Stationary apparatus for portable electronic device

• US 9,014,393 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2012
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Huh, Byungmu, Kim, Kyoungjoung, Chong, Yuonui
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): ETESAM, AMIR HOSSEIN
• Application Number:
  US13/445,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20130016850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 381/87, 381/386, 381/395
• US Class Current: 381/87
• 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 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0092 with motorization

Abstract

A withdrawable portable device mounting apparatus is provided in a vehicle audio system, in which a mount capable of mounting a portable electronic device is drawn out using an electromotive force with a very simple manipulation by pressing a drive button or the like. The apparatus may include a case, a front panel provided at a front surface of the case to have a control panel, a mounting unit loading hole, and a loading button, a drive unit configured to drive a mounting unit through a mounting unit loading hole of the front panel in a withdrawable manner, a loading unit mutually operated with the drive unit to allow the mounting unit to be drawn in or out, and a mounting unit inserted into the front panel in a folded state during a drawing-in operation, and unfolded through the mounting unit loading hole during a drawing-out operation.

Claims

1. A withdrawable portable electronic device mounting apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a case;

a front panel provided at a front surface of the case to have a control panel, a mounting unit loading hole, and a loading button;

a drive unit configured to drive a mounting unit through a mounting unit loading hole of the front panel in a withdrawable manner;

a loading unit mutually operated with the drive unit to allow the mounting unit to be drawn in or out; and

a mounting unit inserted into the front panel in a folded state during the drawing-in operation, and unfolded through the mounting unit loading hole during the drawing-out operation,

wherein the mounting unit comprises;

an upper mounting member and a lower mounting member folded during the drawing-in operation and unfolded during the drawing-out operation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper mounting member and lower mounting member comprise engaging gears, respectively, and the folding and unfolding operation is implemented by the engaging gears.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the upper mounting member and lower mounting member comprise torsion springs in the respective engaging gear units, and the upper mounting member and lower mounting member are unfolded by a restoring elastic force during the drawing-out operation.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper mounting member comprises:

an upper body; and

a mounting hook formed at an end of the upper body to mount a portable electronic device and then fix it.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower mounting member comprises:

a lower casing mutually hinge-operated with the upper mounting member;

an inserting body slidably inserted into the lower casing; and

a bottom portion fixed and connected to an end of the lower casing to be electrically connected to a fixed portable electronic device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the lower casing comprises a sliding protrusion protruded thereinside, and

the inserting body together with a sliding guide rail into which the sliding protrusion is slid is slidably drawn into the lower casing.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the lower mounting member comprises a tensile elastic member, maintaining a configuration that the inserting body is inserted into the lower casing by a restoring elastic force, and having a restoring elastic force when the inserting body is slidably drawn from the lower casing.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the upper mounting member comprises a mounting hook, and

the lower casing and the inserting body comprise mounting hook inserting holes, respectively, such that the mounting hook of the upper mounting member sequentially passes therethrough to be inserted thereinto in a folded state.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the bottom portion comprises:

a bottom portion body fixed and connected to a lower portion of the inserting body;

a bottom portion cover configured to cover the bottom portion body;

a connector electrically conducted to a portable electronic device; and

a connector supporting member integrally formed with the connector to connect to the bottom portion body.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the connector supporting member comprises a rotation shaft, and

the bottom portion body comprises a rotation shaft hole such that the connector is hinge-rotated around the rotation shaft.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a mounting rotation member formed between the drive unit and the mounting unit, and provided at a mounting panel of the drive unit to be rotationally operated with the mounting panel, and comprising a folding shaft which is a hinge shaft of the folding or unfolding operation of the mounting unit.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a click hinge cam rotatably combined with a mounting panel of the drive unit to perform a fixed function at an angle of 90 degrees.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive unit comprises:

a drive motor configured to transfer power;

a transfer gear configured to transfer a decelerated rotational force of the drive motor;

a loading drive gear to allow a mounting unit to be drawn in or out by a rotational force of the drive motor; and

a mounting panel mounted with the drive motor, transfer gear and loading drive gear to move back and forth in the case.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the loading unit comprises a loading gear linearly formed to be engaged with the loading drive gear to move the drive unit back and forth according to the rotation of the loading drive gear.

15. A withdrawable portable electronic device mounting apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a power unit configured to supply power;

an input unit allowing a user to input whether to operate the apparatus;

a mounting unit configured to be automatically drawn in or out by an input function of the input unit to mount a portable electronic device during the drawing-out operation;

a drive unit configured to receive power to perform the operation of drawing in or out the mounting unit; and

a controller configured to drive the drive unit according to a signal of the input unit to allow the mounting unit to be drawn in or out,

wherein the mounting unit comprises;

an upper mounting member and a lower mounting member folded during the drawing-in operation and unfolded during the drawing-out operation.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the upper mounting member and lower mounting member comprise engaging gears at end portions thereof, respectively, and have a restoring moment in the direction of being unfolded by torsion springs thereof, respectively, to be folded during the drawing-in operation and unfolded during the drawing-out operation.

17. A withdrawable portable electronic device mounting apparatus incorporated in a vehicle audio system, the apparatus comprising:

a case of the audio system provided in the interior of a vehicle;

a front panel of the vehicle audio system;

a power unit configured to receive power from the power of the vehicle;

a mounting unit configured to be automatically drawn in or out by an input function of the input unit to mount a portable electronic device during the drawing-out operation;

a drive unit provided within the case to receive power and perform the operation of drawing in or out the mounting unit;

a controller configured to drive the drive unit to allow the mounting unit to be drawn in or out; and

an input unit allowing a user to input a command indicating whether the mounting unit is drawn in or out,

wherein the mounting unit comprises;

an upper mounting member and a lower mounting member folded during the drawing-in operation and unfolded during the drawing-out operation.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the front panel comprises:

a mounting unit loading hole to allow the mounting unit to be drawn in or out.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the upper mounting member and lower mounting member comprise engaging gears at end portions thereof, respectively, and have a restoring moment in the direction of being unfolded by torsion springs thereof, respectively, to be folded during the drawing-in operation and unfolded during the drawing-out operation.