Expandable sockets for use with portable media players
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An expandable socket for attachment to a portable media player or a portable media player case, the expandable socket comprising:
- a base adapted to engage a portion of the portable media player or the portable media player case;
a cover coupled to the base, wherein the cover is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position;
a button coupled to the cover opposite the base; and
a spring arranged within the cover between the base and the button,wherein the spring comprises a pair of bi-stable springs each having a first stable position corresponding to the collapsed position and a second stable position corresponding to the expanded position.
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Abstract
An expandable socket for attachment to a portable media player or a portable media player case. The expandable socket generally includes a base, a button, and a spring. The base is adapted to engage a portion of the portable media player or the portable media player case. The button is spaced from and movable relative to the base. The spring is disposed between the base and the button, the spring arranged to resist movement of the button toward the base.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An expandable socket for attachment to a portable media player or a portable media player case, the expandable socket comprising:
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a base adapted to engage a portion of the portable media player or the portable media player case; a cover coupled to the base, wherein the cover is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position; a button coupled to the cover opposite the base; and a spring arranged within the cover between the base and the button, wherein the spring comprises a pair of bi-stable springs each having a first stable position corresponding to the collapsed position and a second stable position corresponding to the expanded position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An expandable socket for attachment to a portable media player or a portable media player case, the expandable socket comprising:
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a base 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 base; and a spring disposed between the base and the button, the spring arranged to resist movement of the button toward the base, wherein the spring comprises at least one bi-stable spring, the at least one bi-stable spring having a first stable position, in which the spring resists movement of the button toward the base, and a second stable position, in which the spring resists movement of the button away from the base. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An expandable socket for attachment to a portable media player or a portable media player case, the expandable socket comprising:
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a base adapted to engage a portion of the portable media player or the portable media player case; an elastomeric skin coupled to the base and having a hollow shape, the skin including at least one folded section and being deformable between a collapsed position and an expanded position; a button coupled to the skin opposite the base, the button being disposed a first distance from the base when the skin occupies the collapsed position and a second distance greater than the first distance from the base when the skin occupies the expanded position; and a spring arranged within the skin between the base and the button, the spring configured to resist movement of the skin from the expanded configuration, wherein the spring comprises a bi-stable spring having a first stable position, in which the spring resists movement of the button toward the base, and a second stable position, in which the spring resists movement of the button away from the base. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification