Abstract:
The present invention relates to a supporting device with a unique flexible member for supporting a mobile device to hang over an object or stand on a flat surface. The device according to the principles of the present invention comprises a flexible member that is bendable with minimal force and with the ability to retain said bent shape. The device further comprises a case for receiving a mobile electronic device. The case includes a recessed area on the front side for receiving a mobile electronic device, and one or more of a variety of means for receiving the flexible member whereby the flexible member can perform as a stand to support the mobile device on a flat surface or a loop to hang the mobile device over an object including but not limited to handles of furniture or door knobs or any appropriate object.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This is a continuation-in-part application to the U.S. application Ser. No. 14/093,514, dated Dec. 1, 2013, from which priority is claimed, and entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a supporting device for mobile electronic devices and more particular to a device having a unique attachment means for supporting a electronic mobile device to hang over an object or stand on a flat surface. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    The prior art discloses various devices for supporting mobile electronic devices, in addition to assorted means for securing such devices to objects such as a vehicle dashboard, hand-held microphone, motorcycle gas tank, bicycle, and a person&#39;s wrist. 
         [0006]    However, the prior art has failed to disclose a device having a unique attachment means which is able to hang over an object such as a furniture or a door knob to support a mobile device and also support a mobile device on a flat surface such as a desk. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, a long felt need has been realized for a device adapted for supporting a mobile electronic device and which is further adapted for removable attachment to a furniture such as a cabinet&#39;s or dresser&#39;s handle or door knob. The device according to the present invention discussed later fulfills this need. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed a device for supporting mobile devices. Said mobile devices include but are not limited to tablets such as Ipads®, smart phones such as Iphones® and androids, and multimedia players. 
         [0009]    The device according to the principles of the present invention comprises a flexible member that is bendable with minimal force and with the ability to retain said bent shape having a first threaded end, a second threaded end, an elongated body between the two ends, and two nuts each having an inner diameter and threads matching with the first and second threaded ends&#39; outer diameter and threads. The elongated body may perform like a gooseneck cable which is bendable and can maintain the bent shape. 
         [0010]    Although described herein with a gooseneck cable like structure, said material could also be a more firm material with points of flexibility added where needed by incorporating hinges at various points along the said material. 
         [0011]    The device further comprises a case for receiving a mobile electronic device. The case includes a recess area on the front side for receiving a mobile electronic device, and one or more of a variety of means for receiving the flexible member whereby the flexible member can perform as a stand to support the mobile device on a flat surface or a loop to support the mobile device hung over an object such as a doorknob or handle of furniture or a person&#39;s neck, etc. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment, the device includes a pair of insert locks each of which has a slot connected to a circular opening. The circular openings have a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the nuts and the slots has a width smaller than the outer diameter of the nuts. As a result, when the two threaded ends with the nuts on are inserted into the circular openings and slid down to the slots, the flexible member will be secured in place to the case and can be bent to function like a stand for supporting the mobile device on a flat surface. 
         [0013]    Additionally, the device may include two channels for receiving the flexible member and allowing the flexible member to retract up and down, each of the channels having a top opening and bottom opening which have an internal diameter larger than the outer diameter of the threaded ends but smaller than an outer diameter of the nuts of the flexible member. Consequently, when the first and second threaded ends of the flexible member separately go through the channels and out of the bottom openings and then secured by the nuts, said nuts will touch against the edges of the bottom opening to prevent the flexible member from falling out of the case. 
         [0014]    Alternatively, the device may include a threaded opening having a complementarily shaped and sized structure of the threaded end located at one of top corners of the case for receiving one of the threaded ends of the flexible member; and one channel for receiving one of the threaded ends with the nut on and allows the threaded end with the nut on to retract up and down inside the channel, the channel having an open recessed entry at the top corner opposite to the threaded receiving port, the open recessed entry having a complementarily shaped and sized structure of the nut in order to mate with and engage the threaded end with the nut on. 
         [0015]    Alternatively, the device may include two pairs of slide locks for receiving the flexible member and secure the first member in place to function as a loop to support the case together with the mobile device to hang over an object. 
         [0016]    Said locks can have a key for security when locking the flexible member in place. 
         [0017]    The device may further include a groove on the top side for the flexible member to fit in such that the flexible member flushes with the top side and is integrated with the case in a stowed position. 
         [0018]    The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow. 
         [0019]    Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0020]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0021]    The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals. 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is top view of a flexible member according to the present invention which has two threaded ends capped with two compatible nuts and an elongated body in between, wherein the elongated body is a wire encased by soft rubber-like resilient material or foam in this figure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is an angled front view of a case according to a first embodiment of the present invention which has internal channels on two lateral sides of the case. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is an angled front view of the device of which flexible member going through the channels of the case according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is an angled front view of the device of the first embodiment performing as a loop wherein the capped ends of the flexible member are against the bottom openings of the internal channels thus the flexible member is locked in place to the case to prevent the flexible member from falling out of the case. 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is an angled front view of the device of the first embodiment performing as a stand wherein the case is turned up-side-down from the hanging position and the flexible member is bent and stays as bent on a flat surface. 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is an angled front view of the device of the first embodiment in a stowed position, wherein the middle portion of the flexible member fits in the groove on the top side and is flush with the top side. 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  is a rear view of the case of the first embodiment which has a pair of insert locks each of which is shaped as a narrow slot connected to a wider circular opening. 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  is a rear view of the device of the first embodiment wherein the two ends of the flexible member are inserted into the insert locks to support a mobile device to stand on a flat surface. 
