GB2538041A

GB2538041A - Support for a portable electronic device

Info

Publication number: GB2538041A
Application number: GB1502680.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Oliver Shrive Thomas
Original assignee: POP PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: POP PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 2015-02-18
Filing date: 2015-02-18
Publication date: 2016-11-09
Also published as: GB201502680D0

Abstract

A support (1) for a portable electronic device comprises a support main body (3) having a first end (9) and a second end (11) spaced from said first end (9). A graspable portion (13) is coupled to the support main body (3) in the vicinity of said first end (9), and a device support (17, 19) provided in said support main body (3) in the vicinity of said second end (11). The support (1) comprises a bistable spring material reconfigurable between a retracted state and an extended state. The support may be a sellfie stick for a camera phone and when not in use may be wrapped around a users limb.

Description

SUPPORT FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

Field

This invention relates to a support for a portable electronic device, such supports often colloquially being known as "selfie-sticks".

Preferred implementations of the teachings of the invention are described below with particular reference to a support for use with mobile telephones, but it will be appreciated that the support described herein may be used with other types of portable electronic devices (particularly, but not exclusively, devices equipped with image capture technology) such as the G0Pr0TM range of video cameras and similar devices. The present application should be interpreted with this in mind, and should not be construed as being limited solely to supports for mobile telephones.

Background

With the advent and increasing use of social media, it has become popular for users to capture images of themselves and post these images onto the internet for their friends and family to enjoy. Often these images include the person taking the photograph, and are hence known colloquially as "selfies".

A problem with taking a photo of yourself is that the field of view of the camera on the mobile telephone is necessarily limited by the length of the user's arm in which the telephone is held. As a consequence, it can be difficult to capture an image of a large group of people or a wider scene simply by holding the phone at arms length.

To address this issue, it has become commonplace for keen photographers to carry a so-called selfie stick with them. Such sticks typically comprise a rod with a handle at one end, and a mount at the other, and the rod is typically telescopically extendable so that the user of the camera can mount the phone on the stick, telescopically extend the stick, and thereby increase the field of view that the camera can capture. Se!fie Pods Limited (a UK company based at Plymouth Science Park, Davy Road, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom PI6 8BX) is one illustrative retailer of selfie sticks, and their range can be viewed online at \ivwvi.selfigoods.co.Lik.

Another popular use for selfie-sticks is to enable a user to film themselves undertaking some form of sporting activity. For example, it is increasingly commonplace to see skiers skiing down a mountain with a GoPro or camera equipped mobile telephone mounted on a selfie stick held out in front of them.

A problem affecting recreational and sporting users of selfie-sticks alike, is that whilst such sticks are typically collapsible, they are nevertheless typically too bulky to fit into a pocket, and thus can be inconvenient to carry around. Another problem affecting those who use such devices whilst engaging in sporting activities, is that an extended selfie stick can represent a significant hazard if the user should have an accident whilst filming themselves.

The present invention has been devised with the foregoing problems in mind.

Summary

In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a support for a portable electronic device, the support comprising: a support main body having a first end and a second end spaced from said first end; a graspable portion coupled to said support main body in the vicinity of said first end, and a device support provided in said support main body in the vicinity of said second end; wherein the support is of a bistable spring material reconfigurable between a retracted state and an extended state.

In one implementation the support may form a coil in said retracted state. The support may form a trough-like body in said extended state, said trough-like body being generally arcuate and c-shaped in cross-section. The trough-like body may comprise a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface.

The graspable portion may include a non-slip layer affixed to said support main body in the vicinity of the first end thereof. The support may comprise a length of resilient material affixed to said support main body in the vicinity of the second end thereof.

The device support may comprise a pair of notches formed in opposite sides of said support main body. The notches may be located opposite one another and sized so as to permit a side of a portable electronic device to be received therein. The device support may comprise a second pair of notches formed in opposite sides of said support main body. The second pair of notches may be located opposite one another and sized so as to permit a side of a portable electronic device to be received therein.

