Abstract:
A hands-free mount for a mobile device is disclosed. An example hands-free mount includes a first plate for combining with a case of the mobile device, and a second plate for pairing with the first plate. The second plate is magnetically attachable at least in part to the first plate, and the second plate is attachable at least in part to a surface so that the mobile device can be magnetically attached to the surface. The hands-free mount can be universal to fit all smartphones. It provides a sleek removable magnetic back that can be used with or without a case for numerous mounting options.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/305,869 filed Mar. 9, 2016 for “Hands-Free Mount For Mobile Devices,” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/340,732 filed May 24, 2016 for “Hands-Free Mount For Mobile Devices,” each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety as though fully set forth herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The mobile device has become more than simply a phone. Most mobile devices (also called “smart” phones) today are a small and powerful computing device. Even the camera has made exponential leaps in picture quality, making the photos and video taken on a mobile device rival that of other good quality cameras. 
         [0003]    However, using the mobile device still requires the user to hold the mobile device while taking a picture or video. The so-called “selfie stick” seeks to address this issue, enabling a user to hold the mobile device far enough away so that the person holding the device can also be a part of the picture. But the user still must hold the camera (i.e., via the selfie stick). As such, the user cannot participate in other activities while taking a photo or video. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  shows an example hands-free mount for a mobile device. 
           [0005]      FIGS. 2A-B  illustrate assembly of the example hands-free mount for a mobile device. 
           [0006]      FIGS. 3A-D  illustrate operation of the example hands-free mount for a mobile device. 
           [0007]      FIGS. 4A-E  illustrate example use-cases for the example hands-free mount for a mobile device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    A hands-free mount is disclosed as it may be implemented with a mobile device. The hands-free mount includes a detachable magnetic backing that enables a user to mount their mobile device to any surface (e.g., any metallic or non-metallic surface). In an example, a thin piece of metal is inserted into the back of any case for a mobile device. This can then be paired with a detachable magnetic material. In another example, a thin piece of magnetic material is inserted into the back of the case for the mobile device to make the mobile device magnetic. This can then be paired (e.g., magnetically) with any metal material, including but not limited to a detachable metal plate. 
         [0009]    In either example, the detachable backing can be positioned to an object so that the mobile device can be magnetically attached thereto, enabling the mobile device to be attached “hands-free” to any desired location. As such, the hands-free mount turns any mobile device (e.g., smart phone, tablet, or other device) into a body camera, so that the user can record hiking, biking, walking, or other event, hands-free. In addition, the mobile device (or other device) can be attached to other magnetic or non-magnetic surfaces for hands-free mounting. In an example, the hands-free mount enables the user to mount the mobile device without having to hold the mobile device, e.g., to take a photo or video with himself or herself in the photo or video, for use while driving, etc. 
         [0010]    Before continuing, it is noted that as used herein, the terms “includes” and “including” mean, but is not limited to, “includes” or “including” and “includes at least” or “including at least.” The term “based on” means “based on” and “based at least in part on.” 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  shows an example hands-free mount  10  for a mobile device  1  having a front  2  and a back  3 . An example hands-free mount  10  for a mobile device  1  includes a ferromagnetic plate  14  and a magnetic plate  16  (e.g., having magnets  18 ). The plates  14  and  16  may be paired to mount the mobile device  1 , e.g., for hands-free operation. For example, the plates  14  and  16  may be magnetically attachable at least in part to one another, and one of the plates  14  or  16  may be attachable at least in part to a surface so that the mobile device  1  can be attached to the surface. 
         [0012]    It is noted that individual magnets  18  need not be provided. For example, the plate  16  may be a magnet or have a magnetic surface. It is also noted that either plate  14  or plate  16  may be combined with a case  12  of the mobile device  1 , or otherwise mounted to the mobile device  1 . 
         [0013]      FIGS. 2A-B  illustrate assembly of the example hands-free mount  10  for a mobile device  1 . In an example, one of the plates  14  or  16  may be paired with the mobile device  1  via a case  12 . For example, either of the plates  14  or  16  may be fitted behind the case  12 , and attached to the mobile device  1  by attaching the case  12  to the mobile device  1 . 
         [0014]      FIG. 2A  illustrates plate  14  being inserted between the case  12  and the mobile device  1 . Plate  16  can be attached to any desired surface and paired with plate  14 , thereby mounting the mobile device  1  to the surface. 
         [0015]      FIG. 2B  illustrates plate  16  being inserted between the case  12  and the mobile device  1 . Plate  14  can be attached to any desired surface and paired with plate  16 , thereby mounting the mobile device  1  to the surface. 
         [0016]    In an example, the case  12  may be an aftermarket case (e.g., a protective case) for the mobile device  1 . In another example, the case  12  may be the manufacturer casing of the phone (e.g., a battery cover). 
         [0017]    In another example, one of the plates  14  or  16  includes an adhesive surface (e.g., is a “sticker”). As such, the plate (e.g., plate  14 ) having the adhesive surface can be adhered to the desired mounting surface so that the other plate (e.g., plate  16 ) can be paired with the adhesive plate and mounted to the surface. This may be desirable, for example, when the mounting surface does not have magnetic properties (e.g., plastic). In this example, the adhesive plate or “sticker” can be adhered to the plastic surface (e.g., the back of a computer monitor as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , discussed below), and then the mobile device  1  mounted to the sticker via the magnetic plate  16  on the mobile device  1 . 
         [0018]    Of course, it is noted that the “sticker” plate can be magnetic or ferromagnetic, and the opposite type of plate (e.g., ferromagnetic or magnetic, respectively) can be implemented on the mobile device  1 . 
