The present disclosure relates generally to sport accessories, and more particularly, to a portable electronic device holders and methods to manufacture portable electronic device holders.
In golf, some training devices may be an integral part of a golf club (i.e., built-in). That is, the golf club may not be readily used for play in a round of golf. Alternatively, other training devices may only function as a golf training device such that the training device may not be used for other purposes. Instead of the types of training device for golf mentioned above, individuals may use already-owned and/or everyday-used portable electronic devices as a training device for golf.
In general, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture associated with a portable electronic device holder are described herein. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.
In the example of
The first clamp portion 104 includes a first clamp body 110 and a first clamp arm 112 that is connected to the first clamp body 110 and extends transverse or generally perpendicular to the first clamp body 110. At the free end of the first clamp arm 112, the first clamp arm 112 includes a lip portion 114 extending generally transverse to the first clamp arm 112 and toward the second clamp portion 106. The first clamp body 110 includes a generally circular or curved channel 116 on a back side of the clamp body 110, which may be the side of the clamp body 110 that is opposite to the side of the first clamp body 110 to which the first clamp arm 112 is connected. The clamp body 110 includes a first rod attachment portion 118 and a second rod attachment portion 119, which may be located on opposite sides of the curved channel 116. A first rod 120 is attached to the first rod attachment portion 118 (shown in
The body portion 102 includes a first end portion 126 and a second end portion 128. The first end portion 126 and the second end portion 128 may define a length of the body portion 102. The body portion 102 includes a front surface 130 that may extend from the first end portion 126 to the second end portion 128, and a generally curved channel 132 on a back portion 131, which is a portion of the body portion 102 that is behind the front surface 130. The body portion 102 further includes a first rod housing 134 and a second rod housing 135, which may be located on opposite sides of the curved channel 132 and extend along the length of the body portion 102. The first rod housing 134 includes a first rod passage 140 (shown in
Referring to
A first spring 210 is disposed in the first annular passage 204. The first spring 210 has a coil diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the first rod passage 140, greater than the diameter of the first aperture 200 and smaller than the diameter of the first stop 220. Accordingly, the first spring 210 is bound in the first annular passage 204. Similarly, a second spring 212 is disposed in the second annular passage 206. The second spring 212 has a coil diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the second passage 141, greater than the diameter of the second aperture 202 and smaller than the diameter of the second stop 222. Accordingly, the second spring 212 is bound inside the second annular passage 206.
Movement of the first rod 120 in the first rod passage 140 changes the length of the first annular passage 204. When the first rod 120 is moving in a direction out of the first rod passage 140, the first stop 220 compresses the first spring 210 against the first end portion 126 (i.e., around the first aperture 200) such that the first spring 210 exerts a force on the first stop 220 opposite to the movement of the first rod 120. When the first rod 120 is moving in a direction into the first rod passage 140, the first stop 220 allows the first spring 210 to decompress such that the force exerted by the spring on the first stop 220 is reduced.
Movement of the second rod 121 in the second rod passage 141 changes the length of the second annular passage 206. When the second rod 121 is moving in a direction out of the second rod passage 141, the second stop 222 compresses the second spring 212 against the first end portion 126 (i.e., around the second aperture 202) such that the second spring 212 exerts a force on the second stop 222 opposite to the movement of the second rod 121. When the second rod 121 is moving in a direction into the second rod passage 141, the second stop 222 allows the second spring 212 to decompress such that the force exerted by the spring on the second stop 222 is reduced.
The second clamp portion 106 (shown for example in
When the first clamp portion 104 is abutting the body portion 102, the first spring 210 and the second spring 212 may be compressed. Accordingly, the first clamp portion 104 may be pressed and maintained against the body portion 102 by the forces of the first spring 210 and the second spring 212. When the first clamp portion 104 is moved or pulled away from the body portion 102, a portion of the first rod 120 and a portion of the second rod 121 are moved out of the first passage 140 and the second passage 141 to reduce the length of the first annular passage 204 and the second annular passage 206, respectively. Accordingly, the first spring 210 and the second spring 212 are further compressed in the first annular passage 204 and the second annular passage 206 to increase the forces in the first spring 210 and the second spring 212, respectively. The first clamp portion 104 may be further moved or pulled away from the body portion 102 until the first spring 210 and the second spring 212 are fully compressed, i.e., can no longer be compressed. Thus, the first clamp portion 104 may be moved to any position from an initial position where the first clamp portion 104 is pressed against the body portion 102 and the springs 210 and 212 are compressed to a final position where the first spring 210 and the second spring 212 are fully compressed. The forces of the first spring 210 and the second spring 212 return the first clamp portion 104 to the initial position from any position between the initial position and the final position. The initial position of the first clamp portion 104 may define the smallest distance between the first clamp arm 112 and the second and third clamp arms 250 and 252. The final position of the first clamp portion 104 may define the largest distance between the first clamp arm 112 and the second and third clamp arms 250 and 252.
