Universal Stands for Portable Electronic Devices

• US 20100320341A1
• Filed: 05/24/2010
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Clingo.com LLC
• Original Assignee: Clingo.com LLC
• Inventors: Johnson, Brian, Baumann, Scott, Wheeler, Brian
• Application Number:
  US12/786,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20100320341A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/206.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0258 for navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0056 using suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0068 using suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0077 using adhesive means, e.g. hook and loop fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0089 around three axes, i.e. universally mounted
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 47/006 the suction cups being activated by the rotation of a cranked lever arm
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

The present invention is directed to universal stands for portable electronic devices. In one embodiment, a stand includes a display platform and a gripping pad attached to the display platform for releasably securing a portable electronic device thereto.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a display platform having a gripping pad for releasably securing a portable electronic device thereto;

a wing to assist in releasing the portable electronic device from the gripping pad.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wing is integral with the display platform.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wing is attached to the display platform.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gripping pad has a gripping surface that forms a plane and wherein the wing extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the gripping surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wing includes a saddle for receiving a user'"'"'s thumb or finger.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wing is used to rotate the display platform.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wing is used to provide leverage to release the portable electronic device from the gripping surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gripping pad provides a sufficient gripping force such that the portable electronic device stays secured to the display platform when the display platform is rotated.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second wing to assist in releasing the portable electronic device from the gripping pad.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second wing includes a second saddle for receiving a user'"'"'s thumb or finger.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein solely the gripping surface is used to secure the portable electronic device to the display platform.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gripping surface is made of polyurethane gel.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gripping surface includes a plurality of dimples.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an arm is attached to the display platform.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a display platform;

a gripping pad having a planar gripping surface attached to the display platform for releasably securing a portable electronic device thereto,

wherein the display platform is moveable to adjust the orientation of the portable electronic device relative to a user.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the display platform is rotatable.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the pitch of the display platform is adjustable.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the roll of the display platform is adjustable.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the yaw of the display platform is adjustable.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a display platform having a gripping pad for releasably securing a portable electronic device thereto;

an arm that is attached to the display platform.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the arm and the display platform are attached by a ball joint.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the ball joint includes a socket in the display platform and a ball on the arm.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the ball joint includes a socket in the arm and a ball joint on the display platform.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the arm is fixedly attached to the display platform.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the display platform is rotatably attached to the display platform.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the display platform and the arm are releasably attached.

27. The apparatus of claim 20 further including a suction cup for releasably attaching the arm to a surface.

28. An apparatus comprising:

a display platform;

a gripping surface attached to the display platform for suspending a portable electronic device.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the portable electronic device is releasably suspended from the gripping surface.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the gripping surface has a surface area, wherein portable electronic device has a surface that is in contact with the gripping surface, and wherein the overall surface area of the surface of the portable electronic device is greater than the surface area of the gripping surface.