Holding apparatus

• US 8,086,278 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2009
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Original Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Inventors: Li, Chin-Chen, Wang, Chi-Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Wujciak, III, A. Joseph
• Application Number:
  US12/465,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20100206999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 248/481, 248/479, 248/476, 248/288.31, 248/181.1, 248/181.2, 403/76, 403/90, 403/122, 361/679.29, 361/679.01, 361/679.06, 361/679.2, 361/679.23, 361/679.24, 361/679.25, 361/679.26, 361/679.27, 361/679.28, 455/569.1, 455/569.2, 455/575.1, 455/90.3, 455/575.9
• US Class Current: 455/569.1
• 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: B60R 11/0258 for navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0089 around three axes, i.e. universally mounted

Abstract

The invention discloses a holding apparatus, which includes a fixed body, a carrying stand and a signal cable. The fixed body includes a ball joint, extending portion and a cable tunnel. The cable tunnel, disposed within the fixed body, is connected to a first opening of the ball joint. The carrying stand includes a casing, a pivot component and a transmitting interface. The ball joint is pivotally connected to the pivot component through a second opening of the casing. The signal cable, disposed through the cable tunnel of the ball joint, is electrically connected to the transmitting interface within the carrying stand. When the carrying stand rotates relative to the fixed body, a limiting portion of the pivot component is used for stopping the extending portion, so as to limit a rotating angle of the carrying stand.

Claims

1. A holding apparatus for supporting a handheld electronic device, comprising;

a fixed body comprising;

a ball joint having a first opening thereon;

an extending portion conjoint with the ball joint and extending from a border of the first opening; and

a cable tunnel disposed within the fixed body and connected to the first opening of the ball joint;

a carrying holder comprising;

a casing having a second opening;

a pivot component disposed within the casing for pivotally connecting the ball joint through the second opening, the pivot component having a limiting portion and a through hole, the extending portion penetrating the through hole, the limiting portion of the pivot component being disposed at a periphery of the through hole; and

a transmitting interface; and

a signal cable, disposed inside and along the cable tunnel of the ball joint, for electrically connecting to the transmitting interface of the carrying holder;

wherein when the carrying holder rotates along a first direction relative to the fixed body, the limiting portion stops the extending portion, so as to limit a rotating angle of the carrying holder.

2. The holding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotating angle is not over 360 degrees.

3. The holding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the through hole of the pivot component is a round through hole.

4. The holding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the through hole of the pivot component is an oval-shaped through hole, the oval-shaped through hole having a minor axis, the limiting portion being located at a position of an extension direction of the minor axis.

5. The holding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the direction is a clockwise direction or a counter-clockwise direction.

6. The holding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the linking portion and the extending portion are formed in one piece.

7. A holding apparatus for supporting a handheld electronic device, comprising;

a fixed body comprising;

a ball joint;

a linking portion conjoint with the ball joint, the linking portion having a first opening;

an extending portion conjoint with the ball joint and extending from a border of the first opening; and

a cable tunnel disposed within the fixed body and connected to the first opening of the linking portion;

a carrying holder comprising;

a casing having a second opening; and

a pivot component disposed within the casing for pivotally connecting the ball joint through the second opening, the pivot component having a limiting portion and a through hole, the linking portion and the extending portion penetrating the through hole, the limiting portion of the pivot component being disposed at a periphery of the through hole; and

wherein when the carrying holder rotates along a first direction relative to the fixed body, the limiting portion stops the extending portion, so as to limit a rotating angle of the carrying holder.

8. The holding apparatus of claim 7, wherein the fixed body further comprises a base used for fixing the holding apparatus onto an outer surface.

9. The holding apparatus of claim 7, wherein the rotating angle is not over 360 degrees.

10. The holding apparatus of claim 7, wherein the through hole of the pivot component is a round through hole.

11. The holding apparatus of claim 7, wherein the through hole of the pivot component is an oval-shaped through hole, the oval-shaped through hole having a minor axis, the limiting portion being located at a position of an extension direction of the minor axis.

12. The holding apparatus of claim 11, wherein a length of the minor axis is shorter than a length formed by the extending portion and the linking portion.

13. The holding apparatus of claim 7, wherein the direction is a clockwise direction or a counter-clockwise direction.

14. The holding apparatus of claim 7, wherein the carrying holder further comprises a transmitting interface electrically connected with a signal cable within the cable tunnel.

15. The holding apparatus of claim 7, wherein the carrying holder further comprises a top cap, the cap being linked with the casing and used for accommodating an electronic device.

16. The holding apparatus of claim 7, wherein the linking portion and the extending portion are formed in one piece.