Phone mounting assembly

• US 8,505,792 B1
• Filed: 10/22/2010
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johan L. Jansen
• Original Assignee: Johan L. Jansen
• Inventors: Jansen, Johan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Newhouse, Nathan J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Todd
• Application Number:
  US12/909,920
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 224/276, 224/275, 224/420, 224/660, 224/666, 224/667, 224/671, 224/674, 224/929, 241/15.A, 241/29.D, 241/29.R, 241/29.W, 241/98, 242/65.WS, 245/70, 108/44, 745/585
• US Class Current: 224/276
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/001 Vehicle control means, e.g. steering-wheel or column
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0059 using clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3933 Swagged, deformable

Abstract

A phone mounting assembly is provided for supporting a portable phone on a steering wheel in an accessible position to facilitate hands-free use of the phone. The assembly includes a steering wheel and a connection member couplable to the steering wheel. The connection member has a planar medial section designed for insertion into a clip of a cell phone holder. A first stopping member is coupled to the medial section such that the first stopping member restricts lateral movement of the clip of the cell phone holder on the connection member.

Claims

1. A phone mounting assembly comprising:

a steering wheel having an annular grip;

a connection member couplable to said steering wheel, said connection member having a planar medial section, a first end and a second end, said first and second ends being curved and being wrapped around said steering wheel, said medial portion extending between and abutting said first and second ends;

a cell phone holder having a clip attached thereto, said clip extending over said medial section such that said medial section is positioned between a portion of said clip and said cell phone holder, said medial portion having a longitudinal axis extending through said first and second ends, said cell phone holder having a first axis being vertically oriented when a cell phone positioned therein is vertically oriented, said first axis being fixedly oriented perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;

a first stopping member coupled to said medial section such that said first stopping member is adapted for restricting lateral movement of the clip of the cell phone holder on said connection member; and

a second stopping member coupled to said medial section such that said second stopping member is adapted for restricting lateral movement of the clip of the cell phone holder on said connection member.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further including a grip cover couplable to said steering wheel over said grip and said first and second ends of said connection member.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said first end of said connection member and said second end of said connection member contact said grip such that said connection member extends across said steering wheel offset from a center of said annular grip.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said first stopping member includes a pair of sides positioned to frictionally engage opposite faces of said medial section whereby lateral movement of said first stopping member is inhibited, said second stopping member including a pair of sides positioned to frictionally engage opposite faces of said medial section whereby lateral movement of said second stopping member is inhibited.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein:

said first stopping member includes a pair of ends joining said sides of said first stopping member, said ends being compressible towards each other to urge said sides away from said faces of said medial section to facilitate lateral movement of said first stopping member to a selectable position on said connection member; and

said second stopping member includes a pair of ends joining said sides of said second stopping member, said ends of said second stopping member being compressible towards each other to urge said sides of said second stopping member away from said faces of said medial section to facilitate lateral movement of said second stopping member to a selectable position on said connection member.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein said ends of said first stopping member are positionable in spaced relationship to said connection member when said first stopping member is coupled to said medial section to facilitate compression of said ends of said first stopping member to move said sides of said first stopping member away from said faces of said medial section, wherein said ends of said second stopping member are positionable in spaced relationship to said connection member when said second stopping member is coupled to said medial section to facilitate compression of said ends of said second stopping member to move said sides of said second stopping member away from said faces of said medial section.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said first end of said connection member is angled inward toward an upper edge of said medial portion such that an interior first end surface of said connection member abuts an outer perimeter of said grip, said second end of said connection member is angled inward toward said upper edge of medial portion such that an interior second end surface of said connection member abuts said outer perimeter of said grip, wherein a bottom edge of said medial portion has a greater length from said first end to said second end that a length of said upper edge from said first end to said second end.

10. The assembly of claim 1, further including a grip cover couplable to said steering wheel over said grip and said first and second ends of said connection member.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said first stopping member includes a pair of sides positioned to frictionally engage opposite faces of said medial section whereby lateral movement of said first stopping member is inhibited.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein said first stopping member includes a pair of ends joining said sides of said first stopping member, said ends being compressible towards each other to urge said sides away from said faces of said medial section to facilitate lateral movement of said first stopping member to a selectable position on said connection member.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said ends of said first stopping member are positionable in spaced relationship to said connection member when said first stopping member is coupled to said medial section to facilitate compression of said ends of said first stopping member to move said sides of said first stopping member away from said faces of said medial section.

