APPARATUS FOR HOLDING PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE
An apparatus for holding portable electronic device is provided, including an upper cover, a holding seat and at least a latch unit. The holding seat and the upper cover are coupled at one side so that the upper cover able to open or close using the coupling side as center. The latch unit is located at the coupling of the holding seat and the upper cover for locking position of the upper cover after opening; With the above structure, when the apparatus claps an electronic device, the bottom and top edges of the electronic device touch inner walls of the holding seat and the upper cover, respectively, and the latch unit locks the opening position of the upper cover. The open angle allows the electronic device to be held between the holding seat and the upper cover with a tilting angle inside the apparatus.
The present invention generally relates to a holding apparatus, and more specifically to an apparatus for holding portable electronic device, with advantages of sun-shielding and convenient clapping.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe portable electronic device holders currently available in the market mostly clap on to both sides of the electronic device to hold temporarily. For the type of electronic device that the user does not need to view the display screen often when using, this type of clapping is not problematic. However, if the user needs to refers to the display screen, for example, when using GPS, the holder must also enable the user to adjust the viewing angle of the electronic device for convenient use. If the viewing angle is incorrect or the external light is too strong to interfere with the viewing, the user may find the setting to inconvenient.
Hence, it is imperative to devise a holding apparatus to conveniently clap on to the electronic device, provide sun-shielding effect and enable the viewing of the device display easily.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe primary object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for holding portable electronic device, with high portability, sun-shielding function and ease of clapping clap. The holding apparatus claps on the top and bottom edge of the electronic device so that the electronic device is seated inside the holding apparatus with a tilting angle. The holding apparatus also provide sun-shielding function to enable convenient and comfortable viewing of the device display.
Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for holding portable electronic device, with simple structure, easy operation, suitable for holding GPS, and so on. When the electronic device is not in use, the electronic device can be stored inside the holding apparatus.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus with power-generation function for holding portable electronic device. The apparatus includes solar panel to convert the solar power into electrical power to provide the electronic device.
To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides an apparatus for holding portable electronic device, including a holding seat, an upper cover and a latch unit. The main body of the holding apparatus is the holding seat. The upper cover can match to cover the top of the holding seat. The engagement between the holding seat and the upper cover is by coupling and the latch unit is located at the coupling of the holding seat and the upper cover to fasten the open angle of the upper cover. With the above structure, when the apparatus claps an electronic device, the bottom and top edges of the electronic device touch the holding seat and the upper cover, respectively, and the latch unit locks the open angle of the upper cover. The open angle allows the electronic device to be held between the holding seat and the upper cover with a tilting angle inside the apparatus.
Furthermore, the inner wall of the upper cover includes at least a contact element and the holding seat includes at least a positioning element. The locations of the contact element and the positioning element are far away from the coupling between the holding seat and the upper cover. When clapping, the contact element and positioning element touch the top and bottom edges of the electronic device, respectively, to prevent or stop the electronic device from moving to guarantee a firm clapping. Besides, the bottom surface of the holding seat may include an anti-slip layer so that the apparatus can stay stationary while the vehicle travels.
The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood from a careful reading of a detailed description provided herein below with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
The present invention can be understood in more detail by reading the subsequent detailed description in conjunction with the examples and references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Because the holding apparatus of the present invention is mainly used in vehicles, the apparatus must be able to stay stationary when the vehicle travels, as well as, able to clap the electronic device firmly even when the vehicle is in a bumpy condition. The components of the apparatus of the present invention must be designed to provide the above functions. In the present embodiment, holding seat 3 is a rectangular container opening upwards. The main body of holding seat 3 is formed by an upper shell body 31 and a lower shell body 32. Upper shell body 31 forms a housing space 310 for housing the electronic device. After upper shell body 31 and lower shell body 32 are matched and locked, another bigger space is formed between upper shell body 31 and lower shell body 32 for housing the coupling structure of holding upper cover 2 and holding seat 3, where latch unit 4 is located.
The shape and the size of upper cover match the top shape of holding seat 3. When upper cover 2 covers the open of holding seat 3, the final exterior forms a closed box. In addition, upper cover 2 is coupled to a side cover 21. The location of side cover 21 is away from and parallel with the coupling edge of upper cover 2 and holding seat 3. Although the figures show that side cover 21 being flipped open and pressing against upper cover 2, side cover 21 is hanging in the vertical direction when no external force is present. The final flipped open position of side cover 21 is to press against upper cover 2. The inner walls of upper cover 2 and side cover 21 further include a contact element 22. Contact element 22 is to prevent the electronic device from slipping when contacting the top edge of the electronic device. In the present embodiment, contact element 22 is made of an anti-slip material, such as but not restricted to, foam or anti-slip soft pad. Contact element 22 can also be a product dot or protruding rib protruding from the surface of the inner walls of upper cover 2 or side cover 21 to prevent the electronic device from slipping out from the clapping direction.
