The present disclosure relates to a mount. In particular, the disclosure relates to a mount for portable electronic devices.
With the ever increasing popularity of portable electronic devices, a demand for effective mounts has developed. Several kinds of mounts are currently available. For example, many mounts employ grips that hold the external edges of the portable device. Additionally, many commercial mounts do not provide a secure and simple way to couple to and detach from the portable electronic device. Many mounts require two hands to hold and maneuver both the portable electronic device and the mount.
Implementations of the present application will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures, wherein:
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant function being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the implementations described herein. It will be understood that descriptions and characterizations of embodiments set forth in this disclosure are not to be considered as mutually exclusive, unless otherwise noted.
The following definitions are used in this disclosure: The term “depress” is defined to be pushing or pulling in a given direction. The direction can be any direction. The direction can be linear or nonlinear. The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, substantially cylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising” means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; “comprising” specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group, series and the like.
A mount can couple to and securely support many different kinds of portable electronic devices, such as a mobile telephone, reading device, music device, viewing devices, navigation device or other portable electronic devices. Examples of such devices are iPhone, Nook, iPod, iPad, Droid, and GPS navigation systems. The nature of the mount and its design enable specific embodiments to be adapted to easily couple to and be detached from any such portable electronic device or case therefor. As such, the mount can be coupled and secured to a case or shield (or the like) for a portable electronic device. Conveniently, the mount may also be removed using only one hand. One example of such a mount 10 is shown in
As shown in
The first frame 30 includes a lever 32 which is communicatively coupled with a lever 32. The lever 32 can be a button, a switch, a lever, or any suitable mechanism to move the first frame 30 and the second frame 40. While in the illustrated embodiment the lever 32 is communicatively coupled to the first frame 30, the lever 32 may be alternatively attached to the second frame 40. In yet other examples, each of the first frame 30 and the second frame 40 can be attached to a lever 32. As shown in
The mount 10 also includes at least one bias 18 contained within the housing 11, which is a coiled spring in the exemplary embodiment. The bias 18 can be a coiled spring as illustrated, or an elastic band, or any suitable bias to urge the first frame 30 and the second frame 40 in a direction. In the embodiment shown, the bias 18, which is a coiled spring, can be configured to expand against abutting surfaces to urge the first frame 30 and the second frame 40 in a direction away from one another. Alternatively, the bias 18 can urge the first frame 30 and the second frame 40 in a direction towards one another. In the shown embodiment, the bias 18 is in an expanded state and the first frame 30 and second frame 40 are in an expanded configuration. The first and second hooks 38, 48, as they are attached to the first and second frames 30, 40, are also in an expanded configuration. Upon actuation by depression of the lever 32, the strength of the bias 18 is overcome and the first and second frames 30, 40 are moved toward one another to a contracted configuration. The frames 30, 40 are closer to one another in the contracted configuration than in the expanded configuration. Upon release of the lever 32, the bias can urge the first frame 30 and the second frame 40 in a direction such that the first hook 38 and the second hook 48 move toward the expanded configuration.
The mount 10 includes at least one gear 16, which as shown is a spur gear having a plurality of teeth on its outer surface. The gear 16 can be a spur gear, a helical gear, or any suitable gear to move the second frame 40 in an opposite direction as the first gear 30. The first frame 30 and the second frame 40 each include teeth 36, 46 for engagement with the teeth of the gear 16 forming a rack and pinion interconnection. As such, when the lever 32 is depressed, the first frame 30 can move toward the second frame 40. By the communicative interconnection of the gear 16, the second frame 40 can also move toward the first frame 30, thereby contracting the first hook 38 and the second hook 48 toward one another.
The mount 10 can also include a magnetic element 60. The magnetic element 60 can be contained in the internal cavity 13 of the housing 11 and can be any suitable shape or size that fits within the housing 11. The magnetic element 60 can be a magnet. The magnetic element 60 can be any suitable magnetic material that magnetically interacts with magnetizable elements such as ferromagnetic materials or other magnets.
The first hook 38 and the second hook 48 can be crescent-shaped. In other examples, the first hook 38 and the second hook 48 can be semi-circular. In yet other examples, the first hook 38 and the second hook 48 can be any suitable shape. The first hook 38 and the second hook 48 can be mirror images of each other. In other examples, the first hook 38 and the second hook 48 can each be different shapes.
The first hook 38 and the second hook 48 can have external sloping surfaces 39, 49, such that the outer edges of the first hook 38 and the second hook 48 are thinner than the inner edges. The external sloping surfaces 39, 49 can be steps. In other examples, the external sloping surfaces 39, 49 can be ramps. In yet other examples, the external sloping surfaces 39, 49 can continuously decline from the inner area of the first hook 38 and the second 48 to the external area of the first hook 38 and the second hook 48. Additionally or alternatively, the external sloping surfaces 39, 49 can include one or more discontinuities.
The first hook 38 and the second hook 48 extend beyond the front side 12 of the housing 11 a distance such that there is a space (not shown) between both the first hook 38 and the second hook 48 and the front side 12 of the housing 11. The space can be any suitable size equal to or greater than the thickness of a backing of a case for a portable electronic device and sized to provide a snug fit upon attachment.
When the lever 34 is depressed, the first hook 38 and the second hook 48 contract toward one another to the contracted configuration 202 as illustrated in
The mount 10 can be coupled to a case 100 for a portable electronic device as illustrated in
The backing 108 also includes a backing aperture 102. The backing aperture 102 is sized to receive the first hook 38 and the second hook 48. The size and shape of the backing aperture 102 can be the size and shape of the first hook 38 and the second hook 48 in the contracted configuration such that the first hook 38 and the second hook 48 can be inserted through the backing aperture 102 while in the contracted configuration. The backing 108 can have receiving surfaces 104 proximate the edge of the backing aperture 102 that correspond to the first hook 38 and the second hook 48. The receiving surfaces 104 can be configured to receive the first hook 38 and the second hook 48 when inserted through the backing aperture 102 and in the expanded configuration 200.
As illustrated in
When the first hook 38 and the second hook 48 are inserted through the backing aperture 102, the first hook 38 and the second hook 48 move away from one another to the expanded configuration, as illustrated in
To detach the mount 10 from the case 100, the lever 32 is depressed, as illustrated in
Statement 1: A portable electronic device case mounting apparatus including: a housing having an internal cavity and a front side having an aperture therethrough to the internal cavity; a first hook and a second hook protruding from within the housing outward through the aperture; a bias contained within the housing urging the first and second hooks in a direction away from one another to an expanded configuration; and a lever extending external the housing and communicatively coupled to the first and second hooks, wherein upon depression of the lever the first and second hooks contract toward one another from the expanded configuration to a contracted configuration thereby overcoming the urging force of the bias.
Statement 2: The mounting apparatus of Statement 1, wherein the first and second hooks each have an external sloping surface, the external sloping surfaces are shaped such that upon engagement of a surface with the external sloping surfaces, the first and second hooks are contracted toward one another to a contracted configuration.
Statement 3: The mounting apparatus of Statement 1 or Statement 2, wherein a rear side of the housing includes a mounting device couplable to at least one of an armband, a bicycle mount, a wall mount, or an automobile vent mount.
Statement 4: The mounting apparatus of any of the preceding Statements, wherein the housing further includes a magnetic element.
Statement 5: The mounting apparatus of any of the preceding Statements, further including a portable electronic device case, the case having a generally planar backing with an edge forming sidewalls to receive a portable electronic device therewithin, the backing having a backing aperture sized to receive the first and second hooks.
Statement 6: The mounting apparatus of Statement 5, wherein the backing has receiving surfaces proximate the edge of the backing aperture for the first hook and the second hook.
Statement 7: The mounting apparatus of Statement 5 or Statement 6, wherein the first and second hooks have flanged portions which in the expanded configuration catch and engage the receiving surfaces and resistively secure the housing to the casing.
Statement 8: The mounting apparatus of any of Statements 5-7, wherein the backing aperture is sized to permit removal of the first and second hooks when the first and second hooks are in a contracted configuration.
Statement 9: The mounting apparatus of any of Statements 5-8, wherein the first and second hooks have an external sloping surface, and the external sloping surfaces are shaped such that upon engagement of edges of the backing aperture with the external sloping surfaces, the first and second hooks are contracted toward one another to a contracted configuration and are inserted within the backing aperture.
Statement 10: The mounting apparatus of any of Statements 5-9, wherein the backing comprises a magnetizable element.
Statement 11: The mounting apparatus of any of the preceding Statements, wherein the first hook is attached to and moves together with a first frame component contained within the housing, and the second hook is attached to and moves together with a second frame component contained within the housing.
Statement 12: The mounting apparatus of Statement 11, wherein the first and second frames are communicatively interconnected by a spur gear, wherein movement of one of the first or second frames transfers movement to the other frame in a reverse direction.
Statement 13: The mounting apparatus of Statement 11 or Statement 12, wherein the first and second frames each include teeth for engagement with teeth of the spur gear forming a rack and pinion interconnection.
Statement 14: The mounting apparatus of Statement 11 or Statement 12, wherein the lever is attached to the first frame, and whereupon depression of the lever the first frame moves toward the second frame and by the communicative interconnection of the spur gear the second frame moves toward the first frame, thereby the first and second hooks contract toward one another.
Statement 15: A portable electronic device case and mounting system including: a case for a portable electronic device, the case having a generally planar backing with an edge forming sidewalls to receive a portable electronic device therewithin; and a mounting apparatus including: a housing having an internal cavity and a front side having an aperture; a first hook and a second hook protruding from within the housing outward through the aperture; a bias contained within the housing urging the first and second hooks in a direction away from one another in an expanded configuration; and a lever extending from within the housing to a distance external the housing and communicatively coupled to the first and second hooks, wherein upon depression of the lever the first and second hooks contract toward one another to a contracted configuration, wherein the backing includes a backing aperture sized to receive the first and second hooks which are insertable therein when in a contracted configuration.
Statement 16: The system of Statement 15, wherein the first and second hooks each have an external sloping surface, the external sloping surfaces are shaped such that upon engagement of edges of the backing aperture with the external sloping surfaces, the first and second hooks are contracted toward one another to the contracted configuration.
Statement 17: The system of Statement 15 or Statement 16, wherein the backing has receiving surfaces proximate the edge of the aperture for the first hook and the second hook.
Statement 18: The system of Statement 17, wherein the first and second hooks have flanged portions which in the expanded configuration catch and engage the receiving surfaces and resistively secure the mounting apparatus to the case.
Statement 19: The system of any one of Statements 15-18, wherein the backing has a magnetizable element, and the housing has a magnet element, the magnetizable element and the magnetic element magnetically interacting upon insertion of the first and second hooks within the backing aperture.
The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. Various modifications and changes can be made to the principles and embodiments described herein without departing from the scope of the disclosure and without departing from the claims which follow.
This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/151,204 filed Apr. 22, 2015, and entitled “MOUNT FOR PORTABLE DEVICE” which is entirely incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62151204 | Apr 2015 | US |