Patent Publication Number: US-8528798-B2

Title: Electronic mobile device support apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure generally relates to supports, sleeves, or “skins” for securely holding electronic mobile devices. 
     Small electronic mobile devices, e.g., mobile communication devices such as pagers, cellular phones, global positioning system (GPS) navigation devices and other satellite navigation devices, smart phones, wireless organizers, wireless personal digital assistants (PDA), and the like are typically easy to simultaneously hold and manipulate due to the size of these devices compared to the size of a user&#39;s hands. Moreover, the relatively small sizes permit users to comfortably simultaneously hold and manipulate these devices in several different manners. 
     For example, one manner includes using the pads of the fingers on both of a user&#39;s hands to support the rear surface of the device. The thumbs on both hands are then free to manipulate the device (e.g., actuate keys, a track ball, a track pad, a touch-sensitive display, or the like). As another example, another manner of simultaneously holding and manipulating a small electronic mobile device includes gripping a device between the palm and the fingers on the same hand. The thumb on the same hand and all the fingers on the opposite hand are then free to manipulate the device. 
     Unfortunately, the above manners of holding and manipulating electronic mobile devices typically become more difficult when using large electronic mobile devices, such as tablet computers, notebook computers, electronic readers, and the like, each of which may have a display size of 10″ or greater and a thickness of 0.5″ or greater. For example, placing the pads of the fingers on the rear surface of the device and using the thumbs to manipulate the device may be impractical because the thumbs may not be able to reach all areas of the front of the device. 
     Furthermore, gripping a large electronic mobile device between the palm and the fingers using one hand may also be impractical. However, this manner of holding a large electronic mobile device may be modified to be slightly more effective. For example, a user may attempt to “pinch” an edge of the device between the thumb and the fingers of one hand, although such a grip can quickly fatigue the user&#39;s hand. Alternatively, a user can rest the device on the palm and fingers of one hand and manipulate the device with the other hand. However, the device can easily be dropped because the user is not truly gripping the device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an electronic mobile device housed within a support apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the electronic mobile device support apparatus of  FIG. 1  illustrating finger receivers of the apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the electronic mobile device support apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the electronic mobile device support apparatus of  FIG. 1  illustrating the finger receivers in a standing position; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the electronic mobile device support apparatus of  FIG. 1  illustrating the finger receivers in a collapsed position; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the electronic mobile device support apparatus further including a finger receiver for a user&#39;s thumb; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of the electronic mobile device support apparatus having finger receivers with non-parallel longitudinal axes; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the electronic mobile device support apparatus having finger receivers that are detachably connected to a case of the support apparatus; 
         FIG. 9  is a rear view of the electronic mobile device support apparatus having the detachably connected finger receivers of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10A  is a side view of an elastic finger receiver in an unstretched configuration; 
         FIG. 10B  is a side view of the elastic finger receiver of  FIG. 10A  in a stretched configuration; and 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the electronic mobile device support apparatus having finger receivers that comprise a single strip of material. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     According to some embodiments, an electronic mobile device support apparatus comprises a plurality of generally tubular finger receivers disposed adjacent a rear surface of an electronic mobile device. Each of the plurality of finger receivers defines a passageway configured to receive a corresponding finger of an electronic mobile device user such that the electronic mobile device is supportable thereby. 
