US 12,433,391 B2
Collapsible and extendable device grip
Joshua R. Cornish, Fort Collins, CO (US); W. Travis Smith, Fort Collins, CO (US); Andrew J. Walla, Aurora, CO (US); and Cameron D. Magness, Fort Collins, CO (US)
Assigned to Otter Products, LLC, Fort Collins, CO (US)
Filed by Otter Products, LLC, Fort Collins, CO (US)
Filed on Mar. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/697,731.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/272,480, filed on Oct. 27, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/234,551, filed on Aug. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/190,869, filed on May 20, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/167,198, filed on Mar. 29, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0304457 A1, Sep. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. A45F 5/10 (2006.01); A45C 11/00 (2006.01); A45F 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC A45F 5/10 (2013.01) [A45C 11/00 (2013.01); A45C 11/002 (2025.01); A45C 2200/15 (2013.01); A45F 5/1516 (2025.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A grip system configured for assisting holding of an electronic device, the grip system comprising:
a protective case comprising a protective shell for receiving the electronic device and covering at least a portion of a housing of the electronic device, the protective case having a back surface having a recess, wherein the recess in the back surface includes an opening having a circular shape and a portion that extends from the opening under a lip of the protective case; and
a grip apparatus that is removably attachable to the back surface of the protective case, the grip apparatus comprising:
a base configured to be removably inserted into the recess in the back surface of the protective case for removably attaching the grip apparatus to the protective case, wherein the base has a circular shape having a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the opening in the protective case;
two flexible strips each formed from a bendable material, wherein each flexible strip includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each flexible strip is attached to the base; and
a cap configured to assist a user in holding the protective case, wherein the cap is proximate a top surface of the base when in a stowed position, wherein the cap is extendable away from the top surface of the base and away from the protective case when the cap is pulled outward to extend the cap to an extended position, wherein each flexible strip is configured to slide, at least partially, within a slot in the cap, wherein each flexible strip slides into the slot when the grip apparatus is transitioned to the stowed position and slides outward from the slot when the grip apparatus is transitioned to the extended position, and wherein a stop proximate the second end of each flexible strip establishes a maximum extension length and prevents the respective flexible strip from fully exiting the slot of the cap.