IP Library Granted Patent US 11,149,902
Granted Patent B2
US 11,149,902 · App. 16/374,310 · Granted Oct 19, 2021

Grip and stand accessory for mobile electronic device

Inventor: David B. Barnett (Boulder, CO)
Assignee: POPSOCKETS LLC
F16M13/005H04M1/04A45F5/00A45F2200/0516F16M13/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,149,902
App. No.
16/374,310
Granted
Oct 19, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An expandable accessory for attachment to a mobile electronic device. The expandable accessory includes a base, a membrane, and a button coupled to the membrane opposite the base. The membrane includes a plurality of linear wall segments. The membrane is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position, and when the membrane is in the expanded position, the plurality of linear wall segments are arranged in a common conical plane.

Claims (40)

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

a base;

a membrane coupled to the base and comprising a plurality of linear wall segments, wherein the membrane is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position, wherein when the membrane is in the expanded position, the plurality of linear wall segments are arranged in a common conical plane, wherein the membrane further comprises one or more hinges separating the plurality of linear wall segments, and wherein when the membrane is in the expanded position, the one or more hinges reside in the common conical plane; and

a button coupled to the membrane opposite the base.

2. The expandable accessory of claim 1 , wherein when the membrane is in the expanded position, the membrane has a frustoconical shape.

3. The expandable accessory of claim 1 , wherein the one or more hinges facilitate movement of the membrane between the expanded and collapsed positions.

4. The expandable accessory of claim 1 , wherein when the membrane is in the collapsed position, a first linear wall segment of the plurality of linear wall segments is angled relative to a second linear wall segment of the plurality of linear wall segments.

5. The expandable accessory of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is made of an elastomeric material.

6. The expandable accessory of claim 1 , wherein the membrane tapers from the button to the base.

7. The expandable accessory of claim 1 , wherein the base is removably coupled to the membrane.

8. The expandable accessory of claim 7 , wherein the membrane has a first connector that is arranged to matingly engage a second connector carried by the base to removably couple the base to the membrane.

9. The expandable accessory of claim 1 , wherein the button is imperforate.

10. An expandable accessory for attachment to a mobile electronic device, the expandable accessory comprising:

a base;

a membrane removably coupled to the base and comprising a plurality of linear wall segments, wherein the membrane is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position, and wherein when the membrane is in the expanded position, the plurality of linear wall segments are arranged in a common conical plane; and

a button coupled to the membrane opposite the base,

wherein when the membrane is in the expanded position, the membrane has a frustoconical shape, wherein the membrane further comprises one or more hinges separating the plurality of linear wall segments, and wherein when the membrane is in the expanded position, the one or more hinges reside in the common conical plane.

11. The expandable accessory of claim 10 , wherein the one or more hinges facilitate movement of the membrane between the expanded and collapsed positions.

12. The expandable accessory of claim 10 , wherein when the membrane is in the collapsed position, a first linear wall segment of the plurality of linear wall segments is angled relative to a second linear wall segment of the plurality of linear wall segments.

13. The expandable accessory of claim 10 , wherein the membrane is made of an elastomeric material.

14. The expandable accessory of claim 10 , wherein the membrane tapers from the button to the base.

15. The expandable accessory of claim 10 , wherein the membrane has a first connector that is arranged to matingly engage a second connector carried by the base to removably couple the base to the membrane.

16. The expandable accessory of claim 10 , wherein the button is imperforate.

17. A system for attachment to a mobile electronic device, the system comprising:

a case for the mobile electronic device;

an expandable accessory coupled to the case, the expandable accessory comprising:

a base;

a membrane coupled to the base and comprising a plurality of linear wall segments, wherein the membrane is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position, wherein when the membrane is in the expanded position, the plurality of linear wall segments are arranged in a common conical plane, wherein the membrane further comprises one or more hinges separating the plurality of linear wall segments, and wherein when the membrane is in the expanded position, the one or more hinges reside in the common conical plane; and

a button coupled to the membrane opposite the base.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein when the membrane is in the expanded position, the membrane has a frustoconical shape.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more hinges facilitate movement of the membrane between the expanded and collapsed positions.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein when the membrane is in the collapsed position, a first linear wall segment of the plurality of linear wall segments is angled relative to a second linear wall segment of the plurality of linear wall segments.

21. The system of claim 17 , wherein the membrane is made of an elastomeric material.

22. The system of claim 17 , wherein the membrane tapers from the button to the base.

23. The system of claim 17 , wherein the base is removably coupled to the membrane.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the membrane has a first connector that is arranged to matingly engage a second connector carried by the base to removably couple the base to the membrane.

25. The system of claim 17 , wherein the button is imperforate.

26. A method for using an expandable accessory, comprising:

attaching the expandable accessory to a back of a mobile electronic device or a case for the mobile electronic device by engaging the back of the mobile electronic device or the case with a base of the expandable accessory, wherein the expandable accessory comprises a membrane coupled to the base, a plurality of linear wall segments, and a button coupled to the membrane opposite the base, wherein the membrane further comprises one or more hinges separating the plurality of linear wall segments; and

moving the membrane between a collapsed position and an expanded position, in which the plurality of linear wall segments and the one or more hinges are arranged in a common conical plane.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 28, 2020
From: POPSOCKETS LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 052773/0471 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2019
From: BARNETT, DAVID B.
To: POPSOCKETS LLC
Reel/Frame 049791/0887 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 29675903 · Jan 7, 2019
Related Publication 20200217449A1 · Jul 9, 2020
Cited By (3)
US 1,062,716 US 12,677,979 US 12,714,212