# US 10,873,657 B1 · Phone support assembly

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- Number: US 10,873,657 B1
- Document ID: US10873657B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/448,055
- Filed: 2019-06-21
- Published: 2020-12-24
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2019-06-21
- Applicants: Eric Marsh
- Inventors: Eric Marsh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873657B1

## CPC

- H02J 7/731: {specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence)}
- H04M 1/05: specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
- A45F 5/00: Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
- F16M 11/041: {Allowing quick release of the apparatus}
- F16M 11/10: around a horizontal axis {(F16M11/12 takes precedence)}
- F16M 11/2021: {around a horizontal axis (F16M11/2035 takes precedence)}
- F16M 11/24: changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, {e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each other}(F16M11/42 takes precedence)
- F16M 13/04: for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains {, e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head (apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them G03B)}
- H02J 7/35: with light sensitive cells
- H02S 10/20: Systems characterised by their energy storage means (H02S40/38 takes precedence)
- H02S 10/40: Mobile PV generator systems
- H02S 20/30: Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment
- A45F 5/1516: {Holders or carriers for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. pagers or smart phones}
- A45F 2005/002: {combined with other objects}
- Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy
- Y02E 70/30: Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- A45F: TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
- F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
- H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A phone support assembly for positioning a screen of a phone for viewing includes a plate. A first strap and a second strap are coupled to and extend from a top and a bottom of the plate, respectively, to define a first loop and a second loop, respectively. The first loop is configured to position around a neck of a user to position the plate on an upper chest region of the user. The second loop is positioned around the user's abdomen to secure the plate. A pair of first bars, which is pivotally coupled to the plate, and a second bar, which is pivotally coupled to the pair of first bars distal from the plate, are selectively angularly positionable. A fastener that is coupled to the second bar is configured to selectively couple to a cellular phone so that the phone's screen is viewable by the user.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A phone support assembly comprising:
a plate;
a first strap having opposing endpoints coupled singly proximate to opposing sides and a top of the plate defining a first loop wherein the first loop is configured for positioning over a head and around a neck of a user such that a back of the plate is positioned on an upper chest region of the user;
a second strap having opposing ends coupled singly proximate to the opposing sides and a bottom of the plate defining a second loop wherein the second loop is configured for positioning around an abdomen of the user for coupling the plate to the user;
a pair of first bars pivotally coupled to a front of the plate such that the pair of first bars is selectively angularly positionable relative to the plate;
a second bar pivotally coupled to the pair of first bars distal from the plate such that the second bar is selectively angularly positionable relative to the pair of first bars;
a fastener coupled to the second bar distal from the pair of first bars, the fastener being configured for selectively coupling to a cellular phone such that a screen of the cellular phone is positioned for viewing by the user;
a pair of holes, each hole being positioned through a respective first bar proximate to a first end of the respective first bar;
a pair of cutouts, each cutout extending into a respective opposing side of the plate equally distant from the top and the bottom of the plate;
a protrusion coupled to the front of the plate, the protrusion being half-cylindrically shaped, the protrusion extending between the pair of cutouts;
a channel extending longitudinally through the protrusion;
a proximal rod positioned in the channel and extending through the pair of holes, the proximal rod being threaded adjacent to opposing termini of the proximal rod; and
a pair of proximal knobs, each proximal knob being selectively threadedly couplable to a respective opposing terminus of the proximal rod such that the pair of first bars is selectively positionable transversely to the plate such that the pair of first bars extends outwardly and upwardly from the upper chest area of the user wherein the proximal knobs are configured for being selectively rotated relative to the proximal rod for frictionally coupling the pair of first bars to the protrusion for fixedly positioning the pair of first bars relative to the plate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, further including the plate being rectangularly shaped, the plate having corners, the corners being arcuate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a first buckle coupled to the first strap, the first buckle being selectively couplable to the first strap for selectively sizing the first loop; and
a second buckle coupled to the second strap, the second buckle being selectively couplable to the second strap for selectively sizing the second loop.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a pair of first connectors coupled singly proximate to the opposing endpoints of the first strap;
a pair of second connectors coupled singly proximate to the opposing sides and the top of the plate, the second connectors being complementary to the first connectors wherein each second connector is positioned for selectively coupling to a respective first connector for removably coupling the first strap to the plate;
a pair of first couplers coupled singly proximate to the opposing ends of the second strap; and
a pair of second couplers coupled singly proximate to the opposing sides and the bottom of the plate, the second couplers being complementary to the first couplers wherein each second coupler is positioned for selectively coupling to a respective first coupler for removably coupling the second strap to the plate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The assembly of claim 4, further comprising:
the second connector and the respective first connector comprising a first snap fastener; and
the second coupler and the respective first coupler comprising a second snap fastener.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The assembly of claim 4, further including the second connectors and second couplers being positioned on the front of the plate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, further including the cutouts being arcuate.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
the pair of first bars being U-shaped;
a pair of tabs, each tab being coupled to and extending from a second end of a respective first bar such that the tabs of the pair of tabs are parallel;
a pair of first orifices, each first orifice being positioned in a respective tab;
a second orifice positioned in the second bar proximate to a first endpoint of the second bar;
a distal rod positioned through the pair of first orifices and the second orifice, the distal rod being threaded adjacent to opposing tips of the distal rod; and
a pair of distal knobs, each distal knob being selectively threadedly couplable to a respective opposing tip of the distal rod such that the second bar is selectively positionable transversely to the pair of first bars such that the second bar extends outwardly and upwardly from the upper chest area of the user wherein the distal knobs are configured for being selectively rotated relative to the distal rod for frictionally coupling the pair of tabs to the second bar for fixedly positioning the second bar relative to the pair of first bars.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
the second bar comprising a first section coupled to and bisecting a second section defining a pair of tenons; and
the fastener comprising:
a pair of slats, the slats being L-shaped,
a pair of mortices, each mortice being positioned in a short segment of a respective slat such that the mortice is positioned for inserting a respective tenon for slidably coupling the respective slat to the second bar, and
a pair of recesses, each recess extending into an inner face of a respective slat such that the pair of slats is positioned for sliding relative to the second section of the second bar for positioning a cellular phone in the pair of recesses wherein the pair of slats is configured for frictionally coupling the cellular phone to the second bar.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a solar panel coupled to the front of the plate; and
a port coupled to the plate, the port being operationally coupled to the solar panel wherein the port is configured for coupling to a charging cord extending from the cellular phone positioning the solar panel for charging a battery of the cellular phone.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
the solar panel being positioned proximate to the bottom of the plate; and
the port being coupled to a respective opposing side of the plate.

