Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent

Application No 2015902513 filed on 29 June 2015, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

[0002] In one aspect, this invention relates to improvements in "selfie sticks". In another aspect, this invention also relates to improved smartphones.

Background

[0003] A "selfie" is a self-portrait photograph or group photograph, typically taken on a smartphone and shared using social media. When the trend for taking selfies first emerged, in order to take a selfie, the person's left or right arm was extended while holding the phone, and the photograph taken with the phone held backwards. While it is possible to take a selfie using that technique, some smart phones now have reversible cameras to make taking selfies easier. It is now possible to buy "selfie sticks" which may be attached to a smartphone to enable the phone to be held away from the person at a greater distance than that person could achieve using their extended arm, making taking selfies easier, allowing more control over the composition of the photograph, and allowing more people or background to appear in the selfie.

[0004] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application. Summary

[0005] According a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a case for a smartphone or the like incorporating an extendible rod for use as a selfie stick and a recess for receiving the rod when not deployed.

[0006] Advantageously by providing the selfie stick within the phone case, the phone user can simply extend the rod to take a selfie without having to carry a separate selfie stick.

When not in use, the rod can simply be retracted back into the case so does not adversely affect the look of the phone/case combination.

[0007] Preferably, the rod may be a telescopic rod comprising a plurality of telescoping sections.

[0008] The recess may defined in or behind the rear wall of the phone case, so as not to interfere with the various buttons and switches typically found on the side edges of smartphones.

[0009] Typically, the recess extends symmetrically along the middle of the rear of the phone case.

[0010] It is preferred that the telescoping sections of the rod are generally rectangular in transverse cross-section, making the rod thinner and the phone case less deep.

[0011] It is preferred that the telescopic rod includes at least one pivot allowing the rod to rotate relative to the case about a first axis.

[0012] In one embodiment, the telescopic rod may include a second hinge allowing the rod to rotate relative to the case about a second axis, typically, perpendicular to the first axis.

[0013] Alternatively, the case may include two parts, a first part which holds the smartphone and a second part which is pivotally mounted to the first part about a second axis which is preferably perpendicular to the first axis. [0014] In a related aspect, the invention provides a smartphone including a casing defining an extendible rod for use as a selfie stick and a recess for receiving the rod when not deployed.

[0015] In preferred embodiments the rod may include a switch for operating the

smartphone' s camera, typically using a wireless technology such as Bluetooth.

[0016] Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0017] Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a rear view of a first embodiment of a phone case with a phone inside the case;

Figure 2 is a rear view of the phone case only of Figure 1, showing an integral selfie stick extending from the phone case;

Figure 3 is sectional view of the phone case of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows the selfie stick extended for use;

Figure 5 is a rear view of a smart phone, having an integral selfie stick shown protruding from the phone;

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the phone shown in Figure 5 but omitting the internal componentry of the smartphone;

Figure 7 is a sectional view through the phone shown in Figure 6 with the stick retracted into the phone; Figure 8 illustrates the selfie stick protruding from the phone and fully extended;

Figure 9 is a rear perspective view of a second embodiment of a phone case and phone;

Figure 10 is a rear perspective view of a second embodiment of the phone case and phone of Figure 9 showing a rod/selfie stick partially extended from the case;

Figure 11 is a sectional view of the case only showing the rod partially extended;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the phone case and phone of Figure 9 showing the phone in a portrait orientation; and

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the phone case and phone of Figure 9 showing the phone in a landscape orientation.

Description of Embodiments

[0018] Referring to the drawings, a first embodiment of a case 10 for a smart phone 11 is shown in Figures 1 to 4. As is well known, different types and models of smartphone are different sizes and have different locations for buttons, camera lenses etc., so smartphone cases are sized and configured to suit specific phones such as iphones™, Samsung galaxys™ etc. Hence, although a case to suit a specific smartphone is shown, the configuration of the case will be changed to suit different smartphone models.

