Attachable apparatus for hands-free holding of handheld form factor items

Abstract

An attachable apparatus for hands-free holding of handheld form factor items such as handheld devices includes a receptacle, a substrate, and an adhesive layer, the receptacle configured to receive and retain the handheld form factor item and the adhesive layer disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the substrate to allow a user to removably adhere the attachable apparatus to a first article at a first time and to a second article at a second time, after removal from the first article.

1 . An apparatus for hands-free holding of handheld form factor items, the apparatus comprising: 
 a receptacle comprising a receiving portion and a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, opposed to the first surface, the first surface of the substrate coupled to the receiving portion to form a cavity therebetween open proximate at least one end of the cavity, the cavity sized and dimensioned to at least partially receive a handheld form factor item;    a retaining mechanism coupled to the receptacle and selectively fastenable to retain the handheld form factor item in the cavity of the receptacle; and    an adhesive layer disposed on at least a portion of the second surface of the substrate, to allow a user to removably adhere the apparatus to a first article at a first time, and to removably adhere the apparatus to a second article at a second time, after removal from the first article.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a cover fixed at one portion to the first surface of the substrate and selectively coupleable at another portion to the first surface of the substrate.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an auxiliary retaining mechanism adapted to further secure the handheld form factor item in the cavity of the receptacle, the auxiliary retaining mechanism being detachable from the apparatus and adjustable to secure handheld form factor items of various sizes.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the auxiliary retaining mechanism comprises an elongated band and means for removably affixing the band onto a first portion of the apparatus toward a first end of the band and means for removably affixing the band onto a second portion of the apparatus toward a second end of the band, the band extending from the first portion of the apparatus to the second portion of the apparatus to assist in retaining the handheld form factor item in the cavity of the receptacle.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the means for removably securing the band comprises hook and loop fasteners.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the means for removably securing the band comprises a buckle.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the adhesive layer comprises a reinforced acrylic adhesive.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the adhesive layer comprises at least one of a heat-sensitive adhesive or a pressure-sensitive adhesive.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a release liner covering at least a portion of the adhesive layer prior to use, the release liner selectively removable to expose the adhesive layer for use and repositionable over the adhesive layer when not in use.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the release liner comprises silicon-coated polypropylene  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the release liner comprises an at least partially glossy surface and at least one surface adapted to carry indicia.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the release liner comprises means for facilitating removal of the release liner to expose the adhesive layer.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the means for facilitating removal of the release liner comprises at least one structural feature extending across at least a portion of a surface of the release liner and through at least a portion of a thickness of the release liner.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the means for facilitating removal of the release liner comprises at least one tab extending beyond a periphery of the release liner.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the adhesive layer comprises an adhesive that can be dissolved by a solvent.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a gripping member coupled to the receptacle and configured to allow the user to selectively manipulate at least a portion of the apparatus.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the gripping member is a ring.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the substrate further comprises: 
 a first layer having a first surface and a second surface, opposed to the first surface, the first surface at least partially forming the first surface of the substrate and coupled to the receiving portion to form the cavity therebetween;    a second layer having a first surface adjacent the first surface of the first layer and a second surface, opposed to the first surface, the second surface at least partially forming the second surface of the substrate, the adhesive layer disposed on at least a portion of the second surface; and    means for attaching the first layer to the second layer toward a periphery of the first and the second layers, directing transfer of loads induced by an inadvertent force away from the periphery toward the means for attaching.    
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the means for attaching the first layer and the second layer to the border member comprises at least one stitching.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 a border member extending from at least a portion of the first surface of the first layer toward the periphery of the first layer to at least a portion of the second surface of the second layer toward the periphery of the second layer to captively receive the first and second layers around at least a portion of a periphery of the substrate.    
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the means for attaching the first layer and the second layer to the border member comprises at least a first stitching attaching the first layer to the border member and at least a second stitching attaching the second layer to the border member, the second stitching being positioned between the first stitching and the periphery of the substrate.  
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for hands-free holding of handheld form factor items, the apparatus comprising: 
 a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposed to the first surface;    a retaining mechanism comprising a first strap and a second strap, the first and the second straps coupled to the first surface of the substrate and selectively fastenable to retain the handheld form factor item; and    an adhesive layer disposed on at least a portion of the second surface of the substrate to allow a user to removably adhere the apparatus to a first article at a first time, and to a second article at a second time, after removal from the first article.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein at least one of the first and second straps is detachable from the apparatus toward an end of the at least one of the first and the second straps and adjustable to secure handheld form factor items of various sizes.  
     
     
         24 . A method of making an attachable apparatus for hands-free holding of handheld form factor items, the method comprising: 
 disposing an adhesive layer on a first surface of a substrate, adapting the substrate to removably adhere to an article;    forming a receptacle on at least a portion of a second surface of the substrate; and    sizing the receptacle to receive the handheld form factor item.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 covering at least a portion of the adhesive layer with a release liner until use.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 forming at least one structural feature on the release liner to facilitate removal of the release liner from the adhesive layer.