Abstract:
Embodiments of portable electronic device holders and methods of manufacture of portable electronic device holders are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to sport accessories, and more particularly, to a portable electronic device holders and methods to manufacture portable electronic device holders. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In golf, some training devices may be an integral part of a golf club (i.e., built-in). That is, the golf club may not be readily used for play in a round of golf. Alternatively, other training devices may only function as a golf training device such that the training device may not be used for other purposes. Instead of the types of training device for golf mentioned above, individuals may use already-owned and/or everyday-used portable electronic devices as a training device for golf. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a portable electronic device holder according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  shows a rear perspective view of the portable electronic device holder of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a rear perspective view of the portable electronic device holder of  FIG. 1  shown attached to a golf club shaft. 
         FIG. 4  shows a top view of the portable electronic device holder of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a bottom view of the portable electronic device holder of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  shows a side view of the portable electronic device holder of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  shows another side view of the portable electronic device holder of  FIG. 1  shown attached to a golf club shaft. 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  show side views of a section of the portable electronic device holder of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  shows a front view of the portable electronic device holder of  FIG. 1  with an exemplary portable electronic device mounted on the portable electronic device holder. 
         FIG. 11  shows a method of manufacturing a portable electronic device holder according to one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     In general, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture associated with a portable electronic device holder are described herein. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     In the example of  FIGS. 1-10 , a portable electronic device holder  100  may include a body portion  102 , a first clamp portion  104  and a second clamp portion  106 . As described in detail below, the portable electronic device holder  100  may be configured to removably attach a portable electronic device  1000  (generally shown in  FIGS. 7 and 10 ) such as a wireless communication device and/or a portable media player to a golf club shaft  800  (generally shown in  FIGS. 3-5 ,  7  and  10 ) of a golf club (e.g., a putter-type golf club). For example, the portable electronic device  1000  may be a media player (e.g., an IPOD® mobile digital device from Apple Inc., Cupertino, Calif.), a wireless telephone (e.g., an IPHONE® mobile digital device from Apple Inc., Cupertino, Calif.), a handheld or tablet computer (e.g., an IPAD® from Apple Inc., Cupertino, Calif.), a global positioning system (GPS) device, a game console device, a digital camera, a video camera, and/or any other electronic device that may be include any type of sensor (e.g., accelerometer, gyroscope, microphone, CCD imaging sensor, CMOS imaging sensor, etc.) for sensing and collecting data and/or images. The portable electronic device  1000  may be configured to operate as a training device (e.g., the portable electronic device  1000  may include a processor to execute a software application), such as a golf training device. In addition or alternatively, the portable electronic device  1000  may be configured to operate as a telephone or a speaker broadcasting music. As shown by the example of  FIGS. 7 and 10 , a portable electronic device  1000  may include a bottom portion  1002 , a top portion  1004 , a first side portion  1006 , a second side portion  1008  that is opposite to the first side portion  1006 , a display portion  1010  and a back portion  1012  (shown in  FIG. 7 ). However, a portable electronic device may be in any shape such as oval, circular, triangular, spherical or other geometric and non-geometric shapes. Accordingly, a first clamp portion  104  and a second clamp portion  106  may be configured to provide engagement with any portable electronic device. The apparatus and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     The first clamp portion  104  includes a first clamp body  110  and a first clamp arm  112  that is connected to the first clamp body  110  and extends transverse or generally perpendicular to the first clamp body  110 . At the free end of the first clamp arm  112 , the first clamp arm  112  includes a lip portion  114  extending generally transverse to the first clamp arm  112  and toward the second clamp portion  106 . The first clamp body  110  includes a generally circular or curved channel  116  on a back side of the clamp body  110 , which may be the side of the clamp body  110  that is opposite to the side of the first clamp body  110  to which the first clamp arm  112  is connected. The clamp body  110  includes a first rod attachment portion  118  and a second rod attachment portion  119 , which may be located on opposite sides of the curved channel  116 . A first rod  120  is attached to the first rod attachment portion  118  (shown in  FIG. 8 ) and a second rod  121  is attached to the second rod attachment portion  119  (shown in  FIG. 9 ). Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 1 , two generally parallel and spaced apart rods  120  and  121  are attached to and extend from the first clamp body  110 . The first rod  120  and the second rod  121  may be constructed with the clamp body  110  or constructed as separate pieces that are attached to the clamp body  110 . For example, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the first rod  120  and the second rod  121  may be separately constructed parts that are inserted into slots or bores of the first rod attachment portion  118  and the second rod attachment portion  119  and attached to the first rod attachment portion  118  and the second rod attachment portion  119 , respectively. The first clamp portion  104  may include more than one clamp arm. For example the first clamp portion  104  may include a pair of spaced apart clamp arms (not shown). The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     The body portion  102  includes a first end portion  126  and a second end portion  128 . The first end portion  126  and the second end portion  128  may define a length of the body portion  102 . The body portion  102  includes a front surface  130  that may extend from the first end portion  126  to the second end portion  128 , and a generally curved channel  132  on a back portion  131 , which is a portion of the body portion  102  that is behind the front surface  130 . The body portion  102  further includes a first rod housing  134  and a second rod housing  135 , which may be located on opposite sides of the curved channel  132  and extend along the length of the body portion  102 . The first rod housing  134  includes a first rod passage  140  (shown in  FIG. 8 ) that may be configured to accommodate a portion of the first rod  120  or the entire first rod  120 . The second rod housing  135  includes a second rod passage  141  (shown in  FIG. 9 ) that may be configured to accommodate a portion of second rod  121  or the entire second rod  121 . Accordingly, the first clamp portion  104  may be movable from a position where the first clamp portion  104  abuts the body portion  102  and the first rod  120  and the second rod  121  are substantially inside the first rod passage  140  and the second rod passage  141 , respectively, to a position where the first clamp portion  104  is spaced apart from the body portion  102  (shown for example in  FIG. 1 ) and the first rod  120  and the second rod  121  are partially inside the first rod passage  140  and the second rod passage  141 , respectively. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the first rod housing  134  includes a first aperture  200  at the first end portion  126 . Portions of the first rod  120  may traverse in and out the first rod passage  140  through the first aperture  200 . Similarly, the second rod housing  135  includes a second aperture  202  at the first end portion  126 . Portions of the second rod  121  may traverse in and out of the second rod passage  141  through the second aperture  202 . A diameter of each aperture  200  and  202  may be slightly greater than the outer diameter of the first rod  120  and the second rod  121 , but is smaller than the inner diameter of the first rod passage  140  and the second rod passage  141 , respectively. At a position along the first rod  120  or at the free end of the first rod  120 , the first rod  120  includes a first stop  220 , which may be cylindrical-shaped or disc-shaped. The stop  220  may have a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the first rod  120  and slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the first rod passage  140 . Accordingly, a first annular passage  204  may be defined in the first rod passage  140  between the first stop  220  and the first aperture  200 . Movement of the first rod  120  through the first rod passage  140  changes the length of the first annular passage  204 . Similarly, at a position along the second rod  121  or at the free end of the second rod  121 , the second rod  121  includes a second stop  222 , which may be cylindrical-shaped or disc-shaped. The second stop  222  has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the second rod  121  and slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the second rod passage  141 . Accordingly, a second annular passage  206  may be defined in the second rod passage  141  between the second stop  222  and the second aperture  202 . Movement of the second rod  121  through the second rod passage  141  changes the length of the second annular passage  206 . 
     A first spring  210  is disposed in the first annular passage  204 . The first spring  210  has a coil diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the first rod passage  140 , greater than the diameter of the first aperture  200  and smaller than the diameter of the first stop  220 . Accordingly, the first spring  210  is bound in the first annular passage  204 . Similarly, a second spring  212  is disposed in the second annular passage  206 . The second spring  212  has a coil diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the second passage  141 , greater than the diameter of the second aperture  202  and smaller than the diameter of the second stop  222 . Accordingly, the second spring  212  is bound inside the second annular passage  206 . 
     Movement of the first rod  120  in the first rod passage  140  changes the length of the first annular passage  204 . When the first rod  120  is moving in a direction out of the first rod passage  140 , the first stop  220  compresses the first spring  210  against the first end portion  126  (i.e., around the first aperture  200 ) such that the first spring  210  exerts a force on the first stop  220  opposite to the movement of the first rod  120 . When the first rod  120  is moving in a direction into the first rod passage  140 , the first stop  220  allows the first spring  210  to decompress such that the force exerted by the spring on the first stop  220  is reduced. 
