Abstract:
An assembly has a smart device, a play object having a base with a first connector on the base, and a holder having a frame section that securely receives and retains the housing of the smart device. The holder also has a support section extending from the frame section, the support section having a second connector that is adapted to couple to the first connector on the base

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention is directed to hand-held smart devices, and in particular, to a protective holder or case for use with tablets or smartphones. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Tablets and smartphones are widespread in today&#39;s society because of their portability and because they allow the user to transact so many aspects of their lives on them. One of the popular usages for tablets and smartphones is for gaming, and there are a variety of games that can be downloaded as “Apps” and played by the user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0005]    It is one objective of the present invention to provide a holder for a tablet or smartphone that accommodates the coupling of play objects that can be used to enhance the gaming experience for the user. 
         [0006]    To accomplish the objectives set forth above, the present invention provides an assembly having a smart device, a play object having a base with a first connector on the base, and a holder having a frame section that securely receives and retains the housing of the smart device. The holder also has a support section extending from the frame section, the support section having a second connector that is adapted to couple to the first connector on the base. 
         [0007]    Circuitry can be provided in the base of the play objects, and in the support section, so that the identity of the play objects can be communicated from the base to the support section, and then from the support section to the smart device. The identity, and other data stored in these circuitries, can be used to enable activities and functionalities on the smart device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a holder according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 2A-2C  illustrate three different play objects that can be coupled to the holder of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the holder of  FIG. 1 , the play objects of  FIGS. 2A-2C , and a tablet. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates the holder, play objects and tablet of  FIG. 3  combined together in use. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a holder according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 6A-6C  illustrate modifications that can be made to the play objects of  FIGS. 2A-2C . 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram for the system shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a holder according to the present invention that is shown in use with a smartphone. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0017]      FIGS. 1-4  illustrate a holder  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The holder  10  has a support section  12  that allows a plurality of play objects  14   a,    14   b  and  14   c  to be coupled thereto. An interactive computing device, such as a tablet  16 , is received inside the holder  10 . The tablet  16  can be any conventional tablet, such as an iPAD™ or other smart tablet. 
         [0018]    The holder  10  has a four-sided frame section  20  that is sized, configured and adapted to surround a conventional tablet  16 . The frame section  20  can be made from any solid material that is somewhat flexible, such as PVC, rubber, plastics and materials similar to those used for conventional smartphone protection cases. Flanges  22  can be provided along the internal edges of the frame section  20  and function to retain the housing of the tablet  16  inside the periphery of the frame section  20 . Other techniques or mechanisms (e.g., VELCRO™ pads, ties, tabs, etc.) can also be used to retain the housing of the tablet  16  inside the periphery of the frame section  20 . 
         [0019]    The support section  12  can extend along any portion of one of the edges or sides of the frame section  20 . For example, the support section  12  is shown as extending along the entire edge or side  24 , but the support section  12  can also extend along a central portion, and not along the entire length, of the edge or side  24 . The support section  12  can also be provided along another side or edge. The support section  12  defines a planar upper surface  26  that has a plurality of studs  28  provided thereon. The support section  12  and its studs  28  can be made of the same material as the frame section  20 , or from a different material. The plane of the support section  12  is preferably positioned at an angle A away from the plane of the frame section  20 . The angle A is preferably between 90 degrees and 180 degrees so that the support section  12  can be used to prop the tablet  16  at an angle for convenient viewing, with the rear edge  30  of the support section  12  contacting a table or other flat surface. It is also possible to provide the support section  12  separate from the frame section  20  so that the support section  12  is pivotable with respect to the frame section  20 . 
         [0020]    Each play object  14   a - 14   c  has a character or object that is supported on a base  36 . The base  36  is adapted to be coupled to the studs  28  on the support section  20  in a manner that is similar to a LEGO™ connection. Specifically, most LEGO™ brick pieces have two basic components: studs on top and tubes on the inside. A brick&#39;s studs are slightly bigger than the space between the tubes and the walls. When the bricks are pressed together, the studs push the walls out and the tubes in. The material is resilient and wants to hold its original shape, so the walls and tubes press back against the studs. Friction also plays a role, preventing the two bricks from sliding apart. This stud-and-tube coupling system uses an interference fit, which provides a firm, friction-based connection between two parts without the use of an additional fastener. Thus, the bottom of the bases  36  would also include the tubes and walls that are normally found at the base of a conventional LEGO™ brick. 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  illustrates a tablet  16  held in place inside the frame section  20 , and the play objects  14   a - 14   c  coupled to the upper section  12 . In this configuration, the user can play a game involving these play objects  14   a - 14   c.  For example, a user can use the tablet  16  to take a photo of any of these play objects  14   a - 14   c,  and the application that has been downloaded onto the tablet  16  can recognize the play objects  14   a - 14   c  from the photographed image(s) and enable the start of an activity (e.g., game, song, story, etc.) relating to the play objects  14   a - 14   c . Alternatively, the holder  10  can be used solely as a toy holder for holding play objects  14   a - 14   c.  It is not necessary to place a smart device in the frame section  20 . 
