Methods and apparatus for the retention of a personal electronics device within a physical interaction device

Abstract

A retention apparatus configured to retain a personal electronic device within a physical interaction device may include one or more retention clips flexibly secured within an interior receptacle of the physical interaction device such that the one or more clips deflect as the personal electronic device is inserted into the interior receptacle and a lip of each of the one or more clips engages a surface of the personal electronic device upon full insertion of the personal electronic device into the interior receptacle, thereby securely retaining the personal electronic device within the interior receptacle until manipulation of the one or more retention clips by a user to release the personal electronic device from the interior receptacle.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A physical interaction device comprising:
 a body with an interior receptacle sized and shaped to removably receive a personal electronic device therewithin such that the personal electronic device is fully encased within the body; and   a retention apparatus to releasably retain the personal electronic device within the interior receptacle, wherein the retention apparatus comprises one or more retention clips flexibly secured within the interior receptacle such that the one or more clips deflect as the personal electronic device is inserted into the interior receptacle, wherein each of the one or more retention clips comprises a lip to engage a surface of the personal electronic device upon full insertion of the personal electronic device into the interior receptacle, thereby securely retaining the personal electronic device within the interior receptacle until manipulation of the one or more retention clips by a user to release the personal electronic device from the interior receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The physical interaction device of  claim 1 , wherein the physical interaction device is sized and shaped to (i) substantially enclose and protect the personal electronic device within the interior receptacle during physical activity comprising at least one of rolling the device, throwing the device, kicking the device, and striking the device against another object, and (ii) enable interaction with the personal electronic device while the personal electronic device is substantially enclosed within the device. 
     
     
         3 . The physical interaction device of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a window/opening for viewing of the personal electronic device when retained within the interior receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The physical interaction device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more retention clips comprise two retention clips configured to releasably secure the personal electronic device to the physical interaction device. 
     
     
         5 . The physical interaction device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more retention clips comprise a cantilever extension configured to bias the clip to securely retain the personal electronic device within the interior receptacle upon full insertion of the personal electronic device into the interior receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . The physical interaction device of  claim 5 , wherein each of the one or more retention clips is configured to at least one of flex or rotate as the personal electronic device is inserted into the receptacle. 
     
     
         7 . The physical interaction device of  claim 1 , wherein the retention apparatus is configured to be releasably secured in a cavity in the physical interaction device. 
     
     
         8 . The physical interaction device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the physical interaction device includes one or more protrusions inside the receptacle, and   the one or more retention clips are sized and shaped to press the personal electronic device against the one or more protrusions to releasably secure the personal electronic device to the physical interaction device upon full insertion of the personal electronic device into the interior receptacle.   
     
     
         9 . The physical interaction device of  claim 1 , wherein the physical interaction device is configured to be used as a at least one of weight training exercise equipment, combat-training exercise equipment, balance and coordination training exercise equipment, game equipment, or sports game equipment. 
     
     
         10 . The physical interaction device of  claim 1 , wherein the personal electronic device is a cellular phone. 
     
     
         11 . A retention apparatus to releasably retain a personal electronic device within a physical interaction device, the retention apparatus comprising:
 one or more retention clips configured to be flexibly secured within an interior receptacle of a physical interaction device sized and shaped to removably receive a personal electronic device therewithin such that the personal electronic device is fully encased within the physical interaction device, wherein the one or more clips deflect as a personal electronic device is inserted into the interior receptacle, wherein each of the one or more retention clips comprises a lip to engage a surface of the personal electronic device upon full insertion of the personal electronic device into the interior receptacle, thereby securely retaining the personal electronic device within the interior receptacle until manipulation of the one or more retention clips by a user to release the personal electronic device from the interior receptacle.   
     
     
         12 . The retention apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the physical interaction device is sized and shaped to (i) substantially enclose and protect the personal electronic device within the interior receptacle during physical activity comprising at least one of rolling the device, throwing the device, kicking the device, and striking the device against another object, and (ii) enable interaction with the personal electronic device while the personal electronic device is substantially enclosed within the device. 
     
     
         13 . The retention apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the physical interaction device comprises a housing with a window/opening for viewing of the personal electronic device when retained within the interior receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . The retention apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more retention clips comprise two retention clips configured to releasably secure the personal electronic device to the physical interaction device. 
     
     
         15 . The retention apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein each of the one or more retention clips comprise a cantilever extension configured to bias the clip to securely retain the personal electronic device within the interior receptacle upon full insertion of the personal electronic device into the interior receptacle. 
     
     
         16 . The retention apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein each of the one or more retention clips is configured to at least one of flex or rotate as the personal electronic device is inserted into the receptacle. 
     
     
         17 . The retention apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the retention apparatus is configured to be releasably secured in a cavity in the physical interaction device. 
     
     
         18 . The retention apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the physical interaction device includes one or more protrusions inside the receptacle, and   the one or more retention clips are sized and shaped to press the personal electronic device against the one or more protrusions to releasably secure the personal electronic device to the physical interaction device upon full insertion of the personal electronic device into the interior receptacle.   
     
     
         19 . The retention apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the physical interaction device is configured to be used as a at least one of weight training exercise equipment, combat-training exercise equipment, balance and coordination training exercise equipment, game equipment, or sports game equipment. 
     
     
         20 . The retention apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the personal electronic device is a cellular phone.