Portable electronic device mounting systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9890899-B2
Application number	US-201615165815-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 26, 2016
Priority date	Jul 7, 2015
Publication date	Feb 13, 2018
Grant date	Feb 13, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus to hold an electronic device includes a housing assembly including a housing body; a first arm configured to extend from a first end of the body; a first hook and a second hook engaged to and extending from a first end region of the first arm, a portion of the first hook and a portion of the second hook extending toward the body, the first hook and the second hook forming a first hook pair to receive the device; a second arm configured to extend from a second end of the body; and a third hook and a fourth hook engaged to and extending from a first end region of the second arm, a portion of the third hook and a portion of the fourth hook extending toward the housing body, the third hook and the fourth hook forming a second hook pair to receive the device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus configured to hold a portable electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
a housing assembly including:
a housing body;
a first arm formed as a single component configured to extend from a first end of the housing body and including:
a first hook and a second hook extending from a first end region of the first arm, the first hook having a top and a base and the second hook having a top and a base, the base of the first hook and the base of the second hook being engaged to the first end region of the first arm, a portion of the first hook and a portion of the second hook angularly extending toward the housing body, the first hook and the second hook forming a first hook pair configured to receive a first portion of the portable electronic device;
wherein the first hook includes at least two faces defining a first inner rounded edge, the first inner rounded edge including a first contacting surface configured to contact the portable device;
wherein the second hook includes at least two faces defining a second inner rounded edge, the second inner rounded edge opposing the first inner rounded edge, and the second inner rounded edge including a second contacting surface configured to contact the portable device opposite the first contacting surface; and
a second arm formed as a single component configured to extend from a second end of the housing body and including:
a third hook and a fourth hook extending from a first end region of the second arm, the third hook having a base and the fourth hook having a base, the base of the third hook and the base of the fourth hook being engaged to the first end region of the second arm, a portion of the third hook and a portion of the fourth hook angularly extending toward the housing body, the third hook and the fourth hook forming a second hook pair configured to receive a second portion of the portable electronic device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing defines a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber separated from the second chamber by a divider, the first chamber configured to receive at least a portion of the first arm, and the second chamber configured to receive at least a portion of the second arm.

3. An apparatus configured to hold a portable electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
a housing assembly including:
a housing body;
a first arm configured to extend from a first end of the housing body;
a first hook and a second hook engaged to and extending from a first end region of the first arm, the first hook having a top and a base and the second hook having a top and a base, the base of the first hook and the base of the second hook being engaged to the first end region of the first arm, a portion of the first hook and a portion of the second hook angularly extending toward the housing body, the first hook and the second hook forming a first hook pair configured to receive a first portion of the portable electronic device;
a second arm configured to extend from a second end of the housing body; and
a third hook and a fourth hook engaged to and extending from a first end region of the second arm, the third hook having a base and the fourth hook having a base, the base of the third hook and the base of the fourth hook being engaged to the first end region of the second arm, a portion of the third hook and a portion of the fourth hook angularly extending toward the housing body, the third hook and the fourth hook forming a second hook pair configured to receive a second portion of the portable electronic device, wherein the housing body defines a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber separated from the second chamber by a divider, the first chamber configured to receive at least a portion of the first arm, and the second chamber configured to receive at least a portion of the second arm, wherein the divider defines a plurality of divider teeth, the housing assembly comprising a lock rod including:
a lock rod body having a first end and a second end;
a key lock positioned at the first end of the lock rod body and configured to receive a key; and
a plurality of lock rod teeth positioned at the second end of the lock rod body, the plurality of lock rod teeth configured to engage the plurality of divider teeth and prevent movement of the first arm when the lock rod body is turned using the key.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the lock rod body extends through a portion of the first arm.

5. The apparatus of any claim 1 , wherein the second arm includes a cover, the cover defining a plurality of notches, the housing assembly including a housing cover and a lock latch rotatingly coupled to the housing cover, the lock latch defining at least one tooth, the lock latch configured to engage one of the plurality of notches and lock the second arm in a position relative to the housing body.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a lock spring attached to an end of the lock latch, the lock spring configured to bias the lock latch toward the plurality of notches.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
a first boss attached to the housing body;
a second boss attached to the first arm; and
a spring having a first end engaged to the first boss and a second end engaged to the second boss, the spring configured to bias the first arm towards a closed position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the first hook and the portion of the second hook angularly extending toward the housing body are straight, and wherein the portion of the third hook and the portion of the fourth hook angularly extending toward the housing body are straight.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first hook and the second hook are not connected to one another, and wherein the third hook and the fourth hook are not connected to one another.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first portion is a first corner and wherein the second portion is a second corner.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first portion is a first edge and wherein the second portion is a second edge.

12. A system configured to hold a portable electronic device, the system comprising:
a mounting bracket;
a housing assembly configured to couple to the mounting bracket and hold a portable electronic device, the housing assembly including:
a housing body;
a first arm formed as a single component configured to extend from a first end of the housing body and including:
a first hook and a second hook extending from a first end region of the first arm, the first hook having a top and a base and the second hook having a top and a base, the base of the first hook and the base of the second hook being engaged to the first end region of the first arm, a portion of the first hook and a portion of the second hook angularly extending toward the housing body, the first hook and the second hook forming a first hook pair configured to receive a first portion of the portable electronic device;

wherein the first hook includes at least two faces defining a first inner rounded edge, the first inner rounded edge including a first contacting surface configured to contact the portable device;
wherein the second hook includes at least two faces defining a second inner rounded edge, the second inner rounded edge opposing the first inner rounded edge, and the second inner rounded edge including a second contacting surface configured to contact the portable device opposite the first contacting surface; and
a second arm formed as a single component configured to extend from a second end of the housing body and including:
a third hook and a fourth hook extending from a f

Assignees

• Ergotron Inc

Inventors

• Theis John William
• Lindblad Shaun Christopher
• Fluhrer Robert William
• Ergun Mustafa A

Classifications

• F16M11/04

  Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand · CPC title

• F16M13/02

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

• F16M2200/028

  by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections · CPC title

• F16M11/041 Primary

  Allowing quick release of the apparatus · CPC title

• F16M13/022 Primary

  repositionable · CPC title