Patent Publication Number: US-2017349115-A1

Title: Electronic device holding system and methods of operating the same

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     The present disclosure is a Non-Provisional patent application claiming the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/346,217 filed on Jun. 6, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Electronic devices have become more mobile and widely used for entertainment. As a result, users typically have a need to mount electronic devices on different structures to simplify viewing of images on electronic devices. In the automotive context, users desire a device that allows a monitor or tablet to be mounted in the vehicle that is easy to remove and allows for passengers in back seats of the vehicles to view images displayed on the electronic device. 
     Automotive mounting units typically require the removal of the head rest of a seat to secure the mounting unit to the seat. However, this requires a physical rearrangement of the seat to install the mounting unit. Further, automotive head rests vary in size and shape depending on the manufacturer of the vehicle. This makes installation and configuration of mounting units difficult. 
     Therefore, a need exists for a mounting unit that will easily install on a seat to allow users behind the seat to view images on an electronic device affixed to the mounting unit. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a holding unit including an upper support unit, a lower support unit, a first arm that engages first openings in the upper support unit and lower support unit, a second arm that engages second openings in the upper support unit and lower support unit, and at least two locking openings in the upper support that engages a projection on each first arm and each second arm. 
     In another embodiment, the end of the first arm is substantially curved. 
     In another embodiment, the end of the second arm is substantially curved. 
     In another embodiment, the first support and second support move along the first arm and second arm. 
     In another embodiment, to convert the holding unit from a storage configuration to a mounting configuration, the first arm and second arm are pulled away from the lower support thereby pulling the upper support with the arms. 
     In another embodiment, an electronic device is secured to the lower support unit. 
     In another embodiment, the electronic device is secured to the lower support unit by screws. 
     In another embodiment, the electronic device is secured to the lower support unit by hook and latch material. 
     In another embodiment, the electronic device is secured to the lower support unit by magnets. 
     In another embodiment, the arms and support units are made of plastic. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure includes a method of securing an electronic device, the method including attaching an electronic device to a support unit, moving a first arm relative to a second arm such that the first arm and second arm move away from one another, rotating a first are and a second arm such that the first arm and second arm are parallel to one another and are perpendicular to the support units securing the first arm and second arm on a fixture. 
     In another embodiment, the end of the first arm is substantially curved. 
     In another embodiment, the end of the second arm is substantially curved. 
     In another embodiment, the first support and second support move along the first arm and second arm. 
     In another embodiment, the fixture is a car seat. 
     In another embodiment, an electronic device is secured to the lower support unit. 
     In another embodiment, the electronic device is secured to the lower support unit by screws. 
     In another embodiment, the electronic device is secured to the lower support unit by hook and latch material. 
     In another embodiment, the electronic device is secured to the lower support unit by magnets. 
     In another embodiment, the arms and support units are made of plastic. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  depicts a back view of the holding unit; 
         FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of a holding unit with the arms and extended in the mounting position; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a front view of the holding unit with the arms in the retracted position; and 
         FIG. 4  depicts a locking opening  302  and projection. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to a holding unit for an electronic device. The holding unit includes two arms that are removably affixed to a structure, such as, but not limited to, the seat of a car. Two support units are slidably connected to the arms such that the support units move toward each other in a storage position and away from each other in a mounting positions. Locking units on each arm engage openings in the support units to hold the arms in an open position that prevents the support units from moving when the unit is mounted. 
       FIG. 1  depicts a back view of the holding unit  100 . The holding unit  100  includes an upper support  102  and a lower support  104 . Each support  102  and  104  includes openings (not shown) that are slidably affixed to a first arm  106  and a second arm  108  such that the upper support  102  and lower support  104  can move towards and away from each other along the arms  106  and  108 . The lower support  104  includes openings  110  and  112  extending through the support  104 . The openings  110  and  112  are sized to accept a securing unit that secures a digital device or mount to the holding unit  100 . Because the upper support unit  102  moves in relation to the lower support unit  104 , the holding unit  100  can accommodate different sizes of electronic devices by moving the upper support  102  further or closer to the lower support  102  to adjust to different devices. 
       FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of a holding unit  100  with the arms  106  and  108  extended in the mounting position. Each arm  106  and  108  consists of a base portion  202  and an engagement portion  204 . The engagement portion  204  is substantially perpendicular to the base portion  202 . An end  206  of the engagement portion  204  may be curved such that the end  206  is perpendicular to the engagement portion  204  and parallel to the base portion  202 . By curving the end  206 , the holding unit  100  is prevented from rotating off the structure thereby improving the mounting of the holding unit  100  on the structure. The base portion  202  of each arm  106  and  108  engages openings  208  and  210  on the upper support  102  such that each arm  106  and  108  can rotate along an axis extending through a centerline of the base portion  202  of each arm  106  and  108 . Openings  212  and  214  on a top surface of the upper support  102  are formed to engage each end  206  of the arms  106  and  108  to hold the arms  106  and  108  in a retracted position when not in use. 
       FIG. 3  depicts a front view of the holding unit  100  with the arms  106  and  108  in the retracted position. The upper support  102  includes locking openings  302  and  304 . Each locking opening  302  and  304  is substantially “L” shaped and is sized to engage projections  306  and  308  on each arm  106  and  108 . The projections engage a vertical portion  310  of each opening  302  and  304  when the arm  106  or  108  is in the retracted position, and a horizontal portion  312  of the opening  302  or  304  when the arm  106  or  108  is in the mounting position. To move the arm  106  or  108  to the mounting position from the retracted position, each arm  106  and  108  is pushed upwards so the projections  306  or  308  moves upward in the vertical portion  310  of the locking opening  302  or  304  until the projection  306  or  308  is aligned with the horizontal portion  312  of the locking opening  302  or  304 . When the projection  306  or  308  is aligned with the horizontal portion of the locking opening  302  or  304 , the arm is rotated such that the projection  306  or  308  moves into the horizontal portion  312  of the locking opening  302  or  304 . 
     Each projection  306  and  308  is sized such that it extends from the arm  106  or  108  to the top of the locking opening  302  or  304 . In one embodiment, the projections  306  and  308  are screws embedded into the base portion  202  of each arm  106  or  108 . In another embodiment, the projection  306  or  308  may be welded onto the base portion  202  ( FIG. 2 ) of each arm  106  or  108 . In one embodiment, the projections  306  and  308  are positioned on the arms  106  and  108  such that the end  206  or each arm  106  or  108  engages openings  212  or  214  ( FIG. 2 ) when the corresponding projection  306  or  308  is positioned in the bottom of the vertical portion  310  of the corresponding locking opening  302  or  304 . 
       FIG. 4  depicts a close up view of locking opening  302  and projection  306 . The locking opening  302  includes the vertical portion  310  and horizontal portion  312  with the projection  306  moving between the vertical portion  310  and horizontal portion  312 . When the projection  306  is at the intersection of the vertical portion  310  and horizontal portion  312 , the arm  106  is rotated such that the projection rotates into the horizontal portion  312 . When the projection  306  is in the horizontal portion  312 , the arm  106  is prevented from moving up or down in relation to the upper support  102  thereby affixing the holding unit  100  in the mounting position. Lower support  104  can be positioned at an appropriate position to engage an electronic device via the openings  110  and  112 . 
     As an illustrative example, the arms  106  and  108  of the holding unit  100  may be positioned on a seat. A device, or device mount, is removably secured to the lower support  104 . The arms  106  and  108  are positioned in the retracted position with the ends  206  of each arm  106  and  108  being positioned in the openings  212  and  214 . To convert the unit  100  from a storage configuration to a mounting configuration, the arms  106  and  108  are pulled away from the lower support  104  thereby pulling the upper support  102  with the arms  106  and  108 . When fully extended upward, the arms  106  and  108  are turned such that the projections  306  and  308  move into the horizontal portion  312  of the locking openings  302  and  304 . The engagement portion  204  may be positioned on the top surface of the seat with the ends  206  engaging a front surface of the seat. The upper support  102  and lower support  104  engage the rear surface of the seat to allow users situated behind the seat to view the screen of the electronic device. 
     In one embodiment, the electrical device is secured to the lower support  104  using a hook and latch material adhered to the back of the electrical device and the side of the lower support  104  facing the electrical device. In another embodiment a case holding the electrical device is secured to the lower support  104  using a securing unit, such as a screw, or an adhesive material. In another embodiment, a case holding the electrical device is removably secured to the supports  102  and  104  using clips the secure to the top and bottom portions of the supports. In another embodiment, the electrical device, or a case holding the electrical device, is secured to the supports by a magnetic material secured to the back of the electrical device. Consistent with this embodiment, the supports  102  and  104  are made of a Ferris material, such as steel, that the magnets to which the magnets would adhere. In another embodiment, the arms  106  and  108  and supports  102  and  104  are made from plastic or other suitable material. 
     In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular. 
     It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.