PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY

• US 20180345874A1
• Filed: 04/19/2018
• Published: 12/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Thain, Gavin, Bunn, Phil
• Granted Patent: US 10,814,797 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 11/0258 for navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like

Abstract

A portable electronic device support assembly for a vehicle comprises a housing for placement, a link arm slidably coupled to the housing at a first end of the link arm, and a device support configured to receive a portable electronic device and rotatably coupled to the link arm at a second end of the link arm. The link arm and device support are movable between stowed and deployed positions. A latching mechanism configured to resist movement of the link arm in the deployed position, the latching mechanism comprising a latch movably coupled to the link arm. The latch is resiliently biased such that the latch engages a recess in the housing when the link arm is in the deployed position. An interaction between the device support and the latching mechanism retracts the latch from the recess as the device support rotates relative to the link arm when moving towards the stowed position.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device support assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing for placement in a trim portion of the vehicle;

a link arm slidably coupled to the housing at a first end of the link arm;

a device support configured to receive a portable electronic device and rotatably coupled to the link arm at a second end of the link arm, wherein the link arm and device support are movable between a stowed position in a pocket of the housing, and a deployed position extending from the housing; and

a latching mechanism configured to resist movement of the link arm in the deployed position, the latching mechanism comprising a latch movably coupled to the link arm, wherein the latch is resiliently biased such that the latch engages a recess in the housing when the link arm is in the deployed position and wherein an interaction between the device support and the latching mechanism retracts the latch from the recess as the device support rotates relative to the link arm when moving towards the stowed position.

2. The portable electronic device support assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch comprises a cam surface and the device support comprises an engaging portion configured to interact with the cam surface as the device support rotates relative to the link arm when moving towards the stowed position.

3. The portable electronic device support assembly of claim 2, wherein the cam surface is provided at or towards a first end of the latch.

4. The portable electronic device support assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch is slidably disposed relative to the link arm.

5. The portable electronic device support assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a spring configured to resiliently bias the latch into engagement with the recess of the housing.

6. The portable electronic device support assembly of claim 3, wherein the latch comprises a second end configured to engage the recess of the housing.

7. The portable electronic device support assembly of claim 6, wherein the latch is provided within a cavity of the link arm, wherein the second end of the latch protrudes from the cavity, and wherein the link arm comprises an opening into the cavity that exposes the cam surface.

8. The portable electronic device support assembly of claim 1, wherein the device support and link arm are aligned once the device support has interacted with the latching mechanism to retract the latch.

9. The portable electronic device support assembly of claim 2, wherein the device support rotates relative to the link arm about a pivot point between ends of the device support.

10. The portable electronic device support assembly of claim 9, wherein the engaging portion of the device support is provided between the pivot point and a top end of the device support when in deployed position.

11. The portable electronic device support assembly of claim 1, wherein the link arm is slidably and rotatably coupled to the housing at the first end of the link arm.

12. The portable electronic device support assembly of claim 1, wherein the device support rotates so that a bottom end of the device support when in deployed position becomes a top end when in the stowed position.

13. The portable electronic device support assembly of claim 1, wherein the link arm comprises laterally spaced apart first and second arm portions, the device support being provided between the first and second arm portions and rotatably coupled at distal ends of the first and second arm portions.

14. The portable electronic device support assembly of claim 13, wherein the first and second arm portions define a space between the first and second arm portions for receiving a portion of the device support when in the stowed position, and wherein the latching mechanism comprises a pair of latches and the latches extend into respective first and second arm portions.

15. The portable electronic device support assembly of claim 1, wherein one of the device support and link arm comprises a resiliently biased element and the other of the device support and link arm comprises a recess for receiving the resiliently biased element, the resiliently biased element and recess being configured to provide an initial resistance to the relative rotation of the device support and link arm.

16. The portable electronic device support assembly of claim 1, wherein the device support comprises a ledge for receiving an edge of the portable electronic device, and wherein the device support further comprise an adjustable clamp for receiving an opposite edge of the portable electronic device.

17. The portable electronic device support assembly of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device support assembly further comprises a further latching mechanism configured to resist movement of the device support relative to the link arm in the deployed position.

18. A portable device support assembly comprising:

a housing;

a link arm slidably coupled to the housing at a first end of the link arm;

a device support configured to receive a portable device and rotatably coupled to a second end of the link arm and movable between a stowed position in a pocket and a deployed position; and

a latching mechanism configured to resist movement of the link arm in the deployed position.

19. The portable electronic support assembly of claim 18, wherein the latching mechanism comprises a latch movably coupled to the link arm, wherein the latch is resiliently biased such that the latch engages a recess in the housing when the link arm is in the deployed position extending from the housing and wherein an interaction between the device support and the latching mechanism retracts the latch from the recess as the device support rotates relative to the link arm when moving towards the stowed position.

20. A vehicle comprising:

a trim portion; and

a portable electronic device support assembly comprising;

a housing in the trim portion;

a link arm slidably coupled to the housing at a first end of the link arm;

a device support configured to receive a portable electronic device and rotatably coupled to the link arm at a second end of the link arm, wherein the link arm and device support are movable between a stowed position in a pocket of the housing, and a deployed position extending from the housing; and

a latching mechanism configured to resist movement of the link arm in the deployed position, the latching mechanism comprising a latch movably coupled to the link arm, wherein the latch is resiliently biased such that the latch engages a recess in the housing when the link arm is in the deployed position and wherein an interaction between the device support and the latching mechanism retracts the latch from the recess as the device support rotates relative to the link arm when moving towards the stowed position.