SUPPORT FOR MOBILE PHONES AND MULTIMEDIA DEVICES
A support for mobile phones and multimedia devices that has a support plane presented by a main structural member. The supporting plane is characterized by a plurality of slots. A plurality of bolts with a plurality of complementary fastening elements associated with said bolts are slidably received in the slots. When the complementary fastening elements loosened, the bolts can slid. When the complementary fastening elements are fixed the bolts cannot slid. In this manner the bolts can be positioned in a preselected spatial array, and fixed in the slots. The spatial array holds removably but securely a mobile phone or multimedia device so that its controls are accessible and can be actuated.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a support for mobile phones and handheld multimedia devices such as a computer, an MP3 or MP4 player and like media players.
2. Prior Art
Various holders have been proposed to hold mobile phones and different holders have been proposed for handheld media players. To applicant's knowledge, no stand is known for general use for all such items. For example, stands for holding an electronic device are known from Design Pat. Nos. D501,205 and D430,154. However, if one desires to remove the device from the base or support in order to be able to charge the electronic device, the support becomes irrelevant.
The same is true for holders of headphone's input on an electronic device. If it coincides with the lateral containments of some supports, this makes it difficult and sometimes impossible for one to use that function on a device while it rests on the base or support. On the other hand there are bases or supports that charge batteries but these are model-specific and do not adapt to different models. The present invention was conceived and developed in order to solve these inconveniences. The present invention can be adapted to the needs of each handheld electronic device, regarding size, in order to achieve stability and containment, and to enable connection to external devices, regardless of the location (upper, lower or lateral) of the input/output ports.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe object of the invention is to provide a device or stand or holder for use indoors, in places like a kitchen, a bedroom, an office, a workshop, a car, or an electronics store, for holding the aforementioned electronic devices, allowing these devices, at the same time, to be connected to battery chargers, USB ports, headphones, etc. The device of the present invention can be located on a horizontal surface, like a desk, or vertical surface, like a wall. The objective is to provide a safe and clearly visible place for holding the electronic device in a manner so that the user will be enabled to use the input/output ports and/or keys of the device being held. Therefore, the invention contemplates that any auxiliary equipment, like battery chargers, can be accommodated in the novel stand.
The foregoing objectives of the invention are accomplished by a novel device that provides a planar support that is provided with the means for mounting on a surface and by means of slots and orifices formed in the planar support coacting with bolts enables creating a special arrangement suitable for holding the electronic device. The positioning of the threaded_bolts or threaded studs having one of a threaded projection and threaded recess creates is variable and then can be spun or slid across a slot or inserted into an orifice as needed to create the necessary spatial array. The bolts or studs are fixed in position by means of a tie or fastener that has one of a complementary threaded projection or threaded recess. Thus, the positioning of a plurality of bolts on special grids with different external special and/or notional perimeters enables electronic devices to be held and be accessible for operation. The bolts can also be repositioned whenever they are obstructing a key or an input/output port the user needs by simply loosening the tie or fastener and retightening at the reselected location. Repositioning also takes place when a new device is to be supported.
The way to organize the spatial array of the novel planar support is based primarily in the way the bolts relate to the slots and orifices in a plane, regardless whether these holes have irregular shape, regular shape or they're simply round holes. In the case of the slots, these can be straight, curved or a combination of both; the bolts need to be inserted tightly against the edges of the slot or orifice but at the same time the bolts can be loosen in order to slide and change the position inside the slot or orifice or to be removed and inserted into a different slot or orifice. The tie or fastening of each bolt can be given by means of an element like a nut, or a bolt pre-loaded with a coil or automated systems so that it is held in position by pressure, similar to those constructions used in the extraction of the tip of a pen. The outer body of the bolt may be defined, in cross-section, as a cylinder, or another form of revolution with concave or convex walls, or its outer body could be a preselected irregular shape such as a drop of water. As there are situations when these electronic devices (mobile phones, multimedia players) are not being carried and simply lay on a table or desk, with the aim of battery charging or simply not carrying them all the time. For these situations the invention provides several models or embodiments for holding the electronic devices vertically or inclined in order to be safely and visibly held and available to the user and to avoid drop or loss. The present invention enables a stand that can readily be adapted to each electronic device's specific needs, such as, different shapes or sizes and the location of external input/output ports. For example, when one desires to charge a mobile phone's battery and at the same time have it readily available for use, the stand or holder of the present invention satisfies these requirements. In most cases the charger's input (on a device) coincides with the area of the support that the device will have contact with.
This is made possible through an adjusting or adapting method specially designed for cases like these and materialized by a bolt, which is constituted by mobile pieces that rest, slide or slide and twist in multiple slots and/or orifices found on the frontal or superior plane of the support's structure, to be manually adjusted or switched into the desired position. These pieces, with reduced dimensions and a configuration based on a primarily cylindrical shaped bolt as center or axis, along with the multiple places in which they may lodge, enable a myriad of alternatives for holding multimedia players and/or mobile phones specifically, allowing buttons and input/output ports in these devices to be available for their proper use.
Taking into account this new utility and becoming aware of the fundamental and indispensable role that different accessories have over the aforementioned equipment (mobile phones and multimedia players), the novel holders or stands of the present invention are provided with an area or location to hold these accessories either by hanging them, rolling them up or putting them into a specified location in the stand. As a consequence of what was described and based on the new utilities that the invention brings, it can also have: A) A fastening area to hang it or fix it on a wall by means of an adhesive or screws, with the aim of keeping the devices out of work areas, out of reach for children, and at the same time keeping them handy. B) An area on the front, laterals or its base utilized to show photographs, images or advertisements thus working as a photo frame, customized or merchandising support. C) An area for holding stationary goods, such as pens, pencils, etc. D) An illuminating device for decorative purposes. E) Interchangeable pieces to customize the product's image depending on the user.
