Patent Publication Number: US-2011062299-A1

Title: Car computer/LCD monitor holder

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to car computer/LCD monitor holders and more particularly, to such a car computer/LCD monitor holder, which fits any of a variety of car computers and LCD monitors. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Following fast development of wireless transmission technology, many different mobile electronic devices such as computers and LCD monitors are allowed for use in motor vehicles. For holding a computer or LCD monitor in a car stably, a car computer/LCD monitor holder may be used. However, regular car computer/LCD monitor holders are specifically designed for holding a specific model of computer or LCD monitor. For holding a different model of computer or LCD monitor in a car, a different computer/LCD monitor holder must be used. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a car computer/LCD monitor holder, which is conveniently adjustable for holding any of a variety of car computers and LCD monitors. 
     To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a car computer/LCD monitor holder comprises a bracket for holding a car computer/LCD monitor and a vehicle computer/LCD monitor arm mountable on a part inside a car to support the bracket. The bracket comprises a platform, two clamping plates slidably mounted in a respective bottom sliding groove on the bottom side of the platform and movable relative to each other, two compression springs respectively mounted in the bottom sliding grooves of the platform to force the clamping plates apart, two stop members respectively pivotally mounted on the bottom side of the platform and engaged with a respective longitudinal series of sloping teeth on each clamping plate, and two biasing springs respectively mounted in the bottom side of the platform to force the stop members into engagement with the longitudinal series of sloping teeth of the clamping plate. 
     Further, the vehicle computer/LCD monitor arm comprises a top mounting assembly pivotally connected to the bottom side of the platform of the bracket and adjustably locked thereto by a locking mechanism thereof, a bottom mounting assembly for mounting on a part inside a car, and a plurality of links connected in series between the top mounting assembly and the bottom mounting assembly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view showing a car computer/LCD monitor bracket fastened to a vehicle computer/LCD monitor arm according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an oblique top elevation of the car computer/LCD monitor bracket according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an oblique bottom elevation of the car computer/LCD monitor bracket according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded of the car computer/LCD monitor bracket according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an elevational view in an enlarged scale of the vehicle computer/LCD monitor arm shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the vehicle computer/LCD monitor arm shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a car computer/LCD monitor bracket in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a platform  1 , two clamping plates  2  and two stop members  3 . 
     The platform  1  comprises a flat base panel  10  that has an upright side flange  12  perpendicularly extended from one of four peripheral sides thereof, a plurality of air vents  14  cut through top and bottom walls thereof and two bottom sliding grooves  11  transversely located on the bottom wall and extending in reversed directions, a bottom mount  13  affixed to the bottom wall of the flat base panel  10 . The two clamping plates  2  are respectively inserted into the bottom sliding grooves  11  and movably set between the flat base panel  10  and the bottom mount  13 , each having a longitudinal series of sloping teeth  21  located on one lateral side thereof. Two compression springs  16  are respectively mounted in the bottom sliding grooves  11  and stopped between the inner close ends of the respective bottom sliding grooves  11  and the inner ends of the clamping plates  2  to impart an outward force to the respective clamping plates  2 . The two stop members  3  are respectively pivotally mounted on the bottom wall of the flat base panel  10  at one lateral side relative to the bottom sliding grooves  11 , each having a rear end supported on a respective spring member  20  at the bottom wall of the flat base panel  10  and a front end terminating in an engagement tooth  150 . The spring member  20  biases the respective stop member  3 , forcing the engagement tooth  150  into engagement with the longitudinal series of sloping teeth  21  of the associating clamping plate  2 . Subject to engagement between the engagement teeth  150  of the stop members  20  and the longitudinal series of sloping teeth  21  of the clamping plates  2 , the clamping plates  2  can be moved inwardly toward each other along the respective bottom sliding grooves  11  and are prohibited from being moved outwards toward the outside of the flat base panel  10 . Further, the bottom mount  13  can be pivotally mounted on a vehicle computer/LCD monitor arm  4  that comprises two mounting assemblies  41  and a plurality of links  40  connected in series between the two mounting assemblies  41 . 
     During the use of the present invention, bias the stop members  3  to compress the associating spring members  20  and to disengage the engagement teeth  150  of the stop members  3  from the longitudinal series of sloping teeth  21  of the associating clamping plates  2 . At this time, the compression springs  20  force the clamping plates  2  outwards along the bottom sliding grooves  11  to be extended position. Thus, the user can place the computer or LCD monitor on the flat base panel  10  of the platform  1 . After the computer or LCD monitor has been placed on the flat base panel  10  of the platform  1  and stopped against the upright side flange  12 , the two clamping plates  2  are moved inwards toward each other and closely attached to two opposite sides of the computer or LCD monitor. When released the hands at this time, the engagement teeth  150  of the stop members  3  are engaged with the longitudinal series of sloping teeth  21  of the associating clamping plates  2  to prohibit the clamping plates  2  from backward displacement. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6  and  FIG. 1  again, the bottom mount  13  of the platform  1  is affixed to the top-sided mounting assembly  41  of the vehicle computer/LCD monitor arm  4 . Thus, the car computer/LCD monitor bracket and the vehicle computer/LCD monitor arm  4  form a vehicle car computer/LCD monitor holder. The tilting angle of the bottom mount  13  is adjustable relative to the top-sided mounting assembly  41  of the vehicle computer/LCD monitor arm  4 . During adjustment of the tilting angle of the bottom mount  13 , press the locking nut  330  to move the associating locking bolt  300  backwards so as to disengage the toothed portion  310  of the locking bolt  300  from the inner toothed portion  320  of the respective top-sided mounting assembly  41 , and then adjust the platform  1  to the desired tilting angle. After the platform  1  has been adjusted to the desired tilting angle, release the hand from the locking nut  330  for enabling the associating spring member  340  to move the locking nut  330  and the locking bolt  300  to their former positions so that the toothed portion  310  of the locking bolt  300  is forced into engagement with the inner toothed portion  320  of the respective top-sided mounting assembly  41  again, locking the bottom mount  13  of the platform  1  to the top-sided mounting assembly  41  of the vehicle computer/LCD monitor arm  4 . 
     Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.