Swivel finger strap for a mobile device

Abstract

A swivel finger strap device for a mobile device comprises a base with an adhesive layer configured to be adhered to a back of the mobile device. An aperture is formed in the center of the base. A cap is rotatably coupled to the base. A post extends from the cap and through the aperture in the base, and defines a pivot axel about which the cap rotates with respect to the base. The cap has an interior cavity on an interior side of the cap, and is sized and shaped to receive substantially all of the base therein. A flexible strap is affixed to the cap. The flexible strap and the cap form a loop to receive one or more fingers of a user's hand.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A swivel finger strap device configured for a mobile device having a forward viewing surface and a back, the finger strap device comprising:
 a) a base with an adhesive layer configured to be adhered to the back of the mobile device;   b) an aperture formed in the center of the base;   c) a cap rotatably coupled to the base;   d) a post extending from the cap and through the aperture in the base, and defining a pivot axel about which the cap rotates with respect to the base;   e) the cap having an interior cavity on an interior side of the cap, and being sized and shaped to receive substantially all of the base therein;   f) a flexible strap affixed to the cap; and   g) the flexible strap and the cap forming a loop configured to receive one or more fingers of a user's hand.   
     
     
         2 . The swivel finger strap device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a) a recess circumscribing the aperture on a back side of the base between the base and the adhesive layer; and   b) an enlarged head formed on a distal end of the post and rotatably disposed in the recess of the base, and being enlarged with respect to the post and the aperture to retain the cap on the base.   
     
     
         3 . The swivel finger strap device in accordance with  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a slot formed longitudinally in the post and the enlarged head, and bisecting the post into a pair of fingers, the pair of fingers being flexible to bend inward into the slot to allow the pair of fingers to bend inwardly into the slot to reduce a size of the enlarged head to allow the enlarged head to be inserted through the aperture, and the pair of fingers being resilient to return outwardly from the slot after being bent inwardly into the slot.   
     
     
         4 . The swivel finger strap device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a perimeter of the cap circumscribing the base, and substantially covering a perimeter of the base.   
     
     
         5 . The swivel finger strap device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a) a pair of notches each formed in opposite sides of the perimeter of the cap;   b) each of the pair of notches extending into the perimeter of the cap, and under an outer surface of the cap defining an undercut; and   c) the flexible strap having opposite ends each disposed in a different one of the pair of notches, and each of the opposite ends extending into a respective undercut and under the cap.   
     
     
         6 . The swivel finger strap device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the flexible strap being elastic and having a length to bias the flexible strap taut against the cap.   
     
     
         7 . The swivel finger strap device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the flexible strap has at least two configurations, including:
 a) an unused configuration in which the flexible strap is substantially flat against the cap; and   b) an in-use configuration in which a portion of the flexible strap is displaced from the cap defining the loop.   
     
     
         8 . The swivel finger strap device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 indicia disposed on an outward facing surface of the flexible strap, the indicia being indicative of or representing a business, a product, or both.   
     
     
         9 . A method for holding a mobile device with the swivel finger strap device in accordance with  claim 1 , comprising:
 adhering the base to the back of rearward surface of the mobile device in a desired location;   inserting one or more fingers between the flexible strap and the cap; and   rotating the flexible strap and the cap about the pivot axel to orient the mobile device as desired.   
     
     
         10 . A swivel finger strap device configured for a mobile device having a forward viewing surface and a back, the finger strap device comprising:
 a) a base with an adhesive layer configured to be adhered to the back of the mobile device;   b) an aperture formed in the center of the base;   c) a cap rotatably coupled to the base;   d) a post extending from the cap and through the aperture in the base, and defining a pivot axel about which the cap rotates with respect to the base;   e) the cap having an interior cavity on an interior side of the cap, and being sized and shaped to receive substantially all of the base therein;   f) a flexible strap affixed to the cap;   g) the flexible strap and the cap forming a loop configured to receive one or more fingers of a user's hand;   h) the flexible strap being elastic and having a length to bias the flexible strap taut against the cap; and   i) the flexible strap having at least two configurations, including:
 an unused configuration in which the flexible strap is substantially flat against the cap; and 
 an in-use configuration in which a portion of the flexible strap is displaced from the cap defining the loop. 
   