     The teachings of the present disclosure generally relate to supports, sleeves, or “skins” for large electronic mobile devices with or without wireless communication capabilities, e.g., tablet computers, notebook computers, electronic readers, or other electronic mobile devices in which a surface on which a user places a hand to support the device is larger than the surface area covered by the average person&#39;s hand. However, it is also possible that the teachings of the present disclosure could be applied to supports for small electronic mobile devices, e.g., pagers, cellular phones, global positioning system (GPS) navigation devices and other satellite navigation devices, smart phones, wireless organizers, wireless personal digital assistants (PDAs), electronic gaming devices, digital photograph albums or picture frames, digital cameras, digital video recorders, and the like and used with individuals that are prone to dropping such devices (e.g., children). 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5 , an electronic mobile device support apparatus  130  includes a case  132  that houses an electronic mobile device  100 . The case  132  supports a plurality of finger receivers  234  that accommodate and snugly engage the fingers  210 A,  210 B,  210 C, and  210 D of a user of the device. As such, the user does not need to attempt to support the case  132  and the device  100  in an uncomfortable manner or a manner in which the device  100  is relatively likely to be dropped. In the following paragraphs, the case  132  of the support apparatus  130  is first generally described. Thereafter, additional details of the finger receivers  234  and alternative embodiments of the support apparatus  130  are described. 
     Referring first to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the case  132  generally provides a protective housing for the electronic mobile device. In particular, the case  132  is a generally three-dimensional rectangular structure that includes a top  136 , a bottom  138 , and sides  140  and  142  disposed adjacent the sides of the electronic mobile device  100 . The case  132  also includes a front bezel  144  that, in some embodiments, supports a transparent panel (not shown) adjacent a display  102  of the electronic mobile device  100 . A rear surface  246  ( FIG. 2 ) of the case  132  is disposed opposite the front bezel  144  and adjacent a rear surface  104  of the device  100 . Together, the top  136 , the bottom  138 , the sides  140  and  142 , the front bezel  144 , and the rear surface  246  define an internal compartment  148  that houses the electronic mobile device  100 . 
     The case  132  comprises one or more materials that are commonly associated with device sleeves and skins, such as polymers (e.g., polycarbonate, polychloroprene, polyurethane, silicone, and rubber), fabrics (e.g., nylon), leather, imitation leather, and the like. If the case  132  comprises a deformable material, meaning that the case  132  is capable of undergoing significant deflection when a load is applied thereto without experiencing permanent deformation, the electronic mobile device  100  may enter and exit the case  132  by temporarily deforming the bezel  144  and passing through the opening defined by the bezel  144 . On the other hand, in some embodiments in which the case  132  does not comprise a deformable material, one of the top  136 , the bottom  138 , and the sides  140  includes a slot (not shown) or is detachable from the rest of the case  132  to permit the electronic mobile device  100  to enter and exit the case  132 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2-5 , the rear surface  246  of the case  132  supports the finger receivers  234  opposite the internal compartment  148 . As briefly described above and as the name implies, the finger receivers  234 A,  234 B,  234 C, and  234 D accommodate and snugly engage a user&#39;s fingers  210 A,  210 B,  210 C, and  210 D, respectively. As such, the user may comfortably support the device  100  using one hand while manipulating the device  100  with the opposite hand. 
     In general, each of the finger receivers  234  has a generally tubular structure. As used herein, the term “generally tubular” and variations thereof mean that a component has two open ends with a wall of material defining a passageway between the two open ends. Furthermore, a generally tubular component can have various cross-sectional shapes. In some embodiments, the size of the finger receivers  234  differ so as to be appropriately sized for each corresponding finger. For example, in some embodiments the index finger receiver  234 A is relatively large and the small finger receiver  234 D is relatively small. 
     In addition, the finger receivers  234  are oriented and positioned on the rear surface  246  to permit the user to comfortably support the device  100 . In particular, each of the finger receivers  234  defines a longitudinal axis  350  ( FIG. 3 ) that extends perpendicularly through the open ends of the receiver  234 . The longitudinal axes  350  are parallel to one another and are non-perpendicular to a longitudinal axis  352  of the case  132  (i.e., an axis that bisects the case  132  and extends through the top  136  and the bottom  138 ). This permits the user to support the device  100  in a position in which the forearm extends diagonally (as if the user was to look at the palm of their hand). Moreover, the index finger receiver  234 A is offset from the longitudinal axis  352  of the case  132  toward one of the sides  140 ,  142  of the case  132 . This permits the user to position the thumb  12  against the rear surface  246  of the case  132  or adjacent the front bezel  144 ; some users may find one of these arrangements more comfortable than the other. 
