T is patent application claims the benefit of, and priority from U. S. Provisional Pateat Application No. 62/077,601,. filed November 10, 2014, which is incorporated in its entirety as If fully set forth herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cell-phone accessories and, more particularly, to a cellphone cover with a telescopic ami.

BACKGROUND

Cellphones, smariphones, PDAs, Tablets, mini tablets and other handheld ^" portable devices often come with an integrated camera and/or media player. Users enjoy looking at pictures, videos or reading on the devices. To do so, the device must he held or otherwise supported at an angle on a horizontal surface (e.g. a table). A recent trend is for users to take self-portraits known as 'selves' using the front-racing camera of the portable device (so that the users can see how the picture will look before capturing the image). Taking a selfie requires the user to extend his or her arm to an uncomfortable distance, especially when more than one person is being photographed. The user also has to press the button on the device to take the photo, which demands further dexterity,

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided an accessory for a mobile electronic device, the accessory including: (a) a. device cover holder adapted to secure at least a peripheral edge of the mobile electronic device; (b) an extension arm, the l extension arm adapted to be rotaiional!y coupled to the device holder/protective cover.

According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below the extension arm includes: (i) a coupling member, adapted to reversibJy couple the extension ami to the device holder/cover; and (ii) a handle, the handle adapted to be rotaiionally coupled to the coupling member.

According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the handle is telescopic-ally extendable.

According to stilt further features the accessory further includes (c) an actuator, the actuator adapted to control an imaging function of the mobile electronic device.

Aecording to still further features the actuator is integrated into the handle or formed on the handle or attached to the handle.

According to still further features the actuator is adapted to be electrically coupled to the mobile electronic device.

According to still furthe feature the actuator is electrically coupled to: the mobile electronic device via a wired connection.

According to still further features the actuator is electrically coupled to the mobile electronic device via a wireless connection.

According to still further features the actuator is a remote control device for the mobile electronic device.

According, to still further features the actuator is adapted to mechanically control the imaging function.

According to still further features the actuator is adapted to mechanicall control the imaging function by actuating function buttons on the peripheral edge of the mobile electronic device, when inserted in the device holder/cover.

According to still further features the extension arm is adapted to be rotated about a single axis through a range of rotation between 0° -.and ^' 180° degrees .

According to still further features the extension arm has two degrees of f eedom including range of rotation between 0° and 360° degrees about a single axis.

Aecording to still further features the extension arm has three degrees of freedom with, at least a range of rotation, between 0" and 180" degrees about a single axis. According to still further features the extension arm has three degrees of freedom with at least a range of rotation between 0" and 360° degrees about a single axis.

According to still further features the actuator is mechanically coupled to an .element, _, a terminal end of which is adapted to depress at least one button located on the peripheral edge of the mobile electronic device.

According to still further features the terminal end is integrated into the device holder/cover.

According to still further features the extension arm i adapted: to be removably attached to said device cove via a groove and tongue arrangement or removably couplable to said device cover via a magnetic connector arrangement.

According to another embodiment there is provided an accessory fo a mobile electronic device, the accessory including: (a) an extension arm; and (b) a coupling member operationally coupled to the extension -arm, the coupling member adapted to rotatianally couple the extension arm to the mobile electronic device.

According to further features the coupling member is operationally coupled to at least a peripheral edge of the mobile electronic device.

According to still further features the coupling member includes a rotational joint adapted to provide the extension arm with at least two degrees of freedom including a range of rotation, between 0" and at least 180° degrees about a single axis.

According to still furthe features.- the coupling member includes a rotational joint adapted to provide the extension arm with at least two degrees of freedom, including a range of rotation between Q° and 360° degrees about a single axis.

According to still further features the coupling member includes a rotational joint adapted to provide the extension arm with three degrees of freedom including a range of rotation between 0° and at least 180" degrees about -a ingle axis.

