U.S. patent application number 12/766104 was filed with the patent office on 2011-10-27 for apparatus for holding portable electronic device.
Invention is credited to Eagle Fan.
Application Number | 20110259789 12/766104 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44814886 |
Filed Date | 2011-10-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110259789 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fan; Eagle |
October 27, 2011 |
APPARATUS FOR HOLDING PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE
Abstract
An apparatus for holding portable electronic device is provided,
including an upper cover, a holding seat and at least a latch unit.
The holding seat and the upper cover are coupled at one side so
that the upper cover able to open or close using the coupling side
as center. The latch unit is located at the coupling of the holding
seat and the upper cover for locking position of the upper cover
after opening; With the above structure, when the apparatus claps
an electronic device, the bottom and top edges of the electronic
device touch inner walls of the holding seat and the upper cover,
respectively, and the latch unit locks the opening position of the
upper cover. The open angle allows the electronic device to be held
between the holding seat and the upper cover with a tilting angle
inside the apparatus.
Inventors: |
Fan; Eagle; (Hsinchu,
TW) |
Family ID: |
44814886 |
Appl. No.: |
12/766104 |
Filed: |
April 23, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/701 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 2011/0094 20130101;
B60R 11/0258 20130101; B60R 2011/0085 20130101; B60R 2011/0075
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/701 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for holding portable electronic device, comprising:
a holding seat, an upper cover and at least a latch unit; said
holding seat and said upper cover being coupled at one side so that
said upper cover able to open or close using said coupling side as
center; said latch unit located at said coupling of said holding
seat and said upper cover for locking position of said upper cover
after opening; wherein when said holding apparatus clapping, top
edge of said electronic device contacting inner wall of said upper
cover, and bottom edge of said electronic device contacting inner
wall of said holding seat, said latching unit locking position of
said upper cover after opening so that said electronic device being
clapped by said holding apparatus with a tilting angle.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner wall of
said upper cover comprises at least a contact element, located at
location away from said coupling side of said upper over and said
holding seat, when clapping, said contact element contacts top edge
of said electronic device to prevent said electronic device from
moving.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper cover is
coupled to a side cover, said side cover is parallel with and
located at location away from said coupling side of said upper
cover and said holding seat, inner wall of said side cover
comprises a contact element, when clapping, said contact element
contacts top edge of said electronic device to prevent said
electronic device from moving.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holding seat
comprises at least a positioning element, located at location away
from said coupling side of said holding seat, when clapping, said
positioning element prevents said electronic device from
moving.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein bottom surface of
said holding seat comprises an anti-slip layer.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein partial bottom
surface of said holding seat comprises an anti-slip layer.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein top surface of said
upper cover comprises a plurality of solar panels, inside of said
holding seat comprises a battery and a circuit board, said circuit
board is electrically connected to said solar panels and said
battery.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said latch unit
comprises internal engaging ratchets, when said ratchets of said
latch unit are in engaged state, said upper cover can only be
pressed downward when an external force is applied, and is locked
to the opening position after said external force stops.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said positioning
element comprises a main board body and a plurality of receiving
blocks, both sides of said main board body are coupled to said
holding seat so that said main board body can rotate using said
coupling locations as center, said main board body comprises a
lateral guiding trench, said receiving blocks are L-shaped, and are
restricted to move laterally along said guiding trench.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said coupling
locations of said positioning element and said holding seat
comprises a button spring to provide force for said positioning
element to automatically flip open.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to a holding
apparatus, and more specifically to an apparatus for holding
portable electronic device, with advantages of sun-shielding and
convenient clapping.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The portable electronic device holders currently available
in the market mostly clap on to both sides of the electronic device
to hold temporarily. For the type of electronic device that the
user does not need to view the display screen often when using,
this type of clapping is not problematic. However, if the user
needs to refers to the display screen, for example, when using GPS,
the holder must also enable the user to adjust the viewing angle of
the electronic device for convenient use. If the viewing angle is
incorrect or the external light is too strong to interfere with the
viewing, the user may find the setting to inconvenient.
