Electronic device holder

• US 9,016,658 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2013
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aspire Innovation, LLC
• Original Assignee: Aspire Innovation, LLC
• Inventors: Barnard, Brandon, Fritze, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Duckworth, Bradley
• Application Number:
  US14/101,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20140224947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• US Class Current: 248/688
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 47/00 Suction cups for attaching purposes; Equivalent means using adhesives devices using adhesives, suction or magnetism for hanging or supporting pictures or the like A47G1/17; vacuum work holders B25B11/005; anchoring of ships using suction B63B21/27; suction cups for handling glass B65G49/061; load-engaging elements for cranes using suction means B66C1/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/40 by means of coilable or bendable legs or spiral shaped legs
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0252 PM holding devices H01F7/021, H01F7/0215, H01F7/0226 take precedence

Abstract

A holder for an electronic device includes a head with elastically flexible portions configured to removably receive the electronic device with a snap-fit interlock, a neck for supporting the head relative to a surface, and a ball and socket connector coupling the neck to the head, the ball and socket connector configured to allow adjustment of the yaw, the pitch, and the roll of the electronic device with respect to the neck when the electronic device is coupled to the head.

Claims

1. A holder system for an electronic device comprising:

a converter that is configured to be attached to the electronic device;

a head that is configured to be releasably attachable to the converter, wherein the head includes at least one movable portion that is configured for releasing the head from the converter;

a neck for supporting the head relative to a surface; and

a connector coupling the neck to the head, the connector configured to allow adjustment of the electronic device with respect to the neck about at least one spherical axis of freedom when the electronic device is coupled to the head, the spherical axis of freedom including yaw, pitch, and roll axes;

wherein the head is configured to be attachable to the converter via magnetic force and the moveable portion of the head is configured to break the magnetic force, wherein the moveable portion is slidable for shearing off the magnetic force.

2. The holder system of claim 1, wherein the converter is coupled to the electronic device and the head is coupled to the electronic device via the converter.

3. The holder system of claim 1, wherein the movable portion includes a magnet that interacts with a metallic element of the converter for detaching the head from the converter.

4. The holder system of claim 1, wherein the movable portion is spring biased to an attachment position and is movable toward a detachment position against the bias of the spring.

5. The holder system of claim 1, wherein the connector includes a ball and socket connector coupling the neck to the head, the ball and socket connector configured to allow adjustment of the yaw, the pitch, and the roll of the electronic device with respect to the neck.

6. The holder system of claim 5, wherein the holder includes a rotary joint that allows further adjustment of the roll of the electronic device without disturbing the yaw and the pitch of the electronic device after the yaw, the pitch, and the roll of the electronic device have been initially adjusted and locked using the ball and socket connector.

7. The holder system of claim 1, wherein the converter is configured to be attached to the electronic device via adhesive.

8. A holder system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a tablet personal computer.

9. A holder system for an electronic device comprising:

a converter that is configured to be attached to the electronic device;

a head that is configured to be releasably attachable to the converter, wherein the head includes at least one moveable portion that is configured for releasing the head from the converter;

the head is configured to be attachable to the converter via magnetic force and the moveable portion of the head is configured to break the magnetic force, and wherein the moveable portion includes a magnet that interact with a metallic element of the converter for detaching the head from the converter.

10. A holder system for an electronic device comprising:

a converter that is configured to be attached to the electronic device;

a head that is configured to be releasably attached to the converter via magnetic force when the head is in line with the converter, and wherein the head is detached from the converter by shearing movement of the head or the converter.