Gripping apparatus for handheld devices

An apparatus for assisting a user in gripping a portable electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

• a base element adapted to be attached to the portable electronic device, wherein the base element has a top surface with an attachment region and a bottom surface configured to mount the base element onto the portable electronic device;
• a gripping element, wherein the gripping element has a bottom surface with an attachment region;
• and
• a stretchable cord connecting the base element and the gripping element at the respective attachment regions thereof,
• wherein the attachment regions of the base element and of the gripping element have respective corresponding engaging elements that cooperate with one another to permit the base element and the gripping element to be secured against or engaged with one another when the user's fingers are removed from between the gripping element and the base element, and
• wherein the attachment regions of the base element and of the gripping element have respective corresponding contours that cooperate with one another to permit the gripping element to be angled relative to the base element so that the user's fingers may be inserted between the gripping element and the base element.

An apparatus for assisting a user in gripping a portable electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

• a base element adapted to be attached to the portable electronic device, wherein the base element has a top surface with an attachment region and a bottom surface configured to mount the base element onto the portable electronic device;
• a gripping element, wherein the gripping element has a bottom surface with an attachment region;
• and
• a stretchable cord connecting the base element and the gripping element at the respective attachment regions thereof,
• wherein the attachment regions of the base element and of the gripping element have respective corresponding engaging elements that cooperate with one another to permit the base element and the gripping element to be secured against or engaged with one another when the user's fingers are removed from between the gripping element and the base element,
• wherein the engaging elements comprise a first magnetic element on the attachment region of the gripping element and a second magnetic element on the attachment region of the base element, and
• wherein the gripping element may be secured against or engaged with the base element by cooperation of the first and second magnetic elements when the gripping element is placed against the base element.

An apparatus for assisting a user in gripping a portable electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

• a base element adapted to be attached to the portable electronic device, wherein the base element has a top surface with an attachment region and a bottom surface configured to mount the base element onto the portable electronic device;
• a gripping element, wherein the gripping element has a bottom surface with an attachment region;
• and
• a stretchable cord connecting the base element and the gripping element at the respective attachment regions thereof,
• wherein the attachment regions of the base element and of the gripping element have respective corresponding engaging elements that cooperate with one another to permit the base element and the gripping element to be secured against or engaged with one another when the user's fingers are removed from between the gripping element and the base element,
• wherein the engaging elements comprise one or more protrusions on the attachment region of one of the gripping element or the base element and one or more indentations on the attachment region of the other of the gripping element or the base element, and
• wherein the gripping element may be secured against or engaged with the base element by insertion of the one or more protrusions into the one or more indentations when the gripping element is placed against the base element.

An apparatus for assisting a user in gripping a portable electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

• a base element adapted to be attached to the portable electronic device, wherein the base element has a top surface with an attachment region and a bottom surface configured to mount the base element onto the portable electronic device;
• a gripping element, wherein the gripping element has a bottom surface with an attachment region;
• and
• a stretchable cord connecting the base element and the gripping element at the respective attachment regions thereof,
• wherein the attachment regions of the base element and of the gripping element have respective corresponding engaging elements that cooperate with one another to permit the base element and the gripping element to be secured against or engaged with one another when the user's fingers are removed from between the gripping element and the base element,
• wherein the engaging elements comprise a raised or an indented circular gear-shaped section on the attachment region of one of the gripping element or the base element and a plurality of projections on the attachment region of the other of the gripping element or the base element,
• wherein, if the circular gear-shaped section is raised, the circular gear-shaped section has a plurality of circumferential teeth therearound with a gap between each two of the plurality of teeth, and wherein each of the plurality of projections is shaped to fit within a gap;
• wherein, if the circular gear-shaped section is indented, the circular gear-shaped section has a plurality of circumferential tooth slots therearound with a peak between each two of the plurality of tooth slots, and wherein each of the plurality of projections is shaped to fit within a tooth slot;
• and
• wherein the gripping element may be secured against or engaged with the base element by insertion of the one or more projections into one or more respective gaps or one or more respective tooth slots when the gripping element is placed against the base element.

An apparatus for assisting a user in gripping a portable electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

• a base element adapted to be attached to the portable electronic device, wherein the base element has a top surface with an attachment region and a bottom surface configured to mount the base element onto the portable electronic device;
• a gripping element, wherein the gripping element has a bottom surface with an attachment region;
• and
• a stretchable cord connecting the base element and the gripping element at the respective attachment regions thereof,
• wherein the attachment regions of the base element and of the gripping element have respective corresponding engaging elements that cooperate with one another to permit the base element and the gripping element to be secured against or engaged with one another when the user's fingers are removed from between the gripping element and the base element,
• wherein the engaging elements comprise one or more arcuate slots on the attachment region of one of the gripping element or the base element and one or more projections on the attachment region of the other of the gripping element or the base element, and
• wherein the gripping element may be secured against or engaged with the base element by insertion of the one or more projections into the one or more arcuate slots and by subsequent rotation of the gripping element relative to the base element.

An apparatus for assisting a user in gripping a portable electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

• a base element adapted to be attached to the portable electronic device, wherein the base element has a top surface with an attachment region and a bottom surface configured to mount the base element onto the portable electronic device;
• a gripping element, wherein the gripping element has a bottom surface with an attachment region;
• and
• a stretchable cord connecting the base element and the gripping element at the respective attachment regions thereof,
• wherein the attachment regions of the base element and of the gripping element have respective corresponding engaging elements that cooperate with one another to permit the base element and the gripping element to be secured against or engaged with one another when the user's fingers are removed from between the gripping element and the base element,
• wherein the gripping element has a planar shape with at least one edge, and
• wherein the top surface of the base element comprises at least one recess that is configured to accept the edge of the gripping element, such that the gripping element may be mounted at an angle against the base element.

An apparatus for assisting a user in gripping a portable electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

• a base element, wherein the base element has a planar body having a top surface with an attachment region that has a first contour in at least a portion thereof and having a bottom surface configured to attach the base element onto the portable electronic device, the base element having one or more first engaging elements;
• a gripping element, wherein the gripping element has a bottom surface with an attachment region that has a second contour in at least a portion thereof, the gripping element having one or more second engaging elements;
• and
• a stretchable cord connecting the base element and the gripping element at the respective attachment regions thereof that is sufficiently elastic to allow the gripping element to be extended away from the base element a sufficient distance for a user to insert one or more fingers between the gripping element and the base element,
• whereby the stretchable cord grips the user's fingers when they are inserted between the gripping element and the base element and snaps the gripping element back against the base element when the user's fingers are removed, and
• whereby the stretchable cord allows the gripping element to automatically adjust a tightness of its grip to a thickness of the user's fingers when they are inserted between the gripping element and the base element;
• wherein the first contour of the attachment region of the gripping element is configured to cooperate with the second contour of the attachment region of the base element when the stretchable cord pulls the gripping element against of the base element, thereby allowing the gripping element to be angled relative to the base element when the gripping element is pushed down or lifted upwards at an edge thereof so that the user's fingers may be inserted between the gripping element and the base element, and
• wherein the one or more first engaging elements and the one or more second engaging elements cooperate to permit the base element and the gripping element to be engaged with each other.