USOO884.4098B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Karmatz
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,844,098 B2
`Sep. 30, 2014
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`(54) APPARATUS FOR GRIPPING HANDHELD
`DEVICES
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(76) Inventor: Michael Shayne Karmatz, Melville,
`NY (US)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 409 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 12/912,284
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Oct. 26, 2010
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2012/OO42476A1
`Feb. 23, 2012
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(60) Provisional application No. 61/375,096, filed on Aug.
`19, 2010.
`
`(2006.01)
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`B25G 3/32
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`USPC ............................................... 16/422; 16/426
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`USPC ........................ 16/110.1, 422, 426, 427, 431;
`248/309.1, 558, 685-686, 27.1, 145.6,
`248/121, 276.1, 205.3, 205.5: 220/636,
`220/630, 628,755 756, 761–764,914,
`220/694; 379/.441-457; 361/679.19,
`361/679.56-679.58; 294/169, 162, 167,
`294/142, 156; 455/575..1, 575.8
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`4,211,445 A * 7/1980 Woods ............................ 294/25
`5,396,399 A * 3/1995 Blair et al. ............... 361/679.26
`6,016,248 A
`1/2000 Anzai et al.
`6,094,341 A
`7, 2000 Lin
`6,250,553 B1* 6/2001 Beseth et al. ................. 235,487
`6,418,010 B1* 7/2002 Sawyer .................... 361/679.05
`6,697,045 B2
`2, 2004 Min
`6,814,416 B2 11/2004 Helot et al.
`6,975,507 B2 12/2005 Wang et al.
`7,364,126 B2 * 4/2008 Tsai et al. .................. 248.188.8
`7,561.415 B2
`7/2009 Liou et al.
`7,712,719 B2 *
`5/2010 Derry et al. .............. 248,346.06
`8, 139,357 B2
`3/2012 Trang
`8, 186,642 B2 *
`5/2012 Weiss-Vons .................. 248,683
`2002/0166212 A1 11, 2002 Pratl
`2003/0213886 A1* 11/2003 Gilbert .......................... 248.454
`2007.0062089 A1
`3/2007 Homer et al.
`2008.OO83797 A1
`4/2008 Myers
`2008/0265109 A1 * 10/2008 Derry et al. ................... 248. 149
`2009/0261216 A1 10/2009 Yang et al.
`2011/0084081 A1* 4/2011 Chung et al. .................. 220,628
`2012/0104.185 A1
`5/2012 Carroll ......................... 248.27.1
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner — Victor Batson
`Assistant Examiner — Matthew Sullivan
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — The Farrell Law Firm, P.C.
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`An apparatus for gripping a handheld device is provided. The
`apparatus includes a base for affixing the apparatus to a first
`surface of the handheld device; at least one extension extend
`ing from the base at a first end of the extension; and a grip
`extending from the at least one extension at a second end of
`the extension, wherein the grip is oriented Substantially par
`allel to the first surface of the handheld device, and wherein
`the apparatus is adapted to receive a portion of at least one
`finger inserted between the grip and the handheld device.
`26 Claims, 26 Drawing Sheets
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`1.
`APPARATUS FOR GRIPPINGHANDHIELD
`DEVICES
`
`2
`hand while allowing greater range of movement of a user's
`fingers while holding the device.
`
`US 8,844,098 B2
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`PRIORITY
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve
`This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. S 119(e) to
`at least the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior
`a provisional patent application entitled “Holding Method for
`art, and the present invention provides a finger grip apparatus
`Handheld Device filed with the United States Patent and
`for a handheld device. The finger grip apparatus allows a user
`Trademark Office on Aug. 19, 2010 and assigned Ser. No.
`0 to securely hold a handheld device with a single hand. For a
`61/375,096, the entire content of which is incorporated herein 1
`touch-screen device, the finger grip apparatus allows a user to
`by reference.