[0019] In the rear wall of the case 10, there is an aperture 14 which coincides with the camera lens 16 of the phone inside the case. Visible at one end of the case is a handle 18 which may be pulled out of the case, and includes a recess 20 which can receive the tip of a person's finger, to assist in the removal of the handle from the case.

[0020] Figures 2 and 3 shows the handle which is attached to one end of an extendible element or rod 22 pulled out from the case 10. The rod includes a telescopic portion 24 which is rotatably mounted about a first hinge 25 which allows the rod to pivot transversely to its length to a mid-portion 26 which is connected via a second hinge 27 to an end portion 28 which is partly retained inside the phone in a recess/channel 30 (best seen in Figure 3). [0021] The rod 22 is wide but thin having a generally rectangular cross-section to minimise the increase in thickness of the case required to receive the rod 22 while maximising the strength of the rod when extended (refer to Figure 4). The channel 30 extends symmetrically along the middle of the rear of the phone case from top to bottom.

[0022] The telescopic portion 24 of the rod is shown extended in Figure 4 to take a selfie. As can be seen, the telescopic portion has six telescoping sections.

[0023] The rod may include a switch/button 30 (refer to Figure 2) for operating the smartphone's camera, typically using a wireless technology such as Bluetooth.

[0024] It is to be noted that when the selfie stick is retracted into the case as shown in Figure 1, it is substantially concealed/hidden within the case, which both protects the selfie stick and maintains the outward appearance of the phone case.

[0025] Figures 5 to 8 show a smartphone 50 incorporating an extendable rod 52 or "selfie stick". Since the rod 52 is a part of the phone itself, rather than part of a case which has to be configured to a smartphone, the smartphone is designed with one side edge 54 of the casing 55 of the phone free from buttons, switches and the like.

[0026] With reference to Figures 5, 6 and 7 in particular, the rod 52 includes an end handle or grip 56 located on the free or distal end of the rod. The handle 56 includes a recess 58 to assist in pulling the rod 52 out from inside the smartphone. The main element of the rod is a telescopic portion 60 which is typically made of six telescoping metal cylinders having an annular cross-section. The proximal end of the portion 60 is mounted on a pivot/hinge arrangement which allows it to rotate about a pin 62 on an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rod. The hinge arrangement also permits the rod to turn about its own axis.

[0027] Integrally moulded with the handle 56, is a side piece 62 which defines a knurled surface 64 which can be gripped by a user as well as providing frictional engagement with the sides of the assisting in retaining the rod 52 inside the casing of the phone when retracted.

[0028] The side piece 62 may act as a trigger for operating the smartphone's camera, typically using a wireless technology such as Bluetooth. [0029] The smartphone defines a recess 70 (best seen in Figures 6 and 7) for receiving the selfie stick 52 when retracted into the smartphone.

[0030] Figure 8 shows the telescopic portion 60 of the rod is shown extended in to take a selfie.

[0031] Figures 9 to 13 illustrate a second embodiment 100 of a smartphone case. The key feature differentiating this case from the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 is that the case is formed from two pieces - a front part 102 which holds the smartphone and a rear part 104 which contains a telescopic rod 106, as is best seen in Figure 11. In cross-section the telescopic rod is generally oval. With reference to Figure 11, the rear part 104 and front part 102 are rotatably connected about a pivot 108 so that the front part 102 can rotate through 90° relative to the rear part.

[0032] Figure 11 also shows the telescopic rod 106 and an elongate recess/bore 110 which receives the rod when it is retracted into the phone case. The telescopic portion 112 of the rod is connected via a pivot pin 114 to an end portion 116 which slides along but remains in the bore 110. It is to be noted that a single axis of rotation only is required for the rod because the two parts of the case pivot relative to each other. This allows the telescopic rod to be simpler and stronger than in the case of the rod shown in Figures 1 to 4.

[0033] Figure 12 and 13 illustrate the use of the case with the telescopic rod extended for the taking of a "selfie". In Figure 12 the phone is shown in a portrait orientation. In Figure 13 the case is shown with the front part 102 rotated through 90° relative to the rear part 104, into a landscape orientation for taking photographs in a landscape format.

[0034] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.