### Claim 12

A phone support assembly comprising:
a plate, the plate being rectangularly shaped, the plate having corners, the corners being arcuate;
a first strap having opposing endpoints coupled singly proximate to opposing sides and a top of the plate defining a first loop wherein the first loop is configured for positioning over a head and around a neck of a user such that a back of the plate is positioned on an upper chest region of the user;
a first buckle coupled to the first strap, the first buckle being selectively couplable to the first strap for selectively sizing the first loop;
a pair of first connectors coupled singly proximate to the opposing endpoints of the first strap;
a pair of second connectors coupled singly proximate to the opposing sides and the top of the plate, the second connectors being complementary to the first connectors wherein each second connector is positioned for selectively coupling to a respective first connector for removably coupling the first strap to the plate, the second connector and the respective first connector comprising a first snap fastener, the second connectors being positioned on a front of the plate;
a second strap having opposing ends coupled singly proximate to the opposing sides and a bottom of the plate defining a second loop wherein the second loop is configured for positioning around an abdomen of the user for coupling the plate to the user;
a second buckle coupled to the second strap, the second buckle being selectively couplable to the second strap for selectively sizing the second loop;
a pair of first couplers coupled singly proximate to the opposing ends of the second strap;
a pair of second couplers coupled singly proximate to the opposing sides and the bottom of the plate, the second couplers being complementary to the first couplers wherein each second coupler is positioned for selectively coupling to a respective first coupler for removably coupling the second strap to the plate, the second coupler and the respective first coupler comprising a second snap fastener, the second couplers being positioned on the front of the plate;
a pair of first bars pivotally coupled to the front of the plate such that the pair of first bars is selectively angularly positionable relative to the plate, the pair of first bars being U-shaped;
a pair of holes, each hole being positioned through a respective first bar proximate to a first end of the respective first bar;
a pair of cutouts, each cutout extending into a respective opposing side of the plate equally distant from the top and the bottom of the plate, the cutouts being arcuate;
a protrusion coupled to the front of the plate, the protrusion being half-cylindrically shaped, the protrusion extending between the pair of cutouts;
a channel extending longitudinally through the protrusion;
a proximal rod positioned in the channel and extending through the pair of holes, the proximal rod being threaded adjacent to opposing termini of the proximal rod;
a pair of proximal knobs, each proximal knob being selectively threadedly couplable to a respective opposing terminus of the proximal rod such that the pair of first bars is selectively positionable transversely to the plate such that the pair of first bars extends outwardly and upwardly from the upper chest area of the user wherein the proximal knobs are configured for being selectively rotated relative to the proximal rod for frictionally coupling the pair of first bars to the protrusion for fixedly positioning the pair of first bars relative to the plate;
a second bar pivotally coupled to the pair of first bars distal from the plate such that the second bar is selectively angularly positionable relative to the pair of first bars, the second bar comprising a first section coupled to and bisecting a second section defining a pair of tenons;
a pair of tabs, each tab being coupled to and extending from a second end of a respective first bar such that the tabs of the pair of tabs are parallel;
a pair of first orifices, each first orifice being positioned in a respective tab;
a second orifice positioned in the second bar proximate to a first endpoint of the second bar;
a distal rod positioned through the pair of first orifices and the second orifice, the distal rod being threaded adjacent to opposing tips of the distal rod;
a pair of distal knobs, each distal knob being selectively threadedly couplable to a respective opposing tip of the distal rod such that the second bar is selectively positionable transversely to the pair of first bars such that the second bar extends outwardly and upwardly from the upper chest area of the user wherein the distal knobs are configured for being selectively rotated relative to the distal rod for frictionally coupling the pair of tabs to the second bar for fixedly positioning the second bar relative to the pair of first bars;
a fastener coupled to the second bar distal from the pair of first bars, the fastener being configured for selectively coupling to a cellular phone such that a screen of the cellular phone is positioned for viewing by the user, the fastener comprising:
a pair of slats, the slats being L-shaped,
a pair of mortices, each mortice being positioned in a short segment of a respective slat such that the mortice is positioned for inserting a respective tenon for slidably coupling the respective slat to the second bar, and
a pair of recesses, each recess extending into an inner face of a respective slat such that the pair of slats is positioned for sliding relative to the second section of the second bar for positioning a cellular phone in the pair of recesses wherein the pair of slats is configured for frictionally coupling the cellular phone to the second bar;
a solar panel coupled to the front of the plate, the solar panel being positioned proximate to the bottom of the plate; and
a port coupled to the plate, the port being operationally coupled to the solar panel wherein the port is configured for coupling to a charging cord extending from the cellular phone positioning the solar panel for charging a battery of the cellular phone, the port being coupled to a respective opposing side of the plate.