Phone grip attachment

Abstract

A phone grip attachment includes a base configured for attachment to a phone and a finger-hold attached to the base. The finger-hold has a top member and a bottom member. The finger-hold is movable between an extended position in which an opening is defined between the top member and the bottom member for use in gripping the phone and a collapsed position in which the top member is substantially flat against the bottom member. The finger-hold can be biased to the extended position. The finger-hold can be rotatably attached to the base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A phone grip attachment comprising:
 a base configured for attachment to a phone; and   a finger-hold attached to the base, the finger-hold having a top member and a bottom member, the finger-hold being movable between an extended position in which an opening is defined between the top member and the bottom member for use in gripping the phone and a collapsed position in which the top member is substantially flat against the bottom member.   
     
     
         2 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the finger-hold is biased to the extended position. 
     
     
         3 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the finger-hold is rotatably attached to the base. 
     
     
         4 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the finger-hold is freely rotatable relative to the base. 
     
     
         5 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the top member of the finger-hold is pivotally attached to the bottom member of the finger-hold. 
     
     
         6 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bottom member includes tabs at each end thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the base includes at least one locking portion configured to engage a portion of the finger-hold to retain the finger-hold in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         8 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one locking portion comprises at least one overhang defining a gap, the gap below the overhang being configured to receive a portion of the finger-hold to retain the finger-hold in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         9 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the bottom member of the finger-hold includes at least one tab at an end thereof, the tab being configured to be received in the gap below the overhang to retain the finger-hold in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         10 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the tab comprises a lower portion having a first thickness and an upper portion having a second thickness greater than the first thickness, the lower portion configured to be received in the gap and a contoured edge between the upper and lower portions configured to engage a free edge of the locking portion to prevent additional rotation of the finger-hold. 
     
     
         11 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the bottom member of the finger-hold includes at least one tab at an end thereof, the tab comprising at least one protrusion configured to be received in the gap to retain the finger-hold in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         12 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the overhang of the at least one locking portion comprises a downwardly extending lip portion, and wherein the tab comprises a first peripheral protrusion configured to be received in a portion of the gap that is interior to the downwardly extending lip portion. 
     
     
         13 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the tab comprises a recessed portion adjacent the first peripheral protrusion that is configured to accommodate the downwardly extending lip portion, to retain the finger-hold in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         14 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the tab comprises a second peripheral protrusion on a side of the tab opposing the first peripheral protrusion, and wherein the second peripheral protrusion comprises a contoured edge to engage a free edge of the locking portion to prevent additional rotation of the finger-hold. 
     
     
         15 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the at least one protrusion is configured to engage a lower surface of the overhang, to retain the finger-hold in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         16 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 8 , wherein a central portion of the finger-hold is configured to be received in the gap below the overhang to retain the finger-hold in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         17 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the base includes two locking portions at diagonally opposite locations on the base. 
     
     
         18 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the base includes two locking portions at opposing ends of the base, and wherein a periphery of the base extends past each of the two locking portions at the opposing ends. 
     
     
         19 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the base includes two locking portions at opposing ends of the base, and wherein the base comprises a raised reinforcement bar extending between the two locking portions located at the opposing ends. 
     
     
         20 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising foam tape for securing the attachment to the phone. 
     
     
         21 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bottom member of the finger-hold comprises a central portion, a first tab at a first end of the bottom member, a first neck between the central portion and the first tab, a second tab at a second end of the bottom member, and a second neck between the central portion and the second tab. 
     
     
         22 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the top member comprises a first pair of ears at a first end thereof and a second pair of ears at a second end thereof, wherein the top member is pivotally attached to the bottom member by a first pin extending through the first pair of ears and the first neck and a second pin extending through the second pair of ears and the second neck. 
     
     
         23 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the finger-hold is biased to the extended position by at least one spring member provided in one or more of the top and bottom members of the finger-hold. 
     
     
         24 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the at least one spring member comprises a leaf spring having a structure that is biased to an arcuate shape. 
     
     
         25 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the at least one leaf spring comprises a band of material that is biased to the arcuate shape. 
     
     
         26 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the finger-hold comprises a top leaf spring provided in a first body of the top member, and a bottom leaf spring provided in second body of the bottom member. 
     
     
         27 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the top leaf spring is biased in a direction opposing that of the bottom leaf spring. 
     
     
         28 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 27 , wherein:
 the bottom member of the finger-hold comprises a bottom member body comprising a central portion, a first tab at a first end of the bottom member, a first neck between the central portion and the first tab, a second tab at a second end of the bottom member, and a second neck between the central portion and the second tab;   the top member comprises a top member body having a first pair of ears at a first end thereof and a second pair of ears at a second end thereof;   the bottom leaf spring extends from the first tab at the first end of the bottom member body, through the first neck between the central portion and the first tab, along the central portion, through the second neck between the central portion and the second tab, and to the second tab, and the top leaf spring extends from the first end to the second end of the top member body, and comprises first and second leaf spring ears that are aligned with the first and second pairs of ears of the top member body,   wherein the top member is pivotally attached to the bottom member by a first pin extending through the first pair of ears of the top member body, the first pair of ears of the top leaf spring, and the first neck, and a second pin extending through the second pair of ears of the top member body, the second pair of ears of the top leaf spring, and the second neck.   
     
     
         29 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the at least one spring member comprise a wire spring having a wire reinforcement body that is biased to an arcuate shape. 
     
     
         30 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 29 , wherein the finger-hold comprises a top wire spring provided in a top member body of the top member, and a bottom wire spring provided in a bottom member body of the bottom member. 
     
