U.S. patent application number 14/957033 was filed with the patent office on 2016-04-21 for portable electronic device retention system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Darnell Robert Ford. Invention is credited to Darnell Robert Ford.
Application Number | 20160106202 14/957033 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55748008 |
Filed Date | 2016-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160106202 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ford; Darnell Robert |
April 21, 2016 |
Portable Electronic Device Retention System
Abstract
An exemplary magnetic portable electronic device retention
system includes a device holder and mounting base. The device
holder includes a mating surface with one or more magnets disposed
within one or more recesses. The mounting base includes a magnetic
portion. The device holder and mounting base are held together by
the magnetic attractive force between the magnets and magnetic
portion. The attractive force is strong enough to hold the base and
holder together during rigorous physical activity, while still
being capable of unencumbered manual separation.
Inventors: |
Ford; Darnell Robert;
(University Heights, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ford; Darnell Robert |
University Heights |
OH |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55748008 |
Appl. No.: |
14/957033 |
Filed: |
December 2, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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62066365 |
Oct 21, 2014 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
224/267 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 19/50 20141101;
A45F 5/00 20130101; H04N 19/503 20141101; A45F 2005/008 20130101;
H04N 19/61 20141101; A45C 13/1069 20130101; A45F 2200/0516
20130101; H04N 19/18 20141101; H04N 19/44 20141101; A45C 11/00
20130101; H04N 19/103 20141101; A45C 2011/002 20130101; H04N 19/136
20141101; H04N 19/159 20141101; H04N 19/105 20141101; H04N 19/19
20141101 |
International
Class: |
A45F 5/00 20060101
A45F005/00; A45C 11/00 20060101 A45C011/00 |
Claims
1. A portable electronic device retention system comprising: a
device holder comprising a mating surface and one or more magnets;
and a mounting base having a magnetic portion.
2. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 1,
wherein the device holder comprises one or more recesses defined
within the mating surface, and wherein each of the one or more
magnets is disposed within a recess.
3. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 2,
wherein the recesses are located in four corners of the mating
surface, and wherein the device holder comprises at least four
magnets mounted within the recesses defined within the mating
surface.
4. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 3
further comprising a recess located in the center of the mating
surface, and wherein the device holder comprises at least five
magnets mounted within the recesses defined within the mating
surface.
5. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 2,
wherein the magnets are disposed below an upper surface of the
mating surface.
6. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 5,
wherein the magnets are disposed between about 0.1 millimeters to
about 0.5 millimeters below the upper surface of the mating
surface.
7. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 1,
wherein the mounting base comprises a magnetic plate surrounded by
a rim configured to receive the mating surface of the device
holder.
8. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 7,
further comprising a gap between the rim of the mounting base and
an outer periphery of the mating surface of the device holder when
the device holder is attached to the mounting base.
9. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 8,
wherein the gap surrounds the mating surface.
10. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 1,
further comprising a base support attached to the mounting base at
an attachment location.
11. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 10,
wherein the base support comprises an arm band.
12. A portable electronic device retention system comprising: a
device holder; a mounting base comprising a mating surface and one
or more magnets.
13. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 12,
wherein the mounting base comprises one or more recesses defined
within the mating surface, and wherein each of the one or more
magnets is disposed within a recess.
14. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 12,
wherein the recesses are located in four corners of the mating
surface, and wherein the mounting base comprises at least four
magnets mounted within the recesses defined within the mating
surface.
15. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 14
further comprising a recess located in the center of the mating
surface, and wherein the mounting base comprises at least five
magnets mounted within the recesses defined within the mating
surface.
16. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 13,
wherein the magnets are disposed below an upper surface of the
mating surface.
17. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 16,
wherein the magnets are disposed between about 0.1 millimeters to
about 0.5 millimeters below the upper surface of the mating
surface.
18. A portable electronic device retention system comprising: a
device holder comprising: a sidewall forming a recess for retaining
an electronic device; one or more openings in the sidewall for
providing access to the electronic device; a mating surface
disposed on a back surface of the device holder; a plurality of
recesses defined within the mating surface; and a plurality of
magnets disposed within the plurality of recesses; and a mounting
base comprising: a magnetic plate; and a rim surrounding the
magnetic plate that defines a mating receptacle configured to
receive the mating surface of the device holder.
19. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 18,
wherein the mating surface extends to the sidewall of the device
holder. The portable electronic device retention system of claim
18, wherein the magnets are disposed between about 0.1 millimeters
to about 0.5 millimeters below an upper surface of the mating
surface.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention is generally applicable to portable
electronic device retention systems, such as mobile phone cases and
portable electronic device mounting devices. More particularly, the
present invention relates to portable electronic device retention
systems, such as mobile phone cases and portable electronic device
mounting devices, which include a magnetic electronic device
retention feature.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Portable electronic device retention systems are designed to
enclose all or a portion of a portable electronic device and attach
to various surfaces, articles or objects. For example, a retention
system may allow a user of a portable electronic device to mount
their device on a car dash board. Other retention systems provide
an arm band or belt to allow the user to wear a portable device on
their person. Still other retention systems provide a base to
support a portable device above a surface to provide an improved
viewing angle of the screen of the device, or to provide a stable
platform for a camera of the device to take a photo or video.
SUMMARY
[0003] Exemplary embodiments of magnetic portable electronic device
retention systems, portable electronic device holders, bases
therefore and components thereof are disclosed herein.
[0004] In one exemplary embodiment, a magnetic portable electronic
device retention system comprises a device holder and a mounting
base. The device holder includes a device enclosure, a mating
surface, and one or more magnets disposed within or mounted to the
mating surface. The mounting base includes a cavity for receiving
the mating surface of the device holder. The device holder is
retained in the mounting base as a result of magnetic attraction
between the mounting base and device holder.
[0005] In additional exemplary embodiment, a magnetic portable
electronic device retention system comprises a device holder and a
mounting base. The mounting base includes one or more magnets
disposed within or mounted to a surface of the mounting base. The
mounting base includes a cavity for receiving a mating surface or
other portion of the device holder. The device holder is retained
in the mounting base as a result of magnetic attraction between the
mounting base and device holder.
[0006] Various objects and advantages will become apparent to those
skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the
invention, when read in light of the accompanying drawings. The
accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a
part of the instant application, illustrate embodiments
exemplifying the general inventive concepts of the invention, and
together with the description, serve to explain the principles of
the general inventive concepts. It is to be expressly understood,
however, that the drawings are for illustrative purposes and are
not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The accompanying drawings incorporated herein and forming a
part of the specification, illustrate several embodiments of the
present invention and together with the description serve to
explain certain principles of the invention.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of
magnetic device holder and base;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment of the device
holder of FIG. 1; and
[0010] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the embodiment of the device holder
of FIG. 1. detailed description
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] The general inventive concepts of the present invention will
now be described with occasional reference to specific embodiments
of the invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in
different forms and should not be construed as limited to the
embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are
provided so that this disclosure will fully convey the scope of the
invention to those skilled in the art and are not intended to limit
the scope of the invention in any way.
[0012] Also, while the detailed exemplary embodiments described in
the specification and illustrated in the drawings relate to
portable electronic device retention systems described as being
useful in connection with mobile phones, it should be understood
that the portable electronic device retention systems described
herein may be used in connection with any portable electronic
device, such as, for example, cameras, tablet computers, digital
music players, such as MP3 players, etc.
[0013] Except as otherwise specifically defined herein, all terms
used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of
ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The
terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for
describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be
limiting of the invention. As used in the description of the
invention, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to
include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise.
[0014] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing
quantities, properties, and so forth as used in the specification
are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term
"about." Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated, the numerical
properties set forth in the following specification are
approximations that may vary depending on the desired properties
sought to be obtained in embodiments of the present invention.
Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting
forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the
numerical values to the extent that such are set forth in the
specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any
numerical values, however, inherently contain certain errors
necessarily resulting from error found in their respective
measurements.
[0015] The terms "connecting," "retention," "retaining,"
"securing," "coupling," and "mounting" as used herein, include but
are not limited to affixing, joining, attaching, fixing, fastening,
or placing in contact two or more components, elements, assemblies,
portions or parts. Connecting, securing, coupling and mounting two
or more components, etc., can be direct or indirect such as through
the use of one or more intermediary components and may be
intermittent or continuous. The term "magnetic" as used herein,
refers to any material that is attracted to a magnet, such as a
ferromagnetic material.
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an exemplary embodiment of a
magnetic portable electronic device retention system 100 is
illustrated. The retention system 100 includes a portable
electronic device 150, a device holder 110, and a base 120. The
device holder 110 is removably attached to the base 120 by one or
more magnets 140 that are located in or mounted to the device
holder 110. In various exemplary embodiments, the base 120 includes
a mounting component 130 to attach the base 120 to the person of a
user or to another object or to support the base 120 on a
surface.
[0017] The portable electronic device 150 includes various features
such as a user facing camera 152, a rear facing camera 154, and
various other features 156 disposed on the periphery of device 150,
such as buttons, switches, speaker ports, audio connections, data
connections, power connections, cameras, or the like. The portable
electronic device 150 may be any portable electronic device, such
as a cellular telephone, a "smart" phone, a still camera, a video
camera, an audio recorder, or the like.
