Adhesive mount device for portable electronics

Abstract

A mounting device for mounting to a finger grip of a portable device and a finger grip device including the mounting device are provided. The mounting device includes a base portion including an underside wall forming a cavity to receive the finger grip therein for mounting, an adhesive pad disposed on an upperside of the base portion and configured to removably attach the device to an external surface, and a cap portion pivotally coupled to the base portion and configured to cover the adhesive pad in a closed position of the mounting device.

Description

ADHESIVE MOUNT DEVICE FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONICSTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to a device for mounting a portable device to a surface, and more particularly to a device for attachment to a finger grip of a portable electronic device.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Finger grip accessories attached to the back of electronic devices, particularly portable electronic devices, such as smartphones, tablet computers, gaming devices, audio players, video players, and cameras are widely adopted and used to help with holding and supporting such portable devices. By way of example, these finger grip accessories include devices as introduced in patent numbers US11190227B2 by Barnett et. al. and US 10694835B2 by Peterson et. al.

[0003] In use, it is often desirable to temporarily attach or mount the portable electronics to a surface, for example, attaching a smartphone to a surface for taking a selfie. While most existing finger grip accessories make it easier to hold portable devices, such conventional finger grip accessories usually fail to enable temporary attachment to a surface.

[0004] Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a device for mounting a portable electronic device to a surface that overcomes the foregoing problems, including by using an add-on device equipped with a reusable adhesive pad.SUMMARY

[0005] According to one disclosed aspect a mounting device for mounting to a finger grip of a portable device is presented herein. The mounting device includes a base portion including an underside wall forming a cavity to receive the finger grip therein for mounting, an adhesive pad disposed on an upperside of the base portion and configured to removably attach the mounting device to an external surface, and a cap portion pivotally coupled to the base portion and configured to cover the adhesive pad in a closed position of the mounting device.

[0006] The cap portion of the mounting device may be further configured to be levered to detach the mounting device from the external surface in an attached position of the mounting device.

[0007] The cap portion may further include a non-stick film attached to an inner side of the cap portion to enable non-stick contact of the cap portion with the adhesive film, in the closed position of the mounting device.

[0008] The cap portion may further include a cover wall to cover around the adhesive film in the closed position of the mounting device.

[0009] The cap portion may further include a protruded edge on the outer side of the cap portion configured to move or facilitate moving the cap portion from the closed position of the mounting device to an open position of the mounting device.

[0010] The adhesive pad may be produced from a chemical composition including a polyether polyol and a polyisocyanate.

[0011] The polyisocyanate may be a diphenylmethane diisocyanate or a derivative thereof.

[0012] Diphenylmethane diisocyanate or a derivative thereof in the polyisocyanate composition may be 5% by mass or less.

[0013] The poly ether polyol may be a polypropylene glycol.

[0014] The chemical composition may be further configured to include 5% by mass or less of the diphenylmethane diisocyanate or a derivative thereof in the overall chemical composition.

[0015] The adhesive pad may be washable with a liquid.

[0016] The underside wall of the base portion may include a snap bead configured to snap on an outer surface of the finger grip for secure mounting of the mounting device on the finger grip.

[0017] The underside wall of the base portion may further include a slit to allow flexibility of the underside wall when receiving or removing the finger grip.

[0018] The underside wall may be made from a soft material to conform to the shape of the finger grip when mounting to the finger grip.

[0019] With respect to another disclosed aspect, a finger grip device for a portable device is presented. The finger grip device includes a finger grip module and an adhesive mount device detachably mounted on the finger grip module. The adhesive mount device includes a base portion including an underside wall forming a cavivty to receive the finger grip module therein for mounting, an adhesive pad disposed on an upperside of the base portion and configured toremovably attach the adhesive mount device to an external surface, and a cap portion pivotally coupled to the base portion and configured to cover the adhesive pad in a closed position of the adhesive mount device.

[0020] The finger grip module may include a flexible body configured to move between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration and a bottom portion coupled to the flexible body, the bottom portion having an attachment surface for attachment to the portable device.

[0021] The flexible body may be configured to rotate with respect to the bottom portion.

[0022] The finger grip device may further include a lock washer removably mounted on the finger grip module and configured to prevent rotation of the flexible body with respect to the bottom portion.

