Removable steering wheel holder for an electronic device

• US 8,496,144 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2010
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Engen Holdings Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Engen Holdings Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Son, Jae S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Newhouse, Nathan J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Todd
• Application Number:
  US12/897,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20120080465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 224/276, 224/420, 224/450, 224/483, 224/552, 224/570, 224/553, 224/929, 241/15.A, 241/29.D, 241/29.R, 241/29.W, 241/96, 242/56.WS, 245/70, 108/44
• US Class Current: 224/276
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/001 Vehicle control means, e.g. steering-wheel or column
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0059 using clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/10 Arrangement of audio equipment; Supports therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/225 Mounting arrangements therefor

Abstract

A removable holder for a smart phone is provided to support the smart phone in front of a driver on a steering wheel. Close proximity of the smart phone allows easy access and good visibility of its display which helps in using the GPS navigation or other features of a smart phone while the vehicle is in motion. Retention of the smart phone assures its steady position when the steering wheel is turned but at the same time allows for its deflection out of the way in case of an airbag deployment. The attachment element of the holder includes two raised bars and an elastic band to form a 3-point contact area with the steering wheel. The smart phone retainer is length-adjustable to accommodate a variety of smart phones. The holder can be easily mounted and removed from the steering wheel without using hand tools.

Claims

1. A removable holder for a smart phone to be supported on a steering wheel having a central area equipped with an airbag, the holder comprising:

a smart phone retainer sized to position said smart phone inside said steering wheel while partially overlapping said central area of the steering wheel containing the air bag, and

a steering wheel attachment extending from one end of the smart phone retainer, the steering wheel attachment including a length-adjustable elastic band configured to be wrapped around the steering wheel, said elastic band is characterized by elasticity and frictional properties selected to provide a rotational holding torque of said holder about the steering wheel of at least 0.4 Nm, whereby any rotational torque exceeding 0.4 Nm will cause rotation of said smart phone retainer about said steering wheel;

said steering wheel attachment including a pair of parallel raised bars spaced apart along a cross-sectional curvature of the steering wheel, said raised bars extending beyond the width of said elastic band and together with said elastic band forming a 3-point contact of said steering wheel attachment with the steering wheel,

wherein said smart phone when inside said holder is supported on said steering wheel on said one end of said smart phone retainer and on said central area on another end of said smart phone retainer with sufficient force to remain steady during rotation of said steering wheel;

said removable holder is configured to rotate and retain said smart phone about said steering wheel while moving said smart phone away from said airbag upon deployment thereof.

2. The removable holder as in claim 1, where the smart phone retainer is formed by an upper clamp portion, a lower clamp portion and a length-adjustable mechanism therebetween.

3. The removable holder as in claim 2, wherein said upper clamp portion includes an upper J-hook, said lower clamp portion includes a lower J-hook, said upper J-hook and said lower J-hook are configured to securely retain said smart phone therebetween.

4. The removable holder as in claim 3, wherein at least one of said upper J-hook or said lower J-hook includes an elastic bumper.

5. The removable holder as in claim 3, wherein said J-hook is characterized by having an internal width of an inside portion of said J-hook being about 20 mm, whereby said holder is configured to accept said smart phone with a protective skin covering thereof.

6. The removable holder as in claim 1, further including a length-adjustable mechanism between said upper clamp portion and said lower clamp portion, said length-adjustable mechanism is a releasable ratchet mechanism.

7. The removable holder as in claim 1, where said length-adjustable elastic band included a plurality of spaced apart holes configured to provide secure attachment of the holder to steering wheels having different cross-sectional diameters, said steering wheel attachment having a protruding pin configured to accept one hole of said plurality of holes in said elastic band.

8. The removable holder as in claim 1 further including a detachable adaptor with a 3-point clamp configured to attach said holder to a rear-view mirror.

9. The removable holder as in claim 1 further including a clear elastic loop sized to laterally hold said smart phone to prevent it from sliding sideways in said holder.

10. The removable holder as in claim 1 further including a clear elastic booty sized to cover and insulate said smart phone from the environment while in said holder.