WO2008050166A1

WO2008050166A1 - Finger-mountable device, preferably attached to a mobile telephone, used for visually appealing, acrobatic play

Info

Publication number: WO2008050166A1
Application number: PCT/HU2007/000100
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lajos Varga
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-10-27
Filing date: 2007-10-26
Publication date: 2008-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2009-04-27
Also published as: HU3278U; HU0600239V0

Abstract

The subject of this invention is a finger- mountable device, preferably attached to a mobile telephone, that may be used for visually appealing, acrobatic play, comprising a finger mountable ring, which in turn comprises a rotating part, whereby the rotating part comprises a revolving axis, one end of which is connected to the ring, and the other end of which connects to a supporting element, which is preferably attached to the mobile telephone.

Description

Finger-mountable device, preferably attached to a mobile telephone, used for visually appealing, acrobatic play

The subject of this invention is of a finger-mountable device, preferably attached to a mobile telephone, used for visually appealing, acrobatic play, for use preferably among game lovers, and especially young people, for demonstrating various acrobatic moves, variations, and choreographed figures. It is common knowledge that young people enjoy various games and often play with their mobile telephones, turning and spinning them with their hands, while talking to others or watching television. During such play, however, the mobile telephone may fall or even break, or some part of it may be damaged, which may destroy the phone or necessitate expensive repairs. Prior art is represented by various key rings made of metal or plastic, comprising a finger- mountable ring to which a supporting part is directly or indirectly secured; however, these do not offer a rotating axis connected to the ring and may be used for the object of play only by pulling the ring over the finger and turning or spinning it, as a result of which the bunch of keys undergoes the same motion. Also representing prior art are finger-mountable, finger-controlled mice for controlling personal computers, for which there are numerous known solutions. Solutions of this type may be found in US Patent Specifications US 2003011565, US 2003214481, and WO2004038530. These known solutions have different objects, however, and cannot be used to perform various acrobatic games. Also representing prior art are the finger-mountable toothbrush and gum massage device described in the invention specification HU U 2233, and the finger-mountable viewing device and viewing device system described in patent specification HU 221 215. Though these devices are, indeed, fϊnger-mountable, they serve wholly different objects and may not be used for acrobatic play.

The present invention has the object of eliminating the deficiencies inherent in known solutions, and of creating a finger-mountable device of simple construction and economic manufacture that is attached to a mobile telephone in detachable or non- detachable fashion, and that may be used for visually appealing, entertaining, acrobatic play, thus enabling the demonstration of numerous acrobatic moves, variations, and choreographed figures by turning the rotating part of the device in various directions of movement.

The solution according to this invention is based on the realisation that if a device is created that comprises a rotating part with a finger-mountable ring, which rotating part comprises a rotating axis, one end of which is either attached to the ring in detachable or non-detachable fashion or is formed of the same material as the ring, and the other end of which is connected to a supporting element in either detachable or non- detachable fashion, so that by rotating the ring, the axis also rotates, and the supporting element is attached, either directly or indirectly, to the mobile telephone, so that by turning the mobile telephone, which is attached, either directly or indirectly, via a stand, to the supporting element of the mobile telephone-mounted device, as a toy, in one plane from left to right, or the other way round, by rotating the finger-mounted ring - using the finger as the axis of rotation - in a circular motion in another plane, one nearly perpendicular to the first, one performs visually appealing, entertaining, acrobatic moves, variations, and choreographed figures, then the device according to this invention will attain its objects.

This invention , therefore, is of a finger-mountable device, preferably attached to a mobile telephone, used for visually appealing, acrobatic games, comprising a rotating part that in turn comprises a finger-mountable ring. It is characteristic of the device according to this invention that its rotating part comprises a rotating axis, one end of which is connected to a ring and the other end of which connects to a supporting element, which in turn is preferably attached to the mobile telephone.

In one preferred embodiment of the device according to this invention, one end of the rotating axis is connected to the ring in detachable fashion.

In a second preferred embodiment of the device according to this invention, one end of the rotating axis is connected to the ring in non-detachable fashion.

In a third preferred embodiment of the device according to this invention, one end of the rotating axis is formed of the same material as the ring.

In a fourth preferred embodiment of the device according to this invention, a seat usable for attaching the axis and a housing that serves to guide the axis are fashioned on the lower part of the supporting element, preferably at the middle.

