# US 2014/0197049 A1 · Support from leg of user for electronic device or tablet computer and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197049 A1 - Document ID: US20140197049A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/211,995 - Filed: 2014-03-14 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2007-06-06 - Assignees: Belkin International, Inc. - Applicants: Belkin International, Inc. - Inventors: Erin Napolitano; Barry Sween; Gary Lo; David Kleeman; Xin Fu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197049A1 ## CPC - G06F 1/1613: {for portable computers (cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202)} - A45C 11/00: Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 (specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48) - A45F 5/02: Fastening articles to the garment - A45C 11/001: {for storing portable audio devices, e.g. headphones or digital music players} - A45C 11/002: {for storing portable handheld communication devices, e.g. pagers or smart phones} - A45C 2200/15: Articles convertible into a stand, e.g. for displaying purposes - A45F 5/1516: {Holders or carriers for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. pagers or smart phones} - A45F 5/1525: {Holders or carriers for portable computing devices, e.g. laptops, tablets or calculators} - A45F 2005/008: {Hand articles fastened to the wrist or to the arm or to the leg} - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - A45C: PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS - A45F: TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An apparatus for supporting an electronic device such as a tablet computer from a user's leg, the apparatus having a leg-conforming region having a rounded edge configured to conform around the top of one of the user's legs. Various embodiments have a base, a lower back member, an upper back member, hinges, a flexible top layer, a flexible bottom layer, a central stiff layer, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the leg conforming region extends across a hinge. In certain embodiments, the members, base, or a combination thereof, are planar, rectangular, or both. In different embodiments, the leg conforming region can be flexible, elastic, or a hole through the apparatus. Hinges can be parallel, some embodiments include a handle, and methods include a method of obtaining, providing, or manufacturing an apparatus for supporting an electronic device from a user's leg. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for supporting a tablet computer from one of a user's legs, the one of the user's legs having a top, the apparatus comprising: a substantially planar base; a substantially planar lower back member; a first hinge attaching the lower back member to the base; an upper back member; a second hinge attaching the upper back member to the lower back member; and a leg-conforming region having a rounded edge configured to conform around the top of one of the user's legs. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper back member is substantially planar and wherein when the first hinge and the second hinge are unfolded so that the apparatus is laid flat, the apparatus is substantially planar. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base comprises at least a first part of the rounded edge. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lower back member comprises at least a second part of the rounded edge. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the leg-conforming region extends across the first hinge from the base to the lower back member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus comprising a flexible top layer, a flexible bottom layer, and a stiff layer located between the top layer and the bottom layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the top layer and the bottom layer extend from the base to the upper back member through the lower back member, and wherein the stiff layer is broken at the first hinge and at the second hinge to allow bending of the apparatus at the first hinge and at the second hinge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the rounded edge is formed within the stiff layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the leg-conforming region comprises a flexible material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the leg-conforming region comprises an elastic material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the leg-conforming region comprises a hole through the apparatus without any material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the leg-conforming region comprises a center and the first hinge extends through the center of the leg-conforming region. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second hinge is parallel to the first hinge. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a third hinge extending through the base, wherein the third hinge is substantially parallel to the first hinge and to the second hinge. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, without considering the leg-conforming region, the base is rectangular, the lower back member is rectangular, the upper back member is rectangular, and, when the first hinge and the second hinge are unfolded so that the apparatus is laid flat, the apparatus is rectangular. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15 wherein, when the first hinge and the second hinge are unfolded so that the apparatus is laid flat, the apparatus has rounded corners. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a hand strap. ### Claim 18 An apparatus for supporting an electronic device from a user's leg, the apparatus comprising: a flexible top layer; a flexible bottom layer; and a stiff layer located between the top layer and the bottom layer; at least one hinge, wherein the stiff layer is broken at the hinge to allow bending of the apparatus at the hinge; and a leg-conforming region having a rounded edge configured to conform around the top of the user's leg, wherein the rounded edge is formed within the stiff layer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the leg-conforming region extends across the hinge of the apparatus. ### Claim 20 An method of obtaining, providing, or manufacturing an apparatus for supporting an electronic device from a user's leg, the method comprising at least the acts of: obtaining, providing, or manufacturing a base; obtaining, providing, or manufacturing a lower back member; obtaining, providing, or manufacturing a first hinge attaching the lower back member to the base; and obtaining, providing, or manufacturing a leg-conforming region having a rounded edge configured to conform around the top of one of the user's legs, wherein the leg-conforming region extends across the first hinge from the base to the lower back member.