Friction mount apparatus for an electronic device

• US 7,690,614 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2004
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Original Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Inventors: Minelli, Jeffrey D., Laverick, David J., Schoenfish, Brian G., Mudd, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan; Korie H.
• Application Number:
  US10/950,857
• Time in Patent Office: 2,016 Days
• Field of Search: 248/346.06, 248/346.2, 248/910, 248/346.03, 248/346.01, 248/181.1, 312/223.4, 379/454, 379/455, 224/929
• US Class Current: 248/346.06
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/065 rotationally
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 91/02 Adjustable feet self-levelling A47B91/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/005 Connection with the vehicle part
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/929 Article carrier for electrical device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/91 Weighted base

Abstract

A friction mount apparatus for supporting an electronic device (10) on a surface (14). The apparatus (10) includes a body (16), anchors (18,20,22), and a receiving member (24). Body (16) includes a recessed surface (30) on the bottom thereof into which a foam layer (36) is secured, wherein the foam layer (36) contacts a mounting surface (14) and resists moving relative to the surface (14). The anchors (18,20,22) are connected to the body (16) via flexible necks (38,40,42) and have bottom surfaces formed of soft material and weighted cores to press the bottom surfaces against the mounting surface to resist movement relative to the mounting surface (14) and thus further stabilize the apparatus (10). The receiving member (24) is secured to a top surface of the body (16) and is adapted to releasably retain an electronic device (12).

Claims

1. A friction mount apparatus for supporting an electronic device on a surface, the apparatus comprising:

a body for placement on the surface and resisting movement relative to the surface;

an anchor connected to the body via a flexible neck, wherein the anchor contacts the surface and resists moving relative to the surface; and

a receiving member secured to a top of the body, for receiving and securing the electronic device to the body, wherein the receiving member includes a base attached to the body and a receptacle for receiving and securing the electronic device, wherein the base pivots relative to the body about a vertical axis, and the receptacle is pivotally attached to the base and pivots about a horizontal axis,

wherein the receptacle includes a rectangular bottom portion and a first edge of the bottom portion is pivotally attached to the base and a second edge of the bottom portion adjustably engages the base.

2. The friction mount apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the body has a bottom surface formed of soft material that contacts the surface of the vehicle and resists moving relative to the surface.

3. The friction mount apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the anchor has a bottom surface formed of soft material that contacts the surface and resists moving relative to the surface.

4. The friction mount apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the bottom surface of the body and the bottom surface of the anchor are formed of foam material.

5. The friction mount apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein the anchor includes a dense core for giving weight to the anchor.

6. The friction mount apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the core is formed of metal and is concealed inside the anchor.

7. The friction mount apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein a portion of the core exhibits magnetic properties for magnetically coupling the anchor to at least a portion of the surface.

8. The friction mount device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the anchor and the body are each substantially elliptical in shape and the neck is narrower than the anchor and the body.

9. The friction mount apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the body and the anchor are made of rubber and are integrally connected.

10. The friction mount apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a second anchor connected to the body via a second flexible neck, wherein the anchor contacts the surface and resists moving relative to the surface; and

a third anchor connected to the body via a third flexible neck, wherein the anchor contacts the surface and resists moving relative to the surface.

11. The friction mount apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein each of the anchors has a bottom surface formed of soft material that contacts the surface and resists moving relative to the surface.

12. The friction mount apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein the bottom surface of each anchor is formed of foam material.

13. The friction mount apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein each anchor includes a dense core for giving weight to the anchor.

14. The friction mount apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein the dense core is formed of metal and is concealed inside the anchor.

15. The friction mount apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein the necks extend radially from the body and are approximately equally spaced radially.

16. The friction mount apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the receiving member includes—

a receiving slot operable to removably receive at least a portion of the electronic device, and

a releasable locking mechanism operable to releasably retain at least a portion of the electronic device within the receiving slot.

17. The friction mount apparatus as set forth in claim 1, the receptacle further including a first side portion extending from a first end of the bottom portion and a second side portion extending from a second end of the bottom portion, wherein the first side portion and the second side portion each include a locking mechanism to releasably secure the electronic device to the receptacle.

18. The friction mount apparatus as set forth in claim 17, further comprising an electrical connector arm secured to the electronic device through an access port of the receiving member, wherein the arm receives electrical power from a vehicle power source and communicates the electrical power to the electronic device.

19. The friction mount apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein the connector arm includes a speaker and communicates audio signals from the electronic device to the speaker.

