Field of the Disclosure

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to an accessory and connection system, and more particularly to a magnetic backplate accessory system for a mobile electronic device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0002] FIGs. 1A-1B depict perspective views of a magnetic backplate accessory system configured in accordance with the principles of the disclosure;

[0003] FIGs. 2A-2B depict additional views of the magnetic backplate accessory system of FIGs. 1A-1B; and

[0004] FIGs. 3A-3B depict still further views of the magnetic backplate accessory system of FIGs. 1A-1B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0005] FIGs. 1A-1B shows one example of a magnetic backplate accessory system 100 of the present disclosure. In certain embodiments, the magnetic backplate accessory system 100 comprises a bumper 102 configured to securely surround the edges of a mobile electronic device (e.g., a cell phone) in a protective manner. Bumper 102 may be composed of a rubber, silicone, plastic, composite material, or any other suitable material capable of protecting a mobile electronic from impacts, external forces, or the like. Bumper 102 may further be configured with a "lip" or small curvature that extends around a perimeter of each of a front surface and a rear surface of the mobile electronic device (see FIGs. 3A-3B) so as to be securely held in place along the perimeter of the mobile electronic device. The bumper 102 may be securely attached to a mobile electronic device by pulling/stretchmg its structure around the edges of the mobile electronic device, for example, and may similarly be detached by pulling/stretching the bumper's structure away from the mobile electronic device.

Moreover, the bumper 102 may be configured with one or more openings and/or buttonaccommodating bumps along the sides of the bumper 102, as shown in FIGs. 1A-1B.

[0006] The magnetic backplate accessory system 100 further comprises a magnetic backplate 104. In certain embodiments, the magnetic backplate 104 is configured to magnetically attach, such as in a flush state, to a rear surface of the mobile electronic device using one or more integrated magnetic element(s) 106. It should be appreciated that the magnetic element(s) 106 may comprise one or more magnets or magnet-attracting elements. Moreover, an outer-facing surface of the backplate 104 may be decorative.

[0007] Although not show n, it should be appreciated that the rear surface of the mobile electronic device may comprise a plurality of magnets or magnet-attracting elements integrated thereon and/or therein (hereinafter "phone magnet(s)"). In certain embodiments, the phone magnets are implemented in the form of the back-of-the-phone magnetic platform that is integrated into the iPhone® 12 and iPhone® 13 (and potentially future products) offered by Apple, Inc. under the MagSafe® brand (hereinafter, a "MagSafe® platform"). In certain embodiments, the magnetic element(s) 106 are attracted to the phone magnet(s) by magnetic attraction when the magnetic backplate 104 and rear surface of the mobile device are brought within a sufficiently close proximity to each other. Conversely, the magnetic backplate 104 may be detached from the rear surface of the mobile device by pulling, or preferably by imparting a slight twisting of the magnetic backplate 104 relative to the mobile device. In some embodiments, the phone magnet(s) may comprise a single ring-shaped magnet, a single disc-shaped magnet, one or more additional magnets disclosed nearer the base or edge of the phone, or any combination thereof. Similarly, magnetic element(s) 106 of the magnetic backplate 104 may have a ring or disc shape, or comprise individual magnets (or magnet-attracting elements) disposed in any pattern.

[0008] In addition to a magnetic attachment means, the backplate 104 may comprise mechanical attachment elements (not shown) so as to reduce the likelihood of accidental detachment from the phone. Such mechanical attachment elements may require the user to slide the backplate some distance parallel to the rear surface of the mobile electronic device before being able to pull the backplate perpendicularly away from the rear surface of the mobile electronic device.

[0009] In certain embodiments, the magnetic backplate 104 is configured as a thin plate composed of a rigid material, such as plastic or metal. The magnetic backplate 104 may be configured to cover essentially the entire back surface of the mobile electronic device, but may have one or more cutouts 108 to accommodate non-flush structures along the mobile device's back surface, such as a camera lens. Although not shown, it should further be appreciated that cutout 108 may incorporate a clear protective layer in order to protect a camera lens, for example. Moreover, the cutout 108 may be encircled by protective material (e.g., rubber, plastic) designed to protect a camera lens housing, for example. This protective material may be part of the backplate 104, as is shown in the figures, or alternatively, may be part of the bumper 102.

