Abstract:
The present invention provides a pillow-based adjustable apparatus configured to hold electronic devices that are normally hand-held such as electronic book readers, tablet computers, video MP3 players, mobile telephones and PDAs while traveling or at home.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/977,181, filed on Apr. 9, 2014. The entire teaching of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to article holding devices, and more particularly, to an adjustable apparatus for holding a normally handheld electronic device hands-free. Specifically, the present invention is a portable, adjustable, and hands-free apparatus for holding electronic devices such as electronic book readers, tablet computers, video MP 3  players, mobile telephones and PDAs while traveling or at home. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Users of portable electronic devices, particularly those with video screens, often desire hands-free operation when traveling and when at home. Often, this need is based on user fatigue from holding a device with a video screen at an appropriate distance and viewing angle. Cases which fold and prop the devices at an appropriate angle are widely available. However, in order to be useful, these cases typically require a flat and stable surface such as a table top or airline seatback tray when traveling. Notably, these types of cases are not useful when a user is reclined such as on a couch, bed, or in an airline seat and need to be hand held. The act of holding the devices in awkward positions can induce undesirable hand, shoulder and arm strains. 
         [0004]    A number of pillow-based electronic device holders exist, which support electronic devices such as those mentioned above by having the user rest a pillow with one face on her lap and then shaping a second face of the pillow such that the second face slopes upward and away from the user. The device rests on the second face with the screen towards the user for viewing. Typically, these pillows work best when the user is reclined, such that the lap is extended away from the torso, which keeps the one pillow face flat on the users lap for stability and provides an optimal viewing angle and distance for the portable electronic device. The user&#39;s head may also be angled back comfortably while still maintaining a view of the device screen. Notably, when the user is sitting upright, the device is much closer to the torso and the viewing angle much more severe. When in an upright position, a user of such an apparatus will be required to tilt their head downward in order to view the screen of the device. Also, such devices are prone to sliding off if the user falls asleep because they are merely resting on the lap unsecured. Overheating of devices due to the cushion blocking airflow across and through the device is not uncommon. 
         [0005]    Other adjustable electronic device holders exist, which offer more flexibility of viewing distances and viewing angles than those of the pillow-based device holders. Typically, these device holders comprise a fixed base and an adjustable arm. The fixed bases include stands, such as those found on floor lamps, wall-mount bases, and clamping bases that mechanically squeeze a table, workbench or similar edge for support. Although there is some slight degree of mobility in these types of electronic device holders, they are not portable in the sense that they are convenient to carry and travel with. 
         [0006]    In light of the problems and of the previously mentioned electronic device holders, it is therefore an object of the current invention to provide an electronic device holder which features the flexibility of the fixed-base holders and which overcomes the limitations of the existing pillow-based holders. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       [0007]    The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of the invention configured for use with the pillow comprising two pieces. 
         [0009]      FIG. 2  depicts more contour detail of a two-piece pillow. 
         [0010]      FIG. 3  depicts a two-piece pillow configured for storage or use as a pillow. 
         [0011]      FIG. 4  depicts optional storage compartments within a pillow half. 
         [0012]      FIG. 5  depicts a side view of a one-piece pillow with a support platform. 
         [0013]      FIG. 6  depicts an overhead view of a support platform embodiment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The current invention describes an apparatus for holding an electronic device hands-free and includes at least an under-leg pillow having a mount within, a device holder having a mount, a flexible arm configured at a first end to operatively couple with the mount embedded within the pillow and a second end configured to operatively couple with the mount of the device holder. The flexible arm is adjustable such that the device holder, when attached, may be varied in both height and distance relative to the mount embedded within the pillow. The under-leg pillow may be one piece or it may comprise multiple pieces which may be adjusted to different configurations, including but not limited to, usage and storage. 
         [0015]    A general object of this invention is to provide a pillow-based adjustable apparatus configured to hold electronic devices that are normally hand-held such as electronic book readers, tablet computers, video MP 3  players, mobile telephones and PDAs while traveling or at home. 
         [0016]    Another object of this invention is to provide an adjustable apparatus such that the user may vary the height and distance of the held device relative to the pillow base, thereby allowing optimal viewing angle and distance. 
         [0017]    Yet another object of this invention is to provide the adjustable apparatus, having a pillow base that supports the user&#39;s legs from underneath and behind the knees, which provides comfort and utility in that it need not be affixed to any other objects nor does it need to extend to the floor in order to serve as a stabile base. 
         [0018]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description and drawings which follow. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment of the pillow-based electronic device holder comprises a pillow  20  featuring a first face and a second face, at least one mount  25  disposed within the pillow, a device holder  42 , a mount  43  affixed to the device holder  42 , at least one flexible arm  37  which features a distal end  38  and a proximal end  39 , a coupling  40  affixed to the distal end  38  of the at least one flexible arm  37  that operably engages with the at least one mount  25  disposed within the pillow  20 , a coupling  41  affixed to the proximal end of the flexible arm  37  that operably engages with the mount  43  affixed to the device holder  42 , and wherein the device holder  42  is capable of securing a portable electronic device. The pillow  20  may be between  12  and  20  inches in length and between  6  and  20  inches in width at its outer dimensions. The at least one mount  25  disposed within the pillow  20  is either flush or recessed with respect to the first face of the pillow. The thickness of the pillow  20  may be between 1 and 4 inches. The pillow is made from closed-cell foam or other suitable materials that may be shaped or molded, are washable, and provide sufficient compression resistance to be comfortable when used under the legs or head. 
         [0020]    The mount  25  disposed within the pillow  20  and the mount  43  affixed to the device holder  42  may be the female portion of a threaded insert, or the female portion of a bayonet-type lug fastener, while the couplings  40 ,  41  affixed to the distal end  38  and proximal end  39  of the flexible arm  37  are the male counterparts to the aforementioned mounts  25 ,  43 . Various embodiments allow the mounts  25 ,  43  and couplings  40 ,  41  to include other types of hardware capable of coupling in such a manner as to provide rigid support to the flexible arm  37  so long as the mount  25  disposed within the pillow  20  is either recessed or flush with respect to the pillow surface. 
         [0021]    In another embodiment of the invention partially depicted in  FIG. 2 , the pillow  20  comprises a first pillow half  21  featuring a first face  22  and a second face  26 , a second pillow half  29  featuring a first face  30  and a second face  33 , and a hinge  36 . The at least one mount  25  is disposed within the first face  22  of the first pillow half  21 . The first face  22  of the first pillow half  21  comprises at least one concave radius  23  and at least one convex radius  24 . The second face  26  of the first pillow half  21  comprises at least one concave radius  27 . The first face  30  of the second pillow half  29  comprises at least one concave radius  31  and at least one convex radius  32 . The second face  33  of the second pillow half  29  comprises at least one concave radius  34 . The at least one convex radius  24  and at least one concave radius  23  of the first face  22  of the first pillow half  21  are the respective inverses of the at least one convex radius  32  and the at least one concave radius  31  of the first face  30  of the second pillow half  29 . 
         [0022]    In this embodiment, when the first faces  22 ,  30  of the respective pillow halves  21 ,  29  are mated, they form a largely solid and supportive contiguous structure as shown in  FIG. 3 . This is the desired configuration when the device is not in use. The at least one concave radius  27  of the second face  26  of the first pillow half  21  has the same radius as the at least one concave radius  34  of the second face  33  of the second pillow half. The first pillow half  21  and the second pillow half are each between 1 and 4 inches in thickness, between 12 and 20 inches in length and between 6 and 20 inches in width at their outside dimensions. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , an optional storage compartment  44  may be molded in the first faces  22 ,  30  of either or both pillow halves  21 ,  29 . The storage compartment  44  serves to hold the at least one flexible arm  37  and the device holder  42  when not in use. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , a support platform  51  may be embedded within the pillow  20  or first pillow half  21  and affixed to the at least one mount in order to provide more rigidity and thus better support for the at least one mount  25 . This support extends outward from the at least one mount in a lateral plane in order to distribute the forces transferred from the at least one flexible arm  37  and the electronic device it supports. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , one possible embodiment of the support platform  51  may comprise a hub-and-spoke configuration. Other contemplated embodiments of the support platform  51  may comprise a contiguous single plate, a web of spokes in varying geometries or a combination thereof. 
         [0026]    While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention put forth by the inventor.