Accessory support devices for electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12580602-B2
Application number	US-202217934477-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2022
Priority date	Jun 3, 2022
Publication date	Mar 17, 2026
Grant date	Mar 17, 2026

Abstract

This application relates to accessory support devices for supporting portable electronic devices in relation to other electronic computing devices. A multi-part clip includes a housing having a first housing part having a first surface, a second housing part coupled to the first housing part and having a second surface, and an internal volume. The multi-part clip has a circular, ring-shaped magnetic element disposed within the internal volume and forms, through the second surface, a magnetic attachment to a magnetic element of a portable electronic device. The multi-part clip includes a hook-like appendage pivotably coupled to the first surface and has a recess such that, in an actuated configuration, the hook-like appendage extends away from the first surface and the recess is configured to receive a portion of an electronic computing device. The multi-part clip is balanced atop the electronic computing device according to a gravitational force imparted therein.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A multi-part clip for supporting a portable electronic device at an electronic computing device, comprising:
a multi-part housing comprising:
a first housing part having a first surface;
a second housing part coupled to the first housing part and having a second surface opposite the first surface; and
an internal volume;
a magnetic element disposed within the internal volume and configured to form, through the second surface, a magnetic attachment to a magnetic element of a portable electronic device; and an appendage pivotably coupled to the first surface and comprising a recess such that, in an actuated configuration, the appendage extends away from the first surface and the recess is configured to receive a portion of an electronic computing device such that the multi-part clip is balanced atop the electronic computing device according to a gravitational force being imparted on the multi-part clip.

2 . The multi-part clip as recited in claim 1 , wherein the multi-part housing is in a shape of a circular disc.

3 . The multi-part clip as recited in claim 1 , wherein the appendage is pivotably coupled to the first surface by a hinge assembly.

4 . The multi-part clip as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first surface of the first housing part further comprises a housing recess having an interior region; and the appendage is pivotably coupled to the interior region of the housing recess such that, when in an unactuated configuration, the appendage is fully seated within the housing recess.

5 . The multi-part clip as recited in claim 4 , further comprising a support stand positioned adjacent to the appendage and pivotably coupled to the interior region of the housing recess such that:
in an unactuated configuration, the support stand is fully seated within the housing recess; and in an actuated configuration, the support stand extends away from the first surface.

6 . The multi-part clip as recited in claim 1 , wherein the magnetic element comprises a set of discrete magnets disposed in a ring shape.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Parsian Mohammadali
• O'Leary Fiona P
• Kleeman David A
• Wadsworth John F
• Suckle Mitchell
• Kwon Tom
• Schmidt Peter

Classifications

• H05K5/0217

  Mechanical details of casings (covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03) · CPC title

• F16M11/2021

  around a horizontal axis (F16M11/2035 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16M11/105

  the horizontal axis being the roll axis, e.g. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation · CPC title

• F16M13/04

  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 title

• G06F1/1656

  Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203) · CPC title