Abstract
Injury to the digits, hand and wrist are associated with the frequent usage of portable hand-held electronic devices (“PEDs”), including but not limited to smartphones. This is true as well for injury to the neck and shoulder areas. The potential for injury to the digits, hand and wrist in particular is anticipated to be exacerbated by the larger smartphones, and especially the tablet-like smartphones. The ergonomic accessory of the invention has several embodiments whose design is intended to ameliorate if not prevent such injuries. Certain embodiments are partially or fully case-like in form so that they envelope to a greater or lesser degree, such hand-held electronic devices. Another embodiment attaches to a PED through an element of the PED such as the charging socket. The accessory also removably attaches the hand of the user or provides a secure holding surface for the user.
Claims
1. An ergonomic accessory for a portable hand-held electronic device comprising a first means of attaching the ergonomic accessory to the portable hand-held electronic device; and a second means a) of attaching the ergonomic accessory to a hand of an individual who uses the portable hand-held electronic device, or b) providing a secure holding surface for the hand of the individual.
2. The accessory of claim 1 wherein the first means of attaching is a case sized to receive and securely hold therein the portable hand-held electronic device.
3. The accessory of claim 2 wherein the second means is a tether having opposing ends, each end being affixed to the accessory.
4. The accessory of claim 2 wherein the case has two opposing elongated sides with a cushion affixed to each elongated side.
5. The accessory of claim 4 wherein the second means is a tether having opposing ends, each end being affixed to one cushion.
6. The accessory of claim 1 wherein the portable hand-held device has four sides and four corners and the accessory is affixed to all four sides and four corners.
7. The accessory of claim 6 wherein the second means is a tether having opposing ends, each end being affixed to the accessory.
8. The accessory of claim 1 wherein the portable hand-held electronic device has four sides and four corners and the accessory is affixed to one side and two adjacent corners.
9. The accessory of claim 8 wherein the second means is a tether having opposing ends, each end being affixed to the accessory.
10. The accessory of claim 1 wherein the first means is a connector sized to be affixed to an affixation element of the portable hand-held electronic device.
11. The accessory of claim 10 wherein the affixation element is a charge port or an ear phone port.
12. The accessory of claim 10 wherein the connector is affixed to a cord and the second means is a loop in the cord sized to receive one or more than one digit of a hand.
13. The accessory of claim 12 further comprising a means for adjusting the size of the loop.
14. The accessory of claim 12 wherein the loop further comprises a ring therein, the ring being in slidable engagement with the cord.
15. The accessory of claim 14 further comprising a slide element sized to receive two portions of the cord extending from the loop, the slide element being slidable along said two portions of the cord wherein the size of the loop is adjusted by sliding the slide element along said two portions of the cord.
16. The accessory of claim 15 wherein the cord has a first end and second end, the first end being affixed to the connector and the second end being affixed to the decorative element or a technological element.
17. The accessory of claim 16 wherein the technological element is selected from the group consisting of an Apple Lightning element, an Apple 30-pin element, a rechargeable battery pack, a connector for attaching another portable hand-held electronic device, an ear phone jack or a flash drive.
18. The accessory of claim 16 wherein the decorative element is selected from the group consisting of an ornamental tassel, a pendent or an item of jewelry.
19. The accessory of claim 14 wherein the ring has decorative elements thereon.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a first embodiment of the ergonomic accessory.
[0032] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the first embodiment of the invention in actual usage with different positions of a hand.
[0033] FIG. 2C illustrates a typical pattern of deformation of cushions of the first embodiment of the invention.
[0034] FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views of a second embodiment of the ergonomic accessory having a side-mounted tether element. A dotted line depiction of a PED is included.
[0035] FIG. 3C is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the ergonomic accessory having a side-mounted tether element.
[0036] FIG. 3D illustrates the second embodiment of the invention with a liner element 102.
[0037] FIG. 3E illustrates a fourth embodiment of the ergonomic accessory which employs a slight camber to provide purchase with the PED.
