Abstract:
An apparatus that provides an increased user working area and holding surface that clamps a palm-sized electronic interactive device and holds it in an outward facing direction against a larger background surface in a manner that promotes griping within the users palm in a two handed book-like interaction not otherwise achievable with the electronic device alone.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Although there are many inventions for holding and protecting handheld/pocket-sized devices there are none which seek to somewhat counter-intuitively and purposely increase the physical interface size. The disclosed invention belongs to US Classification 361/679.56. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    The following is a presentation of several embodiments of an article for manufacture that will hold/cradle a handheld/pocket-sized device (e.g. an iPhone, Droid, EVO, iPod Classic, iPod Touch, etc.) and provide a book sized structure/frame for the user to hold onto. Making a pocket-sized device larger may seem somewhat counterintuitive when first considered, but this article seeks to do just that. The main purpose of this article is to increase the mobility and handling surfaces of the handheld/pocked-size device to provide a more ergonomic book sized structure for a smaller handheld/pocket-sized device and thereby make it easier to hold onto for longer tasks such as reading or viewing photos/videos. The disclosed embodiments of this article are also unique in that they seek to combine a larger frame/structure, clamping mechanisms, and kickstand such that it will hold the handheld/pocket-sized device in place and also position it in a raised and tilted position for easy hands-free viewing. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS (LIST AND TITLE) 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  Top View of Front 
           [0004]      FIG. 1A  Perspective View Showing Mechanisms of One Embodiment 
           [0005]      FIG. 1B  Perspective View Showing Left Side Mechanism of One Embodiment 
           [0006]      FIG. 1C  Side View Showing Left Side Mechanism of One Embodiment 
           [0007]      FIG. 1D  Top View of Front—Sliding Clamp Type Embodiment 
           [0008]      FIG. 1E  Sliding Clamp Type Embodiment—Upper Claming Mechanism Close Up 
           [0009]      FIG. 1F  Sliding Clamp Type Embodiment—Parts of Upper Claming Mechanism 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  Top View of Back 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  Back Bottom Perspective View of One Embodiment 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a top view of the front. This figure shows the overall shape, layout and approximate size of one embodiment of the article disclosed. The graspable frame body  110  is the book-sized frame and main structure and allows a handheld/pocket-sized device to fit within the handheld-pocket-sized device cradle  112  while providing a structure/frame that is easier for the user to hold onto while completing longer tasks. Once placed into the graspable frame body  110  the handheld/pocket-sized device should be recessed such that it is flush or near-flush with the top surface of the graspable frame body  110 . For embodiments designed with a recessed handheld/pocket-sized device the upper connections cavity  212  and lower connections cavity  214  provide the necessary space for interfacing peripherals to be plugged into the handheld/pocket-sized device even while it is inserted into the graspable frame body  110 . The handheld/pocket-sized device will be held in place by clamping/holding mechanisms to include any individual or combination of the following: upper darning mechanism  114 , left side clamping mechanism  116 , lower clamping mechanism  118 , right side clamping mechanism  120 . The handheld/pocket-sized device can be easily removed/ejected by placing force on the device through the device removal port  122 . 
         [0013]    In one embodiment of the article the upper clamping mechanism  114  consists of a rigid ledge which extends approximately 1/16″ over the front surface of the cradled/inserted handheld/pocket-sized device restricting upward and outward movement and the lower clamping mechanism  118  consists of a quantity of two spring loaded bearings which fit into inherent features on the bottom of the handheld/pocket-sized device as shown in  FIG. 1A . Lateral forces exerted by the bearing mechanism act to engage the ball surface into complimentary recessional features in the affixing device, thereby clamping the device into the frame/structure opening. Said recessional features are not particular to the device surfaces alone and can exist on an intermediate structure/attachment such as a device case or protecting enclosure. In the above described embodiment of the article the left side clamping mechanism  116  and right side clamping mechanism  120  are not needed and appropriately sized rigid structure would be present in their place. The use of spring loaded bearings to hold and position a handheld/pocket-sized device is a novel feature of this embodiment of the article. 
         [0014]    Another embodiment of the article includes the left side clamping mechanism  116  and right side clamping mechanism  120  which both consist of an upper ball plunger  124 A and a lower ball plunger  124 B (total of four spring loaded bearings) as shown in  FIG. 1B . The upper clamping mechanism  114  and lower clamping mechanism  118  are not needed and are replaced by appropriately sized rigid structure. The spring loaded bearings would be positioned opposite and congruent with matching divots on a case for a handheld/pocket-sized device. 
         [0015]    Another embodiment of the article includes only the left side clamping mechanism  116  being used while all others are replaced by appropriately sized rigid structure to become part of the main graspable frame body  110 . In this embodiment of the article the left side clamping mechanism is shown in  FIG. 1C  and consists of a panel  125  with upper spring  126 A, lower spring  126 B, upper rod  128 A, and lower rod  128 B. The springs  126 A and  126 B are compressed against the vertical sides of the handheld/pocket-sized device when said device is insertion into the cradle  112 . Said springs  126 A and  126 B provide the tension force to hold the handheld/pocket-sized device in place. The upper rod  128 A and lower rod  128 B provide the inward retention forces for stabilizing the outward movement of the panel  125  and hold the panel  125  in place within the graspable frame body  110 . 
