GB2528118A

GB2528118A - Handheld handle device for holding a camera-equipped portable electronic device

Info

Publication number: GB2528118A
Application number: GB1412353.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Duncan Scoular
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-07-11
Filing date: 2014-07-11
Publication date: 2016-01-13
Also published as: GB201412353D0

Abstract

Disclosed is a handheld handle device 10 for enabling a user to hold a camera-equipped portable electronic device, such as a smartphone, cellphone (Figure 5 item 32) at a suitable distance away from the body 38 thereof so as to capture a photograph from the electronic device from the suitable distance. The handle device comprises an elongate handle bar wherein, a distal end of the handle bar terminates in a threaded portion that is coupled thereto by means of a ball and socket joint, and a case (Figure 4 item 14) for receiving the electronic device therewithin. The case comprises a threaded hole (Figure 3 item 36) for threadably receiving the threaded portion (18 Figure 2) so as to mount the case to the handle bar. The device may be used to orient the camera to allow a self or selfie photograph to be taken.

Description

HANDHELD HANDLE DEVICE FOR HOLDING A CAMERA-EQUIPPED

PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

BACKGROUND

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to holding accessories (such as, stands, cases, etc.) for portable electronic devices and more particularly to a handheld handle device for holding a camera-equipped portable electronic device such as a mobile phone at more than the arm's distance of the user.

Selfie, or otherwise known as a self-shot self-portrait is a photography-based art form that rose to immense global popularity in the mid 2000s. Selfies still enjoy the same popularity today as then as today's social networking sites are flooded with them everywhere. Selfies are generally photographs shot from the camera of a mobile phone wherein, the camera could be either a front or a rear camera. Capturing a selfie involves holding the mobile phone at a suitable angle and distance away from one's body while the camera is facing one's face and then pressing the capture button. Apparently, the "suitable distance" for capturing a selfie is limited by one's arm's length.

Capturing a selfie is quite a simple and easy task as long as the selfie is supposed to feature one single person. However, it gets tricky if more than one person is supposed to feature in a selfie (i.e., a group selfie), and as the number of people (that are supposed to feature in the selfie) increases, the more challenging it becomes to cram them all within the selfie as the photographic frame at arm's length is very limited. There is a need in the art for a solution for broadening the photographic frame of a camera for capturing both individual and group selfies, and especially, group selfies.

SUMMARY

The present invention comprises a handheld handle device for enabling a user to capture individual and group selfies from a mobile phone camera from a suitable distance that is more than the arm's distance of user. The handheld device is simple in construction comprising a telescopic handle bar and a case for receiving a camera-equipped mobile phone therewithin.

The case is adapted to be coupled at one extremity of the handle bar by means of a ball and socket joint. Furthermore, the case is also adapted to be rotatable so as to give a user a flexibility to use both the front and rear camera of the mobile phone. The grip is provided for gripping the handle bar for providing comfort in handling the handle device. In order to use the device, the length of the handle bar and the angle of the case (with respect to the handle bar) are pre-adjusted by the user upon which, the handle device is held at a suitable position upon which the shoot function is initiated either by presetting a camera timer or by operating a remote controller of the mobile phone camera.

Other objects and advantages of the embodiments herein will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the handle device.

FIG. 2, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the handle bar.

FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the case.

FIG. 4, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of the mobile phone received within the case.

FIG. 5, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of the mobile phone received within the handle device.

FIG. 6, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of the handle device handled by the user.

FIGURES -REFERENCE NUMERALS

10-Handle Device 12-Handle Bar 14-Case 16 -Grip 18-Threaded Portion 20-Ball and Socketioint 22-Receptacle 241-Left Frame Member 24R -Right Frame Member 26-Back Panel 281-Left Side Panel 28R -Right Side Panel 30T-Top Extension Panel 30B -Bottom Extension Panel 32-Mobile Phone 34-Camera Hole 36-Threaded Hole 38-User

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, a reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which the specific embodiments that may be practiced is shown by way of illustration. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and it is to be understood that the logical, mechanical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense.

The present invention comprises a handheld handle device for holding a camera-equipped portable electronic device so as to enable the one holding the handle device to shoot oneself from more than one's arm's distance for the advantage of a better photographic frame especially, if there is more than one person being shot by the camera. The electronic device preferably comprises a mobile phone, however it has to be understood that camera-equipped devices such as tablets, phablets, and the like, are well within the scope of the invention.

Referring to FIGs. land 2, the handle device 10 comprises an elongate telescopic handle bar 12 and a case 14 mounted to the handle bar 12. The handle bar 12 comprises a cylindrical grip 16 enclosing the proximal end portion thereof wherein, the grip 16 may be made of any suitable gripping material such as, rubber, plastic, etc. A solid cylindrical threaded portion 18 is disposed at the distal end of the handle bar 12 wherein, the threaded portion 18 extends from an anaxial ball and socket joint 20. The cross-sectional diameter of the threaded portion 18 is preferably 6mm. Further, the threaded portion iBis adapted to rotate about the longitudinal axis thereof wherein, the utility of incorporating a rotary motion will become apparent from the following body of text. As the handle bar 12 is configured to be telescopic, the handle bar 12 may be extended or retracted to a length deemed suitable by a user.

