Patent Description:
Conventionally, a mobile terminal holder having two rings into which a user inserts fingers is known from <CIT>. The mobile terminal holder is fixed at a center back of a mobile terminal and is held by inserting the finger into a finger retainer. The mobile terminal holder allows the mobile terminal to be propped at an angle using the finger retainer as a support.

Other mobile terminal case know from <CIT> is configured to be used as a stand when needed. The mobile terminal case has a back portion provided with a support leg having ring-shape and a recessed portion where the support leg is configured to be accommodated. The support leg and the recessed portion are provided at a central portion on the back portion of the mobile terminal case, and the mobile terminal case is configured to be placed diagonally on the ground by exposing the support leg from the recessed portion and bringing the same into contact with the ground. <CIT> teaches a wearable computing device having a processor, a memory, and a display so operatively coupled to the processor and the memory as to display an output therefrom. The processor and the memory are positioned in a resiliently flexible body.

The mobile terminal holder described in the <CIT> could not be attached to the periphery of the mobile terminal because the finger retainer and a base are overlapped in the direction perpendicular to the display surface of the mobile terminal. In other words, the base protrudes from the periphery of the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal holder is attached to the periphery of the mobile terminal. Since the finger retainer cannot be placed at the periphery of the mobile terminal, which lacks the freedom to hold the mobile terminal.

In the mobile terminal holder and the mobile terminal case, since the ring portion is provided near the center on the back of the case, the case is held in place by inserting the middle or the index finger into the ring portion. Even if the user removes the hand from the case to perform other tasks while holding the case with the middle or the index finger, the middle or the index finger is still inserted into the ring portion and the mobile terminal still remains in the palm. This makes it difficult to perform other tasks by hand, such as picking up items from a bag due to the mobile terminal case.

In addition, the ring portion is provided near the center on the back of the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal is supported near the center of the gravity thereof, which lacks stability on the palm. In other words, when the mobile terminal is held horizontally, the mobile terminal is supported near the center of gravity and thus is unstable on the palm during the operation of the mobile terminal.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a terminal holder and a terminal case capable of stably holding a mobile terminal as well as performing other tasks while holding the mobile terminal.

To solve the above problem, the present invention provides a terminal holder as defined in claim <NUM>. Further improvements are subject to the dependent claims.

With this configuration, since the finger insertion space fails to overlap with the fixed portion as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the fixed surface, the holding portion is configured to be placed at the peripheral portion of the mobile terminal without the interference with the fixed portion. The terminal holder is configured to be placed at an arbitrary position compared with the conventional terminal holder, which enhances a freedom in holding the terminal device. In other words, the terminal holder is configured to be disposed at the peripheral portion of the mobile terminal. For example, the mobile holder is configured to be disposed at a position so as not to overlap with the mobile terminal and so as to protrude from the mobile terminal as viewed from the direction perpendicular to the fixed surface. In addition, the finger can be easily inserted without the interference with the fixed portion when inserting the finger into the finger insertion space.

With this configuration, since the finger insertion space and the fixed surface are substantially parallel to each other, the holding portion is configured to be placed at the peripheral portion of the mobile terminal without the interference with the fixed portion. This configuration enhances a freedom of retention compared with the conventional mobile terminal holder. Since the little finger is inserted into the finger insertion space, the user can hold the mobile terminal by inserting only the little finger into the finger insertion space. If the user wishes to perform other tasks while holding the mobile terminal, the user releases the grasp of the mobile terminal and rotate the mobile terminal around the holding portion so as to be away from the palm while hanging the mobile terminal. Thus, the mobile terminal is away from the palm and the user can freely perform other tasks, such as picking up necessary items from the bag, while hanging the mobile terminal with the little finger. In addition, since only the little finger is used to hold the mobile terminal, the other fingers can be used relatively freely. Thus, the mobile terminal is held stably while taking selfies with a camera provided in the mobile terminal, as well as taking pictures using other fingers other than the little finger without blurring. Furthermore, since the finger inserted into the finger insertion space is the little finger, the mobile terminal is held at an angle such that the little finger supports a lower portion and the other fingers support the main body. Thus, the mobile terminal is stably held by the palm and the other fingers under its own weight. In conventional terminal cases, a ring portion is provided at the approximate center of gravity and the mobile terminal tends to be wobbled around the ring portion. In contrast, according to the present invention, by inserting the little finger into the finger insertion space, the lower portion of the mobile terminal is supported by the little finger while the weight of the mobile terminal is received by the other fingers. Therefore, the mobile terminal can be held stably.

When operated by the thumb and the index finger, user's attention is drawn to the abdomen, while when operated by the medicinal and little fingers, user's attention is drawn to the back. The middle finger is the central finger, and manipulation with the middle finger directs the attention to both the abdomen and the back. This is based on a theory discovered by the inventor that the muscles of the thumb and the index finger are in connection with the muscles of the abdomen, the muscles of the medicinal and little fingers are in connection with the muscles of the back, and the muscles of the middle finger are in connection with the muscles of the abdomen and back. The user holds the conventional terminal case with the index finger or the middle finger, and as a result, the user tends to have negative consciousness because the awareness is mainly directed to the abdomen and less directed to the back, and the user's back tends to be bent inwardly. In the present invention, since the mobile terminal is held by the little finger, the movement of the mobile terminal is naturally centered on the little finger. As a result, the awareness is directed from the shoulders to the back, and the mobile terminal is moved while using the muscles of the arms, the shoulders and the back, instead of using only the wrists. The user can operate the mobile terminal with a good posture in stretching the back muscles as the awareness is directed to the back. In addition, an outward opening force is generated at the trunk of the body by stretching the back muscles, allowing the user to have positive and outward thought instead of inward thought. Here, the inward thought means to become self-reflective, such as looking back on the past by shutting out information from the outside, while the outward thought means to take in information from the outside by raising user's vision and to think positively about the future. Using the mobile terminal of the present invention provides outward thought to the user.

With this configuration, since the holding portion is twisted in the predetermined direction from one end portion to the finger support portion and twisted again in the predetermined direction from the finger support portion to the other end portion, the little finger inserted into the finger insertion space is supported by a flat-plate shaped plane. As a result, even when the mobile terminal is hung on the little finger inserted in the finger insertion space (<FIG>), the plane contacts the little finger and thus the load on the little finger can be reduced. Since the holding portion is of an abbreviated flat shape and is twisted once in the predetermined direction and once again in the predetermined direction, the terminal holder can be made by arranging the fixed portion divided into two parts and the holding portion on the same plane and combining the divided fixed portions (<FIG>), which can fabricate the terminal holder in a simple method.

With this configuration, since the finger support portion is wider than the one end portion and the other end portion of the holding portion, the load on the little finger can be reduced by contacting the plane to the little finger even when the mobile terminal is hung on the little finger inserted in the finger insertion space (<FIG>). In addition, since a notch is formed at a connection between the holding portion and the fixed portion, the fixed portion is configured to be restrained from peeling off from the mobile terminal even if a strong load is applied to the holding portion while the fixed portion is attached to the mobile terminal. In other words, because the notch is formed so that the load is not concentrated on the connection between the fixed portion and the holding portion, the fixed portion is difficult to peel off from the mobile terminal.

With this configuration, the direction of inserting the finger into the finger insertion space is the same as the direction in which the little finger is directed upon holding the mobile terminal, because the direction of inserting the finger into the finger insertion space is roughly parallel to the fixed surface. The little finger can be inserted into the finger insertion space naturally without twisting the holding portion, and the mobile terminal or terminal case can be held stably.

With this configuration, since the first fixed portion is fitted with the fitting hole of the second fixed portion, the fixed portion has smooth surface without any unevenness by overlapping the first and second fixed portions to form the terminal holder. This makes it possible to realize the terminal holder that looks good in appearance.

With this configuration, the first holding area is in contact with the finger upon pinching the pinched portion with the finger extending in the first direction, and the second holding area is in contact with the finger upon pinching the pinched portion with the finger extending in the second direction, enabling the mobile terminal or the terminal case to be held in a variety of ways. In addition, since the finger and the holding portion are in contact with each other upon holding the pinched portion, the finger can be prevented from falling out from the pinched portion by the holding portion. As a result, the mobile terminal or the terminal case can be held without dropping. Furthermore, the mobile terminal or the terminal case can be held comfortably owing to the flexibility of the pinched portion without the load of the fingers even when the pinched portion is held in various directions. Since the pinched portion is located between the first and second holding areas, the two pinched fingers contact the holding surface when the pinched portion is held between the fingers, which can hold the mobile terminal or the terminal case without dropping.