[0038] FIG. 3F is an inside elevation view of the second embodiment of the invention.
[0039] FIG. 3G is an exploded end section view of FIG. 3F.
[0040] FIG. 3H is a cut-away perspective view of FIG. 3D.
[0041] FIGS. 4A-4F illustrate various views of the second embodiment of the invention in actual usage.
[0042] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the ergonomic accessory.
[0043] FIGS. 6A-6F illustrate various views of the fifth embodiment of the invention in actual usage.
[0044] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the ergonomic accessory.
[0045] FIG. 7B is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of the ergonomic accessory.
[0046] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the ergonomic accessory.
[0047] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the eighth embodiment of the invention connecting a finger with a PED.
[0048] FIG. 10 illustrates the use of adjustable elements of the eighth embodiment of the invention.
[0049] FIG. 11 illustrates various decorative and technological elements that may be appended to the eighth embodiment of the invention.
[0050] FIG. 12A-12C are provided to illustrate alternate ring designs that can be used with the eighth embodiment of the invention.
[0051] FIG. 13 illustrates various additional elements that may be appended to the eighth embodiment of the invention.
[0052] FIG. 14 illustrates the locations where items of wearable technology and PED peripherals may be placed on the eighth embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0053] Generally speaking, the ergonomic accessory comprises a first means of securely attaching the accessory to a PED or other personal device and a second means of a) removably attaching such device to the hand of an individual who uses the PED or b) providing a secure holding surface for the hand of the user. Of course, the accessory can be removed from the PED if a person wishes to do so, but it is sufficiently secured to the device so that it won't be removed or come off unintentionally.
[0054] Referring to FIG. 1, this first embodiment of the ergonomic accessory of the present invention 1 employs compressible side-cushion elements 3 which are attached as added ergonomic elements to conventional PED cases which are sited to receive and securely hold them in a PED, such as what is commonly referred to as a “bumper” case 2, having two opposing elongated sides with a cushion affixed to each side. The compressible material from which these side-cushion elements 3 are fabricated are highly elastic in nature such that the cushions will compress and rebound very quickly so as to continually be available to provide a cushioning effect as the digits and hand are moved in the manner necessary to operate the PED. The skin, or surficial covering material 4, for these cushion elements 3 is textured to minimize the possibility of the PED slipping out of the hand at any given grip force being used to hold the PED. In addition, the surficial material 4 is comprised of a substance, such as urethane, that possesses an inherently “sticky” characteristic. The net benefit of these properties, texture and stickiness, is that a PED may be handled, controlled and manipulated with a looser grip. A looser, more relaxed grip in turn minimizes the potential for ergonomic injury to soft tissue of the hand and to the joints given repetitive, overly frequent and prolonged PED usage.
[0055] FIG. 2A shows the accessory 1 in typical “bumper” case 2 form as it may be positioned to protect a PED 5. FIG. 2A shows the hand, and the digits of the hand, as they may typically be employed to grasp the side-cushion elements 3 so as to operate the PED 5. This view, FIG. 2A, shows how the side-cushion elements 3 are strategically placed so as to provide contact with the soft tissue of the hand and digits in an ergonomically protective manner.
[0056] FIG. 2B is similar to FIG. 2A, except that it more clearly shows the concordant pattern of deformation of the side-cushions 3 in response, and in relationship to, the grasping positions of the hand and digits.
[0057] FIG. 2C depicts such deformations 6 along the lengths, and at the lower-right corner of, the side-cushion elements 3 with the hand and digits, and the PED 5, not shown in this drawing. This view shows how these side-cushion element 3 deformations 6, whether shallow or deep, will help prevent the PED from slipping out of the hand. This feature, together with the textured, “sticky” properties of the surface 4 of the side-cushion elements 3 earlier alluded to, are key to enabling the PED to be controlled and operated with ergonomically-improved lighter grip forces.