According to another embodiment, when the first clamp portion 104 is abutting the body portion 102, i.e., the initial position, the first spring 210 and the second spring 212 may be expanded. The springs 210 and 212 may be positioned in the first rod passage 140 and the second rod passage 141 between the second end portion 106 and the stops 220 and 222, respectively (not shown). The springs 210 and 212 are further expanded when the first clamp portion 104 is moved to any position from the initial position to the final position. The final position of the first clamp portion 104 may correspond to a position where the stops 220 and 222 contact the first end portion 104 (not shown).
The portable electronic device holder 100 can hold a portable electronic device between the first clamp arm 112 and the second and third clamp arms 250 and 252 by the clamp arms 112, 250 and 252 pressing on opposing surfaces, portions or sides of the portable electronic device with the forces of the first spring 210 and the second spring 212. Referring to
Portable electronic devices of varying sizes may be held by the portable electronic device holder 100 by moving the first clamp portion 104 between the initial position and the final position to increase or decrease the distance between the first clamp arm 112 and the second and third clamp arms 250 and 252. For example, referring to
A portable electronic device 1000 may be mounted on to the portable electronic device holder 100 by pulling the first clamp portion 104 away from the body portion 102 until the distance between the first lip portion 114 and the second and third lip portions 254 and 256 is greater than a distance between two opposing edges, surfaces and/or portions of the portable electronic device. The portable electronic device 1000 may then be inserted into the portable electronic device holder 100 by the back portion 1012 being moved toward the front surface 130 until the back portion 1012 abuts the front surface 130 and the bottom portion 1002 rests on the second and third clamp arms 250 and 252. The first clamp arm 112 may then be released or moved toward the body portion 102 so that the first clamp arm 112 engages the second side 1004 of the portable electronic device. Alternatively, the first clamp portion 104 may be pulled away from the body portion 102 until the distance between the first clamp arm 112 and the second and third clamp arms 250 and 252 is greater than a distance between two opposing edges, surfaces and/or portions of the portable electronic device 1000. The portable electronic device 1000 may then be inserted into the portable electronic device holder 100 by being slipped in-between the first clamp arm 112 and the second and third clamp arms 250 and 252 (i.e., the back portion 1012 being moved generally parallel to the front surface 130) and the bottom portion 1002 being rested on the second and third clamp arms 250 and 252. The first clamp arm 112 may then be released or moved toward the body portion 102 so that the first clamp arm 112 engages the top portion 1004 of the portable electronic device.
The forces generated by the compression of the first spring 210 and the second spring 212 cause the first clamp arm 112 and the second and third clamp arms 252 and 254 to press against the portable electronic device 1000 and frictionally hold the portable electronic device 1000 in the portable electronic device holder 100. The first clamp arm 112 and/or the second and third clamp arms 250 and 252 may include a frictional material and/or surface texture that may enhance the frictional engagement between the clamp arms 112, 250 and 252 and the portable electronic device 1000. For example, each of the clamp arms 112, 250 and 252 may include a rubber or high density foam pad that engages the portable electronic device 1000. According to another example, the portion of each of the clamp arms 112, 250 and 252 that engages the portable electronic device 1000 may have a certain texture that enhances the frictional engagement with the portable electronic device 1000.
The first lip portion 114 and the second and third lip portions 254 and 256 may engage a front surface or the display portion 1010 of the portable electronic device 1000 to further assist in holding the portable electronic device 1000 in the portable electronic device holder 100. To remove the portable electronic device 1000 from the portable electronic device holder 100, the first clamp portion 104 may be moved or pulled away from the body portion 102 so that the first clamp arm 112 is sufficiently spaced from the first side 1002 of the portable electronic device 1000 to allow removal of the portable electronic device 1000 from the portable electronic device holder 100.
The portable electronic device holder 100 may be mounted on a shaft of sports equipment or any cylindrical object. Referring to
Referring to
The generally transverse orientation of each expansion tab 310 and 312 relative to a corresponding direction of the arm 300 and 302, respectively, provides for the elastic bending of the arms 300 and 302, the channel 132 and/or the body portion 102 when a golf club shaft 800 is pressed against the expansion tabs 310 and 312. Accordingly, when a golf club shaft 800 is pressed against the expansion tabs 310 and 312, the golf club shaft 800 presses the expansion tabs 310 and 312 outward to elastically enlarge the opening 308 so that the golf club shaft 800 may be received in the cylindrical passage 306. Upon the golf club shaft 800 being inserted in the cylindrical passage 306, the elastic restoring force of the arms 300 and 302, the channel 132 and/or the body portion 102 move or snap the arms 300 and 302 back toward the pre-expanded position to frictionally engage the golf club shaft 800 in cooperation with the curved channel 132. The curved channel 132 and or the arms 300 and 302 may collectively define a partial oval cross-sectional shape, circular cross-sectional shape, rectangular cross-sectional shape, or any other shape that may be similar to correspondingly shaped shaft. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.
