Mobile Phone Holder

Abstract

A mobile phone holder is disclosed for mounting a mobile phone to the dashboard of a car. This mobile phone holder is integrated into the back of a mobile phone or is attached to the back surface of the mobile phone through adhesive pads, or suction cups, or is incorporated into accessories of mobile phones such as attachable card holding wallets, and etc. One embodiment of this mobile phone holder creates a closed loop around the air vent bars. Hence, shakes of the car will not cause sudden detachment and falling of the phone. In Addition, this mobile phone holder is portable and is carried by the mobile phone. Hence, the user can readily have it upon using a temporary car. Moreover, since this mobile phone holder is not permanently stayed in the car, it is not exposed to extreme temperatures and thus its wear and tear is lower than conventional phone holders. The loop that is formed by this apparatus can also be used for mounting a mobile phone to the handlebar of a shopping cart, the handlebar of a bike, safety belt of a car, a belt loop, belt of a user, strap of a bag, or other accessories of a user. This apparatus can also be used as a general purpose fastener for fastening two or more objects together, hanging objects from a bar. Such general purpose fastener can be used as a toy, strap of a watch, or bracelet as well.

Claims

1. An apparatus for mounting a mobile phone to a bar, or a plurality of bars, comprising: (a) a bistable spring which can be made in one piece or can be formed by several pieces of bistable springs connected through one patch or a plurality of patches, (b) fastening means for fastening approximately two ends of said bistable spring to one another for creating a loop around said bar, or a plurality of bars, (c) connecting means for attaching said bistable spring to said mobile phone, whereby said bistable spring goes around said bar, or a plurality of bars, and attaches said mobile phone to said bar, or a plurality of bars.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fastening means is one hole, or a plurality of holes, located on one arm of said bistable spring and one hook, or one arrow shaped fastener, or a swollen part that can be trapped in a hole, or a plurality of hooks, or a plurality of arrow shaped fasteners, or a plurality of swollen parts, located on the other arm of said bistable spring wherein said hook, or arrow shaped fastener, or swollen part, is locked by the user inside said hole for creating a closed loop through said bistable spring, wherein for decreasing the diameter of said closed loop the holes and arrow shaped fasteners, or hooks, or swollen parts, that are closer to the middle of said bistable spring are locked into one another by the user, and for increasing the diameter of said closed loop, the holes and arrow shaped fasteners, or hooks, or swollen parts, that are farther from the middle of said bistable spring are locked into one another by the user.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fastening means is a pair of magnets, or magnetic snap buttons, or at least one piece of magnet and at least one metallic piece, which can be the main body of said bistable spring, positioned on approximately two ends of said bistable spring providing force to keep said bistable spring in a closed loop shape and providing the user control of locking said bistable spring around said bar, or a plurality of bars, and opening said bistable spring from said bar, or a plurality of bars.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein to the back of each of said magnets, or magnetic snap buttons, a strap or a wire, or a plurality of straps or wires, is attached providing the user means for opening said magnets, or magnetic snap buttons, from each other through pulling said straps or wires apart from each other.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bar, or a plurality of bars, is one air vent bar or a plurality of air vent bars of an air vent on the dashboard of a car.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said fastening means are arms of said bistable spring coated with an elastic material wherein the elastic material coating creates friction forces between the arms of said bistable spring and air vent bars providing sufficient force for keeping said mobile phone mounted to said air vent and preventing said mobile phone from falling from said air vent, as shown in FIG. 8. A.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said fastening means is a method for attaching said bistable spring to said air vent comprising the steps of pushing the arms of said bistable spring inside said air vent and around at least one air vent bar of said air vent and sandwiching said arms of said bistable spring in between two sets of air vent bars of said air vent to create a closed loop wherein the friction forces between arms of said bistable spring and said air vent bars keep said bistable spring in a closed loop shape around said air vent bar, keeping said bistable spring and said mobile phone attached to said air vent and preventing said mobile phone from falling from said air vent, as shown in FIG. 8. A.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bar is a finger of a user, handlebar of a shopping cart, handlebar of a bike, safety belt of a car, a belt loop, strap of a bag, belt of a user, or other accessories of a user.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises of an adhesive pad, or a suction cup, that adheres to the back surface of said mobile phone and is attached to said bistable spring providing said bistable spring with flexibility of forming a loop in addition to providing said bistable spring with flexibility of forming straight stable shape.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises of protective case or back cover lid of said mobile phone attached to said mobile phone and attached to said bistable spring providing the flexibility of forming a closed loop to said bistable spring in addition to providing the flexibility of forming straight stable shape to said bistable spring.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises of a piece of metal attached to said bistable spring, which can be part of the main body of said bistable spring itself, and a metallic plate that is attached to the back of said mobile phone, wherein at least one of said piece of metal or said metallic plate is permanent magnet, wherein said piece of metal is attached to said metallic plate through magnetic force providing means for connecting said mobile phone to said bistable spring.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein connecting means comprises of a clamp that is attached to said bistable spring wherein said clamp holds said mobile phone providing means to attach said mobile phone to said bistable spring.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein fastening means comprises of two metallic plates that are positioned at approximately one end arm of said bistable spring, and a metallic piece that is positioned at approximately another end arm of said bistable spring wherein at least one of said metallic plates or said metallic piece is a permanent magnet, wherein metallic piece goes between said metallic plates and gets attached to said metallic plates through magnetic force keeping said bistable spring in closed loop shape.

