U.S. patent application number 15/170770 was filed with the patent office on 2016-12-01 for bistable spring stand and housing for a handheld device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Scooch, LLC. Invention is credited to John Stagge.
Application Number | 20160345695 15/170770 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57397355 |
Filed Date | 2016-12-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160345695 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stagge; John |
December 1, 2016 |
BISTABLE SPRING STAND AND HOUSING FOR A HANDHELD DEVICE
Abstract
An accessory for supporting a handheld electronic device
includes a bistable spring to position and support the handheld
device. The accessory includes a housing coupled to the handheld
device and a bistable spring moveable between a first position and
a second position. In the first position the bistable spring is
substantially flat and in the second position the bistable spring
defines a longitudinal curve away from the housing. The curvature
of the bistable spring in the second position can support the
handheld device on a surface e.g. table and in a slot such as CD
player or air vent in a vehicle. The longitudinal curve of the
bistable spring easily deflects to a reduced curvature to be
received in and retained with a slot and consistently actuates to
same radius in the second position providing proper viewing angle
of screen for handheld device.
Inventors: |
Stagge; John; (Noblesville,
IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Scooch, LLC |
Noblesville |
IN |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
57397355 |
Appl. No.: |
15/170770 |
Filed: |
June 1, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62169235 |
Jun 1, 2015 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 2011/002 20130101;
A45F 5/00 20130101; A45F 2200/0525 20130101; A45C 11/00 20130101;
A45F 2200/0516 20130101; A45C 2011/001 20130101; A45C 2011/003
20130101; A45F 2200/0508 20130101; A45C 2200/15 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45C 11/00 20060101
A45C011/00; A45F 5/00 20060101 A45F005/00 |
Claims
1. An accessory for supporting a handheld device by at least one of
a surface and a slot, comprising: a housing having a first side and
a second side, the first side of the housing coupled to the
handheld device, and the housing defining a mounting surface; and a
bistable spring having a first edge and a second edge, a first end
and a second end, and a first notch defined along the first edge
and a second notch defined along the second edge, a cross-section
of the bistable spring between the first and second edge reduced
between the first and second notches, and the first end coupled to
the mounting surface; and wherein the bistable spring is moveable
between a first position and a second position, in the first
position the bistable spring is substantially flat between the
first and second end and defines a lateral curve between the first
and second edge, and in the second position the bistable spring
defines a longitudinal curve outward from the housing.
2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the second end of the bistable
spring rotates through greater than 90 degrees in moving from the
first position to the second position.
3. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the second end of the bistable
spring rotates through between 110 degrees to 140 degrees in moving
from the first position to the second position.
4. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the second end of the bistable
spring rotates through about 125 degrees in moving from the first
position to the second position.
5. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the bistable spring is
pretensioned to repeatedly actuate to a consistent second
position.
6. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the bistable spring defines in
the second position a radius of longitudinal curvature nearest the
second end that retains the second end between opposite members
defining the slot.
7. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the mounting surface of the
housing is curved to retain the lateral curve of the bistable
spring adjacent the first end.
8. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the bistable spring is
substantially flat between the first edge and the second edge in
the second position.
9. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the second end of the bistable
spring in the second position is located laterally beyond the
midpoint defined by the first and second ends in the first
position.
10. An accessory for supporting a handheld device, comprising: a
housing having a first side and a second side, the first side of
the housing coupled to the handheld device, and the housing
defining a mounting surface; and a bistable spring having a first
edge and a second edge, and a first end and a second end, the first
end coupled to the mounting surface of the housing; and wherein:
the second end of the bistable spring is moveable between a first
position in which the bistable spring is longitudinally straight
and a second position in which the bistable spring is
longitudinally curved away from the housing; and in translating
from the first position to the second position the second end
rotates through greater than 90 degrees.
11. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the second end rotates
through greater than 120 degrees.
12. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the second end rotates
through between about 110 to 140 degrees.
13. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the bistable spring is
pretensioned to repeatedly return the second end between consistent
locations in the first position and in the second position of the
bistable spring.
14. The accessory of claim 13, wherein the first and second edges
of the bistable spring each define at least one notch.
15. The accessory of claim 14, wherein the at least one notch is
located closer to the first end than to the second end.
16. The accessory of claim 10, further comprising a flexible
plastic cover encapsulating the bistable spring.
17. An accessory for supporting a handheld device, comprising: a
housing having a first side and a second side, the first side of
the housing coupled to the handheld device, and the housing
defining a mounting surface; and a bistable spring having a first
edge and a second edge, and a first end and a second end, the first
end coupled to the mounting surface of the housing, and the first
and second edge each defining at least one notch; and wherein the
bistable spring is moveable between and stable in each of a first
position in which the bistable spring is longitudinally straight
and a second position in which the bistable spring is
longitudinally curved away from the housing such that the second
end translates through a rotation of at least 110 degrees.
18. The accessory of claim 17, wherein in the second position the
second end of the bistable spring is located beyond the midpoint
defined between the first end and the second end in the first
position such that in the second position the second end is closer
to the first end than it is to its own location in the first
position.
19. The accessory of claim 17, wherein the bistable spring is
pretensioned to repeatedly move the second end between consistent
locations in the first and in the second positions.
20. The accessory of claim 20, further comprising a plastic cover
encapsulating the bistable spring.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/169,235 filed on Jun. 1, 2015, titled Bistable
Spring Stand And Housing For A Handheld Device, which is
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to handheld devices, for
example smart phones, cell phones, electronic music players, data
storage devices, and tablets, and more particularly to accessories
for handheld devices.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Many handheld devices are held in an upright position in a
vehicle with bulky and expensive mounting devices that remain fixed
in place when the handheld device is removed. Some prior art
handheld devices include a case for the handheld device with an
integral extendable stand or `kick stand` on the side opposite the
screen. This extendable stand is used to position the handheld
device upright on a table or to hold between fingers. However, in a
vehicle this extendable stand does not securely hold the handheld
device in an upright position, with the screen at the proper
viewing angle for the driver to use the handheld device for tasks
such as navigation or receiving a call. This extendable stand is
more straight than curved, which does not retain the handheld
device securely within a slot, e.g. vent or CD player slot in a
vehicle, especially when driving a vehicle down a bumpy or windy
road. For some users there is a need to releasably mount a handheld
device in a vehicle without requiring a bulky and expensive
mounting device.
[0004] The vehicle mounting device industry for handheld devices
can reduce safety concerns related to not retaining these devices
while a vehicle is in operation. If these devices are not retained
a driver may become distracted from driving if, for example, the
device falls or moves causing the driver to focus on finding or
adjusting the device, than safely driving the vehicle. If the
handheld device was securely retained while the driver operates a
vehicle, the driver's focus could be more on driving, thus
providing a safer driving environment.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present invention may comprise one or more of the
features recited in the attached claims, and/or one or more of the
following features and combinations thereof.
[0006] An accessory for supporting a handheld electronic device
includes a bistable spring to position and support the handheld
device. The accessory includes a housing coupled to the handheld
device and a bistable spring moveable between a first position and
a second position. In the first position the bistable spring is
substantially flat and in the second position the bistable spring
defines a longitudinal curve away from the housing. The curvature
of the bistable spring in the second position can support the
handheld device on a surface e.g. table and in a slot e.g. CD
player or air vent in a vehicle. The longitudinal curve of the
bistable spring easily deflects at a distal end to a reduced
curvature to be received in a slot and consistently actuates to
same radius in the second position providing proper viewing angle
for the screen of the handheld device.
[0007] An illustrative embodiment of an accessory for supporting a
handheld device on at least one of a surface and a slot according
to the present disclosure comprises a housing having a first side
and a second side, the first side of the housing coupled to the
handheld device and the housing defining a curved mounting surface.
