Abstract:
A portable electronic device holder, especially for the dashboard of a car, comprising: a base ( 1 ) having a lower plate ( 2 ), and a cavity ( 4 ); and a console ( 5 ) having a mounting plate ( 7 ) with a shaft ( 8 ), and a motor ( 28 ) for rotating said mounting plate ( 7 ); wherein said console ( 5 ) is adapted to be inserted into said cavity ( 4 ); said lower plate ( 2 ) has a shape adapted to a shape of a dashboard ( 3 ) of a car and is detachably fixed thereto; and said mounting plate ( 7 ) sits rotatably in the console ( 5 ) and is adapted for mounting a portable device ( 11 ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to the European Patent Application No. EP07460037 filed Dec. 12, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to a portable electronic device holder, especially for a dashboard of a car, provided with a mounting plate, which plate sits rotatably in the holder and to which the portable device is mounted. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    German utility model 20313215 discloses a holder for mounting a device, especially in a car, which includes a suction cup mounted to a smooth surface within the car and a mounting plate that is attached to the suction cup with a hinged joint to which the device is to be mounted. On the external surface of the holder there is a button to mount the suction cup and handwheels to adjust the angle, at which the device has to be mounted to the dashboard of the car. The holder is also provided with an additional mount, which enables fixing the holder to a desired surface within a car. 
         [0006]    WO 2007/100239 A1 describes a navigation device and the method to mount it within a car. This device includes a base that ends with a suction cup or is inserted into a hole made, e.g., in the dashboard of a car and a mounting arm, which sits rotatably in the said base and accommodates a navigation device, whereas the said arm is slideably supported on a curved block to enable setting a desired angle, at which the navigation device is inclined to the horizontal plane. 
         [0007]    German utility model 29707123 describes a holder for mounting various devices within a car. The said holder includes a first plate mounted to a desired surface within a car by mean of screws and a mounting plate, which is attached to the first plate with articulated arms. The device, e.g. a mobile phone, is mounted to the mounting plate. 
         [0008]    A similar device for mounting a mobile phone within a car is disclosed by the U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,744 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,255. 
         [0009]    A major inconvenience of portable electronic device holders with suction cups, as known in the art, is that such holders do not ensure a firm mounting to a smooth surface within a car since in most cases these surfaces show a certain degree of roughness. On the other hand, other holders used for this purpose need affecting the integrity of the surface within a car, to which the holder is mounted, for example by drilling holes to mount the base of the holder or to drive screws into it. Accordingly, much opportunity for improvement exists in this technological area. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    It is an objective of the invention to provide a holder for mounting portable electronic devices, especially to a dashboard of a car, which will not affect the integrity of the dashboard, will enable positioning the electronic device at a desired angle from the horizontal plane, as well as it should allow mounting portable electronic devices of a large size, e.g., navigation devices with a conveniently big display, set at a desired angle from the horizontal plane. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment of the invention provided is a holder for mounting portable electronic devices, especially to the dashboard of a car. The holder is provided with a base with a lower plate, which shape is adapted to that of the dashboard of a car, the base having a cavity to accommodate a console, to which a mounting plate with a motor is attached rotatably and axially. The electronic device is mounted to the mounting plate. The bottom surface of the base is detachably glued to the dashboard of a car, for example, by means of a double-side silicone adhesive tape. 
         [0012]    In a class of this embodiment, the holder console is provided with a frame inserted into the cavity in the base and accommodating the shaft of the mounting plate, and the space between the arms of the frame allows placing the portable electronic device in it. 
         [0013]    In a class of this embodiment, the console is provided with protrusions, and the base is provided with holes (or vice versa) so that the protrusions may be clamped in the holes. 
         [0014]    In a class of this embodiment, the mounting plate of the holder is favourably provided with a coil return spring and a hydraulic mechanism to slow down the rotation of the mounting plate. 
         [0015]    In a class of this embodiment, the hydraulic slow-down mechanism comprises a casing, which is rotatably mounted on the shaft, connected to the mounting plate and covered with a lid and filled with a high-viscosity lubricant, and of a multiple-blade rotor keyed on the shaft of the mounting plate. 
         [0016]    In a class of this embodiment, the base of the holder is favorably provided with a hole, through which the electric wires, connecting the holder to the car wiring system, may be drawn. 
         [0017]    In a class of this embodiment, the holder console is favorably provided with an antenna, especially a TMC antenna, installed in the frame. 
         [0018]    In a class of this embodiment, the holder base is favorably made of resilient plastic. 
         [0019]    In a class of this embodiment, the mounting plate is favorably provided with a first catch, which is adapted to engage with a corresponding slot in the electronic device to be mounted to the mounting plate, and with a second catch, located at its circumference, which is adapted to engage with a corresponding catch of the button in the base. 
         [0020]    In a class of this embodiment, the console of the holder is favorably provided with a limiter connected to a handwheel to limit the rotation of the mounting plate. 
         [0021]    The performance tests of the holder, according to the invention, revealed its universality since the holder not only may accommodate any device, even large-size electronic ones, especially navigation devices with displays, but also it allows hiding these devices inside the holder when it is in the closed position. 