20. A friction mount apparatus for supporting an electronic device on a surface, the apparatus comprising:

an elliptical body with a bottom surface formed of soft material, wherein the bottom surface contacts a surface of the vehicle and resists moving relative to the surface;

a receiving member coupled to the body for securing the electronic device to the body, including—

a base attached to the body, wherein the base pivots relative to the body about a vertical axis, and

a receptacle for receiving and securing the electronic device, the receptacle including

a bottom segment for seating the electronic device, wherein a first edge of the bottom segment is pivotally attached to the base so that the bottom segment pivots around a horizontal axis, and a ratchet surface depends from a second edge of the bottom segment and adjustably engages the base,

a first side portion extending perpendicularly from a first end of the bottom segment away from the body and including a detent to secure the electronic device,

a second side portion extending perpendicularly from a second end of the bottom segment away from the body and including a detent to secure the electronic device, and

a back portion for supporting the electronic device, the back portion including an access port;

a first elliptical anchor connected to the base via a first flexible neck, the anchor including an inner metal core for giving weight to the anchor and a bottom surface formed of soft material for contacting the surface of the vehicle and resisting movement relative to the surface;

a second elliptical anchor connected to the base via a second flexible neck, the second anchor including an inner metal portion for giving weight to the anchor and a bottom surface formed of soft material for contacting the surface of the vehicle and resisting movement relative to the surface; and

a third elliptical anchor connected to the base via a third flexible neck, the third anchor including an inner metal portion for giving weight to the anchor and a bottom surface formed of soft material for contacting the surface of the vehicle and resisting movement relative to the surface.

21. The friction mount apparatus as set forth in claim 20, wherein the receiving member further includes—

a lower face coupled to the body,

an upper face having a slot formed therein, the slot having an upper retaining edge being defined by a shoulder adapted to engage the electronic device and prevent the device from upward movement relative to the receiving member, and

a releasable locking mechanism operable to releasably retain at least a portion of the electronic device within the receiving slot.

22. The friction mount apparatus as set forth in claim 20, wherein at least a portion of the inner metal portion of at least one of the anchors exhibits magnetic properties for coupling with the surface of the vehicle.

23. A receiving apparatus for pivotally coupling an electronic device to a removable mount, the receiving apparatus comprising:

a circular base for pivotal attachment to the mount; and

a receptacle for receiving and securing the electronic device, the receptacle including—

a bottom segment for seating the electronic device, wherein a first longitudinal edge of the bottom segment is pivotally attached to the base so that the bottom segment pivots relative to the base about a horizontal axis corresponding to the edge, and wherein an arcuate ratchet surface depends from a second longitudinal edge of the bottom segment and adjustably engages the base,

a first side portion extending perpendicularly from a first end of the bottom segment and away from the base, the first side portion including a detent to releasably retain the electronic device,

a second side portion extending perpendicularly from a second end of the bottom segment and away from the base, the second side portion including a detent to releasably retain the electronic device, and

a back portion for supporting the electronic device, the back portion extending perpendicularly from the second longitudinal edge of the bottom portion and away from the base, the back portion including an access port for receiving an electrical contact.

24. A friction mount apparatus for an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

an elliptical body with a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein a foam layer is attached to the bottom surface so that the foam layer contacts the surface of the vehicle and resists moving relative to the surface of the vehicle;

a receiving member attached to the body for securing the electronic device to the body including—

a base attached to the body, wherein the base pivots relative to the body about a vertical axis, and

a receptacle for receiving and securing the electronic device, the receptacle including

a bottom segment for seating the electronic device, wherein a first edge of the bottom segment is pivotally attached to the base so that the bottom segment pivots relative to the base about a horizontal axis, and wherein a ratchet surface depends from a second edge of the bottom segment and adjustably engages the base,

a first side portion extending perpendicularly from a first end of the bottom segment away from the body and including a detent to secure the electronic device,

a second side portion extending perpendicularly from a second end of the bottom segment away from the body and including a detent to secure the electronic device, and

a back portion for supporting the electronic device, the back portion including an access port,

a first elliptical anchor connected to the base via a first flexible neck, wherein the first neck extends from the body along a minor axis of the body, and wherein the anchor is attached to the next so that a major axis of the anchor is parallel with a major axis of the body, the anchor including an inner metal core for giving weight to the anchor and a foam layer attached to a bottom surface of the anchor for contacting the surface of the vehicle and resisting movement relative to the surface of the vehicle;

a second elliptical anchor connected to the base via a second flexible neck, wherein the second neck extends radially from the body along a line that is one hundred thirty-five degrees counterclockwise from the first neck, and wherein the second anchor is attached to the neck so that a major axis of the anchor is parallel with a major axis of the body, the second anchor including an inner metal core for giving weight to the anchor and a foam layer attached to a bottom surface of the anchor for contacting the surface of the vehicle and resisting movement relative to the surface of the vehicle;

a third elliptical anchor connected to the base via a third flexible neck, wherein the third flexible neck extends radially from the body along a line that is two hundred twenty-five degrees counterclockwise from the first neck, and wherein the third anchor is attached to the third neck so that a major axis of the third anchor is parallel with a major axis of the body, the third anchor including an inner metal core for giving weight to the anchor and a foam layer attached to a bottom surface of the anchor for contacting the surface of the vehicle and resisting movement relative to the surface of the vehicle; and

an electrical connector arm secured to the electronic device through the access port of the back portion, wherein the arm connects the electronic device to a vehicle power source and to a speaker.

25. The friction mount apparatus as set forth in claim 24, wherein the receiving member further includes—

a lower face coupled to the body,

an upper face having a slot formed therein, the slot having an upper retaining edge being defined by a shoulder adapted to engage the electronic device and prevent the device from upward movement relative to the receiving member, and

a releasable locking mechanism for releasably retaining at least a portion of the electronic device within the receiving slot.