the method 600 is to provide an elongate flap 170 coupled to the first side of the case. As an example, the elongate flap 170 can be similar to that shown in
A step 630 of the method 600 is to provide a slot 180 through the elongate flap 170. As an example, the slot 180 can be similar to that shown in
A step 640 of the method 600 is to provide a tongue coupled to an exterior surface of the second side of the case at a first end, free at the second end, and passing through the slot 180. As an example, the tongue 190 can be similar to that shown in
A step 720 of the method 700 is to fold the elongate flap 170 toward the second side of the case. As an example, the folded position of the elongate flap 170 can be similar to that shown in
A step 730 of the method 700 is to pull the tongue 190 through the slot 180 thereby increasing a portion of the tongue 190 from the free end of the tongue 190 to the slot 170. As an example, the portion of the tongue 190 from the free end of the tongue 190 to the slot 180 can be similar to that shown in
A step 740 of the method 700 is to pull the tongue 190 through the slot 180 thereby decreasing the portion of the tongue 190 from the free end of the tongue 190 to the slot. As an example, the portion of the tongue 190 from the free end of the tongue 190 to the slot 180 can be similar to that shown in
A step 750 of the method 700 is to unfold the elongate flap 170 away from the second side of the case. As an example, the unfolded position of the elongate flap 170 can be similar to that shown in
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Various examples of such changes have been given in the foregoing description. Accordingly, the disclosure of embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative of the scope of the invention and is not intended to be limiting. It is intended that the scope of the invention shall be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims. For example, to one of ordinary skill in the art, it will be readily apparent that the holding device discussed herein may be implemented in a variety of embodiments, and that the foregoing discussion of certain of these embodiments does not necessarily represent a complete description of all possible embodiments. Rather, the detailed description of the drawings, and the drawings themselves, disclose at least one preferred embodiment of the invention, and may disclose alternative embodiments of the invention. As another example, the spacing between different ones of the ridges 240 can vary.
All elements claimed in any particular claim are essential to the invention claimed in that particular claim. Consequently, replacement of one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstruction and not repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element or elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced, however, are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims.
Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.
