DEVICE HOLDERS

• US 20180222400A1
• Filed: 01/25/2018
• Published: 08/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Neumann, Michael, Clarke, Andrew David, Delaruelle, Aurelien Pierre Christian, Eterovic, Nick David, Tocco, Maurizio
• Granted Patent: US 10,220,796 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0252 for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0015 Back-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0084 with adjustment by linear movement in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0092 with motorization
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/043 mounted on or under a seat
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00152 Seat back fixtures for removable monitors, e.g. tablet computers

Abstract

A device holder to hold an electronic device is provided. The device holder comprises an upper arc arm; a lower arc arm; and a drive device. The upper arm and the lower arc arms are attached to the drive device and moveably between a non-use position and a use position and the drive device enables a synchronized movement of the upper arc arm and a lower arc arm at opposite directions.

Claims

1. A device holder, comprising:

an upper arc arm;

a lower arc arm; and

a drive device,

wherein the upper arm and the lower arc arms are attached to the drive device and moveably between a non-use position and a use position and the drive device enables a synchronized movement of the upper arc arm and a lower arc arm at opposite directions.

2. The device holder of claim 1, wherein the drive device includes a main gear, an upper secondary gear, and a lower secondary gear, wherein the upper arc arm includes an upper gear rack and the lower arc arm includes a lower gear rack, wherein the upper secondary gear is engaged with the upper gear rack and the main gear, respectively, and the lower secondary gear is engaged with the lower gear rack and the main gear, respectively.

3. The device holder of claim 2, further comprising a swing body, wherein the swing body has a first side and a second side, wherein the main gear is disposed on the second side of the swing body, the upper secondary gear and the lower secondary gear are disposed on the first side of the swing body, wherein a thickness of the upper and lower secondary gears is greater than a thickness of the main gear.

4. The device holder of claim 3, wherein centers of the upper secondary gear, the main gear and the lower secondary gear are positioned substantially in a line that is substantially parallel to a side of the swing body.

5. The device holder of claim 4, wherein the swing body includes a middle recess opened to the second side and configured to receive the main gear, an upper recess opened to the first side and configured to receive the upper secondary gear, and a lower recess opened to the first secondary and configured to receive the lower secondary gear, wherein a wall defined the middle recess includes two apertures connecting the upper and lower recesses so that the main gear are engaged with the upper and lower secondary gears.

6. The device holder of claim 5, further comprising a damper linked with one of the upper and lower secondary gears or both the upper and lower secondary gears.

7. The device holder of claim 6, further comprising a tape spring attached to the lower arc arm or the upper arc arm, or a plurality of springs attached to both the upper and the lower arms to bias the upper and lower arc arms in the closed position.

8. The device holder of claim 7, further comprising a fixed body, two guides disposed on the fixed body, wherein the swing body is attached to the fixed body and disposed between the two guides.

9. The device holder of claim 8, further comprising a push-push mechanism being locked and unlocked with the swing body.

10. The device holder of claim 9, wherein the push-push mechanism includes a selector having a rotation arm to receive a pin connected to the swing body to lock and unlock the swing body, and a selector guide, wherein the selector is disposed in the selector guide.

11. The device holder of claim 1, further comprising a base, wherein the upper secondary gear, the main gear and the lower secondary gear are attached to the base and disposed on one side the base.

12. The device holder of claim 11, wherein centers of the upper secondary gear and the lower secondary gear are closer to a respective side of the base than a center of the main gear and wherein the base is moveable.

13. The device holder of claim 12, further comprising a clock spring disposed inside the main gear, wherein the clock spring is configured to maintain the upper and lower arc arms in the closed position.

14. The device holder of claim 13, further comprising a push-push mechanism, wherein the push-push mechanism includes a lock pin disposed on one side of body and coupled with the upper arc arm and wherein the lock pin is released to unlock the upper and lower arc arms when an upper edge of the upper arc arm is pressed by a user.

15. A device holder, comprising:

a base;

an upper arc arm;

a lower arc arm; and

a drive device attached to the base,

wherein the upper arm and the lower arc arm are attached to the drive device and moveably along a circumference of a circle having a center away from the base of the drive device.

16. The device holder of claim 15, wherein the drive device includes a main gear, an upper secondary gear, and a lower secondary gear, wherein the upper arc arm includes an upper gear rack and the lower arc arm includes a lower gear rack, wherein the upper secondary gear is engaged with the upper gear rack and the main gear, respectively, and the lower secondary gear is engaged with the lower gear rack and the main gear, respectively.

17. A seat comprising:

a seat back

a device holder attached to the seat back, including

a base;

an upper arc arm;

a lower arc arm;

a drive device attached to the base,

wherein the upper arm and the lower arc arm are connected to the drive device and moveably along a common arc in opposite directions between a closed position and an open position.

18. The seat of claim 17, wherein the upper arc arm includes an upper edge portion and the lower arc arm includes a lower edge portion, and the upper and lower edge portions are configured to be extended away from the seat back at the open position to hold an electronic device.

19. The seat of claim 17, further comprising a seat cover, wherein the electric device holder is disposed substantially inside the seat cover, wherein the upper and lower edge portions are visible at the closed position, and wherein the device holder includes a push-push mechanism and the upper arc arm and the lower arc arm are unlocked via actuation of the push-push mechanism or a swing body to which the upper and lower arc arms are attached is unlocked via actuation of the push-push mechanism.

20. The seat of claim 17, wherein the electric device holder is fixed on a frame of the seat.