With this configuration, the user can hold the mobile terminal or the terminal case in various holding methods because the holding portion is detachable with respect to the pinched portion.

With this configuration, since the fixed surface and the pinched portion are located on the same plane, the fixed portion and the pinched portion can be made by cutting out the flat material, which can make the terminal holder easily. Since the holding surface is a flat surface perpendicular to the fixed surface, the mobile terminal or the terminal case can be held even when a finger is oriented in any direction on the holding surface.

With this configuration, since the terminal holder according to any of the first to ninth inventions is provided at the lower end of the main body, the user can hold the terminal case by inserting the little finger or the medicinal finger into the finger insertion space.

With this configuration, since the pinched portion is sandwiched between the mobile terminal and the main body, the heavy mobile terminal can be held without the holding portion detaching from the main body.

With this configuration, since the finger insertion space fails to overlap with the fixed portion as viewed from the direction perpendicular to the fixed surface, the fixed portion does not become an obstacle and the holding portion is located at the edge of the periphery of the terminal case. This enhances a freedom in holding the mobile terminal compared to the conventional mobile terminal holding device. In addition, the finger can be easily inserted into the finger insertion space without the interference with the fixed portion. Since the holding portion is sandwiched between the mobile terminal and the terminal case, the holding portion is hard to be detached from the terminal case even if a load is applied to the holding portion. Since the holding portion protrudes downwardly from the lower portion of the terminal case, the little finger can be inserted into the finger insertion space to hold the terminal case. If the user wish to perform other tasks while holding the terminal case, the user releases the grasp of the terminal case, rotates the terminal case around the holding portion, and separates the terminal case from the palm while holding the terminal case. As the mobile terminal is no longer present in the palm, the user can freely perform other tasks, such as picking up necessary items from the bag, while holding the mobile terminal with the little finger. In addition, since only the little finger is used to hold the terminal case, the other fingers can be used relatively freely.

With this configuration, when the little finger is inserted into the finger insertion space to hold the main body, the lower end of the main body serves as the fulcrum, thus allowing the terminal case to be held stably. For example, if the fulcrum is located above the lower portion of the terminal case, the fulcrum is close to the center of gravity of the mobile terminal and thus the terminal case is unstable. However, since the fulcrum is located at the lower portion, i.e., at a position most remote from the center of gravity of the mobile terminal, and thus the terminal case can be held stably.

With this configuration, since the first fixed portion, the second fixed portion and the holding portion are located in the same plane, the terminal holder is made in a simple method. Specifically, as shown in the terminal holder of <FIG>, the user fixes the first fixed portion and the second fixed portion to the mobile terminal such that they are both in close to each other, resulting in a terminal holder as shown in <FIG>.

With this configuration, the connection between the one end portion and the first fixed portion is displaced from the center line of the first fixed portion and the connection between the other end portion and the second fixed portion is displaced from the center line of the second fixed portion, so that the cross-sectional area of the finger insertion space is configured to be changed when the terminal holder is fixed to the mobile terminal. Specifically, if the terminal holder shown in <FIG> is produced by rotating the first and second fixed portions in the direction of arrow E shown in <FIG>, the finger insertion space has large cross-sectional area because the connection between the one end portion and the first fixed portion and the connection between the other end portion and the second fixed portion are displaced downwardly. Conversely, if the terminal holder is produced by rotating the first and second fixed portions in the direction of the arrow F shown in <FIG>, the cross-sectional area of the finger insertion space becomes small. This can adjust the cross-sectional area of the finger insertion space with one terminal holder.

The terminal holder <NUM> according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described based on <FIG>. As shown in the figures, the front, rear, top, bottom, left and right directions are defined.

The terminal holder <NUM> is attached to a mobile terminal <NUM> having a display 10A (<FIG>) representing various information and includes a fixed portion <NUM> and a holding portion <NUM>. The mobile terminal <NUM> is a smartphone or a tablet, but is not limited to them, provided that a terminal is configured to display information. The fixed portion <NUM> and the holding portion <NUM> are integrally composed of a smooth material consisting of three layers of rubber layer, a glass fiber layer and a silicon layer.

