Abstract:
A tablet computer holding device comprising a pair of grip portions engaging the tablet computer and a bridge portion connected to and in communication with the grip portions. The ergonomically shaped grip portions include an engagement notch, thumb groove, and plurality of finger grooves to provide a comfortable handle for holding a tablet computer. The bridge portion includes an anti skid surface and is elastic and extensible to allow the device to be attached to various sizes of tablet computers and to be used with either the portrait or landscape orientation of the tablet computer.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/501,511, filed 2011 Jun. 27 by the present inventors. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM  
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to a device used to hold a tablet computer, tablet-style computer, or slate computer. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The “tablet” or “slate” computer has quickly risen in popularity, mainly due to the introduction of the iPad®. These “tablets,” as they are often called, come in varying sizes but all share common features in that they have a thin profile, a lightweight design, and a touch screen. It is these properties that, although beneficial for the user, can cause the user discomfort during prolonged usage. The user operating one of these tablet devices, is required to hold the device at its edges, so as to not touch the sensitive touch screen, and often holds the product with one hand while using the other hand to operate the aforementioned touch screen. The thin profile of these tablet devices can make holding them uncomfortable over a long period of time as the slim profile does not conform to the size of the user&#39;s hand. Therefore, a device is needed to attach to the tablet to allow a user to easily and comfortably hold the tablet. Preferably, this device will cover a wide range of sizes and be operable when the tablet is used in both a landscape and portrait orientation. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0006]    The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and together with the description serve to further explain the principles of the invention. Other aspects of the invention and the advantages of the invention will be better appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the Detailed Description when considered in conjunction with accompanying drawings, and wherein: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of device, according to the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the device, according to the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the device, according to the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of the device, according to the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a top view of an additional embodiment of the device, according to the present invention; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a side view of an additional embodiment of the device, according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3  there is shown an embodiment of the of a tablet computer holding device of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral  10 . The tablet computer holding device  10  includes a pair of grip portions  200  and a bridge portion  100 . The bridge portion  100  has an upper end anti skid portion  101 . The grip portions  200  are identically shaped to be received comfortably in a users hand and are in communication through a connection with the bridge portion  100 . The grip portions  200  may include a plurality of finger grooves  201 , a thumb groove  202 , and an engagement notch  203 . The grip portions  200  are ergonomically crescent shaped with the engagement notch  203  interior to this shape. The engagement notch  203  is shaped to receive the edge of the tablet device. Often these tablet devices have a flat top edge and beveled or curved bottom edge, therefore the engagement notch  203  is shaped to conform to and receive these edges. The finger grooves  201  and thumb groove  202  are shaped to comfortably receive a users thumb and fingers, with the thumb groove  202  adjacent to the top of the tablet device and the finger grooves  201  adjacent to the bottom of the tablet device. 
         [0014]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bridge portion  100  is elastic and extensible in a horizontal direction to allow the device to be used with several different sizes of tablets and in both the portrait and landscape formats. The elasticity of the bridge portion  100  provides a grasping force to the tablet and aides in the attachment of the grip portions  200  to the tablet edge. Preferably the bridge portion  100  is constructed out of neoprene or low resilience polyurethane (“LRPu”) for its extensibility, elasticity, and softness, although other similar materials with consistent properties may be used. It is desired that any material used be soft so as to not mar or scratch the tablet computer. Preferably, the grip portion  200  is constructed out of closed cell crosslinked polyethylene foam, although other materials with similar properties may be used. Closed cell crosslinked polyethylene foam is the ideal material as it is lightweight, provides comfort to the user of the device, and will not scratch or mar the tablet device. 
         [0015]    In the preferred embodiment, the bridge portion  100  is fastened to the grip portion  200  using hot glue. Additionally, the grip portion  200  is designed with an extend lower half to allow for a plurality of finger grooves  201  and provide support over the length of the tablet computer device, wherein a user can comfortably and stably rest the tablet computer, with the tablet holding device engaged, on a flat surface. 
         [0016]    In use, a user will engage one of the grip portions  200  with a first edge of the tablet computer. The user will then stretch and extend the bridge portion  100  to a desired length corresponding to the width of the tablet computer and engage the other grip portion  200  with the second edge of the tablet computer. The elastic compression of the bridge portion  100  will securely hold and engage grip portions  200  with the edges of the tablet computer. This engagement will be further enhanced by the anti skid surface  101  fastened to bridge portion  100 . Due to the comfortable and ergonomic shape of the grip portions  200 , a user will be able to comfortably hold the tablet computer with the user&#39;s thumbs and fingers comfortably resting in thumb groove  202  and finger grooves  201 . 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4-6 , an additional embodiment of the tablet computer holding device according to the present invention is generally designated by numeral  10 . In this embodiment the tablet holding device is constructed in a one-piece fashion and contains a bridge portion  100  with anti skid surface  101  and a pair of grip portions  200  with an engagement notch  203  and a plurality of finger grooves  201 . In this embodiment of the present invention, the tablet holding device  10  will need to be properly sized to fit a desired tablet computer and will not be able to attach to a standard tablet computer in both the portrait and landscape formats. 
         [0018]    The bridge portion  100  and the grip portions  200  are constructed out of a single piece of material with the bridge portion  100  providing communication between two identically shaped grip portions  200 . The material used must have some flexibility to allow the device to be tightly fit around the tablet computer. The grip portions  200  are ergonomically crescent shaped and include an engagement notch  203  and a plurality of finger grooves  201 . The engagement notch  203  is shaped to receive the edge of a tablet computer. The plurality of the finger grooves  201  are shaped to comfortably receive the fingers of the user and allow the user to comfortably grasp the tablet holding device  10 . In this embodiment, finger grooves  201  may extend the length of the bridge portion  100  to provide consistent ascetics and allow the user multiple options for finger placement and comfort. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the tablet holding device  10  is constructed out of closed cell crosslinked polyethylene foam, although other materials with similar properties may be used. Closed cell crosslinked polyethylene foam is the ideal material as it is lightweight, provides comfort to the user of the device, and will not scratch or mar the tablet device, and is flexible with elastic properties allowing a one-piece structure to be stretched around the edges of a tablet computer in a secure fashion. 
         [0020]    Usage of this embodiment is similar to the prior embodiments listed. A user will engage one of the grip portions  200  with a first edge of the tablet computer. The user will then engage the other grip portion  200  with the second edge of the tablet computer. The properly sized bridge portion  100  will securely hold and engage the grip portions  200  with the edges of the tablet computer. This engagement will be further enhanced by the anti skid surface  101  fastened to the bridge portion  100 . A user will then be able to comfortably hold the tablet computer due to the comfortable and ergonomic shape of the grip portions  200 .