     Exemplary materials for the finger receivers  234  include one or more of polymers (e.g., polycarbonate, polychloroprene, polyurethane, silicone, and rubber), fabrics (e.g., nylon), leather, imitation leather, and the like. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the finger receivers  234  comprise the same material as the case  132 , and in other embodiments, the finger receivers  234  comprise a different material from the case  132 . Depending on the specific material, the finger receivers  234  can connect to the rear surface  246  of the case  132  in various manners. For example, fabric, leather, or polychloroprene finger receivers can connect to the rear surface  246  via stitches  454  ( FIG. 4 ). As another example, polymer finger receivers can connect to the rear surface  246  by permanent or releasable adhesives (not shown). 
     The material of the receivers  234  is deformable and, as such, the finger receivers  234  can assume the generally cylindrical shape of the user&#39;s fingers  210  when the fingers  210  are placed therein ( FIG. 2 ). In addition, this deformability provides at least two other advantages. First, a user may bend the fingers  210  within the finger receivers  234  to provide even further secure support for the electronic mobile device  100 . Second, the finger receivers  234  may be moved to a collapsed position in which the receivers  234  are flattened toward the rear surface  246  of the case  132  ( FIG. 5 ). In the collapsed position, the finger receivers  234  conveniently reduce the overall thickness of the case  132 , e.g., for travelling, storage, or the like. 
     Furthermore, to hold the finger receivers  234  in the collapsed position, each finger receiver  234  includes connection surfaces (e.g., separate Velcro® hook and loop surfaces) that releasably engage the adjacent receiver or receivers  234 . In particular, the index finger receiver  234 A has a first connection surface  356 A (e.g., Velcro® hooks,  FIG. 3 ) that engages a second connection surface  358  (e.g., Velcro® loops) of an additional pad  260  supported by the rear surface  246 . Engagement between the surfaces  356 A,  358  holds the index finger receiver  234 A in the collapsed position. Similarly, the index finger receiver  234 A also has a second connection surface  362 A (e.g., Velcro® loops,  FIG. 3 ) that engages a first connection surface  356 B of the middle finger receiver  234 B. Engagement between the surfaces  362 A,  356 B holds the middle finger receiver  234 B in the collapsed position. The middle finger receiver  234 B also has a second connection surface  362 B that engages a first connection surface  356 C of the ring finger receiver  234 C. Engagement between the surfaces  362 B,  356 C holds the ring finger receiver  234 C in the collapsed position. Lastly, the ring finger receiver  234 C has a second connection surface  362 C that engages a first connection surface  356 D of the small finger receiver  234 D. Engagement between the surfaces  362 C,  356 D holds the small finger receiver  234 D in the collapsed position. 
     In some embodiments, the small finger receiver  234 D also has a second connection surface  362 D to engage a second pad (not shown) supported by the rear surface  246 . As such, the finger receivers  234  may be collapsed in the opposite direction from the configuration shown in  FIG. 5  (i.e., towards the bottom  138  of the case  132  instead of the top  136 ). In any case, the finger receivers  234  can be moved back to the standing position ( FIGS. 2-4 ) by pulling each finger receiver  234  apart from the adjacent finger receiver or receivers  234 . 