[0058] FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3D-3H depict a second embodiment of an ergonomic accessory 100 employing a tether element 103 attached to the accessory body 101 at two locations, namely at both ends of the tether element 103. In this particular embodiment, the tether element 103 is attached to the body 101 of the ergonomic accessory 100 so that, when coupled to a PED 108 (depicted in dotted lines) in its manner of intended usage, this tether element 103 is positioned at the side edge of both the ergonomic accessory 100 and the PED 108 proximate to the palm of the hand of the user (as depicted in the various views provided in FIGS. 4A-4G).
[0059] In FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3D-3H, the body 101 of the ergonomic accessory 100 is in the form of a partial PED “case,” such that it envelopes and is affixed to only one side and two adjacent corners of a PED, and not the four sides and four corners of a PED in the manner of a the typical PED protective case. This accessory 100 design is intended to be minimally intrusive to the aesthetics, feel, operation and storage of the PED. As such, the accessory 100, is “minimalist” in nature such as it is, is intended to primarily and uniquely serve its ergonomic purposes and provide its ergonomic benefits as heretofore described.
[0060] FIG. 3C shows, alternatively, a third embodiment 100a with its body 101a depicted in a full protective “bumper case”-like design. While the body 101a of the ergonomic accessory may actually be designed to take many forms in serving as a partial case-like or full PED case, the tether element 103 on the other hand must remain in its position and design as the key, unique and unalterable ergonomic component of the accessory of the present invention.
[0061] FIG. 3A shows the ergonomic accessory 100 with the side-tether element 103 in its “resting,” or unused, position as it lays against the side of the body 101 of the ergonomic accessory 100. FIG. 3B provides the identical view, except that the tether element 103 to the ergonomic accessory is shown in its “stretched” position. In this position, the tether element 103 is separated away from body 101 of the accessory 100 such that the digit(s) of the hand may be inserted between the accessory body 101 and the tether 103 itself. This stretching of the tether element 103 is done simply by the user of the accessory 100 grabbing the tether element 103 between thumb and another digit and pulling on it.
[0062] FIGS. 3D and 3E depict the ways in which the ergonomic accessory 100 is designed so as to have a purchase on a PED 108.
[0063] In FIG. 3D, the liner element 102 is comprised of urethane, or a urethane-like flexible plastic material, having a sticky surface. Liner element 102 is shaped and sized so as to serve as an inner liner to the ergonomic accessory body 101. Element 102 is inserted into the inside of the ergonomic accessory is body 101 as suggested by the arrow in FIG. 3D. The outer surfaces of liner element 102 is glued where it comes into contact with the inner surfaces of accessory body 101. Liner element 102 comprises a very thin layer. When the ergonomic accessory 100, so lined with element 102, is coupled to a PED 108, the liner 102/accessory body 101 couplet is dimensioned such that the liner 102 will be slightly compressed. As such, the ergonomic accessory 100 exerts a gripping force against the surfaces of the PED 108 to which the accessory 100 and liner 102 comes into contact. This gripping action created by the compressed, sticky liner element 102 will help ensure that the PED 108 will not escape from the hold of the ergonomic accessory 100 under normal usage. This means in turn that a firm tethering of the PED 108 to the digit(s)/hand of the user will be ensured vis a vis the ergonomic accessory 100 as so designed.
[0064] In furtherance of the need to ensure that the ergonomic accessory 100 will have a sufficiently tight hold on the PED 108, the accessory 100b may optionally be fabricated so as to have a slight camber, shown somewhat exaggerated in the view of the fourth embodiment provided in FIG. 3E. When the PED 108 is fitted into the ergonomic accessory 100b, the camber on the accessory 100b will be relieved. The action, in which the ergonomic accessory will assume a straight-line, rather than bent or cambered, shape so as to conform to the straight edge of the PED 108, will provide a clamping effect which will further the hold of the ergonomic accessory 100b upon the PED 108. This clamping effect and these gripping forces will be exerted upon the PED 108 by the inside surfaces of the accessory 100b along both its short top and bottom (i.e., lateral) extensions caused by the rotational stress upon the vertical axis of the ergonomic accessory 100b as it wishes to return to its originally fabricated cambered shape.
