Patent Abstract:
An apparatus for holding electronic devices within view of a user without having to utilize the user&#39;s hands. The apparatus comprises a wearable base that extends around a user&#39;s torso and/or neck. A stand that comprises a frame, device holder and attachment member that is releasably attached into the base. The stand is capable of maneuvering the device through all range of motion to assist user in the viewing of the device without hands.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/802,137 filed Mar. 15, 2013 entitled Electronic Device Accessory, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    This invention relates to electronic device accessories, and more particularly, to a neck strap or harness with a built in electronic device holder that will allow users to have easy, usable, hands free access to and storage of the device and be able to utilize the device more effectively and safely. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    Electronic devices including but not limited to cellular phones, smart phones, PDA&#39;s, tablets, tablet PC&#39;s, electronic readers and other such devices have become a widely used means of communication, entertainment, and business in today&#39;s society. The physical use of these devices requires the device to be on a stable surface or in the user&#39;s hand(s). It is common practice for a person to use the device or check for new/recent activity numerous times within a short period of time. After each short use, the user tends to stow away the electronic device only to get it out again. The frequent and continual pattern of use, storage and retrieval causes individuals to have one or both hands occupied a majority of the time. This disarms the user from full function of their hands. Additionally, this repeated pattern results in the mishandling of the device and subsequent damage due to the mishandling. 
         [0007]    Electronic device accessories exist on the market and are used to hold and protect your device in different ways namely to enclose your device within itself so that it will be protected and/or so that it that will clip to your belt or purse. There are also device holders that will hold your phone in your vehicle. There are also device lanyards or holder pockets, namely for smart phones, that go around your neck. There are also device stands. However none of the prior art devices allow for wearable use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    This disclosure departs from what is available on the market today by providing a wearable base that fills the need for active users of such devices to be able to use their device with reduced reliance on the device being held in their hands and as a result disarming the user from performing other important functions and compromising reaction times when the hands are needed for other actions and reduced risk of mishandling and damage to the device. 
         [0009]    This disclosure provides a fast, easily accessible holder for small electronic devices such as a mobile phone, tablet, or music player. The electronic device holder consists of two parts, a stand holder that allows a user to modify the angle, rotation, and vertical position of the electronic device and base that attaches to a person. The stand is detachable from the base and may be used without the base as a general stand. When the stand is attached to the base, the user may enjoy the electronic device without having to use their hands. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a profile view of the disclosed embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side profile view of the stand portion of the disclosed embodiment without torso connection. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a close-up view of the pivot joint. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a profile view of the disclosed embodiment on a surface. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a top down view of the torso connection. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a person wearing the disclosed embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a back view of a person wearing the disclosed embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the electronic device holder  1  is comprised of a stand portion  2  and a base  30 . The stand portion  2  comprises a device holder  3 , frame  4 , and an attachment member  5  which may be removably inserted into the base  30 . The base  30  is fitted with a torso strap  31  and neck strap  32  to aid in attachment to a person. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the frame  4  is connected on one end to a device holder  3  and on a second end to an attachment member  5 . The frame  4  consists of a top frame member  6 , telescoping element  7 , support member  8 , and pivot joint  9 . The top frame member  6  is located at the top of the frame  4  and is connected to the telescoping element  7 . The telescoping element  7  allows the frame  4  to lengthen or shorten based on the user&#39;s needs. The support member  8  is attached to the bottom telescoping receiving member  10  of the telescoping element  7  to provide additional support. The support member  8  and bottom telescoping receiving member  10  are attached to one end of the pivot joint  9 . The pivot joint  9  is manually activated through pressing of the pivot joint release button  11 . 
         [0019]    The attachment member  5  is attached to the other end of the pivot joint  9  from the bottom telescoping receiving member  10  and support member  8 . The attachment member  5  is comprised of a suction cup  12 , flange  13 , and screw mount  14 . The screw mount  14  is directly attached to the pivot joint  9 . The pivot joint  9  allows the device holder  3  and telescoping element  7  to rotate  180  degrees in respect to the attachment member  5 . 
         [0020]    The device holder  3  is generally rectangular in shape. The device holder  3  is attached on its rear face  15  to the frame  3  through a ball and socket joint  16  that is attached to the top frame member  6 . The ball and socket joint  16 , as seen in  FIG. 3 , allows the device, holder  3  to rotate in a complete circle and be adjusted in all  360  degrees. Once a device is attached to the device holder  3 , the device holder  3  may be moved by the user to achieve the desired viewing angle. 
         [0021]    Electronic devices  20 , such as tablets, music players, and mobile phones, are attached to the device holder  3  through a variety of attachment mechanisms. The front face  17  of the device holder  3  contains a sticky pad  18  that allows for attachment and removal of an electronic device without leaving any residue. Additionally, clips  19  positioned along the edges of the device holder  3  attach to an electronic device and secure it to the device holder  3 . The specific device holder attachment mechanisms vary depending on the size, weight, and use of the electronic device. Additional attachment mechanisms such as elastic bands or fitted rubber sleeves may be utilized. Attachment mechanisms may be used in unison or in combination to achieve sufficient level of attachment. 
         [0022]    As seen in  FIG. 4 , the stand portion  2  may be mounted on any relatively flat surface  21 . The suction cup  12  is firmly placed on the flat surface  21 . When the screw mount  14  is screwed down, the flange  13  pushes on the suction cup  12  causing the center of the suction cup  22  to be pushed down to the flat surface  21 . This creates a pressure differential with sufficient force to hold the stand  2  upright and keep it from falling over. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the base  30  is generally circular in shape and consists of hard shell having a front wall  33 , back wall  34  and a side wall  35 . The sidewall  35  encompasses approximately two thirds of the circular base creating an opening  36  at the top and shortened front wall  33  as compared to the back wall  34 . A pocket  37  is formed by the front wall  33 , back wall  34  and a side wall  35 . A slot  38  is cut into the front wall and extends from the opening  36  to past the halfway point of the circular base  30 . The pocket  37  is appropriately sized, height and width, to receive the suction cup  12  and flange  13  to create a frictional fit. The slot  38  is of sufficient size to accommodate the screw mount  14 . In the disclosed embodiment, the stand portion  2  fits in the base  30  with sufficient friction fit to prevent small movements or gravity from dislodging the stand portion  2  from the base  30 . 
         [0024]    An adjustable torso strap  31  is comprised of a male strip  39  having a male clip  40  on one end and female strip  41  having a female clip  42  on one end. The other end of the male strip  39  is attached to the edge of base  30  at approximately the lateral axis  47  of the base. The other end of the female strip  41  is attached to the edge of base  30  at approximately the lateral axis  47  of the base  30 , on the opposing side of where the male strip  39  attaches to the base  30 . The male clip  40  corresponds to the female clip  42  and capable of locking. Other fasteners such as clips may be utilized. 
         [0025]    An adjustable neck strap  32  is comprised of a right strip  43  having a hook and loop fastener  44  on one end and left strip  45  having a hook and loop fastener  46  on one end. The other end of the male strip  43  is attached to the back wall  34  of base  30  above the slot  38 . The other end of the female strip  45  is attached adjacent to the where the male strip  43  attaches to the base  30  on the opposite side of the longitudinal axis  48  of base  30 . The hook and loop fasteners  44 ,  46  are capable of attaching to one another and securing the right strip  43  with the left strip  45 . Other fasteners such as clips may be utilized. 
         [0026]    In operation and attached to a user as seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the back wall  34  of the base  30  is placed against a person&#39;s chest or torso  49 . The torso straps  39 ,  41  are positioned around the person&#39;s torso  49  and connected through the clips  40 ,  42 . The neck straps  43 ,  45  are moved from the base  30  to extend behind the person&#39;s neck  50  and fastened with the hook and loop  44 ,  46 . The torso strap  31  is to keep the base  30  against the person&#39;s torso  47  and the neck strap  32  is to assist in keeping the base  30  from moving up and down. The stand  2  is then inserted into the pocket  37 . An electronic device  20  is attached to the device holder  3  and the person may then use the pivot joint  9 , the telescoping element  7 , an/or the ball and socket joint  16  to adjust the device holder  3  to ensure proper use of the electronic device while keeping their hands free for other activities.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0