[Wiki] Simple ToH ideas (3D printable)

[nephros]

This page is supposed to collect “simple” variants of a ToH.

By simple I mean no electronics or other complicated things. Rather something that has one or two (physical) features more than the stock ToH. If possible, simple to 3D-model and print (or mill!).

Maybe things that you would normally find on a phone case rather than a back cover.

If you like one of the ideas and have actually created an implementation, be it a drawing, 3D model, test 3Dprint, please share here and add links to this Wiki post.
Of couse at some point it’ll be easier to make a dedicated thread and link that here.

Card holder

Cover has a simple compartment to hold a smart card, like an EC or credit card.
Optionally make a shielded version (so the card can’t be read wirelessly while inside the slot).

Yubikey holder

Cover has a simple compartment to hold a yubikey. Should leave open the possibility to “tap” the key while inserted there.

Bonus feature: leave space for a flat USB-C extension cable to actually attach to the phone.

ActionCam (GoPro) compatible mount

With a GoPro-compatible mount at the back, (or at the bottom) many accessories can be used, from selfie-sticks to bike mounts.
(This shold probably use the screw-variant of attaching a ToH to the phone.)

Feet/rails so it can lie flat/level

Due to the cameras sticking out at the back, the phone doesn’t lie flat on its back.
This ToH adds feet or rails so that it does.
Could be done as a phone case rather than a ToH.

Critical to be able to run the Spiritlevel app.

Snap Buttons (press studs)

(I mean these)
Add three press-studs the right edge (as seen from the back).
Crafty seamstresses or leatherworkers (or TPU printers) can then attach soft flaps to those, which form an integrated “book cover”.

Heat Sink

Milled from copper (or similar suitable material, maybe repurposed CPU or GfxCard heatsink(s)),
Possibly has some thermal tape inside.

Keeps your phone cool(er) in summer. Also makes it hotter when left in the sun.

Magsafe/intralock compatible magnetic ring.

Best case: integration of mous bike fixture adapter like this one:

https://eu.mous.co/de-de/products/universal-intralock-convertor

this will allow to snap it on the bike holder

ToH carrying case

Not a ToH at all, but a case for storing 3 to 6 ToHs while not in use.
Because we want to swap them out on the go, right?

[nephros]

YubiKey Holder Advanced

Not-so-simple variant to the YubiKey holder idea:

A latch-like construction with hinges, and an internal slide-like keeper of the key, which allows the key to be inserted into the USB-C port by flipping the latch and sliding it upwards into the port.

Advanced ASCII Art Technical Drawing of the Yubikey idea:

 Y .... Yubikey
 H .... Yubikey USB-C plug
 CC.... Phone USB port
 
 
    Open                    Closed
 
   |   |                   |   |
   |   |                   |   |
   |   |                   |   |
   |   |                   |   |--|  securing latch 
   |   |                   |   | | |
   |   |                   |   | |Y|
   |   |                   |   | |Y|
   |   |                   |   | |Y|
   |   |                   |   | |Y|
   |   |                   |   | |H|
   |   |                   |   | | |
   |   |                   |   | | | 
   |CCC|==O                |CCC|==O   hinge                   
    |Y|===/
    |Y|
    |Y|
    |Y|                     Back View (closed)
    | |
	| |                    |      ||   ||      |
	| |                    |      ||YYY||      |
	| |                    |      ||YOY||      |
	                       |      ||YYY||      |
   	                       |      ||YYY||      |
   	                       |      || H ||      |
   	                       |      ||   ||      |
   	                       |......O.....O......|

Or maybe instead of hinges it’s just detachable/clip-on somehow. Same idea, simpler.

[nephros]

Heater Element

Okay, so this sounds supid, probably is, and does include electricity but hear me out.

This includes a weak peltier element the “hot” side of which touches the battery.
In cold Finnish winters, this will suck some “coldness” from the air, and heat up the battery to about 20°C or so, so it can keep its charge a bit better in Winter.

Of course, any benefits are completely offset by the fact Peltier elements suck but hey.

[Demonia]

Magsafe/intralock compatible magnetic ring.
Best case: integration of mous bike fixture adapter like this one:

Universal IntraLock® Convertor

this will allow to snap it on the bike holder

[lollerobot]

A 3D print for little foldable legs to be able to put the phone on a table in a better position to watch videos/shows/streams.

[nephros]

The OP is a Wiki so you can add it to the list if you like.

[rgp]

This could be a feature of a card holder, where the holder cover piece opens out to prop the phone up.

[Demonia]

with magsafe compatible ring you can put any stand or card holder on it

[PolatBirdal]

Most of my projects are left half-finished because the exact measurements aren’t available =(

[thejiral]

I am considering a magsafe TOH but first I’d need to update dimensions of my model with the real thing. In any case, this will be challenging to print with FDM and I would not like to have that much skin cobtact with resin prints. I wan to give FDM a try however.

A CAD file of the original plastic part would help a lot of course, I am not sure if I want to wait for that though.

[zhasha]

Just spitballing here but wouldn’t it be more convenient to place it by the NFC antenna so you can use it without having to judo flip it into the USB port?

Disclaimer: I own and use a Yubikey many many times per day. Mine does not support NFC (I intentionally selected against it) and I have never even considered plugging it into my phone.

[JordyS]

@nephros

Feet/rails so it can lie flat/level

Due to the cameras sticking out at the back, the phone doesn’t lie flat on its back.
This ToH adds feet or rails so that it does.
Could be done as a phone case rather than a ToH.

I’m slightly confused by this. Why would you want feet/rails on the back of the ToH if you could just make the plastic a bit deeper and add a thicker bit of plastic around the camera?

[nephros]

Also a good solution.
I though feet would be easier to have in combination with protective sleeves - where you could cut out holes for them.
Also a deeper cover might look awkward, not sure.

[nephros]

@zhasha

Just spitballing here but wouldn’t it be more convenient to place it by the NFC antenna so you can use it without having to judo flip it into the USB port?

Disclaimer: I own and use a Yubikey many many times per day. Mine does not support NFC (I intentionally selected against it) and I have never even considered plugging it into my phone.

Mine also does not have NFC.

But if it did, I possibly would want to retain the ability of the phone to use NFC for something else than the Yubikey.

[Demonia]

only in case of integrated big battery make sense or maybe if LoRa with Meshtastic is inside

[JordyS]

The extra space does allow for a lot of applications indeed. But depending on said application it would defeat the purpose of a ‘simple ToH‘.

[JPlexer]

not “simple” but I was thinking about making a QI2 ToH

[SomethingElse]

Not with 9W max power. There is a dedicated thread about it

[rgrnetalk]

TOH horn

TOH bikemount

[Demonia]

for the bike mount it should be another way:

• The cover needs to be thicker, with a recess in the center to hold the Mous adapter in place.
• this case will provide also better coverage for camera lens, and
• If you placed the JP2 on the table, it would lie flat.
• The extra space in the cover could be used for other purposes, such as a small battery or even a LoRa chip

Edit:
But it certainly wouldn’t be hard to make the same holes four times in the cover and insert a metal ring. Then you wouldn’t have to glue the adapter in place.

Edit 2:
her as example for further ideas: