Spinning accessory for a mobile electronic device

• US 10,389,860 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2017
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PopSockets LLC
• Original Assignee: PopSockets LLC
• Inventors: Nahum, Altan, Barnett, David B., Torrance, Tony L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wendell, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US15/729,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20180288204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2200/15 Articles convertible into a stand, e.g. for displaying purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/10 Handles for carrying purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

A spinning accessory for use with a socket accessory attached to a mobile electronic device. The spinning accessory includes a bearing assembly sized to receive the socket accessory, and a gripping member carried by an inner surface of the bearing assembly. The bearing assembly facilitates rotation of a portion of the spinning accessory relative to the socket accessory. The gripping member is adapted to securely engage a portion of the socket accessory.

Claims

1. A spinning accessory for use with a socket accessory attached to a mobile electronic device, the spinning accessory comprising:

an inner ring defining a central opening sized to receive the socket accessory;

an outer ring surrounding the inner ring;

one or more balls arranged between the inner ring and the outer ring, the one or more balls configured to facilitate rotation between the inner ring and the outer ring such that the mobile electronic device is rotatable relative to a portion of the spinning accessory; and

a gripping member carried by an inner surface of the inner ring, the gripping member adapted to securely engage a portion of the socket accessory.

2. The spinning accessory of claim 1, wherein the outer ring is fixed and the inner ring is rotatable relative to the outer ring.

3. The spinning accessory of claim 1, further comprising a gripping rim carried by the outer ring.

4. The spinning accessory of claim 1, wherein the gripping member comprises at least one of a gripping surface, one or more projections, one or more magnets, or one or more annular recesses.

5. The spinning accessory of claim 1, wherein the gripping member comprises a gripping surface.

6. The spinning accessory of claim 5, wherein the gripping surface is made of a rubber or gel material.

7. The spinning accessory of claim 1, wherein the one or more balls comprise a plurality of balls arranged circumferentially around the inner ring.

8. A spinning accessory for use with a socket accessory attached to a mobile electronic device, the spinning accessory comprising:

a bearing assembly sized to receive the socket accessory, wherein the bearing assembly facilitates rotation of a portion of the spinning accessory relative to the socket accessory;

a gripping member carried by an inner surface of the bearing assembly, the gripping member adapted to securely engage a portion of the socket accessory; and

a gripping rim carried by an outer surface of the bearing assembly.

9. The spinning accessory of claim 8, wherein the bearing assembly comprises a ball bearing assembly including:

an inner ring sized to receive the socket accessory;

an outer ring surrounding the inner ring, wherein the inner ring and the outer ring are rotatable relative to one another such that the spinning accessory is rotatable relative to the socket accessory; and

a plurality of balls arranged between the inner ring and the outer ring, the plurality of balls configured to facilitate rotation between the inner ring and the outer ring,

wherein the gripping member is carried by an inner surface of the inner ring and the gripping rim is carried by the outer ring.

10. The spinning accessory of claim 8, wherein the gripping member comprises at least one of a gripping surface, one or more projections, one or more magnets, or one or more annular recesses.

11. The spinning accessory of claim 8, wherein the gripping member comprises a gripping surface.

12. The spinning accessory of claim 11, wherein the gripping surface is made of a rubber or gel material.

13. An assembly of accessories for a portable media player, the assembly comprising:

a socket accessory for attachment to the portable media player or a case for the portable media player, the socket comprising;

a platform for attaching the socket accessory to the mobile electronic device or the case for the mobile electronic device; and

a button spaced relative to the platform; and

a spinning accessory attachable to the button of the socket accessory, the spinning accessory comprising;

a bearing assembly configured to facilitate rotation of a portion of the spinning accessory relative to the socket accessory; and

a gripping member carried by an inner surface of the bearing assembly and configured to securely engage a surface of the button to attach the spinning accessory to the socket accessory.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the button is movable relative to the platform such that the socket accessory is extendable.

15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the socket accessory is extendable along an axis, and wherein the spinning accessory is rotatable relative to the socket accessory about the axis.

16. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the socket accessory further comprises a skin coupled to the platform, wherein the skin is deformable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.

17. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the button is coupled to the skin opposite the platform.

18. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the bearing assembly comprises:

an inner ring defining a central opening sized to receive the button of the socket accessory;

an outer ring surrounding the inner ring, wherein the inner ring and the outer ring are rotatable relative to one another;

one or more balls arranged between the inner ring and the outer ring, the one or more balls configured to facilitate rotation between the inner ring and the outer ring, and

wherein the gripping member is carried by an inner surface of the inner ring.

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the outer ring is fixed and the inner ring is rotatable relative to the outer ring.

20. The assembly of claim 18, further comprising a gripping rim carried by the outer ring.

21. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the gripping member comprises at least one of a gripping surface, one or more projections, one or more magnets, or one or more annular recesses.