Phone holder

• US 9,699,285 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2015
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Frdric, Lundsgaard, Soren K., Thomas, Joy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goddard, Tammy Paige
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bataille, Frantz
• Application Number:
  US14/881,967
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241

Abstract

An apparatus for holding a cell phone in a vehicle that includes a cradle assembly to receive a cell phone or a mobile device and a speaker assembly removably connected to the cradle assembly. The cradle assembly includes a cradle base and a cradle rotatably attached to the cradle base. The cradle rotates such that the cell phone is located in either a portrait configuration or a landscape configuration. The cradle includes a pair of cradle arms and a pair of grips to hold the cell phone. The speaker assembly includes a speaker housing and one or more speakers located within the speaker housing. The cradle base includes a cradle release button that when pressed, releases the cradle assembly from the speaker assembly. The cradle arms and the grips creates a twist-to-release securement system such that when a user twists the cell phone in the cradle, the cell phone is released from the phone holder.

Claims

1. A phone holder for holding a cell phone in a vehicle, the phone holder including:

a cradle assembly configured to receive a cell phone, wherein the cradle assembly includes a cradle base and a cradle rotatably attached to the cradle base, wherein the cradle rotates such that the cell phone is located in either a portrait configuration or a landscape configuration, the cradle includes a pair of cradle arms and a pair of grips attached to each of the cradle arms, wherein the grips are configured to hold the cell phone; and

a speaker assembly removably connected to the cradle assembly, wherein the speaker assembly includes a speaker housing and a speaker located within the speaker housing, wherein the speaker housing includes a cradle mount that is sized, shaped, and located such that the cradle assembly slides and locks into the speaker assembly when connecting the cradle assembly to the speaker assembly,

wherein the cradle base includes a cradle release button that when pressed, releases the cradle assembly from the speaker assembly, and further wherein the cradle arms and the grips create a twist-to-release securement system such that when a user twists the cell phone in the cradle, the cell phone is released from the phone holder.

2. A phone holder according to claim 1, further including a vehicle mount to secure the phone holder to the inside of a vehicle such that a driver can see the cell phone.

3. A phone holder according to claim 1, wherein the speaker assembly includes a loudspeaker connector with a plurality of leads and wherein the cradle assembly includes a speaker connector with a plurality of leads.

4. A phone holder according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of leads of the loudspeaker connector and the speaker assembly connect to the plurality of leads of the speaker connector and the cradle assembly.

5. A phone holder according to claim 1, wherein the speaker includes two speakers directed in opposite directions from each other.

6. A phone holder according to claim 1, wherein the cradle base includes a light located on a top portion of the cradle base.

7. A phone holder according to claim 1, wherein the cradle base includes one or more of the following:

a power charger adapter connection, a media slot configured to receive a media memory device, or a USB connector connection.

8. A phone holder according to claim 1, wherein the cradle arms includes a support arm connected to each of the grips, and the support arms extend outward from the cradle.

9. A phone holder according to claim 8, wherein the support arms include a plurality of locking teeth that engage with a plurality of locking pawls located within the cradle to lock the support arms in location.

10. A phone holder according to claim 9, wherein the cradle includes a biasing element to bias the support arms together to hold the cell phone.

11. A mobile device holder for holding a mobile device in a vehicle, the holder including:

a cradle assembly configured to receive a mobile device, wherein the cradle assembly includes a cradle base and a cradle rotatably attached to the cradle base, wherein the cradle rotates such that the cell phone is located in either a portrait configuration or a landscape configuration, the cradle includes a pair of cradle arms and a pair of grips attached to each of the cradle arms, wherein the grips are configured to hold the mobile device; and

a speaker assembly removably connected to the cradle assembly, wherein the speaker assembly includes a speaker housing and a speaker located within the speaker housing, wherein the speaker housing includes a cradle mount that is sized, shaped, and located such that the cradle assembly slides and locks into the speaker assembly when connecting the cradle assembly to the speaker assembly,

wherein the cradle includes a mobile device locking button that when pressed, closes the cradle arms and grips to hold the mobile device, and wherein the cradle arms and the grips create a twist-to-release securement system such that when a user twists the mobile device in the cradle, the mobile device is released from the mobile device holder,

wherein the cradle arms includes a support arm connected to each of the grips, and the support arms extend outward from the cradle, the support arms including a plurality of locking teeth that engage with a plurality of locking pawls located within the cradle to lock the support arms in location, and further wherein the cradle includes a biasing element to bias the support arms together to hold the cell phone.

12. A mobile device holder according to claim 11, further including a vehicle mount to secure the mobile device holder to the inside of a vehicle such that a driver can see the mobile device.

13. A mobile device holder according to claim 11, wherein the speaker assembly includes a loudspeaker connector with a plurality of leads and wherein the cradle assembly includes a speaker connector with a plurality of leads, and further wherein the plurality of leads of the loudspeaker connector and the speaker assembly connect to the plurality of leads of the speaker connector and the cradle assembly.

14. A mobile device holder according to claim 11, wherein the cradle base includes one or more of the following:

a power charger adapter connection, a media slot configured to receive a media memory device, or a USB connector connection.

15. A mobile device holder for holding a mobile device in a vehicle, the holder including:

a twist-to-release securement system to release the mobile device from the holder, such that when a user twists the mobile device in the holder, the mobile device is released from the holder, wherein the twist-to-release securement system includes a cradle assembly configured to receive a mobile device, wherein the cradle assembly includes a cradle base and a cradle rotatably attached to the cradle base, wherein the cradle rotates such that the cell phone is located in either a portrait configuration or a landscape configuration, the cradle includes a pair of cradle arms and a pair of grips attached to each of the cradle arms, wherein the grips are configured to hold the mobile device; and

a speaker assembly removably connected to the cradle assembly, wherein the speaker assembly includes a speaker housing and a speaker located within the speaker housing, wherein the speaker housing includes a cradle mount that is sized, shaped, and located such that the cradle assembly slides and locks into the speaker assembly when connecting the cradle assembly to the speaker assembly,

wherein the cradle base includes a cradle release button that when pressed, releases the cradle assembly from the speaker assembly, and further wherein the cradle includes a mobile device locking button that when pressed, closes the cradle arms and grips to hold the mobile device.

16. A holder according to claim 15, further including a vehicle mount to secure the holder to the inside of a vehicle such that a driver can see the mobile device.

17. A holder according to claim 15, wherein the speaker assembly includes a loudspeaker connector with a plurality of leads and wherein the cradle assembly includes a speaker connector with a plurality of leads, and further wherein the plurality of leads of the loudspeaker connector and the speaker assembly connect to the plurality of leads of the speaker connector and the cradle assembly.

18. A holder according to claim 15, wherein the cradle base includes one or more of the following:

a power charger adapter connection, a media slot configured to receive a media memory device, or a USB connector connection.

19. A holder according to claim 15, wherein the cradle arms includes a support arm connected to each of the grips, and the support arms extend outward from the cradle, the support arms including a plurality of locking teeth that engage with a plurality of locking pawls located within the cradle to lock the support arms in location.

20. A holder according to claim 19, wherein the cradle includes a biasing element to bias the support arms together to hold the mobile device.