         [0022]      FIGS. 5-7  illustrate another embodiment of the present invention. In  FIGS. 5-6C , the support section  12  can be a housing that retains a circuit board  50  inside. The circuit board  50  can include a circuitry that is adapted to communicate with the circuitry on the circuit board  52  inside the base  36  of the play objects  14   a - 14   c . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the circuit board  52  in each play object  14   a - 14   c  can include a processor  60 , a memory  62  and an antenna  64 . The memory  62  can store codes that identify the play object, as well as data that contain details or characteristics of the play object. Alternatively, the memory  62  can include a radio-frequency  identification (RFID) tag that stores identification for the object. Similarly, the circuit board  50  in the support section  12  can include a processor  70 , a memory  72  and an antenna  74 . The memory  72  can store programs, codes, and other data. The circuit board  50  can also include an RFID reader coupled to the antenna  74  for reading the RFID tag on the circuit board  52 . In use, when the play objects  14   a - 14   c  have been coupled to the support section  12 , the processor  60  can communicate with the processor  70  via the antennas  64  and  74 . The processor  60  can access the codes and data in the memory  62 , and provide them to the processor  70 . The processor  70  can then access the programs and other data in the memory  72 , and send appropriate signals via its antenna  74  to the tablet  16 . The tablet  16  can also have a processor  80 , a memory  82  and an antenna  84 . The signals communicated from the antenna  74  are received at the tablet  16  via the antenna  84  and the processed by the processor  80 . Alternatively, if the objects  14   a - 14   c  are provided with RFID tags, the RFID reader on the circuit board  50  can read the identification signals and communicate via conventional BLUETOOTH™ technology with the tablet  16 . The signals received by the tablet  16  can trigger an activity (such as stories, games, reading a book, etc.) with the character or object displayed on the tablet  16  during the activity. 
         [0024]    For example, when the play object  14   a  has been coupled to the support section  12 , it communicates its identity to the processor  70  in the support section  12 , which then communicates this identity to the processor  80  in the tablet  16 . With the downloaded application being enabled, the application will recognize the identity of the play object  14   a,  and enable an activity (e.g., game, story, video, song, etc.) relating to that play object  14   a  to be played by a user on the tablet  16 . At this point, the processor  80  can request additional data (e.g., code, details, etc.) from the processor  60  via the processor  70 , and the processor  60  can access the memory  62  for the requested data and transfer the data back to the processor  80 . A variety of activities can be played through the back-and-forth communication between the play object and the application running on the tablet  16 , using the circuit board  50  in the support section  12  as an intermediary. The play object  14   a  can be displayed on the tablet  16  during the activity, and interacts with the user during the activity. 
         [0025]    The user can also participate and make the activity more interactive. For example, if the activity is a game, the user can cause the image of the play object to move, to engage in specific acts, or be involved in the game in any known manner. If the activity is the reading of a book or the playing of a song, the user can make the image of play object to engage in certain acts or activities during the reading of the book or playing of the song by selecting certain options, or by directly manipulating the position of the image of the play object on the screen of the smart device. Such manipulation can also enable different functionalities. For example, during a game, a song or reading is enabled if the user manipulates the image in a certain way, or selects certain controls. These activities can be provided by software on the selected “App”, and/or the data or other information stored in any of the memories  62  or  72 . 
         [0026]    Even though the present invention has been described in a connection with a tablet  16 , it is also possible to apply the principles herein to a holder for a smartphone.  FIG. 8  illustrates a holder  10  that can be used with a smartphone  18 . 
         [0027]    Thus, the present invention provides a multi-purpose holder that can be used with a tablet or smartphone, which allows objects to be supported on the holder. This enhances the enjoyment and utility of the tablet or smartphone by enhancing a game or activity that is being played on the tablet or smartphone. The holder can also function to prop up the tablet smartphone at an angle to facilitate convenient viewing. 
         [0028]    While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.