Abstract:
One embodiment of the invention comprises a portable device support structure having a support section including a plurality of support legs, a clamping section connected to the support section, the clamping section having a first section and a second section, wherein at least the first section is movable. The portable device support structure also includes an adjusting member which adjusts the position of the first section with respect to the second section. The clamping section clamps the portable device when the portable device is placed between the first section and the second section and when the adjusting member is actuated to apply force on the portable device between the first section and the second section.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to structures used to support portable consumer devices, and more particularly to support structures used for camera cellular phones.  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     Portable cellular phones have in the recent years become more compact in size, while adding functionality. For instance, it is now typical that portable cellular phones will include the functionality of a web browser, game console, and/or the functionality of an email sending and receiving device. Recently, cellular phone manufacturers have begun to incorporate digital cameras in their phones, which are sometimes called “picture phones”. These digital cameras allow a user to take pictures and send them to other users of camera phones as well as to email recipients as attachments. Most of the time, the camera function within the cellular phone will include a self timer for shutter release, so that the camera user can attempt to include himself or herself in a picture. The problems encountered with camera cellular phones and their self-timers, however, is that it is difficult to place the cellular phone in a desired orientation so that the lens will be pointing to the desired picture area without a person holding the camera cellular phone. This is because camera cellular phones, due to their compact size, do not include a standard threaded insert for connecting to a tripod (as do most other types of cameras), and do not come with any means of mounting and steadying the camera cellular phone for a self timing function. As a result, the self timing function on camera cellular phones is seldomly used by camera cellular phone users. Moreover, the lack of a tripod mount or means of steadying a camera cellular phone can lead to blurry photos, even when the self-timing function is not desired. Accordingly, there is a need for a device that can hold and steady a camera cellular phone for purposes of, for example, a self-timed shutter release. These and other needs will become more apparent upon a review of the specification, drawings and claims, set forth below.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     One embodiment of the invention comprises a portable device support structure having a support section including a plurality of support legs, a clamping section connected to the support section, the clamping section having a first section and a second section, wherein at least the first section is movable. The portable device support structure also includes an adjusting member which adjusts the position of the first section with respect to the second section. The clamping section clamps the portable device when the portable device is placed between the first section and the second section and when the adjusting member is actuated to apply force on the portable device between the first section and the second section. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0005]      FIG. 2  is an assembly view of a connecting member of one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0006]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a support leg of one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0007]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the support leg shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0008]      FIG. 5  is a right side view of the support leg shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of a support section of one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 7  is a left side view of the support section of  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view of the support section of  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 9  is an assembly view of a clamping section of one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 9A  is an assembly view of a clamping section of one embodiment of the present invention with a gripping insert thereon removed;  
         [0014]      FIG. 10  is front perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention with a pivotably mounted extension piece in a folded position;  
         [0015]      FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention with two pivotably mounted extension pieces in a folded position;  
         [0016]      FIG. 12  shows a method of using one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 13  shows a method of using one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 14  shows a method of using one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 15  shows a method of using one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 16  shows a method of using one embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 17  shows a method of using one embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]     While the present invention is capable of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will be hereinafter described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated.  
         [0023]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a portable device support structure  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The portable device support structure comprises two main sections. The first is a support section  11  and the second is a clamping section  12 . The support section  11  comprises three support legs  14 ,  16  and  18 , forming a tripod support configuration. It will be appreciated, however, that more or less support legs can be used in the practice of the present invention and that the present invention is not limited to a support system using three support legs. In one embodiment of the present invention, the support legs  14 ,  16  and  18  include telescoping members  19  ( FIG. 15 ), which add height to the portable device support structure and also add stability when extended.  
         [0024]     Support leg  16  is preferably fixedly attached to connecting member  20 , which is formed of two halves,  21 A and  21 B ( FIG. 2 ) and it is preferred that support legs  14  and  18  are pivotably connected to both connecting member  20  and to shaft  22  so that support legs  14  and  18  can pivot along two axes, which in the preferred embodiment are the X and Z axes. In a preferred embodiment, support legs  14  and  18  are connected via shaft  22 , which passes through aperture  24  (formed by halves  21 A and  21 B of connecting member  20 ), so that they will pivot along the X axis in unison. However, it will be appreciated that support legs  14  and  18  can also pivot independently. It will also be appreciated that aperture  24  is sized slightly larger than the diameter of shaft  22  so that shaft  22  can rotate within aperture  24 . The fit between shaft  22  and aperture  24 , however, maintains a tight fit between aperture  24  and shaft  22 , thereby preventing the shaft  22  from moving in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft  22 .  