On the other hand, different alternatives for constructing the invention are available:
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- 1—By giving it structure and generating the support structure constituted by one or more pieces, developed in such dimensions that will allow the lodging of more than one device. These pieces would count with means of linking that would enable them to come together and apart for better storage or transportation.
- 2—A standalone flat piece that bends in order to give shape to the support structure and the lodging areas; also providing a place to hang or roll the devices' accessories (e.g.: plugs and cables)
- 3—The lodging places of the switching pieces can be holes, slots, grooves or lines on the support structure either in vertical, horizontal or oblique position.
- 4—The switching pieces can be constituted by one cylindrical piece and have a screw or rivet as a fastening method. They can be constituted by a piece similar to the aforementioned one which is placed over another flat piece and this latter will pivot over an axis defined by the holes, slots or grooves provided in the support structure. As a conclusion, the body of each bolt could be of revolution, oval section or correspond to an organic shape among all the formal alternatives that it could have. Accomplishing this through specific elements that are placed in fixed or switching locations (horizontal, vertical or oblique slots) of the support's main body, or fixed but spinning around an axis or fixed moving along with another element subject to the main body.
The constituent elements of this invention are; a planar support that has holes, slots or orifices with which the bolts coact as specific elements, so that the bolts are adjustably positioned relative to these slots and can be repositioned. Also, the bolts are fashioned to be usable with the holes/orifices and thereby are switching pieces. The planar support can be a sheet or it can be an injected, extruded, laser cutting, mechanized or molten piece as long as the internal perimeter of each hole/orifice/slot has a minimum thickness that holds the bolt as if in a sandwich, with two elements that press on each side the plane adjoining to the edge of each slot, hole or orifice, e.g. a bolt and a nut.
Therefore, the invention features the following advantages: First, it adapts to the shape and size of mobile phones and multimedia player devices and enables the use of their buttons and input/output ports. Second, it provides more stability and safety, including the possibility for the device to be placed horizontally, vertically or inclined at any angle. Third, it has a special area where different accessories such as battery chargers and headphones can be stored or held. Fourth, it can hang or be affixed on a wall, or other vertical planes such us a vehicle's dashboard, without interfering with its other features/functions. Finally, it can perform decorative functions. Summarizing, the structural body of the inventive device can provide spaces or shapes to lodge or roll cables, chargers, grooves and any other element related to the functioning of a mobile phone or multimedia device, as well as the possibility for the support to represent a decorative element or be combined to act as a holder for portraits, lamps or pens. The novel device also is characterized by having a place or area that enables the novel device to be hung on a screw or hook; or affixed with an adhesive to any surface.
In order for this invention to be clearly understood and no inconveniences should arise when putting it into practice, it will be described in detail, making reference to the appended drawings.
Taking into account this new utility and becoming aware of the fundamental and indispensable role that different accessories have over the aforementioned equipment (mobile phones and multimedia players), the novel holders or stands of the present invention are provided with an area to hold these accessories either by hanging them, rolling them up or putting them into a specified location in the stand. As a consequence of what was described and based on the new utilities that the invention brings, it can also have: A) A fastening area to hang it or fix it on a wall or a surface in a car, such as a dashboard, by means of adhesive or screws, with the aim of keeping the devices out of work areas, out of reach for children, and at the same time keeping them handy. B) An area on the front, laterals or its base utilized to show photographs, images or advertisements thus working as a photo frame, customized or merchandising support. C) An area for holding stationary goods, such as pens, pencils, etc. D) An illuminating device for decorative purposes. E) Interchangeable pieces to customize the product's image depending on the user. F) A clock, G) A thermometer, H) A sensor to detect when the phone is calling and activate a speaker or lights in the support.
Although the present invention has been shown and described in terms of preferred embodiments, changes and modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such changes and modifications are deemed to fall within the purview of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A support for mobile phones and multimedia devices comprising a support plane presented by a main structural member, said supporting plane characterized by a plurality of slots, and a plurality of bolts, a plurality of complementary fastening elements associated with said bolts, said bolts slidably received in said slots with said complementary fastening elements coupled with said bolts such that the bolts and associated complementary fastening elements can be mounted on the main structural member in a loosened and fixed manner in the slots for positioning in a spatial array, said bolts being fixable in said slots by tightening the complementary fastening elements in a preselected spatial array to hold removably but securely a mobile phone or multimedia device so that its controls are accessible and can be actuated while being so held.
2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said support plane has one of an irregular shape or regular shape.
3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the irregular shape simulates a fanciful floral configuration.
4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the support is in a planar structure.
5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the slots are one of straight and curved slots and the main structural member also defines a plurality of holes.
6. The invention of claim 1 wherein a second member is removably attached to the main structural member and functions as a stand.
7. The invention of claim 6 wherein an intermediate member is fixed in position between the main structural member and the second structural member and serves as a storage area for accessories for the held device.
8. The invention of claim 1 wherein the main structural member includes space to display a picture or graphic and includes a portion to hold a writing instrument.
9. The invention of claim 1 wherein the main structural member is composed of at least two parts articulate elongated narrow strips, each defining an elongated slot, the strips being positionable by relative rotation.
10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the strips are fixed relative one to the other and configured to define a fanciful figure.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 8, 2008
Publication Date: Jun 18, 2009
Inventor: Juan Ignacio CILIA (La Plata)
Application Number: 12/329,689
International Classification: B65D 19/00 (20060101);