           [0031]      FIG. 9  is a rear view of a device according to a second embodiment of the present invention wherein the two ends of the flexible member are inserted in the insert locks on the back of the case as a stand to support a mobile device on a flat surface. 
           [0032]      FIG. 10  is a rear view of a device according to a second embodiment of the present invention wherein the two ends of the flexible member are inserted in the slide locks on the back of the case for performing as a loop to hang a mobile device over an object. 
           [0033]      FIG. 11  is a rear view of a device according to a third embodiment of the present invention which has a threaded opening on the top corner and an open recessed entry on the other top corner wherein the two ends of flexible member are attached to and support the case in a hanging position. 
           [0034]      FIG. 12  is a close-up view of the threaded opening and the open recessed entry of the case of the third embodiment of  FIG. 11 , the latter of which leads to an internal channel along the lateral side, as well as the threaded first end and the capped second end of the flexible member. 
           [0035]      FIG. 13  is a close-up view of the capped second end slid into and stayed inside the open recessed entry at top corner of the case of the third embodiment. 
           [0036]      FIG. 14  is an angled front view of the third embodiment of which the case is up-side-down from the hanging position and the capped second end is held against the edge of the open recessed entry to prevent the flexible member from freeing from the case so that the flexible member stays attached to the case in a bent position for performing as a stand. 
           [0037]      FIG. 15  is an angled front view from an angle different from  FIG. 14 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 16  is a close-up view showing the capped second end of the flexible member is deeply inserted into the internal channel of the third embodiment and portion of the flexible member&#39;s elongated body fits in the groove and flushes with the top side of the case. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0039]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-8 , there is disclosed a first embodiment  100  of the device according to the principle of the present invention. The device comprises a flexible member  10  that is bendable with minimal force and with the ability to retain said bent shape. 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the flexible member  10  has two threaded ends  13 ,  14  which are surrounded by two compatible nuts  15 ,  16 , and an elongated body  11  in between the two ends. Each of the two nuts has an inner diameter (ID) and threads matching with the outer diameter (OD) and threads of the each of the two ends of the flexible member  10 . This flexible member has the function of attaching to a mobile electronic device case and allowing the mobile electronic device to hang over an object or stand on a flat surface. 
         [0041]    The device further comprises a case which is designed for holding a mobile electronic device. Looking at  FIG. 2 , the case  20  according to the first embodiment of the present invention is structured to have a recessed area on the front side where a mobile electronic device can be placed into and supported by the case. The case is further structured to have two internal channels  50  (indicated by a dashed line to show in transparent view) respectively located along two lateral sides. The two internal channels on the lateral sides are designed for receiving and allowing the flexible member  10  to retract up and down inside. The openings to each channel are located at top corners  23 ,  24  and the openings out of each channel  25 ,  26  are located near the transverse middle line of the lateral sides. The openings and internal channels have an internal diameter (ID) larger than the outer diameter (OD) of the screwed ends of the flexible member but smaller than the OD of the nuts. 
         [0042]    In use, the first and second threaded ends  13 ,  14  of the flexible member  10  are separately inserted through internal channels from the top opening  23 ,  24  and out of the bottom opening  25 ,  26 ; then the nuts  15 ,  16  are screwed onto the first and second ends  12 ,  13 . When the middle portion of the elongated body  11  is pulled up in order to perform the function of being able to hang over an object as shown in  FIG. 4 , the capped ends (i.e. the threaded ends surrounded by the nuts) of the flexible member are now against the top edge of the bottom opening of the channels whereby the flexible member is secured in place to the case. This locking mechanism as illustrated in  FIG. 3-4  can prevent the flexible member from falling out of the case with no need of extra mechanism. As demonstrated in  FIG. 5  the case  20  can be turned up-side-down from the hanging position and the flexible member  10  can be bent and stay as bent to support a mobile electronic device on a flat surface. Now the capped end  14 ,  16  is against the bottom edge of the bottom opening  26  of the channel and thus the flexible member is secured in place to the case and is able to support the mobile electronic device on a flat surface. 
         [0043]    The case  20  is further structured to have a groove or curved surface  22  on the top side which is designed for the flexible member to fit in. The middle portion of the elongated body  11  can rest in the groove or curved surface  22  (not observable in the figure because it is beneath the elongated body) and flush with the top side of the case as shown in  FIG. 6  in a stowed position. 
         [0044]    Looking at  FIGS. 7-8 , a pair of insert locks  28 ,  29  are designed into the back  27  of the case, each of which is designed for receiving each of the two capped ends  13 ,  15 ,  14 ,  16  of the flexible member whereby the flexible member can perform the functions of being a stand to support a mobile electronic device on a flat surface such as a desk. 