         [0025]     In order to allow support legs  14  and  18  to pivot along the Z axis, legs  14  and  18  pivot about screws  26 , which pass through apertures  28  at the top section  30  of legs  14  and  18 . Top section  30  preferably comprises an inverted T-shaped projection  32 , when viewed from the side, as seen in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , and an inverted U-shaped projection  32  when viewed from the front, as seen in  FIG. 4 . A portion of the projections  32  fit within grooves  34  in connecting member  20 . When viewed from the front, projections  32  have keyed sections  36 , which act as rotational stops to prevent the legs  14  and  18  from swinging too far away from the center support leg  16 . Keyed section are preferably at an approximately 45 degree angle from vertical. As can be appreciated, as the legs  14  and  18  are swung out from the center support leg  16 , keyed sections  36  will contact vertical walls  38  of grooves  34  to prevent further rotational movement. Also, it is preferred that when legs  14  and  18  are pivoted outward along the Z axis, an approximately 45 degree angle is formed between each of the legs  14  and  18  and leg  16 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Also, it is preferred that when the legs  14  and  18  are pivoted on shaft  22  along the X axis, an approximately 90 degree angle is formed between each of the legs  14  and  18  and leg  16 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . As those with skill in the art will appreciate, however, other angles can be used with the present invention.  
         [0026]     As best seen in  FIG. 6 , connecting member  20  is connected to split keepers  40  via screw  42 . Split keepers act as a ball socket for ball  44 , which is attached to a threaded portion  45 . Split keepers can be brought closer together by adjusting screw  48 , thus locking ball  44  in a particular orientation. Platform  50  is attached to threaded portion  45 , and allows a user to turn the threaded portion  45  (and the connected ball  44 ) to thread the threaded portion into clamping section  12  and also provides a surface upon which the clamping section  12  can rest. As those with skill in the art will appreciate, the ball and socket configuration formed by split keepers  40  and ball  44  allows the threaded portion  45  to be pivotably mounted to connecting member  20  thereby providing a multitude of orientations in which the clamping section  12  can be placed.  
         [0027]     As shown in  FIG. 9 , clamping section  12  comprises three main components: a static section  52 , a movable section  54  and a screw  56 . Static section  52  contains a horizontal portion  58  and a vertical portion  60 . Vertical portion  60  contains projections  62  at the end thereof, which are designed to mesh with projections  64  of a pivotably mounted extension piece  66 . When viewed from the front, the projections  62  contain rounded portions  68  on the right side thereof and squared off portions  70  on the left side thereof. As will be appreciated, squared off portions  70  prevent the pivotably mounted extension piece from rotating past the 90 degree point from horizontal portion  58 , while the rounded portions allow the pivotably mounted extension piece  66  to fold and rotate towards the horizontal portion  58 . Shaft  71  acts to join the pivotably mounted extension piece  66  with the vertical portion  60  and to provide a pivot point between the pivotably mounted extension piece  66  and vertical portion  60 . The horizontal section  58  and the pivotably mounted extension piece  66  preferably contain gripping inserts  59  and  67 , respectively, that act to protect a device, such as a camera cellular phone, from scratches, while having a sufficiently high coefficient of friction to reduce the chance of slippage when the clamping section is clamping a portable device, such as a camera cellular phone. In a preferred embodiment the gripping inserts  59  and  67  are made out of rubber. The static section also contains threaded insert  61  on the bottom side of the horizontal portion  58  (see  FIG. 12 ), which is designed to mate with threaded portion  45 . The horizontal portion  58  also includes a bowl section  72  and a recess  74  underneath the gripping insert  59 , as shown in  FIG. 9A . Recess  74  is designed to accommodate and hold a nut  76 , which mates with screw  56 . Bowl section  72  allows the screw  56  to move in and out of the static section  52  without interference from any structural members of the static section  52 . The horizontal section also contains guide bores  78 , which are used to help guide and maintain the orientation of movable section  54 .  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIG. 9 , movable section  54  comprises a horizontal portion  80  and a vertical portion  82 . Vertical portion  82  contains projections  84  at the end thereof, which are designed to mesh with projections  86  of a pivotably mounted extension piece  88 . As with pivotably mounted extension piece  66  and horizontal portion  58 , pivotably mounted extension piece  88  includes a gripping insert  89 . When viewed from the front, the projections  86  contain rounded portions  90  on the left side thereof and squared off portions  91  on the right side thereof. As will be appreciated, squared off portions  91  prevent the pivotably mounted extension piece from rotating past the 90 degree point from horizontal portion  80 , while the rounded portions  90  allow the pivotably mounted extension piece to fold and rotate towards the horizontal portion  80 . Shaft  92  acts to join the pivotably mounted extension piece  88  with the vertical portion  82  and to provide a pivot point between the pivotably mounted extension piece  88  and vertical portion  82 .  
         [0029]     Horizontal portion  80  has projecting therefrom two rods  94  (see  FIG. 1 ) which fit within guide bores  78  of static section  52  to maintain the orientation of movable section  54 . Also, horizontal portion  80  contains a countersunk bore  96  which accepts screw  56 . As can be seen by reference to  FIGS. 1 and 9 - 11 , the vertical portion  60  of the static section  52  is lower in height than the vertical portion  82  of the movable section  54 . This allows pivotably mounted extension piece  66  to fold below the height of vertical portion  82  and allows pivotably mounted extension piece  88  to fold onto the top of pivotably mounted extension piece  66 , thereby allowing a user to make more compact the portable device support structure of one embodiment of the present invention for easier transport in a pocket, purse, etc. It will be appreciated, however, that the invention need not contain pivotably mounted extension pieces, and instead can contain vertical portions without any pivoting members whatsoever.  
         [0030]     As shown in  FIG. 9 , screw  56  preferably contains three sections. A threaded section  98 , a non-threaded section  100  which is larger in diameter than the threaded section, and a user adjusting portion  102  that facilitates a user rotating the screw  56 , when desired. In the preferred embodiment, the user adjusting portion  102  comprises a knurled surface at one end of the screw  56 . However, it will be appreciated that user adjusting portion  102  can comprise any structure used for turning a threaded device, such as flat head, phillip head, allen key, and torx structures, etc. The vertical edge  106  between the threaded section  98  and non-threaded section  100  acts to push the movable portion  54  when the screw  56  is turned in a clockwise position.  
         [0031]     The operation of one embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 12-17 . When the portable device support structure is not in use, and in order for a user to have the portable device support structure in a compacted state, the support members  14 ,  16  and  18  will be positioned so that they all lie within a single plane and the pivotably mounted extension pieces will be folded down. Also, the clamping section  12  may be detached from support section  11 . When a user desires to use the portable device support structure he or she will, accordingly, screw the clamping section  12  into the support section  11  and then rotate support members  14  and  18  forward and then outward to form a tripod base ( FIG. 12 ). Next, the user will unfold the pivotably mounted extension pieces to a vertical position and will place the camera cellular phone, or other portable device in the clamping section so that the camera lens will be pointing in an outward direction and not be blocked by any structure of the portable device support structure assembly ( FIGS. 13 &amp; 14 ). In order to secure the camera cellular phone, screw  56  is rotated clockwise until movable section  54  applies sufficient force on the camera cellular phone, between the movable section  54  and the static section  52 , to prevent the camera cellular phone from becoming separated from clamping section  12  ( FIG. 14 ). If desired, telescoping members  19  can be extended to provide additional height and stability of the tripod ( FIG. 15 ). Once the camera cellular phone is secured to the clamping section  12 , the clamping section can be pivoted using the ball  44  and the ball socket formed by split keepers  40  to achieve a desired orientation. Once a desired orientation is attained, this orientation can be locked in place using locking screw  58  ( FIG. 16 ). In an alternate method of use, the pivotably mounted extension piece  88  of movable section  54  can be left folded when the camera cellular phone is placed in clamping section  12 . In this method of use the top of pivotably mounted extension piece  88  is responsible for transmitting the force of the movable portion  54  to the camera cellular phone.  
         [0032]     The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. For example, although one embodiment of the present invention is preferably used in conjunction with a camera cellular phone, the invention is not limited to use with camera cellular phones and can be used with any other portable device. The description was selected to best explain the principles of the invention and their practical application to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by the specification, but be defined by the claims set forth below.