     Movement of the second rod  121  in the second rod passage  141  changes the length of the second annular passage  206 . When the second rod  121  is moving in a direction out of the second rod passage  141 , the second stop  222  compresses the second spring  212  against the first end portion  126  (i.e., around the second aperture  202 ) such that the second spring  212  exerts a force on the second stop  222  opposite to the movement of the second rod  121 . When the second rod  121  is moving in a direction into the second rod passage  141 , the second stop  222  allows the second spring  212  to decompress such that the force exerted by the spring on the second stop  222  is reduced. 
     The second clamp portion  106  (shown for example in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) includes a second clamp arm  250  and a third clamp arm  252  that may be spaced apart to collectively provide a sufficiently wide support for a portable electronic device such as the portable electronic device  1000 . Each of the second clamp arm  250  and the third clamp arm  252  extends transversely from the body portion  102 . The second clamp arm  250  may include a second lip portion  254  and the third clamp arm  252  may include a third lip portion  256 . Each of the second lip portion  254  and the third lip portion  256  may extend toward the first clamp portion  104 . The second clamp portion  106  may include a single clamp arm similar to the first clamp portion  104  or more than two clamp arms. Each clamp arm  250  and  252  may be fixed to the body portion  102  or be movable relative to the body portion  102  similar to the first clamp arm  112  of the first clamp portion  104 . The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     When the first clamp portion  104  is abutting the body portion  102 , the first spring  210  and the second spring  212  may be compressed. Accordingly, the first clamp portion  104  may be pressed and maintained against the body portion  102  by the forces of the first spring  210  and the second spring  212 . When the first clamp portion  104  is moved or pulled away from the body portion  102 , a portion of the first rod  120  and a portion of the second rod  121  are moved out of the first passage  140  and the second passage  141  to reduce the length of the first annular passage  204  and the second annular passage  206 , respectively. Accordingly, the first spring  210  and the second spring  212  are further compressed in the first annular passage  204  and the second annular passage  206  to increase the forces in the first spring  210  and the second spring  212 , respectively. The first clamp portion  104  may be further moved or pulled away from the body portion  102  until the first spring  210  and the second spring  212  are fully compressed, i.e., can no longer be compressed. Thus, the first clamp portion  104  may be moved to any position from an initial position where the first clamp portion  104  is pressed against the body portion  102  and the springs  210  and  212  are compressed to a final position where the first spring  210  and the second spring  212  are fully compressed. The forces of the first spring  210  and the second spring  212  return the first clamp portion  104  to the initial position from any position between the initial position and the final position. The initial position of the first clamp portion  104  may define the smallest distance between the first clamp arm  112  and the second and third clamp arms  250  and  252 . The final position of the first clamp portion  104  may define the largest distance between the first clamp arm  112  and the second and third clamp arms  250  and  252 . 
     According to another embodiment, when the first clamp portion  104  is abutting the body portion  102 , i.e., the initial position, the first spring  210  and the second spring  212  may be expanded. The springs  210  and  212  may be positioned in the first rod passage  140  and the second rod passage  141  between the second end portion  106  and the stops  220  and  222 , respectively (not shown). The springs  210  and  212  are further expanded when the first clamp portion  104  is moved to any position from the initial position to the final position. The final position of the first clamp portion  104  may correspond to a position where the stops  220  and  222  contact the first end portion  104  (not shown). 
     The portable electronic device holder  100  can hold a portable electronic device between the first clamp arm  112  and the second and third clamp arms  250  and  252  by the clamp arms  112 ,  250  and  252  pressing on opposing surfaces, portions or sides of the portable electronic device with the forces of the first spring  210  and the second spring  212 . Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a first inner surface  113  of the first clamp arm  112  may define an acute angle  127  with the direction of the forces exerted on the first clamp portion  104  by the springs  210  and  212 . In  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the forces exerted on the first clamp portion  104  by the springs are shown to be generally in the same direction as the longitudinal axis  123  of the first rod  120  and/or the longitudinal axis  125  of the second rod  121 . In other words, the first inner surface  113  is downwardly inclined relative to the body portion  102 . Similarly, the second inner surface  117  of the second clamp arm  250  and the third inner surface  119  of the third clamp arm  252  may define an acute angle  129  with the longitudinal axis  123  and/or the longitudinal axis  125 . In other words, the second inner surface  117  and the third inner surface  119  are upwardly inclined relative to the body portion  102 . When the portable electronic device  1000  is pressed by the first inner surface  113 , the second inner surface  117  and the third inner surface  119 , the acute angles  127  and  129  cause a component of force to be exerted on the portable electronic device  1000  in a direction toward the body portion  102 . Thus, as the first clamp arm  112  and the second and third clamp arms  250  and  252  press on opposing surfaces, portions or sides of the portable electronic device  1000 , the portable electronic device may be pushed and/or maintained against the front surface  130  of the body portion  102 . 
     Portable electronic devices of varying sizes may be held by the portable electronic device holder  100  by moving the first clamp portion  104  between the initial position and the final position to increase or decrease the distance between the first clamp arm  112  and the second and third clamp arms  250  and  252 . For example, referring to  FIG. 10 , a rectangular portable electronic device  1000  may be held by the first clamp arm  112  and the second and third clamp arms  250  and  252  pressing against two opposing sides  1002  and  1004  of the portable electronic device  1000 . Alternatively, the portable electronic device  1000  may be held by the first clamp arm  112  and the second and third clamp arms  250  and  252  pressing against the two opposing sides  1006  and  1008  of the portable electronic device  1000  (not shown). In another example, a circular portable electronic device (not shown) may be held with the portable electronic device holder  100  by the first clamp arm  112  and the second and third clamp arms  250  and  252  engaging radially opposing perimeter edges, surfaces and/or portions of the circular electronic device. Accordingly, a portable electronic device having any shape may be held by the portable electronic device holder  100  as long as two opposing sides, surfaces and/or portions of the portable electronic device can be engaged and held by the first clamp arm  112  and the second and third clamp arms  250  and  252 . 
     A portable electronic device  1000  may be mounted on to the portable electronic device holder  100  by pulling the first clamp portion  104  away from the body portion  102  until the distance between the first lip portion  114  and the second and third lip portions  254  and  256  is greater than a distance between two opposing edges, surfaces and/or portions of the portable electronic device. The portable electronic device  1000  may then be inserted into the portable electronic device holder  100  by the back portion  1012  being moved toward the front surface  130  until the back portion  1012  abuts the front surface  130  and the bottom portion  1002  rests on the second and third clamp arms  250  and  252 . The first clamp arm  112  may then be released or moved toward the body portion  102  so that the first clamp arm  112  engages the second side  1004  of the portable electronic device. Alternatively, the first clamp portion  104  may be pulled away from the body portion  102  until the distance between the first clamp arm  112  and the second and third clamp arms  250  and  252  is greater than a distance between two opposing edges, surfaces and/or portions of the portable electronic device  1000 . The portable electronic device  1000  may then be inserted into the portable electronic device holder  100  by being slipped in-between the first clamp arm  112  and the second and third clamp arms  250  and  252  (i.e., the back portion  1012  being moved generally parallel to the front surface  130 ) and the bottom portion  1002  being rested on the second and third clamp arms  250  and  252 . The first clamp arm  112  may then be released or moved toward the body portion  102  so that the first clamp arm  112  engages the top portion  1004  of the portable electronic device. 
     The forces generated by the compression of the first spring  210  and the second spring  212  cause the first clamp arm  112  and the second and third clamp arms  252  and  254  to press against the portable electronic device  1000  and frictionally hold the portable electronic device  1000  in the portable electronic device holder  100 . The first clamp arm  112  and/or the second and third clamp arms  250  and  252  may include a frictional material and/or surface texture that may enhance the frictional engagement between the clamp arms  112 ,  250  and  252  and the portable electronic device  1000 . For example, each of the clamp arms  112 ,  250  and  252  may include a rubber or high density foam pad that engages the portable electronic device  1000 . According to another example, the portion of each of the clamp arms  112 ,  250  and  252  that engages the portable electronic device  1000  may have a certain texture that enhances the frictional engagement with the portable electronic device  1000 . 
     The first lip portion  114  and the second and third lip portions  254  and  256  may engage a front surface or the display portion  1010  of the portable electronic device  1000  to further assist in holding the portable electronic device  1000  in the portable electronic device holder  100 . To remove the portable electronic device  1000  from the portable electronic device holder  100 , the first clamp portion  104  may be moved or pulled away from the body portion  102  so that the first clamp arm  112  is sufficiently spaced from the first side  1002  of the portable electronic device  1000  to allow removal of the portable electronic device  1000  from the portable electronic device holder  100 . 
