Magnetic mount for electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11162633-B2
Application number	US-201916510813-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2019
Priority date	Jul 12, 2019
Publication date	Nov 2, 2021
Grant date	Nov 2, 2021

Abstract

An electronic device mount includes a rigid cover, a flexible cover, and a frame positioned between the rigid cover and the flexible cover. The frame has a plurality of openings. The electronic device mount further includes a plurality of rocker arms coupled within correspond openings of the frame, and to the flexible cover. The plurality of rocker arms are configured to pivot within the plurality of openings to deflect the flexible cover relative to the frame to define a curved outer surface of the flexible cover. The electronic device mount also includes a plurality of magnets coupled to one of the frame or the flexible cover. The deflection of the flexible cover is self-adjusting to allow for easy mounting of an electronic device to a curved metal surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device mount comprising:
a rigid cover;
a flexible cover;
a frame positioned between the rigid cover and the flexible cover, the frame comprising a plurality of openings;
a plurality of rocker arms coupled within correspond openings of the frame, and to the flexible cover, the plurality of rocker arms configured to pivot within the plurality of openings to deflect the flexible cover relative to the frame to define a curved outer surface of the flexible cover; and
a plurality of magnets coupled to one of the frame or the flexible cover.

2. The electronic device mount of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the rocker arms is pivotally coupled to the flexible cover, and at least one of the rocker arms is slidingly coupled to the flexible cover.

3. The electronic device mount of claim 2 , wherein a center of each rocker arm is coupled within the corresponding opening of the frame with a pin, and ends of the at least one rocker arm are coupled to slots within end mounts of the flexible cover.

4. The electronic device mount of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible plate that bends as a result of pivoting movement of the plurality of rocker arms to deflect the flexible cover relative to the frame.

5. The electronic device mount of claim 1 , further comprising a gasket around the flexible cover and coupled to an edge of the rigid cover.

6. The electronic device mount of claim 1 , wherein the frame is a rigid frame formed from a non-ferrous material.

7. The electronic device mount of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rocker arms are formed from a rigid plastic and further comprising a flexible plate wherein a middle portion of the flexible plate deflects towards the frame and end portions deflect away from the frame as a result of pivoting movement of the plurality of rocker arms.

8. The electronic device mount of claim 1 , wherein the rigid cover is a front cover configured to magnetically couple to an electronic device, the flexible cover is a back cover configured to couple to a ferrous curved surface, and the plurality of magnets are coupled to the frame and the flexible cover.

9. The electronic device mount of claim 8 , wherein the rigid front cover is one of colored or covered with a colored material.

10. The electronic device mount of claim 1 , wherein the rigid cover is sized and shaped complementary to an electronic tablet.

11. A tablet mount comprising:
a rigid front cover;
a flexible back cover;
a non-ferrous frame positioned between the rigid front cover and the flexible back cover, the non-ferrous frame comprising a plurality of openings;
a rocker arm pivotally coupled within each opening of the frame, and slidingly coupled to the flexible back cover, the plurality of rocker arms configured to allow the flexible back cover to deflect relative to the frame to define a curved outer surface; and
a plurality of magnets coupled to the frame and the flexible cover, the magnets coupled to the frame configured to magnetically coupled to a tablet and the magnets coupled to the flexible back cover configured to magnetically couple to a curved ferrous surface.

12. The tablet mount of claim 11 , wherein the rigid front cover is a decorative cover and further comprising a flexible and extendable gasket along edges of the rigid front cover and the flexible back cover.

13. The tablet mount of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of rocker arms are rigid arms coupled to the non-ferrous frame and the flexible back cover with pins.

14. The tablet mount of claim 13 , wherein the flexible back cover comprises end mounts for receiving therein pins coupled to ends of the plurality of rocker arms, three of the end mounts having slots for receiving the pins, and one of the end mounts having a hole for receiving the pin.

15. The tablet mount of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of magnets comprises rare earth magnets aligned along the non-ferrous frame and the flexible back cover.

16. The tablet mount of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of rocker arms comprises two pairs of two pivoting rocker arms positioned at opposite ends of the non-ferrous frame.

17. A method for manufacturing an electronic device mount, the method comprising:
coupling magnets to each of a frame and flexible cover;
pivotally coupling rocker arms to the frame and flexible cover to allow the flexible cover to deflect relative to the frame to define a curved outer surface of the flexible cover; and
connecting the flexible cover to a rigid cover with the frame therebetween.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the frame comprises a rigid non-ferrous frame and a plurality of openings for receiving therein the rocker arms.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising coupling a flexible gasket around an edge of the flexible cover and the rigid cover.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the flexible cover is formed of a material that allows deflection of the flexible cover relative to the frame, and the rigid cover comprises a decorative outer surface.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Sullivan Timothy M

Classifications

• F16M13/022

  repositionable · CPC title

• F16M11/041 Primary

  Allowing quick release of the apparatus · CPC title

• F16M13/005 Primary

  integral with the apparatus or articles to be supported · CPC title

• H01F7/02

  Permanent magnets {[PM]} · CPC title

• H05K7/14

  Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack · CPC title