GRIPPING ATTACHMENT APPARATUS
An apparatus is provided for receiving an item having an attachment surface. The apparatus comprises an elongated main body, an attachment socket, and a plurality of grooves. The attachment socket is formed on the elongated main body. The plurality of grooves is formed on the elongated main body. The attachment socket and the plurality of grooves are located opposite to each other about the elongated main body. The attachment socket is configured to releasably receive the attachment surface.
1 . A gripping attachment apparatus for use with a handheld electronic device having a side control button, the gripping attachment apparatus comprising:
an elongated main body having a longitudinal axis;
an attachment socket extending along the elongated main body and configured to releasably receive a portion of the handheld electronic device;
a plurality of gripping grooves formed on a gripping side of the elongated main body, wherein at least one ridge is formed between each of a plurality of gripping grooves; and
wherein the gripping attachment apparatus is configured such that, when the portion is received in the attachment socket, at least one gripping groove is positioned over the button and the gripping attachment apparatus is capable of enabling a user to actuate the side control button through the elongated main body.
2 . The gripping attachment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongated main body is formed of a pliable material such that a wall region defining said at least one gripping groove is deformable to transmit an applied force to the side control button.
3 . The gripping attachment apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the pliable material comprises at least one of rubber, thermoplastic polyurethane, ethylene-vinyl acetate, or silicone.
4 . The gripping attachment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said at least one gripping groove includes a button-actuation indicia located to overlie the side control button when the handheld electronic device is received in the attachment socket.
5 . The gripping attachment apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the button-actuation indicia includes a reduced-thickness portion relative to an adjacent portion of the elongated main body so as to increase deformability at the button-actuation region.
6 . The gripping attachment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ridge has a plateaued shape defining respective substantially flat apex surfaces.
7 . The gripping attachment apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the substantially flat apex surfaces are configured to provide an increased contact area with a user’s fingers relative to a peaked apex shape.
8 . The gripping attachment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of gripping grooves are substantially parallel to one another.
9 . The gripping attachment apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of gripping grooves extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated main body.
10 . A method of actuating a side control button of a handheld electronic device using a gripping attachment apparatus having an attachment socket and a plurality of gripping grooves, the method comprising:
receiving an edge portion of the handheld electronic device in the attachment socket;
positioning at least one gripping groove over the side control button; and
actuating the side control button by applying finger force through said at least one gripping groove.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein actuating comprises deforming a wall region defining said at least one gripping groove to transmit the finger force to the side control button.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the gripping attachment apparatus is formed of a pliable material selected to allow the deforming while maintaining releasable retention of the handheld electronic device by the attachment socket.
13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising gripping the gripping attachment apparatus such that a user’s fingers between plateaued ridges between adjacent gripping grooves.
14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of gripping grooves are oriented substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the gripping attachment apparatus during the receiving and actuating.
15 . A gripping attachment apparatus for gripping an item, the gripping attachment comprising:
an elongated main body;
an attachment socket located on a first side of the elongated main body;
a plurality of gripping grooves configured to be gripped by a user holding the item, wherein the plurality of gripping grooves are positioned on a second side of the elongated main body and the first side is proximal to or opposite the second side;
wherein the attachment socket is configured to receive an attachment surface of the item and the plurality of gripping grooves are positioned and shaped to receive one or more fingers of a user gripping the item.