Abstract:
A support is disclosed that attaches to and is carried by the device that it supports. The support incorporates a u-shaped supporting member that generally extends across the length of the device, and is attached to the device using independent sidepieces that conform to the shape of the device, creating a press-fit. The sidepieces are hingedly attached to the supporting member using constant-torque positional hinges that allow for a customizable viewing angle when the device is being supported. In addition, the support is configured so that the device can be supported in two different orientations, commonly referred to as portrait and landscape, and the support is designed to support objects that are pushed and touched. Finally, the support has a minimal impact on the device&#39;s outer surfaces, so that additional attachments designed for the device may be used in conjunction with the support.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a non-provisional application claiming priority to provisional patent application No. 61/584,953 filed on Jan. 10, 2012. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    The present invention is in the technical field of supports and cases. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of supports and cases that are specifically designed for devices that are generally flat and rigid and have a physical human interface such as mobile electronic devices, namely cellular phones and tablet devices. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A support is disclosed that attaches to and is carried by the device that it supports. The support incorporates a u-shaped supporting member that generally extends across the length of the device, and is attached to the device using independent sidepieces that conform to the shape of the device, creating a press-fit. The sidepieces are hingedly attached to the supporting member using constant-torque positional hinges that allow for a customizable viewing angle when the device is being supported. In addition, the support is configured so that the device can be supported in two different orientations, commonly referred to as portrait and landscape, and the support is designed to support objects that are pushed and touched. Finally, the support has a minimal impact on the device&#39;s outer surfaces, so that additional attachments designed for the device may be used in conjunction with the support. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a support in an open landscape supporting position; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a support in a closed position; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a support in an open portrait supporting position; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a support in a landscape supporting position; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a support operating in a landscape supporting position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a support connected to a device. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a support. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the three primary structural components of the support are shown. Support member  100  is hingedly attached to first sidepiece  200 , and second sidepiece  300 . Generally, support  100  has a u-shape, where the term u-shape includes shapes with rounded or angled corners, or no corners at all. The two vertical arms extending from the bottom section of support  100  have a length slightly longer than half of the length of the first and second sidepieces,  200  and  300 . In the preferred embodiment, the bottom section of support  100  conforms to the shape of the object being supported. 
         [0014]    Still referring to  FIG. 1 , features of the sidepieces allowing for a press-fit connection between the support and the object being supported are shown. Said features are first upper cup  220 , first lower cup  230 , second upper cup  320  and second lower cup  330 . In the embodiment shown, first upper cup  220  and second upper cup  320  are manufactured to create a press-fit connection between the corner of the object being supported and the support. This corner connection includes a connection between the support and the object being supported on two adjacent sides of the object. In contrast, first lower cup  230  and second lower cup  330  are shaped to create a press fit between a single side of the object being supported and the support. A benefit of using at least two opposing corner press-fit connections is the avoidance of translational movement between the object being supported and the support when the support is installed. Further, the corner press-fit connection offers additional protection to the corner of the device, a feature often desired by users of portable electronic devices. Other embodiments include corner press-fit connections on both upper and lower sections of the sidepieces. 
         [0015]    The support shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 7  may be constructed of any rigid or semi-rigid materials. In the preferred embodiment, support member  100 , first sidepiece  200 , and second sidepiece  300  are constructed out of aluminum. Other metals, woods and plastics may also be used. 
         [0016]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a support is shown in a closed position. To maintain this closed position a closure system is used. The preferred embodiment uses first support closure  109 , second support closure  111 , first sidepiece closure  210 , and second sidepiece closure  310 . In the preferred embodiment magnets are installed into the support generally in the positions shown with polarities arranged so that the magnets act to hold support member  100  in the closed position. Almost any method of releasably connecting support member  100  to the object being supported or two the sidepieces will suffice. Other embodiments for the closure system include a press-fit connection between support member  100 , and one or both of the sidepieces, or between support member  100  and the object being supported. 
         [0017]    Still referring to  FIG. 2 , support access recess  140  is shown. Support member  100  may have multiple instances of support access recess  140 , and the location and number are a function of where support member  100  resides when in the closed position, and what features of the object being supported require access by the user. For example, support access recess  140  may allow for access to a tactile power button or volume control when the support member  100  is in the closed position shown. Similarly, the sidepieces mat have recesses such as sidepiece recess  340  shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0018]    Still referring to  FIG. 2 , support member friction facilitator  115 , first sidepiece friction facilitator  215 , and second sidepiece friction facilitator  315  are shown. Said friction facilitator features ensure that when a device is being supported on a surface, as shown in  FIG. 4 , friction exists between the support and the surface so that the object resists sliding when touched. Said friction facilitators may be surface treatments, or additional materials that are added to the support. 