[0065] FIG. 3F is an elevation view of the inside surface of the body element 101 of the ergonomic accessory 100. This shows the left-most end of the tether element 103 being bound to the body element 101 by a “stop” element 104 having a hole through which the tether element 103 is threaded. This end of the tether element 103 is enlarged such that it remains in connection with stop element 104. The stop element 104 is not physically integrated into, or otherwise adhered to, the body element 101. This stop element 104 is large enough such that it cannot be pulled through the opening in the body element 101 through which the tether has been inserted.
[0066] The inside view of the ergonomic accessory 100 body element 101 provided by FIG. 3F also shows the means by which the second, or right-most, end of the tether is connected to the accessory. This end of the tether element 103 is likewise threaded through a second stop element 105. This stop element 105 is sized to fit snugly into a channel element 106 which is integral to the body element 101 of the ergonomic accessory 100. This channel element 106 acts as a friction slide which enables the tether element 103 to be adjusted in length to accommodate differing preferences in respect of elastic tension. Changing the length dimension of the tether element 103 allows for the variations in digit dimensions, number of digit(s) chosen to be enveloped by the tether element 103, and for personal preferences with respect to the actual tightness and force of the tether acting against the digits. Changing the length of tether element 103, and thus its degree of elastic tension, will determine whether the PED 108 feels more or less secure in its attachment to the digits/hand, and it will have an effect upon the degree of maneuverability of the digits as they are pressed against the rear surface of the PED 108.
[0067] FIG. 3G is a cross-sectional view of the channel element 106. This view shows that the side edges of the channel element 106 are slightly cambered to the extent that when the tether element 103 stop element 105 is inserted and then moved along the channel element 106, the channel element's sides become “sprung.” This action produces a force, and thus the greater degree of friction, necessary for the stop element 105 to remain in its selected position within the channel element 106 so as to maintain the desired tether element 103 length as it has been preferentially positioned. The slide element 105 can be reached and manually moved back and forth within the channel element 106 before clipping the ergonomic accessory 100 to a PED 108. FIG. 3H is a perspective view, with cutaways, to further illustrate these component features to the ergonomic accessory 100 as herein described.
[0068] FIGS. 4A-4G generally show how the ergonomic accessory 100 can be used, coupling the hand to a PED 108 by way of the positioning and action of the tether element 103. These views show that two digits have been inserted and enwrapped by the tether element 103 to varying degrees. The number of digits so inserted, and the extent to which they have been inserted are variables that are matters of personal comfort, and the need for greater or lesser security in the coupling of PED to hand. The manner and extent to which the digits are inserted within the envelope of the ergonomic tether element 103 more importantly yet will determine the extent to which the PED 108 is operated in an ergonomically efficient and effective way.
[0069] FIG. 4A specifically provides a view looking upward toward the coupled PED 108 and ergonomic accessory 100 as they are suspended from a downward-pointing arm. This view illustrates the “pinching” action of the tether element 103, clamping the fingers against the rear of the PED 108. Frictional forces between the skin of the digits and the tether element 103, and between the skin of the clamped digits and the rear surface of the PED 108, prevent the PED 108 from falling out of the hand to the ground.
[0070] FIG. 4B provides a view looking toward the bottom edge of a PED 108 when in use. This view provides one perspective on how the tether element 103 envelopes the digits in a way that prevents the PED 108, in the manner of its conventional usage, from sliding off of the fingers and out of the hand. This view also suggests that even when the digits are inserted only part way, say, only to the first joint of the digits, the tether element 103 will prevent the PED 108 from “flipping,” or rotating out of the hand counterclockwise under the effects of gravity. This view also shows how the palm of the hand may be rotated to the vertical position, however far the digits may be inserted beneath the tether element 103, such that the thumb can be positioned to reach all areas of the PED 108 screen.
[0071] FIG. 4C provides a view facing the rear of the PED 108. It shows the digits rather minimally inserted beneath the tether element 103. The positioning of the PED 108 continues to be stabilized by the clamping effect of the tether element heretofore mentioned, such that the PED 108 cannot slide off of or rotate away from the digits and hand.
[0072] FIG. 4D, alternatively, provides a view as if the user is looking down toward the PED 108 as it attaches to the digits by way of the ergonomic accessory 100. This view shows clearly the physical grasping “envelope” provided by the tether element 103 as it surrounds the digits chosen to be inserted therein.
[0073] FIG. 4E provides another view as if the user is looking downward toward a PED when in use. This figure shows how the thumb, when the palm of the hand is enabled to be brought to the vertical position (without loss of a hold on, or control of, a PED) through use and benefit of the ergonomic accessory 100, can reach all far and near extremes of the screen area of a conventionally-sized PED 108 without undue stress on the thumb joints. This figure also shows how this is the case even for a “phablet” 108b, shown in dotted lines, whose screen size, and thus those ergonomic “strain zones,” are, by definition, much larger.
[0074] FIG. 4F provides a view from the user's perspective similar to FIG. 4E, except that the palm of the hand has been rotated clockwise away from the PED to a more-horizontal inclination, thus exposing the inside of the digits, the tether element 103 and the PED 108 to full observation.
[0075] FIG. 4G on the other hand, provides a nearly identical perspective as FIG. 4F. In this case, however, the two digits enveloped by the ergonomic tether element 103 have been curled, flipping the PED 108 such that the outside surface of the digits and the rear of the PED 108 have been exposed.
[0076] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment 200 of the invention. In this embodiment, the tether element 203 is mounted at the rear face of the body element 201. The adjustable tether element 103 is depicted in both its resting as well as, in dotted lines, its stretched positions. The drawing shows the rear face of a PED 108 and, as the arrow suggests, how it is to be slid and thus clipped into the ergonomic accessory 200.
[0077] FIGS. 6A-6G provide several views depicting how the hand of the user is joined to the PED 108 via the alternative embodiment of the ergonomic accessory which employs a rear-mounted tether element 203. The tether element 203 is positioned at the extreme edge of the PED 108 proximate to the palm of the user's hand when the body element 201 of the ergonomic accessory 200 is clipped to the PED 108. This near-hand positioning of the rear-mounted tether element 203 is critical in that, as with the side-mounted tether, it allows the palm of the hand to be rotated counterclockwise (when the PED is in the right hand of the user) so as to be positioned fully over the top of the PED 108 screen, such that all screen areas can be reached without ergonomic strain to the thumb and with the wrist maintained in a more natural “untwisted” position. Fundamentally, all that has been said above in respect of the configuration design, and ergonomic purposes and functionality of the ergonomic accessories 100, 100a and 100b is equally applicable to this alternate embodiment of the accessory 200, the difference only being the location of the points of connection of the tether element at the rear of the accessory's body 201 rather than at its side edge.
[0078] FIG. 6A is a view from below, showing the PED 108 coupled to the ergonomic accessory 200 as these elements, joined to the digits of the hand by the clasping action of the tether element, dangle securely without risk of being dropped. This is the case even when the digits are only minimally inserted within the envelope of the tether element 203 as is shown in this view
[0079] FIG. 6B shows the hand of a PED 108 as if being viewed from above by the user. This view suggests how easy it is to rotate the palm of the hand and bring it and the thumb well over the top of the screen surface of the PED 108, thus allowing the thumb to be in a position to manipulate all regions of the screen without strain or awkward positioning. Note too how the wrist is aligned in a more neutral position, straight and without a twist or unnatural strain.
[0080] FIG. 6C provides another view from a lower-level perspective that shows how the tether element 203 prevents the PED 108 from rotating clockwise out of the hand under the effects of gravity, this being the case even when, as illustrated, the digits are only very partially inserted beneath the tether element 203.