14. An apparatus for mounting a mobile phone to an air vent bar, or a plurality of air vent bars, on dashboard of a car, comprising: a) a strap which can be made in one piece or can be formed by several pieces of straps connected through patches, b) fastening means for connecting approximately two ends of said strap to each other for creating a loop around said air vent bar, or a plurality of air vent bars, c) connecting means for attaching said strap to said mobile phone, whereby said strap goes around said air vent bar, or a plurality of air vent bars, and attaches said mobile phone to said air vent bar, or a plurality of air vent bars.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said fastening means are magnetic snap buttons, or magnets, or at least one piece of magnet and at least one metallic piece that can be attracted to magnetic force, attached to approximately two ends of said strap providing force to keep said strap closed and providing the user control of locking said strap around said air vent bar, or a plurality of air vent bars, and opening said strap from said air vent bar, or a plurality of air vent bars.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein one strap or wire, or a plurality of straps or wires, are attached to the back of said magnetic snap buttons, or magnets, providing the user means for opening said magnetic snap buttons, or magnets, from each other through pulling said straps or wires.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein a dent or a plurality of dents in said magnetic snap buttons, or magnets, are embedded providing the user means for opening said magnetic snap buttons or magnets from each other through pulling said magnetic snap buttons, or magnets, against said air vent bar whereby said dent, or dents, redirect said applied pulling force by the user into forces in direction of opening said magnets, or magnetic snap buttons, as shown in FIG. 7.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising holding means for holding said strap approximately in parallel to the back of said mobile phone and approximately straight when said strap is not used for creating a closed loop, providing protection to said strap and enhancing the user experience by saving space through keeping said strap straight and connected to the back surface of said mobile phone.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said holding means are magnets, or hook-and-loop fasteners, or buttons, or clips, or pockets, or plastic covers, or combination of two or more of such devices, attached to back surface of said mobile phone holding said strap straight and attached to the back of said mobile phone.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein connecting means comprises of protective case or back cover lid of said mobile phone attached to said mobile phone and attached to said strap providing the flexibility of forming a closed loop to said strap.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein connecting means comprises of a piece of metal connected to approximately the middle of said strap and a metallic plate attached to the back of said mobile phone, wherein at least one of said metal or said metallic plate is permanent magnet, wherein said metal is attached to said metallic plate through magnetic force providing means for attaching said mobile phone to said strap.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein connecting means comprises of a clamp connected to said strap wherein said clamp holds said mobile phone providing means for attaching said mobile phone to said strap.

23. The apparatus of claim 1f, wherein fastening means comprises of two metallic plates that are positioned at approximately one end arm of said strap, and a metallic piece that is positioned at approximately another end arm of said strap wherein at least one of said metallic plates or said metallic piece is a permanent magnet, wherein metallic piece goes between said metallic plates and gets attached to said metallic plates through magnetic force keeping said string in closed loop shape.

24. An apparatus for mounting a mobile phone to an air vent bar, or a plurality of air vent bars, on the dashboard of a car, comprising: a) a bistable spring, or strap, which can be made in one piece or can be formed by several pieces of bistable springs, or straps, connected through one patch or a plurality of patches, b) at least one clip attached to said bistable spring, or said strap, providing means for attaching the bistable spring, or strap, to said air vent bar, or a plurality of air vent bars, c) connecting means for attaching said bistable spring, or said strap, to said mobile phone, whereby said bistable spring, or said strap, is attached to at least one air vent bar through said clip, mounting said mobile phone to said air vent bar.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said connecting means comprises of an adhesive pad, or a suction cup, that adheres to the back surface of said mobile phone and is attached to said bistable spring, or said strap, connecting said mobile phone to said bistable spring, or said strap.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said clip is a brass fastener, or money clip, providing means for sandwiching said air vent bar in between said brass fastener, or said money clip, for connecting said bistable spring, or strap, to an air vent bar, or a plurality of air vent bars.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said clip comprises two plates, or two rings, that are positioned in parallel to each other whereby said air vent bar is sandwiched between said two plates, or two rings, by the user for connecting said bistable spring, or said strap, to said air vent bar.