     The support apparatus  130  described above may be modified in various manners without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For example and referring to  FIG. 6 , the apparatus  130  may further include an additional thumb “finger” receiver  634  that, as the name implies, accommodates the thumb  112  on the same hand as the fingers  210 . The thumb receiver  634  is generally similar to the finger receivers  234  described above. Notably, the thumb receiver  634  includes a first connection surface  656  (e.g., Velcro® hooks) that engages a second connection surface  658  (e.g., Velcro® loops) of an additional pad  660  supported by the rear surface  246  of the case  132 . As such, engagement between the surfaces  656 ,  658  holds the thumb receiver  634  in the collapsed position. Unlike the other finger receivers  234 , however, the longitudinal axis  650  of the thumb receiver  634  is non-parallel to the longitudinal axes  350  of the finger receivers  234 . Such a configuration may be preferred by some users because the thumb receiver  634  provides additional stability when supporting the electronic mobile device  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , in some embodiments one or more of the longitudinal axes  350  of the finger receivers  234  are non-parallel to each other. Such a configuration may be considered more comfortable to some users because it permits a user to spread their fingers apart when they are positioned in the finger receivers  234 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , in some embodiments the finger receivers  234  releasably connect to the rear surface  246  of the case  132 . Specifically, the finger receivers  234  connect to a first connection pad  864  via stitches  454 , an adhesive, or the like. The first connection pad  864  includes, e.g., Velcro® hooks to releasably engage a second connection pad  866  that includes, e.g., Velcro® loops. The second connection pad  866  connects to the rear surface  246  via stitches (not shown), an adhesive, or the like. The second connection pad  866  also has a generally X-shaped surface such that the first connection pad  864  and the finger receivers  234  may be detached therefrom, pivoted by 90 degrees, and reconnected to the second connection pad  866 . In such a position, the finger receivers  234  are positioned such that the electronic mobile device  100  may be supported in a landscape operating mode. Furthermore, the rear surface  246  supports an additional pad  960  having a second connection surface  958  (e.g., Velcro® loops) such that the finger receivers  234  may be moved to the collapsed position in the landscape operating mode. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 10A and 10B , in some embodiments the finger receivers  234  include one or more elastic sections  1068  (e.g., elastic fabric sections or elastic polymer sections) that permit the perimeter length of the fingers receivers  234  to vary. That is, the elastic sections  1068  permit finger receivers  234  to stretch to accommodate fingers of various sizes (e.g., child-size fingers and adult-size fingers). 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , in some embodiments the finger receivers  234  are generally as described above except that they are defined by a single strip  1170  of material that follows a serpentine path that extends towards and away from the rear surface  246  of the case  132 . Like the embodiments described above, exemplary materials for the strip  1170  include one or more of polymers (e.g., polycarbonate, polychloroprene, polyurethane, silicone, and rubber), fabrics (e.g., nylon), leather, imitation leather, and the like. The strip  1170  connects to the rear surface  246  via stitches  454 , an adhesive, or the like. Such embodiments use less material than other embodiments described herein provided that the sizes of the finger receivers  234  are generally similar between the embodiments. 
     The structure of the support apparatus  130  can also differ from the above embodiments in other manners. For example, in some embodiments the case  132  is omitted from the support apparatus  130  and the finger receivers  234  directly connected to the rear surface of the electronic mobile device  100 . As another example, in some embodiments the finger receivers are longitudinally offset from one another (e.g., by the distance the knuckles on the fingers are longitudinally offset from one another). As yet another example, in some embodiments the second connection pad  866  has a generally V-shaped surface such that the finger receivers  234  may be connected thereto in both right-handed and left-handed support configurations. As yet another example, the angle and position of the finger receivers  234  relative to the longitudinal axis  352  of the case  132  could be modified to suit other user preferences. 
     From the above description it should be apparent that the present disclosure provides an electronic mobile device support apparatus that permits a device user to practically and comfortably support large electronic mobile devices. Furthermore, it should also be apparent that the teachings of the present disclosure could also be applied to supports for small electronic mobile devices. 
     The various embodiments presented above are merely examples and are in no way meant to limit the scope of this disclosure. Variations of the embodiments described herein will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art, such variations being within the intended scope of the present application. In particular, features from one or more of the above-described embodiments may be selected to create alternative embodiments comprised of a sub-combination of features which may not be explicitly described above. In addition, features from one or more of the above-described embodiments may be selected and combined to create alternative embodiments comprised of a combination of features which may not be explicitly described above. Features suitable for such combinations and sub-combinations would be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art upon review of the present application as a whole. The subject matter described herein and in the recited claims intends to cover and embrace all suitable changes in technology.