Expanding accessory for mobile electronic devices

Abstract

An expandable socket for attachment to a mobile electronic device. The expandable socket includes a platform adapted to engage a portion of the portable media player, a skin coupled to the platform, wherein the skin is deformable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The expandable socket includes a button coupled to the skin opposite the platform. The expandable socket also includes a biasing element arranged within the skin between the platform and the button, the biasing element configured to bias the skin into the expanded configuration.

1 . An expandable socket for attachment to a portable media player or a portable media player case, the expandable socket comprising:
 a platform adapted to engage a portion of the portable media player or the portable media player case;   a skin coupled to the platform, wherein the skin is deformable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;   a button coupled to the skin opposite the platform; and   a biasing element arranged within the skin between the platform and the button, the biasing element configured to bias the skin into the expanded configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The expandable socket of  claim 1 , wherein the skin comprises an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         3 . The expandable socket of  claim 1 , wherein the skin comprises a tapered conical shape. 
     
     
         4 . The expandable socket of  claim 1 , wherein the skin comprises at least one folding section. 
     
     
         5 . The expandable socket of  claim 4 , wherein the skin comprises a plurality of folding sections. 
     
     
         6 . The expandable socket of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one folding section has an accordion shape. 
     
     
         7 . The expandable socket of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing element comprises a coil spring. 
     
     
         8 . The expandable socket of  claim 7 , wherein the coil spring comprises a conical coil spring. 
     
     
         9 . The expandable socket of  claim 1 , further comprising a lock configured to releasably secure the skin in the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The expandable socket of  claim 9 , wherein the lock comprises a first projection carried by the button and arranged to engage a second projection carried by the platform when the lock releasably secures the skin in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         11 . The expandable socket of  claim 9 , wherein the lock comprises a recess defined by the platform or the button, and a protrusion defined by the other of the platform or the button, the recess configured to receive the protrusion when the lock releasably secures the skin in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         12 . An expandable socket for attachment to a portable media player or a portable media player case, the expandable socket comprising:
 a platform adapted to engage a portion of the portable media player or the portable media player case;   a button that is spaced from and movable relative to the platform;   a biasing element disposed between the platform and the button, the biasing element arranged to bias the button away from the platform; and   a lock configured to releasably secure the button to the platform.   
     
     
         13 . The expandable socket of  claim 12 , further comprising a skin arranged between the platform and the button, wherein the skin surrounds the biasing element. 
     
     
         14 . The expandable socket of  claim 13 , wherein the skin comprises an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         15 . The expandable socket of  claim 14 , wherein the skin comprises at least one folding section. 
     
     
         16 . The expandable socket of  claim 12 , wherein the biasing element comprises a coil spring. 
     
     
         17 . The expandable socket of  claim 16 , wherein the coil spring comprises a conical coil spring. 
     
     
         18 . The expandable socket of  claim 12 , wherein the lock comprises a first projection carried by the button and arranged to engage a second projection carried by the platform when the lock releasably secures the button to the platform. 
     
     
         19 . The expandable socket of  claim 12 , wherein the lock comprises a recess defined by the platform or the button, and a protrusion defined by the other of the platform or the button, the recess configured to receive the protrusion when the lock releasably secures the button to the platform. 
     
     
         20 . An expandable socket for attachment to a portable media player or a portable media player case, the expandable socket comprising:
 a platform adapted to engage a portion of the portable media player or the portable media player case;   a button that is spaced from and movable relative to the platform; and   a biasing element disposed between the platform and the button, the biasing element arranged to bias the button away from the platform.   
     
     
         21 . The expandable socket of  claim 20 , further comprising a skin arranged between the platform and the button, wherein the skin surrounds the biasing element. 
     
     
         22 . The expandable socket of  claim 21 , wherein the skin comprises an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         23 . The expandable socket of  claim 22 , wherein the skin comprises at least one folding section. 
     
     
         24 . The expandable socket of  claim 20 , wherein the biasing element comprises a coil spring. 
     
     
         25 . The expandable socket of  claim 24 , wherein the coil spring comprises a conical coil spring. 
     
     
         26 . The expandable socket of  claim 20 , further comprising a first projection carried by the button and arranged to selectively engage a second projection carried by the platform to releasably secure the button to the platform. 
     
     
         27 . The expandable socket of  claim 20 , further comprising a recess defined by the platform or the button, and a protrusion defined by the other of the platform or the button, the recess configured to selectively receive the protrusion to releasably secure the button to the platform. 
     
     
         28 . An expandable socket for attachment to a portable media player or a portable media player case, the expandable socket comprising:
 a platform adapted to engage a portion of the portable media player or the portable media player case;   an elastomeric skin coupled to the platform and having a hollow shape, the skin including at least one folded section and being deformable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;   a button coupled to the skin opposite the platform, the button being disposed a first distance from the platform when the skin occupies the collapsed configuration and a second distance greater than the first distance from the platform when the skin occupies the expanded configuration;   a spring arranged within the skin between the platform and the button, the spring biasing the button away from the platform to urge the skin into the expanded configuration; and   a lock for selectively coupling the button to the platform such that the skin occupies the collapsed configuration when the button and platform are coupled.   
     
     
         29 . The expandable socket of  claim 28 , wherein the lock comprises a first projection carried by the button and arranged to engage a second projection carried by the platform when the lock releasably couples the button to the platform. 
     
     
         30 . The expandable socket of  claim 28 , wherein the lock comprises a recess defined by the platform or the button, and a protrusion defined by the other of the platform or the button, the recess configured to receive the protrusion when the lock couples the button to the platform.