28. A general purpose fastener, comprising: (a) a bistable spring which can be made in one piece or can be formed by several pieces of bistable springs connected through patches, (b) fastening means for fastening approximately two ends of said bistable spring to each other for creating a loop, whereby said fastening means connect the two end arms of said bistable spring to one another to create a closed loop as shown in FIG. 10 B.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said fastening means is one hole, or a plurality of holes, located on one arm of said bistable spring and one hook, or one arrow shaped fastener, or a swollen part that can be trapped in a hole, or a plurality of hooks, or a plurality of arrow shaped fasteners, or a plurality of swollen parts, located on the other arm of said bistable spring wherein said hook, or arrow shaped fastener, or swollen part, is locked by the user inside said hole for creating a closed loop through said bistable spring, wherein for decreasing the diameter of said closed loop the holes and arrow shaped fasteners, or hooks, or swollen parts, that are closer to the middle of said bistable spring are locked into one another by the user and for increasing the diameter of said closed loop, the holes and arrow shaped fasteners, or hooks, or swollen parts, that are farther from the middle of said bistable spring are locked into one another by the user.

Description

DRAWINGSFIGURES

[0016] In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.

[0017] FIG. 1 A. Illustrates the disclosed apparatus in its open stable state.

[0018] FIG. 1 B. Illustrates, from a side angle, the disclosed apparatus in its half-closed stable state.

[0019] FIG. 1 C. Illustrates, from the front angle, the disclosed apparatus in its half-closed stable state.

[0020] FIG. 1 D. Illustrates, from a side angle, the disclosed apparatus in its locked stable state.

[0021] FIG. 1 E. Illustrates, from the front angle, the disclosed apparatus in its locked stable state.

[0022] FIG. 2 A. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 1 A in its open stable state attached to the back of a mobile phone.

[0023] FIG. 2 B. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 2 A upon mounting a mobile phone to the dashboard of a car.

[0024] FIG. 2 C. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 2 A in its locked stable state providing a closed loop for mounting a mobile phone to at least one air vent bar on the dashboard of a car.

[0025] FIG. 2 D. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 2 A, from a side angle, in its locked stable state mounting a mobile phone to at least one air vent bar on the dashboard of a car.

[0026] FIG. 2 E. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 2 A, from the back angle, in its locked stable state mounting a mobile phone to dashboard of a car.

[0027] FIG. 3 Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 2 A in its locked stable state mounting a mobile phone to a finger of a user.

[0028] FIG. 4 A. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 1 A in its open stable state integrated into a case of a mobile phone.

[0029] FIG. 4 B. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 1 A, integrated to a case of a mobile phone, in its locked stable state.

[0030] FIG. 4 C. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 1 A in its locked stable state integrated into a case of a mobile phone, mounting the mobile phone to a finger of a user.

[0031] FIG. 5 A. Illustrates, from a side angle, the apparatus of FIG. 1 A. in its half-closed stable state wherein magnetic snap buttons, or magnets, are utilized for providing the locked stable state.

[0032] FIG. 5 B. Illustrates, from the front angle, the apparatus of FIG. 1 A. in its half-closed stable state wherein magnetic snap buttons, or magnets, are utilized for providing the locked stable state.

[0033] FIG. 5 C. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 5 A. in its locked stable state attached to the back of a mobile phone.

[0034] FIG. 5 D. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 5 C. looped around a finger of a user, providing the user with a loop to hold the mobile phone.

[0035] FIG. 5 E. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 5 C. in its locked stable state providing a closed loop for mounting a mobile phone to at least one air vent bar on the dashboard of a car.

[0036] FIG. 5 F. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 5 A. wherein two additional straps, or wires, are attached to the magnets providing the user means for opening the magnets easily.

[0037] FIG. 5 G. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 5 F. from a side angle.

[0038] FIG. 5 H. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 5 A. wherein a set of two magnetic plates is integrated on one end arm of the bistable spring and a metallic piece that gets locked between the magnetic plates is integrated on the other end arm of the bistable spring.

[0039] FIG. 5 I. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 5 A. wherein 501 and 502 are positioned on the bistable spring in the way that their surfaces that are in parallel to the bistable spring get attached to one another.

[0040] FIG. 5 J. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 5 I. wherein 501 and 502 are designed to get attached to one another on two sides for providing higher amount of magnetic force.

[0041] FIG. 5 K. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 5 I. wherein 501 and 502 are designed to get attached to one another on two sides for providing higher amount of magnetic force.

[0042] FIG. 6 A. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 5 A. wherein a strap is used instead of the bistable spring.

[0043] FIG. 6 B. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 6 A. in its closed state.

[0044] FIG. 6 C. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 6 A. wherein a set of two magnetic plates is integrated on one end arm of the strap and a metallic piece that gets locked between the magnetic plates is integrated on the other end arm of the strap.

[0045] FIG. 6 D. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 6 A. wherein 602 and 603 are positioned on the strap in the way that their surfaces that are in parallel to the strap get attached to one another.

[0046] FIG. 7 Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 6 A. or FIG. 5 A. wherein the sides of the magnets that face the air vent bar are manufactured tilted, providing the user means for detaching the mobile phone easily by pulling the mobile phone toward the air vent bar.

