Patent Description:
On many short haul flights, entertainment systems are not provided in passenger seat backs. To provide entertainment to passengers on these flights, airlines may offer movies and shows that can be accessed wirelessly through the aircraft's in-flight entertainment system and viewed on passengers' personal electronic devices ("PED"). Unfortunately, these seats are not provided with any structure to hold these PEDs.

Furthermore, seats that include In-Flight Entertainment ("IFE") devices for passengers' use do not offer a place for passengers to stow his or her own PEDs. A seat with an IFE could still include a PED holder if the PED holder is installed without blocking the IFE (e.g., behind the tray table). In this manner, a passenger can use both the IFE and the PED holder at the same time. Thus, there is a need to provide structures built into passenger seats that can hold PEDs and allow passengers to view their devices hands-free.

Current solutions to this problem include a tray that folds down from the passenger seat back. The main disadvantage of these trays are that the deployed position remains the same regardless of whether the passenger seat back is upright or reclined. For example, if a passenger seated in row B places a tablet on the fold down tray, and a seated in row A reclines his seat, the tablet can fall out.

Another solution on the market has a channel built into the passenger's food table. This design puts the tablet close to the passenger's knees, which is outside of the natural viewing angle of the passenger. Another issue with this design is that it limits the size of the devices that can be used with it. If a device is larger than the channel, it would not be compatible.

Yet another solution on the market has a fold out tray and a retaining device that holds a top of the personal electronic device in place. The main disadvantage of this solution is that it also limits the size of the tablet that can used with the holder. Furthermore, the retaining device can be damaged by a passenger.

Thus, there is a need for a solution that allows the personal electronic device to be secured in an adjustable manner that allows the personal electronic device to be viewed from a variety of angles, as well as positioning the personal electronic device in a location that aligns with a natural viewing angle of a passenger, and conserving space above the table holder for other amenity items.

Document <CIT> describes a device for attaching a tablet computer, in particular to the rear-side of a vehicle seat part such as a back rest, head rest or head rest mounting of a vehicle seat, comprising a fastening device for attaching the device to the vehicle seat part and a carrier element which is movably connected to the fastening device.

Document <CIT> describes methods and systems for retrofitting a personal entertainment mount onto existing seats having an entertainment display shroud for use with an in-flight entertainment display device.

Document <CIT> describes a fixing apparatus for a portable device mounted to a vehicle seat. The fixing apparatus includes a first fixing part that is supported rotatably by a first support part attached to the vehicle seat, and a second fixing part that is supported rotatably by a second support part attached to the vehicle seat.

Document <CIT> describes an apparatus for holding an electronic device which includes first and second brackets slidably joined together with one another and moveable to expand away from, and contract toward, one another along an operating path. The apparatus further includes first and second braces provided on the first and second brackets, respectively, and spaced apart from one another along the operating path and a biasing element biasing the first and second brackets toward one another.

Document <CIT> describes a support system which allows for the mounting of a smart phone, or a video player, or similar electronic device, in a variety of ways at a distance from the user. The support system may be adapted to plug into the vents of an automobile, facilitating use of the electronic device while driving.

Document <CIT> describes systems for holding a display device including retractable device holders configured to connect with an entertainment system and for holding a display device in front of the entertainment system.

A support for holding a portable electronic device according to the present invention is specified in claim <NUM>. Further embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is described here with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described.

As best illustrated in <FIG>, the described embodiments of the invention provide a support <NUM> for holding a personal electronic device ("PED") <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the support <NUM> comprises a body <NUM> that is coupled to a passenger seat back <NUM>.

The body <NUM> may be coupled to the passenger seat back <NUM> in multiple locations. The body <NUM> comprises an upper pivot location <NUM> which is located along an upper region of the body <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the body <NUM> is connected to the passenger seat back <NUM> via a pair of torsion hinges <NUM>. The torsion hinges <NUM> may provide a means to maintain the body <NUM> in desired position until it is re-positioned. For example, the torsion hinges <NUM> may allow the body <NUM> to be adjusted to any suitable angle relative to the passenger seat back <NUM>, ranging from <NUM> degrees to <NUM> degrees.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the body <NUM> further comprises a support structure <NUM> that is configured to secure the PED <NUM> to the body <NUM>. In some embodiments, the support structure <NUM> may comprise a lower ledge <NUM> that is shaped to receive a lower edge of the PED <NUM> and secure the PED <NUM> to the body <NUM>. The lower ledge <NUM> may have a fixed or adjustable depth to accommodate PEDs <NUM> of varying thicknesses.

The support structure <NUM> is coupled to the body <NUM> via at least one track <NUM>. As best illustrated in <FIG>, the track <NUM> is be positioned within a back surface <NUM> of the body <NUM>. A connector <NUM> is positioned within the track <NUM> and held to the track <NUM> by a pair of lips <NUM>. As a result, the connector <NUM> is able to travel along the length of the track <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a spring device <NUM> is positioned at an upper end <NUM> of the track <NUM>. A first end <NUM> of the spring device <NUM> is joined to the upper end <NUM> of the track <NUM>, and a second end <NUM> of the spring device <NUM> is joined to the connector <NUM>. As a result, the connector <NUM> is pulled to the upper end <NUM> of the track <NUM> until a downward force is applied to pull the connector <NUM> toward a lower end <NUM> of the track <NUM>. The spring device <NUM> may be any suitable extension spring, tension spring, gas spring, elastic spring, etc..