The first pair of notches may be differently orientated, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the support main body, to said second pair of notches.

The first pair of notches may extend generally perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis The second pair of notches may extend at an angle towards said longitudinal axis. The second pair of notches may be angled at approximately 45 degrees to said longitudinal access.

The resilient material may extend partway into said notches.

The support may further comprise a retainer coupled to said support main body, said retainer being operable to secure a portable electronic device located in said device support. The retainer may comprise a resilient oval ring, respective ends of which are fixed to said support main body. Sides of said resilient oval ring may be movable away from the support main body, and looped over a portable electronic device located in said device support to secure said device in said device support.

In one envisaged implementation, the portable electronic device may comprise a mobile telephone.

Other features, aspects and advantages of the teachings of the invention are set out below.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Various aspects of the teachings of the present invention, and arrangements embodying those teachings, will hereafter be described by way of illustrative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a support that embodies the teachings of the present invention, the support being depicted in an extended state; Fig. 2 is a flattened and exploded view of the support of Fig. 1 showing the component parts thereof; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of one end of a part of the support depicted in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a schematic underneath view of a support end of a support of the type depicted in Fig. 1 with a mobile telephone supported thereby; Fig. 5 is a front perspective view of a mobile telephone secured in a support; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the phone and support depicted in Fig. 6; and Fig. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the support of Fig. 1 in a retracted state;

Detailed Description

Preferred implementations of the teachings of the invention will now be described with particular reference to a support for use with mobile telephones, but it will be appreciated that the support described herein may be used with other types of portable electronic devices, and as a consequence the scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited solely to supports for mobile telephones With the above proviso in mind, reference will now be made to Fig. 1 of the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a support 1, the support 1 being depicted in its extended state.

The support 1 comprises a generally trough-like support main body 3 having an arcuate, generally C-shaped, cross-section. In a preferred implementation of the teachings of the invention, the support main body may comprise an extendible sheet member of the type described in United States Patent No. 6,256,938 (the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference). Such a sheet member is configurable between a first retracted state (later described with reference to Fig. 4) and an extended state (as depicted in Fig. 1). The sheet member is stable in each state and can be switched between states by applying a force to the sheet member.

The aforementioned US patent provides exhaustive and detailed instructions to persons skilled in the art concerning how such sheet members may be manufactured, and as a consequence those instructions will not be regurgitated herein. It suffices to mention that a reader of this specification looking to manufacture a support main body of the type depicted in Fig. 1 need only look to the aforementioned US patent for detailed instructions on how the support main body may be manufactured. Alternatively, a length of material from which a support main body can be formed may be purchased from Rolatube Technology Limited, 130 Wel!worthy Road, Ampress Park, Lymington, S041 8JY, United Kingdom.

The support main body 3 comprises a concave inner surface 5 and a convex outer surface 7. One end (hereafter, the handle end 9) of the support main body 3 is configured as a handle, and the other end (hereafter, the support end 11) is configured to support a portable electronic device. As shown in Fig. 1, a non-slip cover 13 is applied to at least part of the convex outer surface in the vicinity of the handle end to reduce the likelihood of the support slipping from a user's grip. The non-slip cover 13 is may comprise, for example, a length of silicone rubber and may be adhered (or otherwise affixed) to the convex outer surface 7 of the support main body. Other suitable materials will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art.

A length of resilient material 15 is also applied to the concave inner surface 5 of the support main body 3 in the vicinity of the support end 11. The resilient material extends around -in this particular embodiment -a first and a second set of notches 17, 19 formed in opposite sides of the support main body. In a preferred implementation of the teachings of the invention, resilient material comprises a length of silicone rubber.