[0081] FIG. 6D comprises a view from the top, with the palm of the hand held perpendicular to the ground so as to dangle the PED 108. The clamping effect on the digits provided by the elastic tether element 203, coupled with the correlative frictional forces of the skin surface of the digits against the tether element 203 and the rear surface of the PED 108, prevent the PED 108 from sliding to the ground.
[0082] FIG. 6E shows that when in use, only the stylized body element 201 of the ergonomic accessory 200, and not the rear-mounted tether element 203, is visible to the user. This view again shows as well, how the PED 108 may be both kept secure, controlled and used with the digits being only very slightly inserted within the bounds of the rear tether element 203.
[0083] With the palm of the hand rotated clockwise to the horizontal, FIG. 6F brings into view the rear-mounted element 203 in the manner of its typical use.
[0084] FIG. 6G brings the rear of the PED 108 into view by a curling action of the digits inserted beneath the tether element 203 such that the PED 108 can be grabbed and held tightly by hooking the thumb over its top edge, should this be desired.
[0085] FIGS. 7A and 7B show how alternate embodiments of the ergonomic accessory, the sixth embodiment 300 and the seventh embodiment 301 may comprise both side-edge ergonomic cushion elements along with, respectively, a side-mounted tether element 303 and a rear-mounted tether element 304. These ergonomic cushion and tether elements are shown to be collectively contained within the design of a typical bumper-like PED case 302, the bumpers being designated by the reference 305, 306, 307 and 308. Such combining of these elements, as they have been heretofore described in their individual manifestations, would maximize the ergonomic benefits afforded to the user of a PED. The arrows are provided to illustrate the directions of extension of tethers 303 and 304.
[0086] Referring to FIG. 8, this eighth embodiment 400 of the ergonomic accessory employs a cord element 401 which is attached in various manners to a PED at one end, and to the digit(s) of the hand at its intermediate looped dimension. The ergonomic accessory 400 is comprised of various elements, including the cord element 401; a cord-to-PED connector 402 at a first end of the cord element 401; a ring element 403; a ring face element 404; an adjustable slide element 405 and interchangeably, as desired, a decorative ornament or tassel, item of jewelry, or technological component attached at a second end of the cord 401 as element 406.
[0087] The essential function of this embodiment 400 is to connect, in a wearable manner, a hand-held PED, such as a standard cellphone or smartphone, to the body, and in particular to the digit(s) of the hand of the user of the device such that its ergonomic benefits may obtain. The manner in which this connection and utilization so described is to be achieved is illustrated in FIG. 9, with PED and human hand shown. Through this means of use and connection all the ergonomic attributes herein formerly described will be manifested to the full benefit of the user. The connection of the ergonomic accessory 400 is designed to be made to any digit or combination of digits of the hand as a matter of individual choice so as to optimize its ergonomic utility and to enhance the utilization of the PED. So conjoined to the digit(s)/hand, the user, through employment of this eighth embodiment of the accessory of the invention, operate the PED with the thumb of the hand to which it is tethered while maintaining a secure hold on the PED in a manner which allows for actuation of the accessory's ergonomic benefits.
[0088] Apart from its intended primary ergonomic functionality, this embodiment 400 can serve as a physical platform upon which ornamental elements of fashion or jewelry, may be appended. It may also serve as a platform upon which various manner of electronic technological elements may, as aspects of “wearable technology,” be appended in a way and at locations which will be described below with reference to the accessory's various constituent elements. Correlative non-ergonomic benefits provided by the accessory of the invention 400, and those unrelated to aspects of fashion or technology, such as protection against dropping a PED or helping prevent inadvertent loss of the PED, are numerous but will not be discussed in detail herein to the extent that these benefits are secondary to the accessory's primary ergonomic functionality. Such benefits will be apparent to those having skill in the art based upon the disclosures herein.
