Security mount for displaying handheld device

• US 7,971,845 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2009
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compucage International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Compucage International Inc.
• Inventors: Galant, Steve N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sterling; Amy J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith; Erin
• Application Number:
  US12/405,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20090229089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 248/551, 248/693, 248/550, 70/14, 70/19, 70/57, 70/571, 70/58, 70/59, 70/61, 701/74, 702/75, 702/77, 702/781, 702/787, 702/791, 704/32, 704/34, 704/39, 704/41
• US Class Current: 248/551
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/16 Platform-type show stands with flat, inclined, or curved upper surface
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/024 with provisions for preventing unauthorised removal show cases with devices for prevention of theft A47F3/002; devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal E05B73/0017
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/32 having magnetic fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3774 Mounted by structure allowing bodily movement thereof

Abstract

A security mount for displaying an article such as a handheld device is provided that includes a device mount that can be secured to a handheld device and a base mount that can be secured to a display structure. The device mount is releasably connected to a tether such that the device mount can be detached from the tether without detaching the device mount from the handheld device.

Claims

1. A mounting assembly for releasably securing a handheld device to a tether having an enlarged terminal portion at an end of a tethering cable, comprising:

a rigid device mount securable to a surface of the handheld device for securing the enlarged terminal portion of the tether to the handheld device, the device mount defining an internal cavity for receiving the enlarged terminal portion of the tether, and a cable passage for receiving a section of the tethering cable adjacent the enlarged terminal portion, the cable passage extending from the internal cavity to an outer surface of the device mount, the device mount defining an access opening communicating with the internal cavity and the cable passage at a first side of the device mount to permit the enlarged terminal portion and the tethering cable section to be positioned into and removed from the internal cavity and the cable passage, respectively;

a cover releasably securable to the device mount to cover the access opening when the cover is in a secured position to prevent removal of the tether from the device mount; and

a fastener releasably securing the cover to the device mount in the secured position, wherein the cover and fastener are disposed to allow the cover to be released from the secured position when the device mount is secured to the handheld device, thereby enabling the tether to be released from the device mount when the device mount is secured to the handheld device.

2. The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the fastener includes a threaded screw that passes through the cover and into a threaded bore in the device mount, the threaded screw having a keyed head for receiving a complimentarily keyed interface of a tool for removing or securing the fastener.

3. The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the device mount defines a nested seat in the first side at least partially surrounding the access opening, the cover sitting in the nested seat when in the secured position.

4. The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the device mount comprises a front side having a surface for engaging the handheld device, the mounting assembly including an adhesive interface on the front side for securing the device mount to the handheld device.

5. The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the device mount comprises a front side having a surface for engaging the handheld device, and a back side defining an opening to the cable passage at the outer surface of the device mount, the first side extending from the front side and the back side.

6. The mounting assembly of claim 1 further comprising a battery securing member comprising a rigid body having securing adhesive on one side thereof for securing over a portion of a battery cover the handheld device.

7. The mounting assembly of claim 1 further comprising a base mount for mounting to a support structure and having an outer facing front surface for engaging the back side of the device mount as the device mount is retracted towards the base mount, the base mount front surface and device mount back surface each having a complimentary shape such that the device mount is biased to a predetermined orientation relative to the base mount as the device mount back surface is retracted into engagement with the base mount front surface.

10. The mounting assembly of claim 7 wherein the base mount defines a central opening and includes a cable stop insert for removable insertion at least partially into the central opening to prevent the enlarged terminal portion of the tether from retracting through the central opening, the cable stop insert defining a passage that the tethering cable can pass through.

11. The mounting assembly of claim 7 further including magnetic members mounted in each of the base mount and the device mount for applying attractive forces to releasably secure the device mount to the base mount.

12. The mounting assembly of claim 11 wherein the base mount defines at least one chamber accessible from a back side thereof, and the magnetic members includes a magnetic insert received within the one chamber.

8. A mounting assembly for releasably securing a handheld device to a tether having an enlarged terminal portion at an end of a tethering cable, comprising:

a rigid device mount securable to a surface of the handheld device for securing the enlarged terminal portion of the tether to the handheld device, the device mount defining an internal cavity for receiving the enlarged terminal portion of the tether, and a cable passage for receiving a section of the tethering cable adjacent the enlarged terminal portion, the cable passage extending from the internal cavity to an outer surface of the device mount, the device mount defining an access opening communicating with the internal cavity and the cable passage at a first side of the device mount to permit the enlarged terminal portion and the tethering cable section to be positioned into and removed from the internal cavity and the cable passage, respectively;

a cover releasably securable to the device mount to cover the access opening when the cover is in a secured position to prevent removal of the tether from the device mount; and

a base mount for mounting to a support structure and having an outer facing front surface for engaging the back side of the device mount as the device mount is retracted towards the base mount, the base mount front surface and device mount back surface each having a complimentary shape such that the device mount is biased to a predetermined orientation relative to the base mount as the device mount back surface is retracted into engagement with the base mount front surface, wherein the front surface of the base mount defines a recess and the device mount back surface defines a complimentary shaped protruding surface.

