Grip apparatus for portable device

Provided is a grip apparatus for a portable device. The grip apparatus includes a base unit mounted on the portable device, a sliding hole formed in the base unit in a longitudinal direction of the base unit, a pair of sliders inserted into the sliding hole and independently movable along the sliding hole, and a band unit coupled to the pair of sliders and deformed to form a space, into which a finger is insertable, as at least one of the pair of sliders is moved.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 20-2020-0001286, filed on Apr. 14, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a grip apparatus for a portable device.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Recently, portable devices such as a smart phone and the like are being generally supplied and used, and such portable devices generally include a large screen and have a slim bar shape with flat front and rear surfaces.

Due to the above-described shape, a user has a difficulty in gripping a portable device such that there have been problems such as a risk of dropping or the like while the portable device is used and a large consumption of repairing costs when the portable device is damaged due to the dropping or the like.

Accordingly, a variety of apparatuses configured to stably grip a portable device and prevent dropping of the portable device have been developed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to providing a grip apparatus for a portable device which stably grips the portable device.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a grip apparatus including a base unit mounted on the portable device, a sliding hole formed in the base unit in a longitudinal direction of the base unit, a pair of sliders inserted into the sliding hole and independently movable along the sliding hole, and a band unit coupled to the pair of sliders and deformed to form a space, into which a finger is insertable, as at least one of the pair of sliders is moved.

A protrusion portion may be formed to protrude from an inner circumferential surface of the sliding hole to maintain a state in which the slider has been moved.

The protrusion portion may include a tilted surface provided in a movement direction of the slider so as to reduce resistance while the slider moves across the protrusion portion.

An insertion hole may be formed in the base unit and disposed on an end of the sliding hole to allow the slider to be insertable into the sliding hole.

The insertion hole may be formed to correspond to a side cross-sectional shape of the slider to allow the slider to be insertable in a lateral direction.

An inner circumferential surface of the insertion hole toward the sliding hole may be formed to be tilted in a direction toward the sliding hole.

A support portion may be disposed on a movement path of the slider to protrude from the base unit to support a position of the slider.

The support portion may include a tilted surface to allow the slider to move across the support portion when receiving an external force that is greater than a preset value.

A tilted surface of the support portion toward a center of the sliding hole may be more gradual than a tilted surface of the support portion toward the slider.

The support portion may be formed to extend along an outer circumference of the slider.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Since the present invention may be variously modified and have a variety of embodiments, particular embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail hereinafter. However, these are not intended to limit the present invention to a particularly disclosed form and it should be understood that the present invention includes all changes, equivalents, and substitutes included within the concept and technical scope of the present invention. In a description of the embodiments of the present invention, a detailed description of well-known components or functions of the related art will be omitted when it is deemed to obscure understanding of the embodiments of the present invention.

The terms such as first, second, and the like may be used to describe a variety of components, and these components are not limited to the terms. The terms are used only for distinguishing one component from another.

The terms used herein are used merely for describing particular embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. Singular expressions, unless clearly defined otherwise in context, include plural expressions. Throughout the application, the terms “comprise,” “have,” and the like are used herein to specify the presence of stated features, numbers, stages, operations, elements, components or combinations thereof but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, stages, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a grip apparatus100for a portable device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In a description with reference to the attached drawings, equal or corresponding components will be referred to as equal reference numerals and a repetitive description thereof will be omitted.

According to the embodiment, as shown inFIGS.1to4D, the grip apparatus100includes a base unit110mounted on a portable device10, a sliding hole120formed in the base unit in a longitudinal direction of the base unit110, a pair of sliders130which are inserted into the sliding hole120and independently slidable along the sliding hole120, and a band unit140coupled to the pair of sliders130and deformed to form a space into which a finger20is insertable as at least one of the pair of sliders130is moved.

According to the embodiment, as the pair of sliders130are independently moved along the sliding hole120and at least one of the pair of sliders130is moved, the band unit140coupled to the sliders130is deformed and the space into which the finger20is insertable is formed so that a user may to stably grip the portable device10by inserting the finger20into the corresponding space.

Hereinafter, respective components of the grip apparatus100according to the embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS.1to5.

The base unit110may be mounted on the portable device10as shown inFIG.1. Accordingly, the base unit110may allow the apparatus of the present invention, which is configured to stably grip the portable device10, to be mounted on and supported by the portable device10.

Also, as shown inFIGS.1to4D, the base unit110may perform a function of a base on which other components configured to achieve objects and functions of the present invention may operate and actions between the components may be performed.

The sliding hole120may be formed in the base unit110in the longitudinal direction of the base unit110as shown inFIGS.2to5. In this case, the sliders130are movable through the sliding hole120so that the band unit140may be deformed and the space into which the finger20is insertable may be formed.

As shown inFIG.2, an attachment portion150may be formed on the base unit110to attach or detach the base unit110to or from the portable device10.

Accordingly, as described above, the base unit110may be mounted on the portable device10using the attachment portion150. Also, the attachment portion150is formed to be detachable to allow the user to change a position of the base unit110mounted on the portable device10as necessary.