According to still further features the coupling member includes a rotational joint adapted to provide the extension arm with three degrees of freedom including a range of rotation between 0° and 360° degrees about a single axis,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying . drawings, wherein; FIG. 1 a is an isometric back view of an exemplary innovative smartphone cover and extendable ami mobile device accessory-;

FIG. lb is an isometric front view of the innovative smartphone cover and extendable arm mobile device accessory;

FIG. 2a-b are different isometric views of the extension arm separated from the cover;

FIG. 3 is an: isometric view of the extension arm coupled to the cover with the handle rotated awa from the cover:

FIG. 4a is a top vie w of the accessory;

FIG. 4b is a bottom view of the accessory.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Various configurations of the extendable arm accessory are envisioned. In. one embodiment the extendable ami is integrally formed with the cover / protective cove of the portable device, in other embodiments a coupling piece or hinge is integrally formed with the protective cover / holder of the mobile device and the extension arm. is non~detachab!y coupled to the integrated hinge. In still other embodiments the extension arm- is detaehahiy coupled to the integrated hinge. In still other embodiments the cover is formed with, a (preferably reinforced) attachment area that is specifically designed for the extensio arm and hinge to be coupled thereto. Fo example, the attachment area may be a channel integrated into the side section of the cover which is adapted for the hinge/rotation mechanism to be attached by sliding a complimentary attachment part of the hinge into the channel. Any mechanism or coupling device/design capable of coupling, the hinge to the cove is/are included within the scope of the invention. Any type of coupling mechanism or arrangement, that removably couples the extension arm to the cover is included; in the scope of the invention. One example is a tongue and groove arrangement, Another example is a magnetic connector arrangement, such as integrating magnets into the surface of the cover and that of the extension arm in corresponding positions. The. arm can thereby be simply attached to the cover and detached therefrom, at will.

The terms "device cover", "holder", "protective cover ' and the like refer to any type of protective cover thai is 'worn ^' on a mobile device to protect the device from damage. Device covers are usually made of some type of elastic polymer (elastomer) such as rubber, plastic, silicone or some combination thereof. The principles and operation of an extension arm for a mobile electronic device according to the present invention, may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure la illustrates an isometric back view of _. an exemplary innovative smartphone cover and extendable arm mobile device accessory 100. Figure l b illustrates an isometric front view of the innovative; smartphone cover and extendable arm mobile device accessory 100. Accessory 100 includes a- mobile: device cover 200 and an extension arm 300. Mobile device cover 200 is a device holder for a mobile electronic device that protects the device from damage by covering the back panel and peripheral edges of the device that are prone to damage during use (e.g. when dropped on the ground). Many device covers are known il the art. For example, some device covers only fit over the edges of the phone, without a mil back panel. The exemplary cover 200 in the Figures is a smartphone cover for phones that have a configuration similar to -art iPhone™ ver. 5. Extension arm 300 is removably coupled to mobile device cover .200. In the depicted accessory 100, extension arm 300 i removably coupled to the right-hand side panel of device cover 200. Preferably, extensio arm 300 can be uncoupled from cover 200 in a single motion.

In some embodiments, the extension arm is operationally coupled to the mobile device. The embodiments of the accessory discussed hereafter, where relevant, are intended to relate mutatis mutandis to the embodiment of the accessory which includes an extension arm that is adapted to. be operationally coupled to the mobile device.

As mentioned above, many different configurations and embodiments of the invention are envisioned, but only one preferred embodiment is shown in the Figures. Therefore, it is made clear, that any means for coupling the extension ami to the cover / device holder, or alternatively, for coupling the extension arm: to the mobile device, are considered to be included within the scope of the invention.

Furthermore, the extension arm may be a single piece r composed of variou elements. It is therefore made clear that any arrangement for rotatibnally coupling the extension arm to the cover or device is included within the scope of the invention. Any joint-, hinge, kinematic pair etc, thai can be used to rotational! y couple the extension arm / handle to the cover / device i considered to be included within the scope of the invention. Therefore, in view of the preceding, the following detailed. description is understood to be merely an exemplary embodimen of the invention, and not limiting in any mariner. The materials, hinges, joints, connectors, elements etc. are considered to be generic and in keeping with the standards as practiced: in the art.