         [0016]    In another embodiment the article shown by  FIG. 1D  the graspable frame body  110  is a flat surface without a recessed volume to enclose the handheld/pocket-sized device. The graspable frame body  110  includes a raised border  112  near the bottom edge of which the handheld/pocket-sized device rests against. For this embodiment there is no recessed volume that the device sits in. Instead the handheld/pocket-sized device is held in place by clamping forces applied by the opposing devices of the border  112  and the upper clamping mechanism  114 . Since the graspable frame body  110  is a flat surface it provides ready access to any side connections or side interfaces of the handheld/pocket-sized device. In this embodiment the upper connections cavity  212  and lower connections cavity  214  is not necessary. The graspable frame body  110  includes a hollowed void diagonally opposite to the lower border  112 . This void shown in  FIG. 1E  provides the retaining and lateral support for the upper clamp mechanism respective to the graspable frame body  110 .  FIG. 1E  shows a detailed view of the upper clamping mechanism  114  and its features that detail the function for this assembly. Said frame body void includes fixed gearing teeth  140  that engage with the clamp mechanism  144 . The upper clamping mechanism  144  is comprised of a projecting border that contacts the corner of the handheld pocket device opposite to the bottom edge border  112 . The upper clamping mechanism includes two spring levers  142  whose corner edges align and engage with the fixed gearing teeth  140  of the body void. The retainer  146  as shown in  FIG. 1F  attaches to the upper clamp mechanism restricting its outward motion from the graspable frame body  110 . As constructed the clamp mechanism remains engaged with the graspable frame body  110  when idle. Temporary disengagement of the ratcheting clamp assembly  144  from the fixed gearing teeth  140  is achieved by compressing the spring leavers  142  allowing the clamp assembly to slide within the graspable frame body  110  void allowing different sized devices to be clamped by the fixed and motional borders. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a back view of the disclosed article. For all embodiments disclosed, an optional kickstand  310  is included, shown by  FIG. 3 , which props the graspable frame body  110  into the vertical position allowing said device to rest on any two sides of the graspable frame body  110  edges. Said optional kickstand  310  mechanism is affixed to the graspable frame body  110  on one end and pivots with manufactured indentions in the graspable frame body  110 . The other end of the kickstand is motional and allowed to swivel outward from the graspable frame body  110  to a position predetermined by the angles set upon by the graspable frame body  110  indentations.  FIG. 2  details a recessed cavity  210  allowing said kickstand to be positioned such that it is flush with the back surface when it is not in use. 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  shows a back bottom perspective view of the disclosed article. The main purpose of this figure is to show the optional kickstand  310  being used to position the disclosed article in place. The optional kickstand  310  combined with the graspable frame body  110  allow for the handheld/pocket-sized device to be held/cradled in an elevated position and at a comfortable viewing angle. The optional kickstand  310  facilitates supporting the frame/structure upright in either portrait or landscape presentable orientations. This combination of raised height with a optional kickstand  310  is a novel feature of the disclosed article. When not in use the optional kickstand  310  can be placed in the kickstand cavity  214  such that the optional kickstand  310  is flush with the back surface of the graspable frame body  110 . The optional kickstand  310  and optional kickstand recess  210  may not be present on certain embodiments of the disclosed article. 
       REFERENCE NUMERALS (LIST AND TITLE) 
       [0019]      110  Graspable Frame Body 
         [0020]      112  Handheld-Pocket-Sized Device Cradle 
         [0021]      114  Upper Clamping Mechanism 
         [0022]      116  Left Side Clamping Mechanism 
         [0023]      118  Lower Clamping Mechanism 
         [0024]      120  Right Side Clamping Mechanism 
         [0025]      122  Device Removal Port 
         [0026]      124 A Upper Ball Plunger 
         [0027]      124 B Lower Ball Plunger 
         [0028]      125  Panel 
         [0029]      126 A Upper Spring 
         [0030]      126 B Lower Spring 
         [0031]      128 A Upper Rod 
         [0032]      128 B Lower Rod 
         [0033]      140  Fixed Gearing Teeth 
         [0034]      142  Spring Arms 
         [0035]      144  Upper Clamp Mechanism 
         [0036]      146  Slide Retainer 
         [0037]      210  Kickstand Recess 
         [0038]      212  Upper Connections Cavity 
         [0039]      214  Lower Connections Cavity 
         [0040]      310  Optional Kickstand 
       OPERATION 
       [0041]    Before operation of the disclosed article the user must insert a handheld/pocket-sized device into the graspable frame body  110 . The handheld/pocket-sized device will need to be tilted in different orientations prior to insertion in various embodiments of the article. For the mechanisms described in  FIG. 1A  the handheld/pocket-sized device will need to be tilted down from the top and then inserted under the upper clamping mechanism  114  (which is extending out approx 1/16″ beyond the front face of the handheld/pocket-sized device) and then the bottom pressed down until the ball plungers snap into place. 
         [0042]    For the mechanism described in  FIG. 1B  the handheld/pocket-sized device should just be snapped into place being positioned directly parallel with the front of the graspable frame body  110 . 
         [0043]    For the mechanism described in  FIG. 1C  the handheld/pocket-sized device will need to be tilted down on the left side and then inserted into the handheld-pocket-sized device cradle  112 . With the left side tilted and inserted the user must then press on the right side of the device to overcome the spring force and then press down on the right side once the panel  125  has been displaced enough to allow for sufficient space in the handheld-pocket-sized device cradle  112 . 
         [0044]    Once the handheld/pocket-sized device is inserted the graspable frame body  110  the user may then commence to hold the larger and more ergonomic book-sized outer structure and complete longer tasks that are more convenient with such a larger sized structure to hold onto. At some time it may be beneficial for the user to tilt the kickstand  310  out of the kickstand recess  210  so that the handheld/pocket-sized device may be positioned for hands free viewing (e.g. photos, videos, etc). With the kickstand invoked it may also be useful for the user to pair a Bluetooth keyboard and/or mouse and/or other human interface device with the handheld/pocket-sized device to allow for ease of typing or other functions that would normally be carried out with touch screen interface.