Holder for electronic device with support

• US 9,538,675 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2015
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zero Chroma, LLC
• Original Assignee: Zero Chroma, LLC
• Inventors: Le Gette, Brian E., Reeb, David
• Primary Examiner(s): STERLING, AMY JO
• Application Number:
  US14/627,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20150163936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/3919 USB, earphones, audio or video cables, e.g. for connecting small electronic devices such as MP3 players or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4476 with stored material wound around two spaced supports
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/04 Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• 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 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: H05K 5/0234 Feet; Stands; Pedestals, e.g. wheels for moving casing on floor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers

Abstract

Cases or holders for cell phones, personal digital assistants, portable video/music players, electronic books, electronic tablets and other handheld and/or free-standing display devices, as well as the devices themselves are disclosed. In different embodiments, a versatile protective holder that can allow placement on any surface for hands-free viewing, with full adjustment of viewing angle in landscape and/or portrait orientations; directional sound reflecting and baffling; easier cleaning and viewing of the device'"'"'s screen; easier grasping by the user; wearing of the device using a belt clip or arm or waist band; as well as attachment to an automobile, bicycle, or other vehicle are disclosed.

Claims

1. A support mechanism comprising:

a body; and

a support rotatably coupled to the body such that the orientation of the support relative to the body can change to support the body in different orientations relative to a support surface, the support being movable between a retracted position and at least two extended positions relative to the body, the support being engageable with the support surface when the support is in any of its extended positions,

wherein the support includes a base, a coupler, and an arm directly pivotally coupled to the base about a first axis and to the coupler about at least a second axis, the first axis being different from the second axis, the first axis and the second axis being parallel to each other, and the arm being engageable with the support surface.

2. The support mechanism of claim 1, wherein a force applied to the arm by the support surface is directed so as to cause the arm to move from an extended position in which the arm is set toward its retracted position.

3. The support mechanism of claim 1, wherein the arm includes an engagement surface that engages the support surface, the arm is directly pivotally coupled to the base at a first location and coupled to the coupler at a second location, and the second location is between the engagement surface and the first location.

4. The support mechanism of claim 3, wherein a distance between the second location and the first location is substantially less than a distance between the engagement surface and the first location.

5. The support mechanism of claim 1, wherein the coupler is slidably coupled to the base.

6. The support mechanism of claim 1, wherein the support is rotatable relative to the body when the support is in its retracted position and the at least two extended positions.

7. The support mechanism of claim 1, wherein the support is flush with the body when the support is in its retracted position.

8. The support mechanism of claim 1, wherein the arm is flush with the base when the arm is in its retracted position.

9. The support mechanism of claim 1, wherein the support is engageable with the support surface to support the body in at least two desired angles relative to the support surface.

10. The support mechanism of claim 1, wherein the coupler is slidably coupled to the body.

11. The support mechanism of claim 1, wherein the body is configured to provide protection for a portable device.

12. The support mechanism of claim 1, wherein the body is configured to be removably coupled to a portable device.

13. The support mechanism of claim 1, wherein no portion of the support extends from the body when the support is in its fully retracted position.

14. The support mechanism of claim 1, wherein the arm is flat and without any openings.

15. The support mechanism of claim 1,

wherein a first end portion of the arm is directly pivotally coupled to the base about the first axis, a second end of the arm is free and rotatable between the retracted position and a fully extended position, and

wherein in the fully extended position the second end of the arm is outside a circular outer perimeter of the base in a rear plan view of the support mechanism.

16. The support mechanism of claim 15, wherein the second end of the arm is inside the circular outer perimeter of the base in the rear plan view of the support mechanism when the arm is in the retracted position.

21. The support mechanism of claim 1, wherein the body includes:

a first curved end, and

a second curved end opposite the first curved end,

wherein the first and second curved ends are configured to snap over and around first and second edges, respectively, of an electronic device.

22. The support mechanism of claim 21, wherein the first and second curved ends are configured to snap over and around the first and second edges, respectively, of the electronic device so as to be in direct contact with the electronic device.

23. The support mechanism of claim 21, wherein the electronic device has a non-square rectangular shape in a plan view, the first edge defining a first short side of the rectangular device in the plan view and the second edge defining a second short side of the electronic device opposite the first short side, the first curved end being configured to snap over and around the first edge defining the first short side, and the second curved end being configured to snap over and around the second edge defining the second short side.

24. The support mechanism of claim 1, wherein the body includes:

a first curved end,

a second curved end opposite the first curved end,

a first side, and

a second side opposite the first side,

wherein, in a plan view, a maximum width of the body at the first curved end and a maximum width of the body at the second curved end are less than a maximum width of the body from the first side to the second side at points of the body adjacent the support.

25. The support mechanism of claim 1, wherein the body includes:

a first curved end,

a second curved end opposite the first curved end,

a first side, and

a second side opposite the first side,

wherein the support mechanism is configured to be removably coupled to an electronic device such that the first and second curved ends are removably coupled to respective opposite first and second side edges of the electronic device and such that the first and second sides do not contact respective opposite third and fourth side edges of the electronic device.

17. A support comprising:

a body; and

means for supporting the body, said means for supporting the body being rotatably coupled to the body such that the orientation of said means for supporting the body relative to the body can change to support the body in different orientations relative to a support surface, said means for supporting the body being movable between a retracted position and at least two extended positions relative to the body, said means for supporting the body being engageable with the support surface when said means for supporting the body is in any of its extended positions,

wherein said means for supporting the body includes a base, a coupler, and a leg directly pivotally coupled to the base about a first axis and directly coupled to the coupler about at least a second axis, the first axis being different from the second axis, the first axis and the second axis being parallel to each other, and the leg being engageable with the support surface,

wherein the leg has a first side that is directly pivotally coupled to the base about the first axis, and the leg has a second side, distal the first side, that is engageable with the support surface to support the body,

wherein the different orientations include landscape view and portrait view,

wherein the base has an inner surface, an outer surface, and an opening extending from the inner surface to the outer surface, a portion of the leg being disposed in the opening when in the retracted position.

18. The support of claim 17, wherein the coupler is slidably coupled to the base.

19. The support of claim 17, wherein the coupler is slidably coupled to the body.

20. The support of claim 17, wherein a first of the at least two extended positions forms an acute angle between the body and the leg, and a second of the at least two extended positions forms an obtuse angle between the body and the leg.