[0023] Other aspects and features will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific disclosed embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying figures.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] In the following, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the appended drawings. However, various embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the arrangements shown in the drawings.

[0025] Figures 1 A and IB are perspective views of an adhesive mount device, according to an embodiment;

[0026] Figure 1C is a side view of the adhesive mount device of Figure 1 A and IB;

[0027] Figure ID is an exploded view of the adhesive mount device of Figure 1 A and IB;

[0028] Figure 2 is side cross-sectional view of the adhesive mount device of Figures 1A-1D, showing the device mounted on a finger grip accessory, according to an embodiment;

[0029] Figures 3 A and 3B are perspective views of the adhesive mount device of Figures 1A- 1D in open and closed positions, respectively, according to an embodiment;

[0030] Figure 3C is a perspective view of the adhesive mount device of Figures 1A-1D including a non-stick film, according to an embodiment;

[0031] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the adhesive mount device of Figures 1A-1D in an attached position, according to an embodiment;

[0032] Figure 5A is perspective exploded view of a finger grip device including the adhesive mount device of Figures 1A-1D, according to an embodiment;

[0033] Figure 5B is a perspective view of the finger grip device of Figure 5A attached to a portable device, according to an embodiment;

[0034] Figures 6A and 6B are perspective and side views, respectively, of a finger grip module in an expanded configuration, according to an embodiment;

[0035] Figures 6C and 6D are perspective and side views, respectively, of the finger grip module of Figures 6A-6B in a collapsed configuration, according to an embodiment; and

[0036] Figures 7A and 7B are perspective views of the figure grip device of Figures 5A-5B attaching a portable device to an external surface, according to an embodiment.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Various embodiments and configurations of an adhesive mount device will be described below to provide examples of each claimed aspect.

[0038] Referring to Figures 1 A and IB, perspective views of an adhesive mount device 100 are shown therein. The device 100 includes a base portion 110, an adhesive pad 130, and a cap or cover portion 150 hingedly connected to the base portion 110 via a hinge 170. The hinge 170 may include a pin 172 (as shown in Figure ID) to facilitate pivotal motion of the cap portion 150 with respect to the base portion 110.

[0039] In an embodiment, the cap or cover portion 150 is pivotally coupled to the base portion 110.

[0040] Figure 1C presents a side view of the adhesive mount device 100. Figure ID presents an exploded view of the adhesive mount device 100.

[0041] The adhesive mount device 100 includes an opening or cavity 118 at the underside of the base portion 110, operably configured to receive a finger grip accessory 190 (as shown in Figure 2) for mounting or docking the adhesive mount device 100 onto the finger grip accessory 190. The cavity 118 is formed and surrounded by an underside wall 116 on the underside of thebase portion 110. Referring to Figure 2, the mounting of the adhesive mount device 100 to the finger grip accessory 190 is further secured by a snap bead 112 disposed on the underside wall 116. The snap bead 112 is preferably snapped to a top surface of the finger grip accessory 190 to provide extra support and reliable mounting of the adhesive device 100 to the finger grip accessory 190. Referring back to Figures 1 A and IB, the adhesive mount device further includes one or more slits 114 on the underside wall 116 to allow for a degree of flexibility of the underside wall 116 when mounting or unmounting the adhesive mount device 100 on or off the finger grip accessory 190, respectively. The slits 114 are particularly advantageous in embodiments where the underside wall 116 is made out of a rigid material such as hard plastic or metal.

[0042] In an embodiment, the underside wall 116 is made out of a soft material, such as rubber or silicone elastomer, for improved conformity around the shape of the finger grip accessory 190 to be received by the cavity 118.

[0043] In Figure 1 , the cavity 118 and the associated surrounding underside wall 116 are shown as circular in shape. However, other shapes may be used, such as oval, rectangular, or triangular, mainly depending on the receiving finger grip accessory 190.

[0044] The adhesive pad 130 may be a reusable adhesive pad, such as a single-side tape, doubleside tape or nanogel, configured to cause temporary attachment of the adhesive mount device 100, and any article attached to the cavity 118 of the base portion 110, to an external surface (as shown at 192 in Figure 4). The reusable adhesive may be produced from a variety of adhesive material. In an embodiment, the reusable adhesive pad 130 is made from a chemical composition including a polyether polyol and a polyisocyanate. In an embodiment, the polyether polyol is a polypropylene glycol and the polyisocyanate is a diphenylmethane diisocyanate, such as Diphenyimethane-4,4'-diisocyanate, or a derivative thereof. In an embodiment, the diphenylmethane diisocyanate or a derivative thereof has a mass ratio of 5% or less in the polyisocyanate composition. In an embodiment, the reusable adhesive tape is made from a chemical mixture including 0.2% of mass ratio Diphenyimethane-4, 4' -diisocyanate and 99.8% of mass ratio polypropylene glycol.

