Combination strap with magnets and stand support for tablets and hand held electronic devices

Abstract

A support for a portable electronic device, the support having a case that is configured to receive and hold the portable electronic device. A strap is coupled to the case and configured for fitting around an appendage of a user and allowing the user to support the case relative to the appendage. The strap also includes at least one magnet for attachment of the support to a surface made of a material attracted to the magnet. A support stand is coupled to the case independently of the strap and includes a portion that is swivelable away from the case and is configured, when swiveled away from the case, for supporting the case on an external surface in an angled arrangement relative to the external surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A support for a portable electronic device, the support comprising:
 a case structured for receiving the portable electronic device;   a rotatable base positioned on a back plane of the case and rotatable relative to the case;   a strap attached to the base and configured for fitting around an appendage of a user and allowing the user to support the base relative to the appendage;   at least one magnet positioned within the strap and configured for mounting the support on an external surface made of a material attracted to the at least one magnet; and   a support stand that is attached to the base independently of the strap and is swivelable with respect to the base between a stowed position and a deployed position and configured, when swiveled away from the base in the deployed position, for supporting the base on an external surface in an angled arrangement relative to the external surface.   
     
     
         2 . The support of  claim 1 , wherein the strap comprises a plastic or rubber end-piece, wherein the at least one magnet is disposed in the plastic or rubber end-piece. 
     
     
         3 . The support of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one magnet is molded into the plastic or rubber end-piece. 
     
     
         4 . The support of  claim 1 , wherein the strap comprises a fabric strap, wherein the at least one magnet is disposed within the fabric strap. 
     
     
         5 . The support of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one magnet is sewn into the fabric strap. 
     
     
         6 . The support of  claim 1 , further comprising a swivel mechanism attached to the support stand and the base for swiveling the stand within a range of deployment angles relative to the base. 
     
     
         7 . The support of  claim 6 , wherein the strap has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the swivel mechanism is attached to the base at a position on the base between positions at which the first and second ends of the strap are attached to the base so that the strap extends over the swivel mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The support of  claim 1 , further comprising a resiliently flexible frame between the base and the strap. 
     
     
         9 . The support of  claim 8 , wherein the frame has a curved shape. 
     
     
         10 . The support of  claim 8 , wherein the frame comprises a central portion and two legs on opposite ends of the central portion that curve away from the central portion toward the case to produce a resilient outward flexion when the support strap is fitted around the appendage of the user. 
     
     
         11 . The support of  claim 1 , wherein the stand comprises two opposing arms having a fixed shape that is maintained in both the deployed position and the stowed position. 
     
     
         12 . The support of  claim 11 , further comprising a rest attached to each of the arms, wherein the rest is formed of a high-friction or non-skid material that resists sliding of the stand on a smooth surface. 
     
     
         13 . The support of  claim 1 , wherein the support stand maintains a same shape in both the deployed and stowed positions. 
     
     
         14 . The support of  claim 1 , further comprising a rotational mechanism between the base and the case, wherein the rotational mechanism is interlockable for fixing an orientation of the case relative to the base. 
     
     
         15 . The support of  claim 14 , wherein the rotational mechanism comprises a rotational member and a nonrotational member, wherein one of the rotational member or the nonrotational member comprises a plurality of teeth and another of the rotational member or the nonrotational member comprises a plurality of receivers for mating with the teach for fixing the rotational mechanism at a plurality of rotational orientations. 
     
     
         16 . A support for a portable electronic device, the support comprising:
 a case structured for receiving the portable electronic device;   a rotatable base positioned on a back plane of the case and rotatable relative to the case;   a strap attached to the base and configured for fitting around an appendage of a user and allowing the user to support the base relative to the appendage;   at least one magnet positioned within the strap and configured for mounting the support on an external surface made of a material attracted to the at least one magnet; and   a support stand that is attached to the base and is swivelable with respect to the base between a stowed position and a deployed position and configured, when swiveled away from the base in the deployed position, for supporting the base on an external.   
     
     
         17 . The support of  claim 16 , wherein the strap comprises a plastic or rubber end-piece, wherein the at least one magnet is disposed in the plastic or rubber end-piece. 
     
     
         18 . The support of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one magnet is molded into the plastic or rubber end-piece. 
     
     
         19 . The support of  claim 16 , wherein the strap comprises a fabric strap, wherein the at least one magnet is disposed within the fabric strap. 
     
     
         20 . The support of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one magnet is sewn into the fabric strap.