Abstract:
A device adapted to hold and display a mobile telephone or digital device and formed into an operative shape comprising a front face set upon a first plane oriented at an acute first angle from horizontal, a back face set upon a second plane oriented at an acute second angle from horizontal, a sill disposed horizontally and joined to the front face, and a reveal disposed at an upward acute angle from horizontal and operatively joined to the sill, such that the front face, sill and reveal form a trough and that a mobile device lays against and is supported upon the front face, and the reveal retains the mobile device in the trough.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/821,436, filed May 9, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a holder and display device for mobile telephones and digital devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Mobile telephones, smart phones, tablets and PDA&#39;s are becoming the norm in digital data communication and interaction. These devices are based around providing the user with wide ranging interactive digital video information, this means they provide a display presentation that requires direct physical input from the user in response to the presented display. Often when the user is not holding the device they place the device down on a flat surface such as a desk top or counter. In doing so, when the device presents new information to the user, or when the user decides to operate the device, they must pick it up, orient it to best see the display screen and hold it while interacting with it. Then when the user completes the momentary interaction with the device, it is returned to the flat surface only to repeat the process for the next interactive event. This repeated operation becomes clumsy, bothersome, and time consuming. Similarly, placing the mobile device on a desk top or counter exposes them to damage or loss by accidental spills, having objects set upon them, having them pushed or knocked to the floor, or any of a variety of possible negative events. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for a means to hold or cradle the mobile telephone or other digital device in such a manner that it could be easily observed at all times and then be physically interacted with without having to constantly pick it up to use it. Additionally, filling this need would allow the user to quickly and efficiently monitor the device display at all times by a simple glance rather than taking the time to pick it up, and it would be removed from the desk top or counter thereby avoiding accidental damage to the mobile device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention in providing a mobile telephone holder and display device that is adapted to hold a digital device in an upright observable position that allows the user to physically touch it and operate it without having to remove it from the device. One (1) embodiment of the device is defined as a singular monolithic main body piece that is operatively formed into its specific shape. The device comprises a front face, a back face, a sill, and a reveal. The front face, sill, and reveal forming at trough that supports the mobile device in an upright and secure position. The reveal is set at the front edge of the sill to prevent the mobile device from sliding and may include a slot or recess in its upper surface to better cradle the end of the mobile device. Another embodiment allows that the present invention be constructed of individual pieces operatively joined rather than as a monolithic piece operatively bent to form the device. The present invention also includes pads on the bottom of the sill to prevent the device from sliding. 
     The device of the preset invention further includes the opportunity to accept advertising or business indicia on its faces and an additional embodiment further includes a back keep that is a secondary back surface set in close proximity to the back face to allow the insertion of printed materials. The device of the present invention may be constructed of any of a group of materials that is transparent, translucent, or colored. 
     Thus, the present invention provides a mobile telephone holder and display device that overcomes the drawbacks and disadvantages of the prior art by holding a mobile device in an upright and supported manner, such that the user can see the display and all times and physically interact with the device without having to find it, pick it up, orient it, interact with it and set it back down over and over. Additionally, the present invention holds a mobile device up off of the surface of a deck or counter preventing accidental damage by errant spills or from being crushed or from being inadvertently knocked to the floor. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood after reading the subsequent description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mobile telephone holder and display  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the mobile telephone holder and display  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the mobile telephone holder and display  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of a stack of a plurality of mobile telephone holders  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a mobile telephone holder and display  12  in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of a stack of a plurality of mobile telephone holders  12  in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  mobile telephone holder and display 
               12  alternate embodiment 
               22  first plane 
               24  front face 
               24   a  front face upper end 
               24   b  front face lower end 
               26  second plane 
               28  back face 
               28   a  back face upper end 
               28   b  back face lower end 
               32  bridge 
               34  support angle 
               42  trough 
               44  sill 
               44   a  sill front edge 
               44   b  sill rear edge 
               46  reveal 
               46   a  reveal front edge 
               46   b  reveal rear edge 
               48  slot 
               52  pad 
               61  face indicia 
               62  back indicia 
               74  fold 
               76  third plane 
               78  back keep face 
               78   a  keep 
               100  mobile device 
               105  horizontal surface 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 4 , and an alternate embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 5 and 6 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a mobile telephone holder and display stand (herein referred to as the “device”)  10 , which provides a means to elevate an unattended mobile telephone  100  from a horizontal surface  105  to protect said mobile telephone  100  from any fluids which may be puddling on said horizontal surface  105 . The device may also be used to orient the mobile telephone  100  at a preset viewing angle in order for a user to see the display without holding said mobile telephone  100 . The horizontal surface  105  may be the upper surface of any horizontal plane such as a table top, counter top, or the bar top of a drinking establishment or ale house. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a perspective and side view respectively of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device  10  is comprised preferably of polymethyl methacrylate, or other similar materials, which can further be modified to add a variety of colors to said device  10 . It should be appreciated that the device  10  may defined as a singular monolithic main body piece that is operatively formed into a specific shape, or comprise a series of individual elements, separately formed and operatively joined to arrive at the shape of the device indicated herein. 
     The device  10  is comprised of a front face  24  set on an angular first plane  22  and a back face  28  set on an angular, converging second plane  26 . The front face  24  has an upper end  24   a  and a lower end  24   b . The back face  28  has an upper edge  28   a  and a lower edge  28   b . As indicated in the figures, a horizontal bridge  32  is disposed between the upper edge  24   a  of the front face  24  and the upper edge  28   a  of the back face  28 . It should be appreciated that other embodiments of the present device  10  may be constructed without a bridge  32 , such that the upper edge  24   a  of the front face  24  and the upper edge  28   a  of the back face  28  are directly connected, or with bridges of varying widths, without changing the scope of this device  10 . 
     The first plane  22  is oriented at an acute angle from the horizontal, indicated at  105 . In the preferred embodiment the angle is set greater than sixty degrees) (60°). The second plane  26  is likewise oriented at an acute angle from the horizontal  105  such that a support angle  34  is created relative to the first plane  22 . The support angle  34  set between the first plane  22  and the second plane  26  is preferably between forty degrees (40°) and fifty degrees (50°). It is envisioned that the face  24  of the first plane  22  may comprise various face indicia  61  which may provide script or logos based upon a preference, and may include images such as, but not limited to, business names/logos, personal names, symbols, lines, pictures, and the like, in various colors and patterns, to further customize and personalize the device  10 . 
     The device  10  further comprises a horizontal rectangular sill  44  having a front edge  44   a  and a rear edge  44   b  and a rectangular reveal  46  having a front edge  46   a  and a rear edge  46   b . The rear edge  44   b  of the sill  44  being operatively joined to the lower edge  24   b  of the front face  24  and the front edge  44   a  of the sill  44  being operatively joined to the rear edge  46   b  of the reveal  46 . In this manner, a trough  42  is produced, comprised of the front face  24 , the horizontal sill  44 , and the reveal  46 . The trough  42  is meant to receive the lower end of a mobile telephone  100  while the back of said mobile telephone or device  100  is supported upon the front face  24 . Although indicated a having an upswept, or generally acute angle from the horizontal  105 , it should be appreciated that the reveal  46  may in some embodiments be perpendicular to the sill  44 . Similarly, to enhance the manner in which a mobile device  100  is retained in the trough  42 , the sill mat be angled upward slightly from the horizontal and/or the sill  24  may be provided with a slot  48  or apertures in various configurations. 
     Disposed upon a lower surface of the sill  44  is a plurality of pads  52  preferably comprised of nitrile, or a similar material, and attached with an adhesive. The purpose of the pads  52  is to increase the friction force between the device  10  and the horizontal surface  105  upon which the device  10  is placed so as to resist motion in the eventuality that a user would depress a key or contact a touch screen of the mobile device  100 . The geometry of the device  10  as previously described would permit a plurality of the devices  10  to be easily stacked as shown in  FIG. 4  to await use by one (1) or more users with mobile devices  100 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1, and 3 , and particularly the front face  24  and the back face  28 , it is envisioned that the surface of the front face  24  and the back face  28  may comprise various back indicia  61  and  62 , respectively, which may provide script or logos based upon a preference and may include images such as, but not limited to, business names/logos, personal names, symbols, lines, pictures, and the like, in various colors and patterns, to further customize and personalize the device  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a perspective view of the device  12 , according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The alternate embodiment of the device  12  is comprised of the preferred embodiment of the device  10 , which comprises a back keep face  78  set on a third plane  76  which is adjacent to, and attached to the back face  28  by means of a fold  74 . The fold  74  is comprised of an approximately one hundred eighty degree (180°) bend in the material of the back keep face  78  and sets a minimal, non-zero distance between the back face  28  and the back keep face  76  by the minimum bend radius that is achievable in the constituent material. The physical non-zero distance between the back face  28  and the back keep face  78  is the keep  78   a . The constituent material in this alternate embodiment of the device  12  is preferably a clear thermoplastic material such as polymethyl methacrylate. The purpose of the keep  78   a  is for the deposition and retention of printed material, photographs, or other decorative material as suits the taste of the user or the provider of the device. The geometry of the device  12  permits a plurality of the devices  12  to be easily stacked as shown in  FIG. 6  to await use by one or more users with mobile devices  100 . 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the enabled user in a simple and straightforward manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be configured as indicated in  FIG. 1 . The method of installing and utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring a model of the device  10  having the desired style to suit the taste of the user; placing the device  10  on a level horizontal surface  105 : inserting a mobile device  100  in the trough  42  of the device  10  and leaning the back of said mobile device  100  against the front face  24 . The mobile device  100  is now ready for hands-free viewing, or benign neglect awaiting the whim of the user in a securely elevated position above the horizontal surface  105 . 
     The method of utilizing the alternate embodiment of the device  12  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring a model of the device  12  having the desired style to suit the taste of the user; placing printed material, a photograph, or other decorative material into the keep  78   a ; placing the device  10  on a level horizontal surface  105 : inserting a mobile device  100  in the trough  42  of the device  12  and leaning the back of said mobile device  100  against the front face  24 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.