Portable electronic device holder with socket and rotating partial-cylinder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12473089-B2
Application number	US-202318215421-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2023
Priority date	Jun 28, 2023
Publication date	Nov 18, 2025
Grant date	Nov 18, 2025

Abstract

A portable electronic device (PED) holder for being mounted to a structure such as a passenger seat backrest. In embodiments, the PED holder includes a socket, a hollow partial-cylinder rotatably disposed in the socket, and an adjustable clamp mounted in the hollow partial-cylinder. The hollow partial-cylinder and the socket interact via a guide mechanism configured to control rotation of the hollow partial-cylinder relative to the socket. In embodiments, the adjustable clamp is mounted to a base and includes first and second arms, at least one of which is spring-loaded. In some embodiments, an electromagnetic induction coil may be disposed in the base.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A portable electronic device (PED) holder, comprising:
a socket; a hollow partial-cylinder rotatably disposed in the socket; and an adjustable clamp mounted in the hollow partial-cylinder; wherein the hollow partial-cylinder and the socket interact by a guide mechanism configured to control rotation of the hollow partial-cylinder relative to the socket, the guide mechanism comprising:
a partial-circular guideway positioned on each end of the hollow partial-cylinder, and a guide positioned on each end of the socket, each guide configured to interact with the respective partial-circular guideway; or
a partial-circular guideway positioned on each end of the socket, and a guide positioned on each end of the hollow partial-cylinder, each guide configured to interact with the respective partial-cylinder guideway.

2 . The PED holder according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustable clamp comprises opposing first and second arms, at least one of which is spring-loaded.

3 . The PED holder according to claim 2 , wherein the hollow partial-cylinder has a horizontal axis of rotation and the first and second arms are configured for horizontal linear motion.

4 . The PED holder according to claim 2 , wherein the hollow partial-cylinder has a vertical axis of rotation and the first and second arms are configured for vertical linear motion.

5 . The PED holder according to claim 1 , further comprising a base disposed in the hollow partial-cylinder, wherein the adjustable clamp is mounted to the base.

6 . The PED holder according to claim 5 , further comprising an electromagnetic induction coil disposed in the base.

7 . The PED holder according to claim 1 , wherein the socket comprises a partial-cylindrical cavity formed by or mounted to a seat backrest, and the hollow-partial cylinder is positioned in tight-fitting engagement within the partial-cylindrical cavity.

8 . The PED holder according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow partial-cylinder comprises an open front face and the adjustable clamp is mounted substantially flush with the open front face.

9 . The PED holder according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow partial-cylinder is configured to rotate up to about 45 degrees relative to the socket to adjust a viewing angle of a PED held by the adjustable clamp.

10 . A passenger seat backrest, comprising:
a deployable tray table; a backrest surround positioned above the deployable tray table; and a portable electronic device (PED) holder positioned in the backrest surround, the PED holder comprising:
a socket mounted to or formed by the backrest surround;
a hollow partial-cylinder rotatably disposed in the socket; and
an adjustable clamp mounted in the hollow partial-cylinder;
wherein the hollow partial-cylinder and the socket interact by a guide mechanism configured to control rotation of the hollow partial-cylinder relative to the socket, the guide mechanism comprising:
a partial-circular guideway positioned on each end of the hollow partial-cylinder, and a guide positioned on each end of the socket, each guide configured to interact with the respective partial-circular guideway; or
a partial-circular guideway positioned on each end of the socket, and a guide positioned on each end of the hollow partial-cylinder, each guide configured to interact with the respective partial-cylinder guideway.

11 . The passenger seat backrest according to claim 10 , wherein the adjustable clamp comprises opposing first and second arms, at least one of which is spring-loaded.

12 . The passenger seat backrest according to claim 11 , wherein the hollow partial-cylinder has a horizontal axis of rotation and the first and second arms are configured for horizontal linear motion.

13 . The passenger seat backrest according to claim 10 , further comprising a base disposed in the hollow partial-cylinder and an electromagnetic induction coil disposed in the base, wherein the adjustable clamp is mounted to the base.

14 . The passenger seat backrest according to claim 10 , wherein the socket comprises a partial-cylindrical cavity and the hollow-partial cylinder is positioned in tight-fitting engagement within the partial-cylindrical cavity.

15 . The passenger seat backrest according to claim 10 , wherein the hollow partial-cylinder comprises an open front face and the adjustable clamp is mounted substantially flush with the open front face.

16 . The passenger seat backrest according to claim 10 , wherein the hollow partial-cylinder is configured to rotate up to about 45 degrees relative to the socket to adjust a viewing angle of a PED held by the adjustable clamp.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Boyd Michael
• Vaninetti Travis J
• Santiago Mauricio

Classifications

• B60R2011/0085

  with adjustment by rotation in their operational position · CPC title

• B60R2011/0071

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

• B60R2011/0017

  Head-rests · CPC title

• B60R11/0241

  for telephones · CPC title

• B64D11/0638

  with foldable tables, trays or cup holders · CPC title