[0003] Hence, it is imperative to devise a holding apparatus to
conveniently clap on to the electronic device, provide
sun-shielding effect and enable the viewing of the device display
easily.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The primary object of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus for holding portable electronic device, with high
portability, sun-shielding function and ease of clapping clap. The
holding apparatus claps on the top and bottom edge of the
electronic device so that the electronic device is seated inside
the holding apparatus with a tilting angle. The holding apparatus
also provide sun-shielding function to enable convenient and
comfortable viewing of the device display.
[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide
apparatus for holding portable electronic device, with simple
structure, easy operation, suitable for holding GPS, and so on.
When the electronic device is not in use, the electronic device can
be stored inside the holding apparatus.
[0006] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus with power-generation function for holding portable
electronic device. The apparatus includes solar panel to convert
the solar power into electrical power to provide the electronic
device.
[0007] To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides
an apparatus for holding portable electronic device, including a
holding seat, an upper cover and a latch unit. The main body of the
holding apparatus is the holding seat. The upper cover can match to
cover the top of the holding seat. The engagement between the
holding seat and the upper cover is by coupling and the latch unit
is located at the coupling of the holding seat and the upper cover
to fasten the open angle of the upper cover. With the above
structure, when the apparatus claps an electronic device, the
bottom and top edges of the electronic device touch the holding
seat and the upper cover, respectively, and the latch unit locks
the open angle of the upper cover. The open angle allows the
electronic device to be held between the holding seat and the upper
cover with a tilting angle inside the apparatus.
[0008] Furthermore, the inner wall of the upper cover includes at
least a contact element and the holding seat includes at least a
positioning element. The locations of the contact element and the
positioning element are far away from the coupling between the
holding seat and the upper cover. When clapping, the contact
element and positioning element touch the top and bottom edges of
the electronic device, respectively, to prevent or stop the
electronic device from moving to guarantee a firm clapping.
Besides, the bottom surface of the holding seat may include an
anti-slip layer so that the apparatus can stay stationary while the
vehicle travels.
[0009] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and
advantages of the present invention will become better understood
from a careful reading of a detailed description provided herein
below with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The present invention can be understood in more detail by
reading the subsequent detailed description in conjunction with the
examples and references made to the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the first embodiment
according to the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the coupling structure
inside the upper cover and holding seat according to the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the structure and the
components of the latch unit according to the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the holding apparatus of
the present invention in closed state;
[0016] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of the holding apparatus of
the present invention clapping an electronic device; and
[0017] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the holding apparatus of the
present invention clapping an electronic device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a schematic view and an internal
coupling structure of the apparatus for holding portable electronic
device according to the present invention, respectively. Holding
apparatus 1 includes an upper cover 2, a holding seat 3 and at
least a latch unit 4. The main body of holding apparatus 1 is
formed by holding seat 3. Holding seat 3 and upper cover 2 are
coupled at one side so that upper cover 2 can open and close using
the coupled side as the center. Latch unit 4 is located at the
coupling structure between holding seat 3 and upper cover 2 to
fasten the open angle of upper cover 2. With the above structure,
when the electronic device is held by holding apparatus 1, the
electronic device is held between holding seat 3 and upper cover 2
with a tilting angle.
[0019] Because the holding apparatus of the present invention is
mainly used in vehicles, the apparatus must be able to stay
stationary when the vehicle travels, as well as, able to clap the
electronic device firmly even when the vehicle is in a bumpy
condition. The components of the apparatus of the present invention
must be designed to provide the above functions. In the present
embodiment, holding seat 3 is a rectangular container opening
upwards. The main body of holding seat 3 is formed by an upper
shell body 31 and a lower shell body 32. Upper shell body 31 forms
a housing space 310 for housing the electronic device. After upper
shell body 31 and lower shell body 32 are matched and locked,
another bigger space is formed between upper shell body 31 and
lower shell body 32 for housing the coupling structure of holding
upper cover 2 and holding seat 3, where latch unit 4 is
located.
