Systems and methods for an adjustable electronic device holder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10587739-B2
Application number	US-201816163110-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 17, 2018
Priority date	Apr 18, 2016
Publication date	Mar 10, 2020
Grant date	Mar 10, 2020

Abstract

A system for holding an electronic device includes a body portion, the body portion having a flat surface. The system further includes a first holding piece and a second holding piece, each of the first and second holding pieces including a holding surface approximately perpendicular to the flat surface. The system further includes an arm interconnected with the first holding piece, the arm extending into an aperture in the body portion, the body portion including a mechanism for holding the arm in a first fixed position such that there is a first distance between the first and second holding pieces, the mechanism further providing for orientation of the arm in a second fixed position such that there is a second distance between the first and second holding pieces, the second distance less than the first, the first and second holding pieces being complementarily shaped to hold the electronic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for holding an electronic device, the system comprising:
a body portion, the body portion having a flat surface;
a first holding piece and a second holding piece, each of the first and second holding pieces including a holding surface approximately perpendicular to the flat surface, the first and second holding pieces being complementarily shaped to hold the electronic device;
an arm interconnected with the first holding piece, the arm extending into an aperture in the body portion; and
a mechanism for holding the arm in a first fixed position such that there is a first distance between the first and second holding pieces, the mechanism further providing for orientation of the arm in a second fixed position such that there is a second distance between the first and second holding pieces, the second distance less than the first distance, the mechanism including a gear rotatably mounted on the body portion and a spring interconnected with the body portion and the gear,
wherein the gear interacts with the arm such that, when the arm is pushed towards the body portion, the gear rotates to gather rotational energy in the spring, and the mechanism momentarily releases from the arm to allow incremental movement of the arm towards the body portion.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism includes a quick release lever, the quick release lever holding the arm in the second fixed position and wherein when the quick release lever is depressed, the mechanism releases the arm to the first fixed position.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising an arm end, the arm end on an end of the first arm, the arm end including a first geared portion, the first geared portion positioned to mate with a second geared portion of the quick release lever.

4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a spring arm, the spring arm oriented against the quick release lever, holding the second geared portion of the quick release lever against the first geared portion of the arm end, the quick release lever pivotally mounted on the body portion such that, when a user pushes on the quick release lever, the quick release lever releases away from the first geared portion and allows the quick release lever to move.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the gear interacts with a third geared portion of the arm end such that, when the arm is pushed toward the body portion, the gear rotates, gathering rotational energy in the spring, and the quick release lever pushes against the spring arm, momentarily releasing the first geared portion from the second geared portion, allowing the quick release lever to ratchet.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a second arm, the second arm including a second arm end, the second arm end interacting with the gear with a fourth geared portion of the second arm end.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first arm end and the second arm end each includes an aperture complementary to receive a third arm and a fourth arm, such that the third arm slides into the aperture of the first arm end and the fourth arm slides into the aperture of the second arm end.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth arms slide in and out of the body portion in a fixed plane.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein each of the first and second holding pieces includes a piece of high friction material that compresses and provides friction to the electronic device when the electronic device is held.

10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a spacer on the first and second arms adjacent to the first holding piece, the spacer including a spacer gripping surface.

11. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a magnetic holder attached to the body piece.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic holder includes a magnetic ring formed to complementarily fit to the shape of a semicircular receiver.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the magnetic holder further includes a first piece of high friction material formed around the magnetic ring or in the center of the magnetic ring.

14. A system for holding an electronic device, the system comprising:
a body portion, the body portion having a flat surface;
a first holding piece and a second holding piece, each of the first and second holding pieces including a holding surface approximately perpendicular to the flat surface, the first and second holding pieces being complementarily shaped to hold the electronic device;
a first arm interconnected with the first holding piece and a second arm interconnected with the second holding piece, the first and second arms extending into apertures in the body portion; and
a mechanism for holding the first and second arms in a first fixed position such that there is a first distance between the first and second holding pieces, the mechanism further providing for orientation of the first and second arms in a second fixed position such that there is a second distance between the first and second holding pieces, the second distance less than the first distance, the mechanism including a gear rotatably mounted on the body portion and a spring interconnected with the body portion and the gear,
wherein the gear interact with the first and second arm such that, when the first and second arms are pushed towards the body, the gear rotates to gather rotational energy in the spring, and the mechanism momentarily releases from at least one of the first and second arms to allow incremental movement of the first and second arms towards the body portion.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the mechanism includes a quick release lever, the quick release lever holding the first and second arms in the second fixed position and wherein when the quick release lever is depressed, the mechanism releases the first and second arms to the first fixed position.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a first arm end and a second arm end, the first arm end on an end of the first arm, the second arm end on an end of the second arm, each of the first and second arm ends including a first geared portion and a second geared portion, respectively, the first geared portion positioned to mate with a second geared portion of the quick release lever.

17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising a spring arm, the spring arm oriented against the quick release lever, holding the second geared portion of the quick release lever against the first geared portion of the first arm end, the quick release lever pivotally mounted on the body portion such that, when a user pushes on the quick release lever, the quick release lever releases away from the first geared portion and allows the quick release lever to move.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the gear interacts with a third geared portion of the first arm end and a fourth geared portion of the second arm end such that, when the first and second arms are pushed toward the body portion, the gear rotates, gathering rotational energy in the spring, and the quick release lever pushes against the spring arm, momentarily releasing the first geared portion from the second geared portion, allowing the quick release lever to ratchet.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the first arm end and the second arm end each includes an aperture complementary to receive a third arm and a fourth arm, such that the third arm slides into the aperture of the first arm end and the fourth arm slides into the aperture of the second arm end.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the first

Assignees

• Ormsbee Bowden
• Stevens Rex
• Nite Ize Inc

Inventors

• Ormsbee Bowden
• Stevens Rex

Classifications

• B60R11/0241

  for telephones · CPC title

• F16M13/00

  Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles (heads thereof F16M11/02 {; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20} ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 {; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22}); Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles {(supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025)} · CPC title

• B60R2011/0071

  using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like · CPC title

• H04M1/04 Primary

  Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers · CPC title

• B60R2011/0057

  using magnetic means · CPC title