The fixed portion <NUM> has a first fixed portion <NUM>, a second fixed portion <NUM>, and a surface member <NUM> (<FIG>), as shown in <FIG>. The connection between the fixed portion <NUM> and the holding portion <NUM> is formed with notches 2a in a direction parallel to an extending direction in which the holding portion <NUM> extends from the fixed portion <NUM>. The notches 2a are formed at four locations aligned in the left and right direction to prevent the fixed portion <NUM> from peeling off from the mobile terminal <NUM> even when the holding portion <NUM> moves intensively with respect to the fixed portion <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the notch 2a has a depth of <NUM>, but is not limited to this configuration and can be set arbitrarily depending on the shape of the terminal holder <NUM>. The notch 2a may be omitted in the fixed portion <NUM>.

The first and second fixed portions <NUM> and <NUM> are substantially the same shape and have roughly rectangular shape with chamfered corners. The first and second fixed portions <NUM> and <NUM> are provided with an adhesive at the bottom surface thereof to be fixed to the back of the mobile terminal <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the first and second fixed portions <NUM> and <NUM> have a height of <NUM> in the vertical direction and a length of <NUM> in the horizontal direction in <FIG>, but are not limited thereto and can be arbitrarily selected in any shape depending on the size of the mobile terminal <NUM>. The bottom surface of the first and second fixed portions <NUM> and <NUM> corresponds to the fixed surface of the present invention. The surface member <NUM> covers the upper surface of the first and second fixed portions <NUM> and <NUM> with an unshown illustration or the like printed thereon. By printing an advertisement or the like of a company on the surface member <NUM>, the terminal holder <NUM> can be used as a promotional item.

The holding portion <NUM> has a one end portion <NUM> connected to the first fixed portion <NUM>, a finger support portion <NUM> connected to the one end portion <NUM>, and the other end portion <NUM> connected to the second fixed portion <NUM> and to the finger support portion <NUM>. In other words, the finger support portion <NUM> connects the one end portion <NUM> to the other end portion <NUM> in the developmental view shown in <FIG> in the left-right direction. The holding portion <NUM> has a linearly symmetrical shape with respect to the center line B in the center of the left-right direction, and one end portion <NUM> and the other end portion <NUM> are approximately the same shape. The connection between the one end portion <NUM> and the first fixed portion <NUM> and the connection between the finger support portion <NUM> and the second fixed portion <NUM> extend slightly in the vertical direction. The holding portion gradually widens in the vertical direction from the one end portion <NUM> to the finger support portion <NUM>, has a predetermined width in the vertical direction at the finger support portion <NUM>, and gradually narrows in the vertical direction from the finger support portion <NUM> to the other end portion <NUM>. The notches 2a of the fixed portion <NUM> are formed at both ends of the connection between the first fixed portion <NUM> and the one end portion <NUM> and at both ends of the connection between the second fixed portion <NUM> and the other end portion <NUM> in the vertical direction. The left-right direction corresponds to the connecting direction of the present invention.

As shown in <FIG>, the holding portion <NUM> is located downwardly from the center of the vertical direction with respect to the first and second fixed portions <NUM> and <NUM>. In other words, the center line C extending in the lateral direction of the holding portion <NUM> is located at a position lower than the center line I extending in the lateral direction of the first and second fixed portions <NUM> and <NUM>. That is, the connection between the one end portion <NUM> and the first fixed portion <NUM> and the connection between the other end portion <NUM> and the second fixed portion <NUM> are displaced downwardly from the center line extending in the left-right direction in the fixed portion <NUM>.

The finger support portion <NUM> supports a finger when the terminal holder <NUM> is fixed to the mobile terminal <NUM>, and is thus wider in the vertical direction than the one end portion <NUM> and the finger support portion <NUM>. In the space enclosed by the holding portion <NUM> and the fixed portion <NUM>, a finger insertion space 3a is defined in which a little finger <NUM> of the user is inserted when the terminal holder <NUM> is fixed to the mobile terminal <NUM>, as shown in the diagonal line of <FIG>. In detail, as shown in <FIG>, the finger insertion space 3a is formed at a position such that the finger insertion space 3a fails to overlap with the fixed portion <NUM> as viewed from front-rear direction orthogonal to the fixed portion <NUM>. In other words, the finger insertion space 3a is defined as a plane demarcated by the inner side 3A of the holding portion <NUM> and the fixed portion <NUM>, and the finger insertion space 3a is roughly parallel to the bottom surface of the fixed portion <NUM> (the display 10A of the mobile terminal <NUM>). By protruding the finger insertion space 3a from the fixed portion <NUM>, the finger insertion space 3a is formed at a position where the finger insertion space 3a is displaced from the fixed portion <NUM>. Furthermore, the bottom surface of the fixed portion <NUM> and the surface demarcated by the fixed portion <NUM> and the holding portion <NUM> (the finger insertion space 3a) are abbreviatedly parallel to each other.

