HK40038454A - Accessory for use with a mobile electronic device - Google Patents

Description

Accessory for use with a mobile electronic device

Cross Reference to Related Applications

Priority is claimed for U.S. provisional application 62/737,444 filed on 27.9.2018 and U.S. provisional application 62/614,829 filed on 8.1.8.2018, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to accessories for mobile electronic devices, in particular accessories including a locker (e.g., wallet, purse, etc.) removably attachable to the mobile electronic device or to a case of the mobile electronic device.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an accessory for a mobile electronic device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, wherein a platform (platform) of the accessory is attached to the mobile electronic device and a locker of the accessory is removed from the platform;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fitment of FIG. 1, but with the receptacle attached to the platform;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1 but shows the locker removed from the platform for charging the mobile electronic device using the wireless charging device;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an accessory for a mobile electronic device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a top view of another embodiment of an accessory for a mobile electronic device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, wherein a reservoir of the accessory is removed from a platform of the accessory; and

fig. 6 is a top view of the fitment of fig. 5, but with the reservoir attached to the platform.

Detailed Description

The present disclosure relates to accessories for mobile electronic devices (e.g., smart phones, tablet computers, e-readers, digital media players, cameras, and other mobile electronic devices). Accessories disclosed herein generally include a reservoir that is removably attachable to a mobile electronic device or a case of a mobile electronic device. The store is configured to securely hold (hold) one or more objects (e.g., credit cards, identification cards, business cards, photographs, cash, keys, etc.) associated with (e.g., owned by) a user of the accessory (in many cases, the user will also use the mobile electronic device). Thus, when the locker is attached to the mobile electronic device or its case, the user can securely and easily store and carry such an article together with his/her mobile electronic device. Also, the storage may be removed from the mobile electronic device (or case) when needed (e.g., to reduce the profile of the mobile electronic device, thereby enabling wireless charging).

Fig. 1-3 illustrate one embodiment of a fitting 100 constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. In this embodiment, accessory 100 includes a platform 104 and a reservoir 106, the reservoir 106 being removably attachable to the platform 104 and generally configured to securely receive one or more objects of a user of accessory 100. In other embodiments, the accessory 100 can include additional and/or different components.

In fig. 1-3, platform 104 is shown as being removably attached to a mobile electronic device in the form of a smartphone 108. Platform 104 is removably attached to a back surface 110 of smartphone 108 via a securing element (not shown). The securing element preferably takes the form of a gel adhesive that is disposed on a portion or all of the first surface of the platform 104 (also not shown) such that the securing element securely attaches the platform 104 to the smartphone 108, but also allows the platform 104 to be removed and repositioned or replaced if desired. The securing element may alternatively take the form of another type of adhesive (e.g., glue, tape) or mechanical locking means (e.g., threads, hook and loop fastening means, snap fit, suction cup).

However, in other embodiments, the platform 104 may instead be removably attached to the smartphone 108 or a case of a different mobile electronic device. In other embodiments, platform 104 may be permanently attached to or integrally formed with smartphone 108 (or a different mobile electronic device), or may be permanently attached to or integrally formed with a case of a mobile electronic device. The accessory 100 can also be considered to comprise a shell when the platform 104 is permanently attached to or integrally formed with the shell.

As best shown in fig. 1 and 3, the platform 104 is an elliptical structure in this embodiment having a first surface (not shown) as described above and a second surface 116 disposed opposite the first surface. It will be appreciated that when the platform 104 is attached to the smartphone 108, the second surface 116 faces away from the smartphone 108. However, in other embodiments, the platform 104 may have a different shape and/or size. For example, the platform 104 may have a rectangular, triangular, circular, hexagonal, octagonal, irregular, or other shape.

As illustrated, in this embodiment, the store 106 generally includes a first panel (panel)120, a second panel 124 opposite the first panel 120, and a resilient element 128 coupled to the first and second panels 120, 124 to define one or more storage compartments for receiving one or more objects (e.g., credit cards 130, 132, 134). In this embodiment, the resilient element 128 is disposed between and fixedly attached to the first and second panels 120, 124, connecting the first and second panels 120, 124, but also defining two storage compartments 129 for containing one or more objects, as illustrated in fig. 3. In other embodiments, the resilient element 128 may be disposed only between the edges of the first and second panels 120, 124 and fixedly attached to and disposed between the edges of the first and second panels 120, 124, thereby connecting the first and second panels 120, 124, but defining only a single storage compartment.