9. A mounting assembly for releasably securing a handheld device to a tether having an enlarged terminal portion at an end of a tethering cable, comprising:

a rigid device mount securable to a surface of the handheld device for securing the enlarged terminal portion of the tether to the handheld device, the device mount defining an internal cavity for receiving the enlarged terminal portion of the tether, and a cable passage for receiving a section of the tethering cable adjacent the enlarged terminal portion, the cable passage extending from the internal cavity to an outer surface of the device mount, the device mount defining an access opening communicating with the internal cavity and the cable passage at a first side of the device mount to permit the enlarged terminal portion and the tethering cable section to be positioned into and removed from the internal cavity and the cable passage, respectively;

a cover releasably securable to the device mount to cover the access opening when the cover is in a secured position to prevent removal of the tether from the device mount; and

a base mount for mounting to a support structure and having an outer facing front surface for engaging the back side of the device mount as the device mount is retracted towards the base mount, the base mount front surface and device mount back surface each having a complimentary shape such that the device mount is biased to a predetermined orientation relative to the base mount as the device mount back surface is retracted into engagement with the base mount front surface, wherein the device mount back surface defines a recess and the front surface of the base mount defines a complimentary shaped protruding surface.

13. A security device for releasably securing an article, comprising:

a retracting mechanism including a retractable tether having an enlarged terminal portion at an end of a tethering cable;

a device mount assembly comprising;

(i) a rigid device mount body securable to the article for securing the enlarged terminal portion of the tether to the article and for movement with the article between a tethered extended position and a tethered retracted position, the device mount body defining an internal cavity receiving the enlarged terminal portion of the tether, and a cable passage for receiving a section of the tethering cable adjacent the enlarged terminal portion, the cable passage extending from the internal cavity to an outer surface of the device mount body, the device mount body defining an access opening communicating with the internal cavity and the cable passage to permit the enlarged terminal portion and the tethering cable section to be positioned into and removed from the internal cavity and the cable passage, respectively and (ii) a cover releasably secured to the device mount body to cover the access opening when the cover is in a secured position to prevent removal of the tether from the device mount body; and

a base mount for mounting to a support structure and having an outer facing front surface for engaging the device mount body when the device mount body is retracted towards the base mount to the tethered retracted position,

wherein the device mount body defines a nested seat in a first side thereof at least partially surrounding the access opening, the cover sitting in the nested seat when in the secured position.

14. The security device of claim 13 comprising a fastener releasably securing the cover to the device mount body in the secured position, the cover and fastener being disposed such that the cover can be released from the secured position when the device mount body is secured to the article, thereby enabling the tether to be released from the device mount body when the device mount body is secured to the article.

15. The security device of claim 14 wherein the fastener includes a threaded screw that passes through the cover and into a threaded bore in the device mount body, the threaded screw having a keyed head for receiving a complimentarily keyed interface of a tool for removing or securing the fastener.

16. The security device of claim 13 wherein the device mount body comprises a front side having a surface for engaging the handheld device, and a back side defining an opening to the cable passage at the outer surface of the device mount, the first side extending from the front side and the back side.

17. The mounting assembly of claim 13 wherein the base mount defines a passage and includes a cable stop insert for removable insertion at least partially into the passage to prevent the enlarged terminal portion of the tether from retracting therethrough, the cable stop insert defining a further passage that the tethering cable passes through.

18. A mounting assembly for releasably securing a handheld device to a tether having an enlarged terminal portion at an end of a tethering cable, comprising:

a rigid device mount securable to a handheld device, the device mount defining an internal cavity for receiving the enlarged terminal portion of the tether, and a cable passage for receiving a section of the tethering cable adjacent the enlarged terminal portion, the cable passage extending from the internal cavity to an outer surface of the device mount, the device mount defining an access opening communicating with the internal cavity and the cable passage at a first side of the device mount to permit the enlarged terminal portion and the tethering cable section to be positioned into and removed from the internal cavity and the cable passage, respectively;

a cover releasably securable to the device mount to cover the access opening when the cover is in a secured position to prevent removal of the tether from the device mount; and

a fastener releasably securing the cover to the device mount in the secured position;

wherein the cover and fastener are disposed to allow the cover to be released from the secured position when the device mount is secured to the handheld device, thereby enabling the tether to be released from the device mount when the device mount is secured to the handheld device.