[0010] Referring now to FIG. IB, the magnetic backplate 104 may further be configured with an accessory 110, which is depicted as an expandable grip accessory and may be configured in accordance with the expandable/collapsible design of the commercially available grip and stand product available from PopSockets™. For example, U.S. Patent No. 8,560,031, filed on February 23, 2012; U.S. Patent No. 9,970,589, filed on November 9, 2017; U.S. Appl. No. 15/615,900, filed on June 7, 2017; U.S. Appl. No. 15/679,934, filed on August 17, 2017; U.S. Appl. No. 15/803,410, filed on November 3, 2017; U.S. Appl. No. 15/808,076, filed on November 9, 2017; U.S. Appl. No. 15/864,402, filed on January 8, 2018; U.S. Appl. No. 15/864,509, filed on January 8, 2018; U.S. Appl. No. 15/906,920, filed on February 27, 2018; U.S. Appl. No. 15/922,601, filed on March 15, 2018; U.S. Appl. No. 15/952,025, filed on April 12, 2018; U.S. Appl. No. 15/993,458, filed on May 30, 2018; and U.S. Appl. No. 16/001,723, filed on June 6, 2018 each describe suitable grip accessories, the entirety of each being hereby incorporated by reference. While in this example, the accessory 200 is depicted as an expandable grip, it is within the scope of this disclosure that the accessory' 200 include other accessory types, such as other types of grips (e.g., a ring or a spring-based grip), wallets, wireless battery /power banks, speakers, fidgets, gaming grips, gaming controllers, among other accessories.

[0011] It should be appreciated that accessory' 110 may be integrally formed with or detachably attached to the rear surface of the magnetic backplate 104, as shown in FIG. IB. When configured to be detachably attached to the rear surface of the magnetic backplate 104, accessory' 110 may be attached by magnetic, adhesive, or mechanical means, including use of an mechanical connector, as is described below with reference to FIG. 2A.

[0012] Referring now to FIGs. 2A-2B, depicted are additional views of the magnetic backplate accessory system 100 of FIGs. 1 A-1B. As shown in FIG. 2A, the magnetic backplate 104 is further configured with a mechanical connector 114, as noted above, which is usable to detachably attached accessory 110 to the magnetic backplate 104. Accessory 110 may be configured with a corresponding mechanical connector (not shown), thereby forming, together with the mechanical connector 114, a connection system between the magnetic backplate 104 and accessory 110. In certain embodiments, this connection system may be configured in accordance with the connection system disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 10,348.352, filed on May 30, 2018 and issued on July 9, 2019, the entire disclose of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

[0013] Moreover, the magnetic element(s) 106 may comprise a magnetic ring and a separate magnetic alignment element, as shown in FIG. 2A, and thereby being configured to magnetically attach to the MagSafe® platform. The magnetic ring may be composed of an array of magnets, and may have an inner diameter between four and five centimeters, and an outer diameter between five and six centimeters.

[0014] Referring to FIG. 2B, the magnetic backplate 104 also may be configured with a smoothing element 112. In certain embodiments, smoothing element 112 comprise a rounded protrusion that encircles accessory 110, as shown. The general shape of smoothing element 112 is configured to protect accessory 110 from lateral forces that may exist parallel to the backplate 104 and against the sides of the accessory, such as what might occur when sliding the magnetic backplate accessory system 100 into a pocket or handbag. For example, the smoothing element 112 may be configured to shield the edges of the accessory 110 that might otherwise tend to catch or snag on a user's pocket, or the edge of any other confirmed compartment.

[0015] While the above disclosure has described the magnetic backplate 104 as being used in combination with the bumper 102, in other embodiments it may be desirable to use the magnetic backplate 104 without bumper 102, such as in order to achieve a slimmer profile when attached to a mobile electronic device.

[0016] Referring now to FIGs. 3A-3B, depicted are side views of magnetic backplate accessory' system 100, with FIG. 3A depicting the magnetic backplate 102 and bumper 104 in an engaged state, and FIG. 3B depicting the magnetic backplate 102 and bumper 104 in a disengaged state. The same reference numbers are used to identify the same or similar structure. In the embodiment of FIGs. 3A-3B, accessory 110 is again depicted in the form of an expandable grip accessory configured in accordance with the expandable/collapsible design of the commercially available grip and stand product available from PopSockets™, as described above. Moreover, FIGs. 3A-3B show the bumper 104 as having a "lip" or small curvature, as mentioned above, which extends around a perimeter of each of a front surface (front lip 116i and 1162) and a rear surface (rear lip 1181 and 1182) of the mobile electronic device (not shown) so as to be securely held in place along the perimeter of the mobile electronic device. As previously described, the "lip" may be configured to securely hold the bumper 104 around the perimeter of a mobile electronic device in order to provide protection thereto.

[0017] As used herein any reference to "‘one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

[0018] Some embodiments may be described using the expression “coupled” and “connected” along with their derivatives. For example, some embodiments may be described using the term “coupled” to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. The term “coupled,” however, may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still co-operate or interact with each other. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

[0019] As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

[0020] In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of various embodiments. This descnption should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

[0021] It will be appreciated that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments. The same reference numbers may be used to describe like or similar parts. Further, while several examples have been disclosed herein, any features from any examples may be combined with or replaced by other features from other examples. Moreover, while several examples have been disclosed herein, changes may be made to the disclosed examples within departing from the scope of the claims.

[0022] Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.