MOUNT FOR A HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE

A mount for coupling a handheld electronic device to a brake reservoir assembly of a motorcycle. The mount includes a mount body securable to the handheld electronic device and a pair of brackets slidably engageable with the mount body and slidably engageable with each other during assembly of the mount.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a mount for a handheld electronic device. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a mount for mounting a handheld electronic device to a brake reservoir assembly of a vehicle such as a motorcycle.

SUMMARY

A mount for coupling a handheld electronic device to a brake reservoir assembly of a motorcycle in accordance with the present disclosure includes a mount body and a pair of brackets. The mount comprises a mount body securable to the handheld electronic device. The mount body includes a pivot arm pivotable in at least one direction for adjusting the positioning of the handheld electronic device. The pair of brackets are slidably engageable with the mount body and slidably engageable with each other during assembly of the mount. The brackets are securable to the brake reservoir assembly by a pair of fasteners. Each bracket has a pair of arms extending parallel to each other and a C-shaped end portion. Each pair of arms defines a slot for receivably engaging the mount body. Each C-shaped end portion includes a bottom tab defining an aperture for receiving a respective fastener extending through a respective slot for securing a respective bracket to the brake reservoir assembly. Each C-shaped end portion defines an open face, the open faces facing each other when the brackets are engaged with each other.

The mount body may include a mount body fastener and a base having a base cap, a stud plate having a column defining a column hole, and a cover defining a cover hole. The base cap and stud plate may be disposed on a bottom side of the pair of brackets and the cover disposed on a top side of the pair of brackets when the brackets are engaged with each other. The column extends through the slots defined by the pairs of arms and into the cover hole, the mount body fastener extending through the cover hole and into the column hole for securing the mount body to the pair of brackets.

The mount body fastener may be coupled to the pivot arm and may secures the pivot arm to the brackets. The base cap may include a pair of latching arms and the cover may include a pair of latch tabs engaged with the latching arms, the latching arms extending around the pair of brackets. The brackets have a length when engaged and the length may be adjustable between an extended length to a collapsed length. Each arm of each bracket may include a stop at an end distal from the C-shaped portion of the arm and the cover includes a plurality of stop tabs, the stops engaging the stop tabs when the brackets are extended to the expanded size to prevent the brackets from separating from each other during engagement of the brackets and mount body.

The mount body further may include a handheld electronic device mount having an interface securable to the handheld electronic device. The mount body may further include a pair of pivot pins associated with the pivot arm.

The mount body may further include a pivot spacer engaged with the pivot arm and a top side of the cover, the pivot spacer defining a pivot spacer hole for receiving the mount body fastener, the pivot spacer including a first plurality of teeth and the cover including a second plurality of teeth engageable and selectively positionable with the first plurality of teeth to permit selective rotational positioning of the pivot spacer relative to the cover during adjustment of the mount. The mount body may include a pivot spacer engaged with the pivot arm, the pivot arm including a first plurality of teeth and the pivot spacer including a second plurality teeth engageable and selectively positionable with the first plurality of teeth to permit selective pivotal positioning of the pivot arm relative to the pivot spacer during adjustment of the mount. The mount body may include a head spacer engaged with the pivot arm, and a head engaged with the head spacer and the handheld electronic device mount, the pivot arm includes a first plurality of teeth and the pivot spacer includes a second plurality of teeth engageable and selectively positionable with the first plurality of teeth to permit and selective pivotal positioning of the pivot arm relative to the head spacer during adjustment of the mount. The mount body may include a head coupled to the pivot arm and engaged with the handheld electronic device mount, the head includes a first plurality of teeth and the handheld electronic device mount includes a second plurality of teeth engageable and selectively positionable with the first plurality of teeth to permit selective rotational positioning of the head relative to the handheld electronic device mount during adjustment of the mount.

The exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the disclosure that are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure in any manner. Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A mount10in accordance with the present disclosure is illustrated inFIGS.1-8. Mount10is configured for attachment to a brake reservoir assembly200of a vehicle, such as a motorcycle202, for mounting a handheld electronic device204, such as a smartphone, tablet, GPS unit, or monitor for example, on the motorcycle202and to permit adjustable positioning of the handheld electronic device relative to motorcycle202. The brake reservoir assembly200includes a brake reservoir and may also include any structure that secures the brake reservoir206to the motorcycle202, such as, for example, fasteners210and any other hardware such as mounting brackets. The motorcycle202includes a handlebar216and the brake reservoir assembly200is secured to the handlebar by fasteners210.

In the illustrated embodiment, the mount10includes a mount body12and a pair of brackets14slidably engageable with each other for securing the mount body to the brake reservoir assembly200. Mount body12includes a base cap20; a stud plate22having a stud plate base24and column26; a cover30; a pivot spacer32; a pivot arm34; a pair of pivot pins36engaged with the pivot arm; a head spacer40; a head42; a handheld electronic device mount44; a mount body fastener50for securing together the base cap20, the stud plate22, the cover30, the pivot spacer32, the pivot arm34and one of the pivot pins36; and a mount body fastener52for securing together the pivot arm34, the other of the pivot pins36, the head spacer40, the head42and the handheld electronic device mount44. The base cap20, stud plate22and cover30form a base of the mount body12. All of these components may have the construction shown inFIGS.1-8or may have any other suitable construction in accordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure. Further one or more of these components can be eliminated in accordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the fasteners210are existing components of the brake reservoir assembly200and the mount10is secured to the brake reservoir with those existing fasteners. In other embodiments, the fasteners210may be unique to the mount10or may otherwise be components of the mount.

In the illustrated embodiment, the base cap20defines a void60and includes a pair of latching arms64. The stud plate base24is received by the void60. The cover30includes a pair of latch tabs66for engaging the latching arms64. The column26of the base plate22defines a threaded hole68that threadingly engages the mount body fasteners50and the cover30is positioned on top of the brackets14. The column26extends from the bottom of the brackets14. The base cap20and the stud plate22are positioned on a bottom of the brackets14. The latching arms64extend around the brackets14to secure together the base cap20, the stud plate22and the cover30to the brackets.

Each bracket14has a pair of arms70and72and a C-shaped end portion74at a distal end of the pair of arms. Each pair of arms70and72defines a slot76extending the length of the arms. The slots76of the arms70and72are contiguous when the brackets14are engaged and receive the column26of the stud plate22. Each C-shaped end portion74includes a bottom tab78defining an aperture80for receiving a respective fastener210that extends through the slots76for securing a respective bracket14to the brake reservoir assembly200. Each bottom tab78has a pair of swages82on opposite sides of the aperture80to provide outrigger support to prevent the mount10from rocking on curved surfaces.

Each C-shaped end potion74includes a side wall84and the side wall and the bottom tab78define an open face86and the open faces86of the brackets14face each other when the brackets14are engaged with each other. As a result, the brackets24may have a larger range of length adjustment as compared to prior art devices. Such structure provides clearance to allow the mount body12to slide along the brackets14when mounted to smaller brake reservoirs. This may be useful for compact mounting environments to position the mount body12away from surrounding motorcycle components such, for example, mirror stems and motorbike controls. With such structure, the fasteners210are also shielded by the brackets14.

The arms70and72of each bracket14are parallel to each other but are offset relative to each other such that arm72is positioned higher from the bottom tab78than arm74. Because the bracket arms70and72are offset, the brackets14are neither left-handled nor right-handed and can be installed from either side of the brake reservoir assembly200. The brackets14are slidably engaged with each other such that the assembled brackets are adjustable in length to accommodate brake reservoir assemblies200of different sizes and structures. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the brackets14can be adjustably positioned to have an assembled length anywhere between 38 mm and 70 mm during assembly.

Each of the arms70and72of each bracket14includes an inwardly-extending stop90at its end distal its respective C-shaped portion74. A bottom of the cover30includes curved extensions terminating in stop tabs92that engage the stops90when the brackets14are completely extended to prevent the brackets14from separating when the brackets are being assembled to an extended mode.

Fastener50secures together the base cap20, the brackets14, the stud plate22, the cover30, the pivot spacer32and the pivot arm34. The faster50extends through a void100defined by the pivot arm34, a hole102defined by one of the pivot pins36, a hole104defined by the pivot spacer; a hole106defined by the cover32and into the threaded hole68defined by the column26and threadingly engages the column26to secure these components together. These components may be assembled together in any other manner in accordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure.

The fastener52secures together the pivot arm34, the head spacer40, the head42and the electronic handheld device mount44. The fastener52extends through the void102of the pivot arm34, through a hole104defined by the head spacer40and a threaded bore106defined by the head42to secure these components together. The mount body12also includes a bolt94that secures together the components of the handheld electronic device mount44. During assembly, the base cap20, stud plate22and cover30are secured together and are slidable relative to the brackets14to permit adjustably position of the mount body12relative to the brackets. These components may be assembled together in any other manner in accordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure.

The cover30includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced teeth110on its top side and the pivot spacer32includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced teeth112on its bottom side that are rotably engaged with the teeth110to permit selective rotational positioning of the cover relative to the pivot spacer during assembly of the mount.

The pivot spacer32includes on its top side a plurality of teeth160and the pivot arm34includes a plurality of teeth162that engage with teeth160of the pivot spacer to permit selective pivoting positioning of the pivot arm34relate to the pivot spacer32during assembly of the mount.

The pivot arm34includes a plurality of teeth170and the head spacer40includes a plurality of teeth172that engage with the teeth170of the pivot arm to permit selective pivoting positioning of the pivot arm34relative to the head spacer during assembly of the mount10.

Head42includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced teeth180on an outer side and the handheld electronic device mount44includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced teeth182on its bottom side that permit selective rotational positioning of the handheld electronic device mount44relative to the head during assembly of the mount10.

In the illustrated embodiment, the head spacer40and the head42are fixedly secured to each other. The head spacer40and the head42have mating ledges190and192with mating teeth194and196to provide additional structure support to the mount10. The head spacer40and the head spacer may be fixedly or adjustably secured together in any other manner in accordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure.

In an illustrated embodiment, the handheld electronic device mount has an interface218and the handheld electronic device mount44has a mounting interface220for securing together the head and the handheld electronic device mount44in a manner known in the art. In this regard, the case of the handheld electronic device204includes a rear wall302and a perimeter wall304. A receiver308is formed in rear wall302and includes a series of case tabs310separated by gaps312. A series of mount tabs314extend outward from attachment plate316of the mount head42for engagement with case tabs310to attach the handheld electronic device mount204with mount10. Mount tabs314pass through gaps312and the handheld electronic device204is rotated relative to mount10to engage mount tabs314with case tabs310. Lock tabs320on paddle322fall into gaps312and engage with case tabs310to block removal of handheld electronic device204from mount10at the selection of a user. The user may move paddle322relative to attachment plate316to pull lock tabs320out of gaps312and allow rotation and removal of handheld electronic device204from mount10. The electronic handheld device204may be mounted to the head42to be adjustable relative to the head in any other suitable manner in accordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure. The case of the handheld electronic device204may also be coupled to the head42such that the case is not adjustable relative to the head in accordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure. Additionally, the case of the handheld electronic device204may be mounted directly to the head42or to any other structure coupled to the head in accordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure. The case of the handheld electronic device204may be a separable component of the handheld electronic device204or may be integral with the other components of the handheld electronic device.

Thus, the mount10in accordance with an illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure provides at least six different manners of adjusting the positioning of the handheld electronic device204relative to the brackets14: (1) the mount body12is slidably and selectively positionable relative to the brackets14; (2) the pivot spacer32is rotationally and selectively positionable relative to the cover20; (3) the pivot arm34is pivotably and selectively positionable relative to the pivot spacer32; (4) the pivot arm34is pivotably and selectively positionable relative to the head spacer40; (5) the head42is rotationally and selectively positionable relative to the handheld electronic device mount44; and (6) the handheld electronic device204is rotationally and selectively positionable relative to handheld electronic device mount44. Each of these manners of adjustment may be eliminated or modified in accordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure. Additionally, the components of the mount10that permit such adjustability may be modified to achieve similar or different types of adjustability in accordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure.

Some non-limiting examples of the above-described embodiments can include the following:1. A mount for coupling a handheld electronic device to a brake reservoir assembly of a motorcycle, the mount comprising:a mount body securable to the handheld electronic device, the mount body including a pivot arm pivotable in at least one direction for adjusting the positioning of the handheld electronic device; anda pair of brackets slidably engageable with the mount body and slidably engageable with each other during assembly of the mount, the brackets securable to the brake reservoir assembly by a pair of fasteners, each bracket having a pair of arms extending parallel to each other and a C-shaped end portion, each pair of arms defining a slot for receivably engaging the mount body, each C-shaped end portion including a bottom tab defining an aperture for receiving a respective fastener extending through a respective slot for securing a respective bracket to the brake reservoir assembly, each C-shaped end portion defining an open face, the open faces facing each other when the brackets are engaged with each other.2. The mount of claim1wherein one arm of each bracket is offset relative to the other arm of the bracket, one arm of one bracket disposed on a top side of one arm of the other bracket and the other arm of the one bracket disposed on a bottom side of the other arm of the other bracket when the brackets are engaged with each other.3. The mount of claim1wherein the mount body includes a mount body fastener and a base for securing the mount body to the brackets, the base having a base cap, a stud plate having a column defining a column hole, and a cover defining a cover hole, the base cap and stud plate disposed on a bottom side of the pair of brackets and the cover disposed on a top side of the pair of brackets when the brackets are engaged with each other, the column extending through the slots defined by the pairs of arms and into the cover hole, the mount body fastener extending through the cover hole and into the column hole for securing the mount body to the pair of brackets.4. The mount of claim3wherein the mount body fastener is coupled to the pivot arm and secures the pivot arm to the brackets.5. The mount of claim3wherein the base cap includes a pair of latching arms and the cover includes a pair of latch tabs engaged with the latching arms, the latching arms extending around the pair of brackets.6. The mount of claim3wherein the brackets have a length when engaged, the length being adjustable between an extended length to a collapsed length and wherein each arm of each bracket includes a stop at an end distal from the C-shaped portion of the arm and the cover includes a plurality of stop tabs, the stops engaging the stop tabs when the brackets are extended to the expanded size to prevent the brackets from separating from each other during engagement of the brackets and mount body.7. The mount of claim3wherein the mount body further includes a handheld electronic device mount having an interface securable to the handheld electronic device.8. The mount of claim7wherein the mount body further includes a pair of pivot pins associated with the pivot arm.9. The mount of claim7wherein the mount body further includes a pivot spacer engaged with the pivot arm and a top side of the cover, the pivot spacer defining a pivot spacer hole for receiving the mount body fastener, the pivot spacer including a first plurality of teeth and the cover including a second plurality of teeth engageable and selectively positionable with the first plurality of teeth to permit selective rotational positioning of the pivot spacer relative to the cover during adjustment of the mount.10. The mount of claim9wherein the first plurality of teeth are circumferentially-spaced on a bottom of the pivot spacer and the second plurality of teeth are circumferentially-spaced on a top of the cover.11. The mount of claim7wherein the mount body further includes a pivot spacer engaged with the pivot arm, the pivot arm including a first plurality of teeth and the pivot spacer including a second plurality teeth engageable and selectively positionable with the first plurality of teeth to permit selective pivotal positioning of the pivot arm relative to the pivot spacer during adjustment of the mount.12. The mount of claim7wherein the mount body includes a head spacer engaged with the pivot arm, and a head engaged with the head spacer and the handheld electronic device mount, the pivot arm includes a first plurality of teeth and the pivot spacer includes a second plurality of teeth engageable and selectively positionable with the first plurality of teeth to permit and selective pivotal positioning of the pivot arm relative to the head spacer during adjustment of the mount.13. The mount of claim7wherein the mount body includes a head coupled to the pivot arm and engaged with the handheld electronic device mount, the head includes a first plurality of teeth and the handheld electronic device mount includes a second plurality of teeth engageable and selectively positionable with the first plurality of teeth to permit selective rotational positioning of the head relative to the handheld electronic device mount during adjustment of the mount.14. The mount of claim13wherein the first plurality of teeth are circumferentially-spaced and the second plurality of teeth are circumferentially-spaced.15. The mount of claim7wherein the brackets have a length when engaged, the length being adjustable from an extended length to a collapsed length.16. The mount of claim15wherein each arm of each bracket includes a stop at an end of the arm distal from the C-shaped portion of the arm, the stops engaging the base when the brackets are extended to the expanded size to prevent the brackets from separating from each other during engagement of the brackets and mount body.17. The mount of claim1wherein the mount body includes a base for securing the mount body to the brackets, the base being slidable relative to the brackets during securement of the mount body to the brackets to permit selective positioning of the mount body relative to the brackets during engagement of the brackets and mount body.18. The mount of claim1wherein each bottom tab includes a pair of swages disposed about a respective aperture to assist in stabilization of the brackets relative to the brake reservoir when the mount is coupled to the brake reservoir.19. A mount for coupling a handheld electronic device to a brake reservoir assembly of a motorcycle, the mount comprising:a mount body securable to the handheld electronic device, the mount body including a pivot arm pivotable in at least one direction for adjusting the positioning of the handheld electronic device, the mount body further includes a pair of pivot pins associated with the pivot arm and a handheld electronic device mount having an interface securable to the handheld electronic device; anda pair of brackets slidably engageable with the mount body and slidably engageable with each other during assembly of the mount, the brackets securable to the brake reservoir assembly by a pair of fasteners, each bracket having a pair of arms extending parallel to each other and an end portion, each pair of arms defining a slot for receivably engaging the mount body, each end portion including a bottom tab defining an aperture for receiving a respective fastener extending through a respective slot for securing a respective bracket to the brake reservoir assembly;wherein the mount body further includes a base for securing the mount body to the brackets and a pivot spacer engaged with the pivot arm and the base, the pivot spacer including a first plurality of teeth and the cover including a second plurality of teeth engageable and selectively positionable with the first plurality of teeth to permit selective rotational positioning of the pivot spacer relative to the base during adjustment of the mount.wherein the pivot arm includes a third plurality of teeth and the pivot spacer includes a fourth plurality teeth engageable and selectively positionable with the third plurality of teeth to permit selective pivotal positioning of the pivot arm relative to the pivot spacer during adjustment of the mount.wherein the mount body includes a head spacer engaged with the pivot arm and a head engaged with the head spacer and the handheld electronic device mount, the pivot arm includes a fifth plurality of teeth and the pivot spacer includes a sixth plurality of teeth engageable and selectively positionable with the fifth plurality of teeth to permit and selective pivotal positioning of the pivot arm relative to the head spacer during adjustment of the mount;wherein the head includes a seventh plurality of teeth and the handheld electronic device mount includes an eighth plurality of teeth engageable and selectively positionable with the seventh plurality of teeth to permit selective rotational positioning of the head relative to the handheld electronic device mount during adjustment of the mount.20 . . . . The mount of claim19wherein the first plurality of teeth are circumferentially-spaced on a bottom of the pivot spacer and the second plurality of teeth are circumferentially-spaced on a top of the cover, the first plurality of teeth are circumferentially-spaced and the second plurality of teeth are circumferentially-spaced.

As used in the foregoing description, the terms “top” and “bottom” simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure and are not intended to be limiting to the scope of the disclosure.

While the present disclosure describes various exemplary embodiments, the disclosure is not so limited. To the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover various modifications, uses, adaptations, and equivalent arrangements based on the principles disclosed. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within at least the known or customary practice within the art to which it pertains. It is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications and equivalent structures and functions without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as recited in the following claims.