Mobile accessory system

• US 10,469,640 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2018
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fellowes Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fellowes Incorporated
• Inventors: Gartz, Mark R., Matlin, Tai Hoon K., Maletich, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US16/132,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20190089822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 4555751, 455 903, 4555754, 4555501
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0508 Portable audio devices, e.g. walkman, discman, radio, MP3 player, headphones
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0525 Personal portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/10 Handles for carrying purposes
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/105 the horizontal axis being the roll axis, e.g. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/40 by means of coilable or bendable legs or spiral shaped legs
• 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: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

A support system for use with a portable electronic device comprises a base, a resiliently deformable support member, and a resiliently deformable invertible member. The invertible member is connected to the support member and invertible between a retracted position having a convex configuration overlapping the support member provided on the base and having a convex configuration projecting outwardly from the base and an extended position inverted from the convex position wherein the invertible member has a concave configuration projecting outwardly from the support member. Central portions of the support member and the invertible member together define an actuatable portion. The actuatable portion is operable by depression thereof when the invertible member is in the retracted position thereof to inwardly deform the central portions of the invertible member and the support member so as to initiate inversion of the invertible member from the retracted position to the extended position.

Claims

1. A system for use with a portable electronic device comprising:

a support system for use with the portable electronic device, the support system comprising;

a base configured to be mounted on the portable electronic device or a case thereof;

a resiliently deformable support member provided on the base, the support member having a convex configuration projecting outwardly from the base; and

a resiliently deformable invertible member connected to the support member and being invertible between (a) a retracted position having a convex configuration overlapping the support member and (b) an extended position inverted from the convex, retracted position wherein the invertible member has a concave configuration projecting outwardly from the support member;

wherein central portions of the support member and the invertible member together define an actuatable portion, the actuatable portion being operable by depression thereof when the invertible member is in the retracted position thereof to inwardly deform the central portions of the invertible member and the support member, in a direction towards the base, so as to initiate inversion of the invertible member from the retracted position to the extended position.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an actuatable connector connecting the central portions of the support member and the invertible member together to define the actuatable portion for operation by depression of the actuatable connector.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein, when the invertible member is in the extended position, one of the invertible member and the support member is configured to be pivotable with respect to the actuatable connector and the other of the invertible member and the support member.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the base is configured to receive a power source therein, wherein the power source is configured to charge an internal battery of the portable electronic device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery, wherein the rechargeable battery is powered by an external power source.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the base is configured to receive a speaker therein, wherein the actuatable connector includes a speaker grill and a sound tube that are configured to transmit sound waves produced by the speaker.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the speaker is powered by the portable electronic device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the invertible member is formed as a single, one-piece member.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the base is configured to be mounted on a surface of the portable electronic device, or on a surface of the case for use with the portable electronic device, wherein the case configured to surround a back and sides of the portable electronic device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the base is integrally formed with the case for use with the portable electronic device, wherein the case configured to surround a back and sides of the portable electronic device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the support system is a stand that is configured to be mounted on a mount surface so as to position the portable electronic device in a desired viewing configuration.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the support system is a holder that is configured to enable a user of the portable electronic device to insert two fingers between surfaces of the invertible member and the support member, when the invertible member is in the extended position, so as to hold the portable electronic device using the support system.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the base includes a connector receiver that is configured to receive a cable connector of a cable, wherein the cable is selected from the group consisting of a data cable, an information cable, a data and power cable, and a power cable.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein, once the invertible member reaches a deformation threshold, the invertible member inverts instantly into the extended position.

15. A system for use with a portable electronic device comprising:

a support system for use with the portable electronic device, the support system comprising;

a base configured to be mounted on the portable electronic device or a case thereof;

a resiliently deformable support member provided on the base, the support member having a convex configuration projecting outwardly from the base; and

a resiliently deformable invertible member connected to the support member and being invertible between (a) a retracted position having a convex configuration overlapping the support member and (b) an extended position inverted from the convex position wherein the invertible member has a concave configuration projecting outwardly from the support member;

wherein central portions of the support member and the invertible member together define an actuatable portion, the actuatable portion being operable by depression thereof when the invertible member is in the retracted position thereof to inwardly deform the central portions of the invertible member and the support member so as to initiate inversion of the invertible member from the retracted position to the extended position,

wherein, once the invertible member reaches a deformation threshold, the invertible member inverts instantly into the extended position, and

wherein, when the invertible member is in the extended position, distal ends of the invertible member are moved outwardly and downwardly, towards the base, to outwardly deform the central portions of the invertible member and the support member so as to initiate movement of the invertible member from the extended position to the retracted position.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein, once the invertible member reaches the deformation threshold, the invertible member inverts instantly into the retracted position.

17. A mount system comprising:

a stationary attachment device; and

a support system for use with a portable electronic device, the support system comprising;

a base configured to be mounted on the portable electronic device or a case thereof;

a resiliently deformable support member provided on the base, the support member having a convex configuration projecting outwardly from the base; and

a resiliently deformable invertible member connected to the support member, the resiliently deformable invertible member being invertible between (a) a retracted position having a convex configuration overlapping the support member and (b) an extended position inverted from the convex, retracted position wherein the invertible member has a convex configuration overlapping the stationary attachment device;

wherein central portions of the support member and the invertible member together define an actuatable portion, the actuatable portion being operable by depression thereof by the stationary attachment device when the invertible member is in the retracted position thereof to inwardly deform the central portions of the invertible member and the support member, in a direction towards the base, so as to initiate inversion of the invertible member from the retracted position to the extended position in which the invertible member has an overlapping and interengaging relationship with the stationary attachment device to mount the support system to the stationary attachment device.

19. The mount system of claim 17, further comprising an actuatable connector connecting the central portions of the support member and the invertible member together to define the actuatable portion for operation by depression of the actuatable connector.

18. A mount system comprising:

a stationary attachment device; and

a support system for use with a portable electronic device, the support system comprising;

a base configured to be mounted on the portable electronic device or a case thereof;

a resiliently deformable support member provided on the base, the support member having a convex configuration projecting outwardly from the base; and

a resiliently deformable invertible member connected to the support member, the resiliently deformable invertible member being invertible between (a) a retracted position having a convex configuration overlapping the support member and (b) an extended position inverted from the convex, retracted position wherein the invertible member has a convex configuration overlapping the stationary attachment device;

wherein central portions of the support member and the invertible member together define an actuatable portion, the actuatable portion being operable by depression thereof by the stationary attachment device when the invertible member is in the retracted position thereof to inwardly deform the central portions of the invertible member and the support member so as to initiate inversion of the invertible member from the retracted position to the extended position in which the invertible member has an overlapping and interengaging relationship with the stationary attachment device to mount the support system to the stationary attachment device, and

wherein, when the invertible member is in the extended position thereof, an outer surface of the stationary attachment device is configured to face and fit within an inner face of the invertible member, and radially inwardly extending flange portions of the invertible member engage with portions of the stationary attachment device to attach the support system and the stationary attachment device.

20. A method for mounting a support system for use with a portable electronic device to a stationary attachment device, the support system comprising:

a base configured to be mounted on the portable electronic device or a case thereof;

a resiliently deformable support member provided on the base, the support member having a convex configuration projecting outwardly from the base; and

a resiliently deformable invertible member connected to the support member;

wherein central portions of the support member and the invertible member together define an actuatable portion thereof, the method comprising;

mounting the support system on the portable electronic device or the case thereof, when the invertible member is in a retracted position having a convex configuration overlapping the support member; and

actuating the actuatable portion by depression thereof by the stationary attachment device when the invertible member is in the retracted position thereof to inwardly deform the central portions of the invertible member and the support member so as to initiate inversion of the invertible member from the retracted position to an extended position in which the invertible member has a convex configuration overlapping the stationary attachment device.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising an actuatable connector connecting the central portions of the support member and the invertible member together to define the actuatable portion for operation by depression of the actuatable connector.