Multifunctional strap system for handheld portable electronic devices

• US 8,973,795 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2011
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FabX Innovations, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Herbert Chiu Jr
• Inventors: Chiu, Herbert Jr., Medel, Wilfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Nash, Brian D
• Assistant Examiner(s): SKURDAL, COREY NELSON
• Application Number:
  US13/298,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20130009413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 224217-219, 224/221, 224/930, 224/675, 224/250, 224/254, 224/255, 361/679.56, 361/679.3, 455/575.6
• US Class Current: 224/218
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/30 Straps; Bands
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2200/15 Articles convertible into a stand, e.g. for displaying purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/006 comprising a suspension strap or lanyard
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/008 Hand articles fastened to the wrist or to the arm or to the leg
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/021 to the belt
• 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 11/105 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 13/022 repositionable
• 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: Y10S 224/93 Attached to animate bearer

Abstract

A multifunctional strap system for portable electronic devices having a case and a strap on the back of the case. The case securely holds a protective electronic device while allowing access to all necessary features of the device. The strap securely couples a user'"'"'s hand or other personal effects to the device. The strap may also be attached to a clip that removably attaches the strap to the bottom of the device. The detachable clip of the strap allows the strap system to loop around and be secured onto an object. The case may have an insert that can be used as a kickstand or a protective cover of a card held into place by the strap.

Claims

1. A partial enclosure shell for a portable electronic device having a face for user interaction comprising:

a case comprising a back, a top side, a bottom side, a left side, and a right side collectively defining a cavity of a shape and size adapted to receive and hold the portable electronic device;

at least one strap configured to couple the case to a user'"'"'s hand, where one end of the strap is coupled to the case at a point proximate to the case'"'"'s top side; and

at least one clip, wherein the at least one clip is coupled to the opposing end of the strap and detachably coupled to the bottom side of the portable electronic device where the clip has a back portion connected to a base with the base, in turn, connected to a front portion and the clip is so shaped that when coupled to the bottom side of the portable electronic device the back portion is generally planar in a plane parallel to the plane of the back side of the shell and is also adjacent to the back side of the shell, and where the front portion is generally planar in a plane parallel to the plane of the face of the portable electronic device and adjacent to the face.

2. The partial enclosure shell for a portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the case further comprises a channel co-extensive with and disposed under at least one strap with a shape about the shape of the strap to receive at least one strap.

3. The partial enclosure shell for a portable electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a shock-resistant grip along the outside of the left side of the case and the right side of the case thereby improving handling of the portable electronic device.

4. The partial enclosure shell for a portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein, when the electronic device is held in the cavity, and the clip is coupled to the bottom the of the electronic device, the clip further comprises:

where the base is flat and located and angled relative to the center of gravity of the electronic device to facilitate standing the portable electronic device in an upright position, and where the base extends beyond the front of the electronic device and beyond the back of the case to an extent that the base provides a stand such that the portable electronic device stands upright on a flat horizontal surface without other support.

5. The partial enclosure shell for a portable electronic device of claim 4 wherein the at least one strap is stretched to create tension allowing the hand of the user to be coupled to the portable electronic device without applying external force.

6. A strap system for a portable electronic device comprising:

a case comprising a top edge, a bottom edge and a plurality of side edges, wherein the case is configured to hold the portable electronic device in a main cavity;

at least one strap configured to couple to a hand of a user; and

at least one clip coupled to the strap wherein the at least one clip is detachably coupled to the bottom edge of the portable electronic device and wherein the at least one clip further comprises;

a back side generally parallel to a back side of the portable electronic device;

a bottom side generally parallel to a bottom side of the portable electronic device, wherein the bottom side is flat and balanced to facilitate standing the portable electronic device in an upright position; and

further comprising a port guard on the bottom side of the at least one clip for sealing a port on the bottom side of the portable electronic device.

7. A partial enclosure shell for a portable electronic device comprising:

a case comprising a back, a top side, a bottom side a left side and a right side collectively defining a cavity of a shape and size adapted to hold the portable electronic device;

at least one strap configured to couple the case to a user'"'"'s and, where one end of the strap is coupled to the case at a point proximate to the case'"'"'s top side; and

at least one clip, wherein the at least one clip having a back portion, a base, and a front portion generally parallel to the back portion is coupled to the opposing end of the strap and detachably coupled to the bottom side of the portable electronic device, and wherein, when the electronic device is held in the cavity, and the at least one clip is coupled to the bottom of the electronic device the base of the clip comprises a port guard for covering a port on the bottom side of the portable electronic device.