Affixable belt clip for a phone incorporating an adjustable kickstand

• US 9,155,213 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2014
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Craig Jones
• Original Assignee: Craig Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLNER, MONICA E
• Application Number:
  US14/449,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20150034796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/06 allowing pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/38 by folding , e.g. pivoting or scissors tong mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/42 with arrangement for propelling the support stands on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• 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: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0234 Feet; Stands; Pedestals, e.g. wheels for moving casing on floor

Abstract

A combination clip and table top supporting device for use with any of a smartphone or other portable electronic device. The device includes a body having opposing and extending ends and which is constructed of a resilient and biasing material. The attachable electronic device is adapted to secure to a face of the body. A multi-sided kickstand is pivotally attached to the body and adjustable for supporting the body and attached device upon a surface location.

Claims

1. A combination clip and table top supporting device for use with a portable electronic device, comprising:

a body constructed of a resilient and biasing material and including first and second spaced apart layers joined along one edge;

the portable electronic device adapted to securing to a face of said body;

a multi-sided kickstand pivotally attached to said body, said kickstand is adjustable for supporting said body and attached device at an angle relative to a support surface;

said body further including a flattened blank with first and second foldable halves defining said spaced apart layers, said body further having opposite width projecting portions each further exhibiting apertures defined therein and such that said portions are folded inwardly to define height extending tabs extending within a separation distance established between said folded halves for pivotally mounting opposite inwardly facing ends of said kickstand; and

fringe portions extending from outer edges of said width projecting portions, said fringe portions being bent outwardly at an angle with said projecting portions in order to establish a lip or fringe along each outwardly facing edge.

2. The invention as described in claim 1, said body and pivotally attached kickstand constructed of any of a spring steel or resilient plastic material.

3. The invention as described in claim 1, further comprising an extending free end of a selected one of said foldable halves further comprising a series of fold locations which, during a fabrication process for creating a clip configuration, defines a spring biased and pinching/compressing location with an opposite and inner anvil surface of the other selected and foldable half.

4. The invention as described in claim 3, further comprising the first selected foldable half of the clip exhibiting pairs of opposite edge defined notches within which are selectively seated laterally outwardly deflected and inwardly biased sides of said kickstand at pivotally defined locations established between said kickstand and said clip-shaped body.

5. A combination clip and table top supporting device for use with a portable electronic device, comprising:

a body constructed of a resilient and biasing material and including first and second halves defining first and second spaced apart layers joined along one edge;

the portable electronic device adapted to securing to a face of said body, said body adapted to being attached to a wearer'"'"'s clothing in a first configuration in which an inserting edge of the clothing is adapted to bias between the spaced apart layers;

a multi-sided kickstand pivotally attached to said body proximate said joined edge, said kickstand extending around an outer perimeter of said spaced apart layers such that, upon detaching said body from the wearer, said kickstand being pivotally adjusted relative to said body for supporting said body and attached device at an angle relative to a support surface; and

a first selected half of said body exhibiting at least one edge defined notch within which are selectively seated laterally outwardly deflected and inwardly biased sides of said kickstand at pivotally defined locations established between said kickstand and said body.

6. The invention as described in claim 5, said body and pivotally attached kickstand constructed of any of a spring steel or resilient plastic material.

7. The invention as described in claim 5, said body further comprising opposite width projecting portions each further exhibiting apertures defined therein and such that said portions are folded inwardly to define height extending tabs extending within a separation distance established between said folded halves for pivotally mounting opposite inwardly facing ends of said kickstand.

8. The invention as described in claim 7, further comprising fringe portions extending from outer edges of said width projecting portions, said fringe portions being bent outwardly at an angle with said projecting portions in order to establish a lip or fringe along each outwardly facing edge.

9. The invention as described in claim 7, further comprising an extending free end of said first selected foldable halves further comprising a series of fold locations which, during a fabrication process for creating a clip configuration, defines a spring biased and pinching/compressing location with an opposite and inner anvil surface of the other selected and foldable half.

10. A combination clip and table top supporting device for use with a portable electronic device, comprising:

a body constructed of a resilient and biasing material and including first and second spaced apart layers joined along one edge;

the portable electronic device adapted to securing to a face of said body;

a multi-sided kickstand pivotally attached to said body, said kickstand is adjustable for supporting said body and attached device at an angle relative to a support surface;

said body further including a flattened blank with first and second foldable halves defining said spaced apart layers, said body further having opposite width projecting portions each further exhibiting apertures defined therein and such that said portions are folded inwardly to define height extending tabs extending within a separation distance established between said folded halves for pivotally mounting opposite inwardly facing ends of said kickstand; and

an extending free end of a selected one of said foldable halves further including a series of fold locations which, during a fabrication process for creating a clip configuration, defines a spring biased and pinching/compressing location with an opposite and inner anvil surface of the other selected and foldable half.

11. A method of forming a combination clip and surface support for use with a portable electronic device, comprising the steps of:

providing a flattened blank;

configuring width projecting portions along each of opposite sides of the blank and at intermediate locations between first and second ends;

configuring at least one side edge defined notch in the blank;

folding the blank into first and second halves, an exterior surface of a selected one of the halves adapted to mounting a rear surface of the device;

bending the width projecting portions inwardly within a space formed between the folded halves;

providing a substantially rectangular configured wire kickstand having opposing and inwardly facing assemble-able ends a spaced distance from one another; and

fitting the opposing and inwardly facing ends of the kickstand through apertures formed in the inwardly bent width projecting portions to pivotally mount the wire kickstand to the folded blank for rotation between a first position in which the kickstand surrounds the folded blank and a second rotated position in which at least one extending side of the wire kickstand engages the side edge defined notch to angle the folded blank and its device mounting surface relative to the support surface.

12. The method as described in claim 11, said step of configuring at least one side edge defined notch further comprising the step of configuring first and second pairs of side edge defined notches in the blank for pivoting the wire kickstand between the second position and a third rotated position.

13. The method as described in claim 11, further comprising the steps of configuring fringe portions along each of the opposite sides of the blank at locations proximate the width projecting portions and, upon the blank being folded into halves, of bending the fringe portions concurrent with bending the width projecting portions in order to establish a lip along each outwardly facing edge.

14. The method as described in claim 11, further comprising the step of configuring a series of fold locations in the blank, during a fabrication process for creating a clip configuration and prior to folding the blank, such that a selected one of the halves defines a spring biased and pinching/compressing location with an opposite and inner anvil surface of the other selected and foldable half.

15. The method as described in claim 11, further comprising the step of applying a two sided adhesive layer to the exterior mounting surface of the selected folded halve.