Exemplary coyer 200 incltsdes a back panel 202 with an opening ¹ for the integrated back camera lens and Hash 203. The cover further includes a band of material that is adapted t fit over the peripheral edges of the so as to protect the side edges, to and bottom edges and corners of the phone. The bottom panel of the band includes a elongated opening 204 to allow accessibility to the data power port and earphone jack when the phone is in the -cover..

The top panel of the band has an opening 206 to allow user accessibility to the power button of the phone, located m the top edge of ^" the phone. The right-hand side panel of ^' cover -20%. as orientated based on the front view of the cover, abuts extension arm 300. The right-hand panel is referred to hereafter as abutting panel 210. in _; .F!G l a and lb, abutting panel 2 0 (i.e. the right-hand side cover panel) is not clearly visible. Preferably, extension arm 300 can be uncoupled from cover 200 at will . specifically, from, right-hand side panel of cover 2 )0). The left-hand side panel of caver 200 includes an opening 08 for access to buttons such as the volume buttons and the ring/silent swi tch located on the left- eripheral edge of the phone,

Figures 2 and. 2b illustrate extension arm 300 separated from cover 200.

Extension ami 300 itidudes _: two elements. The first element is a couplin member 310 and the second element is a handle 320.. Handle 320 is rotationally: coupled, t coupling member 31 ⁾ (see discussion below regarding FIG. 3 for -more- details ^' on handle 320), Couplin member 310 can be adapted to be coupled to cover 200 in any relevant manner. One such exemplary coupling arrangement is depicted in the Figures. The coupling arrangement is a tongue- and- groove sliding, atrangement. Coupling member 310 includes a plate 314 and a tongue 312:, Plate 314 has a surface area which is substantially equivalent to the surface area of abutting panel 210. Tongue 312 has a dovetail form. Tongue 312 is clearly visible. in both FIG. 2a and 2b. Visible in FIG. 2a is a half-blind groove 212 formed in the external face of abutting panel HO.Tongue 312 is formed ^' so as to slide into groove 212.

Figure 3 illustrates extension ami 300 coupled to cover 200 with handle 320 rotated awa from the; cover. Handle 320 is rotationaliy coupled to coupling member 31 via a swivel hinge. Handle 320 is depicted rotated 180° about the swivel hinge axis.

In a preferred embodiment, extension aim 30 is rotationally coupled to cover 200, or. alternatively, coupled to the mobile device, in a manner that affords at least 180° of rotation about the axis of the hinge to which the extension arm is attached. In an even more preferable embodiment, the extension arm. is operationall coupled to a rotational hinge, or joint, that affords 360 degrees of rotation about the same, single axis In other preferred embodiments, the extension ana is operationally coupled to a rotational hinge, or joint, that allows three degrees of freedom, preferably including rotation about the axi of the hinge i a range between (f and 180° or, even more preferably, in a range between (f and 360°, For example, a ball -joint provides three degrees of freedom' swivel, pitch and ya w.

h one preferred embodiment, extension arm 300 extends teieseopieally. The telescopic ami per se is known in the art ^" , e.g. as used in an extendable antenna of a radio.

^' .In. preferred embodiments, the ami/hinge construction - or rotation niechanism - affords sufficient rigidity to support the portable device: at an desired angle between 0 and 180 degrees. The lowest degree of operational rigidit of the rotation mechanism is dictated by the weight or potential weight of a portable device that can fit into the protective cover to which the extension ami is attached. That is: to say that the rotation mechanism has to be strong enough and rigid enough t hold the mobile device at the desired angle withou involuntarily falling or rotating forwards or b aek .ward s abo ut the wivel h i nge .

In one mode of use, the extension aim lies flat on a horizontal, surface (in front of, o behind, the portable device) and the portable device forms an angle, relati ve to the extension arm, anywhere betwee 0° and just less than 90" degrees from the extension ami. If the angle, between the portable device and the extension ami is 90° (i.e.. perpendicular to the surface) or more, then the device will not be supported by the extension ami and will MI over.

