Expandable sockets for use with portable media players

• US 10,030,807 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2018
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PopSockets LLC
• Original Assignee: PopSockets LLC
• Inventors: Hobbs, Molly M., Barnett, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hanidu, Ganiyu A
• Application Number:
  US15/922,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20180202599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 131 Days
• Field of Search: 4555751, 4555758
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/06 allowing pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/40 by means of coilable or bendable legs or spiral shaped legs
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/04 for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains , e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them G03B
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/025 for translational movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/065 with a special structure, e.g. reinforced or adapted for space reduction
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/08 Foot or support base
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/33 Contact members made of resilient wire
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/00 Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers subscriber services or facilities provided at exchanges H04M3/00; prepayment telephone coin boxes H04M17/00; current supply arrangements H04M19/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

An expandable socket for attachment to a portable media player or a portable media player case. The expandable socket generally includes a platform, a skin coupled to the platform, a button coupled to the skin opposite the platform, and a biasing element. The skin includes an outer wall, an inner wall spaced radially inward of the outer wall, and a cavity defined by the inner wall, wherein the skin is deformable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The biasing element is arranged within the cavity of the skin between the platform and the button, such that the biasing element is at least partially surrounded by the inner wall of the skin. The biasing element is configured to bias the skin into the expanded configuration.

Claims

1. An accessory for attachment to a portable media player or a portable media player case, the accessory comprising:

a platform adapted to engage a portion of the portable media player or the portable media player case;

a button that is spaced from and movable relative to the platform, wherein the button has an outer surface; and

a biasing element arranged between the platform and the button, the biasing element arranged to bias the button relative to the platform,

wherein the button is movable between a first position, in which the outer surface of the button is disposed approximately adjacent the platform and is a first distance from the platform, and a second position, in which the outer surface of the button is spaced from the platform and is a second distance from the platform, the second distance being greater than the first distance, and wherein the button is (a) movable from the first position to the second position by rotating the button relative to the platform about a longitudinal axis, or (b) releasable from the first position by rotating the button relative to the platform about the longitudinal axis, thereby allowing the button to move to the second position.

2. The accessory of claim 1, further comprising a first projection carried by the button and arranged to engage a second projection carried by the platform to releasably secure the button to the platform.

3. The accessory of claim 2, wherein the first projection extends outward from the button in a first direction and the second projection extends outward from the platform in a second direction different from the first direction.

4. The accessory of claim 3, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction.

5. The accessory of claim 2, further comprising a recess defined by the platform or the button, the recess configured to receive the first or second projection to releasably secure the button to the platform.

6. The accessory of claim 1, further comprising a cover for the biasing element.

7. The accessory of claim 6, wherein the cover comprises a skin.

8. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the biasing element comprises a conical coil spring.

9. An accessory for attachment to a portable media player or a portable media player case, the accessory comprising:

a platform adapted to engage a portion of the portable media player or the portable media player case;

a button that is movable between a first position, in which an outer surface of the button is disposed approximately adjacent the platform and is a first distance from the platform, and a second position, in which the outer surface of the button is spaced from the platform and is a second distance from the platform, the second distance being greater than the first distance; and

a biasing element arranged between the platform and the button, the biasing element arranged to bias the button relative the platform,

wherein the button is releasable from the first position, allowing the button to move the second position, by rotating the button relative to the platform about a longitudinal axis.

10. The accessory of claim 9, further comprising a lock configured to releasably secure the button in the first position.

11. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the lock comprises a first projection carried by the button and arranged to engage a second projection carried by the platform.

12. The accessory of claim 11, wherein the first projection extends outward from the button in a first direction and the second projection extends outward from the platform in a second direction opposite the first direction.

13. The accessory of claim 11, further comprising a recess defined by the platform or the button, the recess configured to receive the first or second projection to releasably secure the button in the first position.

14. The accessory of claim 9, further comprising a cover for the biasing element.

15. An accessory for attachment to a portable media player or a portable media player case, the accessory comprising:

a platform adapted to engage a portion of the portable media player or the portable media player case;

a button that is movable relative to the platform between a first position, in which an outer surface of the button is disposed approximately adjacent the platform and is a first distance from the platform, and a second position, in which the outer surface of the button is spaced from the platform and is a second distance from the platform, the second distance being different than the first distance; and

a biasing element arranged between the platform and the button, the biasing element arranged to bias the button to the first position,

wherein the button is (a) movable from the first position to the second position by rotating the button relative to the platform about a longitudinal axis, or (b) releasable from the first position by rotating the button relative to the platform about the longitudinal axis, thereby allowing the button to move to the second position.

16. The accessory of claim 15, further comprising a lock configured to releasably secure the button in the first position.

17. The accessory of claim 16, wherein the lock comprises a first projection carried by the button and arranged to engage a second projection carried by the platform.

18. The accessory of claim 17, wherein the first projection extends outward from the button in a first direction and the second projection extends outward from the platform in a second direction opposite the first direction.

19. The accessory of claim 17, further comprising a recess defined by the platform or the button, the recess configured to receive the first or second projection to releasably secure the button in the first position.

20. A method, comprising:

affixing an accessory to a back of a portable media player or a portable media player case, the accessory comprising a platform engaging the back of the portable media player or the portable media player case, a button that is movable relative to the platform, and a biasing element arranged between the platform and the button, the biasing element arranged to bias the button relative to the platform, wherein the button is movable between a first position, in which an outer surface of the button is disposed approximately adjacent the platform and is a first distance from the platform, and a second position, in which the outer surface of the button is spaced from the platform and is a second distance from the platform, the second distance being greater than the first distance, and wherein the button is (a) movable from the first position to the second position by rotating the button relative to the platform about a longitudinal axis, or (b) releasable from the first position by rotating the button relative to the platform about the longitudinal axis, thereby allowing the button to move to the second position.