Support assembly for personal electronic device and method for using the same

• US 6,193,546 B1
• Filed: 03/16/1999
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unwired Planet LLC (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Sadler, John Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Gellner, Michael L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Kyung S.
• Application Number:
  US09/268,849
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 439/929, 439/164, 439/289, 439/135, 439/137, 439/138, 439/534, 439/554, 439/557, 439/558, 439/500, 439/502, 439/121
• US Class Current: 439/534
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment
• 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: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/929 Connecting base plate or shelf type holder

Abstract

An assembly for supporting a personal electronic device includes a base and a holder. The holder is adapted to hold the device. The holder is removably connected to the base such that the holder may be selectively removed from and replaced on the base. Also, the holder is adjustably movably connected to the base such that the holder may be repositioned relative to the base. The device may thereby be reoriented relative to the base and, thus, a support surface, when mounted in the holder. A method for handling a personal electronic device includes mounting the device in a holder, mounting the device and the holder on a base, repositioning the holder relative to base to position the device as desired while the holder is mounted on the base, and removing the device and the holder from the base.

Claims

1. An assembly for supporting a personal electronic device, said assembly comprising:

a) a base;

b) a holder configured to hold the device;

c) a hinge member rotatably connecting said holder to said base, said hinge member including a hinge block rotatably connected to said base and releaseably connected to said holder; and

d) an electrical connector mounted on said hinge block;

e) wherein said holder is removably connected to said base such that said holder is selectively removable from and replaceable on said base; and

f) wherein said holder is adjustably connected to said base such that said holder is selectively repositionable relative to said base to allow the device to be reoriented relative to the base.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said holder is rotatable with respect to said base.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said holder is rotatable with respect to said base about a horizontal axis.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said holder includes a clip configured to secure said holder to a user.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said base includes an electrical power connector.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said base includes a battery charger slot.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said electrical connector is configured to engage an electrical connector of the device.

8. The assembly of claim 7 further including a peripheral device connector electrically connected to said electrical connector of said assembly.

9. The assembly of claim 1 further including a printed circuit board mounted on said base.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said base is formed of a polymeric material.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said holder is rotatable relative to said base through a range of at least about 50 degrees.

12. The assembly of claim 1 further including a slot formed in said holder for receiving said electrical connector.

13. The assembly of claim 1 further including a latch for selectively and releaseably securing said holder to said hinge block.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said latch is integrally formed with said hinge block.

15. The assembly of claim 1 further including means for selectively adjusting and retaining an angle between said base and said holder.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein said adjusting and retaining means includes a plurality of detents on said hinge block, said detents configured to engage said base.

17. An assembly for supporting a personal electronic device, said assembly comprising:

a) a base;

b) a holder configured to hold the device;

c) a hinge member rotatably connecting said holder to said base, said hinge member including at least one tab secured to and depending from said holder, said tab receivable in said base; and

d) a slot formed in said holder and an electrical contact extending from said base, wherein said contact extends through said slot;

e) wherein said holder is removably connected to said base such that said holder is selectively removable from and replaceable on said base; and

wherein said holder is adjustably connected to said base such that said holder is selectively repositionable relative to said base to allow the device to be reoriented relative to the base.

18. The assembly of claim 17 further including a hinge projection extending from said tab and a latch member selectively engaging said hinge projection to restrict removal of said tab from said base.

19. The assembly of claim 17 further including means for selectively adjusting and retaining an angle between said holder and said base.

20. The assembly of claim 19 wherein said adjusting and retaining means includes a plurality of detents on said tab, said detents configured to engage said base.

21. The assembly of claim 17 further including a latch mechanism operable to selectively restrict removal of said tab from said base.

22. The assembly of claim 17 wherein said electrical contact includes a contact loop having a loop axis and said holder has a rotational axis, and wherein said loop axis and said rotational axis are collinear.

23. An assembly for supporting a personal electronic device, said assembly comprising:

a) a base;

b) a holder configured to hold the device, said holder including a slot formed therein and a clip configured to secure said holder to a user;

c) a hinge member connecting said holder to said base such that said holder is selectively rotatable relative to said base to allow the device to be reoriented relative to said base, said hinge member including a hinge block rotatably connected to said base and releaseably connected to said holder;

d) an electrical connector mounted on said hinge block and received in said slot of said holder;

e) a latch integrally formed with said hinge block for selectively and releaseably securing said holder to said hinge block to allow said holder to be connected to said base such that said holder is selectively removable from and replaceable on said base; and

f) means for selectively adjusting and retaining an angle between said holder and said base, said adjusting and retaining means including a plurality of detents on said hinge block, said detents configured to engage said base.

24. An assembly for supporting a personal electronic device, said assembly comprising:

a) a base;

b) a holder configured to hold the device, said holder including a slot formed therein and a clip configured to secure said holder to a user;

c) a hinge member connecting said holder to said base such that said holder is selectively rotatable relative to said base about a rotational axis to allow the device to be reoriented relative to the base, said hinge member including at least one tab secured to and depending from said holder, said tab receivable in said base and including a hinge projection extending therefrom;

d) a latch mechanism including a latch member selectively engaging said hinge projection to restrict removal of said tab from said base to allow said holder to be connected to said base such that said holder is selectively removable from and replaceable on said base;

e) means for selectively adjusting and retaining an angle between said holder and said base, said adjusting and retaining means including a plurality of detents on said tab, said detents configured to engage said base; and

f) an electrical contact extending from said base and extending through said slot of said holder, said electrical contact including a contact loop having a loop axis;

g) wherein said loop axis and said rotational axis are collinear.

25. A personal electronic device assembly, said assembly comprising:

a) a base;

b) a holder;

c) a personal electronic device mounted in said holder;

d) a hinge member rotatably connecting said holder to said base, said hinge member including a hinge block rotatably connected to said base and releaseably connected to said holder; and

e) an electrical connector mounted on said hinge block;

f) wherein said holder is removably connected to said base such that said holder and said personal electronic device are selectively removable from and replaceable on said base; and

g) wherein said holder is adjustably connected to said base such that said holder is selectively repositionable relative to said base to allow the device to be reoriented relative to the base.

26. A personal electronic device assembly, said assembly comprising:

a) a base;

b) a holder;

c) a personal electronic device mounted in said holder;

d) a hinge member rotatably connecting said holder to said base, said hinge member including at least one tab secured to and depending from said holder, said tab receivable in said base; and

e) a slot formed in said holder and an electrical contact extending from said base, wherein said contact extends through said slot;

f) wherein said holder is removably connected to said base such that said holder and said personal electronic device are selectively removable from and replaceable on said base; and

g) wherein said holder is adjustably connected to said base such that said holder is selectively repositionable relative to said base to allow the device to be reoriented relative to the base.