In more detail, the attachment portion150may include an adhesive, a gel pad, and the like and be formed to have a thickness not to allow the sliders130to come into contact with the portable device10while moving as described below.

Also, in the attachment portion150, as shown inFIG.2, an interference prevention hole152may be formed to prevent the sliders130from being interfered with. In more detail, the interference prevention hole152may be formed to correspond to a shape of a protrusion prevention groove190which will be described below.

As shown inFIG.2, a variant cover154may be attached to the attachment portion150to be variable to prevent the attachment portion150from being contaminated. Accordingly, the variant cover154may prevent the attachment portion150from being degraded in adhesion due to foreign substances being coupled thereto so that the user may separate the apparatus as necessary and attach the variant cover154thereto to store for later use.

In more detail, as shown inFIG.2, the variant cover154may be formed to cover the attachment portion150to effectively protect the attachment portion150or be formed to correspond to a shape of the attachment portion150. Also, the variant cover154may include a film, a coating sheet, or the like.

As shown inFIGS.2,4A to4D, and5, a protrusion portion160may be formed to protrude from an inner circumferential surface of the sliding hole120to maintain a state in which the slider130has been moved.

That is, the protrusion portion160may maintain the state, in which the sliders130have been moved, by supporting the moved sliders130in a direction opposite to movement thereof to prevent the sliders130from freely or randomly moving.

As shown inFIGS.2,4A to4D, and5, the protrusion portion160may include a tilted surface provided in a movement direction of the sliders130so as to reduce resistance while the sliders130move across the protrusion160.

Accordingly, as described above, the sliders130may be supported by the protrusion portion160in the direction opposite the movement and may move across the protrusion portion160through the tilted surface provided on the protrusion portion160in the movement direction.

In more detail, as shown inFIGS.2,4A to4D, and5, the tilted surface of the protrusion portion160may be formed as a curved surface convex toward the sliding hole120so that reduction in resistance against the movement of the sliders130and supporting of the sliders130may be organically performed together.

As shown inFIGS.2,4A to4D, and5, a plurality of such protrusion portions160may be formed. The plurality of protrusion portions160may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other. Accordingly, the above-described function of the protrusion portions160may be performed in a wider movement section inside the sliding hole120.

In more detail, the plurality of protrusion portions160may be spaced at the same intervals apart. In this case, since a position at which a movement state of the slider130is maintained is uniformly provided in the sliding hole120, the user may more easily determine a position of the slider130in the sliding hole.

As shown inFIG.5, the protrusion portions160may include a first protrusion162formed on one side of the inner circumferential surface of the sliding hole120and a second protrusion164formed on the other side of the inner circumferential surface of the sliding hole120.

Accordingly, the state in which the slider130has been moved may be more effectively maintained through the first protrusion162and the second protrusion164formed on both sides of the inner circumferential surface of the sliding hole120.

Also, as shown inFIG.5, the first protrusion162and the second protrusion164may be alternately disposed.

For example, when the slider130is supported by the first protrusion162, the second protrusion164disposed to alternate with the first protrusion162may perform a function of pressurizing the slider130to allow the slider130to be more effectively supported by the first protrusion162.

In more detail, as shown inFIG.5, a plurality of such first protrusions162and a plurality of such second protrusions164may be formed. Accordingly, an effect caused by an interaction between the first protrusions162, the sliders130, and the second protrusions164may be generated in a wider movement section in the sliding hole120.

A tilted surface of the second protrusion164may be formed to be more gradual than a tilted surface of the first protrusion162as shown inFIG.5.

Accordingly, the first protrusion162may generally perform a function of supporting the slider130and the second protrusion164may assist the first protrusion162as well as reducing resistance due to the protrusion portions160while the slider130moves.

As shown inFIGS.2to5, an insertion hole170may be formed in the base unit110and disposed on an end of the sliding hole120to allow the slider130to be insertable into the sliding hole120.

That is, the slider130may be inserted into the sliding hole120through the insertion hole170and moved therein. As the insertion hole170is disposed on the end of the sliding hole120, interference of the insertion hole170with relation to the movement of the slider130may be reduced.

As shown inFIGS.2to5, the insertion hole170may be formed to correspond to a side cross-sectional shape of the slider130to allow the slider130to be insertable in a lateral direction.

Accordingly, the insertion hole170may allow the slider130to be insertable therethrough as well as preventing the slider130from being separated in a direction in which the slider130is inserted after the slider130is inserted and mounted.

Also, an inner circumferential surface of the insertion hole170toward the sliding hole120may be tilted toward the sliding hole120as shown inFIGS.2to5.

In this case, the slider130may not only be easily inserted into the insertion hole170but may also be introduced into the sliding hole120along the tilted surface of the insertion hole170.

As shown inFIGS.2to5, a support portion180may be disposed on a movement path of the slider130to protrude from the base unit110so as to support a position of the slider130.

That is, since the support portion180supports the slider130with respect to the movement direction of the slider130, it is possible to prevent the slider130from being freely or randomly moved in the sliding hole120.

As shown inFIGS.2,3A, and3B, the support portion180may include a tilted surface to allow the slider130to move across the support portion180when the slider130receives an external force that is greater than a preset value.