Referring to FIGs. land 3, the case 14 comprises a substantially rectangular receptacle 22 and a pair of non-identical elongate frame members 24 abutting each side thereof. The receptacle 22 comprises a rectangular back panel 26 and a pair of side panels extending perpendicularly from the longer side edges of the back panel 26. Notably, as the front of the receptacle 22 faces the user, the left side panel 281 is shorter than the right side panel 28R. More particularly, the right side panel 28R is configured to span the entire length of the side of the back panel 26 whereas, the left side panel 281, while proceeding from the bottom corner of the back panel 26, on account of being shorter, doesn't reach the top corner. Notably, the left side panel 281 extends more than half way of the length of the left side of the back panel 26. A pair of top and bottom extension panels 30T and 3GB integrally extends from the top and bottom edges of the right side panel 28R respectively wherein, the edges of the top and bottom extension panels 30T and 30B extend from the top and bottom edges of the back panel 26 respectively. In the similar way, a bottom extension panel 3GB extends integrally from the bottom edge of the left side panel 281 wherein, the edge of the bottom extension panel 3GB abuts the bottom edge of the back panel 26. The receptacle 22 is dimensionally configured such that, the mobile phone 32 is snap-fitted thereinto as seen in FIG. 4. As the mobile phone 32 is snugly received with receptacle 22, the extension panels 301 and 30B prevent the phone from sliding upwards or downwards out of the receptacle 22. The back panel 26 further comprises a camera hole 34 for enabling the user to access the camera of the mobile phone 32.

Still referring to FIGs. land 3, each frame member 24 abuts the outer side a side panel 28. The length of each frame member 24 is equivalent to the length of its corresponding side panel 28 excluding the extension members 30. Therefore, as the front of the case 14 faces the user, the length of the left frame member 241 is equivalent to that of the left side panel 281 (excluding the extension member thereof 30B) and the length of the right frame member 24R is equivalent to that of the right side panel 28R (excluding the extension members 30T and 30B thereof). Further, as the front of the case 14 is facing the user, the top and bottom ends of the right frame member 24R is rounded to compliment the rounded corners between the top edge of the right side panel 28R and the top extension member 30T thereof and the bottom edge of the right side panel 28R and the bottom extension member 30B thereof respectively. In the similar way, as the front of the case 14 is facing the user, the bottom end of the left frame member 241 is rounded to compliment the rounded corner between the bottom edge of the left side panel 281 and the bottom extension member 30B thereof. Each frame member 24 is of uniform substantially semi-circular cross-section wherein, the curved outer surface of each frame member 24 is for providing a better gripping experience to the user as the case 14 is held by the user. A 6mm threaded hole 36 is centrally disposed on the longer frame member 24R wherein, the utility of the threaded hole 36 will become apparent from the following body of text.

Referring to FIGs. 4 through 6, in order to use the handle device 10, the mobile phone 32 is received within the case 14 after which, the case 14 is mounted to the handle bar 12 as the threaded portion iSis threadably received within the threaded hole 36. Alternatively, the mobile phone 32 may be inserted into the case 14 after the case 14 is mounted to the handle bar 12. Once the case 14 and the handle bar 12 are assembled, the angle between the handle bar 12 and the case 14 and the length of the telescopic handle bar 12 is pre-adjusted by the user as per his/her requirements. As mentioned earlier, as the threaded portion 18 is rotatable, by simply rotating the case 14, the user may choose between the front and the rear camera for capturing pictures or videos. As seen particularly in FIG. 6, by holding the grip 16, the handle device lOis held by the user 38 at a suitable position upon which the camera's shoot function is initiated either by presetting a camera timer or by operating a remote controller of the mobile phone camera.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Although the embodiments herein are described with various specific embodiments, it will be obvious for a person skilled in the art to practice the invention with modifications. However, all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is: 1. A handheld handle device for enabling a user to hold a camera-equipped portable electronic device at a suitable distance away from the body thereof so as to capture a photograph from the electronic device from the suitable distance, the handle device comprising: (a) an elongate handle bar, a distal end of the handle bar terminating in a threaded portion that is coupled thereto by means of a ball and socket joint; and (b) a case for receiving the electronic device therewithin, the case comprising a threaded hole for threadably receiving the threaded portion therethrough so as to mount the case to the handle bar.
2. The handle device of claim 1 wherein, the threaded hole comprises a 6mm threaded hole.
3. The handle device of claim 1 wherein, a proximal end of the handle bar terminates in a gripping portion.
4. The handle device of claim 1 wherein, the electronic device comprises a mobile phone.
5. The handle device of claim 4 wherein, the case comprises an elongate frame member that is disposed along one of the longer sides thereof wherein, the threaded hole is centrally disposed on the frame member.
6. The handle device of claim 5 wherein, when the mobile phone is received within the case, the frame member is disposed on right side of the mobile phone as the screen of the mobile phone faces the user.
7. The handle device of claim 5 wherein, the case further comprises receptacle for receiving the mobile phone therewith, the frame member extending from a side of the receptacle.
8. The handle device of claim 1 wherein, the threaded portion is rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof.
9. The handle device of claim 1 wherein, the handle bar is configured to be telescopic so as to be extendable and retractable.
10. The handle device of claim 1 wherein, the ball and socket joint comprises an anaxial ball and socket joint.
11. A handheld handle device for enabling a user to hold a camera-equipped portable electronic device at a suitable distance away from the body thereof so as to capture a photograph from the electronic device from the suitable distance, the handle device comprising: (a) an elongate handle bar, a distal end of the handle bar comprises a ball and socket joint from which a threaded portion extends such that, the threaded portion is rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof; and (b) a case comprising: (i) a receptacle for receiving the electronic device therewithin; and (ii) an elongate frame member disposed along one of the sides of the case, the frame member comprising a threaded hole for threadably receiving the threaded portion therethrough so as to mount the case to the handle bar.