In a fifth preferred embodiment of the device according to this invention, the axis comprises a flexible locking element, disposed in a slot fashioned at the lower part of the axis and fitting into the seat, so that it may be attached in detachable fashion.

In a sixth preferred embodiment of the device according to this invention, a feature, preferably a rim that fits into the supporting element, is fashioned at the lower end of the axis for the purpose of attaching the axis in non-detachable fashion.

In a seventh preferred embodiment of the device according to this invention, the housing is preferably shaped like a truncated cone and is manufactured, together with the supporting element and the seat, all of the same material. In an eighth preferred embodiment of the device according to this invention, the supporting element is attached to the mobile telephone directly, preferably using an adhesive.

In a further preferred embodiment of the device according to this invention, the supporting element is attached to the mobile telephone indirectly, via a stand into which it is slid or placed, and the stand is preferably attached to the mobile telephone using an adhesive.

In a further preferred embodiment of the device according to this invention, the ring is fashioned to be completely closed or partially open.

The solution according to this invention is described in greater detail via the following drawings:

Figure 1 shows a front view of one preferred embodiment of the device according to this invention;

Figure 2 shows a bottom view of the device according to Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a front view of a preferred embodiment of the stand of the device according to this invention;

Figure 4 shows a front view of how one preferred embodiment of the axis of the rotating part of the device according to this invention is fashioned with a slot.

Figure 5 shows a front view of how another preferred embodiment of the axis of the rotating part of the device according to this invention is fashioned with a rim.

In Figure 1, the front view of a preferred embodiment of the device according to this invention comprising a rotating part (1) which in turn comprises a finger-mountable ring (11), is visible. The rotating part (1) comprises an axis (12), one end of which is attached to the ring (11) in detachable or non-detachable fashion, or is fashioned of the same material as the ring (11). The other end of the rotating axis (12) connects to the supporting element (2) in detachable or non-detachable fashion, and the supporting part (2) is in turn attached to a mobile telephone, either directly or indirectly. A seat (22) - shown in the drawing as a dashed line - that may be used for attaching the axis (12) securely is fashioned at the lower part of the supporting element (2), preferably in the middle. Also visible in the drawing is a housing (21) serving to guide the axis (12), preferably shaped like a truncated cone and manufactured together with the supporting element (2) and the seat (22) from the same material.

Figure 2 depicts the bottom view of the device according to Figure 1 in the case where the device comprises a flexible locking element fashioned at the lower part of the axis (12) and fitting into the seat (22), used for attaching the axis (12) securely, but in detachable fashion. In this preferred embodiment, the supporting element (2) is circular, though it could also be rectangular or oval in shape.

In Figure 3, a front view of a preferred embodiment of the stand (3) of the device according to this invention is visible, on both sides of which a track of a shape that fits the supporting element (2), in this preferred embodiment a rectangular shape, has been fashioned at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. The stand (3) is of whatever shape is desired, such as circular or oval. Figure 4 depicts a front view of how one preferred embodiment of the axis (12) of the rotating part (1) of the device according to this invention is fashioned with a slot, where the ring (11) is fashioned to be completely closed and a flexible locking element not visible in the drawing is disposed in the slot. This preferred embodiment serves to attach the axis (12) in detachable fashion.

Figure 5 shows a front view of how another preferred embodiment of the axis (12) of the rotating part (1) of the device according to this invention is fashioned with a rim, where the ring (11) is fashioned to be partially open, and the rim serves to attach the axis (12) in non-detachable fashion, preferably by extrusion. The axis (12) could also be attached in non-detachable fashion using another solution, such as using triangular profiles. The device according to this invention is used as a toy as follows:

First one decides whether the supporting element (2) is to be attached to the mobile telephone, preferably to its back panel, directly or indirectly. In the event the supporting element (2) is attached to the mobile telephone directly, preferably to its lower end using an adhesive, then the device will be on the mobile telephone permanently, which may render storage of the telephone uncomfortable. It is better to dispose the supporting element (2) indirectly by sliding it into the stand (3), and to attach the stand (3) to the mobile telephone, again preferably using an adhesive, so that when one no longer wishes to play with the device, it may be pulled out of the stand (3), and the mobile telephone stored with only the relatively short stand (3), thus occupying less space than when it is stored with the supporting structure, which is advantageous from the standpoint of comfort.

In addition to the embodiment just mentioned, attachment of the supporting structure (2) to the stand (3) may also be accomplished using, for example, a screw lock, a snap- in solution, a ball lock, or a claw.