[0089] Referring to FIG. 8, the cord element 401 provides the physical linkage between the PED and the digit(s) of the user. The cord may be made of any flexible material, including but not limited to plastic, fabric, or metal, and it may be elastic or non-elastic in nature. Where electronic technological elements are incorporated into this embodiment 400, the cord element 401 may, as necessary so as to transmit electrical current or digital or other information or signals to the PED, be comprised of flexible electrical cord or wire. At one end, the cord 401 may be connected to the PED directly through use of a simple suitable connector element 402 inserted into an affixation element of the PED such as the charge port or the earphone port of the device. The cord element 401 may also be connected to the PED indirectly at this end through a technological component such as an external rechargeable battery pack. At the far extreme of the cord element 401 on the other hand, an ornamental tassel, or pendant, or other item or fashion or jewelry, or technological component (collectively, element 406) of any design or functionality may be appended to the cord element 401. At the approximate mid-point in the length of the cord element 401, a “loop” (element 401b as per FIG. 10) will be created through use of an adjustable slide element 405. This loop element 401b is intended to slide over and around one or more digits of the hand to form a “fingerlet” of sorts. Enveloping the loop element 401b partially, and serving the function of creating a fingerlet at this location, a ring or ring-like element 403 may be employed as a decorative element (or, as will be later described, as a possible technological component). A decorative ring face element 404, separable as an element, or conjoined permanently to the ring element 403, may be a further feature of this embodiment of the ergonomic accessory 400.
[0090] Referencing FIG. 10, the cord element through use of the slide element 405, is adjustable in two critical dimensions to account for individual hand sizes, finger dimensions, and individual preference as to the number and identity of the digits chosen to be enveloped by the fingerlet loop element 401b. This enables the cord to be adjusted to account for personal preferences in terms of the “feel” of the accessory of the invention 400 and how it may be optimally utilized for its ergonomic purposes and to enhance the efficiency of PED utilization. In short, the slide element 405, coupled with the ability of the ring element 403 to slide along the cord element, provides for a one-size-fits-all ergonomic accessory 400.
[0091] Specifically, when the fingerlet loop 401b/ring 403 elements are grasped, the slide element 405 may be held between the fingers and pulled in the direction away from the loop element 401b. This will have the effect of shortening the tether segment 401a. If, on the other hand, the connector element 402 is grasped, pulling the slide 405 in the direction away from the connector element 402 will have the reverse effect in lengthening cord segment 401a. This adjustment will determine where the PED resides comfortably in the hand, thus accounting for individual variation in hand sizes.
[0092] Once this adjustment is made, the tether fingerlet loop element 401b may be adjusted in circumferential dimension to account for preferences in terms of the specific digits wished to be enveloped by the loop element, and finger size. To do this, the user will grasp cord segment 401c (while holding the slide element 405) and pull it to increase fingerlet loop element 401b size (or circumference). Grasping the slide element 405, and pulling on cord segment 401d, on the other hand, will reduce in circumference and size, the loop element 401b's dimension.
[0093] Lastly, and once the desired loop element 401b's size has been configured per the above procedure, the ring element 403 (since it too, as an independent physical element, slides freely along the cord element in either direction, rather than being fixed to the cord in a permanent way) can be moved to the “apex” of the loop element 401b positionally (i.e., that point on the loop element 401b furthest from slide element 405) to comfortably rest on the digit or digits enveloped by the fingerlet loop element 401b.
[0094] Depending on how long or short the length of cord segment 401a is adjusted to, and depending on the loop element 401b dimension desired, the tether element in remaining segmental length 401d will vary, being shorter or longer. The result of these adjustments will determine how far from the hand the decorative or technological element 406 will fall from the hand.
[0095] Having made all the dimensional adjustments described above, use of this embodiment of the present invention simply involves insertion of the preferred digit(s) through loop element 401b before, or after, connecting to the PED by way of connector element 402.