`both hold a device and provide user input to a touch screen
`with a single hand with an increased range of motion com
`pared with gripping the handheld device directly.
`According to an embodiment of the present invention an
`apparatus for gripping a handheld device is provided. The
`apparatus includes a base for affixing the apparatus to a first
`surface of the handheld device; at least one extension extend
`ing from the base at a first end of the extension; and a grip
`extending from the at least one extension at a second end of
`the extension, wherein the grip is oriented Substantially par
`allel to the first surface of the handheld device, and wherein
`the apparatus is adapted to receive a portion of at least one
`finger inserted between the grip and the handheld device.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the
`present invention will be more apparent from the following
`detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompa
`nying drawings, in which:
`FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a conventional
`handheld device gripped by a users hand;
`FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a grip device in an open
`position according to an embodiment of the present inven
`tion;
`FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a grip device having a base
`integrated into a sleeve of a handheld device according to an
`embodiment of the present invention;
`FIGS. 4 to 6, 7A, 7B, 7C, 8A, 8B, and 8C are diagrams
`illustrating grip devices with various grip configurations
`according to other embodiments of the present invention;
`FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating a grip device used
`as a stand in accordance with an embodiment of the present
`invention;
`FIGS. 11 to 17 are diagrams illustrating grip devices that
`are movable from an open position into a closed position
`according to other embodiments of the present invention.
`FIGS. 18 to 20 are diagrams illustrating a grip device
`according to other embodiments of the present invention,
`where a grip of the grip device moves away from a base of the
`grip device in a path Substantially perpendicular to the base;
`FIGS.21 and 22 are diagrams illustrating agrip device with
`a bar-style grip according to another embodiment of the
`present invention with a bar-style grip:
`FIGS. 23 to 25 are diagrams illustrating a grip device with
`two extensions according to another embodiment of the
`present invention; and
`FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a range of motion of a
`users thumb while using a grip device according to another
`embodiment of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
`OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
`
`Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention
`will be described with reference to the accompanying draw
`
`30
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`35
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`40
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`50
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`15
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`25
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`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for
`holding handheld devices. More particularly, the present
`invention relates to a movable grip for holding handheld
`devices.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`Recently, the use of handheld electronic devices such as
`Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and smartphones, has
`increased significantly. In particular, due to increased usage
`of large touch-screen displays, larger bar-shaped devices,
`which are commonly shaped as a single rectangular box, are
`becoming more commonly used, in contrast to other forms of
`handheld devices including flip, rotating, and sliding hand
`held devices, which generally include at least two bodies
`connected together. Unlike the bar-shaped devices, many of
`these other devices are designed to be comfortably and
`securely held by a user with two hands while operating the
`devices.
`However, the design of many devices, including bar
`shaped devices, for example, although allowing a user to
`easily access a large touch screen, may create difficulty for
`users to securely grip these devices with a single hand, which
`results in users frequently dropping and damaging their
`devices.
`FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a conventional
`handheld device gripped by a users hand.
`Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, when a user securely grips
`a handheld device 10 with a user's fingers extending around a
`back and side of the handheld device 10, a range of motion of
`the user's thumb is limited with respect to a front surface of
`45
`the device. When the handheld device 10 includes controls,
`Such as buttons, wheels, a touch-screen, etc. throughout a
`front surface and/or sides of the handheld device 10, a user
`may not be able to access the controls with a user's thumb in
`this orientation. More specifically, the user's thumb may only
`move with respect to the handheld device 10 through the
`joints of the thumb.
`In order to reach other areas of the front surface of the
`handheld device 10 with the user's thumb, a user must either
`reposition the device with a similar grip, in which top or
`bottom fingers may no longer grip the device, or a user must
`use a relaxed grip, in which a user's fingers do not extend
`around both the back and side of the device. In either case, a
`user must grip the handheld device 10 less securely and/or
`shift the handheld device 100 with respect to the users hand,
`in order for a user to access an entire range of the front Surface
`and/or sides of the device with the users thumb. Therefore, a
`user may not easily operate a handheld device 10 with one
`hand, while securely gripping the device with the user's fin
`gerS.
`Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus for securely
`holding devices such as bar-shaped devices, with a single
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`ings. In the following description, the same elements will be
`designated by the same reference numerals although they are
`shown in different drawings. Further, various specific defini
`tions found in the following description are provided only to
`help general understanding of the present invention, and it is
`apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention
`can be implemented without such definitions. Further, in the
`following description of the present invention, a description
`of known functions and configurations incorporated herein
`will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the
`present invention rather unclear.
`FIGS. 2 through 10 are diagrams illustrating grip devices
`according to embodiments of the present invention.
`Referring to FIG. 2, a grip device includes a base 110, an
`extension 120, and a grip 130.
`The base 110 is used to fasten the grip device to a handheld
`device 140. The handheld device 140 may be an electronic
`device Such as a mobile phone, Personal Digital Assistant
`(PDA), portable music player, portable video player, hand
`held computer, tablet computer, electronic book reader, net
`book computer, etc., but is not limited thereto. Holding a
`handheld device 140 with the assistance of the grip device
`allows users to more easily grip the handheld device, includ
`ing users with arthritis or other muscle or nervous system
`disorders that may otherwise increase difficulty in holding
`such devices. As shown in FIG. 4, when the handheld device
`140 is a touch-screen device, the finger grip apparatus allows
`a user to rest fingertips along the back of the handheld device
`140 instead of wrapping fingers around an entire back of the
`handheld device 140. This positioning allows a users thumb
`to more easily reach an entire range of a touch screen, thereby
`allowing a user to more easily operate a touch-screen device
`with a single hand.
`Also, although a bar-style handheld device 140 is depicted
`in FIG. 2, the present invention may also be applied to hand
`held devices of other forms, including flip-style, rotating
`style, and sliding-style handheld devices.
`The base 110 may be formed as a plate or other shape,
`removably or permanently affixed to the handled device by an
`adhesive or other mounting hardware such as screws or rivets
`(not shown). An upper surface of the base 110 may have a flat
`or curved upper and/or lower Surfaces, which may correspond
`to the shape of adjacent surfaces of the handheld device 140.
`Although the base 110 illustrated in FIG. 2 is flat and has a
`Substantially rectangular shape, various other shapes, such as
`a circle, ellipse, or other irregular shapes, including ergo
`nomic shapes designed to rest against a user's fingers, may be
`used in accordance with embodiments of the present inven
`tion. The base 110 may also be integrated into a removable
`protective case, clip-on, or slide-on attachment/accessory for
`the handheld device 140.
`According to various embodiments of the present inven
`tion, the base 110 may be integrated into the body of the
`handheld device 140, or integrated into removable compo
`nents of the handheld device 140. For example, the base 110
`may be integrated into a removable battery cover of the hand
`held device 140. For example, FIG. 3 illustrates a handheld
`device having a base 110 that partially covers a back and at
`least one other side of the handheld device. However, the base
`110 may also completely cover one or more sides or Surfaces
`of a device in accordance with embodiments of the present
`invention.
`The base 110 may protrude from an exterior surface the
`handheld device 140, or may be affixed to a recess in an upper
`surface of the handheld device 140 in accordance with
`embodiments of the present invention. For example, the base
`may be affixed to a recess in an upper surface of the handheld
`
`40
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`45
`
`4
`device 140 such that an exposed surface of the base 110 may
`be flush with an exposed surface of the handheld device 140
`when affixed to the handheld device 140, such as illustrated in
`FIG 2.
`The extension 120 is positioned between the base 110 and
`grip 130. When the extension 120 is placed in a gripping
`orientation, the extension 120 provides a space between the
`base 110 and the grip 130, for allowing a user to insert at least
`one finger securely between the base 110 and the grip 130.
