Apparatuses for improving grip on handheld devices

Abstract

Handholds and protective cases that are equipped therewith and configured to be coupled to a handheld electronic device. Such a handhold includes an elongated body that is sized and configured to protrude from a back side surface of a protective case. Once secured to a handheld electronic device, the elongated body provides one or more finger holds along at least a first longitudinal side exterior surface of the elongated body that promote an individual's grip on the handheld electronic device.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 an elongated body sized and configured to be secured to a handheld electronic device and protrude from a back side thereof, the elongated body having an interior surface, an outer exterior surface that is substantially parallel to the interior surface, and side exterior surfaces that are between the interior surface and the outer exterior surface, the side exterior surfaces defining oppositely-disposed longitudinal side exterior surfaces that extend between first and second ends of the elongated body; and   a plurality of concave recesses defined in at least one of the longitudinal side exterior surfaces, the concave recesses defining finger holds that promote a user's grip on the handheld electronic device from which the elongated body protrudes, each adjacent pair of the finger holds being separated by a nub.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising means for directly or indirectly coupling the interior surface to the handheld electronic device. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the side exterior surfaces are substantially perpendicular the interior surface and the outer exterior surface. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the concave recesses, the nubs, and the finger holds are defined in each of the longitudinal side exterior surfaces. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one additional concave recess on at least the first end of the elongated body. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a concave recess is not defined in the second end of the elongated body. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second ends of the elongated body is triangular or spade-shaped. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second ends of the elongated body has a surface that slopes toward the interior surface of the elongated body such that the elongated body is thinner at at least the one of the first and second ends than in an intermediate portion of the elongated body in which the recesses and nubs are defined. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body is secured and protrudes from a back side of a protective case configured to be coupled with and at least partially enclose the handheld electronic device. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the protective case has a rectangular shaped body, and a longitudinal axis of the elongated body lies on a diagonal between opposite corners of the protective case. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the elongated body is positioned closer to one end of the protective case than an oppositely-disposed end of the protective case. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the protective case is configured to couple with a mobile phone. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the handheld electronic device is a mobile phone. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the handheld electronic device is a tablet computer. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the handheld electronic device is an electronic reader. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus comprising:
 a protective case configured to be removably coupled with and at least partially enclose a handheld electronic device, the protective case comprising interior surfaces configured to contact the handheld electronic device when the protective case is coupled thereto and exterior surfaces configured to face away from the handheld electronic device when the protective case is coupled thereto, the exterior surfaces comprising a back side surface;   an elongated body protruding from the back side surface, the elongated body having an interior surface secured to or adjoining the back side surface, an outer exterior surface that is substantially parallel to the interior surface, and side exterior surfaces that are between the interior surface and the outer exterior surface, the side exterior surfaces defining oppositely-disposed longitudinal side exterior surfaces that extend between first and second ends of the elongated body; and   a plurality of concave recesses defined in at least one of the longitudinal side exterior surfaces, the concave recesses defining finger holds that promote a user's grip on the handheld electronic device from which the elongated body protrudes, each adjacent pair of the finger holds being separated by a nub.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of claim  19 , wherein the side exterior surfaces are substantially perpendicular the interior surface and the outer exterior surface, and the concave recesses, the nubs, and the finger holds are defined in each of the longitudinal side exterior surfaces.