Cell phone holder for motor vehicles

• US 6,491,194 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2001
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ernest Marvin
• Original Assignee: Ernest Marvin
• Inventors: Marvin, Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): NEWHOUSE, NATHAN JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US09/770,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20020100782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 224/929, 224/930, 224/901.8, 224/483, 224/247, 224/248, 224/678, 224/679, 224/539, 224/543, 224/571, 455/100, 379/446, D 3/218, D14/240, D14/251, D14/253, 248/316.6, 248/316.7, 248/316.8, 248/310, 248/311.2, 248/313
• US Class Current: 224/483
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0063 using adhesive means, e.g. hook and loop fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/929 Article carrier for electrical device

Abstract

A cell phone holder for motor vehicles provides for placement of a cellular phone at any convenient location desired in a motor vehicle or other area as desired. The present cell phone holder essentially comprises a relatively narrow back or spine portion with opposed upper and lower lateral arms extending therefrom. The arms are open between their facing forward ends, to allow complete access to the cellular phone contained within the holder. The back of the holder includes one portion of hook and loop fabric material thereon, which removably attaches to another portion of mating material which is secured to another surface (automobile dash, etc.) A person wishing to use the phone may easily grasp the phone and withdraw it from the open holder for use as desired. One or more spacers may be provided to adjust for different sizes of phones, as desired.

Claims

1. A cell phone holder for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a bracket including a back portion comprising a narrow spine having a length for rearwardly supporting a cellular phone placed within said bracket;

said spine including a rearwardly disposed surface having means disposed thereon for removably securing said bracket to another structure;

said spine further including a forwardly disposed surface, an upper end, and a lower end opposite said upper end;

an upper pair of laterally opposed arms extending from said upper end of said spine and coplanar with said spine;

a lower pair of laterally opposed arms extending from said lower end of said spine and coplanar with said spine;

each of said arms having a height substantially less than said length of said spine;

an upper side arm extension extending forwardly from each of said upper pair of laterally opposed arms and forming an upper opposed pair of extensions;

a lower side arm extension extending forwardly from each of said lower pair of laterally opposed arms and forming a lower opposed pair of extensions;

said upper opposed pair of extensions and said lower opposed pair of extensions each respectively defining a span for embracing and laterally supporting the cellular phone placed within said bracket;

each corresponding said upper side arm extension and said lower side arm extension defining a vertical span therebetween;

an upper forward retainer extending laterally inwardly from each said upper side arm extension and a lower forward retainer extending laterally inwardly from each said lower side arm extension, for forwardly supporting the cellular phone;

each said upper retainer and each said lower retainer defining an open phone access passage therebetween;

spacer means secured to said forwardly disposed surface of said spine, for partially filling said depth between each retainer and said spine and securely holding a cellular phone within said bracket, said spacer means comprising a smoothly contoured portion of resilient material having a low friction surface, and having an arcuately shaped cross-section; and

a floor extending forwardly from said spine, for supporting a base of the cellular phone placed within said bracket.

2. The cell phone holder according to claim 1, wherein said means for removably securing said bracket to another structure comprises:

a first panel of hook and loop fabric material disposed upon said rear surface of said spine;

a second panel of hook and loop fabric material permanently secured to the other structure, and;

said first panel and said second panel comprising mutually mating components for selectively attaching to and removing from one another.

3. The cell phone holder according to claim 1, wherein said floor has a lateral width substantially equal to said span of said upper opposed pair of extensions and said lower opposed pair of extensions and a depth substantially less than a length of each said side arm extension, for providing clearance for depending accessories from the cellular phone placed within said bracket.

4. The cell phone holder according to claim 1, wherein said bracket is formed of materials selected from the group consisting of plastic and metal.