Display enhancement device for wireless communication products
A display enhancement device for a portable electronic device having a visual display, such as a cellular telephone, is provided. A magnifying lens, such as a Fresnel-type lens, is suspended above the device display by a positioning arm. The positioning arm is attached to the lens at one end, and to the device at the other end. The arm can be attached to the device and/or lens by means such as a suction cup or a mounting plate. One or more rotatable attachment mechanisms can be used to facilitate adjustment of the positioning arm and/or lens.
1 . An apparatus for use with a portable electronic device having a visual display, the apparatus comprising:
a mounting mechanism attachable to the portable electronic device;
a magnifying lens;
a positioning arm having a first end and a second end, the positioning arm being attached at the first end to the mounting mechanism and attached at the second end to the magnifying lens.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the magnifying lens is a Fresnel-type lens.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the mounting mechanism is comprised of:
a mounting base that can be attached to the portable electronic device;
an elongated cavity within the mounting base and open to the exterior surface of the mounting base on at least one end;
a mounting arm comprised of an elongated member having a first end adapted for at least partial insertion into mounting base cavity and a second end attached to the positioning arm.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , in which the shape of at least a portion of the mounting arm cross-section is approximately the same as the shape of the cross section of the mounting base cavity, whereby the mounting arm is held in place by friction following its partial insertion into the cavity.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , in which the shapes of the cross-sections of the mounting base cavity and the mounting arm are approximately frusto-pyramidal.
6 . The apparatus of claim 3 , in which the mounting arm is rigid and the positioning arm is pliable.
7 . The apparatus of claim 3 , in which the mounting arm is further comprised of a slot into which the first end of the positioning arm can be inserted.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the mounting base is approximately frusto-pyramidal in shape.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the portable electronic device is a cellular telephone, and the mounting base is attached to the backside of the cellular telephone.
10 . The apparatus of claim 3 , in which the mounting base cavity extends completely through the interior of the mounting base such that the cavity is open to the exterior surface of the mounting base at two ends, whereby the mounting arm can be at least partially inserted into either open end of the cavity.
11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , in which the mounting arm wraps around the side of the cellular telephone to support the lens above a display on the front side of the cellular telephone.
12 . The apparatus of claim 9 , in which the mounting arm wraps over the top of the cellular telephone to support the lens above a display on the front side of the cellular telephone.
13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the second end of the positioning arm is attached to the magnifying lens via a suction cup.
14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the mounting mechanism is comprised of a suction cup.
15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , in which the second end of the positioning arm is attached to the magnifying lens via a suction cup.
16 . The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the positioning arm is connected to the mounting mechanism by a rotatable interconnect.
17 . The apparatus of claim 7 , in which the first end of the positioning arm comprises a rotatable tab adapted for insertion into the slot.
18 . The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the positioning arm is connected to the magnifying lens by a rotatable interconnect.
19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , in which the rotatable interconnect is comprised of a snap connector and a mounting tab which mounting tab can be removably attached to the snap connector, where one of the snap connector and mounting tab is attached to the positioning arm, and the other is attached to the lens.