APPARATUS FOR GRIPPING HANDHELD DEVICES

• US 20120042476A1
• Filed: 10/26/2010
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flygrip Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Michael Shayne Karmatz
• Inventors: KARMATZ, Michael Shayne
• Granted Patent: US 8,844,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/421
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/102 the shape being specially adapted to facilitate handling or improve grip
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]

Abstract

An apparatus for gripping a handheld device is provided. The apparatus includes a base for affixing the apparatus to a first surface of the handheld device; at least one extension extending from the base at a first end of the extension; and a grip extending from the at least one extension at a second end of the extension, wherein the grip is oriented substantially parallel to the first surface of the handheld device, and wherein the apparatus is adapted to receive a portion of at least one finger inserted between the grip and the handheld device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for gripping a handheld device, the apparatus comprising:

a base for affixing the apparatus to a first surface of the handheld device;

at least one extension extending from the base at a first end of the extension; and

a grip extending from the at least one extension at a second end of the extension,

wherein the grip is oriented substantially parallel to the first surface of the handheld device, and

wherein the apparatus is adapted to receive a portion of at least one finger inserted between the grip and the handheld device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted to receive a portion of each of two fingers inserted between the grip and the handheld device at opposite sides of the at least one extension.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grip is movable from an open position for receiving the at least one finger towards the handheld device into a closed position such that the grip extends from the extension in the direction substantially parallel to the first surface of the handheld device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein when the grip is at the closed position, an exposed surface of the grip is substantially coplanar with a surface of the handheld device.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one extension comprises a spring that provides a force for automatically pushing the grip from the closed position in a direction away from the base into the open position.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one extension comprises a spring that provides a force for automatically pulling the grip from the open position towards the handheld device into the closed position.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one extension comprises a plurality of telescoping sections such that the telescoping sections are collapsed in the closed position and extended in the open position.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a lock for holding the apparatus in the closed position.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lock for holding the apparatus in an open position for receiving the at least one finger.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is rotatable with respect to at least one extension.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one extension is rotatable with respect to the grip.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is integrated into a removable battery cover of the handheld device.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is integrated into a removable sleeve adapted to substantially cover at least one surface of the handheld device.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is affixable to a recess in the handheld device such that an exposed surface of the base panel is substantially coplanar with a surface of the handheld device.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is integrated to a housing of the handheld device.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grip includes at least one contoured surface positionable to face towards the handheld device, such that the contoured surface is adapted to receive the portion of the at least one finger inserted between the grip and the handheld device.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grip is positionable to support the handheld device resting on a surface in a viewing orientation.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the grip positionable to support the handheld device resting on the surface in each of a landscape viewing orientation and a portrait viewing orientation.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, the apparatus is adapted to receive an end of the at least one finger inserted between the grip and the handheld device, such that a user'"'"'s thumb, which is included a hand that includes the at least one finger, has a range of motion spanning at least a front surface of the handheld device.