A portable electronic device may be mounted on the golf club shaft 800 with the portable electronic device holder 100 to capture still and/or video images of an area around the portable electronic device; measure and/or determine relative and/or absolute linear motion, velocity and/or acceleration of the portable electronic device; measure and/or determine relative and/or absolute angular motion, velocity and/or acceleration of the portable electronic device; and/or measure and/or determine relative and/or absolute position of the portable electronic device. Referring to
Referring to
Any single part or multiple parts of the portable electronic device holder 100 may be constructed from any type of material, such as stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, various metals or metal alloys, composite materials (e.g., Kevlar®, graphite and/or fiberglass), natural materials such as wood or stone or artificial materials such as plastic. Any single part or multiple parts of the portable electronic device holder 100, such as the body portion 102, the first and second rods 120 and 121, the springs 210 and 212, the first clamp portion 104 and/or the springs 210 and 212 may be constructed by stamping (i.e., punching using a machine press or a stamping press, blanking, embossing, bending, flanging, coining, or casting), injection molding, forging, machining or a combination thereof, or other processes used for manufacturing metal, composite, plastic or wood parts. The first and second springs 210 and 212 may be coil springs, leaf springs, radial springs, elastomer springs (e.g., annular or cylindrical elastomeric parts) or be constructed with any material and/or have any shape to provide the functions described herein. For example, the body portion 102 including the second clamp portion 106, the first and second rods 120 and 121 and the first clamp portion 104 may be constructed from plastic by an injection molding process. The springs 210 and 212 for example may be steel or plastic coil springs. The body portion 102 including the second clamp portion 106, the first and second rods 120 and 121, the springs 210 and 212 and the first clamp portion 104 may then be assembled to form the portable electronic device holder 100. The body portion 102 or any other part of the portable electronic device holder 100 may be constructed in multiple sections that may be joined together during assembly of the portable electronic device holder 100. For example, the body portion 102 may be constructed as two halves that are joined together during assembly of the portable electronic device holder 100.
The above examples are described in connection with a golf club such as a putter-type golf club, a driver-type golf club, a fairway wood-type golf club, a hybrid-type golf club, an iron-type golf club, or a wedge-type golf club. However, the apparatus and articles of manufacture described herein may be applicable other types of sports equipment such as a hockey stick, a tennis racket, a fishing pole, a ski pole, etc.
Although a particular order of actions is described above, these actions may be performed in other temporal sequences. For example, two or more actions described above may be performed sequentially, concurrently, or simultaneously. Alternatively, two or more actions may be performed in reversed order. Further, one or more actions described above may not be performed at all. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.
Although certain example methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this disclosure is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this disclosure covers all methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2653330 | Nolan | Sep 1953 | A |
2666612 | Howell | Jan 1954 | A |
2854244 | Jarman | Sep 1958 | A |
2945657 | Jarman | Jul 1960 | A |
3218058 | Smith | Nov 1965 | A |
3396851 | Collins et al. | Aug 1968 | A |
4126290 | Drouillard | Nov 1978 | A |
4300742 | Hunn | Nov 1981 | A |
5000418 | Vogt | Mar 1991 | A |
5911635 | Ogden | Jun 1999 | A |
6370741 | Lu | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6607450 | Hackman | Aug 2003 | B1 |
6959899 | Yeh | Nov 2005 | B2 |
7017243 | Carnevali | Mar 2006 | B2 |
7093811 | Wu | Aug 2006 | B2 |
7219866 | Depay et al. | May 2007 | B2 |
7551458 | Carnevali | Jun 2009 | B2 |
7686267 | DaSilva | Mar 2010 | B2 |
7837166 | Liao et al. | Nov 2010 | B2 |
D631525 | Smith et al. | Jan 2011 | S |
8083198 | Stabler | Dec 2011 | B2 |
8176603 | Carnevali | May 2012 | B2 |
8403280 | Halverson et al. | Mar 2013 | B2 |
20100222152 | Jaekel et al. | Sep 2010 | A1 |
20110086720 | Jaekel et al. | Apr 2011 | A1 |
20110224012 | Hashimoto et al. | Sep 2011 | A1 |
20120257345 | Hulet | Oct 2012 | A1 |
20120257346 | Hulet | Oct 2012 | A1 |
20120286114 | Jertson et al. | Nov 2012 | A1 |
20120289354 | Cottam et al. | Nov 2012 | A1 |
20120322569 | Cottam | Dec 2012 | A1 |
20130032679 | Ward et al. | Feb 2013 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20150060618 A1 | Mar 2015 | US |