FREE STANDING HOLDER FOR A PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20140054426A1
• Filed: 03/15/2012
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vantage Point Products Corp.
• Original Assignee: Vantage Point Products Corp.
• Inventors: Burns, Don R.
• Application Number:
  US14/005,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20140054426A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/122.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/125 for tilting and rolling F16M11/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/16 Details concerning attachment of head-supporting legs, with or without actuation of locking members thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/20 Undercarriages with or without wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/22 with approximately constant height, e.g. with constant length of column or of legs F16M11/42 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for holding a personal electronic device is provided. The apparatus includes a holder configured to be fixed to the personal electronic device, and a flexible container adapted to be closed and interconnected to the holder.

Claims

1. An apparatus for holding a personal electronic device, comprising:

a holder configured to be fixed to the personal electronic device; and

a flexible container adapted to be closed and interconnected to the holder.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a hub having a first side rotatably coupled to the holder and a second side coupled to the flexible container.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hub couples to the holder at an off-center position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible container has a first dimension extending normal to the personal electronic device and a second dimension transverse to the first dimension, and wherein the first dimension is at least one-half of the second dimension.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the flexible container is substantially spherical.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a weight greater than or substantially equal to a weight of the personal electronic device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible container is formed of a substantially inelastic material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holder comprises a first lip and a second lip, and wherein the holder is configured to be fixed to the personal electronic devices by coupling the first lip to a first edge of the personal electronic device and coupling the second lip to a second edge of the personal electronic device.

9. An apparatus for holding a personal electronic device, comprising:

a bag defining an opening and filled with a plurality of pellets; and

a hub coupled to the bag and having a fin extending axially therefrom;

wherein the fin is at least partially immersed in the plurality of pellets.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a second fin.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first fin extends in a first radial direction, and the second fin extends in a second radial direction.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the pellets are substantially non-spherical.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the pellets within the bag inhibit movement of the fin.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the hub couples to a holder configured to support a personal electronic device, and wherein when the holder is placed in a desired position, a reaction force exerted by plurality of pellets on the fin inhibits motion of the holder from the desired position.

15. An apparatus for holding a personal electronic device, comprising:

a holder configured to be fixed to the personal electronic device;

a bag; and

a hub having a first portion rotatably coupled to the holder and a second portion coupled to the bag.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein hub rotates about an axis parallel to and spaced apart from an axis passing through the center of the personal electronic device.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the holder comprises a first cam surface, and the hub comprises a second cam surface configured to engage the first cam surface.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first cam surface and the second cam surface includes at least two detent positions.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first cam surface comprises a first set of at least three lobes, and the second cam surface comprises a second set of at least three lobes configured to engage the first set of at least three lobes to form at least three detent positions.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least three detent positions comprise a landscape position configured to support the personal electronic device in a landscape orientation and a portrait position configured to support the personal electronic device in a portrait orientation