     The portable electronic device holder  100  may be mounted on a shaft of sports equipment or any cylindrical object. Referring to  FIGS. 2-5 ,  7  and  10 , the portable electronic device holder  100  may be mounted on a golf club shaft  800 . The portable electronic device holder  100  may engage the golf club shaft  800  at any location on the golf club shaft  800 . The curved channel  132  of the body portion  102  is located opposite to the front surface  130 . Additionally, the curved channel  116  of the first clamp portion  104  may be linearly aligned with the curved channel  132  of the body portion  102 . The curved channels  132  and  116  collectively define an elongated substantially linear channel having a concave curvature relative to the front surface  130 . Furthermore, the length of the channel defined by the curved channel  132  and the curved channel  116  can increase or decrease based on the position of the first clamp portion  104  relative to the body portion  102 . The curved channels  132  and  116  can receive a longitudinal portion of a shaft such as a golf club shaft  800 . The channels  132  and  116  may be tapered from the first clamp portion  104  to the second end portion  106  to generally correspond to a taper in the golf club shaft  800 . For example, the diameter of the golf club shaft  800  may decrease from the grip portion (not shown) to the head portion (not shown). Accordingly, the diameter or width of the channels  132  and  116  may decrease from the first clamp portion  104  to the second end portion  106 . The channels  132  and  116  may have any dimensional variation from the first clamp portion  104  to the second end portion  106  to correspond to a similar dimensional variation in the golf club shaft  800 . Although the channels  132  and  116  are described and shown as curved channels, the channels  132  and  116  may have any shape that corresponds to the shape of a certain shaft. For example, the channels  132  and  116  may have an oval shape to receive a shaft having an oval cross section. In another example, the channels  132  and  116  may have a triangular shape to receive a shaft having a triangular shape. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-7 , the portable electronic device holder  100  may further include at least a pair of arms  300  and  302  that are spaced apart and disposed on opposite sides of the channel  132 . The arms  300  and  302  and the curved channel  132  may collectively define a generally cylindrical passage  306  for receiving a portion of the golf club shaft  800  through an opening  308  that is defined by the space between the arms  300  and  302 . According to one example, the arms  300  and  302  may be shaped to substantially continue the curvature of the curved channel  132 . For example, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , if the cross section of the channel  132  defines a radial portion of a circle, then the arms  300  and  302  may define other radial portions of the same circle. Movement of the arms  300  and  302  from a rest position to widen or narrow the opening  308  can elastically bend the body portion  102 , e.g., widen or narrow the channel  132 . Accordingly, the elastic bending of the body portion  102  provides a biasing force for returning the arms  300  and  302  to the rest position. Alternatively, the arms  300  and  302  may be elastically flexible and/or be flexibly attached to the body portion  102 . Each arm  300  and  302  may also include an expansion tab  310  and  312  that may extend along at least a portion of the arm  300  and  302 , respectively. Each expansion tab  310  and  312  extends outwardly from the corresponding arm  300  and  302  to effectively enlarge the opening  308 . 
