CELLULAR PHONE HOLDER

Abstract: A holder apparatus (10) for securely holding a cellular phone handset or other like portable device is disclosed. The apparatus (10) comprises a base portion (11) and retaining means (12), a device sensing means (18) associated with the base portion (11) to sense the portable device being received by the base portion (11). An electric motor means (15) imparts force on the retaining means (12) thereby causing motion of the retaining means (12) to hold and retain the portable device in the apparatus (10). The electric motor means (15) is activated when the sensing means (18) senses the portable device being received by the base portion (11). A sensor (19) senses when the portable device is retained in the apparatus (10) by the retaining means (12) and deactivates the electric motor means (15) to prevent further motion of the retaining means (12). A locking means is used to lock the position of the retaining means (12) against the portable device when the device is so retained in said apparatus (10). A releasing means (23) unlocks the locking means and activates the electric motor means (15) to thereby cause motion of the retaining means to release the portable device from its retained position against the base portion (11).

Description: CELLULAR PHONE HOLDER The present invention relates to cellular phones and, in particular, to a cellular phone holder for gripping and holding a cellular phone. The holder is advantageously used in a motor vehicle to hold the cellular phone so that the user is able to use the cellular phone while driving their motor vehicle without holding the handset in their hands. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION At present hands free operation kits for cellular phones are generally not compatible with other makes or models of cellular phones. The cradle or holder of the hands free kits receive the particular model of cellular phone which connects to electrical circuitry including microphones and speakers so that the user can speak on their cellular phone without holding same. Disadvantage with such a system is that such hands free kits are suitable for only one make or model of cellular phone and are relative expensive to purchase and install. Other forms of hands free operation of cellular phones include the use of ear and mouth pieces which connect to the cellular phone handset by means of wires in the form of an external headset, whereby the cellular phone handset is carried on the user's body. Such headset devices are advantageously used while the user is driving a motor vehicle however the cellular phone handset should be able to be accessed during such use. It is believed that there is a need for a cellular phone holder for securely holding a cellular phone in a motor vehicle such that the holder grips the cellular phone such that it does not become dislodged if the road is bumpy or if the motor vehicle stops or accelerates suddenly. It is also desirable that such a cellular phone holder is a universal holder in that it is able to hold a variety of makes and models of cellular phones. Although the foregoing and the following description refers primarily to holders for cellular phones, the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. The present invention extends to other holding apparatus and equipment and the like which allows compatibility to a variety of different shape devices which need to be securably gripped and held. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION Therefore it is the object of the invention to provide a cellular phone holder which substantially overcomes or ameliorates the above mentioned problems. At the very least the object of the present invention is to provide an alternative to known cellular phone holders as well as holders for other type devices. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a holder apparatus for securely holding a cellular phone handset or other like portable device, said apparatus comprising a base portion and retaining means, a device sensing means associated with said base portion to sense said portable device being received by said base portion, an electric motor means for imparting force on said retaining means thereby causing motion of said retaining means to hold and retain said portable device in said apparatus, whereby said electric motor means is activated when said sensing means senses said portable device being received by said base portion, a sensor to sense when said portable device is retained in said apparatus by said retaining means and to deactivate said electric motor means to prevent further motion of said retaining means, locking means to lock position of said retaining means against said portable device when said device is so retained in said apparatus, and releasing means for unlocking said locking means and activating said electric motor means to thereby cause motion of said retaining means to release said portable device from said retained position against said base portion. Preferably, the locking means is provided by the electrical motor means by positive connection to said retaining means. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a cellular phone holder of a preferred embodiment; and Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electrical control circuits to operate the cellular phone holder of Fig. 1. BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring to Fig. 1, a cellular phone holder 10 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is to hold a cellular phone handset (not illustrated) when the handset is to be used in a "hands free" manner, especially in a motor vehicle (not illustrated). The holder 10 has a base portion 11 which is mounted to a suitable location in the interior cabin of the motor vehicle by suitable mounting means (not illustrated). The mounting means can be a bracket or the like being attached or mounted to the console of the motor vehicle in similar ways to known mounting arrangements. The holder 10 further has a pair of opposed retaining or gripping arms 12 which are positioned adjacent the base portion 11 on a pair of rods 13 which are able to move reciprocatingly along their longitudinal axes. The rods 13 are connected to the gripping arms 12 by a pair of bushes 14. The retaining or gripping arms 12 are used to grip the cellular phone handset between them and substantially against the base portion 11 as will be described later. The rods 13 are moved reciprocatingly by the actions of an electric motor 15 turning a screwed threaded shaft 16 through gearing means 17 which transduces the rotational movement of the shaft 16 to translational movement of the rods 13 by acting on slotted grooves 20 located thereon. This is only one form of the arrangements that can be used to reciprocatingly move the pair of opposed parallel gripping arms 12 relative to each other. In this embodiment, the arms 12 both move reciprocatingly relative to each other but in other arrangements, one arm 12 can be stationary while the other arm 12 moves reciprocatingly. The holder 10 further includes a