         [0019]    Still other examples are contemplated, as will be readily understood by those having ordinary skill in the art after becoming familiar with the teachings herein. For example, the plate to be attached on the desired mounting surface and/or to the mobile device  1  (e.g., the cover  12 ) by a clip, clamp, button, snap, or any other suitable attachment, to attach the plate to the mounting surface so that the other plate (i.e., the plate on the mobile device  1 ) can be paired with the plate on the mounting surface to mount the mobile device  1  to the mounting surface. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 3A-D  illustrate operation of the example hands-free mount  10  for a mobile device  1 . In an example illustrated by  FIGS. 3A-D , ferromagnetic plate  14  is positioned behind the case  12  of the magnet device  1  (and therefore is not visible in  FIGS. 3A-D ), and the magnetic plate  16  is paired with the plate  14  so that it is removably attached to the outside of the case  12 . In another example illustrated by  FIGS. 3A-D , the plate  16  may be attached (e.g., pivotally or otherwise attached by button or snap, etc.) to the case  12 . 
         [0021]      FIGS. 3B-3D  illustrate the magnetic plate  16  as it may be rotated to various positions. In  FIGS. 3B-C , the magnetic plate  16  is shown rotated to a side position. In  FIG. 3D , the magnetic plate  16  is shown rotated to a top position. Although not shown, the magnetic plate  16  may also be rotated to a bottom position (i.e., opposite that shown in  FIG. 3D ). 
         [0022]    It can be seen from the illustrations in  FIGS. 3B-3D  that the mobile device  1  can be mounted to a surface by pairing the exposed magnetic surface of plate  16  with a ferromagnetic surface. Examples are illustrated in  FIG. 4E , discussed in more detail below. 
         [0023]    Before continuing, it should be noted that the examples described above are provided for purposes of illustration, and are not intended to be limiting. Other devices and/or device configurations may be utilized to carry out the operations described herein. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 4A-E  illustrate example use-cases for the example hands-free mount for a mobile device. It is noted that the operations illustrated in the drawings are not intended to be limiting to any particular use case. Still other operations may also be implemented for any of a wide variety of different use cases. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4A  shows an example hands-free mount  10  as it may be implemented to mount a mobile device  1  on a bag  22 , such as a golf bag (although other bags or purses may also be used). In an example, one of the plates (e.g., magnetic plate  16 ) is positioned inside the bag  22 , and the plates  14  and  16  are magnetically coupled through the bag  22  so that the mobile device  1  can be magnetically attached to the bag  22 . This mode of operation may enable “hands-free” operation of the mobile device  1 . A remote  23  (wired or wireless such as BLUETOOTH™) may be provided to control the mobile device  1  when the user steps away from the mobile device  1 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 4B  shows an example hands-free mount  10  as it may be implemented to mount a mobile device  1  to a magnetic surface of an appliance  24 , such as a microwave or refrigerator.  FIG. 4C  similarly shows the example hands-free mount  10  as it may be implemented to mount a mobile device  1  to a magnetic surface of a tool box  26 . In these examples, the ferromagnetic plate  14  may not be used. Instead, the magnetic plate  16  is provided on the mobile device  1 , such as between the cover  12  and the mobile device  1 , and the magnetic plate  16  is magnetically coupled to the appliance  24  or tool chest  26  so that the mobile device  1  can be magnetically attached thereto. This mode of operation may enable “hands-free” operation of the mobile device  1 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 4D  shows an example hands-free mount  10  as it may be implemented to mount a mobile device  1  to a rear-view mirror  28  of an automobile. In this example, the ferromagnetic plate  14  may be provided on the mobile device  1 , such as between the cover  12  and the mobile device  1 , and the magnetic plate  16  is magnetically coupled to in part to the mobile device  1 , and in part on the rear-view mirror  28 . This mode of operation may enable “hands-free” operation of the mobile device  1 , e.g., as a dash camera while driving. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4E  shows an example hands-free mount  10  as it may be implemented to mount a mobile device  1  to a laptop computer  30 . In this example, the ferromagnetic plate  14  may be provided on the laptop computer  30  (e.g., as a metal “sticker” adhered to the monitor with an adhesive). The magnetic plate  16  is magnetically coupled to in part to the mobile device  1 , and in part on the sticker to mount the mobile device  1  on or adjacent to the laptop computer  30 . 
         [0029]    The example use-cases shown in  FIGS. 4A-E  are illustrative only, and not intended to be limiting. Of course, the example hands-free mount may be implemented with any number of other devices, such as a tablet, television, cash register, etc. with or without a metal backing (e.g., using the magnetic or metal stickers). The example hands-free mount may be implemented for a wide variety of sports and/or other activities. The example hands-free mount may also be implemented on any type of surface, including but not limited to vehicles, boats, ski helmets, etc. with or without a metal backing (e.g., using the magnetic or metal stickers). Still other implementations are also contemplated, as will be readily understood by those having ordinary skill in the art after becoming familiar with the teaching herein. 
         [0030]    Likewise, the hands-free mount  10  may be implemented with any of a variety of components. For example, the hands-free mount  10  may be implemented with or without a case  12  for the mobile device  1 . For example, the plate may be attached (e.g., via adhesive) to the outside of the mobile device or to the case  12 . This may be particularly desirable if the case  12  is thick, for example a LIFE CASE™ or an OTTER BOX™. The plate may also be attached (e.g., via adhesive) directly to the mobile device  1  itself. As such, the hands-free mount works well with any case, and even without a case. 
         [0031]    It is noted that the examples shown and described are provided for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting. Still other examples are also contemplated.