Abstract:
A method and apparatus for supporting a portable computer appliance. The invention may comprise rotating a computer appliance to convert between mouse-based use and a touch-based use, or other orientations and applications. The apparatus may be attached to a microphone stand or similar mechanism to aid viewing the computer appliance. To assist coordination with public performances, the apparatus may hold and support a computer appliance to display notes, music, video, or other expressions for assisting a performer, such as for public speeches, concerts, plays, stand-up comedy, and the like.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/1,252,167, filed on Oct. 3, 2011, currently pending, with no change in inventorship, which is incorporated herein by reference. The application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/389,268, filed on Oct. 3, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to cases or holders for portable electronic devices, as well as the devices themselves. Such devices may include mobile telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable video/music players, electronic books, electronic book readers, tablet computers, portable gaming devices, and the like. Some of such devices include the iPad (trademarked by Apple, Inc.), the iPod (trademarked by Apple, Inc.). the iPhone (trademarked by Apple, Inc.), the BlackBerry (trademarked by RIM, Inc.), the Android (trademarked by Google, Inc.), and other portable devices. 
     The invention also relates to a versatile protective holder that allows attachment to a microphone stand for optional hands-free viewing, with full adjustment of viewing orientation in portrait and/or landscape orientations, directional sound reflecting and baffling, easier grasping by the user as well as attachment to an automobile, motorcycle, boat, or other vehicle. 
     Portable devices are increasingly used for multiple tasks that range from telephony to video to computing to audio and other entertainment and instructional uses, While some users prefer to carry such devices in clothing pockets, handbags, and elsewhere, others have a need to clip the device to a support for hands-free use. One example is when making a public speech; a speaker would like to have a portable device near eye level or at another level for convenience while speaking. Another need is for musical performers. Often, a musician needs their hands free for playing an instrument but they also need to refer to lyrics, sheet music, song lists, and the like. 
     Portable devices are increasingly used for multiple tasks that range from telephony to video to computing to audio and other entertainment and instructional uses. Portable devices may be used to facilitate communication, including via a communication service. Such devices may include mobile telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable video/music players, electronic books, electronic book readers, tablet computers, portable gaming devices, and the like. Some of such devices include the iPad (trademarked by Apple, Inc.), the iPod (trademarked by Apple, Inc,), the iPhone (trademarked by Apple, Inc.), the Blackberry (trademarked by RIM, Inc.), the Android (trademarked by Google, Inc.), Android-based devices, and other portable devices. 
     Another needed feature is to easily and swiftly attach and remove a portable device from a music stand, microphone stand, and such other structures commonly present in venues for public meetings. 
     It would be advantageous to provide a holder for portable devices that would include one, or more of the features of 1) minimized screen blockage to facilitate easy one-handed cleaning; 2) resilient side gripping members that clamp around the device to protect the device without obscuring the display or controls; 3) easy to hold shape; 4) allowing the device to be supported in a portrait, landscape, or other orientation without compromising usability; 5) detachable spring biasing for ease of attachment and removal; 6) an attractive aesthetic appearance, and 7) a slim, low-profile design. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a device supporter may comprise a body, including a pair of coupling members and a cradling member, each of the coupling members extending from the body, the coupling members configured to couple a portable device to the body in a spring biasing relationship; an engaging member, configured for releasable engagement with a microphone stand, the engaging member extending substantially orthogonally in relation to the coupling members; and a cradling member, integrally situated distally from the coupling members, configured to cradle the portable device in a spring biasing relationship. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the body may include a plurality of corners and each of the coupling members may be situated proximate to one of the corners. 
     In a further aspect of the present invention, the body includes a D-shaped aperture situated between the engaging member and the cradling member. 
     In a still further aspect of the present invention, the cradling members comprise gripping members extending distally from the body for gripping an exterior surface of the portable device. 
     In a yet further aspect of the present invention, the cradling member engages the portable device in a releasable sliding combination. 
     In yet another aspect of the present invention, a device supporter may comprise a body, including a pair of coupling members and a cradling member, each of the coupling members extending from the body, the coupling members configured to couple a portable device to the body in a spring biasing relationship; and an engaging member, configured for releasable engagement with a stand, the engaging member extending substantially orthogonally in relation to the coupling members, wherein the cradling member is integrally situated distally from the coupling members. 
     In still yet another aspect of the present invention, a device supporter may comprise a generally rectangular holder base adapted to hold a portable device, the holder base including a pair of coupling members at respective corners of the holder base and a cradling member, wherein the coupling members extend outward and forward to bend over and form an edge that holds a respective corner of the portable device and an engaging member, configured for releasable engagement with a stand, the engaging member extending substantially orthogonally in relation to the coupling members, wherein the cradling member is situated distally from the coupling members. 
     These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention, are specifically set forth in, or will become apparent from, the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a device supporter, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a device supporter, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the device supporter of  FIG. 2 , taken along line A-A, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of another device supporter, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a portion of the device supporter of  FIG. 4 , taken along line B-B, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a portion of the device supporter of  FIG. 4 , taken along line C-C, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a device supporter, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a device supporter and an attachment apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric view of an attachment adapter, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic view of an attachment adapter, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an attachment adapter, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     The present invention may involve holding a portable device. The term “portable device” is used herein to include any type of electronic device, including those identified above as examples or portable devices with which the holder can be used. 
     The present invention may be attached onto a music stand, microphone stand, and other such structures commonly present in venues for public meeting such as concerts, public speeches, press conferences, and the like. The portable device may be slid and snapped into the present invention for hands-free use. The present invention may be used by musicians to display sheet music, chord charts, lyrics, set lists, and the like. Additionally, the present invention may be used by speakers (such as for an outline of a presentation), chefs (such as for displaying recipes or ingredient lists), and many other uses. 
