Abstract:
The present invention provides an electronic device holder that is removably mounted on the handlebars of a bicycle or motorcycle. This device is designed to receive and stabilize electronic devices such as optical disk players, electronic media players and mobile telephones.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     None.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to an electronic device holder for a bicycle. In particular, the present invention includes a means to attach a holder to the handlebars of a bicycle or a similar vehicle. The holder is capable of holding electronic devices, such as an optical disk player, an electronic media player, a tape player, or a mobile phone.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     Traditionally equipment carriers are attached to the handlebars of bicycles and motorcycles and have been used for storage of different supplies and for carrying large articles which could not be carried in the pockets of the bicycle or motorcycle operator. Recently, with the popularity of mobile phones, media players, and optical disk players, bicycle and motorcycle operators have wanted to listen to music or talk on the telephone while riding their equipment. In the past, to accomplish this task the various pieces of equipment have been attached to the operator with straps and other devices. These carrying devices, however, have had limited success because of the inability of the operator to view the window of and/or adjust the particular electronic device.  
         [0006]     Therefore, what is needed is an electronic carrying device that is attached directly to the handlebars of a bicycle or motorcycle. What is further needed is a carrying device that securely held in place an optical disk player without the player “skipping” while being used. Finally, what is needed is a carrying device that allowed a user to secure other important items such as keys or money in the same location as the electronic device.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for holding an electronic device.  
         [0008]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a securing device.  
         [0009]     Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon review of the drawings, detailed description of the device, and the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0010]     A clear understanding of the various advantages and features of the present invention, as well as the construction and operation of conventional components and mechanisms associated with the present invention, will become more readily apparent by referring to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the following drawings which accompany and form a part of this patent specification.  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a carrier according to the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a locking device to secure an electronic equipment carrier to the handlebars of a bicycle or motorcycle according to the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a slotted strip which is part of the locking device according to the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a screw which is part of the locking device according to the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a housing which is part of the locking device according to the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a mobile phone holder that is attached to the handlebars of a bicycle or a motorcycle according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a mobile phone holder that is attached to the handlebars of a bicycle or a motorcycle according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a side view of a securing device of a mobile phone holder according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a back view of a securing device of a mobile phone holder according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is a side view of an optical disk holder according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is a top view of an optical disk holder according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 12  is a top view of an optical disk holder according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 13  is a top view of an attachable strip according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 14  is a top view of an optical disk holder according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 15  is a side view of a securing device for an electronic carrier according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 16A  is a front view of a pair of screws of the securing device for an electronic carrier according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 16B  is a side view of a securing device for an electronic carrier for a mobile phone according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 17  is a side view of a securing device for an electronic carrier for an optical disk or MP3 player or similar electronic media player according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of an electronic carrier for an optical disk player according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0030]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of an electronic carrier for an MP3 player or similar electronic media player or iPod® according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0031]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a bicycle includes a pair of handlebars  10 . A securing device  12  secures a carrier assembly  14  to handlebars  10 . In particular, carrier assembly  14  includes a top foam piece  20  and a bottom foam piece  22 . Foam pieces  20  and  22  are attached to one another to receive and sandwich an electronic device such as an optical disk player  18  in the middle via a strap  16 . Carrier assembly  14  is an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0032]      FIGS. 2-5  illustrate a securing device  12  including a screw housing  23 , a locking screw  24  and a slotted strip  26 . Strip  26  fits around handlebars  10  of varying diameters and is frictionally adjusted by turning locking screw  24 . A series of threads  28  on screw  24  engage a series of depressions  30  on the inside of screw housing  23 . Threads  28  further engage a series of slots  32  in strip  26  to shorten strip  26  around handlebars  10  and hold carrier assembly  14  in place.  
         [0033]      FIGS. 6-9  illustrate a mobile phone holder according to one embodiment of the present invention. A housing  34  includes a Velcro® covered back  36 , a side wall  38  and another side wall  40 . A mobile phone is removably attached to Velcro® covered back  36  with Velcro® attached to the back of a mobile phone. Housing  34  may also be configured to hold a mobile phone carrier  42 . Both holders  42  and  36  may pivot using a pivot joint  44 .  
         [0034]      FIGS. 10-14  illustrate another embodiment of the present invention including an optical disk holder  46 . Securing device  12  is affixed to a bottom plate  48  of optical disk holder  46 . In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a bottom piece of foam  50  is held in place with mating strips  52  (e.g., Velcro®). A back plate  54  is curved so when holder  46  is tipped to a different position, foam  50  and a top foam piece  56  will not fall off of plate  48 . A strip  58  is tied around foam  50  and foam  56  with an optical disk player therebetween to secure the optical disk player from moving. Foam  50  and  56  ensure that the optical disk player does not skip while being used on a bicycle or motorcycle.  
         [0035]      FIGS. 15-17  illustrate a securing apparatus  60  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In particular, apparatus  60  includes a threaded socket head bolt  62 , and a molded plastic ring  64 . Ring  64  is place over handlebars  10  and screwed into place. In the preferred embodiment, a pair of bolts  62  fit through a pair of apertures  66  and  68 . Plastic ring  64  is integrally molded with a mobile phone holder  70  ( FIG. 16B ) or an optical disk holder  72  ( FIG. 17 ). Various electronic items can be clipped to a tube  63  that is integral with securing apparatus  60  ( FIG. 15 ). For example, a mobile phone can be clipped onto tube  63  and secured onto handlebars  10  with ring  64 .  
         [0036]     As illustrated in  FIG. 18 , holder  72  is covered with a rain-resistant weatherproof material that is zipped over holder  72 . This material may include bright fabrics having logos and pictures of popular licensed TV characters or musicians.  
         [0037]     Holder  72  is typically manufactured with lightweight foam and includes a zipper slot  74  capable of holding keys, money and other important personal items. An optical disk player is slipped into an optical disk slot  76  that is wide enough and deep enough to accommodate players of varying sizes. A series of optical disk slots  78  in holder  72  store optical disks an operator may want to use during a ride. The optical disk player may be slipped into slot  76  so that a window of the optical disk player protrudes from slot  76  just enough to allow an operator to control the player. There is also enough clearance on each side of slot  76  when the optical disk player is inserted to allow the headphone cord  77  to protrude.  
         [0038]     In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the optical disk player may be placed on a top surface  79  of holder  72  and an optical disk holder covering may secure the player in place. The covering may be removed and held in place with a zipper closure located underneath holder  72 .  
         [0039]     A MP3 or similar electronic media player holder  80  is similar in manufacture to optical disk holder  72 , but is substantially smaller to accommodate the smaller size of typical MP3 player or similar electronic media players in a slot  82 . A zipper slot  84  also accommodates personal items. Additional slots  86  are provided to store any additional items an operator may want to use during a ride.  
         [0040]     The scope of the application is not to be limited by the description of the preferred embodiments described above, but is to be limited solely by the scope of the claims that follow. For example, instead of manufacturing the optical disk or electronic media player holder as a plastic apparatus, the holders may be manufactured with other materials, such as steel or aluminum, without departing from the scope of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Additionally, the various holders may be manufactured as an integral piece or they may be manufactured as separately molded components held together with a particular adhesive.