Abstract:
An electronic device holder includes a base with at least three adjustable-position retaining posts extending upwardly from the base to permit an electronic device to be secured at a position above the base by the retaining posts. A test lead restraint assembly may be used to capture and thereby stabilize a test lead extending from the electronic device during testing of the electronic device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/470,024, filed 31 Mar. 2011, and entitled “Adjustable Electronic Device Holder.” 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Electronic devices, such as cell phones, are typically subject to a great deal of testing, especially during their prototype stages. Because manufacturers make only a few prototypes for testing, these prototypes are expensive pieces of equipment and are quite valuable to the designers. During testing cables are often connected to the device, typically through connectors mounted to the device. The connectors may be an integral part of the device or added on to provide the desired electronic access to the device components. The connectors often include small RF connectors which are often not robust in their design and may tend to break off easily, possibly with damage to the device. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An example of an electronic device holder is used during testing of an electronic device of the type having a test lead extending therefrom. The electronic device holder includes a base having upper and lower surfaces and at least three retaining post assemblies mounted to the base. Each retaining post assembly includes a positioner and a retaining post mounted to and extending from the positioner. The positioners are movably mounted to the base for movement of the retaining posts along paths over the upper surface of the base so to vary the distances between the retaining posts to permit an electronic device to be captured between the retaining posts. Other examples of an electronic device holder may also include one or more the following. The retaining posts may have cushioned outer surfaces. The positioners may be mountable to the base at different positions. The retaining posts may define a device capture region above the upper surface and a support member may be mounted to the base within the device capture region so that the electronic device can be at least partially vertically supported by the support member. A test lead restraint assembly may be associated with, typically mounted to, the base. The test lead restraint assembly may include first and second restraint elements used to capture and thereby stabilize the test lead. 
     An example of a method for stabilizing an electronic device during testing, the electronic device having at least one test lead extending therefrom, is carried out as follows. An electronic device is positioned spaced apart above the base of an electronic device holder and between a plurality of restraining posts extending upwardly from the base. The restraining posts are biased towards device-supporting positions and against the electronic device. The restraining posts are fixed in the device-supporting positions thereby securing the electronic device in a testing position spaced apart above the base. A test lead extending from the electronic device is stabilized. Other examples of the electronic device stabilizing method may include one or more the following. The stabilizing step may comprise capturing the test lead between upper and lower test lead restraining elements using a test lead restraining assembly located at a fixed position relative to the base. The positioning step may be carried out using restraining posts having cushioned outer surfaces. The electronic device may be vertically supported using a support member extending upwardly from the base at a position spaced apart from each of the restraining posts. 
     Other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention can be seen on review the figures, the detailed description, and the claims which follow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of an electronic device holder shown supporting an electronic device and testing leads. 
         FIG. 2  is an overall view of the electronic device holder of  FIG. 1  without the electronic device or testing leads and with the positioners at different orientations from their orientations of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the electronic device holder of  FIG. 1  without the electronic device or testing leads. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the electronic device holder of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a partial side cross-sectional view showing a slightly modified version of the positioner which includes a post locking screw to temporarily hold the cam member in position. 
         FIG. 6  is a simplified top view of the positioner of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a simplified end view of a portion of the structure of  FIGS. 3 and 4  showing the test lead restraint assembly. 
         FIG. 8  is a partial side cross-sectional view of the structure of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is based in part upon the recognition that it is important that undue stress not be applied to the connectors mounted to electronic devices during testing of the electronic devices. The present invention helps to ensure that the device is held in a stable position with good access to the device without damage to the device during testing. 
     The following description will typically be with reference to specific structural embodiments and methods. It is to be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specifically disclosed embodiments and methods but that the invention may be practiced using other features, elements, methods and embodiments. Preferred embodiments are described to illustrate the present invention, not to limit its scope, which is defined by the claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a variety of equivalent variations on the description that follows. Like elements in various embodiments are commonly referred to with like reference numerals. 
       FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of an electronic device test stand or holder  10  shown supporting an electronic device  12  having test leads  14 , also called testing leads  14 , extending from connectors  16 .  FIG. 2  is an overall view of the electronic device holder of  FIG. 1  without the electronic device  12  or test leads  14  and with the positioners  24 , described below, at different orientations from their orientations of  FIG. 1 . Base  22  is typically made of aluminum or stainless steel, but could also be made of, for example, an appropriate polymer material. 
     Referring now also to  FIGS. 3-6 , holder  10  is shown with four retaining post assemblies  24  extending from the upper surface  26  of base  22 . Each retaining post assembly  24  includes a positioner  28  and a retaining post  30 . Positioner  28  includes a disk shaped cam member  32  secured to the base  22  by a T-type cam lock  34 . The threaded post  38  of cam lock  34  passes through an eccentrically positioned threaded opening  36  in cam member  32 . Threaded post  38  passes through any of several different through-holes  40  in base  22  according to the size and shape of the electronic device  12 . While four retaining post assemblies  24  are illustrated in the figures, a greater or lesser number may also be used depending primarily on the shape of electronic device  12 . 
     Test stand  10  also includes, in some examples, a support member  42  centrally located on base  22 . Support member  42  has a support surface  44  used to provide vertical support to electronic device  12 . The movement of positioners  28  about a vertical axis passing through through-holes  40  causes retaining post  30  to move along a circular path  46 . Each retaining post  30  includes a stiff elongate body  48 , typically of steel or aluminum, covered by a cushioning material  49 , such as a layer of silicone about 1-2 mm thick. Elongate body  48  is press fitted into an appropriate opening formed in cam member  32 . The use of the cushioning material  49  helps ensure the electronic device  12  is securely positioned without damage to the electronic device. Elongate body  48  is illustrated as a cylindrical body but elongate body having other cross-sectional shape may also be used. In addition, although cushioning material  49  is illustrated as having a constant thickness, it could have a variable thickness whether or not elongate body  48  is cylindrical. In either event the surface area of cushioning material  49  contacting electronic device  12  can be adjusted according to the particular electronic device being supported. More than one support member  42  may be used. Support surface  44  may be configured to have an enlarged support surface area for electronic device  12 . In addition, when multiple support members  42  are used, support surface  44  may be configured to extend between two or more of the support members. 
     When the retaining post  30  is at a desired position, cam lock  34  is tightened thus securing the retaining post at the desired position along path  46 . This is repeated for each retaining post  30 . If desired, as shown in the example of  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a post locking screw  50  can be used to semi-permanently secure cam member  32  at a desired position relative to base  22 . Although path  46  is, in this example, a circular path, path  46  may have other shapes, including paths having noncircular curved and straight path segments. 
     Referring now primarily to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  7  and  8 , a cable restraint assembly  56 , sometimes called a test lead restraint assembly, will be discussed. Assembly  56  includes a pair of spaced apart threaded posts  58  extending through holes  60  in base  22  along one edge of the base. Each post  58  has an enlarged head  59  and is maintained in position through the use of a threaded sleeve  62  also mounted to threaded posts  58  with base  22  captured between threaded sleeve  62  and enlarged head  59 . Support elements  64  are shown in the form of threaded thumb nuts. Support elements  64  can be positioned vertically along threaded posts  58 . A first, or lower, restraint bar  66  has holes at either end through which posts  58  pass. Accordingly, lower restraint bar  66  is supported at the desired height above upper surface  26  on base  22  by the positions of support elements  64 . 
     Assembly  56  also includes restraint bar biasing elements  68  in the form of threaded thumb nuts in this example. Upper restraint bar  70 , typically similar to or identical to restraint bar  66 , is mounted on posts  58  between biasing elements  68  and lower restraint bar  66  creating a test lead region  72  therebetween. Lower and upper restraint bars  66 ,  70  are typically made of a rigid or semi-rigid material. Lower and upper restraint bars  66 ,  70  are could also be covered with a material to enhance friction with, and/or to supply cushioning to, testing leads  14 . While the disclosed example shows cable restraint assembly  56  secured to base  22  at a fixed position, it could be at different positions on base  22  and, if desired, could be mounted to, for example, a separate base so that it would be associated with, typically by being adjacent to, base  22 . It is preferred that cable restraint assembly  56  be at a fixed position relative to base  22  whether or not is secured directly to the base to help reduce forces exerted on connectors  16  by testing leads  14  during testing. In this example, connectors  16  are configured so that testing leads  14  extend horizontally from connectors  16 . The distance between connectors  16  and upper surface  26  of the base  22  is substantially the same as the distance between testing leads  14 , secured between lower and upper restraining bar  66  and  70  at the test lead region  72 , and the base  22 . In this way testing leads  14  are supported by this base restraining assembly  56  so that they come horizontally straight out of connectors  16  to help minimize stresses on the connectors. If connectors  16  were not configured to direct test lead  14  horizontally relative to base  22 , the height of test lead region  72  would be adjusted to accommodate the direction of test leads  14 . 
