Holder assembly

A holder assembly, movable between stowed and deployed configurations, includes a holder including a flap configured to support a personal electronic device. The holder is configured to rotate between stowed and deployed positions. A latch assembly is configured to engage the holder in the stowed position, and a movement assembly is configured to automatically move the holder from the stowed position to the deployed position upon disengagement of the holder and latch assembly.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to support arms. More particularly, the present invention relates to a holder for a personal electronic device (PED).

Commercial airline companies strive to provide improved services for their customers as well as improving passenger comfort and convenience. Today, it is common for both private and commercial passenger aircraft to have an in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. An IFE system generally comprises an entertainment content source, such as a computer server having entertainment and/or information media (e.g., Internet access, movies, music, television shows and/or other entertainment media content) stored in digital format; and a wired or wireless (e.g., WIFI) networking system communicating entertainment media throughout the aircraft in response to passenger communications. On many airlines, it is standard for each passenger to have their own personal video display monitor associated with their chair or seat to provide the passenger with in-flight entertainment and/or information. The video display monitor can include a user interface wherein the passenger may provide touch-screen input to the IFE. However, although an airline may provide at least one video display monitor associated with one or more seats to provide passengers with entertainment and/or information, airlines are also aware that passengers use their own portable PEDs (e.g., notebook computer, media player, smartphone, tablet-style device, hand-held device, etc.) during a flight. These PEDs are capable of storing and playing music, video and entertainment digital files as well as being WIFI enabled. PEDs are commonly used on aircraft as more airlines offer passengers WIFI access in order to connect their PEDs to the IFE. Each passenger seat may include or be associated with a table tray providing a generally horizontal surface upon which the passenger places their PED. These table trays can be deployed from a seatback in front of a user or from an armrest of a passenger seat. However, some PEDs, such as smartphones and tablets, need to be held by the user in a position that allows the display screen on the PED to be seen by the passenger using it. If a PED is placed flat on a tray table with the display screen facing upwards, a passenger may have difficulty seeing the display screen due to the relative angle between the passenger's line of sight and the display screen. Images on the display screen may also be difficult to see due to light reflecting off the surface of the display screen. There has also been a challenge as to how to offer passengers a convenient location to not only view their PEDs, but also to store and charge their PEDs. The most common places to do so have been on the seatback, tray table, seat cushion or literature pocket. However, none of these solutions offer a convenient way to access the PED during flight. Furthermore, PEDs are not held in place by anything and a charging cable or the like connected to the PED may get snagged by a passenger's arm or leg, sending the PED the cable is connected to flying or smacking into a fellow passenger or a surface that damages the PED (not to mention the other passenger).

Accordingly, there is a need for a holder for holding a PED so that the display of the PED is clearly visible to a user during a flight aboard an aircraft. There is a further need for a holder movable between stowed and deployed positions. There is also a need for a holder that can be stowed within a seat console. There is a further need for a holder that can be stowed within a seat armrest. There is an additional need for a holder that can be retro-fitted onto an existing armrest. There is still a further need for a place to safely hold and use a PED. There is an additional need for a holder that will allow a passenger to “mount” the PED in a stationary location that is easily accessible and reduce the chance a charging cable or the like will get snagged. There is a need for a holder that maximizes the use of a limited space within an armrest by having one or more components serve one or more functions. There is an additional need for a holder that is easier to manufacture, assemble, adjust, and maintain. The present invention satisfies these needs and provides other related advantages.

SUMMARY

The present invention comprises a PED holder that supports at least one PED (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet device, etc.).

An improved holder assembly has been developed that holds a PED so that the display of the PED is visible to a user during a flight aboard an aircraft. The holder assembly is movable between stowed and deployed positions. The holder assembly can be stowed within a seat console. The holder assembly can be stowed within an armrest of a seat. The holder assembly can be retro-fitted onto an existing armrest. The holder assembly serves as a place to safely dock and use a PED. The holder assembly allows a passenger to “mount” the PED in a stationary location that is easily accessible and reduce the chance a charging cable or the like will get snagged. There holder assembly maximizes the use of a limited space within an armrest by one or more components of the holder assembly serving one or more functions. The holder assembly preserves the living space available to a passenger, and can be used without disturbing an adjacent passenger. The holder assembly is easier to manufacture, assemble, adjust, and maintain.

In an illustrative embodiment, a holder assembly is movable between stowed and deployed configurations. The holder assembly includes a holder having a flap configured to support a personal electronic device. The holder is configured to rotate between stowed and deployed positions. The holder assembly also includes a latch assembly configured to engage the holder in the stowed position, and a movement assembly configured to automatically move the holder from the stowed position to the deployed position upon disengagement of the holder and latch assembly.

The holder assembly further includes a housing within which the holder is disposed when the holder is in the stowed position. The flap is movable between stowed and deployed positions.

The latch assembly includes a main body having a latch portion configured to engage a portion of the holder sized and shaped to engage the latch portion. The latch assembly includes a main body having a stop portion preventing rotational movement of the holder beyond the deployed position. The latch assembly includes a main body having a button portion configured to move between depressed and undepressed positions, wherein the latch assembly disengages from the holder after the button portion moves from the undepressed position.

The holder assembly further includes a biasing assembly, wherein the latch assembly includes a main body having a button portion configured to move between depressed and undepressed positions, and the biasing assembly is configured to automatically move the button portion from the depressed position to the undepressed position.

The holder assembly further includes a biasing assembly, wherein the latch assembly includes a main body having a slot configured to engage a portion of the biasing assembly, and the slot limits movement of the main body relative to the biasing assembly.

The flap includes a recess configured to receive a portion of the personal electronic device, and an aperture configured for a cable to pass through to engage the personal electronic device.

The movement assembly is further configured to dampen deployment of the holder from the stowed position.

The holder assembly further includes a biasing assembly having a main body, a pin, and a biasing element, wherein the main body includes a bore configured to receive the biasing element and the pin, and wherein the pin engages the latch assembly.

In another illustrative embodiment, an armrest assembly includes an armrest, and a holder assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description describes present embodiments with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, reference numbers label elements of present embodiments. These reference numbers are reproduced below in connection with the discussion of the corresponding drawing features.

As shown inFIGS. 1-14for purposes of illustration, an embodiment of the present invention resides in a holder assembly20for a personal electronic device (PED)22. The PED22can be in the form of various types of electronic devices including, but not limited to, a portable computer (e.g., a notebook computer), a media player, a smartphone, a tablet-style device, or other portable electronic devices containing music, video, and other content and/or capable of WIFI and/or BLUETOOTH access. The holder assembly20is movable between stowed and deployed configurations. The holder assembly20includes a holder24rotatably movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, a latch assembly26configured to engage the holder24when the holder24is in the stowed position, and a movement assembly28configured to automatically move the holder24from the stowed position to the deployed position upon disengagement of the holder24and latch assembly26. The holder24includes a mount flap30configured to support a PED22. The mount flap30is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, and includes a holding portion120in the form of a recess sized, shaped, and configured to receive a portion of the PED22, and an aperture122configured for a cable (not shown) to pass through to engage the PED22. The aperture122allows a user/passenger to access a USB port or the like in order to re-charge a battery of the PED or connect the PED to the IFE system via an adapter cord/cable having a connector compatible with and engaging the PED on one end and a connector compatible with and engaging the USB port on the other end. In a further alternative, an adapter cord/cable connected to a wire harness (e.g., a wire harness connected to the IFE system or the like, where the wire harness can be in the form of a bundle of electrical wires with specialized connectors at each end) can be operationally connected to the PED, with the adapter cord/cable automatically retracting into the armrest200when disengaged from the PED22. In an alternative, PEDs22containing music, video, and other content, could be similarly attached, and in some cases, could be integrated into the IFE system in such a way as to permit cooperative use of a video monitor integrated into an airline seat (e.g., integrated into the seatback of an airline seat facing a passenger or attached to a video arm deployable from a seat console, etc.) and related controls (i.e., effectively running the stored music and videos through the embedded IFE system).

The holding portion120may be sized and shaped so as to frictionally engage the PED22so as to hold the PED22in place. The holding portion120may be sized, shaped, and configured to hold a PED22in a portrait orientation, or a landscape orientation. For example, the holding portion120may be sized, shaped, and configured so that the PED22may only be held in a portrait orientation. Likewise, the holding portion120may be sized, shaped, and configured so that the PED22may only be held in a landscape orientation. Alternatively, the holding portion120is sized, shaped, and configured so that the user has the option to choose which orientation (i.e., portrait or landscape) the user wishes the mount flap30to hold the PED22in. The holding portion120includes a base130, where the base130, a first wall132, and an opposite second wall134spaced apart by a space from the first wall132define an elongated channel, slot or groove of the mount flap30such that a PED22can be positioned on the base130, between the first and second walls132,134. In an embodiment, the channel may be lined with a material, such as silicon, foam, rubber or the like in order to provide a shock-absorbing, resilient surface between the PED22and the mount flap30when the PED22is positioned in the holding portion120, that also frictionally engages the PED22to hold the PED22in engagement with the mount flap30when positioned on the mount flap30.

The mount flap30rotates about a tilt axis31(running generally through a center of a pair of rotation pins33, with each rotation pin33disposed on opposite sides of the mount flap30) as the mount flap30is moved between its stowed and deployed positions. The mount flap30includes a pair of stops35, with each stop35disposed on opposite sides of the mount flap30. The rotation of the mount flap30about the tilt axis31relative to the holder24is limited by the stops35in order to allow the PED22to be more centered and, in the situation where the holder assembly20is deployed from the armrest200of an airline seat202, positioned above a tray table208associated with the airline seat202. A side37of the stop35is angled such that when that side37contacts a generally horizontal surface25of the holder24, the mount flap30is generally at a forty five (45) degree angle relative to the generally horizontal surface25. The mount flap30rotates between about zero (0) degrees from a horizontal, stowed position to about forty five (45) degrees from the horizontal, stowed position in the mount flap's30deployed position. When the holding assembly20is installed in the armrest200, the holding assembly20in a generally horizontal orientation (when the armrest200itself is in a generally horizontal orientation).

The holder assembly20further includes a casing or housing32. The housing32generally contains the holder24, the latch assembly26, and the movement assembly28when the holder assembly20is in the stowed configuration. The holder24is generally disposed within the housing32when the holder24is in its stowed position, and extends outward from the housing32when the holder24is in its deployed position. The holder24is configured to rotate ninety (90) degrees between its stowed position and its deployed position. The housing32is generally rectangular bar-shaped with a generally rectangular bar-shaped interior recess34with a generally rectangular-shaped opening36on one side of the housing32providing access to the interior recess34.

A gear insert assembly38includes a generally rectangular base portion40having a generally bar-shaped guide portion42, and a generally cylindrical post portion44. The guide portion42and the post portion44each extend upwardly from a top surface of the base portion40. The base portion40includes a number of bores60which engage fasteners62to secure the gear insert assembly38within the recess34of the housing32. The fasteners62extend upwardly from a bottom side of the housing32through bores (not shown for clarity) in the housing32that are aligned with the bores60to secure the gear insert assembly38within the housing32.

The holder assembly20further includes a biasing assembly112which includes the guide portion42, a biasing element52(e.g., a spring), and a pin54. The guide portion42includes a generally cylindrical bore46open on one side of the guide portion42. The bore46extends longitudinally a distance into the guide portion42to a closed end50. The biasing element52, sized and shaped to fit within the bore46and move between compressed and uncompressed positions, is disposed in the bore46between the closed end50and the pin54. The pin54, sized and shaped to fit and move within the bore46, is disposed in the bore46such that a portion of the pin54may extend outside the bore46when the spring52is fully extended, and disposed generally within the bore46when the spring52is compressed. The spring52provides a linear force against the pin54to push the pin54outside the bore46. The post44includes a generally cylindrical bore56open on an upper side of the post portion44and extending longitudinally into the post portion44.

The gear insert assembly38also includes a gear segment64disposed about the post portion44. The gear segment64is symmetric about the post portion44, and is only partially geared since there is only a rotation of approximately ninety (90) degrees. The gear segment64includes an axis of rotation that is co-axial with a vertical central axis66of the post portion44. A rotational biasing element68(e.g., a torsion spring) is also disposed about the post portion44, with one end of the biasing element68engaging the base portion40and the other end of the biasing element68engaging the gear segment64. The gear segment64includes a cutaway portion70sized and shaped to receive the biasing element68. The cutaway portion70extends all the way through the gear segment64. A fastener72(e.g., a mechanical fastener including, without limitation, a bolt, a screw, a pin, or the like) extends through a washer74and a bore76in the holder24to extend into the bore56of the post portion44. The fastener72extends through the bore56, through a bore (not shown) in the base portion40, and through a washer78. A fastener80(e.g., a mechanical fastener including, without limitation, a nut, or the like) secures the fastener72in position. The holder24includes an axis of rotation that is co-axial with the vertical central axis66of the post portion44.

The movement assembly28is configured to automatically move the holder24from its stowed position to its deployed position upon disengagement of a hook portion110from a latch portion96. The movement assembly28is further configured to dampen deployment of the holder24from the stowed position towards the deployed position. A rotary damper assembly82is secured to the holder24by fasteners84. The rotary damper assembly82includes a base plate86and a pinion88secured to the base plate86. The pinion88is stationary and does not rotate. The movement assembly28includes the gear segment64, the rotational biasing element68, and the pinion88as the rotational biasing element68exerts torsional force against the gear segment64, causing the gear segment64to automatically rotate about the axis66. The engagement of the teeth of the gear segment64and the teeth of the pinion88transfers the torsional force to the holder24which, in turn, causes the holder24to rotate about the axis66. The asymmetrical exterior cam-shape of the gear segment64provides the dampening effect that works against the torsional force provided by the rotational biasing element68. In the alternative, the movement assembly28could include a symmetrical gear segment that did not provide resistance to the torsional force provided by the rotational biasing element68.

