Phone / Camera Accessory
DESCRIPTION:
The term “selfie” has become a common enough term that it is now monitored for inclusion in the online version of the Oxford English Dictionary. The “selfie” itself has been around for probably as long as there have been the cameras to perform the function and record the photograph. With the advent of the hand-held phone and combination of the camera in a phone, the “selfie” has become more popular than ever. The smartphone has made it possible to record videos as well as still shots. It is not unusual to see pictures and videos of individuals photographing or videoing themselves and their friends at almost any location and at any time. The internet has provided a number of various outlets for viewing the photographs and videos to a broad audience with programs such as YouTube, Facebook, and many other social media apps. The introduction of the social media app has increased the popularity of recording with the smartphone to the point where anyone with the device can participate.
Taking videos and photos has become a favorite pastime for many people and although the “selfie” is a very trendy way to make these recordings many people still enjoy taking pictures and videos of the usual special occasions such as traveling, birthdays, and other distinctive events that people experience in their lives. Mounting the camera for recording occasions is still a very common thing to do when a hands-free environment is preferred. Mounting the camera will allow the event to unfold without any intervention from the operator and it allows everyone to be in the scene.
One of the difficulties of mounting a phone or tablet camera is finding a place or a way to support it for the optimum exposure and inclusiveness. The “selfie stick” has become one solution but it is still a hand-held device and along with the hand-held devices come all the issues that it creates. The selfie stick is applicable for that particular use but it is very limited, and it is awkward and has to be carried around to be useful. Getting the phone/tablet camera in a useful mounted condition is still an issue with many individuals wishing to record videos of family, friends, scenery, or whatever subject is desired and still include themselves in the recording of the event.
The Phone/Camera Accessory is a unique and innovative product that presents a solution to issues for supporting and mounting a phone or tablet camera to include everyone including the owner of the camera in the recording. The Phone/Camera Accessory consists of a carrying case, that has models that will fit almost any phone including tablets. The phone or tablet easily slips into the secure carrying case and the top section of the case leaves the upper section of the phone or tablet exposed. Leaving the top of the device exposed leaves the camera free and in the open so that it can operate unrestricted. The Phone/Camera Accessory has a Velcro attachment strip located on the back of the case. The Velcro attachment strip will mate up to the set of accessories that are available to the Phone/Camera Accessory product. The accessories available to the product consist of a magnet attachment for mounting the camera or tablet to metal surfaces. The second accessory is a set of suction cups that are ideal for mounting the phone or tablet to smooth surfaces such as glass or automobile bodies without any damage. The third accessory is a tie-on accessory that has long cords that will allow the user to tie the phone or tablet securely to almost anything that the cords will reach around. A “kickstand” is available to stand the phone or tablet up on a flat surface. A convenient accessory bag keeps all of the accessory components together and portable. All of the components are interchangeable with a simple pull of the Velcro mounting system to remove each component and easily replace it with another. The Phone/Camera Accessory will solve mounting issues with phone and tablets and allow a hands-free recording in almost any environment.
SPECIFIC, UNIQUE FUNCTIONS OF INVENTION:
- Allows hands-free “selfies” and videos
- Light-weight and easy to carry
- Acts as a secure phone case
- Does not restrict the camera lens
- Clear plastic front allows access to phone apps
- Design of case allows access to phone controls
- Magnet attachment
- Suction cup attachment
- Tie-on attachment
- Kickstand attachment for standing on flat surfaces
- Interchangeable accessories with Velcro attachment system
- Works with phones or Tablets
- Remote or wireless operation is available
- Accessory bag for keeping attachments together and portable
PRODUCT COMPONENT CLARIFICATION:
The “Phone/Camera Accessory” is an innovative cellular phone/tablet product that has been designed to allow ‘selfies’ and videos to be taken while the phone/tablet is secured to a nearby object. The clear vinyl plastic case has a hook and loop (H&L) fastener on the back of the case. This adheres to the mating H&L fastener secured to 3 different interface adapters (attachments). The interface adapters allow the case to be suspended from almost any object and selfies/videos take without the user having to support the phone/tablet. After use, the case and attachments can be placed in the cloth carrying bag until required for the next use.
Currently, if the user wants to take a selfie or video, they must get someone hold the phone for them, prop it up on a suitable surface, or hold it out away from the target image, either on a selfie stick or by holding it in the hand. Any of these methods leaves something to be desired. The phone can be taken by the helper and be lost, it can fall off the support and break, or the arm/stick may not be long enough to secure the optimum image. All of these problems are less than optimum and losing the phone or tablet with all the data, can be a real problem, especially if it was not backed up to a remote storage.
The “Phone/Camera Accessory” resolves almost all of these issues by providing a well-supported case on a sturdy support. The case can be attached to almost any surface through the use of the attachments, i.e., the magnetic back for ferrous surfaces, the suction cup back for any smooth surface, or the Tie-On back, which can be secured to almost any post, bar, or other non-ferrous items. The clear plastic case is about 2/3 the height of the phone or tablet, and does not obscure the front surface camera, so it will not degrade any photos/videos that are being taken. The thin, yet very durable, vinyl allows the user’s fingers to engage any of the touch screen icons, while providing a secure pocket in which to support the phone/tablet. Replacement pockets and attachments can be purchased at any phone store or through the manufacturer’s Internet store.
- Note: In this document, the text describes the user selecting the case size to fit their device, whether it be one of 2 sizes for the phone or one of 2 sizes for the tablet. As an option, the manufacturer can supply one of each of the 4 sizes in the storage bag, with the attachments remaining the same for all the cases
Currently, the market has phones and tablets that fall into various widths. These are, but not limited to, the following.
| Phone/Tablet | Relative widths – without cases |
|---|---|
| Phones | 3.0”, 3.5”, 4.0” 4.5” |
| Phablets | 5.0”, 5.5” |
| Small tablets | 7.0”, 7.9” |
| Large tablets | 9.7” |
The cases: These cases are manufactured using 6 mil thick, UV stabilized, transparent vinyl plastic in one of 4 sizes. The case is designed to accommodate any of the phones/tablets described above with or without typical hard cases. The vinyl is cut to shape from sheets using computer controlled water jet machining. After cutting to shape, they are dried, robotically folded, and then thermally bonded on the sides to make the finished case to hold the phone or tablet. The overlapping, thermally bonded sides are twice the strength of the normal plastic, providing a secure case for supporting the phone or tablet.
- As an option: The case can be manufactured using thicker grades of vinyl plastic, like 10 or 20 mil thickness. This would dramatically increase the durability but not materially affect the capability of engaging the icons on the cellular phone or tablet.
The attachments: These attachments are manufactured with the mating H&L fabric mounted on 0.032” thick polypropylene plastic substrate. This plastic is very durable but will flex somewhat allowing easier removal of the magnets and/or suction cups from various surfaces upon which they have been placed. The H&L fastener will support up to a 50-pound load, far exceeding the weight of the tablet or phone placed in the case for use.
- The magnet attachment: This attachment interface is populated with very thin neodymium magnets, which are adhesively bonded to the plastic backing., opposite the surface where the H&L fastener is bonded. Each of these 12mm diameter by 2mm thick magnets will support 6.8 pounds of weight, or a 20-pound aggregate.
- The suction cup attachment: This attachment is populated with 3 each 1” diameter molded PVC plastic suction cups. Each cup will support about 1 pound for an aggregate of 3 pounds total. Of the three attachments, this one does require testing once placed to insure the case is secure. The flexible back with the H&L fastener is fabricated like the magnetic one above.
- The tie-on attachment: This attachment is manufactured using 4 1/8” diameter woven nylon cords by 18” long. These are adhesively bonded to the polypropylene plastic back, upon which the H&L fastener is adhesively bonded. The nylon cord will support over 100 pounds once tied.
The Phone/Camera Accessory is designed to be aesthetic and effective in the application. The relative ease of manufacture and the moderately inexpensive components provide good marketability for the manufacturer. The user benefits from improved selfie/video device support and ease of use, which should provide considerable market interest in the product.
The invention is illustrated in the following drawings of the essential points as explained to us in the documentation.
Drawing 1, Block 1: Phone/Camera Accessory – 3 Views Of Product Less Attachments
(1) The 6-mil thick, UV stabilized vinyl plastic is used to make the phone holder for the smartphone or tablet.
(2) The icons can easily be activated through the plastic case yet the case is very strong and will hold phone or tablet safely without tearing.
(3) The front facing (selfie) lens is supported well above the top edge of the case so the plastic will not degrade the image taken with the phone.
(4) The mating H&L fastener is adhesively bonded to the back of the smartphone case and grips the mating H&L fastener on the attachments.
(5) The phone’s camera is selected and then it is dropped into the case, which is supported by the mating H&L fastener on the appropriate attachment module, whereupon the user can engage the ‘shutter’ of the camera.
(6) The case is optimized for 2 sizes of cellular phones and 2 sizes of tablet and the user selects the appropriate size for their device.
Drawing 1, Block 2: Phone/Camera Accessory – Magnet And Suction Cup Attachments
(7) The H&L fabric is adhesively bonded to the back of the flexible plastic support.
(8) The thin, high strength magnets are bonded to the thin plastic support and the flexible strip bends to allow the magnets to more easily release.
(9) The magnets will adhere to any ferrous metal surface and will support the camera in the purchased case.
(10) The strong and durable suction cups will bond to any smooth surface to which the magnets are not able to bond.
Drawing 1, Block 3: Phone/Camera Accessory – Tie-On Attachment
(11) The H&L fabric attaches to the mating H&L fabric on the camera holding case to allow longer range selfies to be taken.
(12) The nylon cord is very strong and is easy to tie around various objects.
(13) The thin nylon cord is bonded between two layers of flexible plastic and is secured to them.
(14) The backing and cord hold the strip of H&L fabric to objects that will not support magnets or suction cups.
Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the above detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment developed herein, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This document has been prepared for the manufacturer’s elucidation. The manufacturer’s decision makers should consider this product for licensing (providing intellectual property protection for their sales of the product in return for a royalty payment for a period of years) or an outright purchase of the patent for a negotiated fee. The inventor and her team are standing by to consider offers for
licensing or outright purchase of the patent.
