Abstract:
Disclosed is a holding device for a cellular phone ( 100 ), comprising a holding surface ( 215 ), a top holding rail ( 220, 435 ) that is spaced apart from the holding surface ( 215 ), and a pressing unit ( 300, 450 ). Said pressing unit ( 300 ) encompasses an elastic pressing element ( 340 ) which can apply a holding force (F hold ) extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cellular phone ( 100 ) to a base region ( 107 ) of the cellular telephone ( 100 ) such that a top region ( 106 ) of the cellular phone ( 100 ) is pressed against the top holding rail ( 220, 435 ). Said top holding rail ( 220, 435 ) and a bottom holding rail ( 260, 436 ) are provided for securing the cellular telephone ( 100 ) against a transversal force on the holding surface ( 215 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to a holding device for a mobile telephone, in particular a holding device which is suitable for installation in a motor vehicle. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Holders or holding devices for mobile telephones are preferably used in motor vehicles in order, on the one hand, to hold the mobile telephones securely and, on the other hand, to provide electrical contact of the mobile telephones with handsfree sets installed in the motor vehicles and with external antennas provided on the motor vehicles. Holding devices of the type described above must meet numerous general requirements which relate essentially to their ability to be handled by the user, the mechanical reliability of the holding devices, the holding properties of the mobile telephone, and the reliability of the electrical contacting. 
   The mechanical reliability relates to, in particular, the necessary robustness of the holding device. Thus, the holding device should be designed in such a manner that it can withstand numerous handling processes by the user. Furthermore, the holding device should withstand in a suitable manner the stresses on it which are caused by the operation of the motor vehicle in which the holding device is installed, in particular, vibrations due to use of the motor vehicle but also stresses of acceleration which can occur during traffic accidents. 
   In principle, the mechanical connection between the holding device and the mobile telephone under the action of the stresses described above must also be ensured by suitable design of the holding properties. On the other hand, the holding properties also affect the ability to handle the mobile telephone since they, for example, have to be overcome during disengagement of the mobile telephone from the holding device. 
   Electrical contacting between components which are installed in the motor vehicle and the mobile telephone, which provides a corresponding interface for the contacting, must be provided reliably. In so doing, the previously described stresses due to the operation of the motor vehicle must be taken into account. The electrical contacting should in addition also take place without faults after a plurality of actuations, i. e. insertion or withdrawal processes. 
   The ability to handle the mobile telephone relates in particular to stresses which necessarily occur due to actuation of the holding device for a particular purpose. 
   There are numerous different holding devices for mobile telephones which are available on the market and which are based on different technological approaches to their realization. 
   EP 1 055 562 B1 describes, for example, a holding device which provides a tray for accommodating a mobile telephone. Fixation pins, which are provided on the tray and engage in receptacles which are provided at suitable points of the housing of the mobile telephone, serve, in connection with a carriage, for the fixation of the mobile telephone in the tray. Due to the type of fixation described, the handling of the insertion and withdrawal is not simple, in particular if the user has only one free hand available. Furthermore, the receptacles in the housing of the mobile telephone entail, for the fixation pins of the holding device, a predetermined configuration of the housing of the mobile telephone. The receptacles in the housing are expensive and the configuration of the mobile telephone is restricted by the receptacles to be provided. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The objective of the present invention is to provide a holding device which is easy to handle and which also meets the conceptual requirements described above in a holding device for installation in a motor vehicle. 
   The objective is realized by the features of claim  1 . 
   The holding device according to the invention for a mobile telephone comprises at least one holding surface, a head-holding bracket spaced from the holding surface, and a pressing unit. The pressing unit furthermore comprises an elastic pressing element which is adapted to a foot area of the mobile telephone to exert a holding force parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mobile telephone. Through the holding force, a head area of the mobile telephone can be pressed against the head-holding bracket. The head-holding bracket and a foot-holding bracket are furthermore provided to secure the mobile telephone against a force applied in the transverse direction, i. e. a direction essentially perpendicular with respect to the holding surface. 