14. The assembly of claim 1, further including a second stopping member coupled to said medial section such that said second stopping member is adapted for restricting lateral movement of the clip of the cell phone holder on said connection member.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said second stopping member includes a pair of sides positioned to frictionally engage opposite faces of said medial section whereby lateral movement of said second stopping member is inhibited.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein said second stopping member includes a pair of ends joining said sides of said second stopping member, said ends of said second stopping member being compressible towards each other to urge said sides of said second stopping member away from said faces of said medial section to facilitate lateral movement of said second stopping member to a selectable position on said connection member.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein said ends of said second stopping member are positionable in spaced relationship to said connection member when said second stopping member is coupled to said medial section to facilitate compression of said ends of said second stopping member to move said sides of said second stopping member away from said faces of said medial section.

18. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said first end of said connection member and said second end of said connection member contact said grip such that said connection member extends across said steering wheel offset from a center of said annular grip.

8. A phone mounting assembly comprising:

a steering wheel having an annular grip;

a connection member couplable to said steering wheel, said connection member having a planar medial section, a first end and a second end, said first and second ends being curved and being wrapped around said steering wheel, said medial portion extending between and abutting said first and second ends;

a cell phone holder having a clip attached thereto, said clip extending over said medial section such that said medial section is positioned between a portion of said clip and said cell phone holder, said medial portion having a longitudinal axis extending through said first and second ends, said cell phone holder having a first axis being vertically oriented when a cell phone positioned therein is vertically oriented, said first axis being fixedly oriented perpendicular to said longitudinal axis; and

a first stopping member coupled to said medial section such that said first stopping member is adapted for restricting lateral movement of the clip of the cell phone holder on said connection member; and

said first end of said connection member is angled inward toward an upper edge of said medial portion such that an interior first end surface of said connection member abuts an outer perimeter of said grip, said second end of said connection member is angled inward toward said upper edge of medial portion such that an interior second end surface of said connection member abuts said outer perimeter of said grip, wherein a bottom edge of said medial portion has a greater length from said first end to said second end that a length of said upper edge from said first end to said second end.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein said medial section of said connection member is positioned in a middle portion of said steering wheel when said connection member is coupled to said steering wheel.

19. A phone mounting assembly comprising:

a steering wheel;

a connection member couplable to said steering wheel, said connection member having a planar medial section adapted for insertion into a clip of a cell phone holder;

a first stopping member coupled to said medial section such that said first stopping member is adapted for restricting lateral movement of the clip of the cell phone holder on said connection member;

wherein said medial section of said connection member is positioned in a middle portion of said steering wheel when said connection member is coupled to said steering wheel;

said steering wheel having an annular grip;

said connection member having a curved first end positionable to wrap around said grip such that said first end is coupled to said steering wheel;

wherein said connection member includes a curved second end positionable to wrap around said grip such that said second end is coupled to said steering wheel;

a grip cover couplable to said steering wheel over said grip and said first and second ends of said connection member;

wherein said first stopping member includes a pair of sides positioned to frictionally engage opposite faces of said medial section whereby lateral movement of said first stopping member is inhibited;

wherein said first stopping member includes a pair of ends joining said sides of said first stopping member, said ends being compressible towards each other to urge said sides away from said faces of said medial section to facilitate lateral movement of said first stopping member to a selectable position on said connection member;

wherein said ends of said first stopping member are positionable in spaced relationship to said connection member when said first stopping member is coupled to said medial section to facilitate compression of said ends of said first stopping member to move said sides of said first stopping member away from said faces of said medial section;

a second stopping member coupled to said medial section such that said second stopping member is adapted for restricting lateral movement of the clip of the cell phone holder on said connection member;

wherein said second stopping member includes a pair of sides positioned to frictionally engage opposite faces of said medial section whereby lateral movement of said second stopping member is inhibited;

wherein said second stopping member includes a pair of ends joining said sides of said second stopping member, said ends of said second stopping member being compressible towards each other to urge said sides of said second stopping member away from said faces of said medial section to facilitate lateral movement of said second stopping member to a selectable position on said connection member;

wherein said ends of said second stopping member are positionable in spaced relationship to said connection member when said second stopping member is coupled to said medial section to facilitate compression of said ends of said second stopping member to move said sides of said second stopping member away from said faces of said medial section;

wherein said first end of said connection member is angled such that an interior first end surface of said connection member abuts an outer perimeter of said grip;

wherein said second end of said connection member is angled such that an interior second end surface of said connection member abuts said outer perimeter of said grip; and

wherein said first end of said connection member and said second end of said connection member contact said grip such that said connection member extends across said steering wheel offset from a center of said annular grip.