Patent Publication Number: US-2021173442-A1

Title: Computing device holder &amp; method of storing thereof

Description:
The present application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/945,314 filed on Dec. 9, 2019, incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to holders for receiving a computing device, and more particularly to holders for use in means of transport. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Holders used for receiving computing devices, such as a smartphone, for attachment to components of a means of transport, such as a vehicle, aircraft or boat, are best adequately secured such that the holder does not detach undesirably and cause injury to the driver or passengers during transit. Moreover, it would be advantageous for the holder to be of a compact configuration, and be developed for compact storage in order to reduce its space-occupancy when stored. 
     Finally, in the context of an aircraft, designing a holder that can be easily detached from the edge of the table and stored during lift off, landing and/or turbulence would be further advantageous. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure relates to a holder, for receiving a computing device, for use in an aircraft, such as a private jet, where the holder is adapted to be secured onto an edge of a table of the jet. However, it will be understood that the holder does not have to be limited to use in an aircraft, and can be easily attached to any other table without departing from the present teachings. 
     The holder includes a receiving portion, for receiving a computing device, and a base for securing the holder onto the edge of a table. 
     The receiving portion possesses at least two degrees of freedom with respect to its base such that the receiving portion can easily rotate about and fold to overlap the base for, e.g., reducing the space-occupancy during storage, adjusting the tilt angle and direction of the screen of the received computing device based on the user&#39;s preferences when viewing the screen, etc. 
     Moreover, the base of the holder is composed of a flat upper part, a bottom part and a floating base, each interconnected with one-another, such that applying force to, for instance, the bottom part, causes the base to shift into a locked position to secure the base to the edge of the table, where sufficient force applied by the user to the base (e.g. the bottom part of the base) would result in the base releasing the edge of the table (thereby reducing the risk that the holder is undesirably disconnected from the base). 
     A broad aspect of the present disclosure is a computing device holder configured for fastening onto an edge of a table of an aircraft. The holder includes a curved base comprising a flat upper part, wherein the curved base defines an inner space for receiving an edge of a table and securing the holder to the received edge of the table; a receiving portion for receiving the computing device; a connector connecting the receiving portion to the flat upper part of the curved base; and a hinge connecting the connector to the receiving portion, wherein a length of the hinge is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis defined by a length of the connector, wherein the connector allows the receiving portion to rotate around the longitudinal axis defined by the length of the connector, and wherein the hinge allows the receiving portion to rotate around the hinge from a first position where the receiving portion is orthogonal with respect to the flat upper part of the curved base to a second position where the receiving portion is parallel with respect to the flat upper part of the curved base. 
     In some embodiments, the receiving portion may include a face and an outer lip defining an inner space for receiving the computing device. 
     In some embodiments, the hinge may allow for the receiving portion to rotate a maximum of 90 degrees around the hinge. 
     In some embodiments, a width of the curved base may be at least half of the width of the receiving portion. 
     In some embodiments, the curved base may include a bottom part, wherein the flat upper part and the bottom part may be connected by a hinge forming a jaw defining the inner space, wherein rotation of the bottom part around the hinge may result in the bottom part transitioning from a first position to a second position, wherein the inner space may be reduced when transitioning from the first position to the second position, and wherein the reducing of the inner space may secure the edge of the table in the jaw. 
     In some embodiments, the holder may include a floating base that is joined at an end of the floating base to an extension of the flat upper part with a hinge. 
     In some embodiments, the floating base may be joined to the bottom part through a lever that swings between a first position and a second position as the bottom part transitions from the first position to the second position respectively, the transitioning of the bottom part from the first position to the second position causing the floating base to rotate towards the flat upper part, wherein the lever may lock the bottom part in the second position when the lever is in the second position. 
     In some embodiments, the curved base may include a compressible pad that compresses when the edge of the table is received in the inner space of the curved base. 
     In some embodiments, the extension of the flat upper part may be curved and may follow the shape of an arched section of the bottom part such that the extension of the flat upper part configured to nest with the arched section of the bottom part. 
     In some embodiments, a compressible pad may cover at least a portion of an inner wall of the flat upper part of the curved base. 