`Although the grip 130 illustrated in FIG. 2, for example, has
`a rectangular shape, various other shapes, such as a circle,
`ellipse, or other regular or irregular shapes, including ergo
`nomic shapes designed to comfortably fit over a user's fin
`gers, may be used in accordance with embodiments of the
`present invention, such as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. An
`underside of the grip 130 may be flat, as illustrated in FIG.7A
`or may have contours corresponding to curves of a user's
`finger or fingers while they are positioned to hold the hand
`held device 140 while using the grip device, such as illus
`trated in FIG. 8A.
`The extension 120 may be fixedly connected to the base
`110 and the grip 130 in the gripping position. In this case, any
`of adjacent components from among the base 110, the exten
`sion 120, and the grip 130 may be manufactured as a single
`piece, or as a combination of a plurality of sub-components.
`Alternatively, the entire grip device may be manufactured as
`a single piece. The grip device may be constructed of various
`materials including hard and flexible materials, such as Vari
`ous metals, plastics, or textiles. In a case where the grip device
`is manufactures as a single piece, thickness of the material
`may vary in order for the grip device to be more flexible
`between the extension 120 and either of the base 110 and the
`grip 130 than the thickness of material in remainder of the
`grip device, in order to allow the grip device to move from an
`open position in which a user grips the handheld device 140
`into a closed position for storage.
`FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating a grip device used
`as a stand in accordance with an embodiment of the present
`invention.
`Referring to FIG.9, the grip device may be positioned on a
`Surface. Such as a table, with the grip device extended as a
`stand for the handheld device 140. For example, if the hand
`held device 140 has a display (not shown) on a side opposite
`a side where the grip device is positioned, the handheld device
`140 may rest upon a surface at an angle advantageous for
`viewing images, multimedia, and/or accessing various user
`controls of the handheld device 140. As shown in FIGS.9 and
`10, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the
`grip device may rotate and/or be re-attached or repositioned
`with respect to the handheld device 140 such that the hand
`held device 140 may rest in a portrait and/or landscape ori
`entation.
`Although the extension 120 illustrated in FIGS. 7A, 7B,
`7C, 8A, 8B, and 8C is a single piece, the extension 120 may
`include a spring and/or telescoping pieces, or other similar
`mechanisms in order to adjust a distance between the grip 130
`and the base 110 while the grip device is in an open position,
`an extended position, or intermediate positions between the
`open and extended positions, in a manner similar to that
`which is described hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 18,
`19, and 20. FIGS. 7B and 8B illustrate examples where the
`grip device rests on top the handheld device 140 while in a
`closed position, while FIGS. 7C and 8C illustrate alternate
`configurations where the grip device fits into a recess within
`the handheld device 140 in a closed position, such that an
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`US 8,844,098 B2
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`upper Surface of the grip device in the closed position is
`Substantially coplanar with an adjacent Surface of the hand
`held device 140.
`FIGS. 11 through 17 are diagrams illustrating grip devices
`that are movable from an open position into a closed position
`according to other embodiments of the present invention.
`Referring to FIG. 11, an extension 120 of agrip device may
`be movably connected to the base 110 and grip 130 such that
`the grip device 140 may transition from the gripping position
`through an intermediate state illustrated in FIG. 12, via a first
`hinged section 115 between the base 110 and the extension
`120 and a second hinge section 125 between the extension
`120 and the grip 130, into a closed position, as illustrated in
`FIG. 13. In the closed position, such as illustrated in FIG. 13,
`the extension 120 is rotated such that the grip 130 moves
`towards the base 110 while facing the base 110. The grip
`device may be affixed to the handheld device 140 such that the
`grip device protrudes from the exposed Surface of the hand
`held device 140, but the present invention is not limited to this
`configuration. For example, according to embodiments of the
`present invention, in the closed position, an exposed Surface
`of the grip 130 may be flush with the exposed surface of the
`handheld device 140.