[0045] The adhesive pad 130 may advantageously be washable, for example using a liquid such as water. The adhesive tape may advantageously be damage-free or very resilient to dust and damage. In an embodiment, the adhesive pad 130 is suitable for reuse for temporary attachment ofthe adhesive mount device 100 to the external surface 192 for hundreds, thousands, or more times.

[0046] The cap or cover portion 150 includes a cover wall 154 configured to cover around the adhesive pad 130 in a closed position (as shown in Figure 3B) of the adhesive mount device 100. For example, the cover wall 154 may protect the adhesive tape 130 from impact damage or dust.

[0047] Referring to Figure 3C, a non-stick film 158 is shown disposed on an inner-side (as shown by 152 in Figure IB) of the cap portion 150, to avoid adhesion between the adhesive pad 130 and the inner-side 152 of the cap portion 150, in the closed position, thereby facilitating longer life for the adhesive pad 130 and an easier switch to an open position of the adhesive mount device 100 (as shown in Figure 3 A).

[0048] Referring back to Figure IB, the cap portion 150 further includes a lip or a protruded edge 156 configured to facilitate easier positioning or movement of the cap portion 150 and hence moving the adhesive mount device 100 from the closed position (as shown in Figure 3B) to the open position (as shown in Figure 3 A).

[0049] Referring to Figure 4 now, the adhesive mount device 100 is shown in an attached position and attached to the external surface 192. In the attached position, the adhesive pad 130 (not visible in Figure 4) is in contact with the external surface 192, enabling temporary attachment of the adhesive mount device 100 to the external surface 192.

[0050] In an embodiment, to remove the device 100 from the surface 192, the cap portion 150, is configured to be used as a lever and twisted in direction 162 to apply a shear tension at the attachment area between the adhesive pad 130 and the surface 192 and facilitate the release and detachment of the adhesive pad 130, and subsequently the device 100, from the external surface 192. The cap portion 150 is configured to rotate in the direction 162 in a clockwise or counterclockwise manner. A downward movement of the cap portion 150 may be more convenient for a user due to the effect of gravity.

[0051] Now referring to Figures 5 A and 5B, a finger grip device 200 including the device 100 is shown, according to an embodiment. Referring to Figure 5A in particular, an exploded view of the finger grip device 200 is shown. The finger grip device 200 includes a finger grip accessory or module 210 (also shown as 190 in Figure 2) and the adhesive mount device 100 configured to detachably mount onto a top surface 212 of the finger grip module 210. The finger grip module210 includes an attachment surface 214 from which the finger grip module 210 and subsequently the finger grip device 200 are configured to attach to a portable device 240 such as a portable electronic device (e.g., a smartphone). According to the embodiment shown in Figure 5B, the finger grip device 200 is configured to be attached to the portable device 240 (and is shown so attached) and the adhesive mount device 100 is configured to be mounted on the finger grip module 210 (and is shown so mounted), and thus the adhesive pad 130 of the adhesive mount device 100 facilitates temporary attachment of the portable device 240 to an external surface such as the surface 192 of Figure 4.

[0052] It will be appreciated that the portable device 240 may be a portable device that is not a portable electronic device.

[0053] In an embodiment, the figure grip module 210 further includes a flexible body 224 (as shown in Figure 6B) configured to be collapsible as shown in Figures 6A and 6C. Figure 6A shows the extended configuration of the finger grip module 210. Figure 6C shows the collapsed configuration of the module 210.

[0054] The figure grip module 210 further includes a bottom portion 226 (as shown in Figure 6B) connected to the flexible body 224 and including the attachment surface 214 from which the finger grip module 210 is configured to be attached to a portable electronic device 240 (as shown in Figure 5B).