Holding seat 3 includes a positioning element 33. Positioning element 33 is located at the position away from coupling edge of holding seat 3. The objective of positioning element 33 is to prevent the electronic device from slipping when contacting the bottom of the electronic device. Positioning elements can be realized in various implementations, and is not limited to the following embodiment. In the following embodiment, positioning element 33 includes a main board body 331 and a plurality of receiving blocks 332. The two sides of main board body 331 are coupled to holding seat 3 so that main board body 331 leaning forward or backward for angle adjustment with the left and right coupling sides as center. Main board body 331 also includes a lateral guiding trench 333. Guiding trench 333 includes a plurality of positioning openings 334. In the present embodiment, the number of receiving blocks is 2. The shape of receiving block is L-shaped, and the positions of receiving block 332 is restricted to move in guiding trench 333 in lateral direction. Positioning openings 334 provides the temporary lock for the moveable receiving block 332. When clapping, receiving blocks 332 are responsible for contacting and holding the bottom edge of the electronic device.
Latch unit 4 is located at the coupling structure of upper cover 2 and holding seat 3. Latch unit 4 is to lock the opening angle of upper cover 2. The latch unit can be realized in various implementations, and is not limited to the following embodiment. In the following embodiment, when latch unit 4 is in the unlock state, upper cover 2 can be opened up to the most wide opening angle automatically. When latch unit 4 is in the lock state and an external force is applied to upper cover 2, upper cover 2 can only be pressed downward but not upward. When the external force stops, upper cover 2 is locked to the position by latch unit 4. The opening angle formed by upper cover 2 allows the electronic device to be held between upper cover 2 and holding seat 3.
Refer to
The following describes the operation of the holding apparatus.
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Additional elements can be added to further enhance the convenience of the present invention. As shown in
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Furthermore, because the present invention is commonly placed on top of the dash board. When the vehicle is parked outside, the long time exposure to sun may be explored as an energy resource for additional functionality. As shown in
In summary, the holding apparatus of the present invention is mainly for holding GPS or similar type of electronic devices. With low center of mass, the holding apparatus can stay stationary and stable on top of the dash board after holding the electronic device. Anti-slip layer 35 at the bottom surface of holding seat 3 provides additional anti-slip function. Furthermore, the large-area upper cover, in addition to clapping, also provides sun-shielding capability to facilitate better viewing of the display. Solar panels 23 are able to provide power to the electronic device. When not in use, the electronic device can be tucked away inside upper cover 2 and holding seat 3 for better protection.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details described thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have been suggested in the foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. An apparatus for holding portable electronic device, comprising:
- a holding seat, an upper cover and at least a latch unit; said holding seat and said upper cover being coupled at one side so that said upper cover able to open or close using said coupling side as center; said latch unit located at said coupling of said holding seat and said upper cover for locking position of said upper cover after opening;
- wherein when said holding apparatus clapping, top edge of said electronic device contacting inner wall of said upper cover, and bottom edge of said electronic device contacting inner wall of said holding seat, said latching unit locking position of said upper cover after opening so that said electronic device being clapped by said holding apparatus with a tilting angle.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner wall of said upper cover comprises at least a contact element, located at location away from said coupling side of said upper over and said holding seat, when clapping, said contact element contacts top edge of said electronic device to prevent said electronic device from moving.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper cover is coupled to a side cover, said side cover is parallel with and located at location away from said coupling side of said upper cover and said holding seat, inner wall of said side cover comprises a contact element, when clapping, said contact element contacts top edge of said electronic device to prevent said electronic device from moving.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holding seat comprises at least a positioning element, located at location away from said coupling side of said holding seat, when clapping, said positioning element prevents said electronic device from moving.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein bottom surface of said holding seat comprises an anti-slip layer.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein partial bottom surface of said holding seat comprises an anti-slip layer.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein top surface of said upper cover comprises a plurality of solar panels, inside of said holding seat comprises a battery and a circuit board, said circuit board is electrically connected to said solar panels and said battery.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said latch unit comprises internal engaging ratchets, when said ratchets of said latch unit are in engaged state, said upper cover can only be pressed downward when an external force is applied, and is locked to the opening position after said external force stops.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said positioning element comprises a main board body and a plurality of receiving blocks, both sides of said main board body are coupled to said holding seat so that said main board body can rotate using said coupling locations as center, said main board body comprises a lateral guiding trench, said receiving blocks are L-shaped, and are restricted to move laterally along said guiding trench.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said coupling locations of said positioning element and said holding seat comprises a button spring to provide force for said positioning element to automatically flip open.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 23, 2010
Publication Date: Oct 27, 2011
Inventor: Eagle Fan (Hsinchu)
Application Number: 12/766,104
International Classification: B65D 85/00 (20060101);