         [0019]    Still referring to  FIG. 2 , support opening feature  160  is shown. In the preferred embodiment, a feature is added to support member  100  to ease the opening of the support. Here, the feature is a simple lip created by the shape of support member  100 , and other solutions exists to ease the opening of the support that would instantaneously occur in the mind of one skilled in the art. 
         [0020]    Still referring to  FIG. 2 , first sidepiece rotation limiter  270  and second sidepiece rotation limiter  370  are shown. Said rotation limiters are discussed further in the discussion of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the support is shown in a portrait supporting position. Currently, many portable electronic devices display data in different orientations. These orientations are typically based on the rectangular shape of the screen of the devices, and the term landscape is used to refer to the orientation when the longest side of the screen is parallel to the horizon. The term portrait is used to refer to the orientation when the shortest side of the device is parallel to the horizon. One of the advantages of the support herein described is that the object being supported can be supported in both orientations. 
         [0022]    Still referring to the support shown in  FIG. 3 , continuous torque hinges are shown. In the preferred embodiment, the connection between support member  100  and both sidepieces is that of a hinge that holds its position throughout the hinge&#39;s full range of motion. For example, a commercial off-the-shelf hinge such as the PHA 8 mm positioning hinge by Reell Precision Manufacturing would work for supports requiring consistent torques of 0.28-0.65 N-m, which torques are typically required by current portable electronic devices. Of course, said required torque varies according to the object being supported. In the embodiment shown, two positioning hinges are used, and half of the first hinge is described as second sidepiece positioning hinge  340 , and the second half of said first hinge is described as support member positioning hinge  139 . Similarly, half of the second hinge is described as support member positioning hinge  141 , and the other half of said second hinge is described as first sidepiece positioning hinge  240 . 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , support angle  400  is shown. As previously described, support member  100  is hingedly attached to the sidepieces using at least one positioning hinge. The use of this particular type of hinge allows for the user of the support to dictate the viewing angle of the device with great flexibility, which flexibility is often required of mobile devices.  FIG. 2  shows rotation limiter features  270  and  370  that exist to protect the hinges from exceeding a particular angle, and to create a fixed maximum open position. This maximum angle, or open position is generally shown in  FIG. 4 . In the next figure,  FIG. 5 , support angle  400  is shown in one of the countless positions between the maximum angle and the closed angle. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 5  a supported device is shown that is being touched. Many current portable electronic devices use touch screens, or other types of tactile methods to receive input from the user. Thus, the preferred embodiment incorporates features that enable users to touch the device without disturbing the supported position. Namely, hinge position  420  is not centered between the ends of the sidepieces. Rather, hinge position  420  exists above the center point between the ends of the sidepieces. Further, hinge position  420 , being generally greater than half of the height of the device, results in the length support member  100 &#39;s vertical arms being greater than half of the height of the device being supported. The purpose of the described hinge position is to create additional stability when the device is touched as shown, such that the device is less likely to tip over. Hinge axis of rotation  410  is shown and represents the axis of rotation of the hinge, which axis dictates hinge position  420 . Moreover, the friction facilitators  115 ,  315 , and  215  described above and shown in  FIG. 2  aid in allowing for the object being supported to be touched without disturbing the supported position. 
         [0025]    Still referring to  FIG. 5 , cover  520  is shown. Generally, the screens of portable electronic devices can be fragile, and susceptible to attracting debris and other unsightly annoyances such as smudges. Many covers exist in the prior art, and Cover  520  represents a cover incorporated into the support. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , article attachment  500  is shown attached to a device that also has the support connected. Many attachments exist in the marketplace that are designed to attach to an edge of a device, and it is expected that new attachments will continue to emerge. One of the advantages of the support shown is that these attachments can be used in conjunction with the support. Due to the support&#39;s minimal impact on the device&#39;s edge real estate, current and future attachments can still be used with the support. 
         [0027]    Still referring to  FIG. 6 , sidepiece recess  390  is shown. Sidepiece recess may exist in either or both of first sidepiece  200  or second sidepiece  300 . Sidepiece recess  390  has the same purpose and functionality of support recess  140  described in the discussion of  FIG. 2 . There may be multiple instances of sidepiece recess  390 . 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , device protection  600  is shown. Device protection  600  protects the device being supported from harmful effects of the press-fit design of the support. Device protection may be a substrate applied to the sidepieces, a surface treatment, a series of discrete objects, or any other type material or feature that provides for the protection of a device during a press fit connection that is known in the art. 
         [0029]    The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, a support for an object that is carried by the object, offers some protection to the object, and supports the object in countless positions, including both portrait and landscape orientations. The present invention allows for other devices to attach to the object, is designed to support an object while the object is being touched, and can support the object on uneven surfaces. 
         [0030]    In broad embodiment, the present invention is a support that attaches to an object that enables the user of the object to select from a number of supported positions, attach additional components to the object, and interact with the object using tactile inputs. 
         [0031]    While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand. and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.