The first plate 120 is preferably made of a rigid material (e.g., hard plastic), but the first plate 120 may be made of a semi-rigid material or a flexible material. The first plate 120 includes a recess 138 formed only partially through the first plate, as best shown in fig. 1 and 3. The recess 138 generally has a shape that conforms to the shape of the platform 104 such that the recess 138 is configured to removably receive and retain the platform 104. Thus, in this embodiment, the recess 138 has a U-shape sized to removably receive and retain the platform 104, which platform 104 is oval in this embodiment. In other embodiments, for example, when the platforms 104 have different sizes and/or shapes, the recesses 138 may have different sizes and/or shapes that conform to the different sized and/or shaped platforms. The first plate 120 also includes a cutout (cutout)140 that allows a user to direct objects into or out of one or both of the storage compartments 129. Like the first plate 120, the second plate 124 is preferably made of a rigid material (e.g., hard plastic), but it may also be made of a semi-rigid material or a flexible material. The second plate 124 also includes a cutout 142 (which is identical to the cutout 140), but the second plate 124 is solid (solid), i.e., it does not include a recess.

Also, in this embodiment, the resilient element 128 takes the form of an elastomeric sock (elastic sock) made of a material that is flexible but also sufficiently rigid to maintain its shape. In other words, the elastic element 128 is made of: which allows a user to manipulate the resilient element 128 (e.g., when a user is inserting an object into the storage compartment 129 or removing an object from the storage chamber 129), but biases the resilient element 128 back to its original position when the resilient element 128 is released, as illustrated in fig. 1 and 3.

In other embodiments, the reservoir 106 may include additional, fewer, and/or different components. For example, the storage container 106 may employ a rigid member instead of the elastic member 128 to connect the first plate 120 and the second plate 124. By way of further example, the reservoirs 106 may not include the cutouts 140 and/or the cutouts 142.

As discussed above, the reservoirs 106 are removably attachable to the platform 104. Thus, when needed (e.g., when a user wishes to carry the bin 106 and any objects stored therein with the smartphone 108), the bin 106 may be attached to the platform 104, as illustrated in fig. 2. In this embodiment, the receptacle 106 may be attached to the platform 104 by manipulating the receptacle 106 such that the recess 138 of the receptacle 106 slidably receives the platform 104 along the longitudinal axis 144 of the platform 104. Conversely, when desired, the bins 106 may be removed from the platform 104 in a similar but reverse manner, as illustrated in fig. 1 and 3. For example, a user may wish to remove the receptacle 106 in order to reduce the profile of the smartphone 108, to remove an object from the receptacle 106, or to charge the smartphone 108 using the wireless charger device 144 shown in fig. 3. In any event, in this embodiment, the receptacle 106 may be removed from the platform 104 by manipulating the receptacle 106 such that the platform 104 slides out of the recess 138 along the longitudinal axis 144. In other embodiments, the reservoirs 106 may be attached to the platform 104 or removed from the platform 104 in different ways. For example, the reservoirs 106 may be removably attached to the platform 104 using adhesives (e.g., gel adhesives, tapes, glues), various mechanical devices (e.g., hook and loop fastening devices, threads, snap fits, suction cups), or any other known manner.

Fig. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a fitting 400 constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. The fitment 400 is similar to the fitment 100 (where common components are shown using common reference numerals), but also includes a grip fitment 404, which grip fitment 404 may be removably attached, permanently attached to the receptacle 106, or integrally formed with the receptacle 106. A further description of such a grip accessory that may be used, for example, as a docking accessory and as a grip (grip) and cradle for a mobile electronic device may be found in commonly-owned U.S. patent No. 8,560,031, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Fig. 5 and 6 illustrate another embodiment of a fitting 500 constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. The fitting 500 is similar to the fitting 100 (with common parts shown using common reference numerals), but differs in the manner described below.

First, platform 504 (although otherwise similar) has a different structure than platform 104. Similar to the platform 104, the platform 504 has an elliptical shape. However, unlike platform 104, platform 504 includes a recessed portion 545 (recessed relative to second surface 516, second surface 516 faces outwardly away from smartphone 108 as second surface 116 when platform 504 is attached to smartphone 108) and a plurality of teeth 546 extending outwardly from recessed portion 545 at or near the periphery of platform 504. In this embodiment, the plurality of teeth 546 extend outward away from the smartphone 108 when the platform 504 is attached to the smartphone 108.

Second, the storage 506 has a different structure from the storage 106. In particular, the reservoir 506 includes a recess 538 that is distinct from the recess 138. Like recess 138, recess 538 generally has a shape that conforms to the shape of platform 504 such that recess 538 is configured to removably receive and retain platform 504. However, unlike the recess 138, the recess 538 includes a channel 550 leading to the (openinto) elliptical portion 554. Channel 550 is generally configured to slidably receive first surface 516 of platform 504, with first surface 516 having a generally rectangular profile. In this embodiment, the channel 550 is a rectangular channel that receives the first surface 516. It should be noted, however, that the channel 550 and the first surface 516 may alternatively take on different shapes (e.g., circular). In addition, the reservoir 506 also includes a plurality of slots 548 formed adjacent to the channel 550 of the reservoir 506 to receive the plurality of teeth 546 of the platform 504.

Further, the bin 506 is coupled to the platform 504 in a different manner than the bin 106 is coupled to the platform 104. As with receptacle 106, receptacle 506 may be releasably attached to platform 504 by manipulating receptacle 506 such that recess 538 of receptacle 506 slidably receives platform 504. Unlike the depositor 106, however, the depositor 506 is manipulated such that the recess 538 slidably receives the platform 504 along the lateral axis 545 of the platform 504, as illustrated in fig. 5. In other words, the reservoirs 506 are slidable in a horizontal direction to dispose the platform 504 in the recess 538, rather than being slidable in a vertical direction (as is the case with the platform 104 disposed in the recess 138). Then, as illustrated in fig. 6, the plurality of teeth 546 are moved into engagement with the plurality of slots 548 in the reservoir 506 (e.g., by snapping the teeth 546 into the slots 548), thereby securely attaching the platform 504 to the reservoir 506 (and vice versa). However, in other embodiments, platform 504 may be securely attached to reservoir 506 by other mechanical locking means (e.g., threads, hook and loop fastening means). Conversely, when desired, the reservoir 506 may be removed from the platform 504 in a similar but reverse manner.

Finally, although not shown here, it will be understood that a gripping fitting, such as gripping fitting 404, may be removably attached, permanently attached to the reservoir 506, or integrally formed with the reservoir 506.

Claims (14)

1. An accessory for a mobile electronic device, the accessory comprising:

a platform adapted to be attached to the mobile electronic device or a case of the mobile electronic device; and

a receptacle removably attached to the platform, the receptacle configured to receive one or more objects associated with a user of the accessory.

2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the platform comprises a securing element for attaching the platform to the mobile electronic device or a case of the mobile electronic device.

3. The fitting of claim 2, wherein the securing element comprises a gel adhesive.

4. The fitment of any of claims 1-3 wherein the reservoir comprises a lower recess sized to removably receive the platform to removably attach the reservoir to the platform.

5. The accessory of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the receptacle is slidably attachable to the platform.

6. The accessory of claim 5, wherein the receptacle is slidably attachable to the platform along a longitudinal axis of the platform.

7. The accessory of claim 5, wherein the receptacle is slidably attachable to the platform along a lateral axis of the platform.

8. The accessory of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the reservoir comprises first and second panels and a resilient element disposed between the first and second panels, wherein the first and second panels and the resilient element define one or more storage compartments sized to contain the one or more objects.

9. The fitting of claim 8, wherein the resilient element connects the first plate and the second plate.

10. The fitment of claim 8 wherein the resilient element defines a plurality of storage compartments sized to receive the one or more objects.

11. The fitment of any of claims 1-10 further comprising a gripping fitment coupled with the reservoir.

12. The fitment of claim 11 wherein the gripping fitment is integrally formed with the reservoir.

13. The accessory of claim 11 or 12, wherein the gripping accessory comprises:

a base (base);

a button spaced relative to the base, wherein the button is movable relative to the base.

14. The fitting of claim 13, wherein the grip fitting further comprises a skin (skin) coupled to the base, wherein the button is coupled to the skin opposite the base, and wherein the skin is deformable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.