[0020] The shape and the size of upper cover match the top shape of
holding seat 3. When upper cover 2 covers the open of holding seat
3, the final exterior forms a closed box. In addition, upper cover
2 is coupled to a side cover 21. The location of side cover 21 is
away from and parallel with the coupling edge of upper cover 2 and
holding seat 3. Although the figures show that side cover 21 being
flipped open and pressing against upper cover 2, side cover 21 is
hanging in the vertical direction when no external force is
present. The final flipped open position of side cover 21 is to
press against upper cover 2. The inner walls of upper cover 2 and
side cover 21 further include a contact element 22. Contact element
22 is to prevent the electronic device from slipping when
contacting the top edge of the electronic device. In the present
embodiment, contact element 22 is made of an anti-slip material,
such as but not restricted to, foam or anti-slip soft pad. Contact
element 22 can also be a product dot or protruding rib protruding
from the surface of the inner walls of upper cover 2 or side cover
21 to prevent the electronic device from slipping out from the
clapping direction.
[0021] Holding seat 3 includes a positioning element 33.
Positioning element 33 is located at the position away from
coupling edge of holding seat 3. The objective of positioning
element 33 is to prevent the electronic device from slipping when
contacting the bottom of the electronic device. Positioning
elements can be realized in various implementations, and is not
limited to the following embodiment. In the following embodiment,
positioning element 33 includes a main board body 331 and a
plurality of receiving blocks 332. The two sides of main board body
331 are coupled to holding seat 3 so that main board body 331
leaning forward or backward for angle adjustment with the left and
right coupling sides as center. Main board body 331 also includes a
lateral guiding trench 333. Guiding trench 333 includes a plurality
of positioning openings 334. In the present embodiment, the number
of receiving blocks is 2. The shape of receiving block is L-shaped,
and the positions of receiving block 332 is restricted to move in
guiding trench 333 in lateral direction. Positioning openings 334
provides the temporary lock for the moveable receiving block 332.
When clapping, receiving blocks 332 are responsible for contacting
and holding the bottom edge of the electronic device.
[0022] Latch unit 4 is located at the coupling structure of upper
cover 2 and holding seat 3. Latch unit 4 is to lock the opening
angle of upper cover 2. The latch unit can be realized in various
implementations, and is not limited to the following embodiment. In
the following embodiment, when latch unit 4 is in the unlock state,
upper cover 2 can be opened up to the most wide opening angle
automatically. When latch unit 4 is in the lock state and an
external force is applied to upper cover 2, upper cover 2 can only
be pressed downward but not upward. When the external force stops,
upper cover 2 is locked to the position by latch unit 4. The
opening angle formed by upper cover 2 allows the electronic device
to be held between upper cover 2 and holding seat 3.
[0023] Refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4. Latch unit 4 includes a first
ratchet disc 41, a second ratchet disc 42, a first resilient
element 43, a second resilient element 44 and a link rod 45. First
ratchet disc 41 is formed inside rotation axis 20 of upper cover 2.
First ratchet disc 41 is engaged to rotation axis 20 and the two
synchronize in rotation. The other side surface of the ratchet-free
surface 410 of first ratchet disc 41 has an auxiliary rod 411. The
other side surface of the ratchet-free surface of second ratchet
disc 42 has a support rod 421. The movement of support rod 421 is
caused by link rod 45. When button 46 of link rod 45 is triggered,
second ratchet disc 42 is move laterally (to the right in the
figure) by linkage. Second resilient element 44 is sheathed on the
outside of support rod 421. In the normal condition, second
resilient element 44 provides the flexibility to ensure the mutual
engagement between second ratchet disc 41 and first ratchet disc
41. The ratchets are directional. That is, when the ratchets
engage, upper cover 2 can be pressed downward, but not flipped
upward. In addition, first resilient element 43 is a button spring,
with one end fastened to auxiliary axis 411 and the other end
fastened to the inside of lower shell body 32 of holding seat 3.
First resilient element 43 provides the force for upper cover 2 to
open upward automatically.