In other potential modes of use. the extensio arm is securely attached by the handle to some kind of: support {e.g. a tripod, a. pole, etc.) while allowing the portable de ce: that is in the protective cover to. be angled is. any manne that the rotational mechanism allows (e,g, 180° or 360 degrees along a single axis or substantially 360 degrees of rotation in all directions). In other embodiments the handle of the arm can be coupled to various attachment pieees. For example, the free end can be coupled to a suction pad that can be attached to the interior surface of a car windshield, or the surface of a desk. The -mode of use likely to be most common is to facilitate a -'s lfte' ^' without having to awkwardly stretch out one's hand in a clumsy manner. The user rotates handle 320 away from the holder and holds accessory 100 at arm's length from the body, with the screen (and screen-side camera) facing the usen Alternatively, the accessory can be used to obtain a high angle image (still or video) using the same set of actions, but using t e b ack panel-si de camera.

in one mode the camera can be set. on a tinier so that the user has enough time to extend the device away from themselve and pose (or aim the camera) appropriately for the picture. In this manner, the user does not have to touch the device to take the picture.

In a second embodiment a button or other actuator is integrated into the handle of the ami that is held by the user (not shown). In one embodiment the actuator is an electronic actuator which is electrically coupled to the mobile device.. When ^• electrically coupled, the actuator is in electrical communication with the mobile- device. The actuator may be coupled in a wired manner to the device or in a wireless manner.

One example of electrically coupling an actuator (in or attached to the handle of the extension arm) to the mobile device in wired manner is described as follows: A connector piece embedded in the bottom panel of the protective cover, which slots into the daia'connection port of the mobi le device, when the mobile device is inserted into the cover. Wiring is run through the -handle and through the swivel hinge, terminating at contact mounted on the face of the plate of the coupling member on which the tongue is formed. Corresponding contacts are mounted on the external face of abutting panel (the same face as the groove), When the contacts touch, the actuator is in electrical communication with the mobile device.

One example of electrically coupling -the actuator and the mobile device in a wireless manner is described as follows _* The actuator include buttons or other function keys embedded, mounted on or otherwise coupled to the handle. The actuator includes a wireless component, such as :a Bluetooth™ ^' transmitter. The mobile device, such as a srnartphone, tablet computer o mini-tablet, also has Bluetooth™ capabilities. The mobile device is paired and connected to the actuator prior to use. Once the camera function is activated, the buttons on the mobile device or the actuator can control, the camera (e.g. take a picture, zoom, switch cameras, select special imaging functions etc.).

In another additional or alternative embodiment, a remote activator (e.g. a remote control for the smartphone or digital camera etc.) can be used to control the function of the camera. The remote device may be wired or wirelessl connected to the mobile device in any of the known manners,, e.g, such as those discussed above. In the exemplary accessory depicted in the Figures, the abutting panel of the cover is devoid of openings, This is in keeping with the configuration of the i Phone 5™ which is devoid of buttons on the right peripheral edge of the phone, h some mobile devices, such as the iPhone 5™, the volume buttons, on the side of file phone can also fee used to take a picture. When in camera mode, pressing one of the volume buttons once takes a: single image, depressing the button for more than a second causes the camera to capture numerous images in rapid succession,

in an alternative configuration, the device holder, or protective cover, covers over one or more function buttons on the peripheral edge of the device (referred to hereafter as ⁴ side buttons ^' ). In a preferred embodiment, the. accessory includes an actuator (not. shown) on or near the handle that is mechanically coupled to an element,, the terminal end of which is adapted to depress one or more of the side buttons, when actuated by the user, in one embodiment, the terminal end of the element is integrated into the device holder/ cover.

For example, the mechanical actuator can be a lever or similar element that has an actuator (button, slide etc.) on or near the handle. When the actuator is actuated (pressed, pulled, pushed,: slid etc.),- the- terminal end of the lever depresses one or more of the side buttons.

Figure 4a illustrates a. top view of accessory 100. Figure 4b illustrates a bottom view of accessory J 00. In the bottom view of FIG. 4b, tongue 312 is visible, nestled inside groove 212. Power button opening 202 is visible in FIG. 4a as well as in FIG, 4b,, where the opening 202 is- visible through bottom opening 204,

While the invention has been described ^' with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention ma he made. Therefore, the claimed invention as recited in the ciairas that follow is not limited to the erabodimeitts described herein.