Mobile device grasping attachment and holder for use with same

Abstract

A grasping attachment for a mobile device includes a body coupled to the mobile device. The body is coupled to a back surface of the mobile device. The body includes a raised portion above a surface of the mobile device with an opening in the raised portion. A ring is coupled to the body with one or more elastic members at the opening. The elastic members allow the ring to swivel while being coupled to the body. The ring is sized to allow at least one finger of a user to be inserted through the ring and securely grasp the mobile device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A grasping attachment for a mobile device, comprising:
 a body configured to be coupled to a mobile device, wherein the body is coupled to a back surface of the mobile device during use, and wherein the body comprises a raised portion above a surface of the mobile device with an opening in the raised portion; and   a ring coupled to the body with one or more elastic members at the opening, wherein the elastic members allow the ring to swivel while being coupled to the body, and wherein the ring is sized to allow at least one finger of a user to be inserted through the ring and securely grasp the mobile device.   
     
     
         2 . The grasping attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a notch. 
     
     
         3 . The grasping attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the notch is located a distance from the opening in the body that is about equal to a diameter of the ring. 
     
     
         4 . The grasping attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the ring moves relative to the body such that an inside surface of the ring fits into the notch to secure the ring to the body. 
     
     
         5 . The grasping attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the ring is almost planar with the mobile device when the ring is in the notch. 
     
     
         6 . The grasping attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the body comprises a raised surface that supports the ring when the ring is in the notch. 
     
     
         7 . The grasping attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the ring is pressed at or near the opening to release the ring from the notch. 
     
     
         8 . The grasping attachment of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more tabs located on the body, wherein ends of the elastic member are secured to the tabs to secure the ring to the body. 
     
     
         9 . The grasping attachment of  claim 8 , wherein the tabs include protrusions to inhibit the elastic member from sliding off the tabs. 
     
     
         10 . The grasping attachment of  claim 8 , wherein the elastic member extends from at least one tab, under the raised portion of the body, through the opening, over at least a portion of the ring, back through the opening, under the raised portion of the body, and onto at least one tab. 
     
     
         11 . The grasping attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic member pulls the ring towards the body at the opening. 
     
     
         12 . The grasping attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the body is configured to be coupled to the mobile device with an adhesive. 
     
     
         13 . The grasping attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the body is coupled to a mobile device case, and wherein the mobile device case is configured to be coupled to the mobile device. 
     
     
         14 . The grasping attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic member allows the ring to tilt and rotate with respect to the body. 
     
     
         15 . The grasping attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic member allows the ring to rotate substantially 360° around the coupling between the ring and the body. 
     
     
         16 . The grasping attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic member normally locates the ring with the opening of the ring being substantially parallel to longitudinal edges of the body. 
     
     
         17 . The grasping attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the ring is swiveled with respect to the body using a finger of the user. 
     
     
         18 . A holder for a mobile device, comprising:
 an enclosure with a rectangular shape substantially similar to the mobile device; and   a coupling device on a back surface of the enclosure, wherein the coupling device is configured to couple the enclosure to a surface or an object;   wherein the enclosure includes an open end that allows the mobile device to be inserted into and removed from the enclosure;   wherein the enclosure includes an opening on a front surface of the enclosure, the opening having a border along three sides of the front surface of the enclosure to retain the mobile device in the enclosure; and   wherein the opening allows a grasping attachment coupled to the mobile device to be accessed by a user of the mobile device while the mobile device is in the enclosure and the grasping attachment to be used by the user to remove the mobile device from the enclosure out the open end of the enclosure.   
     
     
         19 . The holder of  claim 18 , wherein the grasping attachment comprises:
 a body coupled to a back surface of the mobile device; and   a ring coupled to the body with one or more elastic members, wherein the elastic member allows the ring to swivel while being coupled to the body, and wherein the ring is sized to allow at least one finger of the user to be inserted through the ring and securely grasp the mobile device.   
     
     
         20 . The holder of  claim 19 , wherein the ring is allowed to be swiveled by the user into a position that allows the user's finger to be inserted through the ring while the mobile device is in the enclosure, and the user's finger is allowed to be inserted into the ring and used to remove the mobile device from the enclosure. 
     
     
         21 . The holder of  claim 18 , wherein the open end in the enclosure allows the mobile device to be inserted lengthwise into the enclosure and removed lengthwise from the enclosure. 
     
     
         22 . The holder of  claim 18 , wherein the coupling device is configured to couple the enclosure to the user's belt or pants. 
     
     
         23 . The holder of  claim 18 , wherein the coupling device couples the enclosure to the surface or the object such that the mobile device, when in the enclosure, is held with a longer dimension of the mobile device being substantially horizontal. 
     
     
         24 . The holder of  claim 18 , wherein a display surface of the mobile device is oriented towards the back surface of the enclosure when the mobile device is in the enclosure. 
     
     
         25 . The holder of  claim 18 , wherein an interior of the back surface of the enclosure comprises a material that cleans a display surface of the mobile device as the mobile device is inserted into or removed from the enclosure. 
     
     
         26 . The holder of  claim 18 , wherein the enclosure includes a detent at the open end of the enclosure to retain the mobile device in the enclosure until force is applied using the grasping attachment to remove the mobile device from the enclosure.