     
     
         11 . The swivel finger strap device in accordance with  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a) a recess circumscribing the aperture on a back side of the base between the base and the adhesive layer; and   b) an enlarged head formed on a distal end of the post and rotatably disposed in the recess of the base, and being enlarged with respect to the post and the aperture to retain the cap on the base.   
     
     
         12 . The swivel finger strap device in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a slot formed longitudinally in the post and the enlarged head, and bisecting the post into a pair of fingers, the pair of fingers being flexible to bend inward into the slot to allow the pair of fingers to bend inwardly into the slot to reduce a size of the enlarged head to allow the enlarged head to be inserted through the aperture, and the pair of fingers being resilient to return outwardly from the slot after being bent inwardly into the slot.   
     
     
         13 . The swivel finger strap device in accordance with  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a perimeter of the cap circumscribing the base, and substantially covering a perimeter of the base.   
     
     
         14 . The swivel finger strap device in accordance with  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a) a pair of notches each formed in opposite sides of the perimeter of the cap;   b) each of the pair of notches extending into the perimeter of the cap, and under an outer surface of the cap defining an undercut; and   c) the flexible strap having opposite ends each disposed in a different one of the pair of notches, and each of the opposite ends extending into a respective undercut and under the cap.   
     
     
         15 . The swivel finger strap device in accordance with  claim 10 , further comprising:
 indicia disposed on an outward facing surface of the flexible strap, the indicia being indicative of or representing a business, a product, or both.   
     
     
         16 . A method for holding a mobile device with the swivel finger strap device in accordance with  claim 10 , comprising:
 adhering the base to the back of rearward surface of the mobile device in a desired location;   inserting one or more fingers between the flexible strap and the cap; and   rotating the flexible strap and the cap about the pivot axel to orient the mobile device as desired.   
     
     
         17 . A swivel finger strap device in combination with a mobile device having a forward viewing surface and a back, the finger strap device comprising:
 a) a base with an adhesive layer adhered to the back of the mobile device;   b) an aperture formed in the center of the base;   c) a recess circumscribing the aperture on a back side of the base between the base and the adhesive layer;   d) a cap rotatably coupled to the base;   e) a post extending from the cap and through the aperture in the base and defining a pivot axel about which the cap pivots with respect to the base;   f) an enlarged head formed on a distal end of the post and rotatably disposed in the recess of the base, and being enlarged with respect to the post and the aperture to retain the cap on the base;   g) a slot formed longitudinally in the post and the enlarged head, and bisecting the post into a pair of fingers, the pair of fingers being flexible to bend inward into the slot to allow the pair of fingers to bend inwardly into the slot to reduce a size of the enlarged head to allow the enlarged head to be inserted through the aperture, and the pair of fingers being resilient to return outwardly from the slot after being bent inwardly into the slot;   h) the cap having an interior cavity on an interior side of the cap, and being sized and shaped to receive substantially all of the base therein;   i) a perimeter of the cap circumscribing the base, and substantially covering a perimeter of the base;   j) a pair of notches each formed in opposite sides of the perimeter of the cap;   k) each of the pair of notches extending into the perimeter of the cap, and under an outer surface of the cap defining an undercut;   l) a flexible strap affixed to the cap and having opposite ends each disposed in a different one of the pair of notches, and each of the opposite ends extending into a respective undercut and under the cap between the cap and the back of the mobile device;   m) the flexible strap and the cap forming a loop configured to receive one or more fingers of a user's hand;   n) the flexible strap being elastic and having a length to bias the flexible strap taut against the cap;   o) the flexible strap having at least two configurations, including:
 i) an unused configuration in which the flexible strap is substantially flat against the cap; and 
 ii) an in-use configuration in which a portion of the flexible strap is displaced from the cap defining the loop; and 
   p) indicia disposed on an outward facing surface of the flexible strap, the indicia being indicative of or representing a business, a product, or both.   
     
     
         18 . A method for holding the mobile device with the swivel finger strap device in accordance with  claim 17 , comprising:
 adhering the base to the back of rearward surface of the mobile device in a desired location;   inserting one or more fingers between the flexible strap and the cap; and   rotating the flexible strap and the cap about the pivot axel to orient the mobile device as desired.