[0047] FIG. 8 A. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 1 A. wherein 101 and 102 are not used, instead, the friction force between the two arms of 103 that are sandwiched between two sets of air vent bars keeps the bistable spring in a closed loop shape.

[0048] FIG. 8 B. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 8 A. mounting a mobile phone to an air vent on the dashboard of a car.

[0049] FIG. 9 A. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 1 A., or FIG. 6 A., wherein instead of 101 and 102, or 602 and 603, brass fasteners are used for attaching said bistable spring, or said strap, to the air vent bars.

[0050] FIG. 9 B. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 1 A., or FIG. 6 A., wherein instead of 101 and 102, or 602 and 603, brass fasteners are used for attaching said bistable spring, or said strap, to the air vent bars.

[0051] FIG. 9 C. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 1 A., or FIG. 6 A., wherein instead of 101 and 102, or 602 and 603, tabs are used for attaching said bistable spring, or said strap, to the air vent bars.

[0052] FIG. 9 D. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 1 A., or FIG. 6 A., wherein instead of 101 and 102, or 602 and 603, a set of two parallel surfaces, or two rings that are positioned in parallel to each other, are used to grip air vent bars.

[0053] FIG. 9 E. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 9 D., wherein only one pair of parallel surfaces, or rings, is used.

[0054] FIG. 10 A. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 1 A. wherein 104 and 105 are omitted so that the apparatus can be used as a multi-purpose fastener.

[0055] FIG. 10 B. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 10 A. fastening two objects to each other.

[0056] FIG. 10 C. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 10 A. used as a bracelet or a toy.

[0057] FIG. 10 D. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 10 A. used for hanging an object from a bar.

[0058] FIG. 10 E. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 10 A. fastening objects to each other.

DRAWINGSREFERENCE NUMERALS

[0059] 101 Fastening device [0060] 102 A frame with at least one hollow opening, or at least one hole, for trapping 101 [0061] 103 Main body made of bistable spring [0062] 104 Base with adhesive back for attaching the apparatus to the phone case [0063] 105 Foundation for attaching 103 to 104 [0064] 106 A dip in the fastening device for trapping 102 [0065] 107 Direction of the forces that a user applies for closing the loop (trapping 101 into 102) [0066] 108 Direction of the force that 102 is applying to 101 [0067] 109 Direction of the force that 101 is applying to 102 [0068] 110 Direction of the force that is applied by the user for unlocking the apparatus through untrapping 101 from 102 [0069] 111 Direction of the force that is applied by the user together with 110 for unlocking the apparatus through untrapping 101 from 102 [0070] 112 Direction of the force that is applied by the user for opening the apparatus after 110 and 111 are applied and after 101 and 102 are unlocked from each other [0071] 201 Back of a mobile phone [0072] 202 Dashboard of a car [0073] 203 Air vent bars on the dashboard of a car [0074] 204 Hand of a user [0075] 205 A mobile phone [0076] 206 The apparatus of FIG. 1 A. in its half open stable state [0077] 207 The apparatus of FIG. 1 A. in its locked stable state, mounting a mobile phone to an air vent bar [0078] 401 The apparatus of FIG. 1 A. in its open stable state incorporated into a case of a mobile phone [0079] 402 Back of a mobile phone [0080] 403 The apparatus of FIG. 1 A. in its locked stable state incorporated into a case of a mobile phone [0081] 501 One part of magnetic snap buttons, or magnets [0082] 502 One part of magnetic snap buttons, or magnets [0083] 503 A pair of wires or straps attached to the back of the magnetic snap buttons, or magnets, providing the user with means to open easily the magnetic snap buttons, or magnets [0084] 504 Magnetic plates that are integrated on one end arm of the bistable spring [0085] 505 Metallic piece that is integrated on one end arm of the bistable spring to get attached in 504 [0086] 601 A strap which can be made in one piece or be formed by several pieces of straps connected through patches [0087] 602 One part of magnetic snap buttons, or magnets [0088] 603 One part of magnetic snap buttons, or magnets [0089] 604 Device for attaching 601 to back of the mobile phone providing 601 the flexibility of creating a closed loop as well as an open state [0090] 605 Devices for attaching the arms of 601 to back surface of the mobile phone, providing means for keeping 601 straight and securely attached to the back of the mobile phone when the strap is not creating a closed loop [0091] 606 Magnetic plates that are integrated on one end arm of the strap [0092] 607 Metallic peace that is integrated on one end arm of the strap to get attached in 606 [0093] 701 The main body of the mobile phone holder (said strap, 601, or said bistable spring, 103) [0094] 702 A piece of magnet or one piece of magnetic snap buttons [0095] 703 A piece of magnet or one piece of magnetic snap buttons [0096] 704 Direction of the force that the user applies for detaching the mobile phone holder from the air vent [0097] 705 An Air vent bar that the mobile phone holder creates a closed loop around [0098] 706 Adjacent air vent bars [0099] 707 A mobile phone [0100] 901 Brass fasteners, or money clips [0101] 902 Air vent bars thereon the brass fasteners, or money clips, attach 701 [0102] 903 Taps for attaching the strap, or bistable spring, to air vent bars [0103] 904 Two parallel plates, or two rings that are positioned in parallel to each other, so that one air vent bar can be placed in between them for attaching the strap, or bistable spring, to air vent bars

