Grip for a foldable electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023140012-A1
Application number	US-202017377697-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 17, 2020
Priority date	Jan 18, 2019
Publication date	May 4, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

An expandable device for attachment to a foldable electronic device having first and second surfaces includes a button and a pivotable frame member. The button has a top side, a bottom side, and a coupling portion and is movable between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration. The pivotable frame member is operably coupled to the button and includes a device coupling portion that engages a portion of the foldable electronic device. The pivotable frame member is pivotable between a first configuration whereby the button is positioned along at least one of the first surface or the second surface of the foldable electronic device and a second configuration whereby the button is positioned away from the foldable electronic device.

First claim

1 . An expandable device for attachment to a foldable electronic device having a first surface and a second surface, the expandable device comprising:
a button having a top side, a bottom side, and a coupling portion, the button being movable between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration; a pivotable frame member being operably coupled to the button, the pivotable frame member including a device coupling portion adapted to engage a portion of the foldable electronic device; wherein the pivotable frame member is pivotable between a first configuration whereby the button is positioned along at least one of the first surface or the second surface of the foldable electronic device and a second configuration whereby the button is positioned away from the foldable electronic device.

2 . The expandable device of claim 1 , wherein the pivotable frame member further comprises a base member that carries the device coupling portion and a pivotable arm pivotably coupled to the base member, wherein the button is operably coupled to the pivotable arm.

3 . The expandable device of claim 2 , further comprising a locking mechanism operably coupled to at least one of the base member or the pivotable arm to selectively retain the pivotable frame member in at least one of the first configuration or the second configuration.

4 . The expandable device of claim 3 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a resilient member.

5 . The expandable device of claim 3 , wherein when the pivotable frame member is in the second configuration, the expandable device is adapted to retain the foldable electronic device in an upright position.

6 . The expandable device of claim 2 , wherein the device coupling portion of the pivotable frame member is adapted to secure to a side surface of the foldable electronic device.

7 . The expandable device of claim 6 , wherein the base member comprises an elongated member having a length corresponding to a height dimension of the foldable electronic device.

8 . The expandable device of claim 6 , wherein the base member is adapted to secure to the foldable electronic device via a friction fit coupling.

9 . The expandable device of claim 6 , further comprising an electrical pass through member coupled to the base member.

10 . The expandable device of claim 2 , wherein the device coupling portion of the pivotable frame member is adapted to secure to at least one of the first surface or the second surface of the foldable electronic device.

11 . The expandable device of claim 10 , wherein the base member is adapted to secure to the foldable electronic device via an adhesive coupling.

12 . The expandable device of claim 2 , wherein the pivotable arm is removably coupled to the base member.

13 . An expandable device for attachment to a foldable electronic device having a first surface and a second surface, the expandable device comprising:
an elongated button having a top side, a bottom side, and a coupling portion, the coupling portion being movable between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration; an elongated base member being operably coupled to the coupling portion of the button, the elongated base member including a device coupling portion adapted to engage a portion of the foldable electronic device.

14 . The expandable device of claim 13 , wherein the coupling portion comprises a plurality of expandable members positioned along a length of the elongated button, each of the plurality of expandable members being operably coupled to the elongated base member.

15 . The expandable device of claim 13 , wherein the elongated button further comprises a locking mechanism to selectively retain the coupling portion in at least one of the expanded configuration or the collapsed configuration.

16 . The expandable device of claim 15 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a resilient member.

17 . The expandable device of claim 13 , wherein when the coupling portion is in the expanded configuration, the expandable device is adapted to retain the foldable electronic device in an upright position.

18 . The expandable device of claim 13 , wherein the elongated frame member is adapted to secure to the foldable electronic device via an adhesive coupling.

19 . The expandable device of claim 13 , wherein the elongated button is removably coupled to the elongated frame member.

Assignees

• Popsockets Llc

Inventors

• Abed Tark
• Dzigurski Alexander N

Classifications

• A45F5/1525

  Holders or carriers for portable computing devices, e.g. laptops, tablets or calculators · CPC title

• A45F5/1516

  Holders or carriers for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. pagers or smart phones · CPC title

• H04M1/0214

  Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position (combined with translation movement H04M1/0235) · CPC title

• F16M11/10

  around a horizontal axis {(F16M11/12 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F16M13/00 Primary

  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 title