Referring now to Fig. 3, each set of notches 17, 19 comprises a first notch 21 that extends generally perpendicularly from the respective associated edge of the support main body 3 towards longitudinal axis A-A. Each set of notches further comprises a second notch 23 that extends from the respective associated edge of the support main body at an angle 0 towards longitudinal axis A-A. In a preferred arrangement, angle 0 is approximately 45 degrees. Each of the notches 21, 23 is configured to have a width W that is slightly larger than the width of a camera equipped mobile telephone, such as a so-called smartphone. For example, W may be in the region of 5 to 10mm.

As will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, a mobile telephone received in the first notches 21 of the first and second sets 17, 19 will be orientated generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis A-A of the support 1. On the other hand, a mobile telephone received in the second notches 23 of the first and second sets 17, 19 will be orientated at an angle On one embodiment, 45 degrees) to the longitudinal axis A-A of the support 1. This arrangement allows the user to select the most appropriate support for the particular photograph that they are attempting to take.

In another envisaged implementation, the support 1 may include only a single slot 21 or 23. In yet another envisaged implementation, the support may include more than two slots. As depicted, the first notches 21 are similarly shaped to one another, and the second notches 23 are also similarly shaped to one another.

In each case, the resilient material 15 surrounding the notches functions to protect the mobile telephone from being scratched by the edges of the notches, and to resist inadvertent removal of the phone from the support. In particular, the resilient material is configured to deform when a phone is inserted into a given pair of notches so that the resilient material bears upon the phone and exerts a frictional force on the phone that tends to keep the phone engaged with the support. To enhance this latter functionality it is envisaged, as shown in Fig. 5, for the resilient material 15 to extend a small distance into each of the aforementioned notches.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is depicted an exploded and flattened (i.e. no longer C-shaped in cross-section) view of the support shown in Fig. 1. The support is shown in flattened form purely for illustrative purposes, and in its normal state would be generally C-shaped in cross-section (as previously explained).

As shown in Fig. 2, the support 1 comprises the support main body 3 to which the non-slip cover 13 and resilient material 15 are attached, for example by means of a suitable adhesive. The resilient material 15 is shaped so as to be complementary to the two sets of notches 17, 19 formed in the support end 11 of the support main body 3.

In addition, the support further comprises a retainer 25 affixed (for example, adhered) to the convex outer surface 7 of the support main body 3 so that the retainer lies generally underneath On the depicted orientation) the first and second sets of notches 17, 19. In this implementation the retainer 25 comprises a resilient ring (for example, of silicone rubber) that is fixed at either end 27, 29 to the underside of the support main body. Respective sides 31, 33 of the ring are not affixed to the underside of the support main body and can thus be pulled away from the support main body by a user.

Referring now to Fig. 4, there is depicted an enlarged view of the support end of the support 1. As shown, a mobile telephone 35 has been inserted, side-on, into the second notches 23 of the first and second sets of notches. The retainer 25 is secured (for example, adhered) to the convex outer surface 7 of the support at either end 27, 29. By virtue of this arrangement, respective sides 31, 33 of the retainer can be pulled by a user in directions away from the support main body 7.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the respective sides 31, 33 of the retainer have been pulled away from the support main body, and have been looped over either end of the mobile telephone located in the second notches 23. In this position the resilient retainer exerts an elastic force on the mobile telephone that secures the telephone in the support. In this configuration the user can confidently move the support around to position the telephone in the desired position without worrying about the telephone falling out of the support.

In a preferred implementation of the teachings of the invention, it is envisaged to provide a shutter trigger that is capable of wirelessly triggering the shutter of a portable electronic device located in the support. The shutter trigger could communicate with the device by means of a short range wireless communications link, such as BluetoothIm.

The shutter trigger could be separate from the support, or in another envisaged implementation it could be built into the support, preferably in the vicinity of the handle end 9.

Referring lastly to Fig. 7 of the drawings, there is depicted a schematic representation of the support in its retracted state. As depicted, in its retracted state the support forms a coil that can readily be stored, or wrapped around a limb for storage.