The gear insert assembly38additionally includes a latch body portion90. The latch assembly26includes the latch body portion90and the hook portion110of the holder24. The latch body portion90includes a main body portion92having a button portion94on a first end and the hook portion110on a second end generally opposite the first end. A side of the main body portion92acts as a stop portion114preventing rotational movement of the holder24beyond the deployed position. The holder24includes a stop portion118preventing rotational movement of the holder24beyond the stowed position due to a side116of the gear segment64contacting the stop portion118.

The main body portion92further includes a track or slot98formed therein that is sized and shaped to receive the guide portion42of the gear insert assembly38therein. The longitudinal length of the slot98is longer than the longitudinal length of the guide portion42, and the guide portion42is able to slidably move within the slot98between first and second ends100,102of the slot98. The length of the slot98limits movement of the guide portion42relative to the latch body portion90, and movement of the latch body portion90relative to the guide portion42of the biasing assembly112. The latch body portion90is secured to gear insert assembly38by a fastener104(e.g., a mechanical fastener including, without limitation, a bolt, a screw, a pin, or the like) extending through a washer106having a larger diameter than the width of the slot98. The securement of the washer106against the main body portion92keeps the guide portion42in engagement with the slot98. The fastener104extends into a bore108that passes through the guide portion42and base portion40. The bore108is threaded to engage the fastener104. The latch portion96of the holder24is sized, shaped, and configured to engage the hook portion110of the holder24.

The button portion94is configured to be pressed by a user. Pressing the button portion94moves the button portion94of the latch body portion90from an undepressed position towards a fully depressed position. At some point as the latch body portion90moves from the undepressed position towards the depressed position, the hook portion110disengages from the latch portion96of the holder24. When the guide portion42is disposed within the slot98, the spring52exerts linear force against the pin54and pushes the pin54against the end100of the slot98of the latch body portion90which, in turn, pushes a side of the guide portion42against the end102of the slot. As the latch body portion90moves from the undepressed position towards the fully depressed position, the end100of the slot98presses against the pin54, which in turn pressed against and compresses the spring52. Due to decompression of the spring52, the biasing assembly112is configured to automatically move the button portion94from the depressed position to the undepressed position. Once the user stops applying force to the button portion94, the compressed spring52provides a linear force against the pin54to push the pin54against the end of the slot98, which in turn moves the button portion94of the latch body portion90towards the undepressed position.

The holder assembly20is disposed in an armrest200of a seat202. The housing32of the holder assembly20is secured within a recess204of the armrest200that is sized, shaped, and configured to receive the housing32. The recess204may be formed as part of a removable armrest cap206of the armrest200. The armrest cap206is removably attachable to the armrest200in a variety of conventional ways that include, without limitation, mechanical fasteners (e.g., nuts and bolts, screws, snap-detent fit, etc.), chemical fasteners (e.g., glue) and the like, either alone or in combination. For example, when retro-fitting an existing passenger seat on an aircraft, instead of replacing an entire armrest to allow for the holder assembly20, only the armrest cap206needs to be replaced, and this makes it easier to service and/or replace a holder assembly20. A USB port could be installed in the closeout cap to allow for charging of a PED (via an appropriate charging cable) while in use, with the USB port connected to the aircraft's electrical system. The armrest cap206is used on every passenger seat and replacing the entire armrest200is more costly than simply replacing the armrest cap.

In use, the deployment stages required to bring the mounting arm assembly20to a proper viewing position of a PED22held by the holder assembly20are as follows: stowed configuration, semi-deployed configuration, and deployed configuration. In the stowed configuration, the holder assembly20is contained in the recess204of the armrest200(for purposes of illustration only, the armrest200is the passenger's right armrest, and the following steps can be adopted and modified for the situation where the holder arm assembly20is stowed within a passenger's left armrest, with the goal that the holder assembly20be deployed generally forward of the passenger). Alternatively, the holder assembly20may be stowed within a recess of a space within a housing or console, in a space between passenger chairs, or in a space between a passenger chair and a bulkhead, and so on. In any event, in the stowed configuration, the holder assembly20is out of sight of the passenger except for a side of the holder assembly20facing outwardly from the recess204.

In the semi-deployed configuration, the holder24of the holder assembly20is rotationally pivoted from a stowed position within the recess34to a deployed position generally ninety (90) degrees to the stowed position of the holder24. This is accomplished by the user applying force (indicated by the arrow seen inFIGS. 2 and 8) against the button portion94and pushing the latch body portion90inwards such that the slot98moves linearly relative to the guide portion42. Before force is applied by the user to the latch body portion90, the guide portion42is in contact with the second end102of the slot98due to the biasing element52pushing the pin54against the first end100of the slot98. As stated above, at some point as the latch body portion90moves from the undepressed position towards the depressed position, the hook portion110disengages from the latch portion96of the holder24. As the latch body portion90moves from the undepressed position towards the fully depressed position, the first end100of the slot98presses against the pin54, which in turn pressed against and compresses the spring52. After disengagement of the hook portion110from latch portion96, the holder24will begin to rotate from the stowed position of the holder24due to the movement assembly28providing rotational force to the holder24. The cam-shape of the gear segment64dampens deployment of the holder24. Once the holder24rotates away from its stowed position, the user can stop applying force to the button portion94, allowing the biasing element52to decompress, causing the pin54to press against the first end100of the slot98, and move the button portion94(along with the latch body portion90) outwards from the depressed position to the undepressed position. Due to rotation of the holder24away from its stowed position, the hook portion110will not be able to re-engage the latch portion96of the holder24. The holder24will rotate from its stowed position to its deployed position where a side of the holder24will engage the stop portion114of the latch body portion92, preventing rotational movement of the holder24beyond the deployed position.

Once the holder24is in the semi-deployed configuration, the holder assembly20is moved to its deployed configuration by the user rotating the mount flap30about the tilt axis31until the sides37of the stops35contacts the generally horizontal surface25of the holder24. A PED22can then be placed within the holding portion120. In general, the holder assembly20can be returned to the stowed configuration by applying force to the holder24to rotate the holder24back into the recess34. At some point as the holder24is rotated back into the recess34, the hook portion110and the latch portion96(being sized, shaped, and configured to automatically engage each other) will engage each other and retain the holder34within the recess34in the stowed configuration.

In the alternative, the holder assembly20is attachable to a surface (not shown) within a recess of a vehicle (e.g., aircraft) bulkhead, a console housing or compartment located next to or part of a vehicle passenger seat or chair, or the like. The holder assembly20may be connected to the armrest200or armrest cap206using mechanical fasteners (e.g., screws, nuts and bolts, etc.), or chemical fasteners (e.g., glue, adhesive, etc.) or the like. In the alternative, the housing32of the holder assembly20may be formed of single-piece construction with the armrest200or armrest cap206or another surface (e.g., formed as part of a seating console in a passenger aircraft).

Although the present invention has been discussed above in connection with use on a passenger aircraft, the present invention is not limited to that environment and may also be used on passenger trains, cars, buses and other vehicles including, but not limited to, carts, carriages, and means of transportation mounted on rails.

Likewise, the present invention is also not to be limited to use in vehicles and may be used in non-vehicle or stationary environments where there is seating, and it is desirable to stow and deploy holders for holding PEDs, such as restrooms, sports stadiums, film sets, schools, hospitals, factories, garages, offices, shipyards, construction sites and the like. Furthermore, the present invention is also not to be limited to use in connection with seating, and may be used in any environment where the device may be stowed within and deployed from a recess formed in a surface (e.g., a wall, a desktop, a table), or attached to a flat surface (e.g., a wall, a desktop, a table) that does not have a recess into which the device may be stowed.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to use with PEDs, and may be used with a wide variety of electronic, mechanical, electro-mechanical, or other devices or objects, such as books, magazines, photographs, paper pads, keypads, illumination sources, cameras, or any other kind of screen display, tool, or other component.

In addition, the claimed invention is not limited in size and may be constructed in miniature versions or for use in very large-scale applications in which the same or similar principles of motion and friction control as described above would apply. Furthermore, the figures (and various components shown therein) of the specification are not to be construed as drawn to scale.

More generally, the word “assembly” may reflect an actual physical grouping of distinct components in a single physical assemblage or a combination of physical and/or functional interaction of portions of one or more distinct components where one or more of the components can serve a particular function as a part of one assembly and other particular function(s) as part of one or more other assemblies. In other words, a single component can serve different functions as part of different assemblies.

The above description presents the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use this invention. This invention is, however, susceptible to modifications and alternate constructions from that discussed above that are fully equivalent. Consequently, this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. On the contrary, this invention covers all modifications and alternate constructions coming within the spirit and scope of the invention as generally expressed by the following claims, which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of the invention.