Expandable sockets for use with portable media players

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10655775-B2
Application number	US-201916280615-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 20, 2019
Priority date	Aug 17, 2016
Publication date	May 19, 2020
Grant date	May 19, 2020

Abstract

An expandable socket for attachment to a portable media player or a portable media player case. The expandable socket generally includes a platform, a skin coupled to the platform, a button coupled to the skin opposite the platform, and a biasing element. The skin includes an outer wall, an inner wall spaced radially inward of the outer wall, and a cavity defined by the inner wall, wherein the skin is deformable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The biasing element is arranged within the cavity of the skin between the platform and the button, such that the biasing element is at least partially surrounded by the inner wall of the skin. The biasing element is configured to bias the skin into the expanded configuration.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An accessory for attachment to a portable media player or a portable media player case, the accessory comprising: a platform adapted to engage a portion of the portable media player or the portable media player case; a button that is movable relative to the platform; and a biasing element arranged between the platform and the button, the biasing element arranged to bias the button relative to the platform, wherein the button is movable between a first position, in which an outer surface of the button is disposed approximately adjacent the platform and is a first distance from the platform, and a second position, in which the outer surface of the button is spaced from the platform and is a second distance from the platform, the second distance being greater than the first distance, wherein the button comprises an inner surface facing the platform, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, and an annular wall carried by the inner surface, and wherein the biasing element is arranged radially inwardly of an outer surface of the annular wall.

2. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the annular wall extends axially inwardly away from the outer surface of the button.

3. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the biasing element is configured to push the button away from the platform.

4. The accessory of claim 1 , further comprising a lock configured to releasably secure the button to the platform.

5. The accessory of claim 4 , wherein the lock is carried by the platform.

6. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the biasing element comprises a coil spring.

7. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the button is movable between a first position, in which the button is disposed approximately adjacent the platform, and a second position, in which the button is spaced from the platform, and wherein the button is movable from the first position to the second position by rotating the button relative to the platform.

8. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the button is movable between a first position, in which the button is disposed approximately adjacent the platform, and a second position, in which the button is spaced from the platform, and wherein the button is releasable from the first position, allowing the button to move the second position, by rotating the button relative to the platform.

9. An accessory for attachment to a portable media player or a portable media player case, the accessory comprising:
a platform adapted to engage a back of the portable media player or the portable media player case;
a button that is movable relative to the platform, the button comprising an inner surface facing the platform, an outer surface opposite the inner surface and facing away from the platform, and an annular wall carried by the inner surface; and
a biasing element arranged between the platform and the button and radially inwardly of an outer surface of the annular wall, the biasing element configured to bias the button relative to the platform,
wherein the button is movable between a first position, in which the outer surface of the button is a first distance from the platform, and a second position, in which the outer surface of the button is a second distance from the platform, the second distance being different than the first distance, and wherein the button is releasable from the first position, allowing the button to move to the second position, by rotating the button relative to the platform.

10. The accessory of claim 9 , wherein the biasing element is configured to push the button away from the platform.

11. The accessory of claim 9 , further comprising a lock configured to releasably secure the button to the platform.

12. The accessory of claim 11 , wherein the lock is carried by the platform.

13. The accessory of claim 9 , wherein the annular wall extends axially inwardly away from the outer surface of the button.

14. The accessory of claim 9 , wherein the biasing element comprises a coil spring.

15. The accessory of claim 9 , further comprising a lock configured to releasably secure the button in the first position.

16. The accessory of claim 9 , wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance, and wherein the button is configured to bias the button to the second position.

17. A method, comprising:
affixing an accessory to a back of a portable media player or a portable media player case, the accessory comprising a platform engaging the back of the portable media player or the portable media player case, a button that is movable relative to the platform, the button comprising an inner surface facing the platform, an outer surface opposite the inner surface and facing away from the platform, and an annular wall carried by the inner surface, and a biasing element arranged between the platform and the button and radially inwardly of an outer surface of the annular wall, the biasing element configured to bias the button relative to the platform, wherein the button is movable between a first position, in which an outer surface of the button is disposed approximately adjacent the platform and is a first distance from the platform, and a second position, in which the outer surface of the button is spaced from the platform and is a second distance from the platform, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

18. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the biasing element is configured to push the button toward the platform.

19. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the biasing element is configured to push the button away from and toward the platform.

20. The accessory of claim 4 , wherein the lock comprises one or more projections from the platform.

21. The accessory of claim 20 , wherein the lock further comprises structure in the button for receiving the one or more projections.

22. The accessory of claim 21 , wherein the structure comprises a recess.

23. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the biasing element comprises an elastomeric material.

24. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the biasing element comprises a spring surrounded by an elastomeric material.

25. The accessory of claim 9 , wherein the biasing element is configured to push the button toward the platform.

26. The accessory of claim 9 , wherein the biasing element is configured to push the button away from and toward the platform.

27. The accessory of claim 11 , wherein the lock comprises one or more projections from the platform.

28. The accessory of claim 11 , wherein the lock further comprises structure in the button for receiving the one or more projections.

29. The accessory of claim 28 , wherein the structure comprises a recess.

30. The accessory of claim 9 , wherein the biasing element comprises an elastomeric material.

31. The accessory of claim 9 , wherein the biasing element comprises a spring surrounded by an elastomeric material.

32. An accessory for attachment to a portable media player or a portable media player case, the accessory comprising: a platform adapted to engage a portion of the portable media player or the portable media player case; a button that is movable relative to the platform; and a biasing element arranged between the platform and the button, the biasing element arranged to bias the button relative to the platform, wherein the button is movable between a fi

Assignees

• Popsockets Llc

Inventors

• Hobbs Molly M
• Barnett David B

Classifications

• H04M1/12

  Adjustable supports, e.g. extensible · CPC title

• F16M13/022

  repositionable · CPC title

• H04M1/00

  Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers (subscriber services or facilities provided at exchanges H04M3/00; prepayment telephone coin boxes H04M17/00; current supply arrangements H04M19/08) · CPC title

• G06F1/1632 Primary

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title

• F16M2200/08

  Foot or support base · CPC title