         [0022]    Moreover, the holder may be installed without cutting or drilling holes in the surface within a car, especially in the dashboard, its assembly is easy and can be performed by the user without any tools. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The portable electronic device holder, especially for the dashboard of a car, according to the invention, is depicted on the drawings attached, in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  shows a holder in the locked position, glued to the dashboard of a car according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the holder according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0026]      FIGS. 3 and 4  depict the particular phases of mounting the navigation device to the mounting plate of the holder according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  shows the holder in the locked position with a navigation device sitting in it, according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  shows the arrangement of the wiring connecting the holder to the car wiring system according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  shows the position of an antenna, especially a TMC antenna, in the holder according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  shows the holder with the mechanism, which releases the mounting plate with the motor, according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 9  shows another embodiment of the invention having a hydraulic slow-down mechanism, which opens the mounting plate and limits its rotational motion; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 10  is an expanded view of a hydraulic slow-down mechanism. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    The portable electronic device holder, as depicted in the  FIGS. 1 and 2 , used for example to mount a navigation device to the dashboard of a car, comprises: a base  1  with a lower plate  2  which has a shape adapted to the shape of the dashboard  3  of a car and is favorably attached to the dashboard with a double-sided silicon adhesive tape, and is provided with a cubicoid cavity  4 , into which a console  5  is inserted. 
         [0034]    The base  1  is conveniently made of a resilient plastic, e.g. a polyvinyl chloride. The console  5  comprises a frame  6  inserted into the cavity  4  in the base  1  and of a mounting plate  7 , which sits rotatably in the frame and is provided with a motor to make it rotate, whereas the space between the frame arms  8  allows placing a portable electronic device  11  in it, mounted to the mounting plate  7 . 
         [0035]    The mounting plate  7 , sitting rotatably on the shaft  8 , is provided with a plug  9 , located in the nearby of the shaft, and a catch  10 , which is adapted to engage with a corresponding slot in the electronic device  11 , to mount it and to lock it in the mounting plate. On the shaft  8  of the mounting plate  7  there is mounted a motor  28  with a gear to make the mounting plate rotate. The motor  28  is controlled by an electronic module  29 , which is activated when the button  13  in the frame  6  is pressed; however, the motion direction depends on the position of the mounting plate  7 , i.e., on the position of motor limit switches, not shown on the drawing. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 3 to 5  show a method of mounting the electronic device  11 , for example a navigation device, in the mounting plate  7 . The device  11  moves across the mounting plate  7 , its slot is driven onto the plug  9  and then is pressed down towards the mounting plate  7 , which results in that the catch  10  engages with a corresponding slot in the base of the device  11  and locks it in a set position. To close the mounting plate  7  with the electronic device  11  in it, it is necessary to push the button  13 , which activates the electronic module  29  controlling the motor  28  ( FIG. 8 ). To open the mounting plate  7  it is necessary to push the button  13  again. 
         [0037]    When open, the mounting plate is inclined to the horizontal plane at a set a angle. To set the a angle, a limiter of the rotation of the mounting plate  7  is used, connected with the handwheel  16 . 
         [0038]    In order to mount the console  5  firmly, the base  1  is provided with holes  17  and the console is provided with protrusions  18 , which are clamped in these holes (or vice versa). 
         [0039]    In another embodiment, as depicted on the  FIG. 9 , to close and open the mounting plate  7  manually, there is provided a hydraulic slow-down mechanism  15 , connected to the mounting plate, and the catch  12  engages with the button  13  of the frame  6 . In order to close the mounting plate, it can be rotated manually around the shaft  8  and the catch  12  engages with the corresponding slot of the button  13 , thus closing the holder. To open the mounting plate  7  with the electronic device  11  in it, it is necessary to push the button  13  to release the catch  12  and the coil return spring  14  makes the mounting plate  7  rotate, slowed down by the hydraulic mechanism  15  and thus opens the mounting plate  7 . 
         [0040]    The hydraulic slow-down mechanism, as depicted in the  FIG. 10  in an exploded view, comprises a casing  19 , which is connected to the mounting plate  7 , sits rotatably on the shaft  8  of the mounting plate  7  and is provided with catches  21  that are adapted to engage with the slots  22  in the cover  20 . The space inside the casing  19  is filled with a high-viscosity lubricant, in which a multiple-blade rotor  23  rotates, keyed on the shaft  8 . The gasket  24  is provided to seal the casing  19 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  shows the arrangement of the wiring  25 , which connects the holder and the wiring system of the car. The hole  26  is provided in the holder base  1  to drive the wiring through it. 
         [0042]      FIG. 7  shows the arrangement of an antenna, especially a TMC antenna  27 , within the console  5  of the holder. 
         [0043]    Assembling the holder, according to the invention, and mounting it to the external surface of the dashboard  3  of a car comprises removing the paper protective strip from the double-sided silicone adhesive tape and pressing the base  1  to the surface of the dashboard  3 . Then, the wiring  25  is driven through the hole  26  in the base  1  and connected to the relevant cables in the car wiring system. Next, the console  5  is pressed down so that its protrusions  18  move into the slots  17  in the base  1 . Then, the desired portable electronic device  11  is mounted to the mounting plate as described above. When the car is not moving it is useful to close the mounting plate  7  to a position as shown in the  FIG. 5 , so that the device is hidden completely. 
         [0044]    Opening or closing the holder with a motor, according to the invention, may be executed automatically by turning the key in the ignition switch, which electric system controls the electronic module  29 . 
         [0045]    The holder, according to the invention, may be used in various types of cars, which may require replacing the base  1  with the one fitting to the shape of the dashboard in a particular car. To make the replacement it is necessary to remove the base  1  from the dashboard and a new base is glued to the dashboard with a double-sided adhesive tape. 
         [0046]    This invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein and modifications for various applications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. While this invention has been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims. 
         [0047]    All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application mentioned in this specification was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.