`The grip device may also include mechanisms for auto
`matically opening and/or closing the device, such that auto
`matic movement is assisted by springs, spring pins, or other
`Such mechanisms. The mechanisms for opening and/or clos
`ing the device may be activated various latch mechanisms that
`would allow a user to open or close the device by pressing the
`grip device, or more specifically the grip 130 of the grip
`device, directly, and/or pressing a button, dial, lever, trigger
`device, or Squeezing/pulling one or more sides, etc. located
`on the grip device or the handheld device 140. FIGS. 14
`through 17 illustrate locations of various latch mechanisms
`150 for initiating a mechanism for opening and/or closing the
`grip device in accordance with embodiments of the present
`invention. The arrows in FIGS. 14 through 17 indicate direc
`tions in which the latch mechanism 150 may moved in order
`to activate the mechanism for opening and/or closing the grip
`device. However, embodiments of the present invention are
`not limited to the directions indicated in these figures, and
`movements in other directions may be applied to the latch
`mechanism 150 inaccordance with other embodiments of the
`present invention.
`FIGS. 18 to 20 are diagrams illustrating grip devices
`according to other embodiments of the present invention,
`where a grip of the grip device moves away from a base of the
`grip device in a path Substantially perpendicular to the base.
`Referring to FIG. 18, the extension 120 may be formed
`Such that it expands/collapses the grip device from the open
`position to the closed position, such that the grip 130 moves
`directly towards the base 110 without rotating. For example,
`as illustrated in FIG. 18, the extension 120 may include a
`spring 123. The spring may be positioned between to the base
`110 and the grip 130 such that tension in the spring holds the
`grip device in the open position or holds the grip device in a
`closed position, such as illustrated in FIG. 19. When the
`spring 123 holds the grip device in the open position, a latch
`or other locking mechanism (not shown) may be used to hold
`the grip device in the closed position.
`When the spring 123 holds the grip device in the open
`position, a locking device (not shown) may be used to hold the
`grip device in the open position, or the grip device may be
`forcibly held in the open position by placing at least one finger
`between the plate base 110 and the grip 130 while the grip
`device is in the open position, such that when the user
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`removes the finger from the grip device, the spring 123 may
`automatically move the grip device from the open position to
`the closed position.
`Although the extension 120 of FIG. 18 includes a spring
`123 for automatically opening and the grip device, other
`mechanisms may be used to open/close the handheld device,
`such that the grip 130 moves directly towards the base 110.
`For example, the extension 120 may be formed as a slidable
`bar that slides into a recess of the base 110, the grip 130,
`and/or the handheld device 140. In this case the extension 120
`may be constructed as a single piece or a series of telescopic
`pieces 124 that expand/collapse together as the grip device
`moves from the open to the closed position. Further, a spring
`(e.g., such as the spring 123 of FIG. 18) may be used in
`conjunction with a single piece sliding bar or the series of
`telescopic pieces 124 in FIG. 20.
`FIGS.21 and 22 are diagrams illustrating agrip device with
`a bar-style grip according to another embodiment of the
`present invention.
`Referring to FIGS. 21 and 22, the grip 430 of the grip
`device is in the shape of a bar, in contrast to the plate-style
`shapes of FIG. 1, for example. As illustrated in FIG. 21, when
`the grip device is in the open position, the handheld device
`140 may be placed on a surface such as a table with a grip 130
`resting on the table Such that a user may easily access a
`display and/or controls on a side of the handheld device 140
`while the handheld device 140 is resting on the table, in the
`same manner as embodiments of the invention described with
`reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. Although the grip 130 is illus
`trated as having a T shape, an 'L' shaped grip, or other
`shapes may alternatively be provided in accordance with
`various embodiments of the present invention.
`FIGS. 23 to 25 are diagrams illustrating a grip device with
`two extensions according to another embodiment of the
`present invention.
