# US 11,304,502 B2 · Mobile device finger support apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,304,502 B2 - Document ID: US11304502B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/341,989 - Filed: 2021-06-08 - Published: 2021-12-16 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-10 - Applicants: James Packes - Inventors: James Packes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304502B2 ## CPC - A45F 5/00: Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping - H02J 7/751: {concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries} - H04B 1/3877: Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters - A45F 5/10: Handles for carrying purposes - A45F 5/1516: {Holders or carriers for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. pagers or smart phones} - A45F 2005/002: {combined with other objects} - H02J 7/342: {The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging (with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/68)} - H02J 50/10: using inductive coupling - A45F: TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract A finger support apparatus for supporting a pinky finger during use of a smart phone includes a mounting portion configured to plug into a port of a smart phone case, the port being positioned along a bottom edge of the case. The finger support apparatus includes a body portion rotatably coupled to the mounting portion and rotatably movable to a desired orientation, i.e., to be optimally positioned depending on a user's preference in how the smart phone is held. The body portion may include an ergonomic configuration to enhance grip of a user's finger and has a tactile surface. A low-capacity battery may be positioned in the body portion for transferring electrical power to the smart phone when plugged into the smart phone port. A charging cap situated atop the mounting portion includes electrical storage media for storing electrical current from an electric source for transfer to the auxiliary battery. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A finger support apparatus for a handheld computing device of a type that includes a case having one of a battery port or an accessory port in electrical communication with a computing device battery and having a lower frame portion, said finger support apparatus, comprising: a mounting portion having an inlet plug configured for insertion into the accessory port of the handheld computing device, said mounting portion having a fixed configuration that defines a longitudinal axis extending longitudinally away from the handheld computing device; a body portion coupled to the mounting portion and extending away from the lower frame portion, said body portion being configured to rotate axially about said longitudinal axis; wherein said body portion includes a proximal edge adjacent said mounting portion, a distal edge opposite said proximal edge, and a pair of laterally opposed side edges extending between said proximal and distal edges, said proximal, distal, and pair of side edges together defining an interior area; an auxiliary battery mounted in said interior area of said body portion, said auxiliary battery having an electrical charge and is electrically coupled to said inlet plug of said mounting portion such that said electrical charge is transferred to the computing device battery; and a charging cap that defines a chamber and includes electrical storage media that is positioned in said chamber for storing electrical current, said charging cap having a charging port that is dimensioned to receive said inlet plug of said mounting portion such that said stored electrical current is transferred to said auxiliary battery. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The finger support apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary battery is electrically connected to said inlet plug via wires or inductively. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The finger support apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a power cord electrically connecting said electrical storage media to an electrical source. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The finger support apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: said proximal edge has a linear configuration defining a first length; said distal edge has a linear configuration defining a second length that is shorter than said first length such that said pair of laterally opposed side edges slope inwardly toward one another between said proximal and distal edges, respectively. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The finger support apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said body portion includes a front face and a rear face opposite said front face, said front face having a tactile surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The finger support apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said body portion has a concave configuration relative to said front face for receiving a user's finger. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The finger support apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said body portion has a trapezoidal shape configuration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The finger support apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: said proximal edge and said distal edge have an equal length; said pair of laterally opposed side edges has an equal length such that said body portion has a generally square shape configuration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The finger support apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said body portion includes a front face and a rear face opposite said front face, said front face having a tactile surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The finger support apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said body portion has a concave configuration relative to said front face for receiving a user's finger. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The finger support apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: said proximal edge has a linear configuration defining a first length; said distal edge has a rounded configuration defining a second length that is longer than said first length such that said pair of laterally opposed side edges slope outwardly from one another between said proximal and distal edges, respectively. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The finger support apparatus as in claim 11, wherein each one of said pair of laterally opposed side edges have a curvilinear configuration extending between said proximal and distal edges. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The finger support apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said body portion includes a front face and a rear face opposite said front face, said front face having a tactile surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The finger support apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said body portion includes a circular configuration. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The finger support apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising: a keychain having a fastener portion releasably coupled to a dock portion, wherein: said fastener portion includes a metal loop having an operable gate configured for releasable attachment to an object; said dock member having a docking port having a shape configuration releasably receiving said mounting portion of said finger support apparatus. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The finger support apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said electrical storage media is a supplemental battery.