Patent Application
20160182698
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
This embodiment relates to electronic device holders, and more particularly to a hands-free holder for electronic devices such as smart phones, tablets, video MP3 players, mobile telephones and personal digital assistants (PDAs), which allows a user to hold the device in front of the face while sitting down, standing, moving, reclining.
Electronic devices have become popular, providing on-the-go entertainment and data access. Because of their decreased size and weight, portable electronic devices are easily transportable and thus they may be carried by people when performing physical activities such as walking, running, cycling, stair climbing, etc. In some cases, the devices are held in the user's hand, while in other cases the devices are carried in a pocket or worn by the user attaching them to a belt or by strapping them to the arm thus freeing their hands. Some electronic devices such as smart phones, video players, and tablet computers may require a user to use both hands, particularly when trying to enter data on the on-screen keyboard.
When the device is held for long periods of time, the arm muscle fatigue can result, and the height of the device is lowered from a comfortable eye-level to the level of the user's table or lap. This can cause excessive flexion of the cervical and thoracic vertebral bodies, resulting in joint pain, inflammation, and stiffness of the back and neck, as well as potential injury to the neck muscles and spinal column. Use of the device without having to hold it with the hands would be ideal for prolonged use. Portable electronic devices, however, do not lend themselves to hands-free use because of the small screen and shape that limits the ability to comfortably tilt or raise the screen to a comfortable position for an extended period of time.
In some existing electronic device holders, an electronic device storage chamber has a shoulder strap attached to a top end of the storage chamber, a chest strap attached to a surface of the storage chamber, a bottom arm attached to a bottom end of the storage chamber, a joint attached to the bottom arm, and an electronic device support arm having a first end attached to the ball joint. In one embodiment, a phone arm can be attached to a surface of the electronic device storage chamber to adjustably support the position of a phone so that a user can simultaneously use the phone and the electronic device, such as a tablet, in a hands-free manner. However, the device holder is complicated in structure, difficult to wear, and offers little comfort to the user.
Some other existing hands-free electronic device holders provide the capability for holding handheld electronic devices at or below the user's eye level at a typical distance of 20 to 30 cm. This hands-free device holder has a flexible adjustable gooseneck, the proximal end of which carries a tab having two spring pins that securely engage with a pocket member. A secure attachment means keeps the pocket member attached to the backside of the handheld electronic device, and two lateral slots receive the pins. The distal end of the flexible, adjustable gooseneck connects to a spring clip similar to a clothes line pin, which attaches the hands-lice electronic device holder to an airline dining tray or a worktable. However, this electronic device holder cannot be worn on the body of a user.
Another existing electronic device holder provides a collapsible hands-free electronic device holder worn upon the chest of a user and supported by a shoulder harness. The electronic device is securely attached and held by the holder at a comfortable viewing height and angle for the user. Some other existing electronic device holders provide a hands-free carrier that has a headset, an extension boom, and a holder assembly for the electronic device. The headset is attached to one end of the extension boom and the holder assembly is attached to the other end of the extension boom via a connection assembly. The hands-free carrier supports the electronic media player at an easy-to-read angle. However, such electronic device holders hinder the free movement of the user wearing them.
Therefore, there is a need for a hands-free electronic device holder that would maintain the electronic device at the face level of the user. Such a needed holder would be able to rotate the electronic device 360 degrees and position the device at the right distance and angle for convenient viewing while moving, sitting, standing, or reclining position. Further, this holder would be easy to attach and adjustable. It would be stable, light-weight, have rigid but adjustable positioning elements and portable. Finally, the holder would be superior in comfort and convenience, without sacrificing portability, stability, versatility, and/or aesthetics. The present embodiment accomplishes these objectives.
The present embodiment is a hands-free electronic device holder that supports an electronic device at the face level of a user for hands-free operation. The hands-free electronic device holder comprises in general a belt, a flexible gooseneck and a holding assembly. The belt has a mold at a centre position with a threaded stud in the middle for attachment of the flexible gooseneck to the belt. The belt secures the hands-free electronic device holder to the waist the user and provides support to the flexible gooseneck.
The flexible gooseneck has a proximal end having a ball insert and a threaded cap over the ball insert for attachment with the belt and a distal end having a rotatable attachment means for attachment with the holding assembly. The flexible gooseneck may be adjusted to any orientation to suit a user. The holding assembly has pair of padded clamps for adjustably holding the electronic device in place. The pair of padded clamps open and close to fit different sizes of electronic devices. The holding assembly also has a fixed attachment means at a back portion for attachment with the distal end of the flexible gooseneck. The rotatable attachment means may be rotated in 360 degrees to change the orientation of a screen of the electronic device held in the holding assembly.
The hands-free electronic device holder is capable of positioning the device at the right distance and angle for convenient viewing and hands-free operation while moving, sitting, standing, or reclining position.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
The following describes example embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. This invention, however, may be embodied in many different ways, and the description provided herein should not be construed as limiting in any way. Among other things, the following invention may be embodied as methods or devices. The following detailed descriptions should not be taken in a limiting sense.
In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one. in this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive “or ” such that “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise indicated. Furthermore, all publications, patents, and patent documents referred to in this document are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, as though individually incorporated by reference. In the event of inconsistent usages between this document and those documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in the incorporated reference(s) should be considered supplementary to that of this document; for irreconcilable inconsistencies, the usage in this document controls.
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While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.