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0104] FIG. 1 A illustrates the disclosed mobile phone holder in its open shape. 103 is a bistable spring which is coated with elastic material, such as rubber. The coating of the bistable spring is proposed to avoid scratching the objects that come to connection to the bistable spring and also for enhancing the user experience in case said bistable spring is made of metal. In case the bistable spring is made of plastic, the coating might be omitted. In addition, this coating increases the friction between the arms of said bistable spring and air vent bars, providing better attachment of the mobile phone to the air vents. For making a closed loop, first, the user triggers the bistable spring, 103, by either pulling up the two arms of it or pushing approximately the middle of it. As a result, 103 transits to its half-closed stable shape, as illustrated in FIG. 1 B, then the user pushes the two arms of 103 toward each other by applying the forces illustrated by 107, illustrated in FIG. 1 C. As a result of the force applied by the user, 101 enters into 102 and gets locked. The direction of the forces that 101 and 102 apply to each other are illustrated by 108 and 109. These forces keep the bistable spring in its closed loop state. As a result, a third stable state of the apparatus forms, which in this disclosure is called locked stable state, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 D. 102 and 101 can be coated or can be formed with the same coating rubber that coats the bistable spring. They can also be made together with bistable spring in one piece.

[0105] When the user is using the apparatus for mounting a mobile phone to an air vent on the dashboard of a car, 101 and 102 will be located inside the air vent. Hence, the user will not be able to visually see 101 and 102 very well. In addition, since the two end arms of 103 will be inside the air vent, the user cannot apply and transfer much force to the two end arms of 103. As a result, regular snaps or buttons cannot be used instead of 101 and 102. In other words, the user cannot fasten regular snaps or buttons while they are located behind the air vent bars and thus such buttons cannot be used for 101 and 102. 102 is designed to be a hollow frame and 101 is designed to go inside 102 without the need for applying significant force. The user will not need much control to match the location of 101 into 102, and the user will not need much control to trap 101 into 102. By pushing the two arms of 103, 101 will automatically be guided to 102 and gets trapped, and the locked loop will form. The apparatus keeps this locked mode until the user pushes the arms of 103 toward each other and unstraps 101 and 102 from each other by applying forces 110 111, and 112 which will be resulted in bringing back 103 to its half-closed stable mode.

[0106] For attaching the apparatus to the back of a mobile phone, 104 which carries an adhesive surface on its bottom, is attached to 103 through 105. The use of 105 is proposed because if 103 is directly attached to 104, the weight of the phone that is hanged through 103 and the pulling of 103 through the weight of the phone, will cause the adhesive surface to peel off from the phone easily. 103 is a moving part, the middle of 103 bends to create the closed stable state, and hence attaching it directly to the back of a phone by adding adhesive material won't have much durability. In other words, if 105 is not used and 103 is attached directly to 104, the amount of stress added to 104 will increase. Instead of using adhesive pads, suction cups can also be used for attaching 103 to the back of a mobile phone.

[0107] A piece of magnet can be incorporated to approximately middle of the bistable spring and a metallic plate can be attached to back surface of said mobile phone through an adhesive surface. In such embodiment, the bistable spring can be connected to said mobile phone through the magnetic force between said magnet and said metallic plate.

[0108] 103 can be a one-piece bistable spring or a plurality of pieces of bistable springs connected together through patches. For example, 103 can comprise of two pieces of bistable spring connected to each side of 105 to create similar functionality that a one-piece bistable spring provides. This disclosure covers all of these implementations, as the functionality would not differ in case the bistable spring is made of several pieces of bistable springs connected together.

[0109] As FIG. 2 A. illustrates, the mobile phone holder is attached to the back of a mobile phone, 201, through 104. As FIG. 2 B. illustrates, for mounting the mobile phone to the dashboard of a car, the user, 204, pushes the mobile phone, 205, toward the air vent, 203, on the dashboard of the car, 202, and with his/her other hand applies forces of 107 to lock the mobile phone holder. As FIG. 2 C. illustrates, the mobile phone holder mounts the phone to the dashboard through the air vent bars.

[0110] An additional advantage of this the mobile phone holder is providing a loop for holding the phone by a finger of the user, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0111] In addition to air vent bars, apparatus of FIG. 1 A. can be used for mounting a mobile phone to a finger of a user, handlebar of a shopping cart, handlebar of a bike, safety belt of a car, a belt loop, strap of a bag, belt of a user, or other accessories of a user.

