Hinged Finger Grip for Handheld Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing handheld devices, particularly bar-shaped devices with large touch-screen displays, are difficult to securely grip with one hand, limiting the range of motion for thumb access to controls.
Innovation Solution
A finger grip apparatus that includes a base for affixing to the handheld device, an extension, and a grip oriented parallel to the device's surface, allowing for secure single-handed holding and increased thumb range of motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a user securely grips a handheld device with fingers extending around the back and side, then the device is held securely, but the range of motion of the thumb is limited with respect to the front surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a grip aid as an intermediary device between the user's hand and the handheld device. This grip aid includes a base portion that contacts the device and a grip portion that extends to support the user's fingers, effectively mediating the interaction and allowing secure gripping while maintaining thumb freedom of motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The grip aid is divided into distinct functional segments: a base portion for contacting the device surface and a grip portion for supporting the user's fingers. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function independently, ensuring secure device holding while preserving thumb range of motion.
2Ease of operation
If a user uses a relaxed grip to access controls, then the thumb can reach more areas of the front surface, but the device is held less securely
Solution Approach 1:
The grip aid serves as a mediator that enables the user to maintain a relaxed grip posture for optimal control access while the base portion provides secure anchoring to the device. This intermediary structure decouples the conflict between grip security and control accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The grip aid extends in a dimension perpendicular to the device surface, creating a third dimension for finger placement. This allows the user's fingers to be positioned optimally for control access while the base portion maintains secure contact with the device surface.
3Ease of operation
If a user repositions the device to access controls with the thumb, then more controls become accessible, but the fingers can no longer grip the device securely
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the grip aid into a base portion and a grip portion, the design allows the base to remain fixed on the device while the grip portion adapts to different control locations, enabling access to various controls without compromising grip security.
Solution Approach 2:
The grip aid is designed to be adaptable to different device orientations and control locations. The base portion maintains secure contact while the grip portion can dynamically adjust to accommodate different thumb reaching requirements, allowing the device to remain stationary while providing access to various controls.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed to a one hand gripping apparatus fastened or built into the back of a hand-held touch screen electronic device or its case. The apparatus includes two or more separated flat rectangular-shaped extensions that extend from the base and are attached to the base with a hinge, the extension portion having a first end and an opposing second end. In some embodiments, the extension expands to an open position and contracts to a closed position. The apparatus includes a hard base that includes a flat outside face and an inside portion fixedly connected to the first end of the extension portion. The apparatus includes a hard top that includes an inside portion fixedly connected to the second end of the extension portion and a flat or plate-like outside face facing away from the outside face of the base.