Abstract:
A holding clip apparatus is provided for attaching a mobile electronic device to a tray table of a commercial vehicle, such as a train or airliner. A tray table attachment section of the holding clip apparatus includes an upper support member and a lower support member each extending outwardly in a horizontal direction from a rear support wall. A mobile device holding section of the holding clip apparatus includes a front support wall and a rear support wall extending upwardly from a base portion having a bottom surface. Attachment portions may be provided connecting the tray table attachment section and the mobile device holding section. A mobile device angle adjustment section may be provided that allows the mobile device holding section to rotate to adjust the viewing angle of a mobile device held thereto.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
     The current application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 62/146,893, filed Apr. 13, 2015, and to U.S. Patent Application No. 62/235,744, filed Oct. 1, 2015, the entirety of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a removable mobile device holder clip that may be attached to tray tables such as commercial aircraft tray tables. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Recently, commercial aircraft have been providing in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems for passengers. However, passengers sometimes wish to use their own mobile electronic devices, such as tablet computers, e-readers and smartphones, for their inflight for entertainment and other reasons. In the past when using a tablet computer inflight, passengers would either hold the computer with their hands, position the computer on their laps or place the computer on the airplane tray table and prop it up against the back of the seat to which the meal tray is attached. None of these approaches are convenient, especially for long term use such as watching a movie during the flight. Further, these approaches do not allow for securely fixing the position of the computer or adjustment of the viewing angle of the computer screen. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a rear perspective view of a removable mobile device holder clip according to a first embodiment removably clipped to a conventional aircraft tray table. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of the removable mobile device holder clip of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a right side view of the mobile device holder clip of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a top perspective view of a clip lower portion of the mobile device holder clip of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom perspective view of a support tray upper portion of the mobile device holder clip of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a bottom view of the mobile device holder clip of  FIG. 1  with the support tray rotated backwards. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a top perspective view of a removable mobile device holder clip according to a second embodiment removably clipped to a conventional aircraft tray table. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a front perspective view of the mobile device holder clip of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a left side view of the mobile device holder clip of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a right side perspective view of a mobile device holder clip attached to a conventional tray table according to a third embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a side view of the mobile device holder clip of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a top rear perspective view of a mobile device holder clip attached to a conventional tray table according to a fourth embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a side perspective view of a clip portion of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a first hinge portion and a second hinge portion of the mobile device holder clip of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a rear view of the mobile device holder clip of  FIG. 1  attached to a conventional tray table. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A removable table computer holder clip  10  is provided for use with a table  12  such as an aircraft tray table, as shown in  FIG. 1 , to support a tablet computer  14  or other mobile device such as a smartphone or an e-reader. The holder clip  10  includes a base portion  16  and a clip portion  18  positioned therebelow which may be clipped to an edge of the table  12 , such as a tray table of an aircraft, train, or the like or any other table or item. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the base portion  16  of the holder clip  10  includes a support tray  20  upon which an edge of the tablet computer  14  rests, a planar back support member  22  extending upwardly from a rearward edge portion of the support tray and against which the tablet computer leans, and a front stop wall  24  which extends upwardly from a forward edge portion of the support tray sufficiently to limit forward movement of the portion of the table computer being supported by the support tray. 
     As also shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the clip portion  18  of the holder clip  10  has an upper member  26  to which the base portion  16  is pivotally attached, and a lower member  28  with two forwardly projecting spring arms  30  spaced apart in a horizontal direction. A rear wall member  32  extends between a rearward edge portion of the upper member  26  and a rearward edge portion of the lower member  28 , and connects the upper member and lower member together at a rear side of the clip portion  18 . The rear wall member  32  has a height sized to accommodate the height of the edge portion of the table  12  when the holder clip  10  is clipped onto the edge portion of the table, with the upper member  26  positioned at the upper surface of the table and the lower member  28  positioned at the lower surface of the table. The sizing and resiliency of the clip portion  18 , and particularly the rear wall member  32  and the lower member  28  and its two spring arms  30 , are selected so that when in clipped to the edge portion of the table  12 , the holder clip  10  is securely held in place by the clip portion, but yet is removable from the connection to the table without use of tools. The clip portion  18  may elastically bend or deform to clip to the table  12 . Once clipped onto the table  12 , the clip portion  18  may inwardly compress the lower member  28  and/or the upper member  26  against opposite surfaces of the table to retain the holder clip  10  thereto. 
