Adjustable cradle for mobile devices and methods of making and using

• US 9,831,904 B1
• Filed: 12/14/2016
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: National Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Carnevali, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): West, Lewis
• Application Number:
  US15/379,213
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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

Abstract

An adjustable cradle for mounting a mobile device includes a base having an attachment arrangement to removably attach the cradle to the mobile device or a case for the mobile device; and an arm adjustably extending from the base. The arm includes a roller disposed at an end of the arm opposite the base. The roller is configured and arranged to engage the mobile device or case to facilitate, in combination with the attachment arrangement of the base, retention of the attachment of the cradle to the mobile device or case. The adjustable cradle optionally includes a mount coupled to the base or mounting the cradle to a surface or for coupling to a mounting apparatus for mounting the cradle to the surface.

Claims

1. An adjustable cradle for mounting a mobile device, the cradle comprising:

a base comprising an attachment arrangement configured and arranged to removably attach the cradle to the mobile device or a case for the mobile device;

an arm extending from the base and slidably adjustable relative to the base to adjust a length of the cradle, the arm comprising a roller disposed at an end of the arm opposite the base, wherein the roller is configured and arranged to engage the mobile device or case to facilitate, in combination with the attachment arrangement of the base, retention of the attachment of the cradle to the mobile device or case; and

a mount coupled to the base and configured and arranged for mounting the cradle to a surface or for coupling to a mounting apparatus for mounting the cradle to the surface.

2. The adjustable cradle of claim 1, wherein the arm comprises a bent, flexible portion disposed between the roller and the base, the bent, flexible portion, when the cradle is attached to the mobile device or case, forms a bulge in the arm extending away from the mobile device or case.

3. The adjustable cradle of claim 2, wherein the bent, flexible portion comprises a plurality of panels coupled to each other by thinner regions.

4. The adjustable cradle of claim 2, wherein, when the cradle is attached to the mobile device or case, applying a three to the bent, flexible portion towards the mobile device or case cases the arm to straighten and increases a distance between the roller and the base.

5. The adjustable cradle of claim 1, wherein the arm further comprises a lateral ridge disposed on the arm and configured and arranged to contact the mobile device or case when the cradle is attached to the mobile device or case.

6. The adjustable cradle of claim 1, wherein the roller is configured and arranged to freely rotate relative to a remainder of the arm.

7. The adjustable cradle of claim 1, wherein the arm comprises a track arranged along a portion of the arm and the base comprises a track interaction region, wherein the track and track interaction region are configured and arranged for adjustment of a position of the arm relative to the base and, when engaged, to maintain the position of the arm relative to the base absent a force applied to disengage the track from the track interaction region.

8. The adjustable cradle of claim 7, wherein the track and the track interaction region comprise a sawtooth configuration.

9. The adjustable cradle of claim 1, wherein the attachment arrangement comprises a sliding shoe arrangement configured and arranged to fit within a sliding shoe receptacle on the mobile device or case.

10. The adjustable cradle of claim 1, wherein the attachment arrangement comprises a platform separated from a remainder of the base by sidewalls, wherein the sidewalls form at least one undercut region beneath the platform.

11. The adjustable cradle of claim 10, wherein the attachment arrangement further comprises a detent on the platform or spaced apart from the platform.

12. The adjustable cradle of claim 1, wherein the attachment arrangement comprises a receptacle separated from a remainder of the base by sidewalls, wherein the sidewalls form at least one undercut region between the receptacle and the remainder of the base.

13. The adjustable cradle of claim 10, wherein the attachment arrangement further comprises a ridge disposed within the receptacle.

14. A system for mounting a mobile device, the system comprising:

an adjustable cradle comprising

a base comprising an attachment arrangement,

an arm adjustably extending from the base, the arm comprising a roller disposed at an end of the arm opposite the base, and

a mount coupled to the base and configured and arranged for mounting the cradle to a surface or for coupling to a mounting apparatus for mounting the cradle to the surface; and

a case for the mobile device configured and arranged to receive the mobile device within a cavity defined within the case, the case defining a back and at least one side extending from the back, the case comprising

a case attachment arrangement, wherein the roller is configured and arranged to engage the case to facilitate, in combination with the attachment arrangement of the base, retention of the attachment of the case to the cradle and the attachment arrangement of the adjustable cradle is configured and arranged to removably attach to the case attachment arrangement so that the base and attachment arrangement solely engage a surface of the case when removably attached.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the attachment arrangement of the cradle comprises a platform separated from a remainder of the base by platform sidewalls, wherein the platform sidewalls form at least one undercut region beneath the platform;

wherein the case attachment arrangement comprises a receptacle separated from a remainder of the case by receptacle sidewalls and configured and arranged to receive the platform of the attachment arrangement of the cradle, wherein the receptacle sidewalls form at least one undercut region between the receptacle and the remainder of the case.

16. The system of claim 15, Wherein the attachment arrangement of the cradle further comprises a detent spaced apart from the platform and the case attachment arrangement further comprises a ridge disposed within the receptacle and configured and arranged to engage the detent.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the case attachment arrangement comprises a platform separated from a remainder of the case by platform sidewalls, wherein the platform sidewalls form at least one undercut region beneath the platform;

wherein the attachment arrangement of the cradle comprises a receptacle separated from a remainder of the base of the cradle by receptacle sidewalls and configured and arranged to receive the platform of the case attachment arrangement, wherein the receptacle sidewalls form at least one undercut region between the receptacle and the remainder of the base of the cradle.

18. The system of claim 14, further comprising a mounting apparatus configured and arranged to couple to the mount of the cradle and to mount the system on a surface.

19. A system for mounting a mobile device, the system comprising:

an adjustable cradle comprising

a base comprising an attachment arrangement,

an arm adjustably extending from the base, the arm comprising a roller disposed at an end of the arm opposite the base, and

a mount coupled to the base and configured and arranged for mounting the cradle to a surface or for coupling to a mounting apparatus for mounting the cradle to the surface; and

a mobile device defining a back, a front and at least one side extending between the front and the back, the mobile device comprising

a mobile device attachment arrangement, wherein the roller is configured and arranged to engage the mobile device to facilitate, in combination with the attachment arrangement of the base, retention of the attachment of the mobile device to the cradle and the attachment arrangement of the adjustable cradle is configured and arranged to removably attach to the mobile device attachment arrangement so that the base and attachment arrangement solely engage the back of the mobile device when removably attached.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a mounting apparatus configured and arranged to couple to the mount of the cradle and to mount the system on a surface.