     The generally transverse orientation of each expansion tab  310  and  312  relative to a corresponding direction of the arm  300  and  302 , respectively, provides for the elastic bending of the arms  300  and  302 , the channel  132  and/or the body portion  102  when a golf club shaft  800  is pressed against the expansion tabs  310  and  312 . Accordingly, when a golf club shaft  800  is pressed against the expansion tabs  310  and  312 , the golf club shaft  800  presses the expansion tabs  310  and  312  outward to elastically enlarge the opening  308  so that the golf club shaft  800  may be received in the cylindrical passage  306 . Upon the golf club shaft  800  being inserted in the cylindrical passage  306 , the elastic restoring force of the arms  300  and  302 , the channel  132  and/or the body portion  102  move or snap the arms  300  and  302  back toward the pre-expanded position to frictionally engage the golf club shaft  800  in cooperation with the curved channel  132 . The curved channel  132  and or the arms  300  and  302  may collectively define a partial oval cross-sectional shape, circular cross-sectional shape, rectangular cross-sectional shape, or any other shape that may be similar to correspondingly shaped shaft. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     A portable electronic device may be mounted on the golf club shaft  800  with the portable electronic device holder  100  to capture still and/or video images of an area around the portable electronic device; measure and/or determine relative and/or absolute linear motion, velocity and/or acceleration of the portable electronic device; measure and/or determine relative and/or absolute angular motion, velocity and/or acceleration of the portable electronic device; and/or measure and/or determine relative and/or absolute position of the portable electronic device. Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  7 , the curved channel  132  and the curved channel  116  allow the axis  830  of the golf club shaft  800  to be located close to the front surface  130  of the portable electronic device holder  100 , hence close to the portable electronic device  1000  when the portable electronic device  1000  is attached to the golf club shaft  800  with the portable electronic device holder  100 . Accordingly, any of the above-described motion, velocity, acceleration and/or position measurements and/or determinations associated with the portable electronic device  1000  may be interpreted as motion, velocity, acceleration and/or position measurements and/or determinations associated with the golf club shaft  800 . The distance  330  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) between the bottom of the curved channel  132  and the front surface  130  (i.e., the smallest thickness of the material between the front surface  130  and the lowest point on the curved channel  132 ) may be optimally minimized based on the materials and/or methods of construction of the portable electronic device holder  100 . For example, for a device holder constructed from a highly rigid material such as titanium, the distance may be smaller than a device holder constructed from a less rigid material such as plastic. Thus, the size and curvature of the curved channel  132  and the distance  330  may be optimally determined to place the axis  830  of the golf club shaft  800  as close as possible to the portable electronic device  1000 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , a method  2000  of manufacturing an exemplary portable electronic device holder  100  is shown. The method  2000  may include forming a body portion  102  (block  2002 ), forming a first clamp portion  104  (block  2004 ), forming a first rod  120  and a second rod  121  (block  2006 ), forming a second clamp portion  106  (block  2008 ), and providing a first spring  210  and a second spring  212  (block  2010 ). The second clamp portion  106  may be formed with the body portion  102  as a single unit. The springs  210  and/or  212  may be formed by any of the processes described herein. Additionally, the first rod  120  and the second rod  121  may be formed together with the first clamp portion  104 . 
     Any single part or multiple parts of the portable electronic device holder  100  may be constructed from any type of material, such as stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, various metals or metal alloys, composite materials (e.g., Kevlar®, graphite and/or fiberglass), natural materials such as wood or stone or artificial materials such as plastic. Any single part or multiple parts of the portable electronic device holder  100 , such as the body portion  102 , the first and second rods  120  and  121 , the springs  210  and  212 , the first clamp portion  104  and/or the springs  210  and  212  may be constructed by stamping (i.e., punching using a machine press or a stamping press, blanking, embossing, bending, flanging, coining, or casting), injection molding, forging, machining or a combination thereof, or other processes used for manufacturing metal, composite, plastic or wood parts. The first and second springs  210  and  212  may be coil springs, leaf springs, radial springs, elastomer springs (e.g., annular or cylindrical elastomeric parts) or be constructed with any material and/or have any shape to provide the functions described herein. For example, the body portion  102  including the second clamp portion  106 , the first and second rods  120  and  121  and the first clamp portion  104  may be constructed from plastic by an injection molding process. The springs  210  and  212  for example may be steel or plastic coil springs. The body portion  102  including the second clamp portion  106 , the first and second rods  120  and  121 , the springs  210  and  212  and the first clamp portion  104  may then be assembled to form the portable electronic device holder  100 . The body portion  102  or any other part of the portable electronic device holder  100  may be constructed in multiple sections that may be joined together during assembly of the portable electronic device holder  100 . For example, the body portion  102  may be constructed as two halves that are joined together during assembly of the portable electronic device holder  100 . 
     The above examples are described in connection with a golf club such as a putter-type golf club, a driver-type golf club, a fairway wood-type golf club, a hybrid-type golf club, an iron-type golf club, or a wedge-type golf club. However, the apparatus and articles of manufacture described herein may be applicable other types of sports equipment such as a hockey stick, a tennis racket, a fishing pole, a ski pole, etc. 
     Although a particular order of actions is described above, these actions may be performed in other temporal sequences. For example, two or more actions described above may be performed sequentially, concurrently, or simultaneously. Alternatively, two or more actions may be performed in reversed order. Further, one or more actions described above may not be performed at all. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     Although certain example methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this disclosure is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this disclosure covers all methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.