         [0045]    Each insert lock has a slot  31 ,  32  connected to a circular opening  33 ,  34  above the slot. The OD of the nuts is slightly smaller than the diameter of the circular openings but larger than the width of the slots; thus, when the capped ends of the flexible member enter from the circular openings and slide down to the slots, the flexible member is held in place in the slots  31 ,  32 . The insert locks are oriented towards an opposite direction; it means that one insert lock faces to the top left side and the other faces to the top right side. The slots should not be above the circular openings whereby the flexible member could be potentially pulled out of the insert locks. The two insert locks should not be oriented in the same direction whereby the flexible member could potentially slide away; thereby freeing the flexible member from escaping through the insert locks. 
         [0046]    The internal channels may be located at the back side in other embodiments. The insert locks may be located at different locations or arranged differently relative to each other in other embodiments. 
         [0047]    The flexible member can be composed of plastic, metal, or any other material that is relatively bendable and able to retain its bent shape without breaking due to constant bending and reshaping. If a metal wire is used a soft rubber-like resilient material or foam can be used to encase the wire for aesthetic purpose or for protecting the surface it stands on from scratching. 
         [0048]    The case can be composed of plastic, etc. the groove and internal channels can be molded as such. 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIGS. 9-10  there is disclosed a second embodiment  200  of the device according to the principle of the present invention. The invention comprises a flexible member  10  as described in the foregoing paragraphs. The case  20  is structured to have a recessed area on the front side where a mobile electronic device can be placed into, a groove on the top side, and a pair of insert locks on the back side. As previously described, the insert locks are designed for stand function as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0050]    This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that two pairs of slide locks  35 ,  36 ,  37 ,  38  respectively located at the right side and left side of the back of the case replacing the internal channels in the first embodiment for receiving the flexible member for hanging function. The two ends of the flexible member are slid into the locks and held by the slide lock in place to the case as shown in  FIG. 10 . Alternatively, the two pairs of slide locks can separately locate on the lateral sides. The groove (curved surface)  22  is designed for the flexible member (or wire) to fit in and integrated with the case. 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIGS. 11-16 , there is disclosed a third embodiment  300  of the present invention. The invention comprises a flexible member  10  as described in the foregoing paragraphs. The case  20  is structured to have a recessed area (or carved out portion)  21  on the front side where a mobile electronic device can be placed and supported therein. 
         [0052]    Looking at  FIG. 11 , one of the differences between the third embodiment and the first embodiment resides in that the case  20  has only one internal channel (not observable). This embodiment has a built-in threaded opening  39  located at one of the top corners for receiving one of the threaded ends  13 ,  14  of the flexible member. The threaded opening  39  has a complementarily shaped and sized structure of the threaded end of the flexible member including internal diameter and threads. At the corner opposite to the threaded opening  39 , the case has an open recessed entry  40  which is open to the side and leads to the interior channel  50  (indicated by a dashed line showing a transparent view) beneath it. As shown in  FIG. 11 , the first threaded end  13  is screwed into the threaded opening  39  and thus held in place. 
         [0053]    As shown in  FIGS. 11-13 , the open recessed entry  40  has a complementarily shaped structure of the nuts  15 ,  16  in order to mate with and engage one of the capped ends. The open recessed entry  40  allows the capped second end ( 14 ,  16 ) to slide into the entry  40  from the side along the plane perpendicular to the front side of the case and held in place by the top edge  41  of the entry  40  to perform desired hanging function. 
         [0054]    Alternatively, the flexible member can be bent and stays on a flat surface as shown in  FIGS. 14-15  in order to support a mobile electronic device on a flat surface. 
         [0055]      FIG. 12  is a close-up view of the threaded opening and the open recessed entry of the case of the third embodiment of  FIG. 11 , the latter of which leads to an internal channel along the lateral side, as well as the threaded first end and the capped second end of the flexible member. 
         [0056]      FIG. 13  is a close-up view of the capped second end slid into and stayed inside the open recessed entry at top corner of the case of the third embodiment. 
         [0057]      FIG. 14  is an angled front view of the third embodiment of which the case is up-side-down from the hanging position and the capped second end is held against the edge of the open recessed entry to prevent the flexible member from freeing from the case so that the flexible member stays attached to the case in a bent position for performing as a stand. 
         [0058]      FIG. 15  is an angled front view from an angle different from  FIG. 14 . 
         [0059]    The device may further comprise a groove (curved surface)  22  on the top side for the elongated body  11  to fit in.  FIG. 16  is a close-up view showing the capped second end (indicated by a dashed line to show a transparent view) of the flexible member moves down inside the internal channel of the third embodiment while a portion of the flexible member&#39;s elongated body fits in the groove and flushes with the top side of the case. 
         [0060]    Similarly to other embodiments, the back may have a pair of insert locks for receiving the two ends of the flexible member so that the case can support a mobile electronic device to stand on a flat surface. 
         [0061]    In general, the case has round corner design integrating the aesthetic and functional purposes. 
         [0062]    While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are entitled.