Abstract: A mounting assembly for portable electronic devices includes a mount (12) with a mounting ball (16) that mates with a socket assembly (22) formed in a housing (18) of an electronic device (20). The socket assembly includes an orifice (32) formed in the back of the housing, a seat (34) positioned in the orifice for matingly receiving the ball, and a spring element (36) partially surrounding the seat. The seat includes a concave center portion (38) and a plurality of flexible, interconnected arms (40,42,44) extending from the concave center portion. The spring element substantially encircles the flexible arms to allow the flexible arms to flex outward when receiving the ball and to then contract inwardly to contact the ball when the ball is seated fully in the seat.

Abstract: A navigational device comprising navigational electronics and an improved menu-driven user interface. The navigational electronics are operable for receiving navigation signals from a source, for calculating a position of the device as a function of the signals, and for providing directions to a desired location. The user interface is operable for controlling certain functions of the device and includes a rotary wheel that may be moved in two directions with no mechanical limits for selecting at least one of the functions. In preferred forms, the rotary wheel is rotated up or down to highlight functions and then pushed in to selected a highlighted function.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for portable electronic devices includes a mount (12) with a mounting ball (16) that mates with a socket assembly (22) formed in a housing (18) of an electronic device (20). The socket assembly includes an orifice (32) formed in the back of the housing, a seat (34) positioned in the orifice for matingly receiving the ball, and a spring element (36) partially surrounding the seat. The seat includes a concave center portion (38) and a plurality of flexible, interconnected arms (40,42,44) extending from the concave center portion. The spring element substantially encircles the flexible arms to allow the flexible arms to flex outward when receiving the ball and to then contract inwardly to contact the ball when the ball is seated fully in the seat.