The axis (12) is attached to the ring (11) of the rotating part (1) in non-detachable fashion, and the ring (11) and the axis (12) rotate together, so that the rotating part (1) makes it possible for the user to attain multidirectional movement in a horizontal and vertical direction of rotation. Let's assume that the device attached to a mobile telephone, used as a toy, is held in parallel to the ground, and that by rotating the mobile telephone, attached to the supporting element (2) of the device either directly or indirectly, via a stand (3), a movement in the horizontal plane directed from left to right and from right to left can be created; and that the toy can also be rotated front to back and back to front in a plane approximately perpendicular to the horizontal one about the finger-mounted ring (11) as axis of rotation, thus creating a centrifugal, circular motion around the finger, so that visually appealing, acrobatic moves, variations, and choreographed figures can be demonstrated, which are at the same time very entertaining. In another case, of course, one can play such that the toy is held in a starting position perpendicular to the ground, in which case the movements will be inverted as compared to the previous case.

In one preferred embodiment of the device according to this invention, the rotating part (1) is preferably manufactured of metal. A solution whereby the rotating part (1) is made of plastic, or where the ring (11) and axis (12) of the rotating part (1) are of different materials, is also possible. The supporting element (2), which comprises the housing (21) shaped as a truncated cone and the seat (22), is made of a single material, preferably plastic, while the seat (22) is fashioned so that it enables the axis (12) to be stably attached, in detachable or non-detachable fashion, quickly and securely. In another possible embodiment, the detachable attachment of the axis (12) to the stand (3), in turn attached to the telephone, is attained using a hinge.

The shape of the stand (4) preferably complements the form of the supporting element (2); is accordingly rectangular, circular, or oval; and is preferably manufactured of metal or plastic.

The device according to this invention has attained its objects, and offers the following advantages:

- it can be attached to or removed from the majority (approx. 80%) of mobile telephones currently in circulation by a stand, and can be stored comfortably,

- attached to a mobile telephone, as a toy, the device may be used to demonstrate visually appealing, entertaining, acrobatic moves, numerous variations, and choreographed figures by enabling virtually unhindered rotation,

- it can be used by a broad segment of game lovers, especially young people,

- it is of a simple construction and may be placed on and removed from the finger easily,

- it is economical to produce. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

rotating part supporting element stand ring rotating axis housing seat

Claims

1. A finger-mountable device, preferably attached to a mobile telephone, used for visually appealing, acrobatic play, comprising a rotating part, itself comprising a finger-mountable ring (11), wherein the rotating part (1) comprises a rotating axis (12), one end of which is connected to a ring (11) and the other end of which connects to the supporting element (2), which in turn is preferably attached to a mobile telephone.

2.) The finger-mountable device according to Claim 1, wherein one end of the rotating axis (12) is connected to the ring (11) in detachable fashion.

3.) The finger-mountable device according to Claim 1, wherein one end of the rotating axis (12) is connected to the ring (11) in non-detachable fashion.

4.) The finger-mountable device according to Claim 1, wherein one end of the rotating axis (12) is made of the same material as the ring (11).

5.) The device according to Claim 1, wherein a seat (22) usable for attaching the axis (12) and a housing (21) that serves to guide the axis are fashioned at the lower part of the supporting element (2), preferably in the middle.

6.) The device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the device comprises a flexible locking element disposed in the slot fashioned at the lower part of the axis (12) and fitting into the seat (22), used to attach the axis (12) in detachable fashion.

7.) The device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein a feature, preferably a rim, that fits into the supporting structure (2) is fashioned at the lower end of the axis (12) and is used to attach the axis (12) in non-detachable fashion.

8.) The device according to any of Claims 1 through 4, wherein the housing (21) is preferably shaped as a truncated cone and is manufactured with the supporting structure (2) and the seat (22) from a single material.

9.) The device according to any of Claims 1 through 5, wherein the supporting element (2) is attached to the mobile telephone directly, preferably using an adhesive.

10.) The device according to any of Claims 1 through 5, wherein the supporting element (2) is attached to the mobile telephone indirectly, via a stand (3), into which it is slid or disposed, and the stand (3) is attached to the mobile telephone preferably using an adhesive.

11.) The device according to any of Claims 1 through 7, wherein the ring (11) is fashioned to be either completely closed or partially open.