cellular phone detection sensor 18 located on the base portion 11 which is used to detect when the cellular phone is place in the holder 10. This sensor 18 is preferably either a microswitch type sensor or a photointerrupting sensor. Other types of sensors are also within the scope of the invention. A pressure sensor 19 is located on one of the gripping arms 12 to detect when a particular pressure is being exerted on the gripping arm 12. The holder further includes a forward end sensor 21, a reverse end sensor 22 and a release switch 23, their use will be described later. The holder 10 is operated electrically by a connection (not illustrated) to the battery power supply of the motor vehicle. The electric control circuit 25 as illustrated in Fig. 2 shows the various sensors as switch devices which operate when pressure is detected. The release switch 23 has a release press button 26 which is operated manually. The holder 10 is operated by placing the cellular phone handset on the base portion 11 whereby the detection sensor 18 detects its presence. When this happens, the circuit 25 is closed thus supplying the DC current to the electric motor 15 which rotates the shaft in the forward direction thus moving the gripping arms 12 towards each other and therefore against the cellular phone handset. When the pressure exerted on the pressure sensor 19 by the action of the gripping arms 12 against the handset reaches as preset limit, the current supply is cutoff to the electric motor by the opening of the circuit 25 by the switch of the pressure sensor 19. It is noted that the switch of the forward end sensor 21 and the release switch 23 is also closed. If for any reason the forward sensor 21 is reached by the gripping arm 12, the switch will open thus opening the circuit 25 thus removing current from the electric motor 15. In the usual operation this should not occur if the handset is correctly placed within the holder 10. In the case of a change of pressure against the pressure sensor 19, for any reason such as extreme movement due to braking, accelerating or bumps, the pressure sensor 19 detects this change in pressure and the motor is once again switched on to readjust the gripping pressure against the handset. This automatic readjustment of the apparatus 10 assists in retaining the handset in place as would not otherwise be the case. When the pressure sensor 19 opens the circuit 25 the action of the gripping or retaining action of the arms 12, rods 13, shaft 16 and gearing 17 effectively locks the handset in position in the holder 10. To release the handset from the holder 10, the press button 26 of the release switch 23 is manually operated which closes the circuit connection through the switch of the reverse end sensor 22 which is closed. Reverse electric current is supplied to the electric motor while a mechanical lock 26 holds the release switch 23 in this mode. The mechanical lock 26 is activated by the action of the gripping arms 12. The reversal of the direction of rotation of the shaft 16 moves the gripping arms 12 away from each other as well as away from the cellular phone handset. This direction of movement of the arms 12 continues until the reverse end sensor 22 is reached and the switch opens thus opening the circuit 25 and removing the electric current from the electric motor 15. When the cellular phone handset is removed from the holder 10, the electric current is restored to the electric motor 15 by the opening/closing of the switch of the cellular phone detection sensor 18 thereby ensuring the gripping arms 12 continue movement until it reaches a release lever 27 of the mechanical lock of the release switch 23 which thereby cuts current to the electric motor 15. The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention, and modifications obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the means of retaining the cellular phone handset in the apparatus is not limited to a pair of gripping arms as described above but encompasses all forms of gripping or retaining means. These could include straps which can be tightened around the handset. There could also be overhanging flanges or lips on the gripping means to prevent movement perpendicular to the action of the arms. The sensing means to determine whether the handset is retained within the apparatus can take the form of a logic circuit device which detects the current in the electric motor and when the current is greater as is the case when the arms 12 are abutting against the handset, the logic circuit device cuts power to the electric motor. This effectively is a sensing device.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A .holder apparatus for securely holding a cellular phone handset or other like portable device, said apparatus comprising a base portion and retaining means, a device sensing means associated with said base portion to sense said portable device being received by said base portion, an electric motor means for imparting force on said retaining means thereby causing motion of said retaining means to hold and retain said portable device in said apparatus, whereby said electric motor means is activated when said sensing means senses said portable device being received by said base portion, a sensor to sense when said portable device is retained in said apparatus by said retaining means and to deactivate said electric motor means to prevent further motion of said retaining means, locking means to lock position of said retaining means against said portable device when said device is so retained in said apparatus, and releasing means for unlocking said locking means and activating said electric motor means to thereby cause motion of said retaining means to release said portable device from said retained position against said base portion. 2. The holder apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the locking means is provided by the electrical motor means by positive connection to said retaining means. 3. The holder apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said retaining means comprises a pair gripping arms which move relative to each other. 4. The holder apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said pair of gripping arms are parallel and move reciprocatingly towards each other. 5. The holder apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said device sensing means is a pressure activated microswitch. 6. The holder apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said device sensing means is a photointerrupting sensor. 7. The holder apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensor to detect that said device is retained is a pressure sensing sensor. 8. The holder apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensor to detect that said device is retained is uses a logic circuit device to detect extra current to said electric motor.

Inventors: CHEKLIN ALEX, CHEKLIN, ALEX
Applicants: CHEKLIN ALEX, SCOPE TECHNOLOGY PTY LTD, CHEKLIN, ALEX, SCOPE TECHNOLOGY PTY. LTD.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: H04M1
IPC codes: B60R11, H04M1