Personal electronic device mounting assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10029792-B2
Application number	US-201314442316-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 12, 2013
Priority date	Nov 12, 2012
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

Described herein are personal electronics device mounting assemblies including a passenger seat and a case assembly comprising a case configured to receive a personal electronic device and a male structure pivotally coupled to the case. The personal electronic device mounting assemblies may also include a mounting assembly comprising a female slot structure and a support bracket structure, the female slot structure may be configured to releasably receive the male structure and the support bracket structure may be configured to attach to the passenger seat. The mounting assembly may be configured to provide support to the case when the male structure is in an extended position and the female slot structure has received the male structure.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A personal electronic device support assembly comprising:
a coupling assembly comprising a female slot structure and a support bracket, wherein the support bracket affixes the female slot structure to another structure;
a case assembly comprising:
a case configured to releasably couple to a personal electronic device; and
a male structure pivotally coupled to the case; and

a shroud including an access slot sized larger than the male structure, wherein a portion of the male structure extends through the shroud when the female slot structure receives the male structure; and
wherein the female slot structure and the support bracket are disposed between the seat support bracket and the shroud;
wherein, when the case assembly is releasably coupled to the other structure, the case assembly is releasably coupled to the personal electronic device, and the male structure is rotated into an extended position and inserted into the female slot structure of the coupling assembly; and
wherein, when the case assembly is not releasably coupled to the other structure, the case assembly is configured to remain releasably connected to the personal electronic device as a protective cover, and the male structure is configured to function as a stand to support the case assembly at an angled position when rotated into the extended position or fit within a recess in the case when rotated into a stowed position.

2. The personal electronic device support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seat comprises a seat back of a passenger seat.

3. The personal electronic device support assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a connector configured to provide at least one of power transmission or data transmission between the personal electronic device and a secondary system.

4. The personal electronic device support assembly of claim 3 , wherein the secondary system comprises at least one of a power supply, a network, an on-board entertainment system, and an in-flight entertainment system.

5. The personal electronic device support assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a lighting device disposed at an outer surface of the female slot structure, wherein the lighting device is configured to identify the female slot structure in at least low-light conditions.

6. A passenger seat assembly comprising:
a passenger seat;
a coupling assembly comprising a female slot structure and a support bracket, wherein the support bracket affixes the female slot structure to the passenger seat; and
a case assembly comprising:
a case configured to releasably couple to a personal electronic device; and
a male structure pivotally coupled to the case;

an integrated keyboard tray disposed below the case assembly, wherein the integrated keyboard tray is configured to allow a user to interact with at least the personal electronic device;
wherein, when the case assembly is releasably coupled to the passenger seat, the case assembly is releasably coupled to the personal electronic device, and the male structure is rotated into an extended position and inserted into the female slot structure of the coupling assembly; and
wherein, when the case assembly is not releasably coupled to the passenger seat, the case assembly is configured to remain releasably connected to the personal electronic device as a protective cover, and the male structure is configured to function as a stand to support the case assembly at an angled position when rotated into the extended position or fit within a recess in the case when rotated into a stowed position.

7. The passenger seat assembly of claim 6 , further comprising an interface coupled to the male structure, wherein the interface is configured to connect the personal electronic device to a secondary system, the secondary system including at least one of data transmission capability and power transmission capability.

8. The passenger seat assembly of claim 7 , wherein the interface is configured to connect the personal electronic device wirelessly to the secondary system.

9. The personal electronic device support assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a lighting device disposed at an outer surface of the female slot structure, wherein the lighting device is configured to identify the female slot structure in at least low-light conditions.

10. A personal electronic device support assembly comprising:
a coupling assembly comprising a female slot structure and a support bracket, wherein the support bracket affixes the female slot structure to another structure; and
a case assembly comprising:
a case configured to releasably couple to a personal electronic device; and
a male structure pivotally coupled to the case;

a lighting device disposed at an outer surface of the female slot structure, wherein the lighting device is configured to identify the female slot structure in at least low-light conditions;
wherein, when the case assembly is releasably coupled to the other structure, the case assembly is releasably coupled to the personal electronic device, and the male structure is rotated into an extended position and inserted into the female slot structure of the coupling assembly;
wherein, when the case assembly is not releasably coupled to the other structure, the case assembly is configured to remain releasably connected to the personal electronic device as a protective cover, and the male structure is configured to function as a stand to support the case assembly at an angled position when rotated into the extended position or fit within a recess in the case when rotated into a stowed position.

11. The personal electronic device support assembly of claim 10 , further comprising:
a shroud including an access slot sized larger than the male structure, wherein a portion of the male structure extends through the shroud when the female slot structure receives the male structure.

12. The personal electronic device support assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a connector, wherein the connector is configured to provide at least one of power transmission or data transmission between the personal electronic device and a secondary system.

13. The personal electronic device support assembly of claim 12 , wherein the secondary system comprises at least one of a power supply, a network, an on-board entertainment system, and an in-flight entertainment system.

Assignees

• Zodiac Seats Us Llc

Inventors

• Heredia Homero
• Reyes Raul
• Valdes Armando
• Wolfe Garrett

Classifications

• G06F1/1673

  Arrangements for projecting a virtual keyboard · CPC title

• B60R11/0229

  for displays, e.g. cathodic tubes · CPC title

• B60R11/0241

  for telephones · CPC title

• G06F1/1662

  Details related to the integrated keyboard · CPC title

• B60R2011/0294

  Apparatus with multi-functionalities, e.g. radio and telephone · CPC title