The finger insertion space 3a has an area sufficient to allow insertion of the little finger <NUM> and is of substantially oval shape. In the present embodiment, in the state shown in <FIG>, the vertical width of the one end portion <NUM> and the other end portion <NUM> is of <NUM>, the vertical width at the finger support portion <NUM> is of <NUM>, and the length of the holding portion <NUM> in the left-right direction is of <NUM>, but the holding portion <NUM> is not limited to this configuration and any shape can be employed depending on the size of the mobile terminal <NUM>.

The attachment of the terminal holder <NUM> to the mobile terminal <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. In the terminal holder <NUM>, the fixed portion <NUM> is attached to the lower end center of the mobile terminal <NUM> in the left-right direction so that the holding portion <NUM> protrudes downwardly. As shown in <FIG>, the terminal holder <NUM> is desirably attached at a position such that the finger insertion space 3a fails to overlap with the mobile terminal <NUM> as viewed from a direction orthogonal to the bottom of the fixed portion <NUM> (front-rear direction).

Next, the fabricating method of the terminal holder <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, in the pre-assembled state of the terminal holder <NUM>, the first fixed portion <NUM>, the second fixed portion <NUM>, and the holding portion <NUM> form a flat plane shape. From this state, the upper end surface of the first fixed portion <NUM> and the upper end surface of the second fixed portion <NUM> are joined as shown by arrow E so that the inner side 3A is positioned inwardly as shown in the state of <FIG>. At this time, the holding portion <NUM> is twisted at <NUM>° in a predetermined direction at the connection between the one end portion <NUM> and the finger support portion <NUM>, and twisted again at <NUM>° in the predetermined direction at the connection between the finger support portion <NUM> and the other end portion <NUM>. The predetermined direction here means the clockwise direction as viewed from below. In detail, the near side plane of the paper surface of the holding portion <NUM> in <FIG> is facing the near side of the paper surface at the one end portion <NUM>, upwardly at the finger support section <NUM>, and again the near side at the other end portion <NUM> in the state shown in <FIG>.

From the state shown in <FIG>, the surface member <NUM> is attached to the upper surface of the first fixed portion <NUM> and the second fixed portion <NUM> to make the connection between the first fixed portion <NUM> and the second fixed portion <NUM> less noticeable. At this time, an advertisement or the like may be printed on the surface member <NUM>. The terminal holder <NUM> has been made as shown in <FIG>. The terminal holder <NUM> may be made by rotating the first fixed portion <NUM> and the second fixed portion <NUM> in the direction indicated by the arrow F in <FIG>. In this case, the lower side of the holding portion <NUM> is defined as the inner side 3B. Since the center line C of the holding portion <NUM> is located lower than the center line I of the fixed portion <NUM>, the distance between the one end portion <NUM> and the other end portion <NUM> in the lateral direction is shortened by rotating them in the direction indicated by the arrow F, and the area of the finger insertion space 3a is thus reduced compared to <FIG>. In other words, the area of the finger insertion space 3a is configured to be adjusted by shifting the center line C of the holding portion <NUM> with respect to the center line I of the fixed portion <NUM> upward or downward. In the present embodiment, the vertical distance between the upper end of the first and second fixed portions <NUM> and <NUM> and the center line C is of <NUM>, and the distance between the lower end of the first and second fixed portions <NUM> and <NUM> and the center line C is of <NUM>, but this is not limited to this configuration, and any shape can be arbitrarily employed depending on the area of the finger insertion space 3a.

Next, the method for holding the mobile terminal <NUM> by the terminal holder <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. The user holds the terminal holder <NUM> with the thumb <NUM>, the index finger <NUM>, the middle finger <NUM>, and the medicinal finger <NUM>, and inserts only the little finger <NUM> into the finger insertion space 3a. As shown in <FIG>, the user supports the back of the mobile terminal <NUM> by the index finger <NUM>, the middle finger <NUM>, and the medicinal finger <NUM>, inserts the little finger <NUM> into the finger insertion space 3a, and operates the display 10A of the mobile terminal <NUM> with the thumb <NUM>. The center of gravity G in the mobile terminal <NUM> is generated downward from the center of the mobile terminal <NUM>, so that the mobile terminal <NUM> can be held stably with the index finger <NUM>, the middle finger <NUM>, and the medicinal finger <NUM>. In other words, since the mobile terminal <NUM> is held by the little finger <NUM> at a fulcrum S away from the center of gravity G, the mobile terminal <NUM> can be held stably using its own weight by supporting the same with a plurality of fingers near the center of gravity G. Here, the fulcrum S is a point at which the terminal holder <NUM> supports the mobile terminal <NUM> and is located at the lower end of the mobile terminal <NUM>.

If the user desires to perform other tasks while holding the mobile terminal <NUM>, the user removes the index finger <NUM>, the middle finger <NUM>, and the medicinal finger <NUM>, which support the back of the mobile terminal <NUM>, from the mobile terminal <NUM>, and then the mobile terminal <NUM> rotates in a counterclockwise direction around the little finger <NUM> (fulcrum S) under its own weight, as shown in <FIG>. This allows the user to perform other tasks with fingers other than the little finger <NUM> without removing the mobile terminal <NUM> from the hand. When operating the mobile terminal <NUM> again, the user can use the recoil or use the other hand to rotate the mobile terminal <NUM> in the clockwise direction around the little finger <NUM> (fulcrum S) again as shown in <FIG>.

With this configuration, since the finger insertion space 3a fails to overlap with the fixed portion <NUM> as viewed from the front-rear direction perpendicular to the fixed surface, the holding portion <NUM> is configured to be placed at the peripheral portion of the mobile terminal <NUM> without the interference with the fixed portion <NUM>. The terminal holder <NUM> can be placed at an arbitrary position compared with the conventional terminal holder, which enhances a freedom in holding the mobile terminal <NUM>. In other words, the terminal holder <NUM> is configured to be disposed at the peripheral portion of the mobile terminal <NUM>. For example, the holding portion <NUM> is configured to be disposed at a position so as not to overlap with the mobile terminal <NUM> and so as to protrude from the mobile terminal <NUM> as viewed from the front-rear direction perpendicular to the fixed surface. In addition, the finger can be easily inserted without the interference with the fixed portion <NUM> when inserting the finger into the finger insertion space 3a.

With this configuration, since the finger insertion space 3a and the fixed surface are substantially parallel to each other, the holding portion <NUM> is configured to be placed at the peripheral portion of the mobile terminal <NUM> without the interference with the fixed portion <NUM>. This configuration enhances a freedom of retention compared with the conventional terminal holder. Since the little finger <NUM> is inserted into the finger insertion space 3a, the user can hold the mobile terminal <NUM> by inserting only the little finger <NUM> into the finger insertion space 3a. If the user wishes to perform other tasks while holding the mobile terminal <NUM>, the user releases the grasp of the mobile terminal <NUM> and rotate the mobile terminal <NUM> around the holding portion <NUM> so as to be away from the palm while hanging the mobile terminal <NUM> (<FIG>). Thus, the mobile terminal <NUM> is away from the palm and the user can freely perform other tasks, such as picking up necessary items from the bag, while hanging the mobile terminal <NUM> with the little finger <NUM>. In addition, since only the little finger <NUM> is used to hold the mobile terminal <NUM>, the other fingers can be used relatively freely. Thus, the mobile terminal <NUM> is held stably while taking selfies with the camera provided in the mobile terminal <NUM>, as well as taking pictures using other fingers other than the little finger <NUM> without blurring. Furthermore, since the finger inserted into the finger insertion space 3a is the little fingers <NUM>, the mobile terminal <NUM> is held at an angle such that the little fingers <NUM> supports the lower portion and the other fingers support the main body. Thus, the mobile terminal <NUM> is stably supported by the palm and the other fingers under its own weight. In conventional terminal cases, a ring portion is provided at the approximate center of gravity, and the mobile terminal <NUM> tends to be wobbled around the ring portion. In contrast, according to the present invention, by inserting the little finger <NUM> into the finger insertion space 3a, the lower portion of the mobile terminal <NUM> is supported by the little finger <NUM> while the weight of the mobile terminal <NUM> is received by other fingers. Therefore, the mobile terminal <NUM> can be held stably.