   According to one form of embodiment of the invention, for the insertion of the mobile telephone into the holding device, a displacing force can be exerted on the pressing unit by the mobile telephone at an acute angle. The pressing unit is displaced by the displacing force and the action of a restoring force. The angle is defined by the holding surface and the longitudinal axis of the mobile telephone. The restoring force results from the displacement of the pressing element of the pressing unit, said pressing element having elastic properties. 
   According to one form of embodiment of the invention the pressing unit can be displaced by a predetermined displacement by the mobile telephone guided at the acute angle and can, on reaching the predetermined displacement, be pivoted into the holding device by a pivoting motion. 
   According to one form of embodiment of the invention the pressing unit, without the action of a force on it, is in a neutral position which is defined by properties of the pressing element, i. e. its length in particular. The pressing unit in the neutral position and the head-holding bracket are spaced from one another by a predetermined length. The predetermined length corresponds to an extension of the mobile telephone in the longitudinal direction less a predetermined difference in length. The displacement of the pressing unit by the predetermined difference in length causes the holding force. 
   According to one form of embodiment of the invention the head-holding bracket has a level which is defined in the longitudinal direction of the holding device or parallel with respect to the holding surface. The level is significantly less than the predetermined displacement. 
   According to one form of embodiment of the invention the pressing element ( 340 ) is adapted, in case of an impact which can be transmitted from the holding device to the inserted mobile telephone, to react elastically by the pressing unit being displaced by the mobile telephone as a consequence of the action of a force resulting from the impact. The impact is thereby dampened and the mobile telephone thus experiences the impact only in a weakened form. 
   According to one form of embodiment of the invention the pressing unit comprises a contact unit which is adapted to couple electrically with a corresponding contact unit of the mobile telephone. 
   According to one form of embodiment of the invention the pressing unit furthermore comprises a flexible circuit board conductor which is connected to the contact unit. The circuit board conductor preferably comprises one or more electrical conductors which are connected to individual contacts of the contact unit of the holding device. 
   According to one form of embodiment of the invention the elastic pressing element of the pressing unit has essentially the elastic properties of a spring. 
   According to one form of embodiment of the invention the holding device is configured in such a manner that gripping surfaces of the mobile telephone are disposed on the side and freely accessible when it is inserted into the holding device. 
   According to one form of embodiment of the invention the holding device comprises a coupling unit which is suitable for a capacitive and/or inductive coupling of high-frequency signals with an antenna of the mobile telephone. 
   According to one form of embodiment of the invention the holding device is made of multiple parts and comprises at least one annular holder. The annular holder comprises at least the head-holding bracket and is formed, in a plan view, essentially in the form of a frame. 
   According to one form of embodiment of the invention the annular holder has, in a side view, an essentially U-shaped or V-shaped form. 
   According to one form of embodiment of the invention the annular holder comprises the foot-holding bracket. 
   According to one form of embodiment of the invention the holding device is composed of individual components. For this, the components comprise at least one main tray with a receptacle for a coupling unit and with a receptacle for a foot tray, the coupling unit, a coupling holder, the pressing unit, and the annular holder. 
   Further details and forms of embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the schematic representations. Shown therein are 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       FIG. 1   a  in a sectional view along a longitudinal axis, a holding device according to one form of embodiment of the invention and suitable to receive a mobile telephone; 
       FIG. 1   b  the holding device according to  FIG. 1   a  in which the mobile telephone is inserted; 
       FIG. 1   c - 1   e  a insertion process of the mobile telephone into the holding device according to  FIG. 1   a;    
       FIG. 2   a  determinative variables for the function of the holding device according to  FIG. 1   a;    
       FIG. 2   b  a displacement of the mobile telephone in the holding device as a consequence of an impact transmitted by the motor vehicle; and 
       FIG. 3  another holding device according to one form of embodiment of the invention and based on the same principles as the holding device illustrated schematically in  FIG. 1   a.    
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In  FIG. 1   a  a holding device according to one form of embodiment of the invention is shown in a sectional representation. The holding device  200  is composed functionally of a main tray  210 , a head-holding bracket  220  in the head area  206  of the holding device  200 , a foot tray  280 , and a foot-holding bracket  260  in the foot area  207  of the holding device  200 . The main tray  210  with its holding surface  215  is configured to receive the mobile telephone  100 . In particular, the holding surface  215  is formed so as to be congruent to the rear surface  105  of the housing of the mobile telephone  100 . The foot tray  280 , working together with the foot-holding bracket  260 , is formed to accommodate a pressing unit  300 . The pressing unit  300  comprises a pressing surface  320  with a contact unit  310  and an elastic pressing element  340 . The contact unit  310 , which is provided, for example, as a multipoint connecting plug with one or more electric contacts, is connected to a flexible circuit board conductor  330 , e. g. a printed circuit board conductor, which comprises one electrical conductor, or several electrical conductors, each of which is electrically coupled with the individual (electrical) contacts of the contact unit  310 . The foot tray  280  comprises in addition a limiting element  280  which serves to limit the displacement of the pressing unit  300 . 
   The elastic pressing element  340  of the pressing unit  300  makes possible a linear displacement of the pressing surface  320  essentially parallel to the holding surface  215 . Through the action of a force on the pressing surface  320  of the pressing unit  300  in the direction towards the foot area  207 , a displacement of the pressing surface  320  essentially parallel to the holding surface  215  is obtained. In that displacement, the action of a force acts against a restoring force which is obtained by a compression of the elastic pressing unit  340  as a consequence of the displacement of the pressing surface  320 . Preferably, the elastic pressing element  340  has the elastic properties of a spring, i. e. the restoring force is preferably proportional to the displacement of the pressing surface  320 . Alternatively however, constant or non-proportional elastic properties between the displacement and the resulting restoring force are also conceivable. The elastic pressing element  340  can, for example, be formed as a spring element. The pressing surface  320  is located, according to the elastic properties of the pressing element  340 , in a resting position or neutral position. The neutral position is designated and represented in  FIG. 2   a  as Y 0 . 
   The mobile telephone  100  is represented schematically in a side view in  FIG. 1   a . The mobile telephone comprises, in conformity with  FIG. 1   a , a rear surface  105  of the housing and a front surface of the housing, said front surface comprising in a schematic representation an earpiece or a loud speaker  110 , a display  120 , a keypad  130  (for example, an ITU-T keypad), and a mouthpiece or microphone  140 . An upper end  106  or a head area  106  and a lower end  107  or a foot area  107  of the mobile telephone is defined relative to the above-described functional elements of the mobile telephone  100 . That is, the head area  106  of the housing of the mobile telephone is preferably defined in the area of the earpiece  110  while the foot area  107  of the housing of the mobile telephone is preferably defined in the area of the mouthpiece. Alternatively, a mobile telephone with a foldable housing can also be used. In the framework of the description it should be understood that the head area  106  of the mobile telephone implemented so as to be foldable is preferably defined in the area of the hinge, which makes possible the folding of the housing and the foot area of the mobile telephone implemented so as to be foldable is preferably defined at the opposite longitudinal end. 
   The mobile telephone  100  furthermore comprises gripping surfaces  160  disposed on the side, said gripping surfaces being used, in the framework of the present invention, in manual handling by the user. In addition, an antenna  170  of the mobile telephone is indicated in  FIG. 1   a , said antenna preferably being disposed as an internal antenna in the housing of the mobile telephone. Furthermore, the mobile telephone  100  comprises a contact unit  150 . In said mobile telephone the contact unit  150  of the mobile telephone is formed to conform with the contact unit  310  of the holding device so that the contact unit  150  and the contact unit  310  engage in one another in such a manner that they fit precisely and the individual electrical contacts of the contact unit  150  and  310  can make electrical contact with one another. 
   In addition, a coupling unit  230  is provided in the holding device, said coupling unit being adapted for the inductive and/or capacitive coupling of high-frequency signals with the antenna  170  of the mobile telephone  100 . High-frequency signals which are produced by the mobile telephone  100  in order to be radiated through the antenna  170  of the mobile telephone  100  couple inductively and/or capacitively into the coupling unit  230  and are conducted further from it to an external antenna (not shown). Conversely, high-frequency signals which are received by the external antenna can be coupled, with the aid of the coupling unit  230 , into the antenna  170  of the mobile telephone  100 . The coupling unit  230  is suitable to replace a typical antenna connection by means of a coaxial plug-in contact. 
     FIG. 1   b  shows, in schematic form, the holding device  200  with a mobile telephone  200  [sic] inserted. As can be seen, the rear surface  105  of the housing of the mobile telephone and the holding surface  215  of the holding device  200  lie directly opposite one another. Preferably, the surface  105  of the housing and the holding surface  215  abut one another. The housing of the mobile telephone  100  is clamped between the pressing surface  320  of the pressing unit  300  and the head-holding bracket  220  of the holding device  200 . On one side, the head-holding device  220  supports the head area of the mobile telephone housing in the direction of the head area  206  of the holding device  200 , i. e. in a direction essentially parallel to the holding surface  215  and opposite to the pressing unit  300 . On the other side, the head-holding device  200  supports the head area  106  of the mobile telephone housing in the direction of the front surface of the housing of the mobile telephone, i. e. in a direction perpendicular and opposite to the holding surface  215 . The free distance Y H  between the pressing surface  320  in the neutral position and the head-holding bracket  220  is shortened with respect to the longitudinal extension or the length of the housing of the mobile telephone by a predetermined difference, ΔY 3 , in the distance. The free space Y H  and the difference, ΔY 3 , in the distance are illustrated in  FIG. 2   a . The inserted mobile telephone  100  causes a displacement of the pressing surface  320  by the predetermined difference, ΔY 3 , in the distance so that the elastic pressing element  340 , according to its spring-like elastic properties, causes, through the pressing surface  320 , a restoring force F hold  on the foot area  107  of the mobile telephone. As a consequence of the restoring force F hold  acting on the mobile telephone housing, the mobile telephone housing is, as described above, pressed against the head-holding bracket  220  in the direction opposite to the displacement, ΔY 3 , with respect to the neutral position Y 0 . The restoring force, i. e. the force resulting from the difference, ΔY 3 , in the distance, in connection with the elastic properties of the pressing element  340 , defines the holding force of the mobile telephone in the holding device  200 . 
   The foot-holding bracket  260  serves on one side to guide the mobile telephone during the insertion process and on the other side to support the foot area  107  of the mobile telephone housing in a direction opposite to the holding surface  215 . 
   Not shown are lateral guides which support the mobile telephone against transverse displacement parallel to the holding surface  215  and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mobile telephone  100 . The lateral guides can be disposed in spatial conformity with the foot area  107  of the mobile telephone  100  inserted into the holding device  200  and in spatial conformity with the head area  106  of the mobile telephone  100  inserted into the holding device  200 . That is, suitable lateral guides can be provided in the area of the head-holding bracket  220  and the foot-holding bracket  260 . 
   The head area  206  of the holding device  200  and the head area  106  of the mobile telephone  100  or the foot area  207  of the holding device  200  and the foot area  107  of the mobile telephone  100  are spaced nearest to one another according to the representation in  FIG. 1   b.    
   The coupling unit  230  of the holding device should be disposed in suitable spatial conformity with the antenna  170  of the mobile telephone  100  inserted into the holding device  200 . 
   In the following, the insertion process of the mobile telephone  100  will be presented schematically with reference to  FIGS. 1   c  to  1   e . The insertion of the mobile telephone  100  is done by manual handling of the mobile telephone  100 , whose user preferably handles the mobile telephone  100  by gripping, with her/his index finger and thumb of one hand, the gripping surfaces  160  disposed on the side. For this, the holding device  200  is formed in such a manner that, disposed on the side, the gripping surfaces  160  of the mobile telephone  100  are freely accessible and remain so during the entire insertion process. In the framework of the following description, reference is made to  FIG. 2   a . The relevant dimensions and displacements are represented in addition. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1   c , the foot area  107  of the mobile telephone  100  is first introduced into the holding device  200  in the direction of the pressing surface  320 . For this, the mobile telephone  100  is tilted at an angle α which is defined by the holding surface  215  and the rear surface  105  of the housing of the mobile telephone  100  or its longitudinal axis. The line of intersection of the holding surface  215  and the rear surface  105  of the housing lies in the plane which is defined by the holding surface  215  or which is defined by the rear surface  105  of the housing. The angle α between the holding surface  215  and the rear surface  105  of the housing is preferably acute. The angle α is furthermore preferably bounded below by the distance of the head-holding bracket  220  to the holding surface  215 . 
   The introduction of the mobile telephone  100  into the holding device  200  in the direction of the pressing surface  320  is supported by the foot-holding bracket  260 , which, working together with the holding surface  215  guides the foot area  107  of the mobile telephone in the direction of the pressing surface  320 . The mobile telephone is guided by the user in the direction of its longitudinal axis, which, as described above, is tilted at an angle α with respect to the holding surface  215 . Setting the mobile telephone at an angle is prevented by the guiding action of the foot-holding bracket  260  and the holding surface  215 . The guiding of the foot-holding bracket  260  and the holding surface  215  furthermore acts in a supporting manner on the tilting of the mobile telephone  100  by the angle α. That is, the guiding elements can be formed in such a manner that the suitable angle α is established automatically. 
   The guiding effect of the foot-holding bracket  260  and the holding surface  215  furthermore supports a guiding together of the contact unit  150  of the mobile telephone  100  and the contact unit  310  which is disposed on the pressing unit  300  or the pressing surface  320 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 1   d , the mobile telephone  100  is guided by the user in the direction of this longitudinal axis so that by means of its foot area  107  the pressing surface is displaced by the user in the direction towards the foot area  207  of the holding device  200  under the action of a force. The force acting at an angle α on the pressing surface, said force being exerted by the user in guiding the mobile telephone  100 , has one component F ∥  essentially perpendicular to the holding surface  215  on which it is incident, and one component F ∥  on the pressing surface  320  and essentially parallel to the holding surface  215  or essentially perpendicular to the pressing surface  320 . The action of a force F ∥  on the pressing surface  320  acts against the pressing element  340  and causes a displacement of the pressing surface  320  from the neutral position Y 0  in the direction of the action of a force F ∥ , i. e. in the direction of the foot area  207  of the holding device  200 . 
   The mobile telephone  100  is guided by the user in the direction of its longitudinal axis until a predetermined displacement ΔY 2  of the pressing surface  320  is reached. The predetermined displacement ΔY 2  is defined essentially by the level ΔY 1  of the head-holding bracket  220  in the direction parallel with respect to the holding surface  215 . As soon as the predetermined displacement ΔY 2  of pressing surface  320  is reached, the user can reduce the angle α by a pivoting motion of the head area  106  of the mobile telephone  100  so that finally the rear surface  105  of the housing of the mobile telephone  100  and the holding surface  215  of the holding device  200  are essentially parallel to one another. Due to the pivoting motion of the mobile telephone  100 , the maximum radius of the pivot circle which the mobile telephone  100  describes during the pivoting motion must also be taken into account along with the level ΔY 1  of the head-holding bracket  220  for the required displacement ΔY 2  of the pressing surface  320 . 
   During the pivoting motion, the force F max  required for the displacement ΔY 2  of the pressing surface is maintained by the user.  FIG. 1   c  [sic] shows the mobile telephone  100  which is completely pivoted into the holding device  200 . With reduction of the force required for the displacement ΔY 2  of the pressing surface, the elastic pressing element  340  causes, by means of the pressing surface  320 , a displacement of the mobile telephone  100  in the direction towards the heading-holding bracket  220  or in the direction towards the head area  207  of the holding device  200 . In said displacement, the mobile telephone  100  is preferably guided by the holding surface  215  which the rear surface  105  of the housing of the mobile telephone  100  abuts. 
   Because of the free distance Y H  between the pressing surface  320  in the neutral position and the head-holding bracket  220 , said free distance being shortened with respect to the longitudinal extension or the length of the housing of the mobile telephone by the predetermined difference, ΔY 3 , in the distance, the pressing surface  320  returns to the position displaced with respect to the neutral position by the predetermined difference, ΔY 3 , in the distance. This is described above with reference to  FIG. 1   b.    
   Due to the preferred spring-like elastic properties of the pressing element  340 , the force required for the displacement of the pressing surface must be increased by the user in proportion to the size of the displacement ΔY. The maximum force F max  required for the displacement is required with the maximum displacement ΔY 2  of the pressing surface  320 . 
   It is to be noted that the reader who is so inclined can also derive, on the basis of the above-explained description of the insertion process, the steps which are necessary for the process of disengaging or withdrawing the mobile telephone  100  from the holding device  200 . The mobile telephone  100  is first to be displaced in the direction parallel to the holding surface  215  of the holding device  200  against the pressing element  340  with increasing force by the user. As soon as the displacement ΔY 2  required above is reached by applying the maximum required force F max  the user can pivot the mobile telephone  100 , by the head area  106  of the mobile telephone  100 , out of the holding device  200  at the angle α. If the user then reduces the force required for the displacement ΔY, the restoring force of the pressing element  340  causes the pushing out of the mobile telephone  100 , whose longitudinal axis is pivoted by the angle α with respect to the holding surface  215  of the holding device  200 . The pushing out of the mobile telephone  100  is in turn guided by the holding surface  215  and the foot holding bracket  260  in order to prevent tilting of the mobile telephone  100 . 
   As described above, the inserted mobile telephone is held, with the aid of the element  340 , between the pressing surface  320  and head-holding bracket  220  by the holding force F hold  which results from the displacement ΔY 3  of the pressing surface  320  relative to the neutral position Y 0  in connection with the elastic properties of the elastic pressing element  340 . The holding force F hold  thus causes a mechanical fixation of the mobile telephone  100  in the holding device  200 . In addition, the holding force F hold  ensures that the electrical contact between the contact units  150  and  310  is maintained in a reliable manner. The contacts of the contact unit  150  or  310  can be spring-loaded. 
   The mechanical fixation of the mobile telephone  100  in the holding device  200  is, however, not static but dynamic. Referring to  FIG. 2   b  it will be assumed that the holding device  200  is exposed to an impact. An impact of this type can, for example, occur during the operation in a motor vehicle when driving over a barrier, an uneven area, or a pothole. If the observer is in the inertial system of the holding device  200 , an impact of this type appears as an acceleration a shock , which acts at the center of mass of the mobile telephone  100 . The acceleration a shock  acts on the mobile telephone  100 , which has a mass m, for a period of time s shock . From the mass m and the acceleration a shock , a force F shock  results which acts against the holding force F hold  of the elastic pressing element  340 . In first approximation one obtains a displacing force F down  from the difference of the force F shock  and the holding force F hold . The displacing force F down  in turn causes an effective displacing acceleration adown which acts over the time s shock  and accordingly leads to a displacement ΔY off . By suitable choice of the holding force F hold  or of the elastic properties of the pressing element  340 , a maximum displacement ΔY off  can be ensured in case of an impact (acceleration) to be maximally absorbed, said impact causing an effective acceleration a down  to be maximally absorbed. The maximum displacement ΔY off  is advantageously set in such a manner that it does not exceed the level ΔY 1  of the bracket of the head-holding bracket  220  taking into account of a predetermined safety margin ΔY margin  (ΔY 1 ≧ΔY off +ΔY margin ). By calculations and simulations the elastic properties required for the pressing element  340  and the size of the displacement from the neutral position Y 0  can be determined. 
   For the determination of the elastic properties of the pressing element  340  and the size of the displacement ΔY 3  from the neutral position Y 0 , one must also take into account the maximum force F max  which must be applied by the user during the insertion process into, and the withdrawal process of the mobile telephone  100  out of, the holding device  200 . The force F max  to be applied should be chosen in regard to the one-handed handling by means of the index finger and thumb. 
   In conclusion,  FIG. 3   a  shows a form of embodiment of the holding device according to the invention which is made of multiple parts. The multi-part or modular design of the holding device is advantageous if, for the functional parts of the holding device, different versions are available, each of which is adapted to different mobile telephones or their housing configuration. The modular design makes economical production possible through a combination of universal parts and parts in especially adapted versions. 
   The holding device according to the invention and according to the form of embodiment represented in  FIG. 3  comprises a main tray  400 , a coupling unit  410 , a coupling holder  420 , a foot tray  440  with a receptacle  445  for a pressing unit  450 , the pressing unit  450 , and an annular holder  430 . 
   The coupling unit  410  serves for the inductive or capacitive coupling with the antenna of the mobile telephone. The main tray  400  comprises a receptacle  405  which is configured to accommodate the coupling unit  410  and the coupling holder  420 . The free surface of the coupling holder  420 , i. e. the surface directed outwards after the insertion of the coupling holder  420  into the receptacle  405  of the main tray  400 , serves, as described above, as a holding surface with respect to the rear surface of the housing of the mobile telephone to be received. The main tray  400  is furthermore provided with a receptacle  406  which is suitable for the fixation of the foot tray. 
   The receptacle  445  of the foot tray  440  is configured so as to be suitable to accommodate the pressing unit  450 . For this, the receptacle  445  can be formed, as represented in  FIG. 3 , either completely in the foot tray  440  or by affixing the foot tray  440  to the main tray  400 . The pressing unit  450  comprises guide tracks  455  which can pre-assign a predetermined direction of displacement to the pressing unit  450  or its pressing plate. The guide tracks  455  can, for example, be realized by pins which engage in hollow guide elements so that a direction of displacement is defined. 
   The annular holder  430  can also be affixed to the main tray. The annular holder  430  preferably has, in a side view, the essentially U-shaped or V-shaped form represented, while the annular holder  430  in a plan view, i. e. in a view perpendicular to the side view represented, has an essentially closed, O-shaped, annular, elliptical, or frame-shaped form. According to the configuration of the annular holder  430  in its plan view, the annular holder  430  comprises the head-holding bracket  435  and possibly the foot-holding tray  436  in addition. Alternatively, the foot-holding tray  436  can be formed as a part of the foot tray  440 . 
   The configuration of the annular holder  430  comprises in the area of the head-holding tray  435  as well as in the area of the foot-holding tray  436  lateral guides which are suitable to support a mobile telephone which is inserted into the holding device with the annular holder  430  on the sides, i. e. perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mobile telephone and parallel to the holding surface of the holding device. 
   As can be seen with reference to  FIG. 3   b , the described configuration of the annular holder  430  ensures that at least the operating elements or the display of the mobile telephone are freely accessible when the mobile telephone is inserted into the holding device. The front surface of the housing of the mobile telephone is only slightly covered by the head-holding brackets  435  or foot-holding brackets  436 . Furthermore, the described configuration of the annular holder  430  ensures that, disposed on the sides, gripping surfaces of the mobile telephone are also freely accessible so that the previously described handling by the user can be done by using the thumb and the index finger. 
   The invention is not restricted to the represented or described forms of embodiment and embodiment examples. Rather, the invention also includes extensions of the invention in the framework of the claims. In particular, the invention can be provided with, instead of the described contact units  150  and  310 , or in addition to them, additional or alternative interfaces for the transmission of data or signals. Thus, data transmission from the mobile telephone to external electronic devices can be done, for example, with the aid of infrared interfaces or wireless radio interfaces, such as, for example, Bluetooth interfaces. 
   LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
   
       
         100  Mobile telephone 
         105 Rear surface of the housing 
         106  Head area of the mobile telephone housing 
         107  Foot area of the mobile telephone housing 
         110  Earpiece or loudspeaker 
         120  Display 
         130 (ITU-T) keypad 
         140  Mouthpiece or microphone 
         150  Contact unit or multipoint connecting plug 
         160  Gripping surface 
         170  Antenna (internal) 
         200  Holding device 
         206  Head area of the holding device 
         207  Foot area of the holding device 
         210  Main tray 
         215  Holding surface 
         220  Head-holding bracket 
         230  Coupling unit 
         260  Foot-holding bracket 
         270  Limiting element 
         280  Foot tray 
         300  Pressing unit 
         310  Contact unit or multipoint connecting plug 
         320  Pressing surface 
         330  Flexible circuit board conductor 
         340  Elastic pressing element 
         400  Main tray 
         405  Receptacle for the coupling unit and the coupling holder 
         406  Receptacle for the foot tray 
         410  Coupling unit 
         420  Coupling holder 
         430  Annular holder 
         435  Head-holding bracket 
         440  Foot-holding bracket 
         445  Receptacle 
         450  Pressing unit 
         455  Guide tracks