Patent Publication Number: US-2023146479-A1

Title: Care clip for handheld devices

Description:
FIELD 
     The disclosed embodiments relate generally to a clip and a clip extension and in particular, but not exclusively, to a care clip for handheld devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A handheld device is any portable device that can be carried and held in a person&#39;s palm. A handheld device can be any computing or electronic device that is compact and portable enough to be held and used by one or both hands. A handheld device can contain cellular communication, such as a cellular mobile phone, a tablet computer, or other computing devices. 
     The current trend for handheld devices takes the form factor of a slab, block, or bar, usually in a rectangular shape with rounded corners and/or edges for a minimalist appeal. With such a form factor, a person can easily misplace, drop, or have the handheld device stolen. Dropping the device may require repairs. Misplaced/stolen devices can lead to personal or corporate privacy/data leaks, identify fraud, fraudulent purchases, bank frauds, etc. when the handheld devices are compromised. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of a clip or clip with extension for a handheld device is disclosed to prevent the handheld device being misplaced, dropped, or stolen. 
     According to a first aspect, a clip device includes a membrane body having a flat surface and a tapered end fixed to the membrane body. The tapered end is clipped to a retractable cord. The flat surface of the membrane body is sandwiched between a case of a handheld device and the handheld device and the tapered end has a portion protruding from the case through an opening of the case. 
     For one embodiment, the flat surface has a surface area larger than the opening of the case. 
     For one embodiment, the tapered end includes a hole and the tapered end is clipped to the retractable cord by inserting a portion of the retractable cord through the hole of the tapered end. 
     For one embodiment, the hole has a diameter approximately 0.3 centimeters. 
     For one embodiment, the tapered end includes an alligator clip and the alligator clip is clipped to a portion of the retractable cord. 
     For one embodiment, the membrane body has a thickness of approximately 0.036 centimeters. 
     For one embodiment, the membrane body is rectangular shaped having a dimension of approximately 1.5 centimeters by 6 centimeters, and the rectangular shape is sandwiched between the case of the handheld device and the handheld device. 
     For one embodiment, the portion of the tapered end has a thickness of approximately 0.225 centimeters. 
     For one embodiment, a thickness of the portion of the tapered end tapers towards a thickness of the membrane body. 
     For one embodiment, the opening of the case corresponds to a physical port of the handheld device. 
     For one embodiment, the physical port includes a charging port or a headphone port of the handheld device. 
     For one embodiment, the physical port includes a charging port or a headphone port of the handheld device. 
     For one embodiment, a charging cord is plugged to a charging port of the handheld device through the opening of the case and the tapered end protrudes from a same opening of the case. 
     For one embodiment, the tapered end is clipped to a first end of the retractable cord and a second end of the retractable cord is attached to a belt or an article of clothing of a person. 
     According to a second aspect, a clip extension for a handheld device includes a retractable cord having an extendable portion and a clip device attached to the retractable cord. The clip device includes a membrane body having a flat surface and a tapered end fixed to the membrane body. The tapered end is clipped to a retractable cord. The flat surface of the membrane body is sandwiched between a case of a handheld device and the handheld device and the tapered end has a portion protruding from the case through an opening of the case. 
     For one embodiment, the flat surface has a surface area larger than the opening of the case. 
     For one embodiment, the tapered end includes a hole and the tapered end is clipped to the retractable cord by inserting a portion of the retractable cord through the hole of the tapered end. 
     For one embodiment, the hole has a diameter approximately 0.3 centimeters. 
     For one embodiment, the tapered end includes an alligator clip and the alligator clip is clipped to a portion of the retractable cord. 
     For one embodiment, the tapered end is clipped to a first end of the retractable cord and a second end of the retractable cord is attached to a belt or an article of clothing of a person. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The appended drawings illustrate examples and, therefore, are exemplary embodiments, and not to be considered limiting in scope. 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a perspective view of a clip device according to one embodiment; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a top view of a clip device according to one embodiment; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a side view of a clip device according to one embodiment; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a handheld device, a case, a cord, and a clip device according to one embodiment; 
         FIGS.  5 - 7    illustrate the steps to attach a clip device to a handheld device; 
         FIG.  8    illustrates a back view of the handheld device and case attached to the clip device according to one embodiment; 
         FIG.  9    illustrates a clip extension (clip device and retractable cord) attached to the handheld device according to one embodiment; and 
         FIG.  10    illustrates a clip extension (clip device and retractable cord) attached to the handheld device and an article of clothing according to one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  1    illustrates a perspective view of a clip device according to one embodiment. Referring to  FIG.  1   , clip device  100  includes a membrane body  101  and a tapered end  103 . The membrane body  101  can include a polymer membrane such as a polyurethane (plastic) membrane or any other membrane, e.g., metal, wood fiber, glass, Polylactic acid (PLA), Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), Polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), etc. Membrane body  101  can have a rectangular shape, circular shape or any other shape. Membrane body  101  can be stiff or bendable. For one embodiment, membrane body  101  is a biodegradable material. For one embodiment, membrane body  101  can include a uniform color, colored portions, or a camouflage color. The colored portions can be portions of any shapes and sizes. Membrane body  101  can include drawings/printings of a stylish imagery or other prints. For one embodiment, membrane body  101  can have a thickness of approximately 0.036 centimeters. 