When operated by the thumb <NUM> and the index finger <NUM>, user's attention is drawn to the abdomen, while when operated by the medicinal finger <NUM> and the little finger <NUM>, user's attention is drawn to the back. The middle finger <NUM> is the central finger, and manipulation with the middle finger <NUM> directs the attention to both the abdomen and the back. This is based on a theory discovered by the inventor that the muscles of the thumb <NUM> and the index finger <NUM> are in connection with the muscles of the abdomen, the muscles of the medicinal finger <NUM> and little finger <NUM> are in connection with to the muscles of the back, and the muscles of the middle finger <NUM> are in connection with the muscles of the abdomen and back side. The user holds the conventional terminal case with the index finger <NUM> or the middle finger <NUM>, and as a result, the user tends to have negative consciousness because awareness is mainly directed to the abdomen and less directed to the back, and the user's back tends to be bent inwardly. In the present invention, since the mobile terminal <NUM> is held by the little finger <NUM>, the movement of the mobile terminal <NUM> is naturally centered on the little finger <NUM>. As a result, the awareness is directed from the shoulders to the back, and the mobile terminal <NUM> is moved while using the muscles of the arms, the shoulders and the back, instead of using only the wrist. The user can operate the mobile terminal <NUM> with a good posture in starching the back muscles as the awareness is directed to the back. In addition, an outward opening force is generated at the trunk of the body by stretching the back muscles, allowing the user to have positive and outward thought instead of inward thought. Here, the inward thought means to become self-reflective, such as looking back on the past by shutting out information from the outside, while an outward thought means to take in information from the outside by raising user's vision and to think positively about the future. Using the mobile terminal <NUM> of the present invention provides outward thought to the user.

With this configuration, since the holding portion <NUM> is twisted in a predetermined direction from one end portion <NUM> to the finger support portion <NUM> and twisted again in the predetermined direction from the finger support portion <NUM> to the other end portion <NUM>, the little finger <NUM> inserted into the finger insertion space 3a is supported by a flat-plate shaped plane. As a result, even when the mobile terminal <NUM> is hung on the little finger <NUM> inserted in the finger insertion space 3a (<FIG>), the plane contacts the little finger <NUM> and thus the load on the little finger <NUM> can be reduced. Since the holding portion <NUM> is of an abbreviated flat shape and is twisted once in the predetermined direction and once again in the predetermined direction, the terminal holder <NUM> can be made by arranging the first fixed portion <NUM>, the second fixed portion <NUM> and the holding portion <NUM> on the same plane and combining the first fixed portion <NUM> and the second fixed portion <NUM> (<FIG>), which can fabricate the terminal holder <NUM> in a simple method.

With this configuration, since the finger support portion <NUM> is wider than the one end portion <NUM> and the other end portion <NUM>, the load on the little finger <NUM> can be reduced by contacting the plane to the little finger <NUM> even when the mobile terminal <NUM> is hung on the little finger <NUM> inserted in the finger insertion space 3a (<FIG>). In addition, since the notch 2a is formed at a connection between the holding portion <NUM> and the fixed portion <NUM>, the fixed portion <NUM> is configured to be restrained from peeling off from the mobile terminal <NUM> even if a strong load is applied to the holding portion <NUM> while the fixed portion <NUM> is attached to the mobile terminal <NUM>. In other words, because the notch 2a is formed so that the load is not concentrated on the connection between the fixed portion <NUM> and the holding portion <NUM>, the fixed portion <NUM> is difficult to peel off from the mobile terminal <NUM>.

With this configuration, since the first fixed portion <NUM>, the second fixed portion <NUM> and the holding portion <NUM> are located on the same plane, the terminal holder <NUM> is made by a simple method. Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the user fixes the first fixed portion <NUM> and the second fixed portion <NUM> to the mobile terminal <NUM> such that they are adjacent to each other, resulting in the terminal holder <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