     The base portion  16  of the holder clip  10  may be pivotally attached to the upper member  26  of the clip portion  18 . The pivotal connection may be accomplished with two metal hinges  34 , shown in  FIG. 14 , and shown installed in  FIG. 6 . For ease of description, the one hinge is identified as  34 (A) and the other as  34 (B) in the drawings. Each of the hinges  34  has an elongated central barrel member  36  having a longitudinal axis with a first connector member  38  at one end projecting outward in coaxial alignment with the barrel member and a second connector member  40  at the opposite end projecting outward in coaxial alignment with the barrel member. The barrel member  36  is constructed to permit at least limited rotation of the first and second connector members  38  and  40  about the longitudinal axis of the barrel member. The barrel member  36  is constructed to provide a resistance preventing rotation of the first and second connector member  38  and  40  unless a sufficient rotational force is applied thereto. Alternatively, other pivotal connection mechanisms than a hinge may be used to pivotally attach the upper member  26  to the base portion  16 , such as a ball-and-socket joint, by way of non-limiting example. 
     Each of the first and second connector members  38  and  40  of each of the hinges  34  has a pair of apertures  42 . Each aperture  42  is sized to allow projection of a fastener  44 , such as a screw, therethrough for attachment of the first and second connector members  38  and  40  to the base portion  16  and the upper member  26  of the clip portion  18 . The first and second connector members  38  and  40  are shown fastened to the base portion  16  and the upper member  26  of the clip portion  18  in  FIG. 6 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the upper member  26  of the clip portion  18  includes left and right end portion pads  46  and  48  in its upper surface, located toward a forward edge of the upper member, sized to have the first connector member  38  of the one hinge  34 ( a ) and the second connector member  40  of the other hinge  34 (B), respectively, attached thereto. As best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the lower surface of the base portion  16  includes left and right central portion pads  50  and  52 , located toward a rearward edge of the base portion, sized to have the second connector member  40  of the one hinge  34 (A) and the first connector member  38  of the other hinge  34 (B), respectively, attached thereto. The first connector member  38  and the second connector member  40  are each attached to a corresponding portion (i.e., pads  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ) using two of the fastener  44 . 
     The left and right end portion pads  46  and  48  of the clip portion  18  are more clearly shown in the illustration of the clip portion of  FIG. 4 , and the left and right central portion pads  50  and  52  of the base portion  16  are more clearly shown in the illustration of the base portion of  FIG. 5 . An illustration of the fully assembled holder clip  10  is shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Each of the hinges  34  is constructed to permit at least limited rotation of the first and second connector members  38  and  40  about the longitudinal axis of the barrel member  36 , but is constructed to resist such rotation of the first and second connector member  38  and  40  unless a sufficient rotational force is applied thereto. The cumulative resistance of the hinges  34 (A) and  34 (B) is selected to prevent the base portion  16  from rotating relative to the clip portion  18  of the holder clip  10  when in use supporting the weight of the tablet computer  14 , but yet a low enough resistance that a user may rotate the base portion  16  relative to the clip portion  18  to adjust the angle of the back support member  22  to a desired viewing angle for the user when the clip portion is clipped to the table  12 . 
       FIGS. 7, 8 and 9  show a first alternative embodiment of a removable table computer holder clip  10 ′ that may be used with a conventional table  12  such as an aircraft tray table. A base portion  16 ′ of the holder clip  10 ′ includes a support tray  20 ′ upon which an edge of the tablet computer  14  rests, a back support member  22 ′ with a planar forward surface  23 ′ which extends upwardly from a rearward edge portion of the support tray and against which the tablet computer leans, and a front stop wall  24 ′ extending upwardly from a forward edge portion of the support tray sufficiently to limit forward movement of the portion of the table computer being supported by the support tray. The planar forward surface  23 ′ and/or the front stop wall  24 ′ may angled rearwardly toward a rear side of the base portion  16 ′ at an acute angle with respect to a lower surface of the base portion. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the clip portion of the holder clip  10 ′ is formed by a lower surface of the base portion  16 ′ and a lower member  28 ′ connected together by a rear wall member  32 ′ extending between a rearward edge portion of the base portion  16 ′ and a rearward edge portion of the lower member  28 ′. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 7-9 , the back support member  22 ′ is rigidly connected to the base portion  16 ′ and does not pivot relative to the base portion. The rear wall member  32 ′ has a height sized to accommodate the height of the edge portion of the table  12  when the holder clip  10 ′ is clipped onto the edge portion of the table, with the lower surface of the base portion  16 ′ positioned at the upper surface of the table and the lower member  28 ′ positioned at the lower surface of the table. The sizing and resiliency of a thinner portion  33 ′ of the rear wall member  32 ′ are selected so that when in clipped to the edge portion of the table  12 , the holder clip  10 ′ is securely held in place, but yet is removable from the connection to the table without use of tools. A friction fit is provided sufficient to hold the holder clip  10 ′ in place on the table  12  during normal usage. Specifically, the clip portion  18 ′ may elastically bend or deform to clip to the table  12 . Once clipped onto the table  12 , the clip portion  18 ′ may inwardly compress the lower member  28 ′ and/or the upper member  26 ′ against opposite surfaces of the table to retain the holder clip  10 ′ thereto. Different spacing between the lower surface of the base portion  16 ′ and the lower member  28 ′ may be provided to securely hold the holder clip  10 ′ in place on a different thickness table with which the holder clip  10 ′ is intended to be used. 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  show a second alternative embodiment of a removable table computer holder clip  10 ″ that may be used with a conventional table  12  such as an aircraft tray table. The holder clip  10 ″ has a similar construction as described above for the first alternative embodiment holder clip except that the base portion  16 ″ may have laterally spaced-apart support portions. Specifically, a first front support portion  21 A and a second front support portion  21 B each having a front stop wall  24 ″ may be laterally spaced apart on left and right front sides of the base portion  16 ″. The back support member  22 ″ may have a first rear support portion  22 A″ and a second rear support portion  22 B″ each having a rear stop wall  23 ″ may be laterally spaced apart on a rear side of the base portion  16 ″ (see  FIG. 11 ). An upper surface on the base portion  16 ″ may include a flat surface for displaying advertisements or logos. 
       FIGS. 12, 13 and 14  show a third alternative embodiment of a removable table computer holder clip  10 ′″. As best shown in  FIG. 13 , in this embodiment the clip portion of the holder clip  10 ′″ is formed as a lower component  100  to which an upper component  200  is pivotally connected. The upper component  200  may include a support tray  20 ′″ upon which an edge of the tablet computer  14  rests, a back support member  22 ′″ with a planar forward surface  23 ′″ extending upwardly from a rearward edge portion of the support tray and against which the tablet computer leans. A front stop wall  24 ′″ extending upwardly from a forward edge portion of the support tray  20 ′″ limits forward movement of the portion of the table computer being supported by the support tray, such as used in the embodiment of  FIG. 12 . 
     The upper component  200  may be mounted to the lower component  100  for pivotal movement about an upright or vertical axis of rotation for allowing the upper component and hence the tablet computer it supports to be rotated to a desired viewing position. The support tray  20 ′″ may be mounted to allow forward and backward rotation about a horizontal axis of rotation using one or more hinges to allow the upper component and hence the table computer it supports to be tilted to a desired display screen viewing angle. The lower component  100  includes an upwardly projecting mounting portion  102  to which the upper component  200  is pivotally connected for selected rotation about an upright axis of rotation for allowing the upper component and hence the tablet computer it supports to be rotated to a desired rotational position. 
     The upper component  200  and the lower component  100  may be connected together by a connecting member  104  connecting a lower or rear portion of the base portion  16 ′″ and the mounting portion  102 . The connecting member  104  and/or the mounting portion  102  may contain rotational mechanisms, such as bearings or swivels, for allowing rotation of the upper component  200  relative to the lower component  100 . 
     The upper component  200  may include a rotational member allowing tilting of the upper component relative to the lower component  100  and hence tilting of the attached mobile device. In the present embodiment, a friction hinge  300  is integrated into the holder clip  10 ′″ between the connecting member  104  and the rear surface of the support tray  20 ′″ to accomplish the tilting action. This style hinge may be used in other embodiment of the holder clip where tilting is desired, such as in lieu of the two metal hinges  34  described above. 
     The above embodiments may be modified without departing from the scope of the holder clip described herein. By way of non-limiting example, the rear wall member  32  of the holder clip  10  may be shaped to conform to the edge shape of the table  12 , as shown in  FIG. 15 . The rear wall member  32 ′″ may have a curved shape connecting an upper member  26 ′″ and a lower member  28 ′″ to facilitate the clip portion  18 ′″ to adapt to different table  12  shapes (see  FIG. 13 ). The base portion  16 ′ may have a tapered shape that tapers or narrows from the support tray  20 ′ toward a front side of the base portion (see  FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 ). 
     The foregoing described embodiments depict different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or “operably coupled”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality. 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of this invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is solely defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). 
     It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations).