Abstract:
A clamping/holding device for a mobile phone includes a main clamping device, an extension set and a speaker clamping set. The main clamping device has a main body with a stationary clamping part on one side and a moveable clamping part on the other side. A moveable part attached to the moveable clamping part has a saw-tooth portion and a notch with a spring coupled to the main body. A hooking part affixed on the main body is normally engaged with the saw-tooth portion to fix the moveable clamping part. A level having a longitudinal slot coupled to a convex extension of the hooking part is used to release the moveable part from the saw-tooth portion. The extension set is connected to the main clamping device by means of an extendable rod. A sound collector is attached on a rotatable link of the extension set.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention pertains to a clamping/holding device, and more particularly, to a mobile phone holding device comprising a component that can move to a desired position promptly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally, the clamping/holding device is required to provide two basic functions: 1) one of its components can move along a short distance promptly, 2) when reaching a desired position, this component will be held or clamped still so that it will not move freely. Such clamping/holding devices can be widely found in mobile phone holding apparatus. FIG. 1 shows a basic mobile phone holding apparatus in accordance with the prior invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional mobile phone holding apparatus comprises a horizontally moveable clamping part  10  and a stationary clamping part  11 . A mobile phone can be held between these two clamping parts. Beneath the clamping part  10 ,there is a base body  12  and a spring  13  is attached to one end thereof. On one side of the base body  12 , there are teeth-like extensions  14 . A hook  15  can be placed between two teeth-like extensions  14  firmly by a spring  16  attached to one end thereof. In operation, to open the holding apparatus, one can separate the hook  15  from the teeth-like extensions  14  by pressing a level  17 . As a result, the clamping part  10  would be moved by the spring  13 . After placing a mobile phone between the clamping parts  10  and  11 , the clamping part  10  can be moved back to hold the mobile phone. In the mean time, the hook  15  can be secured between two teeth-like extensions due to the elastic force exerted by the spring  16  so that the clamping part  10  will not move arbitrarily, so as to hold the mobile phone still. However, such a mobile phone holding device is very complicated and requires many components so that it in turns creates production and assembling problems. As a result, high production cost is required. Based on the findings of the aforementioned drawbacks, it is therefore desirable to introduce a simplified clamping/holding apparatus which can be easily manufactured and requires lower production cost. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Currently, demand of mobile phone clamping/holding device has increased drastically. To overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, it is the main object to provide a simplified clamping/holding device, which can be assembled easily. The clamping/holding device in accordance with the present invention comprises an elastic clamping part which is formed with the main body integrally. Since no extra clamping component is necessary, the number of components can be reduced and the assembly task is simplified. 
     It is another object to provide a clamping/holding structure that can be widely used in various applications such as accessories of mobile phones, which include clamp, extending components, and holding base. 
     It is still an object to provide a clamping/holding device to be used with a mobile phone so that the overall phone system requires no earphone. In accordance with the present invention, the overall phone system can provide good sound quality even without an earphone. 
     In a summary, the clamping/holding device in accordance with the present invention has a simplified structure so that it requires lower production and less assembling task. Since it is easier and cheaper to be manufactured, the clamping/holding device in accordance with the present invention has more practical and competitive value. Further, in accordance with the present invention, the product would become user-friendlier. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a basic clamping/holding device in accordance with the prior invention; 
     FIG. 2 depicts the overall embodiment in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B show a cross-sectional view of the clamping part in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 depicts a cross-sectional view of the extension part in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 depicts a cross-sectional view of the speaker-clamping base in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 depicts the first embodiment of the clamping part in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 depicts the second embodiment of the clamping part in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIGS. 8A and 8B show cross-sectional views of the speaker in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 depicts the first embodiment of the speaker in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 depicts the other embodiment of the speaker in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     First referring to FIG. 2, there is shown an overall mobile phone system without an earphone. As shown in FIG. 2, the overall earphone free mobile phone system comprises a clamping set  2 , an extension set  3 , and a speaker clamping set  4 . The clamping/holding device in accordance with the present invention can be applied in the aforementioned components. When adopted in the clamping set  2 , the clamping/holding device in accordance with the present invention is used to hold the mobile phone. Such a clamping/holding device comprises a stationary clamping part  210  and a moveable clamping part  22 . The mobile phone can be held still between the clamping parts  210  and  22 . The extension set  3  is coupled to the clamping set  2  on one end thereof. On the top of the extension component, there is a rotatable linking part  31  which has a sound collector  311  used to collect the sound from the speaker of the mobile phone. On the other hand, the speaker clamping part  4  has a speaker unit  41  on one end, and adjustable clamping arch  42  which can be used to attach the speaker clamping part to the seat. Moreover, the vocal signals can be amplified by the speaker unit  41  in accordance with the present invention. In the embodiment illustrated, the mobile phone is held by the clamping set  2  and the vocal signals generated by the mobile phone are collected by the sound collector  311 . Further, the vocal signals collected by the sound collector  311  will be amplified by the speaker unit  41  on the speaker clamping set  4 . As a result, such an embodiment in accordance with the present invention constitutes a hand-free mobile phone system which can be used in a car. 