The connector <NUM> in turn is connected to the support structure <NUM>. As the connector <NUM> is pulled toward the upper end <NUM> of the track <NUM> by the spring device <NUM>, the support structure <NUM> is likewise pulled upward along the track <NUM>. The length of the track <NUM> is shaped so that, when the connector <NUM> positioned at the upper end <NUM> of the track <NUM> in a retracted position, the majority of the support structure <NUM> is positioned behind the body <NUM> and the lower ledge <NUM> is positioned adjacent a lower edge <NUM> of the body <NUM>.

In some embodiments, as best illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, an upper lip <NUM> may be included along an upper edge <NUM> of the body <NUM>. The upper lip <NUM> may overlap an upper edge of the PED <NUM> to secure the PED <NUM> to the body <NUM> when the PED <NUM> is connected to the body <NUM> via the support structure <NUM>.

To access the support structure <NUM>, the lower ledge <NUM> of the support structure <NUM> is pulled downward by a passenger and an edge of PED <NUM> is positioned within the lower ledge <NUM>. The weight of the PED <NUM> itself may be sufficient to hold the support structure <NUM> in a suitable location along the track <NUM>. In some embodiments, the spring device <NUM> may have a sufficiently high spring back force that will exceed the amount of force applied by the PED <NUM>, thereby causing the support structure <NUM> to travel back upward until the PED <NUM> is pressed against the upper lip <NUM>. The upper lip <NUM> may extend out at least <NUM>, and could further extend out as far as <NUM> for a PED thickness ranging from <NUM> to <NUM> (<NUM> to <NUM> inches).

In further embodiments, the weight of the PED <NUM> may be sufficient to cause the connector <NUM> to travel to the lower end <NUM> of the track <NUM> in a fully extended position. In the fully extended position, a lower edge of the support structure may be positioned between <NUM> - <NUM> from the lower edge of the body <NUM>. In the fully extended position, the support structure may accommodate a PED <NUM> ranging from <NUM>-<NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM> inches) in width (depending and limited by seat width) and <NUM>-<NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM> inches) in height (depending on the space available because the support structure <NUM> should not touch the food tray in any case when extended, especially when the seat back <NUM> is reclined. In some embodiments, there should be at least <NUM> (<NUM> inch) of distance between the support structure <NUM> and the food tray to avoid obstructing food tray usage).

In some embodiments, a locking device <NUM> may be coupled to the connector <NUM> and/or to the track <NUM> to lock the position of the support structure <NUM> along the track <NUM> between the retracted and fully extended positions.

According to certain embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, a front surface of the body <NUM> may include an attachment device <NUM>. The attachment device <NUM> may include one or more members <NUM> that are positioned to overlap at least one region of the PED <NUM>. The attachment device <NUM> may be used alone to secure PEDs <NUM> to the body <NUM> by overlapping at least two regions of the PED <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. In other embodiments, the attachment device <NUM> may be used to overlap at least one region of the PED <NUM> in combination with the support structure <NUM> to secure PEDs <NUM> to the body <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

In certain embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, the members <NUM> are arranged diagonally across the front surface of the body <NUM> so that one member overlaps one corner of the PED <NUM> and another member overlaps an diagonally opposing corner of the PED <NUM>. The members <NUM> may be bands formed of rubber, flexible plastics, and/or natural or synthetic fabrics (e.g. Leather) or other suitable elastic material.

In other embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, the members <NUM> may be arranged diagonally and laterally across the front surface of the body <NUM> so that one member overlaps one corner of the PED <NUM> and another member overlaps a lower edge of the PED <NUM>.

In yet other embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, the members <NUM> may be arranged to overlap opposing ends of the PEDs <NUM>. In these embodiments, one or both members <NUM> are rotated away from the body <NUM> to expose a slot <NUM>. The PED <NUM> is inserted through the slot <NUM>. Once the PED <NUM> is contained within the slot <NUM>, one or both members <NUM> are rotated back and secured to the body <NUM>. The PED <NUM> is then accessible through an opening <NUM> in the slot <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A support (<NUM>) for holding a portable electronic device (<NUM>) comprising:
a body (<NUM>) having an upper pivot location (<NUM>) which is located along an upper region of the body (<NUM>), the upper pivot location (<NUM>) being aimed to be coupled to a passenger seat back (<NUM>); and
a support structure (<NUM>) coupled to the body (<NUM>) and extendible below a lower edge of the body (<NUM>);
wherein the support structure (<NUM>) is shaped to receive a lower edge of a portable electronic device (<NUM>) and secure the portable electronic device (<NUM>) to the body (<NUM>) when the portable electronic device (<NUM>) is received by the support structure (<NUM>),
the body (<NUM>) comprising at least one track positioned within a back surface (<NUM>) of the body (<NUM>),
a connector (<NUM>) being positioned within the track (<NUM>) and held to the track by a pair of lips (<NUM>), so that the connector (<NUM>) is able to travel along the length of the track (<NUM>),
a spring device (<NUM>) being positioned at an upper end (<NUM>) of the track (<NUM>), a first end (<NUM>) of the spring device (<NUM>) being joined to the upper end (<NUM>) of the track (<NUM>), and a second end (<NUM>) of the spring device (<NUM>) being joined to the connector (<NUM>),
the connector (<NUM>) being connected to the support structure (<NUM>), so that as the connector (<NUM>) is pulled toward the upper end (<NUM>) of the track (<NUM>) by the spring device (<NUM>), the support structure (<NUM>) is likewise pulled upward along the track (<NUM>),
characterized in that the at least one track comprises a locking device (<NUM>) engageable to hold the support structure (<NUM>) in an extended position.