Expandable device for a portable electronic device
An expandable device adapted to be removably coupled to a platform for attaching to a portable electronic device or a case for a portable electronic device includes a body, a button, and a locking device. The body has a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis, and is movable along the longitudinal axis between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration. The button is coupled to the first end of the body, and includes an inner surface and an engaging member carried by the inner surface. The locking device is carried by the second end of the body, at least a portion of the locking device being adapted to be removably coupled to the platform for attaching to the portable electronic device or the case for the portable electronic device. When the body is in the collapsed configuration, the engaging member of the button engages the locking device such that the button and the locking device can be rotatable together.
1. An expandable device adapted to be removably coupled to a platform for attaching to a portable electronic device or a case for a portable electronic device, the expandable device comprising:
a body including a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis, the body movable along the longitudinal axis between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration;
a button coupled to the first end of the body, the button including an inner surface and an engaging member carried by the inner surface; and
a locking device carried by the second end of the body, at least a portion of the locking device adapted to be removably coupled to the platform for attaching to the portable electronic device or the case for the portable electronic device,
wherein, when the body is in the collapsed configuration, the engaging member of the button engages the locking device such that the button and the locking device can be rotatable together.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the locking device includes a connecting disk and a hub attached to the connecting disk.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the connecting disk is adjacent to the second end of the body and includes a first mating surface adapted to engage the engaging member of the button and a second mating surface adapted to connect to the hub.
4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the hub includes a body having a first surface adapted to connect to the connecting disk, a second surface adapted to couple to a first portion of the platform, and a radial wing extending from the body of the hub and adapted to engage a different portion of the platform.
5. The device of claim 3 , wherein the engaging member of the button includes a plurality of teeth extending away from the inner surface.
6. The device of claim 3 , wherein the first mating surface of the connecting disk is arranged to interlock with the engaging member of the button.
7. The device of claim 3 , wherein the engaging member of the button includes a non-circular protrusion extending away from the inner surface.
8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the connecting disk includes an opening having a shape corresponding to the shape of the non-circular protrusion of the engaging member of the button.
9. The device of claim 2 , wherein the connecting disk is fixed to or integral with the hub.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a flexible wall defining a chamber, the locking device at least partially disposed in the chamber of the body, the flexible wall having a cone shape when in the expanded configuration.
11. An expandable device adapted to be removably coupled to a cavity defined by a platform for attaching to a portable electronic device or a case for a portable electronic device, the expandable device comprising:
a body including a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis, the body comprising a flexible wall movable along the longitudinal axis between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, the flexible having a cone shape in the expanded configuration;
a button coupled to the first end of the body; and
a locking device carried by the second end of the body, at least a portion of the locking device comprising a hub configured to be disposed in the cavity for removably coupling the expandable device to the platform for attaching to the portable electronic device or the case for the portable electronic device.
12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the locking device includes a connecting disk and the hub is attached to the connecting disk.
13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the button includes an inner surface and an engaging member carried by the inner surface.
14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the connecting disk is adjacent to the second end of the body, the connecting disk including a first mating surface adapted to engage the engaging member of the button and a second mating surface adapted to connect to the hub.
15. The device of claim 13 , wherein the hub includes a body having a first surface adapted to connect to the connecting disk, a second surface adapted to couple to a first portion of the platform, and a radial wing extending from the body of the hub and adapted to engage a different portion of the platform.
16. The device of claim 13 , wherein the second mating surface of the connecting disk is adapted to extend through the second end of the body.
17. The device of claim 13 , wherein the engaging member of the button includes a plurality of teeth extending away from the inner surface.
18. The device of claim 13 , wherein the engaging member of the button includes a non-circular protrusion extending away from the inner surface.
19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the connecting disk includes an opening having a shape corresponding to the shape of the non-circular protrusion of the engaging member of the button.
20. The device of claim 12 , wherein the connecting disk is fixed to or integral with the hub.