     Another broad aspect is a jaw for clamping onto an edge of a table. The jaw includes a flat upper part; a bottom part connected to the flat upper part through a hinge; and a floating base connected at an end to the flat upper part, and connected to the bottom part, wherein shifting the bottom part and the floating base from a first position to a second position causes an inner space, for receiving the edge of the table, defined by the flat upper part, the bottom part and the floating base, to reduce in width, thereby causing the jaw to close onto the edge of the table. 
     In some embodiments, the floating base may be connected to the bottom part through a lever, and wherein the shifting the bottom part and the floating base from a first position to a second position may cause the lever to swing from a first position to a second position, and wherein the lever may lock the bottom part and the floating base in the second position when the lever is in the second position. 
     In some embodiments, the flat upper part may include an extension, and wherein the floating base may be connected to the extension of the flat upper part through a hinge. 
     In some embodiments, the extension of the flat upper part may be curved and may follow the shape of an arched section of the bottom part such that the extension of the flat upper part may be configured to nest with the arched section of the bottom part. 
     In some embodiments, a surface of the floating base facing the flat upper part may be at least partially covered with a compressible pad. 
     In some embodiments, the compressible pad may include rubber and foam. 
     In some embodiments, a compressible pad may cover at least a portion of an inner wall of the flat upper part of the curved base. 
     Another broad aspect is a holder for receiving a computing device including the jaw as defined herein for locking onto an edge of a table. 
     Another broad aspect is a table located in an aircraft including the holder as defined herein, wherein the holder is fastened to an edge of the table. 
     Another broad aspect is a method of storing a holder for receiving a computing device. The method includes rotating a receiving portion, for receiving a computing device, of a holder about a first axis that is parallel with the width of the receiving portion such that a face of the receiving portion overlaps and is parallel with a flat upper part of a base of the holder; and releasing the base from an edge of a table. 
     In some embodiments, the method may include rotating the receiving portion about a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis until a first side of the receiving portion that receives the computing device is in a position that the side for receiving the computing device faces away from the base of the holder. 
     In some embodiments, the receiving portion may be limited to rotating no more than 90 degrees around the first axis. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood by way of the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention with reference to the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a drawing of a perspective view of an exemplary holder for receiving a computing device with an exemplary receiving portion in a first position; 
         FIG. 2  is a drawing of a perspective view of the exemplary holder for receiving a computing device with the exemplary receiving portion in a second position, for reducing space-occupancy of the holder; 
         FIG. 3  is a drawing of a top-down view of an exemplary holder showing an exemplary range of rotation of an exemplary receiving portion, about a longitudinal axis defined by a length of an exemplary connector; 
         FIG. 4  is a drawing of a side view of an exemplary holder showing an exemplary range of rotation of an exemplary receiving portion about an exemplary hinge; 
         FIG. 5A  is a drawing of a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary holder an unlocked configuration; 
         FIG. 5B  is a drawing of a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary holder in a locked configuration; and 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart diagram of an exemplary method for storing an exemplary holder. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure relates to a holder for receiving a computing device, where its components can be folded onto themselves in order to reduce space-occupancy, e.g., for easier storage. Moreover, the holder may have a curved base for closing onto an edge of a table and securing thereto, where only force directed to a portion of the base (e.g. the bottom part of the base) results in the release by the base of the edge of the table. 
     Definitions 
     The term “table” as used herein refers to a flat surface with an edge on which, e.g., items can be placed, and include, for instance, a night table, a side table, a countertop, a kitchen table, a tray table, a flat ledge, foldable or non-foldable, retractable and non-retractable, etc. For instance, the table may be located in an aircraft next to or in front of a passenger seat (e.g. stowable in the front seat) or located in a boat, a vehicle, etc. 
     The term “aircraft” as used herein may refer to, e.g., a plane, a jet, a helicopter, etc. 
     The term “computing device” as used herein includes, but is not limited to, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, etc. 
     The term “hinge” as used herein refers to a movable joint or mechanism that connects linked objects or components for causing one or more of the objects or components to rotate or swing with respect to one another. 
     An Exemplary Holder for Receiving a Computing Device: 
     Reference will now be made to  FIGS. 1-3 , illustrating an exemplary holder  100  for receiving a computing device. 
     The holder  100  includes a receiving portion  120 , a curved base or jaw  150 , a hinge  170  and a connector  160 . The holder  100  may include a floating base  130 . 
     The receiving portion  120  may include a face  121  and an outer lip  122 . The face  121  and the outer lip  122  define a space  123  for receiving the computing device, where the back of the computing device may rest on the face  121 , the computing device secured between the face  121  and the outer lip  122 . The receiving portion  120  has a width  124 , where the width may, e.g., be proximate to the width of the computing device. As such, the dimensions of the receiving portion  120  may vary as a function of the type of computing device that may be received therein. 
     In some examples, instead of an outer lip  122 , the receiving portion  120  may include a plurality of protrusions, or upward-curved hooks for receiving the computing device and for preventing the computing device from sliding off from the receiving portion  120  (not shown). 
     The curved base or jaw  150  includes a flat upper part  151 . The curved base  150  may include a bottom part  152 , where the flat upper part  151  and the bottom part  152  may be connected trough a hinge  159  ( FIGS. 5A and 5B ). The flat upper part  151  may include an extension  157 . The flat upper part  151  may include a compressible pad  156  that covers at least a part of the inner surface of the flat upper part  151  that contributes in defining the inner space  140 . The curved base  150  has a width  158 . 
     In some examples, an end of the bottom part  152  may be thicker than the part of the bottom part  152  that is joined to the flat upper part  151 . 
     In some examples, the width  158  of the curved base  150  may be proximate to the width  124  of the receiving portion  120 . In some examples, the width  158  of the curved base  150  may be at least equal to half of to the width  124  of the receiving portion  120 . 
     The connector  160  may have a base  160 B and a neck  160 A, where the neck  160 A connects the base  160 B to the receiving portion  120 . The connector  160  may have a pin  161  for further connecting the connector  160  to the flat upper part  151  of the curved base  150 . The connector  160  may also include a circular plate that is connected to the base  160 B and the neck  160 A through, e.g., the pin  161 . The pin  161  may also create rotational resistance for smooth rotation of the receiving portion  120  by causing further compression of components joined by the pin  161 . The connector  160  defines a longitudinal axis  163  that is parallel with the length of the connector  160 . The base  1608  may have a disc or cylindrical shape, may be a bolt, etc. 
     The floating base  130  may include a compressible pad  131 . 
     The connector  160  connects the receiving portion  120  to the flat upper part  151  of the curved base  150 . The connector  160  may be joined to the flat upper part  151  such that it can rotate freely as shown in  FIG. 3  around the longitudinal axis  163 . As such, the rotation of the connector  160  results in the rotation of the receiving portion  120 , where, for example, the receiving portion  120  may perform a 360-degree rotation around the longitudinal axis  163 . In other examples, the connector  160  may be fixed to the flat upper part  151  of the curved base  150 . In these examples, the connection between the connector  160  and the receiving portion  120  may be such that the receiving portion  120  may rotate around the connector  160  (and its longitudinal axis  163 ). 
     The hinge  170  may be located between the connector  160  and the receiving portion  120 . The length of the hinge  170  is orthogonal (including almost orthogonal) to the length of the connector  160 . The receiving portion  120  is free to rotate around the hinge  170 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . In some examples, the range of motion may be limited (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 4 , limited to 90 degrees—it will be understood that a limitation to any range of motion may be provided in accordance with the present teachings). 
     Therefore, it will be understood that the combination of the hinge  170  and the connector  160  provide the receiving portion  120  with two degrees of motion, where the receiving portion  120  can rotate about the length of the hinge  170 , and about the longitudinal axis  163  of the connector  160 . This dual-degree of motion may allow a user to adjust the tilt of the receiving portion on which the computing device is resting, and to rotate the receiving portion  120  in a position such that the receiving portion  120  overlaps the curved base  150 , to reduce space-occupancy for, e.g., storage (reference is made to  FIG. 2 ). As shown in  FIG. 1 , the receiving portion  120  is in a first position where it is orthogonal with the flat upper part  151  of the curved base  150 . In  FIG. 2 , the receiving portion  120  is in a second position where it is parallel with the flat upper part  151  of the curved base  150 . 
     The curved base  150  defines an inner space  140  for receiving an edge of a table. The edge of the table fits into the inner space  140  and is secured, by the curved base  150 , within the inner space  140 , as further described herein. 
     An Exemplary Jaw or Curved Base: 
     The exemplary jaw or curved base  150  is for securing onto an edge of a table. 
     It will be understood that other components, aside from a receiving portion  120  for receiving a computing device, can be connected to the jaw  150 , such that the jaw  150  secures the component, attached to the jaw  150 , to the edge of the table. For instance, the jaw  150  can be connected to a light, a fan, a desktop, etc. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 5A and 5B .  FIG. 5A  shows an exemplary holder  100  with an exemplary jaw  150  in an open position.  FIG. 5B  shows an exemplary holder  100  with an exemplary jaw  150  in a closed position. 
       FIG. 5A  shows the jaw  150  in an unlocked configuration, where an edge of a table  200  can be received in the jaw  150 . 
       FIG. 5B  shows the jaw  150  in a locked configuration, where the edge of the table  200  is secured in the inner space  140  of the jaw. The space  140  of the jaw  150  is reduced in the locked configuration than when compared to the unlocked configuration. In the locked configuration, the jaw  150  is pressing onto the sides of the table  200 . 
     The jaw  150  includes a flat upper part  151  and a bottom part  152 . The jaw  150  may include a floating base  130 . A compressible pad  131  may cover at least part of the floating base  130  that partially defines the inner space  140 . A compressible pad  156  may also cover an inner side of at least a part of the flat upper part  151 . 
     In some examples, the compressible pad  131  and/or the compressible pad  156  may be made from a soft deformable material such as rubber (e.g. Buna-N) and foam (e.g. EPDM), a combination thereof, etc., in order to compress as the jaw  150  presses down onto the table  200 , while being of a material that does not to damage the table as the jaw  150  presses down onto the table. 
     The flat upper part  151  may be connected to the bottom part  152  through a hinge  159 . As such, the bottom part  152  can rotate about the hinge  159 , increasing or decreasing the inner space  140  for closing onto or releasing the table  200 . 
     The floating base  130  may be connected to the flat upper part  151  through a hinge  154 . The floating base  130  may be connected to the flat upper part  151  at its end  132 , the end that is located near the pit of the curved form of the bottom part  152 . The flat upper part  151  may have an extension part  157 , where the floating base  130  may be connected to the extension part  157  (e.g. the end of the extension part  157 ) through the hinge  154 . 
     In some embodiments, the extension part  157  may be thin and curved such that it is shaped to nest with the curved portion of the bottom part  152  when the jaw  150  transitions from an unlocked or open configuration to a locked or closed configuration. 
     The floating base  130  may be connected to the bottom part  152  through a lever  155 , e.g. the lever  155  can be joined to the bottom part  152  and to the floating base  130 , such that movement of the bottom part  152  would cause the lever  155  to apply a force to the floating base  130 , causing the floating base  130  to move under the applied force, and vice versa. The lever  155  may be joined, e.g., midway through the length of the floating base  130 . In some embodiments, there may be more than one lever  155  connecting the floating base  130  to the bottom part  152 . 
     In an unlocked configuration as shown in  FIG. 5B , the lever may be in a position where its axis of rotation is not over-center. 
     As such, as a user applies force to, e.g., the bottom part  152  (e.g. upward force) to cause the jaw  150  to close onto an edge of a table  200 , the bottom part  152  applies a force to the lever  155 , causing the lever  155  to swing to a second position where the axis of rotation of the lever  155  is over-center, as shown in  FIG. 5B . In the over-center position, the lever  155  is locked, locking the jaw  150  in the locked configuration, unless a sufficient force is applied to open the jaw  150  (e.g. downward force extended onto the bottom part  152 ), thereby causing the lever  155  to swing back into a position where the axis of rotation of the lever  155  is not over-center. 
     The swinging of the lever  155  causes a force to be applied by the lever  155  onto the floating base  130 , in addition to the force applied by the bottom part  152  onto the floating base  130  as a force is applied by a user onto the bottom part  152 . The force(s) applied to the floating base  130  cause the floating base  130  to rotate about the hinge  154  that joins the floating base  130  to the flat upper part  151 . The floating base  130  rotates upwards, reducing the inner space  140 . This reduction in inner space  140  results in edge of the table  200  to be secured between the floating base  130  and the flat upper part  151  of the jaw  150 . The lever  155 , in its locked configuration (e.g. axis of rotation is over-center), prevents the jaw  150  from opening and releasing the edge of the table  200  unless sufficient force with proper direction is applied to the jaw  150  (e.g. the bottom part  152  of the jaw  150 ). However, it will be understood that even though the present example shows a lever  155  acting as a locking mechanism for maintaining the jaw  150  in its closed position to grip onto the edge of the table  200 , other mechanisms to lock the jaw  150  in the closed configuration may be used. For instance, the end of the floating base  130  that nests in the pit of the curved portion of the bottom part  152  may have such a shape that the end of the floating base  130  nests in the pit of the curved portion of the bottom part  152 , where the pit of the curved portion of the bottom part  152  may have a protrusion (e.g. or a depressible abutment) that impedes the release of the end of the floating base  130  unless sufficient force is applied. 
     As such, the jaw  150  (or the holder  100 ) may be properly secured to an edge of a table of an aircraft, avoiding the jaw  150  or the holder  100  from being dislodged, while taking a small footprint due to its compact configuration. 
     In some examples, the flat upper part  151  and the bottom part  152  may be made from metal, such as aluminium. 
     An Exemplary Method of Storing a Holder: 
     In some examples, the holder may be stored, e.g., when located on an aircraft, when it is no longer used, or when landing the aircraft. The holder&#39;s configuration allows it to be stored in a compact form, such that it reduces its space occupancy. For instance, the receiving portion of the holder folds such that its face overlaps with the base of the holder. 
     Reference will now be made to  FIG. 6 , illustrating an exemplary method  600  for storing a holder for receiving a computing device. For purposes of illustration, reference will be made to holder  100 . However, it will be understood that any other holder in accordance with the present teachings may be used or subject to the present method without departing from the present teachings. 
     Optionally, the computing device can be removed from the receiving portion  120  of the holder  100  at step  610 . 
     The receiving portion  120  of the holder  100  is then rotated about a first axis (e.g. rotated about the hinge  170 ) until the face  121  of the holder  100  overlaps with the base  150  (e.g. its flat upper part  151 ), where the face  121  can be parallel (including almost parallel) with the flat upper part  151  of the base  150 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . In some examples, the amount of rotation that the receiving portion  120  may do around the first axis of rotation may be limited to, for instance, 90 degrees (however, it will understood that other amounts of restriction may be contemplated without departing from the present teachings), the restriction, e.g., resulting from the configuration of the hinge  170 , the shape of receiving portion  120  that is joined to the hinge  170 , etc. 
     In some examples, e.g. prior to rotating about the first axis, the receiving portion  120  may also rotate about a second axis, where the second axis is orthogonal with the first axis at step  630 . For instance, the second axis may be the longitudinal axis  163  defined by the length of the connector  160 . The rotation about the second axis results in the holder  150  changing the direction towards which the computing device, when placed in the receiving portion, is facing. 
     When the holder  100  is to be stored, the receiving portion  120  can be rotated such that its face  121  is facing away from the curved portion of the curved base  150 , such that when the receiving portion  120  rotates about the first axis, the side of the receiving portion  120  that is configured to receive the computing device faces away from the base  150 , as shown, e.g., in  FIG. 2 . In some examples, when the side of the receiving portion  120  that receives the computing device is facing the curved portion of the base  150 , this may be the equivalent of a rotation of around 180 degrees around the second axis. A rotation of 90 degrees of the receiving portion  120  around the first axis may then follow. 
     The base  150  is then released, allowing the edge of the table  200  from being removed from the inner space  140  of the base  150  at step  640 . 
     In some examples, the release of the base  150  may be achieved by applying a force (e.g. a downward force) onto the bottom part  152  of the base  150 . The applied force causes the lever  155  to swing to a position where its axis of rotation is not over-center, also resulting in the floating base  130  to tilt downward, thereby increasing the inner space  140  such that the edge of the table is released from the base  150 . 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications may be resorted to as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and variations are to be considered within the purview and scope of the present invention. 
     Representative, non-limiting examples of the present invention were described above in detail with reference to the attached drawing. This detailed description is merely intended to teach a person of skill in the art further details for practicing preferred aspects of the present teachings and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Furthermore, each of the additional features and teachings disclosed above and below may be utilized separately or in conjunction with other features and teachings. 
     Moreover, combinations of features and steps disclosed in the above detailed description, as well as in the experimental examples, may not be necessary to practice the invention in the broadest sense, and are instead taught merely to particularly describe representative examples of the invention. Furthermore, various features of the above-described representative examples, as well as the various independent and dependent claims below, may be combined in ways that are not specifically and explicitly enumerated in order to provide additional useful embodiments of the present teachings.