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.

1 . An electronic device comprising:
 an electronic component with a display, and   a living hinge formed in a continuous material defining at least two modules separated by the living hinge;   wherein:
 the electronic component is attached to a first module and within the electronic component is a magnet, ferromagnetic substrate, or ferrimagnetic substrate; and 
 a second magnet, rare earth magnet, or ferromagnetic or a ferrimagnetic substrate is within a second module. 
   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the electronic component is selected from the group consisting of a watch, clock, a phone, a gps device, a radio transmitter, a digital music layer, a speaker, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the electronic component is attached to a second module. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 3  wherein, the electronic device is configured to have an open position and a closed position such that the display is located between the two modules such that the display is protected from the environment when the electronic device is in the closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 4  wherein, when closed, each end of the first and second modules touch together at the position distal from the living hinge leaving a gap that extends to the living hinge. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 4  wherein one module may be longer than another. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein on one module which is shorter than another module, there is a magnet distal from the living hinge. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 7  wherein, on a longer module, there is a magnet, and the shorter module and the longer module are configured such that the two magnets align when the modules are brought together to hold the modules together. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the continuous material of the two modules may flex more than 360 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the modules are configured to wrap around an object. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the living hinge comprises more than one living hinge. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the living hinge is narrower than the adjacent modules. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 4  wherein the modules may have a different color on each side and may be reversible to allow the user to choose which color is visible when the electronic device is in the closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 4  wherein each module may have an exterior ridge such that the ridges will contact each other upon closure of the modules. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 4  wherein each module may have an exterior ridge such that when the module is folded back on itself and the display is shown on the outside of the modules, the ridge in each module may face each other. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the modules further comprise ridges. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the hinge is elastic. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 17  wherein the modules are made from a more rigid material than the hinge to provide a more stable operations platform. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the electronic component is attached to the modules by employing an adhesive. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 8  wherein the magnets may secure the modules closed with the display of the electronic component being visible. 
     
     
         21 . The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the electronic component may be used hands free. 
     
     
         22 . The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the hinge is made from a different material than the modules. 
     
     
         23 . The electronic device of  claim 4  wherein continuous material may fold either way to protect either side of the module. 
     
     
         24 . The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the display is narrower than the living hinge. 
     
     
         25 . An electronic device comprising:
 an electronic component with a display, and   a living hinge formed in a continuous material defining at least two modules separated by the living hinge;   wherein:
 the electronic component is attached to a first module and within the electronic component is a magnet, ferromagnetic substrate, or ferrimagnetic substrate; and 
 a second magnet, rare earth magnet, or ferromagnetic or a ferrimagnetic substrate is on a second module. 
   
     
     
         26 . The electronic device of  claim 25  wherein the electronic component is selected from the group consisting of a watch, clock, a phone, a gps device, a radio transmitter, a digital music player, a speaker, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The electronic device of  claim 25  wherein the electronic component is attached to a second module. 
     
     
         28 . The electronic device of  claim 27  wherein, the electronic device is configured to have an open position and a closed position such that the display is located between the two modules such that the display is protected from the environment when the electronic device is in the closed position. 
     
     
         29 . The electronic device of  claim 25  wherein the display is narrower than the living hinge.