That is, since the slider130may move across the support portion180only when receiving the external force that is greater than the preset value, it is possible to more effectively support the slider130.

Also, since the support portion180includes the tilted surface, when the slider130receives the external force that is greater than the preset value, the slider130may move across the support portion180through the tilted surface.

In more detail, a tilted surface of the support portion180toward a center of the sliding hole120may be more gradual than a tilted surface of the support portion180toward the slider130as shown inFIGS.3A and3B.

Accordingly, when the slider130is supported by the support portion180and receives the external force, moves across the support portion180, and returns to a position at which the slider130is supported, the slider130may more easily move across the support portion180.

Also, as shown inFIGS.2to5, the support portion180may be disposed to support the slider130from the end of the sliding hole120.

That is, since the slider130is located at the end of the sliding hole120and then moved along the sliding hole120, the slider130is supported at the end of the sliding hole120which becomes a starting point of movement so that the user may determine whether to move the slider130by determining whether to apply an external force thereto.

In more detail, any one of such support portions180may protrude further or have a greater width than another as shown inFIG.5.

Accordingly, any one of the pair of sliders130disposed on both ends of the sliding hole120may be more strongly supported by the support portion180than the other to perform a function of a movement end as well as performing a function of a fixing end.

As shown inFIGS.2,4A to4D, and5, the support portion180may be formed to extend along an outer circumference of the slider130. Accordingly, since points of support between the slider130and the support portion180increase, the slider130may be more effectively supported by the support portion180.

As shown inFIG.5, the support portion180may be disposed at a preset position on the movement path of the slider130to maintain a shape of the band unit140which is deformed according to movement of the slider130.

That is, since the slider130may be supported by the support portion180disposed at the preset position on the movement path of the slider130so as to maintain the deformed shape of the band unit140, the apparatus of the present invention may be utilized as an apparatus for grip and as a holder for holding the portable device10on a bottom surface.

As shown inFIGS.2to5, the protrusion prevention groove190may be formed in the base unit110along the sliding hole120to prevent the slider130inserted in the sliding hole120from protruding further than a surface of the base unit110.

Accordingly, the base unit110may be easily attached to the portable device10, and the slider130may be prevented from coming into contact with the portable device10.

In more detail, as shown inFIGS.2and4A to4D, the protrusion prevention groove190may be formed to have a width corresponding to a width of the slider130to guide movement of the slider130. Accordingly, the slider130may move stably along the sliding hole120.

As shown inFIGS.1to4D, the band unit140may be coupled to the pair of sliders130and be deformed to form the space into which the finger20is insertable as at least one of the pair of sliders130is moved.

That is, as the sliders130coupled to the band unit140move such that an interval between the pair of sliders130decreases, the band unit140forms a bent surface so that the space into which the finger20is insertable may be formed between the band unit140and the base unit110.

In more detail, the band unit140may include a soft material. In this case, as described above, the bent surface formed by the band unit140may be formed to be flexible.

Also, the soft material may include thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). TPU is plastic having rubber elasticity and has high flexibility so that the band unit140may be easily deformed and have high durability. Even when the band unit140is deformed a plurality of times, the band unit140may be prevented from being cracked or torn.

As shown inFIG.1, the band unit140may include an image142printed on an outer surface thereof. Accordingly, a variety of such images142may be printed on the outer surface of the band unit140so that the apparatus of the present invention may be utilized for sales promotion or for decoration of the portable device10.

As shown inFIGS.2to4D, the pair of sliders130may be inserted into the sliding hole120and be independently movable along the sliding hole120. Accordingly, the space in which the finger20is inserted and which is formed by deformation of the band unit140may be formed in a variety of positions on the sliding hole120. Implementation examples thereof will be described as follows.

FIGS.4A and4Billustrate a state in which only one of the pair of sliders130is moved and then the space into which the finger20is inserted is formed in the other. Also,FIG.4Cillustrates a state in which both the pair of sliders130are moved and then the space into which the finger20is inserted is formed in the center of the sliding hole120. In this case, degrees of movement of the pair of sliders130differ from each other so that the space into which the finger20is inserted may be formed at a variety of positions on the sliding hole120.

As shown inFIGS.2,3A, and3B, the slider130may include a body portion132formed to have a greater width than a width of the sliding hole120so as to be prevented from being separated through the sliding hole120after being inserted into the sliding hole120and a connection portion134formed to connect the body portion132to the base unit110and to be movable along the sliding hole120.

As shown inFIG.4D, the grip apparatus100may further include an additional slider136disposed between the pair of sliders130. The pair of sliders130may be disposed on both ends of the sliding hole120, and the additional slider136may be disposed between both ends of the sliding hole120.

In this case, since a plurality of such spaces into which the finger20is inserted are formed as a plurality of such sliders130are moved, the user may more stably grip the portable device10by inserting a plurality of such fingers20into the corresponding spaces.

According to the present invention, a portable device can be stably gripped.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it should be noted that one of ordinary skill in the art may make a variety of modifications and changes of the present invention by adding, changing, eliminating, inserting, or the like of components without departing from the concept of the present invention which is disclosed in the claims and they will be included within the scope of the present invention.