Expandable sockets for use with portable media players
First Claim
1. An expandable socket for attachment to a portable media player or a portable media player case, the expandable socket comprising:
- a platform adapted to engage a portion of the portable media player or the portable media player case;
a skin coupled to the platform, wherein the skin comprises an outer surface, an inner surface spaced radially inward of the outer surface, and a cavity defined by the inner surface, wherein the skin is deformable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;
a button coupled to the skin opposite the platform;
a biasing element 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 surface of the skin, the biasing element configured to bias the skin into the expanded configuration; and
a lock configured to releasably secure the skin in the collapsed configuration, wherein the lock comprises a first projection carried by the button and arranged to engage a second projection carried by the platform when the lock releasably secures the skin in the collapsed configuration.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
47 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 platform adapted to engage a portion of the portable media player or the portable media player case; a skin coupled to the platform, wherein the skin comprises an outer surface, an inner surface spaced radially inward of the outer surface, and a cavity defined by the inner surface, wherein the skin is deformable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration; a button coupled to the skin opposite the platform; a biasing element 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 surface of the skin, the biasing element configured to bias the skin into the expanded configuration; and a lock configured to releasably secure the skin in the collapsed configuration, wherein the lock comprises a first projection carried by the button and arranged to engage a second projection carried by the platform when the lock releasably secures the skin in the collapsed configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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8. 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 platform adapted to engage a portion of the portable media player or the portable media player case; a skin coupled to the platform, wherein the skin comprises an outer surface, an inner surface spaced radially inward of the outer surface, and a cavity defined by the inner surface, wherein the skin is deformable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration; a button coupled to the skin opposite the platform; a biasing element 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 surface of the skin, the biasing element configured to bias the skin into the expanded configuration; and a lock configured to releasably secure the skin in the collapsed configuration, wherein the lock comprises a recess defined by the platform or the button, and a protrusion defined by the other of the platform or the button, the recess configured to receive the protrusion when the lock releasably secures the skin in the collapsed configuration. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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10. 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 platform adapted to engage a portion of the portable media player or the portable media player case; a skin coupled to the platform, wherein the skin is deformable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration; a button coupled to the skin opposite the platform; a biasing element arranged between the platform and the button, the biasing element configured to bias the skin into the expanded configuration; and 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, 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. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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17. 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 platform adapted to engage a portion of the portable media player or the portable media player case; a skin coupled to the platform, wherein the skin comprises an outer surface, an inner surface spaced radially inward of the outer surface, and a cavity defined by the inner surface, wherein the skin is deformable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration; a button coupled to the skin opposite the platform; a biasing element 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 surface of the skin, the biasing element configured to bias the skin into the expanded configuration; and first and second projections carried by the platform, a third projection carried by the button, and a space between the first and second projections, wherein the third projection is configured to be disposed in the space as the skin is deformed from the expanded configuration to the collapsed configuration. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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18. 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 platform adapted to engage a portion of the portable media player or the portable media player case; a skin coupled to the platform, wherein the skin is deformable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration; a button coupled to the skin opposite the platform; a biasing element arranged between the platform and the button, the biasing element configured to bias the skin into the expanded configuration; 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; and a recess defined by the platform or the button, the recess configured to receive the first or second projection when the button is releasably secured to the platform. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification