Abstract:
The subject matter discloses an apparatus for securing a mobile device to a steering wheel, comprising: a main flap connected to a rear surface of the mobile device, said main flap is made of a rigid material; a holder attached to the main flap, said holder secures the mobile device to the main flap; an elliptic unit extending from the main flap and surrounding the steering wheel. The apparatus may be part of a kit that also comprises a second holder attached to the rear surface of the mobile device, said second holder is in contact with the first holder.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an apparatus for securing a mobile computerized device, such as a mobile phone, to a steering wheel, or to other rotating elements. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Users of mobile computerized devices, such as GPS units and mobile phones, desire to secure the mobile computerized devices to various locations in a vehicle, in order to be closer to the devices. Being dose to the device enables the users to better view data on the device, such as maps or messages, and to use the device without an in-car speakerphone. 
         [0003]    Some solutions secure the mobile device to the outlet of the vehicle air-condition unit. However, the air-condition is quite distant from the user and this solution only provides securing the mobile device to a single location, such that the mobile device does not fall to the vehicle&#39;s floor. There are solutions to secure the mobile device to the steering wheel. However, those solutions fail to keep the mobile device on the upper central portion of the steering wheel once the driver maneuvers the steering wheel to the sides. The mobile device is left at one of the sides of the steering wheel which makes the mobile devices unusable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is an object of the present invention to disclose an apparatus for securing a mobile device to a steering wheel, comprising a main flap connected to a rear surface of the mobile device, said main flap is made of a rigid material; a holder attached to the main flap, said holder secures the mobile device to the main flap; an elliptic unit extending from the main flap and surrounding the steering wheel. 
         [0005]    In sortie cases, the holder is a magnet embedded within the main flap. 
         [0006]    In some cases, the main flap comprises a niche in which the magnet is located. 
         [0007]    In some cases, the apparatus further comprises an elastic pad surrounding the magnet. 
         [0008]    In some cases, the holder comprises a gripping unit extending from the main flap, said gripping unit comprises a plurality of arms that limit the movement of the mobile device to a predefined distance from the main flap. In some cases, the plurality of arms extends perpendicularly from a surface of the main flap. 
         [0009]    In some cases, the plurality of arms limits the mobile device to fall to one of the sides of the main flap and from falling downwards. 
         [0010]    In some cases, the apparatus further comprises a first plate extending from the main flap and connecting the main flap to a proximal end of the elliptic unit and a second plate extending from a distal end of the elliptic unit. 
         [0011]    In some cases, the first plate and the second plate are attached using one or more screws. 
         [0012]    In some cases, the apparatus further comprises an adjustment unit for adjusting the size of the elliptic unit for various widths of steering wheels, the adjustment unit comprises one or more screws for attaching the first plate and the second plate from the two ends of the elliptic unit. 
         [0013]    In some cases, the first plate and the second plate are positioned in parallel. 
         [0014]    In some cases, the holder comprises one or more vacuum pads. 
         [0015]    It is an object of the present invention to disclose a kit, comprising: a main flap located in proximity to a rear surface of the mobile device, said main flap is made of a rigid material; a first holder attached to the main flap, said holder secures the mobile device to the main flap; an elliptic unit extending from the main flap and surrounding the steering wheel; a second holder attached to the rear surface of the mobile device, said second holder is in contact with the holder. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0016]    Exemplary non-limited embodiments of the disclosed subject matter will be described, with reference to the following description of the embodiments, in conjunction with the figures. The figures are generally not shown to scale and any sizes are only meant to be exemplary and not necessarily limiting. Corresponding or like elements are optionally designated by the same numerals or letters. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1A  shows an apparatus for holding a mobile device to a steering wheel using a magnet, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter; 
           [0018]      FIG. 1B  shows an apparatus for holding a mobile device to a steering wheel using a gripping, unit, according, to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 2A-2B  show an apparatus for holding a mobile device to a steering wheel using a gripping unit, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2C  shows an apparatus for holding a mobile device to a steering wheel using a gripping unit, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  shows an apparatus for holding a mobile device to a steering wheel using a magnet. according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  shows an apparatus for holding a mobile device to a steering wheel using vacuum pads, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  shows an apparatus for holding a mobile device to a steering wheel using a magnet, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  shows a kit comprising an apparatus for holding a mobile device to steering wheel and a second holder attached to the mobile device, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    The present invention discloses an apparatus for securing a mobile device to a steering wheel. The steering wheel may be a steering wheel of a vehicle or another item maneuvered by a person circularly. The apparatus may also be secured to a bar of another vehicle, such as a bicycle, motorcycle, carriage, kick scooter, treadmill in a gym, and others. The apparatus of the present invention is attached to the upper end of the steering wheel. The apparatus is secured to the steering wheel such that when the driver maneuvers the steering wheel to the sides, the apparatus remains in the upper portion of the steering wheel. The screen of the mobile device is fully available when the mobile device is secured to the apparatus, as opposed to pockets in which the pockets are connected to the steering wheel. The screen may consume almost the entire front surface of the mobile device, such that the apparatus is connected to the rear surface of the mobile device, and in some cases, also to the side walls of the mobile device. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1A  shows an apparatus for holding a mobile device  100  to a steering wheel using a magnet, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. The apparatus comprises a main flap  108 , a magnet  105  attached to the main flap  108  and an elliptic unit  130  connecting the main flap  108  to a steering wheel  160  of a vehicle. The main flap  108  is made of a rigid material, while the elliptical unit  130  is made of an elastic or semi-elastic material. The magnet  105  may be embedded in the main flap  108 , or inserted into a niche  110  in the main flap  108 . The magnet  105  may be of an elliptical or polygonal shape. In case the magnet  105  is elliptical, its diameter&#39;s size may vary in the range of 10-40 mm. The magnet  105  is positioned in close proximity to the rear surface of the mobile device  100 . 
         [0027]    The apparatus may also comprise a first plate  138  attached to the main flap  108  and a second plate  136  positioned in parallel to the surface of the first plate  138 . The first plate  138  is attached to a proximal end of the elliptical unit  130  and the second plate  136  is attached to a distal end of the elliptical unit  130  The first plate  118  and the second plate  136  are attached to each other by one or more bolts  112 ,  115  and nuts  141 ,  142  inserted into holes  150 ,  151  inside the first plate  138  and the second plate  136 . The nuts and bolts secure the first plate  138  and the second plate  136  to each other; thereby secure the apparatus around the steering wheel  160 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 1B  shows an apparatus for holding a mobile device  200  to a steering wheel using a gripping unit, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. The mobile device . 200  is secured to a main flap  210  using a gripping unit that comprises a plurality of arms  202 ,  205 ,  206 ,  209  that limit the movement of the mobile device  200  to a predefined distance from the main flap  210 . The main flap  210  is secured to the steering wheel as disclosed in  FIG. 1A , The arm  202  extends perpendicularly from the surface of the main flap  210 . At least a portion of the plurality of arms  202 ,  205 ,  206 ,  209  are connected to secondary arms that form an angle from the respective arm and limit the movement of the mobile phone  200 , thus securing the mobile phone  200  to the main flap  210 . The arm  202  is connected to a secondary arm  203  which forms an angle between the arm  202  and the secondary arm  203 . The secondary arm  203  limits the movement of the mobile device  200  inside the gripping unit according, to the length of the arm  202 . Secondary arm  207  extends from arm  206 , Secondary arm  204  extends from arm  205 , and Secondary arm  208  extends from arm  209 . The size of the plurality of arms  202 ,  205 ,  206 ,  209  may be adjusted to fit various types and sizes of mobile devices. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 2A-2B  show an apparatus for holding a mobile device  300  to a steering wheel using a gripping unit, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. The mobile device  300  is secured to a main flap  325  using a pair of magnets  302 ,  304  attached to the main flap  325 . The pair of magnets  302 ,  304  applies a magnetic field on the rear surface of the mobile phone  300 , on the opposite side of the display of the mobile phone  300 . In an alternative case, only a single magnet  306  is attached to the main flap  325  as an alternative to the pair of magnets  302 ,  304 . The main flap  325  is connected to a first plate  318  connected to a proximal end of the elliptical unit  310  which is connected to a second plate  315  via one or more bolts. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2C  shows an apparatus for holding a mobile device  415  to a steering wheel using a gripping unit, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. The mobile device  415  is secured to a main flap  410  using a gripping unit that comprises four arms  420 ,  422 ,  426  and  428 . Two arms  420 ,  422  extend from the sides of the main flap  410  and two arms  426 ,  428  extend from the bottom of the main flap  410 . The main flap  410  is attached to a first plate  430  which is connected to the elliptical unit  440 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  shows an apparatus for holding a mobile device  505  to a steering wheel using a magnet, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. A main flap  525  comprises a niche  543  in which a magnet  540  is located. The niche  543  is defined by layer  544  connected to the main flap  525 . The magnet  540  applies magnetic field on the rear surface  541  of the mobile device  505 , adjacent to the cover  542  of the mobile device  505 . The main flap  525  is connected to a first plate  520  connected to a proximal end of the elliptical unit  515  which is connected to a second plate  530  via one or more bolts  532 ,  534 . The elliptical unit  515  is secured around the steering wheel  510 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  shows an apparatus for holding a mobile device to a steering wheel using vacuum pads, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. The vacuum pads  618 ,  619  are connected to a main flap  615 . The main flap  615  is connected to a first plate  608  connected to a proximal end of the elliptical unit  612  which is connected to a second plate  605 . The elliptical unit  612  is secured around the steering wheel  610 . In some cases, the vacuum is created by rotating the mobile device on top of the main flap. The mobile device is pressed against the vacuum pads  618 ,  619 , and then rotated and the vacuum is created. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  shows an apparatus for holding a mobile device to a steering wheel using a magnet  725 , according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. The main flap  720  is connected to a first plate  718  connected to a proximal end of the elliptical unit  715  which is connected to a second plate  710 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  shows a kit comprising an apparatus for holding a mobile device to a steering wheel and a second holder attached to the mobile device according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. The kit comprises a second holder  806  to be attached to the rear surface of the mobile device. For example, the second holder  806  is glued to the rear surface of the mobile device. The second holder  806  is of a coin-like shape, having narrow sidewalls, for example of 0.5-2 mm width. One surface of the second holder  806  is attached to the rear surface of the mobile device and the other surface of the second holder  806  is positioned in proximity to the first holder of the apparatus, for example to the magnet  801 . In some exemplary cases, the first holder of the apparatus comprises Velcro, and the other surface of the second holder  806  also contains Velcro to be attached to the first holder  801 . 
         [0035]    The apparatus comprises a main flap  802  also comprises the first plate. The main flap is attached to an elastic pad  803  in which the magnet  801  is mounted. In some exemplary cases, the elastic, pad  803  is made of sponge, and protrudes to a height of 0.5-3 mm. The magnet  801  is lower than the height of the elastic pad  803 , which results in a niche in which the second holder  806  of the mobile device is secured in vacuum. In some exemplary cases, the kit also comprises one or more straps to be strapped around the elliptical unit in order to fit to various sizes of steering wheels. The kit may include two straps, a first strap  804  of 1 mm width and a second strap  805  of 3 mm width.