[0018] In the illustrated embodiment, the device holder 110
includes a device enclosure 112, which includes one or more magnets
140. In the illustrated embodiment, the device enclosure 112
includes a rear surface 111 and a rim 113. The rear surface 111 of
the enclosure 112 includes a mating portion 114 that extends
rearward from the rear surface 111 to interface with the base 120.
The mating portion 114 may comprise one or more protrusions from
the rear surface 111. The enclosure rim 113 is disposed around the
periphery of the enclosure 112 and forms a device cavity 115. The
device cavity 115 is configured to hold device 150 securely within
the device holder 110 such that the device 150 does not fall out of
the device holder 110. The device cavity 115 of the device holder
is adapted to retain the device 150 within the device holder 110
even when the device holder 110 it is attached to the arm of a user
who is performing rigorous athletic activities, such as running,
jumping, playing a sport, or the like. The device holder 110 also
provides protection for the device 150 from drops or other sources
of impact damage. It should be understood that in additional
embodiments, the device holder 110 may have any size, shape and
configuration suitable for retaining an electronic device.
[0019] In the illustrated embodiment, the enclosure rim 113
includes one or more openings 118 and the rear surface 111 includes
one or more openings 119. The openings 118, 119 provide the user
with access to various features of the device 150 while it is
inserted into the device cavity 115. For example, the opening 119
in the rear surface 111 allows the user to take pictures with a
camera 154 of the device 150 while the device 150 is disposed
within the cavity 115 of the device holder 110 and the opening 118
in the rim 113 allows a user to access features 156 (e.g., buttons,
switches, speaker ports, audio connections, data connections, power
connections, etc.) disposed on the periphery of device 150. It
should be understood that any variety of openings may be provided
in various embodiments of the device holder 110. For example, any
number of openings having various sizes, shapes and configurations
may be provided in additional embodiments.
[0020] In the illustrated embodiment, the mating surface 114
includes one or more magnet cavities 116 that are configured to
receive one or more magnets 140. In the illustrated embodiment, the
one or more magnets 140 are mounted in cavities 116. However, in
additional embodiments, the one or more magnets may be mounted on,
located within, or attached to the mating surface 114 in any
suitable manner. In the illustrated embodiment, an outer surface
142 of each magnet 140 is disposed below the mating surface 114 to
protect the magnets 140 from damage caused by frequent contact with
the base 120 or contact with the ground or another hard surface if
the device holder 110 is dropped. In various exemplary embodiments,
the magnets 140 may be disposed various distances below the mating
surface 114. For example, in various embodiments, the magnets 140
may be disposed below the mating surface 114 between about 0.1
millimeters to about 0.5 millimeters, but can be located at various
different depths in additional embodiments.
[0021] The magnets 140 are held in place within the cavities 116 by
any means, such as a press fit, adhesive connection, threaded
connection, snap fit, or the like. In the illustrated embodiment,
the one or more magnets 140 are rare-earth magnets, such as
neodymium magnets, or the like. However, any suitable magnet(s) may
be utilized in additional embodiments. It should be understood that
in additional embodiments, any number, size, shape and
configuration of magnets may be included. For example the mating
surface 114 may include one magnet that covers all or a portion of
the mating surface. In addition, the magnets 140 may be mounted
within the mating surface 114 in additional embodiments and covered
by material to conceal the magnets.
[0022] The components of the enclosure 112 (which includes the rear
surface 111, the enclosure rim 113, and the mating surface 114) may
be formed of a single piece of suitable material, including, but
not limited to, silicone, rubber, plastic, metal, or wood. The rear
surface 111, the enclosure rim 113, and the mating surface 114 may
alternatively be formed of different materials, or may be formed of
the same material in multiple pieces that are assembled by any
means, such as with an adhesive, fasteners, or the like. In one
particular embodiment, the enclosure rim 113 is formed from a
flexible material and the rear and mating surfaces 111, 114 are
formed of a rigid material. The enclosure rim 113 may also be
formed of a material and split into multiple pieces that snap
together to enclose the device 150.
[0023] The base 120 of the retention system 110 includes a mating
plate 122. In the illustrated embodiment, the mating plate 122 is
surrounded by a raised mating rim 124, forming a mating cavity 125.
The mating cavity 125 is configured to receive the mating surface
114 of the device holder 110. When the device holder 110 is
attached to the base 120, the mating surface 114 is in direct
contact with the mating plate 122. The mating cavity 125 is shaped
and configured to receive the mating surface 114 and prevent the
device holder 110 from moving relative to the base 120 and thus
becoming detached from the base 120. However, in the illustrated
embodiment, the mating cavity 125 is slightly larger than the
mating surface 114 so as to still allow the device holder 110 to
move slightly relative to the base 120 when assembled to the base
120 to facilitate manual separation of the holder 110 from the base
120. However, in additional embodiments the mating cavity 125 may
be dimensioned to receive the mating surface 114 and prevent the
device holder 110 from moving relative to the base 120 when
assembled to the base 120. The mating plate 122 may be formed of
any magnetic or ferromagnetic material, such as iron, nickel,
cobalt, or the like, to facilitate magnetic attraction of the one
or more magnets 140 of device holder 110.
