Phone case with a pull‑out folding brace
A mobile device protective cover that stores a multi‑part brace inside the case and, when pulled out, unfolds to prop the phone or tablet upright for hands‑free viewing. The brace consists of a bending member with two linked sections, a guide that slides in a recessed track, and a support member pivoted to those sections; typical users are people who want to stand a phone up without a separate kickstand.
(57) What the patent covered
The main independent claim requires a housing (case) with a receiving opening and a recessed track; a bending member with a first section and a second section where the first section pivots to the housing and the second section connects to a guide that slides in the recessed track; and a support member received in the opening that is pivotable relative to the first section, with one end secured to the second section and the other end adjacent to the first section, so that the assembly can be pulled out and deployed to support the device.
The distinctive part: The brace is a multi‑section bending member guided in a recessed track with a support member mechanically linked to those sections so the support both slides and pivots out of a slim housing.
Novelty 3/5. At filing time internal kickstands and folding supports were common, but this patent combines a sliding guide plus a two‑section bending member and a linked support member inside the case as an integrated mechanism.
Making it
injection‑mold case body with integrated recessed track, injection or stamping of the bending sections, insert the guide and pivot pins, then assemble support member and perform hand or machine final assembly
Materials: TPU or polycarbonate case body, stamped or molded thin metal/plastic for bending member sections, low‑friction plastic guide or rail insert, small metal pivot pins or molded hinge bushings
Manufacturability 4/5. Several stamped or molded parts plus pivots and a sliding guide; needs modest tooling and assembly but no electronics or high‑precision optics. Expect a handful of parts and some manual or semi‑automated assembly.
Is anyone buying?
This design, or something very close to it, is on sale now. Typical retail price: $30. Slide-out built-in kickstand that deploys for hands-free viewing; product page shows hands-free portrait/landscape use; US region page confirms United States pricing
- ZIZO TRANSFORM Series Galaxy A17 / A16 / A26 Case · ZIZO Wireless29.99
This demand check was run with a web search in the week of Sep 7, 2026. Listings change often, so treat it as a starting point for your own research.
Who buys it: phone or tablet users who want an integrated stand
Before you make it
We didn't find any related continuation or divisional patents still in force, although that doesn't rule out design patents, trademarks or unrelated patents covering the same product.
None obvious, practical risks are a crowded market for cases with stands and ensuring durable hinge/slide parts; the patented features are mechanical and the patent has lapsed.
Owners occasionally revive lapsed patents (about 1.5% are), and this page is a research lead rather than legal advice, so get a freedom-to-operate opinion before you manufacture anything.