[0024] The following describes the operation of the holding
apparatus.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 5, when not in use, upper cover 2 matches
and covers the top of holding seat 3 and side cover 21 hangs
vertically downward to seal the side gap after upper cover 2 covers
the top of holding seat 3 so that the final shape of holding
apparatus 1 is like a rectangular box. Latch unit 4 inside holding
apparatus 1 will lock upper cover 2 firmly to cover holding seat
3.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, after button 46 of latch unit 4 is
triggered, the ratchets will be in the release state via internal
link rod 45. Upper cover 2 receives the force of first resilient
element 43 to automatically open upward to the maximum opening
angle. Positioning elements 33 can be flipped upward manually.
After the force pressing button 46 stops, ratchets inside latch
unit 4 are engaged again so that upper cover 2 can only be pressed
downward in the subsequent operation process.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 6, the bottom edge of an electronic device
5 is placed at positioning elements 33 so that receiving blocks 332
are in direct contact with electronic device 5. Furthermore,
because positioning element 33 is coupled to holding seat 3,
positioning element 33 can be adjusted backward for the optimal
viewing angle for the electronic device display. Afterward, upper
cover 2 is pressed downward so that the inner wall of upper cover 2
is in direct contact with the top edge of electronic device 5, and
latch unit 4 locks the position of upper cover 2 to achieve the
clapping. The clapping position is not limited to the inner wall of
upper cover 2. As shown in FIG. 7, the embodiment uses the inner
wall of side cover 21 to contact the top edge of electronic device
5, and uses the deformed contact element 22 to increase the
friction to further prevent electronic device 5 from slipping out
from the opening direction. The feature of allowing the top edge of
electronic device 5 to be in contact at different locations of the
inner walls of upper cover 2 or side cover 21 enables the
electronic device to be held in different angles for the optimal
viewing angle to the display of the electronic device.
[0028] Additional elements can be added to further enhance the
convenience of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, a set of
button springs 34 is placed at the coupling location of positioning
element 33 and holding seat 3. The maximum angle for positioning
element 33 opening is 90.degree.. In the normal condition, because
the closing of upper cover 2 on holding seat 3, positioning element
33 is housed horizontally inside housing space 310 (of FIG. 1) of
holding seat 3. To use, after triggering button 46 of upper cover 2
to open, the force of button spring 34 enables positioning element
33 to flip open automatically.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, because the present invention is used in
vehicle, the apparatus must stay stationary when the vehicle
travels. Hence, the bottom surface of holding seat 3 includes an
anti-slip layer 35, made of anti-slip material, such as, anti-slip
cloth, foam, or adhesive soft gel pad. In addition, the anti-slip
layer is not necessarily to distribute over the entire bottom
surface. Instead, the anti-slip layer can be located at selective
positions of the bottom surface of holding seat 3, such as, the
four corners.
[0030] Furthermore, because the present invention is commonly
placed on top of the dash board. When the vehicle is parked
outside, the long time exposure to sun may be explored as an energy
resource for additional functionality. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
5, the top surface of upper cover 2 may include a plurality of
solar panels 23. The inside of lower shell body 32 of holding seat
3 includes circuit board 36 and battery 37. Battery 37 si connected
to solar panels 23 so that when the vehicle is parked under the
sun, holding apparatus 1 can be automatically charged to provide
the power to held electronic device. As shown in FIG. 6, when
holding apparatus 1 claps electronic device 5, the recharging is in
session.
[0031] In summary, the holding apparatus of the present invention
is mainly for holding GPS or similar type of electronic devices.
With low center of mass, the holding apparatus can stay stationary
and stable on top of the dash board after holding the electronic
device. Anti-slip layer 35 at the bottom surface of holding seat 3
provides additional anti-slip function. Furthermore, the large-area
upper cover, in addition to clapping, also provides sun-shielding
capability to facilitate better viewing of the display. Solar
panels 23 are able to provide power to the electronic device. When
not in use, the electronic device can be tucked away inside upper
cover 2 and holding seat 3 for better protection.
[0032] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that
the invention is not limited to the details described thereof.
Various substitutions and modifications have been suggested in the
foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary
skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and
modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the
invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *