Abstract:
A mounting plate and assembly for a universal clip or other protrusion, for use with a mobile communication device, comprising recesses at the top of the plate, for centering the belt clip or other element of the portable personal communication device and for providing lateral and rotational hold of various devices. A mounting structure for securing the plate to a handlebar, railing, window, or other non-porous surface, as well as to metal surfaces, is also provided.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional application Nos. 60/146,007, and 60/146,007, both filed Jul. 28, 1999. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a device for holding portable communication devices in a convenient manner to the user. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In recent years, portable personal communication devices (PPCDs) have become more popular; allowing the user to communicate with others while driving or performing other activities, such as riding a bicycle or boating, etc. However, PPCDs are hand-held devices which are inconvenient for many occasions. Mounting devices have been developed in order to overcome these problems. One example includes a conventional mounting device for a mobile telephone, as disclosed in published U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,313. In this reference, the mounting device comprises a belt assembly, a swivel assembly, and a telephone holder assembly. With this mounting device, the driver can mount his mobile telephone on his shoulder, thereby freeing both hands for driving. As is appreciated, a shoulder-mounted telephone has many inconveniences. Accordingly, an improved system and method for holding PPCDs while in use is needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a clip-mount plate which is capable of holding, displaying and permitting a PPCD to be used in a fixed position on various mounting substrates. Recesses are provided to the top and rear of the plate for centering belt clips of a portable personal communication device and providing lateral and rotational hold of variously manufactured products. Various fastening methods and structures are provided to affix the plate to other objects. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a rear perspective exploded assembly view of the invention and mounting assembly. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear plan view of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a section view of the mounting plate of the invention taken along lines  3 — 3  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a section view of the mounting plate of the invention taken along lines  4 — 4  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is a rear perspective exploded assembly view of the invention and mounting assembly. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the collar of the invention wrapped around a portion of a mountable tubular structure. 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of a collar and sizing shim of the invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the invention with a representative portable personal communication device mounted thereto. 
     FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the invention with a representative frontplate. 
     FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of an insert for use with the mounting plate. 
     FIG. 11 is a rear perspective exploded assembly view of the invention and mounting assembly. 
     FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of the mounting plate with resilient cord. 
     FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of the invention affixed to a surface. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in FIG. 1, mounting plate  10 , according to the present invention, comprises upper portion  20  and lower portion  21 . Upper portion  20  is designed to receive a clip or other element from a portable personal communication device (PPCD) and thereby retain the PPCD in a desired position and location. Upper portion  20  is designed to facilitate receipt of such a clip or element (referred to herein as “clip” for ease of reference) through use of top recess  28  which is designed for centering and holding the PPCD. Top recess  28  is formed by surface  31  which extends in curved fashion below a plane T—T along the top of plate  10 . Rear recess  48  is configured for allowing the PPCD clip to slide onto the mounting plate and prevent the PPCD device from rotating by engagement with walls  50 . T-slots  54  are provided for holding mounting means such as, for example in one embodiment, suction cups or the like which are inserted into them to facilitate a more stable and tight mounting. Using this embodiment, top recess  28  is shaped so that, when a mobile device which contains a clip is held onto plate  10 , the PPCD is mounted in a very stable, non-wobbling manner, with considerable ease of use. 
     FIGS. 2,  3 , and  4  show a rear plan view, a side section view, and an end section view respectively of the mounting plate  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. These views also show the engaging lip  61  structure of mounting plate  10 . Engaging lip  61  is configured to allow various mounting means attachment and removal with ease. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, one or more suction cups  71  may be inserted into the T-slots, and cup rear mounting protrusion  74  is sized for snug fit (for example by use of an annular space and disk configuration) within T-slot and retained therein by engaging lip  61  or similar structure. This allows mounting plate  10  to be mounted onto various surfaces, including nonporous surfaces, by the suction cups. The particular configuration of three suction cups shown in FIG. 5 makes the plate more stable than with only one or two cups. In addition, the suction cups are very easy to remove from a non-porous surface when use of the device is not desired. In addition, suction cups are very easy to remove from a non-porous surface when use of the device is not desired. FIG. 13 shows a mounting plate  10  mounted to surface  166  via suction cups  71 . 
     Alternatively, with respect to FIG. 11, mounting may be accomplished by inserting one or more magnets  75  in snug partial engagement in the T-slots in order to facilitate affixing the PPCD to a metal surface. It is recognized that the term T-slot may include a plurality of shapes not matching a T shape per se, however the objective is to allow for enough engaging contact which is properly distributed to achieve immobility when used in an active or mobile environment. 
     FIGS. 1,  6 ,  7 ,  8 , and  9  also show views of a shaft collar  83  according to another embodiment of the mounting means of the present invention. In this embodiment, shaft collar  83  comprises an optional resilient material, such as a rubber-lined shaft collar, which is sized to fit the handlebar  86  or other structure having shapes suitable for collared or wrap-around type of attachment. Representative attaching means also may include a fastener, such as fastening assembly  91  (having a bolt, an optional external flat washer, and a wing nut or similar assembly lock) designed for passing through a face  101  of mounting plate  10 , and the two bosses  110  of the shaft collar- and which is then secured with wing nut or the like to provide frictional resistance to rotation. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1,  6  and  7 , anti-rotation means is further provided by integrated male-female dentitions  115  on face  101  of mounting plate  10  and the adjacent or facing surface of collar  83 . It is recognized that other means for retaining the collar are contemplated within the scope of the invention. In addition, it is possible to adjust the clamping ability of the collar to accommodate various structures through selective use of a pliant or resilient shim  122 , used in cooperation with collar  83 , such as for radius adjustment. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates with motion arrows  131  how mounting plate  10  may be guided to a particular angle relative to a mountable structure and prior to tightening collar  83  until dentitions  115  are in locking engagement, augmented by the additional frictional locking effect of the collar itself. A representative PPCD  136  is shown in transparent view mounted on surface  31  with clip  138 . A resilient cord  79  may also be releasably attached to a portion of either the mounting plate face  101 , the collar  83 , or the fastening assembly  91 . FIG. 12 shows the resilient cord  79  attached to a portion of mounting plate face  101 . The cord may then be place over and under the PPCD which is on the mounting plate, secure to another of the above mentioned portions, and thus retained against further motion. This may be quite helpful to protect against vertical movement of a mounted PPCD under extremely rough travel conditions. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates yet another means for attaching mounting plate  10  or similar plates for holding a PPCD onto an underlying mobile structure. In this embodiment, mounting plate  10  has a plurality of vias or through-holes defined by walls  144 . These vias allow mounting of the plate onto a standard bracket designed to receive mountable devices such as car phone cradles or similar structures. Such vias also allow more permanent attachment of plate  10  to any substrate, i.e. more permanent relative to the embodiments shown utilizing a removable collar. 
     FIG. 9 also discloses optional and replaceable frontplate  155 . This component may be assembled with mounting plate  10  in various manners, either by snapfit or other means. However, when frontplate  155  is manufactured of a resilient material, such as a rubber (e.g., a neoprene or sanoprene type of inlay material) then the mounting plate receives additional attributes of anti-rotation of the PPCD due to surface friction with the inlay or frontplate and additional shock absorbency during rough operations. Another benefit of frontplate  155  is the labeling or logo option which may be placed on the article thereby promoting certain brands or for personal preference. 
     According to the above description, the mounting plate of the present invention can use an existing belt clip of portable personal communication devices to hold, display and permit their use in a fixed position on a handlebar, railing, window, or other non-porous surface, as well as smooth metal surfaces. Indeed, it is also possible to incorporate a cartridge or other modular insert in cooperation with upper portion  20 , rear recess  48 , and other portions, such as T-slots  54  or merely onto surface  31  to accommodate variously sized and shaped, including non-standard or customized, belt clips or other fasteners. FIG. 10 shows one embodiment of insert  175  designed to be slidably inserted into rear recess  48  and attached to surface  31 , similar to the manner of attachment of a PPCD belt clip onto surface  31  but on the opposite side of the plate. Insert  175  allows connection of a ball or swivel member of a PPCD to then be attached to receiving slot  181  having engaging lip  187  or similar retaining means. Many types of PPCDs have a swivel component to allow greater user comfort when wearing the PPCD on a belt when seated or walking. Accordingly, insert  175  readily accommodates such a feature when desired, while preserving the benefits of the invention. 
     The invention being thus described, it will be apparent that the same may be varied in many ways. It should also be noted that the PPCD of the present invention includes portable cellular telephone, pagers, family radio service transmitter/receivers, general mobile radio service, and other “walkie-talkie” or wireless type devices. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.