     The holder may be manufactured by mold injection of thermoplastic material. An engaging member to engage the stand (such as clipping or snapping to a microphone stand) may be formed integrally or separately attached to the body of the holder. The holder may be manufactured for viewing the portable device in a portrait orientation, in a landscape orientation, or in other orientations. Optionally, the holder may be manufactured to easily convert between portrait orientation, landscape orientation, and other orientations. 
     The holder may be used, in further examples, for directional sound reflecting and baffling, easier grasping by the user, as well as attachment to an automobile, motorcycle, boat, or other vehicles. 
     The portable device hereinafter described is merely illustrative of one type of device that may benefit from embodiments of the present invention and, therefore, should not be taken to limit the scope of the present invention. While several embodiments of a portable device are illustrated and will be hereinafter described for purposes of example, other types of electronic devices, such as mobile telephones, mobile computers, portable digital assistants (PDAs), tablet computers, GPS navigation devices, pagers, laptop computers, desktop computers, gaming devices, televisions, and other types of electronic systems, may employ the present invention. 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference characters refer to like elements, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a device supporter  10 . The device supporter may comprise a body  12  and include a pair of coupling members  14 ,  16  and a cradling member  18 . The body  12  may include a plurality of corners  26 ,  28 . The body  12  may further comprise an engagement panel  30 . The engagement panel  30  may be corrugated, fluted, grooved, bent, channeled, serrated, ridged, folded, furrowed, containing ridges, undulating, pleated, creased, wrinkled, textured, friction device, friction pad, or otherwise formed with a varied surface or structure. The device supporter may have an aperture  24 , optionally D-shaped, situated near the cradling member  18 . For example, the aperture  24  may be situated between the engagement panel  30  and the cradling member  18 . In another example, the aperture  24  may be situated between the engaging member  40  and the cradling member  18 . 
     Each of the coupling members  14 .  16  may extend from the body  12  towards corners  26 ,  28  respectively. Each of the coupling members  14 ,  16  may be situated proximate to one of the corners  26 ,  28 . The coupling members  14 ,  16  may comprise gripping members  20 ,  22  extending distally from the body  12  for gripping an exterior surface of the portable device (not shown). The coupling members  14 ,  16  may be configured to couple a portable device to the body  12  in a spring biasing relationship. 
     The cradling member  18  may be situated distally from the coupling members  14 ,  16 , in another embodiment the cradling member  18  may be integral with the body  12  and/or the coupling members  14 ,  16  such that the cradling member is integrally situated with one or more portions of the device supporter  10 . The cradling member  18  may comprise an edge  32 , acting as a lip for engagement with and/or retention of a portion of a portable device. The cradling member  18  may engage the portable device in a releasable sliding combination. The cradling member  18  may also be configured to cradle the portable device in a spring biasing relationship. 
       FIG. 2  shows a side view of a device supporter  10 , An engaging member  40  may be configured for releasable engagement with a stand (not shown). The engaging member  40  may extend substantially orthogonally in relation to the coupling members  14 ,  16  and/or may be attached to an engaging member portion  42 .  FIG. 3  is a front view of the device supporter  10  of  FIG. 2 . taken along line A-A. Engagement panel  30  may be situated on a side opposite from the engaging member  40 . 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of another device supporter  10 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the cradling member  18  and other portions of the device supporter  10  may be differently configured from the examples described elsewhere, such as the example shown in  FIG. 3 . For example, the coupling members  14 ,  16  and/or the gripping members  20 ,  22  may comprise any reasonably useful configuration. 
       FIG. 5  shows a side view of a portion of the device supporter  10 , namely the cradling member  18  with the edge  32  of  FIG. 4 , taken along line B-B. 
       FIG. 6  shows a side view of a portion of the device supporter  10  of  FIG. 4 , taken along line C-C, to show the coupling member  16  with gripping member  22 . 
     A device supporter  10  is shown in  FIG. 7 , from a side opposite from the side of the engagement panel, such as the engagement panel  30  shown in Figure 
     A device supporter  10  may comprise a generally rectangular holder base  12  adapted to hold a portable device, the holder base  12  including a pair of coupling members  14 ,  16  at respective corners  26 ,  28  of the holder base  12  and a cradling member  18 . The coupling members  14 ,  16  may extend outward and forward to bend over and form an edge that holds a respective corner of the portable device (not shown). An engaging member  40  may be configured for releasable engagement with a stand, as to be described more fully below regarding  FIG. 8 , The engaging member  40  may extend substantially orthogonally in relation to the coupling members  14 ,  16 . The cradling member  18  may be situated distally from the coupling members  14 ,  16 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a configuration to support a portable device on a stand, such as a microphone stand, may be accomplished as shown in the schematic view of a device supporter  10  and an attachment apparatus  56 . A hand-tightened bolt  50  may be used with a washer or bushing  52  to secure the supporter  10  by securing the engagement member  40  to an attachment adapter  54 . In other words, an attachment apparatus  56  may be engaged with the engaging member  40 . 
     The attachment adapter  54  may be situated between the attachment apparatus  56  and the engaging member  40 . For example, the attachment adapter,  54  may be secured to the attachment apparatus  56  with a bolt  58 , washer or bushing  60 , and end cap  64 . A portion of the attachment adapter  54  may interface with a slot  76  of the attachment apparatus  56 . 
     The attachment adapter  54  is shown in isolation in  FIG. 9 . The attachment adapter  54  may comprise head portion  60 , an aperture  62 , a flange  66 , and a member  58  for interfacing with the device supporter  10  and the attachment apparatus  56 . 
       FIG. 10  shows the attachment adapter  54  of  FIG. 9 , viewed along line A-A, illustrating slot  70 , ridges  72 , and bottom aperture  74 . Another view of the attachment adapter is shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.