     One advantage of the cable restraint assembly  56  is that it provides an adjustable method of restraining test leads  14  that does not require tools. Upper and lower thumb nut sets, acting as support elements  64  and biasing elements  68 , along with restraint bars  66 ,  70 , acting as two pinch bars sandwiched between elements  64 ,  68 , allow for an adjustable height along with an adjustable compression pressure technique to be attained for test lead restraint. The height adjustability allows different test lead types and or dimensions to be secured without tools. This test lead restraint also allows quick tool-less securing with good adjustability. 
     Another advantage of holder  10  relates to the cam style retaining post assemblies  24 . These retaining post assemblies are easily adjustable. Posts  30  can be relocated to different locations on base  22  to increase the number of different sized and different shaped devices that can be secured. Tee type locking nuts  34  allow posts  30  to be locked into a position without the use of tools to secure the device once the cam is positioned into the chosen ideal location. The use of silicone, or other cushioning material  49  on the posts, provides a frictional, non-damaging method to hold the device  12  in position. The compression of the silicone gives post  30  the holding ability for the device without damaging the surface of the device. 
     In use, the positions of retaining post assemblies  24  can be changed, if necessary, using the different positions of through holes  40  passing through base  22  based upon size and shape of electronic device  12  to be tested. If desired, a suitable support member  42  can be used to help support the electronic device  12 . Biasing elements  68  of the test lead restraint assembly  56  can be removed to allow upper restraining bar  70  to be removed from threaded posts  58 . Electronic device  12 , typically with testing leads  14  extending from connectors  16 , is then positioned between the properly positioned retaining posts  30 . One or more of the retaining posts  30 , typically two or more, are then moved along circular paths  46  as cam members  32  pivot about threaded posts  38 . Once in the proper position, typically engaging the edges of electronic device  12 , the retaining posts  30  are secured in their device-supporting positions using cam locks  34  which secure cam members  32  to upper surface  26  of base  22 . Doing so secures the electronic device  12  in a testing position above base  22 . Testing leads  14  are then stabilized by placing upper restraint bar  70  back onto threaded posts  58  to rest against the testing leads. Test lead restraining assembly  56  is in a fixed position relative to base  22  to help reduce forces being exerted on connectors  16  by testing leads  14  during testing. In this example, assembly  56  is mounted directly to the base  22 . Biasing elements  68  are then threaded onto threaded posts  58  biasing upper restraint bar  70  against testing leads  14  thus capturing the testing leads between lower and upper restraint bars  66  and  70  within test lead region  72 . In some examples, electronic device  12  may be mounted to electronic device holder  10  before testing leads  14  are connected thereto. In such situation, after electronic device  12  has been secured to electronic device holder  10 , the testing leads  14  may be, for example, threaded between lower and upper restraining bar  66 ,  70  and then connected to electronic device  12  using connectors  16 . After such connection, biasing elements  68  can be used to secure the testing leads  14  between lower and upper restraining bars  66 ,  70 . 
     The above descriptions may have used terms such as above, below, top, bottom, over, under, et cetera. These terms may be used in the description and claims to aid understanding of the invention and not used in a limiting sense. 
     While the present invention is disclosed by reference to the preferred embodiments and examples detailed above, it is to be understood that these examples are intended in an illustrative rather than in a limiting sense. It is contemplated that modifications and combinations will occur to those skilled in the art, which modifications and combinations will be within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims. 
     Any and all patents, patent applications and printed publications referred to above are incorporated by reference.