Rotational Mount For Hand-Held Electronics

• US 20130026322A1
• Filed: 07/25/2011
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobile Tech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Merchandising Technologies Incorporated (Mobile Tech, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wheeler, Wade, Niderost, Donald, Alexander, Christopher, Peters, Ron
• Granted Patent: US 9,220,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/289.31
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/024 with provisions for preventing unauthorised removal show cases with devices for prevention of theft A47F3/002; devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal E05B73/0017
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/105 the horizontal axis being the roll axis, e.g. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2028 for rolling, i.e. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/041 for balancing rotational movement of the head
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/08 Foot or support base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

The invention is a rotational mount for use in displaying hand-held consumer electronics in a retail environment. The rotational mount allows the hand-held to freely pivot in rotation on the display. The mount may automatically return to an initial orientation.

Claims

1. A display for a hand-held electronics device, comprising:

a mounting member for supporting the hand-held, said mounting member being freely pivotable about a pivoting axis that is at an angle relative to the vertical; and

a weight carried by the mounting member substantially in a plane that is normal to said axis, wherein the center of mass of said weight is off-set relative to said pivoting axis, in a manner so that said weight causes said mounting member to naturally return to an initial display position via the force of gravity exerted on said weight.

2. The display of claim 1, wherein said mounting member includes a body portion and an electrical swivel received within said body portion, for transmitting power to the hand-held while allowing the mounting member to freely pivot.

3. The display of claim 2, including an adaptor member shaped for supporting a specific hand-held, said adaptor member being releasably connected to said mounting member.

4. The display of claim 3, wherein said weight is carried by said adaptor member.

5. The display of claim 1, wherein said mounting member comprises an upper body portion and a lower cylindrical portion, with an electronics board received within said upper body portion and an electrical swivel received within said lower cylindrical portion, and bearing means for rotationally mounting said mounting member to a display surface.

6. The display of claim 5, including a base member, mounted to a display surface, said base member having a socket for rotationally receiving said lower cylindrical portion.

7. A display for a hand-held electronics device, comprising:

a mounting member for supporting the hand-held, said mounting member being pivotable about a pivoting axis, said mounting member supporting the hand-held at an angle relative to a vertical axis;

a weight carried by the mounting member, wherein the mass of said weight is off-set relative to said pivoting axis, in a manner so that said weight biases said mounting member to naturally return to an initial display position via the force of gravity exerted on said weight, and further

detent means for selectively positioning said mounting member at preselected rotational positions, and releasably holding said mounting member in position a selected one of said rotational positions in opposition to the bias of said weight.

8. For use in a retail display environment, a rotational mount for a hand-held electronics device, comprising:

a mounting member for supporting the hand-held, said mounting member being pivotable about a pivoting axis, said mounting member supporting the hand-held at an angle relative to a vertical axis; and

a weight carried by the mounting member, wherein the mass of said weight is off-set relative to said pivoting axis, in a manner so that said weight biases said mounting member to naturally cause said mounting member to return to an initial display position via the force of gravity.

9. A display for a hand-held electronics device, comprising:

a mounting member for supporting the hand-held, said mounting member being freely pivotable in rotation about a pivoting axis, wherein said mounting member includes a body portion and an electrical swivel received within said body portion, for transmitting power to the hand-held while allowing the mounting member to freely pivot, to thereby power the hand-held while the hand-held is supported by the mounting member.

10. The display of claim 9, wherein the body portion includes detent means for selectively positioning said mounting member at preselected rotational positions, and releasably holding said mounting member in position at a selected one of said rotational positions.

11. The display of claim 10, including means for biasing rotation of said mounting member to an initial display position, and wherein said detent means opposes said rotational bias.

12. A display for a hand-held electronics device, comprising:

a mounting member for supporting the hand-held, said mounting member being freely pivotable in rotation about a pivoting axis, wherein said mounting member includes a body portion; and

an adaptor member shaped for supporting a specific hand-held, said adaptor member being releasably connected to said mounting member.

13. The display of claim 12, wherein said mounting member includes an opening in a top surface thereof, and wherein said adaptor member comprises a supporting surface portion for providing a resting place for said hand-held, and a flange member depending downwardly below said supporting surface portion, said flange member shaped for insertion into said top surface opening;

and lock means for releasably locking said flange member in place when said flange member is inserted in said opening.

14. A method for display a hand-held electronics device, comprising:

mounting the device to a surface in a manner so that the device may freely pivot in rotation for displaying the device at different visual orientations;

causing the device to automatically return to an optimum display orientation after a user rotates the device; and

providing power to the device substantially coaxially with the axis of rotation, in a manner so that the device is powered regardless of the rotational position of the device.