`Referring to FIGS. 23 to 25, a grip device according to an
`embodiment of the present invention may include a plurality
`of extensions 120 connecting a base 110 to a grip 130.
`Although two extensions 120 are illustrated in FIGS. 23 to 25,
`any number of extensions may be provided in accordance
`with embodiments of the present invention. The plurality of
`extensions 130 provide additional stability, and in an open
`state, a distance between adjacent extensions 130 may pro
`vide space to accommodate one or more fingers, as illustrated
`in FIG. 25.
`FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a range of motion of a
`users thumb while using a grip device according to another
`embodiment of the present invention.
`Referring to FIG. 26, when a user grips a handheld device
`140 while using a grip according to an embodiment of the
`present invention, a user may securely grip the handheld
`device 140 while the ends of the user's fingers rest on a back
`of the device. In FIG. 1, for example, with a conventional
`apparatus, the joints connecting the user's fingers to his/her
`hand are positioned along a back surface of the device 10,
`when a user securely grips the handheld device 10.
`By contrast, as shown in FIG. 26, when the user grips the
`handheld device 140, the finger joints are positioned beyond
`a side of the handheld device 140, allowing these joints to
`move freely. Therefore, agrip device according to an embodi
`ment of the present invention frees a user's fingers to bend at
`the joints connecting his fingers to his hand and increases a
`range of motion of the users thumb with respect to the hand
`held device 140.
`As shown above, embodiments of the present invention
`allow a user to more easily access controls such as a touch
`screen on a front or sides the handheld device 140 with a
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`users thumb, without a need to reposition the handheld
`device with respect to the user's hand, thereby enabling
`secure one-handed operation of the handheld device 140.
`Although various embodiments of the invention are herein
`described and illustrated with various forms of bases, exten
`sions, grips, and handheld devices, the specific embodiments
`of each component described herein are provided as
`examples, and the present invention is not limited to only
`these embodiments. More specifically bases, extensions, and
`grips within grip devices of any of the described embodi
`ments may be interchanged with other bases, extensions, and
`grips in accordance with other embodiments of the invention,
`and may be used in conjunction with any of a variety of
`handheld devices including the handheld devices described
`and illustrated herein.
`While the invention has been shown and described with
`reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will
`be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes
`in form and details may be made therein without departing
`from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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`4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extension com
`prises a spring that provides a force for automatically pushing
`the grip from the closed position in a direction away from the
`base into the open position.
`5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extension com
`prises a spring that provides a force for automatically pulling
`the grip from the open position towards the handheld device
`into the closed position.
`6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extension com
`prises a plurality of telescoping sections such that the tele
`scoping sections are collapsed in the closed position and
`extended in the open position.
`7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lock for
`holding the apparatus in the closed position.
`8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lock for
`holding the apparatus in an open position for receiving the at
`least one finger.
`9. An apparatus for gripping a handheld device, the appa
`ratus comprising:
`a base for affixing the apparatus to a first Surface of the
`handheld device;
`an extension extending from the base at a first end of the
`extension;
`a first hinged section rotatably connecting the extension to
`the base at the first end of the extension;
`a Substantially planar grip extending from the extension at
`a second end of the extension opposite to the first end of
`the extension; and
`a second hinged section rotatably connecting the grip to the
`second end of the extension towards a center of the
`extension about a secondaxis of rotation, Such that a first
`substantially planar portion of the grip extends out
`wardly from a first side of the second axis of rotation
`while a second Substantially planar portion of the grip
`extends outwardly from a second side of the second axis
`of rotation opposite the first side,
`wherein the first and second hinged sections enable rota
`tion of the extension and grip from a closed position
`through an intermediate position, into an open position,
`Such that, in the closed position the base, the extension,
`and the grip are substantially parallel to the first surface
`of the handheld device, and, in the opened position the
`base and the grip are substantially parallel to the first
`surface of the handheld device and the extension is sub
`stantially perpendicular to the first surface of the hand
`hel