     In the clamping set  2 , the extension set  3 , and the speaker clamping part, there is a clamping/holding apparatus individually. Although such clamping/hold devices are partially different, they basically perform two common functions: 
     1). One component of each clamping/holding device can move along a short distance promptly. 
     2). When reaching a desired position, this component is held still by a clamp, a hook, or the like so that it can not move freely. 
     Referring to FIG.  2  and FIG. 3, in the embodiment illustrated, the clamping set  2  comprises the stationary clamping part  210  and the moveable clamping part  22  which can move horizontally. In accordance with the present invention, the clamping part  22  has an L-shaped structure. Further, there is a moveable part  221  installed inside the clamping set  2  so that the part  221  is constrained thereby and can only move along a short distance horizontally. As shown in FIG.  3 A and FIG. 3B, the clamping set  2  further comprises a notch  222  with a spring  24  attached to it so that the moveable clamping part  22  can move due to the elastic force exerted by the spring  24 . On one side of the moveable part  221 , there are teeth-like extensions  223 . A hooking part  231  is attached to the main component  23  through the connection at B so that they can be manufactured integrally. In operation, the hooking part  231  is secured between two teeth-like extensions so that the moveable part  221  can only move along one direction. A level  25  is coupling to the clamping component and extends outside. On one end of the level  25 , there is a longitudinal slot  251  where a convex extension  2311  is inserted. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, to open the clamping set  2 , one can press the level  25  to separate the hooking part  231  from the teethlike extensions  223  so that the moveable part  221  will move along due to the elastic force exerted by the spring  24 . Hence, the mobile phone can be placed between two clamping parts  22  and  210 . After placing the mobile phone, one can push the moveable part back and the hooking part  231  can be appropriately secured between two teeth-like extensions  223  to constrain the moveable clamping part  22 . FIGS. 6 and 7 depict the pictorial description of operating the clamping set  2 . 
