Foldable clamping device

A clamping device includes a first support member, a first pivot member, a second pivot member and a second support member; the first support member including a clamping unit for clamping a mobile phone and having a pivot end connected pivotally to the first pivot member; the first pivot member including a first extension element; the second pivot member including a second extension element connected to the first extension element such that the first and second extension elements are rotatable with respect to each other about a common axis; the second support member having a pivot end connected pivotally to the second pivot member, including a stationary clamp arm, a movable L-shaped clamp arm and a biasing element for biasing the L-shaped clamp arm to contact with the stationary clamp arm to provide a clamping force therebetween.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a clamping device, and more particularly to a foldable clamping device of hand-free mode for holding an electronic gadget (like a smart phone) during traveling in mass transport systems, such as mass rapid trains and planes.

2. The Prior Arts

During long-distance travels, whether it is by plane, high-speed rail or bus, which takes many hours, most travelers will not only feel tired, but may also feel very bored. Watching videos on one's mobile phone can kill time and even deal with some commercial affairs. However, if you use your mobile phone for a long time, it will cause certain damage to the cervical spine, causing pain in the cervical spine during the journey. If you change your hand to take the mobile phone to maintain the head-up state, it will cause pain in your arms, affecting the comfort of the journey. The seat structure of the general mass transport systems, like the car or the aircraft, is roughly the same and is not provided with devices for holding an indispensable gadget, like a smart phone. So it is necessary to design a set of hands-free devices that can be used in the mass transportation systems to meet the needs of users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a foldable clamping device that can be fixed to a dining tray behind a seat such as in an airplane, a high-speed rail or a train, and then adjust its position by a plurality of sets of pivot members to hold the grip. The function can be adjusted to meet the user's observation angle to achieve the purpose of hand-free modes for holding an electronic device, and the overall structure of the clamping device is small and easy to install on a vehicle and can be quickly removed when desired and is convenient to carry along with the user.

A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide a foldable clamping device, which mainly utilizes the design of multiple sets of pivot members so that there are many different types of use after deployment of the clamping device to meet the needs of users. The clamping device can be folded in small size so that it does not occupy a large space in addition to easy to carry along with the user.

In order to achieve the objective mentioned above, a foldable clamping device of the present invention includes: a first support member, a first pivot member, a second pivot member and a second support member; the first support member including a clamping unit for clamping a mobile phone and having a pivot end connected pivotally to the first pivot member; the first pivot member being a T-shaped body including a middle portion formed with a first extension element; the second pivot member being a T-shaped body including a middle portion formed with a second extension element connected to the first extension element in such a manner that the first and second extension elements are rotatable with respect to each other about a common axis; the second support member having a pivot end connected pivotally to the second pivot member, including a stationary clamp arm distal from the pivot end, a movable L-shaped clamp arm extending partially into the second support member and movable away linearly away from the stationary clamp arm and a biasing element disposed interior of the second support member for biasing the L-shaped clamp arm to contact with the stationary clamp arm when no external force is applied on the biasing element; wherein, in order to keep the clamping device in a storage position, after adjusting relative position between the first and second pivot members, the first and second support members can be folded toward each other in such a manner that the clamping unit extends within a space defined by the stationary clamp arm and the pivot end of the second support member.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the clamping unit is mounted rotatably on the first support member.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the clamping unit is mounted eccentrically with respect to a center axis of the first support member. The clamping device further includes a position fixing mechanism in form meshing toothed faces for retaining a position of the clamping unit on the first support member after rotation of the first and second extension elements relative to each other.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first support member has a front side surface for supporting the clamping unit and a rear side surface including an inclined surface portion proximate to the first pivot member to which the pivot end of the first support member is connected pivotally such that the first support member can be adjusted in order to dispose the inclined surface portion of the first support member on the first pivot member.