[0112] In the case of not including 101 and 102 the apparatus of FIG. 1 A. can be mounted to air vents that have two layers of bars with one layer consists of vertical bars and the other layer consists of horizontal bars, as illustrated in FIG. 8. A. For mounting the mobile phone, the user needs to push the two end arms of 103 inside air vent and sandwich the two arms between the two layers of the air vent bars to create a semi-closed loop, as illustrated in FIG. 8. A. The reason that the phone would not fall in such a scenario is due to the fact that the two end arms of the bistable spring will be connected through friction forces that are formed between the two end arms of the bistable spring, and the friction forces that are formed between the two end arms of the bistable spring and the air vent bars. These friction forces are formed as a result of the pressure that is applied by the bars of the air vent to the arms of the bistable spring. The natural forces in the bistable spring that are toward bringing back the bistable spring to its semi-closed state intensify the friction between the arms of the bistable spring and air vent bars. For assisting the friction forces in keeping the loop of bistable spring closed and sandwiched between the two sets of air vent bars, tongues and grooves, or dents and teeth, or hook-and-loop fasteners can be added to the arms of the bistable spring. End arms of the bistable spring can be magnetized as well. In addition, for increasing the friction forces between the arms of said bistable spring and air vent bars, said bistable spring can be coated with elastic materials, such as rubber.

[0113] As FIG. 4 A. illustrates, the apparatus can be integrated into the case, or a protective cover, of a mobile phone directly. For this aim, approximately the middle of 103 can either be sandwiched between two layers of the case of the mobile phone or be directly incorporated into the case of the mobile phone. The apparatus can also be integrated into other accessories such as mobile phone wallets and attachable card holders.

[0114] In addition, this apparatus can replace the air vent bar holding clamps of conventional mobile phone holders. This apparatus can be incorporated into conventional magnetics and clamp-like phone holders that were mentioned in the prior art section. In this way such mobile phone holders can be mounted to the air vent bars through this apparatus. Since this apparatus creates a closed loop around the air vent bars, it increases the reliability of said conventional magnetic and clamp-like phone holders.

[0115] A more general embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. 1. A with an adjustable diameter of the locked loop can be achieved by embedding several hallow frames (several 102s) and/or several fastening devices (several 101s) instead of only one. In this case, for decreasing the diameter of the closed loop, the hollow frames and the fastening devices that are farther from the ends of 103 (closer to the middle of 103) shall be locked into each other by the user.

[0116] For providing a larger adhesive surface, and hence a more durable product, 104 is proposed to be larger than 105, as it is illustrated in FIG. 5. A, B, C.

[0117] FIG. 5 A. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 1 A. in its half-closed stable state wherein magnetic snap buttons, or magnets, are utilized for providing the locked state. The reason behind proposing magnetic snap buttons, or magnets, over regular snaps, or regular buttons, or other types of fastening devices, is as follows. The two end arms of 103 meet each other inside the air vent and hence, the user cannot apply a sufficient amount of force needed to close regular buttons. Also, the user will have a low amount of visibility when the two end arms of 103 are inside the air vent. The magnetic force between the two parts of the magnetic snap buttons, or magnets, will cause the two parts of the magnetic snap buttons, or magnets, to get attached to each other without needing additional force to be applied by the user. Accurate placement and control of the magnetic snaps, or magnets, will not be needed by the user as the magnetic force guides the two part of magnetic snap buttons, or magnets, toward each other. For mounting the mobile phone to the air vent, the user pushes the two end arms of 103 into the air vent around at least one bar of the air vent. Then the user applies the forces of 107 until the faces of the two magnetic snap buttons, or magnets, come to the proximity of each other. When the faces of the two magnetic snap buttons, or magnets, come to the proximity of each other, the magnetic force between them guides them into getting attached to each other. FIG. 5 C. illustrates this apparatus in its locked state and FIG. 5 E. illustrates this apparatus mounting a mobile phone to the air vent of a car. For opening the loop, the user needs to push apart the arms of 103 by applying forces 112 which are in the opposite directions of forces 107. For the air vent bars that are dense, applying forces 112 might not be easy due to the fact that the adjacent air vent bars limit the amount of space that the two arms of 103 can be separated by the user. For solving this problem and enhancing the user experience, two additional straps, or wires, are attached to the back of the magnetic snaps, or magnets, as illustrated in FIG. 5 F. by 503. These straps, or wires, stay outside of the air vent and when the user needs to open the closed loop formed behind the air vent, the user pulls these straps, or wires. As a result, the magnetic snap buttons, or magnets, get detached from each other.

[0118] For making it easier for the user to place the magnets, or magnetic snap buttons, inside the air vent, rectangular magnets, or magnetic snap buttons, can be used instead of circular magnetic snap buttons, or magnets. In case the bistable spring is made of metal, the end arms of the bistable spring can be magnetized and directly be used as magnets as well.

[0119] 501 and 502 do not need to be both permanent magnets. As long as one of them is permanent magnet and the other one is made of metallic material that can be attracted to the magnet, similar functionality will be achieved. Metallic materials that are attracted to the magnets become magnets under magnetic fields. Hence, even though one of 501 and 502 can be impermanent magnet, they both will be magnets when attached to each other. Thus, in this disclosure both 501 and 502 are called magnets.

[0120] As an additional advantage, this apparatus provides a loop for holding the phone by hand as FIG. 5 D. illustrates.

[0121] This apparatus can also be integrated into the case of a mobile phone, or accessories such as mobile phone protective covers, wallets, and attachable card holders.

[0122] This apparatus can replace clamps that connect conventional mobile phone holders to an air vent bar. In the prior art section, it was mentioned that conventional magnetic and clamp-like phone holders are attached to the air vent bars through clamps, not closed loops. Since this apparatus creates a closed loop around the air vent bars, it increases the reliability of said conventional magnetic and clamp-like phone holders.

[0123] In addition to air vent bars, apparatus of FIG. 5 A. can be used for mounting a mobile phone to a finger of a user, a handlebar of a shopping cart, a handlebar of a bike, safety belt of a car, a belt loop, strap of a bag, a belt of a user, or other accessories of a user.

[0124] One implementation of the mobile phone holder of FIG. 5 A. is illustrated in FIG. 5 H. On one end arm of the bistable spring two metallic plates, 504, are integrated. On the other end arm a metallic piece, 505, is integrated. At least one of said two metallic plates or said metallic piece is permanent magnet. For creating the closed loop, the user pushes 505 into 504. The magnetic force between 505 and 504 keeps the loop closed until the user applies forces of 112, toward opening the closed loop.

[0125] As FIG. 5 I. illustrates, 501 and 502 can be positioned in the way that their surfaces that are in parallel to the surface of the bistable spring get attached to each other. As FIG. 5 J. and FIG. 5 K. illustrate, 501 and 502 can be designed in the way that they get attached to one another on two sides for providing higher amount of magnetic force.

[0126] FIG. 6 A. illustrates a phone holder wherein a piece of strap, 601, and a pair of magnetic snap buttons, or magnets, 602 and 603, are used for creating a loop. For making it easier for the user to place the magnets, or magnetic snaps buttons, inside the air vent, rectangular magnets, or rectangular magnetic snaps buttons, can be used instead of circular magnetic snaps buttons, or magnets. 601 is attached to the back of the phone through 604. 601 can also be directly integrated into the back case of a mobile phone, or protective cover of the mobile phone, or accessories such as phone wallets.

[0127] The apparatus of FIG. 6 A. can replace the air vent holding clamps of the conventional mobile phone holders and be incorporated into conventional magnetic and clamp-like phone holders that were mentioned in the prior art section. Since this apparatus creates a closed loop around the air vent bars, it can increase the reliability of said conventional magnetic and clamp-like phone holders.

[0128] 601 can be more than one pieces of strap. In such a case, pieces of straps are connected to each other through patches to create one piece as a whole. For example, 601 can be two pieces of straps connected to two sides of 604. Since the functionality of one-piece strap and several pieces of straps that are connected through patches are similar, in this disclosure, several pieces of straps that are connected through patches are considered as a one-piece strap as well.

[0129] Similar advantages to those of the phone holder of FIG. 5 A. and FIG. 1 A. can be achieved by the phone holder of FIG. 6 A. However, unlike a bistable spring, a piece of strap does not have an open straight stable mode. Hence, for keeping the strap straight, parallel, attached to the mobile phone and protected when the closed loop is not needed, attaching devices, illustrated in 605, are considered. These attaching devices can be magnets, hook-and-loop fasteners, clips, buttons, small pockets or etc.

[0130] In addition to air vent bars, apparatus of FIG. 6 A. can be used for mounting a mobile phone to a finger of a user, handlebar of a shopping cart, handlebar of a bike, safety belt of a car, a belt loop, strap of a bag, belt of a user, or other accessories of a user.

[0131] One implementation of the phone holder of FIG. 6 A. is illustrated in FIG. 6 C. On one end arm of the strap two metallic plates, 606, are integrated. On the other end arm a metallic piece, 607, is integrated. At least one of said two metallic plates or said metallic piece is permanent magnet. For creating the closed loop, the user pushes 607 into 606. The magnetic force between 606 and 607 keeps the loop closed until the user applies opening forces, 112, toward opening the closed loop.

[0132] 602 and 603 do not need to be both permanent magnets. As long as one of them is permanent magnet and the other one is made of metallic material that can be attracted to the magnet, similar functionality will be achieved. Metallic materials that are attracted to the magnets become magnets under magnetic fields. Hence, even though one of 602 and 603 can be impermanent magnet, they both will be magnets when attached to each other. Thus, in this disclosure both 602 and 603 are called magnets.

[0133] As FIG. 6 D. illustrates, 602 and 603 can be positioned in the way that their surfaces that are parallel to the surface of the strap get attached to each other. In a similar way that FIG. 5 J. and FIG. 5 K. illustrate, 602 and 603 can be designed in the way that they get attached to one another on two sides for providing higher amount of magnetic force.

[0134] As FIG. 7 illustrates, the sides of the magnets, 702 and 703, that face the air vent bar, 705, can be manufactured tilted, or with dents, so that when the user pulls the mounted mobile phone toward detaching it from the air vent, the applied force by the user, 704, causes the air vent bar, 705, to push the two pieces of magnets, 702 and 703, apart and toward getting detached from each other.

[0135] FIG. 8 A. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 1 A. wherein 101 and 102 are omitted. In this embodiment, the friction force between the two arms of 103 keep 103 in a closed loop state and attached to air vent bars. The two arms of 103 are sandwiched between two sets of air vent bars. FIG. 8 B. Illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 8 A. mounting a mobile phone to an air vent bar on the dashboard of a car. This method of mounting a mobile phone to air vent bars through a bistable spring is achievable where a second set of air vent bars exists behind the outside air vent bars. In most of the automotive vehicles, the structure of air vents comprises of two sets of air vent bars that are placed in the air vent within a slight distance from each other. Hence, this method can be implemented in most of the automotive vehicles. For mounting the mobile phone to the air vent through this method, the user needs to push two arms of the bistable spring inside the air vent and sandwich the two arms of the bistable spring between the mentioned two sets of air vent bars, as shown in FIG. 8 A.

[0136] As FIG. 9. A. illustrates, fastening devices similar to brass fasteners or money clips, 901, can be used for attaching the mobile phone to air vent bars, 902, through said bistable spring, 103, or said strap, 601. In this figure, said bistable spring, or said strap, is shown by 701. For attaching the phone holder of FIG. 9. A. to air vent bars, first the user needs to push end arms of 701 inside the air vent and then adjust the openings of 901s in front of air vent bars and after that clip the air vent bars into 901s.

[0137] FIG. 9. B. illustrates a similar phone holder to that of FIG. 9. A. However, in FIG. 9. B. the openings of the fasteners, 901s, are normally facing the air vent.

[0138] Although in FIG. 9. A. and FIG. 9. B. two 901s are illustrated, one 901 would be sufficient to attach the apparatus to the air vent

[0139] As FIG. 9. C. illustrates, bars, plates, or generally speaking taps, 903, can be used to attach the strap, or bistable spring, to air vent bars. For attaching the strap, or bistable spring, to air vent bars the user needs to push the arms of the strap, or bistable spring, inside the air vent and trap the air vent bars between the taps, 903, and the strap, or bistable spring.

[0140] Although in FIG. 9. C. two 903s are illustrated, one 903 would be sufficient to attach the apparatus to the air vent.

[0141] As FIG. 9. D. illustrates, two parallel plates, or two rings that are positioned in parallel to each other, 904, so that an air vent bar can be placed in between them, can be used instead of brass fasteners. The advantage of using rings is that they can provide means for holding the mobile phone by the fingers of the user as well. For attaching the strap, or the bistable spring, to air vent bars the user needs to place 904 in front of an air vent bar, push 904 toward the air vent bar and sandwich the air vent bars, 902, in between the two plates, or rings, 904. Said two parallel plates, or two rings, can be coated with elastic material such as rubber for increasing the friction and for preventing scratches on the air vent bars.

[0142] As FIG. 9. E. illustrates, although in FIG. 9. D. two 904s are illustrated, one 904 would be sufficient to attach the phone holder to the air vent. That is also the case for the embodiments of FIG. 9. A., FIG. 9. B., and FIG. 9. C.

[0143] As FIG. 10 A. illustrates, the apparatus of FIG. 1 A. can be used as a general-purpose fastener. In this case, 104 and 105 can be omitted. Such general-purpose fastener can be used for fastening and hanging objects. In addition, it can be used as a bracelet, a toy, strap of a watch, and etc.

[0144] Advantages of such general-purpose fastener are as follows. Since in open stable state a bistable spring is straight, a plurality of bistable springs in their open stable states occupy the lowest amount of space when storing in a place together. An additional advantage is the fact that using a bistable spring as a bracelet, a toy, a fastener, etc. is entertaining for the user.

[0145] FIG. 10 B. illustrates an example wherein the general-purpose fastener of FIG. 10 A. is used for fastening objects together. FIG. 10 C. illustrates an example wherein the general-purpose fastener of FIG. 10 A. is used as a toy or a bracelet. FIG. 10 D. illustrates an example wherein the general-purpose fastener of FIG. 10 A. is used for hanging an object from a bar. FIG. 10 E. illustrates an example wherein the general-purpose fastener of FIG. 10 A. is used for fastening objects together.

[0146] Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as merely providing illustrations of some of several embodiments. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the various embodiments. For example, as a demonstration of the feasibility of the invention, the applications are shown for holding mobile phones whereas it can also be used for holding other handheld devices such as a GPS device. Or, fastening devices and magnets that fasten two end arms of said bistable spring, or strap, can be manufactured in different shapes, providing similar functionalities. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.