Abstract:
A bipod mount for positioning a PDA device for ease of use by a recumbent person comprises a rigid post with slidably adjustable clamping jaws thereon for engaging upper and lower edges of the PDA device. The rigid post is held in a structure including a pair of friction hubs affixed to upper ends of a pair of arms that can be splayed due to the use of the friction hubs. At the second end of the arms are pivotably mounted foot members. The assembly is collapsible to a small size for storage.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application, Ser. No. 61/754,564, filed Jan. 19, 2013, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to adjustable mounts for positioning a user interactive device, particularly an electronic tablet, in an orientation optimal for viewing by users sharing a diverse range of anatomical and postural differences. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE A 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Item 
                 Style 
                 Manufacturer 
                 Vendor 
                 Link 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 
                 Bi-Pod 
                 iCraze 
                 Sears 
                 http://www.sears.com/icraze-for-ipad-adjustable-vented- 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 laid-back-tablet/p- 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 SPM1769444214?prdNo=15&amp;blockNo=15&amp;blockType=G15 
               
               
                 2 
                 Clamp 
                 ChargerCity 
                 Amazon 
                 http://www.amazon.com/ChargerCity-7-8-9-10-Inch- 
               
               
                   
                 Gooseneck 
                   
                   
                 Aluminum-Easy-Adjustable-Gooseneck/dp/B0062RTQAK 
               
               
                 3 
                 Clamp 
                   
                 Ali 
                 http://www.aliexpress.com/item/free-shipping-universal- 
               
               
                   
                 Swing 
                   
                 Express 
                 bed-Holder-360-degree-for-ipad-1-2-3-4-ipad-mini- 
               
               
                   
                 Arm 
                   
                   
                 7/1411007530.html 
               
               
                 4 
                 Clamp 
                   
                 Ali 
                 http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Metal-Multi-functional- 
               
               
                   
                 Swing 
                   
                 Express 
                 Bracket-Foldable-Holder-360-degree-rotation-Stand-for- 
               
               
                   
                 Arm 
                   
                   
                 ipad-PC-Tablet-Car-Bed/930215147.html 
               
               
                 5 
                 Crossbar 
                   
                 DIYTrade 
                 http://www.diytrade.com/china/pd/10465242/World_No —   
               
               
                   
                 A-Frame 
                   
                   
                 1_designed_hot_sale_Bed_Stand_for_Tablet_PC_Bed —   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Stand_for_iPad_Holder.html 
               
               
                 6 
                 Crossbar 
                 Sanwa 
                 House of 
                 http://www.houseofjapan.com/electronics/sanwa- 
               
               
                   
                 A-Frame 
                   
                 Japan 
                 versatile-tablet-stand 
               
               
                 7 
                 Flexible 
                 Lapdawg 
                 Lapdawg 
                 http://www.lapdawg.com/lapdawg-ostand.html 
               
               
                   
                 Quad Leg 
               
               
                 8 
                 Floor 
                   
                 LapWorks 
                 http://www.laptopdesk.net/carbon-steel-ipad-tablet- 
               
               
                   
                 Stand 
                   
                   
                 mount.html 
               
               
                 9 
                 Floor 
                   
                   
                 http://www.formengifts.com/adjustable-ipad-tablet- 
               
               
                   
                 Stand 
                   
                   
                 stand/# 
               
               
                 10 
                 Floor 
                 AirDesk 
                   
                 http://www.airdesks.com/tablet-stand.asp 
               
               
                   
                 Stand 
               
               
                 11 
                 Folding 
                   
                 MobiCity 
                 http://www.mobicity.com.au/mobile-stand-for-tablet-pc- 
               
               
                   
                 Prop 
                   
                   
                 such-as-ipad-galaxy-tab-xoom-etc.html#.UrJf3eL7v3l 
               
               
                 12 
                 Folding 
                 Griffn 
                   
                 http://griffintechnology.com/blog/griffin-gear/all-tablets- 
               
               
                   
                 Prop 
                   
                   
                 must-stand/ 
               
               
                 13 
                 Folding 
                   
                 ebay 
                 http://www.ebay.com/itm/portable-folding-LAPTOP- 
               
               
                   
                 Table 
                   
                   
                 TABLE-desk-stand-bed-tray-for-notebook-tablet-pc-ipad-/ 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 150854912751 
               
               
                 14 
                 Folding 
                   
                 Ali 
                 http://www.aliexpress.com/item/folding-table-Laptop- 
               
               
                   
                 Table 
                   
                 Express 
                 using-on-bed-Book-Stand-Aluminum-foldable-laptop- 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 desk-bed-tray-laptop-bed/547451206.html 
               
               
                 15 
                 Pillow 
                 iprop 
                 Amazon 
                 http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Android-Windows- 
               