In one embodiment, the clamping device of the present invention further includes a position fixing mechanism in form meshing toothed faces located proximate to the pivot end of the first support member connected pivotally to the first pivot member, the pivot end of the second support member connected pivotally to the second pivot member and the common axis shared by the first and second extension elements for retaining a position of the clamping unit on the first support member after rotation of the first and second extension elements relative to each other.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the movable L-shaped clamp arm is fabricated from metals.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the second support member is formed with a guide channel and a manipulating plate disposed in the guide channel in such a manner to contact a portion of the movable L-shaped clamp arm such that manipulating the plate against biasing action of the biasing element results in simultaneously moving the L-shaped clamp arm away from the stationary clamp arm.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the stationary clamp arm has two lateral sides, each of which is formed with a notch via which the movable L-shaped clamp arm can be manually pushed away from the stationary clamp arm in order to provide a clamping force between the clamping arms upon release of the manual push action.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 3, whereinFIG. 1is a perspective view of a foldable clamping device of the present invention in a storage position;FIG. 2is a perspective view of the foldable clamping device of the present invention in a first unfolded state; andFIG. 3is a perspective view of the foldable clamping device of the present invention in a second unfolded state. As shown, the clamping device of the present invention includes: a first support member1, a first pivot member2, a second pivot member3and a second support member4. The first support member1includes a clamping unit11for clamping a mobile phone, has a pivot end connected pivotally to the first pivot member2. The first pivot member2is a T-shaped body, includes a middle portion formed with a first extension element21. The second pivot member3is a T-shaped body, includes a middle portion formed with a second extension element31connected to the first extension element21in such a manner that the first and second extension elements21,31are rotatable relative to each other about a common axis. The second support member4has a pivot end connected pivotally to the second pivot member3, includes a stationary clamp arm41distal from the pivot end, a movable L-shaped clamp arm42extending partially into the second support member4and a biasing element43(seeFIG. 4) disposed interior of the second support member4for the biasing the L-shaped clamp arm42to contact with the stationary clamp arm41when no external force is applied on the biasing element43. After assembly of the clamping device of the present invention and when the clamping device of the present invention is in use, relative position between the first and second pivot members2,3can adjusted in different angles in order to dispose the first and second support members1,4at different modes to clamp a mobile phone so as to satisfy the needs of the users. Alternately, when not in use and in order to keep the clamping device of the present invention a storage position, after adjusting relative position between the first and second pivot members2,3, the first and second support members1,4can be folded toward each other in such a manner that the clamping unit11extends within a space defined by the stationary clamp arm41and the pivot end of the second support member4.

FIG. 2is a perspective view of the foldable clamping device of the present invention in a first unfolded state, in which a mobile phone (not visible) can disposed on the first support member1in order to be clamped by the clamping unit11. The clamping unit11preferably includes a first clamp element111, a second clamp element112movable linearly toward and away from the first clamp element11and spring means are provided to create a clamping force between the first and second clamp elements111,112. In this embodiment, a single moving mode is employed to move the first and second clamp elements111,112. Bilateral moving mode is also an option.FIG. 3is a perspective view of the foldable clamping device of the present invention in a second unfolded state, in which a mobile phone (not visible) can be disposed on the first support member1in order to be clamped by the clamping unit11. Preferably, the clamping unit11is mounted rotatably on the first support member1. More preferably, the clamping unit11is mounted eccentrically with respect to a center axis of the first support member1. InFIG. 3, the clamping unit11is mounted eccentrically on the first support member1adjacent to the second clamp element112in order to clamp a mobile phone of larger size such that the weight of larger mobile phone is concentrated on the second support member4(seeFIG. 6). In another embodiment, the first support member1has a front side surface for supporting the clamping unit11and a rear side surface including an inclined surface portion113proximate to the first pivot member2to which the pivot end of the first support member1is connected pivotally such that the first support member1can be adjusted in order to dispose the inclined surface portion113of the first support member1on the first pivot member2(seeFIGS. 2 and 3).

The first pivot member2is a T-shaped body, includes a middle portion formed with a first extension element21. The second pivot member3is a T-shaped body, includes a middle portion formed with a second extension element31connected to the first extension element21in such a manner that the first and second extension elements21,31are rotatable relative to each other about a common axis in such a manner that the first support member1can be disposed on the first pivot member2at a particular position or angle due to 360 degree rotation of the first and second pivot members2,3relative to each other.