[0024] In exemplary additional embodiments, the device holder 110
may include a mating plate or surface surrounded by a raised rim
that forms a mating cavity. In such embodiments, the mating cavity
of the device holder 110 is shaped and configured to receive a
mating surface or other portion of the device base 120 and prevent
the device base 120 from moving relative to the device holder 110
and thus becoming detached from the device holder 110. In such
embodiments, the mating cavity 125 of the device holder 110 may be
slightly larger than the mating surface of the device base 120 so
as to still allow the device base 120 and device holder 110 to move
relative to one another when magnetically adhered to one another to
facilitate manual separation of the base 120 from the holder
110.
[0025] The base support 130 is attached to the rear of the base 120
at an attachment location 132 with any attachment means, such as
with adhesive, fasteners, rivets, or the like. The base support 130
may also be formed as an integral part of the base 120. The base
support 130 may be any kind of support, such as a tri-pod, a
threaded post, an arm band, a belt, a clip, a clamp, or the like
that facilitates the mounting or attaching of the device holder 110
to an object or surface.
[0026] The device holder 110 is attached to the base 120 by means
of magnetic forces 144 generated by the one or more magnets 140
when they are placed in proximity to magnetic mating plate 122. The
use of magnets 140 to generate the attractive force 144 that holds
device holder 110 and base 120 together allows a user to manually
remove the device holder 110 and device 150 from the base 120 to
interact with the device 150 without the need for tools and without
disassembling a fastener connection, or the like. The distance
between the mating surface 114 and outer surface 142 of the one or
more magnets 140 can be adjusted to change the magnitude of the
attractive force 144 between the mating plate 122 and the one or
more magnets 140; an increased distance reduces the attractive
force 144, while reducing the distance increases the attractive
force 144.
[0027] In one particular embodiment, the magnets 140 are positioned
in the four corners of a generally rectangular mating surface 114.
A fifth magnet cavity 116 is positioned generally in the center of
mating surface 114. In this configuration, the attractive force 144
generated by the magnets 140 is evenly distributed throughout the
interface between the holder 110 and base 120, preventing the two
from coming apart during rigorous athletic activity.
[0028] While the one or magnets 140 are mounted within the mating
plate 122 of the device holder 110 in the illustrated embodiment,
it should be understood that in additional exemplary embodiments
the one or more magnets 140 may be mounted within the base 120. In
such embodiments that include magnets mounted within the base 120,
one or more pieces of magnetic material are included within the
device holder 110 so that the holder 110 can be magnetically
attached to the base 120.
[0029] The device holder 110 may also be attached to any other
magnetic or magnetic surface by way of the magnetic attraction of
magnets 140 to the surface. In this way, device holder 110 may be
attached to magnetic part of a piece of workout equipment, allowing
a user to take photos or videos of himself or herself using the
devices camera 152 without having to hold the device 150 in their
hand. This feature is especially desirable for those users who want
to monitor their form while exercising to improve their technique
and thereby prevent injury.
[0030] While the present invention has been illustrated by the
description of embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have
been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of
the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the
appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and
modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. For
example, where components are releasable or removably connected or
attached together, any type of releasable connection may be
suitable including for example, locking connections, fastened
connections, tongue and groove connections, etc. Still further,
component geometries, shapes, and dimensions can be modified
without changing the overall role or function of the components.
Therefore, the inventive concept, in its broader aspects, is not
limited to the specific details, the representative apparatus, and
illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures
may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or
scope of the applicant's general inventive concept.
[0031] While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of
the inventions may be described and illustrated herein as embodied
in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects,
concepts and features may be used in many alternative embodiments,
either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations
thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and
sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present
inventions. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as
to the various aspects, concepts and features of the
inventions--such as alternative materials, structures,
configurations, methods, devices and components, alternatives as to
form, fit and function, and so on--may be described herein, such
descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list
of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or
later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or
more of the inventive aspects, concepts or features into additional
embodiments and uses within the scope of the present inventions
even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein.
Additionally, even though some features, concepts or aspects of the
inventions may be described herein as being a preferred arrangement
or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such
feature is required or necessary unless expressly so stated.
Moreover, while various aspects, features and concepts may be
expressly identified herein as being inventive or forming part of
an invention, such identification is not intended to be exclusive,
but rather there may be inventive aspects, concepts and features
that are fully described herein without being expressly identified
as such or as part of a specific invention, the inventions instead
being set forth in the appended claims.
* * * * *