Apparatus, system, and method for attaching peripheral items to devices

• US 8,830,663 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2011
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Annex Products PTY LTD
• Original Assignee: Ligar Group LLC
• Inventors: Child, Eric, Clayton, Whitney, Gates, Stephen B., Barberis, Brent E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Forrest M
• Application Number:
  US13/218,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20120050968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01, 224/269
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724092 Interfacing with an external cover providing additional functionalities

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for attaching accessories to a portable electronic device. A device may be a cellular phone, mp3 player, or other device. An accessory may be an armband, a headphone management system, a stereo system, or other device. The accessories and devices may attach using associated device connector section and accessory connector section. The device connector section may adhere to a protection sheet, which in turn is directly attached to the device. The accessories may be removed when they are no longer in use, and may be swapped for other accessories that can attach to the device. Various embodiments of device connector sections and accessory connector sections can be used to make an appropriately secure connection between the device and accessory.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting a portable electronic device and an accessory for the portable electronic device, the connector comprising:

a device connector section having;

a device coupler that couples the device connector section to the portable electronic device;

a first connection coupler that detachably couples the device connector section to an accessory connector section; and

the accessory connector section having;

a second connection coupler that detachably couples the accessory connector section to the device connector section, wherein the first connection coupler engages the second connection coupler via a rotational locking system;

an accessory coupler that couples the accessory connector section to the accessory for the portable electronic device.

2. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a protection sheet, the protection sheet connecting directly to the portable electronic device, and the device coupler coupling the device connector section to the portable electronic device with the protection sheet intermediate.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the device coupler makes a substantially permanent connection between the portable electronic device and the device connector section.

4. The connector of claim 3, wherein the device coupler is an adhesive.

5. The connector of claim 3, wherein the device coupler is one of a case for the portable electronic device and a replacement backing for the portable electronic device.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the accessory coupler is integral to the accessory for the portable electronic device.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the rotational locking system comprises using a quarter turn rotation.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first connection coupler is a female connection coupler, and the second connection coupler is a male connection coupler.

9. A system for connecting a portable electronic device and an accessory for the portable electronic device, the system comprising:

a portable electronic device having a back side opposite a display side of the portable electronic device;

an accessory for the portable electronic device; and

a connector, coupled to the back side of the portable electronic device, that detachably couples the portable electronic device and the accessory, the connector comprising;

a device connector section having;

a device coupler that couples the device connector section to the back side of the portable electronic device;

a first connection coupler that detachably couples the device connector section to an accessory connector section; and

the accessory connector section having;

a second connection coupler that detachably couples the accessory connector section to the device connector section, wherein the first connection coupler engages the second connection coupler via a rotational locking system;

an accessory coupler that couples the accessory connector section to the accessory for the portable electronic device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the accessory coupler and the second connection coupler are integral components of the accessory for the portable electronic device.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the accessory coupler is an adhesive.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising a protection sheet connecting directly to the back side of the portable electronic device, the device coupler coupling the device connector section to the back side of the portable electronic device with the protection sheet intermediate.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the device coupler is an adhesive.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the device coupler is an integral component of the back side of the portable electronic device.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the first connection coupler is a female connection coupler, and wherein the second connection coupler is a male connection coupler.

16. A method for connecting a portable electronic device and an accessory for the portable electronic device, the method comprising:

making a substantially permanent connection between a back side of a portable electronic device and a device coupler of a device connector section;

aligning a first connection coupler of the device connector section with a second connection coupler of a accessory connector section, wherein the second connection section comprises an accessory coupler that couples the accessory connector section to an accessory for the portable electronic device; and

engaging the first connection coupler and the second connection coupler such that the first connection coupler is detachably coupled to the second connection coupler, wherein engaging the first connection coupler and the second connection coupler comprises rotating one of the first and second connection coupler a certain degree relative to the other of the first and second connection coupler.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein engaging the first connection coupler and the second connection coupler comprises turning the first connection coupler forty-five degrees relative to the second connection coupler.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising attaching a protection sheet to the back side of the portable electronic device, and wherein making the substantially permanent connection between the back side of the portable electronic device and the device coupler further comprises removing an adhesive backing of the device coupler and adhering the device coupler to the protection sheet.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein making a substantially permanent connection between the back side of the portable electronic device and the device coupler comprises fitting a protective case having an integral device coupler to the portable electronic device.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein making a substantially permanent connection between the back side of the portable electronic device and the device coupler comprises removing a battery cover of the portable electronic device and attaching a replacement battery cover having an integral device coupler to the portable electronic device.