Attachment to a cell phone

An apparatus for retaining a cell phone which includes: (1) a swivel base affixed to the back of a cell phone; (2) a rotatable base which can rotate within the swivel base so that the rotatable base and its attachments can be orientated to any orientation relative to the cell phone; and (3) an ability to hold the cell phone with a single finger on the back of the cell phone. When not in use, the entire assembly can collapse into a flat base so that it occupies very little space relative to the entire width of the cell phone. Bent pivot arms enable the cell phone accessory to be folded flat or to be expanded to the full size condition, or any distance between the back of the cell phone and the base so that any size finger, within a range, can fit within the space between the retaining base and the expandable bent pivot arms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of cell phone and in particular, to the field of cell phone attachments.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The following 11 patents and published patent applications are the closest prior art references known to the inventor.

2. United States Published Patent Application No. 2018/0302114 to Gregory F. Neilsen on Oct. 18, 2018 for “Swivel Case for Phone”;

4. United States Published Patent Application No. 2019/0126154 to Joshua N. Sears on May 2, 2019 for “Spinning Device”;

6. Korean Patent Publication No. KR200472008Y1 to Bong Cheol Kim on Mar. 24, 2014 for “Mobile Phone Holder with Replaceable Finger Rings”;

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an accessory for a cell phone. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for retaining a cell phone to facilitate an optimal viewing angle for the user to view and use the cell phone. The rotating base allows the user to change the viewing direction while the expandable/collapsible plastic legs allow for viewing angle adjustments. As a result, the user can lean or prop up the cell phone with ease.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a comfortable ergonomic fit with the user's finger inserted in between the top plastic and bottom plastic with the user's palm against the back of a cell phone.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a device to enable a user to place a finger through the opening between the pivot arms so that the person can hold the cell phone with a single finger. In addition to just having the pivot arms which enable a person to hold the cell phone with a single finger, the present invention provides the user with the ability to rotate the present invention relative to the swivel base that is affixed to the cell phone. As a result, a person can rotate the cell phone into any desired orientation while they are speaking and in addition, can rotate the cell phone to be in an angular position as shown in the drawings.

The key features of the invention are as follows: (1) a swivel base affixed to the back of a cell phone; (2) the retaining base rotatably attached to the swivel base so that it can rotate about the swivel base so that the retaining base and its attachments can be orientated to any orientation relative to the cell phone; (3) the ability to hold the cell phone with a single finger on the back of the cell phone; (4) when not in use, the entire assembly can collapse into a flat base so that it occupies very little space relative to the entire width of the cell phone; (5) the bent pivot arms enable the cell phone accessory to be folded flat or to be expanded to the full size condition, or any distance between the back of the cell phone and the base so that any size finger, within a range, can fit within the space between the retaining base and the expandable bent pivot arms; and (6) the ability to entirely remove the cell phone accessory from the cell phone.

Referring toFIG. 1, there is illustrated a top and front perspective view of the present invention apparatus for retaining a cell phone10illustrated in the expanded condition. Referring toFIG. 2, there is illustrated a front elevational view of the present invention apparatus for retaining a cell phone illustrated in the expanded condition. Referring toFIG. 3, there is illustrated a side elevational view of the present invention apparatus for retaining a cell phone illustrated in the expanded condition. Referring toFIG. 4A, there is illustrated a first exploded view illustrating the components of the present invention apparatus for retaining a cell phone. Referring toFIG. 4B, there is illustrated a second exploded view illustrating the components of the present invention apparatus for retaining a cell phone, oriented from a bottom perspective view and rotated ninety degrees clockwise from the view inFIG. 4Ato provide more space for part numbers and lead lines. Referring toFIG. 5, there is illustrated a cut-away perspective view of the base plate rotatably retained within a finger.

Referring toFIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention is an apparatus for retaining a cell phone10, also more briefly identified in this application as “retaining apparatus10”. The retaining apparatus10includes a swivel base20which rotatably retains a base30. The swivel base20has a top surface22including a bottom surface24which is affixed to an adhesive disc300. As will be described, the adhesive disc300has a top surface310by which it is affixed to the bottom surface24of swivel base20. The bottom surface320of adhesive disc300will include a cover wrapping. When the cover wrapping is removed, the bottom surface320of the adhesive disc300is affixed to the rear surface of a cell phone or comparable portable electronic device.

Further referring toFIGS. 1 through 5, the swivel base20has a circumferential sidewall22with a circumferential exterior surface22-EX and a circumferential interior surface22-IN which surrounds an interior chamber26. The circumferential interior surface22-IN includes upper circumferential teeth28A,28B,28C and28D spaced ninety degrees apart and which are adjacent the top surface22-T leaving a circumferential gap23between the upper circumferential teeth28A,28B,28C and28D and the lower portion22-IN-LP of the circumferential interior surface. The exterior surface22-EX has a thickness of20-TH and the interior chamber26has an interior diameter26-DIA.

The base30of the retaining apparatus (also referred to as “retaining base30”) is also round with an exterior diameter30-EXDIA and an interior chamber30-CINT having a diameter30-CINNR-DIA and an interior thickness30-CINT-TH sized to be rotatably retained in swivel base20. As illustrated inFIGS. 4A and 6, the retaining base30has an exterior circumferential wall32which is snap fit retained within chamber26and rotatably retained against lower interior surface25of interior base surface22-IN and retained therein by teeth28A,28B,28C and28D so that the retaining base30can rotate within the interior chamber26of swivel base20. Therefore, once swivel base20is affixed, such as to a back surface of a cell phone, the retaining base30is rotatable relative to the object to which the swivel base20is affixed

Additionally referring toFIGS. 1 through 4, the retaining base30has a top section40including a front recessed arcuate sidewall42, a parallel opposite rear arcuate recessed sidewall44, a left recessed arcuate sidewall46and a parallel opposite right arcuate recessed sidewall48. Each of the four recessed arcuate sidewalls42,44,46and48are identical. The front and rear recessed arcuate sidewalls42and44, are each at ninety degrees to both the left and right arcuate recessed sidewalls46and48. The four arcuate recessed sidewalls surround an interior section50.

As best illustrated inFIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4A, one pair of components is a first straight pivot arm60A and a second straight pivot arm60B. First straight pivot arm60A includes a first lower base62A with opposite pin members62A-P1and62A-P2. The first lower base62A extends to oppositely disposed parallel side arms64A-SA1and64A-SA2which extend to upper transverse arm66A-TA1with a central recessed portion66A-TA1-RS. The upper transverse arm66A-TA1is integrally formed with and between parallel side arms66A-SA1and66A-SA2. Upper transverse arm66A-TA1is parallel to first lower base62A. First lower base62A is rotatably affixed between left recessed arcuate sidewall46and right recessed arcuate sidewall48and is adjacent front recessed arcuate sidewall42.

Similarly, second straight pivot am60B includes a second lower base62B with opposite pin members62B-P1and62B-P2. The second lower base62B which extends to oppositely disposed parallel side arms64BA-SA1and64B-SA2which extend to upper transverse arm66B-TA2with a central recessed portion66B-TA2-RS. The upper transverse arm66B-TA1is integrally formed with and between parallel side arms64B-SA1and64B-SA2. Upper transverse arm66B-TA2is parallel to first lower base62B. Second lower base62B is rotatably affixed between right recessed arcuate sidewall48and left recessed arcuate sidewall46and is adjacent rear recessed arcuate sidewall44.

As also best illustrated inFIGS. 3, 4A and 4B, the next component is a pair of bent pivot arms70A and70B. First bent pivot arm70A includes a first lower recessed channel section70A-RSCH-1wherein a first recessed channel70A-RRCH-1is rotatably retained in central recessed portion66A-TA1-RS of first upper transverse arm66A-TA1of first straight pivot arm60A. The first lower recessed channel section70A-RSCH-1extends to integrally formed parallel first bent pivot arm72A-1and72A-2which support first bent pivot upper transverse retaining section74A with first cylindrical mating dowel74A-MT1and oppositely aligned second cylindrical mating dowel74A-MT2.

Similarly, second bent pivot arm70B includes a second lower recessed channel section70B-RSCH-2wherein a second lower recessed channel70B-RSCH-2is rotatably retained in central recessed portion66B-TA1-RS of second upper transverse arm66B-TA2of second straight pivot arm60B. The second lower recessed channel section70B-RSCH-2extends to integrally formed parallel second bent pivot arm72B-1and72B-2which support second bent pivot upper transverse retaining section74B with first cylindrical mating dowel74B-MT1and opposite aligned second cylindrical mating dowel74B-MT2.

The final component is the cylindrical cap80which has a diameter80-DIA and a thickness80-TH with two interior spaced apart mating tunnels, first interior mating tunnel80-TN1and second interior mating tunnel80-TN2. First cylindrical mating dowel74A-MT1is rotatably retained in first interior mating tunnel80-TN1and second cylindrical mating dowel74B-MT2is rotatably retained in second interior mating tunnel80-TN2.

Referring toFIG. 5, there is illustrated a side elevational view of the swivel base30illustrated in the fully collapsed condition. Also illustrated is the sidewall32of the swivel base30, one arcuate sidewall40, the top cap80and cover90.

Referring toFIG. 6, there is illustrated the present invention apparatus10retaining a cell phone, illustrated in the fully collapsed condition, attached to the back of the cell phone3000illustrated in broken lines.

Referring toFIG. 7, there is illustrated a side elevational view of the present invention apparatus10for retaining a cell phone, the apparatus illustrated in the fully expanded condition and attached to the back3100of the cell phone3000illustrated in broken lines. Also illustrated are the swivel base20and the top cover90.

Referring toFIG. 8, there is illustrated a side elevational view of the present invention apparatus10for retaining a cell phone, the apparatus illustrated in the fully expanded condition and attached to the back of the cell phone3000illustrated in broken lines, with a hand5000with one finger5400extending through the present invention in the expanded condition, the hand5000and pinkie5100, fourth finger5200, middle finger5300, forefinger5400and thumb55500illustrated in broken lines.

As illustrated inFIGS. 7 through 8, the swivel base20of the retaining apparatus10is affixed to an object such as the rear surface3100of a cell phone3000. The rear surface24of the swivel base originally had an adhesive disc300which was concealed by a covering paper which was removed so that adhesive disc300on the rear surface24served to retain the rear surface24of the swivel base20on the rear surface3100of the cell phone3000. The swivel base20included an interior chamber28, which as previously explained, rotatably retains the retaining base30. Therefore, the retaining base30is rotatable relative to the rear surface3100of the cell phone3000to orient the retaining apparatus10relative to the cell phone3000.

A cover label90is affixed to the upper surface80-US of cap80. The cap is pulled away from the retaining base30with straight pivot arms rotating about lower base62A and62B to move from the flat position against the retaining base30as illustrated inFIG. 6to an elevated position as illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 8. The bent pivot arms rotate about first lower recessed channel70A-RSCH-1and second lower recessed channel70B-RSCH-2from a flat position to the elevated position.

Therefore, as illustrated inFIG. 8, a person can place one finger in the interior space bounded by the retaining base30, the pair of straight pivot arms60A and60B and the pair of bent pivot arms70A and70B and the lower surface of the cap with the palm of the same hand resting on the rear surface3100of the cell phone3000.

Therefore, the size of the space is adjustable based on how high the cap80is relative to the retaining base30with the fingers sized between the pair of straight pivot arms and the pair of bent pivot arms and the lower surface80-LS of the cap80. The rotation of the retaining base30enables the person to hold the cell phone in a comfortable position for both holding as well as talking.

The cover90and the upper surface of the cap80are also used as a support base and placed at a location on the surface with the pair of straight pivot arms and the pair of bent pivot arms oriented so that the cell phone is at a proper position for use.

Referring toFIG. 9, there is illustrated a rear and side perspective view of the present invention apparatus10for retaining a cell phone3000illustrated in the expanded condition attached to the back3100of a cell phone illustrated in broken lines, illustrating the present invention10top cover90retaining the cell phone3000in a horizontal condition on a surface. Referring toFIG. 10, there is illustrated a rear and side perspective view of the present invention apparatus10for retaining a cell phone3000illustrated in the expanded condition attached to the back3100of a cell phone3000illustrated in broken lines, illustrating the present invention10top cover90retaining the cell phone3000in a horizontal condition on a surface in an alternative configuration.

Referring toFIG. 11, there is illustrated a side perspective view of the present invention apparatus10for retaining a cell phone3000illustrated in the expanded condition attached to the back3100of a cell phone3000illustrated in broken lines, illustrating the present invention10top cover90retaining the cell phone3000in a vertical condition on a surface. Referring toFIG. 12, there is illustrated a rear and side perspective view of the present invention apparatus10for retaining a cell phone3000illustrated in the expanded condition attached to the back3100of a cell phone3000illustrated in broken lines, illustrating the top cover90of the present invention10retaining the cell phone in a vertical condition on a surface in an alternative configuration.

In addition, the retaining base30and the entire apparatus10can be removed from swivel base20by rotating retaining base30to a location between teeth29A,29B,29C and29D and pulling upward on retaining base30.