Quick release mobile device holder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12391189-B2
Application number	US-202418670845-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2024
Priority date	Dec 21, 2023
Publication date	Aug 19, 2025
Grant date	Aug 19, 2025

Abstract

Disclosed herein are example mobile device holders having an adjustable retaining device for adjustably sizing a mobile device enclosure. The adjustable retaining device can include one or more adjustable arms extending from the body of the device holder. The adjustable retaining device can also include a corresponding number of engagement members disposed on the ends of the one or more adjustable arms. The one or more adjustable arms and the one or more corresponding engagement members can move from an undeflected state to a deflected state when a mobile device is introduced to the enclosure, and may be biased, for example by spring elements, to return to the undeflected state when the mobile device is removed from the enclosure.

First claim

We claim:

1. A self-adjusting mobile device holder comprising:
a holder body;
a bottom support bracket having a bottom portion extending in a forward direction from a lower portion of the holder body;
a first retaining arm assembly including a first retaining arm and a first gripper portion connected to the first retaining arm; and
a second retaining arm assembly including a second retaining arm and a second gripper portion connected to the second retaining arm,
wherein the holder body, the bottom support bracket, and the first and second retaining arm assemblies together at least partially define an adjustable enclosure for receiving a mobile device;
wherein the first and second retaining arms are connected to opposite lateral sides of the holder body so that the first and second retaining arms can be moved laterally away from and toward each other to adjust a width of the enclosure; and
wherein the first and second gripper portions are connected to the first and second retaining arms, respectively, so that the first and second gripper portions can be moved in a forward direction away from the holder body to adjust a depth of the enclosure to receive the mobile device in the enclosure or to release the mobile device from the enclosure.

2. The self-adjusting mobile device holder of claim 1 , wherein:
the first and second retaining arms each include a mounting end portion pivotally connected to the holder body so that the first and second retaining arms are pivotable relative to the holder body around first and second pivot axes, respectively.

3. The self-adjusting mobile device holder of claim 2 , wherein:
the first and second pivot axes are parallel to each other.

4. The self-adjusting mobile device holder of claim 2 , wherein:
the first and second gripper portions are pivotally connected to the first and second retaining arms, respectively, so that the first and second gripper portions are pivotable relative to the first and second retaining arms around third and fourth pivot axes, respectively.

5. The self-adjusting mobile device holder of claim 4 , wherein the first and second gripper portions comprise a receiver portion that extends away from the third and fourth pivot axes.

6. The self-adjusting mobile device holder of claim 4 , wherein:
the third and fourth pivot axes are transverse to the first and second pivot axes, respectively.

7. The self-adjusting mobile device holder of claim 4 , further comprising:
first and second retaining arm biasing springs biasing the first and second retaining arms laterally toward each other.

8. The self-adjusting mobile device holder of claim 7 , further comprising:
first and second gripper portion biasing springs biasing the first and second gripper portions rearward toward the holder body.

9. The self-adjusting mobile device holder of claim 1 , wherein:
the first and second retaining arms are resiliently biased toward each other.

10. The self-adjusting mobile device holder of claim 1 , further comprising:
a roller disposed at a free end portion of each of the first and second retaining arms.

11. A mobile device holder comprising:
a holder body at least partially defining an adjustable enclosure; and
an adjustable retaining device configured to retain a mobile device in the adjustable enclosure;
wherein the adjustable retaining device is movable from an undeflected state to a deflected state to adjust a size of the enclosure and admit the mobile device to the adjustable enclosure and resiliently biased to automatically return from the deflected state to the undeflected state when the mobile device is removed from the adjustable enclosure, and
wherein the adjustable retaining device is movable relative to the holder body in at least a first direction and a second direction transverse to the first direction.

12. The mobile device holder of claim 11 , wherein when the mobile device is introduced to the adjustable enclosure, the mobile device engages the retaining device and causes the retaining device to move from the undeflected state to the deflected state.

13. The mobile device holder of claim 11 , wherein the adjustable enclosure is open at a top end, and can receive a mobile device that is introduced through the open top end and, wherein, when the mobile device is received by the enclosure, the mobile device is secured along at least a side portion by the adjustable retaining device.

14. The mobile device holder of claim 11 , wherein the adjustable retaining device comprises a first retaining arm pivotally coupled to the holder body at a bottom end portion and a second retaining arm pivotally coupled to the holder body at the bottom end portion, and wherein the first retaining arm is rotationally movable in a first direction by pivoting about a first rotation axis extending along a thickness of the mobile device holder, and the second retaining arm is rotationally movable in a second direction opposite to the first direction by pivoting about a second rotation axis parallel to the first rotation axis.

15. The mobile device holder of claim 14 , further comprising a first biasing element disposed between the retaining arm and the holder body and configured to return the retaining device to the undeflected state when no mobile device is within the enclosure.

16. The mobile device holder of claim 14 , wherein the first retaining arm comprises a first gear portion and the second retaining arm comprises a second gear portion engaged with the first gear portion such that a rotational movement of the first retaining arm causes a corresponding rotational movement of the second retaining arm and a rotational movement of the second retaining arm causes a corresponding rotational movement of the first retaining arm.

17. The mobile device holder of claim 16 , wherein when the adjustable retaining device moves from the undeflected state to the deflected state, the first retaining arm and the second retaining arm move further apart from one another.

18. The mobile device holder of claim 14 , wherein the adjustable retaining device further comprises an engagement feature attached to a second end portion of the retaining arm by a hinge and configured to move in the second direction by rotating about a third rotation axis transverse to the first rotation axis.

19. The mobile device holder of claim 18 , wherein the engagement feature comprises an angled receiver portion configured to engage a leading edge of the mobile device when the mobile device is introduced to the enclosure, and wherein the engagement between the leading edge of the mobile device and the angled receiver portion causes the engagement feature to rotate about the third rotation axis and away from the holder body.

20. The mobile device holder of claim 18 , wherein the adjustable retaining device further comprises a biasing element disposed between the engagement feature and the retaining arm, configured to urge the engagement feature into contact with the holder body when no mobile device is in the enclosure.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Huenink Brian M
• Thompson Michael W

Classifications

• F16M11/22

  with approximately constant height, e.g. with constant length of column or of legs (F16M11/42 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16M11/2007

  comprising means allowing pivoting adjustment · CPC title

• F16M11/045

  adapted to left-right translation movement · CPC title

• F16M13/02

  for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle · CPC title

• F16M11/041

  Allowing quick release of the apparatus · CPC title