A bistable spring having a first edge and a second edge, a first
end and a second end, a first notch defined along the first edge
and a second notch defined along the second edge, and a
cross-section of the bistable spring between the first and second
edges reduced between the first and second notches. The bistable
spring moveable between a first position and a second position, in
the first position the bistable spring is substantially flat
between the first and second end and defining a lateral curve
between the first and second edge, in the second position the
bistable spring defining a longitudinal curve outward from the
housing and is substantially flat between the first and second
edge. The first end of the bistable spring coupled to the curved
mounting surface such that the first end defines the lateral curve
when the bistable spring is in the first and the second position.
The curvature of the bistable spring structure in the second
position can support the handheld device on at least a surface or
from an air vent or CD player slot in a vehicle. The longitudinal
curve radius of the bistable spring in the second position is set
during the manufacturing process with a curve setting machine so
that the bistable spring consistently actuates to the desired curve
radius to securely hold the handheld device in an air vent or CD
player slot in a vehicle.
[0008] Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent
to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following
detailed description of the illustrative embodiment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The detailed description particularly refers to the
accompanying figures in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of an accessory
having a housing and a bistable spring in first position according
to the present disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates a front perspective view of the accessory
of FIG. 1 with the bistable spring in a second position;
[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a rear perspective view of the accessory
of FIG. 1 with the bistable spring in the first position;
[0013] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a side perspective view of the
accessory of FIG. 1 with the bistable spring in the second
position;
[0014] FIG. 4C illustrates a side perspective view of a prior art
accessory with the bistable spring;
[0015] FIG. 5A and 5B illustrate a front view of a first and a
second notch of the bistable spring of the accessory of FIG. 1 with
a plastic cover mostly removed;
[0016] FIG. 6A illustrates a bottom end perspective view of the
accessory of FIG. 1 attached to a handheld device with the bistable
spring in the second position and resting in a horizontal
orientation on a flat surface;
[0017] FIG. 6B illustrates a front perspective view of the
accessory of FIG. 1 attached to a handheld device with the bistable
spring in the second position and resting in a horizontal
orientation on a flat surface;
[0018] FIG. 7A illustrates a front perspective view of the
accessory of FIG. 1 attached to a handheld device with the bistable
spring in the second position and resting in a vertical orientation
on a flat surface;
[0019] FIG. 7B illustrates a side perspective view of the accessory
of FIG. 1 attached to a handheld device with the bistable spring in
the second position and resting in a vertical orientation on a flat
surface;
[0020] FIG. 8A illustrates a front perspective view of the
accessory of FIG. 1 attached to a handheld device with the bistable
spring in a second position and mounted to a vehicle air vent
slot;
[0021] FIG. 8B illustrates a side perspective view of the accessory
of FIG. 1 attached to a handheld device with the bistable spring in
a second position and mounted to a vehicle air vent slot;
[0022] FIG. 9A illustrates a front perspective view of the
accessory of FIG. 1 attached to a handheld device with the bistable
spring in a second position and mounted to a vehicle CD player
slot;
[0023] FIG. 9B illustrates a side perspective view of the accessory
of FIG. 1 attached to a handheld device with the bistable spring in
a second position and mounted to a vehicle CD player slot; and
[0024] FIG. 10 illustrates a cross sectional view of the accessory
of FIG. 1 taken along section line 10-10 shown in FIG. 4A.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0025] For the purposes of promoting and understanding the
principals of the invention, reference will now be made to one or
more illustrative embodiments shown in the drawings and specific
language will be used to describe the same.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1-10, a first illustrative embodiment of
an accessory 10 for a handheld device 12 according to the present
invention is illustrated. The accessory 10 includes a housing 20
and a bistable spring 22. The housing 20 includes a first side 24
(shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) and a second side 26 (shown in FIGS. 3 and
4). The bistable spring 22 is coupled to the housing 20 and
includes a retracted first position (shown in FIGS. 1 and 3) and an
extended second position (shown in FIGS. 2 and 4A). The bistable
spring 22 is stable in each position, but can be mechanically
actuated between the positions. The bistable spring 22 is
substantially flat along its length between first end 40 and second
end 42 in the first position (shown in FIG. 3) and has a curvature
translating the second end 42 through more than 90 degrees, or
alternatively more than 110 degrees, in the second position as
shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B as angle 52.
[0027] The longitudinal curvature of bistable spring 22 in the
second position can support a handheld device on a surface 14 (FIG.
6A) or from a slot 16 (FIGS. 8B and 9B) in an elevated position for
easily using and viewing. The bistable spring 22 consistently
actuates to the same radius and longitudinal curvature in the
second position. The bistable spring 22 has a resilient cover 44
(shown with end portion intact in FIGS. 5A and 5B) with a stiffness
that is overcome by moving the spring between the first and second
positions. The cover 44 also resists the longitudinal curvature and
thus limits the radius of the longitudinal curvature of the
bistable spring 22 in the second position. The resilient cover
defines recesses 45 (FIGS. 1 and 3) extending longitudinally along
each side of the bistable spring to reduce the stiffness and
resistance to flexing of the lateral curve between the first edge
36 and the second edge 38 of the bistable spring 22 that occurs in
translating between the laterally curved first position and the
substantially laterally flat second position. Referring to FIG. 10,
the lateral curve of the bistable spring 22 in the first position
is convex along the entire length away from the second surface 26
of housing 20. The lateral curve of the bistable spring 22 in the
second position flattens along the entire length toward second
surface 26 of housing 20, thereby enabling a distal second end 42
portion of the length to more easily be flexed from being
longitudinally curved to more flat to be received in an opening, as
will be discussed further below.
[0028] The bistable spring 22 includes a first notch 32 along the
first edge 36, a second notch 34 along the second edge 38, a first
end 40 and a second end 42 (shown in FIG. 5). The cross-section
between the first notch 32 and the second notch 34 is reduces to
ease the bistable spring 22 movement between first position (shown
in FIGS. 1 and 3) and second position (shown in FIGS. 2 and 4), and
to decrease a radius R1 of the curvature nearest end 40, as shown
in FIG. 4B. The first notch 32 and the second notch 34 (shown in
FIGS. 5A and 5B) also reduce resistance to flexing of the bistable
spring 22 in the second position so that the second end 42 is more
easily flexed to a desired position relative to the second side 26
(shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B) of the housing 20 as the second end 42
is inserted into an opening, e.g., a slot as shown in FIGS. 8B and
9B. The second end 42 of the bistable spring 22 in the second
position can be located above and between the first end 40 and the
second end 42 of the bistable spring 22 in the first position, and
in particular, past a midpoint between ends 40 and 42 so that in
the second position the end 42 is closer to the end 40 than end 42
in the first position. Additionally, the second end 42 in the
second position rotates to a location above a point near to but
just short of a midpoint between the ends of housing 20. The second
end 42 of the bistable spring 22 in the second position is about
perpendicular to the bistable spring 22 in the first position. The
bistable spring 22 moves from the first position into the second
position when pressure is applied in the area between the first
notch 32 and the second notch 34 and the bistable spring 22 returns
to the first position when pressure applied to the second end 42
toward the housing 20.
[0029] The first end 40 of the bistable spring 22 is attached to a
curved mounting surface 28 of housing 20 (shown in FIG. 2) such
that the first end 40 defines a lateral curve adjacent end 40 (see
FIG. 10) between edges 36 and 38 when the bistable spring 22 is in
either of the first and second positions. The material,
constructions, and first and second positions of bistable spring 22
can be the same or similar to spring steel or roll-up metal tape
measures or plastic and metal slap bracelets. In an illustrative
embodiment, the bistable spring 22 has a width 57 of approximately
25 millimeters between the first edge 36 and the second edge 38, a
length 56 of approximately 75.4 millimeters between the first edge
40 and the second edge 42, and a distance 58 of approximately 21.57
millimeters between a center of the notches 32, 34 and the first
edge 40. The material width remaining between notches 32 and 34 is
about 20 mm. The bistable spring 22 material may be 1095 or 1075
spring steel, and may have a thickness of 0.2 millimeters. The
lateral displacement 50 of the second end 42 of the bistable spring
22 in the extended second position from where the second end of the
bistable spring 22 was located in the first position is between
approximately 41 to 45 millimeters, as shown in FIG. 4A. The
vertical displacement 51 of the second end 42 in the extended
second position from where the second end was located in the first
position is about 37 to 41 millimeters. An angle 52 between a
tangent line to the second end 42 and a top of the curved mounting
surface 28 the retracted first position for second end 42 of
housing 20 may be greater than 90 degrees, for example, between
about 110 to 140 degrees, or alternatively, between about 120 to
130 degrees, or alternatively in the embodiment shown, about 125
degrees while bistable spring 22 is in the extended second
position, as shown in FIG. 4B. The radius R2 near end 42 and
measured between the first end 40 and the second end 42 of bistable
spring 22 in the second position is about 52 millimeters. The
radius R1 of the curved bistable spring 22 near end 40 in the
second position is about 17 millimeters. Subsequent to assembly of
the accessory 10, the bistable spring 22 may be processed in a
curve setting machine (not shown). The curve setting machine sets
the curve radii R1 and R2 of the bistable spring 22 in the extended
second position. Setting the curve of the bistable spring 22 with
the curve setting machine to pretension or otherwise enable the
bistable spring 22 to consistently actuate to the same radius,
longitudinal curvature, and displacement in the second position.
The notches 32 and 34 of the bistable spring 22 aid the curve
setter in setting the desired curve radius, to consistently actuate
the bistable spring 22 to the same radius, curvature, and
displacement in the second position.
[0030] FIG. 6A and 6B illustrates the accessory 10 attached to
handheld device 12 with bistable spring 22 in second position,
resting in a horizontal position on a surface 14. FIG. 7A and 7B
illustrates a housing 20 attached to handheld device 12 with
bistable spring 22 in second position, resting in an elevated
position on a surface 14. FIG. 8A and 8B illustrate the accessory
10 attached to a handheld device with bistable spring 22 in second
position, extending from a slot 16 formed by a vehicle's air vent
17. FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate the accessory 10 attached to
handheld device 12 with bistable spring 22 in second position,
extending from a slot 16 of a vehicle's CD player 18.
Advantageously, the distal second end 42 of the bistable spring 22
is easily flattened enough to be received between the two surfaces
forming the opening of the slot 16. Upon entry of the second end 42
within the slot 16, flexing of the second end 42 to its
longitudinally curved second position aids retention of the
accessory 10 by the slot 16 in that the longitudinal curve will
cause bistable spring 22 to be in contact with both upper and lower
opening surfaces of vent 17 or CD player 18 forming the slot 16. In
contrast, prior art accessories 100 with extendable stands (FIG.
4C) lack a sufficient longitudinal curve (straight or large radius)
and are not well retained within slot 16, or have too much of a
longitudinal curve (small radius) and/or resist flexing to a
straightened longitudinal curve at a distal end such that it is
difficult or not possible to insert the distal end within a slot
16. For example, typical prior art accessories 100 provides an
angle 152 of rotation, less than about 90 degrees.
[0031] While the invention has been illustrated and described in
detail in the foregoing drawings and description, the same is to be
considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it
being understood that only illustrative embodiments thereof have
been shown and described and that all changes and modifications
that come within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined
in the claims and summary are desired to be protected.
* * * * *