As best shown inFIG. 4, the second support member4includes a stationary clamp arm41distal from the pivot end, a movable L-shaped clamp arm42extending partially into the second support member4and a biasing element43disposed interior of the second support member4for the biasing the L-shaped clamp arm42to contact with the stationary clamp arm41when no external force is applied on the biasing element43. In this embodiment, a pair of springs serve the purpose of the biasing element. The movable L-shaped clamp arm42is fabricated from metals. Preferably, a soft rubber pad421is attached on an inner side of the L-shaped clamp arm42in order to provide additional friction force together with the stationary clamp arm41in the event the clamping device of the present invention is used clamp a dining tray at the back of a seat (seeFIGS. 7 and 8).

In order to operate the clamping device of the present invention, the second support member4is formed with a guide channel44and a manipulating plate45disposed in the guide channel44in such a manner to contact a portion of the movable L-shaped clamp arm42and a portion of the plate45exposed vertically from the guide channel44such that manipulating the plate45against biasing action of the biasing element43results in simultaneously moving the L-shaped clamp arm42away from the stationary clamp arm41, thereby providing a clamping force between the stationary clamp arm41and the L-shaped clamp arm42upon removal of the manipulating power. Preferably, the stationary clamp arm41has two lateral sides, each of which is formed with a notch411via which the soft rubber pad421on the movable L-shaped clamp arm42can be manually pushed away from the stationary clamp arm41in order to provide the clamping force between the clamping arms41,42upon release of the manual push power.

The clamping device of the present invention further includes a position fixing mechanism in form meshing toothed faces (seeFIG. 5) located proximate to the pivot end of the first support member1connected pivotally to the first pivot member2, the pivot end of the second support member4connected pivotally to the second pivot member3and the common axis shared by the first and second extension elements21,31for retaining a relative position of the first support member1on the first pivot member2after rotation of the first extension element21relative to the second extension element31. In addition to the meshing toothed faces, other position fixing means can be employed so long as they can retain the adjusted position between the first and second extension elements21,31.

Referring toFIG. 6, before the stationary clamp arm41and the movable L-shaped clamp arm42of the second support member4are used for clamping an object, like a dining tray, the second support member4can be disposed on a table for serving as a support platform owing to the weight of the L-shaped clamp arm42fabricated from metal. At this time, relative position between the first and second pivot members2,3can be adjusted in such a manner that the inclined surface portion113of the first support member1seated on the second support member4, where a mobile phone5can be disposed so as to be clamped by the first clamp element111and the second clamp element112of the clamping unit11. In other words, the mobile phone5is disposed on the table via the clamping device of the present invention in a hand-free mode. Alternatively, if the user wishes the mobile phone to be disposed transversely different from that shown inFIG. 6, he can simply rotate the clamping unit11so as to dispose the same as shown inFIG. 2, wherein the mobile phone5may provide a wide screen when mounted transversely on the clamping unit11.

Since the clamping device of the present invention is intended to be used at the back of a seat61in mass transport systems, like an air plane or train, in hand-free mode, as best shown inFIGS. 7 and 8. For instance, a dining tray62is provided at the back of the seat61in such a manner that the dining tray62can be unfolded for use as best shown inFIG. 7, wherein the user can manually push the L-shaped clamp plate42away from the stationary clamp plate41in order to clamp the edge of the dining tray62between the clamp plates41,42upon release of the push power. After adjusting relative position between the first and second pivot members2,3, the inclined surface portion113of the first support member1is seated on the second support member4, where a mobile phone5can be disposed so as to be clamped by the first clamp element111and the second clamp element112of the clamping unit11. In other words, the mobile phone5is disposed on the dining tray62via the clamping device of the present invention in a hand-free mode so that the user can operate the mobile phone5.

In the event, the dining tray62is folded on the seat61, as best shown inFIG. 8. If the traveling person wishes to use the mobile phone in a hand-free mode, he is to attach the clamping device of the present invention to the dining tray61in the above described manner, after which the dining tray62can be folded on the seat1in such a manner that the L-shaped clamp arm42extends outwardly from a gap between the dining tray62and the seat61. After adjusting relative position between the first and second pivot members2,3, the inclined surface portion113of the first support member1is seated on the second support member4, where a mobile phone5can be disposed so as to be clamped by the first clamp element111and the second clamp element112of the clamping unit11different from that shown inFIG. 7. In other words, the mobile phone5is disposed on the dining tray62via the clamping device of the present invention in a hand-free mode so that the user can operate the mobile phone5.