     Tapered end  103  can include a hole  105  at a portion of tapered end  103 . For another embodiment, tapered end  103  can include an alligator clip (not shown) at the portion of tapered end  103 . For one embodiment, tapered end  103  and membrane body  101  can be a single piece or two separate pieces fabricated by an additive fabrication technique such as a three-dimensional (3D) printer. For separate pieces, tapered end  103  can include a strip of adhesive adhering tapered end  103  to a surface of membrane body  101 . The adhesive may be any types of permanent adhesives, such as, super glue, guerilla glue, gel, wax, etc. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates a top view of a clip device according to one embodiment. Referring to  FIG.  2   , membrane body  101  can have a form factor of approximately 1.5 centimeters by approximately 6 centimeters. Hole  105  can have a diameter approximately 0.3 centimeters. 
     For one embodiment, the tapered end  103  includes a straight cutoff. For one embodiment, tapered end  103  has a gradual taper to reduce a chance of torn separating tapered end  103  from membrane body  101  as shown in  FIG.  3   . A portion of tapered end  103  can have a thickness of approximately 0.225 centimeters. The thickness of the portion of the tapered end  103  can taper towards a thickness of membrane body  101 . For one embodiment, membrane body  101  has a thickness of approximately 0.036 centimeters. For one embodiment, a length of tapered end  103  and membrane body  101  is approximately 2.65 centimeters. 
       FIG.  4    illustrates a handheld device  401 , a case  403 , a cord  405 , and a clip device  100  according to one embodiment. Cord  405  can be a retractable cord that is typically attached to a chain of keys, an identification card, a transit pass, a public transit card, a card key, and/or a business card, etc. Handheld device  401  can be any type of palm sized mobile devices such as an iPod ©, iPhone ©, iPad ©, an android phone. Although handheld device  401  is shown as a mobile device, handheld device can be a tablet, an electronic book reader, etc. Case  403  can be a generic device protector that is fitted on handheld device  401 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , clip device  100  is separable from handheld device  401 , case  403 , and retractable cord  405 . When installed, a first end of clip device  100  can be attached to handheld device  401  via case  403 , and a second end of clip device  100  can be attached to cord  405 .  FIGS.  5 - 7    further illustrates the installation steps to install clip device  100  to handheld device  401 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , clip device  100  is placed on case  403  with a portion of the tapered end of clip device  100  protruding through an opening of case  403 . The opening of case  403  can be any openings, such as an opening of a physical port (e.g., a charging port, a microphone/headphone port, audio speaker, and/or buttons) corresponding to handheld device  401 , etc. 
     Next, as shown in  FIG.  6   , handheld device  401  is fitted onto case  403  sandwiching clip device  100  between handheld device  401  and case  403 . As shown in  FIGS.  7 - 8   , once fitted, clip device  100  is secured to handheld device  401  via case  403 . For some scenarios, clip device  100  does not interfere with a utility of the physical port. E.g., if clip device  100  protrudes through an opening of case  403  and the opening is for a charging port, handheld device  401  can be charged via charging port at the same time with clip device  100  installed. 
       FIG.  9    illustrates a clip extension (clip device and retractable cord) attached to the handheld device according to one embodiment. As shown, once clip device  100  is attached to handheld device  401 , where clip device  100  can be clipped to one end of cord  405 , using an alligator clip/key chain clip/hook attached to cord  405 , or having cord  405  directly looped through hole  105 . As shown in  FIG.  10   , another end of cord  405  can be attached to an article of clothing  1001  of a person, such as a purse, shirt, pants, and/or a belt. 
     Thus, even with a bar form factor, because handheld device  401  is attached to an article of clothing via clip device  101 , a person is reminded not to misplace, drop, or have the handheld device stolen. 
     The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable one to make or use the methods, device or article of the present disclosure. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.