DEVICES AND ACCESSORIES EMPLOYING A LIVING HINGE
A device incorporating both a magnet and a living hinge may be employed to construct cases to protect electronic devices and to function as a closure for cases and lidded containers. Such cases often can be bent three 360° allowing the cases to be either closed protecting devices therein are closed upon themselves allowing the case to function to secure an electronic device to a substrate such as an article of clothing. The devices of the disclosure can also be used to organize and hold loose items together.
1 . An electronic device comprising:
an electronic component having a view screen and
a living hinge formed on a continuous material defining at least two modules separated by the living hinge;
wherein:
the electronic component is attached to the at least two modules; and
a first rare earth magnet located along a first module and a second magnet, rare earth magnet, or a ferromagnetic or a ferrimagnetic substrate located along a second module are configured to attach the electronic device around or to an object.
2 . The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the electronic component is attached to the at least two modules separated by a living hinge employing at least one element selected from the group consisting of clip, slit, loop, adhesive, a magnet or rare earth magnet, and combinations thereof
3 . The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the electronic component is selected from the group consisting of a watch, a clock, a phone, a gps device, a cable, a radio transmitter, a digital music player, speakers, a light/reflector, and combinations thereof
4 . The electronic device of claim 2 wherein the electronic component is attached to the at least two modules separated by a living hinge using a loop.
5 . The electronic device of claim 2 wherein the electronic component is attached to the at least two modules separated by a living hinge using a clip.
6 . The electronic device of claim 2 wherein the electronic component is attached to the at least two modules separated by a living hinge using a slit.
7 . The electronic device of claim 2 wherein the electronic component is attached to the at least two modules separated by a living hinge using a slit and a loop.
8 . The electronic device of claim 3 wherein the electronic component is selected from the group consisting of a watch, gps device, radio transmitter, and combinations thereof
9 . The electronic device of claim 8 wherein the at least two modules separated by a living hinge have a first and a second magnet and are configured such that the first and second magnets' polarity allow the at least two modules separated by a living hinge to wrap around a the object.
10 . The electronic device of claim 9 wherein, when attached to the object, the electronic device is configured such that it may be used hands free.
11 . The electronic device of claim 1 wherein one of the at least two modules is a ferrimagnetic or ferromagnetic material and another of the at least two modules contains at least one magnet.
12 . The electronic device of claim 10 wherein at least one of the two modules is a continuous ferrimagnetic substrate.
13 . The electronic of claim 12 wherein the natural bend of the living hinge is a continuous ferrimagnetic material.
14 . The electronic device of claim 8 wherein the electronic device can be manipulated to adjust a tension of the electronic device upon the object.