[0055] In an embodiment, the bottom portion 226 is rotatably connected to the flexible body 224 to allow for forced or free rotation of the flexible body 224 with respect to the bottom 226 and vice-versa. This degree of freedom, around a center axis 218 and in direction 219, may be advantageous to freely rotate the portable device 240, for example in scenarios when the adhesive mount device 100 is fixed to an external surface such as the surface 192 of Figure 4.

[0056] It may be desirable to temporarily attach the portable device 240 to the surface 192 of Figure 4 for taking a selfie or viewing a navigation map, for example in a vehicle. As shown in Figures 7A and 7B, the rotational degree of freedom of the finger grip module 210 in the direction 219 enables free rotation of the portable device 240 to a desired orientation. The portable device 240 is configured to rotate in the direction 219 in a clockwise or counterclockwise manner.

[0057] Referring back to Figure 5A, the finger grip device 200 further includes a lock washer230 configured to be removably inserted into a groove 216 of the finger grip module 210. The groove 216 may be the attachment joint between the flexible body 224 and the bottom portion 226, which ordinarily allows for rotation of the flexible body 224 with respect to the bottom portion 226. When the lock washer 230 is inserted into the groove 216, the flexible body 224 is locked with respect to the bottom portion 226, and the rotation of the flexible body 224 with respect to the bottom portion 226 is thereby prevented. Preventing rotatability of the flexible body 224 with respect to the bottom portion 226 may be advantageous in scenarios where a stable position and / or orientation of the attached portable device 240 is desired, for example when viewing a navigation map while driving.

[0058] While specific embodiments have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative only and not as limiting the disclosed embodiments as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A mounting device for mounting to a finger grip of a portable device, the mounting device comprising: a base portion comprising an underside wall forming a cavity to receive the finger grip therein for mounting; an adhesive pad disposed on an upperside of the base portion and configured to removably attach the mounting device to an external surface; and a cap portion pivotally coupled to the base portion and configured to cover the adhesive pad in a closed position of the mounting device.

2. The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein the cap portion is further configured to be levered to detach the mounting device from the external surface in an attached position of the mounting device.

3. The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein the cap portion further comprises a non-stick film attached to an inner side of the cap portion to enable non-stick contact of the cap portion with the adhesive film, in the closed position of the mounting device.

4. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein the cap portion further comprises a cover wall to cover around the adhesive film in the closed position of the mounting device.

5. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein the cap portion further comprises a protruded edge on the outer side of the cap portion configured to move the cap portion from the closed position of the mounting device to an open position of the mounting device.

6. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein the adhesive pad is produced from a chemical composition comprising a polyether polyol and a polyisocyanate.

7. The chemical composition of claim 6, wherein the polyisocyanate is a diphenylmethane diisocyanate or a derivative thereof.

8. The chemical composition of claim 7, wherein diphenylmethane diisocyanate or a derivative thereof in the polyisocyanate composition is 5% by mass or less.

9. The chemical composition of any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the polyether polyol is apolypropylene glycol.

10. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein the adhesive pad is washable with a liquid.

11. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein the underside wall of the base portion comprises a snap bead configured to snap on an outer surface of the finger grip for secure mounting of the mounting device on the finger grip12. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein the underside wall of the base portion further comprises a slit to allow flexibility of the underside wall when receiving or removing the finger grip.

13. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein the underside wall is made from a soft material to conform to the shape of the finger grip when mounting to the finger grip.

14. A finger grip device for a portable device, the finger grip device comprising: a finger grip module; and an adhesive mount device detachably mounted on the finger grip module; wherein the adhesive mount device comprises: a base portion comprising an underside wall forming a cavity to receive the finger grip module therein for mounting; an adhesive pad disposed on an upperside of the base portion and configured to removably attach the adhesive mount device to an external surface; and a cap portion pivotally coupled to the base portion and configured to cover the adhesive pad in a closed position of the adhesive mount device.

15. The finger grip device of claim 14, wherein the finger grip module comprises: a flexible body configured to move between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration; and a bottom portion coupled to the flexible body, the bottom portion having an attachment surface for attachment to the portable device.

16. The finger grip device of claim 15, wherein the flexible body is configured to rotate with respect to the bottom portion.

17. The finger grip device of claim 16, wherein the finger grip device further comprises a lock washer removably mounted on the finger grip module and configured to prevent rotation of the flexible body with respect to the bottom portion.

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