With this configuration, the connection between the one end portion <NUM> and the first fixed portion <NUM> is displaced from the center line of the first fixed portion and the connection between the other end portion and the second fixed portion is displaced from the center line of the second fixed portion, so that the cross-sectional area of the finger insertion space 3a is configured to be changed when the terminal holder <NUM> is fixed to the mobile terminal <NUM>. Specifically, if the terminal holder <NUM> shown in <FIG> is produced by rotating the first and second fixed portions <NUM> and <NUM> in the direction of the arrow E shown in <FIG>, the finger insertion space 3a has large cross-sectional area because the connection between the one end portion <NUM> and the first fixed portion <NUM> and the connection between the other end portion <NUM> and the second fixed portion <NUM> are displaced downwardly with respect to the center line I. Conversely, if the terminal holder is produced by rotating the first and second fixed portions <NUM> and <NUM> in the direction of the arrow F shown in <FIG>, the cross-sectional area of the finger insertion space 3a becomes small. This can adjust the cross-sectional area of the finger insertion space 3a with one terminal holder <NUM>.

In the above-described embodiment, the holding portion is composed of a plurality of layers, but the material and shape are not limited thereto. For example, the holding portion may be made from a synthetic resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyester and the like, and may be flexible, such as silicon. The holding portion may also be ring, string, cylindrical, or flat-shaped, and may be made of rubber, leather, silicone, or the like.

In the above-described embodiment, the terminal holder <NUM> holds the mobile terminal <NUM> by fixing the fixed portion <NUM> to the mobile terminal <NUM>, but is not limited to this configuration. For example, the terminal holder <NUM> may be fixed to the back of the terminal case <NUM>.

In the above-described embodiment, the fixed portion <NUM> is attached to the mobile terminal <NUM> in the terminal holder <NUM> but is not limited to this configuration. The pinched portion may be provided in addition to the fixed portion, and the pinched portion may be inserted into the inner space of the terminal case from a step of the terminal case and sandwiched between the terminal case and the mobile terminal.

In the above-described embodiment, the holding portion is of an abbreviated thin circle shape, but is not limited to this configuration. The holding portion may be shaped so long as the first and second holding areas are defined, and may be in the shape of an abbreviated rectangle, abbreviated cruciform, or abbreviated triangle, or a polygon, as viewed from rear.

In the above-described embodiment, the terminal case covers a side and a back of the mobile terminal, but is not limited to this configuration. For example, a flap may be provided to cover an opening in the terminal storage space of the terminal case. Applying the present invention to a terminal case with the flap, the flap can be readily opened with the finger to hold the terminal case by only supporting the little finger holding portion with the little finger.

In the above-described embodiment, the pinched portion is directly sandwiched between the main body and the mobile terminal, but is not limited to this configuration. For example, another member may be provided between the pinched portion and the mobile terminal and indirectly sandwich the pinched portion. This is desirable in terms of appearance because the pinched portion is invisible when the mobile terminal is removed from the terminal case.

Claim 1:
A terminal holder (<NUM>) for holding a mobile terminal (<NUM>), the terminal holder (<NUM>) comprising:
a fixed portion (<NUM>) having a fixed surface fixed to the mobile terminal or a terminal case (<NUM>) covering the mobile terminal; and
a holding portion (<NUM>) having both ends connected to the fixed portion, the holding portion having a finger insertion space (3a) into which a finger is inserted to hold the mobile terminal or the terminal case;
wherein the finger insertion space fails to overlap with the fixed portion as viewed from a direction orthogonal to the fixed surface, characterized in that:
the holding portion (<NUM>) is of flat plate shape and has a plane, the holding portion (<NUM>) having one end portion (<NUM>) connected to the fixed portion (<NUM>), the other end portion (<NUM>) connected to the fixed portion (<NUM>), and a finger support portion (<NUM>) connecting the one end portion (<NUM>) and the other end portion (<NUM>) to support the finger inserted into the finger insertion space (3a), and
wherein the holding portion (<NUM>) and the fixed surface form a flat plane shape at the connection between the one end portion (<NUM>) and the fixed portion (<NUM>), the holding portion (<NUM>) being twisted in a <NUM> degree rotation of the holding portion (<NUM>) in a first plane in a first direction and in addition also being twisted in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane in a <NUM> degree rotation from the one end portion (<NUM>) to the other end portion (<NUM>) through the finger support portion (<NUM>), the holding portion (<NUM>) and the fixed surface forming a flat plane shape at the connection between the other end portion (<NUM>) and the fixed portion (<NUM>),
wherein the connection between the one end portion (<NUM>) and the fixed portion (<NUM>) and the connection between the other end portion (<NUM>) and the fixed portion (<NUM>) are on the same side of the fixed portion (<NUM>).