     
         31 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 30 , wherein the top wire spring is biased in a direction opposing that of the bottom wire spring. 
     
     
         32 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the top wire spring comprises a top wire reinforcement body that extends about a perimeter of the top member body of the top member, and wherein the bottom wire spring comprises a bottom wire reinforcement body that extends about a perimeter of the bottom member body of the bottom member. 
     
     
         33 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 32 , wherein
 the bottom member of the finger-hold comprises a central portion, a first tab at a first end of the bottom member, a first neck between the central portion and the first tab, a second tab at a second end of the bottom member, and a second neck between the central portion and the second tab;   the top member comprises a first pair of ears at a first end thereof and a second pair of ears at a second end thereof;   the bottom wire spring extends from the first tab at the first end of the bottom member, through the first neck between the central portion and the first tab, along the central portion, through the second neck between the central portion and the second tab, and to the second tab, the bottom wire spring comprising a first pair of loops at the first neck and a second pair of loops at the second neck, and   the top wire spring extends from the first end to the second end of the top member, and comprises a first wire bar extending between the first pair of ears at the first end of the top member, and a second wire bar extending between the second pair of ears at the second end of the top member,   wherein the top member is pivotally attached to the bottom member by receiving the first bar of the top wire spring that extends between the first pair of ears of the top member into the first pair of loops of the bottom wire spring at the first neck of the bottom member, receiving the second bar of the top wire spring that extends between the second pair of ears of the top member into the second pair of loops of the bottom wire spring at the second neck of the bottom member, and at least partly blocking openings in each of the respective first and second pairs of loops to secure the first and second bars therein.   
     
     
         34 . The phone grip attachment recited in  claim 33 , wherein the bottom member comprises a plurality of body segments along the bottom wire spring, the plurality of body segments comprising an inner body segment about a central portion of the bottom wire spring, the inner body segment being attachable to the base, and first and second body segments on opposing sides of the inner body segment, and the first body segment being between a central portion of the bottom wire spring and the first neck of the bottom member, and the second body segment being between a central portion of the bottom wire spring and the second neck of the bottom member. 
     
     
         35 . A phone grip attachment comprising:
 a base configured for attachment to a phone, the base including a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one locking portion, the bottom surface including a recessed portion and the at least one locking portion comprising an overhang defining a gap between the locking portion and the top surface of the base;   adhesive positioned in the recessed portion of the bottom surface for securing the base to a phone;   a finger-hold attached to the base, the finger-hold having a top member and a bottom member, the finger-hold being movable between an extended position in which an opening is defined between the top member and the bottom member for use in gripping the phone and a collapsed position in which the top member is substantially flat against the bottom member, wherein the finger-hold is biased to the extended position, wherein the locking portion is configured to engage the finger-hold to retain the finger-hold in the collapsed position.   
     
     
         36 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the finger-hold is rotatably attached to the base such that the finger-hold is freely rotatable relative to the base when the finger-hold is in the extended position. 
     
     
         37 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the top member of the finger-hold is pivotally attached to the bottom member of the finger-hold. 
     
     
         38 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 37 , wherein the bottom member of the finger-hold comprises a central portion, a first tab at a first end of the bottom member, a first neck between the central portion and the first tab, a second tab at a second end of the bottom member, and a second neck between the central portion and the second tab. 
     
     
         39 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 38 , wherein the top member comprises a first pair of ears at a first end thereof and a second pair of ears at a second end thereof, wherein the top member is pivotally attached to the bottom member by a first pin extending through the first pair of ears and the first neck and a second pin extending through the second pair of ears and the second neck. 
     
     
         40 . The phone grip attachment as recited in  claim 38 , wherein the top member comprises a first pair of ears at a first end of the top member having a first wire bar portion of a top wire spring extending therebetween, and a second pair of ears at a second end of the top member having a second wire bar portion of a top wire spring extending therebetween, and wherein the bottom member comprises a bottom wire spring having a first pair of loops at the first neck thereof, and a second pair of loops at the second neck thereof, and
 wherein the top member is pivotally attached to the bottom member by receiving the first wire bar that extends between the first pair of ears of the top member into the first pair of loops at the first neck of the bottom member, receiving the second wire bar that extends between the second pair of ears of the top member into the second pair of loops at the second neck of the bottom member, and at least partly blocking openings in each of the respective first and second pairs of loops to secure the first and second bars therein.   
     
     
         41 . A method comprising:
 providing a phone grip attachment comprising:
 a base configured for attachment to a phone, the base including a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one locking portion, the bottom surface including a recessed portion and the at least one locking portion comprising an overhang defining a gap between the locking portion and the top surface of the base; 
 adhesive positioned in the recessed portion of the bottom surface for securing the base to a phone; 
 a finger-hold attached to the base, the finger-hold having a top member and a bottom member, the finger-hold being movable between an extended position in which an opening is defined between the top member and the bottom member for use in gripping the phone and a collapsed position in which the top member is substantially flat against the bottom member, wherein the finger-hold is biased to the extended position, wherein the locking portion is configured to engage the finger-hold to retain the finger-hold in the collapsed position; 
   securing the phone grip attachment to a phone using the adhesive; and   collapsing the finger-hold from the extended position to the collapsed position by pressing the top member substantially flat against the bottom member and rotating the finger-hold until at least one tab of the finger-hold is positioned in the gap defined by the overhang.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising extending the finger-hold from the collapsed position to the extended position by rotating the finger-hold until the at least one tab of the finger-hold is free from the at least one overhang.