Electronic device holder for a vehicle seat

• US 10,525,898 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2018
• Issued: 01/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Dry, Alan George, Groesbeck, Gunnar, Talamonti, Joseph S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waggenspack, Adam J
• Application Number:
  US16/045,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20180326918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 224929, 224255, 248924
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0015 Back-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space

Abstract

An electronic device holder includes a mounting surface configured to receive and retain an electronic device. First and second doors are disposed on opposite sides of the mounting surface and are gearingly engaged to one another on a rear side of the mounting surface for synchronized lateral movement between open and closed positions. An actuator is disposed on either the first or second door for actuating the doors to the open position from the closed position. A detent lever is pivotally coupled to either the first or second door and is configured to detent the doors in the open position. A detent release lever is pivotally coupled to the mounting surface, and is configured to release the detent lever such that the doors automatically move from the open position to the closed position.

Claims

1. A mounting system for a device holder, comprising:

a locking plate having a body portion with at least one slot disposed therethrough, wherein the locking plate is slideably mounted to a mounting bracket between first and second positions, and further wherein the mounting bracket includes a body portion having at least one mounting aperture disposed therethrough;

at least one fastener coupling the locking plate to the mounting bracket at the at least one slot of the locking plate and the at least one mounting aperture of the mounting bracket;

a biasing mechanism operably coupled between the locking plate and the mounting bracket to bias the locking plate towards the first position; and

a bezel removeably mounted to the mounting bracket and having an outwardly extending mounting member with an inset groove disposed thereon, wherein the mounting member is received through a receiving aperture of the mounting bracket, and further wherein a portion of the locking plate is received in the inset groove of the mounting member when the bezel is mounted to the mounting bracket.

2. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the mounting member includes a body portion having the inset groove disposed on an inner portion of the body portion and an angled portion disposed at an outermost portion of the body portion.

3. The mounting system of claim 2, wherein the angled portion of the mounting member urges the locking plate towards the second position from the first position as the angled portion of the mounting member engages a perimeter of a locking aperture of the locking plate when the mounting member is received through the locking plate.

4. The mounting system of claim 3, wherein the perimeter of the locking aperture of the locking plate includes a rounded portion and an angled portion.

5. The mounting system of claim 4, wherein the angled portion of the mounting member engages the angled portion of the locking aperture when the mounting member is received through the locking aperture of the locking plate.

6. A mounting system for a device holder, comprising:

a locking plate slideably mounted to a mounting bracket via a fastener received through a slot of the locking plate and a mounting aperture of the mounting bracket; and

a bezel removeably mounted to the mounting bracket and having a mounting member with a body portion with an inset groove and an angled outermost portion, wherein a portion of the locking plate is received in the inset groove when the bezel is mounted to the mounting bracket.

7. The mounting system of claim 6, wherein the locking plate is operable between first and second positions along an inner surface of the mounting bracket.

8. The mounting system of claim 7, including:

a biasing mechanism operably coupled between the locking plate and the mounting bracket to bias the locking plate towards the first position.

9. The mounting system of claim 8, wherein the angled outermost portion of the mounting member engages an angled portion of the locking aperture of the locking plate when the mounting member is received through the locking aperture of the locking plate.

10. A mounting system for a device holder, comprising:

a mounting bracket;

a locking plate slideably mounted to the mounting bracket between locked and unlocked positions;

a bezel removeably mounted to the mounting bracket; and

a mounting member outwardly extending from the bezel and having an angled outermost portion, wherein the angled outermost portion urges the locking plate towards the unlocked position as the mounting member is received through a locking aperture of the locking plate, wherein a perimeter of the locking aperture of the locking plate includes a rounded portion and an angled portion, and further wherein the mounting member includes a body portion having an inset groove disposed therearound.

11. The mounting system of claim 10, including:

a biasing mechanism operably coupled between the mounting bracket and the locking plate, wherein the biasing mechanism biases the locking plate towards the locked position.

12. The mounting system of claim 11, including:

a trim cover coupled to an outer surface of the mounting bracket, the trim cover including a retractable door operable between retracted and extended positions.

13. The mounting system of claim 12, including:

a post member slideably coupled to the bezel between first and second positions, wherein the post member extends through a central aperture of the trim cover and a central aperture of the locking plate, and wherein the post member includes a release button disposed on an outer portion thereof.

14. The mounting system of claim 13, wherein the post member engages a tab disposed on the central aperture of the locking plate at an inner portion of the post member to move the locking plate to the unlocked position from the locked position when the post member moves from the first position to the second position.

15. The mounting system of claim 14, including:

a spring coupled between the post member and the bezel, wherein the spring biases the post member towards the first position.

16. The mounting system of claim 10, including:

one or more friction hinges mounted on a first side of the bezel, wherein the mounting member is mounted to a second side of the bezel that is opposed to the first side of the bezel.

17. The mounting system of claim 10, wherein a portion of the locking plate is received in the inset groove of the mounting member when the bezel is mounted to the mounting bracket.

18. The mounting system of claim 17, wherein the angled outermost portion of the mounting member urges the locking plate towards the second position from the first position as the angled outermost portion of the mounting member engages the angled portion of the perimeter of a locking aperture.