[0096] The cord-to-PED connector element 402 (see FIG. 9), in various of its possible manifestations, is shown in FIG. 11. In one embodiment, the cord element, through segment 401a may be joined to a component connector element that is exact in size to an Apple “Lightning” element 402a, Apple 30-pin element 402c, or Micro-USB element 402b charge connector, thus enabling connection of the ergonomic accessory 400 directly to a PED via its charge port. Alternatively, the cord element may be connected indirectly to a PED into and through an external rechargeable battery pack 402d serving as a technological component. All manner of other technological component elements 402e through which the cord element may be connected to the PED indirectly may be imagined to be placed at this location as well. This connection of cord element may also be facilitated through use of a partial case-like element 402f which grasps the PED securely and to which the cord element is attached through a permanent or quick-disconnect arrangement. A connector element 402g designed to couple to the pop-up pin of an Apple iPod may alternatively be employed. As a further example, the cord element may be indirectly connectable to a PED, through incorporation into an ear phone jack assembly element 402h.
[0097] The ring element 403, and the ring face element 404, in two exemplary manifestations in terms of design, are illustrated in FIGS. 12A-12C. Ring element 403a is intended to be of a more traditional ring shape and design. Ring element 403b is shown simply in a tubular shape through whose body, in a tunnel arrangement, the cord element 401 runs. The cross sectional view FIG. 12A, illustrates how this tunnel concept is configured such that the ring body element 403, however it may be designed, envelopes the cord element 401 in a loose way that permits the ring to travel, in slidable engagement, along the cord so as to make the adjustments in dimensions for the accessory of the invention 400 such that personal hand and digit dimensions can be accommodated as previously described. The ring element 403 is only partially circumferential in terms of surrounding the digit(s). When coupled to the cord element 401, as it is formed into a loop element 401b, the ring/tether composite structure will be fully circumferential to the digit(s), thus securing the PED to the hand. The adjustments to the lengths of the various cord element 401 segments, previously elaborated on, provides for the variation in the degree of snugness of the cord loop element 401b. The ring 403 is flexible in construction and material selection so that its flexibly follows the circumferential dimension of the digit(s) of the user as the cord loop element 401b is adjusted in size.
[0098] When the ergonomic accessory of the invention 400 is worn, the user appears to be wearing a conventional ring, optionally a decorative ring or item of jewelry and fashion, rather than simply having a bare tether wrapped as a loop around the digit(s). Adding to this concept of the ring element 403 serving as an item of fashion, a ring face element 404 of various designs, such as 404a and 404b, may be incorporated into the ring by permanent attachment or as a removable (e.g., snap-on/snap-off) interchangeable element. The ring face may be made of any material, may be of any possible design and appearance, and may be etched or otherwise provided with a name, slogan, or any other written design or logo concept.
[0099] Alternatively, the ring element 403, or the ring element 403/ring face element 404 complex, rather than serving as a fashion element, may comprise a technologic element connecting wirelessly to a PED.
[0100] FIG. 13 illustrates certain and various functional elements of the ergonomic accessory of the present invention 400 appended to the cord element at its segmental 401d end. This is the end of the cord element located furthest from the cord element segment 401a which connects to a PED by way of a cord connection element 402. Such functional elements may include an ornamental tassel or pendant, or other item of fashion or jewelry 406a. When the ergonomic accessory of the present invention is affixed to the hand via the fingerlet loop element 401b, exemplary decorative/technological elements 406a-406d in their various possible decorative or technological manifestations, will hang suspended from the hand. The decorative/technological elements, as illustrated in FIG. 13, may also be comprised of technological components including, but not limited to, connector elements 406b, flash drive elements 406c, or external rechargeable battery pack elements 406d. To the extent that technological elements may be appended at this end of the cord element, the cord itself may need to be comprised of a flexible electrical cable capable of carrying electrical current, digital signals or other information or signals to and from a PED.
[0101] FIG. 14, in an illustrative way, identifies the several loci 402, 403/404 and 406, for technological elements incorporated into or otherwise appended to, the ergonomic accessory of the present invention 400 which, in this respect, serves as a general platform for wearable technology.