     FIG. 2 depicts how to operate the extension set  3 . The extension set  3  is coupling to one side of the clamping component  2  by a rod  30 . By adjusting the rod  30 , the position of the extension set  3  can be correspondingly adjusted to work with different mobile phones. The extension set  3  comprises a main body  32  and a component  33 . As shown in FIG. 4, the extension set  3  further comprises a moveable part  34 , which is pivoted to the linking part  31 . Through rotating the linking part  31 , one can change the position of the sound collector  311  so that the sound collector can be appropriately positioned to work with different mobile phones. On one end of the moveable part  34 , there is a notch  341  to which a spring  35  is attached. A hooking part  321  is inside the extension set  3  and is manufactured with the main body  32  integrally. Further, on the hooking part  321 , there is an extended rod  3211  extending outside through a curved slot  331  on the component  33  as shown in FIG.  2 . In operation, the hooking part  321  is constrained between teeth-like extensions  342  on the moveable part  34 . When a mobile phone is held by the clamping set  2 , the position of the sound collector  311  can be adjusted by rotating the linking part  31  and adjusting the moveable part  34  so that the sound collector can be appropriately positioned above the speaker of the mobile phone. Since the hooking part  321  is securely constrained by the teeth-like extensions  342 , the hooking part can not move freely. To release the mobile phone, one can press the extended rod  3211  to separate the hooking part  321  from the teeth-like extensions  342 . Hence, the moveable part would move upward due to the elastic force exerted by the spring  35  so that the sound collector would move away from the mobile phone and one can pick up the mobile phone. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the speaker clamping set  4  comprising the speaker unit  41  is usually attached to the head resting part of the seat of a car. Basically, the main component of the speaker clamping set  4  comprises a main body  43  and a component  44 . On one end of the main body  43 , there is a curved opening  40  and a clamping arch  42  which can be used to attach the speaker clamping set  4  to the seat. Refer to FIG. 5 to specifically realize the operation of the speaker clamping set  4 . The inner side  421  of the clamping arch  42  is of a shape of a half circle. Incorporated with the opening  40 , there is a moveable part  422  coupling to the clamping arch  42 . Further, on one end of the moveable part  422 , there is a notch  423  to which a spring  45  is attached. Similarly, there are teeth-like extensions  424  on the moveable part  422 . A hooking part  431  is similarly manufactured with the main body  43  integrally. On the hooking part, there is also an extended rod  4311  extending outside through a curved slot  441  on the component  44  as shown in FIG.  2 . When operating, one can press the extended rod  4311  to separate the hooking part  431  from the teeth-like extensions  424  so that the moveable part  422  can move along due to the elastic force exerted by the spring  45 . As a result, the clamping arch is moved outward so that the opening  40  is opened so that one can detach the speaker clamping set  4  from the seat. To attach the speaker clamping set  4  to the seat, one can simply press the clamping arch back. 
     In addition to the basic elements of each component, as shown in FIG. 2, the clamping set is also equipped with an auxiliary clamping part  26  so that when the moveable clamping part  22  is opened, the mobile phone can still be secured in the clamping set  2 . Similarly, the extension set  3  is equipped with an auxiliary clamping rod  36  to support the cover of the mobile phone as shown in FIG.  2 . The sound collector is of a curved shape in order to have a better sound-collecting feature. 
     To obtain an overall phone system without an earphone, the speaker clamping set  4  further comprises the speaker unit  41  as shown in FIG.  2 . The speaker unit  41  basically comprises a speaker base  411  and a main body  412 . The speaker base  411  is attached to the main body through a link  4111  and it can move upward and downward in a short distance. Refer to FIGS. 8A and 8B for detailed description. Inside the base  411 , there are speaker  4112 , the link  4111  and a level  4113 . The speaker  4112  and the link  4111  are fixed to the speaker base inside and on the bottom, respectively. The level  4113  is pivoted and is rotatable. On one side of the level  4113 , there is a sponge  4114  or other soft materials to rotate a button  4123 . Inside the main body  412 , there is a circuit board  4122  and the adjusting button  4123  which can be used to adjust the volume of the speaker  4112 . Part of the adjusting button is placed outside the speaker clamping set  4  in order for users to adjust the volume of the speaker. On the other hand, the main body  412  has a linking part  4121  coupled to the bottom thereof. The main body  412  and the linking part  4121  are coupled by the teeth-like element  4124  so that the angle of the main body  412  can be adjusted. In addition, the linking part  4121  has a disc  4125  on the bottom thereof which is pivoted to the speaker clamping set  4 . As a result, the main body can rotate freely. 
     In the embodiment illustrated: 
     1. When serving as a speaker, the level  4113  is in its upward position and the user can adjust the volume of the speaker by rotating the adjusting button  4123 . Also, the user can rotate the main body to obtain an appropriate position. 
     2. When serving as an earphone, the speaker base is pulled up and the level  4113  is pressed downward so that one side thereof contacts with the adjusting button  4123 . Similarly, one can rotate the main body so that the speaker is close to the ear of the user. To adjust the volume of the speaker is also done by rotating the adjusting button. 
     Although the preferred embodiment has been described to illustrate the present invention, it is apparent that changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiment can be carried out without departing from the scope of the present invention. Such modifications and changes should be considered within the scope of the present invention limited by the appended claims.