The coil is stable in this retracted form, and as the coil is unwound it naturally reverts to be trough shaped, as depicted in Fig. 1, A particular advantage of the material available from Rolatube is that it does not explosively switch from one state to the other, but can instead be progressively reconfigured from the coiled state to the extended state, and vice versa.

It will be appreciated that whilst various aspects and embodiments of the present invention have heretofore been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular arrangements set out herein and instead extends to encompass all arrangements, and modifications and alterations thereto, which fall within the scope of the appended claims For example, whilst it is preferred for the support to be of the type of material provided by Rolatube (and described in the abovementioned US patent), it will be appreciated that the teachings of the present invention may be implemented with other types of material. For example, one could readily envisage replacing material of the type available from Rolatube with a flexible bistable spring band of the type commonly employed in so-called "slap bracelets". As a consequence, the scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited solely to material provided by Rolatube.

It should also be noted that whilst the accompanying claims set out particular combinations of features described herein, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular combinations hereafter claimed, but instead extends to encompass any combination of features herein disclosed.

Finally, it should be noted that any element in a claim that does not explicitly state "means for" performing a specified function, or "steps for" performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a "means" or "step" clause as specified in 35 U.S.C.

Sec. 112, par. 6. In particular, the use of "step of' in the claims appended hereto is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, par. 6.

Claims

CLAIMSA support for a portable electronic device, the support comprising: a support main body having a first end and a second end spaced from said first end; a graspable portion coupled to said support main body in the vicinity of said first end, and a device support provided in said support main body in the vicinity of said second end; wherein the support comprises a bistable spring material reconfigurable between a retracted state and an extended state.
2. A support according to Claim 1, wherein the support forms a coil in said retracted state
3. A support according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the support forms a trough-like body in said extended state, said trough-like body being generally arcuate and c-shaped in cross-section.
4. A support according to Claim 3, wherein said trough-like body comprises a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface.
5. A support according to any preceding claim, wherein said graspable portion includes a non-slip layer affixed to said support main body in the vicinity of the first end 25 thereof
6. A support according to any preceding claim, comprising a length of resilient material affixed to said support main body in the vicinity of the second end thereof.
7. A support according to any preceding claim, wherein said device support comprises a pair of notches formed in opposite sides of said support main body..
8. A support according to Claim 7, wherein said notches are located opposite one another and sized so as to permit a side of a portable electronic device to be received 35 therein
9. A support according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein said device support comprises a second pair of notches formed in opposite sides of said support main body.
10. A support according to Claim 9, wherein said second pair of notches are located opposite one another and sized so as to permit a side of a portable electronic device to be received therein
11. A support according to Claim 9 or 10, wherein said first pair of notches are differently orientated, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the support main body, to said second pair of notches.
12. A support according to Claim 11, wherein said first pair of notches extend generally perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis.13 A support according to Claim 11 or 12, wherein said second pair of notches extend at an angle towards said longitudinal axis.14. A support according to Claim 13, wherein said second pair of notches are angled at approximately 45 degrees to said longitudinal access.15. A support according to any of Claims 7 to 14 when dependent on Claim 6, wherein said resilient material extends partway into said notches.16. A support according to any preceding claim, comprising a retainer coupled to said support main body, said retainer being operable to secure a portable electronic device located in said device support.17. A support according to Claim 16, wherein said retainer comprises a resilient oval ring, respective ends of which are fixed to said support main body.18. A support according to Claim 17, wherein sides of said resilient oval ring can be moved away from the support main body, and looped over a portable electronic device located in said device support to secure said device in said device support.19. A support according to any preceding claim, wherein said portable electronic device comprises a mobile telephone.20. A support according to any preceding claim, further comprising a trigger operable to wirelessly trigger a camera of said portable electronic device.21. A support according to Claim 20, wherein said trigger is built into said support in the vicinity of said first end.22. A support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.