Holding device for a cellular phone

• US 7,756,552 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Anlauff, Marcus, Diener, Oliver, Goedert, Hans-Peter, Haikola, Pasi
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chughtai, Sarwat
• Application Number:
  US10/599,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20070197271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,888 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569.1, 455/575.1, 455/575.8, 455/575.9, 455/569.2, 379/455, 379/446
• US Class Current: 455/569.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0073 using key-type connections
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/008 Adjustable or movable supports

Abstract

Disclosed is a holding device for a cellular phone (100), comprising a holding surface (215), a top holding rail (220, 435) that is spaced apart from the holding surface (215), and a pressing unit (300, 450). Said pressing unit (300) encompasses an elastic pressing element (340) which can apply a holding force (F_hold) extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cellular phone (100) to a base region (107) of the cellular telephone (100) such that a top region (106) of the cellular phone (100) is pressed against the top holding rail (220, 435). Said top holding rail (220, 435) and a bottom holding rail (260, 436) are provided for securing the cellular telephone (100) against a transversal force on the holding surface (215).

Claims

1. Holding device for a mobile telephone, said holding device comprising a holding surface, a head-holding bracket spaced from the holding surface, a pressing unit, in which the pressing unit comprises an elastic pressing element which is configured to exert, on a foot area of the mobile telephone, a holding force (F_hold) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mobile telephone while the mobile telephone is held by the holding device so that a head area of the mobile telephone is pressed against the head-holding bracket, where the head-holding bracket and a foot holding bracket are furthermore provided to secure the mobile telephone on the holding surface against a force in the transverse direction, where the holding device is made of multiple parts and comprises an annular holder which is a part that is separable as a unit from the holding surface and which comprises at least the head-holding bracket and the foot holding bracket, and where the annular holder is formed, in a plan view, essentially in the form of a frame.

2. Holding device according to claim 1, in which the annular holder has, in a side view, an essentially U-shaped or V-shaped form.

3. Holding device according to claim 1, in which the holding device is composed of individual components, where the components comprise a main tray with a receptacle for a coupling unit and a coupling holder and with a receptacle for a foot tray, the pressing unit, and the annular holder.

4. Holding device according to claim 1, in which the pressing unit can be displaced against a restoring force if a displacing force is exerted on the pressing unit for the insertion of the mobile telephone at an acute angle (α

), where the angle (α

) is defined by the holding surface and the longitudinal axis of the mobile telephone and where the restoring force results from the displacement of the pressing element of the pressing unit.

5. Holding device according to claim 4, in which the pressing unit can be displaced by a predetermined displacement (Δ

Y₂) by the mobile telephone guided at an acute angle (α

) so that the mobile telephone can, by a pivoting motion, be pivoted into the holding device.

6. Holding device according to claim 1, in which the pressing unit, due to the pressing element having no force acting on it, is in a neutral position (Y₀) so that the pressing unit and the head-holding bracket are spaced from one another by a predetermined length (Y_H) which corresponds to the extension of the mobile telephone in the longitudinal direction less a predetermined difference in length (Δ

Y₃), where the displacement of the pressing unit by the predetermined difference in length (Δ

Y₃) has as a consequence the holding force (F_hold).

7. Holding device according to claim 4, in which the head-holding bracket has a level (Δ

Y₁) which is defined parallel with respect to the holding surface, where the level (Δ

Y₁) is less than the predetermined displacement (Δ

Y₂).

8. Holding device according to claim 1, in which the pressing element is adapted, in case of an impact which can be transmitted from the holding device to the inserted mobile telephone, to react elastically by the pressing unit being displaced by the mobile telephone as a consequence of the action of a force resulting from the impact so that the impact on the mobile telephone is dampened.

9. Holding device according to claim 1, in which the pressing unit comprises a contact unit which is suitable to electrically couple with a corresponding contact unit of the mobile telephone.

10. Holding device according to claim 9, in which the pressing unit comprises a flexible circuit board conductor which is electrically connected to the contact unit.

11. Holding device according to claim 1, in which the elastic pressing element has essentially the elastic properties of a spring.

12. Holding device according to claim 1, in which the holding device is configured in such a manner that gripping surfaces of the mobile telephone are disposed on the side and remain freely accessible.

13. Holding device according to claim 1 in which the holding device comprises a coupling unit which is configured to at least one of capacitively or inductively couple wireless signals with an antenna of the mobile telephone.

14. Holding device according to claim 9, wherein the contact unit is carried by and movable with the pressing unit.