               
                   
                 Prop 
                   
                   
                 Tablets-eReaders/dp/B004W697ES 
               
               
                 16 
                 Quad Leg 
                 nbryte 
                 nbryte 
                 http://www.nbryte.com/products/tablift 
               
               
                 17 
                 Tilt 
                 Dev 
                   
                 http://www.dsgnwrld.com/the-arm-the-ultimate-stand- 
               
               
                   
                 Pedestal 
                 Design 2.0 
                   
                 for-any-tablet-16888/ 
               
               
                 18 
                 Weighted 
                 XFLEX 
                 XFLEX 
                 http://xflexstand.com/products/xflex-ipad-stand 
               
               
                   
                 Gooseneck 
               
               
                 19 
                 Weighted 
                   
                 White 
                 http://whiterabbitexpress.com/wriggle-tablet-stand- 
               
               
                   
                 Gooseneck 
                   
                 Rabbit 
                 thanko/ 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Japan 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     An example of each known style of electronic tablet mount is provided in Table A. Of these, the bipod tilt tray style manufactured by iCraze is believed to be the most relevant. It employs two sets of erectable beams, each set connected to one side of an intervening tray making it partially collapsible. The iCraze beams, however, do not achieve the predetermined erect configuration essential to the present invention if, as presumed, the erect configuration is varied to adjust the height of the tray. Alternatively, if the erect configuration of these beams is invariant, then an adjustment necessary for optimal viewing is missing. 
     The crossbar A-frame style manufactured by Sanwa achieves the highest degree of collapsibility and adjustability found in the prior art by employing four telescopic legs to support the span of a horizontal crossbar over a recumbent user, however this solution compromises usability. Set up or adjustment requires that each telescopic joint involved be separately manipulated. The remaining references in Table A show various compromises made between simplicity, functionality and collapsibility. None of the references show a mount convertible from a compact storage configuration to a predetermined erect configuration, an important advantage of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An apparatus for supporting and positioning an interactive electronic device, also generically referred to herein as a PDA or tablet computer, relative to a user. It may comprise a rigid post including positionable clamps thereon for releasably securing the device to the post, the post being pivotally secured to a pair of frictional hinges disposed on first ends of a pair of legs where the frictional hinges permit tilting of the post with respect to the pair of legs. First and second foot members are hinged to second ends of the pair of legs where the hinges are capable of holding the foot members at a predetermined angle with respect to the legs to which they are attached, but can be released to collapse the feet against the legs during storage. 
     In its erect state, an interactive electronic device, such as an iPad® or Kindle®, can be positioned to best suit an individual user but can be collapsed to occupy only a relatively small space. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, especially when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals in the several views refer to corresponding parts. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of the elements of the invention that collectively function to mount PDA  10 ; 
         FIG. 2   a  shows an exploded view and  FIG. 2   b  shows an assembled view of nodes  16  and  18  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of a structure for coupling post  30  to legs  20  and  22  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows the structural details of tablet holding jaws  32  and  34  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5   a  shows an alternative embodiment of certain erectable beams of  FIG. 1  in a partially open state; 
         FIG. 5   b  shows the alternative embodiment in its fully collapsed state; 
         FIG. 5   c  shows the alternative embodiment in its erect state; 
         FIG. 5   d  shows a cross sectioned view taken along line  5   d - 5   d  in  FIG. 5   b;    
         FIG. 6  is an exploded isometric view of the beam elements of  FIGS. 5   b  and  5   c;    
         FIGS. 7   a - 7   b  show the complex of coupling nodes for joining arms  200  and  222  to post  228 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration showing the response of the bipod mount to the application of torque to its mounting post. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     This description of the preferred embodiment is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description of this invention. In the description, relative terms such as “lower”, “upper”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “above”, “below”, “up”, “down”, “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “downwardly”, “upwardly”, etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms such as “connected”, “connecting”, “attached”, “attaching”, “join” and “joining” are used interchangeably and refer to one structure or surface being secured to another structure or surface or integrally fabricated in one piece, unless expressively described otherwise. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of the elements of the invention that collectively function to mount a user interactive electronic device such as a personal digital assistant or PDA  10 . The actual structure of these schematic elements will be described in subsequent detail.  FIG. 1  shows a bipod mount configured to straddle the hips of a recumbent user to which any PDA may be mounted and adjusted to the position preferred by a specific user in a specific recumbent position. PDA  10  is indicative of the gamut of PDAs that includes e-readers, cell phones and digital tablets. The heavy lines indicate the position of the rigid structural elements of the mount while the dark circles indicate the coupling nodes that make the mount both adjustable and collapsible. Feet  12  and  14  resting on a bed (not shown) provide a stable base for the mount. Nodes  16  and  18  indicate hinges that couple feet  12  and  14  to legs  20  and  22 , respectively. These hinges, when deployed as shown in  FIG. 1 , lock to maintain a fixed angle of approximately 80 degrees between the feet and the legs. Each foot is rotatable to a position parallel to its respective leg for storage. Nodes  24  and  26  indicate frictional hinges that allow the mount straddle to vary according to the physiology and preference of the user. The degree of friction of these hinges may be adjusted to a level high enough to maintain a fixed straddle when deployed or to a lower level sufficient to allow legs  20  and  22  to move to the parallel storage position. Node  28  indicates a pair of moveable jaws that clamp to one edge of post  30  to adjust and secure the elevation of PDA  10 . Post  30  is detachable from the jaws of node  28  and be inverted upon re-insertion. Jaws  32  and  34  are moveable along a second edge of post  30  to adjust and secure PDAs of varying height to post  30 . Node  36  indicates a frictional and rotational joint that provides an axis of rotation to vary the pitch of PDA  10 . During setup the user rotates joint  36  to the preferred degree of pitch and applies a transverse compressive force to joint  36  to lock PDA  10  in place. Typically, hinges  24  and  26  are set to equal angles to align post  30  in an upright position relative to the plane defined by feet  12  and  14 , however, differential adjustment of these hinges also provides the opportunity to vary the tilt (roll) of the PDA. 
       FIG. 2   a  shows an exploded view of a foot-leg hinge embodiment corresponding to nodes  16  and  18  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2   b  shows the completed hinge of  FIG. 2   a . Hinge cover  50  includes a U-shaped feature  52  that functions as a stop for foot  12  and also captures leg  20  to maintain the angular displacement described with respect to  FIG. 1 . Hinge cover  50  further includes boss  54  that engages hole  56  of foot  12  to define the axis of foot rotation described with respect to  FIG. 1 . Hinge cover  58  is a reverse image of hinge cover  50  including features  52  and  54 . Rivet  60  passes through hinge cover  58 , leg  20  and hinge cover  50  to complete the assembly as shown in  FIG. 2   b.    
       FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of an embodiment of structure coupling post  30  to legs  20  and  22  of  FIG. 1 . Post  30  is insertable into the jaws of elements  36  and  37  that function as tongs to grasp post  30  at a user elected position along its length. Transverse compression bolt  70  threads through hinge plate  26 , element  36 , spacer  72 , element  37 , hinge plate  24  and transverse compression knob  74 . The hexagonal head of bolt  70  is recessed into the body of hinge plate  26  to prevent rotation. Linking pin  76  together with compression bolt  70  aligns hinge plates  24  and  26  to a common plane while allowing the intervening structure to rotate about the axis of bolt  70 . Clockwise rotation of transverse compression knob  74  gradually increases compression on tongs  36  and  37  to first grasp post  30  thereby setting the degree of elevation for PDA  10 . As compression is further increased, rotation of post  30  becomes increasingly resistant to rotation until it is securely locked thereby setting the pitch of PDA  10 . Leg compression knobs  78  and  80  are threaded onto leg compression bolts (not shown) to frictionally engage legs  20  and  22  with hinge plates  24  and  26  respectively in the manner described with respect to knob  74 . Knobs  74 ,  78  and  80  provide continuously variable compression allowing the user to elect the preferred degree of compression for setup and use. It is sufficient, if not preferable, to predetermine these two levels of compression. A cam lever akin to cam lever  124  of  FIG. 4 , when combined with an axial spring, can provide a setup level of compression when the lever is in the unlocked position and a locked level of compression when the cam lever is in the locked position. 
       FIG. 4  shows the structural details of jaws  32  and  34  of  FIG. 1  that couple PDA  10  to post  30 . Both jaws are captive to, and moveable along, the edge of post  30  to accommodate PDAs of varying height. Each jaw includes a resilient pad  120  and  122  to provide a deformable interface with PDA  10 . This deformation is accomplished by eccentric cam lever  124  shown in the locked position. Dashed lines  126  indicate the unlocked position of lever  124 . While in the unlocked position, and with the bottom edge of PDA  10  resting on jaw  32 , jaw  34  is adjusted to bring pad  120  in contact with the top edge of PDA  10 . Knob  128  is coupled to a bolt (not shown) threaded into jaw  34  such that clockwise rotation of knob  128  forces said bolt into the front face of post  30  to lock jaw  34  in place. Moving lever  124  from the unlocked to the locked position creates a vertical displacement of jaw  32  as indicated by line  130  thus deforming resilient pads  120  and  122  to secure PDA  10  in place. 
