Devices and accessories employing a living hinge

Abstract

A device incorporating both a magnet and a living hinge may be employed to construct cases to protect electronic devices and to function as a closure for cases and lidded containers. Such cases often can be bent three 360° allowing the cases to be either closed protecting devices therein are closed upon themselves allowing the case to function to secure an electronic device to a substrate such as an article of clothing. The devices of the disclosure can also be used to organize and hold loose items together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic device comprising:
 an electronic component having a view screen and   a living hinge formed on a continuous material defining at least two modules separated by the living hinge;   wherein:
 the electronic component is attached to the at least two modules; and 
 a first rare earth magnet located along a first module and a second magnet, rare earth magnet, or a ferromagnetic or a ferrimagnetic substrate located along a second module are configured to attach the electronic device around or to an object. 
   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the electronic component is attached to the at least two modules separated by a living hinge employing at least one element selected from the group consisting of clip, slit, loop, adhesive, a magnet or rare earth magnet, and combinations thereof 
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the electronic component is selected from the group consisting of a watch, a clock, a phone, a gps device, a cable, a radio transmitter, a digital music player, speakers, a light/reflector, and combinations thereof 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 2  wherein the electronic component is attached to the at least two modules separated by a living hinge using a loop. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 2  wherein the electronic component is attached to the at least two modules separated by a living hinge using a clip. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 2  wherein the electronic component is attached to the at least two modules separated by a living hinge using a slit. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 2  wherein the electronic component is attached to the at least two modules separated by a living hinge using a slit and a loop. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 3  wherein the electronic component is selected from the group consisting of a watch, gps device, radio transmitter, and combinations thereof 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 8  wherein the at least two modules separated by a living hinge have a first and a second magnet and are configured such that the first and second magnets' polarity allow the at least two modules separated by a living hinge to wrap around a the object. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 9  wherein, when attached to the object, the electronic device is configured such that it may be used hands free. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein one of the at least two modules is a ferrimagnetic or ferromagnetic material and another of the at least two modules contains at least one magnet. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 10  wherein at least one of the two modules is a continuous ferrimagnetic substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic of  claim 12  wherein the natural bend of the living hinge is a continuous ferrimagnetic material. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 8  wherein the electronic device can be manipulated to adjust a tension of the electronic device upon the object.