       FIGS. 5-5   d  show an alternative embodiment of certain erectable beams of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 5   a  shows arm  200 , body  202  and foot  204  in a partially opened state. Pivot screw  206  allows arm  200  to rotate about one end of body  202  while pivot screw  208  allows foot  204  to rotate about the opposite end of body  202  so that these elements may be configured by the user to a collapsed state for storage or to a predetermined erect state for use. Each pivot screw requires additional structure to form a coupling node capable of sustaining the structure of  FIG. 5  in an erect state. With respect to pivot screw  206 , slit  210  isolates a portion of body  202  to form a flexible beam  212  containing latching hole  214  that functions to capture a cylindrical detent  236  ( FIG. 6 ) associated with detent screw  216  when arm  200  is rotated clockwise when viewed in  FIG. 5   a . Elements  206 , 210 , 212 , 214  and  216  thus comprise a node to couple arm  200  to body  202 . 
     A more detailed discussion of coupling is provided with respect to  FIG. 6 . With respect to pivot screw  208 , the coupling node is completed by detent screw  218 , its associated cylindrical detent  238 , and stop  219 .  FIG. 5   b  shows the collapsed state of the erectable beams while  FIG. 5   d  shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of  FIG. 5   b  as indicated by sectioning line  210 .  FIG. 5   d  also show the opposing set of beam elements  222 ,  224  and  226  that mirror those indicated in  FIG. 5   b  to complete a collapsed bipod structure. Post  228  has been added in phantom to show the collocation of all erectable beams when in the collapsed state. The articulation required to place post  228  in this position is described with respect to  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 5   c  shows the predetermined erect configuration of arm  200 , body  202  and foot  204 . 
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the beam elements of  FIGS. 5   a - 5   d . It has been vertically exploded to provide additional detail regarding the aforementioned coupling nodes. Body  202  is a laminate structure comprised of a top layer  230  containing coupling node features and a bottom layer  232  containing a cavity allowing for flexure of beam  212  when squeezed. This lamination creates the substantially rigid structure necessary to achieve a predetermined erect configuration. As arm  200  rotates clockwise detent  236  moves in the orbit indicated by line  237 , downwardly deflecting beam  212  as it contacts ramp  234 , until detent  236  is captured by hole  214 . While in this latched condition, arm  200  is able to withstand the load presented by the mounted PDA. The collapsed state is restored by downward pressure on beam  212  releasing detent  236  to allow counter rotation. In this exploded view, foot  204  has been elevated above arm  200  to more clearly show the elements of its coupling node. As foot  204  rotates in a clockwise direction, detent  238  moves in the orbit indicated by line  239  from arcuate cavity  240  to stop  219 . Stop  219  satisfies the conditions necessary to achieve a static erect configuration in that detent  238  is held in contact with stop  219  by the load of the mounted PDA while in the erect configuration yet is free to counter rotate to the collapsed configuration. 
       FIG. 7   a  shows the complex of coupling nodes joining arms  200  and  222  to post  228 . A PDA (not shown) is mounted to post  228  in the manner described with respect to  FIGS. 1 and 4 .  FIG. 7   b  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the coupling node associated with arm  200  and a compression hub  250 . Bolt  252  is secured to arm  200  providing a pivot axis for compression hub  250 . A cork disk  254  may be affixed to hub  250  to enhance the rotational friction of this node. Compression spring  256  is chosen to provide a predetermined compressive force sufficient to maintain a stable rotational position while in an erect configuration, yet low enough to allow the rotation required to move between the collapsed configuration and the erect configuration. An identical coupling node joins arm  222  to compression hub  258 . Compression of rotatable jaws  260  and  262  along axis  268  is adjustable in the manner described with respect to  FIG. 3 . While in low axial compression, post  228  is translatable through jaws  260  and  262  as indicated by straight double arrow line  264  and rotatable about axis  268  as indicated by curved double arrow line  270 . These two degrees of freedom allow the height and pitch of the mounted PDA to be simultaneously set with a single compressive adjustment. Cork disks  280  are affixed to the inner surfaces of compression hubs  250  and  58  to provide sufficient rotational friction to support the weight of the subject PDA. Adjustable cord  282  sets the maximum splay of arms  200  and  222  in the erect configuration. 
       FIG. 8  is diagram illustrating the response of the structure to torque of post  228  to provide a third degree of freedom for adjustment. The solid line indicates the position of arms  200  and  222  relative to axis  268  while in a balanced state maintained by the rotational friction associated with their respective coupling nodes. The dashed line indicates the tilt of axis  268  in response to a user generated torque of post  228  sufficient to overcome this friction. The ability to adjust height, pitch and tilt relative to a complex of nodes fixed in space by a collapsible structure having a predetermined erect configuration is a reconciliation of functionality with usability not found in the prior art. 
     This invention has been described herein in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized components as are required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by specifically different equipment and devices, and that various modifications, both as to the equipment and operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself.